2010 FBS Positional Analysis: Tight Ends

NCAA Football Betting Lines

07/09/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The collegiate tight end has traditionally received little-to-no fanfare, except for the truly exceptional in that category. However, the position remains a quarterback's best friend. Whether it is serving as the ultimate relief valve in the middle of the field, or blocking both in passing and running situations, a talented tight end can create mismatches and make a real difference in any given game.

A look at the top FBS tight ends heading into 2010:

KYLE RUDOLPH, NOTRE DAME

The favorite to win the Mackey Award as 2010 commences, expect Rudolph to flourish in Brian Kelly's offensive system. The 6-6, 265-pounder is coming off a sophomore season in which he flashed great potential, grabbing 33 balls for 364 yards and three TDs. If he remains healthy, he has first-round NFL talent. A big target with wide receiver-type skills, Rudolph is poised for a big season, regardless of who earns the QB job in South Bend. With All-American talent in Michael Floyd on the outside and Rudolph at TE, it is hard to imagine whoever is under center struggling for an extended period of time with the Irish.

WESLYE SAUNDERS, SOUTH CAROLINA

This Gamecock certainly passes the eyeball test. A huge target at 6-6, 273 pounds, Saunders could also receive a first-round grade come draft time. His size and athleticism jump out at you. He hauled in 32 balls as a junior, for 353 yards and three TDs, but his modest numbers had a lot to do with inconsistency under center. With better play from the QB position this year, Saunders could put up bigger stats. South Carolina won't vie for an SEC crown in 2010, but playing in the top conference in the country should allow Saunders to showcase his talents week-in and week-out.

D.J. WILLIAMS, ARKANSAS

Williams had a huge sophomore season in 2008, leading the Razorbacks in receptions (61), receiving yards (723) and receiving TDs (3), en route to All- American accolades and a spot as the school's first-ever Mackey Award semifinalist. His numbers tailed off considerably in 2009, with just 32 receptions for 411 yards and three scores, but with steadier play under center from Heisman hopeful Ryan Mallett, Williams could return to his 2008 form this season. He has decent size (6-2, 250) and is a veteran presence who has seen it all. Arkansas is not an elite SEC squad, but Bobby Petrino has put his stamp on this offense and will undoubtedly utilize his assets to the fullest this year.

LANCE KENDRICKS, WISCONSIN

There is plenty of hype surrounding Wisconsin heading into 2010, as the Badgers are the front-runner for the Big Ten title in the eyes of many. Their talented tight end is one of the reasons for the optimism. At 6-4, 239 pounds, Kendricks is more of an oversized receiver than conventional tight end, and finished 2009 with 29 receptions, 356 yards and three TDs. In his final outing, he torched Miami for seven catches and 128 yards in the Champs Sports Bowl. Head coach Bret Bielema has all the pieces in place in 2010, including a devastating ground game and solid play under center, assets that can only help open things up for Kendricks and allow him to soar to the next level.

ORSON CHARLES, GEORGIA

The Bulldogs have an All-American on the outside in A.J. Green, which should help the development of the ultra-talented Charles, as there will likely be plenty of room for him to roam. The 6-3, 235-pounder isn't especially big for the position, but his talent is in catching the football and making plays after the catch. He showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman in 2009, earning Freshman All-American honors when he appeared in 12 games with three starts and finished the year with 23 receptions, for 374 yards and two TDs. The goal for Georgia is to return to elite status in the SEC, and if the Bulldogs are to attain that, expect Charles to have big numbers when all is said and done.

GEORGE BRYAN, NC STATE

Bryan emerged as the ACC's top tight end in 2009, earning First-Team honors after catching 40 balls, for 422 yards and six TDs. He may not get the publicity that other TEs around the nation get, but the 6-5, 265-pound senior has developed into one of the better players at the position. The Wolfpack are still trying to return to ACC prominence, but may be a year or two away, especially if talented QB Russell Wilson (a recent fourth-round selection of the MLB Colorado Rockies) decides to forgo the rest of his eligibility to concentrate on his baseball career. Still, regardless of who is under center, expect Bryan to see plenty of balls thrown his way.

JOE HALAHUNI, OREGON STATE

Mike Riley's Beavers are an offensive juggernaut, with playmakers at all the skill positions. That includes tight end, where Halahuni reigns supreme. He plays more of an "H" back for OSU, but really came on strong down the stretch in 2009, finishing the year with 35 receptions for 486 yards and three TDs, despite starting just two games. The 6-2, 252-pounder continues to improve and this could be the year he really bursts on the scene. With the talented Rodgers' brothers garnering most of the attention in Corvallis, Halahuni will have a great opportunity to exploit matchups in 2010.

BEN GUIDUGLI, CINCINNATI

Butch Jones takes over for the departed Brian Kelly and has the unenviable task of trying to hold onto the momentum gained by two straight Big East crowns. However, the cupboard isn't exactly bare at Cincinnati and the Bearcats will head into 2010 with a solid QB under center in Zach Collaros and Guidugli at the TE position. Despite being undersized at 6-1, 239 pounds, Guidugli was effective as a junior in 2009, grabbing 27 balls, for 364 yards and three TDs. The younger brother of former UC signal-calling star Gino Guidugli, Ben has steadily improved his numbers each year, and 2010 should be no different. A third conference crown may be too much to ask, but expect Guidugli to remain a key weapon in the Cincinnati arsenal.

KAVARIO MIDDLETON, WASHINGTON

The rebuilding process in the Pacific Northwest continues for head coach Steve Sarkisian, and there is some real talent, especially on the offensive side of the football, that has the Huskies fan base interested. All-American candidate Jake Locker is poised for a huge 2010 before taking his talents to the NFL and with targets like Jermaine Kearse and Middleton, big numbers are likely. The 6-5, 253-pound Middleton showed his potential as a sophomore, finishing 2009 with 26 receptions for 257 yards and three TDs. With Locker feeling more and more comfortable in the pocket, expect Middleton's numbers to increase significantly in 2010.

CHARLIE GANTT, MICHIGAN STATE

Unlike the aforementioned players on this list, Gantt is more of a "lunch- pail" type of tight end. The 6-5, 255-pound Spartan will do anything to contribute, and is a solid blocker who continues to improve as a receiver. Gantt earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2009, finishing the season with career-highs in receptions (22) and receiving yards (348). MSU finished 2009 just under .500, and if the Spartans fail to build on a six-win season, it won't be due to a lack of effort from Gantt.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Luke Stocker (Tennessee), Mike McNeill (Nebraska), Anthony Miller (California), Kevin Koger (Michigan), Willie Jefferson (Baylor), Jordan Reed (Florida), Jeffrey Anderson (UAB), Kendrick Moeai (Utah).

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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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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

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