The No. 4 (BCS) Florida Gators of the Southeast Conference (SEC) are the oddsmakers favorites to win the 2009 BCS national championship according to oddsmakers at online mega-sportsbook Bodog (Bodoglife.com) . When Bodog updated its betting odds (futures and lines) for College Football Week 14 on Monday, Florida was listed as odds favorite at 3/2 odds to win the BCS title. The team with second best odds is Alabama at 5/2, only slightly better than Oklahoma at 3/1 and Texas at 4/1.
Point-Spreads.com handicapper and college football guru Reno Gold disagrees with what oddsmakers are saying regarding the Gators.
“There is a chance Florida could win-out and not get into the BCS championship game,” said Goldberg. “This could happen because of computers. Computers could decide who plays in the BCS game and who doesn’t. I base this theory on the fact that Florida is currently ranked fourth in the BCS behind Oklahoma and if the computers like Oklahoma’s schedule they could end up in the big game regardless of what Florida does. And it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Oklahoma and Texas could end up in a rematch.”
Florida is currently ranked No. 2 in the AP poll while Oklahoma sits at No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The BCS poll currently has Alabama at No. 1 and Texas at No. 2 followed by Oklahoma and Florida.
While Gold say’s it’s a possibility Florida does not get into the BCS title game, there are still many other scenarios. Oklahoma must win over Oklahoma State on Saturday to have a chance.
“Right now there is a three-way tie in the Big 12 South between Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech,” said Gold. “If all three win their games this week then the school to represent the division is the highest ranked in the BCS poll. If Oklahoma loses to OSU at Stillwater, then Texas Tech gets into the Big 12 championship game. If that were to happen then Texas would have an inside shot at getting in the BCS title game. Of course the Horns must beat Texas A&M for that to happen.”
For an Oklahoma-Texas matchup in the BCS game to be a possibility, Florida needs win by close margins over Florida State this week and in the SEC game with Alabama. If the Gators were to struggle but eek out victories, it’s unlikely they would jump over Oklahoma in the No. 2 BCS slot.
If Alabama wins the SEC championship game then they are in. The only question is who would they play? If things stay as they are today, it would be the Texas Longhorns who are currently ranked No. 2 by the BCS. Oh yes… first the Tide must beat Auburn.
Folks…there is plenty of football to be played.
Odds to win the 2009 BCS National Championship (Betting odds provided by Bodog (Bodoglife.com)
1. Florida 3/2
2. Alabama 5/2
3. Oklahoma 3/1
4. Texas 4/1
5. USC 14/1
6. Texas Tech 16/1
7. Penn State 60/1
