Nats turn to Strasburg in hopes of stopping slide versus Reds

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Who knows what sort of goodies Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg received yesterday for his 22nd birthday. The rookie will try to give Washington a gift this evening, when he attempts to end his club's four- game skid in the third contest of a four-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The top pick of the 2009 draft sandwiched the All-Star break with a pair of victories, besting San Francisco on July 9 with six innings of one-run ball before holding the Marlins to just four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings Friday in Florida. However, he needed 34 pitches to get out of the first inning in Miami.

"It's three, four times now where the first inning [Strasburg's] been up in the thirties in pitches, which makes it agonizing for everybody because we want him to be able to go six, seven innings," said Nationals manager Jim Riggleman. "When you throw that many [pitches] in the first it becomes unlikely, but as Stephen has done, he just got tougher and tougher as the game went along."

Strasburg struck out seven Marlin hitters, giving him 68 punchouts over 48 2/3 innings to go along with a 4-2 record and 2.03 earned run average. He will face the Reds for the first time.

The Nationals haven't won since Strasburg's last start. They were blanked in their first two games after Friday's victory and lost Monday's opener with the Reds, 7-2. They then fell behind by seven runs last night before making a game of it but falling short in an 8-7 setback.

Down 8-1, the Nats put together a six-run sixth following a near three-hour rain delay during the fifth inning. Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer and Mike Morse added a pinch-hit three-run triple in the frame.

"I thought we were right in the game," Washington's Ian Desmond told his team's website. "We were a couple of at-bats away from taking the lead or tying it."

Nationals starter Luis Atilano was limited to just four innings because of the weather and gave up five runs on five hits with three walks. Cincinnati's Mike Leake, meanwhile, ran his unbeaten streak to five starts after throwing five innings of one-run ball.

Joey Votto hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Leake also drove in a run for the Reds, who have won four of five since the All-Star break to remain a half-game behind the Cardinals for first place in the National League Central. St. Louis has won seven in a row.

"It was close, but we pulled it out, and it was a nice win after a long break from the game," Leake told his club's site. "When you've got the ball in the hands of our seventh, eighth, ninth-inning guys, you've got to put all your trust in them."

The Reds haven't had any trouble putting their trust in Bronson Arroyo, who will look to win a fourth straight start this evening after extending his run Friday versus the Rockies.

He bested Colorado with seven innings of two-run, five-hit ball, improving to 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA over his last six starts and 10-4 with a 3.96 ERA overall this year.

The 33-year-old righty, who has allowed more than two runs just once over his last six outings, is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA in seven career starts versus the Nationals. He did not get a decision when he faced them on June 6, despite giving up just two runs over eight innings of his team's 5-4 victory.

The Reds took two of three in Washington from June 4-6, but it was the Nationals who took three of four at Cincinnati last season.

Virtuslvegas Baseball Betting News

<< Rockies seek to build off rout of Marlins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francis showed last night that he still belongs in Colorado's rotation. That hasn't been an issue for Jason Hammel for most of this season. Coming off his first loss in nearly two months, Hammel will try to pitch the

<< Braves try to stay ahead of Padres in clash of division leaders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - By drawing first blood in this three-game series with the San Diego Padres last night, the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves again own the league's best record. Atlanta will try to keep its grip on that accolade

<< Pirates, Brewers to go back it at after slugfest
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though it went from a laugher to a nail-biter, the Pittsburgh Pirates were still able to snap their five-game losing streak to Milwaukee last night. Another offensive outburst might be needed, given Zach Duke's history agains

<< Tigers aim to snap seven-game slide, avoid sweep versus the Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers hope to put an end to their seven-game losing streak and salvage the finale of a three-game series tonight versus the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. The Tigers, who were swept in four games at Cleveland

<< Dodgers try to avoid seventh straight loss in finale with Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers won their division after being at least six games back this late in the season was 1983, when the club battled back from a 6 1/2-game deficit to win the NL West. Los Angeles is current

Orioles reinstate Gonzalez from DL in roster shuffle >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles announced a series of moves Wednesday, including the reinstatement of reliever Mike Gonzalez from the 60-day disabled list. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list in April wit

Hemphill returns to Delaware coaching staff >>
Newark, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former University of Delaware football graduate assistant Lyle Hemphill has returned to the staff as its new cornerbacks coach, head coach K.C. Keeler announced today. Hemphill, a Delaware native, served on the

Parker to return to Clemson football team >>
Clemson, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Parker announced Wednesday he will return to Clemson to play for its football team for the 2010 season. Parker, who helped Clemson's baseball team reach the final four of the 2010 College World Series

2010 FBS Positional Analysis: Defensive Linemen >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - They are literally the first line of defense, the one group of players that controls the tempo of the game more than any other. They can completely negate skilled offensive performers with their tenacious pla

Brewers broadcaster Uecker nears return to booth >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Wednesday that legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker will make his return to the booth on Friday, when the team begins a three-game series versus Washington. The 75-year-ol

2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds

The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.

Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”

“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”

MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:

Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:

Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1

Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17

Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1

Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1

Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1

Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1

Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5

Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1

Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1

Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50

Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1

Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1

Best Animated Feature Film:

"Cars": 1/3

"Happy Feet": 2/1

"Monster House": 20/1

Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:

"Water" – Canada: 22/1

"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2

"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1

"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1

"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10

Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:

"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5

"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2

"Helmer & Son": 5/2

"The Saviour": 6/1

"West Bank Story": 7/2

Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:

"Babel": 7/4

"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1

"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20

"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4

"The Queen": 5/4

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

"Babel": 11/4

"The Departed": 1/2

"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2

"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10

"The Queen": 20/1

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10

Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1

Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1

Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5

Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1

Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1

Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1

Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8

Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1

Film To Win Most Oscars:

Dreamgirls: 2/3

Pans Labyrinth: 6/5

The Departed: 6/1

The Queen: 11/1

Babel: 15/1

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1

Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1


Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

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.