08/27/2008 - Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Florida Gators open up their 2008 schedule this weekend, as they welcome the Hawaii Warriors to the mainland for a gridiron clash in Gainesville.
Urban Meyer has another loaded team following a 2007 campaign that saw the Gators win nine games and earn a spot in the Capital One Bowl. Although the postseason didn't have a successful result, a 41-35 loss to Michigan, Florida's young team showed a great deal of promise under the leadership of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
Tebow will attempt to get off to a fast start once again and it will be up to the Warriors to prevent that from happening. The 2007 season was a magical one for Hawaii, which was the only program in the country to finish the regular season with a perfect record. The flawless campaign came to end though in the postseason, as the Warriors were embarrassed in the Sugar Bowl, a 41-10 beating at the hands of Georgia.
This game marks the first-ever meeting between Florida and Hawaii.
Head coach June Jones left the South Pacific, and now Hawaii is under new management in Greg McMackin. Not only is Jones gone, but most of the playmakers that made Hawaii an offensive juggernaut the last few years, including gunslinger Colt Brennan.
The big question is who will be the one to fill the shoes of Brennan. It was thought to be senior Tyler Graunke, but Brennan's backup last year has not participated with the team yet due to academic reasons. That leaves the offense in the hands of juco transfer Brent Rausch. The 6-4 sophomore beat out returner Inoke Funaki and fellow juco transfer Greg Alexander.
"We evaluated the three quarterbacks during the first two weeks of camp and it was a touch decision but we decided on Brent Rausch," head coach Greg McMackin said. "He's been the most consistent and gets better with his decision making and throws each day."
Rausch will look to an unproven receiving corps with the departure of three 1,000-yard performers in Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Jason Rivers. The likely candidates to step up are seniors Michael Washington and Aaron Bain and junior Malcolm Lane.
The ground game has not been a priority in Hawaii and it remains to be seen just how much McMackin will utilize tailbacks Leon Wright-Jackson and Daniel Libre.
In 2007 the Hawaii defense stood tall, with a total of five players on the All-WAC teams. Cal Lee takes over as defensive coordinator now that McMackin has gotten promoted and the 2008 defense looks to be an attacking unit.
The real strength of the defense is the linebacking corps, which is rated among the best in the country. One of the most punishing of those hard-hitters is Adam Leonard (105 tackles, four INTs in 2007, with two returns for TDs). Joining Leonard in the middle of the field is Solomon Elimimian who, like Leonard, was also a WAC First-Team choice as a junior last season. Elimimian went from 83 stops as a freshman and 89 as a sophomore to a ridiculous 145 tackles to lead the team and rank 14th nationally.
The secondary loses both corners and a starting safety from a year ago, but this year's unit may be even better, with more physical cover men in Ryan Mouton and Oregon transfer Jameel Dowling. There is plenty of depth at safety with Keao Monteilh, Desmond Thomas, Erik Robinson and Oregon State transfer Man Silva all bidding for playing time.
Heading into the 2007 season, head coach Urban Meyer would have been disappointed if someone told him that his team would lose four games. Still, the campaign was certainly memorable, largely because of the accomplishments of the squad's star quarterback.
Tebow had one of the most remarkable seasons in college football history from a statistics standpoint, and the sophomore was rewarded with the Heisman Trophy. He threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for 895 yards and 23 scores.
"My biggest goal this year as far as football goes was becoming a better decision maker," says Tebow. "I mean, that's what separates Tom Brady and Peyton Manning from every other quarterback, is their decision making. They're not more blessed as far as athletic ability; they just make better decisions on the field."
Tebow is not the only one back on offense. Percy Harvin is one of the nation's most explosive athletes and will be Tebow's primary threat on the outside. He is more than capable of catching the ball (59 receptions, for 858 yards and four TDs last year), or line up as a tailback (764 yards, 9.2 ypc and six TDs). However, a nagging heel injury has Harvin listed as questionable for the opener.
Tebow's backfield cohorts are likely a pair of players that didn't suit up last year, in sophomores Emmanuel Moody, who transferred in from USC and Mon Williams, who redshirted last year after blowing out his knee in the spring.
The offensive line has more experience this year than the last two seasons, headlined by seniors Jim Tartt (6-3, 300) and Jason Watkins (6-6, 300).
Last season, Florida had a wealth of new faces on defense and will reap the rewards this season as eight starters are back in the fold.
Brandon Spikes is an outstanding linebacker who is the face of this defensive unit. Spikes made 131 tackles last season, en route to All-SEC First-Team honors. Dustin Doe is another playmaker, amassing 85 stops last season.
Up front, Jermaine Cunningham is back at defensive end after posting 6.5 sacks a year ago. Now that standout end Derrick Harvey is gone, Cunningham will draw plenty of attention from the opposition. The rest of the defensive front seems young and could see as many as three sophomores line up alongside Cunningham.
Junior Wondy Pierre-Louis should get significant playing time at one of the corner spots, and he is expected to take a major step forward as a junior. However, the secondary is another area where the team's youth will need to step up and produce.
<< Kansas hosts Florida International in season opener
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks open their
119th season of college football this weekend, as they entertain the Florida
International Panthers in a non-conference showdown in Lawrence.
The 2007 season was a hi
<< West Virginia begins new era with bout against Villanova
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers
begin the Bill Stewart era as they host the Villanova Wildcats in what appears
to be a lopsided season-opening tilt.
Villanova, which competes at the FCS level, r
<< Auburn kicks off 2008 slate against visiting UL-Monroe
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Auburn Tigers are expected to be
one of the top teams in the always-tough SEC, and they open the 2008 season
with a non-conference home game against the UL-Monroe Warhawks of the Sun Belt
Conference
<< Vols head west to challenge Bruins
Pasadena, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An intriguing season-opening matchup pits the
18th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers of the SEC against the UCLA Bruins of the
Pac-10.
The fact that 15 starters from the offensive and defensive units from the 2007
Hokies and Pirates clash in Charlotte >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies have
their eyes on another ACC title and BCS Bowl and begin their quest for the
latter with their season-opener in Charlotte on Saturday, against the East
Carolina Pirates.
Wake Forest and Baylor battle in Waco >>
Waco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Art Briles era begins in Waco this Thursday,
as the Baylor Bears host the 23rd-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the
season opener for both programs.
After stumbling to a 3-9 finish, including a season-endin
Huskies and Ducks meet in season-opening Pac-10 clash >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is rare that conference rivals face one
another in the season opener, but that will be the case in Eugene on Saturday
night as the 21st-ranked Oregon Ducks welcome the Washington Huskies to town
for a Pac-10 cla
Second-ranked Buckeyes open 2008 slate against visiting Penguins >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have
lost the national title game the last two years, and they hope for another
chance to capture college football's ultimate prize as they begin the 2008
season against Youn
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
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JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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