The Ohio State University Buckeyes football team is one of a very few college football teams with a legitimate shot at winning a BCS National Championship this 2008-09 season; according to online oddsmakers at Sportbook.com . The Buckeyes are installed at 4-1 odds to win the BCS title second only to USC at 7/1 odds. Considered such a heavy favorite to win the football title in the BIG 10 Conference this year, numerous sportsbooks have decided to stay away from posting odds on the BIG 10 championship. Oddsmakers have also set the bar high for the Buckeyes in TOTAL wins betting (OVER/UNDER) this season at 10.5.

Ohio State has won the last three Big Ten Championships and will look to join Michigan as the only school to win four or more straight crowns on multiple occasions during the 2008 campaign.

Offensively, it will be senior quarterback Todd Boeckman leading the charge for the Buckeyes. In first season as starter (2007), led Big Ten and ranked 13th nationally with a pass efficiency rating of 148.9 while ranking third in the conference with 25 passing TDs to lead OSU to a third straight title. In his career, Boeckman has completed 190 of 298 passing attempts for 2,372 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Sharing the backfield with Boeckman will be Second Team All-America running back Beanie Wells ranked third in the Big Ten and 11^th nationally with 123.8 rushing yards per game, with 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Ohio State defense will be led by returning two-time consensus All-America linebacker James Laurinaitis. Winner of the 2007 Butkus and Nagurski Trophys, Laurinaitis led the team with 121 tackles (51 solo), five sacks and two interceptions. The secondary welcomes second-team All-America defensive back Malcolm Jenkins who was responsible for 47 tackles (27 solo) and four interceptions.

While all games are important, leave no doubt that one game on the schedule in particular sticks out to fans and players. That is the Sep. 13 trip to Los Angeles for a game with the USC Trojans. The winner of this game will have a leg up in votes when the BCS Poll starts in October.

2008 Ohio State Football Schedule

Aug 30 Youngstown State

Sep 06  Ohio

Sep 13 @USC

Sep 20 Troy

Sep 27 Minnesota

Oct 04 @Wisconsin

Oct 11 Purdue

Oct 18 @Michigan State

Oct 25 Penn State

Nov 08 @Northwestern

Nov 15 @Illinois

Nov 22 Michigan

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