FRIDAY NOTES & SATURDAY'S PLAYS
Virginia Tech will be without staring running back Ryan Williams tomorrow against Boston College. The 1,653-yard runner from a year ago may miss next week's game versus North Carolina State.
The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a 1-year tender offer for Sergio Kindle, one of the their 2nd round draft picks. He was the last player from April's draft to sign. Kindle fell down two flights of stairs back in July & suffered a fractured skull. He will be unable to play this season, but the Ravens went ahead & offered him a deal for one year hoping he will be able to play next season. His contract is for $280,000.
The Denver Broncos are really banged up for Sunday's game with Indianapolis. Knowshon Moreno was ruled out today, right tackle Ryan Harris is still doubtful. Nose tackle Jamal Williams hasn't practiced all week & is questionable. Champ Bailey & Andre Goodman, the starting cornerbacks, have only practiced one day, so their status for Sunday could well be a game time decision.
Charger starting running back Ryan Mathews has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Seattle.
The Dallas-Houston game opened at pick 'em. Now the bettors have driven the game up to Houston -3. beware.
Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network has tabbed the San Francisco Forty-Niners as his "Lock" of the week. Everybody is on the Niners. Once again, beware.
I read an article in the Omaha World Herald last month that discussed the reported offer from Nebraska to play Boise State. in the article, Nebraska officials were quoted as saying they wanted to play Boise, but the Broncos were asking for a million-dollar guarantee to come to Lincoln & that wasn't going to happen. After a lot of digging, Andrea Anderson of ESPN.com has uncovered some facts that were omitted in the Herald piece. Nebraska paid Western Michigan & San Jose State $800,000 each to play in Lincoln in 2008. They also paid New Mexico State $825,000 for a date in Lincoln. Lesser Division 1 programs are paid big money to play the "Big Boys." Auburn paid Arkansas State & Louisiana-Monroe a million bucks apiece to come play in Bama. Also omitted from the original article was the fact Boise was willing to play just a one-and-done game in Lincoln for a million dollars or a 2 for 1 series with 2 games in Lincoln & one in Boise, the visitors getting a million in every game. Nebraska said no to every proposal. I'm not bagging on Nebraska, they're just one of several teams who claimed to want Boise on their schedules, but in reality, had no intention of paying a team a million dollars & run the risk that team could actually beat them.
The college plays from a week ago were, in a word, miserable. Tomorrow is a new day, full of fresh enthusiasm & confidence. Here goes.
Alabama at Arkansas over 54 1/2
I see Tide runners Mark Ingram & Trent Richardson busting some big plays against Arkansas. I see Ryan Mallett throwing a lot in this game. Big runs stop the clock on first downs, 40+ passing attempts will stop the clock as well. Over, Rover. Alabama 38 Arkansas 31
California +7 at Arizona
Classic let-down spot for Wildcats off their statement game against Iowa. Cal isn't as bad as they showed at Nevada a week ago. Shane Vereen, Cal running back, is a true game-breaker. he better be, Bear QB Kevin Riley will be rushed hard by Arizona front that sacked Rickie Stanzi 6 times last week. The home team has won the last 5 games. Arizona 24 California 20
The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a 1-year tender offer for Sergio Kindle, one of the their 2nd round draft picks. He was the last player from April's draft to sign. Kindle fell down two flights of stairs back in July & suffered a fractured skull. He will be unable to play this season, but the Ravens went ahead & offered him a deal for one year hoping he will be able to play next season. His contract is for $280,000.
The Denver Broncos are really banged up for Sunday's game with Indianapolis. Knowshon Moreno was ruled out today, right tackle Ryan Harris is still doubtful. Nose tackle Jamal Williams hasn't practiced all week & is questionable. Champ Bailey & Andre Goodman, the starting cornerbacks, have only practiced one day, so their status for Sunday could well be a game time decision.
Charger starting running back Ryan Mathews has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Seattle.
The Dallas-Houston game opened at pick 'em. Now the bettors have driven the game up to Houston -3. beware.
Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network has tabbed the San Francisco Forty-Niners as his "Lock" of the week. Everybody is on the Niners. Once again, beware.
I read an article in the Omaha World Herald last month that discussed the reported offer from Nebraska to play Boise State. in the article, Nebraska officials were quoted as saying they wanted to play Boise, but the Broncos were asking for a million-dollar guarantee to come to Lincoln & that wasn't going to happen. After a lot of digging, Andrea Anderson of ESPN.com has uncovered some facts that were omitted in the Herald piece. Nebraska paid Western Michigan & San Jose State $800,000 each to play in Lincoln in 2008. They also paid New Mexico State $825,000 for a date in Lincoln. Lesser Division 1 programs are paid big money to play the "Big Boys." Auburn paid Arkansas State & Louisiana-Monroe a million bucks apiece to come play in Bama. Also omitted from the original article was the fact Boise was willing to play just a one-and-done game in Lincoln for a million dollars or a 2 for 1 series with 2 games in Lincoln & one in Boise, the visitors getting a million in every game. Nebraska said no to every proposal. I'm not bagging on Nebraska, they're just one of several teams who claimed to want Boise on their schedules, but in reality, had no intention of paying a team a million dollars & run the risk that team could actually beat them.
The college plays from a week ago were, in a word, miserable. Tomorrow is a new day, full of fresh enthusiasm & confidence. Here goes.
Alabama at Arkansas over 54 1/2
I see Tide runners Mark Ingram & Trent Richardson busting some big plays against Arkansas. I see Ryan Mallett throwing a lot in this game. Big runs stop the clock on first downs, 40+ passing attempts will stop the clock as well. Over, Rover. Alabama 38 Arkansas 31
California +7 at Arizona
Classic let-down spot for Wildcats off their statement game against Iowa. Cal isn't as bad as they showed at Nevada a week ago. Shane Vereen, Cal running back, is a true game-breaker. he better be, Bear QB Kevin Riley will be rushed hard by Arizona front that sacked Rickie Stanzi 6 times last week. The home team has won the last 5 games. Arizona 24 California 20
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