The following is a look at this week’s most interesting news and notes from the world of college football. Who has imporved their standings in the eyes of the College Football odds makers, and who has fallen down the ladder?
The final
countdown to the start of another college football season is in full swing as
teams all over the country teams begin to open summer camp in preparation for
their opening-day games the first weekend in September.
Now is the
perfect time to finalize your betting strategy heading into the new season in
order to ensure a profitable return on investment. A vital part of this
strategy is to make sure you stay on top of any new developments that may have
a direct impact on this year’s top contenders’ chances to win both their
conference and BCS national title. Sometimes it is the simplest things that
could end-up affecting a particular team’s current odds that have already been
posted by a good majority of the major sportsbooks in the gaming industry.
The exodus from Penn State continues
The fallout
from the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State continues as
player after player has decided to use the ability to freely transfer from the
school without having to sit out a year to their advantage in an effort to
revitalize what is left of their college career.
To date,
eight players have decided to opt out of their current scholarship at Penn
State to play for a different team this season. Back-up quarterback Rob Bolden
has left for LSU and defensive tackle Jamil Pollard has decided to transfer to
Rutgers, but one of the hardest hits to the Lions was the loss of running back
Silas Redd, who decided to switch coasts and join Lane Kiffin’s program at USC.
Redd led the team in rushing last season with 1,241 yards on 244 carries for an
average of 5.1 yards an attempt. USC had already been opened by Bovada as the odds-on-favorite
to win a national title this year and is now listed at 13/4.
Another
tough loss to the offense was wide receiver Justin Brown, who reportedly told
the staff at Oklahoma that he plans to transfer and play football for the
Sooners this season. Brown was Penn State’s second-leading receiver last season
with 35 receptions for 517 yards and two touchdowns. Oklahoma is an even money
1/1 favorite to win the Big 12 this season and a 10/1 fifth college football odds favorite to win the
BCS title.
TCU decides the fate of Casey Pachall
Die-hard TCU
Horned Frog fans breathed a sigh of relief this past week when head coach Gary
Patterson announced that starting quarterback Casey Pachall would not be
suspended for any games as a result of his failed drug test for marijuana this
past February. Pachall admitted he had used the drug when he failed the test
and completed a drug and alcohol counseling program as mandated by the
university. The junior signal-caller apologized for his actions as players began
returning to school for the start of training camp by stating “With the
expectations I have when I step on the field, I need to have those same
expectations when I step off the field as well”.
This will be
TCU’s first season in the Big 12 after deciding to part ways with the Mountain
West. It has been opened as 65/1 longshots to win a national title this year,
but the Horned Frogs are 11/2 third favorites to win the Big 12 Conference
Title.
Initial USA Today Coaches Poll is
released
The 2012
preseason USA Today Coaches Poll was released last week and as expected LSU,
Alabama, and USC head the list as the top three teams in the nation. The Tigers
have been ranked No.1 but there is just a four-point difference between them
and the Crimson Tide and a 15-point difference with the third-place Trojans.
Oklahoma and Oregon round-out the rest of the top five.
LSU has been
opened by Bovada as a 4/1 second-favorite after USC to win this season’s
national title, while the defending champion Tide have been opened as 6/1 third
favorites to repeat this year.