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03/15/2010 -
Durham, N.C., 29-5.
Nickname: Blue Devils. Coach: Mike Krzyzewski.
Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: ACC champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 1.
Tournament Record: 88-30, 33 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (78.4); Jon Scheyer 18.7; Kyle Singler 17.5; Nolam Smith 17.4.
Rebounds: Team (39.3); Brian Zoubek 7.3; Kyle Singler 7.0; Miles Plumlee 5.0; Lance Thomas 4.9.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.1/11.1); Jon Scheyer 5.1/1.7; Nolan Smith 2.9/1.8; Kyle Singler 2.4/1.9.
3-pointers: Team (.385); Jon Scheyer 94; Kyle Singler 71; Nolan Smith 49; Andre Dawkins 34.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: The Blue Devils were the top seed in the ACC tournament for the first time since 2006, when J.J. Redick was the star. After a brief lull, it appears Duke is back on track. Krzyzewski's boys went 17-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season, setting a school record for home wins.
Arkansas-Pine BluffPine Bluff, Ark., 17-15.
Nickname: Golden Lions. Coach: George Ivory.
Conference: Southwestern Athletic. Bid: SWAC champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 16 (opening round).
Tournament Record: First Year. Last appearance: First year.
Scoring: Team (64.9); Terrance Calvin 10.6; Savalance Townsend 10.4; Lebaron Weathers 10.1; Tavaris Washington 9.4.
Rebounds: Team (38.2); Lebaron Weathers 6.8; Terrance Calvin 5.2; Tavaris Washington 4.6; George Davis 4.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.5/17.1); Terrance Calvin 4.1/3.2; Savalance Townsend 1.9/2.4; Tavaris Washington 1.9/2.5.
3-pointers: Team (.306); Savalance Townsend 30; Alle Smith 29; Lebaron Weathers 27.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Started the season 0-11 with a brutal non-conference schedule. Some of those losses were to UTEP, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Missouri and Kansas State. The Lions went 14-4 in the conference and won three more to win the conference tournament.
WinthropRock Hill, S.C., 19-13.
Nickname: Eagles. Coach: Randy Peele.
Conference: Big South. Bid: Big South champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 16 (opening round).
Tournament Record: 1-8, 8 years. Last appearance: 2008.
Scoring: Team (62.4); Reggie Middleton 10.3; Matt Morgan 9.6; Mantoris Robinson 8.2.
Rebounds: Team (38.8); Andy Buechert 6.5; Mantoris Robinson 6.2; Charles Corbin 5.2; Matt Morgan 4.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (10.7/12.3); Reggie Middleton 2.9/2.0; Andre Jones 1.8/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.255); Reggie Middleton 30; Mantoris Robinson 21; Robbie Dreher 21.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: Winthrop upset Coastal Carolina in the championship game, providing some vindication for Peele. He took over when Greg Marshall bolted for Wichita State, and a couple lean years had folks in South Carolina wondering whether he was right for the job. What do they think now?
---California
Berkeley, 23-10.
Nickname: Golden Bears. Coach: Mike Montgomery.
Conference: Pac-10. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 8.
Tournament Record: 18-15, 15 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (78.0); Jerome Randle 18.7; Patrick Christopher 16.0; Theo Robertson 14.1; Jamal Boykin 12.0.
Rebounds: Team (35.8); Jamal Boykin 6.7; Patrick Christopher 5.4; Theo Robertson 4.7; Omondi Amoke 4.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.5/12.0); Jerome Randle 4.5/3.5; Jorge Gurierrez 2.7/1.4; Theo Robertson 2.3/2.0; Patrick Christopher 2.1/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.373); Jerome Randle 88; Patrick Christopher 55; Theo Robertson 44.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Cal is hoping that rough start to the season has been forgotten, along with how weak the Pac-10 was this season. The Golden Bears finished the season strong and guys like Randle and Christopher and give opposing coaches headaches.
LouisvilleLouisville, Ky., 20-12.
Nickname: Cardinals. Coach: Rick Pitino.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 9.
Tournament Record: 60-37, 35 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (76.3); Samardo Samuels 15.3; Edgar Sosa 13.3; Jerry Smith 8.4.
Rebounds: Team (36.9); Samardo Samuels 7.0; Jared Swopshire 6.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.6/13.7); Edgar Sosa 4.5/2.7; Preston Knowles 2.4/1.4.
3-pointers: Team (.339); Edgar Sosa 66; Reginald Delk 42; Preston Knowles 37; Jerry Smith 32.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: The Cardinals nearly went from a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament to missing it altogether, but a late run that included a Freedom Hall-closing victory against then-No. 1 Syracuse saved them. That loss in their first game of the Big East tournament shouldn't be discounted.
---Texas A&M
College Station, 23-9.
Nickname: Aggies. Coach: Mark Turgeon.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 5.
Tournament Record: 8-11, 10 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (71.8); Donald Sloan 18.2; Derrick Roland 10.5; Ryan Davis 9.5; B.J. Holmes 9.3; David Loubeau 9.0.
Rebounds: Team (36.5); Bryan Davis 7.9; David Loubeau 4.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.2/12.3); Dash Harris 3.3/1.7; Donald Sloan 2.0/2.6.
3-pointers: Team (.333); B.J. Holmes 57; Donald Sloan 45.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: The Aggies are making their fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance, a run that is even more remarkable considering it had never before played in consecutive tournaments. Sloan may be one of the best players in the country that nobody knows anything about.
Utah StateLogan, 27-7.
Nickname: Aggies. Coach: Stew Morrill.
Conference: Western Athletic. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 12.
Tournament Record: 6-20, 18 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (73.7); Tai Wesley 13.6; Jared Quayle 12.5; Nate Bendall 10.4.
Rebounds: Team (35.5); Tai Wesley 6.6; Jared Quayle 6.3; Nate Bendall 5.4; Brady Jardine 4.6; Tyler Newbold 4.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.9/10.3); Jared Quayle 4.2/1.6; Tai Wesley 3.4/1.7; Tyler Newbold 3.0/0.9; Pooh Williams 2.3/1.0.
3-pointers: Team (.419); Jared Quayle 68; Tyler Newbold 57; Brian Green 52; Pooh Williams 36.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: Quick, name the three teams that have 23 or more wins in 11 straight seasons. Give up? How about Kansas, Gonzaga and Utah State. In fact, the Aggies have averaged more than 25 wins per year over that run, though few expected it to continue after a modest 6-4 start to this season.
---Purdue
West Lafayette, Ind., 27.5.
Nickname: Boilermakers. Coach: Matt Painter.
Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 4.
Tournament Record: 31-23, 23 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (71.1); E'Twaun Moore 16.6; Robbie Hummel 15.7 (injured); JaJuan Johnson 15.2.
Rebounds: Team (33.3); JaJuan Johnson 7.1; Robbie Hummel 6.9 (injured); E'Twaun Moore 3.7.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.0/10.9); E'Twaun Moore 2.7/2.2; Chris Kramer 2.3/1.3; Robbie Hummel 2.1/1.0 (injured).
3-pointers: Team (.319); E'Twaun Moore 48; Robbie Hummel 43 (injured); Keton Grant 27.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Everybody knows that the Boilermakers miss Hummell, their go-to playmaker who is done for the season with a knee injury. Guys like E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson have had to help cover his 31 minutes and nearly 17 points per game. Look no further than a 53-44 loss to Michigan State on Feb. 28 to realize it hasn't been easy.
SienaLoudonville, N.Y., 27-6.
Nickname: Saints. Coach: Fran McCaffery.
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic. Bid: MAAC champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 13.
Tournament Record: 4-5, 5 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (75.5); Alex Franklin 16.3; Edwin Ubiles 15.2; Ryan Rossiter 13.9; Clarence Jackson 13.6.
Rebounds: Team (38.3); Ryan Rossiter 11.1; Alex Franklin 8.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.5/12.2); Ronald Moore 7.8/2.9; Edwin Ubiles 2.3/1.9.
3-pointers: Team (.323); Clarence Jackson 71; Edwin Ubiles 28.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: The Saints can only wish their first-round game was played at home, where they've won 38 in a row. Even so, they're the first team to win three straight MAAC titles since La Salle 20 years ago. Keep an eye on Rossiter, who can get lost in the shuffle.
---Notre Dame
South Bend, Ind., 23-11.
Nickname: Fighting Irish. Coach: Mike Brey.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 6.
Tournament Record: 30-33, 29 years. Last appearance: 2008.
Scoring: Team (76.0); Luke Harangody 22.4; Tim Abromaitis 16.3; Ben Hansbrough 11.8; Tory Jackson 9.8.
Rebounds: Team (35.6); Luke Harangody 9.2; Tyrone Nash 5.3; Tim Abromaitis 4.8; Carleton Scott 4.5.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.9/10.4); Tory Jackson 5.3/2.0; Ben Hansbrough 4.4/1.8.
3-pointers: Team (.394); Tim Abromaitis 81; Ben Hansbrough 64; Tory Jackson 41.
Last Ten: 6-4.
The Skinny: The Irish went on a run when Harangody missed five of six games late in the season with a deep right knee bruise. He looked healthy in the Big East tournament and make no mistake, Notre Dame is a much better team when the big guy is banging down low.
Old DominionNorfolk, Va., 26-8.
Nickname: Monarchs. Coach: Blaine Taylor.
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association. Bid: CAA champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 11.
Tournament Record: 2-9, 9 years. Last NCAA Appearance: 2007.
Scoring: Team (67.5); Gerald Lee 14.6; Frank Hassell 8.9; Ben Finney 8.8; Kent Bazemore 8.4.
Rebounds: Team (39.2); Frank Hassell 6.6; Ben Finney 5.9; Gerald Lee 4.9; Keyon Carter 4.9; Kent Bazemore 4.2.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (15.5/12.8); Darius James 3.4/1.7; Kent Bazemore 3.3/2.0; Ben Finney 2.4/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.316); Ben Finney 34; Darius James 33.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Lee is the unquestioned leader of the Monarchs whose father, Gerald Sr., played professionally in Finland. Lee went to high school at a place called Uusikaupunki - think the Old Dominion coaching staff had a tough time pronouncing that one?
---Baylor
Waco, Texas, 25-7.
Nickname: Bears. Coach: Scott Drew.
Conference: Big 12 . Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 3.
Tournament Record: 3-7, 5 years. Last appearance: 2008.
Scoring: Team (77.6); LaceDarius Dunn 19.4; Tweety Carter 15.7; Ekpe Udoh 13.9; Quincy Acy 9.3.
Rebounds: Team (39.1); Ekpe Udoh 9.8; Quincy Acy 5.1; Anthony Jones 4.9; LaceDarius Dunn 4.8.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (14.0/13.9); Tweety Carter 6.1/2.7; Ekpe Udon 2.6/2.4.
3-pointers: Team (.390); LaceDarius Dunn 105; Tweety Carter 72.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: Drew is considered one of the most controversial coaches in the Big 12 because of his perceived negative recruiting. When he gets guys on the court, though, he can coach. Has it really been seven years since Dave Bliss left the program in shambles?
Sam Houston StateHuntsville, Texas, 25-7.
Nickname: Bearkats. Coach: Bob Marlin.
Conference: Southland. Bid: Southland champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 14.
Tournament Record: 0-1, 1 year. Last appearance: 2003.
Scoring: Team (80.4); Gilberto Clavell 16.7; Corey Allmond 15.8; Ashton Mitchell 12.6; Preston Brown 9.2.
Rebounds: Team (37.9); Gilberto Clavell 6.4; Josten Crow 5.8; Preston Brown 5.2; Lance Pevehouse 4.1.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (20.5/13.5); Ashton Mitchell 5.0/2.8; Josten Crow 3.9/1.3; Drae Murray 3.7/1.5; Lance Pevehouse 2.3/1.0; Corey Allmond 2.3/1.4.
3-pointers: Team (.381); Corey Allmond 91; Ashton Mitchell 50; Lance Pevehouse 39; Preston Brown 31.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: The Bearkats are making their second trip to the NCAA tournament, and it's been seven years coming. Clavell played for Puerto Rico in the U19 world championships a couple years ago, and in the 2006 Tournament of the Americas against Miami Heat star Michael Beasley, Jonny Flynn of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Duke star Kyle Singler.
---Richmond
Richmond, Va., 26-8.
Nickname: Spiders. Coach: Chris Mooney.
Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 7.
Tournament Record: 6-7, 7 years. Last appearance: 2004.
Scoring: Team (69.3); Kevin Anderson 17.8; David Gonzalvez 14.5; Justin Harper 10.6.
Rebounds: Team (33.0); Justin Harper 5.5; David Gonzalvez 4.2; Dan Geriot 4.1.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.7/11.3); Kevin Anderson 2.6/2.4; David Gonzalvez 2.3/1.6; Dan Geriot 2.0/1.6.
3-pointers: Team (.351); David Gonzalvez 74; Ryan Butler 52; Justin Harper 41; Kevin Anderson 37.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: The year couldn't have been more charmed for the Spiders, who set a school-record for regular-season wins and was ranked for the first time in 24 years. Anderson was voted A-10 player of the year and scored 31 against Wake Forest at South Padre Island.
St. Mary's, Calif.Moraga, Calif., 26-5.
Nickname: Gaels. Coach: Randy Bennett.
Conference: West Coast. Bid: WCC champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 10.
Tournament Record: 1-5, 5 years. Last appearance: 2008.
Scoring: Team (79.5); Omar Samhan 20.9; Mickey McConnell 13.7; Matthew Dellavedova 12.5; Ben Allen 10.8.
Rebounds: Team (36.8); Omar Samhan 11.0; Ben Allen 7.6.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (16.5/11.6); Mickey McConnell 5.3/2.2; Matthew Dellavedova 4.5/1.9; Ben Allen 2.2/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.412); Matthew Dellavedova 70; Mickey McConnell 67; Clint Steindl 48; Ben Allen 43.
Last Ten: 8-2.
The Skinny: The Gaels' 81-62 rout of Gonzaga in the conference title game was no fluke, and Samhan has the size (6-11, 265) to create problems. The biggest question is whether he can keep a cool head. Samhan was hit with a technical against the 'Zags and has been known to get into foul trouble.
---Villanova
Philadelphia, 24-7.
Nickname: Wildcats. Coach: Jay Wright.
Conference: Big East. Bid: At large.
Region: South. Seed: No. 2.
Tournament Record: 48-30, 30 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (82.5); Scottie Reynolds 18.5; Corey Fisher 13.7; Antonio Pena 10.9; Corey Stokes 9.5.
Rebounds: Team (39.0); Antonio Pena 7.4; Taylor King 5.6; Reggie Redding 4.7; Corey Stokes 4.0.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (13.9/13.8); Corey Fisher 4.0/2.1; Scottie Reynolds 3.3/2.6; Reggie Redding 2.6/1.5.
3-pointers: Team (.376); Scottie Reynolds 67; Corey Stokes 55; Taylor King 38; Corey Fisher 36.
Last Ten: 4-6.
The Skinny: This was the school-record sixth straight 20-win season for the Wildcats, and Reynolds has been around for four of them. The senior joined Kerry Kittles as the only Villanova players with at least 2,000 points and 400 assists. If he gets shut down, look for Fisher to try to get to the basket.
Robert MorrisPittsburgh, 23-11.
Nickname: Colonials. Coach: Mike Rice.
Conference: Northeast. Bid: Northeast champion.
Region: South. Seed: No. 15.
Tournament Record: 1-6, 6 years. Last appearance: 2009.
Scoring: Team (68.5); Karon Abraham 13.4; Rob Robinson 9.9; Mezie Nwigwe 8.2; Velton Jones 8.2.
Rebounds: Team (35.1); Rob Robinson 5.5; Russell Johnson 5.1; Dallas Green 4.9; Mezie Nwigwe 4.3.
Assists/Turnovers: Team (12.5/14.7); Velton Jones 2.9/2.4; Mezie Nwigwe 2.5/2.0.
3-pointers: Team (.365); Karon Abraham 80; Russell Johnson 26.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: The Colonials played in their ninth NEC tournament title contest but first on the road. It didn't seem to matter against Quinnipiac. The key to Robert Morris making any headlines is balance, with several players who can score.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Wozniacki cruises, Sharapova bows out at Indian Wells
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark
rolled into the fourth round while former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova was a
third-round loser Sunday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open tennis event.
Wozniacki
<< Seton Hall removes Mitchell from basketball team
South Orange, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seton Hall announced it has removed junior
forward Robert Mitchell from the basketball team for unspecified reasons.
Mitchell, a transfer from Duquesne, started in 15 of the 31 games this season
and averag
<< Federer, Murray, Roddick victorious at BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three-time champion Roger Federer
won his second-round match Sunday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open, an
ATP World Tour Masters event.
Federer captured his fifth lifetime matchup without a loss against
<< George Mason, Harvard to play in postseason tournament
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - George Mason and Harvard are part of the 16-team
field selected to play in the second annual College Insider.com postseason
tournament.
The Patriots, who reached the NCAA Final Four in 2006, will host Fairf
Kentucky garners No. 1 seed in the East >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Kentucky, which
scorched the Southeastern Conference in the regular season and won the
conference tourney crown in a tense overtime contest, was named as the top-
seeded
Duke, Big East highlight South >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hours after winning their record 18th ACC
Tournament title on Sunday, the Duke Blue Devils were awarded the No. 1 seed
in the South Region in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Duke (29-5), backed by the triumv
Kansas looms large in the Midwest >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas Jayhawks began the 2009-10
college basketball season atop the preseason polls, and so far the voters have
been spot on, as the Big 12 champs will carry that top ranking into the NCAA
Tournam
NCAA Capsules-West Regional >>
Syracuse, N.Y., 28-4.Nickname: Orangemen. Coach: Jim Boeheim.Conference: Big East. Bid: At large.Region: West. Seed: No. 1.Tournament Record: 50-32, 32 years. Last appearance: 2009.Scoring: Team (81.5); Wesley Johnson 16.0; Andy Rautins 11.7; Kris J
American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies
It's that time of year folks. Betting on American Idol Season 9. And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below. With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.
No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.
Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.
Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.
Odds to Win
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.
All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.
A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.
Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.
Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol.
Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.
If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.
Elimination Props
Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.
Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.
Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups
The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.
Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting strategies.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
My fellow Americans, as tempting as it may be to don the coat and HD-ready tie in order to deliver this State of the Game address before the cameras, I know better. As Brad Paisley sings on his latest album, "I'm so much cooler online."
The ideas for this annual essay to kick off the MySportsbook.com college football betting preview flowed like frat-house beer, which is to say they were cheap and spilled all over the floor. The 2007 season will be better than 2007, if only because there will be more of it. A year ago, the NCAA Football Rules Committee made two rule changes in the interest of speeding up the game. These changes went over like Kobe burgers at a vegan banquet.
To its credit, the rules committee rectified its mistakes. This season the clock once again will start when a kickoff is received, rather than when it is kicked, and the clock will not start so quickly on a change of possession.
However, kickoffs have been moved back five yards, to the 30, which will force more returns. (Thus forcing the clock to run. Clever, huh?) Special teams might decide a lot of games, because coaching strategy will come straight out of another new Paisley lyric (almost), I'd like to check you for kicks.
Paisley sings with a twang, which is why he's appropriate for this college football season. The sun coming up over the 2007 college football betting lines season rises from the south. It's a Southern football world. As the Southeastern Conference begins its 75th year, the power shift is noticeable.
Eight-figure budgets, glamorous settings -- and that's just for the head coaches. The SEC has four coaches who have won national championships -- the greatest aggregation of coaching know-how since Eddie Robinson dined alone.
Steve Spurrier, Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have given lie to the idea that a conference championship game is too daunting a hurdle on the road to No. 1. In six of the past 10 seasons, the national champions played and won a conference championship game -- three of the six (Tennessee, 1998; LSU, 2003; Florida, 2007) from the SEC.
There will be more of the same this season, if the preseason prognostications are correct. Six SEC teams are in the preseason coaches' poll, more than from any other conference. Only one conference has talent so deep that a team with 15 returning starters, including the best quarterback in the league, from an eight-win season is considered an afterthought. That may speak more to Kentucky's losing legacy than to the wisdom of the predictions, but there you have it. And seriously, keep an eye on Wildcats QB Andre' Woodson.
The reach of the South extends all the way to No. 1. Take a look at the team that is a consensus pick to win the national championship. The quarterback is from Shreveport. The best wide receiver is from Nashville. The top recruit is from New Orleans.
So what's the campus doing in Los Angeles? Hey, it is the University of Southern California.
USC lost two Pacific-10 Conference games a year ago, the first time that had happened in five seasons, and university officials withstood the urge to form blue-ribbon panels to unearth the cause of such a disaster. Instead, the Trojans gathered themselves and routed Michigan, 32-18, in the Rose Bowl.
USC's losses at Oregon State and at UCLA last year should have given pause to those who question the Pac-10's football prowess (such as, without naming names, L.M. from Baton Rouge). The league only got deeper this season; Dennis Erickson is taking over an Arizona State team that never quite got out of its own way under his predecessor, Dirk Koetter.
Erickson will resume his quest to become the first coach to win a national championship at two schools. Both he and Spurrier, now in his third season at South Carolina, returned to college football at schools with lower profiles than where they won their titles.
That isn't the case for the third coach looking for the national championship double. You may have missed this, but NASA reported the astronauts on the space shuttle last spring made contact with what can only be described as beings from another galaxy.
The leader of the aliens said, "We come in peace," followed by, "So how do you think Nick Saban will do at Alabama?"
The public is reacting to the new Crimson Tide coach as if he is the Barry Bonds of college football -- beloved at home for what his fans believe he is going to do, hated on the road for his intimidating attitude and for what his detractors believe he did (bend NCAA recruiting rules). I made this comparison from the dais at a charity dinner in Mobile, Ala., last month, and the chill that washed over me didn't come from the air conditioning.
Saban will attempt to prove that he can remake in Tuscaloosa what he built in Baton Rouge, much like another member of the national championship fraternity. Bobby Bowden is attempting to remake at Florida State what he built at, um, Florida State. Bowden rebuilt his offensive staff, bringing in four new coaches led by Saban's former offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, to jump-start an offense that has been dead for a couple of years.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to show new signs of life, too. That is said with no disrespect toward last season's champion, Wake Forest, which provided one of the best story lines of 2007. The Demon Deacons begin this season in their customary position, overshadowed by the Virginia Techs, Miamis and Florida States.
It's not that Wake will find it difficult to duplicate its success in 2007 as much as the feeling that success engendered. Surprising success is the narcotic of sport. It never feels quite so euphoric the next time. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese has figured this out. He refers to 2007, when a league looked down upon by fans and foes alike took three undefeated teams into November, as "Cinderella."
The fairy tale may be over, but the Big East has four genuine Heisman Trophy candidates in Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White, and Rutgers tailback Ray Rice. Rutgers, as did Wake Forest and, of course, Boise State, proved last season that the have-nots in college football occasionally have quite a lot.
The Broncos' rousing 43-42 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl has raised the profile of all schools in conferences that don't get automatic BCS bids. This season, TCU and Hawaii are the preseason favorites to burst through the BCS doors and earn an at-large bid. The Warriors return 14 starters from an 11-3 team, including quarterback Colt Brennan.
Brennan not only broke the single-season record with 58 touchdown passes in 2007, but he also led Division I-A in passing efficiency (186.0). The senior is expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy, and neither his success nor the rise of his team should come as any surprise in the 2007 season.
After all, Hawaii is the southernmost team in the country.
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