Editor's Note: Don't forget to pick up Judd Hall's expert picks this college football season. Click to win!
The moment the BCS title game was finished last January, there were odds already out on who would reign supreme in Miami this season. Now the betting public just has to figure out which programs are willing to through some money on before the college football season kicks off in a matter of weeks.
In the interest helping the gamblers take a bite out of the sportsbooks in any way possible, we’re going to look at what the public has done so far. And to do that, the fine folks at sportsbook.com have come through with the Top 5 teams getting action with them off shore.
5) West Virginia (15/1)
The Mountaineers lose their head coach and most of their staff to Michigan. Then they lose their top running back in Steve Slaton to the allure of pay in the NFL. Yet the public still finds a spot in their heart to see them winning a national championship.
Pat White returns under center this season to anchor an offense that returns eight starters back. The veteran gunslinger will be sharing the backfield with phenom Noel Divine this year. The new tandem was able to score 20 touchdowns on the ground combined last season. And those numbers are bound to improve in 2008 with the entire offensive line coming back.
West Virginia wasn’t great against the spread last season, posting a 7-6 mark. Unfortunately this trend appears to be continuing in ’08 as the Mountaineers have five games (at Colorado, vs. Rutgers, vs. Auburn, at Connecticut and vs. South Florida) that will be way too easy to lose outright.
4) Southern California (3.5/1)
We’ve seen over the years that the top programs in the country don’t rebuild, they just reload. The Trojans once again are proving that adage by coming in as the odds on favorite to win it all despite having just four starters back on offense. I guess that’s just a testament to how good a coach Pete Carroll has become in the college ranks.
Mark Sanchez is the heir apparent to John David Booty at quarterback. However, Sanchez has dislocated his kneecap on Aug. 8, leaving most of the reps to former Razorback Mitch Mustain. The doctors say that the junior hurler will be able to start the season opener, but don’t’ be surprised to see Mustain on the first team for an extended period of time.
USC will be a terror on defense once again, thanks to sure first round pick Rey Maualuga. The senior linebacker will anchor the middle of the defense, while Kevin Ellison sets the standard of play in the Trojans’ secondary.
Bettors weren’t thrilled with how the Men of Troy covered the line last season, going 7-6 ATS. Those numbers are bound to get better in 2008 as their toughest competition (Ohio State, Arizona State and Notre Dame) will be at the Coliseum, while the rest of the Pac-10 won’t be able to contend. One trend we should see continue is the ‘under’ to keep paying out…after all it went 10-3 last year.
3) Florida (5/1)
Things are looking bright in Gainesville this year after a slight bump in the road while rebuilding in 2007. Florida welcomes back eight starters to the offense…the biggest of which is Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. What will help him out the most is seeing Percy Harvin help out both in the backfield while running the option or when snaring passes.
What still remains a question to me is how the Gators’ defense will perform this time around. The talent is there with Jermaine Cunningham on the d-line and Brandon Doe roaming the middle of the field at linebacker. Yet Urban Meyer must find a way to discipline this unit better. They had their hand in the majority of eight penalties per game last season.
One thing the Gators were good at last season was covering the line for bettors as evidenced by their 8-4 record ATS. Florida should be able to actually improve those numbers considering games against Hawaii, Miami, Kentucky to name a few.
2) Ohio State (4/1)
People are tired of seeing the Buckeyes make it to the national title game, but that hasn’t stopped them from backing the Scarlet and Gray at the books.
Ohio State has 21 starters coming back, 10 on the offense. That includes Todd Boeckman under center with Beanie Wells making a run at this year’s Heisman from the backfield... And let’s not forget about Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline at wide out. Last year this quartet was responsible for 32.0 PPG and 397.1 YPG.
Defensively, this unit is just as strong as ever with 11 players back. James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington all have a decent shot at winning postseason awards. However, they will not be taken seriously if they can’t get past the test in Los Angeles against the Trojans.
Jim Tressel’s crew normally is a lock against the spread, but last year they went just 7-5 in 2007. Luckily for us, those numbers are bound to improve with only three truly difficult games on the schedule (at USC, at Wisky and at Illinois).
1) Georgia (5/1)
The hype of last year has bitten the backsides of the public when it comes to future bets here. It’s hard not to like the Bulldogs’ chances in this spot with the amount of talent they have coming back on offense.
Knowshon Moreno became a household name with his fantastic running against the Gators and pretty much everyone else in the Southeastern Conference. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford finally got a chance to prove his worth at quarterback with an actual ground game. There is a big question for both players to perform at the same level this season with an offensive line that is returning just one starter.
Where Georgia truly shines is on defense. This group headlined by Geno Atkins in the trenches, who looks to improve on the 7 ½ sacks he tallied last season. C.J. Byrd will lead the defensive backs if not in the stats (one interception, 29 tackles).
Bettors profited from the Bulldogs run to the Sugar Bowl, going 8-4 ATS. That will be a tough thing to do this time around with games at South Carolina and Arizona State. And don’t forget about that murderous run at the end of October/early November.
You can reach Judd Hall via e-mail at judd@vegasinsider.com
