Detroit Lions 2007 Draft Preview
Football Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For all the speculation about the Lions taking Brady Quinn, Calvin Johnson, or trading down for multiple picks, it would still fly in the face of the logic if GM Matt Millen does anything other than draft Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas at No. 2. There's a reason Jon Kitna was sacked 63 times last year. For a majority of Detroit's remaining eight selections, defensive help should be the focus. The Lions lack a first-rate pass rusher, need to locate a trio of linebackers that can play, and are in major need of secondary help following the offseason defections of cornerback Dre' Bly and safety Terrence Holt. If Detroit selects a quarterback, it probably won't happen until the second day.
2006 Record: 3-13
First Pick: No. 2
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2006 - Ernie Sims (LB, Florida State); 2005 - Mike Williams (WR, USC); 2004 - Roy Williams (WR, Texas), Kevin Jones (RB, Virginia Tech); 2003 - Charles Rogers (WR, Michigan State); 2002 - Joey Harrington (QB, Oregon); 2001 - Jeff Backus (OT, Michigan); 2000 - Stockar McDougle (OL, Oklahoma); 1999 - Chris Claiborne (LB, Southern California), Aaron Gibson (OL, Wisconsin); 1998 - Terry Fair (CB, Tennessee); 1997 - Bryant Westbrook (CB, Texas); 1996 - Reggie Brown (LB, Texas A&M), Jeff Hartings (OL, Penn State); 1995 - Luther Elliss (DT, Utah); 1994 - Johnnie Morton (WR, Southern California); 1993 - none; 1992 - Robert Porcher (DE, South Carolina State); 1991 - Herman Moore (WR, Virginia); 1990 - Andre Ware (QB, Houston).
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington places little to no value on the draft, as evidenced by the fact that it has one pick among the first 142 and has an NFL- low five selections overall. Which isn't to say that the Redskins are without needs, particu
<< Pettitte's return to the Bronx rained out
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte's much anticipated return to the
Bronx will have to wait as Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain.
No makeup da
<< New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
<< Carolina Panthers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Panthers had glaring weaknesses at linebacker and on
the offensive line last year, and though both positions should be healthier in
2007, upgrades are also needed. With top tackler Chris Draft now a member of
the Rams and
<< D-Backs, Rockies play rubber match at Coors
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of pitchers will make debuts with their new clubs
this afternoon when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies conclude
their three-game series at Coors Field.
Left-hander Doug Davis was acquired by Arizona in
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young Matt Cain officially takes hold of the No. 2 starting slot in the San Francisco Giants rotation tonight when they host the San Diego Padres in game two of their three-game curtain-raising series at AT&T Park. Cain,
New York Giants 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Giants have two gaping holes to fill. One is at left
tackle, where Luke Petitgout was released (and subsequently became a
Buccaneer), and Bob Whitfield retired. Trouble is, the only two tackles with
bona fide first-round
Burnett ready to go to work as Blue Jays battle Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Burnett hopes to put an injury-plagued 2006 behind
him this afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays play the middle contest of their
season-opening three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
After signi
Wizards, Bobcats close out home-and-home set >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards are caught in a funk and will try to
right the ship tonight versus the Charlotte Bobcats in the back end of a home-
and-home series at the Verizon Center.
Washington dropped a 122-102 decision on
White Sox aim to rebound against Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland hopes to give Chicago a better effort than
Jose Contreras did on Opening Day when the White Sox play the middle contest
of their three-game season-opening series with the Cleveland Indians at U.S.
Cellular Field.
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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