The things I love about the NFL other than obviously betting on the games are the storylines and the natural drama that goes in to the season.  There are new coaches looking to prove themselves, old coaches looking to keep their jobs for one more season, new rookies breaking into the league and veterans making their way to the Hall of fame.  Here’s a few of storylines I’m looking forward to following in 2010.

Brett Favre XX – it’s Brett Favre’s twentieth year in the league and I’d say it was his last but Favre seems like the type of guy that will be on the field until he succumbs to a heart attack or some other crippling injury.  It could be a long season in Minnesota if Favre doesn’t change from his gunslinger ways, the Saints showed everyone that the best way to knock off the Vikings is to keep Favre on his back. With the Vikings playing four divisional games against Julius Peppers of the Bears and Ndamukong Suh of the Lions, Favre could be in pain all year long.

Matt Leinart second chance – Matt Leinart was going to be the number 1 pick of the 2005 draft but he made the choice to comeback to USC for his senior year. USC lost the BCS title game to Texas and Vince Young, in turn lost his draft stock dropped in 2006, he went after Young in the draft. He’s lost his starters job in Arizona to Kurt Warner and this preseason lost it to Derek Anderson. The Cardinals cut Leinart and he’s just signed with the Houston Texans but it remains to be seen how much he’ll see the field. So much potential but he hasn’t lived up to any of it and it’s doubtful he ever will.

Darrelle Revis Holdout – Revis held out all of training camp because he wanted Nnamdi Asomugha money. He got a raise but his average salary is about 4 million less a season than the Raiders star cornerback is.  I’m not big on the Jets this year, last year they snuck into the playoffs and couldn’t make the adjustments to beat the Colts. After the holdout, we have to wonder whether Revis will hurt himself for lack of a training camp or if he’ll be the object of scorn by the fans if the Jets don’t dominate this season.

New Orleans Video Game Offense – The Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys are the hot picks to win the NFC but it could be because picking the Super Bowl winner to repeat isn’t sexy.  Nevertheless, with Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and the incredible offense still intact, the Saints could be dangerous especially with a chip on their shoulder from being disrespected by the sports pundits.

Tom Brady Randy Moss say Show me the Money – Brady is looking for a big contract extension and Randy Moss is in a contract year. If you are a fan of fantasy football, both guys should put up HUGE numbers this year. It could be enough to hold off the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins who are both looking to take the NFC east title.

NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement – We’ll do a full article on this one, the potential for no football in 2012 looks to be a real reality and for football fans and football bettors that is a scary thought.

These are some of the stories we’ll be looking at in 2010, what are the storylines you guys are looking forward to in 2010?

College Football Winners and Losers Week 1

The first college football Saturday is in the books and their weren’t too many surprises except number 15 Pittsburgh dropping a 27-24 OT decision to Utah and Jacksonville State shocking the football world by beating Mississippi 49-48 in overtime.

Other big winners from the weekend were Brian Kelley who won his first game with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Jimbo Fisher who did likewise with the Florida State Seminoles. Both coaches proved their mettle at the helm of these two storied programs.

There were some losers in week 1 of the college football season. If you bet New Mexico -70 (note line was only -59) you would still have lost. The Oregon Ducks hammered the Lobos 72-0, it was a rough welcome to Lobos new head coach Mike Locksley.

Florida still won in week one but their offense won’t be confused for the Tim Tebow show this season, They stalled for most of the game except for two big plays late that made the difference.

Here are the scores from Saturday with the total and closing line.

I love athletes that think they can go online and talk on their Twitter account or show up on Ustream without a publisicit standing by to control their words. We get the best stuff. Last night, Floyd Mayweather was on the popular UStream site and unloaded on his pound for pound rival Manny Pacquiao with a racist tirade that included rants about sushi, cooking cats and dogs and raised questions about Pac-Man’s sexuality. He makes fun of his ability to speak English; he talks about his endorsement contracts.

As it turns out, Floyd publicist was in Mexico working on another fight.

We say stay on vacation because this is gold.

It was Mayweather doing his best Mike Tyson, here is the video, enjoy.

Here are the highlights in case you can’t watch the video.

“I’m on vacation for about a year, about a year,” Mayweather said. “As soon as we come off vacation, we’re going to cook that little yellow chump. We ain’t worried about that. So they ain’t gotta worry about me fighting the midget. Once I kick the midget ass, I don’t want you all to jump on my dick. So you all better get on the bandwagon now. … Once I stomp the midget, I’ll make that mother fucker make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice.”

” ‘Poochiao’ got three losses and two draws and been knocked out twice,” Mayweather said. “So, like I said before, once I beat him it’s going to be a cakewalk and it’s on to the next. … We know Pacquiao made $6 million in his last fight and Floyd Mayweather made $65 million in his last fight. Three losses, two draws. Ohhh, hell no, this is America baby. We built on winning. Step your game up, faggot. … That motherfucker Pacquiao, he can’t speak no English. He never seen a contract he didn’t like. Motherfucker signed with two companies (Top Rank and Golden Boy). Look it up. And then this mother fucker with Nike only got 70 Gs. How stupid can a motherfucker be? Reebok gave me a million dollars for three weeks. I wore Reebok shit for a week for a million dollars. … This motherfucker’s name is Emmanuel. He got a fake name, taking power pellets.”

Looking at the top 25 teams with the best odds to win the BCS title, we see the Alabama Crimson Tide have the best BCS odds at 17/4, they are followed by Ohio State at 6/1, Oklahoma at 7/1, Boise State at 8/1 and Florida at 9/1.

The Crimson Tide are still favored to win the BCS despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram for the season opener. It remains to be see how well he comes back from arthroscopic surgery on the injured knee but even without Ingram they will be one of the best teams in the nation.

On team you’ll notice missing from the odds is the USC Trojans, the Trojans have the potential to finish the year with a perfect season but due to sanctions imposed by the NCAA, they are ineligible for post season play and the BCS title.

BCS Title Odds
To Win Moneyline
Alabama 17/4
Ohio State 6/1
Oklahoma 7/1
Boise State 8/1
Florida 9/1
Texas 14/1
Nebraska 14/1
Iowa 20/1
Miami Florida 20/1
TCU 20/1
Oregon 25/1
Penn State 25/1
LSU 25/1
Georgia 30/1
Arkansas 30/1
Oregon State 40/1
Wisconsin 40/1
Clemson 40/1
Auburn 45/1
Pittsburgh 50/1
Florida State 50/1
Michigan 60/1
Missouri 60/1
Georgia Tech 50/1

The game was a blowout and Nationals Nyjer Morgan decided to steal second and then third base. That’s a big no-no in baseball, when the game is already out of reach. The next time Morgan comes to the plate, Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad threw a pitch behind Morgan and Morgan paused a moment and then charged the mound.

Nyjer Morgan threw a punch that Volstad let glance off his head and then from first base, Marlins first basemen Gaby Sanchez was the third man in hitting Morgan with a WWE style clothesline.

With the Marlins already on the field, the infielders all jumped Morgan and as Volstad was going down landed a few to the Nats center fielder.
From there the benches emptied and it turned in to a typical baseball struggle. Of course it doesn’t match a good hockey fight but it beats anything the NBA has had to offer in the way of on field violence since the Malice at the Palace.

While this one was solid if only because of Gaby Sanchez coming in to level Morgan, it doesn’t match a young Robin Ventura trying to challenge and old Nolan Ryan after Ryan Clips him with a pitch.

Check out Sports Center’s top 10 baseball fights.

Here is our first edition of the Odds to Win the Super Bowl Power Ranking. We generally order the teams with the best odds to win the Super Bowl but we’ll show you which teams have good value and which teams where you are wasting your money.  In our preseason Super Bowl Odds preseason rankings, we’ll leave the teams in order of odds to win the Super Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts             8/1

The Indianapolis Colts are robots; they go out and win regular season games easily. Look for Pierre Garcon to take away some of Reggie Wayne’s Fantasy Football Points.

San Diego Chargers         9/1

If you read my other blog posts on the Chargers, you’ll know I think they fall and fall hard this season. I like Philip Rivers but there is too much turmoil surrounding the team to challenge the heavyweights of the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys                 9/1

The Cowboys are the darlings of the NFC and while they will be good, it won’t be a cakewalk to win the NFC East let alone the NFC or the Super Bowl.  (I have Tony Romo as my fantasy QB starter so I hope I’m wrong)

New Orleans Saints         9/1

The offense is still ridiculous but the defense didn’t get better and it will be interesting to see if they can still force turnovers and play that opportunistic D that won it all for them last season.

Minnesota Vikings           10/1

SELL SELL SELL – Favre is hurting and I think after week one he’ll be regretting his decision to come back. They have the talent to go 10-6 even with a bad Favre but they could just as easily go 6-10.

Baltimore Ravens             10/1

They need a cornerback but the rest of the team looks phenomenal. They will be a much meaner version of the Saints.

Green Bay Packers          10/1

Did we say Video Game offense already? The defense has some questions but Dom Capers will have those answered in a couple weeks.

New England Patriots    12/1

The Patriots are being discounted because of the Jets hype but they are still the team to beat in the AFC East. Randy Moss contract years = tons of fantasy points.

New York Jets                   12/1

They have a lot of great skill players but I’m not sold on them being a team. If you talk to any Jets fan, it sounds like they went 15-1 last season and not 9-7.

Philadelphia Eagles          20/1

Both Kolb and Vick have looked horrible so far in the preseason. If that doesn’t change, Philly fans will be longing for Donovan McNabb.

Pittsburgh Steelers         20/1

Ben Roethlisberger is meeting with Roger Goodell Friday morning. His suspension will be cut to four games is a foregone conclusion. The trouble with that is the Steelers could be down 1-3 on the season.

New York Giants              25/1

I keep going back and forth on the Giants, one minute I love them and the next. That means they’ll be 8-8.

Atlanta Falcons                 25/1

The Falcons look like a solid pick, they over performed in 2008, which set up too high expectations in 2009, they underperformed so they are being discounted in 2010. Take the value.

San Francisco 49ers         25/1

They will win the NFC West, if they were in the any other division they would be a second or third place team at best.

Cincinnati Bengals            25/1

Everyone sees the Batman and Robin show as the main attraction but this Bengals team is solid from top to bottom.

Tennessee Titans             30/1

Jeff Fishers teams always finish strong; if they start strong, they will challenge the Colts in the AFC South.

Miami Dolphins                 30/1

Like the Giants, I’m back and forth on the Dolphins. The running game will be great but a lot of critics are worried about Brandon Marshall, I’m starting to believe them.

Chicago Bears                    30/1

The Bears added Julius Peppers and that’s bad news for the quarterbacks in the NFC North.

Houston Texans               30/1

Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson is a fantastic combo and if you are playing Fantasy Football, take them both. The rest of the team doesn’t have enough to win more than eight games.

Washington Redskins    35/1

If they can clear up the bitterness between Albert Haynesworth and Coach Mike Shanahan they have enough talent, albeit older talent, to surprise many teams.

Arizona Cardinals             40/1

It took three players to fly to Mississippi to convince Brett Favre to comeback, if I’m Coach Ken Whisenhunt, I’m sending 45 to Kurt Warner’s house and beg him to come back.

Carolina Panthers            50/1

John Fox is a hell of a coach and the Panthers are a solid sleeper choice.

Denver Broncos                50/1

I like Kyle Orton and I trust Josh McDaniel, they won’t be as bad as people expect.

Jacksonville Jaguars        60/1

They are the Toronto Blue Jays of the NFL, if they were in the AFC or NFC West, they would win the division. The AFC South, not so much.

Seattle Seahawks            60/1

Pete Carroll is a good college coach but he’s begins his second NFL stint with the least talented team in the league.

Cleveland Browns            100/1

Josh Cribbs will be awesome to watch this season, the rest of the Browns…meh.

Oakland Raiders               100/1

The Raider defense is decent and if Michael Bush can get enough touches, the Raiders should challenge for the middle of the AFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs            100/1

I like KC so I’m bias here. They can field a good team but they lack depth at all positions to have any staying power.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers                  150/1

If I’m starting a “coaches to be fired” list, Raheem Morris is first on my list. Fingers crossed he doesn’t screw up Josh Freeman.

Buffalo Bills         150/1

Their running game will be nice. C.J. Spiller is a rookie of the year candidate. The rest of the offense will be the opposite of nice.

Detroit Lions      150/1

The Lions will surprise some teams; they will gain a little bit more respectability this year. Suh looks like Warren Sapp in his prime.

St Louis Rams    200/1

This team has been so horribly run in the last few years; Sam Bradford won’t be enough to keep the stink off this team.

The New York Jets have the most hype behind them coming into the season but with so many big personalities, so many expectations and their best defensive player is holding out. A cornerback has never been the difference for a Super Bowl team but Revis will be the difference this season because the Jets are not a Super Bowl team. The Patriots are always tough, Tom Brady is motivated and Randy Moss is in a contract year. They’ll put up very nice numbers. The Dolphins are a quiet strong contender, a lot will be dependent on Chris Henne developing and Brandon Marshall giving them a consistent deep threat. The Bills should have an exciting backfield but not much else excites me about the Bills. The Patriots are the obvious choice but I’m pulling for the Dolphins to win a Wildcard spot.

The Ravens should run away with the AFC North; Joe Flacco has a couple new targets but none bigger than Anquan Boldin. The defense is always solid. You can mark the Ravens down for 12 wins. The Bengals are relying on Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco to give Carson Palmer deep threats. Both are great but it won’t be enough to surpass the Ravens. I’m not big on the Steelers, losing Big Ben for 4-6 games will be too much of a hole to overcome against the rest of the North. The Browns are the Browns, I wish Delhomme luck but he’s not enough. Ravens all day long.

The Colts are robots; they win in the regular season like nobody else. The playoffs are another story.  They should continue their AFC South dominance. The Texans defense is suspect and they will lose a lot of close games, a lot of close 35-31 games. The Tennessee Titans will be the number two team in the division, Chris Johnson will have a dropped off in performance but  he’ll still be solid. The Jags could surprise in the division and when I say surprise I mean they will finish higher than the Texans.  Colts – Yawn.

The Chargers are huge favorites but it’s Norv Turners third year as head coach and that usually leads to bad news for his teams. The Broncos will be much better than people give them credit for, I’m a huge fan of Kyle Orton and while he’s not flashy, he just wins. The Raiders will be better, it won’t be enough to escape the basement.  The KC Chiefs are my surprise pick to win this division, they have another year in the system and have lots of young talent. They have the easiest schedule and with the West so evenly matched, the Chiefs will win with 10 wins.

The storylines in the NFC North will always surround Brett Favre in some way. If the Vikings are good, the media will be praising Favre. If the Vikings are horrible, the media will be saying Favre is done and at least 90% of the writers that were salivating at him returning will go the other direction and claim he should have stayed home.  If the Packers are as good as expected, they will be praised for letting go of Favre when they did.

There is always hope the Bears team of former head coaches can inspire the team to an NFC North title. The Lions are still a few more years away. I like the Packers to win and the Bears to win a Wildcard.

The defending Super Bowl champions are the favorite to win the NFC South but it won’t be a cakewalk this season. They still have a ridiculous video game offense but their defense is still a concern. Another year under the Greg Williams system will be good but you have to wonder if they can continue to take away the ball with the same regularity. The Atlanta Falcons are healthy, something they weren’t last year. Matt Ryan will be in his third year in the league and Michael Turner should have his legs back. The Panthers are in a state of flux, this will be John Fox’s last season as the Panthers coach. The Bucs are in for another long season. I like the Falcons to steal the division this year.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Dallas Cowboys but their offensive line is getting older, they are the favorites but they will be challenged in the East more than people would think. The Eagles are have a good young QB in Kevin Kolb and a solid running tandem in LeSean McCoy and Mike Bell. If Kolb performs, the Eagles will win 9 games. The Giants are healthy and that’s good news in New York, the Jets have the hype in NYC but the Giants will be the best football team in the new Meadowlands. The Redskins have a lot of veterans but the pissing match between coach Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth will be too much of a distraction to overcome. I like the Giants to surprise in the East.

The San Francisco 49ers are big favorites to win the NFC West after the Arizona Cardinals hall of fame QB Kurt Warner retired from the league. With Warner gone, the Cardinals will rely on Matt Leinart and that is a tricky proposition. The 49ers should be solid on the ground and if Alex Smith and Vernon Davis continue their great play of last season, the favorite status is warranted. The Seattle Seahawks have a healthy Matt Hasselbeck to start the season for the first time in several years, they’ll need him because their O-Line and rushing will be suspect. The Rams will win more games than last season, it would be hard not to but it will take years to erase the stink of the past few.  I think the Cardinals will sneak in and win the West as their defense is still very good.

In the rematch it was more of the same, Frankie Edgar proved the first fight against BJ Penn wasn’t a joke. He danced around Penn landing punches on his challenger as a 3/1 clip, Penn landed 52 and Edgar landed 155.

When he wasn’t landing jabs on Penn, Edgar was taking the former champion to the ground.

People say Penn was ill leading up to their first fight but this time around Penn had no excuses as Edgar won all five round on all three judges’ score cards.

As the end grew near, the frustration in BJ Penn’s heart bubbled to the surface but it didn’t help.

Frankie Edgar will now move on to defend his title against Gray Maynard who beat Kenny Florian in a contenders match.

It will be an interesting fight as Maynard is the only man to ever beat Edgar and Maynard is still without a loss.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Here is the main event, it take a little while to load. Use this password 65768888

I’ll admit I lost a couple of bucks on this one but I’ll blame Dana White and the hype machine for making it seem like James Toney would be a credible opponent for Captain America. The fight went as everyone predicted, Randy Couture shot the legs of James Toney just 20 seconds into the fight and then proceeded to pound Toney.

Toney eventually fell into a head and arm choke. Toney was lost, it looked like he wanted to give up early but wasn’t sure how to tap out.
There will be a lot of Smack talked about James Toney but you have to give the man credit, he has been the most high profile boxer to ever step into the cage against a UFC fighter. He didn’t win but he had the balls to try.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Here is the entire Couture – James Toney Fight – In the box use this password ( 315534)and the video will begin.