Betting services not hurting
Need an update on Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter’s injured thumb to help figure out who to pick for the Sun Devils’ big game at Oregon?
No problem. Covers.com had that information all week.
Interested on the health status of Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy before placing a bet on the Terrapins’ game against North Carolina?
A piece of cake. Profantasysports.com is always a source for a quick answer.
Although the NCAA doesn’t like to talk about it, detailed updates on injuries in college football are an open book, just like in the NFL.
Of course, betting trends are affected by injury updates. That was the case with today’s Arizona State at Oregon matchup.
The Ducks opened as 7 1/2 -point favorites with the status of Carpenter uncertain because of an injury suffered in Arizona State’s victory over California last week.
With the line remaining steady all week, Oregon has dominated action in money-line bets and wagers made against the spread. TheSpread.com has the Ducks picking up 70% of the bets against the spread, while Wagerline.com has Oregon at 63.8%.
But according to various betting trend boards, support for the Sun Devils to win straight up grew late in the week after Carpenter’s injury was updated. Arizona State’s money line? +250.
AccuScore.com, which simulates every game 10,000 times, produced a couple of interesting forecasts for Pacific 10 Conference games today.
Even with a healthy Carpenter, Arizona State falls short against Oregon, 34-27; while USC -- a 15-point favorite over Oregon State -- gets a boost with the return of quarterback John David Booty, who sat out the last three games because of a broken finger.
The Trojans are picked to defeat the Beavers, 34-16, with Booty, who provides USC with a +4% advantage in winning percentage than when Mark Sanchez starts.
UCLA, a one-point favorite over Arizona, may be in trouble without injured running back Khalil Bell. The Bruins win by a field goal with Bell; with him sidelined they are picked to win, 26-25.
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Boxing
Joe Calzaghe has maintained a -160 favorite role over Mikkel Kessler (+130) for tonight’s super-middleweight unification title bout at Cardiff, Wales.
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