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03/15/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time champion mare Zenyatta extended her advantage in the latest NTRA Thoroughbred Poll for March 15. The six-year-old won Saturday's Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita to remain in first- place.
Zenyatta, undefeated in 15 career starts, received 16 of 20 first-place votes and 192 points. Last week she had nine top votes and 172 points. The winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Classic is one win away from tying the record of 16 consecutive lifetime wins in open competition held by Citation and Cigar. She is scheduled to start in next month's Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park.
Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra lost in Saturday's New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds and dropped in the poll from second to third. The four-year-old filly, who was second to Zardana, did not receive any first- place votes and has 150 points. She will not start in the Apple Blossom.
Moving from third to second is Donn Handicap champ Quality Road. The four- year-old colt got the four remaining first-place votes and has 173 points.
Rounding out the top 10 are Gio Ponti, Misremembered, Presious Passion, Lookin at Lucky, Eskendereya, Zardana and Bold Chieftain.
In the three-year-old poll, 2009 champion two-year-old Lookin At Lucky moved from second to first after his win Saturday in the Rebel Stakes at Oawklawn. He received 10 first-place votes and 187 points.
Fountain of Youth winner Eskendereya is second with nine top votes and 175 points. He is set to start in this week's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
The lone remaining first-place vote went to Odysseus who won Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby. His 65 points put him into eighth-place.
Following the top two colts are Conveyance, Rule, Sidney's Candy, Noble's Promise, Awesome Act, Odysseus, Dublin and Discreetly Mine.
<< UCF's Speraw will not return
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Central Florida announced on
Monday that men's basketball coach Kirk Speraw will not return next season.
"I want to thank coach Speraw for his tenure at the University of Central
Florida
<< There's plenty of reaction to possible expansion
NEW YORK (AP) -When it comes to expanding the NCAA men's basketball tournament, coaches are as divided as fans.The Associated Press talked to about two dozen coaches regarding expansion in recent weeks and they were split between those who like the
<< Iowa basketball coach fired after 10-20 season
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -Iowa has fired coach Todd Lickliter after three losing seasons in a row.Athletic director Gary Barta announced the firing Monday in Iowa City. Lickliter was not in attendance.Lickliter was 38-58 with the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes,
<< Farmers Insurance signs four-year extension for San Diego event
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The PGA Tour announced Monday that
the Farmers Insurance Group has signed a four-year deal to remain as the title
sponsor for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
Farmers was the title spo
Beckham's World Cup absence confirmed >>
Turku, Finland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - England midfielder David Beckham underwent
successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon on Monday in Finland, and
it was confirmed by Dr. Sakari Orava that he will miss this summer's World Cup
in Sout
Lamely rallies for first PGA Tour title >>
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Lamely fired a six-under 66
in the final round Monday to come from behind and win the rain-delayed Puerto
Rico Open.
Lamely, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour, completed the event
Lions get CB Houston from Falcons >>
Allen Park, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions acquired cornerback Chris
Houston from the Atlanta Falcons for a pair of draft picks on Monday.
Detroit gave up its sixth-round choice in the 2010 NFL Draft in addition to a
conditional s
Ovechkin suspended two games for "reckless" hit on Campbell >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has
been suspended two games without pay for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks
defenseman Brian Campbell.
The incident, which the NHL called "a reckless hit" in
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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Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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