Cummings named MLS Player of the Week

Soccer Betting Lines

09/06/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rapids striker Omar Cummings was named the MLS Player of the Week for Week 23 on Monday as he had a hand in all three of Colorado's goals in a 3-0 win over Chivas USA on Saturday.

Cummings is the first Colorado player this season to win the award, and he owes much of the credit to a change in footwear at halftime.

"I didn't think we played well the first half, especially me," Cummings told the team's official website after the game. "My touches were bad and off a little bit. So going into the second half, I thought why not change (my shoes), change my attitude and be more aggressive, take some shots and try to score some goals."

Whatever it was, the plan worked as Cummings helped to set up the opening goal from Conor Casey in the 52nd minute, before sealing the win with a pair of goals in a 13-minute span.

The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print, television, radio media. More information can be found at soccerreporters.com.

2010 MLS Player of the Week winners:

Week 1: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 2: Kenny Mansally (New England Revolution)

Week 3: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)

Week 4: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 5: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)

Week 6: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 7: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 8: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

Week 9: Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)

Week 10: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)

Week 11: Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Week 12: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)

Week 13: Juan Pablo Angel (Red Bull New York)

Week 14: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

Week 15: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)

Week 16: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)

Week 17: Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders)

Week 18: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)

Week 19: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)

Week 20: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 21: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)

Week 22: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)

Week 23: Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids)

Casniuo Soccer Betting News

<< Djokovic cruises into U.S. Open quarters
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former runner-up Novak Djokovic handled American Mardy Fish on Monday to reach the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. The third-seeded Djokovic drubbed a lethargic 19th-seeded Fish in surgeon-like 6-3

<< Wells, Hill help Jays rout struggling Rangers
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer and Aaron Hill clubbed a two-run shot, as the Toronto Blue Jays earned a 7-2 decision over the American League West-leading Texas Rangers in the opener of a four- game se

<< Ravens add WR Houshmandzadeh
Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens added depth to the wide receiver position by agreeing to contract terms with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. A report from NFL Network says the deal is thought to be for one year and $855

<< Seahawks sign DE Brock
Renton, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks have signed defensive end Raheem Brock, according to his agent's Twitter account. Brock was cut by the Titans in training camp this year after spending eight seasons with the Colts. I

<< A's demote P Mazzaro
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics have optioned pitcher Vin Mazzaro to Triple-A Sacramento. The right-hander was 6-8 with a 4.29 earned run average in 21 games (18 starts) with Oakland this year. Mazzaro had

Mendez goes six strong in debut as Marlins down Phils >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adalberto Mendez pitched six shutout innings in his major league debut, and the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-1, in the first of two games Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

Chicago stays hot with win over Detroit in extras >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat Detroit, 5-4, in the opener of a four-game series at Comerica Park. Pierzynski added a two-run singl

Walker, Pirates shut down stumbling Braves >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Neil Walker's two-run homer in the sixth inning proved to be the difference, as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game set at PNC Park. Jose Tabata a

Espinosa powers Nationals to win over Mets >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danny Espinosa had the best game of his very young career as he hit a grand slam and a solo home run to lead the Washington Nationals to a 13-3 rout of the New York Mets in the opener of a three-g

Team USA thumps Angola to reach quarterfinals >>
Istanbul, Turkey (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chauncey Billups led a 121-66 rout of Angola with 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range, as Team USA rolled into the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Kevin Durant,

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.