NCAA rules Alabama DE Dareus ineligible for two games

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/02/2010 - Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has declared Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus ineligible for two games due to his dealings with sports agents.

In its ruling, the NCAA said Dareus must repay benefits to become eligible again. Those benefits amount to $1,787.17, which will go to a charity of his choice.

The ruling means Dareus will miss the Crimson Tide's season-opener Saturday night against San Jose State and then a game against No. 19 Penn State on September 11.

Dareus led the SEC in sacks with 6 1/2 as a sophomore in 2009. He added 33 tackles, nine for a loss, and one interception in 14 games for the national champion and current No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide.

The NCAA said the case submitted by Alabama shows Dareus accepted benefits that included airfare, lodging, meals and transportation during two trips to Miami. The NCAA said Dareus could have been suspended four games, but "based on the mitigating circumstances in the case" reduced the penalty to two contests.

Alabama plans on appealing the NCAA's decision to the organization's Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. However, Dareus will remain ineligible until the conclusion of the appeals process.

Dareus has been connected with what has become known as an infamous trip to Miami with several other college football players that may or may not have been sponsored by an agent.

South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and several members of the North Carolina football team, including star defensive tackle Marvin Austin, were also being investigated by the NCAA for similar allegations. Austin was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday for violating team rules, but Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis said the decision for a suspension was not related as a result of the ongoing NCAA review.

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Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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