11/10/2008 - Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies have apparently traded outfielder Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics. CNNSI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting the deal, but did not know who was going back to Colorado in return.
Holliday, a two-time All-Star, hit .321 last season - his fourth straight .300 campaign - but saw his power numbers dip, as he hit 25 home runs with 88 RBI. It was the first time since 2005 that he failed to top 30 HRs and 100 RBIs.
He had been the runner-up to Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins for the NL MVP Award in 2007 when he set career-highs, hitting .340 with 36 home runs and 137 RBI.
Eligible to become a free agent at the end of the 2009 season, Colorado reportedly had offered Holliday $68 million guaranteed over four years (plus a fifth year option that could have taken it to $85 million), but he turned the deal down, instead wanting to hit the open market.
Holliday is a career .319 hitter and has hit 128 home runs, while knocking in 483 runs in his five years with the Rockies. However, he is a .280 hitter away from hitter-friendly Coors Field with 44 homers and 176 RBI in 339 games.
St. Louis and Philadelphia were also expected to be in the running for Holliday.
<< Hurricanes send Ryan to Albany
Albany, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes assigned forward Michael
Ryan to the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League, it was announced
on Monday.
Ryan, 28, was signed by the Hurricanes on Oct. 31, and played two game
<< Nets' Harris to miss second straight game with ankle sprain
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Jersey Nets starting point guard Devin
Harris will miss Monday's road matchup with the Miami Heat due to a left ankle
sprain.
Harris was also sidelined for Saturday's 98-80 loss to the Indiana Pace
<< Garcia passes Mickelson for No. 2 ranking
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sergio Garcia became the first European-
born player in more than a decade to attain the No. 2 world ranking after his
playoff win at the weather-delayed HSBC Champions tournament in China.
Garcia beat
<< Packers' Barnett to miss rest of season
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Green Bay Packers middle linebacker Nick
Barnett will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn knee ligament.
Barnett was hurt early in the third quarter of Sunday's game against Minnesota
whil
This Week in Golf - November 13th through November 16th >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LPGA TOUR - LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL,
Guadalajara Country Club, Guadalajara, Mexico - Normally, Lorena Ochoa's
boisterous hometown fans have to travel to see her play in person. This week,
she is
Around FCS: You've been eliminated >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Teams battle all year to put themselves
into position for one of the 16 playoff berths in the NCAA Division I Football
Championships.
So when you get to November, losing can be a cruel fate.
Just ask Ma
Richards wins MLS Player of the Week >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards
was voted Major League Soccer's Playoff Player of the Week, it was announced
on Monday.
Richards scored a goal and an assist as well as drawing a penalty kic
Broncos place RB Torain on injured reserve >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos placed rookie running
back Ryan Torain on injured reserve Monday with a left knee injury.
Torain made his NFL debut in a Week 9 loss to the Dolphins and ran for 68
yards and a t
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere.
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
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