Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
This week’s PGA Tour Golf betting features plenty of big names as the tour makes its way to Hawaii for the Sony Open. Steve Stricker is the favorite with 8/1 golf odds.
Stricker is coming off a fine effort in his first tournament of 2011. The American notched a fourth-place finish at least week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He had a great shot to win as he entered the final round tied for first. Stricker shot a 71 on Sunday, however — his first round out of the 60s — to fall down to fourth. He’s riding some decent momentum, though, as Stricker has finished in the Top-10 in five of his last eight events.
Ernie Els and Jim Furyk are each tied with 12/1 odds to win the Sony Open. Els settled for a 17th-place finish last week. The South African finished 11-under but looked a little rusty at times, though he did shoot a 64 on his second day of the tournament. Els had a three-tournament streak of Top-10 finishes snapped.
Furyk, meanwhile, started the season with a ninth-place effort in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The American was fairly consistent through the week.
Matt Kuchar is next in line with 16/1 odds to win the Sony Open in Hawaii. He went 18 under par last weekend, good enough to finish sixth in the tournament. It was Kuchar’s first Top-10 finish since early September, when he finished third at the BMW Championship. Since then, he’d barely been able to crack the Top-20.
Adam Scott rounds out the top five competitors with 18/1 golf odds this weekend. Scott wound up in 21st thanks to a rough final outing. He was tied for third after three days of play, but a final round of 73 kept him out of contention in the end.
Bodog Sportsbook is by far the hoops gaming leader on the Web!
Stricker is coming off a fine effort in his first tournament of 2011. The American notched a fourth-place finish at least week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He had a great shot to win as he entered the final round tied for first. Stricker shot a 71 on Sunday, however — his first round out of the 60s — to fall down to fourth. He’s riding some decent momentum, though, as Stricker has finished in the Top-10 in five of his last eight events.
Ernie Els and Jim Furyk are each tied with 12/1 odds to win the Sony Open. Els settled for a 17th-place finish last week. The South African finished 11-under but looked a little rusty at times, though he did shoot a 64 on his second day of the tournament. Els had a three-tournament streak of Top-10 finishes snapped.
Furyk, meanwhile, started the season with a ninth-place effort in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The American was fairly consistent through the week.
Matt Kuchar is next in line with 16/1 odds to win the Sony Open in Hawaii. He went 18 under par last weekend, good enough to finish sixth in the tournament. It was Kuchar’s first Top-10 finish since early September, when he finished third at the BMW Championship. Since then, he’d barely been able to crack the Top-20.
Adam Scott rounds out the top five competitors with 18/1 golf odds this weekend. Scott wound up in 21st thanks to a rough final outing. He was tied for third after three days of play, but a final round of 73 kept him out of contention in the end.
Bodog Sportsbook is by far the hoops gaming leader on the Web!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Golf betting won’t be limited to American soil this weekend. Fans can also get in on European Tour action, as the Joburg Open gets underway.
Charl Schwartzel is tops on the list with 4/1 odds to win the Joburg Open, and it’s easy to see why. He continued his impressive run with a fourth-place effort at last week’s Africa Open; that gives Schwartzel three straight finishes among the Top-5 (with two of them coming in December). He won two tournaments last year — including the Joburg Open. Schwartzel looks like a great bet this week.
After Schwartzel, there’s a rather steep drop-off in odds. Richard Sterne and Thomas Aiken are next up with 16/1 odds each. If you’re a fan of momentum, though, Sterne hardly looks like a safe pick. He hasn’t cracked the Top-10 in five straight tournaments, and this will be his first event of 2011. Sterne placed 21st at the South African Open Championship on Dec. 19.
Aiken has been buzzing around the Top-10, but not quite able to find it. He’s placed 14th in back-to-back tournaments, including last week’s Africa Open. Aiken did finish fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in mid-December, though, so he’s hardly far removed from an impressive result.
Danny Willett and Soren Hansen round out the top five competitors at the Joburg Open; each have 20/1 odds on European Tour golf betting. Willett hasn’t been seen in a while, which is probably a good thing. He placed 55th and 67th in his two November tournaments and hasn’t been seen since then.
Hansen also hasn’t hit the links since November. He’ll be searching for his first Top-10 finish since March 7, a span of 25 tournaments.
Bodog Sportsbook is by far the golf gaming leader on the Web!
Charl Schwartzel is tops on the list with 4/1 odds to win the Joburg Open, and it’s easy to see why. He continued his impressive run with a fourth-place effort at last week’s Africa Open; that gives Schwartzel three straight finishes among the Top-5 (with two of them coming in December). He won two tournaments last year — including the Joburg Open. Schwartzel looks like a great bet this week.
After Schwartzel, there’s a rather steep drop-off in odds. Richard Sterne and Thomas Aiken are next up with 16/1 odds each. If you’re a fan of momentum, though, Sterne hardly looks like a safe pick. He hasn’t cracked the Top-10 in five straight tournaments, and this will be his first event of 2011. Sterne placed 21st at the South African Open Championship on Dec. 19.
Aiken has been buzzing around the Top-10, but not quite able to find it. He’s placed 14th in back-to-back tournaments, including last week’s Africa Open. Aiken did finish fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in mid-December, though, so he’s hardly far removed from an impressive result.
Danny Willett and Soren Hansen round out the top five competitors at the Joburg Open; each have 20/1 odds on European Tour golf betting. Willett hasn’t been seen in a while, which is probably a good thing. He placed 55th and 67th in his two November tournaments and hasn’t been seen since then.
Hansen also hasn’t hit the links since November. He’ll be searching for his first Top-10 finish since March 7, a span of 25 tournaments.
Bodog Sportsbook is by far the golf gaming leader on the Web!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The tennis season’s first Grand Slam event begins on Sunday night U.S. time with the Australian Open in Melbourne, and the seeds were released on Thursday with no real surprises among them. Bet on the tournament with Bodog’s tennis odds.
Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s top-ranked players, were given the top seeds for the 2011 Australian Open that begins Jan. 17. It is the second major in a row both Nadal and Wozniacki are seeded No. 1. The men's and women's seeds follow the ATP and WTA rankings respectively.
The Aussie Open is the one major that Nadal didn’t win last year – world No. 2 and second-seeded Roger Federer won it last year by beating Andy Murray in the final. But Nadal wasn’t healthy, either, withdrawing from his match with Murray due to a lingering knee injury. Federer is a slight betting favorite over Nadal to win the Aussie Open this year.
Wozniacki, meanwhile, has been at the top of the world rankings since last October but she has never won a major title. Serena Williams is the defending women’s champion of this event and a five-time winner of the Aussie Open. But Williams, who would have been the favorite, will miss this tournament with a foot injury. Kim Clijsters is the current betting favorite at Bodog.
Could an Aussie win this tournament? Samantha Stosur is the only Australian men's or women's singles player seeded for the tournament. The world No. 6 got the No. 5 seeding due to the absence through injury of world No. 4 Serena.
The draw for the tournament will be tomorrow. Here is the complete list of seeds:
MEN
No. 1 Rafael Nadal
No. 2 Roger Federer
No. 3 Novak Djokovic
No. 4 Robin Soderling
No. 5 Andy Murray
No. 6 Tomas Berdych
No. 7 David Ferrer
No. 8 Andy Roddick
No. 9 Fernando Verdasco
No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny
No. 11 Jurgen Melzer
No. 12 Gael Monfils
No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
No. 14 Nicolas Almagro
No. 15 Marin Cilic
No. 16 Mardy Fish
No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic
No. 18 Sam Querrey
No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka
No. 20 John Isner
No. 21 Marcos Baghdatis
No. 22 Michael Llodra
No. 23 Nikolay Davydenko
No. 24 Ernests Gulbis
No. 25 Albert Montanes
No. 26 Juan Monaco
No. 27 David Nalbandian
No. 28 Richard Gasquet
No. 29 Viktor Troicki
No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci
No. 31 Feliciano Lopez
No. 32 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
WOMEN
No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki
No. 2 Vera Zvonareva
No. 3 Kim Clijsters
No. 4 Venus Williams
No. 5 Samantha Stosur
No. 6 Francesca Schiavone
No. 7 Jelena Jankovic
No. 8 Victoria Azarenka
No. 9 Na Li
No. 10 Shahar Peer
No. 11 Justine Henin
No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska
No. 13 Nadia Petrova
No. 14 Maria Sharapova
No. 15 Marion Bartoli
No. 16 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
No. 17 Aravane Rezai
No. 18 Maria Kirilenko
No. 19 Ana Ivanovic
No. 20 Kaia Kanepi
No. 21 Yanina Wickmayer
No. 22 Flavia Pennetta
No. 23 Svetlana Kuznetsova
No. 24 Alisa Kleybanova
No. 25 Petra Kvitova
No. 26 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
No. 27 Alexandra Dulgheru
No. 28 Daniela Hantuchova
No. 29 Dominika Cibulkova
No. 30 Andrea Petkovic
No. 31 Lucie Safarova
No. 32 Tsvetana Pironkova
Get all your Australian Open odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s top-ranked players, were given the top seeds for the 2011 Australian Open that begins Jan. 17. It is the second major in a row both Nadal and Wozniacki are seeded No. 1. The men's and women's seeds follow the ATP and WTA rankings respectively.
The Aussie Open is the one major that Nadal didn’t win last year – world No. 2 and second-seeded Roger Federer won it last year by beating Andy Murray in the final. But Nadal wasn’t healthy, either, withdrawing from his match with Murray due to a lingering knee injury. Federer is a slight betting favorite over Nadal to win the Aussie Open this year.
Wozniacki, meanwhile, has been at the top of the world rankings since last October but she has never won a major title. Serena Williams is the defending women’s champion of this event and a five-time winner of the Aussie Open. But Williams, who would have been the favorite, will miss this tournament with a foot injury. Kim Clijsters is the current betting favorite at Bodog.
Could an Aussie win this tournament? Samantha Stosur is the only Australian men's or women's singles player seeded for the tournament. The world No. 6 got the No. 5 seeding due to the absence through injury of world No. 4 Serena.
The draw for the tournament will be tomorrow. Here is the complete list of seeds:
MEN
No. 1 Rafael Nadal
No. 2 Roger Federer
No. 3 Novak Djokovic
No. 4 Robin Soderling
No. 5 Andy Murray
No. 6 Tomas Berdych
No. 7 David Ferrer
No. 8 Andy Roddick
No. 9 Fernando Verdasco
No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny
No. 11 Jurgen Melzer
No. 12 Gael Monfils
No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
No. 14 Nicolas Almagro
No. 15 Marin Cilic
No. 16 Mardy Fish
No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic
No. 18 Sam Querrey
No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka
No. 20 John Isner
No. 21 Marcos Baghdatis
No. 22 Michael Llodra
No. 23 Nikolay Davydenko
No. 24 Ernests Gulbis
No. 25 Albert Montanes
No. 26 Juan Monaco
No. 27 David Nalbandian
No. 28 Richard Gasquet
No. 29 Viktor Troicki
No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci
No. 31 Feliciano Lopez
No. 32 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez
WOMEN
No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki
No. 2 Vera Zvonareva
No. 3 Kim Clijsters
No. 4 Venus Williams
No. 5 Samantha Stosur
No. 6 Francesca Schiavone
No. 7 Jelena Jankovic
No. 8 Victoria Azarenka
No. 9 Na Li
No. 10 Shahar Peer
No. 11 Justine Henin
No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska
No. 13 Nadia Petrova
No. 14 Maria Sharapova
No. 15 Marion Bartoli
No. 16 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
No. 17 Aravane Rezai
No. 18 Maria Kirilenko
No. 19 Ana Ivanovic
No. 20 Kaia Kanepi
No. 21 Yanina Wickmayer
No. 22 Flavia Pennetta
No. 23 Svetlana Kuznetsova
No. 24 Alisa Kleybanova
No. 25 Petra Kvitova
No. 26 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
No. 27 Alexandra Dulgheru
No. 28 Daniela Hantuchova
No. 29 Dominika Cibulkova
No. 30 Andrea Petkovic
No. 31 Lucie Safarova
No. 32 Tsvetana Pironkova
Get all your Australian Open odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Even though it’s more than a year-and-a-half away, you already can bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup competition at Bodog’s golf odds and now we know who will lead the American team: Davis Love III.
The official announcement is expected on Thursday at Medinah outside of Chicago, the site of the tournament in the fall of next year. Love will be named captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team while Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal will be appointed as Europe captain on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
Love has played for the U.S. six times in this competition and faced Olazabal in his debut Ryder Cup match in 1993 at The Belfry. He and teammate Tom Kite won the opening session, but Olazabal’s team won the other four times they played. Overall Love took part in 26 matches, going 9-12-5 overall. He was 3-1-2 in singles, 3-6-2 in four-ball and 3-5-1 in foursomes. The Americans were 2-4 in the six competitions in which Love played.
Love was a vice-captain last year at Celtic Manor in Wales where Europe won by a point. Love, whose lone major was the 1997 PGA Championship, has 20 wins on the PGA Tour, trailing only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh among players from his generation.
Olazabal, a two-time winner of the Masters, was vice-captain to Nick Faldo at Valhalla in 2008 and assisted Colin Montgomerie last year. Olazabal has played in seven Ryder Cups and combined with countryman Seve Ballesteros to form the most successful partnership in the history of the event, winning 11 matches, halving two and losing two. His last appearance was at the K Club five years ago.
Bet on golf futures at Bodog Sportsbook
The official announcement is expected on Thursday at Medinah outside of Chicago, the site of the tournament in the fall of next year. Love will be named captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team while Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal will be appointed as Europe captain on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
Love has played for the U.S. six times in this competition and faced Olazabal in his debut Ryder Cup match in 1993 at The Belfry. He and teammate Tom Kite won the opening session, but Olazabal’s team won the other four times they played. Overall Love took part in 26 matches, going 9-12-5 overall. He was 3-1-2 in singles, 3-6-2 in four-ball and 3-5-1 in foursomes. The Americans were 2-4 in the six competitions in which Love played.
Love was a vice-captain last year at Celtic Manor in Wales where Europe won by a point. Love, whose lone major was the 1997 PGA Championship, has 20 wins on the PGA Tour, trailing only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh among players from his generation.
Olazabal, a two-time winner of the Masters, was vice-captain to Nick Faldo at Valhalla in 2008 and assisted Colin Montgomerie last year. Olazabal has played in seven Ryder Cups and combined with countryman Seve Ballesteros to form the most successful partnership in the history of the event, winning 11 matches, halving two and losing two. His last appearance was at the K Club five years ago.
Bet on golf futures at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Bring up the name Billy Walters in a Las Vegas casino and they will cringe at the possibility of taking on one of his bets due to having one of the highest winning percentages in the industry. He’s the guy who started gambling when he was a teenager and never looked back. So far, he's led a very successful life as a gambler due to his intricate betting system which has turned him into a millionaire.
Yesterday, he was featured on the U.S. news show 60 Minutes, where they followed him as he ran his day to day numbers thanks to a team of programmers and talented staff that help him earn millions in profits. According to the 60 Minutes report, on a normal day, he can risk an easy $2 million and he’s even influential enough to change the lines if they’re not working for him.
When Walters arrived in Las Vegas back in the 1980’s he became part of the “Computer Group”, who were a group of sports bettors responsible for taking down Las Vegas and bookmakers around the country with their untouched format for placing bets. With their personal computers and savvy programming crew, they were able to win over 60% of the time which meant that they became almost untouchable. Today, Walters employs a similar system which is very hush hush but all for a good reason.
Throughout his long and successful career as a professional gambler, Walters has been indicted four times by federal authorities but each time they couldn’t find fault since they were betting on games which is legal in the state of Nevada.
One of his biggest accomplishments according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, was winning $3.5 million on last year’s Super Bowl game and winning $400,000 on a single hole of golf. Bill’s earnings over the years has helped him acquire seven homes, a $20 million private jet and part ownership of three golf courses.
Yesterday, he was featured on the U.S. news show 60 Minutes, where they followed him as he ran his day to day numbers thanks to a team of programmers and talented staff that help him earn millions in profits. According to the 60 Minutes report, on a normal day, he can risk an easy $2 million and he’s even influential enough to change the lines if they’re not working for him.
When Walters arrived in Las Vegas back in the 1980’s he became part of the “Computer Group”, who were a group of sports bettors responsible for taking down Las Vegas and bookmakers around the country with their untouched format for placing bets. With their personal computers and savvy programming crew, they were able to win over 60% of the time which meant that they became almost untouchable. Today, Walters employs a similar system which is very hush hush but all for a good reason.
Throughout his long and successful career as a professional gambler, Walters has been indicted four times by federal authorities but each time they couldn’t find fault since they were betting on games which is legal in the state of Nevada.
One of his biggest accomplishments according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, was winning $3.5 million on last year’s Super Bowl game and winning $400,000 on a single hole of golf. Bill’s earnings over the years has helped him acquire seven homes, a $20 million private jet and part ownership of three golf courses.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A Utica man pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with a Utica-based illegal Internet sports gambling operation.
John Swift, 42, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of second-degree promoting gambling in Oneida County Court and agreed to forfeit more than $30,000 in proceeds he received as a bookmaker for bets on professional football games between October and November 2009, prosecutors said.
Swift also will have to pay $2,500 in fines.
Three other suspects – Richard Dorsagno Sr., his wife, Susan, and their son, Richard Dorsagno Jr. – still face similar charges related to the promotion of gambling.
Swift agreed to forfeit $27,429 that was seized from the Dorsagno residence on Proctor View Drive, as well as $1,200 and $1,488 seized, respectively, from Swift’s properties at 811 Mohawk St. and 2300 Portal Road, prosecutors said.
John Swift, 42, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of second-degree promoting gambling in Oneida County Court and agreed to forfeit more than $30,000 in proceeds he received as a bookmaker for bets on professional football games between October and November 2009, prosecutors said.
Swift also will have to pay $2,500 in fines.
Three other suspects – Richard Dorsagno Sr., his wife, Susan, and their son, Richard Dorsagno Jr. – still face similar charges related to the promotion of gambling.
Swift agreed to forfeit $27,429 that was seized from the Dorsagno residence on Proctor View Drive, as well as $1,200 and $1,488 seized, respectively, from Swift’s properties at 811 Mohawk St. and 2300 Portal Road, prosecutors said.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
European Tour golf betting gets underway in Abu Dhabi this week for the HSBC Golf Championship. Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood are tied atop the list with 8/1 odds to win the tournament.
Kaymer will be playing in his first tournament of the 2011 season. The German hasn’t been on the links since November, when he finished 13th at the Dubai World Championship. Kaymer is as capable as anyone of hitting a hot streak, even without playing on a weekly basis; he earned three straight wins in August, September and October despite not playing a single tournament in between.
Westwood also hasn’t played since November, when he finished the season very impressively. The Englishman picked up a second-place finish at the HSBC Champions before notching a third-place effort at the Dubai World Championship. In fact, Westwood has finished third or better in three of his last five tournaments. He’s missed the Top 20 just once in his last nine tourneys, so Westwood is expected to be hanging around all weekend.
Like Westwood, Rory McIlroy enjoyed a very promising finish to the 2010 season. The Northern Ireland native has 11/1 odds to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, and it’s easy to see why. He finished fifth, sixth and fifth in his final three tournaments of the year, which gives McIlroy seven Top-10 finishes in his last 10 tournaments. Five of them included Top-5 finishes, though he was left without a victory.
Paul Casey is right behind with 12/1 golf odds to win. The Englishman wrapped up 2010 with back-to-back sixth-place finishes. He’s now hit the Top-6 in three of his last five outings.
Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter round out the top competitors at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Each have 14/1 odds to win.
Get all your golf odds at Bodog Sportsbook
Kaymer will be playing in his first tournament of the 2011 season. The German hasn’t been on the links since November, when he finished 13th at the Dubai World Championship. Kaymer is as capable as anyone of hitting a hot streak, even without playing on a weekly basis; he earned three straight wins in August, September and October despite not playing a single tournament in between.
Westwood also hasn’t played since November, when he finished the season very impressively. The Englishman picked up a second-place finish at the HSBC Champions before notching a third-place effort at the Dubai World Championship. In fact, Westwood has finished third or better in three of his last five tournaments. He’s missed the Top 20 just once in his last nine tourneys, so Westwood is expected to be hanging around all weekend.
Like Westwood, Rory McIlroy enjoyed a very promising finish to the 2010 season. The Northern Ireland native has 11/1 odds to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, and it’s easy to see why. He finished fifth, sixth and fifth in his final three tournaments of the year, which gives McIlroy seven Top-10 finishes in his last 10 tournaments. Five of them included Top-5 finishes, though he was left without a victory.
Paul Casey is right behind with 12/1 golf odds to win. The Englishman wrapped up 2010 with back-to-back sixth-place finishes. He’s now hit the Top-6 in three of his last five outings.
Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter round out the top competitors at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Each have 14/1 odds to win.
Get all your golf odds at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Pretty recently there were rumors circulating that the popular deposit method amongst US sports bettors eWalletXpress would be shutting down after having their funds seized be the US government. Even though betting on sports is NOT illegal in all US states it is still becoming harder and harder to fund the betting accounts with credit cards and various eWallets.
The good news for those of us who are looking to fund our online sportsbooks before the start of the NFL playoffs is that most of the US friendly sportsbooks are still accepting eCheck deposits.
US gambling, U.S. citizens and gambling for americans All of these sportsbooks are accepting deposits using instant eChecks and they are also offering very fast payouts of winnings.
The good news for those of us who are looking to fund our online sportsbooks before the start of the NFL playoffs is that most of the US friendly sportsbooks are still accepting eCheck deposits.
US gambling, U.S. citizens and gambling for americans All of these sportsbooks are accepting deposits using instant eChecks and they are also offering very fast payouts of winnings.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
After making history, you can’t blame NASCAR betting fans for taking Jimmie Johnson to win yet another Sprint Cup Championship. This is your Jimmie Johnson 2011 preview.
Johnson set a NASCAR record last year by becoming the only driver in history to win five consecutive Sprint Cup Series titles. The Hendrick Motorsports star also made the top five in four straight years before his championship run began, so there’s no doubt he’ll be in the mix once again.
Though he won it all last season, it was perhaps Johnson’s least dominant season since his first championship in 2006. Johnson won his fewest races (six) and fewest poles (two) in four years. He remained incredibly consistent, though, cracking the Top-5 17 times in 36 races. Johnson’s average start position has been incredibly consistent over the last four years: ninth, ninth, eighth, and ninth.
If you’re looking for a driver carrying some momentum into the 2011 season, however, Johnson may not be your guy. Though he finished second in his final race of the year, Johnson won just a single race during the final five months of the year — a span of 19 races.
At the same time, Johnson is as good a candidate as any to rip off a hot start. He kicked off 2010 with three wins in his first five races, and four victories in his first seven.
Regardless, Johnson is no longer chasing records — he already owns them — but instead racing for a place in history. With another championship, it will be hard for NASCAR betting fans to label him anything but the best of all time.
You ready for some NASCAR? Bet on auto racing futures at Bodog Sportsbook
Johnson set a NASCAR record last year by becoming the only driver in history to win five consecutive Sprint Cup Series titles. The Hendrick Motorsports star also made the top five in four straight years before his championship run began, so there’s no doubt he’ll be in the mix once again.
Though he won it all last season, it was perhaps Johnson’s least dominant season since his first championship in 2006. Johnson won his fewest races (six) and fewest poles (two) in four years. He remained incredibly consistent, though, cracking the Top-5 17 times in 36 races. Johnson’s average start position has been incredibly consistent over the last four years: ninth, ninth, eighth, and ninth.
If you’re looking for a driver carrying some momentum into the 2011 season, however, Johnson may not be your guy. Though he finished second in his final race of the year, Johnson won just a single race during the final five months of the year — a span of 19 races.
At the same time, Johnson is as good a candidate as any to rip off a hot start. He kicked off 2010 with three wins in his first five races, and four victories in his first seven.
Regardless, Johnson is no longer chasing records — he already owns them — but instead racing for a place in history. With another championship, it will be hard for NASCAR betting fans to label him anything but the best of all time.
You ready for some NASCAR? Bet on auto racing futures at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The most anticipated match on Monday night (Tuesday Down Under) at the Australian Open features friends and Swiss countrymen Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer for a spot in the semifinals. Federer is the -550 favorite with Wawrinka at +350 on Bodog’s tennis odds.
Wawrinka partnered with Federer at the Beijing Olympics to bring home the gold in the men’s doubles. The 19th seed was very impressive in stomping Andy Roddick to reach the quarterfinals. Only one player had ever beaten Roddick in straight sets at the Aussie Open previously, and that was Federer in 2007 and ’09. But Wawrinka, who has yet to drop a set in Melbourne this year, is just 1-6 all-time against Federer. No player knows Federer better, however, as the two also have practiced together "thousands of times.”
Federer, a 16-time Grand Slam winner and reigning champion of this tournament, of course escaped a near-upset by Gilles Simon last week and is looking for a spot in the Aussie Open semifinals for the eighth straight year. Neither Federer nor Wawrinka has lost a match yet in 2011, combining to go 18-0. On hard courts, Federer is 4-0 against Wawrinka and 8-1 in sets on that surface. Wawrinka's lone victory over Federer in his career came at the 2009 Monte Carlo Masters. They faced each other three times in 2010, with Federer prevailing in all three and most recently scoring a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in the Stockholm quarterfinals.
This is the first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal matchup between two Swiss players. It’s the 27th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal for Federer, tying the record held by American Jimmy Connors.
Get all the best Aussie Open props at Bodog Sportsbook
Wawrinka partnered with Federer at the Beijing Olympics to bring home the gold in the men’s doubles. The 19th seed was very impressive in stomping Andy Roddick to reach the quarterfinals. Only one player had ever beaten Roddick in straight sets at the Aussie Open previously, and that was Federer in 2007 and ’09. But Wawrinka, who has yet to drop a set in Melbourne this year, is just 1-6 all-time against Federer. No player knows Federer better, however, as the two also have practiced together "thousands of times.”
Federer, a 16-time Grand Slam winner and reigning champion of this tournament, of course escaped a near-upset by Gilles Simon last week and is looking for a spot in the Aussie Open semifinals for the eighth straight year. Neither Federer nor Wawrinka has lost a match yet in 2011, combining to go 18-0. On hard courts, Federer is 4-0 against Wawrinka and 8-1 in sets on that surface. Wawrinka's lone victory over Federer in his career came at the 2009 Monte Carlo Masters. They faced each other three times in 2010, with Federer prevailing in all three and most recently scoring a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in the Stockholm quarterfinals.
This is the first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal matchup between two Swiss players. It’s the 27th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal for Federer, tying the record held by American Jimmy Connors.
Get all the best Aussie Open props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Super Bowl can be a problem for sports gamblers who are addicted.
The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling said it gets more calls for help in January, February and March.
"Gambling almost cost me everything that was important to me -- my family, my marriage," said Lee, a recovered gambler.
Lee said she didn't want her identity revealed, even though she has been a recovered gambler for a decade.
"It was ugly, and it finally got to the point where I got into some serious trouble through theft from an employer," Lee said.
She said she's concerned about Super Bowl weekend and addicted sports gamblers who might get themselves in even more trouble.
"The Super Bowl gets all the hype, but these are people who are busy gambling on sports all year around," said Dr. Edward Rubin, a psychologist and addiction specialist at Aurora Behavioral Health Center.
Rubin said there are a couple of key questions that could indicate a serious gambling problem.
"Have you ever found it necessary to lie to the people you're close to about how much you gamble?" Rubin asked.
Rubin urged those who think they may have a problem to call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling for help at 800-426-2535.
"February is traditionally our busiest month for calls," said Rose Gruber, of the Wisconsin Council of Problem Gambling. "Last year, we had 1,583 calls. With Super Bowl and the Packers being involved, certainly that could escalate those numbers."
The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling said it gets more calls for help in January, February and March.
"Gambling almost cost me everything that was important to me -- my family, my marriage," said Lee, a recovered gambler.
Lee said she didn't want her identity revealed, even though she has been a recovered gambler for a decade.
"It was ugly, and it finally got to the point where I got into some serious trouble through theft from an employer," Lee said.
She said she's concerned about Super Bowl weekend and addicted sports gamblers who might get themselves in even more trouble.
"The Super Bowl gets all the hype, but these are people who are busy gambling on sports all year around," said Dr. Edward Rubin, a psychologist and addiction specialist at Aurora Behavioral Health Center.
Rubin said there are a couple of key questions that could indicate a serious gambling problem.
"Have you ever found it necessary to lie to the people you're close to about how much you gamble?" Rubin asked.
Rubin urged those who think they may have a problem to call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling for help at 800-426-2535.
"February is traditionally our busiest month for calls," said Rose Gruber, of the Wisconsin Council of Problem Gambling. "Last year, we had 1,583 calls. With Super Bowl and the Packers being involved, certainly that could escalate those numbers."
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The match of the day on Wednesday at the Australian Open is easily a 3:30 a.m. Eastern start between seventh-seeded David Ferrer and top-seed Rafael Nadal for a spot in the semifinals. Nadal has opened as a -1200 favorite on Bodog’s tennis odds.
Of course Nadal is going for the “Rafa Slam” in that he would hold all four Grand Slam titles at once if he can win this tournament – the Aussie is the only one he didn’t win in 2010. And Nadal appears to be peaking as he played what he described as his best match of the tournament on Monday in Melbourne, beating 2010 semifinalist Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Nadal, who has yet to drop a set in this tournament, is now riding a 25-match unbeaten run in Grand Slam play, the joint fourth longest streak in the Open Era. It was in the quarterfinal round last year here when Nadal withdrew against Andy Murray with a knee injury.
Ferrer, like Nadal a Spaniard, enters off a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Milos Raonic. Ferrer is unbeaten so far this year and on an eight-match winning streak. This will be his second Aussie Open quarterfinal; he has reached just one Grand Slam semifinal in his career, coming at the 2007 U.S. Open.
Past results don’t seem to bode well for Ferrer as he is just 3-11 all-time against Nadal and has lost seven matches in a row. Two of Ferrer’s wins did come on hard courts, however. In fact the last time the countrymen played on a hard court in a Grand Slam, Ferrer won at the 2007 U.S. Open.
Get all your Aussie Open odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
Of course Nadal is going for the “Rafa Slam” in that he would hold all four Grand Slam titles at once if he can win this tournament – the Aussie is the only one he didn’t win in 2010. And Nadal appears to be peaking as he played what he described as his best match of the tournament on Monday in Melbourne, beating 2010 semifinalist Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Nadal, who has yet to drop a set in this tournament, is now riding a 25-match unbeaten run in Grand Slam play, the joint fourth longest streak in the Open Era. It was in the quarterfinal round last year here when Nadal withdrew against Andy Murray with a knee injury.
Ferrer, like Nadal a Spaniard, enters off a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Milos Raonic. Ferrer is unbeaten so far this year and on an eight-match winning streak. This will be his second Aussie Open quarterfinal; he has reached just one Grand Slam semifinal in his career, coming at the 2007 U.S. Open.
Past results don’t seem to bode well for Ferrer as he is just 3-11 all-time against Nadal and has lost seven matches in a row. Two of Ferrer’s wins did come on hard courts, however. In fact the last time the countrymen played on a hard court in a Grand Slam, Ferrer won at the 2007 U.S. Open.
Get all your Aussie Open odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Two lightweight championship belts will be on the line Saturday night, so boxing betting fans can expect a close tilt when Timothy Bradley takes on Devon Alexander. Bradley is a -185 favorite, while Alexander checks in as a +155 underdog.
Bradley owns the WBO World Championship. Fighting out of Palm Springs, California, Bradley has a fantastic pedigree. He’s a two-time national amateur champion. He tried for the 2004 Olympics at 152 pounds but faced some struggles, failing to make the team. Since then he’s dropped to 140 and put together an impressive run (he’s 26-0 in his career with 11 knockouts).
Bradley really got the ball rolling with a win over current IBF Lightweight Champion Miguel Vasquez. He then won his belt from Junior Witter — despite being an underdog — by earning a split decision.
He’s had a few title defenses since then, including a rough go against WBO champ Kendall Holt. Bradley was dropped twice during the fight, but proved his mettle by holding on for the win and retaining his belt.
Alexander is fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri. Alexander was a superstar junior, going 300-10 with numerous national titles. Like Bradley, he missed the 2004 Olympics, but has since gone undefeated after turning pro (21-0, 13 knockouts for his career). Alexander won the vacant WBC belt in 2009 after beating Witter. He’s lost some of his luster, though, after struggling mightily against Andriy Kotelnik in a recent title defense. Many observers believe Kotelnik won the fight.
Bradley is undersized, perhaps even shorter than 5-foot-6. He doesn’t pack a ton of power but has good speed and constant pressure. Alexander stands at about 5-foot-7 and should have a reach advantage. He’s a harder puncher than Bradley, but probably not as strong overall.
Get the best fight props at Bodog Sportsbook
Bradley owns the WBO World Championship. Fighting out of Palm Springs, California, Bradley has a fantastic pedigree. He’s a two-time national amateur champion. He tried for the 2004 Olympics at 152 pounds but faced some struggles, failing to make the team. Since then he’s dropped to 140 and put together an impressive run (he’s 26-0 in his career with 11 knockouts).
Bradley really got the ball rolling with a win over current IBF Lightweight Champion Miguel Vasquez. He then won his belt from Junior Witter — despite being an underdog — by earning a split decision.
He’s had a few title defenses since then, including a rough go against WBO champ Kendall Holt. Bradley was dropped twice during the fight, but proved his mettle by holding on for the win and retaining his belt.
Alexander is fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri. Alexander was a superstar junior, going 300-10 with numerous national titles. Like Bradley, he missed the 2004 Olympics, but has since gone undefeated after turning pro (21-0, 13 knockouts for his career). Alexander won the vacant WBC belt in 2009 after beating Witter. He’s lost some of his luster, though, after struggling mightily against Andriy Kotelnik in a recent title defense. Many observers believe Kotelnik won the fight.
Bradley is undersized, perhaps even shorter than 5-foot-6. He doesn’t pack a ton of power but has good speed and constant pressure. Alexander stands at about 5-foot-7 and should have a reach advantage. He’s a harder puncher than Bradley, but probably not as strong overall.
Get the best fight props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In the latest development in the illegal gambling scandal that rocked the sumo world last year, police on Wednesday arrested four people, including three former wrestlers, on charges of operating or assisting in a gambling ring, the police said.
Papers on people suspected of placing bets through the four--including active wrestlers--will be sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office shortly, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Arrested were Sadahide Furuichi, 34, former wrestler in the second-tier juryo division; Tetsuya Yabushita, 29, former makushita lower division wrestler; Shunsaku Yamamoto, 35, former makushita division wrestler; and Furuichi's mother Yoneko, 63. All three former wrestlers belonged to the Onomatsu sumo stable.
Furuichi's older brother and former makushita division wrestler Mitsutomo Furuichi, 38, was indicted last year on charges that included blackmailing former ozeki Kotomitsuki over baseball gambling, and is currently on trial.
According to investigation sources, Sadahide and Yoneko are suspected of taking bets on professional interleague baseball games on May 15, collecting a total of 230,000 yen from three people, including sumo wrestlers. Yabushita and Yamamoto are suspected of soliciting bets on baseball games in April and May 2009, collecting a total of 1.08 million yen from six people, including sumo wrestlers.
Active sumo wrestlers, who allegedly placed bets through the four, include Shironoryu, juryo division wrestler of the Sakaigawa stable, and Daido, juryo division wrestler of the Onomatsu stable, both of whom were formally reprimanded by the Japan Sumo Association in September.
In July, the MPD searched the Onomatsu and other sumo stables in connection with the baseball gambling racket.
Through the investigation, including the analysis of e-mails sent via cell phones owned by the wrestlers in question, the police attempted to track down when the gambling took place and how much money was bet. But the police have yet to confirm any involvement of organized crime, which they believe was behind the gambling ring.
Papers on people suspected of placing bets through the four--including active wrestlers--will be sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office shortly, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Arrested were Sadahide Furuichi, 34, former wrestler in the second-tier juryo division; Tetsuya Yabushita, 29, former makushita lower division wrestler; Shunsaku Yamamoto, 35, former makushita division wrestler; and Furuichi's mother Yoneko, 63. All three former wrestlers belonged to the Onomatsu sumo stable.
Furuichi's older brother and former makushita division wrestler Mitsutomo Furuichi, 38, was indicted last year on charges that included blackmailing former ozeki Kotomitsuki over baseball gambling, and is currently on trial.
According to investigation sources, Sadahide and Yoneko are suspected of taking bets on professional interleague baseball games on May 15, collecting a total of 230,000 yen from three people, including sumo wrestlers. Yabushita and Yamamoto are suspected of soliciting bets on baseball games in April and May 2009, collecting a total of 1.08 million yen from six people, including sumo wrestlers.
Active sumo wrestlers, who allegedly placed bets through the four, include Shironoryu, juryo division wrestler of the Sakaigawa stable, and Daido, juryo division wrestler of the Onomatsu stable, both of whom were formally reprimanded by the Japan Sumo Association in September.
In July, the MPD searched the Onomatsu and other sumo stables in connection with the baseball gambling racket.
Through the investigation, including the analysis of e-mails sent via cell phones owned by the wrestlers in question, the police attempted to track down when the gambling took place and how much money was bet. But the police have yet to confirm any involvement of organized crime, which they believe was behind the gambling ring.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
PGA Tour golf betting gets underway with the Farmers Insurance Open. A familiar face is atop the odds, as Tiger Woods is expected to start 2011 with a bang.
Woods, an 11/4 favorite this week, will be making his first appearance of 2011. Last year’s uneven performance has been well documented, but there are plenty of signs for hope. First, most of his divorce fallout is behind him, allowing Woods to concentrate on golf. Woods also closed out the year very strongly — he finished second at the Chevron World Challenge in December, losing a playoff to Graeme McDowell. That followed up a sixth-place effort at the HSBC Champions in November. Those marked the first Top-10 finishes for Woods since finishing fourth at the U.S. Open in June.
Predictably, Phil Mickelson is next in line with 14/1 odds to win the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson won’t be carrying any momentum into this season. He won The Masters last year but reached the Top-10 just once in his last eight tournaments, never finishing higher than eighth. “Lefty” placed 41st at the HSBC Champions and is undoubtedly looking for a fresh start.
Dustin Johnson rounds out the top three contenders with 16/1 Farmers Insurance Open odds. Johnson has already hit the links once this season, finishing ninth at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. After a strong 2010 campaign, Johnson is poised to make some noise in 2011.
With 20/1 golf odds, Nick Watney is expected to be in the hunt this weekend. Watney failed to win a tournament last season, but he collected eight Top-10 finishes, including seventh-place efforts at The Masters and the British Open. Watney also cracked the Top-10 in two of his last four tourneys.
Get the best golf props at Bodog Sportsbook
Woods, an 11/4 favorite this week, will be making his first appearance of 2011. Last year’s uneven performance has been well documented, but there are plenty of signs for hope. First, most of his divorce fallout is behind him, allowing Woods to concentrate on golf. Woods also closed out the year very strongly — he finished second at the Chevron World Challenge in December, losing a playoff to Graeme McDowell. That followed up a sixth-place effort at the HSBC Champions in November. Those marked the first Top-10 finishes for Woods since finishing fourth at the U.S. Open in June.
Predictably, Phil Mickelson is next in line with 14/1 odds to win the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson won’t be carrying any momentum into this season. He won The Masters last year but reached the Top-10 just once in his last eight tournaments, never finishing higher than eighth. “Lefty” placed 41st at the HSBC Champions and is undoubtedly looking for a fresh start.
Dustin Johnson rounds out the top three contenders with 16/1 Farmers Insurance Open odds. Johnson has already hit the links once this season, finishing ninth at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. After a strong 2010 campaign, Johnson is poised to make some noise in 2011.
With 20/1 golf odds, Nick Watney is expected to be in the hunt this weekend. Watney failed to win a tournament last season, but he collected eight Top-10 finishes, including seventh-place efforts at The Masters and the British Open. Watney also cracked the Top-10 in two of his last four tourneys.
Get the best golf props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
If the PGA isn’t enough to whet your golf appetite, you can also get in on the action for European Tour golf betting, where Paul Casey is a 7/1 favorite to win this weekend’s Volvo Golf Champions.
Casey is coming off an 18th-place finish at the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi. It was the Englishman’s first tournament since November; he closed out 2010 pretty strong, notching back-to-back sixth-place finishes and three Top-10s in his last five tourneys. Casey couldn’t find a victory, though, so he’ll be gunning especially hard this year.
Four golfers are tied with 11/1 odds to win the Volvo Golf Champions: Padraig Harrington, Robert Karlsson, Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter. Harrington’s 2011 campaign got off to a rough start last week. He was disqualified in the first round of the HSBC Golf Championship after committing a rules violation. Harrington seemed unfazed, though he was actually caught by a viewer watching on TV who called and alerted tournament officials. Considering Harrington hasn’t cracked the Top-10 in five straight tournaments, it’s not a great omen.
Karlsson, on the other hand, is carrying some nice momentum into the new year. He was victorious at the Dubai World Championship in his final tournament of 2010. The Swede also had a second-place finish in October, so he’s got plenty to be excited for. And, for whatever reason, Karlsson likes the Middle East; he also won a tournament in Qatar last year.
Molinari is also riding a heat wave into 2011. He finished eighth last weekend, giving him three Top-10s in his past four outings (including a win at the HSBC Champions in November. Poulter has three Top-6 finishes in his last four tournaments, but the Englishman was just 71st at last week’s HSBC Golf Champions.
Get the best golf props at Bodog Sportsbook
Casey is coming off an 18th-place finish at the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi. It was the Englishman’s first tournament since November; he closed out 2010 pretty strong, notching back-to-back sixth-place finishes and three Top-10s in his last five tourneys. Casey couldn’t find a victory, though, so he’ll be gunning especially hard this year.
Four golfers are tied with 11/1 odds to win the Volvo Golf Champions: Padraig Harrington, Robert Karlsson, Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter. Harrington’s 2011 campaign got off to a rough start last week. He was disqualified in the first round of the HSBC Golf Championship after committing a rules violation. Harrington seemed unfazed, though he was actually caught by a viewer watching on TV who called and alerted tournament officials. Considering Harrington hasn’t cracked the Top-10 in five straight tournaments, it’s not a great omen.
Karlsson, on the other hand, is carrying some nice momentum into the new year. He was victorious at the Dubai World Championship in his final tournament of 2010. The Swede also had a second-place finish in October, so he’s got plenty to be excited for. And, for whatever reason, Karlsson likes the Middle East; he also won a tournament in Qatar last year.
Molinari is also riding a heat wave into 2011. He finished eighth last weekend, giving him three Top-10s in his past four outings (including a win at the HSBC Champions in November. Poulter has three Top-6 finishes in his last four tournaments, but the Englishman was just 71st at last week’s HSBC Golf Champions.
Get the best golf props at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Saturday’s women’s final is set at the Australian Open, as third-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, the pre-tournament favorite on Bodog’s tennis odds, faces ninth seed Li Na of China, who has made history by reaching this final. Clijsters is the -300 betting favorite on Bodog to add another Grand Slam title.
In the semifinals, Li beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki to become the first Chinese player to reach the championship match at a Grand Slam. In fact, Li became the first Asian tennis player, male or female, to reach the final of a grand slam tournament in the Open era. She won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday, saving match point when Wozniacki was serving at 5-4 in the second set. Li lost in the Aussie Open semifinals last year. The win over Wozniacki was the second of her career over the world No. 1 and it made Li a perfect 11-0 in 2011.
Clijsters, a former world No. 1, won the final major of last season, the U.S. Open, for the third time. But she has never taken a Slam outside the United States. Clijsters routed No. 2 seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3 after losing three of her previous four meetings against Zvonareva. This is Clijsters’ second Aussie Open final, with her losing the 2004 championship match.
This will be the seventh meeting all-time between Clijsters and Li. Clijsters leads 4-2 but lost to Li a few weeks ago in Sydney, 7-6(3), 6-3. Both of Li’s wins have come on hard courts. The two have met in two prior Grand Slams, with Clijsters taking straight-set wins at the 2009 U.S. Open and 2006 Wimbledon.
Can Li Na make history and win the Aussie Open? Get the best props on this match at Bodog Sportsbook
In the semifinals, Li beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki to become the first Chinese player to reach the championship match at a Grand Slam. In fact, Li became the first Asian tennis player, male or female, to reach the final of a grand slam tournament in the Open era. She won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday, saving match point when Wozniacki was serving at 5-4 in the second set. Li lost in the Aussie Open semifinals last year. The win over Wozniacki was the second of her career over the world No. 1 and it made Li a perfect 11-0 in 2011.
Clijsters, a former world No. 1, won the final major of last season, the U.S. Open, for the third time. But she has never taken a Slam outside the United States. Clijsters routed No. 2 seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3 after losing three of her previous four meetings against Zvonareva. This is Clijsters’ second Aussie Open final, with her losing the 2004 championship match.
This will be the seventh meeting all-time between Clijsters and Li. Clijsters leads 4-2 but lost to Li a few weeks ago in Sydney, 7-6(3), 6-3. Both of Li’s wins have come on hard courts. The two have met in two prior Grand Slams, with Clijsters taking straight-set wins at the 2009 U.S. Open and 2006 Wimbledon.
Can Li Na make history and win the Aussie Open? Get the best props on this match at Bodog Sportsbook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Don’t let the ugly “Waste Management Phoenix Open” name fool you — there will be plenty of big-time golfers on hand at the tournament this week. Phil Mickelson tops PGA Tour golf betting odds at 7/1.
Mickelson kicked off the 2011 season in fine fashion. He finished 15 under par, good enough for second place at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson shot in the 60s on every day of the tournament, and his game looked quite sharp. In fact, he made several comments to reporters after the tourney that he was feeling very good about where his game is right now. Though Mickelson didn’t exactly fall apart last season, he looks poised for a very nice comeback.
Dustin Johnson is next up with 11/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Johnson has already played twice this season, with great results. He’s already 2/2 in the Top-10 department, finishing ninth at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in early January, and third at least week’s Farmers Insurance Open. Johnson made a very hard charge on Sunday, shooting a 66 after a lukewarm 71 the day before. Johnson ranks third on the tour in birdies per round.
Nick Watney has 18/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Watney started the Farmers Insurance Open a little sluggishly, putting up three straight 70-plus scores (70, 73, 72). He finally found his stroke on Sunday, firing a blistering 63 — the best score of the day by three strokes over Johnson. It was enough to leapfrog Watney from 56th to sixth. He should have some nice momentum heading into this week’s tourney.
Finally, there’s Rickie Fowler with 20/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Unlike everyone else on this list, the youngster failed to earn a Top-10 finish last week. Playing in his first tournament of the year, Fowler placed 20th at the Farmers Insurance Open. He cooled considerably after a first-day 65, shooting 71, 73, and 74 after that.
If it’s golf, Bodog Sportsbook has it covered with the Web’s best prop options
Mickelson kicked off the 2011 season in fine fashion. He finished 15 under par, good enough for second place at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson shot in the 60s on every day of the tournament, and his game looked quite sharp. In fact, he made several comments to reporters after the tourney that he was feeling very good about where his game is right now. Though Mickelson didn’t exactly fall apart last season, he looks poised for a very nice comeback.
Dustin Johnson is next up with 11/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Johnson has already played twice this season, with great results. He’s already 2/2 in the Top-10 department, finishing ninth at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in early January, and third at least week’s Farmers Insurance Open. Johnson made a very hard charge on Sunday, shooting a 66 after a lukewarm 71 the day before. Johnson ranks third on the tour in birdies per round.
Nick Watney has 18/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Watney started the Farmers Insurance Open a little sluggishly, putting up three straight 70-plus scores (70, 73, 72). He finally found his stroke on Sunday, firing a blistering 63 — the best score of the day by three strokes over Johnson. It was enough to leapfrog Watney from 56th to sixth. He should have some nice momentum heading into this week’s tourney.
Finally, there’s Rickie Fowler with 20/1 odds to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Unlike everyone else on this list, the youngster failed to earn a Top-10 finish last week. Playing in his first tournament of the year, Fowler placed 20th at the Farmers Insurance Open. He cooled considerably after a first-day 65, shooting 71, 73, and 74 after that.
If it’s golf, Bodog Sportsbook has it covered with the Web’s best prop options
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
European Tour golf betting resumes this weekend with the Qatar Masters. It’s no surprise to find the world’s No. 2-ranked golfer, Martin Kaymer, at the top of the list. Right behind him, though, is the world’s top-ranked player.
Kaymer leads all golfers with 13/2 odds to win the Qatar Masters. He kicked off his 2011 season with spectacular results, finishing 24 under par to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago. It was a relief for Kaymer, who had finished in the Top 10 just once in his last four tournaments. He’s capable of getting hot in the blink of an eye, though. In one stretch last season, Kaymer won three consecutive tournaments.
Lee Westwood trails closely behind with 8/1 Qatar Masters odds. It seemed like the Englishman would carry some major momentum into the season, but it didn’t play out that way last weekend. After wrapping up 2010 with second and third-place finishes in his final two tournaments, Westwood settled for a brutal 64th-place finish in Abu Dhabi. Westwood started strong enough but finished with three straight rounds in the 70s.
Paul Casey is third in line with 11/1 odds to win the Qatar Masters, and he might be the hottest golfer on the European Tour right now. The Englishman finished sixth in back-to-back tournaments during his last two outings of 2010. After placing 18th in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, Casey cruised to victory at last week’s Volvo Golf Champions, finishing 20 under par.
Robert Karlsson rounds out the top four competitors; he has 12/1 odds to win this weekend’s Qatar Masters. The Swede can give Casey a run for the title of the tour’s hottest golfer. Karlsson has three Top-5 finishes in his last five tournaments. He closed out the 2010 season with a victory at the Dubai World Championships, and then started 2011 with a very solid fifth-place finish at last week’s Volvo Golf Champions.
If it’s golf, Bodog Sportsbook has it covered with the Web’s best prop options
Kaymer leads all golfers with 13/2 odds to win the Qatar Masters. He kicked off his 2011 season with spectacular results, finishing 24 under par to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago. It was a relief for Kaymer, who had finished in the Top 10 just once in his last four tournaments. He’s capable of getting hot in the blink of an eye, though. In one stretch last season, Kaymer won three consecutive tournaments.
Lee Westwood trails closely behind with 8/1 Qatar Masters odds. It seemed like the Englishman would carry some major momentum into the season, but it didn’t play out that way last weekend. After wrapping up 2010 with second and third-place finishes in his final two tournaments, Westwood settled for a brutal 64th-place finish in Abu Dhabi. Westwood started strong enough but finished with three straight rounds in the 70s.
Paul Casey is third in line with 11/1 odds to win the Qatar Masters, and he might be the hottest golfer on the European Tour right now. The Englishman finished sixth in back-to-back tournaments during his last two outings of 2010. After placing 18th in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, Casey cruised to victory at last week’s Volvo Golf Champions, finishing 20 under par.
Robert Karlsson rounds out the top four competitors; he has 12/1 odds to win this weekend’s Qatar Masters. The Swede can give Casey a run for the title of the tour’s hottest golfer. Karlsson has three Top-5 finishes in his last five tournaments. He closed out the 2010 season with a victory at the Dubai World Championships, and then started 2011 with a very solid fifth-place finish at last week’s Volvo Golf Champions.
If it’s golf, Bodog Sportsbook has it covered with the Web’s best prop options
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689139)
.png?v=1.014689139)
Ogilvy cut open his finger on a coral reef at the beach on Tuesday and needed 12 stitches. He won’t know until right before his tee time whether he can play, and there’s talk he may just hit his first tee shot and then withdraw – that way he at least gets the last-place check (last year that was more than $70,000) as opposed to nothing if he withdraws before taking a shot. Ogilvy is in the final group on Thursday; he pulled out of the pro-am on Wednesday.
"It was a freak thing," said Ogilvy's manager Paul Galli. "He was paddling away, getting out of the water and he slipped and tripped up in some shallow water on the reefs. He didn't think anything had happened at the time but then he noticed the finger was bleeding.
"It's not so much a big cut, it's just in an awkward position," Galli said. "It was fairly deep, and when you're on the reef, you've got to be careful with an infection. They cleaned it out and put in some stitches."
Galli said Ogilvy would try to warm up and hit some practice shots, but would not take any risks by playing in discomfort. And Galli said his client wouldn’t just hit one tee shot to get that last-place money and then withdraw. Ogilvy’s odds to win have dropped to 12/1 with Ernie Els the new favorite at 15/2.