College Football: What Vegas Odds To Win The BCS You Should Take
Recently Bodog.com, a major online betting site since its inception in 1994, released the Las Vegas odds for the upcoming 2010 college football season.
With September 2nd rapidly approaching, there are three teams that I believe should be your pick when you lay down a wager on who will walk out with the 2010 National Championship this coming January.
The odds have defending champion Alabama at 4/1 to repeat in 2010 along with Boise State being installed at 8/1 and rounding out the trio will be Ohio State at 6/1.
Instead of just saying that team X will win the national championship, I’ll break down the three team’s strength and weaknesses that could help or dampen a chance to hold the crystal football in Glendale, AZ.
Quarterback Position
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Alabama: Greg McElroy, Senior
2009 Stats: 198-325 attempts, 2508 yards, 17 Touchdowns, Four Interceptions
Ohio State: Terrelle Pryor, Junior
2009 Stats: 167-295 attempts, 2094 yards, 18 touchdowns, 11 interceptions
Boise State: Kellon Moore, Junior
2009 Stats: 277-431 attempts, 3536 yards, 39 Touchdowns, Three Interceptions
EDGE: Alabama
The best choice will be the experience and game control of McElroy as he tries to lead his Crimson Tide to back-to-back National Championships, the first team to do so since Nebraska in 1994-1995.
For the element of speed and unpredictability, the choice of Pryor as the second best QB is wise as he can run at will along with grasping the passing game as his time with Buckeyes progresses the final two years.
Even with gaudy numbers put up in 2009, the Broncos Kellen Moore will be the final signal caller in this trio as he didn’t face top tier defenses last season besides major games with Oregon and TCU at the beginning and end of the season.
Running Back Position
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Alabama: Mark Ingram, Junior
2009 Stats: 271 carries, 1658 yards,17 Touchdowns
Ohio State: Brandon Saine, Senior
2009 Stats: 145 Carries, 739 yards, Four Touchdowns
Boise State: Jeremy Avery, Senior
2009 Stats: 209 carries, 1151 yards, six touchdowns
EDGE: Alabama
The 2009 Heisman winner should get the nod by anyone who will look at this collection of these dangerous running backs who’ll line up in their perceptive back fields in 2010.
Secondly, the Broncos senior in the backfield will be a key ingredient if Boise State wants to break through their glass ceiling they’ve been banging on for the last several years.
Rounding out the group would be the Buckeye’s senior in the backfield who will be more of a compliment to the offense as it has the skill of Pryor at quarterback and a playmaking group of receivers.
Wide Receiver Position
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Alabama: Julio Jones - Jr
2009 Stats: 43 Catches, 596 yards, Four Touchdowns
Ohio State: Dever Posey- Jr
2009 Stats: 60 Catches, 828 yards, Eight Touchdowns
Boise State: Titus Young – Sr
2009 Stats: 79 Catches, 1041 Yards, 10 Touchdowns
EDGE: Boise State
The Broncos will get the nod in this category as Young was a force for BSU as they captured their second Fiesta Bowl with a win over TCU and continue that into 2010.
Alabama will get second place with Jones as he is arguably the best playmaking wide receiver in the SEC along with returning to action this year after an injury plagued season last year.
Posey will round out this position although being the leading receiver in Columbus; he stacks up in third due to the fact of the talent that his two peers brings to the table this season.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Defense
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Alabama:
2009 Stats: Ranked second in the nation with two returning starters in 2010
Ohio State:
2009 Stats: Ranked fifth in the nation with six returning starters in 2010
Boise State:
2009 Stats: Ranked 14th in the nation with nine returning starters in 2010
EDGE: Alabama
With the guidance of Nick Saban, the Tide will have the defense to get them to the National Championship game even with the major loss of talent that departed this past season.
The Buckeyes will be the second choice when it comes to defense with its returning players along with a schedule that has been criticzed this offseason.
Boise State will come in third not because of talent as they return practically their entire defense but when playing their conference schedule, any defense will look imposing when you look highlights.
Special Teams
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Alabama: freshman kicker Cade Foster & freshman punter Jay Williams
Ohio State: Senior kicker Devin Barclay & Sophomore punter Ben Buchanan
Boise State: Senior kicker/punter Kyle Brotzman
EDGE: Boise State
Boise State’s Kyle Brotzman will continue into his senior season in the dual role of kicker and punter while going 18-25 on field goals along with good ability to pin an opponent back during games in 2009.
The Buckeye’s will have a big game kicker in Barclay as he came up big in late season action including the unofficial Big Ten title game against Iowa. Sophomore Buchanan will need to step from inconsistencies that hampered him in 2009 during his freshman campaign.
Alabama will be breaking in a new kicker and punter in Tuscaloosa this season which even though not as important as a skill position, it will still play a factor in field position in 2010.
Conclusion
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Quarterback: Greg McElroy
Running Back: Mark Ingram
Wide Receiver: Titus Young
Defense: Alabama
Special Teams: Boise State
Even though a combined group of the players would be a dominating group, I believe if you want to wager who will the win the national championship, look to the defending champs in Alabama.
The Broncos will have to deal with their schedule and the BCS before they even make it to Glendale for a shot at the title as an BCS outsider.
The Buckeyes will most likely run the table this season and welcome the Crimson Tide in Glendale as their opponents marking the first time since 2007 that Ohio State will compete for the National title.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
