Finding Value With NCAA Football Futures
One of the biggest misconceptions about professional gamblers is that they are all top-notch handicappers. They aren't. But they do one thing far better than the average bettor. They know how to shop for lines.
Getting the best available betting lines can often make the difference between a winning season and a losing one. Those who bet for a living are quick to acknowledge that fact. If you want to see the value in shopping for lines, look no farther than the NCAA football futures market for odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship game.
A number of smart bettors will typically avoid placing futures bets, as the house typically has an estimated 30- to 50-percent advantage over bettors. But for those willing to shop for the best odds, those percentages can be drastically reduced.
What we'll do here is look at the odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship on many of the top contenders from four well-known sportsbooks - Bodog, Intertops, Olympic, and Sportsbook. We'll compare the odds for each team and point out which sportsbook the player should wager at.
NOTE: Odds can change at any time depending on bets received by the sportsbook. You usually get the best odds by acting early, as most sportsbooks will lower the odds on one team, without raising the odds on others to make up the difference.
Odds to Win the 2009 BCS Championship
USC 3-1 to 7-2The Trojans are the early favorites to win the 2009 BCS Championship at all four sportsbooks, with odds ranging from 3-1 to 7-2, which is a relatively small spread. Intertops and Sportsbook are the two places both offering the better 7-2 odds on Southern Cal.
Florida 6-1 to 13-2
The Gators are the second choice among sportsbooks to win the 2009 BCS Championship and also have a pretty small margin in odds between the different sportsbooks. Sportsbook and Olympic are the two books that have the Gators at 13-2.
Ohio State 7-2 to 8-1
There is a pretty large difference in the odds on Ohio State, as smart bettors can find the Buckeyes at 8-1 at Olympic, which is far better than the odds offered at the other three books.
Georgia 6-1 to 8-1
The Bulldogs are getting plenty of respect from the four sportsbooks, with Olympic having the best odds at 8-1.
Oklahoma 6-1 to 10-1
The Sooners are another team with title aspirations and it wouldn't be too difficult to imagine the Sooners playing on Jan. 8, 2009 in Miami for the title. Bettors who believe the Sooners can get the job done should look to Intertops and Olympic for the 10-1 odds.
Texas 12-1 to 30-1
You can really see the advantage of shopping for lines by looking at the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are 12-1 at two different sportsbooks, while Sportsbook and Bodog are both offering 30-1 on Texas.
Missouri 14-1 to 15-1
The Missouri Tigers are getting plenty of love from sportsbooks as evidenced by the relatively low odds on the Tigers. The spread in odds is pretty minimal, with Sportsbook, Intertops, and Olympic all offering 15-1 odds.
LSU 12-1 to 18-1
LSU had some major losses from last year's team, but the Tigers are still a dangerous squad with plenty of talent. The Tigers do have a tough schedule, which may hurt. Olympic is where you'll find the best odds.
Viginia Tech 15-1 to 40-1
A huge price range on the Hokies, who lost a number of players from last season. Sportsbook and Bodog are both offering 40-1 odds on Frank Beamer's crew.
West Virginia 20-1 to 25-1
West Virginia is another dangerous squad and has the luxury of having its toughest opponents at home. If the Mountaineers handle the coaching change, they can go undefeated in the regular season. Bodog has West Virginia 25-1.
Clemson 20-1 to 30-1
The Clemson Tigers will need a bit of help to reach the BCS Championship game, as their soft schedule would likely keep them out of it should two other teams go undefeated. The Tigers have the potential to run the table and Intertops is offering 30-1 odds.
Auburn 20-1 to 30-1
The Auburn Tigers have a tough schedule this season, but have the horses to be up to the task. Intertops and Sportsbook are offering 30-1 odds.
Illinois 30-1 to 60-1
There's quite a range of odds on the Illini, with Sportsbook offering 60-1. Illinois was a solid team last season, but suffered a few key losses and may have trouble winning as many games.
Kansas 33-1 to 100-1
Talk about a difference in odds. Two sportsbooks have the Jayhawks at 33-1, while Sportsbook is offering up 100-1 odds. Kansas may be just as good as last year, but plays a much stronger schedule.
Michigan 30-1 to 60-1
Michigan will have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. The main problem is that those players aren't really suited to the offense Rich Rodriguez likes to run. Sportsbook is offering the best odds at 60-1.
Texas Tech 50-1 to 80-1
Texas Tech has plenty talent, but a tough schedule will make things difficult for the Red Raiders. Bodog is the place to find the best odds.
Tennessee 30-1 to 100-1
A huge range in odds on the Vols, as Tennessee could have trouble getting past some of the other SEC powerhouses. Those who like Tennessee should look to Sportsbook and the 100-1 odds.
Alabama 40-1 to 75-1
Alabama finds itself in much the same situation as Tennessee. The Crimson Tide is a solid team, but that's not likely enough to come out of the SEC unscathed. Sportsbook is offering 75-1 odds.
South Florida 40-1 to 100-1
South Florida is in a similar situation as Clemson, but even an undefeated season might have the Bulls outside looking in. The key showdown could be their December game at West Virginia. Sportsbook is offering 100-1 odds on South Florida.
You can find odds of at least 60-1 on any team not listed here. Remember, these are the odds at just the four listed sportsbooks. If you can mange the time, don't be afraid to shop for lines at other places. As the old sports gambling adage goes, "What you save is what you earn."
