D-Backs double up Rockies

Baseball Betting Lines

04/21/2009 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland pitched into the seventh inning and Miguel Montero blasted a three-run homer in Arizona's 6-3 win over Colorado to begin a three-game series.

Mark Reynolds also homered and finished with two RBI for the Diamondbacks, who won for just the third time in their last nine games.

Garland (2-1) was charged with six hits and two runs -- one earned -- over 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and had five strikeouts.

"The arm felt good, the body felt real good," said Garland. "I was keeping the ball down and let them put it in play, let that defense work."

Chad Qualls threw the final inning for his third save.

Ian Stewart belted a solo homer for the Rockies, who fell to 1-5 on a current eight-game road trip.

Jason Marquis (2-1) was charged with nine hits and six runs for the Rockies. He fell to 0-4 all-time at Chase Field as the Rockies lost for the seventh time in eight games.

"I felt good physically, just didn't execute when I really needed to," said Marquis. "I wasn't sharp, but you know I put my team in a hole and couldn't get out of it."

In a rematch of a season-opening set when Colorado won two of three meetings at Chase Field from April 6-8, the Diamondbacks broke open a close game in the fifth inning by scoring four times. Augie Ojeda singled to begin the inning, and with one out Chad Tracy laced an RBI single up the middle.

Tracy went to second on when Brad Hawpe bobbled the ball, and Reynolds followed with a walk. Chris Young grounded into a force play, but Montero then blasted a first-pitch homer to right for a 6-1 cushion.

Stewart homered leading off the sixth and the Rockies threatened in the seventh, putting runners at second and third, but Scott Schoeneweis fanned Stewart to end the threat.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs singled in Garrett Atkins in the eighth.

Reynolds homered on a line drive to left field leading off the second, but the Rockies tied it in the third when Dexter Fowler singled in Chris Iannetta.

Tracy and Reynolds hit back-to-back doubles to start the fourth, giving Arizona a 2-1 edge.

Game Notes

Colorado went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base...The Diamondbacks, who have not won a series this season, will have Yusmeiro Petit on the mound for Tuesday's game while Franklin Morales starts for Colorado...The Rockies' series win over the Diamondbacks earlier this season was a sharp contrast to their play against Arizona in 2008. Colorado lost 15-of-18 games versus the D-Backs last year, including eight of nine tests held in Phoenix.

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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.

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