Three share Humana Challenge lead

Golf Betting Lines

01/20/2012 - La Quinta, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Wilson fired a 10-under 62 Friday to join Ben Crane and David Toms atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the Humana Challenge.

Crane posted a nine-under 63. Both he and Wilson played the Palmer Private course at PGA West on Friday. Toms, who shared the first-round lead, posted a seven-under 65 on the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West.

The three are three strokes clear of the field at 16-under-par 128.

The field plays the two courses at PGA West as well as La Quinta Country Club over the first three days before the Palmer course hosts the final round.

Each professional is paired with an amateur during the first three rounds. Former President Bill Clinton, who lent his name to the event this year, will be among those competing in the third round.

This is the first time since 1964 that Bob Hope's name isn't associated with the tournament, though his name remains on the trophy.

Camilo Villegas, who shared the first-round lead with Toms, shot four-under 68 on the Palmer course to end 36 holes at 13-under-par 131.

He was joined in fourth place by Harris English (62), Chris Kirk (63) and Bobby Gates (63).

Chris DiMarco (64) and Brandt Snedeker (68) are among six players tied for eighth at minus-12.

Wilson got off to a hot start with birdies on his first three holes. Birdies on the sixth and eighth helped him make the turn at 11-under.

The 37-year-old birdied the 10th before converting a 15-footer for eagle on the par-five 11th. Wilson was two off the lead at that point, and he remained there with four straight pars.

Wilson moved into a share of the lead with birdies at 16 and 18.

"I just rolled in some long putts early...and that kind of got me going," said Wilson, whose 62 was a career low. "And I didn't make any bogeys and just did all the things you're supposed to do to shoot a low one."

Crane started his round on No. 10 at the Palmer course and he tripped to a bogey there. He bounced right back with an eagle on No. 11. Crane holed out for birdie from a greenside bunker on the par-three 12th.

The four-time winner on the PGA Tour dropped in back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15. Crane tripped to a bogey at 16, but birdied his next two holes to head to the front side at minus-12.

Crane birdied the second, fourth and sixth to climb up the leaderboard. He finished at 16-under after making a 17-foot birdie effort on the ninth.

"I made a lot of 10- and 15-footers and I made all my kind of close putts for birdie," Crane stated. "I had 22 putts today, so I just putted extremely well and every part of my game felt great. I guess that's how you do it."

Toms birdied the 10th on the Nicklaus course, but gave that right back as he bogeyed the 11th. He carded birdies at the 14th and 16th to get to 11-under.

The 2001 PGA Champion parred five in a row around the turn. Toms ended that run with a birdie on the fourth. Over the last three holes, he picked up four strokes.

Toms birdied the seventh and ninth to go with an eagle on the par-five eighth.

"Tee shots were a little erratic today, I guess you would say. I really didn't do much of anything," Toms admitted. "I started to hit some better shots, hit some good putts that didn't go in, and then made a few and then finished great. I turned just a so-so day into a pretty solid day."

Ryan Moore had the round of the day. Playing on the Nicklaus course, Moore bogeyed the second and third. He erased those mistakes with an eagle on the par-five fourth.

Moore poured in 11 birdies in a 12-hole span from the sixth to soar into a share of 14th at 11-under-par 133. He birdied six in a row from the sixth, then five straight from the 13th.

NOTES: Dustin Johnson and Scott Stallings both withdrew on Friday...Johnson, who is recovering from knee surgery, withdrew due to a stiff back, while Stallings had a rib injury...Villegas in the only non-American among the top 13 on the leaderboard.

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NFL Football Betting


BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES

It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.

BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES

All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.

COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES

Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.

TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES

Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.

RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.

PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.

JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.

SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.

VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES

Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES

Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES

I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.

BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES

Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.

BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES

Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.

RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES

A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.

PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers

Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.