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09/18/2007 - Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lori Chalupny scored just 55 seconds into Tuesday's match against Nigeria and the United States held on for a 1-0 win to clinch the top spot in Group B and advance to the quarterfinals.
Chalupny's goal, the second fastest in the history of the World Cup. helped the Americans weather Nigeria and Typhoon Wipha to win the "Group of Death."
Tuesday's match was played in steady rain as Wipha closed in on Shanghai. The storm nearly forced the game to be moved, but it went on as scheduled in poor conditions.
The United States (2-0-1) plays England (1-0-2) in the quarterfinals Saturday.
The United States couldn't have gotten off to a better start against Nigeria, scoring in the first minute off a throw in. Cat Whitehill took the throw from the left side, finding Abby Wambach a few yards into the box.
Wambach flicked a header deeper into the box to Chalupny, who chested the ball down and poked a shot off a Nigeria player and into the lower left corner. The deflection fooled Nigeria goalie Precious Dede, who wasn't able to adjust and make an attempt on the ball.
The Americans didn't have another good scoring chance until the 20th minute when captain Kristine Lilly dribbled around a defender on the left sideline and sent a cross into the box. The cross found Wambach, but she headed wide.
The chances continued for the United States, starting with Lilly's free kick just over the crossbar in the 24th minute. She also put a header just wide of the left post in the 41st minute off a cross from Chalupny.
The five-time World Cup veteran set up another chance in the 43rd minute with a nice give-and-go that led to her cross to Wambach in the box. But Wambach's strong header was pushed high by Dede.
The United States had two more chances in the final minutes of the opening half, but Wambach and Shannon Boxx each put headers wide.
The United States' chances continued early in the second half when Lilly took a free kick from the right and Heather O'Reilly tried to redirect it on goal with a header but touched it just wide in the 50th minute.
The pace slowed considerably over the next 25 minutes as neither team created any real scoring threats and the United States seemed content to play for the one-goal win.
But Nigeria started to make things interesting in the 75th minute when it had the first of a few great scoring chances.
Perpetua Nkwocha broke free down the right side for the first chance, holding off Whitehill to get into the box and send a shot just a few feet wide of the left post.
Nigeria had another golden opportunity in the 85th minute when a cross rattled around the box and Nigeria had two shots on goal that were turned away before U.S. goalie Hope Solo finally jumped on the loose ball.
Dede made another nice save in the 88th minute to keep Nigeria within striking distance, but Solo sealed the win with a diving save right before the whistle.
Nigeria (0-2-1) played well in the toughest group in the tournament, but with just a tie against Sweden failed to advance for the fourth time in five World Cups.
Sweden defeated North Korea, 2-1, on Tuesday in the group's other game. North Korea still advanced and plays Germany in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
<< 2007 Three or More Homer Games
Players who have hit three or more home runs in a game this season:American League3 - Frank Thomas, Toronto, Sept. 17 vs. Boston3 - Brad Wilkerson, Texas, July 3 vs. Los Angeles Angels3 - Justin Morneau, Minnesota, July 6 at Chicago White SoxNationa
<< No. 12 South Carolina, No. 15 Clemson making fans happy
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -Nothing makes Clemson and South Carolina supporters happier than winning. Right now, there are lots of happy football fans in the Palmetto State.South Carolina's two major programs share 3-0 records and spots among the country's
<< Off to surprising 2-0 start, Packers prepare for San Diego
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -On the master list of things the Green Bay Packers have had to worry about over the past few years, letting success go to their heads probably ranked somewhere in between not selling enough No. 4 jerseys and running out of ched
<< Figgins, Angels beat Rays to shrink magic number
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chone Figgins hit the go-ahead RBI triple in
the fifth inning and had three of Los Angeles' 18 hits, as the Angels inched
closer to the AL West title with a 10-7 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Figgins
Lotta goals not enough for Sweden to advance >>
Tianjin, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden came up short in its bid for a fifth
consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup, beating
North Korea 2-1 on Tuesday, but failing to achieve the three-goal win that was
necessa
Hingis, Szavay reached second round in China >>
Beijing, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis and
rising Hungarian Agnes Szavay were among Tuesday's first-round winners at the
$600,000 China Open.
The fifth-seeded Swiss Hingis, who was rained out here on Mo
Hingis, Szavay reach second round in China >>
Beijing, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis and
rising Hungarian Agnes Szavay were among Tuesday's first-round winners at the
$600,000 China Open.
The fifth-seeded Swiss Hingis, who was rained out here on Mo
Braves, Marlins continue set in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie southpaw Jo-Jo Reyes takes the ball for his eighth
big-league start tonight when the Atlanta Braves host the Florida Marlins in
game two of a three-game series at Turner Field.
The Braves enter the game with fading
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.
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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