It's usually right around this time, after Lord Stanley has had his Cup hoisted, when the NBA Playoffs finally have crowned a league champion, and when the prospect of another three months of Major League Baseball begins to wear on even the heartiest of wagering souls, that gamblers begin to turn their attention to the upcoming college football betting season.
We're still months away from the first serious kickoff but football starved bettors need not wait that long to get a taste of some NCAA gridiron action.
Future book betting is underway on which college football outfit will win this season's Bowl Championship Series title, January 7, 2010, in Pasadena. The odds, it seems, have a lot to do with an abundance of talented quarterbacks.
Florida, which welcomes back Tim Tebow for his senior season behind center, is the 2/1 favorite. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and was third while leading the Gators to the National Championship a year ago. He's one of seven returning starters on offense. Remarkably, the entire Florida two-deep returns on defense. Given this amazing array of talent, it would be wagering insanity not to have the Gators listed as future book favorites.
Led by 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford at quarterback, Oklahoma is the 5/1 second choice in BCS futures, just of Texas, which is quoted at odds of 7/1. Interestingly, these Big 12 rivals will sort it out for themselves in the annual Red River Shootout in Dallas, Oct. 17.
The Sooners have some holes to fill along the offensive front and face a difficult schedule but the team that averaged more than 51 points per game last season also has a staunch defensive front seven to go along with Bradford and superior talent at running back.
The Longhorns return 16 starters from last season's 12-1 team that finished fourth nationally, including quarterback Colt McCoy. The Texas schedule is far more favorable, too.
USC lost quarterback Mark Sanchez to the NFL, but at future book odds of 7/1, bookmakers clearly respect Trojans Head Coach Pete Carroll's ability to reload. With nine offensive starters back, whoever wins the starting QB job will have plenty of weapons. The defense, which lost eight starters, has to be rebuilt and the schedule features road games with a trio of tough opponents, OhioState, Notre Dame and California. Still, you never can count out the Trojans.
Future book prices get a little bit more attractive once you get past Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and USC with everyone else listed in double or triple digits.
At odds of 12/1, OhioState would appear to harbor legitimate BCS title aspirations. The Buckeyes have a strong defense but will be challenged by a visit from USC, Sept. 12, and a trip to HappyValley to face Big Ten rival PennState, Nov. 7.
Based on their odds, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Alabama, Notre Dame and LSU also are in the national championship hunt.
The Gobblers, 14/1, and the Crimson Tide, 20/1, open their 2009 seasons against each other in Atlanta, Sept. 5. ACC champion Virginia Tech returns 16 starters and has neither FloridaState nor Clemson on its schedule this year. Alabama lost just 11 lettermen—-fewest in the SEC—-doesn't have to play Florida or Georgia, and gets LSU at home.
The Seminoles, 18/1, have a very solid defense and experience at quarterback but an FSU schedule that has them playing three of their last four games on the road against Florida, Clemson and WakeForest, is cause for concern.
The Fighting Irish, 20/1, were just 7-6 last season but return 15 starters and appear poised for a rapid return to national prominence. Notre Dame has just four true road games on its 12-game schedule.
The Tigers, 20/1, return 14 starters but a schedule that includes games at Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, as well as a home date Florida, will make it difficult for LSU to reach the BCS title game.
Mississippi, 60/1, which returns 16 starters and has all its difficult games at home; California, 50/1, with powerful play on both lines; and Boise State, 100/1, which has a decent chance to finish 13-0, offer college football betting fans some intriguing longshot future book plays.
