Allen takes over for Dwyer in Ga. Tech backfield

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/07/2010 -

ATLANTA (AP) -Jonathan Dwyer is off to the NFL, but Georgia Tech's potent rushing attack might not miss a beat.

Anthony Allen moves over from A-back to the featured B-back position in coach Paul Johnson's spread option offense, and he could be even more of a threat than Dwyer, now a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Allen averaged 9.7 yard per carry last season and is convinced that figure doesn't have to decline despite the switch and a heavier workload.

``Who says I can't match it,'' asked the speedy 229-pound senior, breaking into a smile.

Allen had a Louisville record 275-yard rushing effort in 2007 as a sophomore before transferring. He is now at more of his natural position, running from behind the quarterback after playing on the wing last season.

``I think Anthony will have a really good year,'' Johnson said after Georgia Tech's third practice session. ``He's a very talented guy and I think he's excited about moving in there.

``He actually was a B-back when he came here. That's where he first started. So it isn't like he's going back there and trying to learn from scratch.''

Allen, from Tampa, Fla., had just 64 carries last season, but gained 618 yards and scored seven touchdowns, one receiving. He broke off an 82-yard TD against Clemson and had a 60-yard run against Florida State.

Dwyer, who declared for the NFL draft after his junior season, carried 235 times a year ago as he repeated the 1,395-yard rushing total that earned him ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore.

``I can't lie. I'm really looking forward to that part,'' Allen said when asked about the extra touches he'll get at B-back.

A key element in the Georgia Tech offense is the exchange between quarterback and B-back. Joshua Nesbitt missed spring practice because of ankle surgery, but Allen said things are good between them after working on handoffs during the summer.

Although Dwyer left a year early, Nesbitt gives Georgia Tech a senior leader as the Yellow Jackets try to repeat as ACC champions in Johnson's third season as coach.

``You don't have to worry because you know Joshua knows what he is doing and is going to make the right reads,'' Allen said. ``It's real comfortable.''

In addition to Dwyer, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, defensive end Derrick Morgan and safety Morgan Burnett left early for the NFL. But the Yellow Jackets list 15 returning starters from a team that finished 11-3 last season. Georgia Tech beat Clemson for the ACC title before losing to Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

Despite the returnees, Georgia Tech was picked to finish third in the ACC's Coastal Division during preseason media voting.

``We're not worried about it,'' Allen said. ``They did the same thing to us last year. We just use it as motivation that people are still looking at us as underdogs. We'll prove 'em wrong again.''

``People talk about the players we lost, but I'd rather focus on the 15 starters coming back,'' Johnson said. ``This is the first time since I've been here that we have a large senior class.''

The Yellow Jackets will hold their fourth practice on Sunday as they work toward the opener on Sept 4 at home against South Carolina State. Georgia Tech plays at Kansas the next week before opening the ACC season at North Carolina on Sept. 18.

``It's been rough. It's been hot,'' Allen said of the first three days of practice. ``We've been making it happen, though. We're looking good out there. Real good.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

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Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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