Rooney bags two to lift United over Liverpool
Soccer Betting Lines
02/11/2012 - Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The intense rivalry in Northwestern England did disappoint in entertainment value on Saturday as Manchester United, led by a brace from Wayne Rooney, defeated Liverpool, 2-1, at Old Trafford in a match that was not short of talking points.
All three goals came in the second half with Rooney grabbing two in the opening five minutes of the restart and the always controversial Luis Suarez notching one for Liverpool 10 minutes from time, but the match could very well be remembered for the drama off the pitch.
The players were on edge from the start. After being convicted of racially abusing Patrice Evra in the first meeting between Liverpool and United this season, Suarez refused to shake hands with the Red Devils captain prior to kickoff.
The drama resulting from the pre-match handshakes had simmered with no controversy in first-half play, but players from both sides exchanged some words at halftime after Suarez kicked the ball away at the close of the opening period, much to the displeasure of several United players. The confrontation allegedly carried over into the tunnel, as there was a reported bust-up as both sides headed into their respective dressing rooms.
Scoring chances were at a premium for the opening 30 minutes. The best chance fell to Paul Scholes following some impressive build-up play in the 31st minute.
After a quick exchange with Rooney just outside the top of the box, Scholes lifted the ball out wide to find Ryan Giggs on the left flank. The Welshman delivered a cross and connected with Scholes, but the midfielder placed his powerful header directly at Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina.
Manchester United emerged from the locker room in top gear as Rooney grabbed goals in the 47th and 50th minutes.
The first came just 1:18 after the whistle. A corner kick from Giggs was flicked on to Rooney at the back post, and the England international made no mistake with the opportunity, volleying a first-time into the roof of the net.
Rooney doubled the advantage in the 50th minute following a giveaway at midfield from Liverpool's Jay Spearing. Rooney latched on to the ensuing through ball and slid his effort between the legs of Reina and into the back of the net.
Liverpool played at a lethargic pace with a two-goal deficit staring back at them.
But they pulled one back 10 minutes from time, and it was none other than Suarez who provided the finishing touch. A free kick sent into the box was not properly cleared by the Manchester United defense, and it fell right into the lap of the Uruguayan. Suarez calmly stuffed his close-range effort past David De Gea to cut United's lead in half.
The 80th minute strike failed to spark a comeback for the Reds as the final whistle blew to wrap up a 2-1 victory in favor of the home side.
The drama did not end after the final whistle though, as Evra celebrated the victory openly in front of Suarez and his Liverpool teammates. Evra's joy did not get a reaction from the Uruguayan, but several of his teammates appeared visibly irked. The referee minimized the effect of the confrontation by preventing Evra from immediately heading back to the dressing room, ensuring that he was the last player down the tunnel.
Manchester United improve to 58 points on the season, good enough for first place in the Premier League. The Red Devils, with a game in hand, sit one point above Manchester City, which is set to face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.
Liverpool is winless in its last two league fixtures and remains in seventh place on 39 points.
Tottenham 5, Newcastle 0
London, England - Tottenham cruised to a supremely comfortable win at White Hart Lane on Saturday, thrashing Newcastle 5-0 in North London.
Spurs found themselves in front by four goals by halftime as Louis Saha bagged a brace and Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Niko Kranjcar both scored a goal apiece. Emanuel Adebayor tacked on a fifth goal for Tottenham in the second period.
Tottenham remains in third place with 53 points, trailing second-place Manchester City by four points. Newcastle falls to sixth place on 42 points after Arsenal picked up a win over Sunderland earlier in the day.
Everton 2, Chelsea 0
Liverpool, England - Everton heaped more pressure on Andre Villas-Boas and Chelsea on Saturday, earning a 2-0 win over the Blues at Goodison Park.
Steven Pienaar opened the scoring in the fifth minute and Denis Stracqualursi secured the win with a goal in the 71st minute.
Chelsea has claimed just three points from its last four Premier League matches as it slips out of fourth place on 43 points.
Everton, unbeaten in its last five league contests, takes sole possession of 10th place in the table by improving to 33 points.
Norwich City 3, Swansea City 2
Swansea, Wales - Norwich City came out on top in Saturday's battle of two newly-promoted clubs as the Canaries edged Swansea City, 3-2, at the Liberty Stadium.
Danny Graham bagged a brace for the home side with a goal in the 23rd minute and a penalty in the 87th minute, but he was undone by two goals from Grant Holt and another from Anthony Pilkington.
Norwich City becomes just the second club, joining Manchester United, to take three points at the Liberty Stadium this season. The Canaries climb into eighth place in their astounding campaign thus far with 35 points, while the Swans sit in 11th place with 30 points.
Arsenal 2, Sunderland 1
Sunderland, England - There was high drama at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as Arsenal struck late to claim a 2-1 victory over Sunderland.
The Black Cats initially took the lead following a miscue from Per Mertesacker. James McClean capitalized, getting through on goal slipping a shot past Wojciech Szczesny in the 70th minute. Aaron Ramsey equalized for the Gunners five minutes later with a shot form the top of the box.
Arsenal did not take the lead until second-half stoppage time when Andre Arshavin delivered a pinpoint cross to Gunners legend Thierry Henry. The French striker leaped and redirected a shot into the back of the net to hand the visitors all three points.
Unbeaten in their last three Premier League games, the Gunners move into fourth place in the table with 43 points. The Black Cats see their three-game winning run come to end as they fall to ninth place on 33 points.
Fulham 2, Stoke City 1
London, England - Two first-half goals powered Fulham to a 2-1 victory over visiting Stoke City on Saturday.
Newly-acquired striker Pavel Pogrebnyak marked his debut with a goal as he opened the scoring in the 16th minute. The lead was doubled 12 minutes later thanks to an own goal from Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. Ryan Shawcross pulled one back for the Potters in the 78th minute, but it failed to spark a comeback.
The Cottagers climb to 12th place in the table with 30 points. They are tied with the Potters, who drop their fourth straight league match.
Wigan 2, Bolton 1
Bolton, England - Wigan earned a much-needed win on Saturday, defeating Bolton, 2-1, at the Reebok.
The Latics took the lead just before halftime through Gary Caldwell. Mark Davies equalized for the Trotters in the 67th minute, but it was undone by James McArthur nine minutes later as the Scottish midfielder handed the visitors three vital points.
Wigan remains bottom on 19 points but inches closer to a spot outside of the relegation zone, while Bolton sits just one point better than the Latics.
Blackburn 3, QPR 2
Blackburn, England - Blackburn snapped a two-game losing skid on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over QPR at Ewood Park.
Rovers had a three-goal advantage by halftime thanks to Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Steven N'Zonzi, and an own goal from Nedum Onuoha, but QPR fell just short with a comeback as Jamie Mackie bagged a second-half brace to give the visitors a more respectable scoreline.
The two clubs are tied on 21 points apiece, but QPR sits just outside the relegation zone with a superior goal differential.
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - French crowd favorite Marion Bartoli and German Angelique Kerber won semifinal matches Saturday at the Open GDF Suez. The second-seeded Bartoli defeated Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (
<< Russia beats back Austria to stay alive in Davis Cup
Wiener Neustadt, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russia remained alive in the Davis
Cup against Austria on Saturday as the doubles team of Nikolay Davydenko and
Mikhail Youzhny earned a five-set victory over Alexander Peya and Oliver
Marach.
<< Sweden stays alive with doubles win over Serbia
Nis, Serbia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden stayed alive in its first-round Davis
Cup tie with Serbia after the doubles team of Johan Brunstrom and Robert
Lindstedt pulled out a five-set victory over Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad
Zimonji
<< Argentina finishes off Germany in Davis Cup
Bamberg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Argentina has advanced to the Davis Cup
quarterfinals after the doubles team of David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank
rallied from two sets down to beat the German duo of Tommy Haas and Philipp
Petzsch
<< Celtic claims 13th-straight league win
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic continued its stunning run of form
Saturday, defeating Inverness, 1-0, at Parkhead to extend its winning streak
in Scottish Premier League play to 13 games.
The Bhoys have not dropped points in
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Kuric hit the tying three-pointer as part of a late Louisville run, then made a critical steal in the closing seconds to help the 24th-ranked Cardinals notch their sixth straight win with a
Jardine, Syracuse top UConn >>
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scoop Jardine hit four three-pointers en route
to 21 points, leading second-ranked Syracuse to an 85-67 victory over
Connecticut at the Carrier Dome.
Dion Waiters added 18 points and Kris Joseph fol
No. 15 Florida State holds off Miami >>
Tallahassee, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bernard James scored 18 points, pulled
down six rebounds and blocked four shots, helping the 15th-ranked Florida
State Seminoles hold off the Miami-Florida Hurricanes, 64-59.
Michael Snaer and I
Heels bounce back with solid effort against Virginia >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyler Zeller had 25 points and No. 5 North
Carolina got a bounce-back, 70-52 win over 19th-ranked Virginia on Saturday.
The Tar Heels (21-4, 8-2 ACC) pulled away in the second half, wiping away the
taste
Missouri handles Baylor in Big 12 battle >>
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Pressey scored 19 points behind four
three-pointers and No. 4 Missouri used a second-half surge to down No. 6
Baylor, 72-57, on Saturday.
Marcus Denmon and Michael Dixon added 16 points and six
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.