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Posted 08/16/2008 at 07:20 PM
Just wanted to mention a few props, futures and season win totals that I'm either considering or am intrigued by in both college and the NFL.
1-I like Oakland RB Darren McFadden to win Rookie of the Year honors for a plus 350 payout (risk $100 to win $350).
2-I think it's worth a small wager to take Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson to win MVP honors for a 10/1 return.
3-I like the Pittsburgh Steelers 'over' 9 wins (-110 odds). Big Ben should have a big year hooking up with Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Co. I love the team's RB situation with Willie Parker and explosive rookie Rashard Mendenhall.
4-I like Florida State 'under' 8 (+110). In my opinion, an 8-4 record is the best-case scenario for this rapidly fading program. I think the 'Noles go 7-5, but 6-6 certainly isn't out of the question.
5-I like Notre Dame 'under' 7 wins (-115). The Irish will be better, but improving on 3-9 doesn't equate to 8-4. The schedule is a little easier, but I still think ND goes 6-6, 7-5 at best (and that would be a push).
6-This one might be my favorite -- Fresno St. 'over' 8.5 wins for a plus 145 payout. I think the Bulldogs have a great chance at double-digit wins.
7-I also like Arkansas 'under' 6 wins, but the price on betting the 'under' is extremely expensive (-150 or more at most spots). I'm not into making these sorts of bets at those 'chalky' odds. However, if you are, I will say that I think the Hogs limp to a 4-8 record this year and finish in the SEC West cellar.
Now to just a few labels/comments/props, etc. for certain players and coaches in college football.
Five Coaches on the Hot Seat:
1-Greg Williams (Syracuse)
2-Tyrone Willingham (Washington)
3-Mike Stoops (Arizona)
4-Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
5-Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee)
I'm befuddled by the fact that the 'Cuse stuck with Williams for another year. He might not make Halloween. I don't necessarily think Willingham and/or Stoops are bad (or good) coaches, but they both have to produce this year or they're goners. The Huskies and Wildcats both have extremely good QBs in Locker and Tuitama, so maybe Washington or 'Zona can surprise some people this year and save their coaches' respective jobs. As for Ferentz and Fulmer, I think both are outstanding coaches and have been for many years now. With that said, the Hawkeyes are paying Ferentz too much money to go through another season like 2006 and '07, and I think anything better than 7-5 this year is going to require some good fortune. Fulmer just signed an extension, but that was more for recruiting than anything. The UT fan base is restless and any season worse than 8-4 in the near future could make things very interesting in Knoxville.
Most Underrated Players in America:
1-Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour
2-Southern Miss LB Gerald McRath
3-Southern Miss RB Damion Fletcher
4-Mississippi St. DB/PR Derek Pegues
5-Wake Forest PK/P Sam Swank
6-Vandy CB D.J. Moore
7-Kentucky CB Trevard Lindley
8-Oklahoma St. QB Zac Robinson
9-Hawaii LB Solomon Elimimian
10-Rutgers WR Kenny Britt
Five Players on the Hot Seat: meaning it's mandatory for these players to have GREAT seasons for their team to have a big-time year.
1-Alabama QB John Parker Wilson
2-Michigan St. RB Javon Ringer
3-Georgia WR Mohamed Massaquoi
4-Florida CB Joe Haden
5-Florida St. WR Greg Carr
Five Best QBs:
1-Tim Tebow (Florida)
2-Chase Daniel (Missouri)
3-Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
4-Pat White (West Va.)
5-Cullen Harper (Clemson)
Five most underrated QBs:
1-Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan)
2-Curtis Painter (Purdue)
3-Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic)
4-Nate Davis (Ball St.)
5-Jevan Snead (Ole Miss)
Five teams that'll exceed expectations:
1-Fresno St.
2-Pittsburgh
3-Michigan St.
4-East Carolina
5 (tie)-Colorado
5 (tie)-Ole Miss
Five Overrated Teams: (better description might be'teams that'll come up shy of expectations')
1-Ohio St.
2-Kansas
3-Michigan
4-BYU
5 (tie)-UConn
5 (tie)-Cincy
Quick semmie rant (i.e. FSU) -- How embarrassing it must've been for all Seminole fans to witness what we saw the other day on ESPN's College Football Live show. The 'Noles, who were a perennial top-five team in the late '80s and throughout the '90s, have fallen this far. They were 'awarded' the team with the best helmets as voted by ESPN's 'Sports Nation,' the people who vote on ESPN.com's various polls. As the team received the 'honor' live on ESPN, the entire team was gathered in an auditorium surrounded by Bobby Bowden, who was miked up talking to the CFL host. After the extremely lame interview ended, the players started hoopin' and hollerin' as if they'd won some sort of championship. Are you kidding me? What a joke. How pathetic! What's next? We're going to see the semmie faithful celebrate being named the team with the best waterboys? Things have certainly changed in Tallahassee the last 5-6 years. The 'Noles are no longer a year-in-and-year-out-national-title contender. Instead, they are a middle-of-the-pack squad in a scrub conference. And, lest we forget, the NCAA boys are still in town and sanctions in the next 6-12 months are a very real possibility. And I didn't even mention the coaching issues. Rest assured, I won't be losing any sleep over FSU's mediocrity that doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon.
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