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01/19/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona was arrested Thursday in his native Dominican Republic on charges of double identity.
Maximo Baez Aybar, a spokesman for the Dominican National Police, said through his Twitter account that Carmona's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is actually 31 years old, not 28.
Aybar said Carmona was apprehended after leaving the American consulate, where he was renewing his visa.
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti released the following statement regarding the situation:
"We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information. We are not prepared to make any additional comment at this time."
Carmona has spent his entire six-year big league career with the Indians. He went 19-8 with a 3.06 earned run average in 2007 -- his first season as a full-time starter -- but has struggled to a 33-48 record since. Last season, he went 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA in 32 starts.
<< Valencia signs Argentine Banega to extension
Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Valencia has signed Argentine midfielder
Ever Banega to a contract extension through June 2015.
Banega, 23, joined Valencia in 2008 from Boca Juniors and has played 87 games
with the Spanish side. Bane
<< Inter's Forlan picks up new injury
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Inter Milan forward Diego Forlan has suffered
strained right hip flexor, and will be sidelined for an unknown period.
The Uruguayan international joined Inter from Atletico Madrid last summer, but
the 32-year
<< Third class set to be inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five new members will be enshrined into the
NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday. Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Richie Evans,
Dale Inman and Glen Wood make up the 2012 class. They were voted into the
NASCAR
<< Wales hires Coleman to replace Speed
Cardiff, Wales (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wales named Chris Coleman its new manager on
Thursday, following the death of former coach Gary Speed in November.
Coleman, 41, played 42 times for Wales from 1992-2002, and was a teammate with
Speed for the
Acclamation's trainer disappointed with Eclipse Award >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It may seem funny, but trainer Don Warren
doesn't appear all that enthused with winning a 2011 Eclipse Award. His
charge, Acclamation, was voted 2011 champion Older Male thoroughbred.
What's not to
DePaul F Freeland intends to transfer >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - DePaul junior forward Tony Freeland plans to
transfer due to a family illness, the school announced Thursday.
Freeland, who was already out for the season due to a shoulder injury, said
that he is going h
Giants' Manning returns to practice >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning
was a full participant in practice on Thursday after leaving Wednesday's
practice with a stomach illness.
"I'm 100 percent. I had a full practice today,
AC Milan's Pato to miss 3-4 weeks >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato is expected to
miss three to four weeks with a thigh injury sustained Wednesday in the Coppa
Italia win over Novara.
Pato's extra-time goal helped Milan defeat Novara, 2-1, but
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
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