2010 FBS Positional Analysis: Wide Receivers

NCAA Football Betting Lines

07/07/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - They are often the brashest of players, but it seems these days those who play with a swagger elevate their game and by nature their teams to new heights. Whether they go by wide receiver, flanker or any other name, these players can change the momentum of a game with one play.

Here are the top wideouts heading into the 2010 season.

A.J. GREEN, GEORGIA

Perhaps the top "difference maker" on the outside in all of the FBS, Green can do it all. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, there isn't much to dislike about this Bulldog. Plenty of speed and great hands separate him from the rest of field. A two-time All-SEC First Team selection, Green is coming off a 2009 campaign in which he hauled in 53 balls for 808 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers were slightly off his amazing freshman season (56 receptions for 963 yards and eight TDs), but a lot of that had to do with injuries and the Bulldogs' lack of consistency as a whole last year (8-5). If Georgia is to return to SEC glory in 2010, expect Green to be the main reason why.

MICHAEL FLOYD, NOTRE DAME

The definition of a big play wideout. The Irish have something special in Floyd, who will probably jump ship to the NFL following this season. With great size (6-3, 220) and athleticism, it is awfully tough to contain him down the field. Last season, he played in just seven games before breaking his collarbone, and still finished with 44 receptions for 795 yards and nine TDs. There will be a new QB in South Bend to go with a new coaching staff and new system, but if Brian Kelly is to bring the Irish back to prominence, Floyd is the kind of building block to start with.

JONATHAN BALDWIN, PITTSBURGH

Showed immediate promise as a freshman in 2008, averaging 22.4 yards per catch on 18 receptions. Baldwin took it to a higher level as a sophomore, grabbing 57 balls for 1,111 yards and eight TDs. At 6-5, 225 pounds, he has the size that keeps NFL scouts drooling. Whether he takes the next step and becomes a household name this year depends a lot on the quarterback situation at Pittsburgh. Baldwin enjoyed great success with a veteran signal-caller last season and will need to form a solid foundation early on with the Panthers' new QB if he is to put up big numbers again. Pittsburgh will once again rely heavily on the run, but when the team goes vertical, Baldwin will be the target more often than not.

JULIO JONES, ALABAMA

Yes, the Crimson Tide won the national championship last season, but it took the extremely gifted Jones quite awhile to get going and be a regular contributor. The 6-4, 211-pounder struggled with injuries in 2009, after being named the SEC Freshman of the Year and earning All-American honors in 2008. His 24 receptions for 331 yards and three TDs this past season certainly aren't the kind of numbers that jump out at you, but, make no mistake, when he's healthy, he rivals the best in the game. The Crimson Tide have some holes to fill this year, but the offensive side of the ball will remain potent. A devastating ground game led by reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram should open things up for Jones down the field, providing he is able to suit up all season long.

RYAN BROYLES, OKLAHOMA

Broyles won't scare defenders with his size (5-11, 183), but still creates mismatches. The Sooners had a down year in 2009, but Broyles didn't. Despite a quarterback change resulting in the loss of the then-reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Broyles still put up huge numbers, hauling in a school-record 89 balls for 1,120 yards and a school-record-tying 15 TDs, dwarfing his 2008 season, when he set the school record for receiving yards by a freshman (687). The OU offense will be much better this season with a "veteran" sophomore QB under center. The Sooners will return to national prominence in 2010 and Broyles will have a big hand in that.

JAMES CLEVELAND, HOUSTON

Cleveland has finally found a home at Houston. A former Iowa Hawkeye who spent a season at Trinity Valley Community College, the 6-1, 205-pounder settled in with the Cougars last season and formed an immediate connection with standout QB Case Keenum while being tabbed the 2009 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year. Did Cleveland benefit from the system in Houston? Who cares. His first year couldn't have gone much better, as he caught just about everything thrown his way, resulting in 104 receptions for 1,214 yards and 14 TDs. He has the kind of size to be effective at the next level and another big year in the FBS ranks could have him climb the draft boards at a rapid pace. Houston will be in the hunt for the Conference USA crown, and look for the Keenum-to-Cleveland connection to be front and center along the way.

JERMAINE KEARSE, WASHINGTON

There hasn't been much to cheer about as a Washington fan the last couple of years, but the potential of the 6-2, 200-pound Kearse is certainly reason for optimism in 2010. An All-Pac-10 Second Team selection as a sophomore, Kearse led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (866) and TDs (eight) in 2009. He has one of the game's top quarterbacks in Jake Locker back in the fold, so look for another increase in numbers. Whether his production helps the rebuilding Huskies add to their modest five-win total from 2009 remains to be seen, but the talented Kearse must be accounted for at all times.

JAMES RODGERS, OREGON STATE

This talented Beaver is overshadowed by his little brother (running back Jacquizz Rodgers) in Corvallis, but is certainly a game-changer in his own right. A versatile player, the elder Rodgers is one of the Pac-10's elite wideouts, who doesn't mind getting involved in the ground game, return game, or as a blocker, despite his diminutive size (5-7, 188). Last season, Rodgers was an All-Pac-10 First Team selection after setting a school record with 91 receptions, going for 1,034 yards with nine TDs. He also set OSU's single- season record for all-purpose yardage (2,328). A tough non-conference slate that includes TCU and Boise State may hinder the team's ability to exceed last season's eight-win total, but with the ultra-talented Rodgers' brothers on the field, anything is possible.

GREG SALAS, HAWAII

Playing in the WAC usually won't help a player in terms of national attention. Add to that the fact that he plays well off the mainland at the University of Hawaii and you can understand how this talented wideout has gone overlooked week-in and week-out. As a junior in 2009, Salas was among the nation's leaders, finishing with 106 receptions for 1,590 yards and eight TDs, leading the WAC in both receptions and receiving yards per game (fourth in the nation at 122.3 ypg). He plays the slot position for the Warriors and the 6-2 California native is as reliable an outlet as there is in FBS. Hawaii finished just under .500 last year (6-7) and if the team is to earn a winning season in 2010, you can bet Salas' fingerprints will be all over it.

TITUS YOUNG, BOISE STATE

A key cog for one of college football's most prolific offenses, Young burst on the scene as a junior in 2009, hauling in 79 balls for 1,041 yards and 10 TDs and becoming a go-to-guy for All-American QB Kellen Moore. Having Austin Pettis (63 balls for 855 yards and 14 TDs) on the other side doesn't hurt either, but Young is much more versatile, scoring three more TDs on the ground and another two on kick returns, while earning All-WAC First Team honors in 2009 as both a receiver and return specialist. What Young lacks in size (5-11, 170), he more than makes up for in playmaking ability. The Broncos could finish their stay in the WAC (they're moving to the Mountain West in 2011) with a national championship run. Look for Young to be a difference maker on a weekly basis.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Austin Pettis (Boise State), Deonte Thompson (Florida), Leonard Hankerson (Miami-Florida), Alshon Jeffrey (South Carolina), Devier Posey (Ohio State), Niles Paul (Nebraska).

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Big Ten Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa

Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.

Should be in:

Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?

Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.

Work left to do:

Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.

Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.

Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.

Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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