BYU puts lengthy home winning streak on line vs. Air Force

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

01/27/2007 - Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The BYU Cougars put the nation's third-longest home winning streak on the line today as they battle the 16th-ranked Air Force Falcons in Mountain West Conference action from the Marriott Center.

Trailing only Gonzaga and Air Force, BYU has strung together 26 straight victories in the Marriott Center, with the most recent win in the building coming on January 16 against Wyoming in an 89-81 decision. Since then, BYU has split a pair of road tests, losing to Colorado State by 12 points and then taking out New Mexico in Albuquerque on Wednesday night, 70-49. With the triumph against UNM, the Cougars are now 14-6 on the year and 4-2 in conference, compared to a streaking Falcons squad that is already 19-2 and leads the MWC with six wins in seven tries.

Air Force, owner of a 27-game win streak at Clune Arena, topped TCU on Tuesday night in an easy 72-39 performance, marking the team's second straight win and the 15th in the last 16 outings.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, both teams won on their own floor a season ago, which didn't help Air Force gain any ground against the Cougars who now hold a commanding 43-12 edge.

In addition to holding TCU to a woeful 5-of-19 shooting from the field in the first half and 32.6 percent from the floor overall earlier this week, the Falcons themselves knocked down a sizzling 61.9 percent from the field and 7-of-14 behind the three-point line in cruising to the win. The academy put a total of 15 players on the floor in the blowout, with Dan Nwaelele posting a team-high 13 points, while Matt McCraw and Tim Anderson tallied 11 points apiece. With four players having started every game this season, the Falcons generally know what they are going to get from night to night, although Jacob Burtschi (14.3 ppg), 5.6 rpg) failed to score in double figures in the win over TCU. Then again, he really didn't have to seeing as how the outcome was never in doubt. Nwaelele, a 50.5 percent shooter from three-point range, leads the squad with his 15.0 ppg and even though the team has just two losses on the campaign, they are still seventh in the conference in scoring with 72.6 ppg. However, as has been the case in recent years, the defense for the Falcons is unmatched, limiting opponents to a scant 55.2 ppg to again place near the top of the category on a national scale.

New Mexico was no match for the Cougars the last time out, especially with Lobo star guard J.R. Giddens aggravating an injury that had him out of the lineup for a few games earlier this month. Jonathan Tavernari came off the bench to tally 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field for the visiting team, while Trent Plaisted and Jimmy Balderson chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. BYU shot better than 50 percent from the field and made have of its 18 attempts beyond the arc, all while holding the Lobos to just 37.7 percent from the floor and 4-of-16 out on the perimeter. In their home games this season the Cougars have completely crushed the competition with a scoring average of 81.8 ppg, while limiting foes to a mere 62.8 ppg. Keena Young has tallied 16.6 ppg in those meetings, adding a team-high 7.6 rpg as well, while Plaisted contributes 11.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg. Overall, BYU is ranked first in the conference in scoring with 77.6 ppg and is tops in field goal defense, permitting opponents to convert 42.2 percent from the floor. Although the squad doesn't have one dominant man on the inside to clean the glass, Young, Plaisted and Lee Cummard (5.8 rpg) have done well enough to get the team to 38.5 rpg, tops in the conference entering the weekend.

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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.

MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect

LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.

Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.

Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.