Auburn’s Etheridge taken to hospital
October 31, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com’s Chris Low
Auburn junior safety Zac Etheridge was immobilized and carted from the field Saturday after a head-on collision with teammate Antonio Coleman.
You hate seeing these things and hope and pray that Etheridge is OK. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but did give a thumbs up as he was being wheeled off the field by Auburn medical personnel. The latest report was that he did have feeling in all of his extremities
The Tigers’ secondary has really been unlucky going all the way back to the spring. Junior safety Mike McNeil broke his leg in the spring and hasn’t played this season, while senior defensive back Aairon Savage injured his Achilles tendon in the offseason and was lost for the season.
IU off to hot start against sloppy Hawks
October 31, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa has built its reputation on rallying, and the Hawkeyes need to live up to it again. The Hawkeyes fell behind 14-0, which marked their largest deficit of the season, before responding with an impressive drive.
Indiana has dominated most of the first half, making big plays on both sides of the ball and beating Iowa at the line of scrimmage. Running back Darius Willis and wideout Mitchell Evans have been terrific on offense, and the IU defensive line is getting into the Iowa backfield.
Ben Chappell made a gutsy throw to put Indiana up by two touchdowns, finding Evans in the end zone despite three Hawkeyes defenders in the area.
Iowa has been sloppy in almost every aspect of the game. You know things are going bad when star punter Ryan Donahue shanks one for 9 yards. The Hawkeyes have committed penalties and missed blocks and coverage assignments.
Perhaps the 85-yard scoring march will light a fire under the nation’s fourth-ranked team.
Iowa’s Stanzi stumbles out of the gate
October 31, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi is having a nightmarish Halloween so far.
Stanzi has yet to complete a pass — a screen to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was called back on a penalty — and tossed his ninth interception of the season when he overthrew tight end Tony Moeaki. The junior took a sack when he had receivers open down the field and missed wideout Marvin McNutt on a hitch pattern.
Iowa fans need to hope Good Stanzi shows up in the second quarter.
Collaros strong again for Cincinnati
October 31, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com’s Brian Bennett
It’s another strong outing for Cincinnati’s Zach Collaros as he replaces Tony Pike.
The quarterback completed all seven of his passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, including a long touchdown pass to Armon Binns. Syracuse is giving the Cincinnati receivers a lot of cushion, trying to prevent the big play. But that’s leaving a lot of short passes open, and Collaros is taking advantage.
The Orange put together two good drives in the first quarter. One ended in a punt in Cincinnati territory, but the other was capped by a Greg Paulus touchdown pass. Syracuse looks like it’s ready to play — even if most of its fans didn’t bother to show up at the Carrier Dome today.
Jack’s Free Sports Picks: 10/31
October 31, 2009
#6 Ranked College Football Handicapper in 2009! I nailed South Florida +3 in an OUTRIGHT WIN over West Virginia Friday! I have a Saturday College Football 9-for-1 Special for .95 posted below which brings you my best nine picks on the NCAA gridiron today! Leading the way is my 25* Big 12 GAME OF THE YEAR! Do not pass up this easy money courtesy of one of the best college football handicappers on the planet! Grab my package now at the Jack Jones home page or take a look at some of the college football picks and NFL Picks being released by our other top handicappers.
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*Special Offer for Black Widow’s NFL Season Pass* – The Widow has opened up to a 32-13 NFL season (including preseason), and I wanted to give everyone a chance to get his NFL pass for FREE this year. Just deposit ,000 or more in a new account at BetUS using this link: http://www.betus.com/ats/10383/promo/football/matchup500 , e-mail me your account #, and you will get Black Widow’s NFL Season Package FREE (0 value). Act now and BetUS is going to give you 0 BONUS money on top of your ,000 deposit.
*Jack Jones All-New FREE Pick Offer* I’m currently ranked #6 in college football so I also want to give you a few options for getting my picks for free. Just sign up for an account with one of the books below. You do NOT need to deposit, just open a new account, and I will set you up with a free 3-day all sports package that will go Saturday through Monday! Here are the choices, just remember the offer is only good for new accounts and you MUST e-mail your new account number to admin@betfirms.com to qualify:
BetUS – http://www.betus.com/ats/10383/promo/football/matchup500
Bookmaker- http://www.bookmaker.com/?cmpid=2894_380
Bodog- http://www.betfirms.com/blog/recommends/bodog-odds
I’m going to take a little break from the comment for a free pick offer. Instead I’m going to release one of my premium picks as the free pick over the next couple of days. The comment offer will be back shortly! You are still more than welcome to comment on today’s pick, I appreciate the feedback.
No Free Pick for Saturday
So I know I’ve had this disclaimer about the free picks being the weakest plays and that I don’t play them, but I really put 1% of my bankroll on these games in comparison to 3-4% on the regular and BEST BETS. I just don’t want people getting ridiculous on the free picks when they aren’t intended to be the highest percentage of winners that I offer.
You can find more great winners every day by visiting our sports betting forum.
Jack’s Free Pick For Saturday: Pass
CBB: 51-36
NBA: 2-0
NHL: 4-0 (+665)
CFB: 5-9
NFL: 9-6
MLB: 53-63-1 (-1648)
I also post my free picks on Twitter so if you follow me there it may be easier to get the picks if you are away from your computer and stop by every day for more free baseball picks from top handicappers.
Related posts:
FANBLOGS LIVE – WEEK 9
October 31, 2009
Now up!
Again the rules are:
1) No imposters.
2) No personal attacks/vendettas.
For those selected for (and choosing to accept) the role of producer, the following additional rules apply:
1) DON’T HIT THE RED CIRCLE WITH AN X IN IT THAT CLOSES THE CHAT
2) Say what you would say if you were not a producer
3) Approve people joining the chat
4) Uploaded audio longer than 30 seconds will be ended early
If you wish to apply to be a producer, be selected as a panelist, open a coveritlive account, upload an avatar and send us your e-mail. If this is not self explanatory you are probably not qualified to be a producer.
If you want to participate using twitter you may by adding #fanblogslive to your tweets (while you are waiting in line at the hot dog stand during halftime for example).
Enjoy week 7! May the best teams (or your team) win!
View the original post or comment on FANBLOGS LIVE – WEEK 9…
SEC to fine, suspend coaches for criticizing refs
October 31, 2009
The SEC has decided that it will fine and/or suspend coaches that criticize game officials.
Commissioner Mike Slive, in his eighth season with the conference, was given full discretion by the league’s athletic directors and presidents to hand out the punishment. He will determine the amount of fines and lengths of suspensions on a case-by-case basis.
“On rare occasions over the last seven years there were several private reprimands and that took care of the matter,” Slive told the AP in a telephone interview. “On occasion there were public reprimands and that took care of it. It became clear to me after last week that I was no longer interested in reprimands and the conference athletic directors and university presidents unanimously agreed.
“For the foreseeable future there will be no reprimands,” Slive added. “We will go right to suspensions and fines.”
The Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and Mountain West conferences also use public reprimands, fines and suspensions as possible penalties for coaches who are publicly critical of officiating.
I don’t blame SEC head coaches for griping about the refs, because the officiating has been brutal in that conference. But I also don’t think this is a bad decision for the higher ups in the SEC to muzzle their coaches as long as they’re going to do their part to punish officials that don’t call the games fairly. If most of the top conferences use public reprimands, I don’t see why the SEC shouldn’t either.
Plus, let’s be honest – it’s never a bad idea to keep Lane Kiffin from running his mouth at all times.
South Florida Bulls Find a Cure Against West Virginia
October 31, 2009
The South Florida Bulls were bleeding badly, their 2009 season was slipping away as they stared across the field at the West Virginia Mountaineers Friday night.
More than 56,000 fans were staring as well, wondering if these Bulls could find a cure for their ailments—their losing ailments, their “get blown out” ailments of the past two weeks.
The cure was discovered under the lights of Raymond James Stadium, and it was a multiple layer of cures that laid the groundwork for a convincing 30-19 win over the boys from Morgantown.
First, the Mountaineers got a large dose of B.J. Daniels. Not the B.J. Daniels of the past two weeks, but the B.J. Daniels that was there in Tallahassee, the B.J. Daniels that led his team to that huge win over Florida State.
Second, the Mountaineers got a large dose of USF defense. Not the defense that was on vacation against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, but the defense that pounced on Christian Ponder and the Seminoles.
Put them together and South Florida (6-2, 2-2) has put itself back on track. Perhaps not in time to compete for the Big East title, but at least in time to put together a decent season. West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) is not out of the Big East picture, but it surely appears to be a weaker team than Cincinnati or Pittsburgh.
There was nothing weak about USF under the Friday night lights of the nationally telecasted game.
After giving up an 80-yard opening drive to the Mountaineers, Daniels and Co. stormed back with an 80-yard drive of their own to tie the game at 7-7 and never trailed again.
Daniels threw and ran all over the Mountaineers. He had 232 yards in the air and 104 with his flashy feet. Combined, his 336 yards total offense outpaced the entire West Virginia effort (323). In the air, wide receiver Carlton Mitchell was Daniels’ favorite target. Mitchell hauled in five passes for a massive 132 yards and a touchdown before he was forced from the game with an ankle sprain.
Daniels also hit A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin for his other touchdown throws.
But the most amazing feat of the night was Joe Tresey’s defense putting the clamps on Noel Devine. Devine, the nation’s third-leading rusher, came in averaging 130 yards per game. On this night, he was tackled, pounded and harassed and held to a measly 42 yards.
“Forty-two yards? That’s unbelievable,” exclaimed coach Jim Leavitt after the win.
It was unbelievable considering how badly this USF defense was battered by Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
USF also cured itself by eliminating two of its most serious game-day diseases—penalties and turnovers. The Bulls had no turnovers and only 21 penalty yards.
When Leavitt looks back at that, he might as well declare those to be unbelievable as well.
But on this night, the stage belonged to Daniels, and Leavitt said that perhaps he made a mistake by putting the clamps on Daniels against Pitt. Friday, he was determined to just let Daniels play his game.
And it was a heck of a game.
West Virginia fought, but had no answer.
It also had no answer for the “born-again” defense.
“That was a hard-fought game,” Mountaineer coach Bill Stewart said afterward. “I cannot fault their (his team’s) effort.
Hard-fought?
Absolutely.
It was hard for West Virginia, and USF has fought back from what ails it.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
Is It Too Early for Title Talk for Nick Saban and Alabama?
October 31, 2009
Is it too early for title talk in Tuscaloosa? Not according to Nick Saban.
“I didn’t come to Alabama to win eight games and go to a bowl game.” Saban told me, “I came here to win Championships.”
He said that the first few weeks he came to Tuscaloosa, so it’s not surprising that he still feels that way now. As this season has progressed Saban’s views have not changed.
“It’s important to set goals as a coach, as a team and as players.” Saban explained. “And if your goal isn’t to be the best, you’re not doing yourself or your fans any favors.”
“Will we always be the best? Of course not. But is that the goal you should shoot for? Of course it is and you get there by making the commitment to get just a little better every day, every practice and every game.” he continued.
“For coaches that means bringing in the best possible talent to fill the holes that come from graduation and injury, to providing that athlete the opportunity to be his best with good coaching, instruction and guidelines to help him succeed.”
“For players here, it means embracing the goals that have been laid out, working hard, having a commitment for improvement and a willingness to follow the rules and be a good team mate, student and person.”
“We owe it to our fans, fellow coaches, athletes and students to always be involved in the championship picture. With our fan base, facilities, administration and ability to draw talent there is no reason we shouldn’t be.” Saban concluded.
Indeed, Alabama does have all the pieces of the puzzle in place, most fans thought it would take a little longer to put them all together though.
Currently Alabama has a team that at least on paper can compete for this year’s title. Currently rated as the No. 2 team, their fate is in their own hands. and if they finish the regular season undefeated, they will once again be in familiar ground as they will face Florida, once again, for a chance to play for the championship.
While Saban is not afraid to boldly say that he expects to be in the title picture, he takes each game one at a time as a good coach and team should.
If the Tide makes it past an always tough LSU squad, title talk will intensify. To Saban though, that intensity will not create more pressure on him, or the team. Each week he and the team draw one game closer to the goals they set together.
This week’s bye gave them a much needed break to heal up some sore bodies, to relax both their bodies and minds, and to take a breath from the season that has seen both comfortable wins and scary near misses.
“Everyone needed this off week.” Saban said. “After a few days to rest and relax we’ll be ready to get back to work and finish the season.”
They started this season with title talk as the goal, so for them, no, it’s not too early to talk about it, it’s been happening all season long.
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
College Football Preview | Michigan at Illinois
October 31, 2009
When Michigan Has the Ball…
Michigan’s Passing Attack vs. Illinois’s Secondary
Zac says: It looks like Michigan will be without leader receiver Martavious Odoms. It will be important for guys like Greg Mathews, Kevin Koger, and even Darryl Stonum to step up and be a go-to guy.
Tate Forcier has shown that he is a playmaker, but he’ll need someone to complete those plays. Expect a heavy dose of Forcier at quarterback now that Denard Robinson has shown he is turnover prone. Advantage: Even
Michigan’s Running game vs. Illinois’s Front Seven
Zac says: Michigan’s running game continues to lead the Big Ten. Brandon Minor appears to be finally healthy and brings an authoritative running style to compliment the smaller backs.
Illinois ranks ahead of only Minnesota and has given up more than twice as many yards as Penn State, the conference’s best defense against the run. Michigan should be able to run the ball effectively and must do so to find offensive success. Advantage: Michigan
When Illinois Has the Ball…
Illinois’s Passing Attack vs. Michigan’s Secondary
Zac says: Juice Williams will split time with Jacob Charest on Saturday. The Illinois passing attack ranks dead last in Big Ten play and the offense as a whole ranks dead last in points per game by an astounding five points.
That being said, the Michigan pass defense ranks near the bottom of the league and dismissed Boubacar Cissoko earlier this week. The Wolverine secondary still hasn’t found much consistency and will need a pass rush to help them out. Advantage: Even
Illinois’s Running Game vs. Michigan’s Front Seven
Zac says: Illinois coach Ron Zook said that Mikel LeShoure has established himself as the lead back for the Illini offense. Illinois has had a crowded backfield this season so far with five men with at least 28 carries.
The emmergence of LeShoure may allow the running game find a little more consistency. Each side ranks in the middle of the pack in this category, slight edge to Michigan based on the improvement shown over the course of the season so far. Advantage: Michigan
Bottom Line…
Zac (6-2) says: To put it bluntly, this is a game the Wolverines have to win. Three straight losses in conference pales in comparison to the potential fall out from extending that streak to four at the hands of a team with an 0-5 conference record. Fortunately, the weather forecast looks favorable for Michigan to effectively execute their spread offense.
Final Score: Michigan 31, Illinois 20
Read more College Football news on BleacherReport.com
