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Golf: Tour heads to Connecticut

Tournament: Travelers Championship
Date: June 25-28
Venue: TPC River Highlands
Location: Cromwell, CT

After one of the toughest tests the USGA has set forth for golfers in the U.S. Open last week, the players head to the northeast at TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship; an event first established in 1952 and has been played in Cromwell, CT since 1984. It is typically the next highest in attendance behind the party in the desert (Waste Management Open) and is open to plenty of scoring; a welcome site after last week’s undulating greens and uneven surfaces.

The victor here has been in double-digits under par in each installment since 1994 and in that time there have been only two non-American winners (Marc Leishman, Fredrik Jacobson). In the last eight years, the scoring has been even more impressive with the average score for the winner being 16.25 strokes under par and has even seen two players (Fredrik Jacobson, Kenny Perry) get to at least 20 strokes under par with Perry’s aggregate score of 258 in 2009 being a course record.

Last year, some fireworks ensued as Kevin Streelman birdied each of the last seven holes and outscored both Sergio Garcia and K.J. Choi by a stroke with his score of 15-under-par. Streelman was able to get a one-putt at each of the last 10 holes and finished the weekend with consecutive 64s on the par-70, 6,841-yard course.

This year the top ranked golfer in the field will be No. 5 golfer in the world, Bubba Watson, as he is joined by No. 9 Sergio Garcia from the top-10 and another six players from the top-30 of the Official World Golf Rankings. This tourney may not always feature the top names, but there are some big ones out there and it is always an exciting event to watch.

Let’s now look at a few of the golfers who could dominate the course this week in Connecticut.

Golfers to Bet

Brandt Snedeker (15/1): Snedeker is putting together another fine season as he’s made 15-of-18 cuts and been in the top-10 seven times; including a victory at Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his seventh career PGA Tour win. He also comes into this one riding a very hot recent stretch, staying competitive at each of his last three tournaments with an eighth or better finish and managed to score a 69 or better in nine of the 12 rounds. Snedeker is one of the best putters in the game as evidenced by his .642 strokes gained putting (6th on TOUR), which has led him to having the 10th-best scoring average on TOUR (69.967). The 34-year-old has also improved in each of his last three visits to this event, going from a missed cut in 2010, to a 24th in 2011, and finally he fell just outside the top-10 (11th) last year. He hit better than 70% of both GIR and fairways in that solid showing but just didn’t have the firepower to push through, but with his recent string of strong performances he should be able to carry in some momentum and dot the top of the leaderboard all week.

Keegan Bradley (35/1): Bradley is on pace to have his worst season since joining the TOUR in 2011, but he still possesses some huge talent and has seven top-25s through his 16 events played in 2015. Over his last three tourneys, he has done no worse than 27th and is coming off a strong 69 on Sunday at the U.S. Open. His talents spawn from his big drive (301.9 yards per, 16th on TOUR) and amazing ball striking (1.200 strokes gained tee-to-green, 12th on TOUR) which has led to three career PGA victories. Bradley has made the cut in each of the last four years at the Travelers Championship and has never finished worse than 33rd in the FedEx Cup rankings, so expect him to come through this week after a nice last few tournaments.

Brendan Steele (45/1): Steele had a tremendous start to the 2015 campaign, making the cut in each of his first 12 tournaments, and while he has failed to make the weekend in three of the past five weeks, he sandwiched a solid ninth at the Wells Fargo Championship in that stretch. He is on pace to have his best season since his rookie year in 2011 thanks to his big drive (303.6 yards per, 12th on TOUR) and GIR (68.2%, 32nd on TOUR). With a field that is less than stellar this week, Steele has a great chance to get back to the weekend and put up a big performance at TPC River Highlands where he placed fifth last year behind a score of 13-under; including a Thursday 62.

Chris Stroud (100/1): Stroud has been a force on this course over the last five years, making the cut in each season and has three top-18s during that time; including a runner-up finish in 2013 when he posted a score of 12-under-par behind better than 71% of greens and fairways hit and .714 strokes better putting than the field. So far in 2015, he has made just half of his 20 cuts, but still has solid short game with a 56.04% sand save percentage (44th on TOUR) and 60.86% scrambling (60th on TOUR) and should be able to continue his great play on the course.

Colt Knost (120/1): Knost ranks 209th in the OWGR and 79th in the FedEx Cup standings, but has been on a tear of late, ranking in the top-12 at three of his past four events. He scored a 68 or better in nine of his last 14 rounds and he had his best round of the year when he shot a 64 on Friday at the FedEx St. Jude Classic; eventually finishing in a tie for 12th-place. Knost does not have a victory yet in his PGA Tour career, but does know how to win as evidenced by his two first-place finishes while in the Web.com TOUR. He is one of the most accurate drivers on TOUR (70.38%, 11th on TOUR) and also gives himself plenty of chances while ranking eighth in proximity to hole (33’2”) on 67.97% of greens hit in regulation (38th on TOUR). Look for Knost to continue his strong play this week and put himself in a spot to contend for his first win at this level.

Odds to win Travelers Championship

Bubba Watson 25/2
Brandt Snedeker 15/1
Patrick Reed 16/1
Sergio Garcia 17/1
Billy Horschel 20/1
Louis Oosthuizen 25/1
Harris English 30/1
Branden Grace 35/1
Justin Thomas 35/1
Keegan Bradley 35/1
Marc Leishman 35/1
Tony Finau 35/1
Kevin Na 40/1
Brendan Steele 45/1
Francesco Molinari 45/1
Hunter Mahan 45/1
Kevin Streelman 45/1
Paul Casey 45/1
Russell Knox 45/1
Zach Johnson 45/1
Will Wilcox 60/1
Jason Bohn 65/1
Nick Watney 65/1
Brendon Todd 70/1
Luke Donald 70/1
Gary Woodland 80/1
Matt Jones 85/1
Brendon de Jonge 95/1
Cameron Smith 95/1
Graham Delaet 95/1
Jon Rahm 95/1
Tom Gillis 95/1
Chris Stroud 100/1
Jerry Kelly 100/1
Seung-Yul Noh 100/1
Morgan Hoffmann 110/1
Colt Knost 120/1
Michael Thompson 120/1
Blake Adams 130/1
Padraig Harrington 130/1
Patrick Rodgers 130/1
Peter Uihlein 130/1
Brian Harman 140/1
Martin Laird 140/1
Scott Brown 140/1
Sean O'Hair 140/1
Stewart Cink 140/1
Chad Campbell 150/1
Daniel Summerhays 150/1
David Lingmerth 150/1
Ernie Els 150/1
Tim Clark 150/1
Angel Cabrera 160/1
Sangmoon Bae 160/1
Jason Kokrak 170/1
Matt Every 170/1
William McGirt 170/1
Aaron Baddeley 180/1
Andres Romero 190/1
Jonas Blixt 190/1
Scott Pinckney 190/1
Hudson Swafford 200/1
John Merrick 200/1
Zac Blair 200/1
Charlie Beljan 210/1
John Huh 210/1
Brian Stuard 220/1
Danny Lee 220/1
Vijay Singh 220/1
Bo Van Pelt 230/1
Brian Davis 230/1
Bryce Molder 230/1
Greg Owen 230/1
Ken Duke 230/1
Michael Putnam 230/1
Steven Bowditch 230/1
Alex Cejka 240/1
Blayne Barber 240/1
Carl Pettersson 240/1
Erik Compton 240/1
Jim Herman 240/1
Jon Curran 240/1
Will MacKenzie 240/1
Cameron Percy 250/1
Carlos Ortiz 250/1
John Peterson 250/1
Luke Guthrie 250/1
Ryo Ishikawa 250/1
Stuart Appleby 250/1
David Toms 300/1
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 300/1
Greg Chalmers 300/1
Jeff Overton 300/1
Jhonattan Vegas 300/1
Lucas Glover 300/1
Martin Flores 300/1
Nicholas Thompson 300/1
Troy Merritt 300/1
Adam Hadwin 350/1
D.A. Points 350/1
Richard Sterne 350/1
Ricky Barnes 350/1
Robert Garrigus 350/1
Spencer Levin 350/1
Johnson Wagner 400/1
Jonathan Randolph 400/1
Scott Langley 400/1
Alex Prugh 450/1
Andrew Putnam 450/1
Chad Collins 450/1
Chez Reavie 450/1
Jonathan Byrd 450/1
Kyle Stanley 450/1
Mark Wilson 450/1
Nick Taylor 450/1
Roberto Castro 450/1
Tim Wilkinson 450/1
Tom Hoge 450/1
Alexandre Rocha 500/1
Andres Gonzales 500/1
Andrew Svoboda 500/1
Bill Lunde 500/1
Brice Garnett 500/1
Byron Smith 500/1
Carlos Sainz Jr. 500/1
Cheng Tsung Pan 500/1
Davis Love III 500/1
Derek Ernst 500/1
Derek Fathauer 500/1
Eric Axley 500/1
Heath Slocum 500/1
J.J. Henry 500/1
Jason Gore 500/1
Jim Renner 500/1
Kyle Bilodeau 500/1
Kyle Reifers 500/1
Lee Mccoy 500/1
Mark Anderson 500/1
Mark Hubbard 500/1
Max Homa 500/1
Mike Weir 500/1
Oscar Fraustro 500/1
Robert Allenby 500/1
Roger Sloan 500/1
Ryan Armour 500/1
S.J. Park 500/1
Steve Wheatcroft 500/1
Steven Alker 500/1
Tim Petrovic 500/1
Tyrone Van Aswegen 500/1
Whee Kim 500/1
Zack Sucher 500/1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

2015 CFL Win Totals

The 2015 CFL regular season opens on June 25th and ends on Sunday Nov. 8. All teams will play 18 games.

A major offshore sportsbook, has released regular season Win Totals for the upcoming season.

(2014 record)

British Columbia (9-9)
Over 9½ -150
Under 9½ +110

Calgary (15-3)
Over 11½ -160
Under 11½ +120

Edmonton (12-6)
Over 10½ -160
Under 10½ +120

Hamilton (9-9)
Over 9½ +105
Under 9½ -145

Montreal (9-9)
Over 8½ -130
Under 8½ -110

Ottawa (2-16)
Over 5½ -165
Under 5½ +125

Saskatchewan (10-8)
Over 10½ +110
Under 10½ -150

Toronto (8-10)
Over 8½ -120
Under 8½ -120

Winnipeg (7-11)
Over 8½ +110
Under 8½ -150

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL season betting preview: How to bet the East Division
By WILL ROGERS

The 2015 season will begin on Thursday night, with the Montreal Alouettes hosting the Ottawa Redblacks. We didn't see a single team in the East Division finish with a winning record last year, and the Bookmakers are expecting the West to be superior again this season. According to the Grey Cup odds, Hamilton is the front runner in a jam-packed East.

Here's a look at how the teams in the East Division stack up entering the new campaign.

EAST DIVISION

Hamilton Tigers-Cats (2014: 9-9 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win Grey Cup: +660

Why bet the Tiger-Cats: Hamilton lost to Calgary in the Grey Cup last year, and finished first in the division during the regular season despite a .500 record. The Ti-Cats appear to be in good hands with a young quarterback in Zack Collaros, who comes off an outstanding rookie campaign. The 26 year old showed steady improvement throughout his first season as a starter, and his coach is expecting him to be even better in 2015. “He’s got some Doug Flutie in him,” said head coach Kent Austin, comparing him to one of the greatest quarterbacks the league has ever seen.

Why not to bet the Tiger-Cats: They were terrible on the road last year, winning just two of their nine games away from Tim Hortons Field. They might struggle to improve on that record with a young defense in 2015, and they'll have a tough time replacing Delvin Breaux, who left for the NFL. C.J. Gable, Nic Grigsby and Mossis Madu gave them depth in the backfield last year, but nobody stepped up as a true No. 1 running back.

Grey Cup Outlook: Good as long as Collaros can stay healthy.

Montreal Alouettes (2014: 9-9 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +820

Why bet the Alouettes: Montreal finished last season winning eight of its last 10 games, and won its first playoff game in a 50-17 rout of the B.C. Lions. The Als are deep at running back with Brandon Whitaker, Brandon Rutley, Rainey and Logan, and they signed receivers Fred Stamps, Nik Lewis and Sam Giguere. The defense remains a strength, with Chip Cox and John Bowman both resigning.

Why not to bet the Alouettes: Jonathan Crompton took the team to the playoffs in 2014, but GM Jim Popp isn't convinced he has what it takes to be the starting quarterback. “Crompton won the job last year. The bottom line is can we win with him?” said Popp. Rakeem Cato led the Als in passing in their first preseason game, a 26-9 win over Ottawa. Brandon Bridge threw for 52 yards and a TD, while Crompton was just 2-of-6 for 17 yards. Who will start on opening night is anybody's guess.

Grey Cup Outlook: Fair. If they can find themselves a capable quarterback, they should be as good as anybody in the East.

Toronto Argonauts (2014: 8-10 SU, 7-11 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +950

Why bet the Argos: While the Argos will begin the season with Trevor Harris filling in for Ricky Ray at quarterback, he'll have a stout offensive line protecting him. He's looked capable so far in the preseason. The receiving corps looks strong with Chad Owens and Andre Durie returning and a handful of veterans all competing for a roster spot. Rookie Tori Gurley impressed with seven catches for 188 yards and a TD in his first appearance of the preseason.

Why not to bet the Argos: Toronto hopes to make improvements on the defensive side of the ball, but it has a long way to go as its secondary allowed the most touchdowns in the CFL last season. The Argos’ success will likely depend on how Ricky Ray recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, and we saw last season how Travis Lulay struggled for B.C. coming off the same injury. Top it all off with a nightmare of a schedule to start the season, and the Argos have plenty to overcome.

Grey Cup Outlook: Poor. There are too many question marks surrounding this team, and if Ray has any setbacks returning from injury, the season will likely be a disaster.

Ottawa Redblacks (2014: 2-16 SU, 7-11 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +3550

Why bet on the Redblacks: Ottawa added a lot of star power on offense heading into this season, with Maurice Price, Ernest Jackson and Greg Ellingson coming into to bolster the receiving corps. Ellingson has established chemistry with veteran quarterback Henry Burris from their time together in Hamilton. Chris Williams returns after spending the last two seasons in the NFL, and he'll give them a boost on offense as well as special teams.

Why not to bet on the Redblacks: While improvement appears inevitable for Ottawa, its got a long way to go after winning just two games all of last season. The prognosis on the defensive side of the ball is a lot less positive than it is on offense, and there’s a lot riding on the 40-year-old arm of Burris.

Grey Cup Outlook: Poor. This team should be vastly improved but they've still got a long way to go before they can expect to complete with the best teams in the league.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Book releases Week 1 opening lines
Stephen Campbell

Looking for a place to wager on the Canadian Football League? A sportsbook opened their Week 1 CFL lines on Sunday.

Here's a look at what the shop is dealing for the first week of the regular season:

Montreal (-7.5) vs. Ottawa. Over/Under: 46.

Saskatchewan (-7) vs. Winnipeg. Over/Under: 49.

Calgary (-6.5) vs. Hamilton. Over/Under: 52.

Edmonton (-5) vs. Toronto. Over/Under: 50.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 1
By David Schwab

The 2015 CFL season gets underway this week with Calgary coming in as the reigning Grey Cup Champion and odds-on favorite (7/2) to repeat.

The West Division is once again loaded with the best teams in the league. The Edmonton Eskimos are second on the list at 4/1 odds followed by Saskatchewan and both British Columbia Lions at 5/1 odds.

The top team from the East is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their odds to win the Grey Cup are set at 6/1.

The following is a brief betting tip sheet for Week 1 of the CFL regular season with the opening point-spread and total.

(2014 Straight-up & Against the Spread records)

Thursday, June 25

Ottawa RedBlacks (*2-16 SU, 6-11-1 ATS) vs. Montreal Alouettes (10-10 SU, 10-9-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Montreal -9
Total: 45 ½

Game Overview

The RedBlacks begin their second season of play in the CFL and the prospect for any great improvement on last year’s two-win campaign has to be tempered with the longest odds by far to win a title this year at +3550. Veteran CFL quarterback Henry Burris is back for his 17th season in the league and the additions of wide receivers Maurice Price and Chris Williams is a big step in the right direction.

Montreal rallied from a slow start to make the playoffs last season as the second-best team in the East Division, but it will need much better consistency on both sides of the ball to have any hopes of a return to the Grey Cup glory this franchise has enjoyed over the years. Jonathan Crompton is expected to be the Alouettes starting quarterback in the season opener, but keep an eye on highly touted rookie Brando Bridge, who was selected in the fourth round of the draft.

Betting Trends

The RedBlacks went 2-5 against the spread in their final seven division games last season and they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games. Montreal covered ATS in its last six home games, but it is just 1-4 ATS in its last five season openers. The total has stayed UNDER in 20 of the Alouettes last 27 division games.

Friday, June 26

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-10 SU, 11-9 ATS) vs. Calgary Stampeders (17-3 SU, 13-6-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -7
Total: 51 ½

Game Overview

The Tiger-Cats come into this replay of last season’s Grey Cup Championship as the top team in the East Division despite the fact that they are actually the fifth team on 5dimes’ CFL futures to win a title. They have been to the last two Grey Cup Finals and if they want to make the third time a charm, it will be behind the arm of Zach Collaros at quarterback, who is one of the brightest young stars in this league.

Calgary is the favorite to repeat as CFL champs with the best odds on the board and for good reason. This is easily the best balanced offensive team in the league with Bo Levi Mitchell back at quarterback and Jon Cornish anchoring the running game. The Stampeders also return 10 of 12 starters on a defense that was second only to Edmonton is points allowed in 2014.

Betting Trends

The Tiger-Cats are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five road games and they have covered the spread in their last four road games against Calgary. The total has stayed UNDER in the last five meetings between these two teams.

Saturday, June 27

Edmonton Eskimos (13-7 SU, 13-7 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (8-10 SU, 7-11 ATS)
Point-spread: Edmonton -4 ½
Total: 50

Game Overview

If the Stampeders are the team to beat in the West in 2015, then Edmonton probably has the best shot to take them down as a second-favorite to win this season’s CFL title. Mike Reilly is back at the helm at quarterback with Justin Goltz in place as his backup. The Eskimos also have Adarius Bowman back after leading the CFL in receiving yards last season as well as running back John White to help lead the ground game.

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The Argonauts failed to make the playoffs last season after falling to third-place in the East. They will have to try and avoid a slow start this season with quarterback Ricky Ray still on the shelf for the first few weeks. Toronto also has to be leery of a defense that was ranked near the bottom of the CFL in points allowed last year.

Betting Trends

The Eskimos went 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road games and they ended last season 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Edmonton is 5-1 ATS in its last six road games against Toronto and the total has gone OVER in the last five meetings overall.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-11 SU, 8-9-1 ATS) vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-9 SU, 7-12 ATS)
Point-spread: Saskatchewan 8 ½
Total: 49

Game Overview

The Blue Bombers move to the West Division last season was partly to blame for their losing record. Given just how stacked this division remains, it is very likely they will be bringing up the rear again with the longest odds in the West to win a title at +1175. The one bright spot was the play of Drew Willy at quarterback, after passing for the third most yards in the CFL last year.

Saskatchewan still managed to make the playoffs out of the West last season despite a collapse when quarterback Darian Durant was lost to injury. He should be ready to go against the Bombers in the season opener along with first round pick at wide receiver, Nic Demski. The Roughriders should also have a solid run game with Anthony Allen leading the way.

Betting Trends

The Blue Bombers are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games against Saskatchewan and the total has gone OVER in five of the last eight meetings overall. The Roughriders are 36-15 ATS over the course of their last 51 season openers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL need-to-know Week 1 betting stats and trends
By JASON LOGAN

The 62nd Canadian Football League season kicks off north of the border this week with four games on the board. Sportsbooks have released their odds on these opening matchups and Covers has dug into the Week 1 trends over the past 10 CFL seasons, hoping to give you some insight and edge into the first slate of three-down matchups:

Ti-Cats’ troubles

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats can’t seem to get off on the right foot and enter the 2015 campaign on a 10-year Week 1 losing skid. To make matters worse, Hamilton is 1-9 ATS in those contests. The Ti-Cats are 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS on the road in Week 1, which is where they open 2015 – at Calgary to play the defending Grey Cup champion Stampeders as 6.5-point underdogs Friday. Hamilton has been outscored by an average of 34.4-17.9 over the past decade of season debuts.

Easy Riders

Saskatchewan, unlike Hamilton, has been quick out of the blocks each year over the past decade. The Roughriders are an impressive 8-2 SU and ATS in their season opener since 2005, including a 5-1 SU and ATS count at home during that span. The Riders play host to rivals Winnipeg as 7.5-point home favorites Saturday.

Saskatchewan is also 7-3 Over/Under in those last 10 openers, going 4-2 O/U at home in that stretch. The Roughriders have scored an average of 34.3 points while allowing 24.1 points against during those Week 1 outings. Saturday’s total is set at 48.

Stamp this parlay

The Grey Cup champs are 7-2 SU and ATS in their last Week 1 appearances (unlike the NFL, not every team plays in Week 1) and have managed to cover in seven of those nine contests as well. Calgary, as mentioned above, is a 6.5-point home favorite versus Hamilton this coming Friday, and has not opened on the road in any season since 2005.

If you’re betting the Stampeders, you might as well parlay it with the Under in Week 1. Calgary has stayed below the betting total in seven of those nine opening week matchups. Friday’s total is set at 53 points.

Home sweet dome

The Edmonton Eskimos travel to the “Big Smoke” to take on the Toronto Argonauts in Week 1 Saturday, with Toronto set as a 4.5-point underdog in the Rogers Centre. The Argos have actually been a solid play at home during Week 1, going back to 2005, with a 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS mark in that span. However, the Eskimos are 5-1 ATS in their last six trips to Toronto, so take that trend with a grain of salt.

The Argonauts are also a profitable 2-8 Over/Under in Week 1 games the last 10 seasons, with a 1-3 O/U count at home. Toronto has scored an average of 23.6 points in those games while giving up 25 points against. Saturday’s total is set at 49.5 points.

Opening night

The other game on the CFL sked is Thursday’s opening night matchup between the Ottawa RedBlacks and Montreal Alouettes, with the Als pegged as 8-point home chalk. This is the first Week 1 matchup for an Ottawa team since the Renegades back in 2005 – the team’s final season. Ottawa was blown away 41-16 at Edmonton that year.

As for Montreal, it’s been a solid winner but bad bet in Week 1, boasting a 6-4 SU mark but a 4-6 ATS record in that span. The Alouettes were 3-1 SU but 1-3 ATS (1-3 O/U as well) at home during that time frame. Montreal has just edged Week 1 opponent over the past decade with an average score of 27.5-27.1.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL season betting preview: How to bet the West Division
By WILL ROGERS

The 2015 Canadian Football Season kicks off this week. In the West, the Calgary Stampeders are favored to repeat as Grey Cup champions, with Alberta rivals Edmonton not far behind.

Will Rogers takes a look at how the teams in the West Division stack up entering the new campaign.

West Division

B.C. Lions (2014: 9-9 SU, 8-9-1 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +625

Why bet the Lions: Quarterback Travis Lulay was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2011, but he's struggled through shoulder injuries in recent years. If Lulay can stay healthy, he's almost certain to put up big numbers for the Lions. He gave Lions fans plenty of reason for optimism throwing for 121 yards and a touchdown on 8-of-13 passing in two quarters in the Lions 18-13 loss to Edmonton on June 19.

Why not to bet the Lions: A healthy Travis Lulay is far from a guarantee, and the offense will suffer if he has any setbacks in his return from injury. The Lions will also have a rookie head coach in Jeff Tedford, who was a coordinator for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. History tells us that the transition from the NFL to the CFL is not an easy one.

Grey Cup Outlook: If everything goes right for the Lions, they certainly have the talent to get back to the Grey Cup.

Calgary Stampeders (2014: 15-3 SU, 12-5-1 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +$375

Why bet the Stampeders: Last year's champs might have the best quarterback in the league in Bo Levi Mitchell, and the 25 year old is likely only going to get better with more experience. Jon Cornish was the league's leading rusher last year, despite only playing half the season. That's right, he ran for 1,082 yards in just nine games.

Why not to bet the Stampeders: They lost a pair of offensive linemen, with Stanley Bryant signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Brett Jones making the move to the NFL. They also lost a couple of key players on a defense than was only mediocre last year. Calgary should face stiffer competition from the likes of B.C., Saskatchewan and Edmonton, which have all improved.

Grey Cup Outlook: Calgary is a well-deserved favorite, but keep in mind that only one team has won consecutive championships over the last 17 seasons.

Edmonton Eskimos (2014: 12-6 SU, 12-6 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +$495

Why bet the Eskimos: They say that defense wins championships, and the Eskimos defense ranked first in the CFL in both yards allowed and points allowed in 2014. Much of the credit goes to head coach Chris Jones, and he's expected to take the team to the next level here in 2015. With Mike Reilly at quarterback, the offense has plenty of potential.

Why not to bet the Eskimos: The road to the Grey Cup goes through Calgary and Edmonton lost all three regular season meetings versus its provincial rivals last year, and then it was shellacked by a score of 43-18 at Calgary in the playoffs.

Grey Cup Outlook: Not good. Defense may win championships in the NFL, but in the CFL you need a stud at QB, and Bo Levi Mitchell is still better than Mike Reilly.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (2014: 10-8 SU, 7-11 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +$560

Why to bet the Riders: Saskatchewan lost quarterback Darian Durant to an injury last year, and went on to lose six of its final eight games without him. Durant is back at 100 percent heading into the 2015 season and the Riders have also added an insurance policy with the addition of backup Kevin Glenn.

Why Not to bet the Riders: With the departure of star offensive lineman Ben Heenan to the NFL, protecting the QB might be a bit of an issue. Glenn is certainly a great backup QB, but there's a reason why he's not the starter.

Grey Cup Outlook: Good. The Riders have what it takes to be considered a serious contender, but they are just one of several strong teams in the West Division.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2014: 7-11 SU, 8-8-2 ATS)

Odds to win the Grey Cup: +$1,175

Why bet the Blue Bombers: Winnipeg showed some promise last year, winning five of its first six games. While the Bombers suffered a second-half collapse and missed the playoffs, this is still a team that is trending in the right direction. Head coach Mike O'Shea will enter his second season with Drew Willy vying to become the quarterback of the future.

Why not to bet the Blue Bombers: Winnipeg allowed a whopping 71 quarterback sacks last season - an area that desperately needs improvement. The offensive line looks better on paper, but it remains to be seen if that will translate to performance on the field.

Grey Cup Outlook: Not good. This team should be improved, but will likely be a few years away from becoming a true contender.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

How much will CFL rule changes impact betting totals in 2015?
By JASON LOGAN

The CFL is throwing a little gas on the fire this coming 2015 season, trying to spark scoring with revamped rules that it hopes will boost point production after a down year for the league.

The two biggest rule changes are the new defensive pass interference rule, not allowing defenders to make any contact with receivers whatsoever after five yards from the line of scrimmage, and a new punt coverage rule that gives returning teams much more running room.

These changes could have a big impact on scoring, especially if teams continuously gain solid field position from softer defense, penalties and punts, but it won’t be reflected in the CFL betting totals. At least not yet.

According to Randall “The Handle”, renowned CFL oddsmaker for a number of sportsbooks, he’s taking a wait-and-see approach with these adjustments before tacking on any extra points to the CFL Over/Unders.

“It’s more of a case of monitoring,” Randall said. “It’s a big smoke screen, in my opinion. Scoring was down and there was a knee-jerk reaction to it. There’s just not a lot of good players in the league right now… I think the league is trying to give itself a shot in the arm (with these rule changes).”

The 2014 CFL campaign was a downtick in offensive production compared to the year prior, with teams averaging 22.74 points per game last summer compared to 26.21 in 2013.

That power outage showed up at the sportsbooks last summer, when CFL action went 5-15 Over/Under through the first five weeks of the schedule – cashing in for the Under at a 75 percent rate. And because the CFL isn’t the most popular wagering option on the board, many books didn’t even notice that one-sided lean to the Under early into 2014. On the year, CFL games finished 34-51 O/U with a 60 percent winning clip for Under bettors.

The CFL, which has hung its helmet on its explosive scoring prowess when trying to sell the product to new markets, is putting in a hands-off policy when it comes to defensive backs trying to slow down receivers.

And unlike the NFL, teams can have multiple receivers in motion when the ball is snapped, giving defenders even less time to slow down opposing targets. Oh, and head coaches can also challenge pass interference calls/no calls in the CFL, so it looks like defenders could have their hands tied in 2015.

Randall specifically mentions the decline in the passing game when noting these new rules, pointing out that there were only three receivers with more than 1,000 yards in 2014 compared to seven in 2013, and that there were only two quarterbacks who threw for 20-plus touchdown in 2014 when there were four the previous season.

As for the running game, the CFL had just one 1,000-yard rusher in 2014 – Calgary RB Jon Cornish (1,082 yards in just nine games) – after having two in 2013, four in 2012, three in 2011, five in 2010, and seven in 2009.

The new punt rule forces the five interior linemen on the punting team to stay at the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted, limiting the amount of defenders downfield. The rule is estimated to give punt returners about an extra 10 yards of running room and put more space between the defending team’s first wave – the gunners - and second wave of tacklers.

The 2014 CFL season featured nine punt return touchdowns, three scores on kickoffs and three TDs off missed field goals returns.

These amendments to the rulebook may be a change in the right direction, in terms of getting the CFL back to its high-scoring status, but are far from difference makers, says Randall, who doesn’t see teams making major adjustments to these changes, on either side of the ball, out of the gate.

“Defensively, they’ll stick to what they’ve been doing, with the same special teams coverages,” he says. “From what I’m reading, coaches really don’t know what to do, and they’ll adjust if they need to. On offense, they’re always looking for that speedster guy that can run it back, so that won’t be any different.”

Week 1 features four games with an average current total of 49.25 points. Last season, Week 1 totals closed at an average of 54 points and finished 1-3 Over/Under. Over the past 10 CFL seasons, Week 1 contests have produced a 16-24 O/U record – playing below the total 60 percent of the time.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mohawk: Thursday 6/25 Analysis
By Garnet Barnsdale
DRF HARNESS
Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

EARLY PICK 4:

3,6,8,10/2,5/3,5,6/5 = $24



LATE PICK 4: 5/1,3,6/1,3,4,7/2,5,6 = $36

MEET STATS: 133 - 433 / $798.60 BEST BETS: 16 - 38 / $54.80

SPOT PLAYS: 6 - 36 / $50.40

Best Bet: STEEL RESERVE (3rd)

Spot Play: CAPELA (7th)

Race 1

(2) BETTY HILL was an impressive winner of her second qualifier, controlling things after leaving from an outer post. She gets a lukewarm call in a field full of possibilities. (5) FREE SHOW outduelled (6) SOUTHWIND SHANIA in a 26 3/5 final 1/4 and both figure prominently here.



Race 2

(7) SOUTHWIND LUNA just about wired a Grassroots field at Georgian and the one that finished behind her in third came back to win impressively at Mohawk last week. She looks solid here and will most likely attract a claim. (2) BADLANDS DELIGHT has won 3 of 8 this year and her good tactical speed puts her right in the mix in this short field. (1) FROSTY DELIGHT returns from what looks like a much-needed break and could go much better here.

Race 3

(7) STEEL RESERVE went a big first-over trip in his season's debut last week to just miss. A repeat of that effort puts him right there vs. this group. (5) THOUGHTFUL LEADER moved first-up into a quick pace for this class and predictably stalled. One of these times Mario is going to send this Kadabra colt early and when he does, he will likely wire that race. (4) HALO EFFECT took a lot of support last week but couldn't keep pace with a good winner late. This filly seems to be better closing from off a helmet in the outer flow.

Race 4

(8) A LOT OF SENSE floated out looking for position last week but couldn't find a seat. Considering she was out the route, that wasn't a bad effort at all. She could take this at a good price with a slightly better trip. (10) MISSEVIL showed some life first time in a claimer, closing from farthest back for third. She draws farthest out here, but is capable of leaving hard if the driver so chooses. (3) THRILL CHASER was hung the mile and stopped late. Post relief gives this mare a chance at a much better trip here.

Race 5

(2) KAYS SHADOW effortlessly paced home in 56 2/5 in her lone qualifier and looks like one of the better 2YO fillies so far. She will likely get bet pretty hard for this debut. (5) TWIN B THONG did well to close a bit on a highly-regarded filly and her 26 4/5 kicker signals readiness. Keep her on your pick 4 tickets. (7) BRING ME DIAMONDS showed good late energy to nab second behind the choice and could be even closer here.

Race 6

(6) SOUTHWIND GINGER takes a big class drop and trainer Adams has been on fire the whole meet so far. Expect a big speed try from this Sportswriter filly. (5) GLAMOUR SEELSTER was a solid debut winner in fast time. She will likely take lots of action here but faces a couple that should be much tougher competition. (3) MUCH ADOO impressively won a NW2L in May then stepped into Stakes Company for three starts with little success. She's in with a big shot here.

Race 7

(5) CAPELA's last line is better than it looks in that she was passing horses late in an extremely swift mile for this class. This group looks much easier and she figures highly here. (6) ARTIAWITCHYOU waited too long to move last week and got stung in the third 1/4. Expect an earlier move from this one tonight. (2) FLOAT ON BY has been a disappointment so far but has been pacing good last 1/4s the past two and now gets some post relief. She could wake up here.

Race 8

(6) KENDAL GUCCI drops back into a claimer following a decent effort vs. conditioned company. She should be tough in here. (1) ANDRO MADI goes for high % trainer Johnson off the claim here and should be prominent throughout with her good early speed. (3) PATHTODOVER last raced in a claimer on May 8 and was an easy winner in that one. Expect improvement with the class drop.

Race 9

(7) VOODOO CHARM picked up 8 lengths into an accelerating pace in the second half last week in her best effort yet. She likely gets a patented aggressive Filion drive and graduates here. (3) MACH MAGIC has tried it first up and failed in both her starts. Jamieson will probably change tactics here. (1) NICE TRIP closed a bit of ground in her debut in a quick last 1/4. She can get a piece of this at a price.

Race 10

(2) THE OPTIMIST makes his first start out of the Adams barn which is as potent an angle as you will find at this track currently; top call. (6) CHOSEN HOMBRE raced okay in a pretty good field at Georgian and figures highly here. (5) LIVE AND LEARN drops back to a class where he fits best. He should be right there at the wire. (4) HAIL THE TAXI continues to close, then hang. He's a good one for the super but a terrible win bet as he always seems to take action, but is 3 for his last 32 in the past two years. (8) WHOSURPAL drops and gets Lasix. He could better this placing.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Thursday 6/25 Analysis
By Brewster Smith


MEET STATS: 95 - 507 / $672.80 BEST BETS: 11 - 44 / $45.40

Best Bet: FREETIME (11th)

Spot Play: NUTMEGS DESIRE (2nd)



Race 1

(3) TIDEWATER TOMAHAWK flashed good speed in his latest. Gelding is very capable of moving forward with Brennan at the helm. (5) DANCING IN TERROR gets post relief and was a fast closing second two trips ago; threat. (4) RILEYS LUCK could land a share.


Race 2

(1) NUTMEGS DESIRE moves to the fence. Has good tactical speed and with a perfect trip, she can get the job done. (4) HARMONY OAKS QUIKE is back at Yonkers where she has done her best racing. (3) QUICKSILVERCANDY A should be right there from the 3-hole.

Race 3

(2) PASSION R VIRGINIE put in a mild rally for third last time out. Pacing mare might get back to her winning ways given a ground-saving trip. (4) SADIES PLACE did not fire at Pocono, but was second best two starts ago here; main danger. (5) LOCAL ART can be right square in the mix.

Race 4

(4) DONT FOOL WITH ME has been solid in his last five tries. Gelding can boss these at his best. (5) BAZILLION has good early zip and could be a factor in here. (1) TWINCREEKS JACK should fare well from the rail slot.

Race 5

(3) JETTY drops a notch in class. Gelding has good speed and has every right to make tonight a winning one. (1) HOT SHOT LAWYER moves inside and that should help his cause. (5) ABOMINABLE SNOWPAN took the pocket route last out for all the glory; watch out again.

Race 6

(4) DVCFLYINGFRENCHMAN was very sharp for the victory last time around. Nine-year-old pacer is in fine form and should keep on his winning ways. (3) ROADWAY is knocking at the door based on his last four tries. (2) SOMEPLACE SPECIAL was second best in his most previous outing; don't overlook.

Race 7

(7) STRINGS has put in two nice runs, has tactical speed and Brennan stays aboard; big threat. (6) MY TALLIA IDEAL got the job done down the road last out; major player. (3) OUR ELS DREAM N fits with these; not out of this.

Race 8

(3) MY SPRING FLING is a sharp pacing mare that got the job done last time around. Repeat effort is not out of the question. (6) JUSTHAVENTMETUYET beat lesser company in her last try. (2) FIRSTCLASSFLIGHT held the place spot in her recent trip to the post; watch out.

Race 9

(2) I DO IT MYSELF had a brief lead in the stretch drive, but had to settle to the placing last out. She is very capable of moving forward at her best. (3) SOMENICEBEACH has wheeled off two straight victories upstate; dangerous. (6) GROUNDED just held on for win honors last time around.

Race 10

(3) ALITTLEEASTERMAGIC has hit the board in her last four starts. Six-year-old mare is sharp enough to take these to task for all the cash. (5) GRACE SEELSTER best lesser down the road in her latest. (4) UPFRONTWHOSURLADY saved the placing in her last try; don't overlook.

Race 11

(2) FREETIME faced open foes at Plainridge last out. Pacing mare can boss these gals at her best. (1) BREATHTAKING posted a sharp qualifier at Philly last out; major player from the fence. (4) FANTICIPATION completes the trifecta.

Race 12

(2) HER OWN LAND is an upstate invader that should find this group to her liking. Can pounce and score with a fine-timed drive from Bartlett. (1) CANT STOP ME NOW should do much better from the fence. (4) CLASSY LANE ROSE has been third best in her last two starts; don't overlook.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game of the Day: Redblacks at Alouettes

Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes (-8, 47)

The Montreal Alouettes host the Ottawa Redblacks to kick off the 2015 CFL season on Thursday. The Alouettes started the 2014 campaign 1-7, but won eight of their next nine games to clinch a playoff spot before eventually falling to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division final.

Montreal hopes the additions of veteran receivers Fred Stamps and Nik Lewis will add offensive punch to a unit that finished eighth in the league at 294.5 yards per game. The Redblacks look to bounce back from a difficult opening season in the CFL after losing a league-worst 16 games in 2014. Ottawa lost all three meetings to Montreal last season and dropped a 26-9 decision to the Alouettes in preseason play on June 13. Ottawa was held to 10 points or fewer in eight games last year and hopes the addition of electrifying wide receiver/kick returner Chris Williams, who spent two seasons in the NFL, will energize the offence.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

LINE HISTORY: The Als were initially -7.5 before moving up to -8. The total has jumped a full point from 46 to 47.

WHAT ODDSMAKERS SAY: “After scoring a league low 278 points last season, the Redblacks worked diligently to add some spark at the receiver position by adding a bunch of CFL veteran catchers. Unfortunately, Ottawa’s defense was almost as inept, allowing the second most points in the league while allowing a CFL high 373 yards per game. Steps were taken to improve the Redblacks’ stoppers but it too is a work in progress. Ottawa will head to its closest geographic foe as the Alouettes are looking to improve on their 9-9 record from a year ago. Much like the Redblacks, Montreal added a couple of veteran receivers in hopes of helping young QB Jonathan Crompton, now in his second season at the helm for the Als. Despite the .500 record, Montreal was a -32 in net points and will need to improve upon that stat. The Als opened as a 7.5-point faves for this one but the betting public appears to be avoiding the sophomore visitor as the price has increased slightly with Montreal a current 8-point choice. Oddly, the total has also gone up despite the poor offensive showings of both teams last year with the opener of 46 having disappeared and now sitting on 47.” – CFL Oddsmaker Randall “The Handle”

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: “The Redblacks finished dead last in scoring last season, and they had the league’s worst record going 2-16. It’s hard to take too many positives from their 0-2 pre-season, as they totaled just 19 points in two games. Suffice to say, not many people are going to be calling for an upset on opening night in Quebec City.” – Will Rogers

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (2014: 2-16): Veteran quarterback Henry Burris passed for 3,728 yards and 11 touchdowns, but threw 14 interceptions and was largely ineffective behind an inept offensive line. “We need trust and have to be on the same page,” Burris told reporters. “We have an opportunity to get our season off to a good start against a very good team that was in the East final last year.” The Redblacks boast a revamped receiving corps with five new faces, including Williams and Brad Sinopoli, who played collegiately at the University of Ottawa.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (2014: 9-9): Jonathan Crompton hopes to build off an encouraging second half of the season after throwing for 2,482 yards and 11 touchdowns. Tyrell Sutton and Brandon Rutley will get the bulk of the carries after the Alouettes recently released Brandon Whitaker, who led the team in rushing with 764 yards last season. “Sutton has come on over the last couple of years,” Montreal general manager Jim Popp told reporters. “Rutley has continued to develop.”

TRENDS:

*RedBlacks are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games.
*Alouettes are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 vs. East.
*Under is 5-1 in RedBlacks last 6 vs. East.
*Under is 17-3 in Alouettes last 20 games in June.

CONSENSUS: 50.83 percent are behind the Als with 50.4 percent backing the over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PGA Tour Picks: Travelers Championship Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews

I told you that the Chambers Bay course would be a major story line at last week’s U.S. Open and it certainly was — until it was upstaged by an incredible ending that saw Dustin Johnson lose the tournament and Jordan Spieth win it to get halfway to the season Grand Slam.

I do think that pro golfers are sissies in a way when it comes to course conditions. I mean, baseball players hit 99-mph pitches in front of screaming crowds of 50,000 fans at night yet you can’t even snap your camera when a golfer is in his swing, but that’s a story for another day. All the complaints about the greens last week were a bit much, although you could clearly tell from television that they were a bit of a mess.

It still doesn’t excuse Johnson three-putting from 12 feet on the 72nd hole to choke away the tournament. And it was nothing less than a choke. Johnson hit two amazing shots to get on the green in two and had that 12-foot eagle for the win. That went about 4 feet long and his comebacker to force an 18-hole Monday playoff just missed. It was quite shocking — and perhaps no one was more surprised than Spieth, who could be heard on TV thinking he had blown his chance.

Johnson sort of blamed the green: “Whatever the putt did on the last hole, I don’t know. I might have pulled it a little bit. But still to me it looked like it bounced left. It’s tough. It’s very difficult. Whatever the putt did on the last hole, I don’t know. I might have pulled it a little bit. But still to me it looked like it bounced left. It’s tough. It’s very difficult.”

I have watched the replay many times and didn’t see any bounce. It was sure great theater, though I don’t think we will see another U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in my lifetime. I hope Johnson does win one of this season’s final two majors because he’s getting a reputation as a choker in them, which is overshadowing his nine career Tour wins.

Spieth, meanwhile, became the youngest player to win the U.S. Open since Bobby Jones in 1923. He is also the youngest to reach two majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922 and sixth player ever to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. The last five majors (two by Rory McIlroy) have been won by players under 30, the first time that has happened since in 91 years.

I didn’t have Spieth as my individual winner — that was McIlroy. He finished T9. So I did get him and Johnson for a Top 10 as well as a Big 4 of Spieth, McIlroy Justin Rose and Johnson at +180 over the field (-240). Also nailed Tiger Woods (-130) and Bubba Watson (+220) to miss the cut. The one guy who disappointed me most was Phil Mickelson as I really thought he would contend and took him on a few props, but he was T64. I don’t think he’ s ever going to win the U.S. Open now.

So the fact it’s the week after a major, especially the most grueling of them all, plus across the country at TPC River Highlands outside of Hartford means a very weak field this week for the Travelers Championship. It got weaker with the withdrawal of Jason Day. If you saw him struggling with vertigo at the U.S. Open, even fainting, no shock he’s out. Pretty impressive he even finished four rounds at Chambers Bay. Six of the world’s Top 30 are set to play, led by Watson and Sergio Garcia. A little under 40 players who were at Chambers Bay are entered.

The defending champion is Kevin Streelman. He was awesome in the final round last year; well he was after starting 1-over. But he birdied No. 12 — and the rest of the holes to finish with a Sunday 64 and at 15-under 265 overall. He broke the Tour record for closing birdies by a winner of a tournament of six straight set by Mike Souchak in the 1956 St. Paul Open. Streelman matched the tournament record with a 7-under 28 on the final nine. The only repeat winner here was Mickelson in 2001-02. Streelman is +3300 at Bovada to do so. He’s not playing well this season with only two Top 10s in 19 events.

PGA Tour Golf Odds: Travelers Championship Favorites

Watson is the +1200 favorite . I actually think missing the cut last week helps him as he won’t be as gassed — just never take him to win a U.S. Open as for whatever reason that tournament doesn’t seem built for his game. Watson won here in 2010 (first Tour win) and was second in 2012. He was 31st a year ago.

Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Reed are +1400. Sneds comes off an eighth last week, his third straight Top 10 this year. He was 11th here a year ago. Reed was T14 last week. Sergio (+1600) and Billy Horschel (+1800) round out the favorites. Garcia had that runner-up here a year ago. Horschel has five straight Top-25 finishes on Tour.

PGA Tour Picks: Travelers Championship Expert Predictions

For a Top-10 result, I like Watson at +125, Snedeker at +150 and Garcia at +175. Take Harris English (+165) and Keegan Bradley (+130) for Top 20s. Head-to-head, lean Watson (-125) over Reed (-105), Horschel (-120) over Louis Oosthuizen (-110), Bradley (-125) over Russell Knox (-105), English (-115) over Tony Finau (-115), and Zach Johnson (-115) over Brendan Steele (-115).

I like Marc Leishman (+200) as the top Aussie, Luke Donald (+175) as the top Englishman and Branden Grace (+175) as the top South African.

I really am not high on anyone who played all last week winning. That’s a lot to ask. Also, six of the past nine winners here have been first-timers (Streelman wasn’t). I’m going to go with Leishman at +3500. He won here in 2012 and was T11 last year. Plus he missed the cut last week so that may help. I am going to back this up with the Big 4 of Watson, Reed, Snedeker and Garcia at +300 vs. the field (-450).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

10 Players to Watch: Travelers Championship
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

1. Brandt Snedeker, United States — Following a two-year slump caused by injuries, Snedeker has his game back on track and is up to No. 25 in the World Golf Rankings and No. 8 in the FedEx Cup standings. In addition to claiming his seventh PGA Tour victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, he has six other top-10 finishes this season, including a tie for eighth last week in the U.S. Open. Snedeker is making his fifth start in the Travelers, and he posted his best result last year, a tie for 11th, by closing with a 6-under-par 64 at TPC River Highlands. A third-round 72 kept him from a top-10 finish.

2. Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa — Even though Jordan Spieth wound up winning, Oosthuizen probably was the best player over the last three rounds of the U.S. Open, posting scores of 66-66-67 to tie for second after opening with a 7-over-par 77 at Chambers Bay. He recorded his fifth top-10 finish of the season on the PGA Tour, including sixth in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster and a tie for fifth in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship at TPC Harding Park. He is playing on another TPC course this week, River Highlands, where he shot the par of 70 or better all four days in his only appearance but could manage only a tie for 47th in 2012.

3. Bubba Watson, United States — Following a strong start to the 2014-15 season, which included his seventh PGA Tour victory in the WGC-HSBC Champions last November, Watson has not played well in his last four tournaments, capped by a missed cut in the U.S. Open, where he shot 70-77–147. TPC River Highlands is a place where he might find his game, as he has four finishes of sixth or better in eight starts in the Travelers, including his first PGA Tour victory in 2010. Watson also tied for second three years ago, closing with 65-65, only to lose by one stroke to Marc Leishman of Australia, who finished with a 62.

4. Branden Grace, South Africa — If not for hitting his tee shot out of bounds on the 16th hole in the final round Sunday at Chambers Bay, Grace might have come to TPC River Highlands as the U.S. Open champion. He was tied for the lead at the time with eventual winner Jordan Spieth and wound up two strokes back in a tie for fourth after a double bogey on No. 16. Grace is playing in the Travelers for the first time, but he is having a strong season with three top-10 finishes in eight events on the PGA Tour to go with victories on the European Tour in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. He is up to No. 27 in the World Golf Rankings.

5. Sergio Garcia, Spain — The Spaniard was one of many players who said the greens at Chambers Bay were substandard for a U.S. Open, but he still managed to finish in a tie for 18th. In his previous PGA Tour event, he lost in a playoff to Rickie Fowler in the Players Championship. He also tied for second in the CIMB Classic this season and hopes to carry his strong play to TPC River Highlands, where he is playing for the fourth time. Last year, Garcia was on the verge of victory in the Travelers after posting two 65s, but Kevin Streelman made birdies on each of the last seven holes to steal away with the title.

6. Patrick Reed, United States — Coming off his best golf in two months, a tie for 14th in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, Reed could be rediscovering the form that led him to four victories in the last two seasons and to No. 8 in the FedEx Cup standings. He posted his best finish in a major last week, and it could have been better because he was in contention for two rounds at 66-69 before stumbling to a 76 on Saturday. Reed will be making his fourth start in the Travelers, with his best result a tie for 18th two years ago, when he was second after opening with 66-66 before sliding back on the weekend with 73-70.

7. Billy Horschel, United States — Easily the most vocal of the players who trashed the condition of the putting greens at Chambers Bay last week at the U.S. Open, where he tied for 25th, Horschel will try to put that behind him this week in the Travelers. The reigning FedEx Cup champion will be playing at TPC River Highlands for only the third time. He shot 73-71–144 to miss the cut in 2011 before closing with 67-67-68 to tie for 24th three years ago. After his big finale to 2014, Horschel has finished in the top 10 only twice this season, but he does have seven results in the top 25.

8. Kevin Streelman, United States — The defending champion will have to play better than he has all season to put up a strong defense in the Travelers, as he has only two finishes in the top 10, plus a tie for 12th in the Masters. Last year, he set a record for a PGA Tour winner by making seven consecutive birdies to finish the final round, breaking the mark of six set by Mike Souchak in the 1956 St. Paul Open. Streelman one-putted his last 10 holes to cap a weekend in which he shot 64-64 to win by one stroke over Sergio Garcia and K.J. Choi. He also tied for sixth at TPC River Highlands in 2011 and tied for 10th in 2008.

9. Marc Leishman, Australia — Even though he missed the cut in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay by shooting 73-77–150, Leishman showed in his previous outing that he might be getting his season into gear when he tied for fifth in the Memorial Tournament. And TPC River Highlands might be the perfect spot for that to happen because he claimed his only victory on the PGA Tour there in 2011, coming from six strokes behind in the final round with a bogey-free, 8-under-par 62. The Aussie finished two hours early and eventually won by one strokes over Bubba Watson and Charley Hoffman, who held a two-stroke lead before finishing double bogey-bogey. Last year, Leishman finished with 68-65 to tie for 11th.

10. Hunter Mahan, United States — Looking for a spark to ignite the second half of his PGA Tour season after he shot 73-74–147 to miss the cut in the U.S. Open, Mahan comes to the Travelers, where he once had a torrid four-year run. After tying for second in 2006, three strokes behind J.J. Henry, he claimed his first PGA Tour victory at TPC River Highlands a year later. He opened with an 8-under-par 62, and his birdie on the first playoff hole beat Jay Williamson. Mahan tied for second, one shot behind Stewart Cink, in his title defense, and he tied for fourth in 2009. His best finish since at the Travelers was a tie for 11th in 2012. Mahan tied for ninth in the Masters two months ago but has not been sharp since.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Travelers Championship: Golf Betting Preview and Picks
By Matt Fargo

This is a letdown week with the U.S. Open peaking interest last weekend. The letdown not only comes because less is on the line but also because the field strength goes way down following a major championship. That’s the case at the Travelers Championship at TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

The scoring will be different compared to the U.S. Open, where every player in the field finished over par. The last 19 winners of the Travelers have carded double-digit scores under par, which means birdies are coveted and ball striking and hitting greens are of the utmost importance. Last year, 14 players finished double-digits under par.

With the U.S. Open taking place last week, the field has been thinned out as just two players ranked in the OWGR Top 10 are here, as well as only three of the Top 10 from the FedEx Cup Standings. askthebookie, Just six tournament winners from this year are teeing it up, so the possibility is there once again to crown a first-timer. Seven of the past eight Travelers Champions are here including the last three winners. Last week’s U.S. Open winner Justin Rose is also in Cromwell.

To no surprise, Rose (+1,200) is the favorite this week on the heels of his U.S. Open victory. He will try and avoid a letdown from his first ever major but that will be tough to do. Last year, Webb Simpson came here after his first major win and finished T29. Rose does have three Top 10s at the Travelers but has not played here since 2010 and he may not be ready mentally this week.

Bubba Watson (+2,000) is one of seven players at +2,500 or lower, but he is in the best shape of them all avoiding a letdown or a hangover from the U.S. Open. He finished T32 and was never really in contention after the second day. He won this event in 2010, which was his first ever win on tour, and it was no fluke as he backed it up with a T2 last year, finishing one shot off the lead.

John Rollins (+3,000) could take advantage of the light field and pick up his first tour win since the 2009 Reno-Tahoe Open. He has had success at the TPC, with a T4 last year while posting a T2 in 2011. That history is great to have but it is bolstered by his recent form. His two Top 10s this year came in his last two starts, a T4 at Colonial and a solo sixth at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

Charley Hoffman (+4,000) was on his way to win the 2012 Travelers, shooting seven under through 13 on Sunday, but finished the last five holes three over with a double on 17 and a bogey on 18. He has been around on the weekend the last three years and his current form won’t bring him down. He has four Top 10s this season, including three in his final eight starts.

Birdies are available everywhere here and Brendon de Jonge (+4,000) is one player that can take advantage. He is second on tour in birdies made with 252, so keeping that up along with avoiding big numbers should have him in the hunt. He has missed only four cuts while posting three Top 10s this season. At the Travelers, he has a T9 and a T8 in two of the last three years. Last year’s scorecard featured 19 birdies and one eagle.

We have not seen back-to-back winners here since Phil Mickelson in 2001 and 2002 but there is no reason to think Marc Leishman (+5,000) can’t do it – and at long-shot odds as well. He backdoored his way in to the win last year but did shoot a Sunday 62, so he deserved it. Additionally, he had 21 birdies over the course of four rounds. He has four Top 10s this year, three of which were in April and May.

Recommended tournament win five pack at the Travelers Championship

(All for one unit)

Bubba Watson (+2,000)

John Rollins (+3,000)

Charley Hoffman (+4,000)

Brendon de Jonge (+4,000)

Marc Leishman (+5,000)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL Week 1 Trends and Betting Preview
By Mike Pickett

The 2015 CFL seasons kicks off this week with games in Montreal, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Fort McMurray - where the Eskimos will take on the Argonauts. Here's a look at the four betting matchups on tap for this week, along with opening CFL betting props from Bovada.

Ottawa at Montreal

Last 10 Meetings: Montreal 3-0 SU, 2-0-1 ATS | OU 0-3

The RedBlacks lost all three of their games against the Alouettes in their inaugural season in 2014, and managed just a single PUSH in the three contests that all turned out to be UNDER results. Ottawa has a wins OVER/UNDER of 5 at Bovada for this season, with Montreal's listed at 8.5; the RedBlacks were 2-16 in 2014, while the Alouettes were 9-9.

Hamilton at Calgary

Last 10 Meetings: Calgary 9-1 SU, 5-5 ATS | OU 4-6

The Stampeders were 3-0 SU but 1-2 ATS against the Tiger-Cats last season, including a 20-16 win in the Grey Cup in which they failed to cover the 7-point spread. Calgary went 15-3 during the regular season last year while Hamilton was 9-9; at Bovada the Stampeders are listed with a wins OVER/UNDER of 11.5 for 2015, with the Tiger-Cats at 9.5.

Edmonton vs Toronto

Last 10 Meetings: Toronto 4-6 SU, 3-7 ATS | OU 7-3

The Argonauts went 1-1 SU but 0-2 ATS in their two games against the Eskimos last season, with the OVER having paid off in each of the last five games between the two teams. Toronto's OVER/UNDER for wins for 2015 at Bovada is at 8.5, with Edmonton's at 10.5; the Argonauts went 8-10 last season, while the Eskimos posted a record of 12-6.

Winnipeg at Saskatchewan

Last 10 Meetings: Saskatchewan 8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS | OU 6-4

The Roughriders swept their three games against the Blue Bombers last season SU, going 2-1 ATS in those contests while the OVER/UNDER went 2-1 for totals bettors. Saskatchewan is coming off a 10-8 campaign, with Winnipeg going 7-11 last season; the Riders' wins OVER/UNDER for 2015 at Bovada is 9.5, while the Bombers' has been set at 7.5.

 

[superbeets]

Copa America Fr 26Jun 00:30

Bolivia

v

Peru

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		9/2	23/10	17/20	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
NDHWALNDNWAL​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 1 0 - 0 2 - 2	HWNLNDNLNWAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Bolivia have won just one of their last ten competitive fixtures

EXPERT VERDICT: Peru have a habit of saving their best football for the Copa America and can reach the semi-finals for the second successive time by beating Bolivia in Temuco. The Incas have bounced back impressively from a 2-1 loss to Brazil in their first game and are going the right way, unlike Bolivia, who lost 5-0 to Chile last time out.

RECOMMENDATION: Peru
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[superbeets]

Copa America Sa 27Jun 00:30

Argentina

v

Colombia

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		10/11	12/5	15/4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
NWNWHWNDHWHW​ Most recent​	0 - 0 2 - 1 0 - 0 1 - 0	AWNWNWNLNWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Argentina have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven competitive games

EXPERT VERDICT: Argentina finished top of Group B without playing anywhere near their best but can step up to the challenge of facing Colombia in the last eight. Colombia produced their finest effort when beating Brazil 1-0 but were poor in a 0-0 draw to Peru and are likely to pay the price for finishing third in their group.

RECOMMENDATION: Argentina
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[superbeets]

Copa America Sa 27Jun 22:30

Brazil

v

Paraguay

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		8/11	13/5	5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
NWHWHWNWNLNW​ Most recent​	0 - 0 2 - 2 2 - 1 0 - 2	ADNLHDNDNWAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Brazil have not conceded more than one goal in any of their last 13 matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Brazil are nowhere near as dynamic without Neymar but should still have enough to get past Paraguay in Concepcion. Paraguay sprang a major surprise by drawing 2-2 with Argentina in the group stage but are facing a tough task against the Selecao, who have won 12 of their 13 matches since the World Cup.

RECOMMENDATION: Brazil
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[superbeets]

MLS Su 28Jun 22:00

New York City

v

NY Red Bulls

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NEW YORK CITY	RECENT FORM
HDALHDAWHWAW​ Most recent​	Unknown	HWADHLALALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: The Red Bulls have conceded 12 goals in seven away games in the Eastern Conference

EXPERT VERDICT: New York City are hitting some good form and are unbeaten in four outings, winning three. The Red Bulls have been heading in the opposite direction and their away record is dreadful with just one win, three draws and three losses. It could be even worse after this derby.

RECOMMENDATION: New York City
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