College Confidential

A look at preseaon odds for various college FB conference races, including the Big 12

Here’s a look at some pre-season odds related to various college football conference races and statistical battles, including those in the Big 12, courtesy of Bodog Sportsbook.

Bottom line in the Big 12: Oklahoma is a prohibitive favorite (4/9 odds), followed by Texas A&M (5/1), Texas (13/2) and Oklahoma State (9/1). Here’s the long version:

Atlantic Coast Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Atlantic Division
Florida State                  2/5
Maryland                       5/1
Clemson                       6/1
Boston College              9/1
North Carolina State       11/1
Wake Forest                 55/1
 
Atlantic Coast Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Coastal Division
(They’re not up to due to uncertainty of Miami situation)
 
Big 12 Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Oklahoma                     4/9
Texas A&M                   5/1
Texas                           13/2
Oklahoma State             9/1
Missouri                        14/1
Kansas                         15/1
Baylor                           18/1
Texas Tech                   20/1
Kansas State                35/1
Iowa State                     100/1
 
Big East Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
West Virginia                 2/1
South Florida                 5/2
Pittsburgh                     7/2
Cincinnati                      7/1
Louisville                       10/1
Rutgers                         15/1
Syracuse                      18/1
Connecticut                   22/1
 
Big Ten Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Nebraska                      7/4
Wisconsin                     13/5
Ohio State                     5/1
Penn State                    11/2
Michigan State              10/1
Iowa                              15/1
Michigan                       15/1
Northwestern                 20/1
Illinois                           25/1
Purdue                          85/1
Indiana                          125/1
Minnesota                     125/1
 
Big Ten Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Leaders Division
Wisconsin                     5/4
Penn State                    9/4
Ohio State                     5/2
Illinois                           10/1
Purdue                          33/1
Indiana                          40/1
 
Big Ten Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Legends Division
Nebraska                      1/2
Michigan State              4/1
Michigan                       11/2
Iowa                              7/1
Northwestern                 9/1
Minnesota                     50/1
 
Mid American Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference   
Toledo                           13/4
Northern Illinois              7/2
Temple                          4/1
Miami Ohio                    5/1
Ohio                             5/1
Western Michigan          8/1
Central Michigan            16/1
Kent State                     25/1
Akron                            30/1
Bowling Green               33/1
Ball State                      35/1
Buffalo                          35/1
Eastern Michigan           40/1
 
Mid American Conference - Odds to Win East Division
Temple                          2/1
Ohio                             2/1
Miami Ohio                    5/2
Akron                            15/2
Buffalo                          12/1
Bowling Green               14/1
Kent State                     15/1
 
Mid American Conference - Odds to Win West Division
Toledo                           3/2
Northern Illinois              9/5
Western Michigan          15/4
Central Michigan            13/2
Ball State                      12/1
Eastern Michigan           12/1
 
Mountain West Conference - Odds to Win Conference
Boise State                   2/7
TCU                              7/2
San Diego State            12/1
Air Force                       16/1
Colorado State               25/1
Wyoming                      33/1
UNLV                            80/1
New Mexico                  150/1
 
PAC 12 Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Oregon                          2/1
Stanford                        3/1
Arizona State                11/2
Utah                             13/2
Arizona                         8/1
Washington                   16/1
Oregon State                 16/1
UCLA                            18/1
California                       20/1
Colorado                       22/1
Washington State          100/1
 
PAC 12 Conference 2011 - Odds to Win North Division
Oregon                          5/4
Stanford                        7/4
Oregon State                 13/2
Washington                   13/2
California                       10/1
Washington State          40/1
 
PAC 12 Conference 2011 - Odds to Win South Division
Arizona State                9/5
Utah                             2/1
Arizona                         3/1
UCLA                            6/1
Colorado                       8/1
 
Southeastern Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Alabama                       9/5
Florida                          9/2
Georgia                         5/1
LSU                              5/1
South Carolina               6/1
Arkansas                      13/1
Tennessee                    18/1
Mississippi State           22/1
Auburn                          28/1
Kentucky                      66/1
Mississippi                    66/1
Vanderbilt                      150/1
 
Southeastern Conference 2011 - Odds to Win East Division
Florida                          9/5
South Carolina               19/10
Georgia                         2/1
Tennessee                    15/2
Kentucky                      25/1
Vanderbilt                      75/1

Southeastern Conference 2011 - Odds to Win West Division
Alabama                       10/11
LSU                              5/2
Arkansas                      6/1
Mississippi State           7/1
Auburn                          12/1
Mississippi                    22/1
 
Sun Belt Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Florida International        3/1
Troy                              3/1
Arkansas State              5/1
Louisiana - Monroe         11/2
Middle Tennessee          6/1
North Texas                   9/1
Western Kentucky         11/1
Florida Atlantic              12/1
Louisiana - Lafayette      12/1
 
Conference USA 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Houston                                    7/4
Southern Mississippi                  3/1
Central Florida                           4/1
Alabama Birmingham                 8/1
SMU                                         8/1
Tulsa                                        8/1
East Carolina                             20/1
Rice                                          25/1
Marshall                                    28/1
Tulane                                       50/1
Memphis                                   66/1
UTEP                                        66/1
 
Conference USA 2011 - Odds to Win East Division
Southern Mississippi                  5/4
Central Florida                           7/4
Alabama Birmingham                 6/1
East Carolina                             7/1
Marshall                                    10/1
Memphis                                   25/1
 
Conference USA 2011 - Odds to Win West Division
Houston            4/5
SMU                 13/4
Tulsa                13/4
Rice                  10/1
Tulane               20/1
UTEP                25/1
 
Western Athletic Conference 2011 - Odds to Win Conference
Nevada                          2/1
Hawaii                           5/2
Fresno State                 3/1
Louisiana Tech              6/1
Idaho                            14/1
San Jose State              16/1
Utah State                     20/1
New Mexico State          33/1
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most passing yards per game?
Sean Renfree (Duke)                              5/6
Danny O'Brien (Maryland)                       7/4
E.J. Manuel (Florida State)                     7/2
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most passing touchdowns?      
Sean Renfree (Duke)                              5/6
Danny O'Brien (Maryland)                       7/4
E.J. Manuel (Florida State)                     7/2
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most rushing yards per game?
Montel Harris (Boston College)                5/2
Andre Ellington (Clemson)                      13/4
Lamar Miller (Miami)                               7/2
Chris Thompson (Florida State)               4/1
Josh Harris (Wake Forest)                      11/2
David Wilson (Virignia Tech)                    13/2
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most rushing touchdowns?      
Montel Harris (Boston College)                9/4
Josh Harris (Wake Forest)                      7/2
Andre Ellington (Clemson)                      15/4
Chris Thompson (Florida State)               9/2
Lamar Miller (Miami)                               17/4
David Wilson (Virignia Tech)                    13/2
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most receiving yards per game?         
Dwight Jones (North Carolina)                 9/4
Jarrett Boykin (Virginia Tech)                  15/4
Conner Vernon (Duke)                            4/1
Kris Burd (Virginia)                                 9/2
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson)                   5/1
Willie Haulstead (Florida State)               11/2
 
2011 Atlantic Coast Conference - Who will have the most receiving touchdowns?
Conner Vernon (Duke)                            3/1
Jarrett Boykin (Virginia Tech)                  13/4
Willie Haulstead (Florida State)               7/2
Kris Burd (Virginia)                                 4/1
Dwight Jones (North Carolina)                 19/4
DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson)                   11/2
 
2011 Big 12 Conference - Who will have the most passing yards per game?
Landry Jones (Oklahoma)                       1/3
Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)         7/4
Robert Griffin III (Baylor)                          15/2
 
2011 Big 12 Conference - Who will have the most passing touchdowns?
Landry Jones (Oklahoma)                       1/2
Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)         5/4
Robert Griffin III (Baylor)                          7/1
 
2011 Big 12 Conference - Who will have the most rushing yards per game?
Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M)                        9/4
Malcolm Brown (Texas)                          11/4
Roy Finch (Oklahoma)                            13/4
Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State)            9/2
James Sims (Kansas)                            11/2
Henry Josey (Missouri)                           7/1
 
_ Jimmy Burch

 

 

Longhorn Network's launch to kick off with two-hour Friday special, aired from campus

The Longhorn Network, Texas’ collaborative effort with ESPN, will have a two-hour special to launch the 24-hour network at 6 p.m. Friday, officials announced today. The LHN’s on-air team (anchor Lowell Galindo, reporter Samantha Steele, analyst Kevin Dunn) will be joined on campus by members of ESPN’s College GameDay crew (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Erin Andrews) for the special, which will be the first show aired by the start-up network.

A telecast of Texas’ volleyball match against Pepperdine, at 8 p.m., will be the first live sporting event. Officials have yet to release a list of confirmed carriers for the network.

_ Jimmy Burch

Patterson announces changes to TCU offensive line

TCU coach Gary Patterson said Jeff Olson has moved from right tackle to left tackle after Tuesday's closed practice. Robert Deck, who had been a tight end until moving to the line before camp began Aug. 4, has moved to right tackle. James Dunbar is still the No. 2 left tackle behind Olson.
Olson worked at left tackle some in the spring but has primarily worked on the right side this August.
"We knew we were going to make that move. We were trying to grow people up," Patterson said. When asked how the offensive line has progressed since the beginning of camp, Patterson was vague. He has often cited the offensive line for being a weak link on the team. The Frogs are replacing three starters on the offensive line from last year's team.
"I don't know," Patterson said. "We'll find out on [Sept. 2]."
TCU opens the season at Baylor.

 

 

Patterson laments team's progress 10 days before opener

TCU has less than two weeks before opening the season at Baylor Sept 2, and coach Gary Patterson is not happy with his team. He hinted after Tuesday's practice that inexperience, injuries, and academic issues are current hurdles the Horned Frogs are dealing with. He refused to detail the academic problems and TCU is usually tight-lipped on player's injuries. 
"Right now as a team, we’re not as good as we were the last two years," Patterson said. "That doesn’t mean we can’t win all our ball games, we’re just not as good as we were ... either because of youth, injuries or academics. And I won’t elaborate on that but I’m letting you know that’s where we’re at."
Running back Ed Wesley wore a protective red jersey at Tuesday's practice after injuring his right shoulder during Saturday's scrimmage. Patterson said Wesley will be "ready to go by the time we play Baylor."

Read more about TCU football in Wednesday's Star-Telegram and on our web site at www.star-telegram.com

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Texas reinstates S Christian Scott, who will serve 3-game suspension after pleading no contest to assault charge

Texas safety Christian Scott was reinstated to the team today by coach Mack Brown but must serve a three-game suspension after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge.

Scott, suspended since his Aug. 8 arrest, entered his plea Monday. He received two year’s deferred adjudication and must serve 40 hours of community service. In a statement, Brown said the “closure” to Scott’s legal issues led to his reinstatement to the team.

Brown said Scott “has returned to the team” but “will be working with the scout team until he is eligible to play” when the Longhorns meet Iowa State on Oct. 1 in Ames, Iowa.

“We’re disappointed any time one of our players makes a poor decision, and Christian understands he made a mistake,” Brown said in his statement. “He has taken responsibility, is accepting of his consequences and has returned to the team.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Complete TCU men's basketball 2011-12 schedule

TCU men's basketball opens its 2011-12 season at home against Florida Gulf Coast. The Horned Frogs, who will be playing their final season in the Mountain West conference, begin league play at Colorado State Jan. 14. The regular season concludes at home against San Diego State March 3. The MWC tournament is March 8-10 in Las Vegas.

 

Here's the TCU men's basketball 2011-12 schedule, released Tuesday by TCU athletics:

Nov. 11             Florida Gulf Coast               Daniel-Meyer Coliseum                7p.m.

Nov. 14             Austin College                     Daniel-Meyer Col.                        8 p.m.                    Nov. 18             vs. Virginia #                       St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands      TBA

Nov. 19/20      vs. Drexel/Norfolk State #     St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands      TBA

Nov. 21             vs. TBA #                             St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands      TBA

Nov. 26             at Houston                            Houston, Texas                                TBA

Nov. 30             Lamar                                   Daniel-Meyer Col.                        7 p.m.

Dec. 3                at Evansville !                      Evansville, Ind.                               TBA

Dec. 6               Texas Tech                            Daniel-Meyer Col.               TBA (CBSSN)

Dec. 10             Nebraska                         Daniel-Meyer Col.                   7 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Dec. 19             at USC                            Los Angeles, Calif.                            TBA

Dec. 22             Grambling                      Daniel-Meyer Col.                          7 p.m.

Dec. 31             Tulsa                              Daniel-Meyer Col.                    TBA (CBSSN)

Jan. 4                 Rice                               Daniel-Meyer Coliseum                7 p.m.

Jan. 11              UT Pan American          Daniel-Meyer Coliseum                7 p.m.

Jan. 14              at Colorado State *        Fort Collins, Colo.                  8 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Jan. 18              at UNLV *                     Las Vegas, Nev.                   9:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Jan. 21              Boise State *                  Daniel-Meyer Col.               2:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Jan. 25              Air Force *                     Daniel-Meyer Col.               6:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Jan. 28              at New Mexico *    Albuquerque, N.M.                          5 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 1                Wyoming *              Daniel-Meyer Col.                      7 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 4                at San Diego State *     San Diego, Calif.                     9 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 8                at SMU                                  Dallas, Texas                              TBA

Feb. 11             Colorado State *           Daniel-Meyer Col.               7:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 14             UNLV *                        Daniel-Meyer Col.               6:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 18              at Boise State *            Boise, Idaho                                3 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 22              at Air Force *              USAFA, Colo.                            7 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 25             New Mexico *               Daniel-Meyer Col.            6 p.m. (The Mtn.)

Feb. 28              at Wyoming *               Laramie, Wyo.                     8:30 p.m. (The Mtn.)

March 3            San Diego State *         Daniel-Meyer Col.                  6 p.m. (The Mtn.)

March 8-10     MWC Championship      Las Vegas, Nev.                                 TBA

All Times Central; # - Paradise Jam (Game 3 vs. Drake, Marquette, Ole Miss or Winthrop); ! - MWC-MVC Challenge; * - Mountain West Conference Game

 



Former Oregon RB Seastrunk transfers to Baylor

Former Oregon tailback Lache Seastrunk, a five-star signee out of Temple, has transferred to Baylor, school officials announced today.

“I think Lache is back where he needs to be, on Texas soil at Baylor,” Bears’ coach Art Briles said in a statement released by school officials. “We’re looking forward to him being a great teammate.”

The school’s statement did not mention whether Seastrunk, who redshirted last season, plans to appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility, citing issues related to the health of his grandfather. In an interview today with ESPN-Central Texas radio, Seastrunk said his grandfather is battling emphysema and he wants to assist his grandmother in caring for him. Seastrunk told the station he thinks he has "strong valid reasons why I'm coming home" to assist his family.

Seastrunk (5-foot-9, 190 pounds), who has a relationship with street agent Will Lyles, rushed for 4,217 yards and 52 touchdowns during high school career. Baylor opens its season Sept. 2 against TCU.

_ Jimmy Burch

ESPN's College GameDay crew to assist with Friday's launch of the Longhorn Network

Members of ESPN’s College GameDay crew will be in Austin to assist in Friday’s launch of the Longhorn Network, a collaborative effort between the school and ESPN, network officials announced today. Announcers headed to Austin include Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso, David Pollack and Erin Andrews.

_ Jimmy Burch

NCAA keeps HS highlights on hold, off Longhorn Network, for at least 6-9 months

An NCAA spokesman confirmed today that “nothing has changed” in regard to a recent ruling prohibiting high school sports content on school networks, meaning high school football highlights will not be headed to the Longhorn Network _ yet.

But the final verdict about the future of youth sports programming on school- or conference-branded networks will be up to the NCAA board of directors _ comprised of school presidents _ and will not be decided for another six to nine months, NCAA officials announced.

Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice-president for academic and membership services, characterized Monday’s summit with 24 representatives from schools, conferences or television networks _ including five with ties to either Texas or the Longhorn Network _ as the “start of an educational process that will lead to a final policy decision … by the presidents.”

Of more immediate concern locally were plans by LHN officials, expressed Thursday, to show high school football highlights on Texas’ 24-hour network in conjunction with ESPN despite a recent NCAA ruling that its bylaws “prohibit youth programming on institutional and conference networks and broadcasts.”

ESPN officials contended that the bylaw applied only to live game telecasts, not news-related highlights. But the ruling remains in place, NCAA director of public and media relations Erik Christianson confirmed in an email.

“Regarding … highlights, it was a topic of discussion today, among many. Nothing has changed,” Christianson wrote. “We will continue to review the issue.”

Monday’s update on the NCAA website did not address highlights.

The Longhorn Network, scheduled to launch Friday, has locked up multiple small distributors and entered into final negotiations with Verizon and Grande Communications to carry the network, the Sports Business Journal reported Monday. But there has been no announcement by ESPN or school officials.

Nick Voinis, Texas’ senior associate athletics director for communications, said carrier agreements “notoriously happen at the last minute” and school officials envision adding several before Sept. 3, when LHN will carry the team’s football season opener against Rice. Voinis declined comment about high school highlights on LHN.

Follow Jimmy Burch on Twitter @Jimmy_Burch.

_ Jimmy Burch 

Fiesta Bowl moved to Jan. 2 by BCS officials

The Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 2 this season, three days earlier than originally scheduled, BCS officials announced today. The game, to be televised on ESPN, will follow the Rose Bowl and is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start. The Big 12 champion earns a berth in the Fiesta Bowl unless the champion qualifies for the BCS National Championship Game.

Until Monday’s date change, the game had been set for Jan. 5.

_ Jimmy Burch