Friday, August 25, 2006

According to odds makers at Sportsbook.com, on January 8, 2007 the Fighting
Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona - Notre
Dame's first national championship in close to 20 years. Although
Sportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win the 2007 BCS
National Championship, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets
to Glendale just yet. The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish
at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football's most coveted
prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2006 National Champion Texas
Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 - are strong contenders as well.
Sportsbook.com has also posted odds on the conference championships for the
ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In the ACC - it could be anyone's title, particularly
for the two schools from the Sunshine State. Florida State and Miami, both
listed at 2-1, are favored to win the 2006 ACC Championship Game, with the
'Noles hoping to finish in the nation's top 10 for the first time in five
years, and the 'Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last
year's ACC Championship game. Moving west to the Big 12, Sportsbook.com has
listed Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though
the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince
Young to the NFL. In the south, the Auburn Tigers - led by Heisman-hopeful
senior running back Kenny Irons - have been given the best odds to win the
2006 SEC Championship at 5-2. "Bettors are chomping at the bit, waiting for
the NCAA football season to start," said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com.
"Everybody bets on college football and this season will definitely be no
exception. Most people are looking to either Ohio State or Notre Dame to win
the BCS, but with USC, Texas, Florida and West Virginia in the mix, there
are many teams who could crash the party out in the desert this January."