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02/14/2009 - Tucson, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 11th-ranked UCLA Bruins attempt to salvage something from their trip to the desert this week, as they invade the McKale Center for a Pac-10 clash with the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson this afternoon.
The Bruins dropped a 74-67 decision to Arizona State in Tempe just two days ago. The loss halted a four-game win streak for UCLA, which fell to 8-3 in league play, a half game behind the Washington Huskies (9-3) atop the Pac-10 standings.
The Wildcats are not far behind at 7-5 in-conference. Arizona is starting to build a full head of steam heading down the stretch and brings a six-game win streak into this contest. The 'Cats edged out USC on Thursday (83-76) and haven't lost since January 21st against rival Arizona State (53-47).
This game represents the 78th all-time meeting between these two teams, with UCLA holding a 46-31 advantage. In addition, the Bruins have won the last eight meetings, including an 83-60 pasting of the Wildcats in Los Angeles on January 15th.
Arizona State went on an 8-0 run late in the game and closed it out against the Bruins on Thursday, becoming the first Pac-10 school to sweep a pair of regular season meetings with UCLA since the 2005-06 season. The Bruins shot the ball well (49 percent), but the Sun Devils were on fire, hitting 60 percent from the floor, including a sizzling 11-of-18 from three-point range. Josh Shipp led the Bruins with 16 points in the setback, with Darren Collison and Michael Roll adding 15 points apiece. The Bruins are not an offensive juggernaut by any stretch this year, but still possess plenty of talent with the ability to get multiple contributors on an occasion. Collison is the best of the bunch, as the veteran guard is shooting .531 from the floor, leading to 14.3 ppg. His accuracy extends beyond the arc (40 percent) and reaches the free-throw line as well (92.9 percent). Shipp is second in the scoring column at 12.5 ppg. Alfred Aboya (9.7 ppg), Jrue Holiday (9.5 ppg) and Nikola Dragovic (8.1 ppg) round out the starting five.
It was a game of runs, as Arizona jumped out to a big first-half lead, before USC cut into the deficit by the end of the half. The Trojans kept it going after the break and built an eight-point lead nearing the halfway point, only to have Arizona close strong and win the game. Nic Wise (27 pts) and Chase Budinger (25 pts) were the driving forces for the Wildcats, combining for 52 points. Kyle Fogg added 13 points, while Jordan Hill chipped in with 12, as Arizona shot 59 percent from the floor, including 60 percent from three-point range (12-of-20). The Wildcats have a pair of prolific frontcourt performers in Budinger and Hill, but the team as a whole is still only averaging a modest 71.7 ppg. The two star forwards are both netting 18.0 ppg this year. Hill has proved to be the more physical of the two on the boards, pulling down 11.3 caroms per game. Budinger is an all-around contributor, pulling down 6.6 rpg, while leading the team in steals (32) and ranking second in assists (82). Wise is a solid third option at 14.2 ppg, while pacing the team with 120 assists. Both Wise and Budinger provide three-point potency, with each shooting over 41 percent from behind the arc.
<< No. 2 Oklahoma puts perfect Big 12 mark on line against Texas Tech
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners take aim at
their 13th straight win as they play host to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a
Big 12 Conference clash at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
Texas Tech is an even 12-1
<< Big East battle pits Hoyas against Orange
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big East Conference rivals collide at the
Carrier Dome today, as the Georgetown Hoyas pay a visit to the 23rd-ranked
Syracuse Orange.
The 2008-09 season began fine enough for Georgetown, as 10 of the club's fi
<< Buckeyes battle Badgers in Big Ten brawl
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes invade
Madison this evening for a Big Ten Conference clash with the Wisconsin
Badgers.
Ohio State has won its last four games to move to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in
conference.
<< Jayhawks and Wildcats square off in Sunflower State showdown
Manhattan, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas State Wildcats play host to the
16th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks this afternoon in a pivotal Big 12 Conference
showdown.
Kansas is coming off its first league loss of the season, as it dropped a
62-60
Golden Eagles seek quick turnaround against Red Storm >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles will
try to get back on track tonight, as they entertain the St. John's Red Storm
in Big East action at the Bradley Center.
The Golden Eagles ripped off nine straight w
Aggies can claim outright WAC title with win over Broncos >>
Boise, ID (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 21st-ranked Utah State Aggies try to claim
the Western Athletic Conference regular-season crown tonight as they confront
the Boise State Broncos at Taco Bell Arena.
Off to their best start in school history a
Boilermakers and Hawkeyes duke it out in Big Ten action >>
Iowa City, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers are
favored on the road this afternoon against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Purdue carried a two-game losing streak into Wednesday's matchup with Penn
State, but outstanding team def
Bearcats come calling on fourth-ranked Panthers >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fourth-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers
welcome the suddenly resurgent Cincinnati Bearcats to the Petersen Events
Center this afternoon for a Big East showdown.
The Panthers are an impressive 22-2 on the seaso
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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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