DeLaet leads by 2 at Waialae

Golf Betting Lines

01/13/2012 - Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Graham DeLaet missed most of last season with a herniated disc in his back.

He is playing this season on a major medical extension and has to earn over $650,000 this season in order to keep his tour card for next year.

So far, so good.

DeLaet fired a seven-under 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club.

The Canadian is searching for his first win on the PGA Tour, though he has won three times on the Canadian Tour.

K.J. Choi, the 2008 champion, and Carl Pettersson are tied for second place at minus-five. They were joined there by Kyle Reifers, who made it back to the PGA Tour this year for the first time since 2007.

Last week's winner Steve Stricker and Webb Simpson, who tied for third behind Stricker at Kapalua, both carded four-under 66s and they headline a group of 12 players that share fifth place.

Through seven holes, DeLaet didn't look like he would be the first-round leader. He birdied the first, but gave that stroke back when he tripped to a bogey on the fourth.

After three more pars, DeLaet caught fire. He rolled in an 11-foot birdie try on No. 8, then chipped in for eagle on the par-five ninth.

DeLaet poured in a 37-footer for birdie at 10 to move to four-under. He kept going with a birdie at the 12th.

The 29-year-old parred his next four holes. At the par-three 17th, DeLaet dropped his tee shot within eight feet and he converted that putt for birdie. He played his third to the par-five 18th to about three feet. DeLaet sank that for a closing birdie and a two-stroke lead.

"It's definitely exciting to be back on the golf course," admitted DeLaet. "Great way to start the year. Just being in Hawaii, period, is a great way to start the year and to come out and fire a nice round in the opening round was great."

Last year, DeLaet only played in four events (two PGA, two Nationwide Tour) due to a herniated disc. He had surgery early last year, but admitted it was probably November before he could take a full swing with his driver.

"I'm still progressing, I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent, but better than even before the real bad injury," DeLaet said. "I'm just so excited to be back out. The one thing with the injury, when you're out here on tour, I had a good season my rookie campaign (2010), and then it was all basically just taken away. And I realize now how fortunate we are to be playing golf for a living and you know, my whole attitude is definitely better."

Choi played the back nine first Thursday and had four birdies and a lone bogey on his opening nine. He parred the first six holes of the front side, then birdied two of the last three holes to share second.

Pettersson had a bogey-free round with three birdies on the front and two more around the turn.

Reifers started on No. 10 with a par. He birdied three of the next four holes, but his non-birdie in that span was a bogey at the 13th. Reifers turned at three-under after a birdie on 17. He had three more birdies and a bogey on the front nine.

NOTES: Last year's winner Mark Wilson struggled to a three-over 73, which left him tied for 121st place...Sixty-three of the 144 players in the field broke par in the opening round.

Wwwwinmag Golf Betting News

<< Flames acquire Cammalleri from Canadiens
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames made a surprise acquisition on Thursday, obtaining the services of forward Mike Cammalleri from the Montreal Canadiens. "Mike Cammalleri is a dynamic player who enjoyed great suc

<< No. 4 Stanford cruises past Utah
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nnemkadi Ogwumike scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds as No. 4 Stanford rolled past Utah, 62-43. Chiney Ogwumike also recorded a double-double for Stanford (14-1, 5-0 Pac-12) with 11 points

<< Hawks crush Bobcats sans Horford
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No Horford, no problem. The Atlanta Hawks learned they would be without starting center Al Horford for 3-to-4 months Thursday, then responded with a 111-81 dismantling of the Charlotte Bobcats. Josh

<< Mississippi State holds off Tennessee
Starkville, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It wasn't Dee Bost's best effort, but Mississippi State's leading scorer came up with a steal and game-sealing dunk in the closing seconds to give No. 20 Mississippi State a 62-58 victory over Tenness

<< Niemi helps Sharks blank Jets
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Antti Niemi made 24 saves to earn his second shutout of the season and lead the San Jose Sharks to a 2-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Logan Couture and Brad Winchester provided the offen

Jones nets OT winner, sending Flames past Ducks >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Blair Jones scored the game-winner 1:51 into overtime as the Calgary Flames took a 1-0 win over Anaheim. Matt Giordano brought the puck into the Anaheim end and from the left circle left a drop pass for

Irving leads Cavs past Suns >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 points and Antawn Jamison added 23, as the Cavaliers bested the Suns, 101-90, on Thursday. Daniel Gibson chipped in 10 points and Anderson Varejao had eight point

Duke survives Virginia's last-second three >>
Durham, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mason Plumlee scored 12 points to lead four players in double figures, as eighth-ranked Duke hung on to down No. 16 Virginia, 61-58, at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Games at Cameron have become automatic

Howard, Bryant lead All-Star balloting >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant lead their respective conferences in votes for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. Howard leads all players with 754,737 votes in the

Saint Mary's beats down No. 21 Gonzaga >>
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matthew Dellavedova scored 26 points, including five treys, as Saint Mary's made a big statement with an 83-62 waxing of No. 21 Gonzaga at McKeon Pavilion. Brad Waldow added 17 points and Stephen Holt scor

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines. 

Sportsbooks to bet on football

Recently I had an email debate with an angry reader who said I did not understand "the science of oddsmaking", as he called it.

He said I was wrong for suggesting oddsmakers care about who wins or loses games.

"Oddsmakers only care about splitting the betting public 50/50 on both sides of the line and keeping the commission (a.k.a. juice)," he wrote.

He might have been right about not understanding "the science of oddsmaking". After all, I'm not an oddsmaker. That said, I stick to my assertion that oddsmakers (a.k.a. sportbooks) often do care about who wins games.

Granted, as a general rule, sportsbooks try to balance their action so that they're not exposed to big losses. However, there are times when this is difficult to pull off, regardless of how much a line has moved. There are also times when that general rule is ignored and a book pursues risk.

Generally speaking, it's safe to say the books in Vegas are risk-adverse. Unlike in the past when the wise guys ruled the town, Vegas is now corporate and the goal of most casinos is to make as much money as possible with as little risk as possible.

Thus, Vegas sportsbooks try everything in their power to balance the action. They're satisfied simply collecting the juice. But these profits are small, especially compared to the take from other casino games, namely slot machines.

Because the profits at Vegas sportsbooks are so small, you could argue that many casinos operate sportsbooks simply as a novelty to keep the tourists happy.

With a growing aversion to risk, it should come as no surprise that Vegas bookmakers have been panicking this NFL season.

Despite huge pointspreads, a disproportionate percentage of bettors are still laying their money on favorites like the Eagles, Colts, Pats and Vikings rather than the dogs (a common trend for the largely recreational bettors that visit Vegas).

And much to the dismay of the books, those favorites are finding ways to cover the thick chalk. In fact, prior to Week 7, the four teams listed above are a combined 16-2-2 (88 percent) against the spread. (The tables turned dramatically in Week 7, but more on that later.)

The result has been an early-season beating for the books, and a bonanza for bettors.

While Vegas increasingly hates risk, it's no longer a major player in the sports betting world. Most of the betting action now takes place offshore where sportsbooks are not as obsessed about balance. In fact, some books encourage exposure to risk because the rewards can be so much bigger.

Consider MySportsbook.com. On its website, the book has odds pages which actually display the amount of action it's getting on games. In other words, you can see how much action the book is taking on both sides of a pointspread, moneyline or over/under.

One look at these numbers and it's obvious MySportsbook.com does not balance every game. In fact, far from it.

Take last weekend's matchup between St. Louis and Miami. By game time on Sunday, 83 percent of the betting action at MySportsbook.com was on the Rams; only 17 percent was on Miami.

What's interesting is that MySportsbook.com opened the pointspread with Miami at +6 1/2. By game time, the spread had lowered to +5.

That goes contrary to the balancing theory. If MySportsbook.com had wanted to balance the action, it would have given Miami more points; instead, it took away 1 1/2. World Series odds are now up as well.

MySportsbook.com exposed itself to even more to risk, and rolled the dice on the underdog Dolphins. Why? I contacted a representative with the book to find out. His answer was simple.

"The line moved early based on 'smart money' from sharp players," said Jeff Gilroy, a spokesperson for the book. "We also knew from early in the week that we would need Miami, therefore (we dropped) the spread to encourage Rams money.

"At the end of the day, we liked the home team."

So the conclusion is this: MySportsbook.com respected the sharp action, and gambled that the sharp bettors had a better take on the game than the recreational bettors, who were hammering the visiting Rams.

In the end, the gamble paid off. Miami, desperate for a win in front of its home fans, pounded the overrated Rams, who are terrible on the road and even worse on grass. Final score: 31-14 Fish.

MySportsbook.com was also heavily exposed on numerous favorites in Week 7, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Denver. All three failed to cover.

The fact that sportsbooks are exposed to risk on certain games is really nothing new. The fact, that Sportsbook.com is willing to show the public where it's exposed is intriguing.

Armed with this type of information, bettors can make more educated wagers. They can get an idea where the sharp money is going and conversely where the public money is headed.

MySportsbook.com is opening up its cashbox, letting bettors look inside and challenging them to take their best shot at grabbing the cash.

To visit this online football betting got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting odds needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.