Detroit edges Anaheim in SO, extends home win streak

Hockey Betting Lines

02/10/2012 - Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Bertuzzi supplied the decisive goal in the third round of the shootout, as the Detroit Red Wings edged the Anaheim Ducks, 2-1, to push their franchise-record home winning streak to 19 games.

Following an exciting overtime, Bertuzzi skated in on Jonas Hiller very slowly and beat the Anaheim goaltender with a backhander. Joey MacDonald then denied Bobby Ryan to assure the extra point for NHL-leading Detroit, which hasn't lost at Joe Louis Arena since November 3 against Calgary.

The Red Wings' current string of home victories is the longest in the NHL since the Philadelphia Flyers tied the league record by winning 20 in a row during the 1975-76 season. The mark was first set by the 1929-30 Boston Bruins.

MacDonald made 29 saves for the Red Wings, who pace the NHL with 76 points.

Hiller stopped 23 shots for Anaheim, which has lost eight straight at Detroit.

The Ducks had a great opportunity to snap their skid in overtime, but defenseman Cam Fowler hit the post on a breakaway as the teams skated 3-on-3. Detroit countered with a rush the other way and it led to Corey Perry taking a tripping penalty with 54 seconds remaining. The Red Wings wound up with a two- man advantage, but couldn't convert.

Anaheim and Detroit traded goals in the first period.

Ducks enforcer George Parros opened the scoring when he redirected Rod Pelley's shot with his right skate at 16:17. It was his first goal since December 1, 2010.

Justin Abdelkader got his stick on Jakub Kindl's shot from the blueline, tying the game at 18:42.

Game Notes

Nicklas Lidstrom matched Alex Delvecchio (1,549) for second place on the Red Wings' all-time games played list...Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom suited up for the 1,000th game of his career. He became the 272nd player in league history to reach that figure and just the sixth to skate in 1,000 games with the Red Wings...Anaheim opened an eight-game road trip, equaling the longest uninterrupted swing in club history...Red Wings forward Danny Cleary missed Friday's game following a procedure to drain fluid from behind his left knee.

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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.