PPH Sports Betting -- Ryder Cup and Rookie QB's Making News
Right now Keegan Bradley, a former PGA champion, is -1500 at WagerHome to be one of Tom Watson's captain's picks for the Ryder Cup. Jason Dufner, who is priced at +120, made a gallant effort to defend his PGA Championship but withdrew after nine holes on Thursday with a recurrence of his neck problems. We can't imagine him offering value at that price, since he may actually miss the rest of the season.
Steve Stricker (+1200) has already been named an assistant captain to Tom Watson, and that may impact his ability to be taken as a wild card, although he tied for seventh at the PGA. The highest finisher at the PGA who has not qualified was Ryan Palmer, who tied for fifth and is currently priced at +5000 according to the WagerHome.com betting odds. And let's not forget Hunter Mahan, who tied with Stricker and is -150.
As for Tiger Woods, well, he may still be in a bit of limbo. The 2013 player of the year has not played well at all since coming back from his surgery, and missed the cut in the year's final major. He is not bowing out of the race to be a wild card, not by a longshot. In fact, he told Watson, "I want you to pick me." Watson is concerned with Woods' ability to compete physically at this point. But of course, for all he's accomplished, Tiger can't be out of the running, which is why he's +160 at WagerHome.com.
The captain's picks will be announced on September 2.
The pending acquisition of Kevin Love, along with an injury that will likely keep Paul George out of the Indiana Pacers' lineup for the foreseeable future, contribute to the Cleveland Cavaliers being the +210 favorite to win the NBA title, according to the PPH basketball futures odds. The Pacers are now +3500, with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder both at +350. The over/under for wins by Cleveland is 58.5 (-120 each way), which seems like a lofty number. LeBron James is +155 to win the MVP award.
As the Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Chicago Bears this Thursday, the question involves when Blake Bortles may get some playing time with the starters after what appeared to be a very nice debut. Bortles, the quarterback who was drafted third overall by the Jags out of Central Florida, went 7-for-11 for 117 yards against Tampa Bay and probably outplayed Chad Henne, who is ticketed to be the seat-warmer until Bortles is ready to assume command of the offense.
According to Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley, although he cited the rookie's "poise and command," Bortles is not likely to be in there with the first unit on Thursday night, where the Jags are four-point underdogs in the NFL lines at WagerHome.com. It is expected that in the final pre-season game, that is a distinct possibility. No one is going to argue that Bortles is the future, and maybe the very near future, for the franchise. But they believe Henne can hold things together enough to where they don't have to rush the kid. Ultimately that may affect the win total, and the Jags are -130 to go "under 5.5" in that category.
The Cleveland Browns took one look at Johnny Manziel and knew that there was a long way to go to get the former Heisman Trophy winner to curb his appetite for running with the football, especially when it was unnecessary. But there are also more than a few people who think Manziel may have taken the lead in the quarterback race with his effort in the 13-12 loss to Detroit this past Saturday. Like Bortles, he was also 7-for-11, but for only 63 yards, and he did get a few things done with his feet, although he invited a bit too much contact.
It has not been determined whether Manziel will start next Monday night against the Washington Redskins, in a game where Cleveland is a three-point underdog in the pro football lines. The Browns are even money to finish with more than seven wins, and Manziel is priced at +500 to be the leagues offensive rookie of the year in the NFL futures odds from WagerHome.
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- Charles Jay, Gambling911.com
