Panthers release FB Hoover

Football Betting Lines

03/08/2010 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers have released veteran fullback Brad Hoover, the team announced Monday.

Hoover has spent all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Panthers, and last season played in 11 games, serving as a blocker for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for at least 1,100 yards each.

In 152 career games, Hoover has rushed for 961 yards and three touchdowns on 284 carries. He has also made 145 catches for 1,046 yards and six scores.

Lottovalls Football Betting News

<< Bills sign OL Green
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills have signed offensive lineman Cornell Green to a multi-year contract. Green, who will turn 34 years old this August, spent the last three seasons with the Oakland Raiders and made 3

<< Chiefs bring back WR Chambers
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed wide receiver Chris Chambers on Monday. Details of the contract were not announced. The 11-year veteran started the last nine games in 2009 and had 36 catch

<< Senators sign D Lee to two-year contract
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Brian Lee to a two-year contract. The 22-year-old Lee has split time this season between Ottawa and Binghamton of the American Hockey League. In 18 NHL games, Lee h

<< NASCAR needs to control on-going Edwards-Keselowski feud
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Prior to the start of the 2010 season, NASCAR essentially told Sprint Cup Series drivers, "Boys, have at it and have a good time." Perhaps NASCAR should redefine its new rules on allowing more on-track freedom for

<< Pennington re-ups with Dolphins
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins officially re-signed quarterback Chad Pennington on Monday. The Miami Herald reported last week Pennington inked a one-year contract worth $2.5 million to remain with the Dolphins

Redskins bring back Rabach >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins have re-signed center Casey Rabach, the team announced Monday. Rabach has spent the last five seasons with the Redskins and has been extremely durable, making 79 starts in tha

Seattle University's Garcia to declare for NBA Draft >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle University power forward Charles Garcia announced Monday he plans to declare for the 2010 NBA Draft at the end of the season. The 6-foot-10 junior averaged a team-best 18.7 points and 8.3 rebound

Boston signs 13 >>
Fort Myers, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox agreed to terms with 13 players on one-year contracts for the 2010 season on Monday. No further terms were disclosed. Agreeing to terms were pitchers Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden, Cla

Alouettes sign QB Pickett, linemen >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Alouettes have signed quarterback Cody Pickett to a two-year contract with an option, the team announced Monday. Additionally, the Alouettes signed defensive end Gavin Walls an

Bruins' Savard has Grade 2 concussion >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard has a Grade 2 concussion, general manager Peter Chiarelli announced Monday. There is no timetable for Savard's return. He will be monitored by the Bruins medical staff and tea

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.