Racing and golf dominate 5 Bets this week. I’m picking the winner of the Indianapolis 500, as well as NASCAR’s Texas Grand Prix.
In golf, I’ll take a veteran on a hot streak to win the Senior PGA Championship. At the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge, it’s a 24-year-old making his first appearance in this event to place in the Top 5.
The final wager is the Champions League Final, featuring two Premier League teams that have met on the pitch before.
This Week’s 5 Bets:
- Scott Dixon +350 to win Indy 500
- Kyle Larson +550 to Win Texas Grand Prix
- Steve Stricker to win Senior PGA Championship
- Will Zalatoris to finish Top 5 at Charles Schwab Challenge
- Manchester City -110 over Chelsea +310
Dixon History at Indy A Good Sign
Scott Dixon is the best driver of his generation, and his +350 favorite odds to win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday were expected. The 40-year-old outraced drivers nearly half his age to win the pole for Sunday’s race.
This is the fourth time Dixon’s won the pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it wasn’t easy. Dixon captured the top spot by just 0.03 mph.
“It was definitely pretty tense,” Dixon said. “I could see the mechanics working on the car as we rolled through, adjusting the wings. I asked them not to tell me. It’s definitely a rollercoaster of emotions for everybody and I’m really relieved that that’s all over.”
Dixon won at Indy in 2008, and finished second last year. He also has three other Top 10 results at IMS in the last seven years. Add him to this week’s 5 Bets.
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Larson in Winner’s Circle at Texas Grand Prix
Kyle Larson has been on a second-place streak his last three races, but I think he’ll snap the runner-up jinx this Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He’s is the third pick at +600.
Larson won at the NASCAR Cup Series in Las Vegas in March, and has two other Top 5 finishes since then. He told reporters a win is in his future.
“I feel like we did everything we could last time to win, (and) came up one spot short. Same thing this week. We … have the right strategy to win.”
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Stricker Peaking at Right Time
For the Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, no golfer is hotter than Steve Stricker. To no one’s surprise, the 54-year-old is the +350 favorite to capture his seventh senior title.
In eight appearances this year, Sticker has finished in the Top 10 seven times, including a victory in April at the Chubb Classic. In addition, he finished 44th at the PGA Championship last week, and said playing with the PGA Tour golfers helps him in an event on the senior circuit.
“Yeah, it can carry over,” Stricker said. “I felt like I struck the ball really nicely, so I can carry that over for sure, and I’ve got some work to do with the putter. Hopefully I’m not going to carry that over. But yeah, I can definitely (use) some of the good things that I did or am doing, and hopefully make a few more putts.”
Stricker will be more relaxed with guys his own age, and should be able to win the Senior PGA.
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Zalatoris Ready for Charles Schwab Debut
Usually I’d shy away from golfers making their first appearance at a PGA Tour event, but looking at the way Will Zalatoris is playing as of late, he might be worth the gamble. He’s at +2800 to win the tournament at BetMGM, but I like him at +450 to finish in the Top 5.
Zalatoris tied for eighth at the PGA Championship last week, and two weeks before that, he finished tied for 17th at the Byron Nelson. Also, don’t forget his solo second at the Masters in April.
The 24-year-old is sixth in shots gained tee to green, and 11th in scoring average. He’ll get in a couple of practice rounds and should do quite well at this tract.
Manchester City to Prevail Over Chelsea
Manchester City and Chelsea FC are playing in the finals of the Champions League, and the two are familiar with each other in the Premier League. Chelsea, at +310 to win on Saturday, faced Man City three times during the season, and won two of three.
But Manchester City is favored at -110, because manager Pep Guardiola is putting a healthier team on the pitch. The only injury concern was Ilkay Gundogan, who now apparently is healthy. The team will also get back Joao Cancelo from suspension.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has a couple of injury concerns. N’Golo Kante has a thigh injury, and even if he plays, might not be 100 percent. More disturbingly, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy collided with the post and came out of the team’s last game at halftime. He might miss the start against Man City.
There are too many question marks about Chelsea to warrant taking the underdogs. I think Manchester City will squeak out a victory on Saturday.
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