Todays article we take a look at what teams in college
football could be sleepers and on the rise from last year. See who we think can
rack us up some units this year as they look to surprise bettors and odds
makers.
We start off with the Ohio Bobcats
Yes, the Bobcats are not a BCS team but that does not mean
they can't make us money. We love their returning QB in Tylar Tettleton. This
kid is the definition of clutch and a gamer. In 2011 Tettleton was spectacular,
passing for almost 4,000 yards with a 65% completion percentage and threw for
28 touchdowns. Tettleton is a duel threat in the pocket, as he rushed for 629
yards and 10 touchdowns. Ohio also has one of the best head coaches in the
conference in Frank Solich, who coached all of those Nebraska teams that were
so successful in the 90s. Solich, got Ohio their first bowl win against a
highly explosive Northern Illinois team and QB Chandler Harnish, last year.
Solich always has a tremendous defense out on the field that plays hard and
never gives up on play. They are always especially efficient in stopping the
run game.
Most important in college football is always the offensive
line, and the Bobcats are set in that department, returning six offensive
linemen who have made a combined 98 starts in their career. They will look to
open up holes for returning running backs Beau Blankenship and bruiser Ryan
Boykin. Boykin is a big bruising runner while Blankenship is crafty and shifty
through the holes, making defenders miss. A combination you always want in your
running game.
The Bobcats have an all around solid team, with an offensive
line that has major experience, giving time for one of the most prolific
passers in the MAC to make big plays, while theheiy open up holes for the run game
as well. As we said you can always count on Solich to have a hard nosed
defense. The Bobcats will face Penn State in their first game of the season and
with all that has gone on with the Nittany Lions, this is a spot where Ohio can
definantly knock off Penn State to get their season off to a great start. We
will be backing them in Week 1 and many other weeks as well so check the odds straight away for the best price.
This will be Frank Solichs most talented, well seasoned and
well rounded squad since he has arrived in Ohio.
Michigan
The Wolverines won't exactly be sleepers but they will be on
the rise in what will will be Brady Hokes second year at Michigan as they only
look to get better. The improvement is scary considering he brought them to a
10-2 record in his first season. Michigan will return who is now senior
quarterback and one of the most explosive players in the nation, Denard
Robinson. 
Robinson is a clear candidate to win the Heisman Trophy this year
without a doubt. In 2011 Denard passed for 2173 yards to go along with 20
touchdowns but was hampered with 15 interceptions. If he can cut down on those
INTS look out cause he will be a lock for the Heisman. What makes Robinson so
explosive is speed, he is probably the fastest player on the team and runs the
ball better than any RB on the team as well. He rushed for 1176 yards in 2011 and
racked up 16 touchdowns. His elusiveness is undeniable and you need at least 3
guys to take him down. Robinson owns the top six offensive games in Michigan
history. In 2010 he set an NCAA record for most rushing yards by a QB with
1,702.
Just behind Robinson at RB they will return Fitzgerald
Touissant who also went for over 1,000 yards rushing. That gives the Wolverines
a highly dynamic rushing game, with two 1,000 yard rushers. You hardly ever see
that in college football. Especially returning too, they can only get better.
Michigan made leaps and bounds on defense last year, partly
due to their defensive line but they have now lost 3 starters on that line and
will need to fill those voids if they want to find themselves in the National
Championship discussion. The good news is they do return 8 starters on defense
and starting linebacker, Kenny Demens who should pass the 100 tackle mark with
ease.
Michigan has a very big show down in week one with the
Alabama Crimson Tide in which they are 11.5 point underdogs. This could
possibly be one of the best games of the year if Michigan can find a way to
score at will like they normally do but that is going to be a very tall
order against the Tide defense. In our opinion, Alabama will most likely
cover this game, possibly cruising to an easy victory, than the public
perception will drop on the Wolverines and it will be the perfect time to back
them.
Be clever with your plays…..Buy low, sell high.
Vanderbilt Commodores
We aren't saying Vanderbilt are going to come close to
winning their conference but they will be a covering machine with Jordan
Rodgers at QB and firey head coach James Franklin, who started to really turn
this team around at the end of last season. Vanderbilt will only lose 2
starters on offense but will return only 5 on defense.
Head coach James Franklin, turned this team from a laughing
stock to a ferocious, smart, heavy hitting physical football team, that plays to the end of every whistle with a
never say die attitude. Franklin turned a 2-10 team into one that went 6-1
against teams they were supposed to beat and were very competitive against some
of the powerhouses in football, with a five point loss to Georgia, three point
loss to Arkansas and a five point loss to Florida. In result of all that
Franklin has just signed one of the best recruiting classes ever at Vandy.
With the evolving Jordan Rodgers at QB and the system
implemented by Franklin, this team is going to take every team to the wire.
They will surely be under dogs in a lot of games they play but this is the type
of dog you want your money on. Look for the Commodores to bring in very good
profits to NCAAF bettors.