Eagles at Cowboys Betting Odds & Pick

 Both Eagles and Cowboys' fans had this game circled on the calendar before this season got underway. The two bitter division rivals have combined to win the past four NFC East titles. 

Dallas was the clear favorite to win the division crown in 2020 followed by Philadelphia. Washington and New York were afterthoughts at much longer betting odds. Fast forward four months later and the entire NFC East is an afterthought this season with a combined record of 20-35-1.

The Football Team in Washington sits at the top of the division standings at 6-8 with two games to play. The Eagles are bringing up the rear at 4-9-1 with all four teams still in contention for the NFC East title and an automatic playoff berth.

Washington can seal its fate as the division champ this Sunday with a win against Carolina as a one-point home favorite. Should they lose, the winner of Sunday's Eagles at Cowboys' game would keep their title hopes alive. New York is also in the race at 5-9.

Philadelphia is currently a 2 1/2-point road favorite over Dallas with the betting line for the total set at 49 1/2 points. Jalen Hurts will remain the starting quarterback for the Eagles after giving the team a rare spark over the past three games. 

Even though the team is 1-2 with Hurts under center, the offense has averaged 22 points a game. Carson Wentz was pulled from the lineup due to his poor play after the offense failed to cross the 17-point threshold three games in a row.

The Cowboys have won their last two games with the return of Andy Dalton at quarterback. He has been filling in for the injured Dak Prescott for most of the season.

Either of these teams would probably benefit more from a loss in terms of a more favorable position for next year's draft. Finishing last would also secure a more advantageous last-place schedule for the 2021 season.

Yet, it just seems fitting that the winner would go on to win the division title while Washington and New York Giants live up to those initial expectations by continuing to falter down the stretch. 

Philly won the first meeting this season with a sloppy 23-9 victory at home. The Cowboys still have the 4-2 edge both straight-up and against the spread in the last six games between the two bitter rivals.

As part of my weekly NFL picks for the popular sports betting site Scores and Stats, I took the Eagles at the opening -1 1/2-point spread. I am still betting that way with renewed confidence that Hurts can lead them to their biggest win of the year.

Philadelphia thrives on controversy and Wentz has gotten off rather easy despite his horrendous play this year. If Hurts can find a way to squeeze this team into the playoffs ala Nick Foles style, it all but guarantees a colorful offseason in the City of Brotherly Love.

For all of this Sunday's top NFL plays, please click through to: Dave's Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 16.

Betting the Best Value in NFL Super Bowl LV Futures

 With three weeks left in the NFL regular season, the playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC is starting to become a bit clearer. The 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs and the 11-2 Pittsburgh Steelers have clinched a playoff berth in the AFC while the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints are headed to the postseason from the NFC at 10-3.

Nothing against the rest of the NFL, the odds remain high that one of those four teams will go on to win Super Bowl LV scheduled for Feb. 7 in Tampa Bay. The NFL futures odds at BetOnline.ag paint the same exact picture.

The Chiefs are +185 favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. Green Bay is next on that list at +650 odds followed by New Orleans as a +750 third-favorite.

The Steelers have lost their last two games following an 11-0 run. They have also lost some ground on the betting board at +1200 odds along with the Buffalo Bills. The 9-4 Los Angeles Rams have caught bettor's attention as +1000 fourth favorites. Tampa Bay (+1200), Seattle (+1400) and Baltimore (+1600) round out the nine-team list of top contenders.

The Tennessee Titans are battling the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South Division title. Each of those teams is 9-4 heading into Week 15. The Titans are set as -175 favorites over the Colts at +145 odds to end the season as division champs.

As far as Tennessee's odds to win the Super Bowl, it follows Baltimore on the futures list at much longer +2800 betting odds.

As far as the best value in BetOnline.ag's Super Bowl futures, betting Kansas City at plus money (+185) makes the most sense. 

If you are looking to stretch the value in the odds, New Orleans would be my top play. The Saints get Drew Brees back at quarterback for this Sunday's big showdown against Kansas City. If they should win that game as three-point home underdogs, those +750 odds will most likely come down quite a bit.

As far as my Top 10 NFL picks for Scores & Stats covering this Sunday's NFL games, here is a link to the highly popular sports betting site: Dave's Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 15

NFL Week 14 "Play of the Day"

 It is crunch time in the NFL as teams continue to battle for a spot in the annual Super Bowl Derby. Teams such as New Orleans in the NFC and Kansas City in the AFC are jockeying for position while teams like Arizona and Miami are still trying to land a berth in the postseason.

This Sunday's NFL schedule is filled with a number of intriguing matchups headlined by a night game between the 11-1 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 9-3 Buffalo Bills. The Steelers are coming off their first loss of the season while the Bills are trying to win their first AFC East Division title since 1995.

When it comes to betting on Sunday's NFL games, the 6-6 Minnesota Vikings on the road against the 7-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers caught my eye. They are two more teams fighting for their playoff life in the NFC. They are also two of the higher scoring teams in the NFL.

The Vikings are averaging 26.6 points per game while Tampa Bay is posting 28.7. Neither defense has been able to play with any level of consistency. Minnesota is allowing 27.4 points to Tampa Bay's 23.3 points-against average.

The total line for this game opened at as low as 47 1/2 points and it has been bet all the way up to 53. I still do not think the number is high enough for Sunday's showdown. 

The total has gone OVER in five of the Vikings' last seven games and it has gone OVER in eight of the Buccaneers' last 12 games at home.

Each and every week of the NFL season I release my 10 best NFL plays for the popular sports betting website Scores & Stats. For this week's picks, here is the link: Dave's Top 10 NFL Plays- Week 14

NFL Week 13 Key Betting Trends

 Going through the lineup of games for Week 13 of the NFL season, nothing jumps off the page as 'must see' TV. There are plenty of teams that need to win this week to boost their postseason fortunes but eight of the 15 games are expected to be mismatches with a touchdown spread or higher.

That does not mean that there is no value to be found on the betting board. When it comes to recent betting trends that should not be ignored, here are a few that stand out from the rest.

-- Indianapolis (-3) at Houston

The Colts are 7-0-1 against the spread in their last eight road games against the Texans in this AFC South tilt.

-- New Orleans (-2 1/2) at Atlanta

The Saints have won five of their last six games against the NFC South rival Falcons both straight-up and ATS.

-- Detroit at Chicago (44 1/2)

The total has stayed UNDER in six of the last eight meetings in this NFC North clash in Chicago.

-- LA Rams (-3) at Arizona

The Rams have covered ATS in their last five road games against Arizona and they are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these two NFC West rivals.

-- Denver at Kansas City (-13 1/2)

The Chiefs bring a SU 10-game winning streak into Sunday's matchup against the AFC West rival Broncos. Kansas City has gone 9-1 ATS in those 10 games.

Each and every week of the NFL season I release my Top 10 'best bets' for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats. Here is the link to this week's picks: Dave's Top 10 NFL Picks Week 13.

Chiefs vs. Raiders Rematch 'Best Bet' Play

 The defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs have picked up where they left off with a straight-up 8-1 record through their first nine games. Patrick Mahomes is playing at a MVP level with the offense averaging 32 points a game. Kansas City has eclipsed that total in three of its last four games.

The lone loss of the season came against the AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders. In a wild shootout in Kansas City on Oct. 11, the Raiders came away with the stunning 40-32 upset closing as 10 1/2-point road underdogs.

This Sunday night in Las Vegas, the Chiefs are favored by seven points with the total set at 57 points for the rematch. The general betting consensus leans towards Kansas City at 64 percent. It also leans towards the OVER at that exact same percentage.

I normally look for games to go against the public due to the added value in the betting lines. However, I think the Chiefs are out to avenge that first loss in a big way. They survived a close call last Sunday with a two-point win at home against Carolina as 10-point favorites. Prior to that game, Kansas City covered against the spread in lopsided victories against Buffalo, Denver and the New York Jets.

The Raiders are playing their best ball of the year with a 4-1 record both SU and ATS over their past five games. A win on Sunday would keep the AFC West title race interesting heading into the final six games of the season. This is another offense that knows how to put points on the board. Las Vegas has posted a combined 68 points in its last two outings.

From a trend standpoint, Kansas City is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games against the Raiders and it has won five of the last six meetings SU. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of the last 10 matchups.

While I do have the Chiefs covering the touchdown on the road, my 'best bet' play is the OVER on the inflated 57-point total line.

 Each week of the NFL season, I release my Top 10 'best bets' for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats. Here is the link to this Sunday's list: Dave's Top 10 NFL Picks for Week 11

Betting on a Battle for First in The NFC West

 Through the first five weeks of the NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks were able to establish themselves as the clear team to beat in the NFC West. They were also one of the top favorites to represent their conference in Super Bowl LV.

A loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 25 and last Sunday's slip-up on the road against the Buffalo Bills have raised more than a few question marks for the Seahawks heading into the second half. 

They are still solid -225 favorites to win the West. However, at 6-2 straight-up, a loss this Sunday on the road against the 5-3 Los Angeles Rams could lead to a three-way tie in the division standings. 

Arizona is also 5-3 heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Bills. The Cardinals are favored by 2 1/2 points at home.

The Seahawks are set as two-point road underdogs against the rival Rams. This will be the first meeting this season with the showdown in Seattle set for Week 16. Over the past 10 games in this divisional tilt, Los Angeles has won seven of those games SU with a slight 6-4 edge against the spread. It has a 2-1 record SU and ATS in the last three meetings.

The Rams have also lost two of their last three games (SU and ATS) with road setbacks against San Francisco and Miami wrapped around a win at home against the Chicago Bears. LA is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at home this season.

The current betting consensus is split 50/50 betting this matchup. I give the slight lean to Los Angeles at home. I also see the Cardinals getting past the Bills to set-up that three-way logjam in the NFC West standings.

My best bet for Sunday's game in LA is the UNDER on a 54 1/2-point total line. While the Oddsmakers are looking for a shootout, I have the final score coming lower than this inflated line. The total has stayed UNDER in the Rams' last five games and that trend gets extended to six once this game has gone final.

Each week of the NFL season, I release my Top 10 picks for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats. For this week's pick go to: Dave's Top 10 Best Bet for NFL Week 10

Can No. 2 Notre Dame Avoid a Week 11 Letdown Against Boston College?

 The ACC's Clemson Tigers' run as the consensus top college football team in the nation came to an end with a recent loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The shake-up in the national polls dropped Clemson to No. 4 in the AP's Top 25 while the Irish filled the No. 2 spot behind the SEC's Alabama Crimson Tide as the new No. 1-ranked team.

Notre Dame closed as a 4 1/2-point home underdog in last Saturday's wild 47-40 victory. This Saturday, the Irish head on the road as 13 1/2-point favorites against the Boston College Eagles. The betting total for that game is currently set at 50 points. 

At 7-0 straight-up with a 3-4 record against the spread, this could be a good spot to go against Notre Dame covering. There is always a chance of a letdown coming off such a huge upset. Boston College has gone a respectable 5-3 both SU and ATS behind one its best teams in recent seasons.

Betting trends in this traditional Catholic college rivalry favor the Irish with a SU seven-game winning streak. The Eagles gain the slight edge ATS at 4-3. 

While I do believe that BC can keep this game closer than two touchdowns, I have focused much of my energy on the total line. It has stayed UNDER in eight of the last nine meetings but I am bucking those strong trends with a play on the OVER 50 points.

Notre Dame has crossed the 40-point mark in four of its last six games with the total going OVER each time. The Eagles scored 28 points against Clemson in a recent eight-point loss. They should be able to score more than enough points at home this Saturday to easily eclipse the current betting line.

Each week of the college football season I release my Top 10 plays for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats. Here is the link for this Saturday's games: Dave's Top 10 NCAAF Best Bets.

NFL Week 9 "Best Bet" Pick- New Orleans at Tampa Bay

 As the NFL season hits the midway point, wins and losses become much more pronounced when it comes to the playoff race. It is obvious that both teams in New York are battling it out for the top pick in next year's draft but half of the league's 32 teams have a winning record heading into Sunday's games.

One game that stands out from all the rest is Sunday night's NFC South showdown between the 5-2 New Orleans Saints and the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Most of the pressure in this game is on Tampa Bay after losing its season opener to New Orleans in Week 1. The Buccaneers are favored by 4 1/2 poinst at home with the total line set at 50 1/2-points.

The current betting consensus is leaning slightly towards Tampa Bay at 55 percent. The lean on the total is trending towards the OVER at 64.5 percent.

In a matchup this close with so much on the line in the division title race, my lean is towards the Saints with the extra half point in their favor. With two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks under center, I would also lean towards the OVER on the total line. 

In the first matchup this season, New Orleans put up 34 points in the 11-point win. The Saints closed as four-point home favorites with a 48-point total.

Over the last five meetings between these two division rivals, New Orleans has won four of those games both straight-up and against the spread. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of the last 12 meetings in Tampa Bay.

Each week of the NFL season, I release my Top 10 picks for Scores & Stats as a top-rated sports betting site. Coming off a 7-3 record last week, my winning rate for the season is close to 60 percent.

You can get all of this week's picks at Dave's Top 10 NFL Picks

2020 Breeders' Cup Top Racing Picks

The 2020 Breeders' Cup offers 14 major graded stakes race over a two-day card. The total prize money for this year's event adds up to $31 million. 

The first five races at Keeneland Racecourse will be run on Friday afternoon. The final nine events fill Saturday's live card at Keeneland.

Going through the entry list for the top two events this year, I have come up with my Trifecta Play for Friday's $2 million BC Juvenile and Saturday's $6 million BC Classic.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile

There is a full field of 14 two-year old standouts in this year's race. However, this is still a two-way race between Jackie's Warrior as the 7/5 favorite and Reinvestment Risk as a 9/2 second-favorite. 

These two Kentucky-bred colts have already gone head-to-head twice this season. Jackie's Warrior went on to win the Hopeful Stakes and the Champagne Stakes with Reinvestment Risk taking second in each of these Grade 1 races. 

I still have Jackie's Warrior a step ahead in another one-two finish. You can add Classier to the trifecta pick as Bob Baffert's best entry in the field.

Jackie's Warrior

Reinvestment Risk

Classier

Breeders' Cup Classic

The one thing that stands out for this year's BC Classic is the depth of three-year old Thoroughbreds in the field. Belmont winner Tiz the Law is a 3/1 second-favorite to win and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic has 6/1 odds to win on the morning line.

My top two picks for the BC Classic are four-year old colts trained by Baffert. I give Maximum Security (7/2) the slight edge over the favorite Improbable at 5/2 odds on the morning line. I was tempted to bet the Baffert Sweep with Authentic as my Show pick. However, I like Global Campaign at longer 20/1 odds coming off a recent win in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes.

Maximum Security

Improbable

Global Campaign

For my complete preview of these two Breeders' Cup races, I have included a link to Scores & Stats as the ultimate sports betting site for US players.

NFL Week 8 "Best Bet" Play

 A big part of the handicapping process for any NFL game involves an analysis of the matchup at hand. Defense vs. offense, special teams play and intangibles such as hot quarterbacks and turnovers all factor in.

You can also put some weight on recent betting trends. Past results cannot predict future ones but they can point the way to potential outcomes. Turning to the recent betting trends for a few of this Sunday's games, a few stand out from the rest.

The total line for the NFC North clash between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers is set at 50 points. The total as stayed UNDER in nine of the last 12 meetings.

The Los Angeles Chargers will be on the road against the Denver Broncos in a AFC West tilt. The total line for this game is 44 1/2 points and it has gone OVER in five of the last six meetings in Denver.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers as 3 1/2-point favorites. The Seahawks have won 11 of the last 13 meetings straight-up. They are 8-1 SU in their last nine home games against the 49ers.

NFL Week 8 "Best Bet" Pick

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-4 1/2)   Total Line: 46 1/2 

This is easily the biggest matchup of the day. The Steelers head to M&T Bank Stadium with a perfect 6-0 record SU while going 5-1 against the spread. Baltimore is 5-1 SU and 3-2-1 ATS.

A few books have the Ravens favored by 3 1/2 points so the extra point in the Steelers' favor at 5Dimes and Intertops make Pittsburgh an attractive play. The betting consensus is leaning that way at 52 percent.

I am banking on the recent head-to-head trends in this one. Baltimore is 6-2-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings of this bitter AFC North rivalry. You could also parlay the Ravens with the UNDER on the 46 1/2-point total line. It has stayed UNDER in five of the last six matchups played in Baltimore.

For all my NFL top picks in Week 8, please got to the following link at Scores & Stats. This is one of the most popular sports betting sites for avid NFL fans.

Top 10 Picks

NFL Week 7 Betting Trends & 'Best Bet' Picks

 The Philadelphia Eagles started the NFL Week 7 schedule with a thrilling 22-21 victory over the NFC East rival New York Giants. However they did not do bettors any favors as 4 1/2-point home favorites. The total stayed UNDER a closing line of 44 points.

Moving to this Sunday's games, another divisional rivalry has the New Orleans Saints favored by seven points at home against the Carolina Panthers. The total line for this NFC South tilt is 50 points.

The total has gone OVER in the last five meetings in New Orleans. It has also gone OVER in six of the last seven games between the two.

Another divisional matchup with strong betting trends favoring the OVER on the total line is an AFC East clash between the Buffalo Bills and the winless New York Jets. Buffalo is a 10 1/2-point road favorite with the total set at 46 points.

The total has gone OVER in four of the Bills' last five road games. Head-to-head, it has gone OVER in four of the last six matchups. The total has gone OVER in seven of the last 10 meetings in New York.

Strong trends against the spread for an underdog in a divisional matchup are the case for the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland is set as a three-point road favorite in this AFC North class with a 50 1/2-point total line. The Bengals are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games against the Browns.

Out in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs are eight-point road favorites against the Denver Broncos with the total set at 44 1/2 points.

The Chiefs bring a five-game road winning streak (SU and ATS) against Denver into Sunday's contest. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five matchups overall.

Every week of the NFL season, I release my Top 10 best bets for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats. Coming off a 7-3 run in Week 6, below is a link to this Sunday's free betting picks.

Dave’s Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 7

NFL Week Betting Trends & 'Best Bet' Picks

 The 2020 NFL season enters Week 6 with a number of crucial games on the slate. A few teams are already in excellent form for a deep playoff run this year while others are positioning themselves for a top pick in the 2021 draft.

The other teams in the middle of the pack continue to jockey for position in a crowded field. Regardless of where any of the 32 NFL teams stand after five games played, the current betting trends lean toward road dogs as the best bet on the board. They have covered against the spread 54.7 percent of the time.

A close second are road teams in general with a 54.5 winning percentage ATS. The total has gone OVER in 56.6 percent of games played.

A few key betting trends for individual Week 6 games starts with the total staying UNDER in seven of the last eight games between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings. The total is set at 54 points for this Sunday's game.

The Houston Texans are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games against the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans. Houston is a 3 1/2-point road underdog in Sunday's contest.

The total has stayed UNDER in 14 of the last 17 games between Washington and New York with the Giants playing at home. The total line for Sunday's NFC East clash is 43 points.

Pittsburgh is a 3 1/2-point home favorite against Cleveland. The Steelers have won their last five home games against the Browns in this AFC North tilt.

The New York Jets are 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 road games against Miami. The Dolphins have won four of their last five home games SU against their AFC East rivals.

The total has gone OVER in five of the last seven meetings between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. The total has been set at 51 1/2 points for Sunday night's game.

These are just a few of the top betting trends highlighting this Sunday's slate of games. Below is a link to this week's Top 10 NFL bets at Scores & Stats. 

My year-to-date record stands at 28-20-2 through the first five weeks which equates to a respectable winning percentage of 56%.

Dave’s Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 6

NFL Week 5 Top 10 Betting Plays

 The first quarter of the NFL season is in the books. My record to date for these weekly picks is 22-16-2 which equals 55 percent. Not bad, but not great considering the 10 percent juice on the losing plays. At that rate I am still making a positive return on my money but of course I want more.

Moving into Week 5, there are a number of great games on the state. Some of my picks jumped right off the page once the opening lines were released. Others took some deeper analysis of all the pertinent stats, facts and recent betting trends.

The Oddsmakers have been crushing it this NFL season with close to 50 percent of the games won by either side against the spread. There is a slight edge favoring the OVER on the total line.

These picks are part of my weekly sports betting coverage for Scores & Stats. This is one of the most popular sports betting sites for anyone looking for true insider information to gain that all-important edge over the books.

Dave’s Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 5

NFL Week 4 Top 10 Betting Plays

 Three weeks into the 2020 NFL season and I have a 60% winning percentage on my top ten picks for each week's games. Amazingly enough, the Oddsmakers have a perfect 50/50 record with their betting lines. The favorites have covered against the spread in exactly 50% of the 48 games played. The home team has also covered 50% of the time.

Week 4 of the season will be impacted by COVID-19 after players and staff of the Tennessee Titans tested positive for the virus. Sunday's game against Pittsburgh has been postponed. Both of those teams have gotten off to a 3-0 start so bettors are missing out on a great matchup.

Putting that game aside for now, I still came up with 10 more "best bet" plays for this Sunday's games. Hopefully I can keep my hot streak going for another round of picks.

Dave’s Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 4

2020 Preakness Stakes Betting Preview

The final Triple Crown race of the season will take place on Oct. 3 with the running of the 145th Preakness Stakes. Normally held in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, this year's race will be the featured betting event in Pimlico Race Track's Saturday card.

Authentic won last month's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Trained by Bob Baffert, he has been opened as the 9/5 favorite to win this race on the morning line. Breaking from the No. 9 post, jockey John Velazquez will get the call.

The second-favorite in the field of 11 is Art Collector. A minor foot injury kept him out of the Kentucky Derby but trainer Tom Drury Jr. has him ready to go at 5/2 opening odds. He will start No. 3 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. on board.

The lone filly among this field of three-year old colts is trainer Ken McPeek's Swiss Skydiver. She actually placed second to Authentic in this year's Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. There is quite a bit of value in her 6/1 odds breaking from the No. 4 post with Robby Albarado as her jockey.

I am also looking forward to watching Baffert's Thousand Words on Saturday. He was a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby and more than capable of shaking things up Saturday at 6/1 odds. He will start No. 5 with jockey Florent Geroux getting the ride.

2020 Preakness Stakes Trifecta Pick:

1) Authentic

2) Thousand Words

3) Swiss Skydiver

I also previewed this race for Scores & Stats as part of my weekly horse betting coverage.

NFL Week 3 Top 10 Betting Picks

 The new NFL season moves to Week 3 with a few early 'must win' scenarios on the board for teams still looking for their first win. 

Monday night's showdown between the 2-0 Kansas City Chiefs and the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens is the biggest game of the week with each team vying for the early edge in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The key showdown in the NFC sends the 2-0 Green Bay Packers on the road to face the 1-1 New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.

As far as this week's top betting picks, I started things on a strong note with Miami's 31-13 upset over Jacksonville as a road underdog. I actually took the UNDER on 47 1/2 points. For the rest of my picks please check out the following post on the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats:

Dave’s Top 10 Best Bets for NFL Week 3

NFL Week 2 Top 10 Picks

 My Top 10 picks for the second week of the NFL season got off to a great start with Cincinnati covering the six-point spread in Thursday night's 35-30 loss against the rival Cleveland Browns. The Bengals have now been able to cover against the spread in 10 of their last 12 games against Cleveland.

Making picks solely based on past trends ATS is not the best idea in the world since so many different factors go into handicapping any upcoming game. However, these types of trends among division rivals do carry more weight. 

In sports betting, familiarity does lead to a higher level of predictability.

Recapping my Top 10 picks from Week 1, my overall record ATS was 6-4. I was actually very happy with that result in the absence of any preseason play. Bettors were going into the 2020 season blind as far as what to expect.

A few takeaways from the first round of games would include Kansas City and Baltimore being as good as advertised. You could also add that the betting public has over hyped both Dallas and Tampa Bay.

San Francisco's loss to Arizona was one of my straight-up upsets of the week. Once again, the recent trends came into play. They all leaned heavily towards towards the Cardinals in this matchup. Second, hangovers can be severe for the team that lost last season's Super Bowl.

As far as my nine other 'best bets' for Week 2, you can find them all posted at Scores & Stats:

NFL Week 2 Best Bets

NFL Week 1 Top Parlay Picks

 It is Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season and to kick things off on a high note I have released my Top Three Parlay Plays including a two-team upset special.

For all three parlay picks, check-in with Scores & Stats at the following link:

Best NFL Games to Parlay for Week 1 to Cash in Big

2020 Kentucky Derby Betting Strategy

 Four months late is 10 times better than no Kentucky Derby at all. The grandstands at Churchill Downs will remain empty this Saturday, but the races go on. The coronavirus pandemic may have put a kink in this year's Triple Crown racing series for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds but the Crown Jewel is up for grabs among 18 worthy contenders.

You could say that this year's 'Run for The Roses' offers one strong favorite and 17 contenders giving chase. 

Tiz the Law has already won the Belmont Stakes, which was the first Triple Crown event this year. In the midst of a four-race winning streak, this New York-bred three-year old was opened as a 3/5 favorite to win the second leg this Saturday.

Even though he will be breaking from the far outside No. 17 post, the oddsmakers are more than confident he is the horse to beat. Jockey Manny Franco is once again on board after guiding Tiz the Law to each of those first four victories. 

Picking the favorite to win will be a very popular betting strategy for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. However, the return on any bet will be minimal. 

You need to develop of betting strategy that can maximize your overall return on investment. This is a two-step process that involves bets at both your favorite online sportsbook and racebook.

The first step is to find a few high-value contenders to go along with Tiz the Law. I am putting Thousand Words at 15/1 high on my list. He will break from the preferred No. 10 post with jockey Florent Geroux. The mastermind behind this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt is famed trainer Bob Baffert. 

Another contender with excellent value in his longer odds is Money Moves at 30/1. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he will also break from a favorable post at No. 6 with jockey Javier Castellano getting the ride.

We are going to use these three entries in three different bets. The first is a Tiz the Law and Thousand Words exacta through the actual racebook. You can place this bet straight-up since the favorite is winning this race.

Shifting to your top online sportsbook, we are going to look for some favorable head-to-head matchup odds for Thousand Words and Money Moves.

Turning to BetOnline as my preferred online book to bet the Kentucky Derby, I am going with Thousand Words at +200 against Honor A. P. as a heavy -260 favorite.

Another high value matchup bet is Money Moves as a -130 favorite against Storm the Court as an even-money +100 underdog.

Anything can happen when you send 18 thundering three-year old Thoroughbreds down a dirt track over a distance of 1 1/4 miles. The opens the door to a small hedge bet in case things do not go as planned. 

In this case, I am going to take The Field at +105 plus-money odds against the favorite, Tiz the Law at -135 odds.

For my full preview of Saturday's Kentucky Derby, you can click through to Scores & Stats using the following link 2020 Kentucky Derby Picks, Odds & Preview.

I turned to BetOnline as my top online book to bet the Kentucky Derby. 

NFL Week 1 Top 10 Picks

 As the calendar turns the page to September this upcoming week, the countdown is on to the start of the 2020 NFL regular season. The defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs kick things off on Thursday, Sept. 10 with a home game against the Houston Texans.

Sunday's Week 1 slate features nine head-to-head division matchups. There is a pair of games on Monday night to cap off some excellent opportunities to beat the book right out of the gate. 

As an early preview for all the betting action at America's Bookie, I put together my Top 10 bets for Week 1. It was previously posted at the highly popular sports betting site Scores & Stats under the title link below.

NFL Week 1 Picks - Dave's Top Ten Best Bets

Betting That Cam is the Man in New England

 With NFL training camps underway at all 32 teams, anticipation for the upcoming season is running high. One of the biggest offseason storylines in the league was the departure of Tom Brady as the starting quarterback in New England.

After leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles over the span of nearly two decades, Brady has headed south to Tampa Bay to lead the Buccaneers' offense this season. Change of scenery in the NFL is a regular part of the landscape. It will definitely be different to see a NFL legend under center for the Bucs instead of the Patriots but those are the kind of changes that keep things interesting.

A subplot during the offseason was Carolina moving in a different direction as well. Cam Newton missed most of last season due to injury. This opened the door for Teddy Bridgewater as the team's new starting quarterback. Cam found a new home in New England as a potential replacement for Brady.

Newton has been plagued with shoulder and leg injuries the past few seasons. In typical Bill Belichick fashion, he is not even guaranteed to be the team's starter on opening day against Miami. However, as long as he remains healthy and productive, the job should be his.

Anyone looking to bet on Cam's performance this season can find a list of betting props at HRWager. As part of my weekly NFL coverage for the popular sports betting site, Scores & Stats, I have released a few 'best bet' plays in the recent post 

Cam Newton NFL Props Predictions at HRWager

Saratoga's Saturday Race Card Highlights

Last Saturday, Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law stole the show at Saratoga Race Course by winning the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. This New York-bred three-year old's next stop is Churchill Downs in preparation for the next leg of the 2020 Triple Crown racing series.

The son of Constitution has already won the 2020 Belmont Stakes on June 20. This year's Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, Sept. 5.

This Saturday's race card at Saratoga features the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes for a few top three-year old fillies. Headlining the field is Swiss Skydiver. Trained by Ken McPeek, she is one of the top contenders to win this year's Kentucky Oaks on Derby Day. 

Sired by Daredevil, her odds to win the Alabama among seven total entries are 4/5 as the morning line favorite. McPeek will also run Envoutante at 8/1 opening odds. Trainer Bob Baffert's Crystal Ball will break from the No. 3 post as a 5/1 second-favorite.

As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats, my complete preview of this race as well as the Saratoga Derby for three-year old turf racers is listed below.

Saturday’s Horse Racing “Best Bet” Events

Belmont Stakes Winner Highlights Saturday's Field for The Travers Stakes

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a complete reshuffling of this year's Triple Crown racing series for the 'best of the best' in three-year old Thoroughbreds. Led by the Kentucky Derby as the Crown Jewel of that series, this year's "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs was pushed back to Saturday, Sept. 5. The second leg is the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Track. This race will be run the following month on Oct. 3. To further complicate matters, the Belmont Stakes has already been run on June 20 at Belmont Park. This race was the toughest test of the three at 1 1/2 miles in length. Quite a few colts won the first two legs of this competition only to see their Triple Crown dreams end in this race. The2020 Belmont Stakes was shortened to 1 1/8 miles with quite a few of the best Three-year old contenders passing on this initial leg. That opened the door for Tiz the Law to get the win and a shot at Triple Crown glory. This New York-bred colt is a solid Kentucky Derby contender with previous victories in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and the Grade 1 Florida Derby earlier this year at Gulfstream. Trainer Barclay Tagg decided to run him in this Saturday's Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. This is the final major prep race ahead of the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law has been opened as a 1/1 favorite on the morning line. However, the son of Constitution will face some stiff competition to take a four-race winning streak into Churchill Downs. I covered the field for the Travers in this week's horse racing betting report for Scores & Stats LINK:Belmont Stakes Winner Tiz the Law Highlights Saturday’s Travers Stakes. https://www.scoresandstats.com/gambling-news/belmont-stakes-winner-tiz-the-law-highlights-saturdays-travers-stakes/511410/

Coast to Coast Horse Betting Action Kicks Off The Month of August

The 2020 Triple Crown series has been turned upside down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Crown Jewel of this three-race run is the Kentucky Derby which is traditionally run the first Saturday in May. That race had to be pushed back to September 5. The Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, Oct. 5 and the Belmont Stakes already took place on June 20.

In preparation for this year's Kentucky Derby, certain races run after early May become part of the prep race schedule. Two examples were July's Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8. In between those two races are smaller prep events like this Saturday's Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California.

This ungraded event has two strong Kentucky Derby contenders in the field. The first is trainer John Shirreffs' Honor A.P. This three-year old colt is coming off an impressive victory in this year's Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He is listed second on BetOnline's Kentucky Derby futures at +500. Tiz the Law still tops that list at +200 after winning this year's Belmont Stakes.

The other colt to watch in Saturday's Shared Belief is trainer Bob Baffert's Uncle Chuck. Sired by Uncle Mo, this three-year old won the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby his last time out. His futures odds to win the Kentucky Derby at BetOnline are tired for third with Art Collector at +800.

The main event at Del Mar on Saturday's card is the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. Back on the East Coast, the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes highlight's Saturday's race card at Saratoga. I covered both of these races in this week's horse betting report for Scores & Stats.

Kick Off August With Coast-to-Coast Grade 1 Horse Races This Saturday

Which NFL Team Wins The Most & Fewest Games this Season?

Every NFL fan and bettor continues to hope and pray there will be a 2020 NFL season. The escalating coronavirus pandemic poses its own set of difficult challenges. Finding common ground between the NFL team owners and the NFLPA to get it done is no longer a slam dunk.

Glaring through that dark shadow of obstacles in playing a regular 16-game schedule (starting the second weekend in September) is that huge ray of hope the NFL can figure everything out in a very limited time frame. Online sportsbooks such as MyBookie are counting on it. They have filled their NFL betting board with a full lineup of futures and prop bet options for the 2020 season.

One that stands out from all the rest is a pair of props covering wins and losses. Based on the full 16 games, the first prop covers odds for teams winning the most games. The other posts odds for teams winning the least.

At the top of the list for a number of futures and props is the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Backed by veteran head coach Andy Reid and the richest quarterback in the league, Patrick Mahomes, it is easy to see why they are favored to repeat as world champs. The Chiefs also top the betting list to win the most games in the regular season among the NFL's 32 teams.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Jacksonville Jaguars. They hold the dubious honor of being the top contender to land the first overall pick in next year's NFL Draft with the fewest wins.

There are plenty of good reasons to go chalk in each of these props. Yet, there is some solid value in betting a few teams a bit further down the list. Using the posted odds at MyBookie, I released my value plays in the following post BETTING 2020 NFL REGULAR SEASON SPECIAL WIN/LOSS SEASON PROPS ONLINE.

Special NBA Bubble Props

When it comes to top-rated online sportsbooks like MyBookie, you can basically bet on anything. This is especially true this year with the coronavirus shutting down most major sports and sporting events earlier this year. In an effort to restart its season, the NBA has moved to Orlando for the next few months. The general idea is to play all the games in one centralized location to keep the players and coaches in a protective bubble.

An eight-game regular season is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 30 followed by the annual run through the playoffs to the NBA Finals. Along with betting lines for the opening games and futures odds to win a conference title and NBA Championship, MyBookie has also released betting odds for a list of special NBA Bubble props.

A few of the betting options cover the odds for LeBron James and James Harden testing positive for COVID-19. Another prop covers players get thrown out of the bubble for breaking league rules. You can also bet on any team going 8-0 in its next eight games.

Check out this week's post Online Betting Odds For Special NBA Bubble Props for all of my "best bet" picks for these props/

Betting Saturday's Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park

As one of the signature summer horse races on the schedule, this Saturday's Haskell Stakes takes on a special role this year as a key Kentucky Derby prep. Normally run under invitational status as a lead-in race for a few Breeders' Cup events, this year's Haskell will be staged as one of the last big preps ahead of the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. The race features a few of the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in the nation looking to lock-up a spot in this year's 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs.

The field for Saturday's featured race at Monmouth Park in New Jersey is set at seven with a trio of top contenders joining four hopefuls at much longer odds. The favorite at 4/5 odds on the morning line is trainer Bob Baffert's Authentic. He will try and bounce back from a second-place finish in this year's Santa Anita Derby.

The second-favorite at 5/2 odds is Dr. Post. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he is more than capable of winning on Saturday. This Kentucky-bred three-year old is coming off a second-place finish in June's Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

The third contender on the list is trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s NY Traffic. Listed at 7/2 odds on the morning line, this New York-bred three-year old is looking to join Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law as another Empire State product at the top of the Kentucky Derby futures list.

Out of the other four entries for Saturday's Haskell, Jesus' Team at 15/1 remains on my one to watch list.

Please check out my recent post on this race for Scores & Stats as part of my weekly horse racing coverage for this popular sports betting site.

2020 NFC East Picks & Predictions

The betting odds to win the NFC East this season at most online sportsbooks favor the Dallas Cowboys with the Philadelphia Eagles a close second. Much farther down the list are the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, who combined to win just seven games last season.

The Eagles won the division title last season with a record of 9-7 and for the fourth season in a row either Philly or Dallas claimed the top spot in the standings.

Looking ahead to this season, those two teams should once again battle it out for division title honors. The Cowboys are hoping that new head coach Mike McCarthy can get this team to finally live up to expectations and make a serious run at a Super Bowl title. The Eagles are hoping that they can return to the form that led to a Super Bowl Championship in 2017.

For my complete breakdown of the NFC East and betting picks for the final 2020 standings, please click through HANDICAPPING THE 2020 NFC EAST BETTING ODDS.

Betting Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

Betting on sports and sporting events has been rather thin since mid-March when the coronavirus shut down the biggest betting leagues. The NBA, NHL and MLB all have plans in place to return to live action. However, that will not take place until late July at the earliest. With the biggest summer holiday weekend of the year, the actual 4th of July offers up one a classic competition you can bet on right now.

Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York is not just a classic event. It is a highly popular betting event with the top online sportsbooks. In a special piece this week for EasyMobileCasino.com, I covered a few of the top prop bet options on the board at Bovada and MyBookie as two of the best online betting sites.

It is not too late to get in on all the action. For a quick guide on betting this iconic food eating competition, please check out the following link:

WHERE CAN YOU BET THE ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY NATHAN’S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST ONLINE?

A Pocono Doubleheader Highlights NASCAR Betting

NASCAR's Cup Series has already been on double duty since returning to action in mid-May. Over the last month and a half, there have been nine point-race events in six weeks. This weekend at Pocono Raceway takes things to a whole new level. Saturday's Pocono Organics 325 will be followed up with Sunday's Pocono 350.

Back-to-back races in two days pose some interesting challenges to betting each race but it also provides an added opportunity to cash in on a few high-value bets at your favorite online sportsbook.

Using the posted odds at BetOnline, the following two head-to-head matchup bets offer some solid betting value for Saturday's race:

Take Denny Hamlin (+100) over Kevin Harvick (-130)
Take Chase Elliott (+105) over Kyle Busch (-135)

The betting odds for Sunday's race should be posted later on Saturday. As a viable strategy, use the Top 5 finishers in Saturday's race in head-to-head matchups against drivers finishing further back in that race's final running order. Drivers with fastest cars in the first race should add quite a bit of value to their betting odds for Sunday's event.

2020 Belmont Stakes 'Best Bet' Trifecta Pick

This year's sports betting calendar has been turned upside down because of the coronavirus outbreak. This also spilled over to betting horses at online racebooks such as America's Bookie.

A perfect example of this shake-up is this year's Triple Crown racing series for the top three-year old Thoroughbreds in the nation. The Kentucky Derby usually leads things off the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs as the Crown Jewel of this three-race series. That race will now be run on Sept. 5. The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course near Baltimore will be the series finale on Oct. 3.

Getting things started this Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York is the 2020 Belmont Stakes. Usually the longest race of the three at 1 1/2 miles, this year's event has been shortened to 1 1/8 miles. The official field for Saturday's main event is set at 10 entries.

The prohibitive favorite to win at 6/5 odds on the morning line is Tiz The Law. Trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by jockey Manual Franco, the Florida Derby winner sets up as the class of the field with some notable three-year old's skipping this event altogether.

Looking at the rest of the field, I have Dr. Post (5/1) finishing second with Modernist (15/1) rounding out the winning trifecta play.

For more coverage of Belmont Park's card of Grade 1 races this Saturday, please check this week's horse betting post at Scores & Stats.

Early Belmont Stakes Betting Futures

The 2020 Triple Crown racing series for the top three-year old Thoroughbreds in the nation has been turned upside down in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The crown jewel of the series is the Kentucky Derby. That race has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5. The second leg of the series is the Preakness Stakes. Normally held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, this year's Preakness at Pimlico Race Course will be run on Oct. 3.

The final Triple Crown race is the longer Belmont Stakes which is usually contested at a length of 1 1/2 miles. This year, this race will lead things off on Saturday, June 20 at a shorter distance of 1 1/8 miles. The projected field only contains eight contenders a week ahead of post time. None the less, horse racing fans and bettors alike are looking forward to the biggest horse race of the year to date.

Whichever three-year old colt crosses the finish line first at Belmont Park next Saturday will move to the top of the betting board to win the 2020 Kentucky Derby. The Belmont Stakes' futures odds at BetOnline sportsbook point to Tiz the Law as the prohibitive favorite to win.

This New York-bred three-year old is coming off a huge victory in this year's Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Barclay Tagg, the son of Constitution has finished in the money in all five events he has run. He crossed the finish line first in four of those races. BetOnline has him listed as a -140 favorite in the eight-horse field.

The betting odds for the other seven Belmont Stakes contenders are:

Tap It To Win +500
Dr Post +700
Sole Volante +800
Modernist +1400
Basin +1600
Max Player +1600
Farmington Road +2200

Authentic Leads The Field in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby

The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby has always been a key prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Usually run in early April, this race was instrumental in helping to set the 20-horse field for the annual "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

This year's coronavirus health crisis has turned everything upside down. Key races like the Santa Anita Derby had to be rescheduled to later in the year. The 2020 Kentucky Derby will now take place on September 5. The Triple Crown racing series will start on Saturday, June 20 with the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York. The Preakness Stakes will be run a month after the Kentucky Derby on Oct. 3.

As far as Saturday's Santa Anita Derby, the field has been set with seven entries on the board. The favorite at 4/5 on the morning line is trainer Bob Baffert's Authentic. This three-year old Kentucky-bred colt is undefeated through three previous starts. The son of Into Mischief started the year with a victory in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes. He went on to win the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7. Both of those preps were run at Santa Anita. With jockey Drayden Van Dyke aboard, Authentic will start from the No. 7 gate.

Going chalk with the favorite, my place horse in this race would be Honors AP at 9/5 followed by Shooters Shoot in the show position at 8/1 odds. If you are looking for a horse at longer odds to work into the mix, Baffert's other entry Azul Coast would be a good choice at 15/1 on the morning line.

NASCAR's Cup Series Heads to Bristol With Kyle Busch Favored to Win

NASCAR's Cup Series is back in a big way after running four events at Darlington and Charlotte over the past two weeks. This Sunday, the series heads to Bristol Speedway for the Supermarket Heroes 500.

Some of the sport's biggest names have made their way to the Winners Circle during this four-race run including former Cup Series champions' Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. The hottest driver right now is Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Chevrolet. He blew a chance to win the Coca-Cola 600 a week ago but rebounded with a victory at Charlotte this past Thursday.

Two other drivers to watch this Sunday are Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. They are the only two Cup Series drivers with a pair of point race wins this season.

Betting on the race at America's Bookie as a top-rated online sportsbook for NASCAR action, Kyle Busch tops the list as a +350 favorite. The No. 18 Toyota has finished inside the Top 5 in four of eight events this season but the team is still looking for their first point race victory.

This could be the week this team gets that first win with Busch boasting an impressive track record at Sunday's racing venue. Over the course of his Cup Series career which started back in 2005, he has posted eight victories at Bristol including his win in this event last season. His average finishing position at the short track oval is a pedestrian 13.4 but Busch has also won three of his last five Cup Series races here.

The betting odds for the top five drivers are:

1) Kyle Busch +350
2) Martin Truex Jr. +650
3) Kevin Harvick +750
4) Joey Logano +750
5) Chase Elliott +800

I am going chalk with Busch but there is quite a bit of value in Elliott coming off Thursday's win. He would make a good Top 3 bet as well as any head-to-head matchups at plus money.

Are The Cowboys Overvalued by Oddsmakers?

America's Team has been getting the benefit of the doubt for a number of years. The Dallas Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl title since 1995. Since that point, they have failed to advance past the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 10 trips to the postseason over the span of the past 24 NFL seasons. Yet, the Cowboys remain one of the most popular sports franchise in the nation.

Team owner Jerry Jones finally parted ways with Jason Garrett as the head coach of Dallas after a 10-year run. Former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy takes over the reins heading into the 2020 season and once again expectations are running high in Big D. They will open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams as 2.5-point favorites on the opening line out of Las Vegas.

Dallas is a slight +110 favorite to win the NFC East over the Philadelphia Eagles (+115). The Cowboys' odds to win the 2020 NFC Championship at America's Bookie online sportsbook are set at +1000 which is fourth on the list after San Francisco, New Orleans and Tampa Bay. Moving to the NFL futures odds to win Super Bowl LV, they are sixth on that list at +2000.

The Cowboys' projected win total is 9.5 with the odds favoring the OVER at -155. Since 2010, they have won at least 10 games a grand total of three times. The odds they make the playoffs are set at -200 coming off an 8-8 record last season. McCarthy had a fairly successful run in Green Bay but the bar is raise a bit too high heading into his first season at the helm.

The overall popularity of the team has more to do with those lofty odds than its actual chance to make good on any of those bets. Most sports bettors are creatures of habit by nature. They tend to bet their money on what they want to happen as opposed to relying on stats, facts and past betting trends. All the sportsbooks know this and they set the betting odds accordingly.

At this point in the offseason given the additions and losses to the Cowboys' overall roster, they set themselves as a great team to fade when Week 1 rolls around against the Rams. The UNDER on 9.5 wins at +125 is a value play and I love the plus money at +170 odds to miss the playoffs. Just because you want something to happen does not mean it will.

Can The Dallas Cowboys Live Up To The Sportsbook Betting Hype?

NASCAR's Cup Series Return to Betting Action at Darlington

NASCAR's last Cup Series race was on March 8 at Ism Raceway in Phoenix with Joey Logano winning his second point race of the season. Kevin Harvick took second and Kyle Busch rounded out the Top 3. Flash forward more than two months later and the series is gearing up for a restart this Sunday at Darlington Raceway.

Driving the signature No. 18 Toyota, Busch has been opened as a +550 favorite to win the Real Heroes 400. The reining Cup Series champ is looking for his first victory this season with four point races in the book. Denny Hamlin is a +650 second-favorite followed by Harvick at +700.

One of the best ways to bet on any NASCAR Cup Series race at an online sportsbook such as America's Bookie is head-to-head matchups. The driver you bet on does not have to win or even finish in the Top 10. They just have finish in a higher position than the driver they are pitted against in the final running order.

Here are my three 'best bet' picks for this Sunday's top matchups:


Take Kevin Harvick (+145) over Kyle Busch (-115)

Take Chase Elliott (-110) over Martin Truex Jr. (-120)

Take Jimmie Johnson (-115) over Kurt Busch (-115)

Going Chalk in Both Arkansas Derby Divisions

When it comes to horse racing, the first Saturday in May is all about Churchill Downs and the running of the Kentucky Derby. With the world turned upside down these days, the biggest betting race of the year had to be moved to the first Saturday in September because of the coronavirus. Fortunately, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas is helping to fill that huge void with the running of two divisions of this year's $1 million Arkansas Derby.

The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby is usually run in early April as the last big prep race ahead of the Kentucky Derby. This year it was pushed back to May 2 as part of a full card at Oaklawn. Interest in this race from the best trainers in the game pushed the entry list to 22 three-year old thoroughbreds. To accommodate that many entries, the race was divided into two divisions with 11 contenders in each run.

Since that point, two horses from each division have been scratched to reduce the field to nine for each race. In Division 1, famed trainer Bob Baffert's Charlatan is a 1/1 favorite on the morning line. Todd Pletcher's Gouverneur Morris is second on the list at 9/2 odds. The rest of the field has a few interesting choices. However, this presents the perfect opportunity to go chalk with an exacta play.

Baffert will be going for the sweep in the next division with Nadal as a the 5/2 favorite. This would be my pick as well after this Kentucky-bred colt won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn in March. Wells Bayou will start from the No. 9 post as a 7/2 second-favorite but my second choice is Storm The Court at 6/1 odds.

Arkansas Derby Division 1

Win: Charlatan
Place: Gouverneur Morris
Show: Shooter's Shoot


Arkansas Derby Division 2

Win: Nadal
Place: Storm The Court
Show: Wells Bayou


LINK: Triple Play at Oaklawn Park, Highlighted By 2020 Arkansas Derby

2020 NBA Western Conference Finals Early Betting Lines

Live sports remain in limbo due to the coronavirus outbreak. As the days and weeks continue to slip by, the future of the 2019/2020 NBA season is definitely in doubt. To cut its losses, the Association may have to pull the plug and regroup for next season. BetOnline, as one of the top-rated online sportsbooks for US bettors, is not ready or willing to give up just yet.

As part of its NBA futures betting options, it has already set betting spreads for each of the possible seven games in this season's best-of-seven Western Conference Finals. The showdown that every fan or bettor expects is set between the Los Angeles Clippers as the road team against the Los Angeles Lakers. Each team plays their games at Staples Arena so travel would not be an issue.

As part of my weekly coverage of the NBA for the highly popular sports betting website, SCORES & STATS, I have taken a closer look at the betting spreads set for all seven games. Please click through to the link below to see how this showdown plays out.


LINK: NBA Betting Lines For a LA Showdown For the West

Betting 2020 NFL Draft Props by Individual Team

An expanded list of prop bet options for Thursday's opening round of the NFL draft offers quite a few high-value bets. Just about every aspect of the first 32 picks is covered with unique betting options. Since the draft is the only game in town right now as far as any live betting events, this has become a golden opportunity to boost an online sportsbook account while waiting for the regular action to resume.

As part of my weekly NFL coverage for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats, I focused my attention on each team's first round pick in terms of offense or defense.

It is pretty much a given that the Cincinnati Bengals are going offense with the first overall pick of the draft by taking former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. There is also a strong lean towards defense for the second pick with the Washington Redskins expected to go with defensive end Chase Young from Ohio State.

After that, things are a bit more up in the air. As one of the top-rated online sportsbooks, BetOnline has set prop bet odds for 30 of the NFL's 32 teams as far as taking an offensive or defensive player with their first round pick. I decided to cover the next three teams on the list as well as two teams that offer excellent value going against the favored side. Please click through the link below to Scores & Stats for all of my prop bet picks.


LINK: Betting On Each NFL Team’s First Round Draft Pick

Betting on The NFL Draft Skill Positions

This year's NFL Draft from April 23 to April 25 is turning out to be the biggest betting event of the spring. Live sports probably will not return to the field, court or ice until early summer, so for avid sports bettors the draft is the only game in town right now.

The general consensus among draft experts has former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals as the No. 1 overall pick. The big question is which quarterback comes off the board next and how much are you willing to bet your right?

This year's draft is deep with wide receivers with as many as a half a dozen going in the opening round. Betting on which one breaks the ice as the first off the board is another popular prop bet.

Most teams shy away from taking a running back in the first round unless you are talking about players such as Ezekiel Elliott or Saquon Barkley. This year's class is not as deep, so a back might not come off the board in the first 32 picks. None the less, you can still bet on who gets the nod as the first running back taken.

Skill positions always attract quite a bit of attention from bettors when the draft rolls around. As part of my draft coverage for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats, this week's focus was on the 'best of the best' for quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs. Please check the link below for my free prop bet picks covering all three positions based on betting odds at BetOnline sportsbook.

LINK: 2020 NFL Draft Props for Top Skill Position Picks

Tiz the Law Opens as Florida Derby Favorite

One of the biggest prep races on the Kentucky Derby Trail is Saturday's Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. This year's race boasts a deep field of 13 three-year old thoroughbreds competing for $750,000 in total prize money and Kentucky Derby qualifying points. This is usually one of the last big prep races before the start of the Triple Crown racing series but the coronavirus outbreak has delayed the Kentucky Derby until Saturday, Sept. 5. It remains to be seen how the four month delay will impact the best three-year old colts in the nation.

Gulfstream is one of the few horse racing tracks in the nation that has pressed on with its regular schedule. The stands will be empty for today's main event but the action will still be hot with a very talented field. Tiz the Law was named the 6/5 favorite on the morning line with Ete Indien also in the mix as one of the top contenders. These two ran head-to-head against one another in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream with Tiz the Law winning that showdown in a one-two finish.

A few other entries to watch in this year's Florida Derby are Independence Hall, Gouverneur Morris and As Seen On TV. After digging a bit deeper into this field, it is hard not to go chalk with Tiz the Law as the favorite. Especially with the earlier win at this track. I like Gouverneur Morris in the place position with Ete Indien as my show horse.

FLORIDA DERBY Prediction

1- Tiz the Law
2- Gouverneur Morris
3- Ete Indien

Enforceable Leads The Louisiana Derby Field

The big race on the betting board this Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Track is the $1 million Louisiana Derby. A field of 14 three-year old contenders will be gunning for a possible spot in this year's Kentucky Derby which has tentatively been rescheduled for Saturday. Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. The Louisiana Derby is a Grade 2 stakes race for three-year old thoroughbreds. It will be contested on the dirt track at Fair Grounds over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.

At the head of Saturday's field is trainer Mark Casse's Enforceable at 7/2 odds on the morning line. The sire of Tapit is coming off a second-place finish in one of two divisions the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15. This will be his third race at this track as a three-year old after winning the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes back in January.

Another strong contender in the field is trainer William Mott's Modernist at 6/1 morning line odds. This Kentucky-bred three-year old also has some solid experience running Saturday's dirt track after winning one of two Risen Star divisions. Joining him at those same 6/1 odds is Silver State. Trained by Steve Asmussen, this son of Hard Spun took third in the stronger Risen Star divisions after finishing second in the Lecomte.

A good way to bet this race is going chalk with the favorite while wheeling Enforceable with Modernist in the place position and Silver State as the probable show horse. You could also group the three together in a boxed trifecta with some serious home-track advantage adding value to the trio.

Another strong contender that could factor into the mix is Major Fed at 8/1 odds on the morning line. Trained by Greg Foley, this Kentucky-bred three-year old colt took second in the weaker division of the Risen Star won by Modernist. I do not have him graded as high as my other picks to finish in the money but the son of Ghostzapper is the type of horse that could still stick his nose into my trifecta play. This makes him a possible hedge bet for a Top 3 finish.

An Early Look at 2020 College Football Championship Odds

Spring practice and the traditional spring games in college football became the latest casualty because of the coronavirus. Teams will hope to pick things up late this summer in preparation for the 2020 season. While avid fans and bettors alike failed to get an early look at their favorite college football teams, the short list of power teams such as Clemson, Ohio State and Alabama head up the list of favorites to win the 2020 College Football Playoff Championship.

One big takeaway from the current situation is the overall dominance of the SEC. Always known as the deepest of the major college football conferences, that level of dominance has been lacking in recent years. According to the current betting odds to win the 2020 national title, the SEC is not only back, it is back in a big way. Of the Top 10 teams on BetOnline's NCAAF futures, half the field resides in that particular conference.

As part of my ongoing coverage of college football for the popular sports betting site SCORES & STATS, I have taken a closer look at the futures odds to win the 2020 college football national title as well as the best value in the recently updated futures odds at BetOnline as one of the best online sportsbooks for betting futures and props.

LINK: Canceled Spring Games and NCAAF Betting Futures

Handicapping The 2020 Rebel Stakes

The 2020 Kentucky Derby Trail presses on towards forming the 20-horse field for this year’s Kentucky Derby. One of the biggest races on the trail this Saturday is the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

A field of eight three-year old thoroughbreds will compete for a total prize pool of $1 million. Saturday’s race will be contested on the dirt track at Oaklawn over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Highlighting the 2020 Rebel field is famed trainer Bob Baffert’s Nadal. The three-year old Kentucky-bred colt is already considered one of the early favorites to win this year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 9 over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park.

He also won a 6 ½-furlong Maiden Special Weight race at that track on Jan. 19 to kick off his racing career. Veteran jockey Joel Rosario is slated to be onboard for this race.

The biggest competition should come from trainer Steve Asmussen’s Silver Prospector. This Kentucky-bred colt is a bit further down the list when it comes to the Kentucky Derby futures odds posted at America’s Bookie online sportsbook.

He comes into the Rebel fresh off a victory in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 17. Covering the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1:43.1, the sire of Declaration of War made his way past Wells Bayou and Answer In.

Silver Prospector ran an extensive juvenile schedule highlighted by a victory at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30 in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He finished in the money in four of six races as a two-year old. Look for jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. on the mount in Saturday’s main event.

Rebel Stakes ‘Best Bet’ Exacta and Trifecta Play

I plan to go chalk with Nadal and Silver Prospector in an exacta bet. Expanding the play to the three-horse trifecta, adding Basin as the Show horse makes the most sense. His career has been on pause since posting an impressive victory in last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Sept.2. He completed the seven-furlong sprint in 1:23.48 past Shoplifted and Gozilla.

This Kentucky-bred colt is also trained by Asmussen as one of his three entries in this race. It is hard to know what to expect in his three-year old debut at a much longer distance. Yet, I do beleive this is still one of the top three contenders in the limited eight-horse field. Veteran jockey Javier Castellano adds even more value to his chances to finish in the money.

NASCAR's FanShield 500 'Best Bet" Picks

NASCAR's annual West Coast Swing moves onto to Phoenix Raceway this week for the fourth point race on the 2020 Cup Series schedule. So far, three different drivers have made their way to Victory Lane. Look for a fourth different winner this Sunday afternoon with a high-valued favorite taking the checkered flag.

I cover every NASCAR Cup Series race for the popular sports betting site SPORTS BETTING STATS. My full race preview includes a closer look at the value in the odds for the top favorite, contender and longshot. Please click through the link below to find out which three drivers top this week's betting board at America's Bookie.

LINK: NASCAR FanShield 500 Best Bet Picks

Early Betting on 2020 MLB American League MVP

Spring training gives way to MLB Opening Day at the end of March when the games start counting for real in the standings. Most of the betting attention at online sportsbooks such as America's Bookie has gone towards the posted MLB futures odds to win a league pennant and the 2020 World Series.

One of the most popular betting futures for MLB players ahead of the new season is for AL and NL MVP. Turning my attention to this year's American League MVP honors, I dug deep into the posted betting odds to find the best value in the numbers. Going chalk with the favorite always makes sense this far in advance but there is value to be found deeper down the list as well.

Please click through the link below to Scores & Stats as a very popular online sports betting site covering a wide variety of topics that can help boost your betting bankroll. The piece covers all my 'best bet' picks for AL MVP.

LINK: 2020 MLB Futures | American League MVP

NASCAR Pennzoil 400 Betting Picks

NASCAR's 2020 Cup Series schedule is underway. Following a thrilling photo finish at Daytona with Denny Hamlin winning his second-straight Daytona 500 racing title, this year's West Coast swing gets an early start this Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.

Using the betting odds to win at America's Bookie, I made my official picks based on the best value in the numbers. Covering every Cup Series race for the popular online sports betting site SPORTS BETTING STATS, the link below is my complete Pennzoil 400 betting preview and "best bet" picks.

LINK: NASCAR CUP SERIES - PENNZOIL 400 PICK

2020 Daytona 500 "Best Bet" Picks

Another NASCAR season of Cup Series racing gets underway on Sunday in grand fashion with the running of the annual Daytona 500. The Great American Race kicks off a 36-race schedule for the 2020 Cup Series racing title.

The top 40 drivers in NASCAR square off for the sport's biggest and most prestigious race at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at famed Daytona International Speedway. Following last Sunday's Clash and Thursday's Twin Duels, the official running order for this year's Daytona 500 has been set.

The line setters at America's Bookie online sportsbook have fine-tuned the odds to win with Denny Hamlin set as a +900 favorite. He is also the defending Daytona 500 Champion. The second-favorite to win is Brad Keselowski at +950 odds. The betting odds to win for a few other prominent drivers include:

-- Martin Truex Jr +1250

-- Kevin Harvick +1300

-- Kyle Busch +1320

-- Jimmie Johnson +2750

As part of my weekly NASCAR coverage for the popular sports betting site SPORTS BETTING STATS, I have broken down the field for Sunday's main event to come up with a trio of value bets based on the current odds. Please click through the link below for my "Best Bet" picks

LINK: NASCAR CUP SERIES - DAYTONA 500 PICK

Super Bowl Betting Tips

The annual NFL Super Bowl turns 54 this Sunday and it has grown into the single-biggest betting day of the year. From betting the spread, total and moneyline for the big game to wagering on any of the hundreds of prop bet odds tied to this monumental sporting event, the Super Bowl gives avid football fans one last chance to cash in on NFL games.

This game is so big for bettors, you should actually formulate your individual strategy for making the most of the day. As part of my ongoing "Bettor's Edge" series for the popular sports betting site Sports Betting Stats, I put together some basic tips for creating the best possible return on investment for Super Bowl LIV. The link to the piece on Sports Betting Stats is listed below.

LINK: FORMULATING A WINNING BETTING STRATEGY FOR THE SUPER BOWL

College Hoops Saturday Betting Tip Sheet

As part of my ongoing coverage of college basketball betting matchups for the popular sports betting website Vegas Insider, I create a series of insider tip sheets for each day's top showdowns on the board.

The highlight of this Saturday's action is the annual Big 12/SEC Challenge. Focusing on the three ESPN games throughout the day, below is a link to the betting tip sheet posted on the Vegas Insider site.


LINK: Big 12/SEC Challenge

NHL Top Betting Teams

The NHL takes a break from its regular season schedule this weekend for the annual All-Star Game. Each of the 31 teams are nearing or crossed the 50-game mark of an 82-game schedule, so bettors already know which ones have been solid money makers against the closing NHL money line odds. As part of this week's coverage of the league for the popular sports gambling website Scores & Stats, below is a link to my All-Star break NHL betting update.

LINK: NHL All-Star Break Betting Update

2020 MLB "Best Bet" Win Totals

Pitchers and catchers will report to their spring training sites next month to begin preparations for the new MLB season. Some of those pitchers will be wearing a different uniform this year in an effort to help their new team win the 2020 World Series.

At the top of the list is Gerrit Cole. He was the biggest free agent acquisition during the offseason; going from the Houston Astros to the New York Yankees. This not only shifted the entire balance of power in the American League, it altered the win total outlook for each team.

Many of the top online sportsbooks have released their betting odds for the projected win total of all 30 MLB teams. As part of my weekly MLB coverage for the popular sports betting site Scores & Stats, I have put together a few of my personal "best bets" to cash a winning ticket. Please click through the link below to check out my top winning plays.


LINK: Betting 2020 MLB Win Totals

NFL Wild Card Weekend Top Prop Picks

The road to Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Feb. 2 gets underway this weekend with the first four NFL playoff games in the Wild Card Round. Along with the betting lines for the games themselves, Bovada online sportsbook has released some special prop bet options to add even more excitement to the action on the field.

As part of my weekly NFL coverage for the popular sports betting website Sports Betting Stats, I broke down all the posted odds for these special props to come up with a trio of picks that offer the best value in the numbers. To cash in on all my free picks for NFL's Wild Card Weekend just click through the link below.


LINK: BETTING NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFFS PROPS AT ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS