We're
getting close to the start of the season. Will Alabama repeat? Can LSU get back
to the national championship? Which teams could surprise in 2012? Let's run
over the top conferences and see what to expect.
Here are the top conferences sure to attract the most
college football betting action.
SEC
Both Alabama and LSU are going to be contending for the BCS
National Championship again. They're each listed at +550 to do so.
A couple new teams are joining up for this season, with Texas
A&M and Missouri bolting the Big 12 for greener pastures.
Elsewhere in the SEC we can find Georgia (+1400), Arkansas
(+2000), South Carolina (+3000) and others near the top of the list for title
contenders. In short, this conference is stacked. Every week during conference
play we'll see at least one terrific college football matchup.
Big 12
In place of the departing schools, West Virginia and TCU
have been recruited. Two solid football programs right there who will both be
competing from the get-go.
The big dog in the conference is Oklahoma, a perennial power
in college football. The Sooners are fourth-favorites in the odds at +1000 to
win it all.
There will be quite a few other teams in the Top 25 too,
with the Mountaineers and Horned Frogs as well as Texas, Kansas State and
Oklahoma State all looking good. Baylor and Texas Tech should be decent as
well.
Big Ten
Five teams we like in the Big Ten, including Michigan, Ohio
State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
The Wolverines are at the top in the minds of the
sportsbooks at +2000, while the Cornhuskers and Badgers are both priced at
+4000.
Urban Meyer is back in coaching though and he's going to
make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes. He's got dual-threat quarterback
Braxton Miller ready to take charge of his spread offense. Look for Ohio State
to drastically improve on their 6-7 record from last season.
ACC
The ACC's going to be all about Florida State. Pundits, the
public and oddsmakers agree.
Ranked number five in Bovada's futures odds (+1000), the
Seminoles' consistently excellent recruiting classes have paved the way for a
potentially special season. They were fourth in the country last year in
defense (15.1 PPG allowed) and are primed for another excellent campaign in
2012.
They will be joined by Virginia Tech (+3000) and Clemson
(+3300) in a conference that lacks major football clout.
Pac 12
Matt Barkley returns and makes USC the nation's overall
favorite for the trophy. They can be backed at +300 in the college football
odds.
Oregon and their explosive offense isn't too far back
though, quoted at +1200. Sure, they may have lost both Darron Thomas and
LaMichael James, but they have a great recruiting class, Bryan Bennett ready to
step in at quarterback and a number of different weapons who can run the
football.
There's a huge dropoff after the Trojans and Ducks. Maybe
Stanford could pick up an upset here and there, but in truth it's all about
those two.
The
Mountain West and Big East have some solid teams, but Boise State is clearly
the team to beat. The latter conference isn't expected to have any competitors
listed in the preseason top 25. Basketball remains king in the Big East.