Chiefs release 13, including Morgan; Leggett and Urban to IR

Football Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Safety DaJuan Morgan was among the most prominent players released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player maximum.

Morgan played in 28 games as a Chief after being selected in the third round out of North Carolina State in 2008, including a pair of starts in the secondary a year ago. But Morgan fell victim to a numbers crunch at safety after the team selected three defensive backs in the 2010 Draft.

Also released were guard Colin Brown, defensive tackle Garrett Brown, defensive lineman Dion Gales, tackle Bobby Greenwood, guard Darryl Harris, linebacker David Herron, defensive tackle Derek Lokey, quarterback Tyler Palko, safety Ricky Price, wide receiver Verran Tucker, linebacker Pierre Walters and running back Javarris Williams.

Additionally, the Chiefs placed defensive back Maurice Leggett (neck) and wide receiver Jerheme Urban (undisclosed) on season-ending injured reserve.

As previously reported, the Chiefs also dealt disgruntled safety Jarrad Page to the New England Patriots in exchange for an undisclosed draft selection.

Page, who was involved in a contract dispute with the Chiefs and did not report to the team in training camp, started 39 games with Kansas City from 2006 through 2009.

On Friday, the team released tight end Leroy Banks, wide receiver Rich Gunnell, offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre, guard Ikechuku Ndukwe, cornerback Mike Richardson, linebacker John Russell and center Dan Santucci.

The Chiefs will begin the 2010 regular season next Monday night, when they play host to the AFC West rival San Diego Chargers.

Wwwnyra Football Betting News

<< Phils score twice in seventh to squeeze past Brewers
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun's throwing error in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Phillies to score the go-ahead run, as Philadelphia got past Milwaukee, 5-4, in the second test of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Pa

<< Schulz grabs three-stroke lead at First Tee Open
Pebble Beach, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ted Schulz fired a eight-under 64 at Pebble Beach on Saturday to grab a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the First Tee Open. Schulz, who is making his 12th Champions Tour start of the year, completed

<< O's down Rays to give Showalter 900th win
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nick Markakis smashed a two-run homer and Matt Wieters supplied a two-run double, as the Baltimore Orioles beat Tampa Bay, 8-4, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Jeremy

<< Chiefs deal S Page to Patriots
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs traded veteran safety Jarrad Page to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick. Page started in 39 of the 53 games he played in for the Chiefs over the first four

<< McMurray holds off Busch for Atlanta Nationwide win
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamie McMurray won his first Nationwide Series race in nearly six years by taking Saturday's Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. McMurray, who won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the Sprint Cup

Jurrjens, Braves shut down Marlins >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jair Jurrjens and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Atlanta stifled Florida, 2-0, in the middle meeting of a three-game set at Sun Life Stadium. Jurrjens (7-4) allowed three hits, while he w

Federer, Djokovic, Soderling reach fourth round in Flushing >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five-time champion Roger Federer, 2007 U.S. Open finalist Novak Djokovic and two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling were easy third-round winners Saturday at the U.S. Open. The secon

Revolution top Sounders at Gillette Stadium >>
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Revolution kept their slim Major League Soccer playoff aspirations alive with a 3-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. Goals by Chris Tierney, Marko

Redskins release 21, including three ex-Steelers >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins released 21 players from their roster as part of Saturday's "cut-down day" maneuvers, including three who won Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2008. Running back Wil

Jacksonville State revels in upset of Rebels >>
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville State didn't have to go for a 2- point conversion, and the win, in the second overtime against Mississippi on Saturday. It's a good thing JSU coach head coach Jack Crowe didn't believe his defense

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.