BCS Rankings 2011: Betting Odds for Potential Bowl Matchups

The No. 1 LSU Tigers and No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys will face each other in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game if both teams win out and maintain the top two spots in the rankings.

Las Vegas oddsmakers are already gearing up for potential bowl matchups, as it's imperative to establish correct betting odds with large wagers on the horizon.

Let's take a closer look at five potential BCS games from a betting perspective.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Stanford Cardinal

The Oklahoma Sooners are projected to face the Stanford Cardinal in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, which would definitely fill University of Phoenix Stadium seats with a reddish tint.

Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck still has a tough road ahead coming off a disappointing 53-30 home loss to the Oregon Ducks, hosting the California Golden Bears and Notre Dame Fighting Irish to close out the season.

The Sooners are still wondering how they lost to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and are looking dead ahead to the regular-season finale against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater.

I doubt this will be the matchup come Jan. 1.

Projected Line: Stanford Cardinal (-3.5)

Michigan State Spartans vs. Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks will present matchup problems all over the field against the Michigan State Spartans, as running back LaMichael James paces the nation in rushing yards per game.

Michigan State has a solid rush defense that is great within the tackles, but handling Oregon on the perimeter is a different story.

The Ducks have a shot at playing in the national title game for a second consecutive year, but will be motivated to play in the Rose Bowl due to their first loss coming in the season opener against the LSU Tigers.

Projected Line: Oregon Ducks (-8)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Houston Cougars

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban will have no problem motivating his team for this matchup if Houston Cougars signal-caller Case Keenum ends up walking away with the Heisman Trophy.

First off, it would mean that the voters passed up on the opportunity to hand the hardware off to Crimson Tide star running back Trent Richardson.

We've seen this type of matchup before in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, with the Georgia Bulldogs handing the Hawaii Warriors a 41-10 blowout loss in 2008.

Alabama's defense had no problems with the Arkansas Razorbacks aerial assault earlier this year, walking away with a 38-14 home win in Week 4.

Projected Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (-13.5)

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Clemson Tigers

The Cincinnati Bearcats and Clemson Tigers have a lot of work to do in hopes of reaching the Discover Orange Bowl, something that college football fans are going to root against.

I certainly don't want to watch this game.

Projected Line: Clemson Tigers (-10)

LSU Tigers vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Don't write off the Oklahoma State Cowboys if they happen to reach the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, as the LSU Tigers are not a sure-thing to walk away with the crystal ball.

Tigers head coach Les Miles has watched his squad outgained by two high-powered offenses this year, but ultimately took care of business against the Oregon Ducks and West Virginia Mountaineers.

Oklahoma State has one of the best pass-catch combinations in the country in quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

We'll see what happens over the next few weeks.

Projected Line: LSU Tigers (-4.5)