Bulldogs open 2010 season against visiting Cajuns
NCAA Football Betting Lines
09/01/2010 - Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs have won eight or more games in 13 consecutive season, and the road to extending that streak begins on Saturday afternoon in Athens against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
Head coach Rickey Bustle continues to lead Louisiana, which finished a mediocre 6-6 a year ago, including a 4-4 mark versus Sun Belt Conference competition. The program has been competing on the gridiron since 1901, so the fact that it has only participated in two bowl games suggests that there isn't a great track record of success. There are 43 letterwinners back in the fold this season, including 13 starters between the offense and defense.
Georgia returns 17 starters when factoring in the specialists, including 10 starters on the offense side of the ball. Entering his 10th season with the Bulldogs, Mark Richt has the longest tenure at his current school of any active SEC coach. Richt's teams haven't been nationally relevant the last couple of seasons, and he is eager to get Georgia back to elite status. Put simply, the 8-5 finish of 2009 isn't good enough.
"A lot of people would say that's really not that bad of a year with it being a winning season," says Richt. "But the time that we have been here, everyone was getting used to 10-win seasons, top-10 finishes, banging away at the Eastern Division, being in a position to finish as high as No. 2 or No. 3, and being in a position to play for an SEC Championship. All those things are what we aspire to do and what we expect to do."
This game marks the first-ever meeting between Louisiana and Georgia on the gridiron.
The Louisiana offense is led by quarterback Chris Masson, who threw for 2,406 yards last season while completing 59.5 percent of his tosses. Masson only had 10 touchdown passes, but his 222 completions were just two shy of the school record. The Cajuns generated 22.2 ppg in 2009, and that numbers needs to improve this season. Eclipsing that average in the opener seems unlikely, however, considering the quality of the competition.
Masson will benefit from a dangerous group of wideouts, as well as a talented tight end in Ladarius Green. A Mackey Award candidate last season, the 6-6, 225-pound Green led the Cajuns with 533 receiving yards despite missing three games. On a down note, there is no proven performer at the tailback position, and the offensive line lost three starters from a year ago.
On the defensive side of the ball, Grant Fleming is the man to keep an eye on for Louisiana. A senior linebacker, Fleming earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention accolades after registering 89 total tackles. He has been placed on the 2010 Lombardi Award watch list for his efforts.
"We are very proud that Grant is being considered for this award," said Bustle. "He is our team leader on defense and we consider him an impact player."
Overall, the Louisiana defense forced 26 turnovers last year, ranking in the national top 30. With three starters back in the secondary, interceptions may be plentiful. Still, the Cajuns ranked 106th nationally in sacks a year ago, so don't be surprised if they make a concerted effort to pressure the Georgia QB in this opener.
Speaking of the Bulldogs' signal caller, redshirt freshman Aaron Murray, a prized recruit with special talent, won the job in camp and will be the focus of Bulldog fans against Louisiana. He will certainly benefit from the presence of A.J. Green, the team's star receiver who now enters his junior campaign. Green made 53 catches for 808 yards and six touchdowns, numbers that actually fell short of the pace he set as a freshman.
The hope is that Georgia will be able to run the ball consistently behind one of the top offensive lines in the SEC. Clint Boling, a stud left tackle, is one of four returning starters, and the group will open holes for junior Caleb King. Washaun Ealey posted 717 yards and three touchdowns on 125 carries a year ago and was expected to be the lead back this season, but he became the eighth Bulldog to be arrested this year when he was apprehended for hit and run and driving on a suspended license. Ealey is suspended indefinitely.
Georgia has a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham, who has spent the last 11 years in the NFL.
"It's been a long time since I have been on the college sidelines, but once the game starts, it's still the familiar game that I know out there," said Grantham after a recent scrimmage in preparation for this opener.
Georgia welcomes back just four starters on the defensive side of the ball, so expect to see plenty of new faces on Saturday. Grantham is orchestrating the switch from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4, a move designed to create an attacking style. Brandon Boykin, a junior, is the only returning starter in the secondary, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Boykin did intercept three passes last season, the most of any returnee. Linebacker Justin Houston has star potential, as he impressed everyone with 7.5 sacks a year ago. Along the defensive line, Demarcus Dobbs, a senior, figures to be the leader, but he is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes enter the 2010 season with tangible chance of winning the national title, and the first step of the process will be knocking off Marshall in Thursday's opener. The Thunder
<< Rattlers battle Hurricanes in Sunshine State showdown
Miami Gardens, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 13th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes
appear to be one of the best teams in the ACC heading into the 2010 season,
and they will have a chance to show off their skill in Thursday's opener
against the Flori
<< Auburn opens at home against Arkansas State
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked Auburn Tigers of the
Southeastern Conference kick off the 2010 season with a home game against the
Arkansas State Red Wolves of the Sun Belt Conference.
Arkansas State posted just a 4-8 record la
<< West Virginia opens 2010 campaign against FCS foe Coastal Carolina
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The West Virginia Mountaineers try to prove
they are worthy of being ranked 25th in the nation as they open the 2010
season with a home date against the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina on
Saturday afternoon.
<< Leinart on his way out of Arizona?
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt has
yet to decide whether Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson will be the starting
quarterback for the defending NFC West champions in the wake of Kurt Warner's
retirement, but
Landover, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The most anticipated season-opener on the docket in 2010 takes place on Labor Day in Landover, as the third-ranked Boise State Broncos set out to prove their lofty ranking is warranted, as they take on the 10th-r
Top-25 foes LSU and UNC clash in Atlanta >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An intriguing 2010 season-opener takes place in
Atlanta this weekend, as 21st-ranked LSU takes on 18th-ranked North Carolina
in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
Les Miles may be on the hot seat in Death Valley thi
Gators face Redhawks in season-opener in Gainesville >>
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The post Tim Tebow Era begins in
Gainesville this weekend, as the fourth-ranked Florida Gators open up their
2010 season at home against the Miami-Ohio RedHawks.
Florida returns plenty of talent from a team
11th-ranked Ducks open season at home against Lobos >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 11th-ranked Oregon Ducks get their 2010
campaign started this weekend, when the New Mexico Lobos visit Eugene for a
non-conference affair at Autzen Stadium.
Chip Kelly took over an already successful Oregon
Top-25 matchup on tap in Arlington >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Top 25 teams clash in the Lone Star
State this weekend, as the 24th-ranked Oregon State Beavers battle the sixth-
ranked TCU Horned Frogs at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
The Beavers made a serious
MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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