| The college football season is just a week | | | | occasion where they will not be able to stop |
| away and some new rule changes are being | | | | the clock.Since there will be less plays, one |
| implemented this year that may have a | | | | may be smart to take a look at totals early |
| dramatic impact on those of you who enjoy | | | | in the season, before the oddsmakers have a |
| betting totals. It is believed that these | | | | chance to properly adjust them to the |
| changes will shorten games up to 15 plays, | | | | aforementioned rules. Often, traditional |
| which could drastically change the way totals | | | | passing conferences such as the MAC or PAC-10 |
| are set and how bettors should play them.The | | | | see totals near 70 points. I have to wonder |
| idea behind these new rule changes was to | | | | if there will be enough plays for them to |
| speed up the game, as five of the six major | | | | approach this number. Only time will tell, |
| conferences average game times of more than | | | | but my guess is no.These rule changes had |
| 3.5 hours. I feel this is a needed step and | | | | some coaches, such as Oregon's Mike Bellotti, |
| hope that they will continue to adopt more | | | | up in arms. I still believe he is |
| NFL-style rules pertaining to clock stoppage. | | | | overreacting the way only coaches can. They |
| This will make the game more enjoyable for | | | | may have to implement some new strategies - |
| fans, television viewers, and even network | | | | such as taking five-yard penalties to save |
| executives.Here's a look at the major rule | | | | timeouts - but I feel this is a start of |
| changes heading into the 2006 season:Rule | | | | better things to come in the future.If I had |
| Change #1: The clock will start on kickoffs | | | | my way, college football would adopt all of |
| when the ball is kicked instead of when the | | | | the NFL rules, which would shorten game times |
| receiving team touches the ball. This is not | | | | to a respectable three-plus hours. This |
| a big change and should have very little | | | | includes shorting halftime to 15 minutes and |
| impact on the outcome of the game. But | | | | not stopping the clock on first downs, which |
| coaches will have to adjust and this could | | | | is too much of an advantage for the offensive |
| shave around three or four plays off each | | | | team and allows them numerous built-in |
| contest.Rule Change #2: On changes of | | | | timeouts. The structure needs to be set so |
| possession, the clock will start when the | | | | that offenses need to utilize the sidelines |
| referee starts the 25-second play clock. This | | | | more, and also it needs to be set up so that |
| will have more of an impact on the games | | | | keeping your timeouts takes priority over |
| since 25 seconds will be able to run off the | | | | moving the ball haphazardly downfield.I hope |
| clock and teams will have to utilize their | | | | this is a start of many changes to come in |
| timeouts in a different fashion. Essentially, | | | | the college football landscape. After |
| a team will be able to run the time off the | | | | watching numerous bowl games go four-plus |
| clock four times during a set of downs | | | | hours, I feet something needed to be done. I |
| instead of three. With teams being given only | | | | hope you enjoy the 2006 season and together |
| three timeouts each half, there will be one | | | | let's have a great year! |