NCAA proposals would enhance player safety

NCAA Football Betting Lines

02/10/2012 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA Football Rules Committee wrapped up three-day meetings Thursday by recommending several rules proposals for the 2012 season that are intended to enhance player safety.

The proposed changes include:

*Moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line from the 30 and limiting the running start of the kicking team players to five yards or less, and moving touchbacks on free kicks to the 25-yard line from the 20.

*Making a player ineligible for the next play if he loses his helmet during a play other than by the result of a foul by the opponent (the helmet removal will be treated like an injury).

*Allowing offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion to block below the waist legally without restriction.

*Disallowing the receiving team's player from leaping over the shield blocking scheme of the punting team.

*Affording a kick returner additional protection to complete a catch before allowing contact by the kicking team.

"In all of our proposals, we are continuing the annual effort to find ways to make our game safer where we can," Scot Dapp, chair of the committee and athletics director at Moravian College told ncaa.org. "Without question, these changes will enhance student-athlete safety and we feel very comfortable based on the data we collected that the impact will be significant."

The recommendations have been sent to NCAA member schools and must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets via conference call Feb. 21.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

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"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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