NCAA Football Preview - Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/22/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - 2006 SEASON IN REVIEW: With so much promise heading into the 2006 season, Louisiana Tech's campaign felt like it ended long before it ever had a chance to start when defensive coordinator Randy Bates jumped ship in Ruston and headed to Northwestern to fill a vacancy. Head coach Jack Bicknell was left to scramble for a replacement, which may have left him less time to focus on the overall outlook of Louisiana Tech as it headed into yet another tough season that listed three of the first five opponents as nationally-ranked programs. In front of more than 85,000 fans, the Bulldogs opened at Nebraska and were handed a 49-10 beating. Following an extra week to prepare, the team then slipped by Nicholls State in the home opener, 31-21, but from then on, there was very little to get excited about. Four straight setbacks to Texas A&M, Clemson, Boise State and even Idaho at home had the once-proud Western Athletic Conference member scratching its collective head. For a moment, it seemed as Bicknell had rallied the troops with wins over Utah State and North Texas, but after that came setbacks to both Hawaii and Nevada that saw the Bulldogs being outscored by a combined 103-17. Add to that back-to-back losses to Fresno State and New Mexico State to close out the regular season and the squad was a mere 3-10 overall and tied for eighth in the WAC standings at 1-7. Needless to say, just days after the end of the season is was announced that Bicknell had been fired, despite having signed a contract extension that was to take him through the 2008 season. Derek Dooley, who had ties to the state after working with Nick Saban at LSU for several years, was chosen as the replacement and named the 31st head coach in LaTech history a few days before Christmas. Dooley, one of the youngest head coaches at the college level at just 38 years of age, has a long road ahead as he tries to dig Louisiana Tech out of the national cellar after the team ranked dead last in scoring defense with 41.7 ppg allowed in 2006. Giving up 483.2 ypg meant the Bulldogs were last in the country in that category as well.

2007 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Now a senior with the Bulldogs, quarterback Zac Champion is going to be expected to take on even more responsibility and that of a leader. Champion played like anything but a season ago as he averaged just 189.7 ypg and accounted for just 14 TDs passes, compared to 18 interceptions. Although he had just 25 catches over the course of 12 games for the Bulldogs, wideout Josh Wheeler is the lone returning starter at the position, but at least he can build upon his team-high four touchdown receptions. Heading into the season junior Shane Womack and sophomore Brian Jackson are also listed as starters out on the wings for the Bulldogs, despite combining for a total of just six receptions in 2006. While the wide receivers and the tight end spot (Anthony Harrison, one catch for 13 yards a year ago) are huge question marks for the offense, LaTech does seem to have a wealth of talent at the running back position, which may or may not alleviate some of the stress from Champion. Of the unit's 13 rushing touchdowns a season ago, seven of those were recorded by Patrick Jackson who carried the ball 170 times for 854 yards. Coming out of the backfield Jackson was also a reliable safety valve as he grabbed 22 passes for another 181 yards for the group. With an average of close to six yards per attempt, sophomore Daniel Porter showed he could give Jackson a break and the offense would not have to compromise in the least. The offensive line has juniors and seniors manning all the spots except one, that being the center spot where one of two redshirt freshmen (Lon Roberts or Greg Greathouse) should be making the starts from week to week. Clearly, the chemistry between Champion and his center man is critical, which is why the offense may well sputter in the early going this season.

DEFENSE: The defense shows as many as 10 returning starters from a year ago and while they should be older and wiser, the group still has a lot of growing to do after playing so poorly in 2006. There really is no other way to describe the performance of the defense a season ago other than disappointing. One of three returning starters at the linebacker position, junior Quin Harris led the squad with 95 stops a year ago, but only six of those came behind the line of scrimmage. Seniors Marquis McBeath and Brannon Jackson will complement Harris, although Jackson was a little banged up during summer practices. Seniors Chris Pugh, Josh Muse and Ben McGilton are all lining up on the defensive line once again, with McGilton being the best of the bunch after making 5.5 TFLs on a mere 25 stops last year. With just eight sacks as a team, Louisiana Tech was by far the worst in the conference in that department, but at least Pugh showed a little leadership in the pits with three and a half of those stops on the opposing quarterback. McGilton and Pugh may actually be competing against each other for the starting right end position, which means coach Dooley may well give redshirt freshman Randy Grigsby a shot at the left end spot. Senior strong safety Mark Dillard (58 tackles) will be the most important player in the last line of defense for the Bulldogs, although sophomore free safety Antonio Baker is already well beyond his years after placing fourth on the team with 68 tackles. Oddly enough, senior left corner Shalamar Walker, the leader with three interceptions in 2006, may be backing up Tony Moss now at the position, which means that could be the strongest spot on the unit.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Patrick Jackson will again be called upon to return kicks for the Bulldogs, after the all-conference performer averaged better than 24 yards per attempt and scored a TD as a return man. Jackson's touchdown return of 100 yards against Fresno State not only tied a school record but also accounted for the first such return since 1989 for the program. Considering how weak the defense was for LaTech in 2006, there were very few punts for the team to field, and yet there is still a question as to who that punt returner will be in 2007. Moss has the most experience of the bunch, even though his two attempts resulted in minus-14 yards total. Walker and Philip Beck might also get a chance to bring back some kicks depending on the situation. As for the Bulldogs doing the actual kicking, senior Danny Horwedel has the placekicking spot wrapped up yet again, while Chris Keagle lines up to be the returning punter. Keagle has plenty of experience for the Bulldogs after being connected with 66 kicks for an average of 38.4 yards per try a year ago.

OUTLOOK: There's nothing easy about the impending schedule for the Bulldogs, even the meeting with Central Arkansas to kick off the campaign may not be an easy win for the group. After that the squad doesn't catch a single break with Hawaii coming into Ruston to kick off the WAC slate on September 8th. Non- conference battles are set for California and Ole Miss, both on the road, so while LaTech might be getting a chance to do some sightseeing, there's a good chance it will be watching the rest of the league from the cellar yet again. Dooley will have his honeymoon period with the Bulldogs, but it won't last that long if the team doesn't put up a significant number of wins.

Wwnytimes NCAA Football Betting News

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009

Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go.

MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points.

Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game.

Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again.

After that is took about 5-6 more hours before the betting line went back to -7 where it has sat for a while now and is likely to remain. The opening betting total of 47.5 was bet down right after the line became available and went to 47 within minutes.

Roughly a day later it has been bet even further down to the 46.5 tally it currently is set at.

Roughly 60% of gamblers seem to be on the Cardinals here so the point spread will be bet down and a 7.5 would not last very long at all with many taking the early 6.5 in hopes of finding a potential middle in the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds.

If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time.

Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now.

Get free Super Bowl XLIII Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting with credit cards

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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