Week No. 2 college football betting lines are up for sports handicappers picks. It was a winning week for sharps in opening week handicappers such as GodsTips, Right Angle Sports, and the Canadien Crew.

The founder of forensic sports handicapping, Stevie Vincent has been a professional gambler since 2002. His plays are now public and a must for totals bettors as mastering over/under is his specialty.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints opens up NFL preseason wagering tips. The Saints-Cardinals line for the Hall of Fame game has New Orleans -2.5 and -125. The total is up to 37.5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPdy64Xfkm0

The QB rotations, betting notes initial report is up. The free picks by Twitter betting site will keep you updated with more breaking news on the game.

The No. 1 best selling sports betting eBook, “Sports Betting Secrets, Handicapping Myths, Wagering Tips” is a treasure chest of college football gambling intel and information. But handicapping teams on a year-by-year basis is also of importance and that’s what we’ve done with the 2012 GA Tech football preview.

In order to become a highly recruited elite player you have to either be invited or figure out a way to show up at some manufacturer’s sponsored combine event and display your talents to the recruiting site experts.  If not, then you are quickly relegated to the category associated for lesser talented players with a very limited upside potential.  Coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets could care less as he subscribes to the time tested old school way of finding football recruits; looking at them play football and their character as a person.

As the college football offseason slowly comes to an end along with the inordinate amount of; “off the field incidents” and numerous player suspensions, perhaps it’s an opportunity to take a deeper look into this problem in conjunction with the current manner of football recruiting and reassess the actual meaning of a student/athlete.  While all of the football playing schools now have summer recruiting events to get players onto campus and determine their potential for success, apparently this is no longer enough.

Given that all of this occurs in the summer when players are on break from high school prior to entering their senior seasons of eligibility, isn’t it ironic that these events take place simultaneously with State and local fairs around the country.  You know, those places with their midway rides, Ferris wheel, and competitions where you can throw a baseball and knock down the metal milk jugs and just have a real good time.  But the parallels with the fairs and football recruiting services is not only remarkably similar, it is identical.

What I remember the most from the State fairs are those events for the rural kids enrolled in the 4-H club who raised the biggest pig or best cow that they entered in the contest to compete for the blue ribbon, or the mothers who baked their special pie or signature entree’ for the taste contest with a panel of judges composed of the local rotary club members and other assorted chamber of commerce types.  Is this stars rated football recruiting any different?  Would a major sausage manufacturer really care what some local business owner thought was a prized sow or bovine?  Was the Pillsbury Corporation going to buy Daisy Mae’s recipe for corn bread because two out of three judges working at the local hardware and corner drug store voted it the best ever?

This current atmosphere of stars recruiting is no different than these State fair events with their local “experts” looking at a pig or devouring a slice of rhubarb pie then awarding the blue ribbon to the contestant of their choice.  In fact this recruiting process is just as ridiculous.  I was recently reading a “scouting report” of a player who has offers from several major schools that said; “he lacks the ability to get penetration into the backfield and therefore will not make much of an impact at the next level.”  Naturally the person who wrote this critique did not attach his or her name to the report but they are no doubt an “expert.”  Much like the individual who after hearing Elvis Presley audition said; “don’t quit your day job.”

In the past few seasons since Coach Paul Johnson arrived at Georgia Tech he has had numerous players graduate early with eligibility still remaining to play another year of college football.  However, several of these players have elected to forgo their last season of football and take a job offer from Microsoft Corporation and immediately begin their career with a Fortune 50 Company.  While none of these players were five stars recruits they did contribute and became members of a team that won an ACC Championship and lots of games the past four seasons.  The epitome of what a student athlete should strive to be in this era of college football.

Unfortunately, the current trend of recruiting highly rated stars players has resulted in a disturbing reality that these kids are entitled to do what they want once they arrive on campus which has resulted in an alarming number of arrests, suspensions, and dismissals from these schools.  This privileged evolution has just now recently created the situation whereby a recruit in essence has said; I will come but only if you also bring several of my teammates.  Although now both the school and player are backpedaling and indicating; “that comment was taken out of context.”  Only time will tell if this is true or false once signing day arrives in February, 2013.

For the life of me I cannot ever remember reading about the owner of the biggest pig or best cow in the State ever getting arrested for engaging in a fist fight at a bar, or the winner of the best pie taken to jail for carrying a gun or being under the influence of narcotics.  Nor do I know if the blue ribbon prize winning sow became pepper bacon at the local meat market, or if the recipe for the best cherry pie was sold to a nationwide franchised restaurant chain.  But here is what I do know; the current media hype surrounding college football recruiting is quickly becoming out of control.

As it stands now the proverbial tail is wagging the recruiting dog at most schools, thankfully not at Georgia Tech.  It was very refreshing to read about a recent recruit who gave an oral commitment indicating that he selected the Institute because of their highly ranked computer program.  Perhaps having players obtain employment with a major five stars Computer Corporation in that academic field was a helpful component that also went into this player’s decision making process.  Although I will wait for the actual signing on the dotted line come next February given the last minute recruiting drama that too often occurs, this is the type of student/athlete that I will enjoy watching compete for the Yellow Jackets.  Perhaps Microsoft will too.

I will also observe with great interest the player who was the brunt of that unflattering scouting report and see how he performs as a student/athlete at the next level.  I’m actually keeping my fingers crossed and looking forward to him hopefully electing to attend Georgia Tech and have numerous games much like the non five stars DT from Maryland had last year who couldn’t be blocked and made 22 tackles against the Yellow Jackets.

BTW, the player from Maryland was an All ACC first team DT and potential All American heading into this season despite being a meager two (2) stars player coming out of high school according to the recruiting experts.  Who knows, maybe his mother never won a blue ribbon for the best pie at the State fair but certainly raised one heck of a football player that the recruiting services didn’t think merited much of a look.  Go figure.

Be sure to check out other great articles at isportsweb.

Shortly, college football odds will be posted and gamblers will flock to OffshoreInsiders.com for the top sports betting picks. Here is an early peak at the USC Trojans.

The star-studded USC offense, led by senior quarterback Matt Barkley, will be the focus of considerable media attention this football season, but the much-maligned defense earned some headlines of its own last week, as cornerback Nickell Robey and safety T.J. McDonald were recognized on preseason watch lists for the Nagurski, Thorpe, and Bednarik awards.

A weak spot for USC in Lane Kiffin’s first two seasons as head coach, the defense should continue to improve in 2012, with Robey and McDonald providing stability and leadership in the secondary.

McDonald, a senior captain, has 23 starts with the Trojans; Robey, a junior, has 24. Both players have six career interceptions and were first-team All-Pac-12 selections in 2011.

Though they share interception totals, preseason accolades, and a penchant for mentoring the newest members of the USC defense, the similarities end there.

McDonald is a California native who grew up dreaming of playing for USC, where his dad, Tim, was a star before launching a successful NFL career. (T.J. and Tim are the first father-son duo from USC to be first-team All-Americans and team captains.)

Robey came to L.A. from Florida, and initially committed to play for Tennessee before signing with the Trojans (and former Vols coach Kiffin).

McDonald, an imposing 6’3?, 205 lbs., is a physcial, hard-hitting back who racked up personal foul penalties last season, even serving a half-game suspension for a late-hit in the USC-Stanford game.

Robey, just 5’8? and 165 lbs., is often at a disadvantage when covering bigger receivers, but he makes up for it with his speed; he even joined the USC track team this offseason.

McDonald and Robey are focused playing hard, shoring up the defense after a few shaky seasons, and helping to lead the Trojans back to a bowl game after two years of sanctions, in what might be the final season at USC for them both. (McDonald is in his last year; Robey will decide after the season whether to return for his senior season or enter the draft.)

The better the Trojans’ defense is, though, the greater their chances at individual honors. The only Trojan to receive the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back was Mark Carrier in 1986.

No one from USC has taken home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which since 1993 has been awarded to the nation’s best defensive player. McDonald or Robey, or even linebacker Dion Bailey, who was also named to the Nagurski and Bednarik watch lists, could be the first.

Be sure to check out other great articles at isportsweb.

Sports gambling experts know the importance of backup quarterbacks. Just as World Champion handicapper Joe Duffy explains in that article, the fellow World Champions—in “real life” football, the NY Giants clearly also put the same priority as the best preseason NFL handicappers.

As much as backup quarterback is an overlooked position in New York (in blue anyway), it is an ever-important role.

Rewind to the New York Giants’ 1990 regular season when MVP quarterback Phil Simms went down in Week 15 with a broken right foot. Then-reserve QB, Jeff Hostetler stepped up and owned the part – right through Super Bowl XXV.

Giants fans don’t ponder this as much with Eli Manning under center. Easy E has started in 119 consecutive games – all while taking a pounding during a number of those games. The epitome of his toughness, most will agree, was publicized throughout January’s NFC Championship Game.

Many tend to forget back in 2007, during the Week one game versus the Cowboys when LB Anthony Spencer hit Manning on a 2-point conversion attempt, injuring the quarterback’s left (non-throwing) shoulder. Initially, it was reported that #10 would miss four to eight weeks with a sprained/bruised AC joint; he hasn’t missed a single regular season game since. Every serious football fan knows how the 2007 season ended for Manning and the New York Giants…

Considering the last number of years and all 32 teams’ QB/injury situation, one has to realize how significant that reserve role justly is. The case of Hostetler is rarer than it is reality.

Division rival QBs Tony Romo and Michael Vick both succumbed to injury at some point in the last two years. Collectively, their teams went 9-10 with them in medical bay receiving treatment.

Ask fans from the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, (even the Oakland Raiders early on in 2012 will chime in) if a capable backup is/was a need for Jay Cutler, Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Matt Cassel, (and then, Jason Campbell). Ernie Accorsi could have told you so too.

“I always said the most important guy on your team is the quarterback and the second most important is the backup,” remembers Ernie Accorsi, retired GM of the New York Giants (and Cleveland Browns). “I wanted (Kurt) Warner as soon as we got (Eli) Manning. In Cleveland in 1988, we had (Bernie) Kosar, (Gary) Danielson and Mike Pagel. Kosar and Danielson got hurt so I picked up (Don) Strock. We had six quarterback injuries. All four got hurt – Kosar twice – and we made the playoffs. You can’t do that today. You can’t afford that.”

There are, of course, stories that aren’t played out so horribly. Matt Schaub went down and then his backup (Matt Leinart) went down – putting rookie T.J. Yates in as the only quarterback to come in under center and have the team continue to play pretty much the same (more due to a fabulous running game that was hitting on all cylinders). Again, as with Hostetler (and Steve Young), it’s rare.

Bear in mind, those teams with no true starter at quarterback or ones with ongoing quarterback controversy aren’t being introduced as part of this equation.

Since no controversy is remotely near this gun-slinger position on the New York Giants, it’s safe to say Eli Manning’s health is a hotter commodity than QB David Carr and QB Ryan Perrilloux. This remains fact since the Giants tend to carry only two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster.

Since Carr has the actual regular season game experience of 11 years, it’s pretty much a lock that the spot is his. However, Carr is 32-years-old and is now signing one-year contracts; this won’t go on forever and at some point, he’ll retire. The Giants will need to secure a reliable backup before that time hits. Question is will they groom him from within or try to grab someone in free agency as they’ve been doing?

Also…

• Be sure to “like” Giants 101 on Facebook and to follow Giants 101 on Twitter
• Text “oneteam” to 20222 to donate $10 to the One Team for the Lights charity initiative.

Be sure to check out other great articles at Sports Media 101.

Whether one is a fan of Pinterest sports picks feed or listens to the recommended sports betting podcasts all football handicappers have interest on the Saints bountygate.

The New Orleans Saints’ alleged “bounty” program, which is said to have rewarded certain players who injured opponents with “bounties on their heads”, has been a major headline-generator for the last few days. Three of the players allegedly involved in the “VIP deals”, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith appeared at the bounty appeal hearing in front of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday. Although Hargrove’s and Smiths legal counsels didn’t make a comment on the hearing, and Jonathan Vilma didn’t even bother to personally attend, it was clear from the comments made by Scott Fujita that nothing has really been settled or solved at the hearing which lasted a little over an hour and which was eventually adjourned on account of some issues brought up by Peter Ginsberg, Vilma’s lawyer.

http://youtu.be/M0Pr9v7lf6s

After the Monday hearing, Fujita sought to reassure members of the media that there wasn’t any evidence that suggested he had indeed been involved in a pay-to-injure setup, and that there would likely never be such evidence produced, simply because he had never ever been involved with anything this vile in nature.

Besides looking to clear his name, Fujita lashed out at the NFL, accusing the organization of tarnishing his reputation and thus forcing him into a position where he’s finding it increasingly difficult to provide for his family.

Even though Fujita may be rightfully outraged at the fact that the NFL never really fully justified the suspension of the above named four players, his statements begs the question: after 10 years of positive conduct on his part, and after 10 years of having earned millions upon millions of dollars, how could he possibly be in a position to not be able to provide for his family, by any measure?

Whether or not Fujita and the other three players are found guilty remains to be seen, his rather vehement attack on the NFL though, which he called careless and irresponsible, doesn’t do a whole lot to prove his innocence at this stage.

OffshoreInsiders.com, the top NFL picks website has handicappers researching the upcoming season. Keeping an eye or some offseason headlines, Roddy White has an interesting Tweet say the official pro gamblers sports betting Twitter feed.

Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons has never been shy to speak his mind, and he is quite probably one of the most prolific Twitter users within the team. Most of the fans are therefore more than familiar with where he stands on a variety of issues. They know he’s never liked the new labor deal, and that he had vocally opposed it even before it was accepted last summer. He has also spoken up against ex-NFL players suing the league, claiming that they were out to destroy the game, starting a Twitter fight on that issue as well. Now, he decided to pick another fight with the NFL Players’ Association, on the deal the organization had struck with the league.

The igniting factor of White’s latest twitter tirade was Andrew Brandt’s Monday afternoon tweet, which served as a starting point for what would turn out to be a series of tweets patting Roger Goodell on the back, propping him up for having struck a hell of a deal and bashing the NFLPA for having failed its members.

Of course, as it’s usually the case, White’s Twitter rant came complete with a few factual inaccuracies and rather peculiar assumptions. For instance, he said the NFLPA needed to hire the head of the baseball players’ union, as there were never any labor-related issues there, clearly forgetting the reasons why baseball had dipped so far below football on the popularity scale.

Whether the fans are in any way impressed by White’s tweets is difficult to tell. One thing is certain: those responsible for the NFL’s massive revenues care little about how the league and its players divide the spoils. All they want to see is quality action on the field, and as far as White is concerned, some fans noted that he’d be much better off showing up on the field rather than on Twitter.

It’s not even time for NFL preseason tips but week 1 NFL odds 2012 are out. The Dallas Cowboys open at the New York Giants on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Sports handicappers have the Super Bowl Champs laying just (-3).

Why is the NFL season opening on a Wednesday? It is so it does not conflict the Barack Oba’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. Oh Obama is favorite to win over Mitt Romney according to the 2012 US Presidential odds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvvxFKitQqA

The NFL has issued the long awaited player penalties for Bounty Gate.

Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma as expected will get hit with a year-long suspension. The Saints covered their bases by signing former Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton earlier this year.

The league concluded that as defensive captain, Vilma aided DC Gregg Williams in the implementation of the program. His suspension is effective immediately.

Other players include:

Packers DE Anthony Hargrove has been suspended for eight games.

Saints DE Will Smith has been suspended for four games.

Browns LB Scott Fujita has been suspended for three games.

All players but Vilma are allowed to participate in OTAs and pre-season games.

These are the first and final penalties in regards to the players and Bounty Gate.

The NFL’s Roger Goodell was very firm in a statement released today.

“In assessing player discipline,” Goodell said, “I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation.”

“No bounty program can exist without active player participation,” Goodell added. “The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules.”

Be sure to check out other great articles at Players View.