Last Second Score Deals Villanova Loss in Wild Opener

NCAA Football Betting Lines

09/03/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Once again it came down to a field goal.

Last year, Villanova kicker Nick Yako was afforded the opportunity to be the hero as he drilled a 32-yard field goal as time expired, giving Villanova a 27-24 win in the inaugural Mayor's Bowl at Lincoln Financial Field.

This year Temple kicker Brandon McManus was afforded that same chance, and like Yako the year before, he delivered in helping the Owls take a 31-24 victory.

This game had more twists and turns than an eight-foot python.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney connected with Norman White for a 21-yard touchdown, giving 'Nova a 21-13 lead.

Following the touchdown, Villanova's offense dipped into a serious lull.

"I think their level went up and I think that we just tailed off some in the second half," said Villanova head coach Andy Talley. "I thought that we played better than they did in the first half and then suddenly they woke up and played a strong second half."

Temple's defense was indeed strong. Villanova went without a score for nearly 13 minutes in the fourth quarter. During that span, McManus hit a 40-yard field goal and quarterback Chester Stewart delivered a 62-yard strike to Michael Campbell, giving Temple a 22-21 lead with 4:07 remaining.

Villanova appeared down, but, as Temple head coach Al Golden knows, the reigning FCS champions are difficult to knock out.

"When you have that many veterans that do nothing but win over the last two or three years, which they have, they are tough to beat," said Golden in a post- game interview.

Villanova had certainly been on a roll, winning its previous nine contests dating back to October 10th, 2009. But with 3:30 to play, and Temple churning the ground and the clock to pulp, 'Nova's streak was in definite jeopardy.

Enter Stewart, who had been turnover-free until coughing up the football with 2:25 to play on his own 25-yard line.

Yako subsequently drilled the 41-yard field goal, giving Villanova a 24-22 lead, and with 1:51 to play it appeared Temple was now the team on the ropes.

Fittingly, in a city known for its beloved, browbeaten, ultimate survivor, Rocky, Stewart and Temple dragged themselves off the mat once more and executed a 46-yard drive which resulted in McManus' game-winning field goal, a 43-yarder that came with three seconds remaining.

"Obviously he won the game for us," Golden said of Stewart. "We had a quarterback that won in the two-minute drill. This time he did it after he made a critical error."

Although this was a tough one for 'Nova, Talley was sure to keep it in perspective.

"I think we played about as hard as we could," Talley said. "We had our chances and we had our opportunities to win the game and it sort of slipped away there at the end. I think we played as well as we could at this point in the season."

Talley makes a valid point. With other teams in The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 taking on inferior opponents in week 1, Villanova confronted a Temple team that went 9-4 last season and played in its first bowl game in 30 years.

Still, it must be tough, as last year's thrilling Mayor's Cup victory acted as a springboard to a Villanova FCS championship season.

Last year's win over Temple was Villanova's first victory over an FBS opponent in its last six attempts. Previously, 'Nova's last FBS victory had come in 2003, over, guess who, Temple.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, what last year Temple giveth, this year Temple taketh away.

Starlukcasino NCAA Football Betting News

<< Broncos' Dumervil out for 2010 season
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil will be placed on injured reserve and miss the entire 2010 season after undergoing surgery last month to repair a torn pectoral muscle. Friday, Dumervil p

<< Printers, Lions beat up on shorthanded Alouettes
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey Printers threw a pair of touchdown passes and British Columbia's defense gave Chris Leak fits in his first pro start as the Lions snapped out of an awful funk in a big way with a 38-17 dismant

<< Garcia beats Reds again as Cardinals end skid
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jaime Garcia kept an unbeaten streak against Cincinnati intact with 6 2/3 effective innings and Jon Jay set the tone with a first-inning triple and run scored, as St. Louis slowed the Reds' roll with a 3-2 win

<< Bodine's fuel holds up for Kentucky win
Sparta, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Bodine overcame a spin and then conserved enough fuel at the finish to pull off a stunning victory in the Built Ford Tough 225 Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Bodine, the curren

<< Dodgers' activate Padilla from DL
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers activated pitcher Vicente Padilla from the 15-day disabled list on Friday prior to the opening of a weekend set with division rival San Francisco. The veteran ri

Hardy, Span help Twins rally past Rangers >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - J.J. Hardy and Denard Span had run-scoring singles in the seventh inning to put Minnesota in front, and the Twins held on for a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game series. The bat

Rhymes helps Tigers beat Royals in extras >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Will Rhymes' two-run triple in the 11th highlighted the four-run inning, and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals, 9-5, in the first of three games at Kauffman Stadium. Ryan Raburn adde

Nadal, Murray cruise into third round in New York >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Rafael Nadal and fourth- seeded Andy Murray were a pair of easy straight-set winners on Friday in second round action at the 2010 U.S. Open. Nadal needed 2 hours, 44 minutes to p

French solid as Mariners down Indians >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luke French tossed seven one-hit frames and Franklin Gutierrez drove in the only run as Seattle blanked Cleveland in a 1-0 final at Safeco Field. French (4-4) produced a second straight winning turn on

Billingsley does it all as Dodgers down rival Giants >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Billingsley was strong through eight innings of work on the hill and drove in the game-winning runs to carry Los Angeles to a 4-2 win over San Francisco in the opener of a three-game series. Billi

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.