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09/01/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After months of anticipation, FCS football has finally arrived. Enough of predictions and previews, camp updates and coaches talk. Now it is time to play the games.
The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 action kicks off Thursday when No. 16 Delaware hosts Division II West Chester University. Quarterback Pat Devlin and the Blue Hens will look to tune up for what is sure to be a thrilling CAA Football race.
In all 22 ranked teams will take the field by Sunday, highlighted by defending champion and consensus preseason No. 1 Villanova. The Wildcats will face Temple on Friday in Philadelphia's second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
With 15 returning starters, including Matt Szczur, a leading Walter Payton Award (sponsored by Fathead.com) candidate, Villanova has all the tools to repeat in 2010. Friday should prove a sufficient litmus test as 'Nova takes on a Temple squad which last season went 9-4 and played in its first bowl game in 30 years.
Following are games involving teams in The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 plus other selected matchups for Week 1 (all times are EST):
THURSDAY, SEPT. 2
Eastern Kentucky at Missouri State, 7 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Eastern Kentucky is looking to recover from last year's 5-6 finish, which marked the team's first losing season in over 30 years.
T.J. Pryor, the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, returns at quarterback.
Cornerback Jeremy Caldwell, a Buck Buchanan Award (sponsored by Fathead.com) nominee, highlights the defense.
Eastern Kentucky has lost nine straight season openers.
Missouri State returns 17 starters to a team that finished fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2009. Highlighting the returners are three-time All-MVFC offensive lineman David Arkin and 2009 MVFC Newcomer of the Year Antoine Wilkinson at linebacker.
Missouri Valley is 3-1 in home openers under head coach Terry Allen.
Prediction: Eastern Kentucky, 31-28
West Chester (7-4) at No. 16 Delaware (6-5), 7 p.m.
Series record: Delaware leads, 44-6-1
What to know: Delaware quarterback Pat Devlin returns after leading the CAA in passing yards per game (242.2) in 2009. Devlin is in his second season at Delaware after transferring from Penn State, and will be aided by a deep receiving corps.
Watch for the return of linebacker Matt Marcorelle, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility due to injuries. His return should provide a spark for the Blue Hens' defense.
West Chester is ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Division II preseason poll. This marks the third consecutive year that West Chester has entered the fall campaign nationally ranked.
Prediction: Delaware, 48-13
Quincy (4-7) at No. 5 Southern Illinois (11-2), 8 p.m.
Series record: SIU leads, 2-0
What to know: SIU will christen new Saluki Stadium against Quincy in the season opener. Senior kicker Kyle Dougherty needs just two field goals to set the school's all-time record for field goals made in a career.
SIU slotted five players on The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Preseason All- America Team, second only to Appalachian State's seven.
Former SIU quarterback Bobby Brenneisen transferred to Quincy after the 2009 season and is expected to start behind center.
Quincy was picked to finish fifth in the Midwest League in the 2010 Mid-States Football Association Preseason poll.
Prediction: SIU, 55-14
No. 13 Eastern Washington (8-4) at Nevada (8-5), 9:05 p.m.
Series record: Nevada leads, 7-1
What to know: Eastern Washington will debut new quarterback and SMU transfer Bo Levi Mitchell. Mitchell's transition should be eased by running back Taiwan Jones, a Walter Payton Award nominee.
J.C. Sherritt, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, and the EWU defense will be tasked with stopping a potent Nevada running attack, which led the FBS with an average of 344.9 rushing yards per game.
EWU and Nevada last met in 1991, when both were a member of the Big Sky Conference.
Prediction: Nevada, 42-14
FRIDAY, SEPT. 3
No. 1 Villanova (14-1) at Temple (9-4), 5 p.m.
Series record: Villanova leads, 16-12-2
What to know: Defending FCS champion Villanova returns 15 starters in 2010, sporting perhaps the most dynamic player in the nation in Matt Szczur. Szczur is a threat at running back, wide receiver, kick returner and quarterback in Villanova's version of the Wildcat.
Linebacker Terence Thomas leads a strong defensive unit.
Temple is a steadily improving team and finished 2009 tied for first in the MAC's East Division, eventually advancing to the Eagle Bank Bowl against UCLA.
In last year's inaugural Mayor's Cup game, Villanova defeated Temple, 27-24.
Prediction: Temple, 31-26
SATURDAY, SEPT. 4
Central Connecticut State (9-3) at No. 10 New Hampshire (10-3), noon
Series record: New Hampshire leads, 5-0
What to know: New Hampshire was the only team to beat eventual FCS champion and 2010 preseason No. 1 Villanova last season.
This year, the team must replace reliable skill position performers in running back Chad Kackert and tight end Scott Sicko.
Central Connecticut State also will be without last year's top running back, James Mallory, who was the NEC Offensive Player of the Year.
CCSU was picked to finish first in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll.
Prediction: New Hampshire, 35-21
St. Francis, Pa. (2-9) at No. 21 Liberty (8-3), 12 p.m.
Series record: Liberty leads, 1-0
What to know: For the fourth consecutive season, Big South coaches and media tabbed Liberty as the preseason conference favorite. Liberty appears poised to make the FCS playoffs as the Big South has been awarded an automatic bid for the first time in league history,
Liberty also sports the Big South Preseason Offensive POY in junior quarterback Mike Brown. He was the 2009 Big South Offensive POY.
St. Francis, on the other hand, has been chosen to finish last in the NEC this season.
Prediction: Liberty, 56-7
No. 18 Eastern Illinois (8-4) at Iowa (11-2), 12:05 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo will be entering his 24th season as the Panthers' head coach. Last season, he was named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.
This is one of Spoo's more experienced teams, although the Panthers are breaking in a new quarterback. Brandon Large, who was a redshirt last season after transferring in from Scottsdale Community College, will line up under center.
Iowa is the highest-ranked team that Eastern Illinois has ever faced. The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 9 in the AP preseason poll and No. 10 in the USA Today coaches preseason poll.
Prediction: Iowa, 52-7
No. 11 South Carolina State (10-2) at Georgia Tech (11-3), 1 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: South Carolina State was undefeated in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play last season, and reached the FCS playoffs for the second consecutive year, eventually falling to Appalachian State, also for the second consecutive year.
S.C. State will look to expound on its 2009 success, despite losing MEAC all- time rushing leader Will Ford and five players who graduated to the professional ranks.
Returning to the MEAC's most potent offense is senior quarterback Malcolm Long, who threw for 2,502 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2009.
This will mark the fourth straight year that S.C. State will play against a major Division I opponent.
Georgia Tech, the defending ACC champion, is ranked No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll.
Prediction: Georgia Tech, 52-10
No. 19 Weber State (7-5) at Boston College (8-5), 1 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Cameron Higgins, a Walter Payton Award nominee, is the face of the Weber State Wildcats. He was the Big Sky Offensive POY in 2008, but his numbers decreased slightly in 2009. This year, he must deal with the departure of Weber's all-time leading rusher Trevyn Smith.
The defense is highlighted by linebacker Taylor Sedillo, a 2010 Preseason All- Big Sky first-team member.
Boston College was picked to finish last in the ACC last year, but instead tallied an 8-5 record, tied for second place and earned its 11th straight bowl appearance.
Second-year head coach Frank Spaziani welcomes back 16 starters. Also returning is 2008 ACC Defensive POY Mark Herzlich at linebacker. He is back after a bout with Ewing's Sarcoma.
Prediction: BC, 55-19
Howard (2-9) at No. 25 Holy Cross (9-3), 1 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Holy Cross returns to defend its Patriot League title in 2010. Last season's title marked the sixth in Crusaders history.
This year, the Crusaders return without record-setting quarterback Dominic Randolph, but a bevy of talented receivers should compensate for some of the loss.
Holy Cross was picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League's preseason poll. Senior defensive end Mude Ohimor was named the Preseason Defensive POY.
Howard finished in last place in the MEAC in 2009. One of the team's two victories came against a Patriot League member, however, as Howard defeated Georgetown 14-11.
Prediction: Holy Cross, 35-7
Western State (3-8) at No. 2 Montana (14-1), 3 p.m.
Series record: Montana leads, 1-0
What to know: Montana fell one victory short of a FCS title last season.
Quarterback Andrew Selle and running back Chase Reynolds, both 2010 Walter Payton Award nominees, along with cornerback Trumaine Johnson, a Buck Buchanan Award nominee, lead a unit which should again contend for a title.
Robin Pflugrad enters his first season as Montana's head coach.
Last year, in the first ever meeting between Montana and Western State, Montana delivered a shutout, 38-0.
Prediction: Montana, 52-3
No. 3 Appalachian State (11-3) at Chattanooga (6-5), 3 p.m.
Series record: Appalachian State leads, 23-10
What to know: Appalachian State lost the best player in the nation in Armanti Edwards. Athletic junior DeAndre Presley has been slotted as Edwards' replacement. The season opener will mark Presley's third career start.
The defense is highlighted by three Buck Buchanan Award nominees in defensive end Jabari Fletcher, linebacker D.J. Smith and free safety Marc LeGree. LeGree led the SoCon in 2009 with seven interceptions.
In 2009, App State's Jerry Moore shared Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors with Chattanooga first-year head coach Russ Huesman, as decided by conference coaches. Huesman won the award outright as decided by the SoCon media.
In Huesman's first seaon, the Mocs improved from 1-11 to 6-5.
Prediction: Appalachian State, 21-20
Fort Lewis (2-9) at No. 24 Montana State (7-4), 3:05 p.m.
Series record: Montana State leads, 2-0
What to know: Montana State has a string of eight straight winning seasons.
Defense is consistently the key for Montana State and 2009 was no different as the team sported the No. 1 overall defense in the Big Sky.
This season, Montana State must replace All-American and Buck Buchanan Award finalist Dan Fletcher, but preseason All-Big Sky lineman Dan Ogden returns to lead a strong unit.
Montana State and Fort Lewis last met in 1998, with MSU cruising to a 45-9 victory.
Prediction: Montana State, 52-6
No. 17 Jacksonville State (8-3) at Ole Miss (9-4), 3:30 p.m.
Series record: First meeting
What to know: Jacksonville State finished with the best record in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2009 but was ineligible for the OVC championship. This season, the team is again eligible and was tagged as the preseason favorite by league coaches and sports information directors.
Junior quarterback Marquis Ivory will make his second career start for Jacksonville State. He started the season opener at Georgia Tech in 2009, and completed 23 of 38 passes for 193 yards and two touchdown passes. Jacksonville State lost the contest, 37-17.
Ole Miss marks the Gamecocks' third consecutive season-opening FBS opponent.
Jacksonville State is 0-2 all-time against SEC opponents, losing to Mississippi State in 2002 and 2006
Prediction: Ole Miss, 42-17
No. 4 William & Mary (11-3) at Massachusetts (5-6), 3:30 p.m.
Series record: Massachusetts leads, 7-4
What to know: For William & Mary, a bruising running attack and a punishing defense provide a formula for victory.
Leading the rushing attack is Walter Payton Award nominee Jonathan Grimes.
The defense is highlighted by B.W. Webb, who was named the 2009 CAA Defensive ROY and linebacker Jake Trantin, who led the team with 90 tackles.
UMass has won seven of its last 12 games against Top 5 teams. Last season, UMass defeated No. 4 New Hampshire at home, 23-17 on Oct. 17.
New Minutemen running back John Griffin, a transfer from Northeastern, finished second to Grimes in the CAA in rushing yards per game (91.7) last year.
Prediction: William & Mary, 31-6
Morehead State (3-8) at No. 15 James Madison (6-5), 6 p.m.
Series record: James Madison leads, 4-2
What to know: James Madison won its final four games of the season in 2009.
Expect a big season from quarterback Drew Dudzik, who split time with Justin Thorpe before being sidelined with a foot injury after five games.
The defense will be without 2009 Buck Buchanan Award winner Arthur Moats at linebacker, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
Despite tallying a 3-8 record last season, Morehead State finished 2009 in the top 10 in the FCS in rushing defense (fourth), total defense (seventh) and tackles for loss (first).
Key defensive losses, including linebacker Wes McDermott, will prove a challenge to duplicating last season's success.
Prediction: James Madison, 19-7
Monmouth (5-6) at No. 22 Colgate (9-2), 6 p.m.
Series record: Tied, 1-1
What to know: Colgate was picked to finish first in the Patriot League this season by coaches and sports information directors.
Colgate returns quarterback Greg Sullivan and running back Nate Eachus, but lost All-American wide receiver Pat Simonds. In last year's 35-23 victory over Monmouth, Eachus ran for 139 yards.
Colgate's secondary is strong, led by 2009 Patriot League ROY Demitri Diamond.
Monmouth's key loss is 2008 NEC Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton Award candidate David Sinisi. A strong offensive line should ease the transition to the post-Sinisi era.
Reigning NEC Defensive POY Jose Gumbs returns to safety after filling in at linebacker last season.
Prediction: Colgate, 27-17
No. 6 Richmond (11-2) at Virginia (3-9), 6 p.m.
Series record: Virginia leads, 25-2-2
What to know: Richmond has reached the FCS playoffs four of the past five seasons, including 2008, when the school captured its first-ever FCS title.
Familiarity will run deep and emotions will be on edge as Virginia head coach Mike London and Richmond head coach Latrell Scott each faces his former team.
London, who guided Richmond to its 2008 championship, is in his first season as Virginia's head coach. Scott acted as wide receivers coach at Virginia last season and enters his first year as Richmond's head coach.
Richmond lost 15 starters in the offseason, but returns a number of elite skill-position players.
In all, Richmond notched seven Preseason All-CAA Football selections, which is tied with No. 1 Villanova for the lead. Richmond also placed three players on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List in Martin Parker, Justin Rogers and Eric McBride.
Southern California transfer Aaron Corp takes over as Richmond's starting quarterback.
At Virginia, Mike London will look to rejuvenate a program which lost its final six games in 2009.
Prediction: Richmond, 21-17
Jacksonville (7-4) at Old Dominion (9-2), 6 p.m.
Series record: Old Dominion leads, 1-0
What to know: Last year, start-up program Old Dominion executed a thrilling fourth-quarter rally to defeat Jacksonville, 28-27.
ODU's inaugural season was a rousing success - a 9-2 record - and the team will continue to develop as it prepares for CAA play next year.
Quarterback Thomas DeMarco, who was the leading rusher in ODU's victory over Jacksonville, is expected to have another stellar year.
Jacksonville, led by running back Rudell Small, has posted a 16-8 record over the past two years.
Jacksonville must take to the road in pursuit of revenge as it opens the 2010 season.
Prediction: Old Dominion, 31-24
No. 7 Elon (9-3) at Duke (5-7), 7 p.m.
Series record: Duke leads, 5-0-1
What to know: Elon finished No. 2 in the SoCon in total offense last year behind the Scott Riddle-to-Terrell Hudgins connection. Hudgins caught 16 touchdown passes, but departed. Riddle returns, however, and should vie for SoCon POY honors.
The defense lost sack-leader Andre Campbell, but returns Brandon Ward, a Preseason All-SoCon first-team member
Duke and Elon are separated by only 40 miles of terrain, but the two schools have not met since 1926, when Duke shutout Elon, 32-0.
Prediction: Duke, 28-20
No. 8 Stephen F. Austin (10-3) at Texas A&M (6-7), 7 p.m.
Series record: Texas A&M leads, 2-0
What to know: J.C. Harper has turned around SFA in the last few seasons, and the team's No. 8 ranking is a testament to his accomplishment.
The ranking is also a testament to quarterback Jeremy Moses and linebacker Jabara Williams. The two players represent one of only six tandems in the nation to be nominated for both the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards, respectively.
Saturday's opener will mark the third consecutive season that SFA has played an FBS school. The program is 2-8 all-time versus FBS opponents.
Prediction: Texas A&M, 48-28
Lamar (0-0) at No. 12 McNeese State (9-3), 8 p.m.
Series record: McNeese State leads, 19-8-1
What to know: McNeese is 33-10 under head coach Matt Viator, and have won six of 11 league championships since 2000.
Graduate student Jacob Bower has been named the successor to quarterback Derrick Fourroux, who was the 2009 Southland Conference Co-Player of the year.
McNeese suffered heavy losses on offense as All-American running back Toddrick Pendland also departed, and the defense will be forced to shoulder the burden early.
Lamar has not fielded a football team since 1989. The game will be a indicator for Lamar, as the team will join McNeese in the Southland Conference next season.
Prediction: McNeese State, 35-7
SUNDAY, SEPT. 5
Southern University (6-6) at Delaware State (4-6), 12 p.m.
Series record: Delaware State leads, 2-0
What to know: Delaware State and Southern will face off in the Sixth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
Southern is making its second appearance in the Challenge, while Delaware State is making its first appearance.
Delaware State returns only seven starters this season, including only one on the defensive side of the ball - defensive tackle Andre Caroll, who was the team's leading tackler last season.
Hornets senior quarterback Anthony Glaud will look to build off of his 315- yard passing performance in last season's victorious finale over Howard.
Southern is in the hands of new head coach and former NFL player and assistant Stump Miller, and he will look to get off to a winning start.
Prediction: Southern, 35-17
Texas Southern at No. 20 Prairie View A&M, 5 p.m.
Series record: Texas Southern leads, 40-23-1
What to know: This game, which will be played at the Houston Texans' Reliant Stadium, has early SWAC title implications.
Prairie View returns an experienced team, highlighted by the dynamic backfield of running back Donald Babers and quarterback K.J. Black, who was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive POY.
Texas Southern fields a talented quarterback of its own in Arvell Nelson and a stout defense which finished first overall in the SWAC in 2009.
These two teams should be battling for conference supremacy all year, and the season opener will afford each team an opportunity to take the first shot.
Prediction: Prairie View, 28-24
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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
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Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
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My fellow Americans, as tempting as it may be to don the coat and HD-ready tie in order to deliver this State of the Game address before the cameras, I know better. As Brad Paisley sings on his latest album, "I'm so much cooler online."
The ideas for this annual essay to kick off the MySportsbook.com college football betting preview flowed like frat-house beer, which is to say they were cheap and spilled all over the floor. The 2007 season will be better than 2007, if only because there will be more of it. A year ago, the NCAA Football Rules Committee made two rule changes in the interest of speeding up the game. These changes went over like Kobe burgers at a vegan banquet.
To its credit, the rules committee rectified its mistakes. This season the clock once again will start when a kickoff is received, rather than when it is kicked, and the clock will not start so quickly on a change of possession.
However, kickoffs have been moved back five yards, to the 30, which will force more returns. (Thus forcing the clock to run. Clever, huh?) Special teams might decide a lot of games, because coaching strategy will come straight out of another new Paisley lyric (almost), I'd like to check you for kicks.
Paisley sings with a twang, which is why he's appropriate for this college football season. The sun coming up over the 2007 college football betting lines season rises from the south. It's a Southern football world. As the Southeastern Conference begins its 75th year, the power shift is noticeable.
Eight-figure budgets, glamorous settings -- and that's just for the head coaches. The SEC has four coaches who have won national championships -- the greatest aggregation of coaching know-how since Eddie Robinson dined alone.
Steve Spurrier, Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have given lie to the idea that a conference championship game is too daunting a hurdle on the road to No. 1. In six of the past 10 seasons, the national champions played and won a conference championship game -- three of the six (Tennessee, 1998; LSU, 2003; Florida, 2007) from the SEC.
There will be more of the same this season, if the preseason prognostications are correct. Six SEC teams are in the preseason coaches' poll, more than from any other conference. Only one conference has talent so deep that a team with 15 returning starters, including the best quarterback in the league, from an eight-win season is considered an afterthought. That may speak more to Kentucky's losing legacy than to the wisdom of the predictions, but there you have it. And seriously, keep an eye on Wildcats QB Andre' Woodson.
The reach of the South extends all the way to No. 1. Take a look at the team that is a consensus pick to win the national championship. The quarterback is from Shreveport. The best wide receiver is from Nashville. The top recruit is from New Orleans.
So what's the campus doing in Los Angeles? Hey, it is the University of Southern California.
USC lost two Pacific-10 Conference games a year ago, the first time that had happened in five seasons, and university officials withstood the urge to form blue-ribbon panels to unearth the cause of such a disaster. Instead, the Trojans gathered themselves and routed Michigan, 32-18, in the Rose Bowl.
USC's losses at Oregon State and at UCLA last year should have given pause to those who question the Pac-10's football prowess (such as, without naming names, L.M. from Baton Rouge). The league only got deeper this season; Dennis Erickson is taking over an Arizona State team that never quite got out of its own way under his predecessor, Dirk Koetter.
Erickson will resume his quest to become the first coach to win a national championship at two schools. Both he and Spurrier, now in his third season at South Carolina, returned to college football at schools with lower profiles than where they won their titles.
That isn't the case for the third coach looking for the national championship double. You may have missed this, but NASA reported the astronauts on the space shuttle last spring made contact with what can only be described as beings from another galaxy.
The leader of the aliens said, "We come in peace," followed by, "So how do you think Nick Saban will do at Alabama?"
The public is reacting to the new Crimson Tide coach as if he is the Barry Bonds of college football -- beloved at home for what his fans believe he is going to do, hated on the road for his intimidating attitude and for what his detractors believe he did (bend NCAA recruiting rules). I made this comparison from the dais at a charity dinner in Mobile, Ala., last month, and the chill that washed over me didn't come from the air conditioning.
Saban will attempt to prove that he can remake in Tuscaloosa what he built in Baton Rouge, much like another member of the national championship fraternity. Bobby Bowden is attempting to remake at Florida State what he built at, um, Florida State. Bowden rebuilt his offensive staff, bringing in four new coaches led by Saban's former offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, to jump-start an offense that has been dead for a couple of years.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to show new signs of life, too. That is said with no disrespect toward last season's champion, Wake Forest, which provided one of the best story lines of 2007. The Demon Deacons begin this season in their customary position, overshadowed by the Virginia Techs, Miamis and Florida States.
It's not that Wake will find it difficult to duplicate its success in 2007 as much as the feeling that success engendered. Surprising success is the narcotic of sport. It never feels quite so euphoric the next time. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese has figured this out. He refers to 2007, when a league looked down upon by fans and foes alike took three undefeated teams into November, as "Cinderella."
The fairy tale may be over, but the Big East has four genuine Heisman Trophy candidates in Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White, and Rutgers tailback Ray Rice. Rutgers, as did Wake Forest and, of course, Boise State, proved last season that the have-nots in college football occasionally have quite a lot.
The Broncos' rousing 43-42 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl has raised the profile of all schools in conferences that don't get automatic BCS bids. This season, TCU and Hawaii are the preseason favorites to burst through the BCS doors and earn an at-large bid. The Warriors return 14 starters from an 11-3 team, including quarterback Colt Brennan.
Brennan not only broke the single-season record with 58 touchdown passes in 2007, but he also led Division I-A in passing efficiency (186.0). The senior is expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy, and neither his success nor the rise of his team should come as any surprise in the 2007 season.
After all, Hawaii is the southernmost team in the country.
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