18, 2006
Here are news and notes from OffshoreInsiders.com
private clipboard. They are compiled from hometown newspapers
and the team’s own press releases.
CFB
Ohio State-Michigan
Detroit
As the second-ranked Wolverines prepare to face the
top-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, they enter with a hard-nosed
defense that leads the nation against the run (29.9 yards). They’re third in
total defense (231.4). The Buckeyes, however, present a challenge. They rank
first in the Big Ten and eighth nationally in scoring offense (35.8 points),
and are directed by quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
knows Smith. He burned them the last two seasons in
total offense last season and 386 in 2004. Because the defensive front—featuring
Woodley, who has a Big Ten-high 11 sacks, and tackle Alan Branch, who has had
five tackles for loss—is so athletic, the Wolverines believe the attacking
nature of the front four is enough to wreak havoc. They have 41 sacks and are
second nationally (3.6 average). Last year, they had 24 in 12 games. (
13 sacks.) English credits offensive coordinator Mike DeBord
for some of the success the defense has enjoyed this season.
leads the nation in time of possession (34.11 average), and the offense has
been on the field 82 more plays than the defense. By popular request, check out
our new “Bet
It Trinity” full year pass! You get the top three sports services, every
play in every sport for 365 days.
Buffalo-Wisconsin
JS Online
A week ago,
of
quarterback John Stocco
would not play against
This week, Bielema believes his fifth-year senior
might be able to play in UW’s regular-season finale Saturday against
days,” Bielema said Thursday night after practice. Stocco, who suffered a separated right shoulder two weeks
ago against
threw the football in practice Wednesday. On Thursday, he passed the ball and
worked on handoffs. If Stocco is cleared to play in
his final home game, that decision will be made sometime Saturday. Joe Duffy’s
sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
San Diego State-TCU
Sign On San Diego
coach Chuck Long said yesterday that junior Kevin O’Connell, who missed six
straight games after being injured in the season opener, will start at
quarterback for the Aztecs. Redshirt
freshman Kevin Craft, who has started the past five games, will also play, Long said. Long said
junior free safety Ray Bass, who earned Mountain West Conference Defensive
Player of the Week honors for his performance against UNLV,
will make his second consecutive start in place of senior Brett Sturm (ankle).
He (O’Connell) has shown more production lately,” Long said. “He’s earned
this.”
Arizona-Oregon
Arizona Republic
The Wildcats have won back-to-back games against Top 25
opponents, including a 24-20 victory over No. 8 California Saturday. After
consecutive 3-8 seasons, 5-5
is one win away from bowl eligibility with two games remaining. Last season,
five of the losses were by seven points or fewer. This season, the Wildcats are
playing with more confidence, which explains how they overcame a 17-3 halftime
deficit against the Golden Bears. If there’s a defining moment in what Stoops
has done for this program, that game was it. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic
handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com
Connecticut-Syracuse
Hartford
Keeping an eye on the statuses of wide receiver Larry
Taylor and cornerback Darius Butler for Saturday’s game at
in last Saturday’s 46-45 double overtime victory over
same game. Backup running back Terry Caulley, who had
surgery on a broken left ring finger Monday, will be out as well as offensive
lineman Mike Hicks, who sustained an ankle and knee sprain against
Lou Allen will back up Donald Brown at running back with redshirt freshman
Andre Dixon behind them. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top
sports service in their highest ranked sports.
Washington-Washington State
Seattle
Cougars wide receiver Jason Hill
won’t play in the Apple Cup, but slot receiver Michael Bumpus
might. WSU coach Bill Doba
said Bumpus will dress for the game and might be able
to play. He is unlikely to start and won’t be used as a punt returner. Hill and Bumpus
suffered high ankle sprains Nov. 4 against
No change on the quarterback front for UW. Willingham said quarterback Carl Bonnell has looked good in practice and will start. Johnny DuRocher has not practiced and won’t play, but will likely
make the trip. And Willingham confirmed that receiver Sonny Shackelford has
been working as the emergency quarterback behind new backup Felix Sweetman. • Willingham said Jason Wells has progressed to
the point he could start at free safety Saturday ahead of Hemphill, who has
started the past two games. Wells was running with the first team during
practice Thursday. • RB Luke Kravitz,
out the past three games with a knee injury, “may also be able to see some
action,” Willingham said. More questionable is DT Donny Mateaki,
struggling with a calf injury.
Tennessee-Vanderbilt
Tennessean
offense needs a lift. That’s where LaMarcus Coker
comes in. After a speedy recovery from a sprained medial collateral ligament in
his left knee, the Vols’ redshirt freshman tailback
from Antioch returned to the field in Saturday’s 31-14 loss at Arkansas.In his first game back, Coker came off the bench
to run for 51 yards on nine carries, injecting life into a dormant running game
and giving the Vols reason to believe they can get
their offense back on track for the final two games of the regular season. Now,
UT’s leading rusher is set to return to the starting lineup Saturday against
Vanderbilt, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Vols
had only 14 points and 266 yards of total offense — both season lows — against
the Razorbacks. Coach Phillip Fulmer said Coker’s return provided a spark for
the Vols, who haven’t had a 100-yard rusher since
Coker ran for 125 yards against
on Sept. 30. Last week, tailbacks Montario Hardesty,
Arian Foster and Coker ran for a combined 104 yards on just 22 attempts. Erik Ainge is back — officially. After practicing all week, Ainge was named the starting quarterback The Vols’ offense hasn’t been the same without Ainge. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top
sports service in their highest ranked sports.
Oregon State-Stanford
Corvallis
Anthony
Wheat-Brown, the starting flanker for the
Saturday’s game at Stanford, coach Mike Riley said Thursday afternoon.
Wheat-Brown is a third-year starter. He has caught 21 passes for 319 yards and
three touchdowns this season.
TD.
South Florida-Louisville
Tampa
Tribune
Last season when
visited the
Florida
Except, instead of the favored Cardinals coasting, the three-touchdown-underdog
Bulls buried the birds 45-14. “We blew it,”
running back Kolby Smith said. “Shocked, stunned, you
name the word, and that was how we felt. They got us. Everything went wrong. It
was a wake-up call for us. You can’t just flip the switch on and off. You’ve
got to play the game.”Smith, who was among nine
Floridians who started for
last season, said everyone kept asking the same question. “I had a whole bunch
of family there,” said Smith, of Tallahassee Rickards.
“It was tough on them, too, having to answer all those questions about ‘What
happened?’ It was hard, hard, hard.” The 10th-ranked
Cardinals (8-1, 3-1 Big East) host USF (7-3, 3-2)
Saturday night, and the Bulls know what to expect. “They’re thinking revenge,” USF cornerback Trae Williams
said. Besides seeking revenge against USF, the
Cardinals will try to regroup from last week’s stunning 28-25 loss at
that knocked UL out of the national title picture.
Iowa-Minnesota
Des Moines Register
The Gophers (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten Conference) need a victory
to earn their seventh bowl in eight seasons.Mason’s
team faced postseason elimination the past two weeks and responded with a 63-26
thumping of
This was projected as a retooling year for
The offensive line was revamped and more of a burden was placed on quarterback
Bryan Cupito, the Gophers’ all-time leading passer
with 6,916 yards. The Hawkeyes (6-5, 2-5) have lost four consecutive conference
games for the first time since 1999. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic
handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com
New Mexico-BYU
Salt Lake Tribune
Thanks to last week’s 55-7 win over
BYU now leads the nation in home scoring margin with
a 37.2 average margin of victory. The Cougars have outscored opponents 241-55
at LaVell Edwards Stadium. LSU
is second at 36.0 and
third at 34.6. Approved
sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com
Kansas State-Kansas
KUSports
Kansas State
freshman quarterback Josh Freeman has jolted the Wildcat offense back to life
midway through what’s becoming a glorious first season for KSU coach Ron
Prince. One good enough for Big 12 coach-of-the-year honors, perhaps? Amidst
K-State’s current three-game winning streak, Freeman has completed 55 of 77
passes for 681 yards and six touchdowns. He’s thrown only two interceptions in
that stretch and propeled K-State (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big 12 Conference play)
from the bowl bubble into a solid post-Christmas matchup to be determined.
K-State has scored at least 30 points in each of its last three games,
victories over Iowa State, Colorado and No. 4 Texas. Freeman’s makeup gives
K-State’s passing game the edge against KU’s pass defense, which is improved
but still not proven to be immune to problems against a precise quarterback. OffshoreInsiders.com
CBB
Wichita State-George Mason
Press Notes
Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for Saturday’s George
Mason men’s basketball season opener against Wichita State and not only will it
be the first chance for fans to see the Patriots in action at home since making
the Final Four, it will also be a chance for fans to see the Washington
Regional Championship trophy. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com