Once again in 2007, the fabulous Desert Sands sports book center is taking action on the USPSA Revolver Championship to be held shortly in Tulsa, OK. Please note that no specific betting odds are listed herein, as we have been informed by the Nevada Gaming Commission that such listings may violate several state advertising restrictions. The following is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be construed as a solicitation to place any specific wager on this sporting event.
Vegas revolver handicappers are busily predicting who will emerge victorious in this new venue, in what is expected to be the largest Revolver Nationals in history. Jerry Miculek is the universal favorite, having won each of these events in previous years. But is a chink emerging in Miculek's seemingly peerless armor? Time will tell, but Jerry has shown a bit of vulnerability at several other "big matches" earlier this season. Still, nobody in the world can begin to match his incredible acumen with a wheelgun over 18 stages, and Jerry is by all measures virtually guaranteed to lock up another National Championship.
Who will rise to second place in 2007? With rumors floating rampant that last year's runner-up and young gun stunner Nils Jonasson will not be shooting the match, at least not in Revolver Division, handicappers have Mike Carmoney and John Bagakis virtually in a dead heat as of this writing. Both relative newcomers to the USPSA scene, both Carmoney and Bagakis bring plenty of big match revolver experience to the game, and both have shown they know how to hit their targets consistently under pressure.
Although Bagakis is shooting better than ever, right now the slight edge again goes to Carmoney, who comes off brilliant dual victories at Area 7 and Area 5. In Vermont and Wisconsin, Carmoney went completely clean, avoiding all misses and penalties, and shot a total of only five "D" hits between the two matches. Consistency is everything over the course of a Nationals. This one will be a real horse race.
The handicappers are far from ruling out GM Dan Carden to finish in the coveted second seat. Carden has kept a lower profile this year, but when he comes out to play, he is shooting extremely well. When Carden shoots, he shoots to win, and is capable of moving through a stage with amazing speed. If Carden has been maintaining his usual training regimen, he may prove tough to beat for everyone excepting the great Miculek.
Nobody knows how to break down a stage by six rounds better than GM Cliff Walsh, and despite a couple of shaky starts earlier in the season, Walsh may well bring it together at Nationals and repeat the past great performances that have earned the respect of his revolver peers. Walsh is the only shooter among the current the favorites to know what it's like to actually finish in second place to Miculek at a Nationals, and Walsh still sports some of the fastest reloads and stage flow in the game today.
How will the new Tulsa venue affect the standings? Time will tell!
Further information and up-to-the-minute betting odds are available at the sports book center at the Desert Sands Casino and Hotel, open 24 hours and just off the Strip in Las Vegas, NV. This post should not be considered a solicitation to place wagers on any event. Void where prohibited by law.
We have you at 85-to-1.