Cubs have no answer for Phils' Hamels

Baseball Betting Lines

04/12/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cole Hamels hurled seven innings of one- hit shutout ball, and the Philadelphia Phillies took the second of a three- game set with the Chicago Cubs, 7-1, at Citizens Bank Park.

Hamels (2-1) struck out five and walked two, giving up only a fourth-inning double to Derrek Lee as the Phils took their second game in as many nights from Chicago. Chase Utley went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple, while Pedro Feliz and Ryan Howard each hit two-run home runs to power the offense, which was again without its spark at the top of the order, shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Ted Lilly (0-2) was tagged for five runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over his 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss opposite Hamels. Alfonso Soriano accounted for the lone Chicago run with an eighth-inning RBI single.

Pat Burrell led off the home second with a walk, then came around when Feliz slammed a 1-0 fastball from Lilly into the seats in left-center for a 2-0 Phillies lead.

Hamels routinely induced fly-ball outs as he went through the Cubs lineup, surrendering only one hit - Lee's double - in the first five frames.

Lilly, though, kept the Cubs in the game by avoiding further trouble until the fifth, when Shane Victorino grounded a leadoff single up the middle and Utley moved him around to third with a double down the right-field line. Victorino scampered home when Lilly uncorked a wild pitch to Howard, and after falling behind 3-1, the Cubs starter served up a two-run shot that made it a 5-0 game.

Howard's homer - his third of the season - ended Lilly's night, and Kevin Hart closed out the inning despite walking Burrell by inducing a double-play ball from Feliz.

Hamels, meanwhile, was cruising. He retired the Cubs in order again in the sixth, then struck out Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto in the seventh to erase a leadoff walk to Lee.

With a pitch count of 111, Hamels was lifted for Ryan Madson in the eighth, and the right-handed reliever allowed the Cubs to get on the board when Soriano lined a two-out hit to right, scoring Ryan Theriot.

So Taguchi and Jayson Werth each lined opposite-field RBI doubles in the eighth, accounting for the Phils' final two tallies.

Game Notes

Rollins missed his fourth straight game with a left ankle sprain, which he suffered Monday in a win over the New York Mets...Victorino left the game after the sixth inning with what was reported as a right calf strain...Prior to the game, Rollins was given his 2007 National League MVP award, as well as his Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards; Utley also received his Silver Slugger for compiling the best 2007 offensive stats among second basemen...Werth and Victorino finished the night with two hits apiece...Hamels is now 12-1 in 19 career starts against NL Central opponents.

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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.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.