College Football 2012: Odds for All of the Top 25 to Win the BCS Championship

If you have an extra $1,000 to bet on a prop bet it would make sense to pick an SEC team to win the BCS National Championship.

Alabama made it seven in a row for college football's most dominant conference, but would you take the Crimson Tide to repeat?

LSU seems like a good bet as well, especially with all of the talent returning for Les Miles' team in 2012.

Who would you pick if you had to go outside of the SEC? Oklahoma? USC? Oregon?

There have been a number of those "way-too-early" Top 25 rankings, but we'll use the one crafted by ESPN's Mark Schlabach to offer you some "way-too-early" odds on who will win the championship.

25. Louisville

You have to like what Charlie Strong is building at Louisville, especially if you are a fan of the Cardinals.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a future star, and Strong keeps stockpiling talent each recruiting season.

Louisville could quickly become a dominant force in the Big East, but it's hard to imagine the Cardinals could win enough this season to win it all.

Odds: 250-1

24. North Carolina State

Mike Glennon has become a solid leader, at quarterback, and North Carolina State's defense showed some improvement in the second half of the season.

Tom O'Brien believed when he bolted from Boston College for another ACC team that he would have more success.

He's not going to win a BCS championship, much less an ACC crown in 2012.

Odds: 240-1

23. Notre Dame

Notre Dame is a team that hasn't learned how to win.

The Fighting Irish had a winning record last season, but they seem to find a way to blow a game every year that they should win.

Case in point: South Florida.

If Notre Dame can figure out a way to win all of the games it's supposed to, and then step up and take down USC or Michigan, then we'll take notice.

Because it's Notre Dame, the odds are always a little better.

Odds: 50:1

22. Clemson

After an embarrassing 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Discover Orange Bowl, Dabo Swinney made some changes on his coaching staff.

You don't normally do that after winning a conference championship, but Swinney realizes he has some nice talent at Clemson and believes he can make a run at a BCS title.

Of course, he needs to get past rival South Carolina and avoid the typical Clemson implosion.

Odds: 75:1

21. Texas

Texas should be a regular contender and the Longhorns' odds should be much better than this.

But until Mack Brown's offense gets back on track, it's hard to see how Texas is a legitimate contender.

The defense should be stout and if the Longhorns can win the close games, it could get interesting in Austin.

Odds: 75-1

20. Boise State

The post-Kellen Moore era will mean Boise State probably won't be a serious BCS bowl contender.

Heck, the Broncos lost a game each of the past two seasons with Moore, and we all know Boise has to be perfect to even get consideration for the big game.

I wouldn't put money on the Broncos.

Odds: 175-1

19. Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas should be a more consistent presence at quarterback in 2012, but who will hand the ball to with the loss of David Wilson?

Hey, Frank Beamer almost always has a good solution at running back.

The Hokies are a consistent winner and should be a strong performer, but Virginia Tech has done nothing to show it's a legitimate contender.

Odds: 35-1

18. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State enjoyed a dream season in 2011, and if not for a loss at Iowa State, the Cowboys would have earned a spot in the BCS National Championship game.

But that team had veteran leadership on offense with Brandon Weeden, Levy Adcock and Justin Blackmon. The defense also lost Markelle Martin.

Mike Gundy has built a consistent winner, but 2012 will be a huge test.

Odds: 80-1

17. Wisconsin

Wisconsin must replace Russell Wilson, Nick Toon and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.

Running back Montee Ball will get a lot of attention, especially after the season had last year.

The Badgers will have to rebuild in a hurry.

Odds: 125-1

16. Nebraska

Maybe this is the season Bo Pelini's Nebraska squad breaks through and becomes a legitimate Top 5 team.

Of course, there are some issues on defense and it's hard to imagine Taylor Martinez leading the Cornhuskers to a Big Ten championship.

It's still a talented group that, with a few breaks, could find itself on the doorstep of the BCS National Championship game.

Odds: 40-1

15. TCU

Under Gary Patterson, TCU has become one of the more consistent winners in college football.

A big reason why is the Horned Frogs defense. Well, that unit slipped a bit last year and had to rely more on quarterback Casey Pachall and the offense.

The defense has taken an offseason hit following a recent drug bust on campus.

TCU will also learn the same lesson Utah did last year when it joined the Pac-12. The jump from the Mountain West to the Big 12 is going to be more taxing than the Horned Frogs realize.

That week-in, week-out grind will wear them down.

Odds: 100-1

14. Michigan

Brady Hoke's first season at Michigan was the ultimate success.

The Wolverines won 10 regular season games and beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

Michigan should be better on offense with quarterback Denard Robinson back for his final season, and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint developed into a legitimate ground threat.

What makes a Michigan a real contender to make a run at a championship is the vast improvement shown on defense under coordinator Greg Mattison.

The only thing standing between Michigan and the BCS National Championship is Michigan State. It would be nice to get that Paul Bunyan Trophy back.

Odds: 45-1

13. Stanford

If Stanford couldn't reach the BCS National Championship with Andrew Luck, who really believes the Cardinal will do it with Brett Nottingham?

Don't forget that Stanford also loses offensive linemen David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin.

This is not to say Stanford doesn't have talent, but I wouldn't take this bet.

Odds: 75-1

12. Kansas State

Kansas State was one of college football's best stories in 2011.

Quarterback Collin Klein led the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and a second-place finish in the Big 12. That was a huge accomplishment for Bill Snyder's team.

But I don't think anyone would mistake Kansas State for any of the elite programs in the nation.

The Wildcats are a tough win, but it's tough to see them running the table and earning a spot in the big game.

Odds: 75-1

11. Arkansas

If running back Knile Davis is 100 percent healthy and remains injury free, then I really like Arkansas' shot as a darkhorse next season.

They play in the SEC, which seems to be a prerequisite these days to win it all, and their offense should score a lot of points with Davis and quarterback Tyler Wilson.

They do take a little bit of a hit at receiver, but the defense was much better last season and could be even stronger in 2012.

The big question is whether they can get by LSU, Alabama and Auburn. I'll give them Texas A&M, Mississippi and Mississippi State.

Odds: 25-1

10. South Carolina

Let's all say it together: "Offense wins games, defense wins championships."

South Carolina's defense should be loaded with some unbelievable talent in 2012, so scoring on the Gamecocks is not going to be easy.

The offense looked good in their Capital One Bowl win over Nebraska, and Connor Shaw is clearly the guy at quarterback this fall.

If South Carolina can avoid distractions and get a healthy Marcus Lattimore back, who knows what Steve Spurrier might be able to pull off late in his career.

Odds: 45-1

9. Michigan State

If Kirk Cousins was granted a sixth or seventh year of eligibility, then you'd have to pay a lot of attention to Michigan State.

The Spartans have some big needs at wide receiver, and of course there are still concerns with Andrew Maxwell taking over at quarterback.

But there's something about the way Mark Dantonio has led this program to back-to-back 11-win seasons.

Maybe he figures out a way to do it again.

Odds: 75-1

8. Florida State

If E.J. Manuel had remained healthy last year, Florida State would have finished better than 9-4 and second place in the Atlantic Division.

Manuel is a solid dual-threat quarterback, and coach Jimbo Fisher has amassed a great number of highly regarded prospects.

The Seminoles should win the ACC, and they could go undefeated this season.

If that happens it would be hard to imagine a 13-0 Florida State not playing for a title.

Odds: 15-1

7. West Virginia

Following West Virginia's 70-33 shellacking of Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl, the Mountaineers caught the attention of a lot of bettors.

Dana Holgorsen's offense was a joy to watch in that final game, and he hopes quarterback Geno Smith makes a huge leap in his performance as the Mountaineers jump to the Big 12.

The level of competition there is a major upgrade, so WVU will have to avoid the in-season meltdowns it has endured at places like Syracuse and Connecticut the past few seasons.

Another thing working against (or for) the Mountaineers is the fact they are the winningest program to never win a national championship.

Odds: 45-1

6. Oregon

Oregon came close two years ago against Auburn, and the Ducks finally won a BCS Bowl game this season.

So maybe Chip Kelly and Oregon are ready to take the next step.

If the Ducks do obtain that elusive BCS National Championship, it will happen with a new quarterback and running back.

Luckily for Oregon, the cupboard is not bare.

Odds: 15-1

5. Georgia

This ranking and these odds are all about quarterback Aaron Murray taking another major leap his junior year.

Of course, having a solid running game and a much-improved defense give Georgia fans and players a reason to believe that the Bulldogs are ready to win the program's first national title since 1980.

I guess a championship would give Mark Richt more job security as well.

Odds: 20-1

4. Oklahoma

Oklahoma was the preseason No. 1 team last year and the Sooners lost three games, failing didn't to even win the Big 12.

Bob Stoops does get Landry Jones back, and like every top tier program the Sooners have recruited in the right type of players to win it all.

Maybe lower expectations and a new-look Big 12 is exactly what Oklahoma needs to get back on top.

Odds: 10-1

3. LSU

LSU may not be the top ranked team right now, but I'm giving the Tigers the best odds.

Les Miles hopes Zach Mettenberger is the elite quarterback everyone expects.

LSU will be quick and nasty on defense again, and the Tigers will be led by Tyrann Mathieu.

The Tigers will be motivated after playing so poorly in this past season's BCS National Championship game. Watch out for LSU.

Odds: 3-1

2. Alabama

It's not easy to win back-to-back championships, but if anyone can do it then it will be Nick Saban and Alabama.

Actually, the Crimson Tide is the only team that can do it this year.

Alabama has the talent, but will it have the motivation to win it all again?

Odds: 6-1

1. USC

At the moment Matt Barkley announced he was returning for his senior season the Trojans became a popular pick.

This would mean an end to the SEC's hold on the BCS National Championship, but USC would be a good pick to do it.

Lane Kiffin's team is loaded, but must replace All-American lineman Matt Kalil.

If USC pulls this off, it will validate Kiffin's quick departure from Tennessee even more.

Odds: 5-1