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01/26/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For a second straight offseason, football recruiting at the University of Rhode Island may be the toughest job in CAA Football, yet the easiest in the Northeast Conference.
A year ago, URI head coach Joe Trainer and his staff faced having to assemble their first recruiting class since the university announced two summers ago it would leave the CAA to join the smaller NEC for the 2013 season.
The coaches basically had to attract players who would enter college at a higher level of competition than they would leave it. That could have alienated the Rams from some prospects whose aspirations rest with playing on the highest level of the FCS.
Trainer said he didn't sense reservation from last year's incoming players about the impending switch, and after the newcomers showed promise this past season, URI is clearly inching closer toward being a NEC contender from a CAA also-ran.
URI expects to bring in 13 or 14 recruits in a signing class that can be announced Wednesday on National Letter of Intent Day.
"To be candid, we've never beaten Villanova and William & Mary and James Madison and Delaware and those schools for kids anyway," Trainer said. "To me, it really hasn't changed much. You're trying to go and find diamonds in the rough and maybe go into some areas that other people don't necessarily go in there to pick kids.
"I think time with tell. A lot of times my analogy is always recruiting's like marriage - you don't know what you get until you're living it. A lot of those kids are going to be really good players."
The CAA allows for the full 63 scholarships on the FCS level, but URI has to shed some in moving down to the NEC, where 40 will be allowed in 2013. In addition to the athletic grants, NEC programs are allowed to offer need-based aid.
Trainer kept his recruiting class to 12 last year. It produced a gem in gritty junior college transfer Doug Johnson, a linebacker who was second on the team with 79 tackles and first with six sacks and two interceptions. He was named to the All-CAA third team.
Among the freshmen, linebacker Andrew Bose was particularly effective on special teams while winning URI's rookie of the year honors. Running back Assani Mudimbi had his redshirt taken off late in the season and showed promise, while offensive tackle Andrew Kestenbaum and defensive tackle Damen Vargas played well in reserve roles.
"I know personally I take a lot of pride in evaluating players," Trainer said. "You know I think I'm probably a better evaluator than I am a coach. Whatever kids you get, you hope you're doing a better job developing them than some of the big teams you compete against."
URI coaches are targeting offensive and defensive linemen as well as defensive backs as the focus of this year's recruiting class because they are areas of concern due to graduation.
With fewer scholarships, but a chance to have more impact players in the NEC than the CAA, the Rams can be selective in recruiting. As Keith Croft, the veteran head coach of Rhode Island's top-ranked 2011 high school team, Division I state champion Bishop Hendricksen in Warwick, points out, the Rams don't necessarily have to find talent that possibly slipped through the FBS cracks. They can focus on players ready to be performers on the FCS level.
"I think maybe the expectations and the realistic ideas of recruiting may be toned down a little," Croft said.
"I think they're going to be more selective. I think they're probably going to look for some kids that academically will be a little stronger than they've had in the past.
"I think it's a positive. I think the people in Rhode Island, especially the high school coaches, are excited about URI moving to this new league."
Although URI has posted only three winning records in the last 26 seasons - it was 3-8 last season - NEC coaches fully expect the Rams to be a strong program in their conference. The Rams will have an instant rivalry upstate with Bryant University.
The Rams were an original member of the Yankee Conference, now the CAA. In their final season in the conference this fall, they hope to build off their 7-3 home record over the last two seasons, which included victories over CAA stalwarts Delaware and William & Mary last season.
Quarterback Bob Bentsen, a Rhode Island native who threw for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns in a part-time role, will return for his junior season with an improved command of the offense.
The Rams also will return wide receiver Brandon Johnson-Farrell (44 receptions, team leader in all-purpose yards), running back Travis Hurd (team- high 433 rushing yards) and linebacker Dave Zocco (team-high 99 tackles) as well as running back Ayo Isijola, wide receiver Daril Geisser (another member of last year's recruiting class) and defensive lineman Ali Muhammad from injuries.
"I think we're going to know who our top 15 players are, but we'll be trying to find out who that next group of 15 is, knowing you go into every season with probably 30 to 35 players that are in the mix, so to speak," Trainer said.
"Honestly, at this level, teams that win championships in my personal opinion are teams that are developing the kids when they get there, not necessarily recruiting people. You can argue the kid from Towson (running back Terrance West), he was an unheralded recruit and he comes in and has an All-American freshman year. The great players at this level, recruiting isn't an exact science."
If Rhode Island picks the recruits correctly on the CAA level, imagine what they can be in the NEC in future seasons.
<< Bryans reach eighth Aussie doubles final
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The world No. 1 twin Bryan brothers,
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Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the all-time greats did
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time in the Austral
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Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova
will square off in Saturday's women's Australian Open final after they both
survived tense three-set semifinal matches on Thursday.
Azarenka, seeded third, e
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Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka
will square off in the Australian Open final after they each survived tense
three-set semifinal matches on Thursday.
Azarenka, seeded third, ended Kim Clijs
SEC action pits Gators against Rebels in Oxford >>
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Florida Gators take their act on
the road, as they invade Oxford this evening for an SEC showdown with the Ole
Miss Rebels at the Tad Smith Coliseum.
Billy Donovan's Gators have won three straigh
Top-25 foes collide in Big Ten brawl >>
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A top-25 showdown is on tap in Madison this
evening, as the 25th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers play host to the 16th-ranked
Indiana Hoosiers in Big Ten action from the Kohl Center.
Tom Crean's Hoosiers were one of t
No.7 Tar Heels take on rival Wolfpack >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Instate rivals collide in ACC action in
Chapel Hill this evening, as the seventh-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels
welcome the NC State Wolfpack to the Smith Center.
The Tar Heels were handed their worst loss
Cavs and Eagles meet in ACC affair >>
Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 19th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers will
look to bounce back from its first home loss of the season as they host the
Boston College Eagles for an Atlantic Coast Conference battle at the John Paul
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Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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