09/07/2008 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox made roster moves on Sunday, prior to their series finale with the Texas Rangers.
The club recalled pitcher Devern Hansack from Triple-A Pawtucket, activated pitcher Bartolo Colon from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Pawtucket.
In addition, the Sox designated pitcher Marcus McBeth for assignment.
Hansack was 6-10 with a 4.08 earned run average in 25 starts with Pawtucket in 2008.
Colon had been on the DL since June 17 with a lower back strain. The veteran starter went 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six starts with Boston this season. He is slated to start the PawSox International League playoff game against Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Sunday, with the Yankees leading the series 2-1.
<< Chiefs QB Croyle leaves game
Foxboro, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle
left Sunday's game late in the third quarter.
Croyle suffered a shoulder contusion and was escorted to the locker room for
evaluation. His return is questiona
<< Rams WR Bennett leaves game vs. Eagles
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rams starting wideout Drew Bennett left
early in St. Louis' season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday
with an apparent knee injury.
Bennett, who battled with a groin injury in the day
<< Nugent injures thigh
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Jets kicker Mike Nugent suffered a thigh
injury during Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Nugent appeared to hurt himself on a short kickoff in the first quarter, then
missed badly attempting a
<< Broncos sign LB Williams to 5-year contract extension
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos have signed linebacker
D.J. Williams to a five-year contract extension through the 2013 season.
In his fifth NFL season, Williams has started 62 games with the Broncos since
they selec
Streaking Jays edge struggling Rays >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Purcey threw eight shutout innings and
Rod Barajas knocked in the lone run with a sacrifice fly, as the red-hot
Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the struggling Tampa Bay
Rays wi
Patriots overcome injury to Brady, top Chiefs >>
Foxboro, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Moss had six receptions for 116 yards and
a touchdown as New England overcame an early injury to quarterback Tom Brady
to escape Kansas City, 17-10, in the season-opener for both clubs at Gillette
Stadium
A real head Turner; RB sets record as Falcons tame Lions >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Turner had an impressive debut for the
Falcons, rushing for a franchise-record 220 yards and two touchdowns on 22
carries, and Atlanta began the Mike Smith era with a 34-21 victory over the
Detroit
Flacco and Baltimore defense stifles Palmer and Cincy >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Flacco ran for a touchdown in his first
NFL start and the Baltimore defense stuffed Chris Perry on a crucial 4th-and-1
late in the fourth quarter, as the Ravens held on for a 17-10 victory over the
Cincinn
MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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 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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