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09/08/2010 -
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram has not returned to practice for No. 1 Alabama and while Nick Saban said the injured running back is unlikely to play against No. 18 Penn State on Saturday, the coach isn't necessarily counting his star out.
``If there is anybody in the world that can play without practicing, it's probably Mark,'' Saban said after Wednesday's practice. ``He's a student of the game, he watches everything, understands everything, knows everything and he's a tremendous competitor. He has a lot of experience, but we would never put him in that situation.''
Ingram had left knee surgery last week, but Saban said he was able to do some running the past two days.
``I just don't know if Mark's going to have enough practice time,'' he said. ``He's getting close, but I don't know if he'll have enough practice time in to be able to play in the game or not.''
Before practice, Saban said Ingram's knee was ``improving every day'' and hasn't had swelling but the Heisman winner ``probably'' wouldn't be able to play. The Tide (1-0) faces the Nittany Lions (1-0) Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
``If he can continue to progress - I would say he's probably not going to be ready to play this week,'' Saban said. ``He might be ready by the game, but he won't be able to practice enough.
``After that, maybe we have a chance to get him back if he continues to progress.''
Ingram sat out Alabama's opener against San Jose State after having an arthroscopic procedure to repair an injury sustained in practice early on opening week.
Backup Trent Richardson had 10 carries for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go with three catches for 46 yards in the win over San Jose State. He only played the first half.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Thome a late scratch vs. Royals
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Jim Thome's climb up the home run charts has been put on hold.The Minnesota Twins designated hitter was a late scratch for the series finale against Kansas City on Thursday night. The team says Thome was scratched for precautionary
<< Mertesacker to miss at least one week with eye injury
Bremen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Werder Bremen will be without defender Per
Mertesacker for Saturday's Bundesliga match with Bayern Munich as well as the
club's Champions League opener against Tottenham after suffering an eye
injury.
<< Shanahan says DT Haynesworth will be with Redskins come Sunday
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington coach Mike Shanahan wouldn't address
rumors surrounding a possible trade of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and
said the veteran will be with the Redskins for Sunday's season opener against
Dallas.
<< Houllier takes charge at Villa
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aston Villa confirmed on Wednesday that
Gerard Houllier has been hired as the club's new manager.
The 63-year-old Houllier was the technical director of French football, but
after stepping down from
Wozniacki, Zvonareva advance to U.S. Open semis >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Caroline Wozniacki overcame windy
conditions and beat Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets Wednesday
night to reach the semifinals at the U.S. Open.
The No. 1 seed from Denmark won he
Bonderman solid as Tigers take down White Sox >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeremy Bonderman pitched eight brilliant
innings and Alex Avila hit a key two-run double, as the Detroit Tigers topped
the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, in the continuation of a four-game series.
Bonderman (
Rangers blast Blue Jays to halt losing streak >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Kinsler and Jeff Francoeur ignited the
Texas offense, helping the American League West-leading Rangers snap a series
of streaks with an 8-1 win over Toronto.
Kinsler homered to begin the game and Fran
Rockies P Cook leaves game with injury >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook left
Wednesday's game against Cincinnati in the sixth inning after being hit in the
right leg with a line drive.
Cook was making his second start since a month-long stint on t
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
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