Jacksonville's McGregor shines in all-star game

NCAA Football Betting Lines

01/23/2012 - Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - He might have played at a non-scholarship program, but Jacksonville University quarterback Josh McGregor showed quite a bit to the scholarship players in the first Battle of Florida All-Star game Saturday in Boca Raton.

Better yet, pro scouts took notice, too.

McGregor led three scoring drive in the first quarter, finished 11 of 12 for 123 yards and rushed for a touchdown while leading the North team to a 51-3 romp over the South. He was named his team's most valuable player.

"It's weird," said McGregor, who also caught a 7-yard pass in his one quarter of work. "I was MVP from a small school (Belle Glades Day) in my high school all-star game and now in college."

The game featured NFL Draft-eligible players who were either born in Florida or played high school or college football in the state. Representatives from 29 NFL teams, four Canadian Football League and one Arena Football League team scouted the game.

Kerwin Bell, McGregor's head coach at Jacksonville, which plays in the non- scholarship Pioneer Football League, was the North's offensive coordinator. The head coach was Bobby Bowden, the legendary former Florida State mentor.

McGregor, from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., ended his career 23rd on the all-time FCS list with 11,230 passing yards and was sixth in touchdown passes with 111.

Another one of the highlights for the North came from Appalachian State's DeAndre Presley, the quarterback-turned-defensive-back. He returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Wpriceline NCAA Football Betting News

<< Blazers limp home to face Kings
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a rough road trip but at least they have the Sacramento Kings next on the docket. The two Western Conference inhabitants will clash tonight in Rip City. Portland defeated the Kings

<< Short-handed Mavs host surging Suns
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki is battling a sore right knee and will need some time off to get back to last season's championship form. The Dallas Mavericks were able to win without him Saturday in New Orleans and

<< Spurs seek road success in NOLA
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Antonio's struggles on the road this season have been well documented and the team hopes to change that perspective tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in the Big Easy. The Spurs are just 1-6 away from the Alamo Ci

<< Chicago hopes to remain Bull-ish at home vs. Nets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The banged-up Chicago Bulls look to stay perfect at home when they entertain the New Jersey Nets tonight from the United Center. The Bulls have been plagued by injuries this season and reigning MVP Derrick Rose is one of t

<< Djokovic, Murray land in Aussie quarters
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, who lost in the last two finals in Melbourne, were a pair of fourth-round winners Monday at the Australian Open. The world No. 1 Djokovic was

McHale guides Rockets into Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin McHale returns to Minnesota Monday as his streaking Houston Rockets visit an improved Timberwolves team. McHale, who twice left his front-office position with the Timberwolves as vice president of basketball ope

Streaking Grizzlies kick off road trip vs. Warriors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Memphis Grizzlies will kick off a four-game western road trip tonight against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Memphis has ripped off a season-high six straight wins and will also visit the Trail Blaz

Islanders open home-and-home set with Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders will try to post their longest winning streak in nearly a year when they visit the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Air Canada Centre for the opener of a home-and-home series. The Islanders,

Jets hit the road without Kane to battle Hurricanes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Jets have already had a rough January and now the club will begin a six-game road trip tonight without its leading goal- scorer. The Jets will try to overcome the loss of Evander Kane and a 7-12-4 road record

Bucks hope to keep momentum going vs. Hawks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee hopes to build on its most impressive win of the season when it hosts an Atlanta team that continues to play surprisingly well without star big man Al Horford. After beginning the season 0-8 away from Bradley

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.