USC Early Favorite to Win '08 College Football Title

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao -- Florida fans everywhere are still celebrating Gators' dominating 41-14 BCS Championship Game win over Ohio State and leading online sportsbook PinnacleSports.com has already
Who will win the national championships in 2008?  released odds on who'll win next year's National Championship. When Florida had jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead last night, the oddsmakers at PinnacleSports.com were busy handicapping the chances of college football's top programs winning the 2008 title game.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com currently lists Rose Bowl winner USC as the early favorites to win the 2008 BCS Championship at 5/2 odds (i.e., win $5 for every $2 bet). With quarterback Chad Henne and running back Mike Hart returning for their senior season, Michigan has been installed with the second best odds to win the National Championship at 13/2. Fresh off their second national title, PinnacleSports.com lists Florida at 7/1 odds to win back-to-back BCS Championships. The 2006 champions Texas have been installed at 10/1, followed by West Virginia (14/1), Sugar Bowl winners LSU (15/1), Oklahoma (17/1) and Arkansas (19/1).

"It's extremely difficult to handicap potential BCS championship contenders this early because underclassmen are yet to declare for the NFL draft and several coaching changes could still be on the horizon," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "The Trojans' ability to re-load their roster with top notch players every year, combined with a number of returning starters and solid coaching staff has made USC a perennial title contender. Although Florida will once again be in the BCS hunt, the difficulty of surviving their SEC schedule may mean the Gators have to bite off more than they can chew, and may yet also face a number of defections to the NFL by underclassmen."

Despite finishing second in the polls after their title game loss, the Ohio State Buckeyes are listed as 28/1 long shots to emerge as college football champions. PinnacleSports.com has installed Nebraska at 38/1 to win the BCS title followed by Auburn at 46/1. The odds that highly touted freshman Jimmy Clausen can replace Brady Quinn and capture a National Championship for Notre Dame for the first time since 1988 stand as a 47/1 long shot. Coming off their most successful season in school history, the surprising Rutgers Scarlet Knights have been listed at 52/1 along with reigning Big East champs Louisville. South Eastern Conference members Georgia and Tennessee are listed at 73/1 and 99/1, respectively, while 12-1 Wisconsin is a 100/1 underdog to win the 2008 championship. The only team to finish undefeated in the Bowl Subdivison, Boise State has also been made a 100/1 long shot to capture the national title along with traditional powerhouses Miami, Florida State, and UCLA.

    Current Odds:  *All Odds Subject To Change*

    Odds To Win 2008 BCS Championship Game
    USC              5/2
    Michigan        13/2
    Florida          7/1
    Texas           10/1
    West Virginia   14/1
    LSU             15/1
    Oklahoma        17/1
    Arkansas        19/1
    Ohio State      28/1
    Nebraska        38/1
    Auburn          46/1
    Notre Dame      47/1
    Rutgers         52/1
    Louisville      52/1
    California      67/1
    BYU             67/1
    Georgia         73/1
    Tennessee       99/1
    Wisconsin      100/1
    Miami (FL)     100/1
    Florida State  100/1
    Wake Forest    100/1
    Boise State    100/1
    Georgia Tech   100/1
    South Carolina 100/1
    Clemson        100/1
    UCLA           100/1
    TCU            100/1
    Hawaii         100/1
For a more information and a complete list of odds, please visit www.pinnaclesports.com.