Cubs and White Sox could be World Series preview

For baseball gamblers who like to bet on interleague games, the best action this weekend is in Chicago where the Cubs and White Sox are playing a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

With the Cubs leading the National League Central and the White Sox in first place in the American League Central, the matchup features two of baseball’s best teams over the first half of the season.

The Cubs, who have the best overall record in the majors at 46-28, were favored in Friday’s opener and defeated the White Sox, 4-3, behind two home runs by Aramis Ramirez.

Early betting lines have today’s game listed as a toss-up with the Cubs starting right-hander Jason Marquis (5-3 with a 4.24 earned-run average) and the White Sox going with right-hander Jose Contreras (5-3, 3.24 ERA).

Both teams are listed at -110 at Sportsbetting.com and Sportsbook.com.

The Cubs, who have been playing without injured outfielder Alfonso Soriano, are 6-0 in their last six home games against a team with a winning record.

Even without Soriano, who has missed 23 games this season but still leads the Cubs with 15 home runs, the Cubs are forecast to reach the playoffs at 89% and win the Division at 73.4%, according to AccuScore.com.

Golf

With the departure of Tiger Woods from the field, betting for this year’s British Open is expected to be wide open with no golfer getting single digit odds.

At Bodoglife.com, Ernie Els is listed as the favorite with 10-1 odds, followed by Sergio Garcia at 12-1, Phil Mickelson at 14-1, Padraig Harrington at 16-1 and Justin Rose at 18-1.

Lee Westwood is next at 20-1, with Adam Scott at 22-1, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh at 25-1.

Rocco Mediate, who pushed Woods to a sudden-death hole at the U.S. Open earlier this month, is not listed.

Pro football

With NFL training camps scheduled to open next month, the New York Giants are again being slighted by oddsmakers despite being the defending Super Bowl champions.

At Sportsbetting.com, the Giants are not even favored to win the NFC East Division in 2008. New York is listed with 3-1 odds, which is the same as the Philadelphia Eagles and behind the Dallas Cowboys, who are listed at 10-13.

The Washington Redskins are 8-1.

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