Sportsbook NCAA Football Futures

Click here for College Football odds From VIPSports...

College Futures - May 26, 2006

The College Football season is less than three months away, and it is never too early to look at the championship odds. Ohio State Buckeyes 13:2

The Buckeyes beat Notre Dame soundly in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, 34-20. Quarterback Troy Smith proved that he was championship caliber in that game and he is returning this season. Running back Antonio Pittman and wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. will also be back. Key losses include their entire linebacker crew and receiver, Santonio Holmes.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 13:2

It is pretty ironic that the team that Ohio State beat so soundly in the Fiesta Bowl is the co-favorite. That is what happens when you have the Heisman Trophy favorite in quarterback Brady Quinn. Coach Charlie Weis proved that he could recreate his NFL magic at the collegiate level, and he should be more dangerous this year as the players have another year under his system.

Oklahoma Sooners 8:1

Running back Adrian Peterson will likely be playing in his last college season before heading to the NFL. He would like to take a little Heisman hardware with him and it is a good possibility. In order for the Sooners to be championship caliber, quarterback Rhett Bomar must make a big leap forward in his play. That could be a big challenge with major turnover on the offensive line and unproven receivers.

USC Trojans 12:1

Only USC could lose a Heisman winning quarterback and running back and still be one of next year’s favorites. That is the kind of program that Pete Carroll has, as they do not rebuild, they reload. Junior, John David Booty has the upper-hand in the quarterback battle with red-shirt freshman, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is on “interim suspension” after being arrested recently for a sexual assault.

LSU Tigers 12:1

LSU’s 40-3 demolishing of Miami in last year’s Peach Bowl turned some heads, but this team shared a national title in 2003. Second year Coach, Les Miles wants to cement his own reputation, and he has plenty of options at quarterback with JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux. On defense, tackles Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten both moved on to the NFL and need to be replaced.

Texas Longhorns 12:1

Quarterback, Vince Young has graduated to the NFL, and their quarterback situation is up in the air. The good news is that the running game should again be outstanding. There are major losses on defense with Michael Huff, Cedric Griffin and Rodrique Wright all gone. Coach Mack Brown definitely caught lighting in a bottle last year, it remains to be seen whether he can do it again.

Florida State Seminoles 12:1

It is a little surprising that Florida State is currently listed ahead of Florida, but chalk that up to the reputation of coach Bobby Bowden. Bowden needs to reenergize an offense that struggled under freshman quarterback, Drew Weatherford. The defense also needs to rebuild after losing three players (Brodrick Bunkley, Ernie Sims, Kamerion Wimbley) to be drafted in the NFL’s first round.

Florida Gators 15:1

Not a lot of respect here for the Gators who were 9-3 last year despite being in the first year of the Urban Meyer era. Meyer runs a unique offensive system that took quarterback Chris Leak time to adjust to. With a solid running game, a defense that returns most of their starters and a banner recruiting class, Florida looks like a very good value at 15:1 odds.

More VIPSports.com "The Edge" Articles...