Archive for August 29th, 2010

2010 NFL Head Coaches on the Hot Seat

August 29th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on 2010 NFL Head Coaches on the Hot Seat
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The hot seat. Every coach finds himself on it at some point in his career. Some persevere, while others fold under the pressure. This year in the NFL, there are a number of coaches that are facing potential do or die situations. Check out who those coaches are, why they’re in trouble, what we can expect of them this year, and their odds to win the Super Bowl.

Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Bottom line: When you’re not a good coaching hire in the first place, you’re always on the hot seat. Gailey was an awful coach at virtually every stop along the way in his career, and this is probably going to be no exception. It looks like he has decided that QB Trent Edwards is the man to try to take his team from the ranks of the worst in the league to respectability. No chance. Edwards is, at best, the fifth best quarterback in this division, and he is clearly not the answer. Gailey will probably survive regardless, but this year has the potential to be a bloody one. We’ve seen coaches dismissed after one year before. Gailey might be the next in line.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Playoffs or bust. That’s the ultimatum that has been handed down from owner Bob McNair to Kubiak this year for the Texans. This is the only franchise in the NFL that has never tasted the playoffs, and by now, the fourth year of his rule in Houston, the Texans should be making the playoffs, particularly with the type of talent that the team has. The only problem is that the schedule is an absolute nightmare this year. Houston has also already lost its second round draft pick and projected starting RB Ben Tate, which really only leaves RBs Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. This could be a bad situation if Foster doesn’t pan out. Still, the top rated passing attack in the NFL from last year is only getting better with every pass that QB Matt Schaub throws. Every year this team gets better and better. Last year was the squad’s first season above .500. This should be the year that the playoffs are reached.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Here’s a man that probably should have already been fired. Jacksonville has drafted poorly in recent years, and it is really catching up. The team simply isn’t that great. The decision to make QB David Garrard the starter a few years ago paid off in the short term but has crippled the franchise now that it really needs its boost, as the Jags are threatening to move to Los Angeles if ticket sales don’t pick up. Unless RB Maurice Jones-Drew intends on having a year like Chris Johnson did last season in Tennessee, don’t expect Del Rio to be heading anywhere but the unemployment line once the year is out.

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): It’s hard to think that the Eagles would part ways with Reid after all of the playoff years that this franchise has had, but this is the same team that just dumped QB Donovan McNabb unceremoniously to a divisional rival in exchange for a bag of peanuts and a box of footballs. Reid needs to at least finish .500 this year with new QB Kevin Kolb, or he might be out the door. The Eagles are searching for a new direction, and the fact that Reid only brought the team to one Super Bowl and never won the big one could ultimately cost him. If the standard of his job is going to be measured on the playoffs, the City of Brotherly Love will be watching the last season of Reid on the sidelines in green.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears (+5000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Bears made the biggest splash of the offseason last year when they acquired QB Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Cutler failed miserably, and the team flat out stunk last season. Now, Chicago was back at it again this year, picking up DE Julius Peppers, the best free agent that the open market has seen in years in the NFL. An 0-3 start to the preseason with just 36 total points scored isn’t a good start if you’re looking to put good mojo into your team for your make or break season. Somehow, Smith, just like Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati, finds a way to keep saving his job with one good year every so often. This could be that “every so often” year in the Windy City… but if it isn’t, it is high time that Smith goes.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers (+6000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Panthers know that this is probably going to be a down year, but Fox is just as much putting them on the hot seat as they are putting him there. The team did go out and dump QB Jake Delhomme after so many failed seasons, and they even brought in his eventual successor, QB Jimmy Clausen in the NFL Draft. However, Fox doesn’t want to wait for some rookie to groom. He wants to win and win now. The rushing attack is great with both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart capable of rushing for 1,000+ yards. However, the defense lost the aforementioned Peppers and has a lot of work to do to return to respectability. The Panthers are clearly the third best team in this division, and the end result could be a long, long season in which Fox either gets fired before its conclusion, or tells the team that he is not renewing his contract at season’s end.

2010 College Football Week 1 Lines; Quick Breakdown

August 29th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist) | Posted in College Football   Comments Off on 2010 College Football Week 1 Lines; Quick Breakdown

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Complete List of Week 1 College Football Lines Can Be Found Below

Most of the 120 teams across the country in FBS are set to kick it off between Thursday and next Monday, and here at Bankroll Sports, we’ve got all you need to know when you’re ready to analyze the Week 1 college football betting lines!

As always, there are a number of huge favorites that are going to be all over the board in the first week of play across the nation. The Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, Michigan State Spartans, Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Oregon Ducks, Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, Wisconsin Badgers, Georgia Bulldogs, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Clemson Tigers, and Auburn Tigers are all favored by at least three touchdowns will be likely coast to easy victories against their lesser foes.

However, not every game on the slate has such little intrigue. On the opening day of the season on Thursday, the Utah Utes and Pittsburgh Panthers will square off in a rematch of the first ever BCS busting game. The Utes became the first team from a non-BCS conference to make it to a major bowl game, and they crippled the Panthers that day at the Fiesta Bowl. This will be the first time these two squads meet. Second year men will be on display, as RB Dion Lewis for Pitt and QB Jordan Wynn for Utah will be at center stage.

Keep as close eye as well on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Thursday, as QB Dwight Dasher might be able to lead the hosts to a big win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. MTSU is a three point underdog but is certainly a live dog that might be worth backing.

The Connecticut Huskies and Michigan Wolverines will fight it out in the Big House in what could be a huge game for both programs. The Huskies are still searching for some respect, and Heisman Trophy candidate, RB Jordan Todman will be the main focus of the attack. This is a do or die year for HC Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, and he’ll need to come forth with a good effort to start the season or risk the wrath of the media and boosters calling for his head before the Big Ten season even gets started. This is a game that Michigan certainly expects to win even though it is just a three point favorite.

There are two big time rivalry games to keep on your radar as well. The Colorado Buffaloes will meet the Colorado State Rams at Mile High in a neutral site game to determine the top team in the Rockies for another year. It’s a big one for HC Dan Hawkins, who knows that a second straight loss to a poor CSU squad will ultimately probably cost him his job. The Buffs are 13 point favorites.

It’ll also be a battle to see whether the Bluegrass becomes a red state or a blue state, as Joker Phillips takes over the Kentucky Wildcats and Charlie Strong starts his coaching career with the Louisville Cardinals. Both of these new coaches would love a win over their arch rivals to get the teams going in 2010, but only one will cover the NCAA football odds in this one. The visiting Wildcats are favored by 3.5 points.

Saturday night wraps up with a crucial tilt between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Fresno State Bulldogs. We all know HC Pat Hill’s mantra… Anyone, anytime, anywhere. Cincinnati has no fear of coming West, as it did so last year in beating Oregon State en route to its perfect regular season. QB Zach Collaros will have a ton of pressure on his backside in this game, as he is taking over for QB Tony Pike. New HC Butch Jones is a 2.5 point underdog in this, his first game at U of C, but the Cats could scratch out a victory to open up their campaign.

However, Week 1 wouldn’t be complete without one of the biggest games of the entire year. The Boise State Broncos are probably going to put their BCS dreams on the line at FedEx Field when they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a “neutral site game” that is going to look at lot like Lane Stadium would on your average Saturday. The stars will be shining in this, the first Top 10 battle of the year. The winner will have a massive leg up towards the BCS this year, while the loser will already have their National Championship hopes dashed in Week 1. The Broncos have finally gained some respect against the big boys in the big conferences, as they are 2.5 point favorites in this de facto road game.

2010 NCAA Football Week 1 Lines & Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 8/29/10):
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133 – Southern Miss Golden Eagles +14
134 – South Carolina Gamecocks -14
Over/Under 47
135 – Marshall Thundering Herd +28.5
136 – Ohio State Buckeyes -28.5
Over/Under 47.5
137 – Northern Illinois Huskies +3
138 – Iowa State Cyclones -3
Over/Under 47
139 – Pittsburgh Panthers +2.5
140 – Utah Utes -2.5
Over/Under 49
141 – USC Trojans -21
142 – Hawaii Warriors +21
Over/Under 53.5
143 – Minnesota Golden Gophers -3
144 – Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders +3
Over/Under 48.5
145 – Florida Atlantic Owls +15
146 – UAB Blazers -15
Over/Under 51.5
147 – Arizona Wildcats -15
148 – Toledo Rockets +15
Over/Under 60.5
149 – Western Michigan Broncos +22.5
150 – Michigan State Spartans -22.5
Over/Under 53.5
151 – Miami Redhawks +35
152 – Florida Gators -35
Over/Under 53
153 – Illinois Fighting Illini +12
154 – Missouri Tigers -12
Over/Under 53.5
155 – Colorado Buffaloes -13
156 – Colorado State Rams +13
Over/Under 46
157 – Northwestern Wildcats -5.5
158 – Vanderbilt Commodores +5.5
Over/Under 44.5
159 – Memphis Tigers +21.5
160 – Mississippi state Bulldogs -21.5
Over/Under 53.5
161 – Texas Longhorns -29
162 – Rice Owls +29
Over/Under 59
163 – Purdue Boilermakers +11.5
164 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish -11.5
Over/Under 54.5
165 – Connecticut Huskies +3
166 – Michigan Wolverines -3
Over/Under 54.5
167 – Kentucky Wildcats -3.5
168 – Louisville Cardinals +3.5
Over/Under 49
169 – New Mexico Lobos +33
170 – Oregon Ducks -33
Over/Under 56
171 – UCLA Bruins +2.5
172 – Kansas State Wildcats -2.5
Over/Under 43
173 – Syracuse Orange -8.5
174 – Akron Zips +8.5
Over/Under 43.5
175 – Washington Huskies +2.5
176 – BYU Cougars -2.5
Over/Under 56.5
177 – Washington State Cougars +15.5
178 – Oklahoma State Cowboys -15.5
Over/Under 48.5
179 – San Jose State Spartans +38.5
180 – Alabama Crimson Tide -38.5
Over/Under 53
181 – Utah State Aggies +32
182 – Oklahoma Sooners -32
Over/Under 57
183 – Army Black Knights -9.5
184 – Eastern Michigan Eagles +9.5
Over/Under 42
185 – Oregon State Beavers +13.5
186 – TCU Horned Frogs -13.5
Over/Under 50.5
189 – Cincinnati Bearcats +2.5
190 – Fresno State Bulldogs -2.5
Over/Under 58
191 – Wisconsin Badgers -21
192 – UNLV Rebels +21
Over/Under 57.5
193 – UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns +28
194 – Georgia Bulldogs -28
Over/Under 52.5
195 – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers +36.5
196 – Nebraska Cornhuskers -36.5
Over/Under 51.5
197 – North Texas Mean Green +23
198 – Clemson Tigers -23
Over/Under 56.5
199 – Bowling Green Falcons +14
200 – Troy Trojans -14
Over/Under 55.5
201 – Arkansas State Red Wolves +31
202 – Auburn Tigers -31
Over/Under 58
203 – Tulsa Golden Hurricane -8.5
204 – East Carolina Pirates +8.5
Over/Under 60.5
205 – SMU Mustangs +13.5
206 – Texas Tech Red Raiders -13.5
Over/Under 60.5
207 – Maryland Terrapins +7
208 – Navy Midshipmen -7
Over/Under 49
209 – Boise State Broncos -2.5
210 – Virginia Tech Hokies +2.5
Over/Under 50.5