NFL odds: Browns bank on Rogers in middle

The Cleveland Browns think this is the year their storied but eternally punished franchise could make a Super Bowl. And no one seems to question their offense behind Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow.

What many question is the defense that got pushed around last season, to the tune of 30th overall in the league. That’s why defensive tackle Shaun Rogers could be the key to this season for Cleveland.

Rogers, acquired from the Detroit Lions, was considered to have a bit of a motor problem with the Lions – i.e. he only played hard when he wanted to, which wasn’t enough for someone with his talent. But he showed up for workouts this spring in great shape and looks motivated to have a big season.

"Shaun is a physical specimen," coach Romeo Crennel said. "He's got good size, good strength. I think he'll be hard to handle one-on-one, which will force some double teams. … His attitude has been good. He’s been working.”In fact, Rogers thinks adjusting to a 3-4 defense is just the challenge he needs; he was. primarily a 4-3 tackle with one-gap responsibilities in his seven seasons with the Lions.

"I'm excited to be here learning my new role,' Rogers said.”It's different going between the 4-3 and the 3-4 to be a noseguard. Being a noseguard takes a lot of the aggressiveness away when you are making your first step getting off the ball. There is a more 'read and react' feel to it. You have to be patient and unselfish in this defense, so I'm working on a few character flaws.'

"I think it's been better than expected," Browns general manager Phil Savage said of Rogers' conversion. "He's done some good things on the field.'

With the addition of fellow defensive tackle Corey Williams from Green Bay, the Browns have more size up front than they have in years. This club ranked 30th, 29th and 30th in run defense the past three years, but that seems unlikely this season barring injuries.

Rogers and Williams also will be asked to tie up linemen to help free up pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley. The third-year pro finished his rookie year with 11 sacks, but saw his production dip (five sacks) in his second season as teams paid more attention to him.

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NFL odds: Vikings need Jackson to be Super

Everything seems to be in place for the Minnesota Vikings to finally return to the Super Bowl – well, everything seems to be in place except for possibly at the most important position: quarterback.

Yes, the weight of the franchise is on third-year QB Tarvaris Jackson

After all, the Vikings have arguably the best running tandem in the league in Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, they added Bernard Berrian from the NFC North rival Bears to provide a deep threat, and Minnesota traded for pass-rushing stud Jared Allen and added safety Madieu Williams to put on a defense that already was awesome against the run.

Vikes coach Brad Childress points to last season’s finale as to how much potential Jackson has.

"I'd go back to the last five or seven minutes of the Denver game," Childress says, "when we were down 16 points, and we go into a no-huddle, and he kind of wills us down the field — by moving, by scrambling, by hitting people, by stepping up in the pocket and putting one up on the flag, by running for (32) yards. Just the best of Tarvaris Jackson. How good can he be? He can be this good."The Vikings lost, but in that stretch Jackson passed for 175 yards, two scores and a pair of two-point conversions. An optimist like Childress sees nice momentum heading into the offseason. A pessimist might say that Jackson had the fewest TD passes of any quarterback in the league (9) and threw 12 interceptions, completing a little more than 58 percent of his throws.

With defenses stacking up to slow Peterson and Taylor, Jackson will need to hit the deep ball and not turn the ball over. Basically, do enough not to lose the game.

"Knowing when to let go of that deep ball and give a guy a one-on-one opportunity, or when it is better to bring it down and go to a 4-yard check-down," Childress said of making sound decisions.

But did Minnesota make a sound decision in not bringing in a backup better than Gus Frerotte in case Jackson struggles?

“People are going to say what they want to say. It's their job to analyze things and to give their opinion of our team," Jackson said. "My job is to go out there and prove them wrong. That's how I look at it. It's just extra motivation. That's all it is. Things like that kind of help me out, get me over the top."

Bet on Vikings futures at WagerWeb.com this season in the Twin Cities as the Vikes look to end a 32-year conference championship drought.

College football odds: MSU' Croom gets new deal

The coach residing on one of college football’s hottest seats last year now has the comfort of a new four-year contract after leading Mississippi State to a surprising 8-5 record (4-4 in the SEC) in 2007.

Sylvester Croom, the first black football coach in SEC history, got his new contract late last week, which starts at $1.7 million for this season. Four-year contracts are the maximum allowable under Mississippi state law. Salary figures of the other three years were not disclosed.

"We've come a long way in the last four years in terms of making a commitment of making a championship program and doing things the right way," Croom said. "We're not where some of the other schools are but I think we've made a huge, huge improvement and I am totally satisfied with the financial package for myself and for my assistant coaches as well, and the commitment that the university has made."

Croom originally agreed to a two-year extension through the 2011 season in January, shortly after he was named the SEC Coach of the Year for leading Mississippi State to regular season wins over rivals Ole Miss and Alabama and a Liberty Bowl victory over Central Florida, MSU’s first bowl game since 2000.

He seemed a strong candidate to be let go entering 2007, as the Bulldogs were 9-25 under him in his first three seasons, including a 4-20 mark in the SEC.One unique part of his new deal is that one of Croom’s future pay incentives will be based on Academic Progress Rate numbers, the NCAA's new academic measurement tool that penalizes programs that fail to meet outlined standards.

It is believed the 53-year-old Croom is the first collegiate head coach to have a contract with incentives based on APR numbers.

"We are excited that Coach Croom's contract is signed," new athletic director Greg Byrne said in a release. “He has brought our football program back to the level of play everyone anticipated when he was hired in 2004.”

The Bulldogs, who were taken off probation by the NCAA earlier in June, begin practice on Aug. 3.

With Houston Nutt now at Ole Miss, football might be on the rise in Mississippi.

MSU’s 2008 schedule
8/30 @ Louisiana Tech
9/06 Southeastern Louisiana
9/13 Auburn
9/20 @ Georgia Tech
9/27 @ LSU
10/11 Vanderbilt
10/18 @ Tennessee
10/25 Middle Tennessee
11/01 Kentucky
11/15 @ Alabama
11/22 Arkansas
11/28 @ Mississippi

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NFL odds: Crumpler fills missing piece for Titans

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young has led his team to two solid seasons since entering the NFL, but his passing numbers have been below average.

Much of that has been blamed on the Titans’ weak receiving corps and run-first mentality, but Young will need to do better than a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 9-to-17 as he had last season.

So while the Titans ignored receivers in the draft, they did bring sign former Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, who should finally give Young the big target he has been lacking. Crumpler was Michael Vick’s safety valve in Atlanta, and should be Tennessee’s most reliable tight end since Frank Wycheck. Crumpler was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Falcons, and he’s thrilled with the connection with his new quarterback so far.

"It has been a match made in heaven,” said Crumpler, who had five TD catches last year. "I am excited about it, and I know Vince is excited about it, too.”

The seven-year veteran did his homework and chose Tennessee because he felt the Titans are a contender."I thought coming in here would be a good situation for me, and it's (done) nothing but met my expectations, above and beyond my expectations thus far," he said.

Crumpler is coming off some knee trouble that caused him to miss a few games last year, but he still had 42 catches for 444 yards in a bad Atlanta offense, and those five TD catches would have led Tennessee. And he says the knee feels great.

Young likes the big target he has in the 6-foot-2 Crumpler, who sees everything the quarterback finds at the line of scrimmage.

“Crump is a big target; he is smart. At the line of scrimmage, we kind of give each other the eye before we snap the ball because he is seeing what I am seeing,' Young said. "I really feel like he is going to help me out a whole lot because he is a vet and he knows what to do out there. He is going to be a good guy for me.'

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MLB odds: Mariners look to sweep Mets

The money line on Wednesday night’s Mariners-Mets game in New York has moved about 10 percent toward the heavily favored Mets since it opened, and some of that certainly can be attributed to Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard’s start being skipped tonight.

While Bedard (4-4, 3.97 ERA) hasn’t been worth the haul of players that Seattle sent to Baltimore to get him in the offseason, he has been Seattle’s second-best starter behind Felix Hernandez. But he is out tonight and possibly headed for the disabled list with back spasms he first suffered last Friday in Atlanta. The lefty has had one DL stint already this season, from April 8-26 with hip soreness.

Miguel Batista (3-9, 6.26 ERA) will start for Bedard on Wednesday. Batista has been pitching in relief since he was removed from the rotation after his June 7 start against the Red Sox. And he wasn’t much better as a reliever, going 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA, including giving up two runs and blowing a save Saturday vs. Atlanta without retiring a hitter. In his career against the Mets, the right-hander is 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in nine games.The Mets figure to be quite motivated tonight as well, coming off back-to-back losses to the team with the worst record in baseball, including 11-0 on Tuesday night, a game in which manager Jerry Manuel and center field Carlos Beltran were ejected.

The victory improved Seattle to a still AL-worst 13-25 on the road but to 7-1 all-time against New York. Seattle has yet to sweep any team so far in 2008, and you know the Mets don’t want to be the first.

John Maine (7-5, 3.78 ERA) takes the mound for New York, which has lost Maine's last three starts at Shea as he has posted a 6.23 ERA. The Mets have lost three of four overall, averaging only 1.5 runs per game.

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College football odds: 2008 Tulane

The Green Wave have to replace arguably the best runner in school history, but things appear to be looking up in New Orleans.

Coach: Bob Toledo

2007 record: 4-8, 3-5 C-USA

Returning starters: 17 (Offense: 8, defense: 7, kicker/punter: 2)

Top returners: LT Troy Kropog, LG Michael Parenton, WR Jeremy Williams, DE Reggie Scott, LB Evan Lee, CB Josh Lumar, LB David Skehan

Key losses: RB Matt Forte, C Aryan Barto, DT Antonio Harris, DT Avery Williams, S Joe Goosby

2008 schedule

Sept. 6 @ Alabama

Sept. 13 East Carolina

Sept. 20 Louisiana-Monroe

Sept. 20 SMU

Oct. 4 Army

Oct. 11 @ UTEP

Oct. 25 Rice

Nov. 1 @ LSU

Nov. 8 @ Houston

Nov. 15 UAB

Nov. 22 @ Tulsa

Nov. 29 @ Memphis


Key game: For sentimental reasons, it would have the Oct. 4 homecoming matchup against Army. Tulane will play that game at Tad Gormley Stadium for the first time since 2004. Previously, the Green Wave played three straight (2002-04) homecoming contests at the stadium and the 2005 game was scheduled to be there as well, but Hurricane Katrina changed all that.2008 overview

The Green Wave will have a big hole to fill in replacing the nation’s second-leading rusher from 2007, Matt Forte, who likely will be starting in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Andre Anderson will take that role. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry in the spring game and convinced coach Bob Toledo: "He's got to carry the load as a running back next fall," Toledo said.

Tulane also likely will be replacing 2007 starting QB Anthony Scelfo. Toledo allowed Scelfo to skip spring practice to concentrate on baseball, and he emerged as one of C-USA's top players, getting drafted in the eighth round of this year’s draft. He could return in the fall, but it’s unlikely.

“Obviously, Anthony had a chance last year to show what he could do. And we know what he can do. He's involved with baseball now, and this summer he's going to be involved with baseball. He's missing a lot of football. It's one of those things where we need someone to come in here and throw the football efficiently and effectively. And if it is Scelfo in fall camp, then it may be him. But right now, it is down to basically two people — (Kevin) Moore and (Joe) Kemp," Toledo said.

Moore, a sophomore, shared the job with Scelfo last year, so that may give him a leg up, but Kemp shined even though he’s only a freshman. Whoever takes the snaps will be protected by a line that returns four starters. And whoever wins the job will be throwing often to receiver Jeremy Williams, who had 46 catches, 773 receiving yards and five TDs last year but was much improved this spring.

On defense, the strength should be up front. With the decision to move senior David Skehan from strong safety to outside linebacker, the front seven returns six starters, although it must replace the combined 10 sacks of departed Antonio Harris and Avery Williams. Watch for sophomore Tony Bryant to step in and make a name for himself this year.

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College football odds: 2008 UAB

The good news: The Blazers return 19 starters from last season. The bad news: UAB only beat one Division I team (I refuse to say Football Bowl Subdivision) in 2007.

Coach: Neil Callaway (second year at UAB)

2007 record: 2-10, 1-7 C-USA

Returning starters: 19 (Offense: 8 defense: 9, kicker/punter: 2)

Top returners: QB Joe Webb, WR Frantrell Forrest, C Jake Seitz, FS Will Dunbar, LB Joe Henderson, CB Kevin Sanders, PK/P Swayze Waters

Key losses: G Adam Truitt, TE David Sigler, QB Sam Hunt

2008 schedule

Aug. 30 Tulsa

Sept. 6 @ Florida Atlantic

Sept. 13 @ Tennessee

Sept. 20 Alabama State

Sept. 27 @ South Carolina

Oct. 2 Memphis

Oct. 11 @ Houston

Oct. 18 Marshall

Nov. 1 @ Southern Miss

Nov. 15 @ Tulane

Nov. 22 East Carolina

Nov. 29 @ UCFKey game: Aug. 30 vs. Tulsa - Let's be honest here: The Blazers aren't going to contend in Conference USA this year. But maybe UAB can upset a Tulsa team that will be breaking in a new quarterback to replace Paul Smith. Win that game and perhaps the Blazers could be 3-2 heading into full conference play in hopes of finishing .500 overall. Yeah, probably not. Facing three consecutive bowl teams to start the season will be rough on this club.

2008 overview

After splitting time between receiver and quarterback last season, junior Joe Webb has the full-time job under center. Webb beat out Anthony Speight in the spring, capping it with 173 yards passing and two touchdowns in the first half of the spring game. In three scrimmages, Webb went 51-for-83 for 706 yards with six touchdown passes and two interceptions.

"We know what Joe can do. He's an outstanding player and we're excited about him. We just have to correct some of the lapses and work on the consistency part of it, but he's definitely a guy who can make plays," coach Neil Callaway said.

Frantrell Forrest will no doubt be Webb's top target. As a freshman, Forrest had 49 catches for 563 yards and five touchdowns, and he was the No. 1 option in the spring, tallying 14 receptions for 238 yards and four touchdowns in three scrimmages, and then two TDs in the spring game from Webb.

But who will run the ball? That's likely to come down to either Dexter Barnett or Justin Brooks. Barnett was impressive in the spring game with 26 yards rushing on six carries and four receptions for 53 yards and a TD. Webb also will be a running threat; he was the leading rusher in the spring game. UAB was 104th in I-A in rushing last season, so there's really nowhere to go but up.

The defense returns nine starters, but the Blazers are still young and small in a front seven that included 10 freshmen and sophomores in its two-deep last fall. The strength of the team might be a secondary that returns four players with starting experience, led by all-conference safety Will Dunbar, who led C-USA in tackles last year with 12.2 per game. Two returning starters at outside linebacker, senior Joe Henderson and sophomore Mike Tashman missed significant time in the spring with injuries but are expected to be ready to go by camp.

Senior PK Swayze Waters is a weapon any team would like to have: He was all-conference and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year after making 22 of 28 field goals and averaging 41.4 yards per punt.

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