Nicholls to play three FBS opponents

NCAA Football Betting Lines

02/03/2012 - Thibodaux, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nicholls State University football program is going heavy on the FBS opposition and light on the home games in a 2012 schedule announced on Friday.

The Colonels' first three games are against FBS opponents - a first in program history - and they will play only four home games at John L. Guidry Stadium.

"We are very excited about the 2012 schedule. It's very challenging, which is what we want," Nicholls third-year head coach Charlie Stubbs said. "Playing this kind of demanding schedule will make us stretch and grow to our potential as we strive to improve as a program."

Nicholls will open the season by visiting the FBS opposition, Oregon State on Sept. 1, transitioning Sun Belt Conference member South Alabama on Sept. 8 and Tulsa on Sept. 15. Stubbs is a former Tulsa assistant coach.

The Colonels will play their home opener on Sept. 22 against Evangel, which they defeated, 42-0, last season.

Their Southland Conference home games are against 2011 conference champion and FCS runner-up Sam Houston State (Oct. 13), McNeese State (Nov. 3) and Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 17).

Nicholls will go the road to face Southland opponents Central Arkansas (Oct. 6), Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 20), Northwestern State (Oct. 27) and Lamar (Nov. 10).

"I know the conference schedule will be super challenging and we will be tested early," said Stubbs, whose team finished 1-10 overall and 0-7 in the Southland this past season.

2012 Nicholls Football Schedule

Sept. 1, at Oregon State, Corvallis, Ore.

Sept. 8, at South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.

Sept. 15, at Tulsa, Tulsa, Okla.

Sept. 22, Evangel, Thibodaux, La.

Oct. 6, at Central Arkansas*, Conway, Ark.

Oct. 13, Sam Houston State*, Thibodaux, La.

Oct. 20, at Stephen F. Austin*, Nacogdoches, Texas

Oct. 27, at Northwestern State*, Natchitoches, La.

Nov. 3, McNeese State*, Thibodaux, La.

Nov. 10, at Lamar*, Beaumont, Texas

Nov. 15, Southeastern Louisiana*, Thibodaux, La.

* - Southland Conference game

Wwwquam NCAA Football Betting News

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

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SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

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