Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
07/15/2010 - Udine, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo has insisted that Alexis Sanchez will not be leaving the club this summer.
The Chile international excelled during this summer's World Cup finals and, despite Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea being linked to his signature, Pozzo has reiterated the 21-year-old will be staying at the Friuli-based outfit.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "Alexis will return to Udine and will remain here.
"Next season will be the year of his consecration. Perhaps he will play as a playmaker in order to be closer to goal."
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)
<< Dudek signs new deal with Real Madrid
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Liverpool and Poland goalkeeper Jerzy
Dudek has signed a new contract with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The gloveman, who won the Champions League final with the Merseysiders in
2005, has signed
<< St. Johnstone signs striker Parkin
Perth, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Johnstone has completed the signing of
experienced striker Sam Parkin on a two-year contract.
The 29-year-old spent last season with Walsall, but was allowed to leave the
Saddlers after scoring three
<< Ronaldinho to stay in Milan
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan General Manager Adriano Galliani has
dismissed reports suggesting veteran playmaker Ronaldinho could leave the club
in the summer.
The Brazil star has been linked with a return to his homeland with
<< England's Heskey retires from international duty
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - England striker Emile Heskey has announced
his retirement from international football.
The 32-year-old's last appearance for his country was when he came on as a
late substitute for Jermain Defoe in
Celtic closes in on Mexican star Juarez >>
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed
that he is close to completing the capture of Mexico international midfielder
Efrain Juarez.
The 22-year-old started three games for his country at the World Cu
Boruc completes Fiorentina move >>
Florence, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Poland international Artur Boruc has left
Celtic after passing a medical and signing a two-year deal with Fiorentina.
A brief statement from the Serie A side read: "Fiorentina announces it has
complet
Muller pledges future to Bayern >>
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World Cup star Thomas Muller has vowed to
remain at Bayern Munich for the foreseeable future, having been linked with
interest from several top clubs.
The 20-year-old forward won the Golden Shoe in Sou
Tomasulo fires 62 for Chiquita Classic lead >>
Maineville, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Peter Tomasulo continued his spectacular run
of golf with a 10-under 62 on Thursday for the first-round lead of the
inaugural Chiquita Classic.
Tomasulo won last week's Wayne Gretzky Classic after th
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.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting