Floridmarlins Football Betting News

<< Nets try to snap long skid vs. Pacers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indiana returns home tonight after a successful three-game road trip seeking a ninth consecutive win over the New Jersey Nets. The Pacers sandwiched a loss in Boston with impressive wins in Chicago and Orlando during their

<< Top-ranked Wildcats welcome Vols to Lexington
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats put the nation's longest homecourt winning streak on the line this evening, as they welcome the Tennessee Volunteers to Lexington for SEC action at Rupp Arena. John Calipari's

<< Nittany Lions host Badgers in Big Ten brawl
University Park, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of five teams from the Big Ten Conference currently ranked in the top-25, the 19th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center in Happy Valley tonight.

<< Golden Eagles take aim at Pirates in Big East battle
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoping to snap a four-game slide, the Seton Hall Pirates take on the 15th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles in Big East Conference action tonight at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Seton Hall was a force to be

Reeling Grizzlies entertain Nuggets in Memphis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets hope to win their sixth straight road game for the first time in nearly a quarter century when they square off with the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. The Nuggets, who have the Western Conference's se

Lakers host Bobcats at Staples Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers own just three wins in their last eight games and look to pick up the tempo tonight versus the lowly Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center. The Lakers split a brief two-game road trip in Milwaukee and

Clemson suspends Jennings >>
Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clemson men's basketball coach Brad Brownell has suspended forward Milton Jennings indefinitely for academic issues. Jennings did not make the trip with the Tigers for Tuesday's game agai

MVP Gaborik leads the Rangers into New Jersey >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off an MVP performance in the All-Star Game, Marian Gaborik will lead the New York Rangers in their first game after the break as they visit the rival New Jersey Devils tonight at Prudential Center. Gaborik notched t

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.