San Francisco 49ers 2007 Draft Preview
Football Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Niners are in major need of a No. 1 receiver after releasing Antonio Bryant, and might have to look long and hard at multi- talented Ohio State standout Ted Ginn, Jr. There are also secondary needs, though the signings of cornerback Nate Clements (ex-Bills) and safety Michael Lewis (ex-Eagles) mitigate those a bit. Frank Gore was great last season often in spite of the efforts of his offensive line, so the team would be well- advised to bring in a couple of fresh bodies in that department. After missing out on free agent outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, San Francisco might target a pass-rushing outside linebacker with one of its four first-day selections.
2006 Record: 7-9
First Pick: No. 11
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2006 - Vernon Davis (TE, Maryland), Manny Lawson (OLB/DE, North Carolina State); 2005 - Alex Smith (QB, Utah); 2004 - Rashaun Woods (WR, Oklahoma State); 2003 - Kwame Harris (OT, Stanford); 2002 - Mike Rumph (CB, Miami); 2001 - Andre Carter (DE, California); 2000 - Julian Peterson (LB, Michigan State), Ahmed Plummer (CB, Ohio State); 1999 - Reggie McGrew (DT, Florida); 1998 - R.W. McQuarters (CB, Oklahoma State); 1997 - Jim Druckenmiller (QB, Virginia Tech); 1996 - none; 1995 - J.J. Stokes (WR, UCLA); 1994 - Bryant Young (DL, Notre Dame), William Floyd (FB, Florida State); 1993 - Dana Stubblefield (DT, Kansas), Todd Kelly (LB, Tennessee); 1992 - Dana Hall (S, Washington); 1991 - Ted Washington (DT, Louisville); 1990 - Dexter Carter (RB, Florida State).
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With Ahman Green now a Houston Texan, the Packers have a hole at running back that the franchise has not experienced heading into a season since the pre-Edgar Bennett days. Head coach Mike McCarthy says he's comfortable with
<< Atlanta Falcons 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Falcons have multiple needs on defense, and with the
No. 8 overall pick (obtained in the Matt Schaub trade) could justify selecting
any of the following players - safeties LaRon Landry (LSU) and Reggie Nelson
(Florida), t
<< Arizona Cardinals 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona has long featured one of the weakest lines in the
league, and with disappointing-yet-serviceable tackle Leonard Davis now a
Cowboy, the Cardinals could be setting their sights on a player like Penn
State's Levi Brown
<< Chicago Bears 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Bears front seven was pushed around a fair amount in
the latter stages of the 2007 season, so Chicago GM Jerry Angelo and head
coach Lovie Smith are likely to focus on that area on the first day of the
draft. A replacemen
<< Dallas Cowboys 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The performance of the Dallas secondary was beyond poor
during the second half of last season, and the emphasis in drafting corners
and/or safeties this year will likely be focused on their ability to cover
more than hit. Ano
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If he is still available at No. 4, there is no way the Buccaneers can pass up Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. However, if another team trades up to snatch Johnson with one of the first three picks, it won't be the
Philadelphia Eagles 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Outside linebacker and defensive tackle were two of the
Eagles' biggest need areas entering the offseason, but a trade for ex-Bill
Takeo Spikes and the acquisition of former Colt Montae Reagor helped offset
those respective r
D-Backs, Rockies play rubber match at Coors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of pitchers will make debuts with their new clubs
this afternoon when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies conclude
their three-game series at Coors Field.
Left-hander Doug Davis was acquired by Arizona in
Carolina Panthers 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Panthers had glaring weaknesses at linebacker and on
the offensive line last year, and though both positions should be healthier in
2007, upgrades are also needed. With top tackler Chris Draft now a member of
the Rams and
New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa
Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.
Should be in:
Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?
Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.
Work left to do:
Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.
Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.
Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.
Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.
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