02/16/2007 - Winter Haven, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Keith Foulke unexpectedly announced his retirement on Friday.
Signed by Cleveland in the offseason, Foulke was expected to be a key contributor in the Indians' revamped bullpen. However, Foulke, who had knee surgery before last season and was bothered by elbow, shoulder and back problems throughout his career, notified the team of his decision before taking the Indians' official physical.
The 34-year-old Foulke pitched in 44 games last year with the Red Sox and just 43 the season before after his stellar 2004 campaign.
Foulke saved 32 games and had a 2.17 earned run average in 2004, a season that culminated in Boston winning the World Series. However, his ERA rose to 5.91 in 2005 as Foulke saved just 15 games that season.
He failed to save a game last year as rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon assumed Boston's closer role. Foulke then left the Red Sox this offseason when both parties decided not to exercise his 2007 contract option.
In 588 career games with the White Sox, San Francisco, Oakland and Boston, Foulke is 41-34 with a 3.30 ERA and 190 saves.
Foulke was expected to compete with Joe Borowski, who Cleveland also signed this offseason, for the closer's spot. The Indians traded longtime closer Bob Wickman to Atlanta last July.
<< Parry and Rumford lead Down Under
Lockleys, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Craig Parry, a former two-time winner
on the PGA Tour, fired an eight-under 64 on Friday to join Brett Rumford, who
posted a 69, in the lead after two rounds of the Jacob's Creek Open
Champio
<< Cavaliers top Lakers for first Staples Center win
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeBron James poured in 38 points and hit
the go-ahead jumper with just over three minutes left, as the Cavaliers
secured their first win at the Staples Center with a 114-108 triumph over the
struggl
<< Ducks upend No. 22 Cal
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eleanor Haring scored 17 points to lead Oregon
to a 62-42 upset win over No. 22 California on Thursday.
Taylor Lilley scored 10 points for the Ducks (15-10, 7-8 Pac-10), who won
their second straight game
<< No. 22 USC edges No.19 Arizona
Tucson, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nick Young posted 26 points and eight rebounds,
as the 22nd-ranked USC Trojans got their first win in Tucson since 1985 by
downing the 19th-ranked Arizona Wildcats, 80-75, in a battle of Pac-10
Confere
Newly-armed Predators aim for another win over Blues >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators will likely have to wait until
Saturday for the debut of Peter Forsberg, but they still hope to continue
their dominance of the St. Louis Blues tonight at Scottrade Center.
The Predators
Little Nate highlights NBA All-Star festivities >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson will have another
chance to defy gravity when he opens defense of his Slam Dunk title
Saturday night during the NBA All-Star Game festivities.
Robinson will join Bost
Canucks aim for big win in Chicago >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to grab the top spot in the
Northwest Division tonight, as they travel to Chicago and the United Center to
battle the Blackhawks.
Vancouver and its 68 points are currently tied with Calgary f
Sharks continue epic swing in Columbus >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks continue their season-long eight-game
road trip tonight, when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide
Arena.
San Jose won the first two games of its swing -- including a big victory in
Anahe
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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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