Las Vegas Notes

MICAH ROBERTS' DRIVER RATINGS: Handicapping Bristol races not as simple as the old days - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-08-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

MICAH ROBERTS' DRIVER RATINGS: Handicapping Bristol races not as simple as the old days - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

MICAH ROBERTS' DRIVER RATINGS: Jack Roush and his stable of drivers on the mend this week at Michigan - ReviewJournal.com

2010-08-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

MICAH ROBERTS' DRIVER RATINGS: Jack Roush and his stable of drivers on the mend this week at Michigan - ReviewJournal.com

LeBron James' decision makes Heat the favorite in Las Vegas - Thursday, July 8, 2010 | 8:30 p.m. - Las Vegas Sun

2010-07-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

LeBron James' decision makes Heat the favorite in Las Vegas - Thursday, July 8, 2010 8:30 p.m. - Las Vegas Sun

M Resort installs Miami as 9-5 NBA favorite - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-07-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

M Resort installs Miami as 9-5 NBA favorite - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Fatherhood, bucket list, having best car completes great week for Johnson - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-07-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Fatherhood, bucket list, having best car completes great week for Johnson - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Phoenix, Richmond traditionally best guides to predict New Hampshire winner - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-06-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Phoenix, Richmond traditionally best guides to predict New Hampshire winner - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

Disney to close Las Vegas ESPN Zone restaurant, four others - Business - ReviewJournal.com

2010-06-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Disney to close Las Vegas ESPN Zone restaurant, four others - Business - ReviewJournal.com

Hostile environs won't derail Mexico - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-06-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

Hostile environs won't derail Mexico - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

MICAH ROBERTS: Growth of soccer results in growth in betting - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-06-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

MICAH ROBERTS: Growth of soccer results in growth in betting - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

NASCAR notes: NASCAR's Relaxed Personalities On Full Display at Pocono

2010-06-07T01:34:00.000-07:00

NASCAR notes: NASCAR's Relaxed Personalities On Full Display at Pocono

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Nothing Tricky About Pocono’s Triangle For The Childress Drivers - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-06-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

NASCAR DRIVER RATINGS: Nothing Tricky About Pocono’s Triangle For The Childress Drivers - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010 World Cup Odds and Propositions From The Las Vegas Hilton Super Book

2010-06-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

2010 WORLD CUP

JUNE 11 - JULY 11

THROUGHOUT SOUTH AFRICA

ODDS TO WIN:

BRAZIL 4/1

ARGENTINA 6/1

ITALY 12/1

ENGLAND 7/1

GERMANY 12/1

SPAIN 4/1

FRANCE 20/1

THE NETHERLANDS 8/1

PORTUGAL 20/1

IVORY COAST 30/1

MEXICO 60/1

CAMEROON 100/1

SOUTH AFRICA 125/1

USA 60/1

GHANA 100/1

SWITZERLAND 250/1

AUSTRALIA 125/1

NIGERIA 125/1

DENMARK 125/1

GREECE 150/1

SOUTH KOREA 150/1

JAPAN 300/1

URUGUAY 150/1

SLOVAKIA 500/1

PARAGUAY 80/1

CHILE 80/1

SLOVENIA 500/1

NEW ZEALAND 2000/1

HONDURAS 500/1

ALGERIA 500/1

SERBIA 60/1

NORTH KOREA 2000/1

WILL SPAIN OR BRAZIL WIN THE 2010 WORLD CUP?

YES +175

NO -200

WILL ENGLAND OR USA OR MEXICO WIN THE 2010 WORLD CUP?

YES +600

NO -800

ODDS TO WIN GROUP A:

FRANCE EVEN

MEXICO +300

URUGUAY +325

SOUTH AFRICA +650

ODDS TO WIN GROUP B:

ARGENTINA -250

NIGERIA +400

GREECE +700

SOUTH KOREA +1200

ODDS TO WIN GROUP C:

ENGLAND -350

USA +400

SLOVENIA +1000

ALGERIA +2000

ODDS TO WIN GROUP D:

GERMANY -125

SERBIA +275

GHANA +500

AUSTRALIA +700

ODDS TO WIN GROUP E:

THE NETHERLANDS -200

CAMEROON +450

DENMARK +425

JAPAN +1200

ODDS TO WIN GROUP F:

ITALY -250

PARAGUAY +275

SLOVAKIA +750

NEW ZEALAND +5000

ODDS TO WIN GROUP G:

BRAZIL -185

PORTUGAL +325

IVORY COAST +350

NORTH KOREA +10000

ODDS TO WIN GROUP H:

SPAIN -450

CHILE +450

SWITZERLAND +1200

HONDURAS +2500

WILL FRANCE ADVANCE FROM GROUP A?

YES -250

NO +210

WILL MEXICO ADVANCE FROM GROUP A?

YES -105

NO -115

WILL URUGUAY ADVANCE FROM GROUP A?

YES +110

NO -130

WILL SOUTH AFRICA ADVANCE FROM GROUP A?

YES +180

NO -210

WILL ARGENTINA ADVANCE FROM GROUP B?

YES -1050

NO +750

WILL NIGERIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP B?

YES +110

NO -130

WILL GREECE ADVANCE FROM GROUP B?

YES +150

NO -170

WILL SOUTH KOREA ADVANCE FROM GROUP B?

YES +260

NO -310

WILL ENGLAND ADVANCE FROM GROUP C?

YES -1300

NO +900

WILL USA ADVANCE FROM GROUP C?

YES -125

NO +105

WILL SLOVENIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP C?

YES +190

NO -220

WILL ALGERIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP C?

YES +400

NO -500

WILL GERMANY ADVANCE FROM GROUP D?

YES -420

NO +350

WILL SERBIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP D?

YES -115

NO -105

WILL GHANA ADVANCE FROM GROUP D?

YES +140

NO -160

WILL AUSTRALIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP D?

YES +220

NO -260

WILL THE NETHERLANDS ADVANCE FROM GROUP E?

YES -900

NO +650

WILL CAMEROON ADVANCE FROM GROUP E?

YES +105

NO -125

WILL DENMARK ADVANCE FROM GROUP E?

YES EVEN

NO -120

WILL JAPAN ADVANCE FROM GROUP E?

YES +320

NO -380

WILL ITALY ADVANCE FROM GROUP F?

YES -1100

NO +800

WILL PARAGUAY ADVANCE FROM GROUP F?

YES -180

NO +160

WILL SLOVAKIA ADVANCE FROM GROUP F?

YES +120

NO -140

WILL NEW ZEALAND ADVANCE FROM GROUP F?

YES +1500

NO -2500

WILL BRAZIL ADVANCE FROM GROUP G?

YES -750

NO +550

WILL PORTUGAL ADVANCE FROM GROU G?

YES -150

NO +130

WILL IVORY COAST ADVANCE FROM GROUP G?

YES -110

NO -110

WILL NORTH KOREA ADVANCE FROM GROUP G?

YES +2000

NO -4000

WILL SPAIN ADVANCE FROM GROUP H?

YES -2000

NO +1300

WILL CHILE ADVANCE FROM GROUP H?

YES -135

NO +115

WILL SWITZERLAND ADVANCE FROM GROUP H?

YES +150

NO -170

WILL HONDURAS ADVANCE FROM GROUP H?

YES +500

NO -700

GROUP STAGE - OPENING MATCHES

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010

AT JOHANNESBURG - JSC

7:00 AM - ESPN

MEXICO PICK -120 2 OVER -130

SOUTH AFRICA PICK EVEN 2 UNDER +110

MEXICO +160

DRAW +210

SOUTH AFRICA +175

AT CAPE TOWN

11:30 AM - ESPN

FRANCE -1/2 -105 2 OVER -140

URUGUAY +1/2 -115 2 UNDER +120

FRANCE -105

DRAW +225

URUGUAY +300

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010

AT JOHANNESBURG - JEP

7:00 AM - ESPN

NIGERIA +1 +120 2 1/2 OVER -120

ARGENTINA -1 -140 2 1/2 UNDER EVEN

NIGERIA +700

DRAW +300

ARGENTINA -225

AT PORT ELIZABETH

4:30 AM - ESPN

GREECE PICK -130 2 OVER -105

SOUTH KOREA PICK +110 2 UNDER -115

GREECE +140

DRAW +210

SOUTH KOREA +200

AT RUSTENBERG

11:30 AM - ABC

USA +1 +120 2 1/2 OVER EVEN

ENGLAND -1 -140 2 1/2 UNDER -120

USA +650

DRAW +350

ENGLAND -250

SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2010

AT POLOKWANE

4:30 AM - ESPN

SLOVENIA -1/2 +135 2 OVER -115

ALGERIA +1/2 -155 2 UNDER -105

SLOVENIA +135

DRAW +210

ALGERIA +210

AT DURBAN

11:30 AM - ABC

AUSTRALIA +1 -110 2 1/2 OVER EVEN

GERMANY -1 -110 2 1/2 UNDER -120

AUSTRALIA +575

DRAW +290

GERMANY -200

7:00 AM - ESPN

GHANA +1/2 -130 2 OVER -115

SERBIA -1/2 +110 2 UNDER -105

GHANA +250

DRAW +225

SERBIA +110

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010

AT JOHANNESBURG - JSC

4:30 AM - ESPN

DENMARK +1 -120 2 1/2 OVER +105

THE NETHERLANDS -1 EVEN 2 1/2 UNDER -125

DENMARK +500

DRAW +280

THE NETHERLANDS -180

AT MANGUANG/BLOEMFONTEIN

7:00 AM - ESPN

CAMEROON -1/2 +120 2 OVER -130

JAPAN +1/2 -140 2 UNDER +110

CAMEROON +120

DRAW +220

JAPAN +230

AT CAPE TOWN

11:30 AM - ESPN

PARAGUAY +1/2 EVEN 2 OVER -120

ITALY -1/2 -120 2 UNDER EVEN

PARAGUAY +350

DRAW +230

ITALY -120

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010

AT RUSTENBERG

4:30 AM - ESPN

SLOVAKIA -1 1/2 +115 2 1/2 OVER -115

NEW ZEALAND +1 1/2 -135 2 1/2 UNDER -105

SLOVAKIA -275

DRAW +325

NEW ZEALAND +850

AT PORT ELIZABETH

7:00 AM - ESPN

PORTUGAL PICK -160 2 1/2 OVER +130

IVORY COAST PICK +140 2 1/2 UNDER -150

PORTUGAL +125

DRAW +220

IVORY COAST +220

AT JOHANNESBURG - JEP

11:30 AM - ESPN

NORTH KOREA +2 1/2 -130 3 OVER -125

BRAZIL -2 1/2 +110 3 UNDER +105

NORTH KOREA +2500

DRAW +800

BRAZIL -1200

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010

AT NELSPRUIT

4:30 AM - ESPN

CHILE -1 EVEN 2 1/2 OVER +105

HONDURAS +1 -120 2 1/2 UNDER -125

CHILE -175

DRAW +290

HONDURAS +460

AT DURBAN

7:00 AM - ESPN

SWITZERLAND +1 1/2 -105 2 1/2 OVER -125

SPAIN -1 1/2 -115 2 1/2 UNDER +105

SWITZERLAND +1100

DRAW +425

SPAIN -400

ODDS TO WIN GOLDEN BOOT:

LIONEL MESSI (ARG) 8/1

DAVID VILLA (ESP) 8/1

WAYNE ROONEY (ENG) 10/1

LUIS FABIANO (BRA) 10/1

FERNANDO TORRES (SPA) 12/1

GONZALO HIGUAIN (ARG) 15/1

CRISTIANO RONALDO (POR) 15/1

NILMAR (BRA) 30/1

ROBIN VAN PERSIE (NED) 15/1

DIDIER DROGBA (CIV) 20/1

MIROSLAV KLOSE (GER) 30/1

CARLOS TEVEZ (ARG) 40/1

ROBINHO (BRA) 40/1

SERGIO AGUERO (ARG) 40/1

ALBERTO GILARDINO (ITA) 40/1

GIUSEPPI ROSSI (ITA) XX

KAKA (BRA) 40/1

MARIO GOMEZ (GER) 50/1

HUMBERTO SUAZO (CHI) 60/1

THIERRY HENRY (FRA) 40/1

NICOLAS ANELKA (FRA) 40/1

SAMUEL ETO'O (CMR) 40/1

FRANK LAMPARD (ENG) 60/1

DIEGO FORLAN (URU) 50/1

DIEGO MILITO (ARG) 30/1

JERMAIN DEFOE (ENG) 40/1

KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR (NED) 50/1

JOZY ALTIDORE (USA) 150/1

JAVIER HERNANDEZ (MEX) 80/1

LUKAS PODOLSKI (GER) 50/1

ANTONIO DI NATALE (ITA) 50/1

LIEDSON (POR) 50/1

ARJEN ROBBEN (NED) 60/1

FRANCK RIBERY (FRA) 60/1

LANDON DONOVAN (USA) 125/1

ANDRE PIERRE GIGNAC (FRA) 60/1

LUIS SUAREZ (URU) 60/1

STEVEN GERRARD (ENG) 80/1

PETER CROUCH (ENG) 50/1

FIELD (ALL OTHERS) 12/1

*GOLDEN BOOT WINNER IS TOP GOALSCORER. IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE PLAYER WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF GOALS, THE TIE BREAKER GOES TO THE PLAYER WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED THE MOST ASSISTS (WITH THE FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP DECIDING WHETHER AN ASSIST IS TO BE COUNTED AS SUCH). IF THERE IS STILL MORE THAN ONE PLAYER, THE TIE BREAKER GOES TO THE PLAYER WHO HAS PLAYED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME*

WORLD CUP MATCHUPS -- TEAM TO PROGRESS FURTHER

ARGENTINA +120

BRAZIL -140

BRAZIL EVEN

SPAIN -120

MEXICO EVEN

USA -120

ENGLAND -170

GERMANY +150

FRANCE +125

ITALY -145

ARGENTINA +105

ENGLAND -125

GERMANY +150

THE NETHERLANDS -170

THE 2010 WORLD CUP WINNER WILL COME FROM WHICH CONTINENT?

EUROPE 2/5

SOUTH AMERICA 2/1

AFRICA 15/1

NORTH AMERICA 40/1

ASIA 100/1

AUSTRALIA 100/1

ANTARCTICA XX

EUROPE - DENMARK, ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS,

PORTUGAL, SERBIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN AND SWITZERLAND

SOUTH AMERICA - ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY

AFRICA - ALGERIA, CAMEROON, GHANA, IVORY COAST, NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA - HONDURAS, MEXICO AND USA

ASIA - JAPAN, NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA

AUSTRALIA - AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

WILL THE WINNER OF THE 2010 WORLD CUP BE A FIRST-TIME WINNER?

YES +175

NO -200

*PAST WORLD CUP WINNERS ARE ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY AND URUGUAY

VegasInsider.com, The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. Sports Betting Odds and Sports Betting News.

2010-05-31T07:27:00.000-07:00

VegasInsider.com, The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. Sports Betting Odds and Sports Betting News.
Lakers-Celtics Preview from Las Vegas

$1 million reasons why NASCAR has the best all-star event in all of sports - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-05-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

$1 million reasons why NASCAR has the best all-star event in all of sports - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

Hamlin and Gordon Look Too Tough to Tame at Darlington - ReviewJournal.com

2010-05-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

Hamlin and Gordon Look Too Tough to Tame at Darlington - ReviewJournal.com

Rule Changes and Feuds Have NASCAR On The Upswing Heading to Richmond - ReviewJournal.com

2010-05-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Rule Changes and Feuds Have NASCAR On The Upswing Heading to Richmond - ReviewJournal.com

MICAH ROBERTS: Rain making things interesting in Texas - ReviewJournal.com

2010-04-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

MICAH ROBERTS: Rain making things interesting in Texas - ReviewJournal.com

NORM: Larry King split is one for books - News - ReviewJournal.com

2010-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

NORM: Larry King split is one for books - News - ReviewJournal.com

Mayweather (40-0) doubts anyone can beat him - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

2010-04-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Mayweather (40-0) doubts anyone can beat him - Sports - ReviewJournal.com

Greg Biffle Rips Fastest Lap Late in First Texas Practice Session

2010-04-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series has kicked off their weekend with practice session one for Sunday's Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. For the first two-thirds of practice most teams were using race trim set-ups with Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kevin Harvick all showing good times. Once the qualifying trim came on, there was a mad shuffle of changes with all the leaders until ultimately Greg Biffle finished on top in the closing moments.

Fastest during the opening practice was Biffle with a lap at 190.813 mph. Second quick was Tony Stewart with a lap at 190.201 mph. Third fastest was Earnhardt Jr. at 189.567 mph. Earnhardt Jr was just .186 off the pace set by Biffle. Bowyer was fourth fastest at 189.394 mph while Jimmie Johnson turned a lap at 189.235 mph.

The fast lap by Biffle is a good sign for the Fenway-Roush program who had struggled collectively during last months Charlotte testing on the new spoiler. This will be the first major down-force track used with the new spoiler. The new spoiler is expected to slow cars down on the straightaways slightly, but allow for more grip entering the turns. This week is also the debut of Goodyear's new tire compound. Saturday's practices -- with the longer runs -- should give more information to how the tire's durability will perform in race conditions.

Complete List Texas Practice One Speeds

Pioneering Mel Larson Helped Make Las Vegas A Safe Bet For NASCAR :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More!

2010-04-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

Pioneering Mel Larson Helped Make Las Vegas A Safe Bet For NASCAR :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More!

Auto Racing News: Samsung Mobile 500 Preview - at VegasInsider.com, the leader in Sportsbook and Gaming information - Auto Racing Stories, Auto Racing Headlines, Auto Racing Top News, Auto Racing Latest News, NASCAR Stories, NASCAR News, NASCAR Top News, NASCAR Headlines, NASCAR Latest News

2010-04-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

Auto Racing News: Samsung Mobile 500 Preview - at VegasInsider.com, the leader in Sportsbook and Gaming information - Auto Racing Stories, Auto Racing Headlines, Auto Racing Top News, Auto Racing Latest News, NASCAR Stories, NASCAR News, NASCAR Top News, NASCAR Headlines, NASCAR Latest News

Las Vegas Tale of Mr Big and his Pack-Mule Associates Running Bets: Gaming Today :: Sports Betting, Football Gambling, Sports Betting Odds :: Articles

2010-04-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

Gaming Today :: Sports Betting, Football Gambling, Sports Betting Odds :: Articles

2010-04-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

Gaming Today :: Sports Betting, Football Gambling, Sports Betting Odds :: Articles

Tiger's Masters Return Draws Record Action at Las Vegas Sports Books

2010-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Micah Roberts

VegasInsider.com

The Masters has arguably been the top golf tournament of the year, but this year it takes on an entirely new meaning to the word “huge“.

When Tiger Woods makes his 2010 debut to the season at this year’s Masters, everyone will be glued to the set like never before. What makes this week so huge is because of the tabloid journalism circulating around all forms of media hyping this week into must watch television even for those who never watch golf.

The build up has already begun as the countdown to this week’s Tiger-watch nears. All age groups, ethnicities, and just about everyone else has some sort of interest built up for how they feel about the Tiger’s story. Some will say that Woods didn’t do anything that any normal man hasn’t done and that he has been unfairly persecuted by public opinion. Others will contend that by endorsing all the top flight products and attempting to maintain this larger than life persona that he let down those who looked up to him.

Regardless of how anyone feels, they will all be paying attention to what’s going on at the Masters like never before. Perhaps that’s not fair to the prestige of the tournament or to the other players who will be competing as well, but despite the circus atmosphere they are about to go through this week, they’ll all agree that the golf world needs Tiger Woods back.

The biggest beneficiaries for this week’s Tiger-watch are the networks carrying the event. ESPN coverage runs Thursday and Friday before CBS takes the weekend shift. Knowing the possible ratings spike from Woods competing allows them to increase their fees from advertisers.

On a much smaller scale here in Nevada, we have betting on the event. The Masters is always one of the larger bet upon events of the year in golf, but it should set records because of all the incremental interest like never before.

“It will be our biggest golf handle ever,” said Las Vegas Hilton Super Book’s golf expert Jeff Sherman, the foremost authority on golf odds in Las Vegas who also posts all his weekly odds on his web-site, Golfodds.com.

“Through the weekend, our handle is already up 33% from previous Masters and most of that is from the regular golf bettors who are looking for value on some of the others,” said Sherman.

With Woods out of the picture for all the early season tournaments, it’s kind of taken some of the value and fun away of betting other golfers because there isn’t the value there normally is. If you take Woods and his normally expected odds of 5/2 out of the scheme, a bettor is left with much lower odds on a golfer like Ernie Els. When you put Woods back in the mix, the odds go up on all the other golfers.

“Right now we’ve seen an equal mix of bettors playing Woods along with Els and Steve Stricker. Those have been the most popular thus far,” said Sherman. “I Think what we’ll see is a lot more Woods action the week of the tournament because that’s when we’ll get most of the people betting that aren’t really that big of golf fans that want to have something at stake for this big of an event.”

Els presents good value at 12/ 1 after winning the last two tournaments he’s been in while Stricker is at 20/1. The value Woods has is at 9/2 odds, which Sherman says is the highest his odds have been for any tournament since his first two years on tour.

“I don’t see Tiger winning at all, and I’d be very surprised if he had a top-5 finish. I’m looking somewhere around a Top 20 finish,” said Sherman.

It may seem a tough forecast seeing how Woods has won a major 14 times, including the Masters four times, but Sherman see’s the layoff being critical along with his mental psyche coming in.

“I wouldn’t be shocked to see him start slow on Thursday because he’s always been a slow starter, but I am concerned about the layoff. Usually a golfer needs about three of the early tournaments to get in golf shape and he hasn’t played any competitive golf for so long. He’s also extremely nervous about what to expect when he does play from just the fan stand point.”

Sherman and the Hilton crew generally offer 40 props on the Masters every year along with all the match-ups and odds to win, but has added a few more wrinkles this year with Woods offering 15 more props than normal just for the anticipated curiosity for the event.

“We have all kinds of props surrounding Woods play specifically like what he’ll do on his first hole, either a par or other, over-under what his first round score will be, and whether or not he’ll make the cut,” said Sherman.

A bettor can lay minus-800 that Woods will make the cut following Friday’s action, or they can take plus-600, meaning every $1 of action gets you $6 in return along with the initial wager. If Woods struggles as Sherman suggests he might, betting that he doesn’t make the cut could be worth a shot.

Woods has only missed the cut of a Major twice in his career, but one of them happened last year at the British Open. Then when you incorporate all the other things he has to deal with regarding his “transgressions” and all the hoopla surrounding that ordeal, compounded by not playing, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he doesn’t make the cut.

Whatever happens this week, it will surely be memorable as more people are expected to watch and bet golf than ever before. Whether he does well or not, the weight of the monkey on his back will finally be lifted because it’s step that he’s actually moving on. There are things he could have done differently, in particular not hiding from everyone for so long more so than the admitted transgressions, that could have eased him into competition a little more comfortably.

But if that were the case, the ratings bonanza for the networks, lead stories on TMZ, and record handle at the sportsbooks wouldn’t be happening. If anything, we should thank Tiger Woods for adding real reality TV to our entertainment menu and giving so many people at the water cooler topics to debate on.