Elon to open at UNC, play six at home

NCAA Football Betting Lines

01/18/2012 - Elon, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Elon University football team will kick its 2012 season with a first-ever meeting against North Carolina and play six home games as part of an 11-game schedule announced Wednesday.

Elon's first three games will be against non-conference opponents, starting with the Sept. 1 opener in Chapel Hill. The game will mark the Phoenix's fifth contest against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and its third against an ACC program.

Coach Jason Swepson's team will then host two straight games at Rhodes Stadium, Sept. 8 versus North Carolina Central and Sept. 15 against West Virginia State.

The Phoenix will finish the regular season with eight straight Southern Conference games, beginning with a Sept. 22 trip to Georgia Southern, the 2011 conference champion.

Elon's home games in SoCon play are against Wofford (Sept. 29), Western Carolina on Homecoming (Oct. 20), Furman (Oct. 27) and Samford (Nov. 10).

The other road SoCon games are against Appalachian State (Oct. 6), The Citadel (Nov. 3) and Chattanooga (Nov. 17).

"Our schedule is one that will challenge us in 2012," Swepson said. "Opening at North Carolina provides our program an incredible opportunity for our students, alumni and fans to support us and helps us recruit in-state. We want to have some early success against non-conference opponents and ride that into Southern Conference play. The Southern Conference is one of the top leagues in the country and the games are always very competitive. Our goal is to win a SoCon title."

Elon is coming off a 5-6 record in Swepson's first season, including 3-5 in the SoCon.

2012 Elon Football Schedule

Sept. 1, at North Carolina (2011 Record: 7-6, 3-5 ACC)

Sept. 8, vs. North Carolina Central (2-9, 1-7 MEAC)

Sept. 15, vs. West Virginia State (1-9, 1-7 WVIAC)

Sept. 22, at Georgia Southern* (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)

Sept. 29, vs. Wofford* (8-4, 6-2 SoCon)

Oct. 6, at Appalachian State* (8-4, 6-2 SoCon)

Oct. 20, vs. Western Carolina* (1-10, 0-8 SoCon) - Homecoming

Oct. 27, vs. Furman* (6-5, 5-3 SoCon)

Nov. 3, at The Citadel* (4-7, 2-6 SoCon)

Nov. 10, vs. Samford* (6-5, 4-4 SoCon)

Nov. 17, at Chattanooga* (5-6, 3-5 SoCon)

* - Southern Conference game

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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