Coyotes re-sign winger Picard

Hockey Betting Lines

07/26/2010 - Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed left wing Alexandre Picard to a one-year contract.

As per team policy, no terms of the deal were announced.

Picard was acquired by the Coyotes from Columbus on March 3 but did not appear for the team in an NHL game.

He played in nine games for the Blue Jackets before the deal and did not score.

In 67 NHL games over the last five seasons, all with Columbus, he has recorded two assists. The Blue Jackets made him the 8th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Wsuperbowl Hockey Betting News

<< Mets' C Barajas disabled, INF Hessman recalled
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have placed catcher Rod Barajas on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 25, with a strained left oblique. The veteran receiver was injured in the sixth inning of Saturday'

<< Angels option Bell, call up Kohn
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have optioned right-hander Trevor Bell to Triple-A Salt Lake and purchased the contract of pitcher Michael Kohn to take his place on the roster. Bell started Sunday's game

<< Orioles' Wigginton has suspension reduced, drops appeal
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton had his three-game suspension reduced by one game, Major League Baseball announced on Monday. Wigginton, who agreed to drop his appeal, was originally slapped with

<< Pats ink pair of second-round picks
Foxboro, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots have signed their 2010 second-round draft selections, tight end Rob Gronkowski and defensive lineman Jermaine Cunningham. Terms of the contracts were not released. Gronkowski was ta

<< Golf Course Review - The Quarry Golf Club
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS AND STATS: Course Architect: Keith Foster (1992-94). Year Opened: 1994. Location: San Antonio, Texas. Slope: 128. Rating: 72.4. Par: 71. Yardage: 6,740. Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 388 Yds 10 - Par

Packers sign second-round pick DE Neal >>
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Green Bay Packers signed their 2010 second-round pick, defensive end Mike Neal Monday. Terms of the contract were not released. Selected 56th overall, the 6-foot-3, 294-pound Neal started 23 of

Titans file lawsuit against Kiffin, USC >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans have filed a lawsuit against the University of Southern California and head coach Lane Kiffin in the wake of the hiring flap surrounding Kennedy Pola. On Saturday, USC announc

Two Drexel hoop players in trouble with the law >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drexel University has placed three male students, including basketball players Jamie Harris and Kevin Phillip, on interim suspension pending the outcome of a police investigation into a robbery

Martinez back in Red Sox lineup >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox activated catcher Victor Martinez from the 15-day disabled list Monday after a month-long absence. Martinez broke his left thumb during a June 27 game against the Giants when a foul tip

Cavs deal West, Telfair to T'Wolves for Sessions, Hollins >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded guards Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Ramon Sessions, center Ryan Hollins and a 2013 second-round draft pick. West avera

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.