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06/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays try to make it two straight wins this evening, when they play the second test of their three-game interleague set with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Monday's opener was delayed briefly by a 5.7-magnitude earthquake, but that could not shake the Blue Jays, as John Buck belted two home runs and Aaron Hill had three doubles and three RBI in Toronto's 6-3 win.
Buck's two homers, which plated three runs, pushed Toronto's major league- leading total to 101. The Blue Jays collected 12 hits overall in bouncing back from a three-game sweep at the hands of Colorado over the weekend.
"That was good to see," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We've been struggling with the offense."
Shaun Marcum (6-3) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in seven innings to take the win and snap a personal two-game slide.
"Our bats kind of took a vacation," Buck said of Toronto's losing streak. "To be able to come out and giving some run support to Marcum was huge."
Padres starter Jon Garland (6-5) gave up four runs in five innings to take the loss, San Diego's second in a row.
Tonight the Jays turn to one of the hottest pitchers in the league in 23- year-old lefty Brett Cecil, who has won his last five starts and is 7-2 with a 3.22 earned run average on the year.
Cecil's latest win came on Thursday, when he beat the majors' best team in the Tampa Bay Rays, holding them to a run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings to lower his AL-best batting average-against to .206. He is the Jays' first left-hander to win five straight starts since Gustavo Chacin did it back in 2005.
During his winning streak, Cecil has surrendered just six runs in 36 1/3 frames. However, he has pitched to a 7.20 ERA without a decision in two career interleague starts.
San Diego will counter with 22-year-old righty Mat Latos, who is 6-4 with a 3.24 ERA. Latos won for the fifth time in his last six decisions with a win over Johan Santana and the New York Mets on Thursday, allowing just two runs and two hits in six innings of that one. He also struck out eight batters in the win.
Both starters will be facing their opponents for the first time tonight.
Toronto took two of three from the Padres the last time these teams met back in 2004.
<< Suppan back on mound for Cardinals' clash with Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Suppan makes his return to the St. Louis Cardinals
this evening, when they continue their three-game interleague series against
the Seattle Mariners at Busch Stadium.
Suppan, who was released by Milwaukee last Monday,
<< Reeling Pirates return home to take on White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brad Lincoln makes his home debut when the Pittsburgh
Pirates and Chicago White Sox open a three-game interleague set this evening
at PNC Park.
Lincoln, Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect, made his big league debut
Wednes
<< Leafs' captain Phaneuf relishes new role
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the first time in two seasons, the
Toronto Maple Leafs have a captain and his name is Dion Phaneuf.
The former Calgary Flames defenseman was bestowed the captaincy of the historic
franchise at a media
<< Komisarek would have been good choice, too
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fans of the Maple Leafs are a long-suffering
sort.
The Leafs now have the longest Cup-less streak in the NHL, having not won since
May 1967. The Chicago Blackhawks heaved the weight of going Cup-less since
Giants continue homestand against O's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants seek to continue their rise up the
National League West standings when the surging club resumes a three-game
interleague series with the hapless Baltimore Orioles tonight at AT&T Park.
San Fran
Brewers try to make it two in a row in Anaheim >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After completing an incredibly successful road trip, the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had all kinds of troubles in Monday's return to
their home stadium. The defending American League West champions will be vying
for better
Nationals make a stop at Detroit's Comerica Park >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - As long as he is slated behind Stephen Strasburg in the
rotation, Nationals' starter John Lannan knows he has a tough act to follow.
Lannan, who struggled in his last start one day after Strasburg's phenomenal
debut,
Rockies hope to continue interleague prowess in Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies have found it hard to climb the ranks
in the competitive National League West this season, but they've had little
problems when taking on American League teams thus far in 2010.
The Rockies aim to con
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.
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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