Hawaii QB Brennan sits out another practice
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HONOLULU -- Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was sidelined by an injured right ankle Wednesday for the second straight day of practice, but he's hopeful of playing Saturday against Charleston Southern.
Wearing a light brace and using crutches, Brennan watched from the sideline as backup Tyler Graunke worked out with the first-team offense.
Brennan said he's ''dying to play,'' but the ankle still needs to heal. An MRI on Monday revealed no serious damage, he said.
''Every day, the ankle gets better and the swelling goes down, a little less pain,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to rest up as much as possible.''
Brennan was injured last Friday but still played Saturday, leading Hawaii to a 49-14 victory over UNLV. Even with his ankle swollen and discolored, the quarterback ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more in three quarters.
Hawaii coach June Jones was more confident of Brennan's recovery than his quarterback. Jones said Brennan will start Saturday for the 19th-ranked Warriors.
Two Missouri players arrested
September 19, 2007
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Police have arrested two reserve defenders on the Missouri football team in separate incidents.
John Stull, a redshirt freshman and defensive lineman, was arrested by Columbia police early Monday on a municipal assault charge, police said.
A 26-year-old man told police that Stull punched him in the mouth in the parking lot of a local restaurant. The pair had argued over money owed from damages to an apartment, the victim said. The fight took place about 4 a.m. on Sept. 6.
Stull, Missouri's No. 2 defensive end behind starter Stryker Sulak, is on two years of unsupervised probation for a misdemeanor peace disturbance conviction from February 2006. The former Rock Bridge High School star has made one tackle in three games this year.
Athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said Wednesday that Stull's status with the team was being reviewed by coach Gary Pinkel.
Columbia police also arrested backup linebacker Steve Redmond and former Missouri softball player Kendra Power at 3 a.m. Sunday morning on suspicion of throwing a nuisance party at their home. Both were issued summons and released.
Ole Miss' Adams expected to play Saturday
September 20, 2007
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Both Mississippi quarterback Seth Adams and coach Ed Orgeron believe the senior will be in the starting lineup Saturday when the Rebels host No. 3 Florida in Oxford.
Adams was knocked out of last weekend's loss at Vanderbilt with a sprained right shoulder, but returned to practice Wednesday. The truth is almost nothing could keep him out of the game.
"It's a once in a lifetime chance," Adams said.
The decision is still up to the coaches and the medical staff, but Orgeron agreed that Adams likely would be ready.
"Barring any unforeseen injury I expect him to play," Orgeron said. "If he's ready he's going to start."
If Adams can't play, Orgeron said earlier this week that he expects former starter Brent Schaeffer to step in. Schaeffer threw a 54-yard touchdown on his first pass against Vanderbilt, but finished 1 of 5.
Adams has been a positive addition to the Ole Miss offense so far. He has completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 660 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
The senior, a dropback passer, won the job away from the more athletic Schaeffer in an open competition held during spring and summer practices. Orgeron has praised the former walk-on's consistency and leadership.
"He's a very tough, dedicated young man," Orgeron said. "I think he's going to be OK."
Adams will face his toughest challenge if he plays. While Florida lost nine starters from its national championship squad, the Gators are 19th in the nation in total defense (279 yards) and 25th in scoring defense (18 points).
Florida holds opponents to 46 rushing yards a game, making Adams' performance should he start even more important.
"They've got a lot of speed and they run well to the football," Adams said. "I think we're just going to have to execute on offense and not stop ourselves."
Gamecocks LB Matthews breaks hand
September 19th, 2007
Columbia, SC (Sports Network) - South Carolina freshman linebacker Cliff Matthews, who is penciled in as a starter, broke a small bone in his right hand during practice Tuesday.
Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Matthews participated in practice on a non-contact basis Wednesday, but that he'll try to wear a rubber cast on his hand for Saturday's game between No. 2 LSU and No. 12 South Carolina at Baton Rouge.
Defensive back Brandon Isaac is questionable for Saturday's game due to a sprained right shoulder.
UCLA QB Olson could miss Saturday’s game
By COVERS.com STAFF
The UCLA Bruins could be without starting quarterback Ben Olson for Saturday’s Pac-10 clash at Washington. Olson hasn't trained this week because of persistent headaches and may have suffered a concussion in last week’s 44-6 loss to Utah – a game in which he was sacked five times and took some heavy hits.
Patrick Cowan, who recently returned from a torn hamstring, will likely get the start. The Bruin’s No. 3 quarterback is walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
"Pat is probably going to be the starter," head coach Karl Dorrell told reporters on Wednesday. "I would say he's the starter. If we can get Ben to be a backup or something, ready for that portion of the game, that might be it. He may not be up for the game."
There is still a slight chance that Olson could play. UCLA requires its athletes to be free of concussion-like symptoms for 24 hours before returning to competition, and the L.A. Times is reporting that Olson is being monitored by doctors for signs of improvement.
But it’s Cowan who's been working with the first-team offense all week.
The junior took the reins for eight games last year when Olson suffered a season-ending knee injury. Cowan threw for 1,782 yards with 11 TDs and nine interceptions, completing 52.7 percent of his passes.
"I've been preparing to come back when my team needed me," Cowan told the Times. "If this is when my team needs me, then I will be ready to play."
Pitt's QB will be game-day decision
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt declined Thursday to name a starting quarterback for the Big East opener against Connecticut, saying he will wait until Saturday to decide between Kevan Smith and Pat Bostick.
"Both of them are prepared to play," Wannstedt said, "and that's the way we're approaching it, day by day."
Smith has started the past two games, but the 6-foot-3, 225-pound redshirt freshman struggled in completing 9 of 18 passes for 85 yards with two interceptions (one for a touchdown) in a 17-13 loss at Michigan State.
"He's got an arm on him that the guys next door are looking for," Wannstedt said, referring to the Steelers. "He's got a big-time arm. He's athletic. There's nobody who wants to get it done or works harder than Kevan. He just lacks playing time and experience. The tough thing is, we can't afford to give quarterbacks playing time when you're trying to win games.
"That's the problem we have."
Smith split repetitions this week with Bostick, a true freshman who is running the second-team offense. Bostick returned home to Lancaster on the eve of training camp to deal with "personal issues," but is now "coming along."
"Pat's getting better," Wannstedt said. "He's working hard and he's getting closer."
Does Wannstedt plan to use both quarterbacks?
"Not if I don't have to," Wannstedt said, "but we will if we have to."
West Virginia reinstates Lankster, Thomas
September 20, 2007
Associated Press
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia reinstated cornerback Ellis Lankster and linebacker J.T. Thomas, who were arrested last month for receiving stolen property, after the two agreed to enter a pretrial diversion program.
A pretrial diversion program often involves a trade off of no jail time and a dismissal of all charges if a defendant stays out of trouble for a certain period. Details of the agreement weren't released Thursday.
Coach Rich Rodriguez said both players will be in uniform for Saturday's home game with East Carolina but won't start.
Rodriguez suspended them indefinitely after Thomas, a redshirt freshman, and Lankster, a junior, were charged Aug. 19 with transferring and receiving stolen property, which police said was a laptop computer.
The pair were arrested nearly after an 11 p.m. curfew set by Rodriguez. Both players apologized Thursday in a statement released by the university.
Robinson is Cowboys new starting QB
September 20, 2007
Associated Press
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora is in his third season of coaching Zac Robinson, and he still has difficulty sometimes getting an accurate read on the quarterback's mood.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, Fedora said while explaining how the 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore has the right temperament to be the Cowboys' new starting quarterback.
"He's very low-key. Nothing excites him. Nothing gets him too worried," Fedora said of Robinson, who will make his second career start on Saturday when Oklahoma State (1-2) hosts Big 12 Conference rival Texas Tech (3-0).
"It's a great demeanor for a quarterback. He's just pretty levelheaded about everything."
Robinson's confident-but-not-cocky attitude seems to have helped ease what easily could have been -- and still might be -- a messy quarterback switch. Robinson became Oklahoma State's starter last week in a 41-23 loss at Troy after junior Bobby Reid, who had started since his freshman season, struggled in the Cowboys' first two games.
Reid suffered undisclosed minor injuries in the first quarter of the second game, against Florida Atlantic. Robinson entered and ignited what had been a sluggish offense, leading three straight touchdown drives in the second and third quarters. Those scored helped turn a 14-6 game into a 42-6 rout, and Robinson finished 14-of-20 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
It was Robinson's second ace relief performance. Last Oct. 21 against No. 23 Texas A&M, in his first extended action, Robinson replaced an injured Reid and went 7-of-16 passing for 94 yards and three touchdowns on a cold night in a 34-33 overtime loss that ended on a blocked extra point.
Robinson's performance in that game earned him more playing time, and Oklahoma State coaches developed plans during the offseason to use him more, up to 25 or 30 snaps a game either at quarterback or wide receiver.
"I was just glad to help out the team whichever way I could," said Robinson, who also alternated between quarterback and receiver while at Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colo. "... I was just excited to get the opportunity."
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy played coy last week as the Cowboys prepared to travel to play Troy, but Robinson said he learned early that week that he'd be the starting quarterback against the Trojans.
"I'd always hoped that I would (be the starter), and after the Florida Atlantic game, I kind of had maybe a feeling that it would happen," Robinson said. "When he told me ... it didn't really hit me until maybe a couple of days later when I was studying film. I was saying, 'Hey, I'm going to be taking the first snap of the game.' It was definitely a lot of excitement."
But even in that excitement, he felt for Reid, his roommate when the Cowboys are on the road and with whom he often compares notes.
"We're both out here competing every day," Robinson said. "No matter who's in there, we're both going to have each other's back. When I'm out there, I'm going to tell him what I see and he's going to tell me what he sees."
Robinson completed 18-of-37 passes for 191 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against Troy. Fedora and Gundy have said Robinson will remain the Cowboys' quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Robinson's coaches and teammates say the quarterback switch has not been a divisive issue within the team and that they have confidence in his ability.
"Even last year, Zac used to come in there and we looked at him the same way we looked at Bobby," sophomore offensive tackle Russell Okung said. "He has confidence in his eyes."
Okung cited Robinson's performance against Texas A&M last season.
"That was one of my first games, too, and I still had that look in my eye (of a) young pup," Okung said. "Zac came out there, and we didn't take a step back. We didn't expect to take a step back, because our coaches prepare for things like that."
Robinson might not have shown it, but he admits now he "didn't really know what to expect" when he entered that game against Texas A&M. "But we ended up moving the ball well and scoring some points and we were in position to win the football game, but unfortunately we didn't," he said.
After that experience, Robinson said he developed more confidence in his ability to lead the Cowboys.
"I can get fired up," he said. "I try to play with a lot of enthusiasm. That's something that has always come natural to me. ... I don't let a whole lot of things bother me.
"I'm just going to go out week to week and do what I can to help this team win and help the offense get back on the right track."
Ole Miss' Adams expected to play Saturday
September 20, 2007
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Both Mississippi quarterback Seth Adams and coach Ed Orgeron believe the senior will be in the starting lineup Saturday when the Rebels host No. 3 Florida in Oxford.
Adams was knocked out of last weekend's loss at Vanderbilt with a sprained right shoulder, but returned to practice Wednesday. The truth is almost nothing could keep him out of the game.
"It's a once in a lifetime chance," Adams said.
The decision is still up to the coaches and the medical staff, but Orgeron agreed that Adams likely would be ready.
"Barring any unforeseen injury I expect him to play," Orgeron said. "If he's ready he's going to start."
If Adams can't play, Orgeron said earlier this week that he expects former starter Brent Schaeffer to step in. Schaeffer threw a 54-yard touchdown on his first pass against Vanderbilt, but finished 1 of 5.
Adams has been a positive addition to the Ole Miss offense so far. He has completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 660 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
The senior, a dropback passer, won the job away from the more athletic Schaeffer in an open competition held during spring and summer practices. Orgeron has praised the former walk-on's consistency and leadership.
"He's a very tough, dedicated young man," Orgeron said. "I think he's going to be OK."
Adams will face his toughest challenge if he plays. While Florida lost nine starters from its national championship squad, the Gators are 19th in the nation in total defense (279 yards) and 25th in scoring defense (18 points).
Florida holds opponents to 46 rushing yards a game, making Adams' performance should he start even more important.
"They've got a lot of speed and they run well to the football," Adams said. "I think we're just going to have to execute on offense and not stop ourselves."
Two FSU players suspended after arrest
Associated Press
Two Florida State football players were suspended Friday after they were arrested for an incident at a bar.
Junior linebacker Geno Hayes and senior fullback Joe Surratt were arrested early Friday, school officials said. Tallahassee police have not released details but said the department would have information later Friday.
"The student-athletes have been suspended per our athletics department student-athlete code of conduct policy, until all of the facts of the incident are reviewed," Florida State athletic director Dave Hart said in a statement.
Hayes is the team's second-leading tackler with 19, and Surratt led Florida State with six rushing touchdowns last year but is sidelined with a broken leg.
Big Ten Report
VegasInsider.com
First-year head coaches Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Bill Lynch (Indiana) improved to 3-0. Michigan won the battle of high-profile winless teams. Purdue continued to put up huge offensive numbers. Iowa suffered an embarrassing loss. And Northwestern suffered a really embarrassing loss.
Here’s a look back at the week that was and a look forward to the week that will be in the Big Ten.
Illinois
Week That Was: The Illini put forth their most dominating offense effort of the Ron Zook era in their 41-20 road win at Syracuse. A dominating rushing attack that covered 378 yards on 7.4 yards per carry was the catalyst but Illinois also employed an unusually efficient passing attack. The Illini completed 75 percent of their passes for 130 yards, doing just enough to keep the Syracuse defense off balance. The Illinois defense also did its part, allowing the Orange to average just 1.9 yards per carry on the ground. Illinois’ two wins in just three games already matches the season total of the previous two years.
Week That Will Be: Illinois kicks off its conference schedule this weekend against Indiana. The Big Ten has not been good to the Illini in recent years as they are just 2-30 SU and 11-21 ATS since the start of the 2003 season. They have lost their last four conference openers and have done so by an average of 22.5 points per game. Illinois is actually a 2.5-point road favorite in this matchup, just the sixth time that has occurred since 1999. The Illini went 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS in the previous five occurrences.
Indiana
Week That Was: Indiana improved to 3-0 on the season following a 41-24 thrashing of Akron. The win marks just the third time in the last 14 years that the Hoosiers have started the season with three straight victories. The Indiana offense continued its onslaught on opposing defenses, tallying 338 rushing yards and 475 yards total. Quarterback Kellen Lewis evoked memories of Antwaan Randle El with his performance, running for 199 yards and two scores and throwing for 137 yards and three more touchdowns. The Hoosiers are now seventh in the country in rushing offense, 20th in total offense and 10th in scoring.
Week That Will Be: The Hoosiers will look to start the season 4-0 for the first time since 1990 when they host Illinois as 2.5-point dogs. Indiana won last year’s 34-32 with a last-second field goal that capped a 27-7 run to close the game. The Hoosiers struggled to stop the run in that game but have excelled in that facet so far this season as they are allowing fewer than 66 rushing yards per game, good for 10th in the country. Indiana has won the last two meetings with the Illini both SU and ATS, covering by an average of 12.3 points per game. The home team has gone 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between the programs.
Iowa
Week That Was: Iowa suffered a major letdown when it fell 15-13 to in-state rival Iowa State as 17.5-point favorites, losing on a last-second field goal from the Cyclones. The Hawkeyes have now dropped seven of their last 10 games against the supposedly lesser Iowa State program, including four of the last five on the road. The Iowa offense took a big step back from its good showing against Syracuse the previous week, posting just 233 total yards.
Week That Will Be: The Hawkeyes will be forced to rebound against seventh-ranked Wisconsin this weekend. Iowa’s defensive statistics are among the best in the country but have come against Northern Illinois, Syracuse and Iowa State, which are each ranked 102nd or lower in the country in scoring offense. The Hawkeyes will have their hands full against Wisconsin’s 29th-ranked offense. Iowa held on to Bruiser the Bull for four years before falling to the Badgers 24-21 last season. The Hawkeyes, who are 8-point dogs in this year’s meeting, have fared well in this spot in the past. They have gone 22-14 ATS as conference road dogs of nine points or less since 1980, including a 6-2 ATS record with revenge.
Michigan
Week That Was: The Wolverines notched their first win of the year in what was the most anticipated game between winless teams in recent memory. Michigan did it a big way too, blanking Notre Dame 38-0 in a thoroughly dominating effort. Running back Mike Hart backed up his guarantee by carrying an offense that started freshman Ryan Mallett in place of the injured Chad Henne. Hart totaled 187 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. The Michigan defense finally stopped somebody, but that could be more because of Notre Dame’s ineptitude on offense.
Week That Will Be: Michigan will try to make it two in a row when it hosts Penn State in its Big Ten opener. Mallett is still listed as the starting quarterback but Henne has taken a few snaps in practice this week. Henne is currently listed as day-to-day and head coach Lloyd Carr hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Henne playing this weekend. The Wolverines have won eight straight meetings between the powerhouse programs, going 6-2 ATS in those games. Michigan has gone just 2-4 ATS in the last six meetings in Ann Arbor, though. The Wolverines have been home dogs just nine times since 1982, going 4-5 SU and 5-4 ATS in those contests.
Michigan State
Week That Was: It wasn’t pretty but the Spartans improved to 3-0 under Mark Dantonio with a 17-13 win over Pittsburgh. Much of Michigan State’s success in recent years has been due to offense but this victory was due to defense. The Spartans held Pitt to just 292 total yards and an 0-for-12 conversion rate on third down while forcing three turnovers. Michigan State has been in this spot before, though, starting each of the last two seasons with three straight wins only to miss out on a bowl game.
Week That Will Be: Michigan State’s season fell apart last year with a come-from-ahead loss at home to Notre Dame. The Spartans have a chance to return the favor this season against an Irish team that has underachieved like no other in college football. They have fared well against Notre Dame recently despite last year’s meltdown. Michigan State is 7-3 SU and 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the teams and is 15-8-2 ATS versus the Irish since 1980. This meeting marks the first time since 1980 that the Spartans, who are 12-point favorites, have actually been favored in South Bend. They have been favored just three times in the last 24 meetings overall, going 1-2 ATS in those contests.
Minnesota
Week That Was: A rash of turnovers and a feeble defense negated another strong showing from the Gophers offense in Minnesota’s 42-39 upset loss to Florida Atlantic. The Gophers totaled 470 yards of offense but saw many scoring opportunities wasted by seven turnovers. The Minnesota stop unit, now ranked 116th in total defense, failed to slow down a Florida Atlantic offense that was averaging just 16.5 points per game coming in. The Gophers surrendered a whopping 580 yards, including 463 through the air, and forced zero turnovers.
Week That Will Be: The Gophers will have their hands full when they host Purdue as 14-point dogs this weekend. Minnesota is among the worst in nation on the defensive side of the ball and now must take on a Purdue team that boasts the conference’s best offense. If the Gophers can’t stop Florida Atlantic, they’ll have all sorts of problems stopping a Boilermaker offense that is sixth in the country in total offense. Minnesota has had its troubles with Purdue in the past, going just 1-7 SU and ATS in the last eight meetings. The Gophers are just 5-12 ATS as the dog in the series since 1980.
Northwestern
Week That Was: If not for Michigan’s loss to Appalachian State, Northwestern’s 20-14 loss to Duke would be the conference’s most embarrassing loss of the season. Duke has been the laughingstock of college football for some time but that didn’t stop the Wildcats from losing at home to the Dukies. Northwestern dominated every facet of the game but were done in by 13 penalties and two untimely turnovers.
Week That Will Be: Northwestern pretty much secured itself a losing streak with its loss to Duke because it opens with its Big Ten schedule with Ohio State this weekend. The Wildcats are just 1-20 SU and 8-12-1 ATS versus the Buckeyes since 1980. They are 23-point dogs in this year’s meeting, marking the 17th time in 22 meetings that they have been dogs of 20 points or more. Northwestern is just 6-9-1 ATS in the previous 16 meetings under that scenario but are 3-1 ATS in the last four occurrences with the lone loss coming in last year’s 54-10 defeat.
Ohio State
Week That Was: The Buckeyes had their share of doubters going into last week’s road game at Washington but they put those doubts to rest with a convincing 33-14 win. The Ohio State offense had its best showing of the season, posting 263 rushing yards and 481 yards overall. The defense played well again, forcing four turnovers and holding the Huskies to 6-of-17 on third down conversion attempts. The Buckeyes are now third in the country in total defense and fifth in scoring defense through three games.
Week That Will Be: The Buckeyes have beat up on Northwestern more than any other team in the nation and will look to continue with the beat downs this weekend. Ohio State is 20-1 SU versus the Wildcats since 1980 with an average margin of victory of 32.5 points per game. The Buckeyes, who are 23-point favorites, have beaten Northwestern the last two years by scores of 48-7 and 54-10. Seeing as Northwestern just ended Duke’s 22-game losing streak, Ohio State could post a similar result in this year’s meeting.
Penn State
Week That Was: The Nittany Lions picked up a 45-24 win over Buffalo in a game that was a lot closer than it should have been. Buffalo has been one of college football’s worst teams in recent years but gave Penn State all it could handle. The Lions trailed in both total yards and time of possession in the win. The 395 yards Penn State allowed surpassed the total it allowed in the first two games combined. Starting tailback Austin Scott may have lost his starting gig after fumbling on consecutive touches in the first quarter. Rodney Kinlaw got a majority of the carries, rushing 23 times for 129 yards and a score.
Week That Will Be: Penn State has its best chance in years to snap its losing streak to Michigan this week. The Lions have lost eight consecutive games to the Wolverines but this Michigan team isn’t the same as previous editions. Penn State is 3-point favorites in this year’s meeting, marking the first time since 1999 that it has been favored and the first time since 1998 that it has been favored in Ann Arbor.
Purdue
Week That Was: Purdue led 24-0 after the first quarter and 38-0 early in the third quarter in coasting to a 45-22 win over defending MAC champion Central Michigan. The Boilermakers ran for 223 yards and passed for another 360 in totaling a season-high 583 yards. The margin of victory could have been much larger if not for five Boilermaker turnovers. The results weren’t all good, though, as starting running back Jaycen Taylor was lost for the season with a broken arm.
Week That Will Be: The Boilermakers offense has to be licking its collective chops with Minnesota on the slate this week. Purdue is averaging nearly 320 passing yards per game, good for the 15th in the country, while Minnesota is allowing 431 passing yards per game, 118th in the nation out of 119 teams. Additionally, the Boilermakers are seventh in the nation with nearly 50 points in the game while the Gophers are 104th in the country with more than 36 points allowed per contest. Purdue, which is a 14-point favorite, has won eight of the last nine meetings between these programs, averaging 37.0 points per game in those games.
Wisconsin
Week That Was: The ninth-ranked Badgers remain undefeated at 3-0 but for the second straight looked less than impressive in picking up the victory. Wisconsin was tied at 21 with Citadel heading into halftime but pulled in the way in the second half to secure a 45-31 win. Running back P.J. Hill led the offense with 188 total yards and five touchdowns. The defense struggled, though, allowing 23 first downs and 377 total yards.
Week That Will Be: Wisconsin, an 8-point favorite, brings its nation-long 12-game winning streak into Big Ten play this week against Iowa. The Badgers ended a four-game skid to the Hawkeyes last year, winning 24-21 on the road. Starting quarterback Tyler Donovan earned his first collegiate victory as a starter last year in that game, throwing for 228 yards and two scores. Wisconsin has won 21 of its last 22 games at Camp Randall, going 14-6 ATS in those games, but the lone SU loss came to Iowa in 2005.
Tulane player suspended from team, school after being arrested in stabbing case
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS -- Police arrested Tulane football player Ray Boudreaux on Friday in connection with the Bourbon Street stabbing that left five people hurt last weekend.
Boudreaux was arrested early Friday at his home in Metairie on five counts of attempted murder, according to police, who said the knife used in the stabbings was found in his house.
Tulane suspended Boudreaux from school and the team.
Boudreaux stabbed five people in a fight between two groups at a French Quarter bar that ended on the streets Sunday, police said, citing a surveillance camera that caught the stabbing.
Police Sgt. Joe Narcisse said a tipster recognized Boudreaux on the video.
Boudreaux, a 5-foot-10-inch running back, started two of the eight games he played for Tulane last year and had 175 yards.
College Football Power Rankings: The Ferringo 15
by Robert Ferringo
Polls and rankings can be a gambler's best friend when it comes to wagering on large groups of vicious and volatile college students, the type that paint their faces, don high density polyurethane shells, and assemble each week to thrash each other on the gridiron. Polls and rankings set the general consensus on how strong a certain team is, regardless of Truth, and that makes them a tool for exploiting a misinformed betting public.
But this ranking system is going to work a little differently. We have enough rampant conjecture across the nation in regards to college football so I have set out to provide my faithful readers with some info that should enrich their gambling lives. The result: the Ferringo 15.
The Ferringo 15 is my Profit-Power Rankings, a ladder or hierarchy based on which teams are the most profitable on the field. I'm not trying to give you some other convoluted, random, speculative power rankings based on my own biases. So instead of Ohio State moving up or down the polls on the basis of how badly they blew out Northwestern the previous Saturday I'm going to rank each team based on past, present, and projected future achievement against the spread.
Below I've listed teams that have been and hopefully will continue to be the most profitable teams for bettors this season. It's still early in the season so there will likely be a lot of fluctuation from week to week. But after we've had some time to get the lay of the land these rankings will be buttressed by solid, visceral performance.
Up to this point, the Ferringo 15 teams have gone a respectable 13-7 ATS. We're in the shadow of conference play, and it will be interesting to see how many of these teams go from live, valuable dogs to square, exploitable chalk, but we will see. Without further ado, here is our Week 4 version of the Ferringo 15:
1) South Florida (1-0 Against the Spread) - Fresh off their not-so-stunning upset over Auburn, the Bulls have had two weeks to prepare for ACC foe North Carolina. South Florida is getting some respect, as indicated by their 14-point chalk against the Tar Heels, so they may slip from atop the polls here. Also, they have West Virginia next Friday so they may be caught looking ahead this weekend.
2) Purdue (2-0 ATS) - Points - points everywhere!!! The Big Ten has been pathetic in the nonconference and there's been one constant in their struggles: these big, hulking teams have had a lot of trouble with speed and teams that run a spread offense. The Boilers aren't nearly as quick as some Big East or SEC teams, but their quirky style and excellent play from Curtis Painter should be good for at least two nice upsets.
3) South Carolina (1-1) - Steve Spurrier has assembled a defense worthy of an SEC contender, and it's going to be on display this weekend at LSU. The Gamecocks have covered eight straight road games and with the Ol' Ball Coach's knack for coming up big in primetime games I think we have a winning combo.
4) Anyone Playing Notre Dame (3-0) - So far, so good. The Irish nation is still in a total state of disarray. And looking at their schedule, this week's game against traditionally shaky Michigan State may be their last chance at a win until November. The good news is that even if they're getting 24-30 points the offense is so awful that they won't cover it.
5) Oklahoma (3-0) - Through three games, the Sooners have outscored their opponents 184-26. Yes, that's an average score of 61-9 and that is unreal. I think Bob Stoops is more than a little bitter that he and his boys were at the butt of the Boise State jokes all offseason. This team is a wrecking ball.
6) Cincinnati (2-0) - Mark it down right now - this team is going to DOMINATE someone in a mid-level bowl game. I mean, it's not going to be close. I made the same prediction with Rutgers last year and they slaughtered K-State. It doesn't even matter who the quarterback is; Grutza and Mauk can both make plays and earn cash.
7) Washington (2-1) - Jake Locker is the real deal and was a half away from yet another upset last week. Because the Huskies play such a brutal schedule we're going to continue to get great value on them all season. I think they'll score two straight-up upsets this season, but the trouble will be pinpointing the two.
8) Boston College (3-0) - I called the Eagles to take the ACC crown back in August and they're making me look real good so far. I do think that they'll struggle with Army this weekend in a letdown spot, but the rest of the schedule looks golden. Their two toughest matchups will be at Va. Tech and at Clemson, but B.C. is a combined 9-1 ATS in their L10 against that pair.
9) Oregon (3-0) - We've seen this before from the Ducks, who have a habit of tantalizing in September. We will actually learn a lot about this team this week against Stanford. With a date with Cal on the horizon, we'll see if this squad of Ducks can dominate a weaker opponent and show that they can stay focused.
10) Memphis (1-0) - The Tigers looked just bored enough last weekend against Jacksonville State to get a touchdown spotted to them at Central Florida this week. With 33 of the 44 starters in last year's two-point Knights win suiting up on Saturday I think that getting seven points could be mighty tempting. I also think the winner of this game ends up winning the CUSA East.
11) Iowa (2-1) - We're going to find out a lot about this Iowa team this weekend at Wisconsin. The Badgers struggled with both UNLV and The Citadel over the past two weeks and could be ripe for an upset. The Hawkeyes have won four of five against the Badgers, but they did lose last year.
12) UCLA (2-1) - What an absolute bloodbath in Utah. The Bruins' pass defense has been a sieve and such an atrocious loss should be a huge red flag. However, I'm not going to penalize them as much because I actually think it may have increased the value on this team.
13) Georgia Tech (2-1) - Tashard Choice is likely to be on the shelf for at least two weeks with his hamstring injury, opening the door for a Jackets free fall. Their loss to Boston College may have actually increased their value, since it drops them back in the pack of ACC also-rans. But with that defense they are going to be a tough W from here until January.
14) Missouri (3-0) - Are they a true threat in the Big 12 or a flash in the pan? I don't know, and frankly, as long as they keep covering I don't care. Chase Daniels simply gets it done on offense, and as a result there is no number too big for them to handle. The problem is that as they continue to win their defense isn't going to be up to the task of covering inflated lines. Chase to the rescue? We will see.
15) Central Florida (2-0) - With 17 starters back and a thumping running game, UCF is going to be tough to top. They may have peaked with their near-miss against Texas, but I think they'll be a dog in at least three more games this year. Take the points and take the cash, this could end up being the best team in CUSA.
Others receiving votes: Kansas (2-0), Indiana (2-0), Arizona State (2-1), New Mexico (2-1), Kentucky (2-0), Vanderbilt (1-1), Rutgers (2-0), Tulsa (2-0), Buffalo (2-1).
Dropped out: Hawaii, UNLV, New Mexico State
docsports.com
Doc's Friday Public Action Report
by T.O. Whenham
It was a very good week for us last time out, which means that it was a very bad week for the public. All five games that we looked at ended up going against the public. I guess there is something to this after all. This week there are eight college games in which the point spread isn't responding as expected to the public action, and one NFL game, too. Here's a look:
NCAA Football
Baylor (-3) at Buffalo (Saturday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m.) - The Baylor Bears have drawn 70 percent of the bets, yet the line has dropped from 5.5 to three. This seems to be a case where the public is betting based on records and conferences without looking deeper. Baylor's 2-1 mark is pretty weak - they were shut out by a very disappointing TCU team, and their wins are over an awful Rice team and Texas State. They have proven nothing. Buffalo is 1-2, but they stayed tight with Penn State last week. The books clearly are not afraid of action on Baylor here.
Penn State (-2.5) at Michigan (Saturday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m.) - 71 percent of action is on Penn State, yet the game has fallen off the key number of three. The public is reacting to the dismal start for Michigan, while the books are likely saying that Michigan is still the team that started the year as No. 5, they are at home, and they have beaten Penn State eight times in a row. Based on the movement, Michigan is the play.
Memphis (+7) at Central Florida (Saturday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m.) - Central Florida earned a lot of national respect with their near upset of Texas last week, but the books don't seem to be buying it. The line has fallen from 7.5 to seven despite the UCF support of 78 percent of bettors. Memphis isn't very good, but Central Florida isn't expected to be either, and so it isn't surprising that the action on UCF seems to be overly enthusiastic in the minds of the books. They are inviting action on UCF, which makes Memphis worth a look.
Georgia Tech (-3.5) at Virginia (Saturday, Sept. 22, 12:00 p.m.) - More than eight out of 10 bettors are on Georgia Tech, but the line dropped from four to 3.5. At first I was surprised that the line was moving in favor of Virginia - they were blown out by Wyoming and have two fairly meaningless wins over Duke and North Carolina. The books are likely responding to the fact that Georgia Tech isn't as good as thought, though. They had a now meaningless blowout over Notre Dame and another nothing win over Samford, and then were exposed by Boston College. This line movement would indicate that the books are more certain that last week showed us the real Yellow Jackets than the public is.
Clemson (-7.5) at NC State (Saturday, Sept. 22, 12:00 p.m.) - Clemson is getting love from 81 percent of bettors, and still the line dropped from 8.5 to 7.5. It's obvious why the public is on Clemson - they love an undefeated team, especially one with a high profile coach. NC State is just 1-2, but their record looks better than the numbers. They lost as big favorites to Central Florida, but UCF's game against Texas last week showed that they are better than they were thought to be at the start of the year. Similarly, Boston College would have been favored by even more than they were if we had seen their domination of Georgia Tech already. The Wolfpack is still not very good, but they could easily be better than 0-2 ATS, and the books seem to be showing that this line is more accurate than the previous two. That means that there could be value in NC State.
Iowa (+7) at Wisconsin (Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:00 p.m.) - Everyone loves Wisconsin (or at least 82 percent of bettors do) but the line has dropped from 7.5 to the key number of seven. The Hawkeyes are clearly being punished by the public for their embarrassing loss to Iowa State as 17.5 point favorites last week. The books aren't afraid of Wisconsin action, though. That's likely because what we have seen from the Badgers shows us that their defense isn't as good as it should be, and that they will struggle to score against Iowa more than they have against their first three opponents. Iowa is worth a look.
Troy (-8.5) at UL Lafayette (Saturday, Sept. 22, 7:00 p.m.) - This was supposed to be a showdown between the two best teams in the Sun Belt Conference, but they only have one win between them. The books are clearly happy with action on Troy - the line has dropped from 10.5 past the key number of 10 to 8.5 despite the support of 79 percent of bettors for Troy. Frankly, I'm at a bit of a loss to explain the movement, but the size of the move makes the game very worthy of attention. The books seem like they are practically daring you to bet on Troy. That makes UL Lafayette intriguing.
Arizona (+14) at Cal (Saturday, Sept. 22, 6:00 p.m.) - The biggest contrary line move of the week sees 79 percent of bettors backing a Cal team that has seen their line fall from 17 to 14. The public loves Cal, and the Bears haven't returned the favor - they are 0-2 ATS in their last two. It would seem that the books are again looking to have the public pile on California on what could be an inflated line. The Wildcats are a hard team to love right now, but the defense should be getting better and the offense is working better than we are used to. Arizona upset Cal as 17-point underdogs last year when Cal was 8-1 and Arizona was 4-5, so an upset isn't unprecedented. Take a look at Arizona.
docsports.com
College cram session: Week 4 betting news & notes
Covers.com
Bettors have soaked up three weeks' worth of 2007 results, giving them a decent idea of conference strength going into Week 4. That means a lot now because there are many non-conference games on the slate.
The Big East (10-7 against the spread), Big 12 (18-14 ATS), Sun Belt (11-8 ATS) and Mountain West (12-9 ATS) have been the big winners in non-conference battles through Thursday night’s game in Miami.
To nobody’s surprise, the ACC (7-13 ATS) and Independents (1-7 ATS) are bringing up the rear.
In the realm of totals, C-USA (14 of its 22 non-conference games have played over the total), Sun Belt (12 of its 19) and SEC (nine of its 15) have provided higher-scoring games than expected.
The ACC (12 of its 20 non-conference games have played under the total) and Independents (six of their eight) have regularly played under the total.
Betting notes on some of today’s non-conference meetings appear below.
North Carolina Tar Heels at South Florida Bulls (-12 ½, 50)
The No. 24 Bulls play their first game in school history as a ranked football team. They haven’t laid this many points since hosting Florida International more than a year ago. The Tar Heels lost to East Carolina in their sole road game this season, but covered the spread as 5 ½-point underdogs.
South Florida is 8-2 SU and 7-2 ATS in its last 10 games, 4-0 SU and 3-0 ATS against non-conference opponents during that span. That includes a 17-point win over the Tar Heels when the Bulls visited Chapel Hill last year. However, North Carolina is a different team with Butch Davis on the sideline and T.J. Yates throwing touchdowns.
UNC is averaging 29.3 points per game this season after averaging only 18 in each of the previous two seasons. Yates, a redshirt freshman, has tossed nine touchdown passes and already owns two of the school’s top 10 passing games in terms of yardage.
East Carolina Pirates at West Virginia Mountaineers (-24 ½, 58 ½)
East Carolina’s Patrick Pinkney is another first-year starting quarterback exceeding expectations in the Carolinas. He’s posting big numbers after being penciled in as the Pirates’ third-string QB over the summer.
Unfortunately for the school’s backers, East Carolina does better against the spread when Pinkney’s handing the ball off rather than airing it out. East Carolina covered in its opener at Virginia Tech by taking on the Hokies in the trenches in a low-scoring game. The Pirates’ last two games have both been aerial battles, but they’ve gone 0-2 ATS.
However, they have covered the spread in their last two head-to-head meetings with the Mountaineers. Ironically, both games involved a nearly identical spread as bettors are seeing for today’s game. West Virginia beat East Carolina as 24-point favorites two years ago, 20-15, and then as 21-point favorites last year, 27-10.
Miami (Ohio) Redhawks at Colorado Buffaloes (-12 ½, 50)
Miami covered the spread in its first two games, when running backs Brandon Murphy and Andre Bratton combined for 275 yards on the ground. The Redhawks failed to cover last Saturday against Cincinnati with both Murphy and Bratton sidelined with serious injuries.
The Redhawks now face another BCS-conference squad without the pair when they visit Boulder. Miami was a 14-point underdog at most sports books through Thursday, but the spread has since narrowed by more than a point.
Austin Sykes will carry the ball more than any of the Redhawks, but true freshman Thomas Merriweather will also be pressed into service.
"We feel (Merriweather is) a star for the future," Miami head coach Shane Montgomery told reporters during his weekly teleconference. "He wasn't ready coming out of fall camp. He's going to have to be ready now."
Colorado State Rams at Houston Cougars (-7, 65)
They’ve already pushed their in-state rivals to overtime and came within a touchdown of a top-10 team. It’s safe to say Colorado State is easily the best team in the nation mired in a nine-game losing streak.
“People keep saying that we played really well against Colorado and that we played well against California, and I get so mad when I hear that,” safety Klint Kubiak told The Coloradoan. “It's like people think that playing well and losing is OK. I hate that.”
If they’re looking for a break, then they’re in luck. They had a bye last week and the Rams have won and covered three straight seasons immediately following their bye week. Colorado State leads the nation in time of possession due to Kyle Bell’s power running game. That bodes well against a Houston squad that allowed 336 rushing yards in its season opener.
Baylor Bears at Buffalo Bulls (+3, 54)
What happens when the laughingstock of the Big 12 South meets its MAC East counterpart? Likely a lot of passing yards, considering the notoriously poor pass defenses at both schools.
Blake Szymanski and Drew Willy are also posting great passing numbers at schools not accustomed to good quarterback play. Baylor’s Szymanski has 1,039 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, but Buffalo’s Willy impressed with his accuracy against a pair of ranked opponents.
It could translate into a shootout at UB Stadium today, with both offenses exploding since being shut down on opening day. The Bears posted 76 points and 960 total yards of offense over their last two games, while the Bulls put up 66 and 809 respectively in theirs.
New Mexico State Aggies at Auburn Tigers (-16, 54 ½)
Though the SEC is above .500 ATS versus other conferences so far this season, it hasn’t been helped by Auburn’s 0-2 ATS non-conference record. The usually powerful Tigers have a two-game losing streak that concerns them far more than their ATS mark. The Tigers’ anxiety makes the visiting Aggies even more worried about a trip to Auburn than normal.
“I kind of feel like we’re getting Auburn when it’s mad,” New Mexico State head coach Hal Mumme said this week. “This is not a good feel for us.”
The Aggies have faced two BCS-conference opponents since Mumme took over in 2005 and lost both games by at least four touchdowns. However, both losses occurred before quarterback Chase Holbrook started running Mumme’s Air Raid offense and scaring the opposition’s secondary.
Arkansas State Indians at Tennessee Volunteers (-20, 59 ½)
Arkansas State, 2-0 ATS so far, scared a powerhouse school when Texas only managed a 21-13 win at home as a 39 ½-point favorite. The Indians now have the chance to scare another giant, but the spread has been essentially chopped in half.
The relatively narrow spread can be attributed to Tennessee’s descent as much as the Indians’ improvement. The Volunteers are 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games dating back to last year. Their recent disaster in the Swamp reiterated their defensive and special team faults that Cal exploited in the season opener. Tennessee failed to cover the spread as a 7-point underdog in both losses.
Arkansas State last visited an SEC school last November during a 27-0 loss at Auburn. The Indians managed only 86 yards of total offense through the first three quarters at Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, they should fare better in Knoxville today because the Vols are allowing 460 yards per game so far this season.