Votto, Reds increase NL Central lead with win over Brewers

Baseball Betting Lines

08/31/2010 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto doubled twice and drove in three runs, as the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds handled the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-4, in the second of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Jonny Gomes hit a two-run homer and Scott Rolen contributed a pair of doubles and two RBI for Cincinnati, which has won three straight and five of its last six overall. The Reds increased their lead to seven games ahead of second- place St. Louis after the Cardinals lost to Houston on Tuesday.

Sam LeCure (2-4) earned the win for allowing only one hit and a walk over two innings of relief work. Reds starter Aaron Harang, who was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, yielded three runs -- one earned -- on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in four-plus innings. The right-hander had been out of the rotation since July 1 with lower back spasms.

Reds Pitching phenom Aroldis Chapman, who was promoted from Triple-A Louisville earlier on Tuesday, made his big league debut in the eighth and retired the side in order. The left-hander topped out at 102 m.p.h. on the radar gun.

Fielder's bloop single in the top of the first plated Corey Hart, who singled and moved to second on a groundout to give the Brewers the early lead.

In the bottom half, Drew Stubbs drew a leadoff walk and Chris Valaika singled. Votto then laced a double down the right-field line that scored both to put Cincinnati in front, 2-1.

Milwaukee stranded a pair of runners in the second, and Hart bounced into a 5-4-3 double play with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth to squelch another threat.

Rolen led off the home half with a double, and Gomes followed with a two-run shot to right for a 4-1 game.

The Brewers got two back in the fifth to cut the deficit to one. Harang permitted the first two hitters to reach via a single and walk, ending his outing. LeCure came in and retired the first batter, but gave up a single to Chris Dickerson that scored both runners with the aid of an error by the left fielder Gomes.

Votto's bloop run-scoring double to right in the home fifth made it 5-3, and the hosts broke it open with three more in the sixth. Paul Janish roped an RBI double to left and later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Rolen brought in two more with a double to center to build the hosts' lead to 8-3.

Chapman entered in the eighth and threw a perfect inning. Weeks' solo homer off Logan Ondrusek in the ninth accounted for the 8-4 final score.

Game Notes

Cincinnati made several roster moves before the game. In addition to reinstating Harang from the DL and recalling Chapman, the club also placed outfielder Laynce Nix on the 15-day DL with a left ankle sprain and optioned right-hander Edinson Volquez to Single-A Dayton...Reds outfielder Jay Bruce was a late scratch due to pain in his right side...The Reds have now won six of seven versus the Brewers this year, including a two-game sweep at home on May 17-18 in the only previous meeting at Cincinnati in 2010.

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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.