It would be difficult to label Brian Kelly’s brief tenure at Notre Dame a disappointment, but with the Irish posting a 16-10 record and failing to make a BCS bowl in his first two seasons heading the program, it is close. If recently released Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2012 Season Odds are any indication, the team may be in for another decent but not great season this year. Notre Dame is drawing 35-1 odds to win the BCS National Championship and the Irish are picks to win 8.5 games.

Many felt Notre Dame had a legitimate opportunity to reach a BCS bowl last year as Brian Kelly returned an impressive group of athletes to South Bend. The Irish saw those expectations shot down in the season opener, though, with a home loss to South Florida. Kelly’s troops did overcome that stunning setback by posting eight wins, but additional losses to Michigan, USC, and Stanford relegated Notre Dame to a Champs Sports Bowl appearance opposite Florida State (fell 14-18).

With 14 starters and 41 lettermen back under Kelly’s watch, he may have his best group yet at Notre Dame; however, the team’s arduous schedule will make it difficult to reach 10 wins. The Irish face tough road challenges against Michigan State, Oklahoma, and USC, and their home slate includes quality opponents in Michigan, Stanford, and BYU.

The odds makers have lined 10 of Notre Dame’s 12 games; the Irish are favored in seven of those contests (Navy, Michigan, Miami, Stanford, BYU, Pittsburgh, Boston College). The two games not listed are home games against what should be an improved Purdue squad and Wake Forest.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2012 Schedule: 9/1 Navy (Ireland) (-13.5), 9/8 Purdue, 9/15 at Michigan State (+3), 9/22 Michigan (-1), 10/6 Miami, FL (-9.5), 10/13 Stanford (-5), 10/20 BYU (-9), 10/27 at Oklahoma (+11), 11/3 Pittsburgh (-12.5), 11/10 at Boston College (-12), 11/17 Wake Forest, 11/24 at USC (+13)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2012 Season Odds and Schedule:

Odds to Win the BCS National Championship 35-1 ($100 to win $3500)
Regular Season Win Total: Over 8.5 wins (+160), Under 8.5 wins (-210)

 Golden Nuggets 2012 Games of Year College Football Spreads: Pregame.com Pros Scott Spreitzer & Bryan Leonard discuss the Golden Nuggets' 2012 College Football Games of Year betting!

Odds are predictions . . . in fact, odds are the most accurate predictors of sporting events (plus, odds are the only sports opinion backed by millions of dollars).

Pregame.com is making a stronger effort to provide as many odds as possible - in a format that allows you to compare different teams AND compare the same team over time.

Comprehensive odds for the top 30 CFB teams:

Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn| Boise St. | Clemson | Florida | Florida St. | Georgia | Kansas St. | Louisville |LSU | Michigan | Michigan St. | Nebraska | N. Carolina | Notre Dame | Ohio St. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma St. |Oregon | S. Carolina | Stanford | TCU | Tennessee | Texas A&M | Texas | USC | Virginia Tech | West Virginia Wisconsin

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  TiSB: Cantor's Mike Colbert Talks World's First NFL Game Lines: Last week Cantor opened up the first 2012 NFL lines in the world - Cantor's VP Mike Colbert discussess the teams they value the best and worst, and also shares breaking news on how the Wiseguys have been betting so far - with host RJ Bell PLAY | DISCUSS | DOWNLOAD (to save: right mouse click, and select "save target as")