USC Trojans 2009 College Football Predictions

USC Trojans 2009 College Football Predictions: For most schools, facing a season with a new starting quarterback and only three defensive starters would signal a rebuilding year. However, at the University of Southern California, those obstacles simply mean that it is time for the USC Trojans to reload as they prepare for another run at the national championship. The college football predictions experts at online sportsbook SBG Global has the USC Trojans listed at +600 odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship Title .

Pros: The Trojans used a running back-by-committee approach a year ago, and with their top three rushers all returning will likely continue that plan in 2009. Stefon Johnson (705 yards rushing, 9 touchdowns) led the squad a year ago, while Joe McKnight (659 yards, 7.4 ypc) is the big-play back as well as the best receiver out of the backfield. C.J. Gable (617 yards, 8 touchdowns) gives the Trojans another backfield option. The offensive line returns four starters, and the receiving corps is also experienced and deep. The defense returns only three starters, but the defensive backfield is experienced, let by All-American safety Taylor Mays and the versatile Josh Pinkard.

Cons: Replacing Matt Sanchez at quarterback will be the most important challenge for head coach Pete Carroll. Sophomore Aaron Corp seems to have the early edge, but freshman Matt Barkley has received widespread praise. Former Arkansas starter Mitch Mustain has the most experience at the position, but he enters fall practice third on the depth chart. The defense has a lot of holes to fill from a squad that ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, and second in yards allowed. However, the cupboard is not at all bare as there are players with significant game experience ready to move in at every position.

#2 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
2008 Season Record: 12-1
2008 Final Rank: 2
Returning Starters on Offense: 9
Returning Starts on Defense: 3

Surprise Stat: The Trojans registered three shutouts in 2008 and held three other opponents without a touchdown.

The college football predictions odds makers at SBG Global have the USC Trojans –400 odds favorites to win the PAC Conference Title.

Overall Outlook: If the quarterback position is clearly settled and the new starters at defense are as good as expected, the Trojans shouldn’t miss a beat and will be back in the mix for a national title. However, if there are issues in either area, it might be a challenge for USC to earn their eighth straight appearance in a BCS bowl game.

Big Game: The new starting quarterback will get baptism by fire in the second week of the season as USC plays at Ohio State on September 12th. Last season the Trojans annihilated the Buckeyes and you can bet that Ohio State is looking to return the favor this time around. USC must win that game if they entertain any hope of contending for a national title. It isn’t very often that a true freshman is in the mix to start at quarterback for a national championship contender, but Matt Barkley evidently is that kind of special talent. Other leading members of USC’s recruiting class include versatile athlete Patrick Hall and defensive end Devon Kennard.

Key to Success: With a solid running attack, quality receiving corps and veteran offensive line, the new starting quarterback will not have to carry the team. Instead, he will simply have to minimize mistakes and take advantage of the opportunities he will get in the innovative USC offense. Watch for senior All-American safety Taylor Mays to assume the leadership role on defense and help mold the new starters into a quality unit.

Online Sportsbook SBG Global has posted the following odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship:

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 September 2009 )

Written by Steve Hastings

Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Florida Gators 2009 College Football Predictions: After steamrolling through the final 10 games of the 2008 season (outscoring opponents 469 to 131) on their way to claiming their second Bowl championship Series National Title in the last three years, the University of Florida Gators seem perfectly positioned to bring another championship to Gainesville. The college football predictions experts at online sportsbook SBG Global has the Florida Gators listed at +150 odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship Title.

Pros: Senior quarterback Tim Tebow (2,764 yards passing, 30 TDs; 673 yards rushing, 12 TDs) is a dangerous multi-purpose threat with the unique ability to lift the level of play of his teammates. He orchestrates one of the most potent offenses in college football, as the Gators averaged 43.6 points per game a year ago. The defense returns all 11 starters and 21 of 22 players on the two-deep depth chart from a unit that allowed only 12.9 points per game a year ago, and held the high-powered Oklahoma Sooners to only 14 points in the national title game. Linebacker Brandon Spikes is a defensive game-changer and the secondary is as strong as nay in the country.

Cons: The biggest loss from a year ago is playmaker Percy Harvin, who was the top receiver and second leading rusher in 2008. Running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey each gained more than 600 yards rushing while averaging 7.8 yards per rush and should pick up the slack running the ball. However, the top returning wide receiver is Deonte Thompson, who caught only 18 passes a year ago.

#1 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
2008 Season Record: 13-1
Defending BCS National Champions
2008 Final Rank: 1st
Returning Starters Offense:7
Returning Starts on Defense: 11

Surprise Stat: The Gators blocked nine kicks during the 2008 season.

The college football predictions odds makers at SBG Global have the Florida Gators –400 odds favorites to win the SEC Conference Title.

Overall Outlook: Picked by most experts as the preseason number one team, Urban Meyer’s squad seems to have all the ingredients needed to claim their third national championship in the last four years. If new playmakers can emerge at receiver, the offense should be just as explosive as a year ago. The defense is deep and talented and provides a great compliment to the explosive offense. With so much talent returning, the Gators won’t be relying on many newcomers this season. Wide receiver Andre Debose could see immediate action as a replacement for Percy Harvin. Other top recruits include offensive lineman Xavier Nixon and linebackers Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic.

Big Game: When you are the defending national champions, every team considers you to be a big game on their schedule. The September 19th game against Tennessee will be notable because new Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin has spent much of the off season provoking the Gators. However, the pivotal game for the Gators will be October 10th at LSU. If they emerge from that game undefeated, the Gators will be in the driver’s seat for a spot in the national title game as they play only two of their final seven games on the road.

Key to Success: The only thing that could significantly derail the title hopes for the Gators is a significant injury to Tebow. He is the emotional and physical leader of the team and must stay healthy if the Gators want to retain the national title. Given the plethora of defensive talent, you can imagine that every member of the defensive unit will be looking to stand out from the crowd on every opportunity. That could be bad news for opponents, who will see little letdown in talent no matter which players are in the game.

Online Sportsbook SBG Global has posted the following odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship:

Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )

College Football Odds Week 1

Written by Matt Foust

Monday, 31 August 2009

BetUS.com College Football Odds Week 1

College Football Odds Week 1: The 2009 college football season kicks off this week with a slate of games scheduled for Thursday, September 3rd. The most notable contests to open the year are South Carolina at North Carolina State and Oregon at Boise State. College Football Odds Week 1 at BetUS.com have the home teams favored in both games, the Wolfpack coming in at -4.5 against the spread and the Broncos an almost identical -4.

Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks roll into Raleigh this Thursday hoping to College Football Odds Week 1 repeat last year's result against North Carolina State. South Carolina took out an inexperienced Wolfpack team 34-0 in that game after holding Tom O'Brien's squad to just 138 yards of offense.

The tables have turned somewhat since that contest, though, as Spurrier has just 11 starters back from 2008's 7-6 team. The Wolfpack welcome back 14 frontline players from a team that closed out last year's schedule with four straight regular season wins. North Carolina State is also more sure at the quarterback position with sophomore Russell Wilson.

Wilson started the year at quarterback for NCST as a redshirt freshman last season, going on to win first team ACC honors; however, he left last year's meeting with South Carolina in the first half with a concussion.

Oregon heads to Boise seeking to exact some revenge after the Broncos came into Eugene and knocked the Ducks off 37-32 in week four of the 2008 season. However, the Ducks will make the trek with a new head coach in Chip Kelly. Longtime leader Mike Bellotti stepped down after a terrific 14 year stint with the program, one that saw the Ducks go 116-55.

Only nine starters are back for Kelly, but the talent level is strong. Kelly has also proven over the last two seasons as the Oregon offensive coordinator that he knows how to put points on the board (Ducks averaged a Pac-10 leading 41.9 points per game in 2008).

Boise State enters the year with BCS aspirations after going 12-1 last year. A soft schedule could make that happen, but getting by the Ducks and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is a big opening hurdle. History is in the Bronocs favor though, as they are 23-2 straight up in their last 25 games in Boise.

Game Notes: South Carolina vs North Carolina State kicks off at 7:00pm ET and will be televised live on ESPN. Oregon vs Boise State is scheduled to get underway at 10:15pm ET and will also be broadcast live on ESPN.

Notable Thursday Games:
South Carolina +4.5 (-110), Over 46 (-110), +160 (Moneyline)
North Carolina State -4.5 (-110), Under 46 (-110), -190 (Moneyline)

Oregon Ducks +4 (-110), Over 63.5 (-110), +160 (Moneyline)
Boise State Broncos -4 (-110), Under 63.5 (-110), -190 (Moneyline)

Friday Game(s):
Tulsa Golden Hurricane -13.5 (-110), Over 64.5 (Moneyline)
Tulane Green Wave +13.5 (-110), Under 64.5 (Moneyline)

Notable Saturday Games:
Navy Midshipmen +21.5 (-110), Over 47.5 (-110)
Ohio State Buckeyes -21.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)

Nevada Wolf Pack +14 (-110), Over 61.5 (-110)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -14 (-110), Under 61.5 (-110)

Georiga Bulldogs +5.5 (-110), Over 61.5 (-110)
Oklahoma State Cowboys -5.5 (-110), Under 61.5 (-110)

BYU Cougars +22 (-110), Over 68.5 (-110)
Oklahoma Sooners -22 (-110), Under 68.5 (-110)

Missouri Tigers +7 (-110), Over 60.5 (-110)
Illinois Fighting Illini -7 (-110), Under 60.5 (-110)

Virginia Tech Hokies +7 (-110), Over 38 (-110)
Alabama Crimson Tide -7 (-110), Under 38 (-110)

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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )

2010 BCS Odds, Picks & BCS Predictions

Written by Matt Foust

Sunday, 30 August 2009

Sportsbook.com 2010 BCS Odds, Picks & BCS Predictions:

2010 BCS Odds, Picks & BCS Predictions: With the college football season starting up this week, now seems like an appropriate time to analyze the top contenders for the BCS Championship. Sportsbook.com has 2010 BCS odds on most of the usual suspects, but the online bookmaker has four teams pegged as the most likely to bring home the coveted top ranking in their BCS Odds, Picks & BCS Predictions. Those squads are Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and USC.

Florida Gators (+200): The case for Florida is an easy one. The team 2010 BCS Odds, Picks & BCS Predictions has won two of the last three BCS Championships, including a dominating performance against Oklahoma in last season's deciding game. Head Coach Urban Meyer returns 18 starters from that squad, including 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Tim Tebow, as well as the entire front line defense. Tebow threw for 2746 yards and 30 touchdowns last season and he also led the team in rushing with 673 yards (12 touchdowns). The defense held teams to an average of 12.9 points and 285 yards per game a season ago.

Texas Longhorns (+400): The Longhorns were 12-1 last year including their Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State. Mack Brown has 16 starters back as well as 51 lettermen. Among the returnees is Heisman finalist, quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy, like Tebow, led his team in rushing, scampering for 561 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing for 3859 yards and 34 touchdowns (76.7 completion percentage). The Texas defense, which returns seven starters, held teams to 18.8 points and 343 yards per game while playing in the high octane Big 12.

Oklahoma Sooners (+600): While Head Coach Bob Stoops is working on the destruction of his "Big Game Bob" moniker, no one can doubt the talent level of his Sooners. Fourteen starters from last season's 12-2 squad are back, including nine from a defense that held teams to an average of 3.5 yards per carry and recorded 42 sacks. Also returning to Norman is Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. Bradford threw for 4720 yards and a ridiculous 50 touchdowns in his astonishing junior campaign. Furthermore, the signal caller led his team to an NCAA record 60 plus points in the final five regular season games.

USC Trojans (+700): Pete Carroll's team can never be counted out of the BCS discussion considering the coach has guided the Trojans to seven consecutive double digit win seasons. Last year's team went 12-1 and blasted an 11-1 (entering the post-season) Penn State troop 38-24 in the Rose Bowl. Only 12 starters are back from that team, but 59 lettermen from the squad return to Los Angeles. Given Carroll's regroup and reload track record, this year's version of the Trojans will be ready to roll.

Florida Gators +200
Texas Longhorns +400
Oklahoma Sooners +600
USC Trojans +700
Ohio State Buckeyes +1200
Mississippi Rebels +1500
LSU Tigers +2500
Alabama Crimson Tide +2500
Notre Dame Fighting Irish +2500
Penn State Nittany Lions +3000
Virginia Tech Hokies +3000
Oklahoma State Cowboys +4000
California Golden Bears +4000
Field (Any Other) +5000
Nebraska Cornhuskers +7500
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +7500
Georgia Bulldogs +7500
Florida State Seminoles +7500
Oregon Ducks +7500
Miami Hurricanes +7500

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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )

Washington State Cougars 2009 College Football Odds - BCS Odds 2010

Written by Matt Foust

Sunday, 30 August 2009