This Week in Golf - September 2nd through September 5th
Golf Betting Lines
08/30/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts - Remember everyone, the second leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs starts on Friday to accommodate the American Labor Day holiday.
The new FedEx Cup points leader is Matt Kuchar, fresh off his victory at The Barclays on Sunday. Kuchar hit one of the best shots of the season in the playoff against Martin Laird. Kuchar's seven-iron from the rough, under a tree to two feet was as clutch a shot as you'll see.
That gave Kuchar his third PGA Tour victory and first since last year. He now stands atop the FedEx Cup points list, with three more playoff events to go in pursuit of that really large check.
Laird, who hit a darn good shot himself from the rough in the playoff, but nowhere near as good as Kuchar's, moved to third on the points list.
The man in second is the upcoming event's defending champion, Steve Stricker.
One year ago, Stricker birdied his final two holes on Monday to come from behind to win this title. He finished one stroke better than Scott Verplank and Jason Dufner and two better than Dustin Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington.
Stricker ended up on top, but it was a mess through most of Monday. Eight different players owned at least a piece of the lead in the final round, but it came down to Stricker, Dufner and Verplank.
Dufner first got into the clubhouse at 16-under par, followed by Verplank, but Stricker was still on the course. Stricker drained a 15-foot birdie putt at the 17th and kicked in a two-foot birdie putt on the par-five closing hole to get the win.
Stricker continued his spectacular golf in the playoffs Sunday. He shot a five-under 66 on Sunday at The Barclays and shared third place with Kevin Streelman.
Last week's field included the top 125 on the FedEx Cup list, but that number was shrunk down to the top 100.
Tiger Woods was on the outside looking in last week. He was 112th, but his tie for 12th at The Barclays moved him to 65th. Woods won here in 2006, so maybe this is the week he breaks that winless streak of 2010.
This is the final week for Corey Pavin to make his decision on his four captain's picks for the American Ryder Cup team. Woods is certainly under consideration, as is Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover. All are in the field this week.
Colin Montgomerie rounded out his team on Sunday with Edoardo Molinari, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald. Harrington and Donald are in the field on Friday. So too are Paul Casey and Justin Rose, the two biggest names snubbed by Monty.
Golf Channel has the action on Friday and Saturday before NBC takes over on Sunday and Monday.
Next week is the third playoff event, the BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill. Woods hoisted the trophy last year en route to his second FedEx Cup in three years.
EUROPEAN TOUR
EUROPEAN MASTERS, Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland - The first event since the European Ryder Cup was finalized and exactly one member of Monty's team is in the field.
Miguel Angel Jimenez will tee it up in Switzerland, but no one else from the European team is heading to the mountains. In fact, more vice-captains are in the field than team members. Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn are in the field.
One of the other big names scheduled to play is Greg Norman. The two-time major winner hasn't played a competitive round anywhere in almost 12 months after shoulder surgery.
Louis Oosthuizen, the reigning British Open champion, has also committed to the field.
Alexander Noren took home the title last year when he shot a five-under 66 on Sunday. The victory was Noren's first on the European Tour, and his only one to date. Noren has one top 10 in 2010 and that came at the China Open.
Golf Channel has the telecast all four rounds.
Next week is the KLM Open in the Netherlands, which was won by Simon Dyson last year.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
FIRST TEE OPEN AT PEBBLE BEACH, Pebble Beach Golf Links & Del Monte Golf Club, Monterey, California - Jeff Sluman goes for a third consecutive win at this championship this week.
Sluman has one other Champions Tour victory besides the two at Pebble Beach, and he hasn't enjoyed the greatest season in tour history. He has five top 10s in 2010, but two of them came in his last two starts.
Sluman aced the fifth hole and shot a four-under 68. He was the only player under par in the final three groups on Sunday, as the winds hit the California coast.
The last six players on the course last year (Sluman, Mark McNulty, Tom Lehman, Bob Gilder, Loren Roberts and Mark O'Meara) combined to shoot 14-over par on Sunday.
Play rotates over the two courses for the first two rounds, then Pebble Beach hosts on Sunday. Golfers compete with junior players and amateurs, with the top 22 juniors and top 10 amateur teams advancing to the final round.
Sluman and the other players in the field might have a fighting chance this week. Bernhard Langer, who collected his fifth Champions Tour title of the year on Sunday at the Boeing Classic, is not in the field.
Those final six players on the course last year are all in the field this year, with the exception of McNulty.
Fred Couples is scheduled to be on hand to see if he can get back into the winner's circle. Couples hasn't won since the Cap Cana Championship in late March.
Golf Channel will carry all three rounds.
Next week is the Songdo Championship, which is a new event on the Champions Tour.
NATIONWIDE TOUR
MYLAN CLASSIC, Southpointe Golf Club, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania - There's a new event on the Nationwide Tour and it's situated the Pittsburgh suburbs.
Arnold Palmer was named the honorary chairman of the tournament. Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders is in the field.
With nine tournaments left on the schedule, players are jockeying for position to get into the top 25 on the money list. That's the magic number for a PGA Tour card in 2011.
Chris Kirk took the money list lead on Sunday with his second victory of the year at the Knoxville News Sentinel Open. He's not in the field this week, so maybe Jamie Lovemark can reclaim his spot on the top.
Golf Channel has all four rounds.
Next week is the Utah Championship, which was won last year by Josh Teater.
Williamsburg, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - William & Mary football coach Jimmye Laycock has named fifth-year senior Mike Callahan as the fourth-ranked Tribe's starting quarterback for Saturday's season opener at Massachusetts. Callahan earned t
<< Dolphins waive/injured TE Haynos
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins placed tight end Joey
Haynos on the waived/injured list Monday.
Haynos suffered a serious foot injury during last Friday's 16-6 exhibition
loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Maryl
<< Manny awarded to White Sox through waiver claim
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Monday
that outfielder Manny Ramirez has been awarded to the Chicago White Sox
through a waiver claim.
The Dominican native has been limited to 66 games for LA t
<< Bautista named AL Player of the Week
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista has
been named the Player of the Week for the American League for the period
ending August 29.
In seven games last week, Bautista led the American League with a
<< Montero earns MLS Player of the Week award
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero was
voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 22 of the 2010 MLS
season on Monday.
Montero scored both of Seattle's goals in a 2-1 comeback win ove
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending August 29. In six games last week, Gonzalez hit 12-of-22 (.545) with four home runs and
McMurray feeling little pressure on making the Chase >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With two races to go before the "Chase for
the Sprint Cup" begins at New Hampshire, Daytona 500 champion and Brickyard
400 winner Jamie McMurray says he won't be disappointed if he doesn't qualify
for the playof
Mascherano completes Barca switch >>
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona announced on Monday that the
club has completed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.
Mascherano, 26, signed a four-year deal with the Catalan side on Monday after
completin
Shunted aside by Sabres, Kennedy signs with Rangers >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers agreed to terms with
free-agent forward Tim Kennedy on Monday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but multiple outlets revealed it is for
one year.
The Buffalo Sabres waived
Roddick rolls at U.S. Open >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birthday boy and former champion Andy
Roddick was an easy opening-round winner Monday at the U.S. Open.
The ninth-seeded former world No. 1 Roddick, celebrating his 28th birthday on
Monday, blasted hel
Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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What Is the Point Spread?
What are Sports Betting Point Spreads?
In any football or basketball game (the main sports that use point spreads) there are two teams playing against each other.
Those teams, though, are rarely exactly evenly matched – meaning that typically one team has a better chance than the other to win the game. If bettors were allowed to bet on who was simply going to win the game, smart ones would obviously bet on the better team (likely winning more than 50% of the time in the process).
If winning were that easy the Las Vegas and online sportsbooks would stop taking any bets! This is where the point spread comes in: the basic function of the point spread is to balance the likelihood of each team “winning” by adjusting the final score by the point spread. After this adjustment is made you get the Against The Spread result (ATS result for short).
Let’s look at Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Most people believed the defending champ Patriots to be the better team – so if betting were simply based upon which team would win the game, an uneven majority of people would have wagered on New England. But, by using the point spread, the bookmakers adjusted the terms of the bet, evening the proposition so about half the people believed the Pats to be the smart bet, while the other half considered Philly to be the smart bet.
How to Read Point Spreads
New England Patriots -7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The better team, called the Favorite, is expected to win the game and must “give” or “lay” points to the weaker team. The favorite is listed with a minus sign and the number of points they are favored by (e.g., New England -7)
In the case of our example, New England must not only win the game, but they must win by more than 7 points for Pats bettors to have a winning ATS result. An Eagles bettor wins his bet either if:
- Philly wins the actual game by any amount of points
OR
- Philly loses the game by less than 7 points.
-
There was also the possibility that the final score could land exactly on the spread number (for example, the Pats winning 28-21 when -7), which is called a “push” or “no action” and a refund is then issued to bettors of both teams.
The same game with the same point spread can be considered from the weaker team’s perspective: The Underdog (Philly in the case of our example) is not expected to win the game and online football betting thus receives or “gets” points given by the stronger team. When a game is stated from the underdog’s perspective the team is listed with a plus sign and the number of points they are underdogs by:
Philadelphia Eagles +7 vs. New England Patriots
Keep in mind that Philadelphia +7 and New England -7 is the same point spread on the same game, simply stated differently. The first is from the underdog’s perspective; the later is from the favorite’s.
For Those Who Like to Consider Things Mathematically
Not a must, but for some a mathematical approach is insightful. You can determine the ATS winner by either:
- Subtracting the point spread from the favorite’s score (thus the minus sign before the number) and then compare to the underdog’s score
OR
- Adding the point spread to the underdog’s score (thus the plus sign before the number) and then compare to the favorite’s score
Who Really “Won” the Super Bowl odds ?
Let’s look at the actual result of Super Bowl XXXIX: New England 24 Philadelphia 21
The favorite, New England, won the game but not by more than the point spread they were favored by (7), so the ATS result was a LOSS for Pats bettors.
Looking at it from the underdog’s perspective, Philly did not win the game, but they lost by less than the point spread (7), so the ATS result was a WIN for Eagle bettors.
Mathematically considered, 24 for the favorite Pats minus 7 equals 17, which is less than the 20 the Eagles scored, so the underdog Eagles win the ATS result (or you could figure 20 plus 7 equals 27 for the Eagles, which is more than 24 for the Pats).
Emily’s boyfriend understood the point spread and wagered $100 on the Eagles at +7. The Eagles may not have gotten a Super Bowl ring, but since they won the ATS result Emily’s boyfriend cashed his bet – giving him money to take her out to a nice dinner.
And now hopefully you understand how to read point spreads, putting you one step closer to joining the fun of sports betting.
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting and World Series odds.