The 2008-09 NCAA College Football season is quickly approaching and with that, so is the BCS National Championship Game. Oddsmakers from online sports book SBG Global have made Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans the odds to win favorites at 3/1.
The Favorite: USC TrojansIt’s no surprise that USC is once again a heavy favorite to win the BCS National Championship Game given their immense talent and schedule. Playing the Pac 10 awards the Trojans arguably an easier road than those programs that have to battle the rigorous SEC. USC also boasts one of the best defenses, lead by defensive tackle Fili Moala and linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing.
The Values: Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners
Oddsmakers also like the Florida Gators chances of making it back to the national championship, and have made Urban Meyer’s program a 6/1 favorite. The Gators own arguably the best player in the nation with quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. Florida plays in the tough SEC, but the program is incredibly talented and well coached.
One program all the pundits seem to love is the Georgia Bulldogs, who boast one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford. Oddsmakers have also made the Bulldogs 6/1 favorites and although they have a tough schedule, their offense looks primed to make noise with Stafford and Heisman Trophy candidate Knowshon Moreno in the backfield.
Can the Ohio State Buckeyes make it three BCS National Championship appearances in a row? They haven’t won the past two years, but the Buckeyes once again look like the top team in the Big Ten and probably won’t get a ton of competition from rivals Michigan, who appear to be in a down year. Ohio State has one of the best offensive lines in football and their defense, led by NFL prospect James Laurinaitis, should be once again outstanding.
The Oklahoma Sooners looked poised to make a BCS National Championship run last year before fading late. Bob Stoops’ program always has one of the best defenses in the nation and the offensive line, led by Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson, is also tops in college football.
Odds for the 2009 BCS National Championship
Alabama 40/1
Arizona 125/1
Arizona State 80/1
Arkansas 150/1
Auburn 20/1
Boise State 100/1
Boston College 100/1
California 80/1
Cincinnati 100/1
Clemson 22/1
Florida 6/1
Florida State 50/1
Georgia 6/1
Georgia Tech 100/1
Illinois 50/1
Iowa 100/1
Kansas 65/1
Kansas State 125/1
Kentucky 100/1
Louisville 100/1
LSU 12/1
Maryland 100/1
Miami Florida 35/1
Michigan 30/1
Michigan State 100/1
Missouri 14/1
Nebraska 80/1
North Carolina 100/1
North Carolina State 100/1
Notre Dame 60/1
Ohio State 6/1
Oklahoma 6/1
Oklahoma State 125/1
Oregon 100/1
Oregon State 100/1
Penn State 50/1
Rutgers 50/1
South Carolina 100/1
South Florida 100/1
Tennessee 30/1
Texas 30/1
Texas A&M 100/1
Texas Tech 80/1
UCLA 35/1
USC 3/1
Virginia 100/1
Virginia Tech 40/1
Wake Forest 125/1
Washington 100/1
West Virginia 25/1
Wisconsin 30/1
Field (Any Other Team) 25/1