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Gambler’s Guide to the Bowl Games: Part I
NCAA Bowl season kicks off again this weekend and everyone really only cares about the National Championship Game between the Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish. Typically, only scouts, members of the media and real football junkies care to subject themselves to the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl, the Heart of Dallas Bowl or the GoDaddy.com Bowl. But if you choose to ignore these games with the funny names, you simply rob yourself of the last bits of college football you’ll see for the next eight months or so. By April when the NFL Draft ends, you’ll be watching cold weather baseball, and a couple of teams sleepwalking though the first round of the NBA playoffs, and wishing you could tune into the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Maybe not. But you know what makes lackluster football better and more interesting? Gambling. A little wager keeps the mind sharp and the blood pumping, and makes the BBVA Compass Bowl watchable. Or, at least check-the-score-on-your-phone-able. Here’s the Gambler’s Guide to the first two weeks of the 2012-13 Bowl Season, with Part Two to follow next week. (Disclaimer: picks presented for entertainment purposes only…of course)… Continue reading
Manti Te’o won’t win the Heisman…nor should he
Let’s get this out of the way: Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is not going to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. How can we be so sure? Well, for one thing, no player who exclusively played defense has ever won it. Back in 1997, Michigan’s Charles Woodson beat out Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning for the award. Woodson primarily played cornerback for the Wolverines, but was showcased throughout the season as a return man and receiver. So maybe Te’o becomes the first defensive player to win it, right? No. Odds released by Bovada Sports Book are astronomically in favor of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. At 1/15 odds in favor of Manziel, a gambler would need to wager $150 just to win ten bucks. Perhaps odds makers were swayed by heismanpundit.com, a website that has accurately predicted the last five Heisman winners with its straw poll. If this year’s poll is any indication, not only win Manziel win, he’ll walk away with the award. So, history will be made. Not because a defensive player has won, but because Johnny Football will become the first freshman winner in history. Strong indicators aside, some folks still think Te’o will win. On Thursday’s episode of PTI for example, co-host Michael Wilbon called for a Golden Domer sweep of the Heisman and the BCS National Championship. So there are people out there who think it might happen, and that it definitely should happen. Supposing Te’o does buck the odds and the polls and all of college football history, why should he be the first? In fact, why is he even one of the three finalists?… Continue reading
2012 College Football Conference Championship Preview
(This post originally appeared at route4sports.com)
It’s Conference Championship Week in college football, with teams battling for BCS bowl bids and bragging rights. Four of the six games land the winner an automatic spot in a BCS bowl game; and, one of them – the SEC Championship Game – will see its winner square off against Notre Dame for the Crystal Football on January 7th in Miami. Thanks in part to conference realignment, not every BCS Conference has a championship. Rutgers hosts Louisville in a de facto Big East title game Thursday night. A win probably sends the Scarlet Knights to a BCS bowl (if they crack the BCS top 25), while a loss creates a potential three-way tiebreaker scenario and threatens the Big East’s automatic BCS bid. Kansas State and Oklahoma are tied atop the Big 12. A Wildcats win would give K-State the title. A loss, and they’ll be praying for Texas Christian to topple the Sooners. So, there’s no actual championship game, but Kansas State’s win over Oklahoma earlier in the season could wind up having the same effect. As for the six games on the schedule this weekend, here’s a look at each in order of overall importance… Continue reading
2013 NFL Draft Notes: Thanksgiving Edition
The college football regular season wraps up with a full state of games this weekend, and conference championship games next week. Some players will finish their collegiate careers, while others will still have a bowl game appearance left to savor. But after that, NFL Draft prep starts fast and furious for the players who declare. Here’s a quick look at how some of the players who are eligible for the draft are currently trending…
Lache Seastrunk, one of the players at the center of Oregon’s Willie Lyles recruiting scandal last summer, is starting to emerge in his first season as a Baylor Bear. He has rushed for 379 yards (7.4 yards per carry) and four TDs in his last three games. Seastrunk is listed at 5’10 and 205 pounds. He’s a redshirt sophomore, so he is draft eligible. His performance over the past few weeks has surely put him on the radar of NFL scouts.
North Carolina State QB Mike Glennon is picking up steam in what is generally perceived as a week quarterback draft class. Last weekend Glennon had his third 400 yard passing game of the season with 493 yards and five touchdowns against Clemson. His stature and arm strength are central reasons why some folks are starting to wonder if he is worthy of a first round pick. But his inconsistent accuracy and pocket presence, as well as a tendency to turn the ball over (26 interceptions in his last 24 games) mean he won’t be for everyone. The hope is that Glennon will land in a postseason All Star game (preferably the Senior Bowl) and face off against other top senior quarterbacks. His performance in such an environment could be key to his evaluation… Continue reading
College Football Notebook: Sorting through the BCS
The college football season is winding down, and after last week’s shakeup, three major conference unbeatens remain to fight for a shot at the National Championship. Last Saturday, two other unbeaten teams fell, including most people’s preseason favorite. Here’s a recap of last weekend’s carnage, a look ahead for the contenders, and tales of teams on the outside looking in…
Last Saturday when Alabama lost, their celebrated defense gave up 345 total yards to Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, and did not force a single turnover. Meanwhile, the Tide turned the ball over three times, including two in the fourth quarter: a fumble by freshman running back T.J. Yeldon, and A.J. McCarron’s second interception of the day (and the season) with about a minute and a half to play. McCarron slightly underthrew receiver Amari Cooper on a 50 yard completion that, had he hit him in stride, probably would have been a touchdown. Yeldon’s fumble came on the very next play. On ‘Bama’s final drive, McCarron floated a 54 yard pass that forced Kenny Bell to slow down, and again missed on a touchdown. Three plays later McCarron threw that fateful second interception, and game was essentially over. If he had just a little more juice on those throws, Alabama would have scored a pair of TDs rather than handing the ball back to the Aggies. Instead the Tide may have lost out on a spot in the BCS Championship Game… Continue reading
2013 NFL Draft: Running Back Roundup
During the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Browns chose running back Trent Richardson with the third overall selection. With the last two picks of the first round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants opted for running backs Doug Martin and David Wilson, respectively. Even if some underclassmen declare, this year’s draft class certainly doesn’t include a back as highly touted as Richardson. With Marcus Lattimore suffering a career threatening knee injury, some analysts are wondering if there will even be a single running back chosen on the draft’s first day. Each year since 1963, when Don Lisbon went 36th overall to the Niners and each round was only 14 picks long, at least one running back has managed to work his way into the first round; so a Day One with no ball carrier would be a bona fide rarity. It’s likely that one player will ultimately find his way in there. Still, there will be a bevy of backs available on Day Two when the second and third rounds take place. Some are complete runners with the skills to play every down. Others contribute speed, receiving ability, or both; but lack the full range to be more than a specialist or change-of-pace weapon. Here’s a look at three prospects from each category, in no particular order, who should hear their names called no later than the draft’s second day. Underclassmen are designated with an asterisk… Continue reading
Gambler’s Guide to the Bowls: Part II