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[CNOTES]

Seahawks sign LB Wagner to $43 million deal


Aug 02, 2015


The Seattle Seahawks signed All-Pro Bobby Wagner to a four-year, $43 million extension, making him the NFL's highest-paid middle linebacker.


The fourth-year player agreed to the extension late Saturday night, according to multiple media reports.


Team owner Paul Allen later confirmed Wagner's extension on his Twitter account: "@Seahawks signed LB @Bwagz54 to a 4 year extension tonight! #GoHawks."


Wagner's is the second megadeal completed by the Seahawks in two days. Quarterback Russell Wilson signed a four-year, $87.6 million contract before training camp began Friday.


When word of Wagner's deal got out Saturday night, Wilson tweeted, "My bro!!!! #BigTime."


On Friday, Wagner expressed some annoyance that his deal was not yet done, responding to a question about a deadline by saying, "Now. That's my deadline."


"If it happens, it happens," he said. "All I know is at the end of the season you all know that I'm the best linebacker in this league, and that's my focus. Everything else will take care of itself."


Coach Pete Carroll was emphatic Friday that the Seahawks plan to sign him soon.


"We're on it," Carroll said. "Whoever thought that we were done with that thing, that was not right. We're on it, and we're going to keep competing to get that done. We have planned for this for a long time, and nothing has changed at all in that. Our guys are working at it by the hour."


Wagner, 25, has recorded 364 combined tackles and nine sacks in three NFL seasons since being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft out of Utah State. He made his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams last season when he made 104 tackles and two sacks.

 

[CNOTES]

Bills claim OT Jones off waivers from Titans


Aug 01, 2015


The Buffalo Bills claimed offensive tackle Terren Jones off waivers from the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.


Jones, an undrafted rookie in 2013, has spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.


--------------------------------


Dolphins claim WR Hamilton off waivers


Aug 01, 2015


The Miami Dolphins claimed wide receiver Cobi Hamilton off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.


To make room for Hamilton on the 90-man roster, the Dolphins waived wide receiver Kai De La Cruz.


The 6-foot-2, 201-pound Hamilton spent part of the previous two seasons on the practice squads of the Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles. The Bengals signed him to the 53-man roster on Dec. 31, and he made his NFL debut in their wild-card playoff loss at the Indianapolis Colts.


Hamilton originally was a sixth-round draft pick of Cincinnati in 2013.


---------------------------------


Hoyer, Mallett officially begin QB competition


Aug 01, 2015


HOUSTON -- There were cameras everywhere and everything was a circus. But nothing changed between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett as the Houston Texans opened training camp and kicked off the team's first-ever preseason true quarterback competition.


Like the beginning of OTAs and minicamp, Hoyer started with the first team and Mallett ran the second. Like all the non-contact workouts that preceded Saturday's public practice session, head coach Bill O'Brien said there was nothing to read into who played with whom and how the Texans' top two quarterbacks were handled.


"Everybody gets reps with everybody else. We don't look at it as a first team and a second team and a third team and all that," O'Brien said at the team's practice facility, with the coach shaded beneath a tent, an HBO "Hard Knocks" camera zooming in and an overhanging microphone capturing every word.


Then came the real questions.


After offseason workouts and a six-week layoff, does O'Brien have a better feel for when he'll announce his Week 1 starter?


"No," he said.


Does Hoyer have an edge after Day One? Mallett?


"No," O'Brien said.


Hoyer was more efficient and smoother Saturday. He also missed throws that NFL starters make and rarely wowed watchers. Mallett had three consecutive incompletions near the goal line and was noticeably off target at times. He also threw a touchdown bomb to Nate Washington that elicited one of the biggest cheers of the day from a constantly cheering crowd.


"Both guys had some good plays and both guys had some plays they'd probably want to have back," O'Brien said.


While O'Brien was tight-lipped, linebacker Brian Cushing returned with a smile. No player was more excited to be sweating at camp than Cushing, the inside linebacker who suffered through a two-year ordeal after undergoing two surgeries on the same knee.


"I'm out here to return to form," Cushing said. "This is the best I've felt in a while."


In the offseason, Cushing worked out with a demon-like intensity. But he got to spend more time as a father and husband instead of undergoing dawn-to-dusk rehabilitation at NRG Stadium.


At last year's training camp, Cushing was rehabbing. He wasn't cleared for practice until the third preseason game.


"This (practice) was nothing compared to (last two camps), injury-wise," he said. "I couldn't do anything this time last year. I could hardly run."


Cushing disclosed during the offseason program that the operations on his knee forced him to learn to walk again. Now he's running full speed and hoping to play well enough to convince the coaches he can be the every-down player he was before the first surgery in 2012.


"I don't have to overcome anything or rehab," he said. "I can just go full force right into practice and work on football."


--------------------------------------------


Bears' Jennings plays semantics in nickel


Aug 01, 2015


BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Asked if he could be called a nickel back now, Tim Jennings said, "No, you can call me a cornerback."


Jennings, nonetheless, will be in the slot position as the third cornerback this season when the Chicago Bears go to the five-defensive back package.


He originally was slated for this duty last year and played there in the opener before Charles Tillman's season-ending injury. Then he stayed at left cornerback.


"With the defense we'll be running now, it fits well to what I'm trying to do, what they'll want me to do," Jennings said.


Former Jaguars cornerback Alan Ball figures to move into the left corner spot when Jennings moves to the slot.


Jennings called the experience last year a big help because now he knows what the position entails.


"It's kind of really playing the whole field," he said. "I know how to leverage, just kind of being mindful, being a student of the game. With my knowledge and my experience, it should fit well."


--Quarterback Jay Cutler can't say he is as familiar with the offense as he was when last year's camp started, but at least this coaching staff has him feeling good in what could be a make-or-break year for him.


"I'm comfortable with these guys," he said. "I've known some of these coaches throughout my career.


"They've had a lot of success in this league and they're trying to bring it here. I feel good about it, but I think we have a great group of players on the field right now offensively, guys that mesh together."


Ironically, Cutler and other veterans see a closeness developing two years after Marc Trestman tried to force togetherness on the team by switching around lockers to break up position groups.


"This year, we're back to learning another offense and a new group of guys and I think the locker room has changed a little bit more than it has in the past," Cutler said. "So there's a lot of newness to this group that everyone's going to have to get used to. We're going to have to work out some personalities and see how it all meshes together."


--Pernell McPhee sounded a bit wistful when talking about how well he worked with pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil while with the Baltimore Ravens.


"All three of us were, like, three guys who we're each different so we kind of complemented each other," McPhee said. "Sometimes Suggs set up the speed rush and I'd go inside. Sometimes I'd set up the speed rush and power and he'd go inside. Dum, we always played off the other. If I'd go inside sometimes he'd come over the top. We all complemented each other in different ways of the game. But I'm here now.


"They're my boys, man. Plus Haloti (Ngata), (Courtney) Upshaw. Bu right now I'm a Bear. I've got new brothers. And that's what I'm looking forward to."


--Having successful veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio scheming offenses has given Bears players a perceived boost in confidence.


Jennings said it will lead to a strategic advantage.


"I think he puts guys in positions to make plays," Jennings said. "We're looking forward to him putting us in the right position. He's a very smart coach, so the team that we play is going to be different every week.


"And he's going to be able to stategize. He's a very smart man as far as putting guys in position to make plays."


--Jeremiah Ratliff lined up largely at nose tackle early in camp, although he'll also play at end in the 3-4. The 34-year-old stiff-armed reporters' questions about how long he wanted to play.


"That's a later discussion. This is the first day of training camp, man," he said.


Then he admitted it's not the first time he has had to do this. His children ask him, too.


"Oh, yeah, they ask me that," he said. "Before I left out the door, they're just like, 'Is this your last year?' I told them the same thing."


--By the second day of training camp, the Bears' top 2015 draft pick on the field was center Hroniss Grasu, a third-round selection from Oregon.


Second-round pick Eddie Goldman left the field in the second practice because of dehydration. The Florida State nose tackle was also dehydrated during his first rookie camp practice and left the field.


Wide receiver Kevin White, the team's first-round pick from West Virginia, went on preseason PUP while trying to build his cardio after offseason time missed because of an unspecified shin injury. He is expected back on the field at some point in camp.


Cornerback Kyle Fuller left the field and talked to trainers near the end of the second day of practice on Saturday with what coach John Fox described as a "tweaked" ankle. Fox didn't know the extent of the injury.

 

[CNOTES]

Big Ten Media Days: No more cupcakes on schedule


Jul 31, 2015


CHICAGO -- The Big Ten mandates a beefed up nonconference schedule in 2016 that won't include Football Championship Series programs who could once count on a big payday and often a loss.


So long Illinois State, Richmond and Appalachian State.


Nice knowing you Florida International, Indiana State and Western Illinois.


The second-tier football programs on current or recent Big Ten schedules will vanish after this season.


Big Ten commissioner James Delany, who outlined changes as well as a nine-game Big Ten regular-season schedule during this week's conference football media days, said the College Football Playoff Committee wants teams from top-tier conferences to schedule only FBS programs.


"We'll have one major intersectional game each year against an autonomy conference," Delany said. "We'll have nine conference games, which allows us to play each other on a more regular basis, which I think is important as conferences expand. We'll have a championship game. And then we'll have all of our games against FBS competition."


Some Big Ten schools have already adapted and others are in final years of contracts with FCS schools.


"It took a little while to get here because of schedules and expansion," Delany said. "But all of our coaches and players and athletic directors are committed to this platform. We think it's what our fans want. We think it's what our players want. And we think it's what the College Football Playoff committee wants."


FOOT IN THE DOOR

Coming off an 8-5 season and a bowl appearance, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood carries both a winning reputation and a top-notch brand as he persuades recruits to join his program.


"You attach yourself to a brand like the Big Ten and you play in what we believe is the premiere athletic, academic conference in the country and in the most competitive division in all of college football," Flood said.


"If you're recruiting the right kind of players, they want to play that kind of football. And I really believe there's no doubt it's elevated our recruiting over the last two years.”


Rutgers posted wins over Michigan, Indiana and Maryland in its inaugural Big Ten season and beat North Carolina 40-21 in the Quick Lane Bowl.


The Scarlett Knights return 14 starters from that team (five on offense, five on defense and four specialists). Perhaps the leading returnee is wide receiver Leonte Carroo, who opted out of 2015 NFL Draft contention for another college season.


"He's one of the premier playmakers in the country," Flood said. "When he made a decision to come back to Rutgers for his senior year, our program got better. And it gave him an opportunity to do some things in his career that he had not accomplished yet."


Carroo said he had no regrets.


"You have to know that the NFL isn't going anywhere and you can play that game the following year," he said. "I knew my degree was important to me. That was a big factor."


RETURN TO NORMALCY


With scandals and sanctions the norm during the past few years, Penn State still isn't sure what a regular football season feels like.


The Nittany Lions are about to find out.


Scholarships were restored and a bowl game ban was lifted last year while a lawsuit growing out of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal at the school was settled in January.


The late Joe Paterno also had all his wins restored, making him once again the winningest coach in college football history.


"So many positive things falling into place for us right now," second-year Penn State coach James Franklin said. "Penn State being able to get the scholarships back, having an opportunity to go to bowl games, the way recruiting is going, the way we played in the bowl, and the way the season ended."


The Nittany Lions beat Boston College 31-30 to complete a 7-6 season.


"I'm really happy for our kids and our program," Franklin said. "We're coming into this season with nothing floating over our head. They have the ability to be able to chase their dreams at the very, very highest level. So really, really excited."


Penn State returns 40 letter-winners, including 15 starters -- eight on offense and seven on defense. Among the returnees is senior tackle Anthony Zettel, a preseason All-American candidate and one of 13 Big Ten players to watch, as selected by the league.


Zettel, redshirt sophomore wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and senior safety Jordan Lucas all received All-Big Ten preseason citation by national preview publications.


HEALTHY ALL AROUND


Jerry Kill's health is fine and Minnesota football is feeling pretty upbeat. too.


The Golden Gophers went 8-5 for the second straight season last year and had Kill's first winning Big Ten record, finishing 5-3 in the Big Ten West. They also qualified for a Jan. 1 bowl game, falling to Missouri 33-17 in the Citrus Bowl.


The Minnesota coach suffered epileptic seizures during his first three seasons at Minnesota -- including a 10-day hospitalization in 2013 -- but reports he's now in good health.


"I'm doing great," he said. "I've been seizure free now for over a year and a half. I feel great. What else can I say but I'm doing good."


Kill received two Big Ten coach of the year awards last year and welcomes back 15 starters from that group, including five on offense and seven on defense.


The Gophers, however, face a challenging schedule with consensus No. 2 TCU at home on Sept. 3 and a November clash at reigning national champion Ohio State.


"We'll be good up front and that's where it all starts," he said. "(Quarterback) Mitch (Leidner) has had an outstanding offseason. He's a year older. He went to Peyton Manning's camp, which he was invited to, which I think was good for him."

 

[CNOTES]

Pac-12 Media Days: USC in the midst of resurgence


Jul 31, 2015


The biggest theme of Pac-12 Media Days was that USC, presumably, is back.


"You voted us to be the conference champions," Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said Friday on the second and final day of the event, held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif. "We're appreciative of that, but the reality is we need to put our best foot forward every time we take the field."


USC hasn't been conference champ since coach Pete Carroll's final season in 2008, and it hasn't won the Pac-12 South division since the league expanded in 2011. The program's last national championship -- later vacated by the BCS because of NCAA sanctions -- came in 2004.


But the Trojans' talent flashes back to the good ol' days following its re-emergence from NCAA sanctions and scholarship limitations: A Heisman candidate quarterback (Cody Kessler), some of the most elite athletes in the country (linebacker/safety Su'a Cravens, cornerback/receiver/returner Adoree' Jackson, receiver JuJu Smith) and an offensive line that has once again turned into a strength.


All of this five-star talent apparently has a chip on its shoulder, too.


"Me, personally, I haven't done anything," Kessler said. "Neither have any of these guys. All this stuff that is out there is cool and all, but I'm a 10-4 and 9-4 quarterback."


The message is that those USC records from the past two seasons haven't been -- and won't be -- good enough.


"Nobody is going to look back go, 'Oh, they went 9-4; that's awesome,'" Kessler said. "The most important thing to me is winning every game."


USC, which added arguably the nation's top recruiting class, lost three games last season by less than a touchdown and also fell to crosstown rival UCLA for the third consecutive season. Kessler was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the country as a junior, completing 69.7 percent of his passes, with 39 touchdowns and five interceptions.


The offense often played it safe last season but has the horses to attempt more downfield throws, which is one of the teaching points to Kessler.


"I coach quarterbacks harder than any player on the team," Sarkisian said, relating a story about Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.


"Duncan gets ripped by Gregg Popovich after one game, and he goes, 'If Pop can't coach me that hard, how is he going to expect to coach everybody else that hard?' So, I coach Cody harder than anybody else. I expect Cody to be better at the most critical moments in the biggest games than he was a year ago. That is what is going to define him."


While USC has a Heisman candidate at quarterback, Oregon has to replace one.


Jeff Lockie was the backup to Marcus Mariota last season, but much of the offseason hype has been about Eastern Washington graduate transfer Vernon Adams, who isn't expected to arrive until a few days into fall camp, needing to complete one more summer class. Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said Friday he was only going to talk about quarterbacks currently in the program, an effective "no comment" about Adams.


Lockie, a junior who attempted 28 passes last season, doesn't have the same athletic profile as Mariota.


"From an analogy standpoint, he's a point guard," Helfrich said. "He knows everything about our system. He executed it almost flawlessly in the spring. He had a great spring. ... I have total confidence in Jeff. Our players do, too."


The Ducks, who lost to Ohio State in last season's national championship game, were picked to win the Pac-12 North in a vote of league media. Oregon received 37 first-place votes; the eight others went to Stanford.


NOTES:


Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez rambled when asked if it was "refreshing" to have a returning starting quarterback (sophomore Anu Solomon) for the first time in his four years with the Wildcats. "Refreshing? I think a nice, cold beer or a Bacardi and Coke or maybe even a nice ice tea, sweetened, is more refreshing. What was the question again?" ... USC coach Steve Sarkisian presumably took a little shot at the sartorial splendor of Oregon when asked about his recruiting approach. "We fall back on our rich tradition," he said. "We're not going to take the field in 13 different uniforms." Ducks fans quickly noted on Twitter that Sarkisian is 0-6 against Oregon as a head coach, losing by an average of 25.8 points. USC plays at Oregon on Nov. 21. ... Cal junior QB Jared Goff was listed as a top-10 pick in an early NFL mock draft by ESPN's Todd McShay. "It hasn't changed him a bit," Cal coach Sonny Dykes said of the expectations. "If anything, it's made him more focused on improving our team and our program. He's very unselfish. He gets it."

 

[CNOTES]

Big Ten conference college football betting preview: Plenty of talent returns to Ohio State


Jul 21, 2015


Covers Expert Will Rogers breaks down the best ways to wager on the Big 10 and gives his season win total picks for each of its members heading into the new college football campaign.


Ohio State Buckeyes (2014: 14-1 SU, 10-5 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: -260
Season win total: 11


Why to bet the Buckeyes: No team enjoys as much quarterback depth as the Buckeyes, who boast three signal callers that are all considered legitimate Heisman hopefuls. They return plenty of talent from last year's championship squad, including star running back Ezekiel Elliot, who ran for 1402 yards and a dozen TDs last season. This year's schedule presents very little problems, with their toughest game looking like a home game against Michigan State.


Why not to bet the Buckeyes: The only thing not to like about this team is that expectations are sky high. OSU is going to be a heavy favorite week in and week out, and it's not going to be easy to live up to all the hype. There's also a potential for a quarterback controversy that could prove to be a distraction to the team.


Season win total pick: Over 11


Michigan State Spartans (2014: 11-2 SU, 9-4 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +800
Season win total: 9.5


Why to bet the Spartans: Conner Cook returns at quarterback for the Spartans after throwing for 3214 yards and 24 TDs with just eight INTs last season. Senior All-American Jack Allen is the rock in what is projected to be one of the best offensive lines in the country.


Why not to bet the Spartans: With the loss of Big10 Receiver of the Year Tony Lippett and 1500 yard rusher Jeremy Langford leaves the Spartans with unproven players at key positions on offense. The schedule isn't going to be easy either, hosting Oregon in Week 2, and playing on the road in Columbus in November. When it's all said and done, it's hard to see the Spartans knocking off the defending champs.


Season win total pick: Over 9.5


Wisconsin Badgers (2014: 11-3 SU, 6-8 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +1200
Season win total: 10


Why to bet the Badgers: Last year Wisconsin ranked 4th in the nation in total defense, and 17th in scoring defense. This season's squad will boast a ton of talent with the likes of junior outside linebacker Vince Biegel who led the team with 16.5 tackles for a loss, and senior outside linebacker Joe Schobert, who recorded 13.5 tackles for a loss in 2014. They will have plenty of experience in the secondary with both starting corners returning along with senior safety Michael Caputo.


Why not to bet the Badgers: The quarterback position was a glaring weakness for Wisconsin in 2014, and they bring back five year senior Joel Stave for another year. He threw more picks (10) than he did TDs (9) last season, completing just 53 percent of his passes. The Badgers have high hopes for junior running back Corey Clement, but he's got big shoes to fill replacing Melvin Gordon.


Season win total pick: Under 10


Nebraska Cornhuskers (2014: 9-4 SU, 8-4-1 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +1700
Season win total: 8


Why to bet on the Cornhuskers: First year head coach Mike Riley brings a more relaxed approach to Nebraska, which is in stark contrast to his predecessor Bo Pelini, who has a reputation for being a bit of a hot head. While he will make the transition to more of a pro-style offense, the transition will be made easier with Tommy Armstrong Jr. returning at quarterback after throwing for 2695 yards and 22 TDs last season.


Why not to bet on the Cornhuskers: They will need to replace All-American running back Ameer Abdullah, who ran for 1583 yards and 18 TDs in 2014. Nebraska will not have much time to settle in under a new coach and a new system, as they are thrown right into the fire with tough non-conference games against BYU and Miami in the first three weeks.


Season win total pick: Over 8


Michigan Wolverines (2014: 5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +2000
Season win total: 7.5


Why to bet on the Wolverines: Michigan's defense was one of the more underrated units in the country last year, and they finished 2014 ranked 7th in the country in total defense. They bring back 24 of the 29 players that appeared on the final depth chart last year, and they bring talented freshman Jabrill Peppers into the mix.


Why not to bet on the Wolverines: Last season under Brady Hoke the Wolverines ranked 107th nationally in passing, and it's likely going to take a while before we see vast improvements. There is still a ton of uncertainty at the quarterback position, and a lack of offense could put too much pressure on the defense.


Season win total pick: Over 7.5


Penn State Nittany Lions (2014: 7-6 SU, 6-6-1 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +2500
Season win total: 7.5


Why to bet the Nittany Lions: Last year quarterback Christian Hackenberg was sacked 44 times (the most in the Big10). Inexperience on the offensive line was their biggest weakness in 2014, and that's something that has been addressed. They return six starters from last year's O-line, and we should see Hackenberg improve on a miserable 2014 season.


Why not to bet the Nittany Lions: Hackenberg regressed in 2014, throwing more picks (15) than TDs (12). While you can certainly blame a lot of that on an inexperienced offensive line, we could see some of the same problems carry over into the 2015 season.


Season win total pick: Over 7.5


Minnesota Golden Gophers (2014: 8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +3500
Season win total: 5.5


Why to bet the Golden Gophers: The Gophers bring back seven starters on defense, and they are in good hands with last year's Big10 Coach of the Year Jerry Kill. “We’ve got a chance to be a really, really good football team,” Kill says. “We’re very athletic on both sides of the ball.”


Why not to bet the Golden Gophers: They return only four starters on offense and junior quarterback Mitch Leidner completed 51 percent of his passes throwing for 11 TDs and eight INTs. They ranked 119th in the nation in passing in 2014, and it's more than likely that a struggling offense will put a ton of pressure on their defense.


Season win total pick: Over 5.5


Iowa Hawkeyes (2014: 7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +4500
Season win total: 7.5


Why to bet the Hawkeyes: The departure of quarterback Jake Ruddock is likely to be a positive thing for the Hawkeyes, who hope that junior C.J. Beathard will be more of a playmaker. Ruddock was often criticized for being too conservative, while Beathard wasn't afraid to air it out, showing off his powerful arm.


Why not to bet the Hawkeyes: If Iowa's loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl is any indication of what to expect from this year's defense, the Hawkeyes will be in big trouble. The Vols ran for 283 yards in that game, winning by a score of 45-28.


Season win total pick: Under 7.5


Northwestern Wildcats (2014: 5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +8000
Season win total: 6.5


Why to bet the Wildcats: With 15 starters returning from last season's depth chart, the Wildcats should have a chance to improve on a 5-7 record in 2014. They bring back talented running back Justin Jackson who ranked 4th among Power 5 freshman in all purpose yards (98.9 per game). They also have Christian Jones coming back at WR, and he led the team in receiving the last two years.


Why not to bet the Wildcats: There are still plenty of question marks at the quarterback position, and whoever wins the job will be thrown into the fire in a Week 1 game against Stanford. Playing at Duke two weeks later might not be a cakewalk either.


Season win total pick: Under 6.5


Maryland Terrapins (2014: 7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +12000
Season win total: 4.5


Why to bet the Terrapins: Senior Caleb Rowe steps in at quarterback after throwing for 489 yards, five TDs and four INTs in four appearances last year. They should have more size on an improved offensive line, and they return proven playmakers at receiver and last year's top two running backs Brandon Ross and Wes Brown.


Why not to bet on the Terrapins: The conference schedule looks brutal with road games at East Lansing and Columbus, and home games against Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. The bad news for Maryland is that they will face much stiffer competition in the Big10 this year.


Season win total pick: Over 4.5


Indiana Hoosiers (2014: 4-8 SU, 4-7-1 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +14000
Season win total: 6


Why to bet the Hoosiers: Nate Sudfeld is back at quarterback for the Hoosiers after missing the second half of last season with a shoulder injury. Head coach Kevin Wilson was able to fill a few holes with players coming over from UAB, after the school discontinued it's football program.


Why to not to bet the Hoosiers: It's not going to be easy to replace Tevin Coleman who ran for 2036 yards and 15 TDs in 2014, and was the best running back in school history. The defense has a long way to go after allowing 32.8 points per game, ranking 102nd nationally.


Season win total pick: Under 6


Illinois Fighting Illini (2014: 6-7 SU, 5-8 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +20000
Season win total: 3.5


Why to bet the Illini: Wes Lunt returns at quarterback after throwing for 1729 yards, 14 TDs and just three INTs in 2014. Those are pretty impressive numbers when you consider that he missed five games and battled injuries throughout the season.


Why not to bet the Illini: Leading receiver Mike Dudek tore his ACL back in April, and he'll miss at least the first half of the season. They have a tough conference schedule with home games against Wisconsin, Nebraska and Ohio State, and road games at Penn State and Iowa.


Season win total pick: Over 3.5


Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2014: 8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +30000
Season win total: 5


Why to bet the Scarlet Knights: Kyle Flood's offense appears to be in good shape, despite having to replace quarterback Gary Nova. They boast a talented backfield with the likes of Paul James, Justin Goodwin, Josh Hicks, Robert Martin and Desmon Peoples. Leonte Caroo had 55 catches for 1086 yards and 10 TDs last season, and he chose to forgo the NFL draft and will return for his senior season.


Why not to bet the Scarlet Knights: They ranked dead last in the conference in almost every defensive category a year ago, and they lost to Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State by a combined score of 180–44.


Season win total pick: Under 5


Purdue Boilermakers (2014: 3-9 SU, 6-5-1 ATS)


Odds to win the conference: +30000
Season win total: 4


Why to bet the Boilermakers: Purdue will return six players on the offensive line that saw time as starters in 2014, and quarterback Austin Appleby will be back at quarterback. Appleby threw for 202 yards and a TD on 15-of-20 passing in a win over Illinois in his first start.


Why not to bet on the Boilermakers: After the win over Illinois, Purdue lost it's final six games of the season. Appleby threw for just eight TDs and 10 INTs in those six losses. There doesn't appear to be enough talent available to compete with the big boys of the Big10.


Season win total pick: Under 4

 

[CNOTES]

Big Ten Media Days: Chryst feels at home in Madison


Jul 30, 2015


CHICAGO -- The position may be new, but Paul Chryst is hardly a stranger to Wisconsin football.


The Badgers' new head coach -- a former offensive coordinator as well as player at the school -- is back after a three-year stint as Pittsburgh's head coach.


Chryst returns to a program accustomed to success. Wisconsin is tabbed as favorite to earn another Big Ten West title and is a consensus Top 25 team in the national rankings.


"We've got players that have won a lot of games," Chryst said Thursday at the Big Ten's football Media Days event. "You know, Wisconsin has played in three of the last four Big Ten championship games, and you can't take that away from the guys that have done that."


As Badgers' offensive coordinator, Chryst guided his teams to the Big Ten lead in scoring from 2009-11 before he moved to Pittsburgh.


Chryst will have Joe Rudolph, who followed him from Pitt, as his offensive coordinator. On the field, tailback Corey Clement will be the successor to the now-departed Melvin Gordon, who rushed for 2,587 yards.


Clement ran for 949 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry in 2014.


"He knows he doesn't have to be Melvin," Chryst said. "I like the way that I think Corey's got a clear expectation of what it is to be the running back at Wisconsin. The offense has been a part of offenses that had a lot of success, (but) none of that equals success in the future. You've got to work at it. You've got to make sure players understand."


ILLINI FOCUS ON FOOTBALL


Illinois coach Tim Beckman is concentrating on football, not a probe into how he treated players in the past.


The fourth-year Illini coach dodged questions Thursday about reported mistreatment of players.


"We're focused right now on the 2015 football team," Beckman said. "We've been focused since January on becoming a better football program."


A Chicago-based law firm is looking into charges made by some former players that they were mistreated. Others say they were forced to play while injured, and some maintain they were threatened with loss of scholarships.


Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune talked to more than four dozen current and former Illinois players in a report published Wednesday. Many former players -- recruited under former coach Ron Zook -- were critical of Beckman, while most current players told the Tribune they were supportive.


"The people that have reached out to me though this situation, I can't be more thankful," he said. "We know what we're doing in this program. We understand how this program can get better and better every year because it has. That's reality."


NEW GUYS


Wisconsin's Chryst was the first of three new Big Ten coaches to address the media Thursday. Michigan's Jim Harbaugh and Nebraska's Mike Riley get their chances Friday.


Harbaugh was a four-year Wolverines letter winner from 1983-86, and he returns to Michigan after four years as the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, a stint that included 49 victories and an appearance in the Super Bowl after the 2012 season. He previously coached at the University of San Diego and Stanford.


Riley spent the previous 12 seasons coaching at Oregon State, winning a school record 93 games. He was also head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.


BUCKEYES' SUSPENSIONS


Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, tabbed as one of 11 Big Ten players to watch, was suspended for the Buckeyes' season opener at Virginia Tech along with three teammates, sophomore H-back Jalin Marshall, senior receiver Corey Smith and junior H-back Dontre Wilson.


"All we can do is watch the indicators, watch it closely, and then dive into it with a sledgehammer if we start to see something that's disrupting the team," Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said. "And we've dealt with one. And I knew this was coming for a while, and at some point, we're going to have to address it and we did."


TERRAPINS QB BATTLE


Maryland will have a serious battle between three quarterbacks with experience at the highest levels of college football.


Terrapins coach Randy Edsall said that Oklahoma State transfer Daxx Garman was officially cleared this week. He started eight games last year and threw for 2,041 yards and 12 touchdowns.


Returnees include Caleb Rowe, a senior, and junior Perry Hills. In 2014, Rowe appeared in four games and threw for 489 yards and five touchdowns. Hills, seen as a backup, played in three games, including a 38-31 home win over Iowa.


"You basically have three guys who have won games in Power Five conferences," Edsall said. "At least we have experience, and it's going to be neat to see the completion unfold here in the preseason."

 

[CNOTES]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores


1:10 PM EDT


901 SAN DIEGO PADRES (R) Shields, J 6 6.5u27 / 6o20 / 6o15 6u20 +1.5(-185)
902 MIAMI MARLINS (R) Fernandez, J -160 -157 / -150 / -140 -146 -1.5(+165)

MIA-RF-Giancarlo Stanton-OUT | TV: FS-Florida, FS-San Diego, DTV: 654, 694 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND IN FROM CENTER 9-14. GAME TEMP 89, RH 63% HEAT INDEX 99 (MARLINS STADIUM ROOF CLOSES IN WET WEATHER)


1:10 PM EDT


903 PITTSBURGH PIRATES (R) Morton, C -133 -131 / -134 / -140 -133 -1.5(+120)
904 CINCINNATI REDS (R) Sampson, K 9u15 9o15 / 9u15 / 9u12 9u15 +1.5(-140)

CIN-1B-Joey Votto-Doubtful | TV: FS-Ohio, ROOT-Pittsburgh, DTV: 659, 660 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO LEFT 6-11. GAME TEMP 85, RH 49% HEAT INDEX 87


8:05 PM EDT


905 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (R) Zimmermann, J 6.5u15 6.5u15 / 6.5u20 6.5 +1.5(-230)
906 NEW YORK METS (R) Syndergaard, N -140 -133 / -125 / -121 -117 -1.5(+190)

Time-change to 08:05pm EDT | TV: ESPN, DTV: 206 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 4-9. GAME TEMP 86, RH 37% HEAT INDEX 86


1:35 PM EDT


907 ATLANTA BRAVES (R) Teheran, J -126 -110 / -111 / -112 -109 -1.5(+145)
908 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (L) Morgan, A 8o20 8o20 / 8.5u20 / 8o20 8o20 +1.5(-165)


TV: FS-South, DTV: 646 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 4-9. GAME TEMP 86, RH 38% HEAT INDEX 86


2:10 PM EDT


909 CHICAGO CUBS (L) Richard, C -125 9u20 / 8.5o20 / 9u25 9.5u20 +1.5(-200)
910 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (R) Lohse, K 8.5o20 +101 / -103 / -105 -119 -1.5(+170)


TV: FS-Wisconsin, DTV: 669 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND IN FROM LEFT CENTER 10-20, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 87, RH 54% HEAT INDEX 92


2:15 PM EDT


911 COLORADO ROCKIES (L) Flande, Y 7.5 7o20 / 7o25 / 7o20 7.5u20 +1.5(-140)
912 ST LOUIS CARDINALS (L) Garcia, J -180 -210 / -205 / -200 -184 -1.5(+120)

STL-LF-Matt Holliday-OUT | TV: FS-Midwest, ROOT-Rocky Mountain, DTV: 671, 683 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 5-10. GAME TEMP 90, RH 44% HEAT INDEX 94


1:05 PM EDT


913 KANSAS CITY ROYALS (R) Volquez, E 9 9u25 / 8.5o15 / 8.5o20 9u20 +1.5(-165)
914 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (R) Dickey, R -140 -140 / -135 -141 -1.5(+145)

TV: FS-Kansas City, DTV: 672 | PARTLY CLOUDY, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 10-15. GAME TEMP 79, RH 46% HEAT INDEX 80


1:35 PM EDT


915 DETROIT TIGERS (L) Norris, D 9u20 9u20 / 9u15 / 9u28 9u25 +1.5(-130)
916 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (R) Jimenez, U -165 -190 / -185 / -182 -180 -1.5(+110)

DET-LF-J.D. Martinez-Probable | DET-1B-Miguel Cabrera-OUT | TV: FS-Detroit, MASN2, DTV: 641, 663 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO RIGHT CENTER 5-10. GAME TEMP 87, RH 42% HEAT INDEX 88


1:35 PM EDT


917 TAMPA BAY RAYS (R) Odorizzi, J 9u15 -105 / +100 / -102 9 +1.5(-205)
918 BOSTON RED SOX (L) Miley, W -113 9u15 / 9 / 9u15 -108 -1.5(+175)

Overnight Pitching Change: Tampa Bay - J. Odorizzi for N. Karns | TV: NESN, SunSports, DTV: 628, 653 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 5-10. GAME TEMP 83, RH 35% HEAT INDEX 82


2:10 PM EDT


919 NEW YORK YANKEES (R) Nova, I 8.5o20 8.5o20 / 9u20 / 8.5o20 8.5o20 +1.5(-180)
920 CHICAGO WHITE SOX (R) Samardzija, J -125 -128 / -123 / -128 -128 -1.5(+160)


TV: TBS, WGN (America), YES, DTV: 247, 307, 631 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND RIGHT TO LEFT 10-20, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 88, RH 47% HEAT INDEX 91


2:10 PM EDT


921 SEATTLE MARINERS (R) Iwakuma, H -120 -134 / -130 / -131 -122 -1.5(+135)
922 MINNESOTA TWINS (R) Pelfrey, M 8.5o20 8.5o20 / 8.5 9 +1.5(-155)

TV: FS-North, ROOT-Northwest, DTV: 668, 687 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS EARLY. WIND OUT TO LEFT CENTER 10-15, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 84, RH 49% HEAT INDEX 86


4:05 PM EDT


923 CLEVELAND INDIANS (R) Bauer, T 7u20 7u20 / 6.5o25 6.5o20 +1.5(-175)
924 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (R) Gray, S -160 -153 / -148 / -150 -147 -1.5(+155)

TV: CSN-California, SportsTime Ohio, DTV: 662, 698 | PARTLY CLOUDY, WIND OUT TO RIGHT CENTER 8-13. GAME TEMP 71, RH 63% HEAT INDEX 72


2:10 PM EDT


925 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (L) Ray, R 8o20 8o20 / 8.5u20 / 8.5u15 8.5o15 +1.5(-165)
926 HOUSTON ASTROS (R) Mchugh, C -140 -148 / -154 / -149 -150 -1.5(+145)

TV: FS-Arizona, ROOT-Southwest, DTV: 674, 686 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND IN FROM RIGHT CENTER 3-8. GAME TEMP 95, RH 44% HEAT INDEX 103 (MINUTE MAID PARK ROOF MAY CLOSE IN HOT WEATHER)


3:05 PM EDT


927 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (R) Leake, M -140 -114 / -119 / -118 -114 -1.5(+130)
928 TEXAS RANGERS (L) Perez, M 9.5 9.5 / 9.5o15 10u20 +1.5(-150)

TV: CSN-Bay, FS-Southwest, DTV: 676, 696 | MOSTLY FAIR, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 5-10. GAME TEMP 94, RH 32% HEAT INDEX 95


4:10 PM EDT


929 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (R) Rasmus, C 7.5u20 7.5u20 7.5 +1.5(-180)
930 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (R) Latos, M -160 -160 / -155 / -150 -140 -1.5(+160)


Time-change to 04:10pm EDT | TV: SportsNet LA | PARTLY CLOUDY, WIND OUT TO LEFT 4-9. GAME TEMP 85, RH 42% HEAT INDEX 86

 

[CNOTES]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores


3:05 PM EDT


601 PHOENIX MERCURY -4 -5.5 / -5.5 -14 / -6 -5.5 -260
602 ATLANTA DREAM 155.5 154.5 / 154.5u16 / 154.5 156 +215

PHO-G-Diana Taurasi-OUT | TV: SportSouth, FS-AZ+, DTV: 649, 686


3:05 PM EDT


603 SEATTLE STORM 145 145 145.5 +400
604 NEW YORK LIBERTY -9 -9 EVEN / -8.5 / -8.5 EVEN -9 -15 -500

TV: NBA, DTV: 216


4:35 PM EDT


605 LOS ANGELES SPARKS -2.5 -3.5 -15 / -3.5 -26 / -4 -4.5 -200
606 SA STARS 150 150.5o16 / 151.5 / 152.5 152.5 +170


6:05 PM EDT


607 WASHINGTON MYSTICS 159 160 / 160.5 / 159.5 158.5 +200
608 CHICAGO SKY -3.5 -04 -4.5 / -4.5 -21 / -5 -5.5 -240


6:05 PM EDT


609 CONNECTICUT SUN 149.5 150 / 150o21 / 150.5 151.5 +220
610 INDIANA FEVER -6 -6.5 / -5 / -5.5 -16 -6 -265

CON-F-Chiney Ogwumike-OUT

 

[CNOTES]

WNBA Consensus Picks



SIDES (ATS)


Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds


6:00 PM Washington +5.5 122 42.36% Chicago -5.5 166 57.64% View View


4:30 PM Los Angeles -4.5 127 43.20% San Antonio +4.5 167 56.80% View View


3:00 PM Seattle +9 148 51.03% New York -9 142 48.97% View View


3:00 PM Phoenix -6 157 53.58% Atlanta +6 136 46.42% View View


6:00 PM Connecticut +5.5 156 54.74% Indiana -5.5 129 45.26% View View




TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)


Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds


6:00 PM Washington 158.5 107 42.97% Chicago 158.5 142 57.03% View View


4:30 PM Los Angeles 151.5 107 44.03% San Antonio 151.5 136 55.97% View View


3:00 PM Seattle 145.5 112 44.80% New York 145.5 138 55.20% View View


6:00 PM Connecticut 150.5 119 49.17% Indiana 150.5 123 50.83% View View


3:00 PM Phoenix 155.5 125 50.81% Atlanta 155.5 121 49.19% View View

 

[CNOTES]

MLB Consensus Picks




SIDES (ATS)


Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds


2:15 PM Colorado +173 204 26.19% St. Louis -188 575 73.81% View View


2:10 PM Arizona +133 231 28.07% Houston -144 592 71.93% View View


4:05 PM Cleveland +129 244 30.50% Oakland -140 556 69.50% View View


1:35 PM Detroit +168 304 38.97% Baltimore -183 476 61.03% View View


1:10 PM San Diego +129 318 38.97% Miami -140 498 61.03% View View


8:08 PM Washington +112 333 42.47% NY Mets -121 451 57.53% View View


1:35 PM Atlanta -111 344 42.63% Philadelphia +103 463 57.37% View View


1:07 PM Kansas City +134 359 43.31% Toronto -145 470 56.69% View View


2:10 PM NY Yankees +121 365 46.09% Chi. White Sox -131 427 53.91% View View


4:10 PM LA Angels +131 160 46.11% LA Dodgers -142 187 53.89% View View


2:10 PM Seattle -122 389 49.18% Minnesota +113 402 50.82% View View


1:35 PM Tampa Bay +102 230 55.56% Boston -110 184 44.44% View View


2:10 PM Chi. Cubs +107 204 65.38% Milwaukee -116 108 34.62% View View


3:05 PM San Francisco -112 531 65.96% Texas +104 274 34.04% View View


1:10 PM Pittsburgh -135 255 66.58% Cincinnati +125 128 33.42% View View




TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)


Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds


2:10 PM Seattle 9 162 36.90% Minnesota 9 277 63.10% View View


4:05 PM Cleveland 7 177 37.74% Oakland 7 292 62.26% View View


1:10 PM Pittsburgh 9 103 45.18% Cincinnati 9 125 54.82% View View


8:08 PM Washington 6.5 223 47.45% NY Mets 6.5 247 52.55% View View


1:10 PM San Diego 6.5 235 47.57% Miami 6.5 259 52.43% View View


1:35 PM Tampa Bay 9 125 48.26% Boston 9 134 51.74% View View


3:05 PM San Francisco 10 223 49.12% Texas 10 231 50.88% View View


2:10 PM Arizona 8 217 49.43% Houston 8 222 50.57% View View


2:15 PM Colorado 7.5 238 50.11% St. Louis 7.5 237 49.89% View View


1:35 PM Atlanta 8 249 55.96% Philadelphia 8 196 44.04% View View


2:10 PM NY Yankees 8.5 273 56.17% Chi. White Sox 8.5 213 43.83% View View


4:10 PM LA Angels 7.5 116 58.59% LA Dodgers 7.5 82 41.41% View View


1:07 PM Kansas City 8.5 314 59.70% Toronto 8.5 212 40.30% View View


2:10 PM Chi. Cubs 9.5 129 63.55% Milwaukee 9.5 74 36.45% View View


1:35 PM Detroit 9 293 63.56% Baltimore 9 168 36.44% View View

 

[CNOTES]

RECAPPING YESTERDAY'S ACTION:


MLB: 8 - 5


CFL: 2 - 0


WNBA: 1 - 0 - 1



WNBA JUNE/ JULY RECORD/ AUGUST :


*****...............................10 - 11 - 2
DOUBLE PLAY....................32 - 25
TRIPLE PLAY......................13 - 8
SLAM DUNK.......................17 - 12


MLB RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY/AUGUST:

*****.............................76 - 95 - 1 .....................,........- 13.86
double play......................131 - 1140 - 2 .........................- 19.00
triple play........................56 - 50 - 1 .............................. + 0.87
grand slam......................80 - 82 - 3................................- 29.54
double grand slam.............0 - 1........................................- 8.00
.
CFL JUNE/JULY/ AUGUST RECORD:


SINGLE PLAY.................................1 - 1
DOUBLE PLAY................................7 - 7
TRIPLE PLAY..................................3 - 1
BLOW OUT.....................................3 -

 

[CNOTES]

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Seattle - 3:00 PM ET Seattle +9 500 *****
New York - Under 145.5 500 *****


Phoenix - 3:00 PM ET Phoenix -6 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Atlanta - Over 155.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY


Los Angeles - 4:30 PM ET Los Angeles -4.5 500 SLAM DUNK
San Antonio - Over 151.5 500 SLAM DUNK


Connecticut - 6:00 PM ET Connecticut +6 500 *****
Indiana - Over 150.5 500 *****


Washington - 6:00 PM ET Chicago -5.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Chicago - Over 158.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY

 

[CNOTES]

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Kansas City - 1:07 PM ET Kansas City +135 500 *****
Toronto - Over 8.5 500


Pittsburgh - 1:10 PM ET Pittsburgh -135 500
Cincinnati - Over 9 500


San Diego - 1:10 PM ET Miami -140 500 GRAND SLAM
Miami - Over 6.5 500


Detroit - 1:35 PM ET Baltimore -183 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Baltimore - Under 9 500


Tampa Bay - 1:35 PM ET Tampa Bay +100 500 *****
Boston - Over 9.5 500


Atlanta - 1:35 PM ET Philadelphia +103 500 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM
Philadelphia - Over 8 500


NY Yankees - 2:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -120 500
Chi. White Sox - Under 9 500


Arizona - 2:10 PM ET Arizona +133 500 *****
Houston - Over 8 500


Seattle - 2:10 PM ET Seattle -126 500
Minnesota - Under 9 500


Chi. Cubs - 2:10 PM ET Chi. Cubs +109 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Milwaukee - Over 9.5 500


Colorado - 2:15 PM ET Colorado +178 500 TRIPLE PLAY
St. Louis - Over 7.5 500


San Francisco - 3:05 PM ET San Francisco -112 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Texas - Over 10 500 DOUBLE PLAY


Cleveland - 4:05 PM ET Oakland -140 500
Oakland - Over 7 500


LA Angels - 4:10 PM ET LA Angels +131 500 TRIPLE PLAY
LA Dodgers - Over 7.5 500


Washington - 8:08 PM ET NY Mets -120 500 DOUBLE PLAY
NY Mets - Over 6.5 500

 

[CNOTES]

Wind blowing out to center in Minnesota


According to weather forecasts, wind will blow out to centerfield at around 16 miles per hour when the Minnesota Twins host the Seattle Mariners Sunday afternoon.


Our stadium page for Target Field reveals that the Over/Under is 3-1 when wind blows out to center field.


Hisashi Iwakuma is scheduled to start for the visiting Mariners (-122) while the Twins (+113) are expected to counter with Mike Pelfrey. The total has remained at the opening number of 8.5.