Mets release Soler
Baseball Betting Lines
03/13/2007 - Winter Haven, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets released pitcher Alay Soler on Tuesday.
Soler, 27, signed a three-year deal with the Mets in 2004 after defecting from Cuba. In eight starts in 2006, the right-hander went 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA.
Soler was a star for the Cuban national team before coming to the Untied States. He posted a 10-4 mark with a 2.01 ERA in 2003 for the Cubans.
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Meaghan Francella vaulted into the top 100 in the Rolex Rankings for women's golf after beating world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam in a playoff Monday at the MasterCard Classic. Francella's first LPGA To
<< Bills re-sign CB Thomas
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms
on a multi-year contract with cornerback Kiwaukee Thomas, the team announced
Tuesday.
Thomas had 42 tackles and broke up six passes in 16 games last year in
<< Penguins host Sabres in important Eastern faceoff
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo Sabres will try to
end a three-game losing streak tonight, when they travel to Pittsburgh's
Mellon Arena to face the Penguins.
The Sabres have 93 points on the season, but tha
<< Isles try to move on with trip to Montreal
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders play their first game since the
Chris Simon suspension was handed down when they visit the Montreal Canadiens
tonight at the Bell Centre.
Simon has been suspended for the rest of the regular
<< Lightning conclude trek in Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to close out their lengthy
road trip on a positive note as they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air
Canada Centre tonight.
The Lightning are 3-2-0 so far on their longest trek of the
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bernie Bickerstaff will reportedly not return as the Charlotte Bobcats head coach next season. The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday that managing member of basketball operations Michael Jordan stated
Timberwolves still alive in West >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves are a disappointing 27-35
this season, but with the 20 games left on their scheduled they are still
in the mix in the Western Conference playoff race.
Minnesota, which has missed the pla
UMKC fires Zvosec >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Missouri-Kansas City
announced on Tuesday that Rich Zvosec will no longer serve as the head coach
of the men's basketball team.
The Kangaroos went 12-20 last season under Zvosec, w
It's official: Patriots sign WRs Stallworth, Washington >>
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots announced the
official signings of wide receivers Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington on
Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Stallworth added a much-needed spark to the Philadel
Line of Scrimmage: As the Running Back Carousel Turns... >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Who said the running back position is
undervalued in today's NFL?
You probably won't hear the likes of Ahman Green, Travis Henry, Thomas Jones,
or Jamal Lewis lamenting a lack of positional appreciation as
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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.
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