Lofty outlook for Red Sox
Those who believe defending World Series champion Boston will take a step back in 2008 will be tempted to take the under on how many wins the Red Sox will have during the regular season.
On the website Vegasinsider.com, Boston’s over/under total is 94.5, meaning a bettor would take the under if he or she believes the Red Sox will win less than that and over if they think the American League East favorite will win more than that number of games. Boston exceeded the total last year, winning 96.
Among other American League teams, the New York Yankees are at 93.5 wins and Detroit, which strengthened itself with the acquisitions of pitcher Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera from Florida, is at 93. Then come the Angels (92.5) and Cleveland (89.5).
The New York Mets, who recently added Johan Santana to their pitching staff, are expected to be the top winner in the National League. The over/under total on the Mets, who blew a sizable advantage in the East in the final weeks of the season last September and missed the playoffs, is 94.
The Chicago Cubs, who won the NL Central in 2007 before getting swept by Arizona in the first round of the playoffs, follow at 89, then come the Dodgers and Philadelphia at 86.5. Defending NL champion Colorado’s number is 83, which is seven fewer wins than the Rockies had a season ago.
The lowest number assigned to any team was 66 to Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins are projected to be the NL’s worst team. Their total is 69.
College basketball
Home teams have not fared as well as one would have expected in the competitive Pacific 10 Conference. Visitors have gone 32-31 so far, which gives Arizona State some hope when it plays at Washington State tonight.
Winless in Pullman since an 87-54 victory more than five years ago, the Sun Devils, who have overcome big deficits to win two of their last three, will be trying to avenge a 56-55 loss in Tempe on Jan. 26.
Close losses have been rare for Arizona State this season. The Sun Devils are 7-2 in games decided by 10 points or fewer, a reversal from the previous year when they were 4-17 in such affairs.
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