2008 NCAA Football Sleepers
Written August 19, 2008 by Jason Lowry
It seems like over the years, there is always that surprise team that sneaks into the BCS Bowl game pitcher, and sometimes finds its way into the National Championship game, and professional handicapper Jason Lowry is ready to bring you his 2008 NCAA football sleepers. During the course of last year, there were a number of surprise teams that seemed to be right in the hunt, but just couldn’t get the job done. The most surprising team of last year was that made its way into the BCS bowl game picture was Hawaii, and who can forget two years ago win Boise State not only got into the Fiesta Bowl, but shocked Oklahoma in one of the best games I’ve ever seen. So while teams like USC, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma are all big favorites to win the title this season, here is a look at 5 teams that could surprise everyone and play for the National Championship
Clemson Tigers
The Tigers are loaded with talent and many thought they were going to come out on top of the ACC last season, but wound up losing to Boston College and finishing a game back. This season the Tigers return 16 starters and look like they are going to be even better than a year ago. While the Tigers really aren’t a sleep to make it to the BCS Bowl game picture, they make it on to this list as a sleeper to play for the National Championship. No one is giving this team a chance, but if they can run the table that includes tough conference road games against Florida State and Wake Forest, and tough non-conference games against Alabama and South Carolina, this team just might have what it takes to sneak into the title talk. Clemson’s offense is loaded with talent, as they have one of the best quarterbacks, wide receivers, and two of the best running backs in the conference.
Tigers +1500 odds to win the National Championship at Sportsbook.com
Texas Tech Red Raiders
With 18 returning starters and one of the best quarterback to wide receiver combinations in the country in quarterback Graham Harrell and receiver Miachael Crabtree. The Red Raiders not only look to have one of the best offenses in the country, with 8 starters back on defense, they are saying that this could be the best defense head coach Mike Leach has had in his 9 years at Texas Tech. There are a couple problems that face the Red Raiders this season, and thats fellow Big 12 South teams in the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns. The Sooners are being picked by many to win it all this season, and the Longhorns have never finished worse than 2nd in the South, and that isn’t even without taking into consideration that if they do win the South, they will likely have to play the Missouri Tigers in the Big 12 Conference title game. The Red Raiders have a lot in front of them, but we think they have what it takes to come out on top.
Red Raiders +4000 odds to win National Championship at Sportsbook.com
South Florida Bulls
The Bulls started off the season going 6-0 and made it all the way to No. 2 in the rankings before losing to Rutgers and then falling apart in the Big East to finish the season at 9-4. This year the Bulls bring back 10 starters on offense, as they should put up some big time numbers this season. The defense remains a slight concern as the team brings back 7 starters, but will be counting on two new starters at cornerback. If they get the job done, the defense could be one of the best in country. There is a good chance that the Bulls will be undefeated when they travel to West Virginia for the final game of the regular season, in what could be a matchup of undefeated teams, and a shot at a trip to the National Title game.
Bulls +7500 odds to win National Championship at Sportsbook.com
Auburn Tigers
The Tigers are getting barely any consideration to win the SEC, with Florida and Georgia both looking like they are going to be really good this season. The thing is both the Gators and Bulldogs play in the same division, and with Auburn looking like its good enough to take the West. They really would only need to win the SEC Title game to get into a BCS Bowl game. The Tigers return 16 starters, and after upsetting Florida a year ago, they could be looking at a taking out Georgia at home this season. Don’t count out the Tigers this season as they have little pressure with all the talk on everyone else.
Tigers +3000 odds to win National Championship at Sportsbook.com
Utah Utes
Here is our big surprise team to come out of the small school conferences and make their way into the BCS Bowl game picture. The Utes finished last season at a solid 9-4, and with 14 starters coming back they are many experts favorites to come out of the Mountain West. The main reason for that is they get both TCU and BYU at home, which seems to be the recipe for winning this division. The Utes will need to run the table if they want to make it to a BCS Bowl game, and that means they have to win at Michigan to start the season, and take care of Oregon State at home. The Utes are the real deal, and get ready for a big season.
Utes +4000 odds to win National Championship at Sportsbook.com
If you think one of these 5 teams has what it takes to win it all, head over to Sportsbook.com and get your bet in today. Also if you are wondering what others are saying about surprise teams this season, check out these great NCAA football surprise team predictions.