I guess we should not be surprised that Tiger Woods is favored to win the 2009 British Open. Tiger has looked amazing over the late spring and early summer. At one point hitting an amazing 87% of fairways in play over 60 hole stretch. He will have some tough competition as defending champion Padraig Harrington is second on the list of player odds to win the open at +1200. Quite a difference from #1 to #2. That tells me there maybe some great value bets in the 2009 British Open field.

Here is a complete list of the betting odds to win the 2009 British Open:

Rot To Win Moneyline

1 Tiger Woods +175
2 Padraig Harrington +1200
3 Sergio Garcia +1200
4 Ernie Els +2500
5 Lee Westwood +2500
6 Jim Furyk +2500
7 Phil Mickelson +1500
8 Justin Rose +3000
9 Adam Scott +3000
10 Geoff Ogilvy +3000
11 Kenny Perry +4000
12 Retief Goosen +3500
13 Ian Poulter +3500
14 Vijay Singh +3000
15 Luke Donald +4000
16 Anthony Kim +2500
17 Henrik Stenson +2500
18 Stewart Cink +5000
19 Trevor Immelman +5000
20 K J Choi +5000
21 Robert Karlsson +3000
22 Paul Casey +2000
23 Andres Romero +4000
24 Miguel Angel Jimenez +5000
25 Martin Kaymer +6000
26 Hunter Mahan +3000
27 Justin Leonard +6500
28 Mike Weir +6500
29 Steve Stricker +5000
30 Angel Cabrera +4000
31 Camilo Villegas +3000
32 Stephen Ames +8000
33 Stuart Appleby +8000
34 Colin Montgomerie +9000
35 Darren Clarke +9000
36 David Howell +10000
37 Tim Clark +8000
50 Field (Any Other Player) +600

In the NFL’s 2003 regular season, four teams lost 12 games: the Chargers, Raiders, Giants and Cardinals.

No team had more than 12 regular-season losses.

It was a noteworthy — and quirky — result because it was the only time in the past 21 seasons that no NFL team lost 13 or more games.

That arcane piece of football trivia has suddenly become relevant because of a betting proposition recently posted in Las Vegas.

The prop, available at all Lucky’s sports books, asks whether any NFL team will lose 13 or more games in the coming regular season.

The “yes” side of the prop opened at odds of minus 200 (risk $2 to net $1), with the “no” side listed at plus 175 (risk $1 to net $1.75). As always, odds are subject to change.

At those prices, the “yes” option would be a good bet if you believe there’s greater than a 67 percent chance of at least one team losing at least 13 games.

Bettors who opt for a decidedly nonscientific approach can make a pretty good case for the “yes” side, albeit one based on anecdotal evidence. Not only would a “yes” ticket on this prop have cashed in 20 of the past 21 years, but in 15 of those seasons two or more teams lost as many as 13 games — an indication the dubious “feat” is not so rare.

Last season, for example, the Lions lost 16 games and the Rams and the Chiefs each lost 14. Oddsmakers and the betting market projected those three to be losing teams, but not quite that bad. The

over/under regular-season victory total for the Lions was 6 1/2 (minus 130 on the over) in Las Vegas before the season. It was 6 1/2 (minus 125 on the over) for the Rams and 5 1/2 (minus 160 on the over) for the Chiefs.

The fact the three teams collapsed during the regular season does not necessarily mean those betting lines were “wrong” or “bad.” In fact, if they generated roughly the same amount of action on either side, then they were great lines. It’s possible that an element of randomness inherent in the NFL dictates that things will go haywire for a few teams each season — and nobody knows for sure which teams until it happens.

A similar prop at all Lucky’s properties asks whether any NFL team will win 13 or more games this season. The line opened at minus 300 on the “yes” and plus 240 on the “no.” The last time no team managed to win 13 games was 2002, when the Eagles, Packers and Buccaneers each won 12.

By Jeff Haney
LAS VEGAS SUN
Fri, Jun 5, 2009

NEW YORK, NY - Despite proclaiming that he would keep quiet and let his play do the talking this season, Vince Young opened the old yapper and told media that he would like to start in Tennessee or play for another team where he could. Ever since the 24 hour news cycle caught a hold of his statements, speculation has been swirling among experts and fans alike as to where he will play next season. With fans looking for answers, the largest most successful sportsbook on the web, BetUS.com posted odds on what his NFL future holds.

Analysts at BetUS.com posted the following odds on Vince Young:

Game 1 of the 2009 NFL Season Vince will be:

• Titans Starting QB  3/2
• Titans Backup QB  1/2
• Playing for another team  3/1

What team will trade for Vince Young?

• Washington Redskins  7/2
• Seattle Seahawks  7/2
• Minnesota Vikings  4/1
• Tampa Bay  5/1
• Miami Dolphins  6/1
• St. Louis Rams  7/1
• San Francisco 49ers  8/1
• Carolina Panthers  9/1
• Field  3/1

How many games will Vince Young start this season?

• 0  4/1
• 1-3  5/4
• 4-6  3/2
• 7-9  4/1
• 10-12  5/1
• 13-16  13/2

Bet these NFL Odds now at BetUS.com

That’s just how the game goes.  Sometimes you’re in a slump and other times everything seems to be going your way.  This is why it is very important to understand that baseball is all about how you are playing of late.  One of the most crucial statistics I take into account is a team’s record over their last 10 games.  Anyone who has won at least 7 of their last ten immediately grabs my attention.  I want my money on a team that is hitting its stride or in the midst of a winning streak.

I also look at statistics of the teams over their last ten games.  I look at team batting averages, runs per game, team ERA, bullpen ERA, fielding percentage, and other important statistics.  I like the team who has the advantage in these important areas of the game overall, home and away, and over the aforementioned last ten games.  Teams that are hitting well, pitching well, and winning games over the last ten performances are the teams I want my hard earned cash on because of the nature of the sport.  Teams who are hot will come out on top more often and provide the bettor with a distinct edge.

As for starting pitching, two of the most significant stats are won-loss record and ERA over their last three starts.  This gives me an idea of how a guy might be feeling.  If he is pitching well, it shows me that he has command over his pitches and is not giving up runs.  Riding a guy who is in a groove can pay dividends.  The starting pitcher is the most important player to any team and you want your money on a guy who is pitching well over the course of his last three and last five starts.

If you are going to bet on baseball, you must not overlook the fact that it is a streaky game and picking your spots on teams and starting pitchers that are doing well as of late can really line your wallet with cash.

NEW YORK, NY - The NHL’s whirlwind playoffs are winding down and now set for the Stanley Cup Finals to begin this weekend. The action is sure to be explosive and speculation is at an all time high regarding every possible scenario in a rematch of last year’s final between the Pens and Wings. This being the case the largest most successful sportsbook on the web, BetUs.com, posted odds on every possible angle!

Oddsmakers at BetUs.com posted the following odds on the Stanley Cup Finals:

Series Price:

• Pittsburgh Penguins  6/5
• Detroit Red Wings  2/3

Game 1 Odds:

Trophies and Presentation

Odds to Win the Conn Smythe:

• Sidney Crosby  5/1
• Evgeni Malkin  11/2
• Nik Lidstrom  6/1
• Johan Franzen  9/1
• Henrik Zetterberg  8/1
• Marc-Andre Fleury  8/1
• Chris Osgood  13/2
• Bill Guerin  12/1
• Valtteri Filppula  15/1
• Daniel Cleary  12/1
• Chris Kunitz  13/1
• Sergei Gonchar  15/1
• Marion Hossa  12/1
• Pavel Datsyuk  10/1
• Field  9/1

Who will the MVP thank first?

• Teammates  1/1
• Owner  9/4
• Family  10/1
• Gary Bettman  14/1
• Sponsor  20/1
• God  17/1
• Does not thank anyone  25/1

Historical Props

Reference:

• Gretzky   (7p - 4g-3a) 1984
• Messier   (4p - 3g-1a) 1984
• Gretzky   (11p - 7g4a) 1985
• Messier   (6p - 2g4a) 1985
• Lemieux   (12p - 5g7a) 1991
• Jagr   (5p - 0g5a) 1991

Who will finish with more points in the series?

• Sidney Crosby  5/6
• Evgeni Malkin  5/6

Which Stanley Cup finals points total will be higher?

• Sidney Crosby(2009)  7/5
• Mario Lemieux (1991)  5/9

Which combined Stanley Cup finals points total will be higher?

• Crosby/Malkin (2009)  10/11
• Jagr/Lemieux (1991)  10/13

Which Stanley Cup points total will be higher?

• Wayne Gretzky (1984)  10/11
• Sidney Crosby (2009)  10/13

Which combined Stanley Cup points total will be higher?

• Gretzky/Messier (1985)  5/6
• Crosby/Malkin (2009)  5/6

TV Ratings

Which Country will average a higher number of viewers?

• Canada  10/11
• USA  10/13

Which City will have the highest single game TV rating?

• Pittsburgh  10/13
• Detroit  10/11

Which Stanley Cup Ratings will be higher? (per game average)

• 2008  10/11
• 2009  10/13

Who will be the finals leading goal scorer?

• Sidney Crosby  3/1
• Evgeni Malkin  3/1
• Johan Franzen  9/2
• Henrik Zetterberg  5/1
• Daniel Cleary  8/1
• Ruslan Fedotenko  10/1
• Bill Guerin  12/1
• Marion Hossa  12/1
• Mikael Samuelsson  15/1
• Nicklas Lidstrom  12/1
• Field  8/1

Who will be the finals leading point getter?

• Evgeni Malkin  7/2
• Sidney Crosby  7/2
• Johan Franzen  11/2
• Henrik Zetterberg  11/2
• Valtteri Filppula  8/1
• Nicklas Lidstrom  9/1
• Sergei Gonchar  10/1
• Daniel Cleary  12/1
• Bill Guerin  12/1
• Chris Kunitz  12/1
• Ruslan Fedotenko  15/1
• Marion Hossa  15/1
• Field  8/1

Who will be the first Penguin to drop gloves?

• Kris Letang  4/1
• Matt Cooke  4/1
• Bill Guerin  7/1
• Max Talbot  7/1
• Jordan Staal  8/1
• Hal Gill  8/1
• Sidney Crosby  10/1
• Evgeni Malkin  13/1
• Field  2/1

Will will be the first Red Wing to drop the gloves?

• Niklas Kronwall  3/1
• Jonathan Ericsson  6/1
• Tomas Holmstrom  10/1
• Brian Rafalski  4/1
• Brad Stuart  5/1
• Kirk Maltby  9/1
• Chris Chelios  13/1
• Field  2/1

Will there be a fight in the Stanley Cup Finals?

• Yes  5/9
• No  7/5

Will a goalie get a point in the Finals?

• Yes  10/1
• No  1/20

Team with most penalties in the series:

• Detroit Red Wings  10/13
• Pittsburgh Penguins  10/11

First goalie to get a penalty:

• Marc-Andre Fleury  1/2
• Chris Osgood  3/2

Which team will have the best Penalty Kill?

• Detroit Red Wings  11/10
• Pittsburgh Penguins  2/3

Which team will have the best Power Play?

• Detroit Red Wings  5/9
• Pittsburgh Penguins  7/5

First team to score a Power Play goal:

• Detroit Red Wings  2/3
• Pittsburgh Penguins  11/10

Will there be a Shorthanded Goal scored in the series?

• Yes  10/1

Will a backup goalie win a game in the series??

• Yes  7/1

How many games will go to overtime?

• Over 1.5  1/1
• Under 1.5  5/7

What will be the longest OT game?

• 1 Period  5/6
• 2 Periods  10/11
• 3 Periods  3/1

Will there be a hat trick scored in the series?

• Yes  3/1
• No  1/5

Odds and Ends

Will the Stanley Cup be dropped during the skate around?

• Yes  20/1

Will the winner of the 2009 cup win in 2010?

• Yes  4/1

Will the anthem singer in any game forget the words?

• Yes  5/1

Will the anthem singer slip and fall?

• Yes  4/1

Will an Octopus be thrown on the ice in Pittsburgh?

• Yes  3/1

Will an Octopus be thrown on the ice in Detroit?

• Yes  1/8
• No  16/1

Will Joe Biden attend a finals game?

• Yes  5/2
• No  1/4

Will Bill Cowher attend a game in a Red Wings jersey?

• Yes  8/1

Odds on number of panes of glass that get broken by a shot:

• Over 1.5  10/11
• Under 1.5  10/13

Bet these hockey odds now at BetUs.com

Now that we have established just how the run line works in baseball, I’d like to take some time to show you how I take advantage of it.  As a handicapper, I personally only use the run line for betting on favorites.  Most of the time, I reduce the juice on a favorite that I like quite a bit to eliminate having to risk a lot of money and not get much back in return.  Like I said, the run line drastically reduces the price of a favorite but remember when betting on the favorite, they have to win by two runs.

So what do I look for before betting a run line? First of all, I look for an absolute mismatch in the starting pitchers of the two clubs playing.  I like to have a two run differential in ERA’s.  I also always like to have the better bullpen on my side before laying the 1.5 runs because big leads can disappear due to a shaky bullpen.  Thus, I like to have a significant advantage in pitching all across the board.  The better starting pitcher and the better bullpen will keep precious runs off the board and keep me from sweating the fact that my team has to win by 2 runs or more.
Next, I like my money on teams that have very good offenses who can put up runs in bunches.  Betting a run line on a team who doesn’t swing the bats very well can cost you as they may be susceptible to not being able to put up enough offense for me to win my wager.  I like teams who can score especially against an inferior starting pitcher.  Another key statistic that is absolutely crucial that can tell you a lot about a team’s run line perspectives is their run line record.  I want my money on teams that consistently beat the run line.

A good run line record is a great indicator of a team who wins games by 2 or more when favored, and who loses by less then one or wins outright as underdogs.  After taking all of this into consideration, you can see why run line betting can be attractive in order to reduce the price of a heavy favored who should dominate their opponent.

Orlando Magic +900

Last week, the Magic made several depressed losers and big time winners after a shocking game-7 blowout of the defending World Champion Celtics.  It looks as if Dwight Howard’s decision to call out coach Stan Van Gundy after a game five loss was a good strategy because the team has been winning every since.  The Magic took the last two games from Boston and went into Cleveland with a stunning clutch victory over the once-perfect Cavs.  A vicious dunk from Howard in the first minute of game one was enough to take out the shot clock and eventually the Cavs as Orlando stormed back from a 16-point deficit to edge out a 107-106 win.  They say you live and die by the jump-shot but those are chances the Magic are willing to take with Lewis, Alston and Turkoglu knocking them down on a consistent basis.

Cleveland Cavaliers -110

Perhaps it was the long layoff that caused Cleveland to come out in game one against the Magic and lay an egg.  LeBraun and company swept their way through both Detroit and Atlanta, entering the conference finals with a perfect 8-0 post-season record.  Arguably the league’s best team, Cleveland dominated Orlando in the first half, riding the coattail of James who ended up with 49 points on the night.  The Cavs may have dropped the ball but are still heavily favored to win the NBA title and the first for the city of Cleveland since the heroics of Jim Brown.  Don’t expect Orlando to make it easy though - this could be a long and entertaining series.

Denver Nuggets +900

The Denver Nuggets play defense - who knew?  This isn’t your father’s Nuggets because Chauncey Billups has added leadership and accountability to a team that once cared more about individual stats than winning.  Denver has easily been the most impressive team in the West throughout the playoffs, trampling over New Orleans in round one and methodically dismantling the Mavericks in what was a rather controversial series.  Denver has looked so good during the post-season that some experts have already deemed them as favorites over the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers +135

There has been major panic in Laker town over the last few weeks, all caused by a 7-game series with the shorthanded, high-energy Houston Rockets.  Even without McGrady and Yao, the Rockets were still able to take L.A. the distance and put the Western Conference champs back on their heels.  To no surprise, the Lakers rebounded and stole victory from the jaws of defeat with a nail biting victory over Denver in game one of Conference Finals.  If Kobe wants to meet up with LeBraun, he must first go through Carmello Anthony and the best Nuggets team we’ve seen in years.

Mariners Competing

No one would have predicted that Seattle would even put up a fight in the early season.  Though recently falling under .500, they could be a serious threat in the AL West with a much weaker Angels team and the inconsistent Rangers.  The homeruns are only trickling in, however the bats are on fire.  Ichiro Suzuki is leading the team with a .318 average while Russell Branyan is the team’s RBI leader with 20 runs batted in.  Seattle’s greatest strength is perhaps their pitching as Jarod Washburn, Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez have all looked sharp.  If the Mariners can hit the long ball, they might be able to stay afloat in the shaky AL West.

Blue Jays Soaring High

The biggest surprise of the young season has to be the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays.  27-16 overall, the team is a profitable 16-6 at home and equally impressive on the road at 11-10.
You can almost pencil Jays ace Roy Halladay for the win every time he steps to the mound. 8-1  with an ERA of 2.78, Halladay is currently one of the game’s hottest big money pitchers.  Toronto also has stability at the three spot with Scott Richmond and his 4-2 record.  With Hill, Lind, Rolen and Bautista all hitting over .300, it may be hard for the Yanks and Sox to keep up with this team.

Tigers Pitching Roaring

Predicted by experts to score more than 1,000 runs in their miserable season, the Tigers have looked mighty good in the early goings.  The offense has been solid but surprisingly, Detroit is being carried by their pitching.  Rodney and Zumaya have tightened up in the bullpen and Justin Verlander is showing serious flashes from the 2006 World Series run.  Everyone keeps waiting for the kitty cats to collapse but the Tigers haven’t folded, looking down from the top of the AL Central in spite of Kansas City’s impressive start.

Big Papi Stinks

From the mouth of the man himself, “Big Papi Stinks,” said David Ortiz after another miserable “0-fer” in a recent defeat.  David Ortiz is having one of his worst seasons ever, hitting a lowly .210 with 34 strikeouts.  Ortiz didn’t hit his first homer until May 20, but the Red Sox have been carried by the hot bats of Ellsbury, Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis especially.  The Sox have been able to display the mental toughness that has made them a post-season regular.  Who knows when or if, Ortiz will get the pop back, but it doesn’t look like Boston is waiting for him.

Manny Being Manny?

Even after all the shenanigans with A-Rod and Clemens, you have to admit that it’s at least a little shocking to know Manny is the latest superstar to be linked to performance enhancing drugs.  The most surprising part in all this is that the Dodgers have been able to maintain first place in the AL West.  Juan Pierre is hitting like he’s from another planet and the bats of Hudson and Castro have started to follow suit.  The Dodgers should have no trouble holding first until Manny returns from his 50-game suspension.