Top-25 BCS Championship Favorites For 2012: No.19 Florida Gators
May 27, 2012 | Filed under: Uncategorized | Posted by: Bryan
Will Muschamp's first year at the helm of the Florida Gators wasn't exactly a honeymoon. In fact, Gator fans will probably be calling for his head if they have a similar season in 2012.
But the former Auburn and Texas defensive coordinator has a history of success wherever he has been, so don't be surprised to see a much-improved team come September.
Oddsmakers believe in Florida enough to set them as a top-20 favorite to win the 2012-13 BCS Championship on lines available at Bovada Sportsbook.
But despite being a top-20 favorite, coming in at No.19, Florida is well behind on the list of the SEC pecking order. Almost half of the conference ranks ahead of them. LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and South Carolina all are ahead of Florida on these preseason odds.
Needless to say, it's a difficult road in the SEC.
The Gators have to play three of those teams on their 2012 schedule too.
Florida has been set at 50/1 on the list of favorites to win the BCS title. Florida is just three years removed from their last national championship run, in which they captured two of three championships. But with Urban Meyer gone, that sure does seem like quite a long time ago.
Even if Florida is an improved team this season, it's possible that it might not show in the record books. With games against Georgia, LSU, South Carolina and then archrival Florida State, those are four games right there all against teams in the top-15 favorites to win the BCS Championship, three of which are in the top-10.
It should be interesting to see how the Gators improve, or if they improve. Things better look up for Florida and Muschamp, or despite only being there for a couple of seasons his days could begin to be numbered.
We will find out a lot about this Florida team in their first SEC game of the season, which will be a road trip to Texas A&M to take on the new members to the SEC West.
Fortunately for Florida, their out-of-conference schedule is about as weak as you can get, with the exception of Florida State. Though two of those three 'gimme' games aren't until late in the season. Back-to-back weeks beginning on Nov. 10 with Louisiana-Lafayette, and then Jacksonville State on Nov. 17 before the regular season finale versus the Seminoles.