MLB All Star rosters were announced on Saturday, and with the game that decides who gets home field advantage in the World Series just a week away, let’s look at which teams could put that home field advantage to good use and claim the Commissioner’s Trophy. Odds courtesy of Bovada.lv.
As we continue the agonizingly slow crawl through the summer months toward the start of football season, it’s important to remember that there’s more on the board each day than just baseball. College football win totals offer value to the informed bettor who keeps an eye on the sport during the offseason.
The struggling Chicago White Sox dropped the opener of their series against Tampa on Friday night. It was the same old story of not getting much from their starting pitching as Dylan Axelrod couldn’t even get through 2 innings.
The Braves dropped the first game of their series against Philadelphia 5-4 Friday night. Atlanta still holds a 5 game lead in the National League East over Washington making this series way more important to the Phillies than the Braves.
St. Louis has been struggling lately with American League West clubs but they got the win yesterday over the Los Angeles Angels.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have parlayed their great play of late into a big jump in the standings. Now out of the basement they enter today tied with Colorado for second place just 2.5 games behind Arizona in the National League West.
When coach Kevin Sumlin left Houston for Texas A&M and was replaced by offensive coordinator Tony Levine there was great hope for a Cougars program to continue to enjoy its recent success. If last year is any indicator the run may be over as the Cougars stumbled in their final season in Conference USA.
To say that Tim Beckman’s first-year as head coach of the Illinois football program was a disappointment is a massive understatement. It was a disaster!
The 2012 season was a massive improvement from 2011 for the Indiana Hoosiers. Kevin Wilson’s team piled up the points last year, and they were able to come out on top in four games. While this team certainly still has lots of room to grow, they are definitely on the right path.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series will celebrate the 4th of July Holiday weekend in Daytona Beach with the running of the Coke Zero 400 at the fabled Daytona International Speedway. For the second week in-a-row they will be racing under the lights with the start of Saturday night’s race set for 7:30 p.m.
The PGA TOR moves to West Virginia this week and the Greenbrier Classic – one of the newest stops on TOUR. The Old White TPC will host The Greebrier Classic for the fourth time in as many years. The Greenbrier Classic is the only tournament over the last two years at which a rookie won.
2013 Greenbrier Classic
Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States
Course: Greenbrier – The Old White Course
Date: Jul 4-7, 2013
Total Purse: US $ 6,100,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,098,000 (18% of total purse)
Odds from Bovada
Defending Champion: Ted Potter Jr ($1,098,000)
After Scott Stallings broke through in 2011, Ted Potter Jr. won last year and defends this week. Add in the fact that Scott Appleby won in the first year this tournament was held and it is safe to say that looking at a potential first time winner this week is a decent bet.
The Old White TPC should see its share of birdies this week – is middle of the pack statistically for the TOUR pros. Scrambling is something that the Pros have excelled at in this event and a hot putter, as always will help the victor’s cause.
Here is a look at some of the names to watch and what should play out at the 2013 Greenbrier Classic.
The Favorites:
Phil Mickelson 12/1
Phil is simply one of the hardest players on TOUR to figure out. He is coming off a very good but somewhat disappointing (for him) T2 at the US Open two weeks ago and could be motivated for a rebound here. But he also could just be going through the motions as well. He is 0/2 at The Greenbrier and hasn’t cracked par but he does lead the TOUR in par-breakers – something essential on this track. Phil has five top 3s already this year but you never know which Phil you are going to get!
Webb Simpson 14/1
Had a T9 in ’11 and a T7 in ’12 in this tournament and enters in good form – off a T5 at the Travelers and he does have four top 10s on the season. He hasn’t won since the 2012 US Open but is far too talented to be denied. He is going to break through some time and this week could be it.
Bubba Watson 18/1
Has never played this event before but is coming off a T4 at the Travelers where he was in contention the whole way – nice to see. He is fourth on TOUR in greens in regulation, fourth in par breakers and first in par 4 birdie or better and 37th in adjusted scoring. Bubba is a threat each and every week and looks very much like a golfer on the cusp of a win.
The Contenders:
Bill Haas 20/1
Won the AT&T National last week after a sizzling 66 in the final round and he did finish T2 here in 2011. He has seven top 10s already this year and has quietly been the most consistent guy on TOUR. He is ninth on TOUR in greens hit and T1 in par-4 scoring but will be hard pressed to perform the rare back-to-back win on TOUR. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Billy Horschel 22/1
Should be motivated after an awful T61 last week on a course he should have done very well on. He is third in par breakers on TOUR, ninth in the all-around and second in par 4 birdie or better. He has made the cut here in both appearances but has never finished inside the top 30. Look for a bounce back this week for Billy!
Graham DeLaet 25/1
The string of first time winners could continue this week in the form of Mr. DeLaet who finished T8 at the AT&T National – his second straight top 8 on TOUR. He was 12th here last year and is at or near the top of the PGA TOUR in a ton of categories including 1st in greens in regulation. Things are certainly trending upward for DeLaet who looks great to break through this week.
Jordan Speith 33/1
Is coming off a sixth at Congressional but if his putter was on and he avoided just a couple of mistakes he would have ran away with the tournament. He has 5 top 10s in the last four months and could be that guy (like DeLaet) that surprises the field and becomes a winner for the first time.
Scott Stallings 40/1
Won this tournament in 2011 and looked good prior to the US Open – finished inside the top four in his three starts prior to that. Although he has cooled off from a torrid Spring pace, he could emerge this week as well.
Boo Weekley 40/1
This will be his first start since missing the cut at the US open but he does own a win on TOUR this year at Colonial. He is 19th on TOUR in fairways hit, fifth in GIR and 47th in adjusted scoring and he did have a ninth place finish here in 2010.
The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Roberto Castro 50/1
Is coming off a second place finish at the AT&T National – impressive. He finished T7 here last year and had a very nice 63 on his card. He could go either way – build on what he did last week or fade after a career best performance.
Gary Woodland 50/1
Finished T4 here in 2011 and is coming off a T16 at the AT&T National. He now has three top 20s in his last four starts overall. Woodland has the game to contend here and although I would have liked to see him 66/1 or higher, 50/1 is still not a bad price. I am a tad wary of his back issues however.
Charlie Wi 66/1
Finished T3 here last year and is coming off his season best performance – a seventh last week at the AT&T National. He’s 20th in par breakers, fifth in par 4 birdie or better and ninth in one-putt percentage and looks like the best of the sleepers on the board.
The Pick:
My pick this week Graham DeLaet at 25/1. He has never shot over par on this track and enters as one of the more consistent guys on TOUR. He’s been knocking on the door for a while and this week the door is answered.
My sleeper is Charlie Wi at 66/1. He looks to be in his best form since this tournament last year and his game is well suited for this track.
PHIL MICKELSON 12/1
WEBB SIMPSON 15/1
BUBBA WATSON 20/1
BILL HAAS 20/1
BILLY HORSCHEL 25/1
GRAHAM DeLAET 25/1
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN 30/1
SCOTT STALLINGS 30/1
JORDAN SPIETH 40/1
RUSSELL HENLEY 40/1
BRENDON DE JONGE 40/1
JIMMY WALKER 40/1
SCOTT PIERCY 40/1
RYAN PALMER 40/1
NICK WATNEY 50/1
PETER HANSON 50/1
GARY WOODLAND 50/1
BOO WEEKLEY 50/1
ROBERTO CASTRO 50/1
KEVIN CHAPPELL 50/1
KYLE STANLEY 50/1
MICHAEL KIM 150/1
RYO ISHIKAWA 200/1
FIELD (all others) 7/4
VIEW OUR TOP CAPPERS PICKS FOR ALL SPORTS – EVERY SINGLE DAY 24/7 —–>
Arguably the greatest mixed martial arts practitioner in history returns to the Octagon Saturday against an opponent that most feel will be his toughest test to date – the undefeated Chris Weidman.
The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in the Majors, as they have won 3 straight and 9 of their last 10. They are only 2.5 games out of first place in the NL West.
Now that the calendar has turned the page to July, it is time to start getting serious about ramping up your handicapping efforts for a new NFL season. To get you up to speed on Bovada’s futures odds to win each division, this time around we will take a closer look at the four teams in the AFC South.
With NFL training camps opening later this month, it is the perfect time to take a closer look at Bovada’s futures odds to win all eight divisions starting with the four teams that make up the AFC West.
After the massive 11-2 season in 2011, the Michigan Wolverines 8-5 season in 2012 had to be seen as a disappointment. Still, it’s obvious that Brady Hoke has this program continuing on the right path.
