Mets' Valentin breaks tibia

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets second baseman Jose Valentin suffered a fractured right tibia when he fouled a ball off his leg in the fourth inning of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This is the second time Valentin has hurt his right leg this season. He suffered a partial tear of the ACL in his right knee and was on the disabled list from April 29 until June 7.

For the season, Valentin is hitting .241 with three homers and 18 RBI. He was replaced at the plate in the fourth by Ruben Gotay, who grounded out to second base.

Wwraceo Baseball Betting News

<< Dolphins' Porter fined by NFL
Davie, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was fined three game checks by the NFL for his part in a Las Vegas scuffle with Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Levi Jones. Porter punched Jones on March 1

<< Heat extend Pfund
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat signed general manager Randy Pfund to an undisclosed contract extension on Friday. Miami posted a 44-38 mark last season, winning the Southeast Division title before losing to the Chicago Bulls

<< It was the Butler, with a bat at Comerica: Royals thump Tigers
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Billy Butler went 4-for-5 with four RBI as the Kansas City Royals pounded the Detroit Tigers, 10-2, in the opener of a three- game series at Comerica Park. Mark Grudzielanek also had four hits and scored four

<< Ogilvie leads U.S. Bank Championship
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Ogilvie fired a seven-under 63 Friday to take the lead after two rounds of the U.S. Bank Championship, the PGA Tour event playing opposite the British Open. Ogilvie was at 10-under 130, heading to th

<< Rockets bring back Francis
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Francis, who played his first five NBA seasons in Houston, officially returned Friday when he agreed to a deal with the Rockets. Francis was sent to Portland from the New York Knicks along with Chann

Oswalt leaves early in Houston's win at Pittsburgh >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Lee's first-inning, two-run home run proved enough for Houston to edge Pittsburgh, 2-1, and prevent the struggling Pirates from getting their seventh straight win versus the Astros this year. Chris

Scherrer leads suspended Nationwide event >>
Springfield, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Forty players had still not teed off when the second round of the Nationwide Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship was suspended Friday due to inclement weather. Tom Scherrer had a hole-in-one and

Nebraska WR Purify suspended for first game >>
Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nebraska wide receiver Maurice Purify was suspended for the season opener in light of his second arrest in a month span. Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan met with the wide receiver on Friday and disc

Lofton leaves in third inning >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers center fielder Kenny Lofton left Friday's game against Cleveland after fouling a pitch against his right foot in the third inning. Lofton then got replaced by Desi Relaford, who grounded into

O's activate Trachsel >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles activated pitcher Steve Trachsel from the 15-day disabled list, and he's slated to start Saturday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Trachsel has been on the DL since June 30 du

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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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

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