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07/07/2010 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano has pulled out of the Home Run Derby at next week's All-Star festivities in Anaheim because of a back injury, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
Cano, who has hit 16 home runs this season, was initially confirmed by Major League Baseball as one of the first six participants for the event to be held on Monday, the day before the 81st All-Star Game at Angel Stadium.
According to the New York Daily News, Cano has been receiving treatment for a couple of days on his back, though the injury had not been previously reported.
Both New York manager Joe Girardi and hitting coach Kevin Long had expressed their reluctance over the 27-year-old's participation in the event.
Cano is hitting .337, good for fourth best in the American League, and has knocked in 55 runs through 83 games for the Yankees, who wrap up a three-game set in Oakland on Wednesday.
<< Puyol's header powers Spain past Germany and into final
Durban, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carles Puyol's 73rd-minute header was
enough for Spain to claim a 1-0 win over Germany at Moses Mabhida Stadium on
Wednesday in a FIFA World Cup semifinal.
The win allows Spain to reach its first
<< Pirates acquire P Gallagher from Padres
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired reliever Sean
Gallagher from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday for cash considerations.
The right-handed Gallagher has spent four seasons in the majors and in the
2010 cam
<< Report: Former Sharks G Nabokov heading to Russia
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Multiple media outlets are reporting that
former San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has signed to play in Russia.
TSN.ca is reporting Nabokov signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental
Hock
<< Fish rolls; Querrey, Ram upset in Newport
Newport, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded American Mardy Fish booked a
spot in the quarterfinals, while top-seeded 2009 runner-up Sam Querrey and
defending champion Rajeev Ram were second-round upset victims Wednesday at the
Hall of Fame Te
Warriors sign top pick Udoh >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors signed first-round
pick Ekpe Udoh on Wednesday. Terms of the contract for the sixth-overall
selection in last month's draft were not disclosed.
The team also announced that
Sabres bring back Lalime for one year >>
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres agreed to terms with
backup goaltender Patrick Lalime on a one-year deal on Wednesday.
Lalime, who has spelled starter Ryan Miller for each of the last two seasons,
went 4-8-2 with
Yonkers Trot has eight for Saturday >>
Yonkers, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eight three-year-old trotters are set for
Saturday night's $573,770 Yonkers Trot, the first leg of trotting's Triple
Crown. The one-mile race has a scheduled post-time of 10 p.m. (et) at
Yonkers
Report: Bulls land Boozer >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls and free agent power forward
Carlos Boozer have reportedly agreed to a five-year contract.
The Chicago Tribune is citing two league sources on the pact, which ESPN
reports is for $80 mi
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
| The Bubble Breakdown | |||
| CONFERENCE | LOCKS | SHOULD BE INS | AT-LARGES TAKEN (assuming no auto bid outlier) |
| ACC Betting Odds | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Big East Betting Odds | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Big Ten Betting Odds | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Big 12 Betting Odds | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Pac-10 Betting Odds | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| SEC Betting Odds | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| MVC Betting Odds | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| MWC Betting Odds | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 28 | 5 | 25 |
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com
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