Buckeyes try to temper all the hype

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/28/2010 -

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Terrelle Pryor doesn't read a lot.

Sure, he keeps up with his classwork. But all those preseason magazines on the rack at the book store? He ignores them because off all the good things they're saying about him and his Ohio State teammates.

``Actually I hate magazines,'' the junior quarterback said. ``I don't even want to see that, because I don't want my mind to be distracted.''

It's hard to avoid all the praise that's being lavished on the Buckeyes

Almost every poll, pundit and publication has them ranked among the top two or three teams in the land. Many have singled out Pryor as the Heisman Trophy favorite, even though Alabama's Mark Ingram is back after winning it last year. And several media outlets have already picked Ohio State to win the national championship.

Pryor looks at all those nice words as more hurdles to the Buckeyes' hopes. To him, all the compliments in the world won't win games. As a matter of fact, they might make it harder.

``We don't need none of the hype,'' Pryor said. ``There's always going to be the roundup of the top teams. We don't need to read any of that stuff. We just need to focus and to take care of the business we need to take care of.''

It's a trap that many teams fall into, or at least blame after the fact. Every single team every year says it is unified and focused, then a loss springs questions about whether players let up or thought they could win without maximum effort.

That was the common refrain from Ohio State players in the wake of their embarrassing, lopsided losses to Florida and LSU in the national championship games at the end of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Some said the team's stars began to believe their press clippings and didn't work as hard. They said there were schisms on the team.

``You think back to the '06 year where the team was unbelievable,'' defensive lineman Dexter Larimore said. ``We stuck together. Then guys started to kind of think they were better than they were. Then it kind of just all fell apart. In '07 it wasn't as bad as far as the team thinking they were all so good. In '07 we were all humble and stuff, but we just didn't get it done.''

The younger players learn from the older ones. They hear the stories of the root problems behind a loss. So players gradually come around to believe that it is best to avoid all the good things that are said about them.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward was asked how he handles the lofty rankings and predictions.

``Just throw it in the trash,'' Heyward said. ``Because if we believe it, we're going to get beat really quick.''

Heyward is certainly not alone. Almost every Buckeye believes that to pay attention to the good things being said is the first step in a season spiraling out of control.

``We really just try to shut it out,'' linebacker Ross Homan said. ``It's good being in camp because we really shut out all outside sources, all media sources. We kind of just focus on the team. We come out here and we don't even think about that stuff.''

His running mate at linebacker, Brian Rolle, knows it's important to put things into perspective.

``The polls haven't played anybody. So they just go off of what we've done previously,'' he said. ``At the end of the day the way we play is going to determine where we're ranked.''

Just as the Buckeyes try not to dwell on the praise, some of the veterans are spurred on by the snickering they heard after the double humiliations to Southeastern Conference opponents in those back-to-back title games.

For instance, even before the next season began, one e-mail looked ahead to the '09 title game: ``National championship game prediction: (insert random SEC team here) 49, Ohio State 10,'' the anonymous jokester wrote on a blog.

Memories of those losses still rankle the older Buckeyes.

``As a player, that kind of stuff lives with you,'' Larimore said. ``So I never kind of think I'm ever too good because all you have to do is think back to those years. It's just unbelievable the things that they said.

``It's just unbelievable that you can do so well and all it takes is one day for four hours and all of a sudden you're the worst thing that ever happened.''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.

Wnikkansports NCAA Football Betting News

<< London tackling Virginia job from all sides
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -Mike London didn't realize how consumed he had become with his new job as Virginia's football coach until his daughter asked him a question.``Dad, are you coming to my concert?'' Jaicyn asked about her elementary school pe

<< Pats defense must rebound from shaky performance
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - New England's defense must get better if the Patriots want to stop Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.A lot better.With one exhibition game left before their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Patriots have plen

<< Rollins' evasive slide helps Phillies top Padres in extras
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmy Rollins doubled off the right-field wall to open the 12th inning and scored on Placido Polanco's base hit up the middle, lifting the Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Padres in the opener of a three-g

<< Burris, Calgary continue to roll; Lions drop seventh straight
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Henry Burris threw two touchdowns and ran in another as he led the Calgary Stampeders to a 48-35 win over the British Columbia Lions at Empire Field. The Stamps (7-1) won for the seventh time in their

<< Mauer, Baker lead Twins over Mariners
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Mauer had three hits with two RBI and Scott Baker pitched into the seventh inning, as the American League Central- leading Minnesota Twins beat Seattle, 6-3, in the opener of a three-game series

Beadles out to start as a rookie >>
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Rookie hazing didn't spare Zane Beadles, whose mop of hair earlier this month was reduced to stubble by the Denver Broncos' veteran players.``It still shocks me every time I walk in front of the mirror,'' Beadles said.Nearly

Kariya to sit out 2010-11 season >>
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Free agent winger Paul Kariya will not play in the 2010-11 NHL season because of post-concussion syndrome. The news was announced by Kariya's agent, Don Baizley, according to multiple media outlets. Kariy

Padres' Jerry Hairston Jr. going to the DL >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will place infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on the disabled list Saturday with a strained elbow ligament. Hairston has been playing with pain in his right elbow for weeks, accordi

No. 7 Sooners in need of kickers >>
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is scrambling to see if anyone can do better than his inconsistent group of kickers.About 25 kicking hopefuls were among the students who showed up for tryouts open for every position Thursday. Stoops sa

Tigers, Blue Jays continue series up north >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A four-game series between the hometown Toronto Blue Jays and the visiting Detroit Tigers continues with the third installment of this set Saturday afternoon. Yesterday, Aaron Hill drove in the game-winning run with a

MySportsbook features easy-to-use online betting software that’s the most reliable in the industry. If you’re looking to bet underdogs, then this Sportsbook is the place - we have the best betting lines in the business. MySportsbook is your one-stop shop for all your betting needs - sports betting, poker, casino, and horse betting . MySportsbook offers every bet type with lightning fast settlement of wagers. Take advantage of free statistical analysis - including against-the-spread and straight-up trends - in MySportsbook’s game previews section. With MySportsbook there are unlimited free deposits and payouts - and no transaction fees!

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

Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year

Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.

Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.

With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.

Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.

Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.

Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

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