2010 College Football Betting: Big East Odds & Predictions

July 29th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)

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College Football betting season will be here in just over a month! To get you ready, let’s take a look at the odds to win the very contentious Big East conference at Bankroll Sports, sponsored by BetUS.com.

Among the solid contenders for this year’s title are the Pittsburgh Panthers (+250 at BetUS). The offense has a new starting quarterback in sophomore Tino Sunseri, but new QBs are not uncommon this year in the conference. Plenty of talent surrounds him, starting with RB Dion Lewis, last season’s National Freshman of the Year. Sunseri will also have two talented throwing options in junior Jonathan Baldwin and sophomore Mike Shanahan. The defense will remain difficult to beat, with an excellent pair of pass rushing senior DEs in Jaball Sheard and Greg Romeus. Senior safety Dom DeCicco will anchor the secondary. The Panthers have a difficult schedule; they will face Connecticut and Cincinnati on the road, while hosting West Virginia. However, non-conference games against Utah and Miami(FL) will prepare this unit for Big East glory.

The Connecticut Huskies (+250 at BetUS.com) lost several close games last season, but return plenty of stars to take another crack at the title. It starts with senior QB Zach Frazer, who didn’t end up with impressive numbers last season, but had a strong finish. He is accompanied by junior running back Jordan Todman, a rising star in the Big East. The wide receiving corps is now lacking a big playmaker, but juniors Kashif and Isiah Moore at least have some experience. On defense, there is little concern. Eight starters return, including first-team all conference linebacker Lawrence Wilson. Three of the front four are also back. The Huskies kickoff conference play at Rutgers, but things are made slightly easier because Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Cincinnati all travel to East Hartford.

Looking to sneak into contention are the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+500 at BetUS). Their offense features the return of QB Tom Savage, who showed great talent last season as a freshman. With him will be a versatile weapon in sophomore WR Mohammed Sanu. Senior RB Joe Martinek will again lead the rushing attack, while freshman Casey Turner will provide a second option. The Knights’ defense could again be one of the best in the nation, let alone the conference. All-American DT Scott Vallone leads a large line upfront. Two senior starting linebackers return, and safety Joe Lefegad will lead the secondary. Rutgers opens conference play at home against Connecticut, with spread out road tests at Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.

The Big East is loaded with talent, but somebody has to lose. In the cellar, you will find the Louisville Cardinals (+800 at BetUS). First year head coach Charlie Strong is implementing a new spread offense for senior quarterback Adam Froman, who took a beating on the field and on the stat sheet last year. A razor thin wide receiving unit will be led by junior Doug Beaumont, who didn’t catch a touchdown pass last year, and sophomore Josh Chichester. The rushing attack will be led by three backs: Victor Anderson, Darius Ashley, and Bilal Powell. A defense that has just four starters returning will see plenty of new faces. Short of two senior linebackers coming back, several starters remain unnamed. The team is expecting big things from freshman DT De’Antre Rhodes. It will take awhile for this unit to gel, and the pressure will be on as the offense learns its new system.

Big East Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 7/27/10):
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Connecticut +250
Pittsburgh +250
West Virginia +250
Cincinnati +500
Rutgers +500
South Florida +500
Louisville +800
Syracuse +1500


2010 College Football Betting: Big 12 Odds and Predictions

July 24th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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Complete List of Odds To Win the Big 12 Conference Can Be Found Below

In just a few weeks, the College Football betting season will commence! To whet your appetite and get you informed, we are going to sort out the odds to win the Big XII conference at Bankroll Sports, brought to you by BetUS Sportsbook.

The Oklahoma Sooners (+125 at BetUS.com) are ready to retake their place atop the Big XII. Sophomore quarterback Landry Jones proved to be an effective backup to Sam Bradford and this year, the team is his alone. At wide receiver, juniors Ryan Broyles and Dejuan Miller will post huge numbers, while senior RB DeMarco Murray will again provide a dual threat option. The defense should concern you slightly, only returning four starters, but there is more than enough talent to build around. The unit returns its leaders in sacks (senior DE Jeremy Beal), interceptions (senior safety Quinton Carter), and tackles (junior LB Travis Lewis). The conference schedule has the Sooners taking on Texas and traveling to Oklahoma State in their most challenging games before the conference championship game.

Likely appearing in the Big XII title game against the Sooners will be the Nebraska Cornhuskers (+200 at BetUS). Nebraska’s offensive strength will be their ground game, led by senior running back Roy Helu. The offensive line remains the same this year, minus the center position, which will provide Helu and senior quarterback Zac Lee the push and pocket they need to succeed. Lee has yet to show a strong game, but WR Niles Paul will be a solid target when needed. Defensively, the Cornhuskers feature strong cornerbacks, including All-Big XII selection Prince Amukamara. The secondary will be the weak point with the departure of safeties Matt O’Hanlon and Larry Asante. Nebraska will get Texas and Missouri in Lincoln, with a trip to Oklahoma State being the toughest road test.

If you’re looking for a bit of an underdog contender, look no further than the Missouri Tigers (+1200 at BetUS.com). The Tigers feature a strong junior quarterback in Blaine Gabbert and a powerful ground attack led by senior Derrick Washington. The wide receiving corps is a slight question mark, with last year’s third and fourth wide receivers, Jerrell Jackson and Wes Kamp, becoming the expected playmakers. Nine defensive starters return, including sophomore DE Aldon Smith, an All-Conference selection in 2009. However, the secondary will again be a concern, but if senior safeties Jarrell Harrison and Jasper Simmons can be impact players, the Tiger defense will be difficult to pick apart. Missouri’s conference title run will be made or broken in October, with three consecutive games against Oklahoma, at Nebraska, and at Texas Tech.

A team to be avoided is the Oklahoma State Cowboys (+4000 at BetUS.com). This squad has few returning starters to build around on either side of the ball. Offensively, the team is left with last season’s leading wide receiver, Hubert Anyiam. Senior Justin Blackmon will likely become the second option for unproven junior quarterback Brandon Weeden. The unit’s running game also takes a hit, with inexperienced, but talented senior RB Kendall Hunter now taking the bulk of the carries. The defense suffers from similar problems, but has some experienced replacements. Most notably, no starters are returning at linebacker, leaving the starting jobs to seniors Tolu Moala, Orie Lemon, and junior James Thomas. DE Ugo Chinasa will again be a mainstay, but the defense will face great pressure with the question marks on offense. In an ultra-competitive conference, the Cowboys won’t be able to keep up this season.

Big XII Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook(as of 7/21/10):
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Oklahoma +125
Nebraska +200
Texas +200
Missouri +1200
Texas Tech +1500
Texas A&M +1800
Kansas State +2000
Kansas +4000
Oklahoma State +4000
Colorado +5000
Baylor +6000
Iowa State +8000


2010 College Football Betting: ACC Odds & Predictions

July 23rd, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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The 2010 college football betting season is almost here! In order to prepare you for the start of the season, we are analyzing the college football odds to win the ACC at Bankroll Sports, courtesy of BetUS Sportsbook.

There are several teams in this conference capable of taking home a championship, but Florida State Seminoles (+300 at BetUS) is the best choice. The offense returns ten starters, including junior quarterback Christian Ponder. He will have plenty of talented options to throw to, as three top junior receivers in Bert Reed, Jamar Fortson, and Taiwan Easterling will take the field. The Seminoles also have plenty of playmakers at tailback, with Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones being the primary workhorses. New defensive coordinator Mark Stoops will provide a spark for a unit in need. Expect a big showing from cornerback Ochuko Jenije and a much improved run defense, with three returning linemen and two returning linebackers. The conference schedule shapes up nicely, with Boston College and Clemson coming to Tallahassee. The only road challenge will be in Miami.

Also strong contenders for the ACC crown are the Virginia Tech Hokies (+300 at BetUS.com). The offense features eight returning starters, including 2009 ACC Rookie of the Year Award winning RB Ryan Williams. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor will have a core of three junior WRs at his disposal, with Jerrett Boykin, Danny Coale, and Dyrell Roberts. On defense, the team only has five returning starters, but has plenty of talent to build around. The team returns its starting linebackers and senior cornerback Rashad Carmichael will again provide a big impact in the interceptions department. Of course, no analysis of Virginia Tech is complete without mentioning Beamer Ball. Expect plenty of blocked kicks, while Dyrell Roberts will provide numerous yards on kick returns. The Hokies open their season against Boise State and have a history of losing their first game of the season. However, after that, they have an easy run until November when they face Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami.

Not far behind these two giants are the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+1000 at BetUS). Of the seven returning starters on offense, the most important is quarterback Josh Nesbitt. He was one of the team’s two 1,000 yard rushers from a year ago. The defense may be a slight problem, with limited depth on the line. However, a deep core of linebackers and a switch to the 3-4 system greatly helps the situation. The schedule is not going to be easy, with road games at Clemson and Virginia Tech, followed by Miami coming to town. However, if Nesbitt can keep up his dual threat capability and the defense can gel in its new scheme, Georgia Tech could surprise.

As always, there are those conference teams who won’t be so lucky. For the ACC, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+3000 at BetUS Sportsbook) fit the bill. The Demon Deacons need to find a new quarterback and have implemented a new, option-based offensive system. The line is inexperienced at best. If the team has to rely on the ground game, the damage could get worse, as neither of last year’s top running backs in Josh Adams and Brandon Pendergrass averaged more than 4.8 yards per carry. The defense has a few strengths, but is not deep. Two starting linebackers in Hunter Haynes and Matt Woodlief will be relied on heavily with the loss of tackles Boo Robinson and John Russell up front. The strong secondary will be offset by a weaker run defense, along with the added pressure that comes with a new offense trying to gel. All this plus a tough schedule with road games at Virginia Tech and Florida State makes for a two win ACC campaign at best.

ACC Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook(as of 7/20/10):
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Miami +250
Florida State +300
Virginia Tech +300
North Carolina +500
Boston College +800
Georgia Tech +1000
Clemson +1200
North Carolina State +2500
Wake Forest +3000
Virginia +5000
Maryland +6000
Duke +7500


2010 College Football Preview: Top Ten Mid-Major Schools

July 21st, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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They are the teams who upset your favorites. They are the underdogs you root for or hate every year. They can win you big money, or they can bust you out with their upset victories. Their dream? Making a BCS bowl game. These are the top ten non-BCS schools, or mid-majors, if you prefer.

#1 Boise State Broncos: We all know the Broncos. Since 2006, the blue turf bandits have made off with victories over Oregon State, Oregon, Utah, and TCU. Let’s not forget the Statue of Liberty play to defeat Oklahoma in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. Since that undefeated year, the Broncos have four total losses. Last year’s team saw QB Kellen Moore throw for 39 touchdowns to just three picks. Wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis combined to catch 142 balls for 1,896 yards and 24 touchdowns, while running backs Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin averaged 5.5 yards and 6.0 yards per carry, respectively. The two combined for 21 scores. Last season’s top-ranked scoring offense retains all of these leaders, so matching last year’s 450.8 yards and 42.2 points per game is doable. The defense retains star cornerback Brandyn Thompson, who intercepted five balls in 2009. Most of the defense from last year was made up of freshmen and sophomores, so this unit is only going to improve. This season, the Broncos open with Virginia Tech, a school that has struggled in early-season games as of late. With a win, the Broncos would be set to not just make a BCS bowl, but be the first non-BCS school to reach the National Championship game.

Key non-conference games: Virginia Tech (N), Oregon State
Key conference games: @ Nevada, @ Idaho

#2 TCU Horned Frogs: Since 2005, the Horned Frogs have taken out Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Stanford, Utah, BYU, Boise State, Virginia, and Clemson. Last year’s impressive squad, led by quarterback Andy Dalton, averaged 456.7 yards and 38.3 points per game. Dalton threw for 2,756 yards, 23 scores, and eight interceptions. This year, he will be throwing to a trio of seniors in Jeremy Kerley, Jimmy Young, and Bart Johnson, who combined for 110 receptions and seven scores in 2009. Running back Matthew Tucker averaged 6.4 yards per carry last year, scoring eight times. He will be the primary running back with the loss of Joseph Turner. A defense that gave up just 239.7 yards and 12.8 points per game retains the majority of its starters, though both Jerry Hughes and Darryl Washington are now in the NFL. Like Boise State, the Frogs have several freshmen and sophomores returning with great experience. They will have their chance to make another statement with a week one game against Oregon State.

Key non-conference game: Oregon State (N)
Key conference games: BYU, @ Utah

#3 Navy Midshipmen: Navy sails into 2010 coming off a ten win season, including victories over both of the other service academies. The Middies lost three games by seven points or less. With the return of quarterback Ricky Dobbs and another year of the famed spread-option offense, Navy is looking for another great season. Dobbs threw just 105 passes in 2009, completing 56 of them for 1,031 yards, six touchdowns and three picks. Of course, on the ground, he ran 315 times for 1,203 yards and a whopping 27 tuddies. Joining him in the unique offensive attack are fullback Vince Murray and a host of young, but talented slot-backs ready to replace Marcus Curry. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 182 touches, scoring six times. However, Curry was dismissed from the team in May after violating team rules and failing a drug test in January. Eager to step up are backs Gee Gee Greene, Alex Teich, and Aaron Santiago. Greene averaged 6.2 yards per rush last year, while returning 33 kickoffs for 607 yards. Teich contributed 376 yards on 70 carries. On defense, Navy will be led once again by DE Jabaree Tuani and safety Wyatt Middleton. They will have to re-tool at linebacker however, as the three starters are gone. Tyler Simmons will be heavily relied upon to lead the new group. Navy has a favorable schedule, so another ten win season is looking likely.

Key games: @ Air Force, Notre Dame(N), @ East Carolina

#4 Houston Cougars: There is a significant drop-off after Boise State and TCU, but Houston took out Texas Tech, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State last season. The Cougars feature a high-powered offense and the nation’s statistically leading quarterback in Case Keenum. Keenum completed 492 of 700 balls last year for 5,671 yards, 44 touchdowns, and 15 picks. The team returns three 1,000 yard receivers in James Cleveland, Tyron Carrier, and Patrick Edwards. The three combined for 27 touchdowns, all averaging at least 11.3 yards per catch. Clearly, there is not much use of the running game, but if needed, the Cougars have two running backs in Charles Sims and Bryce Beall, who are capable. Sims averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored nine times, while Beall gained 670 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Don’t look for the 108th ranked defense to improve much, however. Last year’s unit gave up 451.3 yards and 30.1 points per game. Senior cornerback Jamal Robinson intercepted five balls a year ago and will lead a defense that is extremely young. Houston will be in the spotlight in its final game of the year at Texas Tech.

Key non-conference games: @ UCLA, Mississippi State, @ Texas Tech
Key conference games: @ SMU, UCF, Tulsa

#5 Temple Owls: You’re asking yourself: “How did Temple get on any top ten lists, other than maybe the worst schools ever?” Well, my friend, Temple has turned it around, at least for a little while. Yes, it lost to Villanova in week one of the 2009 campaign, but then again, Villanova won the FCS championship. The Owls put together a nine game win streak, finishing the regular season at 9-3 before losing by nine to UCLA in their first bowl appearance since 1979. Vaughn Charlton returns as the quarterback for 2010, but last year was not impressive; he completed 107 of 213 passes for 1,390 yards, ten scores, and 11 picks. This will obviously have to improve. The wide receiving corps is deep, with only two players getting more than 20 catches. Five receivers caught at least two touchdowns, but none caught more than three. The ground game is the real excitement for the Owls, with star running back Bernard Pierce. Last season, Pierce carried 236 times for 1,361 yards and 16 touchdowns. Matt Brown also ran for 529 yards and five scores on 89 carries. On defense, the Owls should again be strong against the run, with an experienced and large line and senior linebackers Elijah Joseph and Amara Kamara leading the way. However, opposing quarterbacks racked up 226.4 yards per game, blasting through the Owls’ secondary. The schedule is no cakewalk, with the first four games against Villanova, Central Michigan, Connecticut, and Penn State. However, Temple could easily get another 9-3 season and MAC title game appearance.

Key non-conference games: Connecticut, @ Penn State
Key conference games: Central Michigan, @ Northern Illinois, Ohio

#6 Nevada Wolfpack: The Wolfpack quietly had a 7-1 conference record and the best rushing offense in the nation a year ago. After getting stomped by Notre Dame, Colorado State, and Missouri, the team went on an eight game win streak, before losing its final regular season game and a bowl bid against SMU. Returning this year is quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who completed 166 of 282 throws for 2,052 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six picks. He was the top dual threat in the nation, adding 7.3 yards per rush on 161 carries, scoring 16 times. Rejoining last year’s number one ranked ground game is Vai Taua, who averaged 7.8 yards and scored ten times on 172 carries. The team loses its third 1,000 yard rusher in Luke Lippincott, but there is plenty of depth in Mike Ball and Mark Lampford. At wide receiver, the team returns Brandon Wimberly, Tray Session, and Chris Wellington. The three combined for just nine touchdowns in the nation’s 107th ranked passing offense. The Wolfpack will need to improve their passing offense to keep up their winning ways. Last year’s unit gave up a second to last ranked 297.8 yards per game through the air. In the team’s five losses, the opposition scored at least 31 points. The line and linebacking core losses are minimal, and the only way to go is up for the secondary. The conference road schedule is terribly brutal, however.

Key non-conference games: California
Key conference games: @ BYU, @ Idaho, Boise State

#7 Utah Utes: The Utes are looking tough once again for 2010. They have some holes to fill on defense, but with BYU losing Max Hall and other staples, Utah is primed to be right there with TCU. The offense will be led by sophomore QB Jordan Wynn, who threw for 1,329 yards, eight scores, and four picks in a half season’s work after replacing junior Terrance Cain. The team loses a 1,000 yard wide receiver in David Reed, but retains Jereme Brooks, who led all receivers with seven scores. Sophomore Luke Williams will be the second throwing option for Wynn, having caught just nine passes last year. The rushing attack will be led by Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata. Asiata tore his ACL early last season and was granted an extra year of eligibility. Wide emerged as a more than capable replacement, racing for 1,070 yards and 12 touchdowns on 202 carries. On defense, only five starters return. Last year’s unit allowed just 176.2 passing yards and 20.2 points per game. The biggest hit comes at linebacker, with all three starters now gone. However, junior J.J. Williams is expected to lead a young group. The schedule isn’t easy, but Utah does get most of the big games at home, including Pittsburgh, TCU, and BYU.

Key non-conference games: Pittsburgh, @ Notre Dame
Key conference games: @ Air Force, TCU, BYU

#8 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders: MTSU isn’t exactly one of the most talked about mid majors, but last year it showed it really does have a capable football program. The Raiders finished behind Troy for the Sun Belt title, but won ten games, including a bowl victory over Southern Miss. Now, it might just be MTSU’s year to win the Sun Belt. The offense will be led by a great dual threat in Dwight Dasher. He led his team with 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, while throwing for 2,789 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. At wide receiver, the team loses Chris McClover and Patrick Honeycutt, who combined for 961 yards and nine scores. Remaining are Garrett Andrews and Shane Blissard. The two only combined for 19 catches last year, though. This year’s defensive unit also has some strength. DE Jamari Lattimore returns, having racked up 5.5 sacks. Safety Jeremy Kellem has been named the Sun Belt preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Blue Raiders will have their first statement game opportunity in week one, when the Minnesota Golden Gophers come to Tennessee.

Key non-conference games: Minnesota, @ Georgia Tech
Key conference games: @ Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy

#9 Northern Illinois Huskies: The Huskies are again on the rise, with back-to-back bowl appearances and an impressive win at Purdue last season. Now, they return several key starters and look to appear in the MAC Championship game with Temple. The offense will once again feature a strong running game, with senior Chad Spann. Last season, Spann gained 1,038 yards and scored 19 times on 179 carries. Fellow running back Me’Co Brown has left the program, so JUCO transfer Jasmin Hopkins will see action early. Chandler Harnish will again be the quarterback and will try to improve on a mediocre performance, throwing for 1,670 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season. The 109th ranked passing offense will be searching for a top wide receiver, as only two caught more than one touchdown. Landon Cox appears to be the man, leading last year’s squad with 535 yards and four scores on 45 receptions. Defensively, the Huskies should be set. Nine starters are returning, but will need to improve on last year’s measly four total interceptions. Last year’s unit also allowed opponents to convert 41.2% of the time on third down, but did sack the quarterback 29 times. Where it really counts, the Huskies only surrendered 21.2 points per game. This season, the Huskies will face a brutal schedule, with four of the first five on the road. However, with the departure of Dan LaFevour at Central Michigan, the MAC West is NIU’s to lose.

Key non-conference games: @ Iowa State, @ Minnesota
Key conference game: Temple

#10: Central Florida Knights: The Knights are going to be a power in Conference USA’s East Division. The story here is the defense, which allowed just 84.7 rushing yards per game last season. Seven starters are returning, including DE Bruce Miller, who was responsible for 16 sacks in 2009. At cornerback, sophomore Josh Robinson will make another impact, intercepting six passes in his freshman debut. A unit that a year ago allowed just 22.5 points per game has nowhere to go but up. The offense is a different story, with junior Rob Calabrese stepping in at quarterback. He threw for three scores and no interceptions in limited action in 2009. Leading running back Brynn Harvey should be back from knee surgery in time for the season opener. On the plus side, the offense returns four starting linemen and its top receiver in Kamar Aiken, who scored nine times and averaged 16.9 yards per catch last year. The Knights have an excellent chance to make the C-USA title game, led by their lights-out defense.

Key non-conference games: North Carolina State, @ Kansas State
Key conference game: @ Houston


2010 College Football Betting: Preseason Top 25 ATS Power Rankings

July 17th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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The 2010 college football betting season is nearly here! Though anyone can rank the teams No. 1 to No. 25 in the nation in terms of SU records, here at Bankroll Sports, we are ranking our Top 25 underrated teams that could be monsters for your against the college football odds this season.

25. Ball State Cardinals (2-10, 6-5 ATS in 2009) – After a magical run in 2008 in which the Cardinals flirted with an undefeated season, Ball State came crashing back down to Earth last year under first-year HC Stan Parrish. However, this year Ball State returns their entire offense from 2009, including 2nd team All-MAC RB Miquale Lewis who should go down as the school’s all-time leading rusher with even a halfway decent 2010 campaign. The Cardinals have been friends to college football betting fans over the past five years, going 35-22-1 ATS in that span.

24. Air Force Falcons (8-5, 7-4-1 ATS in 2009) – Since taking over for the legendary Fisher DeBerry, HC Troy Calhoun has excelled in his first three years at the Air Force Academy, taking the Falcons to a 25-14 record and three straight Armed Forces Bowl appearances. QB Tim Jefferson is a dual-threat passer who can beat team with his arm or his legs and should be one of the best in the conference if he can stay healthy for the whole season.

23. Syracuse Orange (4-8, 6-5 ATS in 2009) – The Orange may be seen as a surprising candidate to be on this list, but Syracuse showed marked improvement in their first year under new HC Doug Marrone. Although the Orange managed just one more win in 2009 than in 2008, the Syracuse program showed signs of life for the first time in years, especially when the mass exodus of 20+ players prior to the start of the 2009 season is considered. The key to the offense will be RB Delone Carter who carried the ball for 1,021 yards and 11 TDs last year.

22. Rice Owls (2-10, 4-7-1 ATS in 2009) – Much like Ball State, Rice went from a fantastic 2008 CFB wagering season to a disastrous campaign in 2009. For the 2010 season though, the Owls bring back 18 starters and one of the more experienced offensive lines in the nation to provide protection for QB Nick Fanuzzi. Fanuzzi showed some promise last season in completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,598 yards with 11 TDs and eight INTs and will look to get even better in 2010.

21. Idaho Vandals (8-5, 8-5 ATS in 2009) – In any other conference in America, QB Nathan Enderle would have garnered all-conference honors last season and would be considered one of the conference favorites for Offensive Player of the Year. Last season, Venderle completed over 60 percent of his passes for 2,906 yards with 22 TDs and nine INTs while leading the Vandals to their first winning season of the decade.

20. Oregon State Beavers (8-5, 7-5 ATS in 2009) – Over the last decade, the Beavers have been one of the best teams against the NCAA betting odds in the country, going 68-48-1 ATS. With the return of the Rodgers brothers (WR James and RB Jacquizz), HC Mike Riley’s Beavers have one of the most formidable offenses in the Pac-10 and should once again challenge for the Pac-10 title now that the Trojans are ineligible to take home the trophy.

19. North Texas Mean Green (2-10, 5-7 ATS in 2009) – With only five wins over the past three seasons, it seems rather unlikely that North Texas could be on any Top 25 list, but the Mean Green have 17 returning starters and a very manageable schedule. RB Lance Dunbar had a monster season for North Texas last year, carrying the ball for 1,378 yards and 17 touchdowns en route to 1st team All-SBC honors in 2009. Dunbar looks to continue the tradition of quality running backs at North Texas, following in the footsteps of Jamario Thomas and Cedric Cobbs.

18. Baylor Bears (4-8, 5-7 ATS in 2009) – Many pundits thought that 2009 would be the year that the Baylor Bears turned the corner, but those dreams were derailed in Week 3 after sensational QB Robert Griffin tore his ACL and back-up QB Blake Szymanski injured his shoulder. Griffin looks like he is back to form though and if he can stay healthy has a real chance to take the Bears to their first bowl appearance since 1994.

17. Miami Redhawks (1-11, 5-7 ATS in 2009) – Things haven’t looked good in Oxford over the past half decade, but there is reason for Redhawks fans to be excited in 2010. In HC Mike Haywood’s second year, the Redhawks return 19 starters from 2009 while many of their opponents in the MAC East are reloading. Miami probably isn’t good enough to make a bowl this season, but should keep games close and cover a lot of college football gambling spreads.

16. UTEP Miners (4-8, 5-7 ATS in 2009) – Inconsistent wouldn’t even begin to describe the UTEP Miners’ 2009 season. In their first C-USA game of the season, the Miners upset #12 and then undefeated Houston 58-41 as a two TD underdog on the NCAA gambling odds. In UTEP’s very next game they suffered an embarrassing 15 point loss at Memphis, giving the Tigers their only FBS win of 2009. With one of the best backfield tandems in the conference in QB Trevor Vittatoe and All-American RB Donald Buckram, the Miners will be able to put up a lot of points this season.

15. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-6, 7-5 ATS in 2009) – With the graduation of the record-setting Tim Tebow, the SEC East is the most open its been in years and the Gamecocks are in good position to take advantage of this. They usually have one of the better defenses in the country and if QB Stephen Garcia can continue to develop like he has over the past two seasons, South Carolina could flirt with a 10 win season.

14. Connecticut Huskies (8-5, 9-2-1 ATS in 2009) – Few would deny that Randy Edsall has done one of the best jobs in the country in guiding UConn from the FCS level to the FBS level. Over the past three years, Edsall has really hit his stride with the team going 25-14 and winning back-to-back bowl games. The Huskies have also been one of the best teams for NCAA wagering enthusiasts with the team going 63-42-2 ATS since 2000.

13. Texas A&M Aggies (6-7, 6-7 ATS in 2009) – Mike Sherman’s Aggies benefit from only having four road games this year, and in only one of those four road games (@ Texas) will they be a prohibitive underdog. Texas A&M has 16 returning starters this season, including QB Jerrod Johnson who passed for 3,579 yards to go with 30 TDs against just eight interceptions on his way to a 2nd team All-Big 12 selection in 2009.

12. UCF Knights (8-5, 9-3 ATS in 2009) – Last year, not much was expected of the UCF Knights after a 2008 campaign in which the Knights had one of the worst offenses in the country. However, HC George O’Leary turned to the running game last year and found a valuable asset in RB Brynn Harvey. Last season, Harvey ran for 1,109 yards and 14 touchdowns while picking up 3rd team All-C-USA honors. Harvey suffered a knee injury in spring, but is expected to miss no more than a few games at most.

11. Michigan Wolverines (5-7, 5-6 ATS in 2009) – HC Rich Rodriguez might be on the hottest seat in the country after managing just an 8-16 record and zero bowl appearances in his first two seasons as the head coach of one of the most storied programs in the country. This season, though, will be the first where Rodriguez has a clear-cut choice at QB to run his system in Tate Forcier. With Forcier at the helm, the Wolverines will almost certainly improve on their paltry 7-16 mark against the CFB betting line over the past two seasons.

10. Temple Owls (9-4, 8-4 ATS in 2009) – Al Golden has done a remarkable job in turning around a horrific Temple program that hadn’t made a bowl game in 30 years prior to the Owls making the EagleBank Bowl in 2009. This season, the Owls return almost all of their skill position players and 16 starters to a team that should be considered the favorite to win the MAC East.

9. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-5, 5-6 ATS in 2009) – North Carolina may have the best defense in the country this season with a bevy of NFL prospects at every position along the defensive front. DE Robert Quinn, LB Quan Sturdivant, CB Kendric Burney, and FS Deunta Williams all garnered 1st team All-ACC selections in 2009, while DT Marvin Austin, LB Bruce Carter, and SS Da’Norris Searcy all picked up 2nd team honors. With 19 returning starters in all, the Tar Heels should be one of the best teams against the NCAA odds in 2010.

8. Nevada Wolfpack (8-5, 7-6 ATS in 2009) – When QB Colin Kaepernick pulls the strings, the Wolfpack have one of the most exciting offenses in the country. Last season, Nevada managed an NCAA first when the Wolfpack had three different players (Kaepernick, Vai Taua, and Luke Lippencott) rush for over 1000 yards. In WAC play, the Wolfpack have been especially great the past five seasons, going 26-14 ATS for CFB wagering fans over that time.

7. Washington Huskies (5-7, 7-5 ATS in 2009) – Jake Locker is considered by many to be the top pick in the 2011 draft, and the strong-armed quarterback showed off just what he could do in his first year under new HC Steve Sarkisian. In 2009, Locker became much more polished as a quarterback, throwing for 2,800 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in a season where they flirted with a bowl bid. This year, with 18 returning starters, the Huskies will be in great shape to make their first bowl appearance since 2002.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-6, 4-8 ATS in 2009) – Although QB Jimmy Clausen and WR Golden Tate have departed, the Fighting Irish are primed to turn some heads in the first year of new HC Brian Kelly. Kelly had one of the best offenses in the country at Cincinnati last year and inherits an offense with a lot of weapons in RB Armando Allen, WR Michael Floyd, and TE Kyle Rudolph. The key to the season for Notre Dame will be how well sophomore QB Dayne Crist can perform in his first season running the offense.

5. Florida State Seminoles (7-6, 4-8 ATS in 2009) – Before getting hurt, QB Christian Ponder looked well on his way to having one of the best seasons in school history. Still, Ponder finished with great numbers, completing 68.8 percent of his passes for 2,717 yards with 14 TDs and seven picks. He’ll also have the luxury of being behind one of the best and most experienced offensive lines in the country, anchored by Jacobs Award winning LG Rodney Hudson.

4. Auburn Tigers (8-5, 6-6 ATS in 2009) – Despite questions over whether he was the right man for the job or not, HC Gene Chizik led the Tigers to a respectable season in 2009. With the help of offensive guru Gus Malzahn, the Tigers offense went from one of the worst in the SEC in 2008 (17.3 PPG) to one of the best in the conference last year (33.3 PPG). The Tigers dodge both the Vols and the Gators in conference play and with eight home games could turn many heads this NCAA wagering season.

3. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (10-3, 10-3 ATS in 2009) – QB Dwight Dasher may have been playing in the lowly Sun Belt last season, but his numbers were good enough for any conference in the country. The athletic Dasher turned a lot of heads in 2009, by throwing for 2,789 yards along with 23 TDs and 14 INTs while also running for 1154 yards and 13 scores. With Dasher under center, the Blue Raiders have a very good chance for back-to-back 10 win seasons.

2. Cincinnati Bearcats (12-1, 5-7 ATS in 2009) – Though QB Tony Pike and HC Brian Kelly have since departed, the Bearcats should still have one of the best offenses in the Big East in 2010 under new HC Butch Jones and QB Zach Collaros. Collaros was impressive in his limited playing time in 2009, completing 75 percent of his passes for 1,434 yards with ten TDs against just two INTs. USC transfer WR Vidal Hazelton will also pack some punch to a WR corps that lost Mardy Gilyard.

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-4, 9-5 ATS in 2009) – Since taking over for Bill Callahan, Bo Pelini has brought respect back to the Blackshirts and pride back to Husker Nation. Pelini’s Huskers were one last second FG away from making it to a BCS bowl and ruining Texas’ undefeated season in the Big XII Title Game, and although they do lose Heisman Trophy candidate DT Ndamakong Suh, Nebraska returns six starters to the defense that only gave up 10.4 PPG last CFB gambling season.


2010 MLB All-Star Game Snubs

July 8th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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The 2010 All-Star Game is just a few days away, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are analyzing the top snubs from the mid-summer classic.

Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: How on earth have there been two pitching replacements selected for the All-Star Game and Jered Weaver isn’t one of them? Perhaps if Weaver played on any other team, this would be an excusable snub by manager Joe Girardi, but there is just no reason for the best pitcher on the host team for this game to be left off of the roster. Weaver has 130 strikeouts this year, which is the second most in baseball and the most in the American League. He is 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA, and he would have double digits in wins if not for the fact that his team is averaging exactly 2.0 runs per game in his L/3 starts.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds: We understand that you only have so many spots on your roster to deal with and that you have to fill in someone from every team in the game, but manager Charlie Manuel really screwed up by not putting Votto on his roster. Perhaps he will end up getting on the roster by the time the game actually starts on Tuesday, but for now, Votto will be back in Cincinnati wondering what more he had to do in the first half of the season to become an All-Star. His 21 homers is best in the National League, while his .313 batting average puts him in the Top 5 in that category as well. Votto is on pace to drive in about 115 runs this year, and his OPS of 1.006 is off the charts. First base is a deep position, especially in the NL, but there is no way to justify why Votto was left off of this team when his teammates, 2B Brandon Phillips and 3B Scott Rolen are.

Mat Latos, San Diego Padres: Thank goodness that Manuel wised up and put closer Heath Bell on the All-Star team finally. Latos should be there as well. How on earth does no one from the best staff in baseball have the goods to be on the All-Star roster? Latos ranked eighth in the NL in ERA at 2.62, and he is 9-4 to show for his 16 starts. His numbers are virtually identical to St. Louis Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter and aren’t that much worse than anyone aside from Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez in the NL. Some starting pitcher should be representing the Padres in LA on Tuesday, and Latos should be the man for the job.

Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets: How many ten game winners can really say that they don’t deserve to be All-Stars? Pelfrey was the spit and glue for the Mets for the better part of two months already this year, and though he hasn’t had a great last few starts, this award is supposed to be a recognition for your entire body of work from the first half of the year. Pelfrey is 10-3 with a 3.39 ERA, and, and though his strikeout total is down from the rest of the big arms in baseball, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been just as effective. If Pelfrey’s name was Greg Maddux, he would arguably be in a position to not just be in the All-Star Game, but to be starting in it as well. It’s not fair that he was left off of the squad because he isn’t your tradition household name amongst pitchers in the league.

Billy Wagner, Atlanta Braves: We hate to keep picking on the way that Manuel picked this roster, but if nothing else, shouldn’t Wagner be entitled to pitch in the All-Star Game because of his history? Now that Bell has his spot on the team, Wagner is the biggest snub amongst relievers in the league. He has 19 saves against just three blown saves, and has 55 strikeouts, the second highest number amongst closers in the NL. His 1.27 ERA is tops amongst closers, while a 0.91 WHIP and .164 batting average against are also best in the NL for stoppers. Wagner is a future Hall of Famer. His name should have carried him onto the All-Star roster with numbers like that. We love Jonathan Broxton in Los Angeles, but we’re sorry… Broxton’s 18 saves and 1.98 ERA aren’t as strong as Wagner’s 19 saves and 1.27 ERA.

Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox: At least Manuel picked two other first basemen on his roster when he left Votto off of the team. Girardi seemingly just overlooked Konerko, as the only other listed 1B on his team is Miguel Cabrera. No disrespect is meant to Cabrera, a deserving All-Star in his own right, but leaving Konerko off of the team is a travesty. He ranks fourth in the AL in home runs with 20 and has already knocked in 60 runs this year. By the way, that’s four more than starting 1B Justin Morneau and six more than OF Jose Bautista, who is also on the team as an outfielder. Aside from his sheer numbers, Konerko is the team leader for the White Sox, and he is arguably the main cog in their resurgence from the bottom of the AL Central up to where they sit now, just one game back of the Detroit Tigers for the division lead.

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2010 MLB All-Star Game Rosters

July 6th, 2010 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)

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All-Star RostersThe rosters for the 2010 MLB All-Star Game have been chosen by managers Charlie Manuel and Joe Girardi, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are taking a first glance at the matchup for the All-Star Game odds and which team we think has the upper hand in the mid-summer classic scheduled for next Tuesday in Anaheim. BetUS Sportsbook will have all of your All-Star Game props and MLB All-Star Game betting lines available to you for this annual festival.

Without a doubt, the National League team has the better set of pitchers at their disposal for this game. If anyone aside from RHP Ubaldo Jimenez starts the game for the NL team, it is a travesty. Yes, Jimenez has struggled just a tad over his last few starts, but it isn’t often that you can say that a pitcher is coming into the All-Star Game with at least 14 wins under his belt. Turning the ball over to RHP Josh Johnson and his 1.82 ERA doesn’t seem like such a bad idea either for Manuel. If a game is close in the late innings, there aren’t a ton of closer options for Manuel to turn to. RHP Jonathan Broxton is having another solid year for the Dodgers, as he gone 17-for-19 on save opportunities and has a 2.02 ERA. LHP Arthur Rhodes may be having the best year for any relief pitcher in baseball in Cincinnati, though. The southpaw as three wins and 15 holds, and up until he allowed three runs against the Phillies last week, his ERA was at 0.28. Still, a 1.06 ERA and 0.88 WHIP are nothing to be ashamed of.

The American League has a nice lineup that is chalk full of speed, particularly at the top of the order. One would think that both OF Carl Crawford and OF Ichiro Suzuki are going to be taking off on the base paths quite a bit if they get aboard, while the big bats of 3B Evan Longoria, DH Vladimir Guerrero, 1B Justin Morneau, and OF Josh Hamilton aren’t going to be far behind waiting to produce runs. Off of the bench, the AL has a superior advantage, as 3B Alex Rodriguez and DH David Ortiz could both pop home runs at a moment’s notice to blow the game wide open for the American League.

The AL pitchers are going to have a tougher time finding traction against the NL roster, though. LHP Cliff Lee won’t be starting the game in all likelihood, but he is arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball right now having thrown 73.1 innings in his L/9 starts and allowing just 13 runs in those outings. Lee is also 7-1 to show for his work in that time, which upped his record to 8-3 on the season. Lefties are certainly at no shortage on this AL roster, as both LHP David Price, LHP Jon Lester, and LHP CC Sabathia are amongst the best in the game. As we all know, if the AL has a lead going into the ninth inning, it’s Enter Sandman time. RHP Mariano Rivera has nailed down a number of All-Star Games in his career, and this year could be no exception.

Manuel has a lineup at his disposal that is chalk full of men from his own division. Four of the nine starters for the NL are out of the East, though 2B Chase Utley won’t be playing in the game due to injury. Expect SS Hanley Ramirez to start off the game as the leadoff hitter. He is really the only pure speed that this roster has until you reach the bench, though. Power is the name of the game for the National League, as 1B Albert Pujols leads a slew of sluggers that can change the game on one swing of the bat as well. The bench doesn’t appear as deep for the NL as it does for the AL, especially when you’re talking about everywhere aside from first base. Obviously, 1Bs Ryan Howard and Adrian Gonzalez are amongst the best hitters in baseball, but there just isn’t any pop beyond those two waiting as potential pinch hitters. The fact that the fans voted in OF Jason Heyward as a starter in this game is a joke, as the rookie is only batting .251 on the season. He is currently on the DL with a bone bruise, and it is unknown whether or not he will be able to give it a go in the All-Star Game or not.

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2010 MLB All-Star Game: American League Roster

Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays
Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers
Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Fausto Carmona, Cleveland Indians
Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
Phil Hughes, New York Yankees
Cliff Lee, Seattle Mariners
Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox
David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
John Buck, Toronto Blue Jays
Victor Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Ty Wiggington, Baltimore Orioles
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
Adrian Beltre, Boston Red Sox
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

2010 MLB All-Star Game: National League Roster

Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
David Wright, New York Mets
Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves
Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Capps, Washington Nationals
Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers
Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves
Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies
Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Evan Meek, Pittsburgh Pirates
Arthur Rhodes, Cincinnati Reds
Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants
Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
Martin Prado, Atlanta Braves
Jose Reyes, New York Mets
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
Omar Infante, Atlanta Braves
Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds
Michael Bourn, Houston Astros
Marlon Byrd, Chicago Cubs
Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers
Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks