Connecticut Sun (WNBA)

Basketball Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Traded forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for the rights to center Erika De Souza and a first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Ccasion Basketball Betting News

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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If things are going to get better in Phoenix, it's probably about time some new Coyotes start running with the pack. The Phoenix Coyotes have been making moves over the last two weeks and one of them involved the jettison

<< Richardson's return should help Warriors down the stretch
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors are just 25-29 and are tied with the Los Angeles Clippers for third place in the Pacific Division, 15 1/2 games behind the division-leading Phoenix Suns. Golden State, the Clippers and N

<< Rangers place Shanahan on IR
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Rangers left wing Brendan Shanahan was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after an accidental on-ice hit landed him in a local hospital last weekend. The veteran forward collided with the Fly

<< Grizzlies dismal season continues
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies three-year postseason run is definitely coming to an end. They were 0-12 during their three playoff appearances and will be looking to secure the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Memph

Shevchenko, Chelsea leave Porto on level terms >>
Porto, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho left his old stomping grounds on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of his club's Round of 16 clash with FC Porto. Mourinho, who guided Porto to the 2004

Nationals' Cordero wins arbitration case >>
Viera, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero won his arbitration case and will receive $4.15 million for the upcoming season. Cordero made just $525,000 last season. This was his first year of arbitration eligib

Djokovic, Ferrer reach quarters; Stepanek wins Rotterdam opener >>
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic and sixth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer moved into the quarterfinals, while reigning champion Radek Stepanek was among Wednesday's first-round winners

Walker wins arbitration case against Padres >>
Peoria, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Infielder Todd Walker won his arbiration case against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday and will make $3.95 million for the 2007 season. Walker played in 44 games for the Padres last season after arr

Woods advances, Scott and Els out of Match Play >>
Marana, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods continued his march toward eight consecutive PGA Tour victories on Wednesday as he ousted J.J. Henry, 3 & 2, in the first round of the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Champio

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.

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