Handicappers evaluating the college football odds need to completely re-evaluate the overall conference landscape for the rest of the 2010 season.
A New Brand and Image
The Pac 10 Conference may not have been at the top of the charts with handicappers and fans at the Sbg sportsbook but that perception is quickly changing.New commissioner Larry Scott was bold about remaking the image of the Pac 10 when he took over in 2009 and he has wasted no time with bold efforts at expansion and a new league logo that features a mountain and rising surf wave that are emblematic of a league on the rise.
Three Top Shelf Contenders
Arizona, Oregon, and Stanford are all undefeated. Oregon was ranked 5th in the country before last weekend while Arizona was #14 and Stanford at #16. Arizona and Stanford should be close to joining Oregon in the top ten after big wins on Saturday. All three teams have demonstrated the ability to compete with top teams in other conferences.
Oregon has a win on the SEC road at Tennessee, Stanford has clobbered perennial bowl contender Wake Forest of the ACC and dominated Notre Dame on the road. Arizona scored a big home win over top Big Ten challenger Iowa.
A Dangerous List of Teams in the Middle
The Pac 10 doesn’t end with a top heavy list of teams like the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten, or Big 12 does. In fact it may have the deepest lineup of teams on the board with the college football betting lines each week as UCLA, Oregon State, Washington, Cal, and Arizona State are all dangerous opponents.
UCLA proved their worth with a dominating 34-12 win at #7 Texas last week after previously getting hammered by Stanford 35-0 in their home opener. Arizona State lost at #11Wisconsin on a blocked extra point, while Washington and Cal are favored to bowl. Oregon State was highly competitive against top 5 contenders Boise State and TCU on the road. The only weak link in the league with the college football odds is pathetic Washington State.
The Forgotten Power
And then there are the USC Trojans, who are 4-0 straight up and coming off their best win with the college football betting lines this year in a 50-16 win at Washington State. While they cannot win the Pac 10 title due to NCAA sanctions this is still a talent rich program.