BYU seeking independence?

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08/20/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are rumblings coming out of Provo, Utah.

The chatter involves BYU's bid to become an independent in football, while moving from the Mountain West to the WAC for all other sports. The Cougars would like to fashion themselves as another Notre Dame, and with this proposed move, the university would take one step closer to completing the transformation.

The Irish are obviously the model in terms of creating an independent product that garners national attention year-round, one that comes complete with a huge television deal and their own set of BCS rules (automatic acceptance into a BCS Bowl if the team finishes in the top eight).

BYU and its non-BCS brethren have been trying to get the attention of the BCS for years, with little or no acknowledgement. While that sentiment has changed a little over the last few seasons, it is still a problem that rears its ugly head every December.

Tired of waiting, other schools have made recent moves toward rectifying the situation. Boise State has left the WAC and will join the Mountain West next season. While that seems like a somewhat lateral move, it also seemingly moved the MWC closer to gaining access to the BCS party than the WAC, especially with a lineup that was to include BYU, Utah, Boise State and TCU.

But the first domino that fell the wrong way for the Mountain West was Utah's move to a new 12-team Pac-10 (to be re-branded as the Pac-12), as BYU's main rival moved to the world of BCS riches. That couldn't have sat well on the BYU campus, nor throughout the fan base.

BYU's potential move would seem to move the Mountain West farther from the BCS pot of gold.

The league wasted no time when told of BYU's possible move, inviting both Fresno State and Nevada to join the conference. It was a necessity to do something, or everything gained by the young conference recently may have been for nothing.

MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson is trying to make a positive out of a huge negative, but I'm not sure even he believes that adding the Bulldogs and Wolf Pack, while losing the Utes and Cougars, is a good thing for the conference. Neither of those new additions has the tradition or resources of the Utah-based behemoths.

Meanwhile, there is perhaps a bigger picture for BYU, which is first and foremost a school that looks to promote the Mormon faith. In that vein, this move makes a lot of marketing sense. Reaching as many people around the country and the world is the main goal in Provo, and if the team follows the blueprint set by the Irish, independence could be a step in the right direction.

BYU however, doesn't have a national television contract like Notre Dame has with NBC. BYU-TV is already in place, but needs the recognition and reach that will only come if the Cougars set themselves free of a conference schedule peppered with lesser competition. The school's ability to put together a killer, nationally-based schedule is the key here. Notre Dame plays powerhouses on a regular basis and lands those deals because of the network exposure and money involved.

BYU doesn't generate that same type of appeal to opponents or to mainstream viewers, at least right now. SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten teams may think twice about taking on a dangerous BYU team, especially late in the season when they can see a shot at the national title within grasp. It's too risky on the field, and not beneficial enough off right now in terms of marketing or finances.

BYU would like assurances from the BCS that the program, if independent, will gain automatic access to a BCS game if it meets certain criteria, much like Notre Dame. That could be the key here to the whole thing, though after sticking its neck out and threatening to leave the Mountain West, the university might be forced to adopt a "if we build it, they will come" mentality.

If the Cougars can put together a tough schedule year-in and year-out and maintain success, the BCS will no longer be able to ignore them, regardless of any guarantees.

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FOOTBALL BETTING

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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