"Best Bets" on the Final 2023 Super Bowl Odds

 The Philadelphia Eagles were crowned NFC Champions in the 2022 season and the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned AFC Champions this past Sunday. Philadelphia won the NFC title game on defense with a 31-7 outcome and Kansas City grinded it out 23-20 on the field goal in the last minutes of play.

Before the championships of the NFC and AFC, the Eagles were favored 51.8% to win the Super Bowl and the Chiefs were second-favorites at 38.9%. They become the first No. 1 seeds to meet in the Super Bowl since 2018. Philadelphia beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl 52.

Doc's Sports Service has the full details in the blog The Top Five US Sportsbooks Have the Final 2023 Super Bowl Odds. 

Saturday's "Best Bet" Picks for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park

 

Saturday, Jan. 28

Pegasus World Cup Invitational – Gulfstream Park

Win: Cyberknife

This four-year colt is trained by Brad Cox and he is ridden by jockey Florent Geroux. Cyberknife is starting from the No. 10 post in this race after placing second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5. He finished first, second or third in seven of the nine races last year.

As a son of Gun Runner, he was bred to go farther than a mile on dirt. Cyberknife could be the best four-year old in this race. He won at Monmouth in the Haskell Stakes last July and placed second in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga.

Place: Proxy

Trained by Michael Stidham, this Kentucky-bred five-year old is racing for Godolphin, LLC. Breaking from the No. 4 gate in this race, he has Joel Rosario as his jockey. Proxy has six finishes in the money last year. He ended the 2022 season with a victory in the Grade 1 Clark Stakes over West Will Power and Fulsome.

As a sire of Tapit, Proxy has races 1 1/8 miles on dirt in his last five events at Fair Grounds, Keeneland and Churchill Downs. He has the speed and power to make it a tight race for first place in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational this Saturday.

Show: White Abarrio

Starting at the No. 4 post, White Abarrio has Saffie Joseph Jr. as his trainer and Tyler Gaffalione as his jockey. The four-year colt was bred in Kentucky and he has raced for Clap Embroidery. His 2022 victories include the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Parks in April. He ran this race in 1:50.64 over Charge It and Simplification.

White Abarrio is a son of Race Day. His best race on dirt is one mile and he finished third in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 3 of last year.

Previous posted on ScoresandStats.com

San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles Top Three NFC Championship Props

The San Francisco 49ers are going on the road to square off against the Philadelphia Eagles at 3 p.m. (ET) this Sunday. The game is being played at Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles are 2.5-point home favorites. The total line is 46.5 points and Philadelphia is a -148 favorite on the straight-up money line odds by FanDuel.

Here are the top three NFC Championship props to go along with the betting lines and odds for the game.

Eagles' Miles Sanders Anytime TD Scorer (+140)

Sanders is third in this prop behind Christian McCaffrey (-130) and Jalen Hurts (+125). However, the odds are favorable given overall performance both running and catching the ball. Sanders has been one of the key Eagles' players touching of ball in critale moments this season.

49ers' Christian McCaffrey Most Rushing Yards (+150)

McCaffrey leads the way in rushing yards for both teams. He gained 154 yards on 25 carries in two playoff games (Seattle and Dallas). McCaffrey has also rushed for a combined 303 yards on 63 attempts in San  Francisco's last three road games this regular season. 

First Half Totals Under 23 Points (-110)

Defense on both teams will take center stage in the first half to force the under play on 23 total points. The Eagles should have 13 points and San Francisco should have six points before the second quarter ends.

Virginia's First Permanent Casino is Rivers Portsmouth

 Opening its doors Monday, Jan. 23, Rivers Casino Portsmouth and BetRivers Sportsbook became the first permanent casino and sportsbook in Virginia. Prior to opening, Rivers Portsmouth had two tests with the Virginia Lottery and the state's gaming regulator on board as a dress rehearsal. 

Everything was set and the Grand Opening of the Rush Street Gaming development when as smooth as planned. The $340 project has 1,448 slots machine, 57 table games and 24 poker table in the casino. BetRivers Sportsbook has 750-foot video wall with up to 30 screens showing games. 

Rivers Portsmouth also has five restaurants, a meeting space and an event center with a music venue. Doc's Sports Service cover it all in Rivers Portsmouth Casino Opens in Virginia Featuring BetRivers Sportsbook. 

Fair Grounds Features the Lecomte Stakes this Saturday

 

Saturday, Jan. 21

Lecomte Stakes – Fair Grounds Race Course

Win: Instant Coffee

Trained by Brad Cox, the three-old colt was bred in Kentucky and he raced for Gold Square, LLC. Instant Coffee won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 as a juvenile after taking fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in early October. These 1 1/16 miles on dirt were Grade 1 events.

He got his start at Saratoga by winning the Maiden Special Weight race over Arthur's Ride and Crupi. The son of Bolt d’Ore complete the seven furlongs on dirt in 1:22.77. Instant Coffee has a 6.62 rating at Horse Racing Nation. He will start at the No. 4 post with Luis Saez as his jockey.

Place: Tapit’s Conquest

Tapit’s Conquest is another colt bred in Kentucky and he is also trained by Brad Cox. Sired by Tapit, he is making the debut of his three-year campaign at Fair Grounds after placing second at Saratoga and first at Churchill in a few Maiden Special Weight races as a juvenile.

He has raced for LaPenta, Robert V., Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables, LLC. As a pedigree of Tapit, he is bred to go more than one mile on dirt. Tapit’s Conquest has the speed and power to make it interesting against Instant Coffee to win this race.

Show: Bromley

From the outside, Bromley is breaking from the No. 8 post with jockey Javier Castellano on board. His two-year winnings are a pair of sprints at Churchill on dirt and Turfway Park on synthetic grass. The Kentucky three-year old colt has never gone 1 1/16 miles on dirt or turf in the graded event.

Bromley was sired by Mastery and he is trained by Paulo Lobo. He is untested with the distance of the Lecomte Stakes, but he has the one of the top ratings in the eight-horse field.

Previously posted at ScoresandStats.com.

New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles Divisional Playoffs "Best Bet" Props

The New York Giants meet the Philadelphia Eagles this Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the NFC Divisional playoffs. The Giants are 7.5-point road underdogs and the total is 47.5 points. The Eagles are -360 favorites on the money line odds with a straight-up result.

The top three prop bets for the game involve an anytime touchdown scorer, the first half total and the overall winner/total parlay.

Jalen Hurts Anytime TD  Scorer (-125)

As the lead player in this matchup to score a touchdown, Hurts relishes his role as the starting quarterback of Philadelphia. He can pass the ball to AJ Brown or DeVonta Smith for a score. He can hand it ball off to Miles Sanders for a touchdown. However, Hurts will probably take it in for the score on the Eagles first possession of the game. 

First Half Totals: Over 24 Points

I have Philadelphia to score 17 points in the first half and New York to score 7 points. I am going for the PUSH on the toal ( 24 points) but the OVER is a possible alternative. 

Final Game: Eagles Win/Over 47.5 Points

The Giants are living the dream but the Eagles are 7.5-point favorites at home for a reason. Philadelphia will win and the total is going OVER 47.5 points.

16 States Without Legal Sportsbooks: The Favorites, The Contenders and The Longshots

There are just 16 states that do not have legal US sportsbooks since Dec. 31, 2022. Kansas, Maine and Massachusetts have legalized sports betting this past year and are launching in 2023 to join the 34 states that are legal. 

The 16 states have been broken down to the Favorites, Contenders and Longshots of legalizing sportsbook in 2023. North Carolina is an odd-on favorite to make online sports betting legal with retail sportsbooks in two tribal casinos. Kentucky is a contender with a comprehensive state House bill that should address sports betting, daily fantasy sports and online poker. Utah is one of the longshots with moral views on all kings of gambling.

Doc's Sports Service has all the details of the 16 states in The Favorites, the Contenders and the Longshots to Legalize Sports Betting in 2023.

Giants vs. Vikings "Best Bet" Prop Bet Predictions on Wild Card Weekend

 The New York Giants visit the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (ET). The Vikings are three-point favorites at home and the total line is set that 47.5. Minnesota is a -160 home favorite on the money line odds and New York is a road underdog at +140.

SportsbookViews.com came up with three "Best Bet" predictions (FanDuel) in this Giants vs. Vikings matchup below.

Most Rushing Yards

The two most likely candidates are Saquon Barkley of the Giants and Dalvin Cook of Minnesota.  Barkey is the favorite at +105 odds. He has carried the ball 295 times for 1,312 yards this season which break down to 82 yards a game. Barkey is averaging 4.4 yards a carry in the game and his longest run was 68 yards. 

Barkley will have the most rushing yards of all the players because the game is so close. 

Winning Margin

New York winning the game by 1-13 points has the second-most favorable odds at +190.  For the most part, the Giants have grinding out the games they won. They grinded out the last two games they lost on the road against Minnesota (27-24) and Philadelphia (23-16).

New York will end up winning the game against the Vikings this time by three or fewer points.

First Half  Total

The first half total is 23.5 points with -110 odds on either side (over or under). The first time they played in late December, the first half total was 17 points with Minnesota having a 10-7 lead. Also, the Giants scored the majority of their points in the second half of this season.

The first half total will stay under 23.5 points with defense taking the huge role in this game.

"Best Bet" Pics in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs

 

Saturday, Jan. 14

Pasco Stakes – Tampa Bay Downs

Win: Champions Dream

This three-year colt was bred in Kentucky and he races for Rosedown Racing Stables, LLC. Champions Dream finished off his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct in Nov. 6. This race cover one mile on dirt in 1:39.17 over Full Moon Madness and Prove Right.

Sired by Justify, he also finished first in a seven-furlong sprint at Saratoga on Sept. 3 in a Maiden Special Weight race. Champions Dream will make his three-year debut on a high note at Tampa Bay Downs.

Place: Handsome Playboy

Bred in Florida, Handsome Playboy took second at the Inaugural Stakes (Dec. 3) and first at an Allowance race (Dec. 21) to close out his juvenile season at Tampa Bay Downs. The gelding finished first or second in three of four races as a two-year old. He ran on turf at Monmouth Park and Presque Island Downs in his first two races that season.

As a son of Handsome Mike, he was bred to handle the dirt at Tampa Bay in a sprint. Handsome Playboy has not gone over a mile on dirt or turf while racing for trainer Gerald Bennett.

Show: Armstrong

Trained by Mark Casse, the three-year colt comes into this year only racing at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada. He is also making the change to dirt after racing on the synthetic turf of that track.

As a son of Mucho Macho Man, Armstrong finished in the money at Woodbine in three races as a juvenile. He won the Clarendon Stakes on turf, turning in a time of 1:11.61 over Poulin in OT and Paramount Prince om Dec. 9 in 2022.

Previous posted by ScoresandStats.com

 

2023 Super Bowl Odds According to the Top 5 US Sportsbooks

 The top five US sportsbooks view the 2023 Super Bowl odds based on the change an NFL team would win the big prize. The Kansas City Chiefs have a 22.94% chance of winning the 2023 Super Bowl right down in the Seattle Seahawks' 0.91% of winning it all.

The top five US sportsbooks (BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet) mark the odds of winning the NFL title. The top five NFL teams heading to the postseason are listed below:

Kansas City Chiefs +334

Buffalo Bills +404

Philadelphia Eagles +515

San Francisco 49ers +520

Cincinnati Bengal +800

There are 14 teams in the NFL playoffs but only one can all themselves Super Bowl Champions. Doc's Sports Service has the chances all broken down in The Top Five US Sportsbook Views on 2023 Super Bowl Odds.

Giants vs. Eagles Week 18 "Best Bet" Picks & Predictions

 

The New York Giant close out their season visiting the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Jan. 8. Both teams are headed to the playoffs but the Giants figure in at 9-6-1 and the Eagles are 13-3 and the top of the NFC.

Philadelphia is favored by 14 points at home and the total line is 43 points. The Eagles’ odds are -1000 as heavy favorites and the Giants are road underdogs at +650.

Giants at Eagles “Best Bet” Free Predictions

New York +14 Points

Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts could start this week to add some spark to its offense. However, the Giants will keep it close enough to cover the 14 points. New York has nothing to prove after qualifying for the postseason a week ago, but the game is an NFC East battle between cross-state rivals.

Game Total: OVER 43

Adding Hurts to the Philadelphia offense means points will scored either passing or running the ball. New York will follow suit with a combined 82 points in its last three games.

Philadelphia OVER 28.5 Total Team Points (-110)

The Eagles’ offense is in a scoring slump with 10 points in last Sunday’s game against New Orleans after posting 34 or more points in four of the previous five games. The team is better equipped to score points with Hurts on the field.

In-Game Parlay - 1^st Half Philadelphia Money Line/OVER 22.5 Points (+115)

Philadelphia should win the money line odds in the first half of Sunday’s game. The Eagles’ offense has scored the majority of its points in the second quarter of game this season and the odds are favorable the team does it again.

"Best Bets" for Sunday's Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park

 

Sunday, Jan. 8

Sham Stakes – Santa Anita Park

Win: National Treasure

This three-year colt bred in Kentucky has raced for SF Racing, LLC and Madaket Stables to name a few of the owners. National Treasure finished first at Del Mar in the Maiden Special Weight race on Sept. 3 in 2022. He went on the take second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Sired by Quality Road, National Treasure is well on the way to being one the top three-year old Thoroughbreds to come out at West Coast tracks. His forte is the speed and power to run one mile and over in close races.  

Place: Speed Boat Beach

Another colt trained by Baffert, Speed Boat Beach was bred in Florida by Caperlane Farms. He won the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMile on tuft at Del Mar on Dec. 4 as the juvenile. On Oct. 2, Speed Boat Beach finished first in the ungraded Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita in a five-furlong turf race in 0:55.25 over Helladic and Ah Jeez.

Either dirt or turf, the son of Bayern has finish first in three of his last four races in his two-year campaign. Speed Boat Beach makes his three-year debut on a West Coast track at Santa Anita Park.

Show: Spun Intended

As a son of Hard Spun, the three-year colt has finished second at Santa Anita and first at Del Mar in a couple of 6 ½-furlong Maiden Special Weight sprints in the fall of 2022. Spun Intended was bred in Kentucky and has raced for Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables, LLC.

Graduating up to a mile on dirt, Spun Intended’s siblings are Northern Dancer and Turkoman. He is bred to go the distance with the speed and power in his stride. His Horse Racing Nation rating is 6.73, second only to National Treasure. 

 Previously Posted on ScoresandStats.com

 

 

 

The Virginia Lottery Reported That State's Sportsbooks Cleared $50 Million Again in November

The legal US sportsbook industry have cleared $50 million in Virginia's sports betting revenue in November. It was the third straight month that the state's sport betting industry eclipsed that mark. Starting in September with $53.8 million in gross revenue, November was above that record by 6.8%. 

According to the Virginia Lottery, the 11 months in 2023 was $301.3 million in adjusted net revenue. That is up 149.5% in the same 11 months last year. Doc's Sports Service has all the details in Virginia's Sportsbook Cleared $50 million in Three Straight Months.