Odds To Join the Pac-12

Photo Attribution: Rick Smith

This is the first of what I’m sure will be many posts on OSU going to the Pac-12. We’re officially dubbing this series: “Don’t Rush the Monkey” after Lord Pickens’ statement a few weeks ago about what OSU should do. You can check the graphic on the sidebar to the right for more coverage.

Last week Bodog released odds on what will happen to the Big 12 and Pac-12 next year, here they are.

Texas — 2/1 odds to be an independent
Oklahoma — 5/4 odds to join the Pac-12
Oklahoma State — 3/2 odds to join the Pac-12
Missouri – 2/1 odds to be the 14th team in the SEC
Florida State – 5/4 odds to be the 14th team in the SEC

First of all, where do I wager my life against Florida State going to the SEC?

Second, where do I wager the insurance policy on my life against Texas going independent?

I guess I understand why OU has better odds (from Vegas’ perspective) to go to the Pac-12 but does anyone really think they’re going to split with OSU (and vice versa)?

3/2 odds on OSU joining the Pac-12 by next season seems pretty ambitious to me. If my life was on the line I say they’re in a 9-team Big 12 next year before round three of Beebegeddon next August/September.

This whole thing seems really hasty. I mean we were just talking three weeks ago about how Texas A&M needed some time to sort things out and get all their litigation in order and then, boom, next thing you know Mr. Loftin is dougie-ing on top of the rest of the Big 12 while the rest of us wonder what’s going to happen.

I liked it in the bullets this morning but you should really read Clay Travis’ piece on why going to the Pac-12 might not be the most sound financial decision for Oklahoma State. It talks a lot about how in over its head ESPN is right now and how nobody can call them out on it.

And while we’re here, how can we, as a fan base, continue to tout these games as amateur athletics when there are official odds on what leagues the players of these “amateur teams” will play in during the subsequent years. It’s a grotesque movement that’s only going to be exacerbated with the influx of more TV money and the continual ubiquity of ESPN and its litany of networks. I’m not complaining about the system (because I’m a grateful consumer), I just think history will study this period of time and giggle at the fact that these commodities we call athletes were once dubbed amateurs by those lording over them.

A magnificent misnomer, indeed.