Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

Lincoln, NE - Nebraska wide receiver Maurice Purify was suspended for the season opener in light of his second arrest in a month span.

Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan met with the wide receiver on Friday and disclosed Purify will sit out the September 1 home game against Nevada.

According to the Lincoln Journal Star, the meeting came after Purify was sentenced to one year probation and fined $1,250 for the arrests.

Purify was cited for suspicion of DWI after being stopped by police just after midnight on Friday, June 8. He was pulled over for speeding and failing to signal for a turn.

Purify led the Cornhuskers in receiving yards last season with 630 on 34 catches. That included a team-best seven touchdown grabs.

The senior from Eureka, California was also arrested on May 5 and jailed on suspicion of a pair of counts of assault, trespassing, failure to comply and resisting arrest. That arrest came from an argument at a tavern in Lincoln.

Norman, OK - The University of Oklahoma started the appeals process Friday in response to an NCAA ruling that forced the football team to forfeit its victories from the 2005 season.

School president David Boren sent notice of the appeal to NCAA president Myles Brand, but noted that OU was limiting its challenge to “two specific areas among several findings made by the NCAA and penalties assessed.”

“We have accepted the large majority of the NCAA’s findings and penalties because we agree that the highest possible standards of conduct and ethics should be maintained and that when mistakes are made, even if they are unintentional, institutions must be held accountable,” said Boren.

The appeals stem from a case in which three football student-athletes received payment for work not performed at a Norman, Oklahoma automobile dealership. Those benefits totaled approximately $17,000 in unearned wages.

Those athletes include dismissed quarterback Rhett Bomar and lineman J.D. Quinn.

The school was forced to vacate the records for the 2005 season including a bowl game victory. That year, the Sooners finished with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Big 12. That included a victory over Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.

The school also lost two scholarships through the 2009-10 season, though Oklahoma indicated that the forfeit of victories would be the only penalty challenged by the university.

Boren indicated in his statement the school had followed procedure on tracking employment of its student athletes, and that the “temporary lapse in record keeping” was an unintentional mistake. He also added that the school has since enhanced its monitoring plan by hiring additional compliance officers and upgrading its electronic software to “speedily track all records.”

“Our goal is to have a compliance program which will be a model for other NCAA member institutions,” Boren added. “I hope that the continued upgrading of our compliance system and our quick action in dealing with any wrongdoing has sent a message to the NCAA and to the public that OU has set the highest possible standard for itself.”

Boren also added that the appeals process was set in motion due to the fact that Bomar and Quinn both transferred to other schools — Bomar to Sam Houston State and Quinn to Montana — where they will be allowed to resume their careers this season.

by Jeff Frank

Two years ago, Conference USA won just 11% (two of 19) of its games vs. BCS schools, but finished 12-9 ATS. Last season was an improved campaign with a 19% winning percentage against BCS teams with five wins in 27 tries. However, the conference fared poorly ATS at 12-15.

Houston and Southern Miss hooked up in the championship game last year with the Cougars gaining revenge (34-20) for an earlier season loss. With that win, Houston was awarded a berth in the Liberty Bowl, while the Golden Eagles had to settle for a victory over Ohio in the GMAC Bowl. Incidentally, that was the lone win of the five conference bowl bids.

The West Division, winner of both title games the last two years, dominated the East last season with 12 victories in the 18 head-to-head match-ups, but the tide could turn as the East looks stronger one through five. Look for an even 9-9 split with three of the West’s wins coming vs. UAB. Houston and Southern Miss will battle it out once again for Conference USA supremacy.

WEST DIVISION

1) HOUSTON - Quick question. When was the last time someone not named Kevin Kolb started at quarterback? Answer: 2002. The second-round draft choice of the Eagles guided the Cougars to three bowl games in his four years, but won seven or more games, just once. Strength - The running game, which was number one in conference play with 198 ypg and 5.3 ypc, will still be potent and the defense, with seven starters back, will be the best “D” in the West. Weakness - Houston was on the losing side in turnover margin just twice in 14 games, and with an inexperienced signal caller under center this year that number will take a turn for the worse. Bottom line - The Cougars will not be as strong as they were in ‘06, but the rest of the division, save for SMU, will be weaker. Still, a 7-5 mark and a conference record of 6-2 will bring them back to the title game. Houston was 8-4 ATS during the regular season and might actually do better since the public might dismiss them with Kolb taking his game to the NFL.

2) SOUTHERN METHODIST - The Mustangs have not been to a bowl game since 1984, but came “oh-so-close” last year. All they needed was a victory over Rice in the season finale, but the Owls hit paydirt with just over four minutes left to pull out the four-point win. Strength - Mark it down, SMU will lead the conference in scoring. Quarterback Justin Willis had a phenomenal freshman season completing 67% with 26 TDs. Both numbers topped Kevin Kolb’s freshman campaign. Weakness - The defensive line, which held the rest of the league to 106 rushing yards per game, returns just one starter. Bottom line - This will be the year the Mustangs reach .500 with a 7-5 record and five conference wins. In addition, they will finally get their long awaited trip to a bowl game. SMU was undefeated as a home favorite in ’06 and will continue that streak with five more this season.

3) TULSA - The Golden Hurricane were expecting more than another 8-4 campaign in ’06 and get a new head coach in former defensive coordinator, Todd Graham. Strength - The secondary has been one of the best in the country the last four years and quarterback Paul Smith, who returns for his senior season, sports a 2-to-1 TD-INT ratio the last two years. Weakness - Four of the top five tacklers depart and the entire offensive line has a grand total of 15 career starts. Bottom line - Despite only 10 returning starters, Tulsa should still win seven games, five in the conference. The Hurricanes are 16-9 ATS the last two years, but they will finish below .500 this season.

4) RICE - The Owls improved from 1-10 to 7-6 and went bowling for the first time in 45 years, but the rest of the conference won’t take them as lightly this season. Strength - Jarrett Dillard returns after catching 91 passes and 21 TDs. The secondary, which returns both starting cornerbacks, improved from last to finish third in league play, holding opposing QBs to a 56% completion percentage. Weakness - Despite the 6-2 conference record, the Owls were outscored by an average of 32-31. They finished last in the league in run defense, allowing 4.7 yards per carry, and four of their top six tacklers have exhausted their eligibility. Bottom line - Rice will be hard- pressed for a repeat, especially without 1,000-yard rusher Quinton Smith. Five wins, four in conference, is in store for ’07. The Owls were 9-2 as underdogs last year. Don’t expect a similar performance.

5) TEXAS-EL PASO - After consecutive 8-4 years, the Miners dipped below .500 (5-7) despite Jordan Palmer’s fine senior season. Strength - With a healthy offensive line, UTEP will post better rushing numbers than the paltry 58 ypg of a year ago. Weakness - The Miners finished last in conference play, allowing 170 rushing yards per game. Six members of the front seven depart, taking with them 82% of the team’s sacks. Johnnie Lee Higgins and Daniel Robinson, who caught a combined 20 of Palmer’s 26 TD passes, also bid farewell to the college game, not to mention Palmer himself. Bottom line - It looks like a rebuilding year in El Paso. Expect a 3-9 mark, with just a pair of league victories. Stay away from them against the spread.

6) TULANE - Hurricane Katrina devastated the program in 2005, but the Green Wave rebounded by doubling their win total to four in ‘06. Strength - Running back Matt Forte (859 yards) was heading for a 1,000-yard campaign until an injury forced him to miss the final three games. Tulane vastly improved its run defense and with six starters returning from its front seven, look for the unit to held offenses to under four yards per carry. Weakness - The Green Wave finished last in the conference in total yards gained and yards allowed. Bottom line - It’s a new era in New Orleans as Bob Toledo brings in new offensive and defensive schemes. Expect a three win season, two coming in conference play. Tulane was 3-7 as underdogs last year, but could surprise.

EAST DIVISION

1) SOUTHERN MISS - The Golden Eagles won five of their last six games to finish 9-5 and that momentum will carry them to their first Liberty Bowl since 2003. Strength - They return their top five tacklers and eight starters to a defense that led Conference USA in points allowed. Only one QB (Kevin Kolb) threw for over 200 yards against them the last eight games. Running back Damion Fletcher burst on the scene with 1,388 yards with 11 TDs his freshman season. Weakness - Fletcher will have to prove last season was no fluke as two all Conference USA O-linemen depart. Bottom line - The Eagles lead the league this decade with an average of 7.6 wins per season. Look for them to top that mark with nine victories and a splashy 7-1 conference mark. They were 5-7 ATS last year, but will easily better that in ’07.

2) CENTRAL FLORIDA - After improving from 0-11 to reaching a bowl game in 2005, the Knights took a major step backward with just four wins last season. Strength - UCF sports an O-line with 124 career starts, which will send RB Kevin Smith over the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in three years. The defense registered 14 sacks, holding opponents to an average of 91 yards rushing for 3.1 ypc, over the final four games. Weakness - Can the Knights replace first team all-conference WR Mike Walker and his 90 receptions? Bottom line - All the pieces are in place for their second bowl appearance ever. George O’Leary’s club will finish above .500 at 7-5 with a 6-2 league record. UCF went 4-7 ATS last year and will easily reverse that mark this season.

3) MEMPHIS - The Tigers were one of the nation’s most disappointing teams with just two victories, but lost five games by a total of just 17 points. Strength - Martin Hankins completed 60% of his throws with 18 TDs, and those numbers will improve in his second season under center. Defensive end Greg Terrell will be an all-conference performer his sophomore year, and with 10 of its top 12 tacklers returning, Memphis will cut down its points allowed by nearly a touchdown per game. Weakness - The running game must pick up since the Tigers finished in the bottom fourth in league play with only 115 yards per contest. Bottom line - Defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn was let go early last season and the defense took a step backwards allowing a touchdown more per game than the season before. Look for improvement all across the board in ’07, and that will lead the Tigers to an 8-4 mark, 5-3 in the conference. Like UCF, Memphis is a club to invest on each and every week.

4) MARSHALL - Four victories in the final six games last year have fans in Huntington excited for the upcoming season. Strength - The Thundering Herd return two two-year starters and two one-year starters to the offensive line. Marshall finished third in league play with 20 sacks and Albert McClellan (11.5) returns for his junior season. Weakness - Bernard Morris has thrown 18 picks in just 404 passes the last two seasons and without Ahmad Bradshaw (1,523 rushing yards, 19 TDs) to hand the ball off to, he must improve his touch or it could be a long season ahead. Bottom line - The Herd are 2-10 on the road the last two years. Lucky for them most of their winnable games are at home. They’ll grab four victories this season and finish 3-5 in Conference USA. Marshall was 1-6 as an away dog in ’06 and could go 0-6 in ’07.

5) EAST CAROLINA - The Pirates went bowling for the first time since 2001, but were stymied by South Florida, 24-7 in the Papajohns.com Bowl. Strength - For three straight years, East Carolina allowed 4.9 yards per carry. Last season, the Pirates lowered that number to 4.0 and the front seven returns intact. Weakness - Gone are their leading rusher, reception leader and the starting quarterback, and even with a veteran unit in place last season, they still finished ninth in league play in points and yards per game. Bottom line - East Carolina will have its work cut out for them in ’07 and will end up with 3-9 and 2-6 records. After an amazing 10-3 ATS mark in ‘06, look for a major step backwards.

6) ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM - Watson Brown was fired as head coach after 12 years at the helm, partly due to UAB’s worst record (3-9) since moving into the FBS, formerly known as Division 1-A. Strength - The Blazers return three of their top four tacklers. Weakness - Only eight starters return to a team that finished 95th in the country averaging 310 yards per game and 83rd in the nation giving up 359 per contest. Bottom line - New head coach Neil Callaway will have his hands full in his first season as UAB will win just one out-of- conference game. Stay clear of the Blazers against the spread all season long.

Miami, FL - The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback John Beck, the first of their two second-round draft picks this season, to a four-year contract on Monday.

Beck, the 40th selection overall and fourth quarterback taken, was a four-year letterman at BYU, where he started his final three years. He completed 885 of 1,418 passes for 11,021 yards and 79 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in his collegiate career.

During Beck’s senior season, he connected on 289 of 417 passes for 3,885 yards with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions en route to being named a first- team All-Mountain West Conference choice and the conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Also, Miami signed center/guard Drew Mormino, the second of their two sixth- round selections, to a four-year contract; and defensive tackle Brian Soi as an underafted college free agent.

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed defenseman Alain Nasreddine to a one-year contract Monday.

The 32-year old Nasreddine, a native of Montreal, scored one goal and had four assists in 44 games for Pittsburgh in 2006-07 following his recall from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Originally a sixth round draft pick of the Florida Panthers, Nasreddine has played for the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks during his 12-year professional career.

Uniondale, NY - The New York Islanders re-signed veteran forward Chris Simon to a one-year contract Monday.

Simon played in 67 games for the Islanders in 2006-07 and had ten goals with 17 assists for 27 points. Last season Simon’s point production was his best since the 2001-02 season when he scored 31 points in 82 games for the Washington Capitals.

“Chris is just one of those old school guys who gave our team a little bit of everything last season,” said Islanders head coach Ted Nolan. “We can’t overstate Si’s leadership. He’ll have a big role with our team, just like last season.”

In 744 career NHL games during 14 NHL seasons, Simon has scored 143 goals with 159 assists for 302 points and 1,765 penalty minutes.

“I take a lot of pride in being an Islander and I didn’t consider playing anywhere else this season but on Long Island,” said Simon. “Everyone knows the respect I have for Ted Nolan but it goes well beyond that. Everyone connected with the Islanders, from the owner to the fans, have been first-class. I cannot wait to get the season started.”

East Rutherford, NJ - The New Jersey Nets signed head coach Lawrence Frank to a multi-year extension. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to announce this contract extension, which will keep Lawrence on the Nets sidelines for the foreseeable future,” said New Jersey president Rod Thorn. “Lawrence has done an outstanding job, and we feel confident that he will continue to provide the leadership so invaluable to the success of our team in the future.”

Frank was named the Nets’ head coach on June 21 of 2004 after first being chosen as the interim head coach in January of that year.

The Teaneck, New Jersey native began his NBA coaching career with 13 consecutive wins, an NBA record for most consecutive victories by a head coach to begin a coaching career.

Since then Frank has become the Nets’ all-time winningest head coach and has amassed a 157-129 record during his three-plus seasons as the team’s mentor.

The Nets have also reached the postseason in each of the last four years under Frank’s watch.

“I would like to thank principal owner Bruce Ratner and the other Net owners, president Rod Thorn, and general manager Ed Stefanski for this contract extension,” said Frank. “I am truly fortunate for the support from this first class organization. I would also like to express my appreciation to our coaching staff and players for their effort, sacrifice, and dedication over the past three and a half seasons. I look forward to continuing and improving upon the winning tradition of Nets Basketball.”

Milwaukee, WI - Less than two years after being traded to the New Orleans Hornets, Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee.

The Bucks inked the former Oklahoma State star to a multi-year contract Monday as they attempt to add depth at small forward. Bobby Simmons’ status is still uncertain following an injury-plagued 2006-2007 season.

The 29-year old swingman has apparently reconciled with Bucks general manager Larry Harris, who he reportedly called a “snake in the grass” following his October 2005 trade.

“We’re happy to welcome Desmond back to Milwaukee,” said Harris. “He was a fan favorite during his first stay and we know our fans are going to love having him back on the team. Adding him to our roster boosts our athleticism, defense and veteran leadership. And in addition to his basketball abilities, we look forward to what he will bring back to the Milwaukee community.”

Mason is coming off a season in which he started 75 games for New Orleans / Oklahoma City, averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. If not for a late-season fractured cheek sustained in a collision with Seattle’s Chris Wilcox, he may have started all 82 games.

Mason spent the better part of three seasons with the Bucks following a 2003 trade from Seattle, which also briefly brought Gary Payton to Milwaukee. Prior to the 2006 trade to the Hornets for Jamaal Magloire, Mason played in 145 games for the Bucks, starting 130. His relationship with Michael Redd, among other current Bucks, outweighed any lingering resentment he may have for Harris.

This off-season, the Hornets drafted Kansas small forward Julian Wright and signed swingman Morris Peterson away from Toronto, opening the door for Mason to sign elsewhere.

New York, NY - Graffiti Wall is reporting that Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly betting on and fixing games that he worked during the past two seasons, reportedly called local police to his Florida home Sunday after he received threatening phone calls.

According to The New York Post, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Donaghy’s home in Bradenton.

“Our concern is for his safety and his family’s safety,” Sheriff’s Lt. Robert McNealy told the newspaper. “We are definitely going to share any information we get with the FBI.”

Donaghy allegedly had a significant gambling problem and fell into debt with bookies connected with the Gambino crime family in New York.

Games were allegedly fixed during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons and the New York Daily News reported Sunday that Donaghy is expected to cooperate with authorities investigating the scheme.

Monday, July 23rd

American League Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 85.

Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 85.

New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 90.

Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers, 8:35 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 95.

Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 85.

National League Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds, 7:10 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros, 8:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.

San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies, 9:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 95.

Florida Marlins at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 100.

Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants, 10:15 p.m.

Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.