Gamecocks and Cougars go in pursuit of Liberty
NCAA Football Betting Lines
12/27/2006 - 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 finished 3-5 against SEC competition. On a positive note, the Gamecocks did beat a strong Clemson squad in the regular season finale, and the momentum of that triumph may carry into this bowl game. South Carolina is set to make its 13th all-time bowl appearance, and the program is just 3-9 in the previous 12 contests. The Gamecocks lost their first eight bowl games, and they rallied for three straight victories before losing to Missouri in the 2005 Independence Bowl, 38-31.
As for Houston, it won the Conference USA title with a 7-1 record, and the team is 10-3 overall. The Cougars are riding a six-game winning streak, and five of the victories during the current run have come by double figures. Art Briles took over the Houston program in 2003 when it was two years removed from an 0-11 season, and he has certainly turned things around. The Cougars are 7-8-1 all-time in bowl games and haven't won a bowl tilt since beating Navy in the 1980 Garden State Bowl. Considering that a trip to the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl resulted in a 42-13 loss, a much better effort is both expected and needed on Friday.
Houston has won both of the previous meetings between these two teams, but the Gamecocks and Cougars have not squared off since 1974.
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and he expects a great deal from the signal-callers he now coaches. Blake Mitchell did not get off to a good start for the Gamecocks, and he was replaced by Syvelle Newton. Now, Mitchell is back under center, and he has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 1,146 yards with six touchdowns over the last 14 quarters. As for Newton, he started at safety in the game against Clemson and has the versatility to make an impact on both sides of the ball in this bowl game. Mitchell's top target in Friday's clash will be sophomore wideout Sidney Rice, as he has posted 64 catches for 951 yards and nine touchdowns. As good as those numbers are, they fall short of the figures he recorded as a freshman a year ago. As for the backfield, Cory Boyd is tops among runners with 729 yards on only 146 carries. Boyd has also caught 77 passes in his career, and his versatility makes him especially dangerous.
For South Carolina to come out on top in this bowl game, First-Team All-SEC linebacker Jasper Brinkley will have to dominate play. He has made 96 total tackles this season, 47 more than his closest teammate. Brinkley has 12.5 TFLs to his credit and four sacks, and the 258-pound junior never shies away from contact. Fred Bennett, a sophomore corner, has the ability to lock down the opposition's best receiver, and he was named Second-Team All-ACC for his efforts. Opponents are only managing 17.2 ppg and 321.0 total ypg against South Carolina, which has been fairly solid against both the run and the pass. The defense has been significantly better on third down this season than last and 28 sacks have certainly helped the cause. Only once this season has South Carolina surrendered 30 or more points, so the defense has given the team a chance to win almost every time out.
The Houston offensive unit is led by quarterback Kevin Kolb, the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, who is that league's all-time leader in total offense. Kolb, who owns nearly all the career passing records at the school, has thrown 27 touchdowns with only three interceptions this season. The versatile signal-caller has also run for four touchdowns, but there are some talented tailbacks in the fold who handle the rushing load for the most part. Anthony Alridge's numbers were staggering, as he has gained 904 yards and eight touchdowns despite the fact that he has carried the ball only 85 times. His average of 10.6 ypg is somewhat comical, as Division I-A players simply do not achieve such success routinely. As for Jackie Battle, a bruising runner, he adds 858 yards and 13 touchdowns to the mix. Keep an eye on receiver Vincent Marshall, as he has caught 71 passes for 778 yards and six touchdowns. Donnie Avery has five receiving scores to his credit, and Jeron Harvey has caught four touchdown passes.
Opponents are scoring 21.9 ppg against a Houston team that is yielding 139.9 rushing ypg and 199.2 passing ypg. Of the 33 touchdowns that the club has allowed to opposing offenses, 16 have come on the ground. The Cougars have recorded 24 takeaways to date, much more impressive than a modest total of 20 sacks. Houston has allowed at least 30 points on four occasions, so it is hard to say that the defense has been tough overall. Still, the unit was solid down the stretch, although it is always overshadowed by Kolb and the offense. Will Gulley missed one of Houston's 13 games, but he still led the team in tackles (93) and interceptions (five). Trent Allen was close behind with 92 total stops, and Phillip Hunt paced the club with 11 TFLs. Both Gulley, the team's free safety, and linebacker Wake Koehl were recently named First-Team All- Conference USA selections.
All three of Houston's losses came in succession midway through the season, and it has been well over two months since the club last tasted defeat. Still, the edge should go to Spurrier's Gamecocks in this contest, as they will likely win a close contest.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: South Carolina 27, Houston 24
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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
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repeating as national champions. Instead, they must settle for an
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slate for December 29, the 17th Annual Champs Sports Bowl pits the Purdue
Boilermakers against the Maryland Terrapins at the Florida Citrus Bowl in
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Miami Hurricanes in the 10th Annual MPC Computers Bowl from Bronco Stadium
in B
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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
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Young kept hi
Football Betting Lines
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.
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.