08/27/2008 - Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar all homered as Baltimore avoided a sweep by routing Chicago, 11-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Camden Yards.
Brian Roberts was 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Orioles, who snapped a five- game skid. Juan Castro was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI while Luke Scott and Lou Montanez were also 2-for-3 with two runs scored each.
Radhames Liz (5-3), making his second start since returning from a stint in the minors, allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win.
Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye both homered for the White Sox, who lost for the first time in three games and saw their lead in the AL Central shrink to one game over Minnesota. The Twins edged Seattle, 6-5, earlier Wednesday.
John Danks (10-7) surrendered four runs on seven hits in four innings en route to the loss.
The O's jumped in front with a run in the first. Nick Markakis got on with a one-out single, moved to third on a Mora base hit and crossed the plate after Huff lofted a sacrifice fly to left.
The White Sox quickly deadlocked things in the second after Konerko belted a one-out, solo homer to left, his 13th of the year.
Baltimore made it a 3-1 game in the second. Montanez drew a two-out walk, moved to third on a Castro double before Roberts' slapped a two-run single to left.
Chicago closed to within a run in the third thanks to Thome's two-out RBI single to right.
The Orioles got that run back in the fourth. Scott singled to left, advanced to second when Castro drew a one-out walk and came around to score on Roberts' double to left.
Baltimore kept pulling away with two more runs in the fifth off Lance Broadway. Scott started things with a two-out walk and Montanez followed with a double before Castro came through with a two-run single up the middle.
The O's tacked on another run in the seventh. Scott doubled to center, advanced 90-feet on Montanez's infield single and scored when Castro grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Dye led off the eighth with his 32nd homer of the year to make it an 8-3 game.
The laugher was on in the home-half on the eighth when the Orioles showed off their power against Broadway. Mora slapped a one-out single to right and Huff followed by belting his 29th homer of the year. After Ramon Hernandez grounded out, Millar accounted for the final margin by lining his 19th homer of the year over the wall in left.
Game Notes
Mora's home run was his 23rd...Chicago has won five of its nine matchups with the O's this season...Attendance was just 15,736.
<< Rangers' Hamilton scratched from lineup
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton
was a late scratch from the lineup in Wednesday's game against the Kansas City
Royals.
The left-handed slugger is out because of an abscessed tooth and was repla
<< Pena's homer provides lone run as Rays edge Blue Jays
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Pena homered and Matt Garza went
7 2/3 strong innings as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 1-0, in the second tilt of a
three-game series at Tropicana Field.
Garza (11-7) allowed only six hits without
<< Johnson goes the distance to lead Fish past Bravos
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Johnson's brilliant four-hitter marked the
first complete game of his career and Dan Uggla was the offensive catalyst, as
the Florida Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, and evened their three-
game se
<< Portland signs F Jackson, two rookies
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers signed a trio
of players Wednesday including forward Luke Jackson and two rookies, center
Steven Hill and guard Jamaal Tatum.
Per team policy, terms of the contracts were no
Delgado leads Mets past Phils, back into first place >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Delgado hit a pair of home runs
and drove in three, as the New York Mets rallied to beat Philadelphia, 6-3,
and leapfrog the Phillies to retake the lead in the NL East.
In the first game o
Pedroia helps BoSox slam Yanks >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Bay finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and
Dustin Pedroia added a grand slam as Boston routed the New York Yankees,
11-3, in the middle contest of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.
Jacoby Ellsbu
Oswalt strong again as Astros top Reds >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Oswalt continued his mastery of the Reds
with seven strong innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over
Cincinnati at Minute Maid Park.
Oswalt (12-9) allowed one run on five hits with
Indians win 10th straight to sweep Tigers >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo each hit
a two-run homer to lead Cleveland to its 10th straight victory, as the Indians
edged the Tigers, 9-7, in the finale of a three-game set.
Grady Sizemore ended wit
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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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.
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