We are in the midst of launching our College Basketball section.   We will be seeking bloggers for all teams.   Just this past week we started to seek out NCAA Hoops bloggers and we already have 11 hoops bloggers.

To apply to be an NCAA hoops blogger, e-mail us at bloggers@prosportsblogging.com

In a move that should have taken place after Week 3 of the season as the Cowboys headed into their bye week, Dallas Cowboys’ owner and General Manager, Jerry Jones, has fired Wade Phillips and replaced him with Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett.  We first rerported it on our radio show this morning and beat every media outlet to the story!

In case you forgot, Jerry Jones kept telling everyone he would never fire a head coach during the season.  Well, this team had more and more players quit on Phillips as the season went on.  Here is the link we had up 6 weeks ago about the possible firing at the time.

http://prosportsblogging.com/nfl-football/dallas-cowboys/rumour-cowboys-on-the-verge-of-firing-wade-phillips/comment-page-5/#comment-12443

In our NFL betting podcast we like to wager frequently against the NFL Over/Under Total Odds because know it takes more knowledgeable than ever thanks to this betting breakdown on the league’s ‘Extreme Eight’ Over producers heading into the 2010 NFL regular season’s sixth week.

That’s after pro football gamblers, after five weeks of NFL action, eight teams have shown a serious propensity to consistently produce Over outcomes at a high rate – and are likely candidates to do so more often than not over the remainder of the regular season.

This look at each of those teams will help NFL Total betting enthusiasts everywhere make more potentially winning Totals wagers than ever.

New England (4-0 O/U)

The Pats have used a fantastic combination of great offense (first in scoring) and pitiful defense (26th in points allowed) to play Over the NFL spread betting line in each of their four games this season. Unless New England’s defense drastically improves, I believe NFL bettors can expect the Pats to play well Over the spread more often than not for the remainder of the regular season.

NY Jets (4-1 O/U)

The Jets have one of the game’s best defenses (sixth in scoring) but have been averaging a whopping 27.0 points per game this season to play Over the O/U total in four straight games after opening the season with an Under outcome against the defensive-minded Ravens.

Jacksonville (4-1 O/U)

Much like the Patriots, the Jaguars have used an age-old combination of solid offense (21.4 ppg) and pitiful defense (27.4 ppg, 30th) to play Over the NFL Total Odds four times in five games this season, with two straight Overs in their pocket heading into Week 6.

Arizona (4-1 O/U)

Arizona may be ranked just 25th in scoring (17.6 ppg) but their defense has been so horrific (27.6 ppg, 31st) that they’ve managed to play Over their set O/U total in four straight games after opening with an Under outcome.

Denver (4-1 O/U)

A 15th-ranked scoring offense that averages 20.8 points per game – and a 25th-ranked scoring defense that allows 23.2 points per contest are the reasons why the Broncos have played Over four O/U totals that were all less than 43.5 points. The only time the Broncos didn’t play Over their O/U total was against a high, 47-point Total.

Oakland (4-1 O/U)

The Raiders are ranked a surprising 11th in scoring this season (22.2 ppg) while also ranking a dismal 28th in scoring defense (26.8 ppg) which is the reasons why they’ve played Over the set O/U total in three consecutive games heading into Week 6, topping two straight totals that were at least 43.5 points.

San Diego (4-1 O/U)

The Bolts may be the best bet to play over the Over/Under total this season as they have not had a O/U total of less than 44 points this season while getting in a 51-point affair two weeks ago before hooking up with Oakland in a 62-point contest in Week 5.

Guest blog from one of our advertisers!!

In our NFL betting podcast (http://video.betus.com/)we like to wager frequently against the NFL Over/Under Total Odds because know it takes more knowledgeable than ever thanks to this betting breakdown on the league’s ‘Extreme Eight’ Over producers heading into the 2010 NFL (http://www.nfl.com/ )regular season’s sixth week.

That’s after pro football gamblers, after five weeks of NFL action, eight teams have shown a serious propensity to consistently produce Over outcomes at a high rate – and are likely candidates to do so more often than not over the remainder of the regular season. 

This look at each of those teams will help NFL Total betting enthusiasts everywhere make more potentially winning Totals wagers than ever.

 New England (4-0 O/U)

The Pats have used a fantastic combination of great offense (first in scoring) and pitiful defense (26th in points allowed) to play Over the NFL spread betting line in each of their four games this season. Unless New England’s defense drastically improves, I believe NFL bettors can expect the Pats to play well Over the spread more often than not for the remainder of the regular season.

NY Jets (4-1 O/U)

The Jets have one of the game’s best defenses (sixth in scoring) but have been averaging a whopping 27.0 points per game this season to play Over the O/U total in four straight games after opening the season with an Under outcome against the defensive-minded Ravens.

Jacksonville (4-1 O/U)

Much like the Patriots, the Jaguars have used an age-old combination of solid offense (21.4 ppg) and pitiful defense (27.4 ppg, 30th) to play Over the NFL Total Odds four times in five games this season, with two straight Overs in their pocket heading into Week 6.

Arizona (4-1 O/U)

Arizona may be ranked just 25th in scoring (17.6 ppg) but their defense has been so horrific (27.6 ppg, 31st) that they’ve managed to play Over their set O/U total in four straight games after opening with an Under outcome.

Denver (4-1 O/U)

A 15th-ranked scoring offense that averages 20.8 points per game – and a 25th-ranked scoring defense that allows 23.2 points per contest are the reasons why the Broncos have played Over four O/U totals that were all less than 43.5 points. The only time the Broncos didn’t play Over their O/U total was against a high, 47-point Total.

Oakland (4-1 O/U)

The Raiders are ranked a surprising 11th in scoring this season (22.2 ppg) while also ranking a dismal 28th in scoring defense (26.8 ppg) which is the reasons why they’ve played Over the set O/U total in three consecutive games heading into Week 6, topping two straight totals that were at least 43.5 points.

San Diego (4-1 O/U)

The Bolts may be the best bet to play over the Over/Under total this season as they have not had a O/U total of less than 44 points this season while getting in a 51-point affair two weeks ago before hooking up with Oakland in a 62-point contest in Week 5.

The Jacksonville Jaguars  claimed former Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards on waivers Tuesday, a source close to the situation has told me.

Edwards’ base pay is $1.65 million and the Bills already have paid him $291,176. The Jags would owe Edwards the balance of that deal.

More to come……

Kevin

After having a few sources tell me not only last week but as well as the week prior, that Jerry Jones was trying to replace Wade Phillips as HC, I still believe he will at some point, but now I am told the chances of it happening this season have decreased significantly.   Why?  The first reason is now that Dallas is in its bye week, 48 hours after the Cowboys win in Houston it’s pretty clear that Jerry had his window of opportunity to remove anyone from his coaching staff the last two days.  Secondly, if a new head coach had any hope of implementing even part of their system, now was the time with two weeks to prepare for Tennessee.   Thirdly, the candidates that Jerry had on a short list rebuffed him otherwise we would be talking about a new HC in Dallas. 

Many people close to the situation will tell you as long as Jerry feels the need to control the coaching staff that no proven winner at the head coaching level in the NFL will touch the Cowboys position.  A few sources did tell me that they thought this was Jerry’s chance to prove the naysayers wrong this past Sunday night or Monday morning on that exact issue, but ultimately his failure to remove Phillips and possibly Jason Garrett will be the difference between winning and losing in the postseason if this team reaches the playoffs.  I have had other sources from different media outlets personally e-mail me to say I was clearly on the right track with my rumours and that its something Jerry has explored on other occasions when it comes to Phillips.  Memo to Jerry, controlling a coaching staff isn’t working in Oakland and has yet to in Dallas.  One playoff win since your last Super Bowl title equals failure on your part.

Had Dallas lost on Sunday, everything I had written about last week would have gained even more steam but a win has calmed Jerry somewhat, although he is still not sold on this staff leading him to his 4th Super Bowl title, which has to be of concern for any fan in Texas.  There are few people close to the Dallas organization that feel Phillips staff isn’t capable of winning a Super Bowl title but are willing to stay the course.    Now a 4-4 record at the midway point of this season would have fans and media in a frenzy over this team. 

It is more clear than ever that Bill Cowher did receive a phone call from Jerry to gauge his interest in possibly becoming the Cowboys next head coach.  Cowher has now gone on record as saying he doesn’t like speaking with anyone about a teams HC position unless the job is vacant.  That alone tells you he was approached because otherwise why would he make such a statement, prior to the NY Giants losing on Sunday.  Some people are tying Cowher to the Giants job but he stated clearly on Sunday morning the quote I mentioned above. 

Fan and media pressure did get back to the coaching staff as they finally turned to running the ball more than it did the two previous weeks.  But when you listen to ex-Cowboy players both in TV and the radio business, you can hear it in their voice that they too believe Phillips will not lead this team to do the type of things they should be able to accomplish in the post season. 

Sure there are Cowboys fans out there that think Phillips can lead them to the promise land, but they need to take off their rose coloured glasses!   Phillips has yet to do so and hasn’t shown the ability to lead a team to even a Conference Championship.  Until Jerry Jones loosens the reigns on what his coaching staff is allowed to do, we won’t be talking about a Championship in Dallas anytime soon.

Kevin Lee

UPDATE – 5pm EST – All things point to Jerry Jones replacing Wade Phillips after the game in Houston on Sunday.   I have had a few other people come forward to me within NFL circles and they are more than ever of the same belief that Jerry knows how bad he would look if his team didn’t make the playoffs because he waited to pull the plug on Phillips.  He is preparing for it as we speak.   His belief is a new coach and not just any coach would make the difference in winning what you deem a game that you should win, rather than losing like they did on Sunday against Chicago.  The belief is that Phillips is good for another screw up and he already has one too many under his watch.  In a tight division you can’t give away games and Jerry seems to finally see that Phillips isn’t the man to lead them to the promised land.  If you keep Phillips on until the end of the year, you risk losing what could have been a great season.  What it boils down to now is that Jerry wants a long term solution and will do whatever it takes to make his team be a favourite once again in the NFC.   When you look at the rest of the Cowboys’ schedule there are about 4 games in which Dallas should definitely get the win.  Then come the games in which talent and coaching should prevail, which is what Jerry is really struggling over, knowing full well what has already happened this season.  If you subtract Phillips from the picture and bring in a proven winner as head coach, Dallas wins at least 10 games and gets into the playoffs.  If you stay status quo, this team struggles to make the playoffs or even plays .500 ball.  Take a look at the next 14 games and you will see what I am speaking about when breaking down the schedule.  I encourage all readers to do that in the comment section.  I will be back tomorrow to post any other pertinent info to the story.  But here is quote from Jimmy Johnson today to make you all wonder a little more about the coaching staff.

This is what Jimmy Johnson had to say.

“I’ve been talking to Troy [Aikman] about this,” Johnson said by phone, “and when I see the penalties, the assignment mistakes and just the undisciplined nature of the Cowboys, it’s hard not to yell. That stuff goes back to the coaching, whether it was once me, or someone else.

There is one thing about football. If a team is sloppy on Sunday, it almost without exception means the team was sloppy all week in practice. And there is no excuse for that. I know Wade agrees with me on this, but there’s just too much sloppiness with this football team.”

UPDATE – 7pm EST – One of my original two sources on this story has stated that Jerry Jones wants a long term solution for his HC and is really working the phones about getting this done.  Believe it or not, the name of Jimmy Johnson has been mentioned to me before but not until getting confirmation at dinner tonight.   I now believe Johnson could actually be among one of the three former head coaches that Jones seriously wants roaming the Dallas sidelines.  Who would you take – Johnson, Billick or Cowher?

UPDATE – 2pm EST – Jon Gruden has a clause in his MNF contract that won’t allow him to leave his analyst position to take the Cowboys HC position if Phillips was fired.  As well, Tony Dungy has gone on record as saying he won’t coach this year.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who follows the NFL that Dallas Cowboys’ head coach Wade Phillips is on a short leash.  Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has gone on the record saying that the 0-2 start is “quite a setback” for the organization.

Word now comes from two great sources close to the organization that Jones is guaging interest from a few former NFL head coaches currently working on TV networks.  CBS in-studio analyst Bill Cowher is Jones’ number one choice to replace Phillips.  His second choice is NFL Network/Fox analyst Brian Billick.  Both Cowher and Billick have Super Bowl rings, something Jones really wants to have when it comes to who will be leading his struggling team.

Many feel the players have tuned out Phillips and last Friday was a clear example of how this situation continues to snowball.  Phillips got into details on Monday about Friday’s practice.  “Do I think it could be better? Sure,” Phillips said.  “Do I think we had a bad practice Friday? Yes, we told them that in the meeting. We went back over it and said, ‘Hey, we didn’t practice well enough.’”  How does the same thing occur that has happened over the past two years under Phillips’ watch?  Enough is enough and now is the time for Jones to pull the plug on him.  It’s plain to see that the team has no identity and have tuned out Phillips.

I am told that if the Cowboys lose to the Houston Texans on Sunday that Jones won’t hesitate in firing Phillips.  Two other possible candidates that have surfaced are Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Mariucci.  Schottenheimer who last patrolled the sidelines for San Diego back in 2006-07, was fired by the Chargers in February of 2007.  His 5-13 playoff record is definitely not appealing.  While Mariucci has a 3-4 playoff record, he hasn’t coached since the 2005 season after a three year stint in Detroit.

Regardless, of what happens in Houston this Sunday, Jones needs to fire Phillips if he hopes to have his team in the playoffs come January.  I for one truly believe one of the 4 names I have mentioned will be wearing that Star on their hat come early next week.

More to come as the week unfolds.  I can be contacted at kevinlee@prosportsblogging.com anytime.

Kevin

Yes, the SEC has won five of the last seven National Championships but my title of this blog is talking about this year and I truly hope people realize in a hurry just how overrated the SEC is this season.   Sure the SEC produces the fastest defenses in the country and the most draft picks of any conference but take a long look at the conference before anointing them the best conference in US College Football.

There has been a shift in the SEC this season, when you look at the conference from top to bottom it’s not nearly as strong as other years.  Most conferences go through this but for years the SEC has always been loaded with strong teams and never seems to have a down year, or at least that is what we are told by the folks at ESPN.  If you look deeper at the SEC this year, you will see that the conference isn’t nearly as strong as its been this past decade. 

Sure the SEC can boast of having 6 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 but we all know that pre-season rankings mean nothing.  For two straight weeks the #15 ranked team has lost to a non-ranked team and lets not forget just last week #13 ranked Virginia Tech lost to a Non-BCS school in James Madiso,  right in Blacksburg to boot.

Outside of Alabama there is no other elite teams in the SEC unlike past seasons when LSU or Florida are constantly ranked in the top 5.  Arkansas might be the second best team in the SEC although the polls don’t reflect due to Florida getting a higher pre-season ranking due to their past success.  Florida and South Carolina are strong teams but not elite teams while Georgia, LSU, Kentucky and Auburn will have their troubles this season but none of them really look solid.   Florida might end of being very good by the end of the season but South Carolina is currently the best team in the SEC East.

Ole Miss has already lost at home to a non-BCS school but should still go bowling come December.  But Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Mississippi St. are average teams at best.  

I for one am quite tired of hearing about how if an SEC team loses a game we are all told by the so-called experts that if  TCU, Utah or Boise St. played in our conference they would have more than three losses.  Well not this season because the Horned Frogs, Utes and Broncos would give LSU, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas and even Florida all they could handle on a weekly basis.

It’s the middle and bottom tier teams who ALWAYS get severly overrated
every year because of pre-season rankings, poor out of conference schedules, losing
to each other but being told it’s a quality loss and conference perception………when the reality is, the middle of the SEC is as good or bad as almost every other BCS conference.  The winner of the BCS Title shouldn’t make teams like Arkansas or Auburn better but that is what we are told.

The SEC gets a lot of pre-season love in the polls, the conference gets the benefit of the doubt on all parts of the BCS formula. An SEC team will have played several top 25 teams due to the pre-season poll and that helps them in the BCS poll. Most SEC teams play a weak non-conference schedule and will be 4-0 heading into conference play.  SEC teams don’t usually drop in the polls for bad performances. The reason for this once again is they get the benefit of the mythical superiority of all teams in the conference.

Nothing would make me happier than to see TCU or Boise St. in the BCS Title game this year because nobody in the SEC will schedule either of these teams after they have been asked by both schools over and over.

Right now the SEC is all about Alabama and then everyone else.  There is no team in the SEC that is close to the Crimson Tide.  AS THEY SAY, they play the games on the field for a reason and pre-season polls need to be squashed once and for all!!

Kevin

Hey Folks,

Mary Gray who is one of our newest bloggers here at PSB, hosts a sports radio show in Washington, DC will have me on as his NFL guest tonight.

Here is the link – 9:19 pm tonite www.woldcnews.com  The SportsGroove with Mark Gray features Kevin Lee of PSB.

Hope you all can listen in!

Hey Folks!

This will be a weekly feature at the site as we welcome you all to come and discuss each game throughout the day and into Sunday night football.  

If anyone wants to post weather info to start the discussion for all you gambling folks out there, please do so.   Or if anyone has info on last minute injury updates please post here.

As for today’s games, there are a few key match-ups.  Cincy at New England tops the list.  Indy at Houston and Atlanta at Pittsburgh are the other 1pm match-ups that have many excited today.

On the late afternoon slate, only 3 games but each has a storyline.  Then the Sunday night contest should be a dandy!

Post a comment to vent on a particular play or a terrible coaching decision by your team.  Anything goes, lets have it and enjoy a great day of football.

Kevin