Summer of Our Sporting Discontent

Summer has largely been a bad season for sports wagering. We aim to prove otherwise

July 11, 2008

By Mike Halford
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

Summer has never been synonymous with sports wagering.

Sure, Major League Baseball rules the roost, meaning you can throw down on runlines 'til you're blue in the face. But what if the boys of summer simply don't fulfill your betting jones? You've got to look elsewhere... which is exactly what we did.

This is the first of many "supposedly" slow weekends on the sporting calendar. Tennis fans are still coming down from a euphoric Wimbledon; MMA enthusiasts don't have a major card until July 19. The only NBA action is rookies running in half-filled college arenas, and unless you're into the CFL, there isn't any football on the slate either.

So, what to do... yes, what does one do? Here's a look at some of the "alternative" options available over the next 48 hours:

NASCAR

We'll be the first to admit that we're not car guys. But there is something compelling about this weekend's Sprite Cup Series (Dollar General 300) at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joilet, Ill. Unlike most races, Chicagoland's will be run under the newly installed $17 million set of bulbs that allows stock cars to race primetime.

Also making noise is Gibbs racing star Tony Stewart, who earlier this week announced he's leaving the highly successful team to join Haas-CNC as an owner/driver in 2009. The two-time Cup champ leaving the successful Gibbs stable is like Manny Ramirez bolting from the Red Sox to be a player-manager for the Washington Nationals. Or something like that.

As per usual, Bodog has all the up-to-the-minute NASCAR betting lines available; currently, Stewart is the prohibitive favorite (5/2) to win the race.

Boxing

Remember boxing? It was the hand-to-hand combat of choice before Ultimate Fighting swept the nation. Well, believe it or not, boxing is still alive and kicking, especially in the heavyweight division. This weekend, IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko (-650) puts his trifecta of belts on the line against Tony Thompson (+450).

Klitschko is the favorite in this battle between giants. (AP Images)

The fight will be held in Hamburg, Germany, and many assume that the European crowd will be supporting the big Russian over Thompson, a journeyman American fighter with a 31-1 record. But 36-year-old Thompson does have some history in Germany, having defeated native son Luan Krasniqi in Hamburg last July.

If nothing else, you should be tuning into this fight for the freak-show potential. Klitschko stands at 6 feet 6 inches while Thompson is at 6 feet 5 inches. The height and reach alone could make for some explosive punches, and that can only mean one thing: upset potential.

Major League Soccer

With all the excitement from Euro 2008 drained, fans of the beautiful game can still get their fix locally, as the MLS is still alive and kicking. This Saturday features a triple header, beginning with San Jose (+150) hosting Colorado (+155) in a battle between Western bottom dwellers. It's been a woeful season for the Earthquakes, the league's lowest-scoring outfit (just 10 goals in 15 games). Things haven't been much better for Colorado, who have failed to receive a spark from 2006 MLS MVP Christian Gomez - the Argentinian midfielder has just three goals and five assists in 14 games thus far. The Rapids sit at 6-8-1 on the year and will need a quick reversal in fortune if they're to make a run at the playoffs.

You can bet on Taylor Twellman and the New England Revolution this summer. (AP Images)

In other Saturday action, Chicago (-110) will play host to Toronto FC (+260). This could be a long day for the Canadian outfit - TFC is riddled with injury, including a concussion problem for star striker Danny Dichio. A shorthanded TFC squad will have to do everything in its power to stop Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is having a fantastic season and was recently named to his first MLS All-Star team.

The final Saturday contest pits Real Salt Lake (+125) and Columbus (+185). The Crew are led by Venezuelan star Alejandro Moreno, who leads the team in goals (six) and is widely considered to be one of the quickest players in the league. He'll have to be at his best to crack the stingy RSL backline, one that has only allowed 19 goals in 16 matches thus far. Here's a hint: If you're looking to play a draw, this might be the match to do it (currently listed at +225).

And there you have it. Stock cars, boxing and soccer will more than make up for the lack of mainstream sports betting options currently available. But good luck navigating the rest of the summer sporting landscape - you're gonna need it.

TOP PHOTO: Gibbs racing star Tony Stewart is the favorite to win the Dollar General 300 this weekend. (AP Images)