For those of you who make a living off fading the public, this NCAA Top 5 is for you. Please allow us to present the Top 5 Public Teams for 2010. Fade away.
1. Notre Dame
Every week there are more than a billion people betting—financially or morally—on the biggest public favorite of them all, Notre Dame.
The largest Christian church in the world, the Catholic Church claims more than a billion members. In some way or another, they’re all rooting for the Irish.
Since 1990, Notre Dame has been favored in 65 percent of its games. The Irish are 126-32 straight-up as a favorite, but have managed to cover the inflated spreads in only 44 percent of those games.
Last season, despite a dissolving coaching situation and a Week-2 loss to a mediocre-at-best Michigan team, Notre Dame ended up being favored in nine games. Charlie Weis’ last team featured a defense that allowed nearly 400 yards a game and ended up going 1-8 against the spread as a favorite. Even this year, money has been pouring on the Irish to win it all.
“I actually just dropped them from 40-to-1 to 35-to-1,” Bodog.com sports book manager Richard Gardner said.
How in the world can someone put money on Notre Dame this season? Where’s the divine intervention when you need it? When it comes to being a public favorite, Notre Dame is King Kong, every year
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Nick Saban can do no wrong right now. When Penn State visits Tuscaloosa in Week 2, oddsmakers could throw up a ridiculous number like Alabama -21.5. The Crimson Tide faithful likely wouldn’t hesitate to lay more than three touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide owns the most passionate fan base and plays in the most passionate conference. More than 91,000 fans attended this year Alabama spring game. No other program had more than 77,000.
Currently, Alabama, at 4/1 is the favorite to repeat as national champion. Not surprisingly, the Crimson Tide and Ohio State (5/1) have seen more money than any other teams, said Gardner.
3. Nebraska Cornhuskers
There are nearly 1.8 million people in Nebraska. They all love the Cornhuskers, especially this year. More than 77,000 fans piled into Memorial Stadium for the Cornhuskers’ third spring game under coach Bo Pelini.
It doesn’t seem to matter that they and are facing the task of replacing Ndamukong Suh, one of the most dominating players college football has seen in a long time. Suh led the Huskers’ in tackles from his defensive tackle position. And no one seems to care that quarterback Zac Lee threw 10 interceptions last season, including three against Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Big 12 media picked the Huskers to win the conference. They’re No. 9 in the Coaches’ Preseason Poll.
This is the same team that lost 9-7 to Iowa State at home last year. Yet, in Las Vegas, MGM Mirage sportsbook manager Jeff Stoneback says money is coming in fast on furious on the Huskers to win over 9.5 games this year.
4. Boise State Broncos
When perennial public favorites like USC, Florida and Texas don’t make the list, you know something strange is going on with college football. That’s exactly what Boise State is, strange. The Broncos are on a remarkable ATS run, covering an NCAA-best 62 percent of their games since 2000. If the Broncos beat Virginia Tech to open the season, look out. America’s love affair with the underdog will kick into high gear.
Gardner says he’s been seeing heavy action on Boise State to win it all at 8/1.
“I am guessing our bettors also believe that this is Boise State's year to finally get over the hump and have chance to play in the BCS [title game],” said Gardner. “Their first game against Virginia Tech will pretty much map out their fate right away. “
5. Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes accomplished something during their run in the late 80s and 90s that few college football teams have. With their cocky demeanor and camouflage fatigues, they transcended the game and emerged as pop culture icons. The 1986 version of the Hurricanes was voted No. 1 on SI.com’s 25 Most Hated Teams list.
The 1990 Hurricanes were No. 11 on the list, making the U the only “franchise” to have two teams among the most hated ever.
Miami certainly was despised, but also extremely successful. During a 10-year run (1986-1996), the Hurricanes won three national championships and went 60-28 ATS. They went through a lull before going on another big run in the early 2000s. But the last five years have been a major disappointment by the U’s standards.
Now, while the swagger hasn’t completely returned under Randy Shannon, the hype has.
Stoneback says bettors have been buying into the return of the 'Canes and betting them heavily at over 8 wins.Evidently, it’s once again cool to like the U.
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