07/04/2009 - Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eclipse Award winning jockey Mike Smith has regained the mount on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Smith has a two- race commitment to ride the gelding starting with the West Virginia Derby on Saturday, August 1.
Smith, who rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes, replaces Calvin Borel who was relieved of his duties when he could not commit to ride the three- year-old on August 1. Smith won the Eclipse Award as champion jockey in 1993 and 1994.
"I am looking for a rider that will fit my horse best," trainer Chip Woolley said on Friday. On Saturday, Woolley indicated that an announcement would be made Sunday morning.
Borel lost the mount on Mine That Bird because he agreed to ride Warrior's Reward in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on the same day as the West Virginia Derby. The Louisiana native has been the regular jockey for Warrior's Reward.
Following the Kentucky Derby victory, Borel switched to the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes. Borel won the Preakness with the filly and then regained the mount on Mine That Bird for the Belmont Stakes. Borel and the gelding finished third in the final jewel of racing's Triple Crown. Smith picked up the mount on Mine That Bird for the Preakness and finished second, a length behind Rachel Alexandra.
After the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, Mine That Bird's schedule of races will be the Travers at Saratoga on Saturday, August 29 and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, November 7 with the possibility of a race between the Travers and Breeders' Cup.
<< Woodward's ninth-inning hit sends M's past Sox
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Woodward knocked in the deciding run in
the ninth inning as Seattle clipped Boston, 3-2, in the middle
contest of three at Fenway Park.
Russell Branyan added a pair of RBI for the M
<< Owings homers, pitches Reds over Cardinals
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Micah Owings tossed 6 2/3 strong innings
and hit his third home run of the year, lifting Cincinnati to a 5-2 victory
against St. Louis in the second of three games between these NL Central
rivals.
<< McGehee misses cycle, but his big day helps Brewers crush Cubs
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey McGehee finished with four hits, a double
short of a cycle, and drove in five to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to an 11-2
win over the Chicago Cubs.
Mike Cameron was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and
<< Nats rally in the eighth off Braves bullpen
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn hit his 300th career home run and
drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single during a four-run eighth, as
Washington topped Atlanta, 5-3, halting the Braves' season-high win streak at
five ga
Yi shoots 61 for Jamie Farr lead >>
Sylvania, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Korea's Eunjung Yi fired a 10-under 61 and
took the third-round lead Saturday at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Yi holed out from the fairway for an eagle at No. 10 and collected eight
birdies in a flaw
McNair found dead >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens
quarterback Steve McNair was found dead Saturday. He was 36.
At a brief press conference Saturday, Nashville police department public
affairs manager Don Aaron con
Nationals recall Bergmann; designate Colome for assignment >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals recalled
right-hander Jason Bergmann from Triple-A Syracuse and designated reliever
Jesus Colome for assignment following Saturday's 5-3 win over the Braves.
Bergmann
Briscoe takes Watkins Glen pole for second straight year >>
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Briscoe won the pole at Watkins Glen
International for the second year in a row after dominating Saturday's
qualifying for the Camping World GP at the Glen.
Briscoe posted a new track reco
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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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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