Florida State and UCLA meet in the Emerald Bowl
NCAA Football Betting Lines
12/24/2006 - San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida State Seminoles and the UCLA Bruins meet for the first time ever on the gridiron, as they hook up in the Emerald Bowl from AT&T Park in San Francisco.
The Seminoles have had an off year, to say the least, as they bring just a 6-6 record into the game. For some schools that record and a bowl appearance would be acceptable, but not for a FSU program that is accustomed to playing for national championships. Still, this is the 25th straight bowl game appearance by the school, and that is the second longest active streak in the nation. The Seminoles, who set an NCAA record with 11 straight bowl wins from 1985-97, are 20-13-2 all-time in bowl appearances. Head coach Bobby Bowden has a career mark of 19-9-1 in his 29 bowl games, and only Penn State's Joe Paterno (21) has won more postseason games. Bowden however, is in jeopardy of suffering his first losing season at FSU since taking over as head coach in 1976 (5-6).
As for UCLA, it won three straight games down the stretch, including a 13-9 triumph over USC that cost the Trojans a shot at the national title. The Bruins will be participating in a bowl game for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons and they own a 13-13-1 all-time mark in the postseason. Last year, UCLA participated in the Sun Bowl, where it outlasted Northwestern 50-38.
The biggest question for FSU entering this game is who will get the start at quarterback, Drew Weatherford or Xavier Lee? Weatherford started the first seven games of the season, and every game last year, before an injury sidelined him, giving Lee a chance to start. On the year, Weatherford has completed 56.7 percent of his throws for 1,829 yards, but with just 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. As for Lee, he is clearly the more mobile of the two, but he also has a strong arm, throwing for 885 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions. Whomever is under center, he will surely be looking the way of Chris Davis and Greg Carr. The 6-0 Davis leads the squad in both catches (46) and receiving yards (651), while the 6-6 Carr has provided the team with a threat in the red-zone, catching a club-best 11 touchdowns. As for the ground attack, it is paced by the duo of Lorenzo Booker and Antone Smith. The two have combined for 981 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, although Booker figures to see most of the carries with Smith being listed as questionable with a dislocated elbow.
While the offense has done a decent job this season, it is FSU's defense that is the strength of this team. The Seminoles have had a tremendous amount of success slowing down their opponents, although they are allowing 19.2 ppg, mainly because of the bad spots they have been put in by the offense. Still, the unit is giving up a mere 278.9 total ypg, including just 84.1 ypg on the ground. The knock on this unit, though, is that it hasn't generated enough turnovers, posting just 16 thus far. Buster Davis heads the Seminoles with 102 tackles and he also has seven TFLs and five sacks to his name. Lawrence Timmons has also been a force, as he leads the team in TFLs (18) to go along with 74 stops and five sacks.
Much like FSU, UCLA had its own controversy at quarterback, as an injury to Ben Olson midway through the season gave Patrick Cowan a chance to show his stuff. Olson started the first five games, completing 63.7 percent of his throws for 822 yards, but he suffered a knee injury on October 7th and hasn't played since. Meanwhile, Cowan has taken over, and following a rough start, he has led the team to three straight wins to close out the regular season, including the triumph over rival USC. In 11 appearances (six starts), Cowan has completed 54.2 percent of his throws for 1,542 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Bruins don't possess any one standout wide receiver, as Marcus Everett leads the team with just 403 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Tailback Chris Markey actually paces the squad in catches (33) and he is the center piece of this offense. Markey may have good hands, but his legs are what make him dangerous, rushing for 963 yards behind a 4.6 ypc average this season. He has carried the ball over 200 times, and he will surely see a majority of the touches in this game.
Defensively, the Bruins have been outstanding this season, as they are holding their opponents to 17.9 ppg and 304.8 total ypg. The unit has really fared well against the run, giving up just 89.9 ypg and only seven touchdowns on the ground. This defense has also excelled in the turnover department, generating 26 miscues, including 12 interceptions. Another strength of this unit has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks, posting an impressive 39 sacks. Bruce Davis and Justin Hickman have been the major reasons for the team's ability to get into the backfield, and they will surely cause havoc in this one. The duo have not only combined for an eye-popping 25 sacks, but they also have posted a total of 35 TFLs.
This should be a good one, as both teams are similar in the sense that they rely heavily on their defense to keep them in games. UCLA however, has a difference maker in Markey and his ability to run hard all game long should give the Bruins enough of an edge to pull out the win.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: UCLA 23, Florida State 20
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NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.