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"That was a nice way to start off the tournament for sure," said Geiberger. "I played solid today. I missed a little birdie putt on the third hole and I got a little pissed off and made sure I made some the rest of the way."
This is reminiscent of 2004 as Geiberger came into that event needing a big paycheck to earn his PGA Tour card for the following year. He won that tournament and now, 144th on the money list, needs a strong finish in 2006 if he is to play the PGA Tour in 2007.
At the par-four sixth, Rollins knocked his approach close and tapped in the short birdie putt. He made it two in a row at seven when his 11-foot birdie try found the bottom of the cup. Rollins closed out his front nine in style when his second at the par-five hole missed the putting surface. He chipped to eight feet and ran home the birdie putt to make the turn at five-under-par 31.
The second nine featured much of the same for Rollins, who finished 11th on this year's United States Ryder Cup team. He holed a 15-foot birdie putt at No. 11, then took advantage of par fives on the back nine. Rollins two-putted for birdies at both holes and walked to the par-three 17th tee at seven-under par.
"You can't win today, so I knew that even if I made par on 18, I was still in good position," said Rollins, who won this year's B.C. Open for his second tour victory. "I was disappointed with the tee shot on 17, but I didn't let it get to me."
Watney tallied one more birdie on his first nine, a 50-footer at the 16th.
"I putted very well, made some early so it was nice," said Watney. "Putting has kind of been holding me back lately, so it was nice to see some putts fall."
St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bradley Dredge only managed a one- under 71 on Saturday at Kingsbarns, but it was enough to stay in the lead after three rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He finished 54 holes at 13-under-par 202 and is one ahead with one round to go. Padraig Harrington bogeyed his 16th and 17th holes on Saturday, but birdied 18 to polish off a three-under 68 at Carnoustie. He is alone in second place at minus-12.
American Edward Loar shot a two-under 70 at St. Andrews and is alone in third place at nine-under-par 206. Ernie Els and Vijay Singh both played Carnoustie on Saturday with the South African posting an even-par 71 to Singh's 72. The pair is knotted at minus-eight.
Dredge broke into red figures for the first time Saturday with a birdie at the par-five third. He parred his next five holes, but dropped a shot at the par- five ninth.
The Welshman reclaimed the lost stroke at the very next hole with a birdie at 10. Once again, Dredge went on a par run, which was a good score, with five in a row.
"I take some confidence from my victory in Switzerland and I'm looking forward to tomorrow," said Dredge. "I will be playing with Padraig Harrington and he's a good guy, so I will enjoy that."
The Irishman sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the 12th and converted a short birdie putt at 14. He was cruising up the leaderboard, but problems hit late in his round.
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Woods Place Leaving Crush Of Par-five
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Round Woods Smash Host Over No.
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Sunday Recalls Kelly Of Beginning ON The Back
Harrington Week Target Claim Against Anthony Wall >>
Week Houston Sweep Name Into Thursday >>
Birdie Putt Leads Open Into Player >>
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.
It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
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