The Big 10 rumored Expand

Sportsbook handicappers would definitely be interested if the Big 10 expands. The schools reportedly being evaluated are Notre Dame, Missouri, Nebraska and Rutgers. The Big 10 has yet to make their official comments but reports are leaking out that some schools are contemplating a move. Missouri is the one that makes the most sense. The Tigers would earn noticeably more money in the Big 10 and the travel would not be a problem. It has been said that Missouri athletics director Mike Alden, Missouri system president Gary Forsee and Columbia campus chancellor Brady Deaton got together to discuss a possible move. “You’ve got every major conference looking at how they should reposition, or if they should reposition,” Deaton said. “I don’t think all the benefits and costs are known.” The Big 10 is not the only conference that is looking at the changing college football landscape. The Big 12, Pac-10 and ACC realize that things are are evolving. Pac-10 comissioner Larry Scott said the league is considering a partnership with the ACC.

Missouri looks to be the school that is going to move into the Big 10 at some point. Sportsbook information suggested that they would stand to gain about $13 million dollars because the Big 10 pays its schools significantly more than the Big 12. Missouri has been in the Big 12 since inception but the school is not pleased with the conference. They are upset they have been underestimated for the bigger bowl games. It is the Big 12 conference selection process that has kept the Tigers out of bigger bowl games. Missouri’s governor Jay Nixon has been very vocal about wanting Missouri tomove to the Big 10.

If the Big 10 develops to 12 teams it would allow them to go to divisional play and have a conference playoff game that would be popular at the internet sportsbook. If they go to 14 or 16 teams it would mean additional money. It is not a matter of if the Big 10 expands; it is a matter of when.

NFL’s Best Running Back Affects Sportsbook Odds

Sportsbook odds denote that the Titans are 27-1 long shots to take the Super Bowl. Those odds would absolutely go up if Johnson is a holdout.  Johnson has skipped Tennessee’s voluntary practices in anticipation of obtaining a new contract. Johnson is getting some encouragement as Marshall Faulk, the Hall of Fame running back is in his corner.  He told a local paper that Johnson should hold out. "Without a doubt, if more money is what he wants, he has to hold out," said Faulk. "You have to know who you are dealing with. The Titans aren't known for caving in or paying, it doesn't matter who you are. In my opinion, there is no way he can come in and play under the current contract.''

Johnson signed a $12 million dollar contract in 2008 and he has three years remaining on that deal.  He received $7 million guaranteed as part of that deal but his base salary for 2010 is a modest $550,000.  "Chris has outplayed his rookie deal. He has beyond exceeded the expectation where he was drafted,'' Faulk explained to the paper. Chris Johnson was last season’s AP Offensive Player of the Year.  Once the end of last season he referred to needing a new deal. "That's something my agent has got to take care of, my agent and upstairs," stated Johnson.

Offshore sportsbook stats indicated that he rushed for 2,006 yards on 358 carries last season to lead the NFL. Johnson was roughly 600 yards ahead of Stephen Jackson of the Rams, who came in second place in rushing yardage. Chris Johnson was the first player in NFL history to catch 500 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in the same season. Johnson set another record as he was the first NFL player to rush for three touchdowns of 85 yards or longer in a career.  There were only two running backs in NFL history to begin their careers with more rushing yardage.  Edgerrin James and Eric Dickerson are the only other two running backs to start their careers with more yards than Johnson.

NJ Jets Demolish Houston In NFL Opener

by Ross Everett

New York Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez tracked down NFL legend Joe Namath before the game looking for a pep talk and some pointers. He didn't exactly get what he'd bargained for from Broadway Joe, but what the NFL Hall of Famer told him may have had a more beneficial effect. Sanchez looked very decidedly not like a rookie as he threw for 272 yards and a touchdown against one interception. More importantly, the Jets easily beat the host Houston Texans 24-7.

NFL sports betting enthusiasts who took the Jets as +4 road underdogs cashed their tickets with the outright win. New York improved to 10-8 ATS as an underdog over the past three NFL seasons. The combined 31 points scored went UNDER the posted total of 44.

After the game, Sanchez recounted what Namath had told him in their pregame conversation:

"What a pep talk. That was Joe Namath, just taking all the credit from himself and throwing it back to me and just saying, 'Good luck.' To hear that from a legend like that, it just kind of gives you the chills. It was something special to be a part of, an emotional start, an emotional little pep talk."

For his part, Namath said he wasnt surprised:

"No, I was hopeful and I'm satisfied more than I thought I'd be. His offensive line did a hell of a job, but he did a great job of finding time with his feet, just to move subtly ... I don't doubt even a little bit that he doesn't have poise at this stage."

The Jets defense also had a great afternoon. New York outgained Houston 462-183, and the Texans made it past midfield only once in the first three quarters. The Jets run defense was particularly stifling, holding Steve Slaton to just 17 yards on the ground. Afterwards, Slaton was at a loss for an explanation:

"It's just insane. You work for six months leading up to this first game. You have all offseason to prepare for this game and then to come out and play like that is upsetting."

Texans coach Gary Kubiak took the blame for his teams poor showing:

"The offensive football team gave us no chance and that starts with me. There's nobody that can feel anything good coming out of this football game."

Houston will start from scratch on Sunday as they travel to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans. The Texans will return home for games the following two weeks against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders. The Jets will play their next two games at home, beginning this weekend against the New England Patriots. Theyll welcome the Tennessee Titans to the Meadowlands the following week.

Throwback Jerseys have Changed the Landscape

If there is one gift that is ideal for a football fan, it's an NFL throwback jersey. This item is suitable for any occasion and it's a improbable idea for a long-time follower of a team. Yow will discover an NFL throwback jersey in a variety of different locations and you have plenty of choices to consider.

The very first thing to think about is how the merchandise will be used. Will the recipient wear the NFL throwback jersey or will it be displayed in a big shadow box on the wall of a recreation room? If the merchandise will be worn and used quite often then it's best to try a product made out of sturdy materials which can be constructed to last.

Relating to durability you actually can't beat the authentic NFL throwback jersey. This version is just like the true factor and is the perfect gift for most savvy football fans. The authentic jersey does require a little bit of an investment but it is well worth the extra money considering how nicely the merchandise is made.

Showcase football jerseys are just a little different. If the item is not going to be worn then it can save you yourself some money by choosing a replica NFL throwback jersey. This option is inexpensive but the product is very similar to the real thing. You'll be able to display this replica jersey for years.

Replicas are great however you probably have a chance to get an excellent deal on an authentic NFL throwback jersey, jump on it. An item like this is a actual treasure for a football fan, similar to a uncommon antique for some collectors. The worth lies in its rarity. 

Michigan State 2010 Spartans

Team Michigan State as we all keep in mind it was a staff that is certainly regarded being really strong at one point. Somehow the staff has turn out to be a football staff that is considered for being losing their edge. Some while using reasons are possibly the graduation rate as well as the NFL draft. In the future this staff will need serious motivation to get back with the status that they held once just before. But perhaps the biggest reason would be the lacking of talents in ground dominating the working game. The hope on the Spartans rests in shoulders on the new incoming players who are going being signing in through the off couple of years. 

But the signing class was of no success, as only a few players in their wish list really signed. The consequence of this predicament will make the crew endure an additional challenging challenges filled with losses and doubts; unless obviously the team can come across a person to support them in everything that they will likely be facing. The fans of the Spartans will indeed suffer much.

The team is recognized to have performed properly inside the operating game, but this can be no longer the situation as the staff had been having complications inside recent past concerning the operating game. Things may perhaps worsen and may not go nicely with the Spartans this year or so. 

The upcoming season demands the evaluation to get done inside the passing game. There have been a lot of problems throughout workouts inside spring particularly when it comes to obtaining the ball operating within the field. Bigger problems are to have the receiver as well as the quarterback work in harmony. The players could either overrun the marks or the quarterback under-powers in throwing the ball. That is a really essential area exactly where they require to drastically improve if they have to have to win the games this season. 

Unless there will likely be a miracle, there will likely be no difficulty on the part in the opponents to pass by way of the Spartans defenses. It can be going being an simple task to pass through them. Any group will have the convenience in producing their way by way of and score with effortlessly. The team still has hope, what they need to do is basically know in which their weakness and flaws manifest and then do some thing about it. This couple of years is tough to endure for those who are faithful on the Spartans, and if they're true to their loyalty towards team they may possibly will need to hang a little bit for a whilst and wait till the team gets new members who will make a difference or for the team to operate out their differences. Do not give up due to the fact at the end of each and every tunnel is often a light.

check out our Michigan State Watch or our Cincinnati Bengals Blanket or our Cleveland Brown Bedding

Bengals Outlast Patriots In Defensive Struggle

by Ross Everett

When the biggest play of a NFL football game is an extra point, there's a good chance it was a dull contest. Such was the case in rainy Foxboro, Massachusetts as the Cincinnati Bengals edged the New England Patriots by a 7-6 score.

The big play of the game? A point after touchdown by the Bengals backup kicker, none other than wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. After the game, the always entertaining Chad Ochocinco talked about his love for European soccer:
"'Esteban' Ochocinco is back, the most interesting footballer in the world. Everyone has to remember, I've always said that soccer is my No. 1 sport. I think Ronaldinho would be proud of me right now."

To punctuate his fondness for the sport known as football in the rest of the world, Ochocinco whipped out his iPhone to display a picture of him with former England captain David Beckham. He then continued his comedy routine:
"Soccer's my first love, Kicking's easy ... like riding a bike. I can kick them from 50, 60 yards, left or right hash mark. ... I kicked all through high school."

Ochocinco was pressed into service as a placekicker when Shane Graham complained of a sore groin in pregame warm-ups. Ochocinco also played a few series at his usual position, catching three passes for 69 yards.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, who was pressed into emergency service as a placekicker while with the Miami Dolphins, wasn’t buying Ochocincos talk about kicking being easy:
"It's not easy. To kick that is something, and he got real good height on it."

The Patriots could only manage two FGs, while Cincinnati scored their only touchdown on JT OSullivans 24 yards pass to Chris Henry. That set up Ochocincos picture perfect extra point. OSullivan was also amused, but emphasized that his receivers athletic versatility is no joke:
"Nothing surprises me. All joking aside, he still kicked the ball through the uprights and it ended up winning the game. Some people might think its funny, but it's important."

The Bengals continue their NFL preseason play on Thursday, hosting the St. Louis Rams. New England will be back in action on Friday night as they travel to Washington, DC for a game against the Redskins.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer experienced in travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Cowboys Open NFL Season With Win Over Bucs

by Ross Everett

Tony Romo passed for a NFL career best 353 yards and threw three touchdown passes as the Dallas Cowboys got their 2009 season off to a good start with a 34-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raheem Morris went down in defeat in his debut as Bucs head coach, while the Cowboys answered a lot of questions about how their receiving corps would respond to the absence of Terrell Owens, now with the Buffalo Bills.

The Cowboys easily covered the pointspread as -4 road favorites, and improved to 16-12 over the last three years when laying points. Tampa Bay dropped to 17-17 over the same timeframe as an underdog.

After the game Roy Williams couldn’t resist a wisecrack at his former teammates expense:
"Career-high passing yards? Without T.O? "No, it's good. It's good for him. It's good for this team. It was a team effort. Everybody contributed."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he wasnt surprised at the effort turned in by his wide receivers:
"They are playmakers, and we knew that going in. But until you do it, the naysayers are going to say: 'Hey. You don't have this or that.' But I think we do."

Romo, meanwhile, preferred to focus on the victory instead of his individual accomplishments:
"You don't think about yards. You're not judged off of yards. You're judged off of winning and losing at this position."

Raheem Morris talked about taking the loss in his NFL coaching debut:
"Obviously, we're disappointed. But there were a lot of good things on offense."

Perhaps the brightest silver lining in the dark cloud of the loss was the performance of Cadillac Williams. Williams appeared fully recovered from serious knee surgery and rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber suggested that the final score wasnt indicative of the way his team played:
"We had our chances. The final score is definitely not indicative of how good we played at times. Those big plays absolutely destroy you football team.

The Cowboys will open their season at their plush new $1 billion plus stadium this Sunday, hosting the New York Giants. They’ll remain at home the following week as they welcome the Carolina Panthers to Texas. The Bucs will head to upstate New York to face T.O and his new team, the Buffalo Bills. They’ll return to Florida the following week to take their turn hosting the New York Giants.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Indy Takes NFL Preseason Win Over Philadelphia

by Ross Everett

The Indianapolis Colts offense was in high gear on Thursday night as Peyton Manning threw two TD passes in three series of action, leaving backup Curtis Painter with a 14-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles before exiting the game. The Colts went on to win 23-15 in NFL preseason action.

Manning was in good spirits as he discussed the Colts' offense after this game:

"I think everybody wanted to be in there. The entire offense felt hungry after last week. Sure, there were some mistakes we can learn from, but there were some good things we can learn from."
"I don't think anybody offensively was really happy with what happened last week. It started with me and the entire offensive starting unit. Overall I thought everybody came back and did a better job tonight."

Colts head coach Jim Caldwell was also happy with the performance:
"They [the starters] had a couple of real good solid drives in there, performing pretty well. We were pleased with what we saw."

Eagles coach Andy Reid, meanwhile, had little good to say about his team's effort which wasn't surprising after a performance with little intensity or focus:
"All in all, that was an embarrassing performance and way too many penalties, not enough intensity all the way around, starting with me. It was a poor performance."

The Eagles were missing a number of starters and aside from a nice touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb early in the game looked nothing like a team expected to contend for a Superbowl berth. The Eagles would go on to choke mightily in the playoffs, an obvious karmic payback for signing unrepentant dog abuser Michael Vick. Vick was ineffectual all year, which made the hubris of bringing him into the fold even less understandable.

Philadelphia will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Thursday night looking for their first win of the NFL preseason. The Colts will continue their NFL exhibition slate as they travel to Detroit for a game against the Lions a week from Saturday.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.