Best bets to win each Power 5 conference

On Sunday, we broke down the best bets to win each Group of 5 conference. This time, we're tacking the Power 5 conferences - two of which kick off play on Saturday. Here are the title odds for each conference and our favorite values on the board.

Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Alabama has won the SEC title in six of the last nine seasons and enters this year as the heavy favorites to defend its 2020 crown, but this could be the toughest task in the Nick Saban era. The Crimson Tide have to replace nearly their whole offense from a year ago - including four assistant coaches - and no level of incoming talent can justify betting -200 odds on that level of uncertainty in the 's best conference.

Instead, take a shot on LSU, which won the SEC in 2019 and is in position to do it again behind a balanced and experienced group. The Tigers return 16 starters from a roster built on three consecutive top-five recruiting classes, and they have elite playmakers on both sides of the ball who can make the plays needed to upend Alabama in their No. 6 showdown.

Pick: LSU +1000

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

This might be the country's least inspiring conference to bet. Clemson has won six straight conference titles and is an easy choice to win a seventh behind sophomore quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei - the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy despite having two career starts to his name.

Still, you're likely not tying up your money for four months at the Tigers' current price, so why not roll the dice on North Carolina, who enter the year as a top-10 team for the first time since their 11-win campaign in 1997? The Tar Heels might have the best player in the conference in Sam Howell, and he's among the few signal-callers who could go toe to toe with Uiagalelei in a potential ACC title game.

Pick: North Carolina +700

Big Ten Conference

Ohio State has won each of the last four Big Ten championships, and unlike the juggernaut programs atop the SEC and ACC, it doesn't have any fellow top-10 teams to contend with. That doesn't mean the journey will be easy for the Buckeyes, who will throw freshman C.J. Stroud into the fire to replace former star quarterback Justin Fields. If Stroud or any of Ohio State's other QBs struggle to find early success, there's no shortage of teams that could steal the top spot in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin running back Jalen Berger is a game-wrecker and should complement the Badgers' elite defense and veteran-laden O-line. Michigan State should improve in Mel Tucker's second year behind a bevy of transfers. However, the clear pick here is Indiana, which returns star quarterback Michael Penix from a group that went 6-1 in the 2020 regular season and was ranked in the top 10 before narrowly losing to OSU. A different result in 2021 could spark a Big Ten title run.

Pick: Indiana +1500

Big 12 Conference

Much like the top programs in the conferences above, Oklahoma has won six straight Big 12 titles and enters 2021 as the No. 2 side in the nation with a Heisman-level quarterback in Spencer Rattler and a stout defense. It's hard to bet against the Sooners, even at a short price, but Iowa State is also a formidable foe behind the star duo of QB Brock Purdy and RB Breece Hall.

The other team to consider here is TCU, led by breakout candidate Max Duggan at QB and an explosive cast of skill position players to pair with what should be a sturdy defensive unit under Gary Patterson. But barring a miracle, this will come down to Oklahoma and Iowa State. With both priced so short, bet on the side with the better QB, more talented roster, and six-year title run.

Pick: Oklahoma -170

Pac-12 Conference

Oregon and USC have long dominated this conference, and they have combined for a share of 16 Pac-12 titles since 2000. Both enter 2021 as top-15 squads with major issues - Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown has neither the pedigree nor the production to inspire excitement as a fifth-year senior, while USC coach Clay Helton has consistently underwhelmed in his time in Los Angeles.

The better bet here is Arizona State, which led the Pac-12 in scoring offense and defense in a pandemic-shorted 2020 campaign. The Sun Devils return 15 starters, including dual-threat dynamo Jayden Daniels, who deserves a spot on every Heisman watch list. In a conference as wide-open as this one, ASU has the talent, continuity, and price to make for an attractive wager.

Pick: Arizona State +500

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.