BCS Handicapping Tips
When the calendar flips over to August, training camps open, and college football teams across the country hit the field for the first time after a long offseason.
Not surprisingly, Alabama remains the favorite to repeat as national champions this season, but for those looking to get in on the action at longer odds, let’s take a look at five teams that offer up some value.
Lines courtesy of Bovada.lv
South Carolina Gamecocks +2000
South Carolina has hit all new highs during Steve Spurrier’s tenure with the team, winning 11 games in back-to-back seasons. The next step is to win the SEC and play for a national title, and this could be their year. The team has as soft a schedule as an SEC team can reasonably hope for, and they’ll have a chance to make an early statement, facing off with Georgia in the second week of the season. Jadeveon Clowney will keep the team on the national radar all season, so if the wins come, respect in the polls will follow.
Miami Hurricanes +2500
The ACC didn’t get much love in the first preseason Coaches’ Poll, but the Hurricanes may have them thinking differently at season’s end. There was a time when it was championship or bust at Miami. While those days are long gone, this year’s squad could remind Hurricane supporters of the program’s past glory. 18 starters return from a year ago, headlined by quarterback Stephen Morris and running back Duke Johnson. They’ll surely have the offense performing at a high level, enough so to cover up the team’s defensive shortcomings. Clemson and Florida State are vulnerable, and Miami seems to have the easiest path to the ACC title.
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Michigan Wolverines +4000
Head coach Brady Hoke has Michigan supporters forgetting the lean years the program has endured. His recruiting has been spot-on, and because of that, the roster is now loaded with enough talent to make a serious run. A favorable schedule will see the Wolverines avoid Wisconsin, and play their toughest games in Ann Arbor, outside of a big game at Michigan State. A Big Ten title is in their sights, and an undefeated season isn’t out of the question.
UCLA Bruins +5000
The Bruins looked like an entirely different team in their first year under new head coach Jim Mora. If they can continue to make strides in year two of his regime, big things could be coming. A tough schedule doesn’t do the team any favors, but Oregon and USC are vulnerable, and the Bruins played Stanford tough in the Pac-12 Championship Game a year ago. Brett Hundley will need to carry more of the load on offense with Johnathan Franklin gone, but he seems capable of doing so.
BYU Cougars +15000
Last season it was Notre Dame, and this season it could be BYU playing the role of the hot independent making a run at a national title. Their schedule sets up nicely for a possible run. An early meeting with Texas will make or break the Cougars’ season, so they’re lucky to get that game at home. The loss of Ezekial Ansah hurts, but a defense that ranked third in both total defense, and scoring defense should continue to give opponents fits. If quarterback Taysom Hill can stay on the field the team will fare a lot better in some of those close games that wound up as losses a year ago.
