Quarterback Everett Golson of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has announced that he will be leaving South Bend because of academic issues. By doing so, Golson sent Las Vegas oddsmakers back to their drawing boards to re-figure the early lines going up for next seasons’ NCAA football action.
Las Vegas Hotel and Casino SuperBook quickly moved the Irish from 30-1 to 50-1 after the announcement. Notre Dame made it all the way to the National Title game last year before losing rather badly to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Everett Golson led Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season record passing for 2,405 yards and 12 touchdowns. He threw just six interceptions all season long and his presence on the field will be sorely missed next year. Golson told reporters that he planned to be back on the Notre Dame roster for the 2014 season.
Other change factors that the handicappers must take into consideration are the head coaching changes at several major universities.
Gene Cizik is out at Auburn even after winning the 2010 BCS title with Cam Newton at the helm. Incoming head coach Gus Malzahn will inherit a young talented team to work with but the chemistry is still untried and setting a good line is anyone’s guess at this point. Currently, they are +8,000 to win the SEC.
Now that Chip Kelly has been lured to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Oregon Ducks are left in the hands of new head coach Mark Helfrich who served as OC under Kelly. Helfrich knows the system and the players know Helfrich, so, this could work out to be a formidable combo in the Pac-12. They stand at +150 at this writing.
Tommy Tuberville is out at Texas Tech after a long run and will be replaced as head coach by former NFL quarterback Kliff Kingsbury who helped coach Johnny Manziel to the Heisman Trophy and worked as OC at the University of Houston with quarterback Case Keenum. Odds for the Red Raiders to win the Big-12….+1,500.
LVH SuperBook has put up early odds on the 2014 BCS Championship. Defending champ Alabama leads the pack at 5-2 with Ohio State at 6-1 and Oregon at 7-1. The Georgia Bulldogs follow at 10-1 and the Aggies are at 12-1. LSU, South Carolina and the Florida Gators are all currently at 15-1 with the numbers going up and up after that.
