Can Brett Favre do it again?

Football Betting Lines

08/19/2010 -

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -Even Brett Favre was amazed by what he did last season as a 40-year-old quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

In his 19th season, Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns while setting career bests for completion rate (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (seven).

Remarkable numbers at any age.

``Never in my wildest dreams when we sat here last year would I have thought I would've played the way I did,'' Favre said Wednesday after rejoining the Vikings. ``I mean, look at 18 years previous. I never played that good.''

So Brett, can you do it again?

Favre will turn 41 in October and is just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to play 20 seasons. George Blanda (26), Earl Morrall (21) and Vinny Testaverde (21) are the only QBs to play in more seasons than the gray-haired Favre.

Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 record and the NFC North title, then became the first 40-year-old quarterback to win a playoff game when Minnesota thumped Dallas at the Metrodome in January.

The magical season came to a painful conclusion in the NFC title game in New Orleans, where the Vikings lost in overtime after Favre threw an interception at the end of regulation.

``I was even amazed,'' Favre said. ``To think that I could surpass that this year, first of all I don't need to. Because as well as I played, by far the best of my career, it wasn't enough. And that just goes to show you that all phases have to be hitting at the right time.

``But I need to play well obviously and be a great leader, the intangible things that I really thought would be more important last year than the statistics.''

The Vikings are betting on Favre delivering another stellar season. The team wanted him back so badly that coach Brad Childress sent Steve Hutchinson, Ryan Longwell and Jared Allen to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Monday night to get an answer. The three veterans convinced their close friend to make one more run at the Super Bowl and put off retirement for at least one more year.

``He's in shape, all that,'' Hutchinson said. ``He's still got the tools. He can still play. Everybody just has to step up around him and give him the opportunity.''

Coming off surgery to relieve a torn biceps in his throwing arm, Favre topped 300 yards passing six times, threw at least three TDs in six times as well. He had so much success that the run-oriented Minnesota offense morphed into a pass-first attack in the second half of the season.

Childress joked to Favre that ``maybe you've finally got it.''

With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, NFL offensive rookie of the year Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, who is still recovering from a hip injury, coming off a breakout season and speedster Bernard Berrian, the Vikings return all 11 starters from an offense that finished second in the NFL in scoring last season.

``I think sky's the limit,'' Childress said of Favre's potential. ``Everybody's always got to play around the quarterback, but he's got a good football team around him and he won't have to do it all himself.''

That's what everyone said last year when he arrived in Minnesota, yet he ended up carrying the offense for large stretches of the season.

Even more so than his performance on the field, the Vikings wanted the charismatic Favre back in the locker room. After quickly ingratiating himself to the team in the preseason, Favre was voted a captain and the rest of the veteran group gravitated toward his leadership style.

``Brett, the kind of player that he is, the kind of leadership that he brings to this team, it elevates the entire building, it really does,'' Allen said. ``You can see it every day.''

Said Childress: ``I think that's the definition of a leader - somebody that people want to play for and play well for. Just at the time he was coming back yesterday, sitting in our cafeteria, the buzz was palpable. It elevates everyone in the building and that's what a franchise QB does.''

Whereas last season Favre eased into the year with gimmes against Cleveland and Detroit the first two weeks, he'll need to be ready right from the start in 2010. The Vikings open the season on Sept. 9 at New Orleans and also play Miami, at the Jets, Dallas, at Green Bay and at New England in the first seven games.

Given his familiarity with a team that brings virtually every key performer back from last season, Favre should have an easier time getting back into the swing of things after missing another training camp.

``Last year all the things he had to worry about - trying to win over the guys, trying to make an impression, earn their trust, I said, 'Brett, that's all done. The guys, they want you here. Everybody knows you and you're comfortable. That's one less thing you have to do. Just come out and have fun,''' Hutchinson said.

There were plenty of doubters when Favre got off a private plane last year and arrived to a staggering amount of pomp and circumstance.

There likely will be even more this year, and the grandpa jokes will be plenty after his 21-year-old daughter Brittany gave birth to Favre's first grandchild in April.

``You should always be on your toes. You should always be looking over your shoulder, especially when you're soon-to-be 41 and a new grandfather,'' Favre said. ``You should really be because everyone's writing you off. It just seems like at 40, the guy's a has-been.

``So in saying that, it's motivation for me. I don't feel like I have anything to prove, but if I'm going to play, I want to play at a high level.''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.

Slost Football Betting News

<< Rockies win 10-inning thriller at Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Melvin Mora scored the go-ahead run on Octavio Dotel's wild pitch in the 10th inning, and the Dodgers had the tying run thrown out at the plate to end the game, as the Rockies took a wild 3-2 decisio

<< Reds rally late, escape Arizona with win
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey's squeeze bunt single in the ninth inning put the Reds in front and the Reds scored eight times over the final two frames to steal an 11-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Laynce Ni

<< Marlins option Tankersley among host of moves
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins optioned relief pitcher Taylor Tankersley to Triple-A Albuquerque following Wednesday's win over Pittsburgh, among a flurry of moves. The team also recalled pitcher Alex Sanabia fro

<< Astros place P Lindstrom on disabled list
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have placed closer Matt Lindstrom on the 15-day disabled list with lingering back issues. The 30-year-old right-hander is 2-4 with a 4.15 earned run average in 44 games as the closer this s

<< Davis delivers in 14th as Mets outlast Astros
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ike Davis knocked in the game winning run in the 14th inning with a sacrifice fly as New York outlasted Houston, 3-2, in the third of four meetings at Minute Maid Park. Elmer Dessens (3-1) earned the wi

Next-best thing to Rachel and Zenyatta >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Since it doesn't appear that Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will race against each other before the Breeders' Cup in November, Saturday's meeting between leading three-year-old fillies Devil May Care and Blind

Rays take winning streak into Oakland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to push their winning streak to six games this evening when they open a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum. That may be easier said than done, though, as the Rays

Rockies target rare series win at Chavez Ravine >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies still have playoff aspirations, but right now the club would settle for a long-overdue series win over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies will try to accomplish that feat in tonight's rubber ma

Padres go for unprecedented road sweep of Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres are pulling away in the National League West and look to further distance themselves from the rest of the division this afternoon, when they shoot for a rare four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs from histo

Red Sox go for season sweep of Halos at Fenway >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox try to complete a season sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this evening when they wrap up their three-game series at Fenway Park. Boston, which was swept by the Angels in last year's Americ

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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


FOOTBALL BETTING

Sportsbook Betting

After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.