10/30/2008 - Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers announced on Thursday that they have declined to exercise the 2009 option on the contract of shortstop Edgar Renteria, making the veteran a free agent.
Renteria batted .270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI in 138 games last season, his first for the Tigers. He was acquired from Atlanta in a three-player deal on October 29, 2007.
The 33-year-old Renteria, who just completed his 13 big league season, has also played for Florida, St. Louis, Boston and Atlanta, and owns a career .290 batting average with 127 homers, 817 RBI and 280 stolen bases in 1,860 games. He has also participated in 55 postseason contests and had the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series with Florida.
In addition, the Tigers outrighted the contracts of pitcher Gary Glover and catcher Dane Sardinha to Triple-A Toledo and retained Jeff Jones as the bullpen coach.
Glover was 1-1 with a 4.43 earned run average in 18 games with the Tigers in 2008, while Sardinha appeared in just 17 games for the Tigers and batted .159 with three runs batted in.
Both have elected to become free agents.
The Tigers also re-hired bullpen coach Jeff Jones, while Bruce Tanner has been promoted to major league scout.
<< Paybacks, Streaks and Sandwiches
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three angles that bettors love to follow
are revenge games, winning streaks and sandwich scenarios, and all three will
play a huge part in gambling circles this week.
The first of the three trends revolv
<< Sens visit Panthers gunning for back-to-back wins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators will get a chance to win back-to-back
games for the first time this season when they visit the Florida Panthers
tonight at BankAtlantic Center.
Ottawa is just 3-5-1 so far in the 2008-09 campaign and is
<< Wild, Canadiens collide in Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the best teams in the early part of the 2008-09
season will meet tonight in St. Paul, as the Minnesota Wild welcome the
Montreal Canadiens for an interconference battle at Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild were the only
<< Oilers hope to get on track in test versus Preds
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Edmonton Oilers will try to get back on the
right track tonight as they begin their longest road trip of the season with a
test at the Sommet Center in Nashville.
Edmonton began the season with four straight
Royals acquire Jacobs from Marlins >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals have acquired first
baseman Mike Jacobs from the Florida Marlins in exchange for pitcher Leo
Nunez.
Jacobs, who turned 28 years old on Thursday, belted a career-high 32 home
Johnson, Porter, Gostkowski capture AFC monthly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson,
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter and New England Patriots kicker Stephen
Gostkowski have been selected as the AFC's top players for the month of
October
Ryan, Mayo earn rookie honors for September >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan
and New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo have been selected as the NFL's
top rookies for the month of October.
Ryan, who the Falcons selected third overall
Ryan, Mayo earn rookie honors for October >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan
and New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo have been selected as the NFL's
top rookies for the month of October.
Ryan, who the Falcons selected third overall
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.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting