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Two races to go for the NASCAR boys. Jimmie Johnson, +350 at BetBug and Matt Kenseth, +450, are your chase leaders right now, and not just by a little margin. But that is irrelevant as after Richmond next week all 10 drivers that get in will be seperated by a meer 50 pts. So you really can just sort of muddle along all season, squeak in at #9 or #10 and then turn it on for the Fall races and you will be NASCAR CHAMPION. And as much as it pains me to say this, just look at Earnhardt Jr the last couple of weeks. A 6th and a 3rd and now he's starting to get it on track. At 11:1 at www.BetBug.com, he might just be the value.

Are You Ready for some Football!

Guess what just hit the stands this week?

At BetBug we're ready for the season as well. With a full slate of games and all the futures and props you would want.

I can't say who will win it all this year, but I can say at least most every team will have a shot (well except the Niners...lol). Thanks to the NFL's salary cap and structure, you never have to worry about your team languishing away for years in last place. There is, to coin a phrase, always hope.

For heavens sake, even the Lions look like they might be improved this season. That alone proves this league knows how to run itself.

ANDRE!

Well, things didn't look too good after the first set, or down 4-love in the third. But, three and half hours and one key string tension switch later, Andre Agassi advanced to the second round of this, his last ever US OPEN.

Pavel put up a great battle, but Agassi prevailed like a champion and now gets a couple of day to prepare for his next match against Baghdatis on Thursday night.

There's life in the old man yet.

The Return of NCAA Football

This week sees the return of college football, finally.

OSU and NOTRE DAME, +700 and +630, respectively, at www.BetBug.com, are the two pre-eminent favourites.

No value there.

Let's try a a team that takes on both of them, the Michigan Wolverines. You can get them at +2300 at BetBug so while their schedule is tough, they do return 18 starters and they sure as heck are better value than single digit teams that most everyone will be gunning for.

The Kiss of Death - and I don't mean Gene Simmons

Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi has just given Manager John Gibbons his full vote of confidence to allow him to finish out this season and the next on his contract.

This of course is clearly the Kiss of Death for Gibbons. Any time you have to assure the public and the press that you have not lost confidence in your manager, you obviously have.

Gibbons seemed to be a good fit for this team at the beginning of the season but after his two dust ups with players, including the most recent one with Ted Lilly, where Gibbons CLEARLY was in the wrong (you do not go after a player looking to prove your manhood), well this guy definately has to go.

Interestingly enough, last night at the Dome, it was Cito Gaston night. Now I'm not trying to start any rumours here, BUT the Jays certainly could do worse.

Next year they look to have a solid 1-2 tandem in Halladay and Burnett (who's finally coming around), along with the closer they need, plus a mighty offense even if they trade Wells in the offseason. They'll have a bit of money to spend too. All they need is a firm hand to guide them and someone who can instill enough confidence to make them believe they are capable of beating the Yanks and Red Sox.

Well the person honoured last night just so happens to own TWO World Series rings. That would be one more than either LaRussa or Cox. And certainly two more than any manager that has followed him since he left the Jays.

Rats deserting a sinking ship?

The New England Patriots, 3 time Super Bowl Champs are still living on their past glory. Both in the press and in the betting. www.BetBug.com has them at 9:1 to win it all this year. 9:1!!!??? That is crazy. Their defence has been decimated the last few years, and now their best wide receiver is holding out looking for more money and has been told to seek employment elsewhere.

I wouldn't bet that 9:1 on the Patriots at BetBug with YOUR money.

This team is about to implode and no amount of Tom Brady/Bill Belichek magic can stop it.

3 Races to the Chase

NASCAR is but 3 weeks away from it's playoffs this weekend as the boys take to the track in Bristol for the first to two of a last three races till the chase to be contested on the short tracks. So you had best be able to navigate your way around the tiny ashphalt if you're going to head into the Chase with momentum.

BetBug has Kurt Busch as your +550 favourite, with Tony Stewart +750, Jeff Gordon +800, Matt Kenseth +800, and Jimmie Johnson +1000 as the main contenders.

I personally like Gordon to reawaken this weekend and cement his top 10 spot with a big win here. Back when he was dominating, he was especially good on the short tracks and I see no reason for him not to be again this Saturday night, under the lights in Bristol.

UFC 62

This weekend sees another excellent Ultimate Fighting Card, UFC 62

BetBug of course has the big matchups.

Chuck Liddell is a rather large -320 favourite over Renato Sobral, I like Sobral in this one at the price.

And Forrest Griffin is a -245 favourite over Stephan Bonnar who I also give a punchers chance to catch a possibly vulnerable fave.

The Fights tip at 10pm Saturday. Get down and don't be late!

9.77

Call me a cynic, but I'll wait for the test results before lauding Mr. Powel for his remarkable 3-PEAT

PRE SEASON GRIDIRON

NFL Exhibition is in full swing and www.BetBug.com has you covered for all your pre season action. Sides/totals/moneylines on all the games plus a full slate of division/conference and of course Super Bowl futures. Personally, I it does pain me to say this, I sort of like the Cowboys (gawd!) to take it all this year. I don't see Parcels having any problem dealing with Owens who, once the regular season commences will prove his worth and since they both want the exact same thing (ie. a championship), I see a one year match made in heaven, not hell.

15:1 at BetBug are the Cowboys. Get it while it lasts.

Federer Loses! Stop the presses

Coming into this weeks's Masters Series Tournament in Cincinnatti, Roger Federer had last but four times this season, all to the same player (Nadal) and all in the finals of tournaments.

Not so today.

Apparently that Brad Gilbert really can work magic. Since he took over as Andy Murray's coach, the young Scott has won 18 of 23 (now 19) and been on fire.

This sets up a great US Open where, maybe, just maybe, that Federer-Nadal final is not the fait accompli everyone assumed it was just after Wimbledon.

Glory's Last Shot

The 88th Professional Golfers Association Championship tees off Thursday and www.BetBug.com has you covered from Tee to Green when it comes to wagering on your favourite master of the flat stick.

Starting with the obvious choice of one Mr. Eldrick Woods, BetBug's top odds for the PGA look like this:

TIGER +225
LEFTY +1000
FURYK +1300
ELS +1400
SINGH +1600
GARCIA +2500
SCOTT +2800
DONALD +3000
GOOSEN +2500
HARRINGTON +4000
CINK +5000
IMMELMAN +4500
OGILVY +4000
DIMARCO +5000
TOMS +5000
WEIR +5000

But perhaps you're more partial to just a matchup or two. Hopefully watching your player beat the leaving bejesus out of his competitor, www.BetBug.com has a volumonous list of matchups for you to peruse, beginning with the Big Two:

TIGER -265 vs LEFTY +235

Personally I do not like either player to win this thing, but if you put a gun to my head (and I'm sure you could find a few ladies who would indeed like to do just that) I would come down on Tiger. After Mickelson's coach's comments, Woods will not be looking just to beat Lefty, he will be looking to crush him the first two days. Let's all remember what happened to poor Stephen Ames when he innoccously mentioned that with, "where he hits hit", referring to Tiger's wayward driving, that he, Ames, certainly had a real chance to win their World Match Play matchup.

The result?

9 & 8 Mr. Woods.

I think Lefty is in for that, and perhaps worse come Thursday morning.