Siem and Dodt share Wales Open lead

Golf Betting Lines

06/04/2010 - Newport, Wales (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany's Marcel Siem shot a four-under 67 and Australia's Andrew Dodt had a one-under 70 to share the second-round lead Friday at the Wales Open.

The duo finished 36 holes on the Celtic Manor course at six-under 136 for a one-shot lead over Denmark's Thomas Bjorn (68).

Past champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and Maarten Lafeber both carded rounds of 68 to share fourth place with Soren Hansen (70), Edoardo Molinari (71) and Richard McEvoy (71) at four-under 138.

European captain Colin Montgomerie shot his second consecutive 70 to move within four shots of the lead on the course that will host the Ryder Cup in October.

Meanwhile, first-round leader Chris Wood dropped into a tie for 21st place after a disappointing 76 that included three double-bogeys, leaving him five strokes back at one-under 141.

"I had a couple of really, really bad shots," said Wood.

Both co-leaders are seeking their second European Tour win.

Siem captured his title back in 2004, when he won the dunhill championship as a 23-year-old, and has spent the last couple of seasons worrying about his spot on the money list.

Playing it safe hasn't gotten him closer to winning again, and Siem has altered his focus.

"When I came on tour, I was ... only thinking about winning, and not about top 10s," he said. "That's what I want to do again and I just want to think that I want to win, and top 10 is great, but the only goal is going to be winning tournaments again."

Siem's round included seven birdies and three bogeys, vaulting him from a tie for 16th place on Thursday into his share of the lead. He chipped in for one of his birdies, holing a shot at from the rough at No. 4.

Dodt, who was tied for second place after the first round, had four birdies and three bogeys on Friday as he looks to build on his maiden tour win at the Avantha Masters in February.

That victory came after the 24-year-old Dodt posted back-to-back top-10s on the Nationwide Tour -- a runner-up at the New Zealand Open and a seventh-place finish at the Moonah Classic.

NOTES: Defending champion Jeppe Huldahl of Denmark had a 71 and was seven shots back at one-over 143...Seventy-four players made the cut, which fell at three-over 145 after two days of tough scoring...Past champions Paul Lawrie, Scott Strange, Simon Khan and Paul McGinley all missed the cut.

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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.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

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.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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