Breaking Down the 2013 BCS Title Odds

The odds are out in Las Vegas and the experts have already made some intriguing and entertaining selections.

Money talks, and there are a few teams that you would never think would have any chance of cracking the top 10 in odds to win it all.

Without further ado, here are your favorites to win the BCS National Championship in 2013.

Note: The odds are taken from Bovada, which are listed in Phil Steele's recent article.

Long Shots

100/1 Odds: Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, A&M

The Nittany Lions will just have to battle the Badgers arguably for a berth in the Big Ten title, though, that in itself does not give them a great chance. We know Pitt doesn't have great chance in the Big East, and the Vols and Aggies will be in the middle of the pack at best in the SEC.

125/1 Odds: BYU, California, Miami FL, North Carolina

The Cougars won 10 games last season with a very soft schedule, but they are not as lucky this season with Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Boise State all on the road.

150/1 Odds: Boston College, Georgia Tech, USF, UCLA

The Yellow Jackets should be the best of this bunch, but Virginia Tech is always a step ahead.

200/1 Odds: Oregon State

Mike Riley is looking to go bowling for the first time in three seasons.

Just Missed the Cut

Odds 65/1: Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Washington

These teams would love to shock the nation, but clearly, the Bearcats have the best chance with teams like USC, Oregon, Alabama, LSU and Georgia too good to all choke.

Odds 75/1: Arizona, Iowa, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Missouri (85/1)

How in the world are the Spartans this high in terms of odds? They were arguably a top 10 team this past season and clearly Vegas does not love the chances with a new quarterback and receiving corps, on top of a fairly brutal schedule (Boise, ND, at Michigan, at Wisconsin).

Stanford and Oklahoma State should still win eight or more games, but they will take a step back from playing in a BCS bowl and becoming a legit top 10 squad.

Missouri's first season with the SEC could be tough (four or five losses is possible, likely), and Iowa will need to shut the naysayers up without their studs (Reiff, McNutt, Coker). 

Arizona!? They did not even make a bowl game, and losing Nick Foles makes me question the oddsmakers since I could have chose a dozen different teams.

The Dark Horses

Clemson (25/1), Texas (28/1), Virginia Tech (28/1), Florida (30/1), South Carolina (30/1), West Virginia (30/1)

These are your dark horses, though, a few of these may not finish higher than second in their own division. Clemson has the most potential in my eyes simply because they came so close one season ago. They did get spanked by West Virginia and it could be the Mountaineers (OU, at TX, TCU, at OKST) that come the closest to appearing in the BCS title.

Kansas State (35/1), Nebraska (35/1), Wisconsin (40/1), Auburn (50/1), Boise State (50/1), TCU (50/1)

This group of teams is arguably almost as good as the one above, though, these teams are not as explosive offensively and their defenses won't be killer. Alright, so there is a reason these teams are not favored to win their conferences, and that is because almost every single (save Nebraska, Auburn, TCU, K-St) one is losing a lot.

10. Michigan (22/1 Odds)

Entering the 2012 season, your top four eligible Big Ten teams have to be Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

The Buckeyes may be considered the best, but they won't be able to do anything about it other than possibly ruining a few of their foes' chances of playing in the Big Ten title and beyond. 

Are the Wolverines the clear-cut favorites in the Big Ten? 

I'd scream overrated if I had based my projection solely on the Sugar Bowl, and their schedule is a tough one that features Alabama in the opener. 

Denard Robinson is the one that can carry this team to even more success and fame, but is their defense capable of getting better?

I think they have a decent chance of getting to Pasadena, but an opening drubbing to Alabama could potentially set them back.

8. Notre Dame (20/1 Odds)

This will be another sensational season to watch the Irish because every game is like a national event. Will Brian Kelly enter the hot seat if they suffer another four- or five-loss season?

The schedule has a few tough ones with Michigan State, Oklahoma and USC on the road. Throw in a neutral site game against the 'Canes on top of a critical September home against Michigan, and the prime-time games are there to climb in the top 10.

Of course, they would have to win at least four of those games to have any chance of dreaming big (the Irish would realistically have to go undefeated if they want a BCS title), but their defense will be stifling up front with All-American Manti Te'o returning.

8. Arkansas (20/1 Odds)

The Razorbacks could honestly finish fourth in the SEC West if they were to lose to Auburn on the road as well as crucial home games to Alabama and LSU.

However, the talent is there for them to win all three of those contests since Tyler Wilson is an All-American-worthy signal-caller.

Wilson's production may be determined on how healthy running back Knile Davis is in time for the 2012 season. Cobi Hamilton and a slew of receivers will give the Razorbacks one of the most explosive offenses in the country.

Bobby Petrino has not yet knocked off Nick Saban, but if he can do it this upcoming season, then the possibilities are there to play in the SEC title.

7. Georgia (14/1 Odds)

The odds on the Dawgs suggest this could be the season they at least get back to a BCS bowl since Aaron Murray is loaded with skill players, albeit Orson Charles declared for the NFL draft.

Still, Jay Rome and a few others should be able to get open since Malcolm Mitchell and Tavarres King are an elite duo of receivers.

The questions at offensive line need to be answered, but the schedule is as close to cupcake city as possible in the SEC.

South Carolina (10/6) and Auburn (11/10) could be gruesome if they cannot protect Murray, but his line should be developed by the time they play in the prime-time games.

Lastly, their defense has the capability of becoming an elite defense with Jarvis Jones and Bacarri Rambo both likely performing like All-Americans.

They could be flawless in the regular season, but they will be tested by whoever wins the SEC West (if they make it that far).

5. Oregon (12/1 Odds)

The Ducks will be battling with USC two times next season, most would like to think, but the quick rapport that Bryan Bennett has with his receivers will tell us how far Oregon can go.

Josh Huff is the underrated spark plug for Chip Kelly's offense, but that is only because Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas make up arguably the two most electrifying playmakers together on a team.

The defense will get their love from Nick Allioti due to their quick feet and ball-hawking ability in the secondary, but they better get a few corners to step up if they expect to avoid getting torched by USC's Robert Woods and Marquis Lee.

5. Florida State (12/1 Odds)

Shocked!?

Shouldn't be, thanks to all the talent coming back in what will be Jimbo Fisher's third season. The defense has the makings of becoming the best in college football after a few of those SEC giants, but the only chance they have at going undefeated is if E.J. Manuel gets more time to throw in the pocket.

The offensive line is young and so are the guys in the backfield, but the receivers are quickly turning into one of the more underrated groups in the nation. 

ESPN's Rece Davis has stated that the Noles are looking at the likes of Arkansas, Boise State, Oklahoma or A&M to replace the non-conference game with West Virginia.

4. Oklahoma (10/1 Odds)

The Sooners have Landry Jones back at quarterback, and a ton of young receivers will be enjoying his stay. 

The schedule is manageable with Notre Dame at home, but road trips to TCU and West Virginia will not be a cake walk.

Also, the Red River Rivalry against the Longhorns is a true spectacle to witness, with half the crowd in crimson red and burnt orange. Most expect OU to win three of those four games, but the defense should be outstanding in the back seven.

3. Alabama (11/2 Odds)

Nick Saban is the master at reloading defensive players, and he will be put to the test next season. Trent Richardson's replacements will be Dee Hart, Jalston Fowler and Eddie Lacy.

The Tide will likely feature the best offensive line in the country, and A.J. McCarron will only get better under center with youngsters set develop such as Duron Carter, Kenny Bell and DeAndrew White.

Arkansas and LSU will both be waiting in their own backyards for Alabama, but a season-opening victory over a likely top 10 team in Michigan could springboard them back to the promised land.

2. USC (5/1 Odds)

The Trojans are picked by nearly everybody as the team to dethrone the SEC if there ends up being a team to do such an impossible task.

Matt Barkley's return to the L.A Coliseum will be unstoppable on account of the fact he has arguably the best receiving corps in the country led by Robert Woods and Marquis Lee. 

The key will be the defense, though, with Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard at linebacker, but the secondary will be athletic as it gets, too. T.J. McDonald is one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs, and he has corners around him to make him shine.

Outside of facing the Ducks twice (most likely), USC will not have any games where they are not favored on paper by double digits.

Lastly, this offense will develop a running game with Curits McNeal, and the fireworks will be going off so often that, in reality, the defense may only need a few stops a game.

1. LSU (Odds 19/4)

Slight favorites over USC, the Bayou Bengals will feature the scariest defense on the planet. The secondary loses Mo Claiborne, but they will see the return of star safety Eric Reid as well as Tharold Simon and Tyrann Mathieu.

The defensive line will likely go bonkers on the SEC, and the running game will have a ton of options led by Kenny Hilliard (as well as Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue).

Zach Mettenberger would of loved to have Rueben Randle back for his senior season, but Odell Beckham can stretch the field, and the offensive line will still rank among the best in the game.

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