Sobel’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Matchup Bets: Backing Some Big Dogs in Round 2

By all accounts, Friday is forecasted to be a cold, rainy, messy day on the Monterey Peninsula.

Weather can often serve as a great equalizer, so I’m taking three big-time underdogs who can hopefully pull off some upsets in today’s matchup bets.

Season record: 26-37-4, -11.91 units

Chris Stroud over Branden Grace (+165)

10:11 a.m. ET

Sure, we all know that Grace contended for the title in Phoenix on Sunday and started strong here on Thursday. But Stroud hasn’t been a slouch. He is also coming off a top-10 last week and opened with a 3-under 69. Playing on the easier MPCC course, he could be ready for a low one.

Davis Love III over Matt Kuchar (+250)

10:22 a.m. ET

Mackenzie Hughes over Jason Day (+280)

12:01 p.m. ET

As a bettor, you’ll sometimes have to make a wager against what you really believe, just because the value is too good to pass up. If you asked me whether Kuchar or Day would lose either of these matchups, I’d probably say no, but I wouldn’t have that much conviction about it.

Love is a two-time winner here and Hughes opened with a 3-under score. They’re each certainly capable of playing solid golf, especially in ugly conditions. If just one of these matchups hits, it’s a profit; if they both hit, it’s a very nice profit.