With the NHL and NBA Finals just wrapping up, not too many people are talking about college football right now. However, that has not stopped the Vegas sportsbooks from releasing the odds for the 2009-2010 National Champion. The SEC recruited well, but will this conference produce its fourth straight National champ? Here’s a little preview on what you can look forward to for the upcoming BCS title run.
Winners of two of the last three National Championships, the Florida Gators will return with Tim Tebow intact and their eyes set on another title. The Gators lost two of their top wideouts in Louis Murphy and Percy Harvin who decided to hit the NFL. This means that Tim Tebow will have to work with a core of very young receivers. However, returning for his senior year, Brandon Spikes should help the team stay competitive on the defensive end. While the offensive is looking suspect, we should have learned to never count out Tebow.
Off the heels of a crushing loss in the BCS National Championship title game, Oklahoma will return with Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford behind center once again. This is another team that lost some key guys at wide receiver, mainly Juaquin Iglesias who lead the team with over 1,100 receiving yards last season. While the receiving core is rather young and unpolished, the Sooners proved that they have a ground game as both Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2008-2009. A nice one-two punch could be exactly what Bradford needs to push Oklahoma over the top.
The Trojans received some pretty disappointing news when Mark Sanchez made himself available in the NFL draft. This system has proven that it can mold QBs, but USC took the biggest hit on the defensive side of the ball, losing a number of key guys, Rey Maualuga included. The Trojans were the number one overall defensive team last year season but it can be a rough go this time around. If USC wants a shot at the National Championship, they may have to do it by outscoring teams.
Feeling slighted by the BCS for a National Title shot, the Texas Longhorns enter the 2009-2010 season with something to prove. Texas has a big upside with Colt McCoy returning for what could be a Heisman season. Colt has a nice mix of experienced and young receivers to throw to but the Longhorns’ running game is questionable. Although Cody Johnson, Fozzy Whitaker and Vondrell McGee all got carries last season, none showed that they could carry the ground game as McCoy led the team in rushing. We’ve seen crazier things so don’t be surprised if Colt puts the Longhorns on his back en route to a National Championship.
Alabama was the most surprising team in the SEC last season and perhaps the biggest story in the nation. This team rolled through the competition, going undefeated until losing to the Gators and missing out on a National title opportunity. The Crimson Tide return with a nice ground and pound game featuring Glen Coffee at running back and a tough defense that should be able to stop some of the conference’s toughest rushers. With a strong recruiting class coming in, Alabama could redeem themselves by winning it all.
Penn State Nittany Lions +3500
The Nittany Lions are bringing back most of their core guys and should have another impressive season. The offensive has a nice running back tandem in Evan Royster and Stephon Green, two backs that helped Penn putt up 24 points against USC’s hard hitting defense. If they can beat all the teams they are supposed to beat in the struggling Big 10, Penn State could have themselves a legitimate shot at the National Championship.
About Trev Rogers
