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.
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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.