Each week, TheLines looks at what’s on tap in the sports betting world. While there is no football on Sunday for the first time since last September, there are still plenty of events worth watching and wagering on.
Golf: Farmers Insurance Open – Thursday to Sunday
It’s not a major, but the Farmers Insurance Open is the biggest golf event of early 2021. The 2020-21 PGA season, which began last fall, features 50 events – the most since 1975. Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are the favorites for the event, with other household names like Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed finding themselves in the mix. Defending champion Marc Leishman is looking to become the first repeat winner at Torrey Pines since Tiger Woods in 2008 and 2009. Woods will not participate in the event after undergoing surgery.
NCAABB: No. 15 Kansas vs No. 18 Tennessee – Saturday
Kansas and Tennessee square off in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday. The Vols bring a two-game losing streak into the new week that included a 26-point beatdown at the hands of Florida where they managed just 49 points. Kansas is a loser of three straight (Oklahoma State, No. 2 Baylor, Oklahoma). Tennessee is the nation’s seventh-ranked scoring defense and Kansas has lacked in scoring so far this season.
Boxing: Caleb Plant vs Caleb Truax – Saturday
Unbeaten super middleweight champion Caleb Plant (-3000) is a heavy favorite to defend his belt against challenger Caleb Truax (+1800). The 28-year-old champion has won his first 20 bouts, 12 by way of a knockout (60%). Truax has seen more action (37 bouts) but has posted a 31-4-2 record at 37-years-old.