2008 NCAA Top 10 Predictions
Written July 24, 2008 by Jason Lowry
With the 2008 upcoming season right around the corner, professional handicapper Jason Lowry is ready to bring you his 2008 NCAA Football Top 10 predictions. While there are always surprise teams that make their way into the top 10, you can usually pick a few teams that you can pretty much guarantee will be there. Last season LSU was able to send Ohio State packing in the National Championship for the 2nd straight year, as Florida was able to hand the Buckeyes a tough loss in 2006. Here is a look at who we seeing winding up in the top 10 at seasons end in 2008.
1) Florida Gators - +500 odds to win the National Championship.
The Gators come into the season with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow leading the way, and we think that the Gators are the team to beat in 2008. Getting to the National Championship game won’t be easy, as they play in one of the toughest conferences in all off football, in the SEC. The Gators have 16 starters back, and need to make sure they take care of business on the road against Tennessee and in-state rival Florida State to finish up the regular season.
Florida Gators Win Total Over/Under 10 at Sportsbook.com
2) Oklahoma Sooners - +500 to win the National Championship
The Sooners are simply loaded on the offensive end of things, and even though they got only 5 starters back on defense, there is no question that Bob Stoops isn’t loaded with players who can step in and get the job done. The Sooners likely won’t face Missouri till the Big 12 Title game, and if last year tells you anything its that the Sooners own the Tigers. Other games that this team has to look out for is the always tough game against Texas and what should be the best Texas Tech team we have seen.
Oklahoma Sooners Win Total Over/Under 10.5 at Sportsbook.com
3) Ohio State Buckeyes - +400 odds to win National Championship
The Buckeyes earned their second straight shot at a National Championship, but again failed to live up to their expectations in the title game. This year they bring back 19 starters and add arguably the best freshman in the country in quarterback Terrelle Pryor to the mix. We think this is the best Buckeyes team we have seen in some time, and they should know just how good they are when they lock up with USC on Sep. 13. This team does have a couple of tough road games to watch out for in the Big 10 this season, as they must travel to both Wisconsin and Illinois.
4) Clemson Tigers - +2000 odds to win National Championship
While it might be a stretch to put the Tigers in the Top 5, but we are talking about a team that is loaded with talent all over the football field. The Tigers look like they are going to be the class of the ACC Conference this season, and if they can take care of business at home, and avoid losing to Wake Forest or Florida State on the road, we could be talking about a perfect season for the Tigers. While a perfect season would likely land them in the BCS Championship game, that is why we think they are going to slip up some where along the road.
Clemson Tigers Win Total Over/Under 9.5 at Sportsbook.com
5)Georgia Bulldogs - +700 odds to win National Championship
The Bulldogs just might of been the best team at the end of last season that wasn’t playing for the National Championship. The Bulldogs came on strong to finish the season, and that is why so many are picking them as the No.1 team in the country to start off the season. While this team is very good we see them slipping away from home against a team like LSU, Auburn, and most likely Florida. Georgia could end up being the 2nd best team in the country, but since they play in the same division as Florida we got them finishing slightly lower.
Georgia Bulldogs Win Total Over/Under 9.5 at Sportsbook.com
6) USC Trojans - +350 odds to win National Championship
It would be crazy to have a top 10 without the Trojans in the picture, and we might have this team a little lower than what it should be. The Trojans are easily the class of the Pac-10 and even though they only return 11 starters, this team is just stocked with NFL talent waiting to get on the field. The Trojans will have to avoid a let down like they did last year against Stanford, and they open the season with two tough non-conference games against Virginia and Ohio State. The Trojans get our next best 3 in the Pac 10 all at home in California, Oregon, and Arizona State. The Nov. 29 showdown with Notre Dame should be much closer than a year ago, but again the Trojans get them at home. If the Trojans can run the table in 2008, I wouldn’t want to come anywhere near this team in the BCS National Championship game.
USC Trojans Win Total Over/Under 10.5 at Sportsbook.com
7) Missouri Tigers - +1500 odds to win National Championship
Its easy to see that we think the Big 12 is likely right up there with the SEC this season with the best conference, and we could be way wrong on the Tigers this season. This is a team that was just one win away from playing for a National Championship last season, and they got 14 starters coming back, but none is more important that senior quarterback Chase Daniel, who could be this year’s Heisman Trophy winner. The Tigers get a solid test to start off the season when they face Illinois, and again to open the Big 12 season, when they take on Nebraska. It will all likely come down to the title game against Oklahoma, where we think the Sooners are just too good.
Missouri Tigers Win Total Over/Under 10 at Sportsbook.com
West Virginia Mountaineers - +2000 odds to win National Championship
The Mountaineers will have to deal with a new head coach this season, after Rich Rodriguez left town to take over at Michigan. The thing is the Mountaineers are still loaded with talent in senior quarterback Pat White and possibly the best back in the country in sophomore Noel Devine. The Mountaineers will likely put another 10 win season on the board and could run the table in the Big East, and will have to watch out for its non-conference game against Auburn on Oct 23, and they have a tough finish to the season as they have to travel to both Louisville and Pittsburgh before coming home to finish the season against a very good USF team.
West Virginia Mountaineers Win Total Over/Under 9.5 at Sportsbook.com
9)Texas Tech Red Raiders - +4000 odds to Win National Championship
The Red Raiders are facing many of the same problems that Georgia is likey to face this season. The Red Raiders could wind up being the 2nd best team in the Big 12, but because they just so happen to be in the same division as the Sooners, there chances of playing for the National Championship take a big hit. If Oklahoma slips don’t be surprised if the Red Raiders don’t take charge with one of the most explosive offensives you will find in the country. The team needs to make sure it takes care of business on the road against Kansas and Kansas State, and who knows maybe they can pull off the big win at Oklahoma on Nov. 22.
10) Utah Utes - +4000 at Sportsbook.com
We think that the Utes are going to be the cinderella team of 2008, they are loaded with talent on both sides of the football. If the Utes can take care of their non-conference schedule that includes games against a rebuilding Michigan team, UNLV, and Air Force. TCU and BYU both look like they will be strong this year, but they get them both at home, so there is a good chance that if they can win both of those games, they can run the table in the Mountain West and possibly be looking at an at-large bid from a BCS Bowl game.