Preseason College Football Top 25: Las Vegas Odds Edition

What is better than sitting around on a Saturday with your buddies and putting bets on college football games? You start at noon with the east coast games and end the night around 11pm with the game of the week on ABC and the Pac-10 games.

Every week there are debates why Florida is favored by 56 points over Louisiana Tech. Or if you should bet against Texas as they are only giving 10.5 at home against Texas Tech.

Las Vegas has their odds every year of who they think will be playing in the National Championship game on January 10, 2011. Click through the slides as I count down-who Vegas has as their odds on favorite to win the 2011 BCS National Title.

Oh and one last thing. If you so happen to put money down on say, Utah (125/1 odds) and it hits and you become a multi-millionaire off of it; I hope you acknowledge this column and thank me.

25. North Carolina at 75/1

Last year the Tar Heels finished the season at 8-4, with an ACC conference record of 4-4. They finished fourth in their division in the ACC conference and ended their season with a loss to Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

This year the Tar Heels open the season with SEC power house LSU and ACC champion, Georgia Tech.

Their biggest road game this year has the Tar Heels traveling down to the U against Miami.

24. Oregon State at 75/1

Last year the Beavers finished the season with a record of 8-5, with a Pac-10 conference record of 6-3. They finished third in their conference with a loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Beavers open their season on the road against two of the best non-BCS teams in TCU and Boise State. Oregon State travels to TCU to open their season. Then two weeks later they head to Boise, Idaho to play the Broncos on the blue turf.

With their conference schedule, the Beavers have two of their toughest conference games at home against USC and in-state rival Oregon.

23. Pittsburgh at 75/1

Last year the Panthers finished the season with a record of 10-3, with a Big East conference record of 5-2. They finished third in their conference with a win against North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

This year the Panthers open on the road against a very good Utah team. Follow that with three weeks later as Miami comes to Pittsburgh to play the Panthers.

For the Panthers in their conference, Pitt has an easy go of it for the most part. The final two weeks will test Pitt and their chances at a National Title game as Pitt has West Virginia at home. Then they travel to Cincinnati to finish the season.

22. Clemson at 75/1

Last year the Tigers finished the season with a record of 9-5, with a ACC conference record of 6-2. They finished first in their division in the ACC conference; with a win against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

This year Clemson opens their season with three winnable games against non-conference opponents: North Texas, Presbyterian, and Auburn. Auburn is a road game and some have called Auburn a dark horse in the SEC.

Their ACC conference schedule could keep the Tigers on track for a BCS bowl game bid as they have home games against Miami and Georgia Tech. They go on the road for North Carolina, Boston College, and Florida State.

21. Cincinnati at 75/1

Last year the Bearcats finished the season with a record of 12-1, with a Big East conference record of 7-1. They finished first in their conference with a loss against Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

The Bearcats are coming off of a Big East Championship, but with key loses in their players and personnel. They open their 2010 season with games against Fresno St, Indiana St, and North Carolina St. Their first real test comes against Oklahoma in week four.

Their Big East conference schedule has them going to Morgantown, WV to face the Mountaineers on Nov 13. A home regular season finale game against Pittsburgh may decide if they go back to the Sugar Bowl again.

20. Auburn at 75/1

Last year the Tigers finished the season with a record of 8-5, with a SEC conference record of 3-5. They finished fifth in their division in the SEC conference with a win against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.

This year the Tigers are a lot of people's "dark horse" team to surprise a lot of people and win the SEC. Their schedule opens with Arkansas St. then is followed with their conference opener as they travel to Mississippi St.

Their SEC schedule this year will test the Tigers. They play LSU in Auburn, but face tough road challenges against Mississippi and Alabama. The Alabama game is their last game of the regular season.

19. Flordia State at 75/1

Last year the Seminoles finished the season with a record of 7-6, with a ACC conference record of 4-4. They finished third in their division in the ACC conference with a win against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

This is the first year that legendary coach Bobby Bowden will not be the head coach of the Seminoles. This year they open with Samford week one. Then they jump head first into the pool, as they travel to Oklahoma, then face BYU at home.

Their conference schedule sees them heading down to Miami. But playing host to North Carolina and Clemson.

Their biggest test of the season, should they win all of their games before the end of the season, will come Nov. 27; as Florida State plays host to Florida.

18. Georgia at 50/1

Last year the Bulldogs finished the season with a record of 8-5, with a SEC conference record of 4-4. They finished third in their division in the SEC conference with a win against Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.

This year the Bulldogs open with Louisiana-Lafayette at home. Then they have to go to SEC rival South Carolina in always a tough game. Last year, Georgia barley escaped that game winning 41-37.

Their schedule favors Georgia this year as they have to go to Florida. But they have in state rival, Georgia Tech, at home to end the season.

17. Georgia Tech at 50/1

Last year the Yellow Jackets finished the season with a record of 11-3, with an ACC conference record of 7-1. They finished first in their division in the ACC conference with a loss against Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

This year Georgia Tech opens with South Carolina State and a trip to Kansas. Then a road game against North Carolina could stop Georgia Tech's chances at repeating as ACC Champions.

However, if they can get through those first three games, then the Yellow Jackets have another mix of three games that could determine their season.

They have to go to Clemson and Virginia Tech in two straight weeks; then come back home to play Miami.

Survive those three games with all wins, and it comes down to the last game of the season against Georgia.

16. Wisconsin at 40/1

Last year the Badgers finished the season with a record of 10-3, with a Big Ten conference record of 5-3. They finished fifth in their conference with a win against Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.

This year the Badgers open with a game at UNLV. Then they stay with a favorable non-conference schedule with games at home against: San Jose St, Arizona St, and Austin Peay.

They have two tough tests in their conference schedule in back-to-back weeks. They host Ohio State on Oct. 16 then travel to Iowa on Oct. 23.

15. Penn State at 35/1

Last year the Nittany Lions finished the season with a record of 11-2, with a Big Ten conference record of 6-2. They finished third in their conference with a win against LSU in the Capital One Bowl.

This year Joe Pa and Penn State open with Youngstown State. Then get your popcorn ready, as Penn State travels to Alabama to face off against the defending champions.

Their conference schedule has them traveling to Iowa, and to Ohio State. This is a tough road for Penn State. Maybe Joe Pa has one last big season in him.

14. Miami at 35/1

Last year the Hurricanes finished the season with a record of 9-4, with an ACC conference record of 5-3. They finished third in their division in the ACC conference with a loss against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl.

This year the "U" opens with Florida A&M. Then they go on the road for three straight weeks against ranked opponents. First they go to Ohio State. Then they head to Pittsburgh. Finally they go to Clemson.

Yikes.

Plus they have conference games on the road against Clemson (see above with three straight road games) and Georgia Tech. They do get to play Virginia Tech at home, before ending the season against South Florida.

13. Iowa at 35/1

Last year the Hawkeyes finished the season with a record of 11-2, with a Big Ten conference record of 6-2. They finished second in their conference with a win against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

This year the Hawkeyes open with Eastern Illinois, Iowa State, at Arizona, and Ball State.

Then they host Penn State in their first real test of the season. They then go to Michigan before hosting Wisconsin.

Iowa has a favorable Big Ten schedule this year for Iowa as they even get Ohio State at home this year.

12. Arkansas at 30/1

Last year the Razorbacks finished the season with a record of 8-5, with a SEC conference record of 3-5. They finished fourth in their division in the SEC conference with a win against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH PIGGGGG SUUUUEEYYYY!

Sorry had to do that.

This year the Razorbacks open with home games against Tennessee-Tech and Louisiana-Monroe.

Then the SEC schedule gets kicked off in a big way with a game at Georgia; followed with a home game against Alabama. They end their season with a home game against LSU.

11. Louisana State University (LSU) at 25/1

Last year the Tigers finished the season with a record of 9-4, with a SEC conference record of 5-3. They finished second in their division in the SEC conference with a loss against Penn State in the Capital One Bowl.

This year the Tigers open with a big game against North Carolina. A loss here could end their chances at a SEC or National Title.

Their SEC conference schedule has them heading to Florida, but hosting Alabama and Mississippi.

10. Virginia Tech at 20/1

Last year the Hokies finished the season with a record of 10-3, with an ACC conference record of 6-2. They finished second in their division in the ACC conference with a win against Tennessee in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

The Hokies open their season against one of the best mid-major teams: Boise State. They host the Broncos in one of the marquee games of the college season.

Their ACC Conference schedule has the Hokies hosting Georgia Tech, and heading down to Miami and North Carolina.

9. Oregon at 20/1

Last year the Ducks finished the season with a record of 10-3, with a Pac-10 conference record of 8-1. They finished first in their conference with a loss against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

This year the Ducks open with a game at home against New Mexico, and then travel to Tennessee. Not that tough of a non-conference schedule to open their season.

Their Pac-10 conference schedule has a few tough games on the road. As they go on the road to USC and finish the season at Oregon State.

8. Nebraska at 15/1

Last year the Cornhuskers finished the season with a record of 10-4, with a Big 12 conference record of 6-2. They finished first in their division in the Big 12 conference with a win against Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

This year the Cornhuskers play their last season in the Big 12. They open with home games against Western Kentucky and Idaho. Then a tough road game against Pac-10 sleeper Washington.

Their conference schedule has the Cornhuskers playing at home against Texas. This is the game that has all Nebraska fans circled on the calendar.

7. Texas at 12/1

Last year the Longhorns finished the season with a record of 13-1, with a Big 12 conference record of 8-0. They finished first in their division in the Big 12 conference with a loss against Alabama in the BCS National Title Game.

This year the Longhorns look to head back to the BCS National Title game, and they start with a road game at Rice.

They do have tough conference games as they travel to Texas Tech, Nebraska, and have their neutral site game against Oklahoma.

Plus they always have a tough match at the end of the year against Texas A&M.

6. Texas Christian University (TCU) at 12/1

Last year the Horned Frogs finished the season with a record of 12-1, with a MWC conference record of 8-0. They finished first in their conference with a loss against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

This year TCU hopes to be the first Mid-Major team in the BCS Title Game. Vegas likes them at 12/1 and they open their season against Oregon State.

They do not take on a lot of top tier teams this year as they will rely on their conference to help them get into the National Title Game. They host BYU and go to Utah.

5. Oklahoma at 12/1

Last year the Sooners finished the season with a record of 8-5, with a Big 12 conference record of 5-3. They finished fourth in their division in the Big 12 conference with a win against Stanford in the Brut Sun Bowl.

This year the Sooners open with three straight home games against: Utah State, Florida State, and Air Force. Then a road game to defending Big East Champion, Cincinnati.

Their Big 12 conference play opens after that Cincinnati game, with a game against Texas.

They finish their season with three of their last four games on the road. They are at Texas A&M, home against Texas Tech, then back on the road against Baylor, and finish at Oklahoma State.

4. Boise State at 10/1

Last year the Broncos finished the season with a record of 14-0, with a WAC conference record of 8-0 They finished first in their conference with a win against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Broncos open their season with a tough road game against ACC power house, Virginia Tech.

After that it should be smooth sailing for Boise State. They have no ranked opponents, and they have gone 26-1 over the last two years.

3. Florida at 8/1

Last year the Gators finished the season with a record of 13-1, with a SEC conference record of 8-0. They finished first in their division in the SEC conference with a win against Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.

This is the first year in four years that the Gators will have a different quarterback under center. The Gators open with Miami (OH) and South Florida. Then they travel to Tennessee to open SEC play.

They travel to Alabama this year looking to extract some revenge over last year's SEC Championship game. If they win this game then the next week they have LSU coming to visit them in the Swamp.

2. Ohio State at 5/1

Last year the Buckeyes finished the season with a record of 11-2, with a Big Ten conference record of 7-1. They finished first in their conference with a win against Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

This year the Buckeyes are second in the Vegas odds to win the National Title. They are expected to face our number one on this list in Glendale Arizona.

And why?

Well, they open their season with four straight home games against: Marshall, Miami (FL), Ohio, and Eastern Michigan.

Then their conference schedule has all of their tough games on the road. Oct 16th, they go to Wisconsin. Then their last road game is in Iowa.

They host Penn State on Nov. 13 in which could determine who wins the Big Ten championship.

Their final home game and the final game for Terrell Pryor is at home against the hated Michigan.

1. Alabama at 9/2

Last year the Crimson Tide finished the season with a record of 14-0, with a SEC conference record of 8-0. They finished first in their division in the SEC conference with a win against Texas in the BCS National Championship Game.

Roll Tide says Vegas!

But to get back to the National Title Game, Alabama has to get past Penn State, at home.

Then in their conference schedule they have Florida and Mississippi at home. And in their only tough SEC road game, they head to LSU on Nov. 6.

Will Alabama and Ohio State face each other in the National Title game? Who knows, but if you feel like putting some money down on one of these teams, well then I hope this slide show helped you.

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