Harvick claims Nationwide pole at Chicagoland

Autoracing Betting Lines

07/09/2010 - Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Harvick will start on the pole for Friday's Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race after turning the fastest lap in qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.

Harvick posted a lap of 177.696 m.p.h. around the one-and-a-half-mile oval for his second pole of the season and the 21st of his Nationwide Series career. He is the only driver with multiple Nationwide victories at Chicagoland, winning here in 2005 and '07.

Points leader Brad Keselowski will start on the outside pole with a qualifying lap of 177.509 m.p.h. Trevor Bayne qualified third, followed by Carl Edwards and Joey Logano, who is the defending race winner. Keselowski currently holds a 277-point advantage over Edwards.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray and Shelby Howard completed the top-10.

Danica Patrick will start 28th. Patrick was the first driver in the 47-car field to make her qualifying attempt.

Jeremy Clements, Kevin Hamlin, Brian Keselowski and Jennifer Jo Cobb failed to qualify.

The 300-mile race at Chicagoland is scheduled to start around 8:00 p.m.

Ccasion Autoracing Betting News

<< David Lee on his way to Warriors in sign-and-trade
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors have acquired forward/center David Lee in a sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks. The Warriors sent forwards Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf and a 2012 s

<< White Sox lose Peavy for season
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox will be without the services of Jake Peavy for the rest of the season after the right-hander announced Friday he will undergo surgery. Peavy has a detached latissimus dorsi m

<< Rangers emerge as winner of Lee sweepstakes
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have acquired highly sought-after pitcher Cliff Lee, along with pitcher Mark Lowe and cash considerations, from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor

<< Rangers reportedly land Lee; PC scheduled
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers are holding a press conference at 6 pm (et) to make a major announcement. According to multiple sources, including Evan Grant, who covers the team for the Dallas Morning News, the

<< Mets demote Igarashi, recall Evans
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have optioned right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to Single-A St. Lucie and recalled utility man Nick Evans from Double-A Binghamton. Igarashi was 0-1 with a 7.91 earned run average in

With Lee deal complete, Mariners continue set with Yanks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A busy day for the Seattle Mariners concludes this evening with the second test of their four-game series with the New York Yankees at Safeco Field. Seattle fans woke up this morning with rumors of left-hander Cliff Lee he

Rockies reinstate P De La Rosa from DL >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies reinstated pitcher Jorge De La Rosa from the 15-day disabled list in time to make his start against San Diego on Friday. De La Rosa, who was placed on the DL on April 27, missed the l

Tennessee dismisses one, suspends two others after bar brawl >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Tennessee football program dismissed Darren Myles Jr. and suspended Marlon Walls and Greg King indefinitely for their participation in a bar fight in Knoxville early Friday morning

Nationals option P Atilano >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals optioned rookie right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. The move was made in order for Atilano to get extra work during the All-Star break. However,

Clippers sign free agent Brian Cook >>
LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Los Angeles Clippers have signed free agent forward Brian Cook, bringing him back to the city where he began his NBA career with the Lakers.The deal was announced Friday, a day after the Clippers signed free agents Randy Foye a

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.

Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back

With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .

Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your baseball sportsbook needs.