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08/23/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - On the list of things Arjun Atwal accomplished with his victory Sunday at the Wyndham Championship, this is the one you might not hear much about.
Atwal leapt 268 places in the world rankings to No. 182 this week.
Of course, Atwal also became the first Indian-born player ever to win on the PGA Tour and the first Monday qualifier to triumph in 24 years.
He sealed the victory with a seven-foot par putt on the 18th hole to beat David Toms by a shot.
"That was the most nervous I've been in my entire life," Atwal said.
Tiger Woods remained No. 1 with the PGA Tour heading into the playoffs this week, but Phil Mickelson continues to close in.
Mickelson, who has never been No. 1 in his career, enters this week's Barclays only .26 average points behind Woods. That's .23 fewer points than last week and almost a half a point closer than he was heading into PGA Championship.
Behind Woods and Mickelson, everyone else in the top 20 also held on to their spots from last week.
Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, Martin Kaymer, Jim Furyk, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Paul Casey and Luke Donald rounded out the top 10.
Ian Poulter, Hunter Mahan, Graeme McDowell, Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, Retief Goosen, Robert Allenby, Padraig Harrington, Louis Oosthuizen and Sean O'Hair completed the top 20.
<< Rachel has final Personal Ensign workout
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer Steve Asmussen sent 2009
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to the track Monday morning for her last
workout before Sunday's $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes. Saratoga's Personal
Ensign
<< Phillies add Hall of Famer Sutter as consultant
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies announced on
Monday that Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter has joined the organization as a minor
league pitching consultant.
"Over the next several weeks, Bruce is going to help u
<< Red Wings re-sign Abdelkader
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings and left winger Justin
Abdelkader agreed to terms on a two-year contract Monday.
Abdelkader, 23, appeared in 50 games with the Red Wings last season, recording
three goals and six poin
<< Boston College WR Larmond out for season
Chestnut Hill, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston College wide receiver Colin
Larmond, Jr. will miss the entire 2010 season after suffering a serious knee
injury on Saturday.
Larmond, a junior, was the team's leading returning rec
Pirates place 1B Clement on DL >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed first
baseman Jeff Clement on the 15-day disabled list with left knee irritation.
The move is retroactive to August 21.
Clement is batting .201 with seven home ru
Cincinnati Bengals 2010 Season Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals have earned a negative reputation in
two distinct areas, one of which the team will be determined to change during
the 2010 season.
They've been doing their best to uphold the other.
The Bengals h
Redskins ink S Carter, FB Davis >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins announced the signings
of safety Tyrone Carter and fullback Carey Davis on Monday.
The moves were necessary with Kareem Moore and Mike Sellers injured.
Carter spent the last six ye
Tigers recall OF Wells >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers recalled outfielder Casper
Wells from Triple-A Toledo on Monday.
The 25-year-old had a previous stint with the major league club this season
and batted .222 (2-for-9) with two runs batte
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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