Keys to winning the 2007 World Series

Baseball Betting Lines

10/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 103rd World Series is about to get underway, as the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies get ready to kick off the Fall Classic at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

Colorado, of course, is in the midst of one of the greatest runs in sports history and has won 21 of its last 22 games to get to this point. The Rockies, who had won just one postseason contest before this season, are also the first team to sweep their way through the division series and LCS, beating the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks in three and four games, respectively.

While Colorado will be playing in its first-ever Fall Classic, their opponents, the Boston Red Sox, are no stranger to postseason play and will be trying for their seventh title and will be appearing in their 11th World Series.

Boston became the 11th team in postseason history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, beating the Cleveland Indians in seven games to claim their first AL pennant since winning the World Series in 2004, their first title since 1918.

These teams actually met during the season, as Colorado took two out of three from the Red Sox at Fenway in June. Colorado outscored Boston 20-5, dropping the first game 2-1 before winning the next two, 12-2 and 7-1. The finale of that set saw Josh Beckett get his first loss of the season.

As an introduction to this World Series matchup, let's take a look at the keys to winning the series for both clubs.

BOSTON RED SOX

1. JOSH BECKETT'S AIR OF INVINCIBILITY

There is not a pitcher in all of baseball I would rather have on the hill in a big spot than Boston right-hander Josh Beckett. He has become this generation's John Smoltz, plain and simple.

Beckett has made three starts this postseason, winning all of them and pitching to a sparkling 1.17 earned run average in the process. This has just added to his already impressive playoff resume that includes a 5-2 mark and a 1.78 ERA in nine games.

While the bright lights of the World Series may bother Colorado's young pitching staff, there is not a chance in the world of it even fazing the incredible Beckett.

2. MANNY TO KEEP ON BEING MANNY

There is no bigger enigma in all of sports than Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez, who created quite a stir in the ALCS with some comments he made saying that if the Red Sox lost "who cares...it is not the end of the world."

However, you have to put up with his Manny being Manny antics because he is one of the best right-handed hitters to ever play the game. Ramirez has been an absolute beast in these playoffs, hitting .400 to go along with four home runs and 14 RBI.

Sure, he does not run every hit out, he stands and admires every home run he hits and he may not always give you the best effort in left field. But is there any other player you want to see at the plate with runners in scoring position?

3. KEEP ORTIZ'S KNEES HEALTHY IN COLORADO

Boston manager Terry Francona has quite a dilemma on his hands when the series shifts to Colorado and the Red Sox lose the designated hitter position. Ordinarily it would not be a big deal, you would just throw David Ortiz at first, despite his obvious flaws in the field. However, Ortiz's knees are barking and the Red Sox aren't sure if they can withstand three straight games in the field.

Bottom line, though, you have to have his bat in the lineup. He is one of the most clutch hitters of all-time and is having another tremendous postseason. Ortiz was 7-for-his-first-9 this postseason and is batting .387 in the playoffs with three home runs, six RBI and 12 runs scored.

COLORADO ROCKIES

1. STEAL A GAME IN BOSTON

This pretty much goes without saying, but if the Rockies can get one of the first two games in Boston, it will change a lot of people's minds on how this series is going to turn out.

Most people felt the four-day layoff between the division series and LCS would have a negative impact on the Rockies since they were so hot. Well it barely even fazed them, as they rolled past the Diamondbacks in four straight. Now will the eight-day break be too much to bear?

The Rockies have played just three road games in the postseason and scored a total of 12 runs in 29 innings.

Getting that first game is the key. Not only will they shift homefield in their favor, but it would knock Beckett off that pedestal that everyone has put him on here in the playoffs.

2. STICK WITH WHAT GOT YOU THERE

The Rockies are supposedly toying with the idea of giving Opening Day starter Aaron Cook rookie Franklin Morales' start in Game 4. Bad idea. Morales is a big reason the Rockies are in the position they are in and Cook hasn't pitched in game since August 10 because of an oblique strain.

Do you really want that kind of uncertainty in a Game 4 of the World Series, when you will probably find yourselves behind anyway? I have no problem inserting Cook on the roster, but use him as a long reliever. Do not give him a start.

3. GET TROY TULOWITZKI AND TODD HELTON GOING

It is amazing the Rockies are in the position they are in considering they have gotten next to nothing from two of their biggest contributors during the season, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and first baseman Todd Helton.

Tulowitzki could be the National League's Rookie of the Year. However, he has showed signs of wearing down here in the postseason and is batting just .179. Actually it is kind of remarkable the Rockies are in the position they are considering the fact that they have gotten next to nothing offensively from Helton or Tulowitzki.

While he may be struggling with the stick, Tulowitzki could be the best defensive shortstop in the National League.

Helton had to wait 1,578 games to finally get to the postseason, but has struggled mightily thus far. He has just four hits in 26 at-bats and has knocked in only one run. While not the power hitter he once was, Helton still has some pop, and there are not many better with the glove than Peyton Manning's former backup quarterback at Tennessee.

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MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined

Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.

"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."

Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)

According to research at the online sportsbook MySportsbook.com, more than 18 plays a game disappeared last weekend into thin air. That's a 10-percent reduction. In 2005, a typical game had 168.58 plays. For 2007 already, it's down to 150.26.

As a result, teams combined to gain an average of about 100 fewer yards a game last weekend versus the 2005 openers. Scoring was also down by about 4.5 points (attention Las Vegas sports lines).

Of course, oddsmakers were able to adjust to the changes before the season started. Proof of that came as the over went a balanced 8-9 at My Sportsbook on Saturday.

Other angles to consider:A shorter game should theoretically result in shorter lines. Whereas Team A might have been a 14-point favorite in a 168-play game (last year), if there are 10 percent less snaps in 2007, the line should also be reduced by 10 percent (to 13 or 12.5). Of course, this is an over-simplification of the matter, but something to keep in mind.
Less possessions means a better chance the game will be decided by three or seven points. For example, what might have been a 20-10 final score in 2005 may end at

17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.

*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007

New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers

By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.

"We are seeing a massive jump in college football betting," noted the MySportsbook.com management team. "With all the early Saturday games (12 a.m. ET) ending before the second wave begins (3:30 p.m. ET) - something that didn't always happen before the changes - bettors are now able to re-invest their winnings from the morning session in the afternoon games."

While not all bettors will choose to roll over their winnings, it doesn't take much for an impact to be seen on the bottom line. "Not all of the millions of dollars in morning payouts get re-bet. In fact, it's probably only 10 to 20 percent," noted the sportsbook management team. "Still, the increased football betting lines window will create a ton of growth for us over the course of the season."

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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.

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