BCS National Championship Betting Futures: Oklahoma Favored

The Oklahoma Sooners had their glory days over the past decade, but they have failed to live up to their reputation last season. Now, the Sooners are back and appear as strong as ever heading into the 2011-12 season.

The college football season has arrived, and that is good news for not only the players and coaches, but also for millions of gambling fans across the country. With the season only a couple of weeks away, Oklahoma was named the number one team in the nation this past week.

The Sooners took home the top spot in several major polls, and they have been installed as the betting favorites by Las Vegas sports books. Oklahoma's odds of 9/2 are the shortest on the board, and there is only one team that shares odds of less than ten to one.

Defending national champion Alabama is number two in the polls and the second choice of odds makers at 11/2. The Crimson Tide lost some key players, but head coach Nick Saban has reloaded, and has his team ready for a run at back-to-back titles. Alabama is a heavy favorite to win the SEC, with LSU the closest competitor.

The Tigers are the fourth choice at sports books, with odds of 12/1. The recent scandal that has been reported regarding several members of the Tigers football team has some in Louisiana concerned, although gamblers figure to have LSU high on their betting lists as the season moves along this year.

Florida State has spent the past five years listening to the pre-season hype of analysts predicting the Seminoles were back on a national stage. This year may be the year the team finally lives up to the hype. FSU is ranked number four or five in most polls, yet they are the third betting choice at 10/1. The Seminoles popularity among fans automatically lowers their odds each season.

Florida is an example of how the odds do not always reflect talent, but instead the opinions of bettors. The Gators were ranked below fifteen in all the polls, yet they own the seventh lowest odds to win a title. Bettors usually go off past success as a guide to their betting habits, which would explain the Gators.18/1 odds in a year where many analysts believe the team is rebuilding.

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