11/19/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - From Maine to Montana, FCS teams will be playing on Saturday with the playoffs on their minds.
College basketball has its conference tournaments to determine bids and seeding in the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. In FCS this season, we have a final weekend that will offer similar suspense.
Instead of March Madness, welcome to the November Nail Biters.
Weber State of the Big Sky Conference, James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Association, Appalachian State of the Southern Conference and South Carolina State of the MEAC are already safely in the field as automatic bid winners. But there are still four of the eight automatic bids to be determined, two of which will be decided by de facto head-to-head league championship games.
Eastern Kentucky travels to Tennessee-Martin to decide the Ohio Valley Conference crown, while Holy Cross goes to Colgate to determine the Patriot League title.
In the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southern Illinois wins the automatic bid with a victory at Illinois State and shares the league championship with Northern Iowa, which SIU beat earlier in the season. If the Salukis lose on Saturday, UNI earns the auto bid.
CONFERENCE CHAOS
The Southland Conference is still a mess to figure out and the key game of the day could be Southeastern Louisiana (5-6, 2-4) at Nicholls State (2-6, 2-4).
Central Arkansas leads the Southland with a 5-1 record, but was declared ineligible for the league title last week by the NCAA because of their transitional status. The Bears already knew they would not be eligible for the playoffs until completing the four-year process of transition.
The NCAA decision vaulted McNeese State and Texas State into a tie for first place. McNeese State faces Central Arkansas on the road, and Texas State is on the road at Sam Houston State.
If both win, Texas State earns the automatic bid on the basis of a 45-42 win over the Cowboys. If McNeese State wins and Texas State loses, McNeese State would have the best record and would get the berth.
If both the Cowboys and Bobcats lose and Northwestern State wins at Stephen F. Austin, that would send the Southland Conference race into a three-way tie and cause the league to dig deeper into tie-breaking procedures to determine the automatic bid. The next tie-breaker is head-to-head comparison against the rest of the league.
That's where the Southeastern Louisiana-Nicholls State game comes in. Coincidentally, this game was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday night, but due to the damage Hurricane Ike did to light standards at Nicholls State's Guidry Stadium, all home games were moved to the afternoon, including this contest, which was switched from Thursday to Saturday.
Should Southeastern Louisiana beat the Colonels in this scenario, McNeese State would capture the automatic qualifier as a results of wins against both Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State. Texas State and Northwestern State split their games against those opponents.
If Nicholls State beats Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State would win the tie-breaker thanks to its 2-0 mark against the Lions and Colonels. McNeese State and Texas State split against those two teams.
Did you follow all of that?
AT-LARGE ELIMINATION
The schedule makers did the NCAA Division I football committee a favor by setting up three other games that will likely serve as elimination contests for at-large berths.
Richmond and William & Mary go into their final regular season game with three losses a piece. The loser will pretty much be out of the playoffs with four defeats, while the winner will have likely impressed the committee enough for an at-large spot.
New Hampshire and Maine are in a similar position. The winner will have nine wins and lay claim to the CAA North Division title, an honor that has been a pathway to the playoffs every year since the old Atlantic 10 split into two divisions.
If Maine loses, it will almost certainly be out of the playoffs with four losses. If UNH falls, the Wildcats will have to hope that the committee has some mercy on a team that stumbled to two losses in their last three games and played one of the weakest schedules in the CAA.
New Hampshire would also likely be the fifth team considered from the CAA, a position it found itself in last season when the committee took some criticism for allowing the Wildcats into the field with a 7-4 record.
The committee insists it doesn't look at teams in terms of the conference they play in, but it would be hard to justify a fifth team this year coming from one conference when other leagues likely would receive no more than two bids.
On the positive side of the ledger is a New Hampshire victory in its season- opener at Army, one of just two FBS wins for the FCS ranks this year. Of course, Army is also one of the weaker teams in FBS.
Elon plays at Liberty in another potential elimination game for both teams.
The Phoenix have three losses to go with eight wins, but all three have been to teams in the Sportsbook Betting Lines top-10 - Richmond, Wofford and Appalachian State. Elon was two or three plays away from a possible win against Richmond in the season-opener, a game much closer than the 28-10 final score. The Phoenix was blown out by Wofford, but played three-time defending national champion Appalachian State to a tight 24-16 loss just last weekend in the tough environs of Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Liberty has an outside chance of a playoff berth and could at least work its way into the discussion by beating Elon for a 10th win. But a 10-2 record might not be enough for a talented Flames squad that won two Division II games and had a bad loss to a transitional Presbyterian squad.
Liberty's other loss was to a strong, underrated Lafayette team that is currently tied for third place in the Patriot League. The Flames also have a pair of road victories over teams from automatic bid leagues, Youngstown State of the MVFC and Western Carolina of the SoCon, and their second straight Big South Conference title to put on their playoff resume.
Still, the Flames would need to see everything fall into place to be considered, including wins by New Hampshire, Richmond and Lafayette in its 144th meeting with Lehigh.
ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN
Teams like Tennessee State, Jacksonville State, Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman could work their way into the debate if any of them finish with three losses, but it is likely to be a short discussion.
When the committee overlooked Norfolk State with a 9-2 record last year, it pointed to the MEAC runner-up's weak schedule. That dynamic is likely to keep all of the above on the playoff sidelines.
Colgate, with a loss against Holy Cross, and Lafayette, with a win over Lehigh, could also finish at 8-3. Colgate would have a stronger case than Lafayette, with a 21-13 head-to-head win and a loss to a decent Furman squad. But the committee would have to factor in the Raiders' bad loss in the opening game against Stony Brook.
STRENGTHENING THEIR POSITION
Montana, Villanova and Northern Iowa all probably clinched at-large bids with wins last weekend, but all three remain in contention for a top-four seed and their performances this weekend could weigh heavily in the decision of which team to give the final seed.
Should all three lose in games against Montana State, Delaware and Southern Utah, respectively, Wofford and Southern Illinois could work their way into seed discussion. The Terriers can make a strong final impression by beating Furman, while Southern Illinois can do the same at Illinois State.
James Madison, Appalachian State and Weber State are likely to get the top- three seeds as champions of the CAA, the SoCon and the Big Sky. JMU and ASU are prohibitive favorites on the road at Towson and Western Carolina.
Weber State will have a tougher test against an underachieving and potentially dangerous Eastern Washington club, but a win should give the Wildcats a seed.
THE BCS FACTOR
Cal Poly knows the sting of being left at the playoff altar, and the Mustangs are in a weird position with an 8-1 record, the championship of the Great West Conference and one final game at Wisconsin. With a loss, Cal Poly is likely to travel to either Weber State or Montana for a first-round game.
But the Mustangs, who already have one FBS victory over San Diego State in their season-opener and whose only loss was a heartbreaking 30-28 loss to Montana on a missed chip-shot field goal in the final seconds, could hit the jackpot with a victory over the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.
Such a win, or even a quality loss, could cause the committee to consider making Cal Poly a top-four seed.
THE WACKY SWAC
Some readers asked me on Monday and Tuesday why I didn't include Prairie View in my last playoff scenario. Well, the SWAC answered that question this week when they announced a possible tie-breaking procedure for the crowded West Division race.
The winner of the West Division is obligated to play in the SWAC championship game against East Division winner Jackson State on Dec. 20 in Birmingham, AL. But the SWAC won't know who the champion will be until Southern and Grambling meet in the Bayou Classic on Nov. 29 in New Orleans, LA.
Should Grambling beat Texas Southern this weekend, and Southern (6-4 overall, 5-1 in the SWAC) in turn defeats Grambling (8-2, 5-0), the SWAC West Division would end in a three-way tie among Grambling, Prairie View and Southern, with all three being 1-1 against each other head-to-head.
A three-way coin toss would be held to break the tie. The odd man in the toss would be out, and another coin toss between the two winners would decide who would go to the championship game.
Unfortunately for Prairie View (9-1, 6-1), the coin toss will not be held until Nov. 30, the day after the playoffs start.
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Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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