Johnny Manziel suspension odds
COLLEGE STATION, TX (The Spread) – Will Johnny Manziel play Week 1 for the Texas A&M Aggies when they take on Rice, or will he be suspended based on his latest scandal?
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On Sunday evening ESPN reported that the NCAA was investigating Manziel for allegedly profiting from autographs over the past year. Sources told “Outside the Lines” that the Texas A&M quarterback agreed to sign memorabilia in exchange for a five-figure flat fee during his trip to Miami for the BCS National Championship Game and there were witnesses that saw the actual exchange of money.
If a NCAA-led investigation finds that “Johnny Football” violated NCAA Bylaws, which involves accepting money for promoting or advertising the commercial sale of a product or service, Manziel could be ruled ineligible for this season. And since the original report came out, a second autograph dealer has claimed he too was told last season by Manziel’s personal assistant that the quarterback would no longer sign merchandise for free.
Even before these reports came out, the point spread for the September meeting between Texas A&M and Alabama shifted from 4.5, to 6.5 and now up to 9.5 in favor of the Crimson Tide. Oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv have also released prop odds surrounding Manziel, including whether or not the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner will play game one versus Rice. The odds for him suiting up are 2/1 and the odds against him doing so are 1/3, which indicates that oddsmakers are prepared for a suspension. The odds of Manziel winning the 2013 Heisman are now 15/1.
“Considering Texas A&M were among the Top 5 favorites to win the BCS with Manziel playing, there is no doubt that this investigation has forced us to close down those odds, along with win totals, conference odds and pretty much anything that involves the Aggies or Manziel until we have more information,” says Kevin Bradley, Sports Book Manager for Bovada.lv. “It will also impact the spreads on their whole schedule moving their win total from 9.5 to 7.5 and there from BCS Championship Odds from 12-1 to 33-1 if not higher.”
“Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, who was at 13/2 odds to win the Heisman, will now be the new frontrunner with odds of under 5-1,” says Bradley.
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