Levin, Stanley post matching 62s at Torrey Pines
Golf Betting Lines
01/26/2012 - La Jolla, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley both fired 10- under 62s on Thursday to grab a share of the lead after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Levin and Stanley are both looking for their first PGA Tour victories. Both also played the easier North Course at Torrey Pines on Thursday and will rotate to the harder South Course on Friday. The South Course will also host the final two rounds.
Despite a double-bogey on his 14th hole, reigning FedExCup champion Bill Haas carded a nine-under 63 on the North Course and is alone in third.
John Huh posted a 64 and was joined in fourth place by Rod Pampling, Josh Teater and Vijay Singh. All four played the North Course. Huh matched a PGA Tour record with three eagles in his round.
Only six of the top-35 players on the leaderboard played the South Course on Friday. The leader of that group is Marc Turnesa, who carded a six-under 66 and is tied for 13th.
Among those that struggled on the South Course were Phil Mickelson and J.B. Holmes. Mickelson, who shared 49th at the Humana Challenge last week, faltered to a five-over 77 and tied for the most bogeys (seven) in the first round.
Holmes is competing for the first time since brain surgery last year. He had four bogeys in a round of four-over 76.
Levin started with a birdie on the first, but his next birdie didn't come until the par-four seventh. After a par at the eighth, he birdied eight of the last 10 holes.
He birdied the ninth and followed with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 10. The 27-year-old dropped his approach within four feet at the 11th. After knocking that in, he got up and down for par on the par-three 12th.
Levin caught fire from there, At the 13th, he left himself three feet for birdie. On each of the next three holes, he made birdie putts of eight feet on each hole to grab a share of the lead at minus-nine.
Levin, a three-time winner on the Canadian Tour, two-putted for birdie at the last to finish at 10-under.
"It feels great. I drove the ball well today. The first couple weeks I played decent," said Levin, who tied for 23rd and 64th in his first two starts. "In those two tournaments, I didn't drive it particularly good. I drove it well today and kind of set me up because I've been putting pretty good. I had some putts for birdies instead of pars today and kind of added up to a good score."
Stanley did his scoring in bunches. He birdied the first, then parred No. 2. He poured in three consecutive birdie efforts from the third to move to four- under.
After five straight pars, Stanley tripped to a bogey on the 11th. The 24-year- old ran off four birdies in a row from the 12th to jump to minus-seven.
Stanley birdied the 17th to move within two of Levin. He erased that deficit and grabbed a piece of the lead with a three-foot eagle putt at the 18th.
"It was good. I know it was a 62, but it was a pretty boring round of golf," said an understated Stanley. "Hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts."
NOTES: Defending champion Bubba Watson posted a three-under 69 on the North Course and is tied for 37th...Dustin Johnson, who withdrew last week with a sore back and is still recovering from offseason knee surgery, fired a six- under 66 on the North Course and is tied for 13th...The North Course played to an average of 69.244, while the South Course played to an average of 72.846...The last first-time winner of this event was Jay Don Blake in 1991.
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC announced the signing of Ecuadorian international defender Geovanny Caicedo on Thursday. Caicedo, 30, began his career with Huracan of Ecuador and has spent his entire club career in his homeland.
<< Timbers name Knowles an assistant coach
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Timbers named Cameron Knowles as
an assistant coach Thursday.
Knowles, 29, played for seven seasons, including four with the Timbers. During
his time with Portland, Knowles was a three-time USL F
<< Pagano: It's going to be a great journey
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts introduced new head
coach Chuck Pagano to the media on Thursday.
It has been a whirlwind week for the former Baltimore Ravens defensive
coordinator who anticipated being in I
<< Penn State pays tribute to Paterno
University Park, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If there was a common thread for
Thursday's public memorial service for Joe Paterno, it's that he was much more
than a football coach.
He might have recorded 409 victories during a 46-year ten
<< Indians sign Wheeler to minor league deal
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians signed right-handed
pitcher Dan Wheeler to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to
the team's spring training.
Wheeler spent the 2011 campaign with the Boston Red
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An MRI on Thursday revealed that Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut suffered a fractured left ankle during Wednesday's game against the Rockets. "The results of the MRI identified a left ankle fracture
Reds give P Arredondo 2-year contract >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds have avoided arbitration
with Jose Arredondo, signing the reliever to a two-year contract.
Arredondo went 4-4 with a 3.23 earned run average in 53 appearances for the
Reds last season
Brown to stay at Texas through 2020 >>
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Texas has agreed to a four-
year contract extension with Mack Brown that will keep the head football coach
on the Longhorns' sideline through 2020.
Brown, 60, has been the head coach at T
Zeller, UNC hammer NC State >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyler Zeller's double-double of 21 points
and 15 rebounds powered seventh-ranked North Carolina to a 74-55 victory over
the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
Harrison Barnes had 15 points and Reggie Bullo
Hurricanes shut down Wake Forest >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Riquna Williams and Stefanie Yderstrom
each scored 14 points as the 10th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes extended
their winning streak to seven games with a 64-39 victory over Wake Forest.
Shenise
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Football Betting
NFL Football Betting OnlineThe San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.
Thursday, August 21
NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road
In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games
Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.
Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.
Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.
That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.
Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.
CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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