08/27/2008 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies have their eyes on another ACC title and BCS Bowl and begin their quest for the latter with their season-opener in Charlotte on Saturday, against the East Carolina Pirates.
Frank Beamer's Hokies captured their second conference crown in four years and a spot in the Orange Bowl, winning 11 games in the process. Although the postseason clash with Kansas did not go in Tech's favor (24-21 loss), it was still a highly successful campaign in Blacksburg.
Skip Holtz's Pirates came together last season winning eight games and finishing second in Conference USA's East Division at 6-2. With a winning record to end the regular season, ECU earned a spot in the Hawaii Bowl and was involved in one of the more entertaining bowl games, taking a 41-38 decision over Boise State. There is plenty of reason for optimism in Greenville this season, as the Pirates are predicted to vie for the conference crown once again, prompting the university brass to award Holtz a new contract extension through 2013.
This will be the 14th all-time meeting between these two teams, with Virginia Tech holding a 9-4 advantage. Tech has won six straight in the series, including a 17-7 victory in last year's season-opener.
Offensively, the Hokies were nothing special in 2007. With six starters returning to this side of the field in 2008, the hope is that the numbers will improve significantly.
The quarterback position was loaded, with senior Sean Glennon and sophomore Tyrod Taylor. Both signal-callers played last season and while Glennon was the more polished passer (.609 completion percentage, 1,796 yards and 12 TDs), Taylor was more of a duel threat, passing for almost 1,000 yards and rushing for over 400, accounting for a combined 11 TDs. It was not an easy decision by any stretch of the imagination, but Coach Beamer has recently decided to go with Glennon under center, while redshirting Taylor. Senior Cory Holt will now serve as Glennon's backup in 2008.
"This is what we think is in our best interest for the long term," Beamer said. "Tyrod would benefit from another year of learning and this is our plan for now."
There is uncertainty in the receiving corps, where Tech must replace its top four pass catchers. A youth movement is in order and the Hokies will open the season hoping that redshirt freshman Danny Coale (6-0, 203) and true freshman Dyrell Roberts (6-1, 183) can ignite the vertical game.
Beamer is likely to give a few youngsters a crack at producing on the ground as well, with veteran Branden Ore being dismissed from the team in the spring. Redshirt freshmen Darren Evans (6-0, 215) and Josh Oglesby (5-11, 211) and prized recruit Ryan Williams (5-10, 200) could see significant carries this year, although junior Kenny Lewis has recovered from a spring injury (shoulder) and is slated to start to begin the season.
The Hokie defense returns just four starters from a year ago, but Beamer has always gotten the most out of this unit. Tech recorded five touchdowns on interception returns in 2007 so the return of cornerback Victor Harris (36 tackles, 11 PBUs, five INTs) and safety Kam Chancellor (79 tackles, seven PBUs, one INT) has to be viewed as a plus.
It is in the front seven where Tech will need to fill the most holes, including the loss of standout LBs Xavier Adibi (115 tackles,) and Vince Hall (100 tackles) and rush end Chris Ellis (53 tackles, 8.5 sacks). The Martin brothers will spearhead the attack in the front seven, with Orion (6-2, 252- pound end) getting attention along the frontline and Cam (6-1, 204 LB) responsible for the middle of the field. Another player of note up front will be sophomore end Jason Worilds (6.2, 252), who has played lights out in practice since the spring.
The Pirates enter this season with a pair of capable signal-callers in senior Patrick Pinkney and junior Rob Kass. Pinkney started five games last season and he is the more mobile of the two, rushing for 306 yards and a score, while throwing for 1,358 yards and 11 touchdowns. He will get the nod early on according to Holtz, who won't rule out Kass (1,164 yards and nine TDs last year).
"Right now Patrick will start. At this point, I don't know if you'll see two quarterbacks. It is nice to have two quarterbacks with the experience that we have. They have such different talents and that makes it very difficult for opposing defenses to prepare for us."
Tailback Chris Johnson was sensational for the Pirates last season, combining for 2,960 all-purpose years, but has now taken his talents to the NFL. ECU will plug in Brandon Simmons. The 6-1, 225-pound Simmons is a physical back that has scored five times in just 53 carries at ECU and will be given every opportunity to be the top back in 2008.
As for the wide receiver corps, it has a good mix of athletes, highlighted by the return of Jamar Bryant. The 6-1, 210-pound junior led the team with 48 catches for 704 yard and six touchdowns last year.
ECU led C-USA with 31 takeaways last season and with nine starters back in the fold, this unit figures to be among the best in the league yet again.
The defensive line is the strength, led by ends Zack Slate and C.J. Wilson, who both earned all-league honors last season. The 6-5, 220-pound Slate has good speed and a non-stop motor and he logged 11.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 2007, while the 6-4, 271-pound Wilson emerged as a big time pass rusher last year, racking up 10.5 TFLs a team-high seven sacks.
The linebacking corps isn't nearly as strong as the line, but the team does return a couple of dependable senior starters in Pierre Bell (97 tackles) and Quentin Cotton (66 tackles, 9.5 TFLs).
The Pirates have some questions to answer in the secondary, but free safety Van Eskridge (6-0 junior) is not one of them, after converting from linebacker last year and leading the team in tackles (104).
<< Fifth-ranked Gators open 2008 slate against Warriors
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Florida Gators open up
their 2008 schedule this weekend, as they welcome the Hawaii Warriors to the
mainland for a gridiron clash in Gainesville.
Urban Meyer has another loaded team followi
<< Top-ranked Georgia hosts intrastate foe Georgia Southern
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs put their lofty
ranking on the line this weekend at home, as they open their 2008 schedule
against instate foe Georgia Southern.
There is plenty of excitement and anticipation in
<< Kansas hosts Florida International in season opener
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks open their
119th season of college football this weekend, as they entertain the Florida
International Panthers in a non-conference showdown in Lawrence.
The 2007 season was a hi
<< West Virginia begins new era with bout against Villanova
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers
begin the Bill Stewart era as they host the Villanova Wildcats in what appears
to be a lopsided season-opening tilt.
Villanova, which competes at the FCS level, r
Huskies and Ducks meet in season-opening Pac-10 clash >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is rare that conference rivals face one
another in the season opener, but that will be the case in Eugene on Saturday
night as the 21st-ranked Oregon Ducks welcome the Washington Huskies to town
for a Pac-10 cla
Second-ranked Buckeyes open 2008 slate against visiting Penguins >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have
lost the national title game the last two years, and they hope for another
chance to capture college football's ultimate prize as they begin the 2008
season against Youn
Barry ends exit talk, pledges future to Villa >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aston Villa's England midfielder Gareth
Barry will not leave the club before the transfer window shuts at the end of
the month, ending talk of a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal.
The 27-year-old
Dortmund inks Lee from Tottenham >>
Dortmund, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - South Korea international Young-Pyo Lee
has ended his three-year association with Tottenham by completing his switch
to Borussia Dortmund.
The 31-year-old made 93 appearances for the club followin
Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.
Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6
For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com
MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
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