Blazers lose in Sacramento

Basketball Betting Lines

02/03/2012 - Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Thornton returned from a four-game absence and scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Sacramento Kings past the Portland Trail Blazers, 95-92.

Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford both missed three-pointers in the final 10 seconds to seal the win for Sacramento.

John Salmons netted 19 points, Tyreke Evans had 18 and Jason Thompson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

"It was a great crowd effort tonight and we played hard," Evans said.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds for Portland, which moved to 3-9 away from home compared to an impressive 10-1 mark at the Rose Garden.

"We've had every opportunity the last (couple) road games and we're finding ways to lose it," Crawford said.

Aldridge's layup tied the contest at 88 with 3:09 to play in the game, but the Kings reeled off the next five points.

Salmons' jumper gave the Kings a two-point lead, and a bit later, following an Evans turnover, Thornton made the play of the night as he blocked Felton's layup on a 2-on-1 Portland fastbreak. The ball bounced off of Felton, giving the ball back to Sacramento.

Thompson's layup made it 92-88 and Thornton hit 1-of-2 from the line on Sacramento's next trip down the floor to make it a five-point game with 1:12 left.

It appeared that Evans' jumper -- which made it 95-90 -- from the top of the key with 19.2 seconds left sealed the win for the Kings, but Aldridge's layup and Wallace's steal gave the Blazers one final shot with 9.9 to play.

Felton's three-pointer from the left wing clanked off the rim, but Wesley Matthews corralled the offensive rebound and dished to Crawford on the right wing. His trey with 0.9 left was off the mark as well.

Aldridge netted 19 points in the opening half as the Blazers took a 56-47 lead at halftime.

Portland shot just 25 percent and scored just 13 points in the third as Sacramento took a 71-69 advantage into the fourth.

Game Notes

Nicolas Batum missed his second straight game with a bone bruise on his left knee...Portland has lost four straight road games...Felton finished with 15 points and 10 assists.

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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.

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.