Once the football season finally comes to an end with the Super Bowl in the books, avid sports bettors begin to turn their attention to a variety of different sporting events to fill the void. The NBA is probably the second-biggest betting league to the NFL at the professional level and college basketball becomes really big with bettors starting in February and running right through the month of March with the annual NCAA Tournament.
Golf has never been known as a big betting sport with the Las Vegas sportsbooks as well as all the offshore sportsbooks taking action online, but it could be one of the biggest betting sports there is when you get down to the true essence of how money is actually wagered on this game.
On the professional level, the betting action really heats up with the four Major tournaments starting with the Masters at Augusta National in early April. The final round of the US Open takes center stage every Father’s Day in June and, across the pond, the Open Championship in Great Britain brings that international flare that sports bettors are looking for. The final Major is the PGA Championship in August and mixed in between are a number of high-profile tournaments and special events such as the Rider Cup on even years and the President's Cup on odd-numbered years.
The tremendous growth of daily fantasy leagues for any number of sports including the PGA Tour have helped to expand the idea of wagering on golf, but this is still not the true essence of betting on this sport.
It all starts on the first tee of the local municipal golf course or neighboring country club every Saturday morning across the entire United States from early spring right through late fall. This is when the real golf betting takes place. Whether it is a better-ball bet for the front, back and total between pairings in a foursome or a friendly game of skins at a dollar a hole, the amount of money that is wagered on playing golf is staggering.
Even casual fans of this sport tend to add some betting action to their round every time four golfing buddies head out to play and the pros themselves are often a part of some major stakes matchups during the practice rounds leading up to that week’s event.
Sports bettors can wager on things such as an outright win, a Top 5 or Top 10 finish and on any number of head-to-head matchups at your favorite sportsbook or local bookie for every professional golf tournament. However, you would be amazed just how many bets are in place between the amateur hacks teeing it up at the thousands of local golf tournaments that take place every golfing season.
Betting on golf as a player is woven into the fabric of the game. Choking over a two-foot putt to win $5 from your buddy can be just as thrilling and nerve-racking as having $500 wagered on Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy winning another Major when they are leading by one or two strokes on the back nine of Sunday’s final round.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Saturday, February 3, 2018
2018 Holy Bull Stakes Free Trifecta Play
Football is not the only game in town this weekend when it comes to sports betting at BetAnySports. While most of the betting handle for the first weekend of February is gravitating towards Super Bowl LII on Sunday in Minneapolis, horse racing fans can turn their attention to a much warmer betting climate for this Saturday's $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes for three-year old thoroughbreds at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
The 2018 Kentucky Derby Trail is starting to warm up as well and the field for this Saturday's Holy Bull at Gulfstream features a few three-year old contenders that could make their way into the field for this year's 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs in early May. Some of horse racing's top trainers such as Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Kiaran McLaughlin are hoping that their entries in the Holy Bull go on to take that first important step with a victory in this Grade 2 prep.
As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for ScoresandStats.com, the link below is my full preview of the featured race on Saturday's card at Gulfstream as well as my official trifecta pick at the betting window.
LINK: 2018 Holy Bull Stakes Free Trifecta Pick
The 2018 Kentucky Derby Trail is starting to warm up as well and the field for this Saturday's Holy Bull at Gulfstream features a few three-year old contenders that could make their way into the field for this year's 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs in early May. Some of horse racing's top trainers such as Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Kiaran McLaughlin are hoping that their entries in the Holy Bull go on to take that first important step with a victory in this Grade 2 prep.
As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for ScoresandStats.com, the link below is my full preview of the featured race on Saturday's card at Gulfstream as well as my official trifecta pick at the betting window.
LINK: 2018 Holy Bull Stakes Free Trifecta Pick
Friday, February 2, 2018
Philadelphia & Boston Top Super Bowl Cross-Sport Prop Picks
This year's Super Bowl features two of the top sports betting cities in the nation with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the New England Patriots, who are really a Boston team in disguise. There are any number of ways to get in on all the action at BetAnySports for the biggest single-day betting event of the year including a grocery list of cross-sport prop bet options with the NBA, NHL and college basketball games that are also on the slate over the next two days.
I have come up with a pair of cross-sport prop bet picks that catered to the avid bettors in both of those cities when it comes to the Super Bowl and Saturday's 76ers' game against Indiana and the Celtics' matchup against Portland on Sunday afternoon. To cash in on these free plays, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com as part of all my betting coverage for Super Bowl LII.
LINK: Super Bowl LII Top Cross-Sport Prop Bet Picks
I have come up with a pair of cross-sport prop bet picks that catered to the avid bettors in both of those cities when it comes to the Super Bowl and Saturday's 76ers' game against Indiana and the Celtics' matchup against Portland on Sunday afternoon. To cash in on these free plays, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com as part of all my betting coverage for Super Bowl LII.
LINK: Super Bowl LII Top Cross-Sport Prop Bet Picks
Saturday, January 20, 2018
NFC Championship Preview & Free Betting Pick
This conference title game features one team riding a miracle victory in what it hopes to be a Super Bowl run against a team that was cast aside by the Oddsmakers even though it was the top seed coming into the NFL postseason. Only one team can win and right now the Minnesota Vikings come into Lincoln Financial Field for Sunday's NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point road favorites. The consensus betting on this game slightly favors the Vikings at 52 percent in a matchup that has become too close to call from a betting standpoint.
Minnesota opened as a 3.5-point favorite coming off its improbable 29-24 victory against New Orleans on a 61-yard passing touchdown with no time left on the clock. That initial number was bet down to three points as the week progressed and with most of the online books taking action on this game you actually have to pay some extra juice for a play on Philadelphia. BetAnySports' current betting line is set at three points with no juice on the Vikings at +100 moving to -110 for the Eagles.
The betting action on the total line at BetAnySports has taken this number from 38 points to 39 points with a lean towards the OVER at 53 percent with the current betting consensus. Both of these teams boast stingy defenses and a pair of quarterbacks that have never started an NFL game on this big of a stage. While the line at 39 points is still rather low by NFL betting standards, points could be hard to come by all game long.
The link below is to ScoresandStats.com and my complete game preview and 'best bet' pick for this game.
LINK: 2018 NFC Championship Free Betting Pick
Minnesota opened as a 3.5-point favorite coming off its improbable 29-24 victory against New Orleans on a 61-yard passing touchdown with no time left on the clock. That initial number was bet down to three points as the week progressed and with most of the online books taking action on this game you actually have to pay some extra juice for a play on Philadelphia. BetAnySports' current betting line is set at three points with no juice on the Vikings at +100 moving to -110 for the Eagles.
The betting action on the total line at BetAnySports has taken this number from 38 points to 39 points with a lean towards the OVER at 53 percent with the current betting consensus. Both of these teams boast stingy defenses and a pair of quarterbacks that have never started an NFL game on this big of a stage. While the line at 39 points is still rather low by NFL betting standards, points could be hard to come by all game long.
The link below is to ScoresandStats.com and my complete game preview and 'best bet' pick for this game.
LINK: 2018 NFC Championship Free Betting Pick
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Is Jacksonville Primed for Another Big Road Win in Pittsburgh?
The last time the Jacksonville Jaguars were in the playoffs was back in 2007 and ever since that 11-5 run to the Division Round they have not won more than eight games a year until posting a 10-6 record this season to claim the AFC South Division title. One of their more convincing victories in the regular season was in Week 5 against Pittsburgh on the road in a 30-9 romp. The Jaguars closed as 7.5-point underdogs in that game and they head into this Sunday's rematch at Heinz Field underdogs with that exact same spread at BetAnySports.
Pittsburgh has been a perennial playoff team under head coach Mike Tomlin with eight postseason appearances in 11 seasons since he took over the reins from Bill Cowher back in 2007. The Steelers went 13-3 this year to lay claim to their third AFC North title in the last four seasons and the No. 2 seed in the conference. While all of their focus is atoning for last year's 36-17 loss to New England in the AFC title game as six-point road underdogs, they still have some unfinished business this Sunday afternoon to avenge that earlier loss to Jacksonville.
Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tossed five interceptions in that first meeting with two of those picks getting returned by the Jaguars for touchdowns. Jacksonville signal caller Blake Bortles only completed eight of 14 passes for 95 yards against Pittsburgh's defense, but rookie running back Leonard Fournette went off for 181 yards and two scores on the ground while running the ball 28 times. Look for Jacksonville to try and recreate that winning formula again on Sunday while relying heavily on its defense to keep the Steelers in check on the scoreboard.
This should be a hard-nosed battle between a pair of teams that boast two of the best defenses in the league. For my complete game preview and official 'best bet" pick, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com.
LINK: NFL Divisional Playoffs Free Betting Pick | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh has been a perennial playoff team under head coach Mike Tomlin with eight postseason appearances in 11 seasons since he took over the reins from Bill Cowher back in 2007. The Steelers went 13-3 this year to lay claim to their third AFC North title in the last four seasons and the No. 2 seed in the conference. While all of their focus is atoning for last year's 36-17 loss to New England in the AFC title game as six-point road underdogs, they still have some unfinished business this Sunday afternoon to avenge that earlier loss to Jacksonville.
Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tossed five interceptions in that first meeting with two of those picks getting returned by the Jaguars for touchdowns. Jacksonville signal caller Blake Bortles only completed eight of 14 passes for 95 yards against Pittsburgh's defense, but rookie running back Leonard Fournette went off for 181 yards and two scores on the ground while running the ball 28 times. Look for Jacksonville to try and recreate that winning formula again on Sunday while relying heavily on its defense to keep the Steelers in check on the scoreboard.
This should be a hard-nosed battle between a pair of teams that boast two of the best defenses in the league. For my complete game preview and official 'best bet" pick, please check out the link below at ScoresandStats.com.
LINK: NFL Divisional Playoffs Free Betting Pick | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Finding Value in the Early Super Bowl LII Futures Odds
This weekend's Wild Card Round marks the start of the NFL playoffs and the ultimate quest of winning Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Feb. 4. Six teams from the AFC and six from the NFC have earned a spot in this tournament and BetAnySports has released its NFL futures odds for each one's chances to win one of the most coveted titles in the world of sports.
New England is the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the defending Super Bowl Champion and the Patriots have the best odds in the field to successfully go all the way again this year. Pittsburgh is a crowd favorite coming out of the same conference as the No. 2 seed and Minnesota has the best odds of any team in the NFC to win its first Super Bowl title in franchise history the same season that the NFL's championship game will actually be played in the Vikings' home stadium.
Looking at the posted Super Bowl futures odds for the other nine teams in the field, the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams have been popular picks at longer +1000 odds. Kansas City has the next best odds of the remaining four teams in the AFC at +1800 and Tennessee has the longest odds on the board at +10000.
The one caveat in this year's field is Philadelphia as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles would have probably been second-favorites to the Patriots if Carson Wentz was still the team's starting quarterback, but a torn ACL turned the keys over to Nick Foles which in turn has sent Philly's betting stock right down the tube. With Foles in place, the Eagles' Super Bowl odds opened at +1000 and just a few days later they now stand at +1200. Home field advantage throughout the playoffs still counts for something and so does a team that can run the ball better than most on offense complementing a defense that is ranked inside the top five in both yards and points allowed.
After breaking down the entire playoff field in terms of each team's opening betting odds, the link below to my recent article for ScoresandStats.com spells out top-valued Super Bowl picks heading into the opening round of the playoffs.
LINK: NFL Super Bowl LII | Futures Odds
New England is the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the defending Super Bowl Champion and the Patriots have the best odds in the field to successfully go all the way again this year. Pittsburgh is a crowd favorite coming out of the same conference as the No. 2 seed and Minnesota has the best odds of any team in the NFC to win its first Super Bowl title in franchise history the same season that the NFL's championship game will actually be played in the Vikings' home stadium.
Looking at the posted Super Bowl futures odds for the other nine teams in the field, the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams have been popular picks at longer +1000 odds. Kansas City has the next best odds of the remaining four teams in the AFC at +1800 and Tennessee has the longest odds on the board at +10000.
The one caveat in this year's field is Philadelphia as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles would have probably been second-favorites to the Patriots if Carson Wentz was still the team's starting quarterback, but a torn ACL turned the keys over to Nick Foles which in turn has sent Philly's betting stock right down the tube. With Foles in place, the Eagles' Super Bowl odds opened at +1000 and just a few days later they now stand at +1200. Home field advantage throughout the playoffs still counts for something and so does a team that can run the ball better than most on offense complementing a defense that is ranked inside the top five in both yards and points allowed.
After breaking down the entire playoff field in terms of each team's opening betting odds, the link below to my recent article for ScoresandStats.com spells out top-valued Super Bowl picks heading into the opening round of the playoffs.
LINK: NFL Super Bowl LII | Futures Odds
Friday, December 29, 2017
Capital One Orange Bowl Preview & Free Betting Pick
Saturday's college bowl schedule is highlighted by a Big Ten/ACC matchup that should have been named the "Woulda Coulda Shoulda Bowl" between the 12-1 Wisconsin Badgers and the 10-2 Miami Hurricanes. These two national powers will actually play one another in this season's Capital One Orange Bowl in the Hurricanes' back yard at Hard Rock Stadium. Game time on ESPN is set for 8 p.m.
The knock on Wisconsin all season long was its strength of schedule, but when you win all of your regular season games as a major program you should be considered a College Football Playoff team. The problem with this impressive 12-0 run is that the Badgers could not seal the deal with one more win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship which would have them playing on New Year's Day in one of two CFP semifinal matchups.
Miami was another major program out of the ACC that steamrolled its way to a perfect 10-0 start while not playing the toughest of schedules. The Hurricanes biggest victory in this run was against Notre Dame in a big way as 3.5-point home underdogs with BetAnySports. The stage was set for a showdown against Clemson in the conference title game, before Miami looked past Pittsburgh in its regular season finale. Even with that bad loss. the Hurricanes could have still earned a CFP berth with a victory against the top-ranked Tigers, but they came up well short in a 38-3 loss in the ACC Championship.
Turning to this Saturday's matchup, I believe that one of these teams has the clear edge over the other to the point where this would be one of my higher unit plays of the day. In a full game preview for ScoresandStats.com at the link below, I have released my official pick for the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl.
LINK: 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl Free Betting Pick- No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No.10 Miami Hurricanes
The knock on Wisconsin all season long was its strength of schedule, but when you win all of your regular season games as a major program you should be considered a College Football Playoff team. The problem with this impressive 12-0 run is that the Badgers could not seal the deal with one more win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship which would have them playing on New Year's Day in one of two CFP semifinal matchups.
Miami was another major program out of the ACC that steamrolled its way to a perfect 10-0 start while not playing the toughest of schedules. The Hurricanes biggest victory in this run was against Notre Dame in a big way as 3.5-point home underdogs with BetAnySports. The stage was set for a showdown against Clemson in the conference title game, before Miami looked past Pittsburgh in its regular season finale. Even with that bad loss. the Hurricanes could have still earned a CFP berth with a victory against the top-ranked Tigers, but they came up well short in a 38-3 loss in the ACC Championship.
Turning to this Saturday's matchup, I believe that one of these teams has the clear edge over the other to the point where this would be one of my higher unit plays of the day. In a full game preview for ScoresandStats.com at the link below, I have released my official pick for the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl.
LINK: 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl Free Betting Pick- No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No.10 Miami Hurricanes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)