As the college football betting season approaches, the pigskin is starting to dominate the sports debates once again. The NFL betting season gets underway in just over a week and a half as the Hall of Fame game, otherwise known as the start of the NFL preseason, is about to get started.
At this time last year, the college football community was squarely focused on an early season meeting between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the USC Trojans. At that point, both teams were considered to be frontrunners for the BCS Championship Game as Ohio State returned a number of quality players, included a start-studded defense, and the Trojans were loaded all the way around.
While that game didn?t propel either team to a National Championship, don?t expect this year?s matchup to either.
This year, both teams are somewhat rebuilding. The Buckeyes have to replace a number of key cogs on defense and also running back Beanie Wells on offense, who was a Heisman candidate at this point last year. The Trojans also have to replace their entire linebacking corps, who basically went in the first-round of the NFL Draft, and quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was another high first-round pick.
It?s not like we?re looking the March Madness odds and seeing these two teams in a first-round matchup, but it?s clear that both Ohio State and USC are not as strong as they normally are.
Even so, both teams are considered threats to win their conference and potentially get into a BCS bowl, which is their norm.
Ohio State is neck-in-neck with Penn State in the Big 10 while Illinois and Wisconsin might have an outside chance to win it. On the flip side, USC is again favored in the Pac 10 but Oregon and California are going to give them a run for their money.
Ohio State will be looking to exact some revenge for last year?s beat down. The Buckeyes were throttled by the Trojans, particularly their defense, as they were forced to go to The Coliseum without the services of their running back, Beanie Wells, who was out with an ankle injury.
A lot of sportsbook predictions already have Ohio State winning this year?s contest just because of revenge. We?ll have to see ? even though this year?s contest will take place at the Horseshoe, the Trojans might still have the better team.
At this time last year, the college football community was squarely focused on an early season meeting between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the USC Trojans. At that point, both teams were considered to be frontrunners for the BCS Championship Game as Ohio State returned a number of quality players, included a start-studded defense, and the Trojans were loaded all the way around.
While that game didn?t propel either team to a National Championship, don?t expect this year?s matchup to either.
This year, both teams are somewhat rebuilding. The Buckeyes have to replace a number of key cogs on defense and also running back Beanie Wells on offense, who was a Heisman candidate at this point last year. The Trojans also have to replace their entire linebacking corps, who basically went in the first-round of the NFL Draft, and quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was another high first-round pick.
It?s not like we?re looking the March Madness odds and seeing these two teams in a first-round matchup, but it?s clear that both Ohio State and USC are not as strong as they normally are.
Even so, both teams are considered threats to win their conference and potentially get into a BCS bowl, which is their norm.
Ohio State is neck-in-neck with Penn State in the Big 10 while Illinois and Wisconsin might have an outside chance to win it. On the flip side, USC is again favored in the Pac 10 but Oregon and California are going to give them a run for their money.
Ohio State will be looking to exact some revenge for last year?s beat down. The Buckeyes were throttled by the Trojans, particularly their defense, as they were forced to go to The Coliseum without the services of their running back, Beanie Wells, who was out with an ankle injury.
A lot of sportsbook predictions already have Ohio State winning this year?s contest just because of revenge. We?ll have to see ? even though this year?s contest will take place at the Horseshoe, the Trojans might still have the better team.
