The Wiz of Odds

Tennessee

Tennessee's posters feature linebacker A.J. Johnson, top, and receiver Justin Hunter. Johnson had 80 tackles in his freshman season. Hunter was a rising star until tearing a ligament in his left knee last season against Florida. Hunter said he feels "no tweaks or anything like that" and promises to be at full strength for the Aug. 31 opener against North Carolina State. The Volunteers will need him. Tennessee is 23-27 since 2008 and won only one game in Southeastern Conference play last season. That puts coach Derek Dooley, entering his third season, squarely on the hot seat.

Click the images to enlarge. Thanks to Doug.

Houston

It's a different ballgame at Houston, which will be without Case Keenum and Kevin Sumlin for the first time in a long time. Keenum, the primary starter at quarterback since 2007, exhausted his eligibility and is in camp with the NFL's Houston Texans. Sumlin, who won 35 games in four seasons as coach, left for Texas A&M. David Piland is the new starter at quarterback and Tony Levine is the new coach. Piland started eight games in 2010 after Keenum was injured and Levine replaced Sumlin in time to guide the team to a 30-14 victory over Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl. Houston is playing its final season at Robertson Stadium, which will be torn down in December to make way for a new 40,000-seat facility at a cost of more than $100 million.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Jim.

Washington State

He's back. Mike Leach takes center stage in Washington State's poster schedule, and why not? The Cougars haven't been to a bowl game since 2003 and Leach, quirks and all, offers the fans in Pullman hope. If nothing else, Leach's teams are always entertaining. Who else goes for it regularly on fourth down, often deep in a team's own territory?

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Eric.

After the jump is a video of players handing out season tickets in the community.

Texas Tech

If only Texas Tech could play a little defense. That has been a familiar saying around Lubbock since, oh, 2000, when Mike Leach brought his pitch-and-catch game to the Plains. Leach is long gone and Tommy Tuberville is now calling the shots, but the Red Raiders are still struggling to stop opponents. Tuberville's first two teams have each finished 114th nationally in total defense. While indications are that the defense will be improved in 2012 (can it get any worse?), how far the team goes will depend on that unit's improvement.

After the jump is a season ticket video produced by the school.

Click the image to enlarge. Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Duke

November has been unkind to Duke and David Cutcliffe. Since Cutcliffe became coach in 2008, the Blue Devils are 1-12 in the month. Duke hasn't been to a bowl game since 1994 and was set to end that skid in 2009 when the team entered November with a 5-3 record. But as form would have it, the team lost all four games. Overall, Cutcliffe is 15-33. The team enters 2012 saddled with a seven-game losing streak. The Blue Devils will have to win a bunch of games early if they are to entertain any hopes of ending the bowl drought. Perhaps incoming freshman Hud Mellencamp, the son of rocker John Mellencamp, can help. The younger Mellencamp, who did not play high school football but was an accomplished boxer in Indiana, plans to walk on as a defensive back.

Click the image to enlarge. Thanks to Mike.

Introducing All Dixie Rock

Some people figure out how to land a rover on Mars. Me? I take on tasks that don't require such brainpower.

Here's the latest project. The Wiz is proud to announce the launch of All Dixie Rock, a streaming 24-7 Internet radio station. It features a Southern Rock format, and maybe I'm just trying to make amends for all the nasty things I've said over the years about the SEC.

Because nothing goes together like rock 'n roll and college football, there are plans to add a limited amount of college football programming in the future.

To listen live, click here and pick your player. More details on the station are available on the homepage.

All Dixie Rock is also available on smartphones through the TuneIn app. Apple has listed the station in iTunes, under the Radio category Classic Rock.

I hope you enjoy the station.