NCAA Football Betting: Darkhorses To Watch in 2010

Football betting players, both in the professional ranks and college, are always looking for a darkhorse to maximize their profits. This season there are a trio of intriguing darkhorses in the NCAA that may be worth a wager:

North Carolina

The Tar Heels are ranked 18th in the preseason polls, but they could move up the ladder. They return 19 starters back to the fold, including nine from what was the sixth-ranked defense in the league. 

NFL betting players should keep a close eye on Robert Quinn, who could be the best defensive end in the country. But this team is loaded throughout. 

The questions come on offense, where the Tar Heels were ranked 108th last year.  T.J. Yates is back as the starting quarterback, but look for freshman Bryn Renner to push the senior.  If the offense can be half-decent, the Tar Heels have a very good chance to go to a BCS bowl and win the ACC.

Florida State

The 20th-ranked Seminoles are part of a resurgent ACC: Miami, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Florida State all figure to be on the fringe of the national title discussion.  Some feel as though the Seminoles will be going through a transition period—this is the first time in over three decades that Bobby Bowden won’t be leading them—but Jimbo Fisher has been here for a few years and the team is used to him. 

The Seminoles also have 16 starters back, including 10 on offense, and quarterback Christian Ponder could be a Heisman candidate after recovering from a separated shoulder that caused him to miss the end of 2009.  The key here will be a defense that was absolutely atrocious in their last year under Mickey Andrews. Mark Stoops (brother of Oklahoma coach Bob and Arizona coach Mike) will have his hands full improving this bunch.  If he does, FSU’s NCAA football betting odds will spike.

UConn

The Huskies are just outside of the top 25, but they have a great shot to win the Big East. Cincinnati should take a step back with a new coach, and their main competition is Pittsburgh. 

The Huskies were the darlings of 2009, using the murder of cornerback Jasper Howard as motivation to roll to a four-game winning streak at the end of the year. This year they are an experienced group, returning several starters.  Zach Fraser takes the reins on offense, but he has plenty of help, including running back D.J. Shoemate, who escaped from sanctions-burdened USC. 

The defense definitely tightened up later in the season and they’ll have linebacker Scott Lutrus back on the team after he missed last year due to injury.  Don’t count out UConn’s online betting odds in 2010.