D-Backs, Rockies play rubber match at Coors
Baseball Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of pitchers will make debuts with their new clubs this afternoon when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies conclude their three-game series at Coors Field.
Left-hander Doug Davis was acquired by Arizona in a six-player trade that sent Johnny Estrada and Claudio Vargas to Milwaukee. Davis was 11-11 with the Brewers last season in 34 starts with a 4.91 earned run average.
He has made just two career starts against the Rockies, and is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA. He has issued just two walks against Colorado through 13 innings.
Rodrigo Lopez, meanwhile, makes his Colorado debut after being acquired from Baltimore in January. The right-hander suffered through a poor 2006, going 9-18 in 36 games. Just 29 of those were starts as he was out of the rotation by the end of the season, finishing with a 5.90 ERA. He has lost his last six decisions overall.
Lopez has lost both of his career starts against the Diamondbacks, giving up a total of 10 runs in just 7 2/3 innings for an 11.74 ERA.
The clubs had to play two extra innings yesterday before Troy Tulowitzki doubled in the tying run and then scored the game-winner when Chris Iannetta reached on an error in the 11th, lifting Colorado past Arizona 4-3.
Arizona starter Livan Hernandez went seven solid innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four.
Jeff Francis got the start for the Rockies and surrendered only two runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four in six innings.
Todd Helton and Matt Holliday both singled to begin the 11th against Arizona closer Jose Valverde (0-1). Valverde then got Brad Hawpe to hit into a double play, but Tulowitzki drilled a double to right field which bounced off the glove of Eric Byrnes, scoring Jamey Carroll who had come into the game as pinch-runner. Iannetta followed with a sharp, bouncing grounder to third that Alberto Callaspo could not handle.
Colorado fell behind after Stephen Drew's run-scoring single off Byung-Hyun Kim (1-0) in the top half of the inning.
Drew, Byrnes and Orlando Hudson all knocked in a run for Arizona, which won the opener of the series, 8-6, on Monday. Conor Jackson went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Holliday finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Tulowitzki and Kazuo Matsui also each drove in a run for the Rockies, who won for just the fourth time in 12 games against Arizona at home.
Bench coach Jamie Quirk took over duties for manager Clint Hurdle, who was serving a one-game suspension for a spring training game incident against the San Diego Padres.
Colorado enjoys an off day on Thursday before hitting the road for three games against San Diego on Friday. Arizona, meanwhile, is in Washington on Thursday for the beginning of a four-game set.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Outside linebacker and defensive tackle were two of the Eagles' biggest need areas entering the offseason, but a trade for ex-Bill Takeo Spikes and the acquisition of former Colt Montae Reagor helped offset those respective r
<< Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If he is still available at No. 4, there is no way the
Buccaneers can pass up Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. However, if
another team trades up to snatch Johnson with one of the first three picks, it
won't be the
<< San Francisco 49ers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Niners are in major need of a No. 1 receiver after
releasing Antonio Bryant, and might have to look long and hard at multi-
talented Ohio State standout Ted Ginn, Jr. There are also secondary needs,
though the signings of
<< Green Bay Packers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With Ahman Green now a Houston Texan, the Packers have a
hole at running back that the franchise has not experienced heading into a
season since the pre-Edgar Bennett days. Head coach Mike McCarthy says he's
comfortable with
<< Atlanta Falcons 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Falcons have multiple needs on defense, and with the
No. 8 overall pick (obtained in the Matt Schaub trade) could justify selecting
any of the following players - safeties LaRon Landry (LSU) and Reggie Nelson
(Florida), t
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Panthers had glaring weaknesses at linebacker and on the offensive line last year, and though both positions should be healthier in 2007, upgrades are also needed. With top tackler Chris Draft now a member of the Rams and
New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
Pettitte's return to the Bronx rained out >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte's much anticipated return to the
Bronx will have to wait as Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain.
No makeup da
Washington Redskins 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington places little to no value on the draft, as
evidenced by the fact that it has one pick among the first 142 and has an NFL-
low five selections overall. Which isn't to say that the Redskins are without
needs, particu
Detroit Lions 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For all the speculation about the Lions taking Brady Quinn,
Calvin Johnson, or trading down for multiple picks, it would still fly in the
face of the logic if GM Matt Millen does anything other than draft Wisconsin
left tackl
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
Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.