Sports Betting Futures Odds: Day, Dustin Favored at Open Championship

by Ricky Dimon - 7/12/2016

The third tennis major of 2016 has come and gone, and now it's golf's turn to feature its third leg of four. An American (Dustin Johnson) took care of business at his home championship; it may be up to Rory McIlory if a European is to get the job done at the British, which begins on Thursday at Royal Troon in Scotland. Johnson and Jason Day are slight favorites ahead of McIlory and Jordan Spieth.

All odds provided by Bovada Sportsbook.

British Open

Jason Day (+800) - Day has been the best player in the world since finishing T4 at St. Andrews last summer. The 2015 PGA Championship winner will be eager for another major title after coming up short in Augusta and Oakmont earlier this season. Day is coming off a third-place performance at the Bridgestone Invitational.

Dustin Johnson (+800) - Day, Johnson, and Jordan Spieth seem to be taking turns as the hottest golfer on the planet. Right now it's Johnson, who earned his first slam victory at the U.S. Open and promptly followed that up by winning the Bridgestone. The world No. 2 has made six straight British Open cuts and placed T2 in 2011.

Rory McIlroy (+900) - McIlroy won the British Open in 2014 but could not defend his title one year later after foolishly getting injured while playing soccer just a few weeks prior to the tournament. The No. 4 player in the world is looking for his first major championship since going back-to-back at the British and PGA two summers ago.

Jordan Spieth (+900) - Spieth famously choked away what would have been a second straight Masters victory, and he never seriously contended at the U.S. Open. He certainly contended last year at the Open Championship, missing a playoff by just a single stroke. Adam Scott and Branden Grace are tied as +2200 fifth choices.

Olympic gold, men's tennis

Novak Djokovic (-120) -Now that Djokovic has a French Open title to his credit, the Olympics are really the only thing he has not yet conquered. The world No. 1 should be especially motivated after losing the bronze medal match at the 2012 London games. He will also be eager to bounce back from his surprising Wimbledon loss to Sam Querrey.

Andy Murray (+400) - What's not to like about Murray's chances in Rio? Well, the fact that Djokovic-his nemesis-will be there does not help. But the world No. 2 otherwise looks like good bet for the title. He already knows what it's like to win gold (London, 2012) and he will be coming off a second Wimbledon title.

Roger Federer (+700) - Federer does have a gold medal in his extensive trophy case, but it came in doubles with Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He came close to getting the job done in singles four years later, only to lose the gold-medal match to Murray. Federer's season has been injury-plagued, but he at least managed to reach the Wimbledon semis.

Stan Wawrinka (+1200) - Although Wawrinka triumphed with his fellow Swiss in 2008, he has never done anything in singles at the Olympics (second round in Beijing, first round in London). The world No. 5 has also been nothing more than decent in 2016. Rafael Nadal, who missed Wimbledon because of a wrist injury, is a +1400 fifth choice.

2017 NBA championship

Golden State Warriors (-130) - The Warriors were +200 favorites before free agency began. Then Kevin Durant happened. Thanks to the biggest free-agent signing since LeBron James went back to Cleveland, Golden State now boasts a roster consisting of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

Cleveland Cavaliers (+300) - Cleveland was +225-barely behind Golden State-before Durant took his talents to the Bay Area.As the most recent NBA Finals indicated, however, anything can happen in a seven-game series. After falling to the Warriors in 2014-15, LeBron and company fought back from 3-1 down to bring glory to Cleveland.

San Antonio Spurs (+900) - Will Tim Duncan retire, or won't he? That is the question. It is a question, though, that really has no bearing on San Antonio's title chances. Duncan was nothing more than an innocent bystander in the playoffs, and the Spurs just signed another power forward in Pau Gasol. Either way, this team isn't getting any younger.

Boston Celtics (+2000) - With Durant staying in the Western Conference, the East still has only one obvious power in Cleveland. If the Cavs falter, an improving Boston squad may be able to take advantage. Al Horford is now on board to give Isaiah Thomas some help. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, was a +850 fourth choice before Durant bolted. Now it is +3300.

World Series

Chicago Cubs (+350) - What on Earth is going on in Chicago? The Cubs are still comfortably out in front in the National League Central, and they have more talent than anyone else in baseball, but the early-season honeymoon is certainly over. Joe Maddon's club is 6-15 in its last 21 games since starting the year 47-20.

San Francisco Giants (+550) - The Cubs were the story for much of the first half, but it is San Francisco that is heading into the all-star break as the best team in baseball. With a 57-33 record, the Giants own a 6.5-game lead over Los Angeles in the NL West. And who's surprised? After all, it's an even year….

Texas Rangers (+700) - Interestingly, the Rangers are sporting a modest run differential of +16. That is the seventh best mark in the American League and third best in their own division. But they own the AL's best record at 54-36, leaving them 5.5 games clear of Houston in the West. Five different Rangers have at least 42 RBIs.

Cleveland Indians (+700) -In a relatively wide-open American League, the good news for Cleveland is that it is pretty much dominating the Central. In fact, the Indians are 11-1 this season against the second-place Tigers, who are 6.5 games back. The Washington Nationals are a +900 fifth choice.

Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
Expert:	Tony George
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