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06/12/2009 - Flowery Branch, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Falcons have officially cut ties with suspended quarterback Michael Vick, who was released from prison last month and is serving the remainder of his sentence related to a dogfighting ring in home confinement.
"The Atlanta Falcons today relinquished their contractual rights to quarterback Michael Vick," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement.
"Michael remains suspended by the NFL. However, in the event NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decides to reinstate Michael, we feel his best opportunity to re-engage his football career would be at another club.
"Our entire organization sincerely hopes that Michael will continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life, and we wish him well in that regard."
Vick was released from a Kansas prison May 20 and returned to his home in Virginia. He spent 19 months at the federal prison after surrendering to authorities in November 2007. In August 2007, he pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a dogfighting operation conducted at a house owned by Vick in Surry County, Virginia.
Shortly following Vick's guilty plea, Goodell imposed an indefinite suspension on Vick, who is expected to ask for reinstatement in the near future.
After Vick was released from prison, the Falcons issued a statement saying that he would not return to the team if reinstated by the league. Friday's announcement was a mere formality.
Vick was the face of the Falcons franchise after his selection as the top overall draft choice in 2001, and was once the NFL's highest-paid player. He was a three-time Pro Bowl pick and twice led the Falcons to the playoffs, including a trip to the NFC title game after the 2004 season.
Following his home confinement, Vick will be released from federal custody but will remain on probation for three years.
Vick did not admit to killing any dogs personally or gambling on the fights. The summary of facts accompanying the plea agreement said Vick was aware four dogs were killed in 2002 and six to eight dogs were killed as a result of the "collective efforts" of Vick and two of his co-defendants.
<< Astros send Paulino to DL, recall Wright
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros placed right-handed
pitcher Felipe Paulino on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained
right groin.
Paulino was forced to leave Sunday's 6-4 win over Pittsburgh in th
<< Mets place P Maine on DL
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets placed pitcher John
Maine on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder fatigue after Thursday's
extra-inning loss to the Phillies. The move is retroactive to June 7.
Maine was bl
<< Fisher's clutch treys have Lakers on brink of championship
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Fisher sank a pair of clutch three-
pointers, one to force overtime and another in the extra session that gave Los
Angeles the lead for good, as the Lakers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit
to tak
<< Gillespie leads by one in British Columbia
Surrey, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Gillespie fired a seven-under 65 Thursday
to take a one-shot lead after one round of the City of Surrey Invitational.
Gillespie, a two-time Canadian Tour winner, is off to a rough start this
season
Nationals pay a visit to the Trop >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Matt Garza gets another chance to get the
now-.500 Tampa Bay Rays back into the American League chase tonight when they
open a three-game interleague series with the lowly Washington Nationals at
Tropicana Field.
Hanson gets another shot in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tommy Hanson takes a second crack at trying to earn his
first victory in the majors tonight, when the highly-regarded pitcher takes
the mound for the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game interleague
series with the B
Astros start series with Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams trying to build momentum send out a pair of
.500 pitchers tonight when the Houston Astros travel to Phoenix for the first
game of a National League series with the host Arizona Diamondbacks.
Houston, which
Yanks, Mets limp into latest Subway Series >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After coming up short once more against one of their
biggest rivals on Thursday, the New York Yankees hope to turn their recent
fortunes around when they return home to face another hated foe, the
crosstown-rival New York Met
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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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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