Report: Edge wants out of the desert
Football Betting Lines
11/19/2008 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite the fact the Cardinals are sitting atop the NFC West and inching closer to their first division crown since 1975, running back Edgerrin James is unhappy over losing his starting job and reportedly wants out of Arizona.
According to the Arizona Republic, James, through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, asked the organization for his release two weeks ago, and the Cardinals have refused.
James, the fourth overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, was benched on November 2 at St. Louis in favor of rookie Tim Hightower and has carried the ball just three times for five yards during Arizona's three-game winning streak.
The Miami-Florida product inked a four-year, $30 million deal in 2006 and has rushed for 385 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season.
Arizona is 7-3 this season and holds a four-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers in the West.
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said cornerback Adam Jones has been reinstated from his suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but the player must miss two more games before coming
<< Regier rejoins Blues
Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues recalled forward Steve
Regier from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, it
was announced on Wednesday.
Regier, 24, made his Blues debut on Nov. 16 vs. Montrea
<< 'Jackets recall Dorsett
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets recalled right
winger Derek Dorsett from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse
Crunch, it was announced on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old Dorsett has one goal and on
<< Boston recalls Lashoff from Providence
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins recalled defenseman Matt
Lashoff from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on
Wednesday to fill the roster vacancy created when they placed defenseman
Andrew
<< Yao out against Mavericks
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will not
play in Wednesday's contest against Dallas because of a left foot ailment.
Yao left in the fourth quarter of Monday's 100-89 win over Oklahoma City
because
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina is reportedly retiring after 18 seasons in the major leagues. According to a report on foxsports.com, Mussina has decided to call it a career and will official
Blues' D Johnson has ACL surgery >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues announced Wednesday that
defenseman Erik Johnson underwent season-ending surgery for a torn anterior
cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Dr. Michael Stuart, chief medical officer
Oakland signs RHP Schroder >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran right-handed reliever Chris Schroder,
who spent the previous three seasons with Washington, signed a major league
contract Wednesday with the Oakland Athletics.
During his career, a span of 62
Time for Roy, Montreal to officially bury the hatchet >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A lot has been made of the way legendary NHL
goaltender Patrick Roy left the Montreal Canadiens over the years.
After playing in 551 games with the Habs from 1984-95, capturing two Stanley
Cups, two Conn
Morgan, Michigan State defeat IPFW >>
Fort Wayne, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raymar Morgan scored 22 points and hauled in
seven rebounds to lead fifth-ranked Michigan State past IPFW, 70-59.
Kalin Lucas added 17 points and doled out three assists for the Spartans
(2-0), who be
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.
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