Hicks wins playoff for Wayne Gretzky title
Golf Betting Lines
06/29/2008 -
Clarksburg, Ontario (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Hicks used to be best known as
the surprise first-round co-leader of this year's U.S. Open.
On Sunday, he became known as a Nationwide Tour winner.
Hicks parred the first playoff hole to defeat third-round leader Casey
Wittenberg and win the Wayne Gretzky Classic at The Georgian Bay Club.
The win was Hicks' first on the Nationwide Tour.
Wittenberg had a two-shot lead with two to play, but a bogey at the par-three
17th, coupled with a Hicks birdie tied the two with one to play. Both players
parred 18 to set up the playoff.
The pair returned to the par-five 18th where Wittenberg struggled. Hicks only
needed a par for the win.
Hicks finished with a two-under 69 and Wittenberg managed a one-under 70. The
duo ended regulation at 16-under 269 as Wittenberg was also seeking his first
Nationwide Tour victory.
Garret Osborn fired a nine-under 62 very early Sunday and tied for third place
with Peter Tomasulo, who had a 63. They came in at 15-under 270.
Greg Owen (64), Hunter Haas (66), Aron Price (67), Gibby Gilbert III (69) and
Matt Every (70) shared fifth place at minus-14.
Bret Guetz (65), D.A. Points (69), Kyle Reifers (71) and Sebastian Fernandez
(72) tied for 10th at 13-under 272.
<< LaRue's big game helps Cards down Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason LaRue homered and tripled, leading
the Cardinals nine-run attack with four runs batted in, as St. Louis clinched
an I-70 series win, 9-6, in the finale of a three-game interleague set at
Kauffma
<< Brewers activate P Gagne from DL
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers activated
reliever Eric Gagne from the 15-day disabled list following Sunday's 5-0
setback to the Minnesota Twins.
Gagne was placed on the DL with right rotator cu
<< Hurst gets third Duramed Futures Tour win this year
Hammond, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vicky Hurst fired a five-under 67 on Sunday to
come from behind and win the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf
Course.
Hurst finished at three-under 213 for her third win this season on the Dura
<< Perez pitches Mets past Yankees
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luis Castillo finished 3-for-5 and knocked
in a run, while Oliver Perez threw seven strong innings as the New York Mets
clipped the New York Yankees 3-1 in the finale of the four-game Subway Series
from Sh
<< Busch wins rain-shortened race at Loudon
Loudon, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurt Busch's crew chief Pat Tryson kept the No.2
Penske Racing Dodge on the track when all the leaders pitted for fuel, and it
turned out to be the winning move as Busch captured Sunday afternoon's Lenox
Industrial
InBee Park cruises to U.S. Women's Open title >>
Edina, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Inbee Park closed with a two-under 71 Sunday to
win her first professional title at the 63rd U.S. Women's Open.
Park completed the championship at nine-under-par 283. This is her second USGA
title as she also w
Aurilia's five RBI power Giants in rout of A's >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rich Aurilia hit a two-run homer and matched
a career-high with five RBI, as San Francisco hammered Oakland, 11-1, in the
finale of a three-game interleague series.
John Bowker added two RBI for the Gian
Lackey leads Angels to blanking of Dodgers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lackey came within an out of his first
shutout this season, yielding just three hits in the Angels' 1-0 victory
over the Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series.
Lackey (6-1) walked two ba
Marlins use two-run ninth to steal series from D-backs >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hanley Ramirez hit the game-tying solo home run
in the ninth inning, and Jorge Cantu singled in Jeremy Hermida with the game-
winner, handing the Florida Marlins a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the
Arizona
Mariners continue domination at Petco Park >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer and
knocked in three runs, and Ichiro Suzuki went 5-for-5, all singles, and scored
twice, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the San Diego Padres, 9-2, sweeping a
three-g
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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