07/19/2008 - Frisco, TX (Soccer Betting) - The Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Herculez Gomez got things going early, scoring his second goal of the season from about 15 yards out to give the Rapids the lead in the fifth minute.
That was how the score stayed until the Hoops (4-6-7) scored two second-half goals to take a 2-1 lead.
In 47th minute, Dallas forward Dominic Oduro earned a penalty kick after being taken down in the box with Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul way out of the net. Kenny Cooper took the chance and buried it in the right side of the net for his ninth goal of the season to tie the game at one.
Cooper helped set up the game's next goal in the 64th minute when he headed a Marcelo Saragosa cross back to the top of the box to Juan Toja, who fired into the open net with Coundoul, once again, way off his line and out of position.
The Rapids answered quickly, however, as Conor Casey headed home a Christian Gomez cross three minutes later to tie the game at two, which is how it ended.
The Rapids (6-8-3) host Columbus o July 27 in their next league fixture while Dallas hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy earlier the same day.
<< Haren shines, D-Backs nip Dodgers to retake top spot in West
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren threw seven innings of shutout ball,
and the Diamondbacks staved off a late Dodger rally, as Arizona clipped Los
Angeles, 3-2, to take over sole possession of first place in the NL West.
"We are a
<< Scott blasts 10th-inning homer, capping O's comeback over Tigers
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luke Scott smacked a game-winning solo home
run with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to cap a remarkable 11-10
comeback win for the Baltimore Orioles over the Detroit Tigers in the third
install
<< Durant leads Roughriders past Alouettes
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Darian Durant threw for 353 yards and three
touchdowns, and also ran for the winning touchdown in the final minutes as the
Saskatchewan Roughriders used a furious late rally to top the Montreal
Alouett
<< Votto's bat helps Reds sink Mets
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto went 2-for-4 with three runs
batted in, highlighted by a two-run triple, as the Reds downed the New York
Mets, 7-2, in the third game of a four-game set.
Josh Fogg (2-2) held the Mets to
Mets push back Martinez's next start, again >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mets pushed Pedro Martinez's next
start back again on Saturday, after the veteran righty threw a bullpen session
during New York's 7-2 loss to the Reds.
Martinez was originally supposed to star
Edwards wins Nationwide race at Gateway >>
Madison, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Columbia, MO native Carl Edwards won Saturday
night's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Nationwide Series race at the
Gateway International Raceway just outside St. Louis. The No.60 Roush Fenway
Racing
Report: Rams ink top pick Long >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Rams reportedly came to terms on a
multi-year deal with defensive end Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick in the
NFL draft, on Saturday.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported late Saturday on the
Parmentier wins in Austria >>
Bad Gastein, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pauline Parmentier of France upended
Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka on Sunday to win the Gastein Ladies tennis
event.
The fourth-seeded Parmentier, who was meeting Hradecka for the first time
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.
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.
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
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