Penn State Nittany Lions Odds to Win the 2008 BCS Championship

The Penn State Nittany Lions odds to win the 2008 BCS Championship are looking fairly attractive at 17 to 1 odds, a substantial $1700 payout for every $100 bet.  All odds courtesy of BetOnline.com Here 

Perhaps even more attractive are Penn State's odds of winning the Big 10 Conference.  Set at +350 or a $350 payout on every $100 bet, only Michigan and Wisconsin have slightly better odds at +140 and +200, respectively.  Ohio State has the same odds as the Nittany Lions.

One downside is that the oddsmakers are not particular favoring a 9 plus regular win season as they have Penn State listed with -140 odds to win UNDER 9 1/2 games this season. 

From Athlon Sports:

Penn State is thinking big again. Three years removed from the worst downturn of Joe Paterno’s career, the Nittany Lions are finally starting to sound like themselves. Which is to say, they’re talking national championship. “That’s our number one goal,” quarterback Anthony Morelli says. “When we break the huddle, we say, ‘One-two-three, national champs!’ That’s something we want to keep in everybody’s mind. It’s the reason we work hard every day.”

They have a huge hole to fill at left tackle and are building their running game around two injury-prone tailbacks in Scott and Rodney Kinlaw. Trouble at either of those spots could consign this team to a second-division Big Ten finish.

Still, the schedule is friendly, with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin all set to visit Beaver Stadium. And Morelli, for all the concern about the passing game, has made steady progress. If he can lead Penn State past the Irish in Week 2 and help the Lions beat Michigan in Ann Arbor, the championship talk will get a lot louder.

Penn State will face six teams that played in bowl games last season, three of whom are ranked in the USA Today/Coaches Top 10: Michigan (5), Wisconsin (7) and Ohio State (10). Nittany Lion opponents Notre Dame and Iowa were among the teams that received votes. Penn State will host Notre Dame, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and 2006 bowl participant Purdue, during its blockbuster 2007 home schedule.

Paterno's 42nd Nittany Lion team returns 15 starters and 32 letterwinners for the 2007 season, which launches with "Penn State Football Eve presented by Sheetz" on Friday, Aug. 31, in Beaver Stadium. Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m.

Linebacker Dan Connor said this season's Nittany Lions will exceed expectations.

"I like the fact that we're not seen [at the] top in the league," he said. "I'd rather be middle to lower and turn some heads. As far as the ratings, I'm fine with where we're at."

Coach Joe Paterno is the first to say inexperience could be the main obstacle for the Nittany Lions.

"We'll be good, not great," he said.

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Don Shapiro, Sports911.com

Originally published August 6, 2007 4:47 pm ET