The first AP Poll of 2010 was released this weekend, signifying that it really is time for the college football season.

But with the poll now out, what does that mean for your college football bets? Let’s take a look.

Like every other major poll, the AP has Alabama at top, receiving 54 of 60 first place votes. Obviously that’s no surprise, as the Crimson Tide are coming off a season which they finished 14-0 (9-5 ATS) and won the SEC and BCS National Championship.

They’re followed by Ohio State (three first place votes), which returns Terrelle Pryor and plenty of talent on defense off last year’s Rose Bowl champion. Boise State (14-0 SU, 9-5 ATS), Florida (13-1 SU, 7-6 ATS), and Texas (13-1 SU, 5-8-1 ATS) round out the top five. Boise, Texas and Oklahoma each finished with one first place vote each.

Breaking down the conferences, the SEC dominates in the polls as they do on the field, with six teams in the top 25 (Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Georgia). The ACC is next with five teams, the Big 10 has four, with the Pac-10 and Big XII represented with three apiece, and the Big East with two. The Mountain West is represented by TCU (at No. 6), with the WAC and Boise getting in as well.

Before using the AP Poll to make your college football bets be forewarned: It is not a be all, end all indicator of a team’s success.

Last year’s poll opened with Florida at No. 1 and Texas at No. 2, which made sense. Of course they were followed at No. 3 and No. 4 by two teams that struggled all year, Oklahoma and USC. Oklahoma finished at 8-5 on the season (5-7-1 ATS) and USC which ended 2009 in fifth place in the Pac-10 with a 9-4 record, but just 4-9 ATS. Those two both started the season ranked ahead of Alabama, which ended up winning last year’s National title.

Beyond that, in 2009, Cal started the year ranked No. 12, before finishing the year at 8-5 unranked. Notre Dame started out at No. 23, went 6-6 (4-8 ATS) and stayed home during bowl season. Same with No. 25 Kansas, which lost their last seven games straight up, finishing 5-7 SU (3-8 ATS) all leading to the firing of Mark Mangino.

On the flip side of things, are some teams that the AP totally misjudged. As we mentioned, Boise State finished 14-0 and No. 4 in the final rankings last year, but started the AP Poll at just No. 15. The team they played in the Fiesta Bowl- TCU- started at No. 17, before finishing at No. 6 off a 12-1 season. Finally, Iowa started ranked No. 23 in the country, before winning 10 regular season games and defeating Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

The AP poll is always a good sign that the start of the season is right around the corner. But be careful, if choosing to use it when making your college football bets this season.

Good luck!

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