Bills and Spiller agree to terms
Football Betting Lines
08/06/2010 -
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills and first-round pick C.J.
Spiller have reportedly agreed to terms, ending the running back's training
camp holdout.
According to the Buffalo News, it is a five-year deal for the Clemson product
and ninth overall pick of April's draft.
Spiller was a First-Team All-American and the ACC Player of the Year in 2009.
He ran for 1,212 yards with 12 touchdowns and added 36 receptions for 503
yards and four scores as a senior.
In addition, Spiller is a dangerous return man and scored five times on kick
or punt returns last year. He finished his collegiate career as the NCAA
record holder with seven kickoff returns for scores and also became the first
player in college history to eclipse 3,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards in
kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 500 yards in punt returns.
Spiller's 7,588 all-purpose yards are the second-most in NCAA history.
<< Gaming: ACC - An underdog player's paradise
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wagering on conference games provides
opportunities to cash bets in different ways. For gamblers following the
Atlantic Coast Conference, there is really only one trend to pay attention to
and that's the und
<< Saints add Mark Bradley
Metairie, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms
with wide receiver Mark Bradley on a one-year contract.
Bradley was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in June. He did not play for
Tampa Bay after being claim
<< Yanks ready to renew rivalry with ailing Red Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With Alex Rodriguez's milestone homer behind them, the New
York Yankees can turn their attention back to just playing baseball. That
begins tonight, as another chapter in baseball's fiercest rivalry gets
underway when the Bos
<< Reds try not to look past Cubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds head into their final series before an
anticipated first-place showdown next week, as they open a three-game set at
Wrigley Field with the host Chicago Cubs.
Cincinnati leads the National League's Centr
<< Rockies continue set in Pittsburgh
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies aim for a return to winning - and to
maintain feasible contention in the National League playoff chase - when they
resume a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with game two tonight
at PNC Par
Delpo eyeing return? >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Earlier this week, 2009 U.S. Open champ
Juan Martin del Potro was spotted back on a tennis court with a racquet in his
hand.
That's very good news for the sport, especially if you're interested in seeing
Allmendinger extends contract with RPM >>
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Allmendinger has signed a multi-year
contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports to remain as driver of the
No. 43 Ford in the Sprint Cup Series.
Allmendinger and RPM made the announc
Envy places The Big Journeyman in Boston >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I must admit that I chuckled more than a
little bit when I saw some Boston-area writers proclaim that The Big Three in
Beantown is now an oversized Big Four after Shaquille O'Neal agreed to terms
with the Cel
Jacksonville Jaguars 2010 Season Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Here's hoping Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio
and quarterback David Garrard get used to the scorching weather during the dog
days of August.
After all, the duo is likely to find themselves on the hot seat all
Thunder ink first-round pick Aldrich >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed
first-round pick Cole Aldrich.
The 11th overall pick of this year's draft out of Kansas, Aldrich, the two-
time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, averaged
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.
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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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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