Thursday 8/13/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Capital One Cup TODAY 19:45

Doncaster

v

Leeds

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		13/8	12/5	13/8	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT DONCASTER	RECENT FORM
AWHDALALHWHD​ Most recent​	0 - 3 1 - 3 0 - 3 1 - 2	HLHLALAWHDHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Leeds have won on their last four visits to the Keepmoat

EXPERT VERDICT: Doncaster allowed Bury to score after notching when trying to return the ball following an injury on Saturday, but no such generosity is likely in this Yorkshire derby. The Shakers hit the woodwork three times against Donny and Championship Leeds should show they are the superior side.

RECOMMENDATION: Leeds
2


REFEREE: Keith Hill STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PGA Championship Preview
By Dan Daly

Let’s face it, the PGA Championship as a major is basically the equivalent of cheese pizza in many people’s eyes. It’s still pizza, but at the end of the day you know there is a more enjoyable version. The British has the history, the US Open is our National Championship, The Masters is…well, the Masters and the poor PGA just always seems to be an afterthought. And honestly, the whole, “Glory’s Last Shot” slogan makes people want to watch that tournament about as much as “Every Kiss Begins With Kay” makes people want to buy a piece of jewelry from Kay Jewelers.

To me though, the irony is that the PGA Championship year in and year out seems to almost always deliver one of the most exciting majors of the year. With the exception of Rory’s run away win at Kiawah in 2012 and Tiger’s mockery of Medinah in 2006, every PGA Championship over the last 20 years has been extremely competitive and entertaining. I still contend the 2000 PGA Championship between Tiger and Bob May ranks in the top 3 best Sunday finishes of any major in the last 30 years.

I do have some serious issues as a whole with the PGA of America though: picking DL III to drive the Titanic back into the iceberg again next year at the Ryder Cup was a genius idea, forgetting how time and sunsets work and thus almost ruining an otherwise great final round of last year’s PGA, and most notably 5 years ago at Whistling Straits when they allowed 4-year-olds to build sand castles in their “bunkers” and then kicked Dustin Johnson in the balls for not realizing he was in said bunker even though no one on the planet did either.

Now the PGA returns this year to Whistling Straits, and frankly I can’t wait. After watching the 2010 final round on replay last week three things really stood out to me (aside from the ridiculous bunker ruling). First, how hard the 18th hole is. I mean that thing is an absolute beast of a golf hole and might be the best/hardest finishing hole they play on the PGA tour. Second, how many chances Rory had on the back nine Sunday and didn’t convert. And finally, I forgot just how good the leaderboard was on Sunday. Rory, Bubba, Day, Mickelson, Kuckar, Kaymer, Zach Johnson and of course Dustin Johnson. (Spieth hadn’t even started his senior year of high school, but probably could have contended) Combine that leaderboard with the fact that 2015 has produced some of the best golf and overall leaderboards in recent years and I expect nothing less than a stellar conclusion to the 2015 majors.

As always, odds below are at the time of posting and are subject to change throughout the week.

As for who won’t win this week:

Rory McIlroy (10/1) – As I said earlier, no one had more chances to win here on Sunday in 2010 than Rory did, and he is a much better and more polished golfer than he was 5 years ago. But he won’t win this week either. The ankle itself isn’t really my concern with Rory this week. The problem I see with Rory is the rust that ankle caused. To me anyway, the more Rory plays, the better he gets. With over a month out of competitive golf I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Rory repeat what he did at Augusta where he barely make the cut on Friday then posts a good round Saturday and an even better round Sunday for another back door top 10. I just think the rust from the layoff will leave him too far back to win this week.

Zach Johnson (50/1) – Believe it or not, ZJ finished T-3 here in 2010, one shot out of the playoff. With that said, the odds of Zach Johnson winning back to back majors has to be closer to 50,000/1 than 50/1. Nothing against Zach, I just don’t see that happening.

Jim Furyk (65/1) – Say what you want about Jim Furyk, the guy is incredibly consistent. He managed to extend his amazing choke streak at the WGC by not closing out his TENTH consecutive 54-hole lead since the 2010 Tour Championship. The amazing part is that in that time span no one else has even had 10 54-hole leads, much less blown them all. In other words, if you are dumb enough to take Furyk this week and he has the lead come Saturday night, just bet 65 times your base bet against him and you will win.

Martin Kaymer (50/1) – He may have good memories from his win here in 2010 but I have good memories from Austin’s 6th street when I was in college. Problem is, neither of us are the same person we once were. Since his win at the US Open last year he has gone 70th, MC, MC, MC and 12th in his last 5 majors and missed four cuts in his last seven starts this year.

Adam Scott (15/1) – He can have Steve Williams on the bag, he can hit every fairway and every green and he still won’t win. As we learned at St. Andrews, the guy simply can’t putt well enough to win a major right now.

Justin Rose (22/1) – See above. With the exception of lightning in a bottle on Saturday at the WGC, this guy might be the only player on tour right now that could lose in a putting contest to Adam Scott. As good as he has hit it the last few months his putter has done him no favors. On this course, or any major for that matter, if you can’t putt, you can’t win.

Shane Lowry (100/1) – At 100/1 he will get a lot of action this week, and probably come down quite a bit as a result, but just remember he was posted at 100/1 even after winning the WGC for a reason.

Henrik Stenson (30/1) – A smooth little 80-75 here in 2010 and coming off a forgettable performance at the British Open I wouldn’t touch this guy with your money this week.

Rickie Fowler (22/1) – The guy makes too many big numbers and I think that will be his downfall this week on a course with some very difficult holes.

Louis Oosthuizen (40/1) – Top 20 at Augusta, T-2 at the US Open and lost in a playoff at the British. In other words the guy doesn’t suck this year when it comes to playing in majors. However just like Fowler last year I think he ends the year with four quality finishes in the majors but no wins.

Phil Mickelson (30/1) – If the 2010 version of Phil couldn’t win here there is zero chance the 2015 version of Phil can win here.

Luke Donald (100/1) – Pretty appropriate considering he barely broke 80 when he played here in 2010. Unless they let Luke play from the red tees he might as well be 100 million to 1 this week. And even then I’m not sure I would take him for $1.

Lee Westwood (100/1) - When Lee Westwood first saw the course he said, “I'd been told there are 10 difficult holes and eight impossible ones. I'm still trying to work out which the 10 difficult holes are." So that pretty much eliminates him. On a related note Sergio Garcia is 45/1. Meaning you can lose the same amount of money for less than half the imaginary payout.

Matt Kuchar (50/1) – The first and second round leader here in 2010 and was barely able to hang on to a top 10 over the weekend. The guy cashes a lot of checks, just not the really big one they hand out at majors.

Tiger Woods (30/1) - If you want to bet on Tiger this week, please call me, I’ll be more than happy to book your bet. No. 262 in world rankings and 30/1? If he even makes the cut this week you should get 30/1.

Boo Weekley (275/1) - It’s the PGA Championship…this never gets old.

John Daly (500/1) – If Steve Elkington could turn back the clock here in 2010 and still have a shot to win on the 72nd hole…why not JD in 2015????

So who wins “Glory’s Last Shot?” Personally, I would say this is a 4-horse race with one man emerging by a nose.

Bubba Watson (22/1) – It pains me beyond belief to have to put him in this category but the fact is the guy is playing really well as of late, lost in a playoff here in 2010 and should contend again here in 2015. I absolutely refuse to bet on him because I would feel like my money was cursed if I won but it wouldn’t shock me if he did. On a related note, watching the replay last week of the 2010 PGA here reminded me that my two favorite players in golf are whoever I have money on and whoever is in contention (a playoff) against Bubba. The real question this year: will Bubba participate in the long drive contest on Wednesday or once again prove to be the biggest D-bag on the PGA Tour? My money is on the latter.

Jason Day (15/1) – Finished T-10 here in 2010 despite a final round 74 and has contended in the last two majors despite battling vertigo. It still makes me nervous betting on a guy that could collapse at any minute but his win in Canada recently was a good sign and is coming off a solid week at the WGC. Day is going to win a major sooner than later and this week very well could be it. If nothing else he will be there come the back nine on Sunday and I look for Day to finish no worse than a top 10 again this week and most likely in the top 5 as well.

Jordan Spieth (11/2, or 5.5/1 for the mathematically impaired) – His grand slam dreams died at St. Andrews on the 72nd hole (or 71st, however you want to look at it) but the guy was one shot out of a playoff. If he wins this week and misses the grand slam by a single shot (no chance he loses that playoff) what an incredible story that would make on it’s own. Winning all three majors on US soil would still be pretty amazing, even Tiger in his heyday never did that. While I don’t think he will win this week, I certainly wouldn’t bet against him. However, it definitely wouldn’t shock me if he won. The guy could cure cancer tomorrow and it wouldn’t surprise me. He will at worst cash in again on a top-5 and top-10 bet this week.

It was also announced that Spieth will play with Justin Thomas against Mickelson and Fowler in a Tuesday practice round. Spieth said he was thinking of setting his US Open trophy on every green to get in Mickelson's head. Whether he does or not is irrelevant now, just the fact that he said it publicly is outstanding. And if there is any way I can get down on Spieth/Thomas for like ten grand, please let me know where I can take that action?

Your winner:

Dustin Johnson (13/1) – I said it in February and despite his US Open and British meltdowns, I am sticking with it. What else can this guy possibly do to lose a major at this point? Seriously, he has to be out of options by now. The guy has succeeded in losing a major in every way possible. I think the DJ we saw for 71.5 holes at the US Open and 36 holes at the British Open shows up for 72 holes this week. People forget because of the stupid bunker ruling that DJ made two really good birdies on the 70th and 71st hole here in 2010 to take a one shot lead going into the final hole. I think this is the ultimate redemption story this week for DJ, avenging his loss here in 2010, his 3-putt at the US Open in June, his complete weekend meltdown at St. Andrews in July and the countless other blown majors he has. In the words of the great Lloyd Christmas, “Just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!”

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Spieth still the fave heading into PGA Championship week
Andrew Caley

Jordan Spieth is still the 6/1 favorite to win three of the year's four majors as we are just days away from golfers teeing off at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights in Wisconsin.

Spieth is the clear frontrunner, according to the Westgate LV Superbook, with his biggest challenger being defending champion Rory McIlroy at 10/1.

Jason Day is next on the board at 12/1, followed by Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson at 15/1. Tiger Woods is on the board at 50/1.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

McIlroy declares himself healthy for PGA Championship
Stephen Campbell

Rory McIlroy has announced he's "100 percent" healthy heading into the PGA Championship this weekend at Whistling Straits.

McIlroy suffered ligament damage in his left ankle while playing soccer on July 4. The tournament's defending champion was forced to sit out of The British Open as a result.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has the Northern Irishman's chances to repeat at 10/1, slightly behind the favored Jordan Spieth (6/1).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Top Bets - Whistling Straits

TournamentGA Championship
Date: Aug. 13 - Aug. 16
Venue: Whistling Straits
Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Whistling Straits will host the PGA Championship for the third time in the last 12 years as the 1998 resurrection of a former waste dump to a European style links course with tons of sand has become one of the PGA’s favorite spots for big events. The par-72, 7,514-yard course along the banks of Lake Michigan will also be the host of the 2020 Ryder Cup and should have some more fireworks in store this year after sending the players to a playoff in the last two installments of this major being played here (2004, 2010).

The first of those was won by Vijay Singh (-8) as he took down American’s Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard in extra holes, while Martin Kaymer earned the victory in 2010 with a score of 11-under, outlasting Bubba Watson in the three additional holes. Since that 2010 event, world No. 1 Rory McIlroy has won this event twice (2012, 2014) as Keegan Bradley (2011) and Jason Dufner (2013) were victorious in the other two. All but two of the last eight of these tournaments have been won by two strokes or fewer with McIlroy’s 2012 margin of victory of eight strokes being the largest in the tournament since they began with stroke play in 1958.

The field is very deep with all but two of the top-100 players from the OWGR making the visit to Whistling Straits as No. 24 Chris Kirk (Hand) and No. 74 Alexander Noren (Rib) are held back by injury. The Spieth watch will be on once again as the now 22-year-old looks to become just the third player in PGA history with three major victories in one year, the others being Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000, after finishing in a tie for fourth at the Open Championship nearly a month ago. Also gunning for the trophy will be Tiger Woods, who has won this major four times, but has not done so since 2007 and has seen his standing in the OWGR drop to No. 278 while sitting at 186th in the current FedEx Cup standings.

Let’s now breakdown a few players in this week’s field who could overcome the best golfers in the world and bring home the trophy.

Golfers to Bet

Jason Day: (12/1) At this point, it seems like a matter of when rather than if Day will ever win a major championship as the 27-year-old has played at a high level in nearly every tournament he is in, but cannot finish things off when at the majors. In his career, he has three runner-ups in such events and another six top-10s as he has been able to creep into the top-15 at the PGA Championship three times; including a tie for 10th when it was last at this venue. On the year, Day already has two victories (Farmers Insurance Open, RBC Canadian Open) and had a top-nine showing at each of the last two majors as he’s totaled seven top-10s in his 15 events played. His drive (314 yards per) is the third longest on TOUR and when paired with his impressive putting (0.525 strokes gained putting, 14th on TOUR), he has a chance to be victorious in any given week. The day will come for this Australian-born player to etch his name on one of the major trophies, and this week could very well be it.

Brooks Koepka: (40/1) Koepka has the makeup of a major winner and the 25-year-old has already shown flashes of this with a top-10 finish at two of his past six attempts. He also did well last year in this tourney, ranking 15th with a score of nine-under-par after a 66-67 on the weekend. Koepka figured out how to earn his first career win earlier this season at the Waste Management Open and has been on fire of late with performances no worse than 18th in his last five appearances which included two majors and a World Golf Championships event. Just like Day, Koepka combines his unique ability of hitting the ball far (309.5 yards per, 6th on TOUR) with impressive putting ability (0.638 strokes gained putting, 5th on TOUR) in order to have the third-best scoring average (69.649) amongst his peers. The FSU alum jumped into the top-20 of the OWGR with his WGC performance last week and should be poised to continue his rise up the ranking with a nice week at Whistling Straits.

Keegan Bradley: (85/1) While Bradley is in the midst of the worst season in his career, ranking 61st in the FedEx Cup standings after doing no worse than 33rd before that, he is still a former major championship winner and has eight top-25s to his credit in 20 events played this year. He took this tourney back in 2011 and followed that up with a tie for third in 2012, so he knows how to get things done under the big lights of the PGA Championship. Bradley also been playing some solid golf recently, and after failing to make it to the weekend at the Open Championship, placed in a tie for 17th at the Bridgestone Invitational last week when he averaged 335.5 yards per drive. His driver (306.1 yards per, 65.68% fairways hit) will be a strength against the winds at this course and he has the ball-striking ability (1.107 total strokes gained, 16th on TOUR) to be competitive from day one. Bradley may be having a down year by his standards, but he can break out on any given week and dropping a few units on him would be smart.

Danny Lee: (90/1) Lee is one of the hottest players on TOUR right now, and has placed in the top-six at four of his last five tournaments after racking up just three top-10s with 16-of-25 cuts made up until the Traveler’s Championship. The big knock on the 25-year-old could be that he has not performed well in the big events, missing the cut at the PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship before finally performing amongst the best with a tie for sixth last week in the Bridgestone Classic. In the WGC event, Lee was able to putt 0.531 strokes better than the field and that should factor in once again as he is ranked 31st on TOUR in the category (0.390 strokes gained putting). Lee is feeling it lately and should be a factor over the weekend at this beautiful course.

David Lingmerth: (100/1) Joining Lee as a hot golfer heading into this huge event is Lingmerth who actually tied with Lee at the Bridgestone Invitational after shooting six-under over the weekend and carding his fourth top-six performance in his last six outings. One of those performances was a victory at the Memorial Tournament back in June where he staved off Justin Rose in a playoff for his first career PGA TOUR win. Major events such as this one are new to the Swedish player who has attended just three since joining the TOUR in 2013 and has made the cut twice; including a few weeks ago at St. Andrews where he shot five-under over the first three days before a 77 derailed his week on Sunday. Lingmerth is solid across the board while not being amongst the elite in any one area of his game, but that ability should give him opportunities to score in any type of condition and do well on Lake Michigan this week.

Odds to win PGA Championship

Jordan Spieth 6/1
Jason Day 12/1
Rory McIlroy 12/1
Dustin Johnson 15/1
Adam Scott 20/1
Bubba Watson 20/1
Justin Rose 20/1
Rickie Fowler 25/1
Henrik Stenson 30/1
Tiger Woods 30/1
Phil Mickelson 35/1
Brooks Koepka 40/1
Louis Oosthuizen 40/1
Sergio Garcia 45/1
Hideki Matsuyama 50/1
Jim Furyk 50/1
Shane Lowry 50/1
Patrick Reed 55/1
Brandt Snedeker 60/1
Jimmy Walker 60/1
Martin Kaymer 60/1
Matt Kuchar 60/1
Zach Johnson 60/1
Paul Casey 65/1
Billy Horschel 85/1
Branden Grace 85/1
Charl Schwartzel 85/1
JB Holmes 85/1
Keegan Bradley 85/1
Luke Donald 85/1
Danny Lee 100/1
Danny Willett 100/1
David Lingmerth 100/1
Graeme McDowell 100/1
Justin Thomas 100/1
Kevin Kisner 100/1
Robert Streb 100/1
Ryan Moore 100/1
Bill Haas 115/1
Ian Poulter 115/1
Jason Dufner 115/1
Lee Westwood 115/1
Marc Leishman 115/1
Webb Simpson 130/1
Francesco Molinari 135/1
Bernd Wiesberger 150/1
Gary Woodland 150/1
Graham DeLaet 150/1
Hunter Mahan 150/1
Kevin Na 150/1
Russell Henley 150/1
Ryan Palmer 150/1
Steve Stricker 150/1
Steven Bowditch 150/1
Victor Dubuisson 150/1
Brendon Todd 165/1
John Senden 165/1
Kevin Chappell 165/1
Tony Finau 165/1
Charley Hoffman 175/1
Harris English 175/1
Matt Jones 175/1
Camilo Villegas 200/1
Ernie Els 200/1
Geoff Ogilvy 200/1
Jamie Donaldson 200/1
Jason Bohn 200/1
Padraig Harrington 200/1
Russell Knox 210/1
Byeong-Hun An 225/1
Kevin Streelman 225/1
Nick Watney 225/1
Scott Piercy 225/1
Tommy Fleetwood 225/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 265/1
Ben Martin 275/1
Boo Weekley 275/1
Daniel Berger 275/1
Marc Warren 275/1
Shawn Stefani 275/1
Alex Cejka 300/1
Brendon de Jonge 300/1
Cameron Tringale 300/1
David Toms 300/1
James Hahn 300/1
Sang-Moon Bae 300/1
Thomas Bjorn 300/1
YE Yang 300/1
Vijay Singh 350/1
Colin Montgomerie 500/1
John Daly 500/1
Matt Every 500/1
Mikko Ilonen 500/1
Nick Taylor 500/1
Stephen Gallacher 550/1
Darren Clarke 1000/1

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Watson back at PGA with vengeance, Woods relates to McIlroy's return
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

As a human and a golfer, Bubba Watson said he can't help but allow negative thoughts to cross his mind.

He hasn't played the 18th hole at Whistling Straits since he followed a birdie on the opening hole of a playoff in 2010 by splashing his six iron into the water in the PGA Championship at this very course.

"I did everything I was supposed to do, but one person beat me. Coming back here, I've got good memories," Watson said after warming up with a nine-hole practice round Tuesday because of a fishing date with his son.

Watson is paying attention to course changes, and putting the one swing five years ago behind him.

"The rough is thick and healthy," Watson said. "I haven't seen greens runs this well in a long time."

Watson was runner-up in 2010 in a playoff with Martin Kaymer at Whistling Straits just weeks removed from his first ever PGA victory. Watson finished second in back-to-back tournaments entering Thursday's first round.

"The week (in 2010) was good, only one person beat me," Watson said. "Tough golf course. I remember the golf course being tough. … Just like this week, if you don't hit the fairway, it's going to be tough. Especially that front nine."

Whistling Straits, host of the 97th PGA Championship, is the third links style golf course in four PGA majors this season. Watson missed the cut at the U.S. Open and British Open. He tees off Thursday at 8:45 a.m. ET (Jim Furyk, Paul Casey).

Tiger Woods is only a few groups behind (9:15 p.m. ET) and spent most of the morning on the driving range with a driver in his hand. Woods showed some signs of frustration during the session but arrives in Wisconsin following a positive showing two weeks ago at Greenbrier. He'll be participating in his 18th career PGA Championship.

Other than thick mosquito swarms, Woods described the 2015 setup as favorable. After seven years without a major, Woods wouldn't say he has "lost a step."

"I can still walk the same pace on the golf course," Woods said with a smile. "Relatively speaking – I'm longer now than yardage than I was earlier in my career. Compared to other players I'm not. My understanding of the game has gotten much better. My knowledge of golf courses and different types of venues has gotten better."

Woods has missed the cut in his past two major starts. He said distance will be critical, accuracy moreso, and figuring out tricky short holes essential. Woods would love the chance to hoist another major championship trophy.

"It's pretty heavy, especially when you're tired," Woods said.

Woods said stamina will be a challenge for top-ranked golfer Rory McIlroy this week, recalling playing nine months on a bum knee and battling back issues that required surgery.

McIlroy walked the course again Tuesday and then hit the driving range. He plans to play in his first event since being sidelined by an ankle injury on July 4. European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, who advised McIlroy against playing, said there's only one reason McIlroy would play.

"He's the world No. 1, and he's done many amazing things in his career," Clarke said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him in contention this week."

NOTES: Clarke and 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III (1:20 p.m. ET) are paired together in the first two rounds. Clarke said he will play a limited schedule next year, focusing on his Ryder Cup duties, including attending multiple tournaments in which he will not participate. … Whistling Straits will host the 2020 Ryder Cup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tiger Wood tabbed for 60.5 finish position at PGA
Andrew Avery

The Westgate LV Superbook has pegged Tiger Woods with a finish position of 60.5 with both the Over and Under priced at -110.

So far this season, Woods finished T17 at The Masters and missed the cut at both the U.S. Open and Open Championships in his Major Championship appearances. He is currently 50/1 at the Westgate LV Superbook to win the event.

If Woods withdraws or is disqualified, Over is the winner.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

18 need-to-know golf betting notes for the 2015 PGA Championship
By JOE FORTENBAUGH

The 97th edition of the PGA Championship tees off Thursday morning at Whistling Straits (Par-72, 7,501 yards) in Sheboygan, Wisconsin - the third time the course has hosted golf’s fourth major of the season.

Vijay Singh claimed the inaugural PGA Championship at Whistling Straits back in 2004, but most will remember Dustin Johnson’s collapse back in 2010 when he was penalized two strokes for grounding his club in a highly controversial “bunker” on the 72nd hole of the tournament to miss a playoff with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson by two strokes.

Johnson’s memorable miss aside, there’s plenty to consider in the few remaining hours before golf’s final major championship of the year kicks off Thursday morning, so let’s take a close look at 18 betting nuggets worth considering before taking that hard-earned cash up to the window.

*All betting odds and props courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.

1. To enjoy success at a course like Whistling Straits, one must first identify the elite golfers in terms of “Driving accuracy,” as the Fescue rough in Kohler, Wisconsin is some of the most demanding in all the country. Take this Tuesday tweet sent out by Ian Poulter as proof: “Course in great shape. DO NOT miss fairways by 1 yard its brutal.”

Some of the Tour’s top golfers in terms of “Driving Accuracy” this season include: Francesco Molinari (1st, 150/1), Zach Johnson (4th, 50/1), Henrik Stenson (10th, 25/1), Jason Dufner (15th, 125/1) and Jim Furyk (20th, 50/1).

2. However, the bottom line is that in a major, no golfer will finish the tournament having hit 100 percent of all fairways. So with that in mind, “Scrambling” is another critical statistic bettors will want to identify and analyze entering Thursday’s first round.

In 2015, the TOUR’s top scramblers include: Jason Day (5th, 12/1), Brandt Snedeker (6th, 60/1), Jordan Spieth (7th, 6/1), Matt Kuchar (10th, 50/1), Hideki Matsuyama (19th, 40/1) and Jim Furyk (21st, 50/1).

3. In similar fashion to the United States Open that was held at Chambers Bay back in June, Whistling Straits features extremely large putting surfaces. Unlike Chambers Bay, however, these are bentgrass greens that are reported to be in tremendous shape for this weekend’s tournament. What this means is that “Proximity to the hole” should serve as another integral statistic gamblers thoroughly examine heading into the 2015 PGA Championship, as “Greens in Regulation” could serve as a misleading statistic due to the fact that a golfer can hit a given green yet still find himself 75 feet from the hole.

In 2015, the top golfers in terms of “Proximity to the hole” include: Jim Furyk (2nd, 50/1), Justin Rose (8th, 20/1), Paul Casey (T12, 60/1) and Jordan Spieth (T17, 6/1).

4. The final statistic we want to devote significant time analyzing is “3-Putt Avoidance” due to the vast size of the putting surfaces at Whistling Straits as previously mentioned in No. 3.

In terms of “3-Putt Avoidance,” the Tour's top golfers in 2015 include: Jason Bohn (T2, 250/1), Kevin Kisner (11th, 100/1), Brendon De Jonge (15th, 300/1) and Jordan Spieth (T20, 6/1).

5. One name that popped up in three of the previous four items is none other than 45-year-old Jim Furyk (50/1), who won the United States Open at Olympia Fields in 2003. However, bettors should pay particular attention to the fact that Furyk is zero for his last 10 when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.

When the PGA Championship last visited Whistling Straits in 2010, Furyk shot a 3-under, 287 to finish T24. Not the least bit surprising is the fact that he carded a 75 on Sunday for his worst round of the week.

6. Weather update: Thursday, Saturday and Sunday feature expected temperatures in the range of 86-89 degrees, with no more than a 20 percent chance of precipitation (Sunday).

Friday, however, currently offers a high of 83 degrees with a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms. In addition, the stiffest winds are expected Thursday at a maximum of 16 miles per hour.

7. Jordan Spieth, this week’s favorite at the price of 6/1, has already recorded four wins this season, which includes victories claimed at both the Masters and United States Open. In addition, Spieth finished T4 at the Open Championship at St. Andrews last month, missing a playoff by just one stroke.

Simple rule of thumb for the PGA Championship: DO NOT FADE JORDAN SPIETH UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

8. Here’s a look at the Top 10 from the 2010 PGA Championship that was also held at Whistling Straits. The odds in parenthesis indicate that particular golfer’s price for this week’s tournament.

1. Martin Kaymer (50/1)
2. Bubba Watson (12/1)
T3. Zach Johnson (50/1)
T3. Rory McIlroy (12/1)
T5. Jason Dufner (125/1)
T5. Steve Elkington (Not playing)
T5. Dustin Johnson (15/1)
T8. Camilo Villegas (200/1)
T8. Wen-chong Liang (Not playing)
T10. Matt Kuchar (50/1)
T10. Jason Day (12/1)

9. In 2014, Oklahoma State product Rickie Fowler (20/1) took the PGA Tour by storm after recording Top-5 finishes in all four major championship events. This season, however, has been a very different story as the 26 year old finished T12 at the Masters, missed the cut at the United States Open and recorded a T30 at the Open Championship.

While Fowler did hoist the trophy at THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass back in May, he could be a tough pick in his four-round matchup proposition against Justin Rose (-125) and Bubba Watson (-130).

10. Fun fact: While nobody knows the exact number for sure, Whistling Straits is rumored to have an astounding 1,012 bunkers laced throughout the course.

11. Would this be a worthy golf article if I didn’t devote at least some space to the roller coaster of emotion known as Tiger Woods (50/1)? The short answer is, no, it would not.

In nine events played this season, Woods has missed three cuts, withdrawn once and notched just two lonely Top-25 finishes. And of those three missed cuts, two took place at the U.S. Open and Open Championship. Tiger is currently listed at +110 to miss the cut at Whistling Straits.

12. Exercise extreme caution when making any plays on or against four-time major winner Rory McIlroy (10/1), who returns to action this week after suffering a torn ankle ligament while playing soccer with his friends back in early July.

The 26 year old hasn’t played in a tournament since finishing T9 at the United States Open back in late June, so there are a lot of question marks surrounding the world’s top-ranked golfer. The most prudent approach here is to avoid any wagers involving McIlroy altogether.

13. Popular proposition: Finishing position for Adam Scott: 24.5 (Over: -110, Under: -110). The 2013 Masters Champion has notched five Top 25s and three Top 10s in 12 starts this season, with a T4 at the United States Open in June and a T10 at the Open Championship in July.

Additionally, the 35-year-old Australian has finished in the Top 15 in each of his last four trips to the PGA Championship. But most importantly, Scott is a big game hunter who is always at his best come major championship time, as evidenced by the fact that since the 2011 Masters, Scott has recorded 11 Top-10 finishes in majors. There could be value with the Under here.

14. Long shots are always a popular wagering option because they offer the opportunity to bet a little money in exchange for the chance to win a lot of cash. But be advised that the last 12 major championships have been won by golfers who found their names inside the Top 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings at the time of their respective victories.

15. Here’s a proposition that caught the eye of savvy golf bettors upon hitting the board in Las Vegas: Finishing position for Dustin Johnson: 20.5 (Over: -120, Under: EVEN). Johnson finished T6 at the Masters, T2 at the United States Open and held the 36-hole lead at the Open Championship before carding back-to-back 75s to finish T49.

As if those results weren’t appealing enough, Johnson finished T5 at the PGA Championship in 2010, which just so happened to take place at Whistling Straits as well.

16. Golfer to keep a close eye on this week: Bubba Watson (12/1). In eight starts at the PGA Championship, the two-time Masters winner has missed the cut three times as well as posted finishes of T64 (2014), 70th (2008), T26 (2011) and T11 (2012).

However, if you add up everything we just discussed, you’ll notice that one PGA Championship finish is missing from the list. That’s because Watson finished second in a playoff to Martin Kaymer at the 2010 PGA Championship at this exact same golf course.

Bubba currently ranks first on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green and has posted six Top-3 finishes in 14 starts this season.

17. Speaking of Bubba Watson, there could be value on the Under with his finishing position proposition of 17.5 (Over: -110, Under: -110) based on all the information contained within No. 16.

18. Finally, I’ll leave you with this: Jason Day (12/1) in 11 major championship starts since 2013:

Top-5 finishes: 4/11
Top-10 finishes: 6/11
Top-25 finishes: 8/11
Cuts made: 11/11

2010 PGA Championship finish at Whistling Straits: 10th (-7)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Best last-minute bets for the 2015 PGA Championship
By MATT FARGO

Want to bet The PGA Championship but don’t have time to handicap the field before they tee off at Whistling Straits Thursday?

Don’t sweat. Matt Fargo has compiled some of the best last-minute PGA Championship bets on the board.

Dustin Johnson (1st Round) +125 over Jordan Spieth (1st Round)

Johnson has so many near misses in Majors that you have to feel for him. The 2010 U.S. Open, 2010 PGA Championship, 2011 Open Championship, 2015 U.S. Open and 2015 Open Championship all came down to some sort of final round mistake or meltdown.

One thing is for sure though, he starts out great. He opened with a 65 at both this year's U.S. Open and Open Championship and don't be surprised with another big start.

Spieth opened with a 68 and 67 in those tournaments respectively and he has opened with a 67 or worse in all but three of his 20 starts.


Shane Lowry makes the cut -275

Lowry is coming off his first PGA Tour win last week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and while it could be easy to go against him here, he can carry that momentum into this week.

He did miss the cut at the Open Championship but that was coming off a subpar performance at the Scottish Open. More telling was his T9 finish at the U.S. Open back in June at Chambers Bay which sets up very similar to Whistling Straits.

Winning again seems unlikely but he fits the bill to play well again this week.


Winning 72 hole score over 273½ (-175)

Back in 2010 when Martin Kaymer won with a 277 (-11), conditions were excellent and while the weather this week should be equally as good, the course is going to be playing tougher.

Now the over/under is -14.5. Torrential rain and strong storms came through Monday and has softened up the course so it will not be fast and firm like it was in 2010.

Additionally, the rough is a lot longer and thicker this time around so advancing the ball will be difficult and getting up and down from around the green will be a challenge.


Rickie Fowler finishing position under 23½ (-115)

Fowler won THE PLAYERS this year and he is currently in great form, coming off a solo second at the Quicken Loans and a T10 last week so he fits the bill. Remember he finished in the top five in all four Majors last year and while this year has not been as good, he is definitely a better player now.

While he missed the cut at the U.S. Open on a similar type course, he was also coming off a missed cut at the Memorial. His T30 at the Open Championship followed a win at the Scottish Open but he was right in it at St. Andrews up until a Sunday 73.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Beware of McIlroy the hunter
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

Rory McIlroy acknowledged that 10 years ago he likely wouldn't be fit to even tee it up during the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday.

He wasn't conceding much else on the eve of the tournament.

Fielding a constant mix of questions about his left ankle and Jordan Spieth on Wednesday, McIlroy insisted he will be able to play at 100 percent this week as he attempts to prevent Spieth from taking over the No. 1 world ranking.

The PGA Championship comes just five weeks after McIlroy ruptured a ligament in his left ankle while playing soccer with friends on July 4. Due to the marvel of modern medicine and a daily rehab program, he turned what would have been an injury that required surgery a decade ago and still sidelines most people for 6-8 weeks into a five-week recovery.

He almost returned for last week's WGC-Bridgestone, and said he never targeted returning in time for the year's final major - one McIlroy has already conquered twice.

"I knew I wasn't going to have a low-key return to the game, and this definitely isn't it," McIlroy said Wednesday.

With Spieth winning the year's first two majors, McIlroy is in the major champions pairing for the first two days along with Spieth and British Open champion Zach Johnson. Spieth and McIlroy have been paired together for eight previous rounds in their careers, with the world's top-ranked player holding a whopping 22-shot advantage. But those were on different stages, and largely before Spieth burst onto the world scene over the past 12 months.

McIlroy wouldn't bite when asked who the best player in the world is currently, but understands the debate.

"We live in such a world that everything is so reactionary and everything happens so quickly," he said. "A year ago after I won this tournament it was the Rory Era. And then Jordan wins the Masters, and it's the Jordan Era. Eras last about six months these days instead of 20 years."

McIlroy's ankle injury isn't expected to have any long-term effects on his golf game, and he said the time away from the sport gave him the perspective that whether he wins or loses is important only to a small fraction of the population. He has always hinted that his career won't linger into the twilight of his athletic abilities and while he may invest in some ankle braces when back home, he has no intention of staying away from the soccer pitch.

"Anytime that I go back home, it's one of the things I regularly do with my friends," he said. "That was like the fourth or fifth time in 10 days that I'd played football. I enjoy it, we all enjoy it.

"I'm not going to stop doing what I enjoy doing. I enjoy having that normality in my life, doing something I've done since I was a kid."

For now the focus has returned to McIlroy's form on the golf course, which he believes is in good shape - albeit untested under tournament conditions. He is 34-under in the PGA Championship since 2009 while averaging 69.8 shots per round. The courses are typically long and favor big hitters who can drive the ball straight.

Spieth's driving numbers won't rival McIlroy's this week, but the upstart American's short game is what sets him apart. It all makes for what should make for fascinating theater - especially if the two final themselves pair yet again on the weekend.

"Whenever you see someone put together a season like this, of course you become motivated," McIlroy said of Spieth's success thus far in 2015. "But as well you're inspired.

"I'm not surprised at all that the narrative went from me to Jordan to both of us being here. Jordan has played phenomenal golf for the past 12 months. He's taken up a lot of the limelight this year, deservedly so. It's one of the best years of golf we've seen in a long, long time."

Spieth enters the PGA Championship the favorite, with many sportsbooks pegging him around 6-to-1 odds to win while McIlroy hovers near 10-1. Going from hunted to hunter may prove to work out just fine for the winner of two of the past three PGA Championships.

"I feel like I'm playing well," McIlroy said. "I expect to play well, I don't see any reason why I can't bring the form I've shown in practice rounds and on the range to the tee on Thursday afternoon."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Las Vegas Superbook sets lowest round at 65 for PGA
Andrew Avery

The Westgate LV Superbook has set the Over/Under for the lowest round at the 2015 PGA Championship at 65. Over 65 is currently EVEN while Under 65 is at -120.

China's Liang Wen-Chong has the course record at Whistling Straits, carding a 64 in third round at the 2010 PGA Championship - the last time the event was held at the Wisconsin course.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Golf betting: PGA Championship preview
By MATT FARGO

The 97th edition of the PGA Championship starts Thursday, culminating another busy and exciting season of golf Majors. Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin will be the host for the third time, one of only eight courses to hold this championship three or more times. The first came in 2004, which was won by Vijay Singh in a playoff over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard and most recent, 2010 when Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba Watson in a playoff.

There are some significant storylines this week. Can Rory McIlroy defend his 2014 PGA Championship after having not played in nearly two months because of a ruptured ankle ligament? Can Jordan Spieth become just the third player in history to win three Majors in one year? How will Dustin Johnson respond to a pair of tough finishes in the last two Majors as well as regroup in his return to the site of the infamous grounding of the club that cost him a spot in the playoff?

Of the last 29 Majors, there have been 21 different winners with Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth being the only two-time or more Major winners. Not since 2008 had there been a repeat major winner when Padraig Harrington won The Open Championship and PGA Championship back-to-back. But we have now seen it twice since last year as Rory McIlroy won The Open Championship and PGA Championship and Jordan Spieth has taken the Masters and the U.S. Open this season.

Since 1993, there have been 17 different winners of the PGA Championship with only Tiger Woods (4), Vijay Singh (2) and Rory McIlroy (2) being repeat winners which adds even more complication to the scenario. This tournament is known for its surprising winners even though there have been some big names at the top in recent years. It is interesting to note that the last 11 winners of the PGA Championship have had a top 25 finish in their last start so it has been a "who's hot" event.

Looking back at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last week shows a ton of big names that finished in the top 25 and many of those are near the top of the odds this week. Jordan Spieth is the favorite at +650 followed by Rory McIlroy at +1,115 and Jason Day at +1,170. Bubba Watson (+1,355), Dustin Johnson (+1,355), Justin Rose (+1,540), Rickie Fowler (+2,040) and Henrik Stenson (+2,235) round out the top eight. All but D.J. have a top 25 finish in their last start.

The 2010 edition at Whistling Straits was a sensational one. Matt Kuchar held the 18 and 36-hole lead before falling back on Saturday. 54-hole leader Nick Watney was -13 heading into Sunday but he collapsed with an 81. Overall, seven different players held at least a share of the lead in the final round and the final outcome between first place and eighth place was a difference of just three strokes. Don't be surprised to see a similar bunched outcome this year.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

2015 PGA Championship Picks with Golf Odds and Expert Predictions
by Alan Matthews

I did have a European taking last week's big-money WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, it certainly wasn't Irishman Shane Lowry, who was the winner. The 28-year-old won his first PGA Tour event by finishing at 11-uner 269, two shots ahead of Bubba Watson. Lowry started Sunday's final round in the penultimate group and two strokes behind Jim Furyk and Justin Rose. Lowry tied Watson for the day's low round of 66, with Lowry's 4-under not including a single bogey. Lowry made it interesting on the 72nd hole when his tee shot went way left, but he hit a great shot through the trees and into within 11 feet of the hole.

It was the second professional win for Lowry as he took the Irish Open six years ago as a 22-year-old amateur. Lowry now has a three-year PGA Tour exemption and can choose to play full time on that Tour or stay in Europe. It looked like Furyk might win as he had a four-shot lead through 36 holes. But he missed 16 fairways over the weekend and finished tied for third at 7-under. It was his 10th Top 10 in 16 starts at Firestone. My guy to win was Spain's Sergio Garcia, but he was T37.

For a Top 10, I hit on Jordan Spieth at -225 and Rickie Fowler at +125 -- they actually tied each other for 10th. Missed on Sergio and Adam Scott (T45). I didn't like Zach Johnson at all last week off his British Open win, and he never broke 70. Head-to-head, I hit on Fowler at -110 over Jason Day (-120) and Spieth (-175) over Dustin Johnson (+135).

Now we move on to Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis., for the PGA Championship, the final major of the season and really the end of the golf betting year for those who aren't die-hard fans. Now football takes over. The PGA last visited this course in 2010. Surely you remember that. Dustin Johnson had a one-stroke lead teeing off on his 72nd hole. Whistling Straits has tons of bunkers, but many don't resemble a typical American bunker. It's like a links course. Johnson lost his tee shot wide right and found himself in one of those bunkers. He wasn't aware it was a sand trap, so he grounded his club, earning a two-stroke penalty that knocked him out of the playoff. Martin Kaymer beat Watson in that three-hole playoff. By the way, that bunker is now covered by a grandstand. But keep in mind that all sand on both sides of the ropes is considered a hazard this week.

The defending champion is Rory McIlroy, who won a thrilling PGA in near-darkness at Valhalla in Louisville last year. It's his first start in about six weeks off tearing a ligament in his ankle. He is paired with Spieth and Zach Johnson in the first two rounds. Of course, Spieth won the first two majors this year and nearly got into the British Open playoff with Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. Spieth could again steal the No. 1 ranking this week with a win.

This week also will determine whether we might see Tiger Woods on Tour for the FedEx Cup playoffs. He is way down at No. 186 in the points. Woods said he will determine whether or not he will play next week's final event before the playoffs on whether he can realistically get into the playoffs. So a good result this week should see Woods on the tee next Thursday at the Wyndham Championship.

The PGA usually has the strongest field of any tournament each year, and that's the case with 98 of the world's Top 100 set to play. If you can't keep the ball in the fairway this week, you aren't going to contend. That doesn't bode well for Tiger, who is hitting only 55 percent of fairways this year.

Golf Odds: PGA Championship Favorites

I get why Spieth is the favorite, but +550 seems awfully low. It's not like he really knows this course, although he didn't really know St. Andrews, either. Spieth has finished outside the Top 10 in just one of his past seven tournaments since missing the cut at the Players Championship. He has missed the cut in his two PGA Championships. Spieth looks to join Tiger (2000) and Ben Hogan (1953) as the only players to win three majors in a season.

I totally disagree that McIlroy should be the second-favorite at +900. His ankle simply can't be 100 percent, and this is a hilly course. And his game will be rusty. He did tie for third at the 2010 PGA here.

The rest of the favorites are Dustin Johnson (+1200), Jason Day (+1400) and Watson (+1400). So the normal cast of characters. Watson hasn't played that well in this tournament since his runner-up five years ago. But he has been second in his past two PGA Tour events this year. Day is Mr. Top 10 in majors but can't quite cash in. He was T10 here five years ago. You know about Johnson.

Tiger, by the way, is +4000. Phil Mickelson is too. I have no reason to think they contend.



Golf Odds: PGA Championship Picks

Interesting stat: every major winner in 2015 and last year now holds multiple major titles. Obviously, Spieth only did when he won the first two this year, but maybe it's a trend.

For a Top 10, I'll take Spieth (-150), Day (+130), Watson (+150) and Hideki Matsuyama (+350). Head-to-head, go with Furyk (-150) over Zach Johnson (+115), Matsuyama (-130) over Garcia (even), Fowler (-115) over Scott (-115), Kaymer (-170) over Tiger (+130), but Woods (+120) over Mickelson (-155). I might even take Mickelson at +200 to miss the cut. I'll go with Tiger at -165 to make it.

Like Matsuyama at -110 as top Asian, Day at +110 as the top Aussie, Paul Casey at +2200 as top European and Padraig Harrington at +1100 as top Irishman. The site actually has a top lefty prop: Watson (-200) is easy call over Phil Mickelson (+200) and Brian Harman (+900). I believe a "rest of the world" is the winner at +350. And my pick is Matsuyama at +4000, in a playoff. A playoff finish is +275. Of course, the 2010 version here ended in one and so did the 2004 tournament at Whistling Straits.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preseason Week 1 Essentials
By Tony Mejia

The NFL preseason gets a bad rap.

Sure, most veterans take only one game seriously and we’ll all be ready to be done with it before the month is up, but don’t sleep on its charms.

In the Hall of Fame game alone, Steelers LB Ryan Shazier and RB/WR Dri Archer attempted to atone for rough rookie years by attacking the first available opportunity. Minnesota showcased impressive depth and saw intriguing rookie WR/KR Stefon Diggs back up what he’s been doing in practices with an electrifying punt return on Sunday’s most memorable play.

There will be reasons to tune in for every single preseason contest even if you abstain from getting in any action.

It’s a misconception that trying to profit of the preseason is akin to throwing darts. You can do well if you isolate games where the coaching staffs have different agendas in regards to playing time or what they’re schematically looking to accomplish, not to mention general mismatches in terms of personnel depth.Here’s how Week 1 shakes out:

Thursday, Aug. 13

New Orleans at Baltimore (BAL -3/37.5): The Saints have taken the cautious approach with Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks and newly acquired C.J. Spiller, so they’re all likely out. Drew Brees didn’t play in last year’s preseason opener, yet New Orleans still beat St. Louis 26-24 behind Luke McCown, who returns as the primary backup. Baltimore welcomes Matt Schaub to the party, looking to ease concerns about his uneven play in camp thus far. The Ravens were 4-0 last preseason.

Green Bay at New England (NE -3/38): A focused Tom Brady has been brilliant in practice, clearly locking in early in an attempt to press forward. Despite that, this preseason is all about getting Jimmy Garoppolo ready to play in Week 1. Bill Belichick’s strategy will reveal itself some here, but it’s worth noting that the Patriots have had more players unavailable due to injury than most at this early stage and just cut veteran backup QB Matt Flynn, opting for Ryan Lindley. The Packers have lost their preseason opener in five consecutive seasons.

N.Y. Jets at Detroit (DET -3/37): The Todd Bowles era gets underway, but his Jets defense has already had bad luck with injuries and off-field issues. QB Geno Smith has looked sharper, but don’t expect more than a cameo from him and new No. 1 WR Brandon Marshall. The Lions saw Matthew Stafford dominate this weekend’s scrimmage with brilliant throws, but backups Kellen Moore and Dan Orlovsky combined for three picks and no touchdowns. They’ll do the bulk of the work here.

Miami at Chicago (PK/37): Quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s continued improvement has been a positive sign considering the Dolphins just gave him more guaranteed money in the hope he’ll be their most productive quarterback since Dan Marino. The Bears are counting on Jay Cutler bouncing back from last season’s implosion and won’t expose him much, if at all, this early. Still, with coordinator Adam Gase installing a new offense and Vic Fangio implementing a 3-4 defense, we’ll see whether this bunch acclimates to change quickly.

Washington at Cleveland (CLE -2/37.5): Controversially divisive signal-callers Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel get more attention and scrutiny than even Tim Tebow, so this one is must-see TV. Both are expected to play, but it’s likely that Manziel gets much more time here since RGIII is slated to start opposite Josh McCown. Manziel put together an improved, eye-opening performance in this past weekend’s scrimmage.

Dallas at San Diego (SD -3.5/37.5): Count on Tony Romo and Philip Rivers wearing baseball caps throughout the duration of this one. Young players will be on the field for both sides throughout most of this one, so not even veteran backups Brandon Weeden nor Kellen Clemens should see much action. Instead, this QB battle will pit San Diego’s Chase Rettig and Brad Sorensen against Dallas’ Dustin Vaughan and Jameill Showers. The Chargers beat the Cowboys 27-7 in last year’s preseason opener.

Friday, Aug. 14

Tennessee at Atlanta (ATL -2.5/38): The Falcons are nursing multiple injuries and have no desire to expose Matt Ryan, so this is all about Marcus Mariota’s debut. Having drawn rave reviews so far, he can really get them riled up in Nashville if he’s sharp out of the gate.

Carolina at Buffalo (BUF -2.5/35.5): While Cam Newton may not play for the Panthers, new Bills coach Rex Ryan is going to need EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel or Tyrod Taylor to break through. None has managed to gain much separation thus far.

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville (PK/36): After scoring just three points against the Vikings, offensive coordinator Todd Haley should have Ben Roethlisberger available. Backup Bruce Gradkowski remains out with a shoulder injury, so the Jags should still get a heavy dose of Landry Jones, who lacked a pocket presence and command of the offense on Sunday. Word is Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles has looked impressive in camp thus far.

N.Y. Giants at Cincinnati (CIN -3/37.5): Veteran head coach Tom Coughlin led New York to 5-0 preseason mark in 2014, but then saw his team collapse to a 6-10 disaster. He may not be too interested in keeping the streak as a result, but it’s likely that winning this opener will hinge on the shoulders of new acquisition Ricky Stanzi, out to prove he should stick as the team’s third QB. The Bengals are looking for ex-Alabama star A.J. McCarron to continue displaying growth and lock up the top backup job to Andy Dalton.

St. Louis at Oakland (OAK -1/35.5): The two franchises who once shared Los Angeles are thrown together to open their seasons amid speculation that relocation may be in the immediate future. Improvement should also be in the cards, as both teams have promising young talent that should be on display here.

Denver at Seattle (SEA -5.5/36): Expect Peyton Manning to play at least a series against the two-time defending NFC champs, who provide a nice early measuring stick. Brock Osweiler is one of the more competent backup QBs and helped end Seattle's nine-game preseason winning streak in last year's opener. The Seahawks are 10-2 in preseason play over the past three seasons, which is why they opened up as the biggest chalk of Week 1.

Saturday, Aug. 15

San Francisco at Houston (HOU -3/35): The 49ers are basically starting over under new head coach Jim Tomsula, moving on from Jim Harbaugh, Frank Gore and multiple key defensive leaders. Houston has to pick a starter between QBs Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer. Promising third-stringer Tom Savage is likely to get the bulk of the snaps here.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota (N/A): Second-year QB Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp in his lone series, so with Adrian Peterson expected to sit out the entire preseason, all eyes will be on his continued development. Jameis Winston has the Bucs excited thus far in camp, particularly in red-zone drills. There will be lots of eyes on this one.

Kansas City at Arizona (AZ -2.5/36): The Chiefs are looking for new offensive weapons to step up, but Andy Reid has never put much emphasis on these exhibition games beyond the third one. Bruce Arians is 2-for-2 in preseason openers, but has dealt with a host of injuries. Since Tyrann Mathieu already almost broke Carson Palmer in practice, it's hard to imagine the 35-year-old coming back from a second ACL tear plays much this month. Drew Stanton has the backup job locked up, but Chandler Harnish, Logan Thomas and rookie Phillip Sims are looking to stick as No. 3.

Sunday, Aug. 16

Indianapolis at Philadelphia (PHI -3.5): With the spotlight to themselves, we’ll get to see what the heavily scrutinized Chip Kelly and Chuck Pagano bring to the table in this first installment. The Eagles want to play fast above all else and averaged an NFL-best 32.7 points per game last preseason. Sam Bradford is likely to make his first in-game appearance since tearing his ACL in the third of last year’s exhibitions. Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and Tebow will entertain the country one way or another. Count on that.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Betting 101: Best ways to safely handicap the NFL preseason
By JASON LOGAN

So you want to bet NFL preseason football, do you?

Steering bettors away from the NFL’s unpredictable exhibition schedule is like trying to convince high school kids to wait until marriage, if you know what we mean. You aren’t going to convince them otherwise so you might as well preach about safe sex - or in this case safe betting habits.

We break down the best ways to handicap the NFL preseason slate and hope you don’t lose your shirt – and pants – by the time Week 1 rolls around:

Read everything

The great thing about the NFL preseason is that books and bettors are on the same level. Coaches don’t reveal their plans until usually the day before a game, and by that time odds have been up for a while. If you catch an online presser or read a quote from a coach spilling the beans on his starters’ playing time, you can quickly get down before the lines adjust.

Research is everything for preseason capping. Find out how many snaps the first teamers will get, what the focal point of the offseason is – offense or defense – and wager accordingly. Also, keep an eye on camp injuries or how veteran players are treating the tune-up games. Some star players go through the motions in August and ones limited by injuries won't risk going all out before the real games start.

A team that is trying to establish some momentum on the ground will likely run the ball a lot – therefore keeping the clock ticking and the final score Under the total. If a team is trying to fill roster spots in the secondary and is plugging in rookies and inexperienced player in its pass defense, than perhaps look at the other team to air it out and exploit those weaknesses.

QB depth

Much the way starting pitchers make up 90 percent of baseball handicapping, quarterbacks hold a similar value when betting on the preseason. It’s the most important position on the field and can single handedly make or break your bets.

Finding a team with depth at quarterback is the key for success during the exhibition schedule. The No. 1 passer will likely only take a handful of snaps in the first two games of the preseason, turning the offense over to the backups.

Look for teams with an experienced backup under center. Many clubs have veterans and former starters on the roster, guys who won’t be freaked out by the NFL’s big stage like rookie QBs and wet-behind-the-ears free agents. These vets can keep the chains moving and often excel against an opponent’s second and third-tier defense.

New coaches and schemes

The preseason is summer school for many NFL teams transitioning their playbook, whether that be with a new head coach, coordinator or just an overall flip in the way they do things.

New head coaches aren’t necessarily a red flag. They can often feel a little pressured to win in the preseason in order to impress the front office and fan base, which can give some teams added betting value. New coordinators, on the other hand, are working in different plays and schemes, which usually come with a learning curve.

Read up on how teams are adjusting to new systems and offenses, especially if there is a dramatic shift in gears, like speeding up with no-huddle attacks or going from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4. When these teams take on established coaches, who have implemented their systems for a while, there can be value going against those new faces on the sideline.

Preseason lines

Come the regular season, the infamous 3-point spread is everywhere. And while a field-goal line is a key number in football betting, it loses some of its stature in the preseason.

Teams are more likely to go for a two-point conversion or try their luck on fourth-and-short in the preseason than play it safe. Not only do the games not matter, but a fourth down gamble or two-point attempt is an extra set for the offense as it works toward the regular season.

Depending on how those rolls of the dice play out, the final score can either be closer than three points or well over it. It’s rare to see a preseason spread of more than three points with most bouncing between 1-2.5 points.

Week to week

For those looking to bet the closest facsimile of Week 1 action during the preseason, you may want to pass on the first two weeks of exhibitions and save your marbles for Week 3. That’s when starting players tend to log the most time, working the majority of the first half and sometimes into the third quarter.

Week 1 and 2 often has first teams playing limited snaps – depending on the team’s situation – and Week 4 is pretty much a craps shoot. Coaches are making their final cuts, players are fighting to stay on the roster, and the coordinators are tightening the final nuts and bolts of their playbooks.

For those bettors who like a challenge, Week 4 of the preseason could be the trickiest week of the entire NFL schedule – preseason, regular season and playoffs – to wager on.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preseason Week 1 Pointers
By Jim Feist

The pro football preseason kicked off this past weekend in the Hall of Fame game as the Vikings battled the Steelers. Remember that each season is different, with players changing teams, new coaches and assistants coming aboard, and star college players joining the pros as highly touted rookies. August football offers fans their first peak at all the new additions.

It's a short week for the Steelers, heading to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars. The Steelers didn’t care much about preseason last August, going 1-3 SU/ATS. In their two road games, they lost 20-16 and 31-21.

The extra work will probably be good for Minnesota as they excelled last preseason under a new coaching staff, going 4-0 SU/ATS. Minnesota still had a losing record during the regular season, finishing third in the NFC North. Last preseason they were trying to establish a quarterback, but this year Matt Cassel is gone and they’ve hitched their wagon to Teddy Bridgewater, so preseason will mean a backup battle Shaun Hill and Mike Kafka.

The defending champion Patriots open the preseason against the Packers. It would have been a Super Bowl rematch if the Packers hadn’t muffed an onside kick. And you won’t see much of Aaron Rodgers against Tom Brady, as Bill Belichick rarely uses franchise Tom in Week 1.

The Dolphins are at Chicago as the Bears introduce a new head coach. John Fox was quietly shown the door in Denver and made changes to the Bears on both sides of the line. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase is aboard who ran the offense with Fox at Denver. He gets to work rookie WR Kevin White into the new offense -- and good luck to both working with turnover-prone QB Jay Cutler. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has a boatload of work to do overhauling a Chicago defense that was dismal in 2014, ranked 30th against the pass, 17th against the run, and the second most points allowed (27.6 ppg).

Carolina heads to Buffalo this weekend. Carolina is a veteran team off of two-straight playoff appearances, so they have little to prove. The Bills, however, introduce bombastic coach Rex Ryan to the home fans, which is always a treat. Ryan walks in to a great situation (9-7 SU/ATS) though his team is going to look similar to the Jets: Great defense, weak O and no QB.

The WR corps is young and fast with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Percy Harvin. But who cares about offense when you have a defense this talented? That’s probably what sexy Rexy is thinking as Buffalo rolled up 54 sacks last year, 57 two years ago, leading the NFL. DT Marcell Dareus (10 sacks) and DE Mario Williams (14.5) are a handful along with LB Jerry Hughes (9.5 sacks). Wonder if Rex will unleash the blitzing hounds in August? He probably can’t help himself.

The Rams have a long Week 1 preseason road trip out to Oakland. St. Louis has little to prove but the Raiders have a new coach in Jack Del Rio, his first gig since getting axed in Jacksonville. The Raiders have gone through 12 consecutive losing seasons. Del Rio says he wants to bring back the mentality and swagger from the early Raider dynasty. New WR Amari Cooper is aboard and last preseason the Raiders played their best football winning both home games over the Lions (27-26) and Seahawks (41-31).

Speaking of Seattle they open the preseason at home this week against the Broncos, the team they crushed in the Super Bowl two years ago. Fans probably forget they opened the preseason last August and the Broncos won at home, 21-16. However, Pete Carroll has his teams ready to play at home, even in August, as last preseason they crushed the Chargers (41-14) and Bears (34-6) at home.

The Washington Redskins open the preseason at Cleveland this weekend. Oddly, the Redskins have been great in preseason the last two years but terrible when the games count. Two years ago the Skins were 4-0 SU/ATS last preseason, then went 3-13 SU, 5-11 ATS during the 2013 campaign. Last August, they went 3-1 SU/ATS, then went 4-12 during the regular season!

Minnesota already has a game under its belt Saturday when they host the Bucs, while Tampa Bay gets its first look at rookie QB Jameis Winston. He ran a pro-style offense at Florida State, a similar system under Tampa Bay OC Dirk Koetter. The coaching staff said this offseason they want to play a faster tempo on offense, so let’s see if they start preseason that way. Nothing can hurt after ranking 27th in yards in 2014. After Winston the QB rotation has Mike Glennon and Seth Lobato – not exactly Waterfield and Van Brocklin off the bench.

The Rams heading to Oakland is the only Week 1 contest with a long travel time. A year ago there was only one when the 49ers flew to Baltimore – and got smoked, 23-3. Two years ago there was only one, when the Cardinals flew to Green Bay, but it didn’t seem to matter as Arizona rolled, 17-0. Three years ago, the Packers were at San Diego in Week 1 of the preseason, Tennessee headed to Seattle, while the Vikings headed to the Bay Area to play San Francisco. Tennessee looked jet-lagged in a 27-17 defeat as did the Vikings in a 17-6 loss to the 49ers and the Packers got beat up at San Diego, 21-13.

Also keep an eye on home field. In one recent season home teams went 21-10-1 against the spread the first two weeks of preseason. Two years later the home team went 10-5 SU/ATS the first week of exhibition play. There are edges in preseason football, you just have to know where to look and what to look for, even in August.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Practice Season'

The first full week of NFL preseason football begins on Thursday, August 13 with six games on tap, followed by ten more over the next three days. Many sports bettors prefer a 'wait and see' attitude at this time of the year because most teams are content to limit activity of starters' while handing most duties to raw rookies making it tough identifying squads that will succeed during tune-up clashes.

However, there are still plenty of good wagering opportunities for those who wish to participate in preseason betting. Studying past histories of teams during August and certain coaches can glean wagering edges. A coach like Sean Payton instils a winning attitude during practice season which is why Saints have produce a solid 20-9 ATS stretch in August. A guy like Andy Reid who saw his club fall apart down the stretch last year (2-4 SU/ATS) will likely exert energies evaluating personnel rather than worry about improving Chiefs 5-19 SU, 3-18-3 ATS skid in warm-ups. Note: Reid is 1-8-2 ATS in his last eleven HOF/WK1 preseason games with Kansas City and Philadelphia.

Another interesting betting nugget. Super Bowl Winners and Super Bowl runner ups are not always the best bets the first time out. SB Winners have a 4-7 ATS skid L11 years. Runner ups have a cash draining 1-6 ATS mark L7 and 3-8 ATS record last eleven openers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Streaks, Tips, Notes

New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens August 13, 7:30 EST

Sean Payton known for his tendency to instill a winning attitude in his troops at this time of the year, the New Orleans Saints have been money in-the-bank during preseason. Over the past 8 years, Saints are an awsome 24-10 ATS. Take away Payton's suspended season, Saints remain a sparkling 20-9 ATS with the coach guiding the squad including 5-2 ATS in Wk1 games. Final betting nugget. Saints are on a 11-1 ATS streak as August underdogs, the exact situation they find themselve Thursday night.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL Betting Recap - Week 7
By Joe Williams

League Betting Notes

-- Favorites/underdogs went 2-2 SU in Week 7
-- Underdogs went 3-1 ATS in Week 7
-- Home teams posted a 4-0 SU record in Week 7
-- Home teams posted a 3-1 ATS record in Week 7
-- The 'Over' went 3-1 in Week 7

Team Betting Notes

-- Hamilton (4-2) routed visiting Winnipeg (3-4) by a 38-8 score for their third consecutive cover, and fifth in six games overall. The 'under' has also cashed in four in a row, and five of six this season. In addition, Hamilton is 2-0 SU/ATS against Winnipeg. Unfortunately for bettors, they are not scheduled to face each other again in the regular season.

-- The Blue Bombers have been all over the board against the spread this season. They're 3-3-1 ATS, and they haven't covered, or failed to cover, in consecutive games through seven. However, one constant has been their defense, or lack of offense, which has resulted in five straight unders.

-- Ottawa (4-2) continues to give Montreal (2-4) fits, coming from behind Friday for a 26-23 win, their second of the season against the Alouettes. Ottawa is 2-0 SU/ATS against Montreal, and they will meet again Oct. 1 in Canada's capital city.

-- The Alouettes are 3-0-1 ATS against all other opponents, and 0-2 ATS against the RedBlacks. Their 'over' Friday night in Ottawa was the first in six games this season.

-- Saskatchewan (0-7) is not getting the results they obviously hoped for, dropping their seventh straight to open the season. Five of their losses are a combined 16 points, so they're not that far off. Their cover in Toronto (4-2) was not a shocker since they're 8-3 ATS in their past 11 trips to Toronto. The Roughriders get a much-needed bye to regroup before hosting Calgary Aug. 22.

-- Calgary (4-2) was off this past week, but they'll be back in action in Week 8 hosting Ottawa. The Stampeders lost to the RedBlacks 29-26 in Ottawa July 24, also failing to cover. That was the only 'over' for Calgary in six tries, too.

-- Edmonton (4-2) suffered its first loss since Week 1, traveling to BC Lions (3-3) for a 26-23 loss. It also ended a four-game cover streak for the Esks. Edmonton is 3-0 SU/ATS at home, and 1-2 SU/ATS in three road outings.