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02/02/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ever get one of those do-not-open-until- the-holidays packages in the mail?
Well, let's just say we will need to revisit this column in about three years.
That's because recruiting analysis is so fickle - an educated, five-foot throw at the dartboard, but a throw nonetheless.
We'll see where Wednesday's national signing day takes us with this year's incoming FCS freshmen, but the top recruits may not be headed where you think.
Oh sure, Montana State might have signed the best incoming quarterback in Dakota Pruko out of Texas (this storyline has worked for the Bobcats before), or maybe it was Floridian Vegas Harley's commitment to Georgia Southern on signing day.
But the main national recruiting sites - ESPN, Rivals and Scout - say the top incoming freshman is going to South Carolina State.
Yes, a MEAC school.
Indeed, the grades and rankings are highest for 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle Javarius Leamon, who stayed in-state and gave a commitment to South Carolina State over Clemson on national signing day. The big talent out of Woodruff High is the biggest signee for the conference in a long time.
Leamon shares the top grade from ESPN with a player who didn't even sign a national letter of intent. Well, the Ivy League doesn't have such agreements, and, yes, Penn has a verbal commitment from Los Angeles Beverly Hills wide receiver Cameron Countryman, who ESPN ranks alongside Leamon with 79 scores each.
Up next were Pruko and Harley with 78s - top signees for top programs.
Leamon earned the top rating from Rivals - a 5.8 - and was followed by a signee from a Southland Conference program.
It wasn't national finalist Sam Houston State, either. How about struggling Southeastern Louisiana, which plucked linebacker Juwaan Rogers and his 5.7 rating out of Louisiana. He also gave his commitment on signing day.
Next up with 5.6s each were Harley, wide receivers Dalis Bruce (Eastern Washington) and Tray Rabon (Grambling State), quarterback Lamontiez Ivy (Jackson State), and running backs D.J. Abnar (Liberty), R.J. Robinson (Norfolk State) and Daniel Taylor (Northwestern State).
That's not a bad list of FCS programs, but not necessarily the cream of the national crop, either.
Scout? It gave Matt Barnett the nation's No. 16 rating at fullback and he signed with Wagner. Stud center prospect Austin Stock, No. 24 nationally, has given a verbal commitment to Columbia.
So who knows how the recruiting grades will turn out in the long run.
Maybe a lot of these players will soon be coming to an All-America team near you.
<< Swansea's Bodde suffers new injury
Swansea, Wales (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Swansea City midfielder Ferrie Bodde picked
up a new knee injury Wednesday and could face a longer spell on the sidelines.
Bodde has not played for Swansea since February of 2010, and has made just 59
appe
<< Flames' Stempniak sidelined with high ankle sprain
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Calgary Flames forward Lee Stempniak will miss
approximately six weeks of action due to a high ankle sprain.
Stempniak left Tuesday's game against the Red Wings due to the injury.
In 51 games this season, St
<< Nationals pick up Edwin Jackson
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals have agreed to
terms with veteran starter Edwin Jackson on a one-year contract.
The deal is contingent upon Jackson passing a physical.
Jackson, 28, entered the majors in 2
<< Earthquakes sign Colombian Tressor Moreno
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes signed Colombian
midfielder Tressor Moreno on Thursday, pending receipt of his P-1 visa.
Moreno, 33, has played for clubs in Colombia, France, Chile, Mexico and Peru,
and played
Pletcher goes for another Davis win >>
Oldsmar, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer Todd Pletcher has been dominating the
Sam F. Davis Stakes in recent years and has another opportunity to win the
event with its 32nd renewal on Saturday. The $250,000 stakes, with a field of
11 thre
Youzhny rolls; Bogomolov ousted in Zagreb >>
Zagreb, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mikhail Youzhny cruised into the
quarterfinals of the Zagreb Indoors tournament Thursday, while fellow Russian
Alex Bogomolov was eliminated by Slovakia's Lukas Lacko.
A pair of past Zagreb w
Colts name Manusky defensive coordinator >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts have hired Greg
Manusky as defensive coordinator.
The Colts named Bruce Arians offensive coordinator earlier this week.
Manusky was the defensive coordinator of the San Diego
Chievo hands struggling Novara another loss >>
Novara, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sergio Pellissier and Cyril Thereau scored on
each side of halftime as Chievo downed struggling Novara, 2-1, on Thursday in
Serie A.
Pellissier opened the scoring on 33 minutes and Thereau added a second goa
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
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