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02/08/2012 - Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers was inactive for Wednesday night's game at Orlando because of a left hand sprain.
The Heat said Chalmers, who has played all 25 games this season, was day-to- day with the injury.
Chalmers is averaging 11.4 points, 3.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in his fourth season.
<< Yankees sign veteran INF Branyan
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees signed veteran infielder
Russell Branyan on Wednesday.
The minor league deal includes an invitation to spring training.
Branyan, 36, has played for 11 teams since appearing in his first
<< Sharapova, Goerges reach QFs in Paris
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova and six-
seed Julia Goerges of Germany were second-round winners Wednesday at the Open
GDF Suez.
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<< Air Force fires basketball coach Reynolds
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff
Reynolds was fired Wednesday with the team in the midst of a six-game losing
streak.
Athletic director Dr. Hans Mueh made the announcement. Associate head co
<< Celtic topples Hearts to extend SPL lead
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic moved four points clear of
second-place Rangers on Wednesday after securing a 4-0 win over Hearts at
Tynecastle Stadium.
The Hoops charged out to a three-goal lead in the first 30 min
St. John's G Stith leaves team >>
Queens, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Junior guard Malik Stith is leaving St. John's
because of personal reasons, head coach Steve Lavin announced Wednesday.
The university said Stith would remain a part of the St. John's program as a
student-wo
Coastal Carolina to host five in Moglia's first season >>
Conway, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coastal Carolina will open the Joe Moglia era by
hosting North Carolina A&T and has four other home games as part of a 2012
football schedule announced on Wednesday.
Moglia was hired in December as the secon
Astros and SS Lowrie agree to terms >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros and shortstop Jed Lowrie
agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday, avoiding arbitration.
He was acquired from Boston in a trade in December that saw Houston also get
pitcher Kyl
Cavs G Irving out with a concussion >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie
Irving has been ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers
due to a concussion. He is listed as day-to-day.
Irving suffered the concussion aft
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.
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