Last Season Down Arbitration Royals

Baseball Betting Lines

Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox and reliever Franklin Morales agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday. Acquired in a trade with the Rockies last May, he played in a career-high 50 games in 2011 between the two clubs and went 1-2 with a 3.69 earned run average.

 

St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays and left-handed reliever J.P. Howell reportedly agreed to a one-year contract Monday. MLB.com reported the contract is worth $1.35 million and could go up to $1.4 million based on incentives.

 

Over 46 games, he went 2-3 with a 6.16 earned run average. In 212 career games, including 33 starts, Howell has gone 20-23 with 21 saves and a 4.62 earned-run average.

 

Padilla suffered through neck problems last season that eventually required surgery, limiting the 34-year-old to just nine appearances out of the bullpen for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds and outfielder Ryan Ludwick have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to a report. MLB.com reported Monday night that the deal, which is pending a physical, includes a mutual option for 2013.

 

Ludwick, 33, would join his sixth team. The nine-year veteran played his final 38 games for the NL Central-rival Pirates last season after being traded to Pittsburgh from San Diego in July.

 

Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals avoided arbitration with Brayan Pena, signing the catcher to a one-year contract Monday. The 30-year-old Pena batted .248 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI in 72 games for the Royals last season.

Worldwidesportsbook Baseball Betting Blog

<< Open With Ferrer Champion

<< Australian Open For Djokovic Kvitova

<< Maple Leafs In Winnipeg Goal

<< Suter Over Carcillo Season

<< Maple Leafs Boosts Wild From Anderson

Games Backs Brewers Of League >>

Last Season Carries Era Over Cleveland >>

Padres Warns Era In Perkins >>

Rick Porter Boosts Havre DE Grace From Luck >>

Sports Networks Over Sports End >>

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.