2008 Big East Football Odds
Jimmy Boyd lists the 2008 college football futures odds to win the Big East Conference below from the top sportsbooks on the web. If you’re going to be doing some futures betting this season, we highly recommend you read Jimmy’s 2008 college football predictions as he covers every team from every conference in the land. To help you with the Big East, Jimmy shows you who the oddsmakers like and why and gives you his sleeper bet to win the conference.
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Favorite – West Virginia Mountaineers: -110 to win Big East at Sportsbook.com
The Mountaineers won’t have head coach Rich Rodriguez on the sidelines this season (departed for Michigan), and they won’t have speedy scat back Steve Slaton (NFL), but they still have the best player in the league, QB Pat White, and that should be enough. If he can stay healthy, the Mountaineers should have the advantage to rule the Big East again. The speedy Noel Devine should step right in and replace Steve Slaton. Devine averaged 8.6 yards per carry last season and could instantly become one of the league’s most dangerous weapons. The Mountaineers also get South Florida at home this season, one of only two losses in 2007. The defense was better than anyone could have imagined a year ago, ranking 7th in the nation in total defense. It’s going to be hard to match that performance with seven of those defensive starters moving on, but the books don’t feel it will be enough to keep West Virginia from the top.
Sleeper – Pittsburgh Panthers: +400 to win Big East at Sportsbook.com
The Panthers were just a 5-7 team a season ago and they were just 3-4 in league play. However, a win on the road at West Virginia in the season finale, holding the Mountaineers to just nine points and keeping them from the BCS title game, could give this team the confidence it needed to challenge for the title. The Panthers defense was terrific in 2007, finishing third in the nation against the pass and fifth in total defense. The scary thing is that is could be even better in 2008. We have Pitt’s defense front rated as one of the best in the nation. All three starting linebackers return as well, including All-American candidate Scott McKillop. The Panthers have the best special teams in the league and a capable offense led by tailback LeSean McCoy. Pitt must play at South Florida, but it gets West Virginia and Rutgers at home. It doesn’t appear that any team will make it out of the East unscathed so Pitt could earn its first league title since 2004.
The South Florida Bulls are also expected to be a major player in the Big East and are listed at +250 at Sportsbook.com. South Florida rose to as high as No. 2 in the country in 2007 before hitting a mid-year skid. This team now knows what it’s like to deal with big time media attention and should be more suited for the limelight. With 10 starters returning on offense, including league MVP candidate QB Matt Grothe, the Bulls should be right in the thick of things as well.
Odds to win Big East Conference at Sportsbook
Cincinnati +800
Connecticut +1000
Louisville +1500
Pittsburgh +400
Rutgers +500
South Florida +250
Syracuse +5000
West Virginia -110
Odds to Win Big East Football at BetUS
Cincinnati +800
Connecticut +1000
Louisville +1500
Pittsburgh +550
Rutgers +550
South Florida +225
Syracuse +6000
West Virginia -120
BodogLife’s 2008 Big East Football Odds
Cincinnati 7/1
Connecticut 12/1
Louisville 14/1
Pittsburgh 3/1
Rutgers 6/1
South Florida 5/2
Syracuse 40/1
West Virginia 1/1
