Western Carolina to face Marshall, Alabama in 2012

NCAA Football Betting Lines

01/27/2012 - Cullowhee, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Speir's first season as Western Carolina's head football coach will include games against FBS opponents Marshall and Alabama.

Western Carolina also will play five home games in a schedule announced Friday.

Speir will make his debut at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field on Thursday, Aug. 30 against NCAA Division II member Mars Hill.

The Catamounts will then travel to Huntington, W.Va., to take on Marshall, their former rival in the Southern Conference. The all-time series is tied 9-9-2.

The third non-conference game will be the Catamounts' regular-season finale at Alabama Nov. 17 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide are the 2011 BCS national champions.

Within SoCon play, Western Carolina will host Samford (Sept. 22), 2011 conference champion Georgia Southern (Oct. 6), Appalachian State (Oct. 27) in the 77th edition of the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug," and Chattanooga (Nov. 3).

The Catamounts also will visit SoCon opponents Wofford (Sept. 15), Furman (Sept. 29), The Citadel (Oct. 13) and Elon (Oct. 20).

2012 Western Carolina Football Schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 30 - Mars Hill, Cullowhee, N.C.

Saturday, Sept. 8 - at Marshall, Huntington, W.Va.

Saturday, Sept. 15 - at Wofford*, Spartanburg, S.C.

Saturday, Sept. 22 - Samford*, Cullowhee, N.C.

Saturday, Sept. 29 - at Furman*, Greenville, S.C.

Saturday, Oct. 6 - Georgia Southern* (Homecoming), Cullowhee, N.C.

Saturday, Oct. 13 - at The Citadel*, Charleston, S.C.

Saturday, Oct. 20 - at Elon*, Elon, N.C.

Saturday, Oct. 27 - Appalachian State*, Cullowhee, N.C.

Saturday, Nov. 3 - Chattanooga*, Cullowhee, N.C.

Saturday, Nov. 17 - at Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

* - Southern Conference game

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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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