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07/09/2010 - Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamie McMurray picked up his Sprint Cup Series leading third pole of the season after topping the charts in Friday's qualifying for the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
McMurray turned in a lap of 183.542 m.p.h. around the one-and-a-half-mile oval for his sixth career Cup pole.
"It's really amazing with our qualifying this year, and we've been really strong," McMurray said. "I'm really happy with our lap today."
McMurray began the season in February by winning the Daytona 500, but has dropped to 19th in the standings since then. He trails 12th-place Carl Edwards by 225 points with eight races remaining before the start of the championship Chase.
Jimmie Johnson will start on the outside pole after posting a lap of 183.281 m.p.h. Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, became a father earlier this week. His wife, Chandra, gave birth to their first child, a daughter. The couple has yet to choose a name, but are affectionately referring to her as "Baby J" for now.
"We didn't expect her to come this early, so that was a bit of a surprise," Johnson said. "With [crew chief] Chad [Knaus] leading this 48 team and all the support at Hendrick [Motorsports], we had everything in line. I feel bad for Aric [Almirola]. He didn't get a chance to drive the car, and I think he is a great talent, and hopefully he will be picked up by someone. He's doing a great job in the Truck Series, but I know he has aspirations to get into the Cup Series."
Almirola was on standby to drive the No.48 car for Johnson if his wife gave birth during the race weekend.
Johnson said he planned to fly back home to North Carolina this evening to be with his wife and daughter, and then return to Chicagoland in time for Saturday night's race here. Chicagoland is one of four tracks on the series schedule where Johnson has yet to win.
Tony Stewart, a two-time Chicagoland race winner, qualified third, while Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr. rounded out the top-five.
"We had two hours and 45 minutes of practice and made only one qualifying run, so I'm pretty happy with our race car," Stewart said.
Jeff Gordon, David Reutimann, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya qualified sixth through 10th, respectively.
Kevin Harvick, the current points leader and winner of last weekend's race at Daytona, will start 27th, while NASCAR fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. will roll off two spots ahead of Harvick in 25th.
Harvick holds a 212-point advantage over Gordon heading into the 19th race of the season.
Michael McDowell, Dave Blaney, J.J. Yeley and Todd Bodine failed to qualify.
Saturday's 400-mile race at Chicagoland is scheduled to start just after 7:30 p.m. (et).
<< Clippers sign free agent Brian Cook
LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free agent forward Brian Cook, bringing him back to the city where he began his NBA career with the Lakers.The deal was announced Friday, a day after the Clippers signed free agents Randy Foye a
<< Nationals option P Atilano
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals optioned rookie
right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
The move was made in order for Atilano to get extra work during the All-Star
break. However,
<< Tennessee dismisses one, suspends two others after bar brawl
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Tennessee football program
dismissed Darren Myles Jr. and suspended Marlon Walls and Greg King
indefinitely for their participation in a bar fight in Knoxville early Friday
morning
<< Rockies reinstate P De La Rosa from DL
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies reinstated pitcher Jorge De
La Rosa from the 15-day disabled list in time to make his start against San
Diego on Friday.
De La Rosa, who was placed on the DL on April 27, missed the l
Clippers ink Cook >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free
agent forward Brian Cook.
The 29-year-old has appeared in 349 career NBA games, most recently taking the
court for 15 contests for the Houston Rockets last se
Chappell sets 36-hole mark on Nationwide Tour >>
Clarksburg, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Chappell shot an eight-under 63 to
remain in the lead Friday at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic, setting the
Nationwide Tour's 36-hole scoring record in the process.
Chappell finished two ro
Heat throw party to introduce James, Wade, Bosh >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With music blaring, lights glaring and nearly
13,000 fans staring, the Miami Heat put on a party in their home arena for
their three stars - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Plumes of smoke ros
More power from Dunn paces Nats over Giants >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn hit a pair of homers and knocked
in three, and Stephen Strasburg threw six solid innings, as the Washington
Nationals earned a 8-1 decision over the San Francisco Giants in the opener of
a three
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.
Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6
For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com
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