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07/20/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs are enjoying a very successful homestand and will hope that trend continues this afternoon with the opener of a three- game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs swept a three-game set with Houston to begin the 10-game residency before taking three of four against San Francisco, including Thursday's 9-8 victory that was overshadowed by two home runs from Barry Bonds.
Ted Lilly (10-4) served up Bonds' first homer, but got the win behind five innings of three-run ball. Aramis Ramirez provided the offensive spark in the absence of Derrek Lee, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Alfonso Soriano also had three hits, scored twice and knocked in a run, while Jacque Jones finished 4-for-5.
The Cubs did suffer a set of injuries in the game, though. Daryle Ward, subbing for Lee at first base, was forced out of the game in the second inning due to a right calf strain, while Cliff Floyd left in the third with a sore neck after a collision at first.
Ward's injury may be the most concerning due to the fact Lee is currently serving a five-game suspension -- he will sit out his third game today -- and is not eligible to return until Tuesday. Mark DeRosa came off the bench to spell Ward yesterday.
Meanwhile, closer Ryan Dempster could be activated from the disabled list today for Chicago, which is 3 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Jason Marquis will try to shake off two recent horrid outings when he starts today for the Cubs. The right-hander has allowed six runs and eight hits in each of his last two starts while pitching just a total of 8 2/3 innings. Marquis began the season 5-1 through seven starts, but is now just 6-5 with a 4.03 earned run average.
Despite a 2.84 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against the Diamondbacks, Marquis is just 1-3 against them. That lone victory came on May 13 of last season behind seven innings of one-run ball and was the first of five straight winning starts for Marquis.
Chicago wasn't able to gain any ground on the Brewers despite their winning ways against the Giants, and the club has the Diamondbacks to blame for that. Arizona comes into this series having just lost three of four to Milwaukee, including a 10-1 rout at the hands of the Brew Crew on Thursday.
Livan Hernandez (5-6) was ripped for eight hits and six runs -- five earned -- in 5 1/3 innings, while Conor Jackson's solo homer provided the only run for Arizona.
Overall, the club has lost 12 of its last 16 games and is currently 4 1/2 games behind San Diego for the top spot in the NL West.
Brandon Webb will toe the rubber for the Diamondbacks today and is aiming for his first win in four starts. Webb is 0-2 over his last three outings, including a loss on Sunday against the Padres.
The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned), but was also battered for 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner did strikeout 10 batters, however, to just two walks.
The 28-year-old Webb is pitching to a 4.40 ERA over his last five starts and has fallen to 8-7 on the season with a 3.42 ERA.
He has pitched well historically against the Cubs in his career, going 4-0 with a 2.52 earned run average over six starts against them.
Arizona has also had recent success against Chicago. It won four of six against the Cubs in 2006, and is 13-6 against them since the start of the 2004 season.
<< Mussina, Yankees begin set with Devil Rays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina attempts to extend an impressive streak of
home supremacy over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when the New York Yankees hurler
starts tonight's opener of a four-game series between the American League East
foes.
Si
<< Indians try to continue success against Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians aim for a sixth consecutive victory
over the Texas Rangers when the clubs play the second test of a four-game
series tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The struggling Indians picked up a much-n
<< Francis set for return to Rockets
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Francis, who played his first five NBA
seasons in Houston, is set for a return to the Rockets.
The Houston Chronicle reports Francis, whose contract was bought out by
Portland last week, will
<< Birmingham set to add Mido
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birmingham announced on Friday that
the club has agreed to terms with Tottenham to acquire striker Mido.
The deal is worth $12.3 million and represents the biggest move the summer by
coach Steve Br
Boston's Beckett eyes win No. 13 vs. White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Beckett tries to become the second 13-game winner in
the majors this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their four-game
series with the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.
Beckett has dropped two of his
Bard's suspension reduced to two games >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Diego Padres catcher Josh Bard had his
three-game suspension reduced to two games on Thursday.
Bard received the initial suspension after he made contact with umpire Ed
Rapauno in the 11th innin
MLS All-Stars top Scottish champions 2-0 >>
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of Major League's Soccer's newest
stars, Colombians Juan Pablo Angel and Juan Toja, each scored first half goals
against Scottish Premier League Power, Celtic FC, to lead the North American
league'
Sabathia gets win No. 13 as Indians edge Rangers >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Grady Sizemore homered and drove in a pair
of runs, and C.C. Sabathia picked up his major league leading 13th win as
Cleveland bested Texas, 7-5, in the opener of a four-game set.
Trot Nixon and Ben
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined
Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.
"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."
Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)
According to research at the online sportsbook MySportsbook.com, more than 18 plays a game disappeared last weekend into thin air. That's a 10-percent reduction. In 2005, a typical game had 168.58 plays. For 2007 already, it's down to 150.26.
As a result, teams combined to gain an average of about 100 fewer yards a game last weekend versus the 2005 openers. Scoring was also down by about 4.5 points (attention Las Vegas sports lines).
Of course, oddsmakers were able to adjust to the changes before the season started. Proof of that came as the over went a balanced 8-9 at My Sportsbook on Saturday.
Other angles to consider:A shorter game should theoretically result in shorter lines. Whereas Team A might have been a 14-point favorite in a 168-play game (last year), if there are 10 percent less snaps in 2007, the line should also be reduced by 10 percent (to 13 or 12.5). Of course, this is an over-simplification of the matter, but something to keep in mind.
Less possessions means a better chance the game will be decided by three or seven points. For example, what might have been a 20-10 final score in 2005 may end at
17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.
*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007
New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers
By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.
"We are seeing a massive jump in college football betting," noted the MySportsbook.com management team. "With all the early Saturday games (12 a.m. ET) ending before the second wave begins (3:30 p.m. ET) - something that didn't always happen before the changes - bettors are now able to re-invest their winnings from the morning session in the afternoon games."
While not all bettors will choose to roll over their winnings, it doesn't take much for an impact to be seen on the bottom line. "Not all of the millions of dollars in morning payouts get re-bet. In fact, it's probably only 10 to 20 percent," noted the sportsbook management team. "Still, the increased football betting lines window will create a ton of growth for us over the course of the season."
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