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Grizzlies finish road trip in the desert vs. SunsBasketball Betting Lines01/28/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies hope to finish a four-game road trip on a winning note Saturday when they pay a visit to the struggling Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies started their trek in a positive fashion, winning at Golden State before dropping a pair to Portland and the LA Clippers. Most recently Rudy Gay had 24 points to pace Memphis in LA on Thursday. The Grizz made it competitive despite being down 16 points in the first quarter but eventually fell for the second straight time on the heels of a seven-game winning streak. Marc Gasol logged 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Grizzlies, while Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo had 14 points apiece. "We couldn't get any stops down the stretch," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said. The Suns, meanwhile, dropped their third straight in Portland on Friday, getting routed by the Trail Blazers 109-71. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points in that one as Portland dominated the middle two quarters en rote to avenging a 102-77 loss at Phoenix on Jan. 6. Grant Hill scored 12 for Phoenix, which shot 37 percent from the field. Sebastian Telfair added 10 points in Phoenix's eight setback in 10 games. "We can't score nine points and it's happened quite a bit now," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said of the horrid second quarter. "I've got to make some adjustments some kind of way where we can at least keep the game level when we're in it in the second quarter." The Suns have also lost three in a row in the desert, their longest slide at home since a five-game hiccup from March 6-19, 2004. Phoenix has dropped two of its last three at home to Memphis but overall the Grizz have won in just six of their 31 trips to the Valley of the Sun.
<< Jimmer returns to SLC when Kings visit Jazz
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmer Fredette will return to Utah Saturday as the Sacramento Kings attempt to put the brakes on a three-game skid when they open up a brief two-game road trip against the Jazz. The Kings were blown out in their last enco
<< Knicks limp into Houston to face Rockets
<< Sixers resume lengthy homestand against struggling Pistons
<< Tiger, Rock share lead in Abu Dhabi
<< Hornets trying to trade Kaman
Lakers begin tough stretch in Milwaukee >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off halting a three-game skid, the Los Angeles Lakers will begin a tough stretch tonight in Milwaukee in which they will play eight of nine games on the road. Kobe Bryant netted 24 points to go with seven rebounds an
Wizards try to conjure up a road win in Charlotte >>
Braves and Bluejays mix it up in MVC action >>
Panthers come to Murray seeking upset of 11th-ranked Racers >>
Villanova plays host to No. 17 Marquette >>
How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?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. |
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