07/24/2008 - Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres signed left wing Mathieu Darche on Thursday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Darche, 31, played in 73 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting career highs with seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. Prior to last season, Darche had notched just a goal and an assist in 28 games over parts of four seasons with Columbus, Nashville and San Jose.
The 6-foot-1, 217-pounder has 165 goals and 187 assists in 440 games in the American Hockey league, including five seasons of 20-plus goals at the minor league level.
<< 49ers sign first-rounder Balmer
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers signed their
first-round draft pick, defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer, on Thursday. Per
club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
The Niners chose Balmer --
<< Halladay Inn! Jays leave O's feeling blue
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Halladay was his usual efficient self on
the hill, allowing just one run through seven innings in Toronto's 7-1 triumph
over the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of their four-game series.
Before Hallada
<< Andersen heads back to Denver
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets signed forward Chris Andersen
to an undisclosed contract Thursday.
The 6-foot-10, 228-pound versatile forward began his career with Denver in the
2001-02 campaign. After spending three seas
<< Liverpool's Leto to join Olympiakos on loan
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Liverpool's Argentinian midfielder
Sebastian Leto is set to spend next season out on loan with Greek side
Olympiakos.
The 21-year-old made four appearances for the Reds last season an
Padres reinstate Bard, recall Hampson, option Carlin and Thatcher >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres reinstated catcher
Josh Bard from the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Justin Hampson
from Triple-A Portland on Thursday.
Bard has been shelved since May 22 with a left
Royals place Gathright on DL >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals placed
outfielder Joey Gathright on the 15-day disabled list with a bone bruise in
his right shoulder and recalled outfielder Mitch Maier from Triple-A Omaha.
Gathrig
Wright State gives Brownell new six-year deal >>
Dayton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wright State University signed head men's
basketball coach Brad Brownell to a new six-year contract on Thursday, keeping
him with the Raiders through the 2013-14 season.
Brownell, the Co-Coach of the Year
Broncos' Smith announces retirement >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith
announced his retirement in a Thursday press conference, marking the end of a
12-year career as one of the most consistently productive receivers in the
NFL.
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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.
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