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03/22/2007 - Durham, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Duke forward Josh McRoberts declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft on Thursday.
During his sophomore season, McRoberts was Duke's second-leading scorer, averaging 13 points per game. He also led the team in rebounds (7.9 rpg.), blocks (2.5 bpg.) and field goal percentage (.502).
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that I have had here at Duke," McRoberts said. "This was a difficult decision, but I feel it is the best one for me and my family at this point in time. I will miss Duke, the coaching staff and my teammates but it has always been goal of mine to play in the NBA."
McRoberts was a second team All-ACC selection, was the only player in the NCAA to average at least 10 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 3.5 assists per game this season.
"In the past couple of days, I've had the opportunity to meet with Josh and his mother," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "We had great conversations and we are 100 percent behind his decision. Josh has been a terrific player for us for the past two years and he will be even better in the future as a professional. Based on our information, it is time for him to move on to the next level and we are ready to help him in any and every way during this process."
The annual NBA Draft will be held on June 28 in New York City.
<< British monarch to attend Kentucky Derby
London, UK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen
Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend the 133rd running of the
Kentucky Derby. This year's Run for the Roses will be held on Saturday, May 5.
This
<< Devils, Lightning try to end March malaise
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams struggling in March meet this evening at
St. Pete Times Forum, as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the New Jersey Devils in
a potential first-round playoff matchup.
The Devils are in first place in the Atlan
<< Hurricanes aim for needed win over Capitals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The well-rested Carolina Hurricanes will return to the ice
this evening, when they welcome the Washington Capitals to the RBC Center.
The Hurricanes haven't played since Saturday's lopsided win over the New
Jersey D
<< Slumping Isles face Penguins in key Atlantic matchup
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to rebound from a rare
loss during the second half of this season when they take on the New York
Islanders tonight at Nassau Coliseum.
The Penguins had won five straight contests
Is Hornish Jr. ready to defend IndyCar crown? >>
Homestead, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If Roger Penske can pull his star driver
away from his current infatuation with NASCAR, it's time for Sam Hornish Jr.
to defend his 2006 IndyCar Series crown.
Hornish Jr. won the title by the thinnes
Lane's End first of make or break races >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is a natural progression in the
stakes races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The three-year-olds on the
trail to Louisville make a few starts that slowly increase in distance to
prepare
United, Chelsea highlight FA Cup semifinal teams >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea and Manchester United, the top two
teams in the English Premier League table, highlight the four teams that have
advanced to league's Football Association Cup semifinals.
The next round of games
Santos leads by one in Madeira >>
Santa Cruz, Madeira, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricardo Santos carded a six-
under-par 66 Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead with the opening round of the
Madeira Islands Open suspended for the night.
Low clouds made play tough for th
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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In any football or basketball game (the main sports that use point spreads) there are two teams playing against each other.
Those teams, though, are rarely exactly evenly matched – meaning that typically one team has a better chance than the other to win the game. If bettors were allowed to bet on who was simply going to win the game, smart ones would obviously bet on the better team (likely winning more than 50% of the time in the process).
If winning were that easy the Las Vegas and online sportsbooks would stop taking any bets! This is where the point spread comes in: the basic function of the point spread is to balance the likelihood of each team “winning” by adjusting the final score by the point spread. After this adjustment is made you get the Against The Spread result (ATS result for short).
Let’s look at Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Most people believed the defending champ Patriots to be the better team – so if betting were simply based upon which team would win the game, an uneven majority of people would have wagered on New England. But, by using the point spread, the bookmakers adjusted the terms of the bet, evening the proposition so about half the people believed the Pats to be the smart bet, while the other half considered Philly to be the smart bet.
New England Patriots -7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The better team, called the Favorite, is expected to win the game and must “give” or “lay” points to the weaker team. The favorite is listed with a minus sign and the number of points they are favored by (e.g., New England -7)
In the case of our example, New England must not only win the game, but they must win by more than 7 points for Pats bettors to have a winning ATS result. An Eagles bettor wins his bet either if:
There was also the possibility that the final score could land exactly on the spread number (for example, the Pats winning 28-21 when -7), which is called a “push” or “no action” and a refund is then issued to bettors of both teams.
The same game with the same point spread can be considered from the weaker team’s perspective: The Underdog (Philly in the case of our example) is not expected to win the game and online football betting thus receives or “gets” points given by the stronger team. When a game is stated from the underdog’s perspective the team is listed with a plus sign and the number of points they are underdogs by:
Philadelphia Eagles +7 vs. New England Patriots
Keep in mind that Philadelphia +7 and New England -7 is the same point spread on the same game, simply stated differently. The first is from the underdog’s perspective; the later is from the favorite’s.
Not a must, but for some a mathematical approach is insightful. You can determine the ATS winner by either:
Let’s look at the actual result of Super Bowl XXXIX: New England 24 Philadelphia 21
The favorite, New England, won the game but not by more than the point spread they were favored by (7), so the ATS result was a LOSS for Pats bettors.
Looking at it from the underdog’s perspective, Philly did not win the game, but they lost by less than the point spread (7), so the ATS result was a WIN for Eagle bettors.
Mathematically considered, 24 for the favorite Pats minus 7 equals 17, which is less than the 20 the Eagles scored, so the underdog Eagles win the ATS result (or you could figure 20 plus 7 equals 27 for the Eagles, which is more than 24 for the Pats).
Emily’s boyfriend understood the point spread and wagered $100 on the Eagles at +7. The Eagles may not have gotten a Super Bowl ring, but since they won the ATS result Emily’s boyfriend cashed his bet – giving him money to take her out to a nice dinner.
And now hopefully you understand how to read point spreads, putting you one step closer to joining the fun of sports betting.
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting and World Series odds.
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