Beavers and Tigers to bask in the Sun
NCAA Football Betting Lines
12/27/2006 - 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 their last six seasons. Last season was the only year since 2001 that the Beavers were not in postseason action. OSU is currently 7-4 in bowl matchups and has won its last two postseason games, which includes a terrific, 38-21 victory over Notre Dame in the Insight Bowl back in 2004. It was a year to remember in Corvallis, as the Beavers posted a 9-4 record in 2006. However, the campaign did not start off on the right foot. Oregon State began the season with a 2-3 record, but fortunately the team was able to right the ship, winning four consecutive games, including a thrilling, 33-31 victory over USC, snapping the Trojans' 27-game winning streak against Pac-10 opponents. OSU's winning streak was then snapped with a 25-7 setback to UCLA on the road, but that would be the last time OSU would taste defeat as the team closed out the regular season with three consecutive wins, including a tough, 35-32 victory over Hawaii on the road. A win on Friday would give OSU its third straight bowl victory and fourth in its last five postseason tries.
As for the Tigers, this is their third bowl game in the last four seasons, but it is just the team's fifth bowl appearance since 1983. Overall, Missouri is just 10-13 in bowl action, but last season the team posted a thrilling, 38-31 win over South Carolina in the Independence Bowl. This will be the Tigers' second trip to the Sun Bowl, as the team posted a 34-17 victory over Auburn back on December 29th in 1973. Missouri flew out of the gates in 2006, as the team opened the season with six consecutive wins, including a 38-21 victory over Texas Tech on the road. Unfortunately the team hit a wall, dropping four of its next five games, including three straight to Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa State. Luckily the Tigers were able to close out the regular season on a high note, defeating Kansas, 42-17.
This is just the second ever meeting between these two teams, with the first coming a half century ago (1956).
The Beavers were one of the more balanced offensive teams in not only the Pac-10, but in the nation for that matter. OSU comes into this matchup averaging 26.9 ppg, while producing 353.2 total ypg. The Beavers only churned out 119.5 ypg on the ground, but the real success came through the air, as OSU threw for an average of 233.6 ypg. Matt Moore had a solid season under center, as the quarterback completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,666 yards and 14 scores to go against six interceptions. Moore's main target on the season was Sammie Stroughter, who collected 66 receptions for 1,206 yards and four touchdowns. Joe Newton was a threat inside the red zone, as the big man caught 30 passes for 392 yards and five scores. Although the Beavers tallied just 3.5 ypc this season the ground game is still a dangerous commodity simply because of Yvenson Bernard. Bernard is a talented back and had a quietly successful season, rushing for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns on 273 carries (4.4 ypc).
On the defensive side of the ball, the Beavers were solid, allowing just 21 ppg, while holding the opposition to just 316.4 total ypg. The defensive unit was terrific against the run, surrendering just 103.1 ypg on the ground. The team had some issues against the pass, permitting 213.3 ypg through the air, but recorded 17 interceptions which helped negate the passing yardage totals. Overall the team forced a whopping 31 turnovers and collected an eye-popping 44 sacks. Eighteen different players recorded a sack for OSU, as Dorian Smith led the way with 8.5 quarterback takedowns. Derrick Doggett and Alan Darlin both added five sacks apiece, while Doggett also tallied a team-high 14 TFLs. Sabby Piscitelli was the leader in the defensive backfield, as the safety led the team with five interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
The Tigers were also potent offensively and much like their counterpart, their success also came through the air, as the team averaged an impressive 269.2 passing ypg. Overall Missouri posted a whopping 414.3 total ypg, which led to an impressive 29.6 ppg. Quarterback Chase Daniel had a superb season for the Tigers, as the signal-caller completed 64.1 percent of his passes. Daniel threw for an outstanding 3,197 yards and finished with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The success of Daniel could be attributed to the group of weapons at his disposal, especially tight end Chase Coffman and wideout William Franklin. Coffman collected 55 passes for 555 yards and eight scores this season, while Franklin hauled in 48 balls for 829 yards and six touchdowns. Martin Rucker also played a huge role in the passing attack, collecting 47 passes for 444 yards and five touchdowns. With all the success the passing game had this season, the Tigers' ground attack was clearly a second option. Tony Temple was the only solid back for the Tigers this year, as the junior rushed for 869 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games. Other than Temple, there was not much in the backfield for Missouri, in fact the second leading rusher for the Tigers was Daniel, who finished with 393 yards and four scores.
Defensively the Tigers were just as solid as their offensive unit, if not better. Missouri surrendered only 17.9 ppg on the season and held the opposition to a meager 308.8 total ypg. The unit allowed just 137.3 ypg on the ground, while playing even better against the pass, permitting just 171.5 ypg. Another bright spot for the Tigers was their ability to make big plays throughout the course of a game. Missouri is coming into this matchup with 26 forced turnovers to its credit and 34 sacks. Marcus Bacon was easily the leader of this team, as the linebacker recorded 103 tackles to go along with 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. The defensive line was extremely impressive throughout and consistently put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Brian Smith paced the Tigers with 7.5 sacks, while Xzavie Jackson and Lorenzo Williams tallied seven and six sacks, respectively.
This should be a tough battle from beginning to end. Both squads have been impressive on both sides of the football. However, the Beavers come into this contest with a slight edge simply because they have a more talented player in the backfield.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Oregon State 27, Missouri 21
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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.
The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.
MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.
A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.
A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.
Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.
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FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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