Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
06/21/2010 - Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike McGee hit a three-run homer, knocked in four and earned the save, as Florida State eliminated Florida from the College World Series with an 8-5 victory at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Tyler Holt chipped in with three hits, two RBI and scored three times for Florida State, which won four of five meetings with the Gators this season. Brian Busch picked up the win after allowing two runs on as many hits with four walks and three strikeouts in a 5 1/3-inning start. FSU will face the loser of Monday's TCU/UCLA game on Wednesday.
Hudson Randall suffered the loss for yielding four runs and four hits with a pair of walks in 2 2/3 innings for Florida, which finished the season 47-17.
Trailing 8-2 in the ninth, the Gators made things interesting. Daniel Bennett retired the first hitter before allowing the next three to reach -- on two singles and an error -- to load the bases. Preston Tucker then laced a three- run double down the right-field line to make it 8-5. McGee came on and gave up a single to Austin Maddox, then hit Matt den Dekker with a pitch. However, Mike Zunino lined into a 6-4 double play to end the game.
Florida opened the scoring in the first on Maddox's run-scoring single, but the Seminoles got the run back in the home half on a solo homer by Holt.
McGee's three-run shot in the third put Florida State ahead 4-1. Holt and Sherman Johnson each drew a one-out walk before McGee hammered a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall.
With runners on first and third and one out in the fourth, McGee chased in another run with a sacrifice bunt to give the Seminoles a four-run cushion. Jonathan Pigott answered in the fifth with a solo shot to right to make it a 5-2 game.
Geoff Parker worked out of trouble in the top of the seventh and Florida State tacked on two more in home portion. Stephen Cardullo led off with a homer and later in the inning, Holt plated Jayce Boyd with a base hit to increase the Seminoles' advantage to five.
The Gators had runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth, but Bennett came in from the bullpen for Parker and picked off Tyler Thompson to end the inning.
Boyd's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave FSU an 8-2 lead.
In earlier action on Monday, Casey Harman worked six-plus solid innings and five players drove in a run as Clemson knocked off Arizona State, 6-3, in the teams' first game.
Clemson tallied twice in the second inning and took charge in the fifth inning, scoring three times.
John Hinson's RBI single with one out scored Jeff Schaus and chased Arizona State starter Seth Blair. Brady Rogers took over and gave up a fly ball to left by Richie Shaffer that was lost in the sun and landed for a base hit, scoring Kyle Parker to increase the Clemson advantage to 4-1. Wilson Boyd followed with a single to center that brought home Hinson to push the lead to four.
The teams traded runs in the sixth inning, and ASU got a run-scoring groundout in the seventh to cut its deficit to three. However, Alex Frederick blanked the Sun Devils over the next two frames to wrap up the victory and set up a Tuesday meeting with Oklahoma, which beat South Carolina on Sunday.
Arizona State will face South Carolina in an elimination game Tuesday.
<< Nuggets make qualifying offer to Kleiza
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets have extended a qualifying
offer to restricted free agent forward Linas Kleiza. Terms of the offer were
not disclosed.
Kleiza spent this past season playing in Greece, but prior to that
<< Nuggets make offer to forward Kleiza
DENVER (AP) -The Denver Nuggets have made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Linas Kleiza, who spent the past season in Greece.Nuggets officials didn't release the terms of the offer Monday.The 6-foot-8, 245-pounds Kleiza averaged 8.3 point
<< Avalanche looking for another bountiful draft
DENVER (AP) -After hitting the jackpot with two high picks in the draft last June, the Colorado Avalanche feel the pressure to replicate that this summer.Hardly easy.Those two players they selected weren't your typical teenagers.From now on, every C
<< Thousands of fans cheer Lakers in tribute
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Thousands of fans cheered the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers during a victory parade Monday that players promised to repeat next year with a third consecutive title.Police reported a largely well-behaved crowd. Nine people were ar
King leaves Villanova basketball team >>
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Forward Taylor King has voluntarily withdrawn
from Villanova's men's basketball team, the school announced Monday.
The school said he plans to remain at Villanova to complete his degree
requirements.
Cardinals WR Gant suspended four games >>
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Ed Gant has been
suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing
substances.
According to the team's website, Gant was suspended for the firs
Guzman's homer lifts Nationals over Royals >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cristian Guzman's solo home run in the sixth
frame -- his first of the season -- was the game winner, as Washington snapped
a six-game skid with a 2-1 victory over Kansas City in the opener of a three-
game se
Yankees designate Moeller, call up OF Curtis >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have designated catcher
Chad Moeller for assignment and recalled outfielder Colin Curtis from Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Moeller was called up from Triple-A in May, when Jorge
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.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting