Bodine tops in truck qualifying at Chicagoland

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/27/2010 - Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Bodine will start on the pole for Friday's EnjoyIllinois.com 225 Camping World Truck Series race after posting the fastest lap in qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.

Bodine, the last driver to make his qualifying attempt in the 38-truck field, set a new track qualifying record at Chicagoland with a lap of 173.840 m.p.h. It was Bodine's second pole of the season and the seventh of his Truck Series career.

The series used its recently revised qualifying format at Chicagoland, with Friday's final practice speeds determining the qualifying order. The slowest truck went first, and the fastest, which was Bodine, came out last. The new format was first used last month at Pocono.

Austin Dillon claimed the outside pole with a lap of 173.650 m.p.h.

James Buescher qualified third, while Kyle Busch, the defending race winner, took the fourth spot. Busch also won last week's truck event at Bristol.

Johnny Sauter was fifth, followed by Shelby Howard, Ron Hornaday Jr., Aric Almirola, Narain Karthikeyan and Justin Lofton.

Johnny Chapman and John Jackson failed to qualify.

The 225-mile race at Chicagoland is scheduled to start shortly after 9:00 p.m. (et).

Diamondclubcasnio Autoracing Betting News

<< Stakhovsky, Istomin land in New Haven finale
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ninth-seeded Sergiy Stakhovsky was an easy semifinal winner while 15th-seeded Denis Istomin battled to a three-set win Friday to reach the final at the $750,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final hardcou

<< Quagliarella joins Juve on loan
Turin, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juventus announced on Friday that the club has signed Italy international striker Fabio Quagliarella on loan from Napoli. Juve will pay Napoli $5.8 million to take Quagliarella on loan for the upcoming

<< Simao calls it quits on Portugal career
Lisbon, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa announced on Friday that his international career has come to an end. In a letter to the Portuguese Football Federation, Simao stated that he was retiring for "personal r

<< X-rays on hand of Colts LB Brackett negative
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett will not face significant time off, after X-rays taken on his right hand were negative. The Indy Star reported on Friday that a source close to the

<< Canada Basketball sets roster for Worlds
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Canada Basketball announced Friday its final 12-man roster for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The roster includes NBA players: Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat and Andy Rautins of the New York Knicks.

Baltimore P Johnson reinstated from 60-day DL >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles reinstated pitcher Jim Johnson from the 60-day disabled list on Friday. Johnson has been on the 60-day DL since May 28, and hasn't pitched since April 30 against Boston due to right

United, Chivas square off at The HDC >>
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United and Chivas USA square off in a battle of Major League Soccer bottom-feeders on Sunday night at The Home Depot Center. Both teams sit at the bottom of their respective conference tables w

Braves recall Kimbrel, option Minor >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves have recalled pitcher Craig Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned pitcher Mike Minor to their Gulf Coast League affiliate. Kimbrel has made eight relief appearances this season, go

Real Madrid ready to dethrone Barca in La Liga >>
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid had an incredible season last year, but still finished three points behind Barcelona in Spain's La Liga. The nine-time Champions League winner spent nearly $400 million last offseason, but n

Rams WR Avery out for season with torn ACL >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery will miss the entire 2010 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Avery, who departed after recording two catches for 48 yards in th

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.

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. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.