Football Betting – Trojans still team to beat in Pac-10
CappersPicks.com brings you the only college football handicapping guide you’ll need. Use the College football previews for the 2009 NCAA football season to help you with your college football handicapping at our top sportsbooks online this season.
Keep checking back with Cappers Picks + Cappers Picks College football betting forums for more 2009 CFB previews coming daily: (In No Particular Order).
USC have been the football betting darlings of the last decade, and they’re being favored to win their eighth straight Pac-10 championship. However, California and Oregon will be waiting in the wings if the Trojans stumble.
The Trojans are rated at -300 this year despite losing 11 players to the NFL draft, and this is a testament to their recruiting classes.Aaron Corp will have a wealth of talent around him, including the running-back trio of Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable, and the entire offensive line is back. The biggest losses were on defense, where the Trojans return only three players. USC was second in the nation in defense this year, and they’re set at the back with Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard. However, replacing their all-world linebacking corps will be the key to their offshore sportsbook odds.
Cal is next at +300 with 15 returning starters coming back to campus, and running back Jahvid Best is being touted as one of the most exciting players in the nation. Three of the Golden Bears’ top five receivers will be back, meaning Kevin Riley will have plenty of options. Eight players are back on a defensive unit that 26th in the country in 2008, but the loss of sack and tackles leader Zack Follett will be tough to fathom. The secondary is very deep and experienced. The October 3rd home game against USC will be massive, and the Golden Bears will be looking to make it worth the price per head for ticketholders.
Jeremiah Masoli is one of five returning offensive starters for Oregon, who are also rated at +300. LeGarrette Blount didn’t even start last year, but still rushed for over 1,002 yards. However, their top three receivers are missing, and there are only two returning starters up front. On defense, there are also five returning starters to a group that was only 82nd in the nation in 2008. The Ducks will hope Casey Matthews is even half as good as his father and brother, who was a standout at USC before heading to the draft. Saftey T.J. Ward leads the team from the secondary, and they’re another team who will be looking forward to their home game against USC, which happens on Halloween.
A longshot for your sports picks is Oregon State, who offer great value at +800 and were the only team to beat USC in 2008. Jacquizz Rodgers was the key to that win, and they’ll expect more from the sophomore back this year. Sean Canfield will take over at quarterback, but a line with two starters back needs to gel quickly. There are only three coming back on defense, where they were 23rd last year, and they’ll sorely miss ends Victor Butler and Slade Norris, who combined for 22 of the Beavers’ 39 sacks.
Pac-10 football odds pick: USC
2 replies on “NCAA Football Gambling Predictions: Pac 10”
USC should be the logical choice but they did lose a tremendous amount of talent from last year’s team. They are usually able to reload rather quickly, but this season could be a challenge.
It could be a good year for someone like Cal or Oregon to sneak in there.
Southern California quarterback Aaron Corp has a small crack in his bruised left knee and will be out about two weeks.Freshman Matt Barkley will take all the first-team reps during Corp’s absence. Veteran backup Mitch Mustain is also in the mix.