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)
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Saturday, May 2, 2020
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
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
Sunday, April 26, 2020
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
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
Saturday, April 18, 2020
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
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
Saturday, April 4, 2020
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
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
Saturday, March 28, 2020
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
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
Saturday, March 21, 2020
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.
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.
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