Trojans top BCS National Championship futures
The school year may just be ending, but that just means it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming college football season. Last year the LSU Tigers mauled the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship game to claim another national title. Can the Tigers roar again, or will the Buckeyes make another run at the championship that has just eluded them the last two seasons?
According to the Bet Jamaica oddsmakers, neither school will be the best in the nation this season. That honor goes to the USC Trojans, who have been anointed as the BCS National Championship favorites at +325 odds. It’s tough to argue with that after examining USC’s roster. The Trojans may have lost starting quarterback John David Booty to the NFL, but backup Mark Sanchez looks primed and ready to take over after successfully filling in for Booty when he was injured last season. The USC defense has once again been given the moniker “best defense in the nation” by many observers, and if they can live up to the billing the offense should have plenty of time to gel behind Sanchez.
If the Trojans don’t return to the top of the college football ranks there’s a good chance the Florida Gators will. The Gators clock in right behind the Trojans on the odds list at +600. Two years ago the Gators took home a national title and they could add another this season behind what should be a lethal offense. Led by Heisman Trophy-winning QB Tim Tebow and dangerous receiver Percy Harvin, the Gators should put a ton of points on the board. The Gators’ only problem could be their defense, which needs to come together quickly to pull their weight alongside Florida’s high-octane offense.
Rounding out BetJamaica’s Top 3 national championship contenders are the Oklahoma Sooners at +900. In his first season as starting quarterback Sam Bradford put up some solid numbers, and with an excellent offensive line in front of him and a year of experience under his belt he should be even better this year. Running back DeMarco Murray was also better than expected as a freshman last year, and if he continues to improve the Sooners’ offense should be hard to stop.
And what about LSU and Ohio State. Both the Tigers and the Buckeyes currently sit at +1100 on the odds. That may be a little too generous for the Tigers who lost their leader on defense in Glenn Dorsey and lost not one, but two quarterbacks in Matt Flynn and the dismissed Ryan Perrilloux. Ohio State, however, may be underrated. The Buckeyes have a Heisman contender in running back Chris Wells and their defense should manhandle the rest of the Big Ten.