LSU lost in Monday's BCS National Championship Game and finished second in today's final college football polls. But the Tigers, after a 13-1 season, already have been installed as a slight favorite to unseat reigning champ Alabama (12-1) in next year's BCS title showdown.
At least, that is the take from Bovada Sportsbook (www.Bovada.lv), which offered a variety of opening odds today in regard to the 2012 college football season and the upcoming NFL Draft. Among them: the site likes USC QB Matt Barkley to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy and considers Oklahoma (12/1) and Texas (25/1) the most viable national title contenders from the Big 12 next season.
The top three spots belong to LSU (4/1), Alabama (5/1) and USC (9/1). Kansas State (35/1) and TCU (50/1) also are in the mix among Big 12 candidates.
Below is a look at some of the site's early odds on the 2012 college football season:
NCAA FOOTBALL
Odds to win the 2012-2013 BCS National Championship
LSU 4/1
Alabama 5/1
USC 9/1
Florida State 12/1
Georgia 12/1
Oklahoma 12/1
Oregon 12/1
Notre Dame 18/1
Arkansas 18/1
Michigan 20/1
Texas 25/1
Clemson 25/1
Virginia Tech 25/1
Florida 30/1
West Virginia 30/1
South Carolina 30/1
Wisconsin 35/1
Nebraska 35/1
Kansas State 35/1
Auburn 50/1
Boise State 50/1
TCU 50/1
Washington 65/1
Cincinnati 65/1
Mississippi State 65/1
Oklahoma State 75/1
Stanford 75/1
Iowa 75/1
Michigan State 75/1
Arizona 75/1
Missouri 85/1
Penn State 100/1
Pittsburgh 100/1
Tennessee 100/1
Texas A&M 100/1
BYU 125/1
California 125/1
Miami (Florida) 125/1
North Carolina 125/1
UCLA 150/1
Boston College 150/1
Georgia Tech 150/1
South Florida 150/1
Oregon State 200/1
*Others on request
Odds to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy
Matt Barkley (QB USC) 7/2
Montee Ball (RB Wisconsin) 5/1
Denard Robinson (QB Michigan) 5/1
Landry Jones (QB Oklahoma) 13/2
Geno Smith (QB West Virginia) 7/1
Marcus Lattimore (RB South Carolina) 10/1
A.J. McCarron (QB Alabama) 15/1
Tajh Boyd (QB Clemson) 20/1
Taylor Martinez (QB Nebraska) 20/1
De'Anthony Thomas (RB Oregon) 25/1
Rex Burkhead (RB Nebraska) 25/1
Robert Woods (WR USC) 35/1
Tyler Wilson (QB Arkansas) 35/1
Aaron Murray (QB Georgia) 35/1
Sammy Watkins (WR Clemson) 40/1
Keith Price (QB Washington) 50/1
Tyrann Mathieu (CB LSU) 50/1
Giovani Bernard (RB North Carolina) 55/1
Isaiah Crowell (RB Georgia) 60/1
James Franklin (QB Missouri) 75/1
Kenny Stills (WR Oklahoma) 75/1
Malcolm Brown (RB Texas) 75/1
Henry Josey (RB Missouri) 80/1
Will Matt Kalil (OT USC) be the #2 overall pick in the draft?
Yes 7/2
No 1/6
Will Justin Blackmon (WR Oklahoma State) be the #2 overall pick in the draft?
Yes 5/2
No 1/4
Who will draft Robert Griffin III (QB Baylor)?
Cleveland Browns 1/1
Washington Redskins 3/1
Miami Dolphins 7/2
Buffalo Bills 5/1
Seattle Seahawks 8/1
_ Jimmy Burch
LSU will have no chance to win the National Championship with Les Miles as coach. Saban will out-coach him again.
Posted by: Mike G | January 10, 2012 at 11:07 PM