Drama surrounds Alamo Bowl clash between Spartans and Red Raiders
NCAA Football Betting Lines
01/02/2010 - San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite a change on the sidelines for Texas Tech, the Red Raiders will still show up in San Antonio this weekend to battle the Michigan State Spartans in the Alamo Bowl.
The Red Raiders have played in a bowl game 32 times before this season, but finding success in those matchups has been tough, as the team is just 10-22-1. While five of those wins have come under the tutelage of coach Mike Leach, he will not be part of the equation this weekend, as Texas Tech has fired Leach following allegations of abuse of a player that has come to light this week. Leach will be immediately replaced by defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeal for this bowl game.
Despite the current storylines heading into this contest, the Red Raiders once again had a strong season on the field. Texas Tech began its season with a mediocre 2-2 start, but the team really took off after its heartbreaking, 29-28 loss to Houston, as the Red Raiders collected wins in six of their last eight matchups. Two of those wins were impressive decisions over Nebraska (31-10) and Oklahoma (41-13).
The Spartans began their season with a 44-3 win over Montana State, but followed that with three straight losses by a total 13 points. Michigan State responded however, collecting three consecutive victories, including a thrilling, 36-30 overtime decision against Michigan. The Spartans stumbled down the stretch during the regular season however, losing three of their last five games, including a 42-14 setback to Penn State at home.
This is the 20th bowl appearance for Michigan State and the team's third in a row. However, the Spartans are just 7-12 all-time in the postseason and have lost their last three bowl games, including a 24-12 setback to Georgia in last year's Capital One Bowl.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and Texas Tech on the gridiron.
The Spartans' success this season with the football is largely due to the passing attack, which torched the opposition for 271.2 ypg. Overall Michigan State produced 407.1 total ypg and that led to an equally impressive 29.6 ppg. Offensively the Spartans scored 40 touchdowns, and 26 of those scores came via the pass. When the year began Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol both spent time as the quarterback, but as the season progressed Cousins earned more playing time and rightfully so, as the quarterback completed 61.5 percent of his throws. Cousins finished the regular season with 2,460 yards and 18 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. Blair White proved to be very valuable in the passing attack, as the wide out led the team with 64 receptions, 876 yards and eight scores. B.J. Cunningham also played a vital role for Michigan State, as he hauled in 48 passes for 641 yards and four touchdowns. While the team relied heavily on the passing attack, the Spartans still put forth a solid effort on the ground, averaging 135.9 ypg on 4.2 yards per attempt. However, the team did not have a main option out of the backfield during the regular- season, as Larry Caper led the way for Michigan State with 443 yards and six scores.
While the offense relied on its play through the air, the defense for Michigan State had nightmares when having to face the pass, as the team was abused for 251.6 ypg through the air, and out of the 37 touchdowns allowed by this unit, 29 came via the pass. Overall the Spartans allowed 364.3 total ypg and that led to 25.1 ppg. It was not all bad for Michigan State, which did a solid job defending the run, as the Spartans held the opposition to just 112.8 ypg on 3.4 yards per tote. Even though the team was vulnerable against the pass, the Spartans continually put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, racking up 34 sacks on the season. Unfortunately the team could not make many game-changing plays, as Michigan State collected just 12 turnovers on the year. What did help throughout the season was the play and leadership of linebacker Greg Jones, who collected 141 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and nine sacks, all of which were team highs.
The Red Raiders were successful offensively largely because of their prolific passing attack, which finished second in the nation with 380.7 ypg. On the season the team produced a whopping 461.8 total ypg, and that lead to an equally impressive 36.7 ppg. Taylor Potts had a strong campaign for Texas Tech, as the signal caller threw for 3,068 yards and 20 scores against 12 interceptions. However, Steven Sheffield also saw time under center and completed 73.6 percent of his throws for 1,131 yards and 13 scores. There are plenty of reliable options for Potts or Sheffield to connect with, beginning with Alex Torres, who hauled in 65 receptions for 791 yards and also caught six touchdowns. Detron Lewis collected 55 passes on the year for 730 yards and five touchdowns, while Lyle Leong caught a team-high eight touchdowns. With all the success of the passing attack, the ground game for Texas Tech falls by the waist side, which is evident by the team's 81.1 ypg on the ground. Although the team does possess a dangerous tailback in Baron Batch, who rushed for 784 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry.
The offense for Texas Tech gets most of the press, but this defensive unit for the Red Raiders should not be taken lightly. Texas Tech held its opponents to just 21.8 ppg on the season, and did a terrific job against the run, holding teams to just 125.0 ypg on a mere 3.3 yards per attempt. The team did have some minor problems against the pass, allowing 223.8 ypg, but out of the 26 touchdowns allowed by this unit, only 10 came through the air. What helped the Red Raiders throughout the season was their big play ability, as the team forced 22 turnovers, and recorded an impressive 40 sacks, which is tied for third best in the nation. A large portion of those sacks came from Brandon Sharpe, who is second in the nation and also set the school's single season mark with 15.0 sacks. He was not the only star on this defensive unit, as Brian Duncan led the team with 80 tackles, while Daniel Howard added eight sacks for Texas Tech.
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Suns welcome Grizz to the desert >>
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Saturday versus the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center.
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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
| The Bubble Breakdown | |||
| CONFERENCE | LOCKS | SHOULD BE INS | AT-LARGES TAKEN (assuming no auto bid outlier) |
| ACC Betting Odds | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Big East Betting Odds | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Big Ten Betting Odds | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Big 12 Betting Odds | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Pac-10 Betting Odds | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| SEC Betting Odds | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| MVC Betting Odds | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| MWC Betting Odds | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 28 | 5 | 25 |
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship
(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.
MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.
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