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PrintPhil Steele’s preseason college football magazine won’t be out until next week, but his national champion has already been leaked.
According to Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation, Steele picked Florida State to win the 2013 BCS national championship. It would be the Seminoles’ first title since 2000.
While the pick might seem like a long shot on the surface (an ACC team hasn’t played in the BCS title game since Florida State’s 2001 Orange Bowl defeat), oddsmakers seem to be high on the Seminoles, listing them as the sixth-most likely national champion.
Florida State is listed at 15-to-1 at most offshore sportsbooks and is lumped in with teams like Oklahoma, Georgia and Arkansas.
Why does Steele like the Seminoles? Look no further than the schedule, which figures to be among the easiest in the country for contending teams. Florida State opens the regular season with four home games and should be favored in 11 of 12 games overall.
Steele accurately predicted Alabama to win last year’s national title.
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Current national title odds, courtesy of The Greek:
USC +475
LSU +500
Alabama +625
Oregon +1100
Oklahoma +1300
Florida State +1900
Georgia +1900
Arkansas +2500
Virginia Tech +3000
Notre Dame +3200
Texas +3400
West Virginia +3400
Michigan +3600
Clemson +3700
South Carolina +4400
Nebraska +4500
Florida +6000
Wisconsin +6200
Auburn +6500
TCU +6600
Michigan State +9000
Boise State +10000
Mississippi State +12000
Oklahoma State +12000
Missouri +12500
Kansas State +13500
Tennessee +15000
Miami FL +17500
California +20000
Cincinnati +20000
Iowa +20000
Stanford +20000
North Carolina +22500
Penn State +22500
Texas A&M +22500
Washington +22500
BYU +25000
Baylor +27500
Georgia Tech +27500
Arizona State +30000
Boston College +30000
NC State +30000
South Florida +30000
Texas Tech +30000
Louisville +30000
Virginia +32500
Arizona +35000
Pittsburgh +35000
UCLA +35000
Illinois +35000
Utah +35000
Vanderbilt +40000
Wake Forest +45000
Rutgers +45000
Northwestern +45000
Purdue +45000
Washington State +45000
Oregon State +55000
Maryland +55000
Indiana +55000
Iowa State +60000
Syracuse +90000
Connecticut +90000
Colorado +90000
Duke +100000
Temple +100000
Minnesota +100000
Kansas +100000
Mississippi +100000
Kentucky +100000
