Norman misses cut after a 77

Golf Betting Lines

04/10/2009 - Augusta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The crowd surrounding Augusta National's familiar 18th green applauded Greg Norman. He applauded them right back.

If the tournament hasn't always been kind to The Shark, at least the gallery has.

Norman missed the Masters cut on Friday after stumbling to a five-over 77 in the second round -- 18 holes that never really got going, a flurry of mistakes that ended the 54-year-old's 23rd Masters start.

But what a fairy tale start it was.

Norman thrilled the golf world when he carried the lead into the final round of the British Open last summer. He didn't win, but a third-place tie clinched his first start at Augusta since 2002.

Teeing off early on Thursday morning, Norman had no expectations for this Masters. He played two straight weeks to get ready -- once on the Champions Tour and once on the PGA Tour -- and joked that everyone wants to live in the past.

But Norman's past at Augusta has its ghosts.

In 1986, Norman was in position to win his first Masters title until a then 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus passed him in the final round en route to a historic win.

It was the first of two consecutive runner-up ties for Norman at the Masters -- the second one coming in 1987, when Larry Mize's miraculous chip-in topped Norman in a playoff.

Nearly a decade later, Norman built a seemingly insurmountable six-shot lead and was -- finally, mercifully -- going to be fitted for his first green jacket.

But the final day in 1996 ended like too many before it, with Nick Faldo's 67 playing the role of spoiler this time. Norman lost by five strokes, and not even Faldo could hide his embarrassment for the golden-haired Australian.

It looked like Norman, a two-time British Open champion, might finally get another shot to win his first Masters crown after being shut out in 22 previous starts. He opened with a 70 on Thursday, same as Tiger Woods and five worse than leader Chad Campbell.

But a bogey at No. 3 on Friday ... then a bogey on No. 6 ... then, later, a bogey at 11 and a double-bogey at 13 ... and, alas, the day ended with another dose of disappointment.

Norman collected five bogeys, a double-bogey and just two birdies in his second round. His storybook Masters start ended at three-over-par 147, two shots off the cut line.

And with one -- possibly final -- round of applause.

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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