Big Unit standing tall for D'Backs

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - According to the current depth chart on Arizona's website, future Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson is fifth in the rotation. Usually the arms in that slot are the weakest of the bunch, but in this case, the Diamondbacks have a revived ace up their sleeve.

The fifth spot was perhaps a perfect distinction for Johnson from late May to July 1, when the lanky left-hander went 0-6 in eight starts -- all Arizona losses. But since then, however, Johnson is back to his old mullet days in Seattle and scowling at batters even if they strike out. I always thought that was weird when he did that.

Johnson is 3-0 with a 2.33 earned run average since then, including a solid showing against the very familiar Chicago Cubs on Monday. The Big Unit chucked seven shutout innings of two-hit ball to improve to 13-0 with a microscopic 1.84 ERA in 14 career games versus the Cubs. Johnson is only the second pitcher to ever go at least 10-0 against the Cubs, and the other was Sal Maglie, who went 10-0 in 19 starts versus Chicago (1954-1958). Johnson threw just 86 pitches against Chicago to even his 2008 record at 7-7 through 18 trips to the hill. He is also just nine wins shy of 300 for his career.

With the Diamondbacks struggling as of late, now couldn't be a better time for manager Bob Melvin to get his veteran southpaw nice and loose. Arizona is just one game ahead of the Dodgers in the National League West standings, and will need Johnson's best stuff on the upcoming 10-game road trip against division foes San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.

The 44-year-old and near seven-footer (6-foot-10) is sixth in baseball history among left-handers with 291 career victories, and the active leader in strikeouts with 4,715. He is second to Nolan Ryan in that category, as Ryan ended his brilliant career with an amazing 5,714 K's from 1966-1993. Johnson is the only player in major league history to have 2,000 strikeouts with two different ballclubs, having fanned 2,162 batters with the Mariners before posting 2,003 K's as a Diamondback. He is also just one of four pitchers in history with 4,000-plus strikeouts (Ryan, Roger Clemens, Steve Carlton).

Johnson is going to keep on piling up K's if he continues to pitch at a high level, but let's not forget this man is no spring chicken. Johnson can still crank his fastball up to the mid-90s, though his health will always be a concern. It seems that his chronicled back issues have taken a back seat for now, something Melvin I'm sure keeps in mind. Johnson's next scheduled start isn't until Sunday against the Giants at AT&T Park, and he has posted two no-decisions -- both Arizona losses -- in the 2008 series with San Francisco. In 22 career starts against the Giants, he is 7-8 with a 3.38 ERA.

RAUCH MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPRESSION

It didn't take long for newly-acquired relief pitcher Jon Rauch to make an impression with his new ballclub. Arizona obtained the services of the right- hander on Tuesday from the Washington Nationals in exchange for second baseman Emilio Bonifa.

Rauch compiled a 4-2 record and 2.98 ERA for the Nationals this year, while converting 17 of his 22 save opportunities. He made his Arizona debut in Tuesday's 9-2 victory over the Cubs, as he allowed one hit with a pair of strikeouts in just an inning of work.

The righty was pleased to be a member of the Diamondbacks, alluding to how this team is currently on top of its respective division. Rauch will definitely be relied on this season with the D'Backs going to battle with a beleaguered and banged-up bullpen. Rauch is slated to be the setup man for closer Brandon Lyon.

Rauch was second in the big leagues with 85 appearances in 2006 and led the majors with 88 last season.

In other moves for Arizona, prospect Jamie D'Antona had his contract selected by the ballclub after dealing for Rauch. D'Antona was drafted in the second round of the 2003 First Year Player Draft.

"There's a guy that deserves a shot at the big leagues," Melvin said. "You look at his Triple-A numbers and they're off the charts. Through hard work and great performance, he deserves a shot at the big league level."

The D'Backs made room for D'Antona on the roster by switching injured outfielder Eric Byrnes from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Also, relief pitcher Connor Robertson was optioned back to Triple-A Tucson.

WHO'S HOT

Besides Johnson, Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak. He is batting .395 over that stretch (17-for-43) with six runs batted in, three doubles and a pair of triples.

WHO'S NOT

Arizona has lost two straight and five of ace Brandon Webb's last eight starts, with the right-hander going 2-2 with a 4.10 earned run average over that stretch.

ON DECK

If the Diamondbacks want to maintain their edge on the NL West standings, they must complete a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the finale on Wednesday.

After hosting the Cubs in the final test of a six-game homestand, Arizona will embark on a 10-game road trip against the Giants, Padres and Dodgers.

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Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.

NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.

Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.

Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&amp;M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6

For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com








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.

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