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UCLA looks for improvement under NeuheiselNCAA Football Betting Lines08/12/2010 - LOS ANGELES (AP) -UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel insists he takes no pleasure in his crosstown rivals' troubles. He wants the Bruins to win the Race for Los Angeles because they're better than Southern California, not because the Trojans were tripped up by Reggie Bush and the NCAA. Yet Neuheisel also realizes USC's woes have put UCLA in prime position to make Southland football competitive again - and in the third year of the coach's tenure, he knows it's high time to start seeing results from his rebuilding project. As an alumnus, that's exactly what he would demand of anybody in charge of the once-powerful program. ``We can't take any time to worry about SC,'' Neuheisel said during a preseason interview at the Rose Bowl. ``But is there a window of opportunity? Certainly, and we want to take advantage of that and play on this field in January.'' UCLA has been picked to finish near the bottom of the Pac-10 for another season, ranking eighth in the conference media poll. Neuheisel said expectations sometimes lag behind results: After making a bowl game while going 7-6 last season despite an inept running game and offensive line, he believes the Bruins' weaknesses are closer to strengths after a third straight year of solid recruiting made possible by everything that makes UCLA special. ``UCLA can be back in the national conversation immediately,'' Neuheisel said. ``UCLA's brand is as good as any in the nation. If we get back to that level and get back to the Rose Bowl, we'll be right back on people's minds immediately, and for years to come. I know football has been on hiatus for a long time, but we have the ability to get it right back on top.'' Most people who are paid to have such opinions don't think the Bruins will do it quite yet. But where others see flaws in a defense that lost two of its best players, Neuheisel sees an opportunity for young players - and where experts see perhaps too many returnees from a sub-par offense that managed just 22 points per game last season, Neuheisel sees the lessons of experience. Neuheisel and coordinator Norm Chow also spent the offseason installing a new offensive look, dubbed the Revolver. After the Bruins' profound struggles while rushing for just 114.6 yards per game last season, ranking 97th in the country, Neuheisel decided he needed to try something unorthodox to get them moving. The UCLA coaches consulted with Nevada coach Chris Ault, who uses an offense called the Pistol - a modified shotgun formation with the quarterback standing a few yards behind the center, and the tailback a few yards behind that. The scheme is designed to make the defense worry about runs by Kevin Prince, the athletic Bruins quarterback who didn't get much chance to show off his elusiveness last season. Neuheisel is no stranger to unorthodox offenses after installing the Veer for quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo at Washington several years ago - and this change could hardly make the Bruins' offense any less potent. Prince is the presumptive starter after his up-and-down 2009, while tailbacks Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman also are back. Receivers Taylor Embree and Nelson Rosario return, as does most of the offensive line that gave up 29 sacks and struggled to open running room last season. Neuheisel sees those returnees as a good thing. ``On our offensive line, finally we've got some level of experience for the first time since we've been here,'' Neuheisel said. ``You feel like you're going to be a little bit better off. I just believe we're further along at the start, and because of that, I think we've given ourselves a better chance to move the ball.'' The defense lost cornerback Alterraun Verner and defensive lineman Brian Price, but returns a solid group led by safety Rahim Moore, who led the nation with 10 interceptions last season. Defense wasn't usually the Bruins' problem last season, and Moore believes they have a chance to be solid again. ``It's not about topping last year,'' Moore said. ``If I could, I would take away the 10 picks to get 10 wins. It's about getting me better and getting everyone around me better. This is our chance to show ourselves on the biggest stage against great teams like Kansas State, Texas and Houston.'' Ah, the early-season schedule: UCLA has a visit from Stanford mixed into those three tough September nonconference games, minimizing the Bruins' chance at a strong early-season start. If UCLA stumbles early, Neuheisel's task will be tougher - and don't forget, the Bruins went 0-5 last October, repeatedly falling short of wins that could have kept them rolling. Neuheisel's optimism doesn't waver even when thinking about his rough September schedule. He's banking on the Bruins moving forward with confidence. ``For the first time since I've been here, we have an experienced team,'' Neuheisel said. ``There's confidence in the locker room, confidence in the coaching staff, and now we just have to find results on the field to justify that confidence.''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.
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NFL Football BettingBILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover. BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week. COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy. TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win. RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win. PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start. JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch. SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do. VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams. DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home. SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one. BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1. BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses. RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw. PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1. Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting. |
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