Roughriders seek return to win column in clash with Tiger-Cats

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07/28/2010 - Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No longer the last undefeated team in the CFL this season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders try to continue their recent dominance over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats when the two squads clash at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Saturday.

The Roughriders, who erupted for 54 points during a season-opening, overtime win over Montreal, were limited to a season-low 20 points last weekend in their 20-point loss to Calgary on the road. For the first time this season, Saskatchewan failed to score the first points of the game and the team's defense completely broke down in the second half as it allowed 33 points.

Quarterback Darian Durant was held in check for much of the game, throwing his lone touchdown of the event late in the fourth quarter, once the outcome had already been decided. Durant finished the night 22-of-37 for 354 yards, but he was picked off three times and sacked twice.

Weston Dressler accounted for nine receptions for 125 yards, both of which were game highs. Running back Wes Cates added another 83 yards and a score on 16 rushing attempts.

As for the Tiger-Cats, they kept things close against Montreal in the first half last Thursday, but then Hamilton allowed the Alouettes into the end zone in the second half and that was too much to take in the 37-14 final at McGill Stadium. Quarterback Kevin Glenn hit 16-of-32 passes for 201 yards, but late in the meeting he was taken out in favor of Quinton Porter who converted 5- of-7 passes for 70 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while suffering a pair of sacks along the way.

The so-called rushing attack of the Ti-Cats was limited to only 49 yards on 14 attempts, with DeAndre Cobb gaining a team-best 25 yards on eight tries. Cobb has had some serious trouble gaining his footing early in the season, amassing a combined 137 yards on 39 attempts which means, of the league's top 30 runners after four games, Cobb has the worst average per carry (3.5 yards) by far.

As a group, Hamilton is the weakest rushing team in the league with only 71.5 ypg, gaining a full yard less per attempt than any other team in the CFL at the moment.

Needing Glenn to bounce back in order to give them a fighting chance this time around, the Tiger-Cats understand that their best offensive threat stems from Glenn in the pocket. The signal-caller has completed better than 65 percent of his attempts for close to 1,100 yards and has five touchdowns and just a single interception to his credit, the fewest miscues of any starter in the league right now.

Even though he had a sub-par game judging by his own standards, Durant is still the quarterback by which the rest of the league is measured through four games, at least in terms of his overall yardage which stands at 1,325 yards. Having completed close to 61 percent of his attempts thus far, Durant is tied for second in the league with eight touchdown throws.

Now in his fifth CFL season, Cates is on pace to have his most successful campaign now that he has 400 yards and three touchdowns through four games. Perhaps most impressive is his average of seven yards per attempt, although that's not an average that will stand up through all the bumps and bruises of an entire regular season. Nevertheless, the Roughriders as a team have been taking it to the rest of the league with their running game, averaging a CFL- best 178 ypg and an explosive 8.1 yards per attempt. Again, those numbers will not stand up over time, but at least for the moment opponents like Hamilton will have to guard against them.

Saskatchewan has won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Ti-Cats, although it was Hamilton that posted a 24-6 triumph in the most recent encounter last October 31 at home. As a result of that outcome, the all-time regular-season series is knotted at 36-36-4 dating back to 1950.

The Roughriders have won both of their home dates thus far in 2010, while Hamilton has come up empty in two road dates. The Tiger-Cats will serve as hosts for the only other meeting this year between the two clubs, slated for September 25.

Durant and Cates are as scary a one-two punch as there is in the league entering the fifth week of the season and if Hamilton eases up on one, expect the other to take advantage.

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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.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.