13th-ranked Hokies seek quick turnaround against Dukes

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/08/2010 - Blacksburg, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off a heart-breaking loss, the 13th- ranked Virginia Tech Hokies now set their sights on the James Madison Dukes this weekend at Lane Stadium.

In the most anticipated game of the opening week, it was the Hokies who came up short, dropping a last-minute 33-30 decision to third-ranked Boise State at FedExField on Monday.

"I firmly believe we're going to be a good football team," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. "We weren't a great football team tonight. We made too many critical mistakes, but I firmly believe we're going to be a good football team."

It marked the third straight season opening loss for the Hokies, who dropped to 1-26 all-time against AP Top-5 teams. Tech however, has shown it is capable of bouncing back, as the Hokies are one of only two FBS schools to have won 10 or more games in each of the past six seasons. That is certainly reason to believe this squad can overcome another opening week setback.

As for JMU, it is a Top 25 FCS program walking into what could be a nightmare of a situation with Tech seeking to take out its frustrations. The Dukes though, were impressive in their opener, posting a 48-7 win over Morehead State last weekend to improved to 7-5 in lidlifters under head coach Mickey Matthews. The program however, is just 3-15 against FBS members and that includes 10 straight defeats.

This is the seventh all-time meeting between JMU and Virginia Tech on the gridiron, with the Hokies winning each of the prior six, including a 43-0 blanking in the most recent clash in 2003.

The Dukes had their way with Morehead State over the weekend, dialing up 483 yards of total offense, including 294 and four scores on the ground. JMU used a plethora of runners to dominate on the ground, with Jordan Anderson and Griff Yancey racking up a team-high 66 yards apiece.

QB Drew Dudzik accounted for half of the team's rushing TDs, while also throwing for two more scores and 189 yards on 8-of-15 tosses. Dudzik emerged as the starter this spring and was successful in his return after missing the final six games of '09 with a foot fracture. His main target was Kerby Long, who enjoyed a career day with 112 receiving yards and two TDs on three receptions.

JMU was every bit as impressive on defense and the unit didn't surrender a point to Morehead State until the final three minutes of the game. The unit held Morehead State to only 152 total yards, including just 67 rushing, while forcing five turnovers. What was even more impressive was the mere six first downs given up by this unit. Ryan Smith had five tackles and one of the team's two INTs to lead the defense in the win.

The Hokies were sloppy on offense at times and never really establish their dynamic ground attack, which averaged 208.2 ypg in '09. VT finishing the night with 128 yards, but it took 44 carries to reach that number, an average of just 2.9 yards per carry.

TB Ryan Williams scored two TDs on the ground and another through the air, but ended up with just 44 rushing yards on 21 carries. It was obviously a tough night running the ball for Williams, who set a school record with 1,655 rushing yards as a freshman in '09.

"We've got to look at the film and figure out what was going on," Williams said of the rushing attack. "All I know was there were a lot of times when I got the ball and there were defenders in my face."

QB Tyrod Taylor actually led the team with 73 rushing yards, as he used his legs to avoid consistent pressure. The dual-threat gunslinger also hit on 15- of-22 pass attempts for 186 yards and two TDs in a solid all-around performance. Jarrett Boykin was his favorite target with six receptions for 102 yards and a score.

Defensively, Tech wasn't all that bad, but the unit didn't step up when it was needed. Leading 30-26 late in the fourth quarter, the Hokies allowed Boise State to march 56 yards in just 38 seconds, with the driving ending on a 13- yard game-winning TD pass with just over a minute left. It was a big letdown from the unit, which was gashed for a 71-yard TD run by Boise State in the third quarter.

Aside from that, the unit did a decent job limiting a stout Boise State attack to 383 total yards. Eddie Whitley had seven stops and a forced fumble for the Tech defense, which may need some time to gel after losing a chunk of last year's starters from a unit that gave up just 15.6 ppg.

Casinoonlinewagering NCAA Football Betting News

<< Instate rivals clash as ninth-ranked Hawkeyes take on Cyclones
Iowa City, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bitter rivals clash at Kinnick Stadium this weekend, as the ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes do battle with the Iowa State Cyclones. The Hawkeyes took care of business in their opener last weekend, as they tallied

<< Idaho hits road for test against No. 6 Nebraska
Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off a 49-10 thrashing of Western Kentucky in last week's season opener, the sixth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers figure to be challenged a bit more this Saturday as they welcome the Idaho Vandals to Memorial St

<< Hurricanes blow into Columbus to battle Buckeyes
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A much-anticipated matchup between the second- ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and the 12th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes will ensue in Columbus on Saturday afternoon. As expected, Miami cruised to victory over F

<< LSU visits Vanderbilt in SEC lidlifter
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vanderbilt Commodores are coming off a highly-disappointing week-one loss, and they will open SEC play on Saturday against the 19th-ranked LSU Tigers, who are fresh off a drama-filled victory. LSU took on

<< Ranked SEC foes lock horns in Columbia
Columbia, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Richt leads his 22nd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs into an SEC battle with Steve Spurrier's 24th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia this weekend. "Our guys are focused on South Carolina right now," sai

Fireworks likely in showdown between Ducks and Volunteers >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off perhaps the most impressive performance in week one of the 2010 college football season, the seventh- ranked Oregon Ducks take to the road, as they invade SEC Country to battle the Tennessee Volunteer

Yellow Jackets and Jayhawks square off in Lawrence >>
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take their act on the road for the first time this season, as they invade Lawrence this weekend, for a showdown with the Kansas Jayhawks in an ACC/Big XII non-conferenc

Sooners and Seminoles meet in Top-25 showdown >>
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams with a lot to prove square off in a tiop-25 showdown in Norman this weekend, as the 10th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners play host to the 17th-ranked Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles got the Jimbo Fisher

No. 4 TCU hosts FCS foe Tennessee Tech >>
Fort Worth, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With one of the toughest games on their schedule already out of the way, the fourth-ranked TCU Horned Frogs now focus their attention on the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech in a non-conference showdown at Amon

Utes open Mountain West slate against visiting Rebels >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vaulting into the AP poll at the 20th position, the Utah Utes are at home again this week as they kick off their Mountain West Conference schedule against the UNLV Rebels at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake

Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.