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03/03/2009 - Signed running back Derrick Ward.

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<< Suns' Nash returns after missing three games
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash returned to the court on Tuesday vs. the Orlando Magic after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. The Suns went 2-1 without Nash during the stretch. The two

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Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets signed guard Jason Hart for the remainder of the season on Tuesday. Hart was waived on February 27 by the Los Angeles Clippers after averaging 11.1 minutes in 28 games this season. He po

<< Bucks' Redd has successful surgery
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Bucks sharpshooter Michael Redd had successful knee surgery Tuesday to repair a season-ending injury he suffered in a January 24 game against Sacramento. In the game, a 106-104 win for

<< Falcons re-sign nine players
Flowery Branch, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Falcons have re-signed tight end Justin Peelle, linebackers Coy Wire and Tony Gilbert, defensive tackle Jason Jefferson, offensive lineman Ben Wilkerson and safety Jamaal Fudge,

<< This Week in Auto Racing March 6 - 8
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After two weeks on the West Coast, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns east to one of the fastest tracks on the circuit, Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series kicks off the Atlanta

Berenson, Michigan agree to extension >>
Ann Arbor, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Michigan signed fabled hockey head coach Gordon "Red" Berenson to a one-year contract extension through the 2009-10 campaign, athletic director Bill Martin announced Tuesday. Bere

Report: Oakland, Garciaparra near deal >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics are reportedly close to signing infielder Nomar Garciaparra to a one-year contract. A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed to MLB.com on Tuesday the two parties are in the

Coast Guard calls off search for missing boaters >>
Clearwater, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Coast Guard held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to announce they have suspended the search for three missing boaters, including Oakland Raiders linebacker Victor

Columbus forward Chimera out for remainder of regular season >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jason Chimera, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair his injured groin. Chimera is expected to be sidelined for the rem

Broncos: Cutler will not be traded >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos released a statement Tuesday saying quarterback Jay Cutler will remain with the team and will not be dealt, contrary to published reports. "The Denver Broncos are not trading Jay

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.

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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