Super Early BCS Championship Sleepers

We're talking sleepers here, and we’re talking about them really, really early. Only teams at 15/1 and higher are considered sleepers for the purpose of this exercise, so let's get right to it. 

Iowa (20/1)

There's a lot to like about Iowa this year—they won a BCS bowl game last year, they return an experienced quarterback in Ricky Stanzi, have a fantastic defense, and will start the year in the top 10.

I'm actually a little shocked and surprised at why their number is so low.  Could it simply be an anti-Big 10 thing?  Who knows.  But with Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State all coming to play in their house, I think Iowa has a great shot at making a run at the BCS championship.

Virginia Tech (18/1)

The Hokies have two of the best running backs in the country, Darren Evans and Ryan Williams, to go along with one of the best dual threat quarterbacks, Tyrod Taylor. (Seriously, hasn't he been in school since 1996?)

With a high-profile matchup against Boise State on a neutral field to start the season and a tough stretch of games to wrap up the year (Georgia Tech, at UNC, at Miami) before their annual rivalry game against Virginia in Blacksburg, this could be the year for the ACC to break its BCS championship game drought.

Nebraska (15/1)

Successful team last year with plenty of starters returning?  Check.  Top tier coaching staff?  Check.  Manageable schedule?  Check.  High preseason ranking?  Check.

The importance of starting the season in the top 10 to 12 can't be overstated—check out what happened to Auburn in 2004 for proof—and the Brothers Pellini have instilled a level of toughness that had been missing in Lincoln in recent years.

The back to back games against Texas (home) and Oklahoma State (away) will be awfully tough, but Nebraska meets all the criteria I look for in a team ready to make a surprise championship run. 

Odds courtesy of Bodog.com on May 27, 2010.