Quick Thoughts on Game of Year Odds

– The ninth edition of the Golden Nugget released its ‘Game of the Year Odds’ on Friday.  Alabama as expected was favored in its first four games, but its fifth game will be one of the best ones to catch all season traveling to Athens against the Georgia Bulldogs – the experts do not have Alabama favored.

Actually, it is a toss-up game known as a pick-em (PK). This is significant because the Tide have been favored in 68 straight games going all the way back to the 2009 SEC Championship game. That is the modern day record for games being favored. and to do it in the SEC and SEC West of all divisions is ridiculous. The Tide knocked off Florida and Urban Meyer 32-13 in that 2009 conference title tilt and they haven’t looked back.

– However, there are FIVE games where Alabama is single digit favorites, and that does not include the PK at Georgia. All of that chaos equals the one of the toughest schedules in America for a likely preseason top three squad. The SEC West was scary until January last season, but it looks even tougher in 2015.

– Ohio State on paper will be the heavy favorites to win it all as double-digit favorites – by at least 14 points – in every game. That includes its games against Michigan and Michigan State, which happens the last two regular season games of the year.

– The Spartans have been flexing their muscles lately in primetime games and despite losing to the Buckeyes at home last season, the two touchdown spread is the biggest head scratcher of any game on this entire list. The Buckeyes on paper should win some games this season by 30-plus. However, they still have to actually play the games.

– Notre Dame will be back playing in a major bowl this season as they are favored in nine of their games and they are in a PK game at home against Southern California, who should be top ten-caliber squad to start the season. The Golden Domers are +3.5 on the road at Clemson in what probably will be a night game, but they don’t have too many other brutal matchups (at Stanford, +3.5). Malik Zaire could go bonkers against Texas in the opener (-7.5) and then sweat one out against Georgia Tech (-2) team that had quite the finish to their season last year. Both are home games for Notre Dame, which should play a vital role.

– Keep an eye out for Nebraska. This is one of my five teams that I really love to shock this season, despite the hiring of Mike Riley, who wasn’t getting much love for getting the job in Lincoln. The Huskers are dogs (+1) at home against Wisconsin. Throw in a rough home game against Michigan State (+6), a PK at Miami, and a tough opener at home against BYU (-6), and it’s cupcake city. They realistically should be thinking at least ten regular seasons wins this year.

– LSU went just 8-5 last season, which was an absolute disaster of a campaign by the program’s standards. The offseason hasn’t been too kind, but with their skill players and a defense that might just be the best in the entire SEC, there should be a rebound. The bad news is the QB position is more prevalent than ever before, but the schedule is very favorable for SEC West standards. Outside of going to Alabama (+9), they are favored in every single game save a trip to Oxford against Ole Miss (PK). LSU will be much more competitive this season and the experts see them as one of the better teams out there, on paper.

– Boise State has gone 92-4 at home since 2000, which in case you were counting at home is the best among any FBS team. They are favored in every game as you should have expected, but the first few games are tricky. They must play at both Virginia (-9) and BYU (-6). Throw in their season opening reunion against Chris Petersen and Washington (-13), and the impressive victories are there to be the logical pick for the committee to choose them as the non-power five team to appear in the New Year’s Six bowls.

– Florida State was heavily favored in every game up until the ugly Rose Bowl defeat to Oregon, but the Noles still return one of the most talented rosters in the nation. This season, they are ‘dogs at Clemson (+3.5) and are in a PK in Atlanta against the defending Coastal champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Throw in their annual battle with Florida (-4 at the Swamp), and it looks like they have their work cut out for them despite having won 39 of their last 42 games over the past three seasons.

– There you have it, my quick thoughts on how smart the guru’s in the desert look in my mind. Feel free to chat numbers and all things sports related on Twitter with me, Dan Vasta @CI_StatsGuru.