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Sportsbook Posts BCS Odds

NEW YORK –- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Despite a scare last week against Fresno State the USC Trojans are still the top ranked team in the nation and seem destined to collide with the second ranked Texas Longhorns in the Rose Bowl for the BCS Championship. But more than a dozen other teams are still in contention for one of three lucrative BCS Bowl games, and with most in action this weekend, Sportsbook.com has posted odds on all the key games.

Texas needs to avoid a loss to ensure a place in the Rose Bowl against USC, which has a bye this week. The Longhorns play state rivals Texas A&M on the road and are a 27.5 point favorite. Even with a loss, Texas should win the Big 12 and claim the automatic BCS berth that goes with being the conference champion. Penn State has already claimed the Big Ten crown and will be going to a Bowl game regardless of how they finish the season, but at number three in the rankings, Penn State could sneak into the Rose Bowl should USC or Texas falter.

The ACC's automatic berth will go to Virginia Tech, Miami or Florida State, with Virginia Tech the current favorite. The fifth ranked Hokies host North Carolina as a 23.5 point bet while Miami, at home to Virginia, and Florida Sate on the road against Florida, face much tougher tasks this week. In the Big East, the big showdown between West Virginia and Pittsburgh should decide the conference champion, with the 12th ranked Mountaineers a 13.5 favorite at home. In the SEC, LSU should claim the automatic berth as conference champions. They face Arkansas at home and are a 17 point favorite.

"This week is absolutely huge for so many teams all looking to qualify for one of the BSC Bowl games," said Peter Childs, Odds Maker, Sportsbook.com. "The most crucial games will be for the teams that can now only rely on at-large invitations, like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and UCLA."

The strongest at-large candidate is Notre Dame, which faces a tough challenge on the road at Stanford. But a win over the Cardinal will go a long way to solidifying their BCS standing. The Irish are 18 point favorites.

Sportsbook.com also continues to post odds on the potential USC versus Texas championship game. The Longhorns are 6.0 point underdogs but 65 per cent of all bets to date have been placed on Texas to cover the spread.

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