NCAA steps up and cracks down

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/09/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The old adage "better late than never" does not always ring true. However, after years of turning a blind eye to the seedy practices at play in college sports, the NCAA has recently gone on a crusade for which the sport of football, in particular, is paying a heavy price this year.

Unscrupulous activities in college athletics have been a Hollywood punchline forever (i.e. One on One, Blue Chips, He Got Game, The Program, Johnny Be Good), and many years after those films were created, the NCAA has apparently amplified its effort to meet the issues head on, culminating in a record number of inquiries, investigations, suspensions and dismissals.

USC's transgressions during the Reggie Bush years, and subsequent punishment, represent just the tip of the iceberg it seems.

The SEC has now made its way into the NCAA crosshairs, and it looks like the body is intent on making an example of the nation's top conference. Illegal practices on the campuses of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have come to light recently, and only time will tell what other programs join the party and what the fallout will be.

The Bulldogs will be without the services of perhaps the nation's top wide receiver for one-third of the season, as All-American A.J. Green has been handed a four-game suspension for selling his Independence Bowl jersey to an individual who is regarded as an agent by the NCAA definition.

Green is certainly saying all the right things, indicating he has learned from his mistake.

"I want to apologize to my coaches, teammates, and the Georgia fans for the mistake in judgment," Green said in a statement. "I very much regret all that has taken place and the distraction that's been caused. I've learned a valuable lesson and hope others can learn from my mistake. I can only focus my attention now on practicing and looking ahead to getting back with my teammates as quickly as possible."

It may be a costly lesson learned for head coach Mark Richt and his Bulldogs, especially since they open up SEC play this weekend against South Carolina.

At the same time, Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks have their own issues in terms of an NCAA investigation and sanctions, with the indefinite absence of tight end Weslye Saunders having brought the team unwanted headlines. The senior, who is linked to a national probe regarding illegal agent activity, is not the only Gamecock coming under scrutiny. At least six other South Carolina players are being investigated regarding their living arrangements at a local hotel.

The NCAA made a stop in Gainesville this summer as well, looking into possible impropriety surrounding money given to All-American center Maurkice Pouncey by an agent prior to last year's Sugar Bowl. It remains to be seen what impact that investigation will have on the Gators' program.

The focus of the NCAA's wrath has extended beyond the SEC, and the program hit the hardest has probably been North Carolina. Butch Davis was missing quite a few star players for the season-opener against LSU, and it definitely played a role in the narrow loss to the Tigers. All-American candidates Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin are regarded as two of the top down linemen in all of college, but both are under NCAA investigation for alleged interaction with an agent, as well as their work with a tutor who may have done papers for some UNC players. Davis was forced to use what amounted to a skeleton crew in the season-opener, as the team was also without RBs Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston, WR Greg Little, CBs Kendric Burney and Charles Brown and S Deunta Williams. The investigation has taken its toll on Davis' staff as well, with associate head coach John Blake stepping down.

The NCAA has also beaten a path back to its familiar territory of Tuscaloosa, with the two-game suspension handed down to star Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus the latest controversy for a program that has had its fair share of it over the years. Once again, it centers around alleged contact with an agent. The defending national champs will be just fine on the field awaiting Dareus' return, but an All-American candidate on the shelf for a defending national champion hardly enhances the positive P.R. profile of college football.

I guess the NCAA should be given some credit for finally deciding that enough is enough. Painting the problem with a broad brush and being heavy-handed in delivering punishment is way overdue. The pandemic of "breaking the rules" wasn't created in a day and it will take a lot longer than that to fix it.

For now though, at least the NCAA has made a stand.

Wcasinoonnet NCAA Football Betting News

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

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Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship

(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.

MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

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