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03/15/2010 - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Lamely fired a six-under 66 in the final round Monday to come from behind and win the rain-delayed Puerto Rico Open.
Lamely, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour, completed the event at 19- under-par 269.
The win was history-making too. Lamely became the first player since Keith Clearwater in 1987 to tee off on the 10th tee and win the title.
That was possible because of the lengthy rain delays over the first two days. The third round was finished earlier Monday and players remained in the same groups for the final round.
Lamely closed within four of third-round leader Kevin Streelman thanks to a third-round, nine-under 63 that he finished Monday morning.
In the final round, Lamely birdied 16 and 17 just after Streelman made double- bogey at the first. That turn of events gave Lamely the lead, and he never looked back from there.
Kris Blanks closed with a three-under 69 to take second at minus-17.
Steve Wheatcroft (70), Streelman (73), James Nitties (69) and Brendon de Jonge (68) shared third at 16-under-par 272. Blanks and Wheatcroft could have forced a playoff with an eagle on the par-five 18th at Trump International Golf Club, but closed with a par and a bogey respectively.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
<< Arizona, Reynolds agree to multi-year deal
Tucson, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks and third baseman Mark
Reynolds have come to terms on a three-year contract extension. The deal will
reportedly pay him $14.5 million and also includes an $11 million team option
for 201
<< Zenyatta remains atop poll, Rachel drops
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time champion mare Zenyatta extended her
advantage in the latest NTRA Thoroughbred Poll for March 15. The six-year-old
won Saturday's Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita to remain in first-
place.
<< Bogut, Roy take home NBA weekly honors
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut and
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Brandon Roy were named the Eastern and
Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending
March 1
<< UCF's Speraw will not return
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Central Florida announced on
Monday that men's basketball coach Kirk Speraw will not return next season.
"I want to thank coach Speraw for his tenure at the University of Central
Florida
Ovechkin suspended two games for "reckless" hit on Campbell >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has
been suspended two games without pay for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks
defenseman Brian Campbell.
The incident, which the NHL called "a reckless hit" in
Wizards add to midfield depth with signings >>
Kansas City, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Wizards signed midfielders
Ryan Smith and Igor Kostrov, the Major League Soccer club announced on Monday.
The team also announced that it has signed English midfielder Craig Rocastle.
"We'r
Power-ful return to IndyCar >>
Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seven months after suffering back
injuries in a practice crash at Sonoma, CA, Will Power made an impressive
comeback in the IZOD IndyCar Series by winning the inaugural Sao Paulo Indy
300 in Brazil.
Powe
Iowa fires hoops coach Lickliter >>
Iowa City, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Iowa has fired head men's
basketball coach Todd Lickliter.
The school announced the news Monday, and while Iowa athletic director Gary
Barta said he still believes Lickliter is "a trem
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.
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
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