Olympics, PGA and MLB This Week
The United States' men's basketball team will continue its march toward a gold medal as a heavy favorite at the London Olympics this week, while the world's top golfers compete in the PGA Championship in South Carolina, and the pennant races continue to heat up around Major League Baseball to highlight the week ahead in sports betting.
The gold medal game in men's basketball in London is set for Sunday, and heading into their final game of the group stage against Argentina on Monday the United States was listed as the big 1/20 favorite at the sportsbooks to come out on top at the event.
The United States is a perfect 4-0 through four games, although they had a close call in their last matchup when they managed to beat Lithuania only 99-94 while failing to pay off on the basketball lines for their supporters. Russia, which is 4-0 in the other group for the tournament, is listed just behind 3-1 Spain (12/1) at 20/1 to win the gold.
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The PGA Tour will stage its final major tournament of the year this week, with the world's top golfers teeing it up at the Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina starting Thursday in the 2012 PGA Championship. Woods, who last won the PGA Championship back in 2007, has been pegged as the 6/1 favorite to claim the victory.
Lee Westwood (14/1), Luke Donald (16/1), Rory McIlroy (16/1), Phil Mickelson (20/1), and Adam Scott (25/1) are the other top contenders on the betting lines for the tourney.
The Yankees will be in Detroit for a marquee series against the Tigers early this week, with New York's Phil Hughes (11-8, 3.96 ERA) set to take on Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.65 ERA) in a baseball betting matchup in the set on Tuesday. The Yankees head into the week as the 19/4 favorites at the sportsbooks on the odds to win the World Series this fall, with the Tigers currently sitting at 10/1 on those baseball championship odds.
Later in the week the Yankees will be in Toronto for a series against the Blue Jays, while the Tigers get another tough set as they take the diamond in Texas against the Rangers. The Cincinnati Reds, who own the best record in the National League, will play in Milwaukee and at Wrigley Field against the Cubs over the next seven days. The Reds are at 4/1 odds to win the NL Pennant - and 10/1 odds to win the World Series.
The National Football League offers up its first full slate of preseason matchups this week, with games getting underway on Thursday night and continuing through to Monday. The Patriots will play host to the Saints on Thursday, plus the Steelers will be in Philadelphia (-1), and the Broncos hit the road to take on the Bears (-3). The defending-champion Giants will take the field Friday with a game in Jacksonville (-2.5).
Finally, the Sprint Cup Series will be at Watkins Glen International this week for the Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen, with Marcos Ambrose looking to repeat his victory at this event last season. Juan Montoya, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch have also had success on the Watkins Glen road course in recent years, with Stewart a five-time champion at the track. Jeff Gordon has won four Cup Series races at Watkins Glen.