2012 BCS Championship Gambling Predictions
Before we shift our focus to NFL football with the lockout ending, let’s look at the top 2011-12 BCS national title contenders in college football.
For those college football betting nuts out there, it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2011/12 BCS picture.
1. ALABAMA
BCS Championship odds: +400
Is it slightly surprising to see Alabama tied for the top BCS title odds? Sure, the Crimson Tide will run the ball like mad with Trent Richardson and their “D” will be ferocious as always. But, regardless of how you feel about AJ McCarron or Phillip Sims, this is a team with a new starter at quarterback. Won’t there be a learning curve?
2. OKLAHOMA
BCS Championship odds: +400
To me, Oklahoma is the real favorite to win it all this season. The Sooners’ offense, led by Landry Jones, should be a juggernaut. He could build on his 38-touchdown season a year ago and make a run at the Heisman. Oklahoma has an athletic defense to boot. The title is the Sooners’ to lose if you ask me. 
3. FLORIDA STATE
BCS Championship odds: +800
Picking Florida State depends on how confident you are in new quarterback E.J. Manuel. Despite his first-round draft pedigree, I always found Christian Ponder a bit overrated, so I do think there’s room for improvement. If Manuel outperforms Ponder, the rest of FSU’s roster is strong enough to make this team a contender.
4. LSU
BCS Championship odds: +800
I like LSU’s chances better than Florida State’s or Alabama’s. Jordan Jefferson doesn’t have to improve much for this team to go undefeated. He can just be average, as he has a very athletic defense and a good running game supporting him.
5. OREGON
BCS Championship odds: +1200
If the Ducks could reach the title game last year, why not this year, too? Their offensive centerpieces, tailback LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas, are back for another year. Oregon’s defense isn’t perfect but its secondary is strong. Considering the BCS Championship was Oregon’s only loss last season, not a whole lot more has to go right for the Ducks to win it all this year.
6. WISCONSIN
BCS Championship odds: +1200
If only Wisconsin’s quarterbacking situation was a bit more stable. The Badgers look darned exciting in so many other facets of their game. Their running attack was ridiculously dominant down the stretch last season, in which they posted some eye-popping point totals. If Montee Ball and company can stay that electric, it may not even matter that Wisconsin lost Scott Tolzien.
7. WEST VIRGNIA
BCS Championship odds: +1500
Could the Mountaineers take another step forward in 2011? Geno Smith is among the country’s more experienced starting quarterbacks now; West Virginia also has a game-changer on defense in defensive end Bruce Irvin. Still, I doubt anyone considers West Virginia a “top-tier” contender.
8. VIRGINIA TECH
BCS Championship odds: +1500
A ballhawk defense led by Jayon Hosley should make Virginia Tech tough to pass on this season. But how will the Hokies’ offense perform? With Tyrod Taylor out as quarterback and Logan Thomas in, we’ll find out how if the offensive line (all returning) boosted Taylor last year or if it was the other way around.
9. STANFORD
BCS Championship odds: +1500
Football is still a quarterback’s game. For that reason, I expected to see Stanford a bit higher on this list. The Cardinal arguably have the Heisman Trophy frontrunner in Andrew Luck, who would’ve gone first overall had he declared for the NFL draft. Their defense isn’t half bad and they have a stolid starting running back in Stepfan Taylor. Is this not a top-five national contender?
10. BOISE STATE
BCS Championship odds: +1800
Even though the Broncos were as dominant as any team in the country last season, even though Kellen Moore is back and poised to break Colt McCoy’s passing record…Boise State will have a tough time reaching the national title game at all once again. The move to the Mountain West was supposed to help – but Utah and BYU’s departure watered that conference down enough that it may not be considered a superior challenge to the WAC.
11. NEBRASKA
BCS Championship odds: +1800
If Nebraska can reign in quarterback Taylor Martinez, this team should be very dangerous. The Cornhuskers can run the ball and have an elite defense.
12. TEXAS A&M
BCS Championship odds: +2000
The Aggies were a nice story last year but the loss of Von Miller could be catastrophic for their defense.
13. NOTRE DAME
BCS Championship odds: +2000
Even if Dayne Crist takes his game to the next level, Notre Dame has fielded good quarterbacks before and ended up with so-so teams in recent years. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
14. GEORGIA
BCS Championship odds: +2500
Does Georgia smell blood in the water in the suddenly weakened SEC? Many handicappers believe Aaron Murray will be a special quarterback, even with wideout A.J. Green off to the NFL.
15. SOUTH CAROLINA
BCS Championship odds: +3000
Steve Spurrier coaching? The country’s top recruit in Jadeveon Clowney? I know Stephen Garcia is a head case but I still think the Gamecocks should be a couple spots higher.
16. PENN STATE
BCS Championship odds: +3000
Any Joe Paterno-coached team will be respectable but Penn State isn’t even a top-two favorite in its own conference.
17. ARIZONA STATE
BCS Championship odds: +4000
The Sun Devils are a sexy sleeper in the back 12 with a strong “D” and a ton of starters returning on both sides of the ball. Can its offense make the leap needed to keep up with the high flyers in the Pac-12?
18. TEXAS
BCS Championship odds: +4000
Garrett Gilbert is getting another shot to be Texas’ starting quarterback? Ugh.
19. ARKANSAS
BCS Championship odds: +4000
Time to reload. No Ryan Mallet and a primarily new O-line means the Razorbacks won’t make much noise this season.
20. OKLAHOMA STATE
BCS Championship odds: +4000
Any team would love to have Justin Blackmon as its No. 1 receiver – including some NFL teams. But one player does not win a championship. The Cowboys’ defense isn’t good enough to survive against conference rivals like Oklahoma.
