08/27/2008 - Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Instate foes meet up in Tempe this weekend, as the heavily favored Arizona State Sun Devils kick off their 2008 campaign by hosting the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
In his first season at ASU, legendary head coach Dennis Erickson worked his magic and led the Sun Devils to a surprising 10-win campaign and a share of the Pac-10 title. The team also earned a spot in a fourth consecutive postseason game, although a 52-34 loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl ended the club's season on a sour note. Still, with Erickson roaming the sidelines and the return of several key skilled players from a year ago, the Sun Devils appear to have all the ingredients for another double- digit win campaign in 2008.
As for NAU, it is a member of the Football Championship Subdivision and it is coming off a second straight 6-5 campaign. Head coach Jerome Souers has posted 55 victories in 10 seasons with the Lumberjacks and he figures to add to that total this season thanks to the return of quality players on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately for Souers, it is unlikely he will add to that win total this weekend, as NAU hasn't defeated ASU since 1938, although the Sun Devils own just an 18-14-4 edge in the all-time series.
The Lumberjacks relied heavily on their ground attack in 2007, averaging 232.3 total ypg, and they figure to be effective in this area once again this season. Junior Alex Henderson rushed for a team-high 908 yards in 2007 and he is set to be the featured back in 2008. Already ranked 10th in career rushing yards at NAU, Henderson has good speed and can also be a target out of the backfield, finishing with 20 catches last season.
Getting the ball to Henderson will be quarterback Lance Kriesien, who is in his fifth year in the program. Kriesien missed some time with injuries last season, but the duel-threat still finished with 1,897 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air and 686 yards and eight scores on the ground. He should benefit from the return of tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick, an honorable mention All-American last season. The steady Fitzpatrick hauled in 28 balls for 306 yards and a score last season and he should be able to improve on those numbers with a bigger role in the passing game.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lumberjacks figure to be strong in the secondary with the return of cornerback K.J. Gerard and safety Cyrus Igono. Last season, Gerard was voted a Third-Team All-American after picking off a team-best six passes and he also posted 57 stops, displaying his ability to be successful against both the pass and run. As for Igono, he paced NAU with 79 tackles and he also chipped with three interceptions, and his return should once again provide a safety net in the back for the Lumberjacks.
The linebacker corps isn't nearly as strong without a senior leader around, but junior Cody Dowd showed some promise last season, racking up 35 tackles, and he figures to make a big impact in 2008. Along the line, NAU has a lot of question marks, so the team is hoping that a trio of newcomers can step in and make an immediate impact.
For the Sun Devils, it all starts with high profiled quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who has been mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the season. The senior signal-caller is coming off an impressive 2007 campaign in which he threw for 3,202 yards and 25 scores, and coach Erickson certainly understands his importance to the team and program.
"Its a pleasure to be here and to have a guy like Rudy [Carpenter] who has been around the program a long time. Erickson stated, "When you talk about a Sun Devil, you talk about Rudy."
The return of wideouts Chris McGaha and Michael Jones should also help Carpenter in becoming one of the elite quarterbacks in the nation in 2008. McGaha led the Sun Devils last year with 61 catches, while Jones made countless big receptions for the squad, finishing with 10 touchdowns.
In the backfield, ASU returns an experienced runner in Keegan Herring, who is expected to carry the load during his senior campaign. In 2007, the speedy Herring totaled 815 yards and five scores on the ground and if he can remain healthy, he should compete for a 1,000-yard campaign this season. One thing that could slow down Herring and the rest of this offense, however, is a line that will be breaking in three new starters.
Defensively, ASU is paced by Troy Nolan, who is considered to be the heart and soul of this unit.
"Troy Nolan is the key to our defense", states coach Erickson, "he is a huge leader and we look for great things from him."
The senior safety notched 64 tackles last season and his six interceptions were the most by an ASU players since Nathan LaDuke's seven in 1989. Corner Omar Bolden (33 tackles) started the final nine games of his freshman campaign in 2007 and he could emerge as the shutdown corner the Sun Devils desperately need.
At linebacker, Travis Goethel (71 stops) and Mike Nixon (58 tackles) return for another year of fun in the sun, and they will be joined by Morris Wooten, who collected 47 tackles as a back up last season.
Up front, ASU is loaded with experience and returns three starters, including ends Luis Vasquez and Dexter Davis. The duo combined for 15 sacks and 10 TFLs last season and they should cause all sorts of havoc once again in 2008.
<< Cougars try to extend win streak in season opener vs. Panthers
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Owners of the nation's longest winning streak
heading into the 2008 season, the 16th-ranked BYU Cougars take aim at the
Northern Iowa Panthers in a non-conference bout at LaVell Edwards Stadium in
Provo.
The Cou
<< Third-ranked Trojans travel cross-country to take on Cavaliers
Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked USC Trojans begin
their quest for yet another national title this weekend, as they open the 2008
season in Charlottesville, where they will take on the Virginia Cavaliers.
Pete Carroll'
<< Season opener pits Panthers against Falcons
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers enter
the 2008 season with high expectations and they will try to get things started
on a high note against the Bowling Green Falcons at Heinz Field this Saturday.
The Pan
<< Top-25 foes kick off 2008 season in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers begin the 2008
season in unfamiliar territory, as they are the favorite to win the ACC ands
earn at the very least a BCS bowl bid. Those lofty expectations will be put to
the test r
Illini and Tigers tangle in St. Louis >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In what may prove to be the best game of
college football's opening weekend, the sixth-ranked Missouri Tigers of the
Big 12 Conference and the 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten
meet in St. Loui
Vols head west to challenge Bruins >>
Pasadena, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An intriguing season-opening matchup pits the
18th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers of the SEC against the UCLA Bruins of the
Pac-10.
The fact that 15 starters from the offensive and defensive units from the 2007
Auburn kicks off 2008 slate against visiting UL-Monroe >>
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Auburn Tigers are expected to be
one of the top teams in the always-tough SEC, and they open the 2008 season
with a non-conference home game against the UL-Monroe Warhawks of the Sun Belt
Conference
West Virginia begins new era with bout against Villanova >>
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers
begin the Bill Stewart era as they host the Villanova Wildcats in what appears
to be a lopsided season-opening tilt.
Villanova, which competes at the FCS level, r
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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