No. 1 Alabama breaks in youngsters in rout

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/06/2010 -

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Alabama took advantage of an opening rout to get plenty of youngsters on the field.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide's top tackler in Saturday night's 48-3 route of San Jose State was freshman linebacker C.J. Mosley. The leading rusher was redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy. Both the kicker and punter were freshmen.

And coach Nick Saban said he had other freshmen ready to go, including No. 3 quarterback Phillip Sims.

Besides the kickers, 13 players made their first college starts for the Tide: seven defenders, two offensive linemen, tailback Trent Richardson and their long snapper.

It was enough to make Saban consider giving his players a refresher course on little things like what to wear on the road.

``It's the first time since we've been here that I have felt the need to talk about things that you take for granted, like the dress code for a trip,'' Saban said. ``We had guys who had been here for two or three years that know what's going on. Now we have a significant number of guys that don't know what's going on, haven't played before and haven't traveled before, that I find myself saying I need to spend some time explaining this stuff that we explained three years ago.''

The road dress code can wait another week. The Tide (1-0) is preparing to host No. 19 Penn State, coming off a 44-14 win over Youngstown State, in what will surely be a more telling game for the youngsters.

Saban has had freshmen play key roles in each of his three seasons with Alabama, ranging from Rolando McClain to Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Richardson. Two opened as starters in both 2007 and 2008, only the second and third time that's happened at Alabama.

Make that four. Punter Cody Mandell and kicker Cade Foster both started in their first college games. Both had nice debuts and answered a couple of the team's biggest question marks.

Mandell's first two punts each went for 52 yards. Foster made field goals of 41 and 24 yards.

The Tide also started junior college cornerback DeQuan Menzie, six sophomores and a redshirt freshman.

Mosley led Alabama with seven tackles. Starting linebacker Courtney Upshaw sprained his ankle, but Saban said he should be available against Penn State. Redshirt freshman quarterback A.J. McCarron completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown.

Richardson got his first start in place of Heisman Trophy winner Ingram, who is out because of a knee injury. Fellow sophomore Damion Square started for defensive end Marcell Dareus, serving a two-game NCAA suspension pending the results of Alabama's appeal.

The defense gave up a 49-yard pass and a 32-yard run, but only 94 yards on the other 46 plays. San Jose State converted only 1 of 13 third downs. Mosley's seven tackles led the team.

``We have a lot of young guys, but they have shown a lot of improvement,'' said sophomore safety Robert Lester, who had an interception and a sack in his first start. ``They have been able to learn the system quickly and go out there and show that. You don't see many freshmen like C.J. Mosley come in and lead the team in tackles like he did and make that many big plays.''

Other freshmen who played included cornerback John Fulton and linebacker Jalston Fowler.

Saban said even more freshmen were ready to go, including Sims in case there's an emergency situation later.

``One of the toughest decisions that you have to make as a coach is if I play a guy in a game like this, he loses a whole year,'' he said. ``So unless he's going to play a significant amount ... then you don't play the guy.

``Phillip is really ready to play and I'd love to play him. You don't have a crystal ball. I'm telling you all in advance that. You can second-guess me for all this if it happens.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Casioonnet NCAA Football Betting News

<< Jets, Revis agree to deal
Florham Park, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Jets and Darrelle Revis have agreed to a deal, ending the cornerback's holdout. The team made the announcement early Monday morning, according to multiple media outlets, but did not disclose t

<< Stewart wins at Atlanta and clinches spot in Chase
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Stewart snapped a 31-race winless streak in the Sprint Cup Series by taking Sunday's Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Stewart put on a dominating performance by leading 176 of 325 lap

<< Giants blank Dodgers to inch closer in division
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juan Uribe hit a key two-run homer for the second straight game and Jonathan Sanchez pitched seven strong innings, as the Giants took a 3-0 win over the Dodgers in the rubber match of a three-game series.

<< Geovanni leads 'Quakes past Houston
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geovanni scored a goal and assisted on another to propel the San Jose Earthquakes to a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Sunday. The Brazilian was making his first Major League So

<< LaCrosse wins again; 10 earn LPGA cards
Albany, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cindy LaCrosse captured her third Duramed Futures Tour victory of the season, beating Jennifer Song on the first hole of a playoff Sunday at the Price Chopper Tour Championship. LaCrosse and Song both c

Cowboys roll in offensive coordinator's debut >>
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -Oklahoma State uber-booster Boone Pickens spoke for most fans of the Cowboys before their season opener Saturday night against Washington State.``I'm anxious to see what we've got in the way of an offense,'' Pickens said, not

Arkansas sharp in opener, but far from perfect >>
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -If this was Ryan Mallett's idea of a so-so performance, then No. 17 Arkansas has high expectations indeed.Mallett completed 21 of 24 passes Saturday night, leading the Razorbacks over Tennessee Tech 44-3. He threw for 301 ya

Proud powers get early test on rebuilding efforts >>
Michigan-Notre Dame seems so last century now.The game burnished reputations, showcased a handful of top NFL draft picks and often signaled whether either Midwestern power was likely to land a spot in the national championship picture. But the meeti

Leinart finds new home with Texans >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year contract with quarterback Matt Leinart, according to the player's agent. The Houston Chronicle cited Leinart's agent, Tom Condon, as confirming the move, which comes

The biggest threat to the U.S. Ryder Cup team >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While I was busy searching for the best line to describe Miguel Angel Jimenez, someone I don't know beat me to it. In the Internet age, it isn't hard to believe how it happened. Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck po

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.


FOOTBALL TRASH TALK

NFL Football Trash Talk

Trash talk has a place in every competitive endeavor (except baseball; those stirrup-wearers are too busy chewing on their sunflower seeds and their supplements to worry about what their opponents are doing).

Fantasy sports is no exception. Any intelligent discussion of the subject would probably start with a thesis statement or a definition of terms. Thankfully, this wont be an intelligent discussion.

Let me just say that I am happy to take a place in this space alongside my talented colleagues, even our commissioner. (You should see how she bleats like a demented paper boy about league fees on our fantasy site).

Trash talking, I would argue, is primarily about amusing your friends, their sheeplike demeanors and sloping foreheads notwithstanding. The best place I have found for football trash talking is at www.SportsAlarm.com.

Beyond the entertainment factor, though, I would recognize that the sophomoric ritual has one advantage, when properly applied. It magnifies your fantasy triumphs and mitigates your fantasy failures by transforming the eventual point total into an afterthought. Winning makes it seem like your opponent really is a truss-owning, lapel-pin-wearing nitwit. And in defeat, trash talk can be the air bag to break the fall from your hyperbolic heights. The plug-necked yahoos on your team, you can say, will be sacking groceries by the end of the season.

The best trash talk, in my view, is layered and nuanced. And it doesnt focus only on your opponents team. It picks apart your opponent. The idea is to create a shock-and-awe-scale blizzard of nonsense, and the goal is to make your opponent drop his hands from his keyboard in exasperation.

What team does your opponent root for? Accuse a Giants fan of having a Joe Namath pillowcase. Wheres your opponent from? Give a look of concern no matter his reply, then say, I'll try to type slower for you next time. Is your opponent into politics? Label everyone a tax-and-spend corporate shill.

Cap all that with a liberal application of irrelevance. For instance, dont just conclude by saying your opponent is a twerp who drafts like my grandmother. Say that your opponent is a sweater-wearing, eyebrow-plucking twerp who drafts his team about as well as Zsa Zsa Gabor gave acceptance speeches at the Oscars. By the time your foe makes sense of that, his starting running back will have had puppies.

But what about you? Hmm? Recall a memorable slam? Have a tried-and-true technique? Know someone who seems impervious to insult? Take a moment and tells us about it. Put together some (fit-for-publication) thoughts. You wont be too busy returning phone messages from your friends, Im sure, to reply.

In addition to the trash talking, the Sports Alarm has a huge gallery of high resolution pictures of beautiful women and models in bikinis. The most popular models are: Lindsay Lohan, Carrie Underwood, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Paris Hilton.