Marcell Dareus suspended two games, including Penn State

(AP Photo)

None of this guarantees anything for the Nittany Lions, but it sure isn't helping the Crimson Tide. BCS Championship Game defensive MVP Marcell Dareus has been officially suspended for two games, including the Sept. 11 home game against Penn State:

Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus has been declared ineligible for two games for accepting nearly $2,000 in improper benefits during two trips to Miami.

An NCAA ruling Thursday also ordered Dareus, defensive MVP of the national championship game, to pay $1,787 dollars to a charity of his choice before regaining eligibility. The top-ranked Crimson Tide opens Saturday night against San Jose State and then hosts No. 19 Penn State. Alabama will already be without Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram (knee injury) for at least the opener.

Bama will appeal the ruling, but nothing will come of that before the Penn State game. We'll deal with this more next week, but I can feel that Vegas line shrinking ever so slightly.

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