Tigers hope to play spoiler against White Sox

Baseball Betting Lines

09/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers' postseason chances have probably gone by the wayside. However, they will get a chance to play spoiler this week and open a four-game series with the playoff-hopeful Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.

While the Tigers sit 12 games back of the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central, the White Sox are only 3 1/2 behind in the divisional race.

The White Sox won their sixth straight game on Sunday when Gordon Beckham and Juan Pierre drew the go-ahead and insurance bases-loaded walks, as Chicago staged a four- run ninth-inning rally to take a 7-5 decision over the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game set from Fenway Park.

Carlos Quentin stroked a run-scoring double and Ramon Castro added an RBI single during the burst for the White Sox, who swept the set after taking both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Scott Linebrink (3-1) allowed a run in the eighth but picked up the win. Matt Thornton turned in a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.

"This was a huge win for us," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen. "Especially the way that we were losing the game. It just shows that this team never gives up and it was big."

Heading to the hill for the White Sox this afternoon will be Edwin Jackson, who has gone 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in five starts since arriving from Arizona on July 30.

Jackson, who pitched last season for the Tigers, defeated the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, holding them to three runs and seven hits in 8 2/3 innings to run his overall record on the year to 9-10 to go along with a 4.37 ERA.

This will be his third start against his former team since joining the White Sox and is a perfect 3-0 lifetime against the Tigers with a 2.63 ERA in seven games, five of which have been starts.

Getting the call for the Tigers today will be hard-throwing righty Max Scherzer, who is 3-0 in his last four starts. Scherzer did not get a decision on Wednesday in Minnesota, but was terrific, as he allowed a run and four hits in nine innings. He also struck out nine in his team's 2-1 extra-inning loss.

Over his last nine starts Scherzer is 4-2 and has allowed three runs or less in each outing, surrendering one or less in seven of those games.

He did not get a decision the last time he faced the White Sox, and is 0-1 in two starts against them with a 3.14 ERA.

Detroit was denied a sweep in its series with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, as it dropped a 2-1 decision at Kauffman Stadium.

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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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