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09/01/2010 - Fayetteville, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks open up their highly anticipated 2010 season this weekend, as the welcome the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to Fayetteville.
Bobby Petrino is in his third year at the helm at Arkansas and has obviously made an impact in a short time considering the team comes into the season with its highest ranking since 1990. The Razorbacks went 8-5 overall in 2009, including posting their first bowl victory since 2003, a 20-17 win over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.
The Golden Eagles are an FCS squad out of the Ohio Valley Conference. Tech finished last season with a winning record at 6-5, but fourth-year coach Watson Brown has his work cut out for him in trying to replace a record- setting QB. However, with 55 lettermen and 16 starters back in the fold, there is a good chance that Tech will be vying for a conference crown this season. Overall depth and a quick start are keys according to Brown.
"We need to play well on the road early in the year to have a chance to win the OVC championship. If we do that, then we'll be in the hunt when we host those games later in the year. It could make for a really exciting season for our fans. I believe that our depth will give us the chance to win every week. We might not have the best player in the league at any one position, but taken altogether I think that were as good as every team in the league at every position."
This marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the gridiron.
The Golden Eagles must first and foremost find a replacement for Lee Sweeney under center. The team will start the season with sophomore Tre Lamb leading the way. As a freshman, Lamb saw spot duty, completing just 8-of-18 passes, for 113 yards. The good news is that the team has a slew of returning playmakers, as well as an offensive line that brings back three starters. The ground game last year was paced by sophomore Dontey Gay, who averaged a solid 5.6 yards per carry and was tied for the team lead in rushing scores at six. More is expected in his junior campaign. Fellow junior Tim Benford will resume his role as primary target downfield, after the wideout led the Golden Eagles in receptions (33) and receiving yards (580).
Tech's defense struggled at times last year, especially against the run, allowing an alarming 194.7 yards per game rushing. The team will certainly need to shore that area up if success is to follow. The hope is that with the return of veteran leaders in all three areas will be able to do just that. The defensive front is highlighted by DE Charlie Seivers (19 tackles, one sack) and DT Dedrick Miley (39 tackles, four sacks). The linebacking corps is led by Kelechi Ordu (55 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, one sack) and the secondary features standout DB Dustin Dillehay (team-high 78 tackles, three INTs, one fumble recovery).
The Arkansas offense will center around All-American candidate Ryan Mallett at the quarterback position.
"He's a young man that's a tremendous leader for us, has amazing talent," says Petrino of his signal caller. "Every Saturday when you watch the video after the game, he makes two or three throws that you say, Wow, nobody else might be able to make that throw in America."
In his first season as the starter for Arkansas, Mallett, a transfer from Michigan, led his team to 36.0 ppg (first in the SEC). The Razorbacks paced the SEC in passing (295.3 ypg), and Mallett finished the campaign with 3,624 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is expected to be one of the top draft picks whenever he decides to come out of school, but has his immediate sights on winning the SEC Championship.
Mallett is not the only talent on the offensive side of the ball, as there is playmakers at all the skill positions. Three returning starters at wide receiver and the return of the SEC's best tight end in D.J. Williams, will make Mallett that much more effective. The top guy on the outside is WR Greg Childs, who turned 48 catches into 894 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009.
Talented tailback Michael Smith is gone, but there are a few runners who are more than capable of filling the void. Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Dennis Johnson are two obvious candidates, along with Knile Davis and Broderick Green.
Arkansas' sub par finish in the SEC last season had a lot to do with inconsistent play on the defensive side of the ball. The Razorbacks ranked last in the league in passing defense and total defense, while placing ninth in scoring defense (25.1 ppg).
Jerry Franklin posted 94 tackles last season, including 51 of the solo variety, but there is enough significant talent at linebacker that Franklin may have to fight for playing time. Up front, junior defensive end Jake Bequette hopes to build on the 5.5 sacks he posted a year ago. Willy Robinson, the defensive coordinator of the squad, was the target of much criticism in 2009, largely because his secondary couldn't stop anyone. Things should be better this year, as an improved pass rush and an infusion of young talent will help.
"We're excited about Isaac coming back," says Petrino of Isaac Madison, a junior corner. "He played almost every snap two years ago for us. In camp last year, he got injured, missed the entire season. He's done an excellent job in his rehab."
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University Park, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 19th-ranked Penn State Nittany
Lions lift the lid on the 2010 season against FCS foe Youngstown State in what
appears to be one of college football's most obvious mismatches of opening
weekend.
A n
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Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns kick off the
2010 season with an intrastate matchup against the Rice Owls at Houston's
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12th-ranked Wisconsin to Sam Boyd Stadium in Sin City.
The winningest coach in Big
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Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A new era in USC football begins on Thursday
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Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In what figures to be a complete mismatch, the
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Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The reigning ACC Champion Georgia Tech Yellow
Jackets will open the 2010 season in front of a packed crowd at Bobby Dodd
Stadium when they host the South Carolina State Bulldogs this weekend.
In just his second
Fisher begins reign in Tallahassee as FSU opens year against Samford >>
Tallahassee, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jimbo Fisher era in Tallahassee begins
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football season against the Samford Bulldogs.
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
BRITISH COLUMBIA LIONS (1-7) AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (6-2)
DATE & TIME: Friday, September 3, 7:30 p.m. (et).
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offensive st
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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