NCAA rules Alabama DE Dareus ineligible for two games

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/02/2010 - Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has declared Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus ineligible for two games due to his dealings with sports agents.

In its ruling, the NCAA said Dareus must repay benefits to become eligible again. Those benefits amount to $1,787.17, which will go to a charity of his choice.

The ruling means Dareus will miss the Crimson Tide's season-opener Saturday night against San Jose State and then a game against No. 19 Penn State on September 11.

Dareus led the SEC in sacks with 6 1/2 as a sophomore in 2009. He added 33 tackles, nine for a loss, and one interception in 14 games for the national champion and current No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide.

The NCAA said the case submitted by Alabama shows Dareus accepted benefits that included airfare, lodging, meals and transportation during two trips to Miami. The NCAA said Dareus could have been suspended four games, but "based on the mitigating circumstances in the case" reduced the penalty to two contests.

Alabama plans on appealing the NCAA's decision to the organization's Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. However, Dareus will remain ineligible until the conclusion of the appeals process.

Dareus has been connected with what has become known as an infamous trip to Miami with several other college football players that may or may not have been sponsored by an agent.

South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and several members of the North Carolina football team, including star defensive tackle Marvin Austin, were also being investigated by the NCAA for similar allegations. Austin was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday for violating team rules, but Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis said the decision for a suspension was not related as a result of the ongoing NCAA review.

Safegambler NCAA Football Betting News

<< Santana leaves game against Atlanta
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana left his start against the Atlanta Braves after five innings on Thursday. Santana had limited the Braves to just one run and three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

<< Dunlap, Sisk share Mylan Classic lead
Canonsburg, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Dunlap and Geoffrey Sisk both carded rounds of six-under 65 on Thursday to share the 18-hole lead at the inaugural Mylan Classic. Dunlap and Sisk collected eight birdies and two bogeys apiece on the S

<< Steelers' Leftwich hurts left knee
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich, expected to start during Ben Roethlisberger's suspension, has injured his left knee during the first half of an exhibition game against Carolina.Leftwich completed an 18-yard pass to rookie Emma

<< Avalanche sign Stewart for two years
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche signed restricted free- agent forward Chris Stewart to a two-year deal on Thursday. The 22-year-old led the Avs with 28 goals and ranked second in points with 64 over 77 regular-season

<< Preds ownership completes Del Biaggio buyout
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nashville Predators chairman Tom Cigarran announced on Thursday that the current ownership group has completed the purchase of remaining ownership shares from jailed former investor William "Boots"

Twins' Baker leaves game >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins starter Scott Baker left Thursday's game against Detroit because of right elbow pain. Baker did not return for the start of the third after giving up two runs in two innings. He allowe

Steelers QB Leftwich injures knee >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich hurt his left knee during the second quarter of the team's final preseason game against Carolina. Leftwich completed an 18-yard pass to Emmanuel San

Santana departs early, but Mets hold off Braves >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Santana left after five innings, but limited Atlanta to just one run as the New York Mets avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braves with a 4-2 win. Santana (11-9) left the game with a s

Calhoun's TD catch lifts Giants over Patriots >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rhett Bomar's 60-yard touchdown connection to Duke Calhoun in the fourth quarter was the difference as the New York Giants clipped New England, 20-17, in the final preseason game for both clubs f

Detroit downs Buffalo to finish fine preseason >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdowns and rookie Paul Pratt returned an interception 102 yards for the eventual game-winning score, as the Detroit Lions rallied for a 28-23 win against

Football Betting

NFL Football Betting Online

The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.

Thursday, August 21

NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37

NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road

In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):

* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games

Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.

Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.

Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.

That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.

Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.

CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .