Capital One Orange Bowl Preview & Free Betting Pick

Saturday's college bowl schedule is highlighted by a Big Ten/ACC matchup that should have been named the "Woulda Coulda Shoulda Bowl" between the 12-1 Wisconsin Badgers and the 10-2 Miami Hurricanes. These two national powers will actually play one another in this season's Capital One Orange Bowl in the Hurricanes' back yard at Hard Rock Stadium. Game time on ESPN is set for 8 p.m.

The knock on Wisconsin all season long was its strength of schedule, but when you win all of your regular season games as a major program you should be considered a College Football Playoff team. The problem with this impressive 12-0 run is that the Badgers could not seal the deal with one more win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship which would have them playing on New Year's Day in one of two CFP semifinal matchups.

Miami was another major program out of the ACC that steamrolled its way to a perfect 10-0 start while not playing the toughest of schedules. The Hurricanes biggest victory in this run was against Notre Dame in a big way as 3.5-point home underdogs with BetAnySports. The stage was set for a showdown against Clemson in the conference title game, before Miami looked past Pittsburgh in its regular season finale. Even with that bad loss. the Hurricanes could have still earned a CFP berth with a victory against the top-ranked Tigers, but they came up well short in a 38-3 loss in the ACC Championship.

Turning to this Saturday's matchup, I believe that one of these teams has the clear edge over the other to the point where this would be one of my higher unit plays of the day. In a full game preview for ScoresandStats.com at the link below, I have released my official pick for the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl.

LINK: 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl Free Betting Pick- No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No.10 Miami Hurricanes

Seahawks and Cowboys Clash in Playoff Elimination Showdown

A pair of NFC 8-6 teams fighting for their playoff life highlight Sunday's NFL late-afternoon betting schedule when the Seattle Seahawks clash with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Big D. BetAnySports has listed the Cowboys as 4.5-point home favorites with the total set at 47 for Sunday's 4:25 p.m. kickoff on FOX.

The Seahawks have dropped their last two games with losses to Jacksonville on the road and to the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams at home to put their backs firmly against the wall when it comes to extending their consecutive streak of playoff appearances past five seasons.

The Cowboys are looking to extend their current winning streak to four games after getting past Washington at home and the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders on the road in their last three outings. They need to win their last two games and get some help to make their third trip to the postseason in their last four seasons. As an added bonus, Dallas will have running back Ezekiel Elliott back in the starting lineup after sitting out his last six games due to a league suspension.

As part of my weekly NFL coverage for SportsBettingStats.com the following link is to my full game preview and 'best bet' betting pick for this crucial NFC tilt.

LINK: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT DALLAS COWBOYS NFL PICKS - ODDS AND PREDICTIONS

Rodgers and Foles NFL Prop Bet Picks

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns to Green Bay's starting lineup this Sunday against Carolina after missing the team's last seven games with a broken collarbone. The 7-6 Packers are listed as three-point underdogs on the road by BetAnySports.com in what is basically an elimination game as far as earning a spot in this season's NFC playoffs.

The 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles have already clinched the NFC East Division title and they will be playing for a first-round bye this Sunday as 7.5-point road favorites against the rival New York Giants. They will also be playing without their franchise quarterback Carson Wentz after he tore his ACL in last Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Rams. In his place will be six-year veteran Nick Foles, who got his start in Philly as a third-round pick out of Arizona in the 2012 draft. After leaving the Eagles for brief stints with the Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs with is old head coach Andy Reid, he returned to Philadelphia this season to be reunited with is old quarterback coach and current Eagles' head coach Doug Pederson.

Given all the drama surrounding both of these player personnel moves, BetAnySports.com has also released some special player props for both of these signal callers in conjunction with this Sunday afternoon's game. In one of my betting news articles this week for ScoresandStats.com, I came up with my free 'best bet' picks for a pair of these props based on the value in the betting odds. Please check out the link to my picks below.

LINK: NFL Week 15 Special Quarterback Betting Props

Eagles vs. Rams Betting Preview & Pick

One of the top matchups on this Sunday's NFL slate is an NFC showdown between the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles and the 9-3 Los Angeles Rams with major implications for this season's playoffs. Both teams lead their respective divisions and the winner of this game will be in the driver seat for a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds in the conference.

The betting line for this game had an early lean towards the Rams with the general betting consensus. They opened as slight one-point home favorites and the early money going their way has pushed the spread to 2.5 points at BetAnySports. The number has come back down to 1.5 points in favor of Los Angeles with some weekend money on the Eagles. The total line for this game opened at 51 points, but it has been bet down to 48 points as of Saturday.

The big subplot in this game is the first head-to-head meeting between the top two picks of the 2016 NFL Draft. Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz remains one of the top betting favorites to win this year's league MVP award, while Jared Goff has already led the Rams to their first winning season since 2003. The winner in this game will also have the early leg up in what could be one of the best quarterback rivalries in the NFL in the coming years.

The link below to OSGA.com is my official betting preview and pick for Sunday's game, which is slated to get underway at 4:25 p.m. on FOX from Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

LINK: NFL Week 14 Preview and Free Pick - Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams

NCAAF Championship Saturday Betting Tip Sheet

It is Championship Weekend in college football and USC got things rolling with Friday night's 31-28 victory against Stanford to lay claim to the Pac-12 title. The 11-2 Trojans failed to cover as 3.5-point favorites to fall to 4-9 against the spread this season so the big question bettors have to ask themselves heading into Saturday's action is can a few more dogs cash a winning ticket in their championship games?

I recently put together a betting tip sheet for ScoresandStats.com covering all the Power 5 title games. I personally like Wisconsin getting six points against Ohio State as my top play for Saturday's Big Ten Championship with the Badgers coming away with a straight-up win against the Buckeyes despite a current five-game losing streak against their inter-division rivals. Please check out the link below for my full betting preview.

LINK: NCAA Football Week 14 Power 5 Betting Trends You Need to Know

Packers are Heavy Dogs at Pittsburgh

You know things are upside down in the NFL this season when the Green Bay Packers are set as 14-point underdogs and the line does not even move in their favor as we get closer to kickoff for Sunday night's road game against the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. Green Bay started the season 4-1 with Aaron Rodgers leading the way as one of the top passers in league while his team established itself as the clear favorite to represent the NFC in this season's Super Bowl.

The Packers' fortunes took a major turn for the worst when their future Hall of Fame quarterback when down with a broken collarbone in a Week 6 loss to Minnesota. Since that point, they have gone 1-4 in their next five games with their chances of even making the playoffs in serious doubt when you consider how many NFC teams there are with better overall records heading into the stretch run of the regular season.

As part of my NFL coverage for SportsBettingStats.com, I took a closer look at Sunday night's inter-conference matchup between Green Bay and Pittsburgh to see what kind of value I could find in the Packers at such long odds. Please check out the link below for my full preview and free betting pick.

LINK: GREEN BAY PACKERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS POINT SPREAD PICK - ODDS - FREE NFL PREDICTION

NFL Week 11 Top Prop Bet Picks

One of the best ways to add both betting action and excitement to Sunday's NFL slate of games is to put some money on any number of team or player betting props that online sportsbooks such as BetAnySports.com release each week in conjunction with each of these games. This week, I have focused my attention on a pair of special team props for the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys in games that should basically be considered 'must wins' for both of these teams as far as keeping their fading playoff aspirations alive.

The Raiders are the only team in the NFL that has failed to record an interception through their first nine games. They are playing host to Tom Brady and the 7-2 New England Patriots in Mexico City this Sunday afternoon as 7.5-point underdogs and the prop bet odds have been set for Oakland's chances to end this particular turnover drought.

Dallas is now a 4.5-point home underdog for Sunday night's showdown against the rival 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles. This will be the Cowboys second game without All Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is in the process of serving out his six-game league suspension. In his absence last week against Atlanta on the road, quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked eight times after getting taken to the turf a total of 10 times in his first eight games this year. Dallas went on to lose that game 27-7 to fall to 5-4 on the year. The betting odds for Philadelphia's total sacks in this Sunday's game is another prop that offers some solid value in the posted numbers.

For my full preview and betting play for both of these special props, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com

LINK: NFL Week 11 Special Team Betting Props

College Football Playoff Week 11 Betting Trends

This Saturday's slate in college football features a number of key showdowns that are sure to have a major impact on this season's four-team College Football Playoff regardless of win team actually wins those games. Four of the top five teams in the current CFP rankings face a nationally ranked opponent in Week 11 with one Big 12 showdown basically serving as a playoff elimination game for either TCU or Oklahoma.

When it comes to betting on the teams that currently hold those four playoff positions, there are some key stats, facts and betting trends that can help you breakdown each of their four matchups on Saturday's slate. In one of my betting articles for ScoresandStats.com this week, I took a closer look at all four games in terms of which team has the bigger edge when it comes to cashing in a winning bet. Please check out the link below for the piece and if you are interested in placing a few timely bets on Saturday's college football action please check out BetAnySports.com as the best online sportsbook for US players.

LINK:College Football Playoff Week 11 Betting Trends You Need to Know

Falcons and Patriots Clash on Sunday Night Football

The last time the Atlanta Falcon faced the New England Patriots they were chilling down the champagne in Super Bowl LI after opening up a 28-9 lead in the third quarter. The Patriots went on to score the next 31 points including the game-winning touchdown in overtime in the biggest come-from-behind victory in Super Bowl history. Football experts wondered how Atlanta would respond to such a crushing defeat heading into this season and the results have been mixed. The Falcons jumped out to a 3-0 start while combining to score a total of 87 points, but they have only managed to score 34 points in back-to-back losses to Buffalo and Miami to post a 3-2 record on the year.

Those same football experts predicted that New England could be even more dominant this season after winning its last 10 games en route to that Super Bowl title. A stunning loss at home to Kansas City in their season opener was followed up by another loss at home to Carolina as part of a shaky 4-2 start. The Patriots still have the No. 1-ranked offense in the NFL in total yards gained, but their defense is dead last in the league when it comes to total yards allowed.

Something is going to have to give this Sunday night at Foxborough between two teams still trying to find themselves heading in the seventh week of the season. As part of my regular NFL coverage for SportsBettingStats.com the link below will take you to my game preview and free betting pick for what should be one of the best games on this Sunday's NFL slate.

LINK: ATLANTA FALCONS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS POINT SPREAD PICK - ODDS - FREE ATS PREDICTION

2017 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Early Betting Odds

The Breeders' Cup in early November is horse racing's biggest and best two-day race card of the season and this year it rolls into Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4 with 13 events totaling over $26 million in prize money up for grabs. One of the most popular betting events on Friday's card is the Las Vegas Dirt Mile with a total prize purse of $1 million.

While the actual field for this race continues to take shape, BetAnySports has recently updated its Breeders' Cup futures odds based on the Thoroughbreds that are currently listed as possible entries at Horse Racing Nation. I decided to breakdown this early field for ScoresandStats.com as part of this year's Breeders' Cup betting coverage and come up with my trifecta pick for this year's Dirt Mile. Please check out the link below for complete race preview and free picks.

LINK: 2017 Breeders’ Cup Las Vegas Dirt Mile Early Betting Odds

Chiefs Aim to Stay Perfect in Houston

The 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs travel to Houston this week to tangle with the 2-2 Texans on Sunday Night Football as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL this season. They survived a couple of close calls against Philadelphia and Washington to go along with blowout victories against New England and the Los Angeles Chargers to post a perfect record both straight-up and against the spread in the first quarter of the regular season. This week, Kansas City heads into NRG Stadium as a slight one-point road favorite with BetAnySports and the betting line for the total has been set at 47 points.

The Chiefs are easily the best balanced team in the league behind an offense that is ranked third in scoring and second in total yards complementing a defense that is only allowing an average of 19.2 points per game. Despite all of this team's impressive stats, it will be tested against a Texans' team that completely dismantled Tennessee 57-14 last week at home as a 2.5-point underdog. Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns in that lopsided victory.

As part of my Sunday Night Football weekly previews for SportsBettingStats.com, the link below is to my complete game preview and free betting prediction for this intriguing AFC tilt.

LINK:KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT HOUSTON TEXANS POINT SPREAD PICK - ODDS - FREE ATS PREDICTION

Eagles Looking to Fly High on the West Coast against the Chargers

As part of my weekly NFC East 'Pick of the Week' piece for ScoresandStats.com, I am covering the Philadelphia Eagles as the top matchup on the betting board at BetAnySports when it comes to finding the best value in the odds. I had Philly covering last week as five-point home favorites against the New York Giants, but I should have went with the OVER on the 47.5-point total line in the Eagles' thrilling 27-24 last second victory. I will not make that mistake twice in what should be an intriguing matchup on the West Coast against another desperate NFL team looking for its first W of the new season.

Please check out the link below for my complete preview and 'best bet' pick for this Sunday's Eagles at Chargers game as originally posted on ScoresandStats.com

LINK: Eagles at Chargers Betting Preview and Prediction

Duke at North Carolina Free ACC 'Pick of the Week'

When sports bettors think of the ongoing rivalry between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels their thoughts automatically turn to the epic battles these two ACC foes have staged on the basketball court. When it comes to this same rivalry in football, North Carolina dominated the tallies in the win column for years until Duke's stunning 33-30 upset in 2012 as a heavy 10.5-point underdog at home. Since that win, the Blue Devils actually have a 3-2 edge in the series both straight-up and against the spread.

Give just how close these two North Carolina neighbors matchup against one another, this Saturday's 3:30 kickoff at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill was an easy choice for my ACC free pick of the week for SportsBettingStats.com. Please check out the link below for my complete game preview as well as my free prediction of the outcome based on betting lines from BetAnySports.

LINK: DUKE BLUE DEVILS AT NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS POINT SPREAD PICK - ODDS - ATS PREDICTION

NFC East Game of the Week- Dallas at Denver

As part of my NFL coverage for ScoresandStats.com, I breakdown all the games in the NFC East to come up with my 'Game of the Week' best bet. I like the Eagles getting six points on the road against Kansas City after the line opened at four and I do think that Washington and New York bounce back with wins this week following an opening day loss both straight-up and against the spread. However, this week my top play is the Dallas at Denver game in a late Sunday afternoon start on FOX.

The Cowboys grinded out a 19-3 victory against the Giants last Sunday night to easily cover as six-point favorites at home and this week they will go on the road to Sports Authority Field at Mile High as two-point favorites with BetAnySports. The Broncos got past the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night 24-21 in a game that ended as a PUSH. Denver was 1-1 (SU and ATS) last season when closing as a home underdog with a victory over Carolina early in the year followed by a loss to New England in late December. Dallas went 6-2 SU on the road last season with a 5-3 record ATS, but it failed to cover in its last three road games. Head-to-head in this matchup, the Broncos have won the last five meetings SU and they have a 3-2 edge ATS.

Please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com for my complete game preview and betting pick for this inter-conference tilt.

LINK: Cowboys at Broncos Betting Preview and Prediction

Clemson at Louisville Free ACC 'Pick of the Week'

I am once again covering ACC football for SportsBettingStats.com and in this Saturday's 'Game of the Week' pick I have focused my attention on the biggest game on the slate in Week 3 of the college football season with the No. 3 Clemson Tigers going on the road as three-point favorites to face the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals. The winner of this game will be in the driver seat in the ACC's Atlantic Division when it comes to the race for this year's conference title, but more importantly, it will have a huge leg up on earning one of the four spots in this season's College Football Playoff.

Clemson has won the first three meetings straight-up since Louisville joined the ACC in 2014, but the Cardinals hold the slight 2-1 edge against the spread. The betting line at BetAnySports for this game has held steady at three points, but the total line has jumped from 56 points to 58.5 with most of the early betting money coming in on the OVER. The main storyline in this ACC tilt is the Tigers' shutdown defense going up against 2016 Heisman Trophy quarterback Lamar Jackson. Both have been extremely impressive so far starting with Clemson giving up a total of nine points in two earlier victories against Kent State and then-No. 13 Auburn. In his first two games against Purdue and North Carolina, Jackson has passed for 771 yards and five touchdowns against zero interceptions while also leading Louisville in rushing with 239 yards on 40 carries including three trips into the end zone.

The link below to SportsBettingStats.com offers up a closer look at this game along with my free 'best bet' pick on the outcome.

LINK: CLEMSON TIGERS AT LOUISVILLE CARDINALS WEEK 3 POINT SPREAD PICK - ODDS

ACC Week 2 Betting Report

The Florida State Seminoles dropped out of the No. 3 spot in the national polls following a disappointing 24-7 loss to Alabama last week and to make matters worse they also lost their starting quarterback Deondre Francis for the season with a leg injury. This loss opened the door for the Clemson Tigers to become the highest ranked team in the ACC at No. 3 in the latest AP Top 25, while Florida State tumbled down to No. 10.

The other three ranked teams in the ACC are all bunched together starting with Miami at No. 16 followed by No. 17 Louisville and Virginia Tech at No. 18. The link below to my weekly ACC betting preview for ScoresandStats.com zero's in on a pair of conference matchups as well as Clemson's huge showdown against No. 13 Auburn this Saturday night based on betting lines for BetAnySports.

LINK: ACC Week 2 Betting Report

ACC Football Week 1 Betting Report

The 2017 college football season gets underway this weekend with a bang headlined by an ACC/SEC clash between No. 3 Florida State and the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday night in Atlanta. The entire ACC lineup of teams is in action in Week 1 of the new season and the following link below to ScoresandStats.com is my betting report for all the action based on posted betting odds by BetAnySports.

The ACC gained a reputation for being one of the best basketball conferences in the nation over the years, but with five teams ranked in all the major polls including last season's national champion Clemson at No. 5, it is also becoming a national power for football. I will be posting a weekly betting preview for ACC football all season long at ScoresandStats.com in an effort to help avid college football bettors all across the country cash in on the games.

LINK: ACC COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 BETTING REPORT

Tom Brady 2017 NFL Regular Season Betting Props

Tom Brady is one of the best NFL quarterbacks to ever play the game. At 40-years old, he continues to set the bar for excellence at a position that only a handful of athletes really know how to play. He comes into the 2017 NFL regular season as the top betting favorite to be named Most Valuable Player and his team, the New England Patriots are favored to once again win this year's Super Bowl.

Digging deeper into all the various prop bet odds that have been released in conjunction with Brady's performance on the field this season, the following link below is a few special prop bet picks that I uncovered for SportsBooks.net awhile back as part of one of my weekly betting articles for the site.

LINK: 2017 NFL Special Props – Tom Brady

2017 Travers Stakes Free Trifecta Pick

The highlight of this Saturday's race card at Saratoga Race Course is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes for three-year old thoroughbreds. This Grade 1 stakes race will be contested on the dirt at Saratoga over a distance of 1 1/4 miles.

The field of 12 for this race is deep with talent including the winners of all three Triple Crown races earlier in the year. Trainer Todd Pletecher's Tapwrit comes in as a 7/2 favorite on the morning line and he will break from the No. 4 post with jockey Jose Ortiz getting the ride. I have broken down the entire list of entries for Saturday's main event to try and come up with a winning trifecta play. Please check out the link below for my complete Travers' preview and free picks as previously posted on ScoresandStats.com.

LINK: 2017 Travers Stakes Free Trifecta Pick

$1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Free Trifecta Pick

This year's Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Friday. Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4 at famed Del Mar Race Course in Southern California. This Saturday at that same race track is the running of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic as a prelude to the Breeders' Cup biggest race; The Classic. A field highlighted by the No. 1 ranked thoroughbred in the nation is in place for Saturday's main event and after breaking down the eight horses set to compete for cool $1 million in total prize money, I have come up with my trifecta pick for this Grade 1 major stakes race.

Please check out the link below to ScoresandStats.com for my complete preview and free trifecta pick for the 2017 TVG Pacific Classic.

LINK: 2017 TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC TRIFECTA PLAY

MLB Weekend Series Betting- Yankees at Red Sox

The biggest three-game series on the board at BetAnySports gets underway this Friday night in a 7:10 p.m. start at Fenway Park when the Boston Red Sox will play host to the rival New York Yankees as -130 favorites. The total for Game 1 has been set at nine with Jordan Montgomery getting the start for New York while Boston turns to Drew Pomeranz as its starter.

The series price for this crucial AL East showdown favor the Red Sox at -160 odds. The moneyline odds for the Yankees winning this series stand at +140. In the front-end of this extended home-and-home matchup,Boston took two of three from the Yankees last weekend on the road. New York still has the slight 7-5 edge in the season series including a dominating 4-1 record in the first five meetings at Fenway this season. Heading into Friday's Game 1, Boston (69-51) is four games up on the Yankees (65-55) in this heated division title race.

The following link to SportsBooks.net offers up my complete betting preview and free betting pick for this series.

LINK: MLB Weekend Series Betting Report and Free Pick: New York at Boston

Hot NFL Betting Props- First Head Coach Fired

The 2017 NFL preseason is underway and all that means is that the clock is already ticking when it comes to one of the 32 NFL head coaches losing their jobs first. Bill Belichick is in pretty good shape in New England and I would hope that all the first-year coaches will get at least two seasons to prove they can get the job done, but that still leaves a pretty large group of men that should be taking some time to get their resumes in order.

Using some of the posted betting odds at BetAnySports for the prop of 'first head coach fired', I came up with my own list of coaches that offer the best value when it comes to cashing in on a timely bet. The following is a link to that article on SportsBook.net so please check it out when you get a chance.


LINK: 2017 NFL Special Props – First Head Coach Fired Before Super Bowl LII

Haskell Invitational Free Trifecta Picks

The Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park in New Jersey is the running of the 50th Haskell Invitational. This $1 million Grade 1 stakes race for three-year old thoroughbreds will be contested on the dirt track at Monmouth over a distance of 1 1/8 miles. Heading into Sunday's main event on a jam-packed race card, Irish War Cry has been listed as a 5/2 favorite on the morning line odds. Also in the field is Time Line (3/1), Practical Joke (4/1) and McCracken (9/2) to round out the top four contenders to win this race.

The link below is to my complete preview and free trifecta pick for this year's Haskell Invitational for SBR Picks as part of my weekly horse racing betting report.

LINK: Horse Racing Betting: Irish War Cry Leads Deep Field at Haskell Invitational

Cardinals at Cubs MLB Weekend Series Free Pick

It's 'Game On' in the NL Central Division title race with four of the five teams within 4.5 games of one another in the current standings. While the Milwaukee Brewers are mired in a five-game losing streak heading into this weekend's series against Philadelphia on the road, the Chicago Cubs will look to extend their six-game winning streak when they play host to the rival St. Louis Cardinals for three games starting this Friday in a 2:20 p.m. start at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are just a game in back of the Brewers at 49-45 overall and the Cardinals (46-49) are 4.5 games off the pace following a 2-2 split with the New York Mets this week. These two have already met nine times this season with Chicago holding the 6-3 edge following a three-game sweep against its bitter division rival at Wrigley in early June. The series price for this weekend's NL Central clash should favor the Cubs and BetAnySports has listed Chicago as a -145 favorite for Friday's Game 1 with Jake Arrieta on the mound. St. Louis is set as a +135 underdog and it will turn to Carlos Martinez as its starter for Game 1.

The link below is for my complete series preview and free pick as previously posted on ScoresandStats.com


LINK: MLB WEEKEND SERIES BETTING REPORT AND FREE PICK- ST. LOUIS AT CHICAGO

Diamondbacks at Braves MLB Weekend Series Free Pick

Baseball is back in business following this week's MLB All Star break and starting this Friday night at SunTrust Park is an interesting three-game matchup between a pair of second-place NL teams trying to make up some ground in their respective division title race.

Arizona fell to 7.5 games in back of the blazing Los Angeles Dodgers with a 3-7 slide in its previous 10 games before the break, but at 53-36 overall, the Diamondbacks remain in the thick of the NL playoff race. Atlanta is 9.5 games in back of Washington in the NL East with an overall record of 42-45 and while the Braves can still make things interesting over the next few months, their margin for error is pretty slim given the number of teams ahead of them in the wild card standings.

BetAnySports has set the series price at -110 for both teams in what should be a close, hard-fought battle over the next three days. As part of my weekly MLB betting previews for SportsBooks.net, I decided to take a closer look at this matchup for my free weekend series pick. Please check out the link below for my complete preview and pick.

LINK: MLB Weekend Series Betting Report and Free Pick: Arizona at Atlanta

Betting on the Philadelphia 76ers Making the Playoffs in 2018

I have always been a huge Philly fan since I grew up less than 30 minutes from Veterans Stadium and the Spectrum. Both of these storied structures have since been replaced with a trio of venues that include Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles, Citizens Bank Park for the Phillies and the Well Fargo Center for both the Flyers and the 76ers. I have since moved to sunnier and warmer digs on the southeast coast of Virginia, but in my heart and mind I will always been a die-hard Philly fan.

It has been lean times for the Philly faithful with all four teams floundering through their regular seasons for the past few years. Watching any of the four teams in the playoffs has been a pipe dream right across the board. With the MLB regular season approaching its midway point with next week's All-Star break, the Phillies have the dubious honor of owning the worst record in the Majors. The Flyers missed the playoffs this season in a league where almost every team plays in the postseason. The Eagles are coming off back-to-back 7-9 campaigns and do not even get me started on how bad the Sixers have been over the past four years.

The one benefit of being a very bad basketball team is the chance to draft some of the top college players in the land. The 76ers decided to take the long and winding road towards rebuilding this once proud franchise by drafting some of the top college players that needed to take some serious time off to recover from injury. Joel Embiid had to delay his rookie year an entire season before almost winning rookie of the year honors in the mere 31 games he played in 2016/2017. Ben Simmons was last years No. 1 pick and followed in Embiid's footsteps by missing his first season due to injury. Philly used the No. 1 pick in this year's draft to select Markelle Fultz and the most exciting thing about this acquisition is that we will get to see him play in his true rookie year.

I am not suggesting that the 76ers are ready to take on Cleveland or now possibly Boston for the NBA's Eastern Conference, but I am suggesting that the big three in Philly with some help from a rapidly improving supporting cast are ready to take that next step from "Trust the Process" to "Welcome to the Moment" to make its first postseason appearance since 2011.

Below is a link to a recent article I wrote for ScoresandStats.com detailing my reasons for why I am betting on the Sixers making the playoffs next season.

LINK: BETTING ON THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS MAKING THE NBA PLAYOFFS IN 2018

Yankees at Astros MLB Weekend Series Free Pick

One of the top MLB series on the slate this weekend is a three-game set between two of the best teams in the American League this season. The New York Yankees are a game off the pace in the AL East at 42-35, while the Houston Astros have jumped out to a 13.5-game lead in the AL West behind a MLB-best record of 54-26. BetAnySports has opened Houston as a -150 favorite on the series price for this matchup with the betting odds set at +130 that the Yankees get the best of things over the next three days.

As part of my weekly MLB betting previews and free picks for Sportsbooks.net, I took a closer look at this big AL tilt to come up with my 'best bet' play on the series price at the link below.

LINK: New York at Houston MLB Weekend Series Betting Report and Free Pick

NASCAR Takes its Turns on the Road Course at Sonoma

Twice a year NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series abandons its weekly ritual of left turns around an oval for a road course layout similar to Grand Prix racing. The first stop on this two-race circuit for the 2017 racing season takes place this Sunday at Sonoma Raceway in California. The Toyota/Save Mart 350 provides an excellent test of driving skills for all the Cup Series drivers while also offering a great opportunity for motorsport bettors when it come to cashing in a winning ticket for this event.

Please check out the link below at SBR Picks for my complete preview for Sunday's race as well as my free betting picks to win based on the odds posted by BetAnySports.

LINK: NASCAR Betting: Road Course Racing at Toyota/Save Mart 350

Free NBA Draft Position Prop Picks

The clock is winding down to the start of tonight's NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn; however it is not too late to place a few timely bets at BetAnySports on some of the position props that have been released in conjunction with this highly anticipated event. Last minute trades could alter the entire proceedings to add even more drama as the night unfolds, but I have come up with my "best bet" prop bet picks for a trio of top prospects as far as when they should come off the board.

Please check out the link below for my top NBA position prop bet picks in an article I wrote this week for Scores & Stats.


LINK: 2017 NBA Draft Position 'Best Bet' Prop Picks

2017 US Open Top 5 Finish Free Betting Picks

One of the best ways to bet on any professional golf tournament is on the odds for a Top 5 finish. When it comes to a Major such as the US Open, there is quite a bit of value to be found in this type of bet given the strength and depth of the field. The best golfers in the world will tee it up in the toughest test they will face all season long. Trying to find an outright winner in this group is a very hard thing to do, but there are plenty of clues to point you in the right direction to a few players that have a really good chance at being at the top of the leaderboard come late Sunday afternoon.

This year's US Open gets underway on Thursday with the first of four rounds of action at Erin Hills Golf Club. This is a brand new venue for one of golf's most prestigious titles and the early reports out of Erin, Wisconsin is that this could be one of the toughest USGA setups in recent memory. Knee high rough combined with slick greens could keep most of the scores above par all weekend long. After breaking down the betting odds at BetAnySports for a Top 5 finish, I have come up with my Top 5 golfers that could be up for the challenge that the next four days should present.

Please checkout the link below for my Top 5 "best bet" picks in this year's US Open as part of a recent article posted on Sportsbooks.net

LINK: Betting on a Top 5 Finish in the 2017 US Open

Can Irish War Cry Deliver as the Belmont Stakes Favorite?

Always Dreaming won the 2017 Kentucky Derby as a 9/2 favorite and Cloud Computing came through with the upset victory in the Preakness Stakes at 12/1 odds but neither of these three-year old thoroughbreds is in the field for this Saturday's Belmont Stakes to create a wide open battle for the third and final leg of this year's Triple Crown racing season.

Classic Empire would have probably been set as the early favorite to win this year's Belmont Stakes, but he was a late scratch right before the post positions were announced with a foot issue. I actually had him penciled in as my top pick to win following his second-place finish in the Preakness.

That leaves 12 entries to compete at Belmont Park in Saturday's main event with Irish War Cry listed as a 7/2 favorite on the morning line. Epicharis will be making his Triple Crown racing series debut as a 4/1 second-favorite and the opening betting odds for Lookin At Lee are 5/1 as the only three-year old in the field to run in the first two races. He took second at Churchill in the Kentucky Derby before finishing fourth at Pimlico in the Preakness.

Irish War Cry closed as a 9/2 co-favorite along with Always Dreaming to win this year's Kentucky Derby, but following a strong start he faded to 10th in the crowded field of 20. Trainer H. Graham Motion held this New Jersey-bred colt out of the Preakness to train for the added distance of this Saturday's 1 1/2 miles run on the dirt at Belmont with jockey Rajiv Maragh getting the ride. I went with Irish War Cry as my top pick to win the Kentucky Derby and with Classic Empire along with Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing out of the way in the Belmont Stakes, I honestly believe that this is his race to lose.

My official trifecta pick for Saturday's Belmont Stakes can be found at the link below in this week's horse racing report for SBR Picks.


LINK: With Classic Empire Out Of The Belmont Stakes, Who's the Favorite?

2017 Belmont Stakes Early Betting Odds

The final leg of this year's Triple Crown racing season for the top three-year old thoroughbreds comes to a conclusion next Saturday at Belmont Park with the running of $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. The one thing that we know for sure is that we will have three different winners for each of these major graded events after the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing both decided to opt out of running their champion colts in the grueling 1 1/4 mile trip around the track at Belmont on June 10.

A pair of the top three-year old colts that are expected to race in the Belmont Stakes are Classic Empire and Lookin At Lee as the only two probable entries set to run in all three Triple Crown events. A number of horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby, but not the Preakness are expected to be in the field for the main event at Belmont Park next Saturday including Tapwrit, J Boys Echo and Irish War Cry, who closed as a 9/2 co-favorite with Always Dreaming to win the annual 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs back on May 6.

BetAnySports recently updated its futures odds to win this year's Belmont Stakes and in this week's horse racing betting report for SBR Picks, I covered some of the top favorites that are expected to be in the field. Please check out the link below for my full Belmont Stakes preview.

LINK: Horse Racing Betting Report- Early 2017 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds

Coca Cola 600 Preview & Free Picks

Sunday's sport's betting action at BetAnySports is highlighted by wall-to-wall auto racing action starting with the Indianapolis 500 at 12 p.m. followed by NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 6 p.m. on FOX. As part of my weekly race preview for the Monster Energy Cup Series, I have broken down the field for Sunday night's race to come up with my top favorite, top contender and top longshot based on the value in the posted odds to win. Please check out the link below at SBR Picks for my free picks for Sunday night's race.

LINK: Kyle Busch Looks for Charlotte Double in NASCAR's Longest Race: Coca-Cola 600

2017 Preakness Stakes Head-to-Head Betting Picks

The 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes takes place this Saturday afternoon at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and as expected Always Dreaming comes in as the favorite to win on the heels of his stirring 2 3/4 lengths victory two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby. The three-year old Kentucky-bred champion has been opened as a 4/5 favorite breaking out of the fourth post and his biggest competition in this race should come from Classic Empire as a 3/1 second-favorite coming out of the No. 5 gate.

This should set the stage for a great head-to-head matchup with the top two horses in the field battling it out right from the start. In a betting article I wrote this week for SportsBooks.net, I covered both this matchup as well as one between Conquest Mo Money going up against Cloud Computing as two of the top entries that will be making their Triple Crown racing series debut after sitting out the Kentucky Derby. Please check out the link below for my "best bet" head-to-head Preakness picks.

LINK:2017 Preakness Stakes Head-to-Head ‘Best Bet’ Picks

NHL Free Picks- Ottawa at Pittsburgh Game 1

This year's Eastern Conference Finals in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs features an intriguing matchup between the upstart Ottawa Senators out of the Atlantic Division and the Metro Division's Pittsburgh Penguins, who come into this best-of-seven series as defending world champions.

The Senators eliminated both Boston in the opening round and the New York Rangers in the conference semifinals in six games as clear underdogs on the series price odds. They come into this series as heavy +235 underdogs; however given the way this team has come together in the postseason I believe that there is quite a bit of value in those series price odds.

Getting past the high-flying Penguins will be a tall task to say the least given that they were the highest scoring team in the NHL this season with an average of 3.4 goals per game and their ability to light the lamp has carries over into the playoffs. Veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has had a few rough starts over the course of Pittsburgh's opening round 4-1 series win against Columbus followed by a recent seven-game marathon against the No. 1 seed Washington Capitals, but he came up big when he had to the most by pitching a 2-0 shutout against the Capitals in that deciding Game 7 victory.

Game 1 of this conference finals showdown is on tap for Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh and as part of my ongoing coverage of the NHL for SportsBettingStats.com, the link below is my complete preview of this series opener as well as my "best bet" pick for the game.

LINK: OTTAWA SENATORS AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS FREE NHL PLAYOFF PICK - BETTING ODDS

The Players Championship Best Bet Picks

The 2017 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida gets underway this Thursday with opening round action in a tournament that has been often times referred to as professional golf's "Fifth Major".

Dustin Johnson leads the PGA Tour's money list and he currently ranked No. 1 when it comes to the Official World Golf Rankings so its stands to reason that he would open this tournament as a +700 favorite to win at BetAnySports on that online sportsbook's Players Championship futures odds board. Picking an outright winner in any golf tournament is a tall task to say the least given the overall quality of play throughout the field along with all the internal and external factors that can easily impact even the best golfers in the world from playing their best.

If you are looking to bet on an outright winner, then two of the most important things to take into consideration is a player's current form as well as their past performance at that particular tournament's venue. Some golf courses set up perfectly for one player's top strengths, while at the same time working against another player's skill set. Anytime you are handicapping the field for a golf tournament that is played at the same course every year such as The Players Championship, you already have a built in edge given each player's past results.

Taking both of these factors into consideration, I have come up with my top-valued favorite, top-valued contender and top-valued longshot picks for this week's Players Championship in a recent piece I wrote for Sportsbooks.net The link to the piece is copied below.

LINK:Futures Betting Odds for the 2017 Players Championship

2017 Kentucky Derby Free Trifecta Pick

Coming off a very exciting prep race schedule, the top 20 three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation will now try and take the next step to horse racing glory by winning the 143rd Kentucky Derby on tap for this Saturday at Churchill Downs. The post positions have been set along with the morning line odds, so now is the time to start handicapping the field in hopes of cashing in on 'The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports'.

This year's field is one of the deepest in years making my job of picking a three-horse trifecta bet all that more difficult. To my credit, I have correctly pick the winners of the last three Kentucky Derby's. However, so did most of the betting public considering that California Chrome (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Nyquist (2016) all went off as heavy favorites.

Classic Empire opened with the best odds on the board at 4/1 for this year's Kentucky Derby, but right on his heels are Always Dreaming and McCraken at 5/1 and Irish War Cry at 6/1. All four of these horses have already proven themselves to be worthy Derby contenders given their earlier victories this season in some Grade 1 major stakes events so the challenge for this race is to decide which one will be at their absolute best heading down the stretch run at Churchill late Saturday afternoon.

I have been picking trifectas on the trail to the 2017 Kentucky Derby for SBR Picks ever since this year's crop of contenders started their racing career as juveniles and in this week's Horse Racing Betting Report I revealed which three will make up my trifecta pick for this year's Run for the Roses. Please check out the link below for an in-depth look at all three colts.

LINK: Horse Racing Betting Report: 2017 Kentucky Derby

Betting Tips for the 143rd Kentucky Derby

The first Saturday in May offers up one of the biggest betting events of the year with the running of the Kentucky Derby at fabled Churchill Downs. The field for the 143rd running of this iconic horse race for the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation is set and it is probably one of the deepest in years. Classic Empire opened as a 4/1 favorite on the morning line, but you also have the likes of Always Dreaming (5/1), McCraken (5/1) and Irish War Cry (6/1) in the mix as solid contenders.

The depth of this field does not end with these four horses with names such as Girvin, Hence and Gunnevera all poised to lay claim to the crown jewel of this season's Triple Crown racing series at longer odds. Before you go to your favorite online betting outlet to place your bets for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, please check out the link below at Sportsbooks.net for a few of my top betting tips for cashing in on this year's "Run for the Roses".

LINK: Betting Tips for Saturday's Kentucky Derby

Free NASCAR Picks- Toyota Owners 400

NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series rolled into Richmond International Raceway this week for the running of Sunday's Toyota Owners 400. Jimmie Johnson is the hottest driver in the series right now coming off back-to-back victories at Texas and Bristol, but I think the best value this week when it comes to the top favorites to win is with Kyle Busch at +600 betting odds with BetAnySports. He is still looking for his first victory this season in a point-race event so you know that the entire No. 18 Toyota racing team will be gunning for the checkered flag at a track where Busch has enjoyed his fair share of success in the past.

As part of my weekly NASCAR review for SBR Picks, please check out the link below for a closer look at my top favorite, top contender and top longshot for this Sunday's race.

LINK: Kyle Busch Is Capper's Pick to Win NASCAR Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond

2017 Kentucky Derby Futures Odds

The 2017 Kentucky Derby kicks off this season's Triple Crown horse racing series on Saturday, May 6 at fabled Churchill Downs with 20 of the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the nation gunning for the sport's most prestigious title. Classic Empire has made his way to the top of the list with last Saturday's thrilling victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, but there are probably four or five other contenders that have a legitimate shot at winning the annual "Run for the Roses"

In an article this week for SBR Picks, I broke down the projected Kentucky Derby field to come up with my Top 5 list of horses based on their recently updated futures odds to win this race at BetAnySports. Please check out the link below for my preview of each of these contenders.

LINK: Classic Empire Wins Way to Top of Kentucky Derby Futures

The Arkansas Derby Headlines Saturday's Horse Racing Card

The 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6 kicks off another exciting season of Triple Crown racing for the top three-year old thoroughbreds in the country. One of the final pieces in the puzzle when it comes to setting the 20-horse field for this year's "Run for the Roses" takes place this Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park with the running of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. This is the final major prep race on the schedule in advance of next month's main event at Churchill and it should be a good one with a 12-horse field that is extremely deep in talent.

As part of my weekly horse racing betting report for SBR Picks, I have broken down the field for this year's Arkansas Derby to come up with my top trifecta pick. Please check out the link below for my free picks.

LINK: 2017 Arkansas Derby Top Trifecta Play

Free NASCAR Picks- Auto Club 400

NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series wraps up its early season West Coast swing with a stop in Fontana, California for the running of the Auto Club 400. All the action from Auto Club Speedway is set to get underway this Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and the race will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Defending Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has struggled his way to just one Top 10 finish through the first four point-race events on the 2017 schedule, but he is in excellent position to quickly turn things around with a win this week. He also comes in as the defending champion of this race as part of his six career victories at this track in a Cup Series event. His current odds to win at BetAnySports are set at +650 and with an average finishing position of 6.5 at Fontana there is quite a bit of value in that number.

For my complete preview of Sunday's race along with my top-valued pick to win, please check out the link below at SportsBettingStats.com

LINK: AUTO CLUB 400 FREE PICK - BETTING ODDS

NHL Saturday Best Bet- Montreal at Ottawa

The top two teams in the NHL's Atlantic Division kickoff a home-and-home series for first place in the standings this Saturday night in what should one of the best matchups on the day's slate. Montreal is clinging to a one-point lead heading into Saturday's game as a slight -110 road favorite with BetAnySports, but it has lost the first two games of the season series against the Senators by identical 4-3 scores. Ottawa is listed as a +100 even-money home underdog and the total for this game is set at 5.

For my complete preview and free pick at SportsBettingStats.com, please check the link below.

LINK: Free NHL Picks- Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators

NHL Saturday Best Bet- Florida at Tampa Bay

Saturday night's NHL slate is highlighted by an in-state battle between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Both teams are on the outside looking in as far as the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but they each remain within striking distance of one final wild card spot that is up for grabs.

The Panthers have the early 2-1 edge in the season series against their Atlantic Division rivals including a 2-1 victory as -119 home favorites the last time these two met on Jan. 26. However, look for Tampa Bay to be favored in this one on BetAnySports NHL betting board after putting together a 6-2-2 run in its last 10 games as opposed to Florida's shaky 3-6-1 mark in the same span that includes losses in its last four outings. The home team in this matchup has won six of the last seven meetings.

For my complete preview and "best bet" pick for this Atlantic Division tilt, please go to the link below at SportsBettingStats.com

Link: NHL Play of the Day- Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning

MLB Starting Pitcher's Win Total Props

Boston's Chris Sale and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw have been listed as the top favorites to win this season's Cy Young award in their respective league based on the 2017 MLB futures odds at BetAnySports. It stands to reason that each of these aces will have to win a fair amount of games this season to live up to those lofty expectations.

In one of this week's betting articles for ScoresandStats.com, I took a closer look at each of these starter's prop bet odds for the "over/under" on their projected wins and there is some definite value in the play one way against the other. For my complete breakdown of each of these player props please click through on the link below.


LINK: 2017 MLB Betting Props: Win Totals for Starting Pitchers

Betting on NFL Quarterback Props

The big topic of discussion in the NFL right now has to do with the fate of a number of different quarterbacks in the league as far as which team will they be playing for on opening day of the 2017 regular season. There are a few seasoned veterans in the mix such as the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo and Chicago's Jay Cutler. Also in play is Tom Brady's backup in New England, Jimmy Garoppolo.

BetAnySports has recently released some prop bet odds pinpointing which NFL teams have the best chance of acquiring each of these signal caller's services. All three just so happen to still be under contract with their current team, but the speculation is running high that their value as trade bait makes it highly likely that they will be wearing a different team's helmet in the not-to distant future.

In one of this week's betting pieces for ScoresandStats.com I weighed in on the situation with my thoughts on where I have each of these players going next season in terms of the best value on the current betting board. Please check the link below for my "best bet" picks for these NFL player props.


LINK: NFL QUARTERBACK PROPS BEST BETS

NBA All-Star Weekend Top Prop Picks

In an article I wrote for ScoresandStats.com this past week, I covered the prop bet odds for this Saturday night's NBA Slam Dunk Contest as well as the Three-Point Contest. Along with Sunday night's All-Star Game, these two competitions are easily the most popular betting events of the whole weekend's festivities.

While the Slam Dunk Contest is limited to just four players it should be one of the best in years with two-time runner-up Aaron Gordon coming in as the clear favorite against rookie Derrick Jones Jr and Los Angeles Clippers' big man DeAndre Jordan. The field for the Three-Point Contest is loaded with eight of the best long-range bombers in the league. Golden State's Klay Thompson is the favorite to win this competition according to the betting odds at BetAnySports, but look for the likes of Cleveland's Kyrie Irving and Toronto's Kyle Lowry to keep things interesting until the final three-point shot of the night.

For the inside scoop as well as my free pick for both of these NBA All-Star props, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com.

LINK: BETTING PROPS FOR NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

This Season's Top NCAA Basketball Betting Teams

The men’s college basketball season heads into the second full weekend of February and the team at the top of the list in both national polls is the West Coast Conference’s Gonzaga Bulldogs. With Thursday’s 90-60 romp over Loyola Marymount as heavy 17-point road favorites, the Bulldogs have now extended their straight-up winning streak to 25 games as the only undefeated team in the country. They might be tested this Sunday in a road game against No. 20 St. Mary’s, but the Bulldogs already beat the Gaels by 23 points as five-point home favorites on Jan. 12.

What makes this incredible run all the more impressive is the fact that when you look at Covers.com's current college basketball statistics for closing betting lines, Gonzaga is also at the top of that list with a 17-4-1 record this season against the spread. Heading into Sunday’s WCC showdown against St. Mary’s, the Bulldogs have gone 10-2-1 ATS in conference play.

Another top-ranked team in the national polls that also ranks high on the list at Covers is the ACC’s No. 4 Louisville Cardinals boasting a 15-6-1 record ATS to go along with a SU record of 19-5. Louisville will be looking to bounce back from a lopsided 71-55 loss to Virginia as a 6.5-point road underdog after covering ATS in its previous six games. The Cardinals return to action this Saturday at home against Miami.

The Big East’s Creighton Bluejays are sitting at No. 23 in both national polls with a SU 20-4 record in their first 24 games and they are also one of the top betting teams in the nation at 15-7 ATS. Bettors need to be a bit leery of going with the Bluejays in upcoming road games against DePaul this Saturday and Seton Hall next week after they failed to cover in three of their last five outings.

If you are looking for a pair of hot betting teams heading into this weekend’s games, then you might want to take a closer look at the ACC’s Syracuse Orange and the SEC’s Florida Gators. Both teams are riding five-game winning streaks ATS into this Saturday’s contests. Both teams have also been solid bets on the closing total line lately. The total has gone OVER in Syracuse's last seven outings and it has stayed UNDER in five of the No. 17 Gators’ last seven games.

Are Bettors in for One Big PUSH in Super Bowl LI?

The 2016 NFL season is down to its last game and it should be a good one with the New England Patriots listed as three-point favorites against the Atlanta Falcons at BetAnySports in Super Bowl LI this Sunday night at NRG Stadium in Houston. The total line for this game is currently set at 58 points after opening at 58.5 points following the conference championship games.

Every possible angle of this matchup has already been covered at length over the past two weeks leading up to Sunday's big game and the word 'hype' does not even begin to describe the media circus surrounding the biggest single one-game extravaganza of the year. When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl, billions of dollars are at stake all over the globe from the five bucks you plopped down on the local office pool to the six-figure high-roller's bets that have been placed at some of Las Vegas's biggest sportsbooks. To say there is quite a bit of money flying around on this game is a major understatement, but all my handicapping efforts point to a possible PUSH on the three-point spread. I have the Patriots adding a fifth Super Bowl title to the resume, but it will not be easy in a thrilling 31-28 victory that goes right down to the final gun.

For my complete preview and my "best bet" pick for Super Bowl LI, please check out the link below at SportsBettingStats.com.

LINK: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS BETTING ODDS - FREE SUPER BOWL PICK

Super Bowl LI Free Quarterback Prop Picks

New England facing off against Atlanta as a three-point favorite in Super Bowl LI may be main story line at NRG Stadium this Sunday, but biggest sub plot in this winner-take-all battle for this season's NFL title is the head-to-head battle between the Patriots' Tom Brady and the Falcons' Matt Ryan as the front men for each team at quarterback.

Brady has already shined on the NFL's biggest stage with four previous Super Bowl rings to show for his effort, but Ryan took the league by storm this season as the clear choice for MVP. Their play on the field in this Sunday's Super Bowl is sure to go a long way towards determining the eventual outcome of this game.

One of the best things about betting on a Super Bowl is the grocery list of individual prop bets covering every possible aspect of this game both on and off the field. I decided to zero in on a few player props at the quarterback position to come up with a pair of winning prop picks in conjunction with each of these gunslingers' performance in Super Bowl LI.

To check out all my free Super Bowl quarterback prop picks in a recent piece I did for Doc's Sports, please go to the link below.

LINK: 2017 Super Bowl Quarterback Props Odds and Expert Betting Picks

Packers and Falcons Look to Air it Out in NFC Title Game

Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan combined for 9,372 passing yards and 78 touchdown throws in the NFL regular season and this Sunday at the Georgia Dome they will each be looking to add to those impressive totals when Green Bay faces Atlanta in the NFC Championship. BetAnySports Sportsbook has the Falcons listed as five-point favorites at home, but the betting line that most sports bettors are talking about is a total set at 60.

That line still may not be high enough for two teams that have not scored fewer than 30 points in their last 11 games combined. Rodgers threw for a combined 717 yards and six scores in Green Bay's two playoff victories against the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, while Ryan racked up 338 yards and three touchdown throws in Atlanta's lopsided 36-20 win against Seattle in the Divisional Round.

As part of my ongoing NFL coverage for SportsBettingStats.com, please check out the link below for my complete breakdown of this matchup along with my free "best bet" pick for the game.

LINK: GREEN BAY PACKERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS POINT SPREAD - PICK TO BET ATS

NBA 'Most Valuable Player' Betting Odds

The NBA regular season has reached the halfway point on an 82-game schedule and most of the top online sportsbooks including BetAnySports have recently updated their NBA futures odds to win this year's MVP award. Golden State teammate's Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have combined to win the last three MVP Trophies when Durant was still playing for Oklahoma City. Cleveland's Lebron James has been named the league's top player four times in his storied career, but all three of these NBA superstars are a bit further down the futures list when it come to being named this season's MVP.

I have dug deep into all the players on the updated MVP futures list at BetAnySports to come up with my top-valued pick based on the current betting odds. Please checkout the link below at SportsBook.net for my complete breakdown of one of the most heavily bet futures in the NBA.

LINK: Betting on the updated NBA futures odds for league MVP

Steelers at Chiefs Free NFL Divisional Playoff Pick

An expected ice storm in the Kansas City area this weekend as pushed back the start of this Sunday's AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs to 8:20 p.m. (ET) at Arrowhead Stadium. The top Oddsmakers at BetAnySports have the Chiefs currently listed as 1.5-point home favorites and the betting line for the total has been set at 45.

Pittsburgh comes into this game with the longest current straight-up winning streak in the NFL at eight games and it has been a financial boon to bettors during this run at 6-1-1 against the spread. The Steelers also have one of the most deadly trio of playmakers in the league with Ben Roethlisberger throwing the ball to Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell breaking off huge chunks of yardage running the ball. The Chiefs are coming off a bye with home field advantage on their side as the No. 2 seed in the conference. If weather remains a factor on Sunday night this would also tip the scales in their favor in the absence of a fast track.

Both of these teams have a veteran head coach with a pretty high level of success in the postseason at the helm and they also have a defense that is ranked in the top third of the league in points allowed. When you continue to break things down, it is easy to see why the betting spread for this contest has remained so tight.

I am still not sure which team will come away with the straight-up win on Sunday night, but I am confident in the best way to cash in a winning ticket on a well-time bet at BetAnySports online sportsbook. Please check out the link below at SportsBettingStats.com for my complete game preview and free pick.

LINK: PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BETTING ODDS - FREE NFL PLAYOFF PICK

Seahawks at Falcons Free NFL Divisional Playoff Pick

The Divisional Round of this season's NFL playoffs gets underway this Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Dome in a NFC matchup between the 11-5-1 Seattle Seahawks and the 11-5 Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks advanced to this round by beating Detroit 26-6 last weekend in the Wild Card Round as eight-point home favorites, while the Falcons enjoyed the week off as the No. 2 seed in the conference. Atlanta is currently listed as a five-point home favorite for Saturday's contest and the betting line for the total at BetAnySports has been set at 51.5 points. These two teams met in the regular season back in mid-October with the Seahawks coming away with a tight 26-24 victory as 6.5-point home favorites. The total line in this game went OVER 45.5 points.

The big story line for this Saturday's matchup is Seattle's shutdown defense going up against the most potent scoring attack in the league, so something has got to give. Whichever one of these units has the better day should dictate the actual outcome, but either way I have this game staying close for all four quarters. For my complete game preview and free pick at SportsBettingStats.com please check out the link below.

LINK: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ATLANTA FALCONS BETTING ODDS - FREE NFL PLAYOFF PICK

Giants at Packers Free NFL Wild Card Playoff Pick

The NFL saved the best for last this Wild Card Weekend with Sunday's NFC clash between the 11-5 New York Giants and the 10-6 Green Bay Packers in a 4:40 p.m. (ET) start at frigid Lambeau Field. Both of these teams come into this matchup in pretty impressive form with New York winning nine of its last 11 games straight-up (8-3 against the spread) and the Packers boasting a SU six-game winning streak while going 5-1 ATS.

Both teams also feature a veteran quarterback that has already proven that they know how to get their team to a Super Bowl and win. This season, the Giants' Eli Manning has completed 63 percent of his 598 passing attempts for 4,027 yards and 26 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers ended the regular season ranked fourth in the NFL in total passing yards (4,428) and his 40 touchdown strikes were the most in the league this year. New York has the definite edge on defense with a unit that was ranked second in the league in points allowed (17.8). Green Bay's defense was 22nd in yards allowed (363.9) and its 24.2 points-allowed average was ranked 21st on the list.

The Oddsmakers at BetAnySports online sportsbook now have the Packers listed as 5.5-point home favorites in this NFC wild card tilt and the betting line for the total is still set at 44.5. The early betting money has the public all over Green Bay, but the Giants have been able to cover in four of the last six meetings between the two with one game ending as a PUSH. I am leaning towards a play on the total line in this game and to get my complete preview and free pick at SportsBettingStats.com please check out the link below.

LINK: NEW YORK GIANTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS BETTING ODDS - POINT SPREAD PICK

Raiders at Texans Free NFL Wild Card Playoff Pick

The quest for a NFL world title in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston features a Wild Card Round matchup at that same venue this Saturday between the 12-4 Oakland Raiders and the 9-7 Houston Texans. While both of these teams are heavy longshots to make it that far in this season's playoffs, at least one of these teams is guaranteed to at the very least advance to next weekend's Divisional Round of games.

Both these teams come into this AFC clash with issues at the quarterback position. The Raiders lost their starter Derek Carr a few weeks ago with a broken leg and his backup Matt McGloin is questionable with a bad shoulder. This leaves rookie Connor Cook as the only viable starter for Saturday's matchup. Houston head coach Bill O'Brian turned to Tom Savage as his starter late in the season for an ineffective Brock Osweiller, but Savage is still recovering from a concussion so Osweiller has been thrust back into the starting role.

The Oddsmakers at BetAnySports give the edge to the Texans as 3.5-point home favorites and the betting line for the total has been set at 37. Oakland will have to rely heavily on a running game that ended the regular season ranked sixth in the NFL in yards per game (120.1) with Cook making his first NFL start. The Texans will try and take some pressure off of their quarterback behind a rushing attack that averaged 116.2 yards a game. Houston also boasts a defense that is ranked first in the league in total yards allowed (301.3).

As part of my season-long NFL coverage for SportsBettingStats.com, the link below takes you to my complete game preview for this opening wild card game this Saturday along with my free prediction when it comes to betting on this matchup.

LINK: OAKLAND RAIDERS AT HOUSTON TEXANS BETTING ODDS - POINT SPREAD PICK

Packers and Lions Close Out the Season in a Winner Take All Tilt

The NFL has saved its best for last this New Year's Day when it comes to the final Sunday of the regular season with a winner-take-all battle for the NFC North Division title between the 9-6 Green Bay Packers and the 9-6 Detroit Lions in a prime time matchup at Ford Field. BetAnySports has Green Bay listed as a 3.5-point road favorite and the betting line for the total has been set at 48.5.

The Packers are riding a straight-up five-game winning streak while covering against the spread in four of those contests and the Lions will be looking to snap a two-game skid (SU and ATS) with road losses to the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys the past two weeks. Green Bay also has the early edge in the season series with a 34-27 victory against Detroit in late September as a 6.5-point favorite at home. The total went OVER BetAnySports' closing 47.5-point line in that game.

The Packers have won 18 of the last 22 meetings SU in this bitter division rivalry and they have an 8-3 edge ATS in the last 11 meetings. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last seven games played in Detroit. While it appears that the cards are stacked against the Lions in this one, they have managed to cover in five of their previous seven home games this season.

Please check out the link below at SportsBettingStats.com for my complete game preview and free "best bet" pick for Sunday night's NFC North title bout.

LINK: GREEN BAY PACKERS AT DETROIT LIONS NFL PICK - ODDS - FREE ATS PREDICTION