We aren’t even a month removed from Alabama winning its first national championship since 1992, but we realize bettors never get sick of college football. On that note, let’s provide your first look at the 2010 future odds as provided by our friends at BoDog.

The Crimson Tide is the 3/1 ‘chalk.’ Nick Saban’s team returns most of its skill players like QB Greg McElroy, WRs Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, not to mention Heisman winner Mark Ingram and RB Trent Richardson, who had a monster game against Texas in the BCS Championship Game.

Just like last year, ‘Bama will have some holes to fill on both the offensive and defensive lines and it lost All-American LB Rolando McClain. But LB Dont’a Hightower returns after sustaining a season-ending injury in a win over Arkansas this past year.

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The second-shortest odds on the board at BoDog belong to Ohio St. Gamblers can take the Buckeyes to win it all for a plus-650 return (risk $100 to win $650). They finished strong with an outstanding performance in a Rose Bowl win over Oregon.

Oregon and USC are sporting 12/1 odds, while Boise St., Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas are saddled with a 15/1 number.

Florida lost five juniors early to the NFL Draft, in addition to the departures of QB Tim Tebow, LB Brandon Spikes and WR Riley Cooper. And for those reasons, BoDog opened UF at 25/1. However, that didn’t last long.

During last Thursday’s edition of the Power Hours on VI Radio, BoDog Sportsbook Manager Richard Gardner said, “The only number we’ve adjusted so far is Florida’s. We started at 25/1 and after a considerable bit of action, moved them to 20/1. Our players still kept backing the Gators so we are now down to 18/1.

“The only other team that’s been drawing a lot of interest so far is Boise St., but we still have them at 15/1.”

There’s ample cause for gamblers to be attracted to the Broncos, who will come to the East Coast and face Va. Tech over the Labor Day Weekend. Chris Petersen is back along with 21 of 22 starters from a team that went 14-0 and beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Most importantly, rising junior quarterback Kellen Moore returns as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.

Speaking of the Horned Frogs, they’re going to be loaded again, too. (But please, no rematch with Boise St.!). Gary Patterson’s team has an 18/1 future number. Another school at 18/1 is Va. Tech, while Penn St., Iowa and Miami own 20/1 odds.

LSU has 25/1 odds while three other SEC schools – Auburn, Arkansas and Georgia – have a 30/1 number.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Recruiting is always a fluid thing, as high-schoolers are constantly committing and de-committing in an effort to garner newspaper headlines and keep their names in lights. So with that said, until the letters of intent flow into football offices across the nation on signing day, many things can change. Nevertheless, let’s share with you the top 10 recruiting classes per Rivals.com as of Jan. 26.

1-Florida
2-Texas
3-Alabama
4-Auburn
5-Oklahoma
6-LSU
7-USC
8-Georgia
9-Penn St.
10-FSU

--RB Marcus Lattimore from Duncan, SC., is ranked the No. 10 player in America according to Rivals. Lattimore has narrowed his choices down to South Carolina and Auburn, with most recruitniks believing that the Tigers have the edge on the Gamecocks. He’s expected to make his decision at an announcement at his church the day before signing day.

--Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley has hired Chuck Smith as his new defensive line coach. Smith, a former star DE at UT, was the leader of the Atlanta Falcons' “Bomb Squad” d-line when the organization went to its only Super Bowl in 1998.

--South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders has been reinstated after a brief suspension by head coach Steve Spurrier. Saunders, who had 32 receptions for 353 yards and three TDs in 2009, will be able to participate in off-season workouts and spring practice.

--According to SportsbyBrooks, Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is suspected of theft in Eugene after two laptops were stolen from a fraternity house.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.

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