11/10/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baseball Writers Association of America will continue to dole out their postseason awards on Tuesday, when the National League's Cy Young Award winner will be announced.
San Francisco righty Tim Lincecum figures to be the front runner after an impressive second season that saw him win 18 games for the 72-win Giants. He also led the majors in strikeouts with 265 and was second in the NL with a 2.62 earned run average.
Lincecum, the 10th overall pick by the Giants in the 2006 draft, has already collected some hardware this offseason, winning both the Players Choice and Sporting News NL pitcher-of-the-year awards.
Should Lincecum win on Tuesday, he would join lefty Mike McCormick (1967) as the franchise's only Cy Young winners.
Lincecum's main competition will come from the 2006 winner of this award, Arizona righty Brandon Webb, who was 22-7 with an 3.30 ERA. Webb won his first nine starts of the year, but endured a stretch from May 21-June 22 that saw him win just two of seven starts.
However, he won his next eight decisions after that and seemed well on his way to a second Cy Young Award. But he split his next six starts after that, likely costing him a chance at the award.
CC Sabathia, the AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, should also get some recognition after going 11-2 with a miniscule 1.85 ERA in 17 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers after being acquired from the Cleveland Indians. He also led the NL with seven complete games and tied for the league lead with three shutouts.
Of course, though, his chances are hurt by the fact that he pitched just over a half of the season in the Senior Circuit.
Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge and New York Mets lefty Johan Santana also figure to get some consideration.
<< NFL Inactives (Monday, November 10, 2008)
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The following is a list of inactive players
for tonight's NFL game.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS, 8:30 P.M. (ET)
49ers - 3rd QB Jamie Martin, CB Reggie Smith, S Dashon Goldson, LB Ahmad
Broo
<< Juan Encarnacion files for free agency
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Attempting to recover from a career-
threatening injury, Juan Encarnacion was the only player to file for free
agency Monday.
It is unknown if the former Cardinals outfielder will be able to
<< Phils re-sign veteran P Eyre
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed
veteran reliever Scott Eyre to a one-year, $2 million contract extension on
Monday.
The left-handed Eyre, 36, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in exchange
<< Devils place D Martin on IR
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Paul
Martin on injured reserve Monday.
The 27-year-old Martin has missed the last four games with upper body
soreness. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound rearguard has
Jets bring back CB Law >>
Culver City, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Jets reportedly signed free
agent cornerback Ty Law to a one-year contract Monday.
According to the NFL Network, Law, who was previously with the Jets, will be
in uniform for Thursday nigh
Dye among six inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame >>
St. Augustine, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Famed golf course architect Pete Dye was
among six people inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame Monday.
Dye's courses have hosted major championships, PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events,
Ryder Cups and
Duke rolls to season-opening victory >>
Durham, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Singler notched a double-double with 19
points and 10 rebounds, while Nolan Smith took over for Greg Paulus with 15
points, as eighth-ranked Duke blitzed Presbyterian, 80-49, in the opening
round
Ovechkin paces Caps over Lightning >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Ovechkin registered a goal and an
assist, as the Washington Capitals doubled up the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2, at
the Verizon Center.
Tom Poti, Eric Fehr and Mike Green also scored for the Capital
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 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.
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