Oddsmakers have USC and Oklahoma the best College Football Teams

[sciencewhiz]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/12243641.html

Oddsmaker: USC, Oklahoma should square off for title

Ohio State-LSU has stirred little excitement

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Not that the Rose Bowl is a booby prize, but Southern California coach Pete Carroll has a team that deserves better this holiday season, according to oddsmakers.

At the end of an imperfect college football season, the scam known as the Bowl Championship Series has set up a title game matching Ohio State and Louisiana State, teams that are a combined 2-2 in their past four games.

The Tigers are 51/2-point favorites over the Buckeyes -- the No. 1 team in the BCS standings -- on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

"It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen this year," MGM Mirage sports book director Robert Walker said. "We won't know who the best team in the country is, and we certainly won't know after Ohio State and LSU play.


"If (the Tigers) beat Ohio State, there's no way you can say they're the best team in the country, not with a straight face."

If Las Vegas Sports Consultants oddsmaker Ken White was a matchmaker for the BCS, he said USC would be playing Oklahoma for the title. The Trojans and Sooners were tied atop LVSC's final regular-season poll.

"I think the third- and fourth-best teams in the country are playing for the title," White said. "We have to make USC a slight favorite over anybody except Oklahoma."

White said because of "public perception," the Trojans would be about 11/2-point favorites over the Sooners.

Walker said USC would be about a 7-point favorite over Ohio State.

"I still think USC would be favored over any team on a neutral field," Walker said. "This would be a phenomenal year to have a tournament."

Of course, there is no tournament, and the Trojans are 131/2-point favorites over Illinois, a team with three losses, on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl.

The argument for USC (10-2) is flawed because it lost a home game to Stanford in early October. But Ohio State played a weak nonconference schedule (Youngstown State, Akron, Washington and Kent State), and Oklahoma lost to two unranked teams (Colorado and Texas Tech).

White said three of four LVSC oddsmakers ranked the Trojans and Sooners as the top two teams.

Oklahoma is a 7-point favorite over West Virginia on Jan. 2 in the Fiesta Bowl.

With 32 bowl games on the schedule, Walker said betting has been slow since opening lines were posted and the LSU-Ohio State matchup is generating little excitement.

"It has been very quiet," said Walker, who has seen few significant line moves and only a minor amount of wagering.

One noticeable line move is on the Las Vegas Bowl. Brigham Young is a 6-point favorite over UCLA -- LVSC's opening line was 31/2 -- in the Dec. 22 game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.

I have Oklahoma as #1, but have no idea for #2.

 

[BlackTigers]

For me, it'd be something more like...

USC
LSU
Oklahoma
OSU
Georgia?

 

[ElFenix]

the pac 10 needs to be burnt to the ground. either that or the other conferences should just go ahead with a tournament and leave the crap 10 out of it. they can play their rose bowl against an NAIA team on january 1 every year by themselves.


(for those who don't know, the biggest thing between college football and a tournament is the pac 10. everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system, but it was hard enough getting the pac 10 to sign onto the BCS)

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system, but it was hard enough getting the pac 10 to sign onto the BCS)

Not exactly true....money is one of the biggest factors holding people back from getting on the playoff band wagon.

 

[ponyo]

I agree with the oddsmakers.

 

[JasonCoder]

I don't think the Big10 is doing anyone any favors towards a playoff either. The conference prides itself on having its athletes home for Thanksgiving. Football players, that is. Basketball, hockey and wrestling players can suck it apparently.

With the 12 game format I wish they would add conference games (like the Pac10 did) instead of more cupcakes and establish a true champion. Some years you get a true champ (past couple) and some you don't.

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: dudeman007

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system, but it was hard enough getting the pac 10 to sign onto the BCS)

Not exactly true....money is one of the biggest factors holding people back from getting on the playoff band wagon.

QFT

Actually ElFenix, you're the first one I've EVER heard make that argument. Money is what is preventing a playoff.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BigJelly

Originally posted by: dudeman007

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system, but it was hard enough getting the pac 10 to sign onto the BCS)

Not exactly true....money is one of the biggest factors holding people back from getting on the playoff band wagon.

QFT

Actually ElFenix, you're the first one I've EVER heard make that argument. Money is what is preventing a playoff.

right, because a bunch of bowls that no one wants to see will make more money than a tournament that everyone and their mother is watching.

march madness for college football will make everyone tons of money. more money than the bowl system. anyone who can't see that has their heads buried in the sand.

Originally posted by: JasonCoder
I don't think the Big10 is doing anyone any favors towards a playoff either. The conference prides itself on having its athletes home for Thanksgiving. Football players, that is. Basketball, hockey and wrestling players can suck it apparently.

With the 12 game format I wish they would add conference games (like the Pac10 did) instead of more cupcakes and establish a true champion. Some years you get a true champ (past couple) and some you don't.

they'd have to get rid of two non conference games, doubt they'd do it.

 

[kalster]

something needs to be changed
the bowl matchups this year are pretty retarded,

 

[GenHoth]

USC/OKL Are who I wanted in the NC, instead we get LSU OSU and USC Ill. Two god awful matchups.

 

[Pacfanweb]

It's wide open this year. There is no clear-cut #1. Perfect time for a playoff. Any team from 1-20 is capable of beating each other.

 

[BrokenVisage]

All I know is USC is NOT #1 or #2.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I guess everyone forgot that USC dropped one at home to Stanford, and that the same oddsmakers who now say USC is one of the best two teams in the country predicted one of the biggest blowouts of the season in USC's favor, only for them to lose...to Stanford

This is a load of horseshit, nothing more.

When UCLA was still in contention to win the Pac-10 with a 6-5 record going into that last game vs. USC, I'm sorry but the Pac-10 means jack squat this year. It was supposed to be Orgeon's year with Dixon but of course they lost Dixon and thus lost their season and thus the Pac-10 had to go back to pushing USC.

I don't get it, how the hell did USC somehow regain the respect of just about everyone? They don't have any impressive wins on their schedule, perhaps people believe that ASU is actually good?...their only other 'impressive' win was beating a horrible Nebraska team that just so happened to be ranked when USC played them, in retrospect that game certainly wasn't that impressive at all...

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
I guess everyone forgot that USC dropped one at home to Stanford, and that the same oddsmakers who now say USC is one of the best two teams in the country predicted one of the biggest blowouts of the season in USC's favor, only for them to lose...to Stanford

This is a load of horseshit, nothing more.

When UCLA was still in contention to win the Pac-10 with a 6-5 record going into that last game vs. USC, I'm sorry but the Pac-10 means jack squat this year. It was supposed to be Orgeon's year with Dixon but of course they lost Dixon and thus lost their season and thus the Pac-10 had to go back to pushing USC.

I don't get it, how the hell did USC somehow regain the respect of just about everyone? They don't have any impressive wins on their schedule, perhaps people believe that ASU is actually good?...their only other 'impressive' win was beating a horrible Nebraska team that just so happened to be ranked when USC played them, in retrospect that game certainly wasn't that impressive at all...

ohio state would have atleast 3 losses in the pac-10 this year, big-10 is the joke if anything, a 1 loss big-10 team in no way deserves to be in the NC game

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system,

Not to be rude, but you don't know what you're talking about. In fact, you've got it completely backwards. Money is what gave us the BCS and keeps us from having a playoff.

 

[ctark]

Nobody in the country wants to play USC right now. This is coming from an Oklahoma fan. People get all caught up on who's the best based on the past. Who is the best right now? Who's playing very good? Oklahoma and USC are two teams who fit that. Any team in the top 15 excluding hawaii can beat any other team on any given day.

 

[JasonCoder]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: JasonCoder
I don't think the Big10 is doing anyone any favors towards a playoff either. The conference prides itself on having its athletes home for Thanksgiving. Football players, that is. Basketball, hockey and wrestling players can suck it apparently.

With the 12 game format I wish they would add conference games (like the Pac10 did) instead of more cupcakes and establish a true champion. Some years you get a true champ (past couple) and some you don't.

they'd have to get rid of two non conference games, doubt they'd do it.

I don't think so either, but it would be ideal. They'll add a big10 champ game first. Heck, it took the basketball side of the big10 awhile to add a conference tournament.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system,

Not to be rude, but you don't know what you're talking about. In fact, you've got it completely backwards. Money is what gave us the BCS and keeps us from having a playoff.

do you really think that there wouldn't be more money in a tournament? honestly, truly believe that?


the reason we have the BCS is historical accident. yes, there is a lot of money in it, but that doesn't mean more money couldn't be made by doing it otherwise.

 

[miketheidiot]

i think alot of people underestimate osu, but they should still be playing in the rosebowl this year. I've seen most of lsu's games this year, and with the exception of the VT game they have looked extremely underwhelming for a team that lots of people would have settled with crowning national champ back in september. There are probably 3 or 4 teams that i would put ahead of either of those teams for the championship game.

 

[Alkaline5]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i think alot of people underestimate osu, but they should still be playing in the rosebowl this year. I've seen most of lsu's games this year, and with the exception of the VT game they have looked extremely underwhelming for a team that lots of people would have settled with crowning national champ back in september. There are probably 3 or 4 teams that i would put ahead of either of those teams for the championship game.

LSU has looked worse and worse as the season has gone on, but IMO there's no arguing with the results. They're 4-1 against the current AP Top 25. No one else comes close to having played a schedule against that may difficult teams. Oklahoma is 3-0 (Missouri gets counted twice, padding that stat a bit), USC is only 1-0, and even Georgia is just 2-1. Because of the level of competition they had to deal with, LSU ended up being plagued by injuries during the latter half of the year (Flynn, Dorsey, and Doucet frequently played through injuries). I expect they'll be rested up by Jan 7th, though.

But I do agree about OSU. They're a good team, but have not proven themselves NC-caliber during the regular season. Their name and their 10-1 record against an overall easy-ish schedule gave them a free pass to the championship game.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system,

Not to be rude, but you don't know what you're talking about. In fact, you've got it completely backwards. Money is what gave us the BCS and keeps us from having a playoff.

Not to be rude, but it's you who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Best 8 teams = 4 BCS games.
Best 8 teams in a tournament = 7 Playoff games with an National Championship.

7 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV > 4 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV.

Even with a playoff system you're going to get those 9 and 10 teams bitching because they feel they should have made it. But, it's the best solution to see the top team is.

 

[JasonCoder]

Originally posted by: Alkaline5

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
i think alot of people underestimate osu, but they should still be playing in the rosebowl this year. I've seen most of lsu's games this year, and with the exception of the VT game they have looked extremely underwhelming for a team that lots of people would have settled with crowning national champ back in september. There are probably 3 or 4 teams that i would put ahead of either of those teams for the championship game.

LSU has looked worse and worse as the season has gone on, but IMO there's no arguing with the results. They're 4-1 against the current AP Top 25. No one else comes close to having played a schedule against that may difficult teams. Oklahoma is 3-0 (Missouri gets counted twice, padding that stat a bit), USC is only 1-0, and even Georgia is just 2-1. Because of the level of competition they had to deal with, LSU ended up being plagued by injuries during the latter half of the year (Flynn, Dorsey, and Doucet frequently played through injuries). I expect they'll be rested up by Jan 7th, though.

Yeah, there are several ways to look at it. Along with the 4-1 record against the top 25, they lost to an unranked team. One of their top 25 wins was against a very wounded VT team. To some (ESPN talking heads) its ok to excuse LSU's losses and close wins because of injury, but not when they beat opponents who are wounded.

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
But I do agree about OSU. They're a good team, but have not proven themselves NC-caliber during the regular season. Their name and their 10-1 record against an overall easy-ish schedule gave them a free pass to the championship game.

I agree that they haven't looked totally dominating. But they definitely had some special wins and produced the #1 overall defense in D1 (down conference? - please). And no one had any issues with sending USC to NC games when the Pac10 was a joke - bad joke at that.

 

[kalster]

And no one had any issues with sending USC to NC games when the Pac10 was a joke - bad joke at that.

for one they didn't play a piss poor schedule in the year they played in the NC game

2004, opened on the road at Virginia tech
2005, played arkansas

also they were not totally outclassed in the NC game the year before

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system,

Not to be rude, but you don't know what you're talking about. In fact, you've got it completely backwards. Money is what gave us the BCS and keeps us from having a playoff.

Not to be rude, but it's you who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Best 8 teams = 4 BCS games.
Best 8 teams in a tournament = 7 Playoff games with an National Championship.

7 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV > 4 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV.

Even with a playoff system you're going to get those 9 and 10 teams bitching because they feel they should have made it. But, it's the best solution to see the top team is.

Don't forget that right now there are 34 bowl games that could not survive if a playoff was implemented. It would take a 32 team playoff to get close to the number of post season games as there is currently.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: ElFenix
everyone knows that much more money would be made with a tournament than the bowl system,

Not to be rude, but you don't know what you're talking about. In fact, you've got it completely backwards. Money is what gave us the BCS and keeps us from having a playoff.

Not to be rude, but it's you who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Best 8 teams = 4 BCS games.
Best 8 teams in a tournament = 7 Playoff games with an National Championship.

7 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV > 4 sold-out games with sponsorship and TV.

Even with a playoff system you're going to get those 9 and 10 teams bitching because they feel they should have made it. But, it's the best solution to see the top team is.

Don't forget that right now there are 34 bowl games that could not survive if a playoff was implemented. It would take a 32 team playoff to get close to the number of post season games as there is currently.

SURPRISE! you can still have bowl games even while there are playoffs.