Hurricanes and Wolf Pack meet for first time
NCAA Football Betting Lines
12/27/2006 - Boise, ID (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Winners of their last two bowl appearances, the Nevada Wolf Pack try to bring an end to a torturous 2006 campaign for the Miami Hurricanes in the 10th Annual MPC Computers Bowl from Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.
The Pack, who won last season's Hawaii Bowl with an exciting 49-48 overtime decision versus UCF, has had to play second-fiddle to undefeated Boise State in the Western Athletic Conference this season, even though Nevada was the preseason pick to take the league title. The Wolf Pack started the campaign on a down note however, immediately coming out with a 28-19 conference loss to Fresno State on the first of September. Eight days later there was a 52-21 blowout defeat at the hands of Arizona State, so from then on the squad was having to battle back to respectability. Eight victories over the next nine outings, with the only setback being a 41-34 decision versus Hawaii on the road, meant the Pack was back in business. The squad was crushed in the regular season finale by the aforementioned Broncos, 38-7, but they still made it to their seventh bowl all-time, after going 3-3 since the 1948 Salad Bowl.
As for the Hurricanes, the winds blew extremely fierce in the Sunshine State this year as Miami struggled to become bowl eligible at 6-6. A season- opening loss to Florida State by a field goal (13-10) was only the tip of the iceberg as the program at one point dropped four straight decisions versus ACC opponents (Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Virginia). A repulsive display of aggression in the meeting with Florida International, a game that Miami won 35-0, only made it more clear that a change was needed for the squad. Unfortunately, the fall guy became head coach Larry Coker who, after winning a national championship in his first season and becoming the first head coach to win his first 24 games since Walter Camp in 1888-89, gracefully stepped aside but will still be on the sidelines for this event. Miami, which is 18-14 since first playing in the postseason in the 1933 Palm Festival against Manhattan College, lost a bout with LSU in last year's Peach Bowl by a final of 40-3.
As far as the all-time series between these two programs is concerned, this is the first-ever meeting as the Hurricanes, who will have a new head coach in former defensive coordinator Randy Shannon next year, take part in the postseason for the ninth straight year.
As if having a shaky offense were not trouble enough heading into the postseason, Coker and Co. are now having to run the unit without former offensive coordinator Rich Olson who took a position with Arizona State, which means Todd Berry will now be sorting out the confusion for the unit. Kirby Freeman got the call at signal-caller in the team's regular season finale, but he's far from the sort of polished quarterback that this program is used to seeing. He has completed just 53.9 percent of his pass attempts and has more completions to the competition (seven) than he does touchdowns (five). Lance Leggett was second on the team in receptions with 37 for 581 yards and four TDs for a team that ranked eighth in the conference and 88th among the 199 Division I-A programs in scoring with just 19.5 ppg this year. Take out the combined 86 points tallied against Florida A&M and FIU and this squad struggled tremendously. Averaging 4.9 yards per carry, Javarris James is the top running back Miami has to turn to with his 767 yards and four scores pacing the group.
Despite the offense being rather fragile this season, the Miami defense continued to dominate opponents, allowing more than 17 points just twice to Louisville and Georgia Tech. The run defense was especially stifling, allowing more than 100 yards just once this year as it gave up 132 yards to Virginia, although Miami still matched a season high with five sacks and made a total of 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage in that meeting with the Cavaliers. Permitting just 66 ypg on the ground, not only were the Hurricanes first in the ACC, they were also third in the nation behind only Michigan and Texas. In terms of total defense, Miami was second in the league and fifth in the country with only 252.1 ypg allowed. However, those minimal yards still kept the team from being the best in the ACC at holding scores down, ranking fourth in the conference with 15.1 ppg allowed. That number had the team ranked 14th nationally, which goes to show just how tough the rest of the conference was in that area. Placing third in the team in total tackles was Calais Campbell with 49 stops, but he was first with 20 TFLs, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Heading into the Boise State matchup, the Wolf Pack had scored no less than 19 points in any one game and had produced at least 42 points in each of the previous four outings, but the trend failed to stand up against the Broncos. As a result, Nevada finished fourth in the conference in rushing with 176.8 ypg and sixth in passing with 185.8 ypg. The scoring offense checked in with 30.1 ppg, which was 19th in the nation this season, but compared to the rest of the WAC it was simply average because the league also includes Hawaii and New Mexico State, which scored more than Nevada, along with BSU obviously. Jeff Rowe carried a lot of the weight for the Pack this season as he completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 16 touchdowns and seven picks. His favorite target continued to be Caleb Spencer as the All-WAC Second Team choice collected 52 passes for 536 yards and a pair of scores. However, when it came to scoring, none was better than Mike McCoy who turned nine of his 21 grabs into TDs. Coming out of the backfield Robert Hubbard took most of the hits to finish with 936 yards and six scores, but in less than half the carries Luke Lippincott picked up a team-high nine touchdowns.
Except for the expected setbacks to Hawaii and Boise State, as well as the poor effort in the Arizona State meeting, the defense kept the Wolf Pack competitive every time they hit the field. Five opponents were held to a touchdown or less, with Utah State and Louisiana Tech being held scoreless in back-to-back meetings in November. Despite the lapses against Hawaii, ASU and Boise State, Nevada still had enough left in the tank to rank second in the league in scoring defense with 19 ppg allowed. Having to play so many conference games against opponents who had no reservations about throwing the ball down after down, it is a little surprising that the pass defense for the Pack played as well as it did, holding foes to just 190.7 ypg to rank first in the WAC and 45th nationally. A strong push up front started the process as Nevada ranked first in the league with 2.75 sacks per game and J.J. Milan earning all- conference honors as he picked up 9.5 sacks by himself. Joe Garcia and Nick Hawthrone locked down the secondary with a combined 10 interceptions, the latter scoring the only points of the game versus Boise State with a 45-yard return of an INT for a score.
One has to wonder how juiced the Hurricanes will be to send Coker out on a high note. Perhaps all the distractions and off-the-field issues have finally caught up to the once proud program, which is why Nevada could sneak out with the win.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Nevada 17, Miami-Florida 13
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A couple of schools that have not met in over 70 years hook up in the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl, as the Georgia Bulldogs tangle with the 14th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies from the Georgia Dome. The Bulldogs' reg
<< Texas Tech and Minnesota duke it out in Insight Bowl
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Tech Red Raiders will make their
seventh consecutive bowl appearance when they collide with the Minnesota
Golden Gophers in the Insight Bowl, which is being held at Sun Devil
Stad
<< Gamecocks and Cougars go in pursuit of Liberty
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Memphis, Tennessee is the site of the Autozone
Liberty Bowl that features the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Houston
Cougars.
While South Carolina's 7-5 overall record is solid, the team finish
<< Beavers and Tigers to bask in the Sun
El Paso, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Friday, December 29th from El Paso, Texas,
the Oregon State Beavers will clash with the Missouri Tigers in the 73rd
annual Sun Bowl.
The Beavers will participate in their fifth bowl game in
<< Cat Fight in Music City
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Clemson Tigers of the ACC and Kentucky
Wildcats of the SEC will meet in Nashville on December 29th in the Gaylord
Hotels Music City Bowl. Clemson is 8-4 entering this bowl season, and Tommy
Bowd
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta has placed forwards Scott Mellanby and Steve Rucchin on injured reserve, and activated defenseman Garnet Exelby, team executive vice president and general manager Don Waddell announced on Wednesd
Young, Merriman and Brown earn AFC weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, San
Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman and Houston kicker Kris Brown have
been honored as the AFC's top players for Week 16 of the NFL season.
Young kept hi
Terry to see specialist in France >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea and England national team captain
John Terry will reportedly see a specialist in France and to have exploratory
surgery on a disc problem in his lower back.
The center defender has missed the de
New executives named at NTRA >>
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Thoroughbred Racing Association
(NTRA) has announced that former Churchill Downs president Alex Waldrop has
been appointed president and CEO of the organization. In addition, Robert
Ellisto
Jackson, Kampmann and Gould earn NFC's weekly awards >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson,
Green Bay Packers defensive end Aaron Kampmann and Chicago kicker Robbie Gould
have been selected as the NFC's top players for Week 16 of the season.
Jackson ear
How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds
According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.
Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet. The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.
MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State. Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.
Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL. In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
ODDS TO WIN THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
| Notre Dame Ohio State West Virginia Texas USC Florida California Auburn Oklahoma Iowa Louisville Florida State Michigan Miami (FL) LSU Penn State Virginia Tech Nebraska Tennessee Georgia Arizona State Oregon Clemson Texas A&M Texas Tech Alabama Arkansas Boston College Michigan State Maryland South Carolina Colorado Purdue Georgia Tech TCU UCLA Arizona Pittsburgh Iowa State Wisconsin North Carolina State Virginia North Carolina Fresno State Hawaii Northwestern BYU Oregon State UNLV Field (Any Other Team) |
5-1 7-1 8-1 8-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 18-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 25-1 40-1 40-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 70-1 70-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 150-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 250-1 250-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 400-1 500-1 500-1 500-1 500-1 1000-1 1000-1 40-1 |
ODDS TO WIN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
| Miami (FL) Florida State Virginia Tech Clemson Georgia Tech Boston College Maryland Virginia North Carolina State North Carolina Wake Forest Duke |
2-1 2-1 3-1 7-1 15-1 15-1 15-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 500-1 |
ODDS TO WIN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
| Texas Oklahoma Nebraska Texas Tech Colorado Iowa State Texas A&M Kansas State Missouri Kansas Baylor Oklahoma State |
7-5 9-5 9-2 12-1 14-1 15-1 15-1 30-1 30-1 35-1 100-1 100-1 |
ODDS TO WIN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
| Auburn Florida LSU Georgia Tennessee Arkansas Alabama Mississippi South Carolina Mississippi State Kentucky Vanderbilt |
5-2 11-4 4-1 6-1 7-1 7-1 9-1 20-1 28-1 75-1 100-1 300-1 |
For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.