NFL Betting – Jets Ready to Take Over the AFC East Division

The New York Jets are ready to take over the AFC East Division.

At the NFL betting odds of +140 to win the division, the Jets are slight underdogs to the AFC East stalwart New England Patriots to win the division this season.

The Patriots are favorites for a reason.

Since 1996, the Pats have won the AFC East Division 9 times. That’s 9 titles in 14 years. There aren’t many other teams in any sport that has been as dominant in a single division as the New England Patriots have been, but this year the tide appears to be changing.

Why? Because the New York Jets, who lost to the Indianapolis Colts in last season’s AFC Championship Game, are loaded on both sides of the ball and, more importantly, truly believe that they can beat the Pats.

Going into training camp and pre-season, the Jets are so highly rated that many sports gamblers are surprised that the Patriots are still favored over them to win the division.

The Jets made the necessary upgrades on both offense and defense to become the best team in the AFC East this season.

Listed below are some of the most important improvements.

New York Jets’ Improvements

Offense

More speed at the RB position – - The New York Jets unloaded Thomas Jones.

Hey, he was good, but he was getting up there in age. Instead of Jones, University of Iowa product Shonn Greene will be counted on to carry the load.

Greene averaged 5 yards per carry last season and should peak in his third official season in the NFL.

Backing up Greene will be future hall-of-famer LaDanian Tomlinson.

Tomlinson can still be a factor in spots during the game, but the real reason to love the Jets’ running backs this year is because USC stand-out Joe McKnight, who will be going into his rookie season, might be a bigger but just as fast Reggie Bush.

McKnight has some maturity issues to deal with but no nonsense Jets’ coach Rex Ryan will make sure he handles them the right way.

McKnight could be something special.

A year under QB Mark Sanchez’s belt – - A lot of times quarterbacks take a step back in their second year after having a great rookie season. It happened to Matt Ryan at Atlanta, but it’s doubtful to happen to Mark Sanchez.

The reason is because Sanchez got help when the Jets’ brass acquired wide receiver Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh.

Holmes is a nice complement to Braylon Edwards and he gives Sanchez yet another target to throw to. McKnight is another target as he showed at USC that he can catch the ball as well as anybody.

Not only does Sanchez have more weapons this season, but the Jets’ offensive game-plan revolves around the running game meaning that Sanchez will be counted on, like he was as a rookie, to simply not make a lot of mistakes.

That should allow him to develop into a decent game manager along the lines of former Dallas Cowboys’ QB Troy Aikman.

Defense

Antonio Cromartie comes over to play CB opposite – - Antonio Cromartie is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In fact, to some NFL fans the only better cornerback in the NFL is Darrelle Revis.

Cromartie is a shut down guy meaning that the Jets will be able to blitz the QB more with their safeties because both Cromartie and Revis can guard any wide receiver in the NFL one on one.

That makes the Jets’ D even scarier than they were last season and last season they were plenty scary!

Darrelle Revis has stopped complaining…for the moment – - Revis wants a new, long-term, contract. The Jets are willing to give him one but the sides are very, very far apart in terms of money.

The reason that Revis has stopped complaining is because he played hardball with the Jets’ front office and his coach, Rex Ryan, decided to back the Jets.

I have no doubt that once Revis enters training camp, which he has to do in order to not risk losing the guaranteed portion of his contract, he and Jets’ management will start coming together on a contract.

If they don’t, then Revis’ situation is probably the only real issue that would keep the Jets from winning the AFC East Division.

With a healthy Cromartie on one side to take some pressure off of Revis, Revis should be even better this season than he was last season.

Because the Jets upgraded both their offense and defense and the Patriots really didn’t, the New York Jets are the team to beat in the AFC East Division this season.

At the terrific NFL online betting odds of +140, the Jets are a good bet in the sportsbook to win the AFC East in the 2010-2011 NFL Season.

MLB Picks – Check out Who’s Hot for “Over” Plays, Including the Scorching D’Backs

The All-Star Break is here, and with just over half the season complete, BetOnline Sportsbook looks at the hottest teams on the diamond. Check out who’s hot for your MLB picks on ‘over’ bets, including the scorching D’Backs!

Season Standings

1: Arizona Diamondbacks (53-34-2) – Going into the break, Arizona’s leading hitter is only batting .276 (Kelly Johnson), but the team’s woeful 5.27 ERA still isn’t helping matters any. The surprising stat? The Diamondbacks closed out the first half of the year with three straight ‘under’ games against the Fish. Is the tide finally turning on all of these ‘overs’? We think not.

2: Milwaukee Brewers (46-37-6) – The Brew Crew finally woke up from their offensive slumber that started on the Fourth of July, but a lot of teams do great work against the Pirates. Milwaukee plated 15 runs in three days against the Buccos over the weekend, which is seven more runs than it scored in its previous five games. The great equalizer has been allowing 6.07 runs per game since June 28th.

3: Los Angeles Dodgers (48-39-1) – Los Angeles still has plenty of problems with its pitching staff right now. The unit allowed 14 runs over its L/3 games before the break against the Cubbies, but that was after a shutout on Sunday. A 4.09 team ERA is something that Dodgertown isn’t used to seeing. However, the offense continues to pick this team up, as RF Andre Ethier leads the charge with his .324 batting average over the first half of the season.

Who’s Hot?

1: Minnesota Twins (4-0-2) – The Twins are freefalling in the AL Central, and it’s not just a mistake that it’s happening. After losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, they still have plenty of work to do, particularly on a pitching staff that has conceded 6.5 runs per game in its L/8. In those eight games, Minnesota is 6-0-2 for ‘over’ bettors. Until the pitching staff gets its act together, the Twinkies are going to find it difficult to keep up with the surging Tigers and White Sox within the division.

2: San Diego Padres (5-1) – It’s not often that you see the Padres on the list of top ‘over’ teams this season, but that was the case after getting raked for 21 runs in three days in Colorado and 14 runs in three days in Washington. Still, there’s no shame in having a 3.27 team ERA going into the All-Star Break, and that’s why San Diego is still hanging on to the lead in the NL West at 51-37.

3: Washington Nationals (5-1) – We already discussed the three game set between the Nats and Padres early last week, but Washington played a heck of an offense series at home against San Fran as well over the weekend. The 10.7 combined runs per game in that series was nothing new for Washington. Sunday’s 6-2 defeat was the first time that this squad had played an ‘under’ affair since July 2nd. In that stretch, they combined to score an average of 11.1 runs per game.

MLB Betting – Will an American or National League Player Win the Home Run Derby?

MLB betting fans get the next three days off from games on the diamond, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to boost your bankroll on! The Home Run Derby tees off on Monday night in Los Angeles, as eight sluggers shoot for the title of the home run champ. Here at BetOnline, we are looking at the MLB betting lines and seeing whether an AL or NL slugger will win it all.

Home Run Derby Odds

American League -240
National League +180

American League: David Ortiz, Miguel Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Vernon Wells
National League: Chris Young, Corey Hart, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Holliday

The only man with any experience in the Home Run Derby on the National League side of things is Matt Holliday. The St. Louis Cardinals slugger is in fine form at the moment, having hit home runs in four of his L/6 games, totaling five in that stretch. He has just 16 home runs on the season. However, three years ago, Holliday knocked 13 home runs in the Home Run Derby to finish third.

Corey Hart makes for a nice addition to this tournament from the Milwaukee Brewers. No, Hart doesn’t have the look of his teammates Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder, but he is a big man at 6’6" and can blast balls a mile. Hart has 21 home runs on the season and could be a huge factor in the Home Run Derby.

However, we aren’t much for putting either Hanley Ramirez or Chris Young on this team for the National League. Both guys are leadoff type hitters that are better served hitting ground balls and line drives than big flies. That’s not to say both aren’t capable of hitting 30 homers in a year and hitting 20 in this tournament, but odds have it, it won’t happen tonight for either one.

That leaves the American League sluggers. Three of the four have Home Run Derby experience. David Ortiz is rightfully the favorite to capture his first Home Run Derby crown in his fourth entry into this event. With 17 homers, Big Papi will surpass Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers in the Derby in his career.

Don’t discount Miguel Cabrera either. Cabrera has been swinging a hot bat, and he plays in a very similar ballpark at Comerica Park on a regular basis. The Tigers slugger has a big stick and will surely be a contender late on in this competition as he was in 2006 when he hit 15 big flies.

Vernon Wells and Nick Swisher both have solid slugging stats this season, but neither one is probably going to find himself as a major contender. Swisher might really be a fish out of water, as a lot of his home runs come courtesy of the short porches of Yankee Stadium.

In the end, don’t be shocked if this comes down to Ortiz and Cabrera. They are the sluggers that really have the best chances of winning this competition. You may want to take a flier on either Hart or Holliday by themselves, but as a whole, the American League is the way to go on this prop.

My Home Run Derby Predictions: American League -240

Cardinals Head into Break the Best “Under” Bet Against the MLB Odds

The summer is just starting to heat up for the boys on the diamond.

Today, BetOnline looks at the best ‘under’ squads that are beating the MLB odds, including the ‘over’ killing Cardinals.

Season Standings

1: St. Louis Cardinals (52-34-2) – A rare four game ‘over’ streak for the Redbirds was promptly stopped on Thursday, as they went 3-1 for ‘under’ bettors over the course of the weekend.

The pitching staff was great, allowing just ten runs in those four games, but one must remember that the final three games in that set were in Houston.

The Cards are getting closer towards having the best staff in baseball, as they have a 3.39 team ERA going into the All-Star Break.

2: Chicago Cubs (46-35-8) – Getting shutout on Sunday at the hands of the Dodgers was just a microcosm of the miserable offensive campaign that the Cubs have had all season long.

In spite of the fact that guys like 1B Derrek Lee, OF Alfonso Soriano, OF Kosuke Fukudome, and 3B Aramis Ramirez all have huge contracts, the offense is only averaging 4.03 runs per game over the first half of the season.

No wonder why manager Lou Piniella’s squad is 11 games under .500 and 9.5 games out in the NL Central race…

3: Washington Nationals (48-38-3) - The Nats just barely held on to their spot on the ‘under’ list for the season after playing seven straight ‘overs’ just before the All-Star Break.

Things aren’t even going well for the chosen boy, RHP Stephen Strasburg, who has now watched his L/2 starts fly past the posted ‘total’ of 6.5.

Who’s Hot?

1: New York Mets (5-1) – A woeful offensive effort has left the Mets four games out of first place in the NL East race going into the All-Star Break.

They picked an atrocious time to score just nine runs in five games at home against Cincinnati and Atlanta, and the end result was a wasted effort from their pitchers in that stretch as well.

New York only conceded 11 runs over those five games to boot. Needless to say, all five stayed ‘under’ the number.

2: New York Yankees (5-2) – We stay in a New York state of mind, as the Bronx Bombers have now held seven straight foes to four runs or less and six of the seven to two runs or less.

Imagine if LHP Cliff Lee was actually traded to the Yankees on Friday night before the Texas Rangers swooped in and snared him!

A 3.81 team ERA would look a heck of a lot better without RHP Javier Vazquez in the fold.

3: Cincinnati Reds (5-2) – The Reds had a great chance to make a move in the NL Central right before the All-Star Break, but dropping four straight to the Phils really hurt that cause.

Cincinnati was shutout twice in that series and was held to three runs or less six times in its ten game roadie to close out the first half of the season.

Home Run Derby Betting – Who Will Win The Derby?

The 2010 Home Run Derby in Anaheim is filled with new faces and the return of an old slugger. Five of the eight contestants are making their derby-debut, including three representing the National League. Corey Hart, Hanley Ramirez, Chris Young, Vernon Wells and Nick Swisher are all first-timers, while former derby-stalwart David Ortiz makes his return from a four year absence. Rounding out the field are Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday. Missing from the bunch is current MLB home run leader Jose Bautista. The Blue Jay was chosen to represent the AL in the All-Star game (mainly because of his league-leading 24 home runs), but strangely was not asked to participate in the home run derby. A peculiar omission indeed.
  
Home Run Derby Betting
Monday, July 12th – 8:00 PM EST
Broadcast: ESPN  

The Favorite: Miguel Cabrera +250

It’s hard to pick a favourite in a crapshoot like the derby, but Cabrera may be the closest to a favourite in the bunch. The man can just smack balls out of the park, as evident by his 22 home runs in the first half. This is his second appearance at a home run derby, and in 2006 he made it to the second round. And out of all the contestants Cabrera has hit more regular season home runs in the past three years, making it a very good possibility he’ll knock out a few on Monday. Again, nothing is certain in a home run derby, but Cabrera is probably the best bet to go all the way.  

The Longshot: Vernon Wells +650

Every year someone from the field makes noise when nobody expected too. I think out of all of the newcomers, Vernon Wells has the ability to be like Garret Anderson and Miguel Tejada and shock the rest of the field on his way to victory. Wells has 19 home runs this season, a year removed from topping out at a paltry 15. He’s motivated to prove he’s back to being an elite player, and the national stage of the home run derby is a good place to start. As well, Vernon has a swing that fits the host stadium; most of his home runs are hit out to left field, which has the shortest distance to the plate at Angel Stadium. There are legitimate reasons why Vernon Wells would be a smart longshot pick.  

Best Value: David Ortiz +250

David Ortiz is probably the only lock to do well in this tournament. He may not win it all, but his past experience in home run derby’s will help Ortiz at least get out of the opening round. Ortiz knows how a derby works; he knows the correct timing, when to press, etc. The newcomers won’t know how to handle it as well as Big Papi. He probaby won’t win (stamina issues), but he’s the safest bet to at least get out of the first round.  

Home Run Derby Betting Prediction

I’m going boring and picking the favourite. This isn’t a very strong field and many of the contestants look like they can flame out very quickly. Cabrera is a great home run hitter and will be looking to improve on his second-round exit last time around. He’s the best pure hitter in the entire tournament.

Home Run Derby Betting Pick: Miguel Cabrera

MLB Home Run Derby Betting – Ortiz, Young Leading The Heavy Hitters

When the Steroids Era of MLB baseball betting came to a close, the game took a step back from home runs and a step forward towards being the game that it once was. That doesn’t mean, however, that excitement surrounding baseball’s Home Run Derby won’t warrant a lot of betting action.

David Ortiz is perhaps one of the few holdouts from the Steroids Era that still has a slim vein of relevancy in the sport. He’s one of the favorites at the derby with +300 odds, and despite his appearance on the infamous “cheat sheets” of substance abusers, he’s still a player that is near and dear to our hearts. How can you not love Big Papi?

The guys expected to give Ortiz fits in Home Run Derby betting include Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals (+350) and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers (+250). Cabrera especially has the inside track since he’s tied for second in the MLB with 22 home runs.

Favorites To Win MLB Home Run Derby

Corey Hart +500
David Ortiz +300
Matt Holliday +350
Miguel Cabrera +250

Missing from action are Jose Bautista who leads the entire league with 24 dingers, Josh Hamilton who has 22 home runs, Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols who is the league’s best power hitter.

The Toronto Blue Jays will instead send Vernon Wells who is getting sneaky odds at +650 to win the MLB Home Run Derby. He’s sharing the same odds as Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees. What’s killing Wells’ chances at Angel Stadium Monday night is the fact he’s only hit eight home runs at that venue in 265 career at-bats.

No matter what your flavor is, you can bet on pretty much anything at the derby. Want to bet on who’s going to hit the longest home run in the first phase? Then go here:

MLB Home Run Derby

Yet the leading man to take home the double bat trophy is Cabrera. There’s virtually no real reason to bet against him. Consistency is key at the Home Run Derby, and Milky is as steady at the plate as they come.

Still, one of the most intriguing performances will come from Ortiz who thrives under the spotlight, especially when it’s basically batting practice. The derby has always been a stage for great storylines. Hamilton, Abreu, Ripkin, McGwire and Bonds have all been big hitters that gone down in history for their performances at the plate.

David Ortiz will not only win the derby, he’ll also vindicate himself of the Steroids Era. Cabrera is the most reliable bet, but I’m a sucker for storylines sometimes. There will be no better story line than Big Papi proving that he’s just as dangerous in a home run battle as he ever was.

Furious Home Run Derby Free Pick – David Ortiz +300

Home Run Derby Odds – Major League Baseball Predictions

For those baseball betting fans out there who need a fix, we’ve got one for you Monday night.

What better way to get through the baseball All-Star break than by betting on who’ll win the 2010 Home Run Derby?

Here are some of the favorites:

Miguel Cabrera (+250): After an embarrassing ending to the 2009 season, Cabrera promised to be a changed man coming into this campaign, and boy has he ever.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan is in the chase of the American League Triple Crown, as he leads his league in batting average (.346) and RBI (77), while also belting 22 home runs.

Maybe what’s most impressive is that Cabrera is putting up these numbers in one of the most pitcher friendly ballparks in baseball.

Imagine what’ll happen Monday when he sees the short porch at Anaheim Stadium on Monday night?

There’s a reason the oddsmakers like Cabrera to win Monday’s Home Run Derby. Make him your bet today!

David Ortiz (+300): After everyone left Big Papi for dead earlier in the season, here comes the Dominican star, leading the Red Sox with 18 home runs heading into the All-Star break.

And impressive as that number is, remember, Ortiz only hit one bomb in April, meaning that he’s been on a tear of late, including a home run Sunday to close out the first half of his season with a bang.

Believe it or not, this will be Ortiz’s first Home Run Derby since 2006, when he finished in fourth.

Matt Holliday (+350): Speaking of returning to the Home Run Derby, this will be Holliday’s first since 2007, when he finished tied for third behind winner Vlad Guerrero as well as Alex Rios.

While Holliday sometimes gets lost in St. Louis behind Albert Pujols, baseball wagering fans know that he comes into this competition on fire.

Holliday has hit five home runs in his last six games, making him a solid sleeper pick Monday night.

Corey Hart (+500): Looking for a true sleeper? How about Corey Hart, who is currently tied for second in the National League with 21 home runs.

Hart is a free swinger in every sense of the word, and after a dismal 2009 season, he’s bounced back big time, leading Milwaukee with 65 RBI to go along with those 21 bombs.

He’ll look to be the second straight Brewer to take home the crown, after Prince Fielder won the title last year.

Nick Swisher (+650): The Yankees outfielder was the last man named to the American League All-Star team, after getting in by the fans vote late last week.

He’s got 15 home runs on the season after belting 29 last year. He’s hit at least 20 five years in a row.

Vernon Wells (+650): After a torrid start that saw Wells hit five home runs in the first three games of the season and eight in April, the Blue Jays outfielder hasn’t hit one in his last 12 games.

This will be Wells first ever participation in a Home Run Derby.

Chris Young (+800) and Hanley Ramirez (+1000) round out the field of eight for Monday night.

Whoever you think will win, make sure to get your Home Run Derby bets in now!

ATP Bastad Betting – Paul Henri Mathieu and Tommy Robredo Feature

Bastad, Sweden – The Skistar Swedish Open is underway this week with Robin Soderling topping the draw as the No.1 seed. Soderling is also the defending champion and he is the short-odds-on favourite in the BetOnline tennis betting market to win a second title in a row on home soil.

The tournament has attracted several serious clay court gurus in Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Tommy Robredo, to name a few. Two of which are former champions and as such could give Soderling a run for his money.  Ferrer won this event in 2007 and Robredo is a two-time former champion having claimed the title in 2006 and 2008.

Robredo is set to open his bid on Tuesday, along with several other noteworthy dangerous floaters, one of which is Paul Henri Mathieu.  Robredo and Mathieu’s opening round matches are the feature matches on Tuesday and Betus.com is taking action on their early clashes. Here is a look at the odds currently trading.

Tennis Betting Line: Pablo Cuevas   +140         Paul Henri Mathieu     -180
First Set Line: Pablo Cuevas   +130         Paul Henri Mathieu     -170
Match Time:05:00 AM Eastern Time (11:00 AM Local Time) Tuesday July 13, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Pablo Cuevas (ranked No.64) comes into the Skistar Swedish Open on a mediocre season, 10-13 overall that includes three quarterfinal appearances in Costa do Sauipe, Acapulco and Estoril. Because all three aforementioned highlights are clay-court events and he is clearly at his best on the red stuff, he is not without a shot in this match. Especially, when taking into consideration his opposite’s struggles on the season this year. Mathieu is an underwhelming 5-10 on the term and except for his R16 appearance at Wimby a fortnight ago, he really hasn’t done much. I suspect he is favoured by the bookies because of his promising form at the All England Club. One good run is not enough to suggest Mathieu’s woes are over.  Over his career, he has been notoriously inconsistent from event to event. It wouldn’t surprise if he were dumped in the first round because it would be par for the course.

Tennis Free Picks: Cuevas in three sets
Tennis Betting Line: Tommy Robredo   -700        Michal Przysiezny     +400  
First Set Line: Tommy Robredo     -450         Michal Przysiezny     +275
Match Time:05:00 AM Eastern Time (11:00 AM Local Time) Tuesday July 13, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Tommy Robredo has been off-from recently and takes only a 9-12 mark into his first round encounter. The Spaniard is on a four-match losing streak since reaching the R16 at the Monte Carlo Masters. He will aim to turn things around against an unheralded Michal Przysiezny of Poland who boasts an underwhelming 1-6 mark on the ATP circuit. Robredo is a solid favourite to come through this match in spite of his dip in form.

Tennis Free Picks: Robredo in straight sets

2010 World Cup Betting Review – One Game Changes Everything

ESPN’s 2010 World Cup betting slogan, “One Game Changes Everything” proved to be an accurate description of the drama that unfolded in this year’s World Cup betting tournament.

Below are some of the most noteworthy headliners that have occurred since the 2010 World Cup began one month ago:

French Drama

After a second place performance in the 2006 World Cup, France had the worst and most publicized fall from the top by not winning a game in the 2010 World Cup.

To make matters worse, French players went on strike during a training session, which led to the dismissal of forward Nicolas Anelka from the team.

Upon their return to France, French head coach Raymond Domenech has been fired and French Football Federation President Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigned from his position.

Brazil’s Dunga Fired

After a disappointing and unexpected loss to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup betting tournament, Brazil’s head coach Dunga was fired.

Dunga had been criticized for employing a system that lacked Brazil’s traditional Samba-style of play.

He also elected to leave exceptionally talented players like Ronaldinho off the national team, in favor of players with a hard-working mentality.

The fans and Brazil’s Football Federation obviously were not impressed with many of Dunga’s choices leading up to and during the 2010 World Cup.

Argentina Demolished

Argentina and their head coach Maradona had been surrounded by controversy since the World Cup betting tournament began.

Admittedly, Argentina possessed an arrogance that seemed well deserved as they destroyed opponents at the start of this 2010 World Cup.

The Argentineans scored ten goals while conceding only twice in their four games before facing Germany in the quarterfinals.

A jubilant young German team turned the Argentine swagger into devastation. With the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, not many World Cup bettors expected Argentina to exit before the final in 2010.

Argentina’s Football Federation has left the decision up to Maradona if he wishes to resume his coaching responsibilities with the national team.

Italy Exits In Group Stage

The defending World Cup champions were not considered a favorite to win this 2010 World Cup. However, an exit in the group stage was definitely unexpected.

With their worst World Cup showing in Italian national soccer team history, the Azzurri only managed draws against Paraguay and New Zealand before falling to Slovakia 3-2 in their final group stage game.

Poor Performances From Soccer Stars

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are widely regarded as two of the most talented soccer players in the world.

Ronaldo has reached Beckham status and was FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008. Rooney is coming off his best season scoring 26 goals in 32 games playing for his club Manchester United in the English Premier League.

Neither player lived up to expectations as they combined for just one goal in the 2010 World Cup betting tournament.

British Open Power Rankings – Lefty Drops After Horrible Scottish Open while Rose and Stricker Rise

Tiger Woods has climbed his way to the Top of the British Open Power Rankings. Yes, I know, he didn’t even tee off at either the John Deere Classic or the Scottish Open this past week.

But because Phil “Lefty” Mickelson played about as badly as any golfer at the Scottish Open, Tiger inherits the top spot. There’s just nobody else that deserves it.

Other movers in the power rankings are Justin Rose, who has been amazing lately, and Steve Stricker who showed the rest of the golfing world that he’s definitely over the injury he suffered earlier this year.

[Offtopic: by the way, do you want to get a 60% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? So go on JOIN NOW.]

Let’s get to the rankings!

Golf Betting PGA Tour: British Open

• Where: Old Course at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
• When: July 15th thru July 18th, 2010
• Course Specifics: Par 72, Yardage 7,279

2010 British Open Power Rankings

1. Tiger Woods +250 – - Tiger has won 3 British Open Championships. 2 of those victories occurred at St. Andrews. Also, Tiger wants this. He showed up at St. Andrews on Sunday to play a practice round.
2. Phil Mickelson +1000 – - I’m not sure what to make of Phil missing the cut this past week at the Scottish Open. I mean he should have at least made the cut, right? Still, Lefty has a tendency to come up big when he has to and he no doubt was trying out some shots last week.
3. Lee Westwood +1200 – - Westwood skipped the Scottish Open so that he’ll be fresh at St. Andrews this week. That could prove to be very beneficial for Westwood who hasn’t been all that great the past two times The Open has been played at St. Andrews. If he can get back to the form that led to the 2nd place finish at the Masters earlier this year, he could win the Open Championship this year.
4. Ernie Els +1200 – - I didn’t move Ernie down in the rankings because even though he missed the cut at the Scottish Open, he shot an awesome 69 in the first round. It was that 76 second round that killed his chances of winning. Ernie finished 2nd to Tiger at the 2000 British Open at St Andrews.
5. Justin Rose +1500 – - He’s never played in an Open Championship at St. Andrews in his career, but he’s been en fuego lately on the PGA Tour with a victory at the Memorial Tournament, a 9th place finish at the Travelers Championship and a victory at the AT&T National in his last. He’s deserving of this Top 5 ranking.
6. Steve Stricker +3500 – - Stricker’s last trip to St. Andrews, in 2000, resulted in a 98th place finish. He’s a much better golfer in 2010 than he was in 2000, but the lack of true credentials at St. Andrews is a cause for concern. Boy, he looked good out there this past week when winning the John Deere Classic, though!
7. Retief Goosen +3500 – - The Goose was muy comfortable the last time the Open was at St. Andrews when finishing 5th. He’s good enough to challenge for the victory this week and everybody’s got to love the 35 to 1 golf odds.
8. Graeme McDowell +1500 – - He came back down to earth this past week with only a 21st place finish at the Scottish Open. McDowell is a serious, serious threat to win his second straight major championship this week. He’s golfing that well. The odds on McDowell in the golf sportsbook went from 50 to 1 to 15 to 1 in about a week.
9. Paul Casey +2500 – - I still say Casey plays well at St. Andrews even though he finished 123rd at the 2005 British Open. Casey has had some bright moments in 2010. Maybe, another one occurs this week.
10. A. Rory McIlroy +1200 – - After missing the cut at the U.S. Open, Rory came back and finished 4th at the Open de France on the European Tour. Was that a sign that he’s turned his game around? We shall see.
11. 10.B. Padraig Harrington +1400 – - Harrington, surprisingly, has started to play very well lately with a 5th at the Travelers and a 6th at the BMW PGA Championship. Even his 22nd place finish at the U.S. Open wasn’t bad considering the conditions out there on the course. Who knows? Maybe, he does play well this week even though most golfing fans don’t believe he will.

It’s British Open Week! Log onto the golf sportsbook and bet the British Open!

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