Edoardo Molinari in top 20 of world rankings

Golf Betting Lines

07/12/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edoardo Molinari collected his first European Tour win Sunday at the Scottish Open and in the process, moved inside the top 20 of the world rankings.

Molinari moved up 22 places to 19th this week.

Tiger Woods, who heads to St. Andrews Thursday as a two-time British Open champion at the Old Course, stays in first, followed by Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood.

Steve Stricker's impressive victory Sunday at the John Deere Classic didn't move him anywhere in the rankings. Stricker remained in fourth, while Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey once again completed the top 10.

U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell leapt up two places to 11th, while the injured Anthony Kim and Martin Kaymer both dropped one. Robert Allenby and Padraig Harrington kept the 14th and 15th spots, respectively.

Justin Rose and Camilo Villegas came in Nos. 16 and 17. Zach Johnson moved up one to 18, followed by Molinari and Retief Goosen, who sank two to No. 20.

Players Champion Tim Clark fell out of the top 20.

Cbssportslinr Golf Betting News

<< Duquesne names two coordinators
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Saint Francis (Pa.) football coach Dave Opfar was named Duquesne's new defensive coordinator and Niel Loebig was elevated from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, Dukes coach Jerry Schmitt annou

<< NL Pitcher Gets All-Star Snub
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For those of you still wrapped up in Strasburg- mania, I have to regretfully inform you that he's not the pitcher referred to in the above headline. As impressive as the Nationals' rookie has been, and as much as

<< Two horse race continues in NTRA Poll
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following a one week break from voting in the NTRA National Poll, the same two horses remain on top of the tabulation. Champion mare Zenyatta holds a narrow lead over four-year-old colt Quality Road.

<< Young replaces Beltre on AL All-Star team
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young became the latest injury replacement for the All-Star Game, named Monday to take the spot of Boston's Adrian Beltre on the American League roster. American Le

<< Creamer up to No. 7 in world rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paula Creamer finally earned her first major championship on Sunday at the U.S. Women's Open and the victory moved her back into the top 10 of the world rankings. Creamer vaulted up six places to se

Serra exits Bastad >>
Bastad, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eighth-seeded Frenchman Florent Serra was a first-round upset victim Monday at the Swedish Open. Italian Potito Starace stifled Serra 6-2. 6-2 on the red clay at Bastad Tennis Stadium. In other first-ro

Hanescu ousted in Stuttgart >>
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eighth seed and 2009 runner-up Victor Hanescu was an opening-round upset victim Monday at the Mercedes Cup tennis event. The Romanian Hanescu was knocked out by Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 7-6 (7-4), 6

Chivas USA's Braun earns MLS Player of Week >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA forward Justin Braun was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 15 of the 2010 season on Monday. Braun scored both of his club's goals in its 2-0 win over th

Three advance in Prague >>
Prague, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A trio of unseeded women, including Slovenian Polona Hercog, posted first-round wins Monday at the $220,000 Prague Open tennis event. Hercog humbled German Tatjana Malek 6-4, 6-2 on the red clay at

Henry to New York exactly what MLS needs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In one of the worst-kept secrets in soccer, French striker Thierry Henry will be announced as Red Bull New York's second designated player at a press conference on Thursday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. What

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.

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.