SBC Sports Betting News – Injury To Cornerback Changes

[Freddy Wills]

A quick survey of the past week in sports news offered a number of important events, few more important than an injury to one of the Atlanta Falcons' most valuable defensive players.

Grimes' Injury Forces Falcons Into A Distinctly Difficult Position

You know that outlets are always quick to react to the infirmary report and the details it brings after each and every NFL weekend. When a key player goes down, especially for the season, betting analysts at a full range of immediately revise the accepted calculus.

It's undeniable, then, that after an offseason in which it seemed that the Atlanta Falcons were the odds-on choice to win the NFC South Division due to the dislocations and distractions affecting the New Orleans Saints, the scales have tipped the other way after just one week of competition. Sure, Atlanta won its opener while New Orleans was upset at home by the Washington Redskins, but in looking at a 16-game march to the finish line, the Saints should be seen as the better choice at this point in time. Why? Atlanta's defense is going to be very vulnerable for the remainder of 2012.

Cornerback Brent Grimes, one of coach Mike Smith's most valuable players, got knocked out for the season by an Achilles injury this past Sunday in a 40-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Grimes is widely acknowledged as a well-above-average cover corner, a man who can take away half the field and limit options for most quarterbacks in the league. Grimes' absence is going to substantially weaken Atlanta's defense, enabling the likes of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to pick his targets when sizing up the Falcons' secondary. Any would have to shift the odds against the Falcons and for the Saints after this unfortunate development in the NFL.

Starting Receiver Abruptly Leaves Penn State Football Team, Leaves Lions In Limbo

There's never a good time for your most experienced starter at the wide receiver spot to leave the team, but for the Penn State Nittany Lions, the timing really couldn't be much worse. Shawney Kersey, the team's foremost veteran at flanker, abruptly decided to leave the team this past week. The Nittany Lions have already been ravaged by transfers out of the program due to the severe sanctions laid down by the NCAA in light of the Jerry Sandusky-related scandals that have swept through the school. Two more players left the team since the start of August training camp, leaving the Nittany Lions in dire need of reinforcements as the 2012 season moves along.

Losing yet another player – and moreover, an experienced one – should reduce team morale in advance of this weekend's game against the Navy Midshipmen. If you were a betting man or woman, it would be hard to think better of Penn State's chances against Navy at this point. Navy looks like a better choice.

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