Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Hitting Paydirt: Fit For DraftKings Is NFL Week 9 In NJ Sports Betting

Hitting Paydirt: Fit For DraftKings Is NFL Week 9 In NJ Sports Betting
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Take a look at the top games for NFL Week 9 in New Jersey sports betting. This time, we focus on DraftKings Sportsbook, the top NJ online sportsbook.

The post Hitting Paydirt: Fit For DraftKings Is NFL Week 9 In NJ Sports Betting appeared first on .

NFL Week 8 Recap – Significant News and Notes Heading into Week 9

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NFL Week 8 Recap – Significant News and Notes Heading into Week 9

We’re nearly halfway done with the NFL’s regular season, and several things are coming into plain view.

What happened across the league in Week 8 told me a lot about the state of certain teams, and it’s not all roses everywhere.

Perhaps the biggest news, although it should come as no shocker, was the fact that Jimmy Haslam finally decided to part ways with Hue Jackson and move his team in a different direction. This should come as no surprise, as anyone who thought that Jackson’s regime was working in Cleveland is just in pure denial.

And while some teams made positive strides in their playoff pursuit, others took an ugly step back.

I know it’s almost time to start betting Week 9’s NFL games, but it makes a lot of sense to get caught up with all the action from Week 8 first!

Hue Jackson Booted from Cleveland

As I mentioned above, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam finally relieved Hue Jackson of his head coaching duties on Monday afternoon. The firing of Hue Jackson was long overdue if you ask me, as the National Football League is a “what have you done for me lately” type of business.

Well, I’ll tell you exactly what the 53-year-old alleged offensive guru has done for the city of Cleveland since taking over in 2016.

The Browns are an inexcusable 3-36-1 in the 40 games coached by Jackson. And ready for this?

Cleveland went 0-20 on the road under his guidance.

The fact that his leash was as long as it was and that he lasted this long has actually been quite the anomaly.

Because I could swear that any coach who went 1-31 over his first two seasons wouldn’t have even had an opportunity to march back out there for a third term.

My colleague Noah should be given some credit at this stage. He wrote a blog post back in July this year looking at the betting market on which NFL coach would be fired first this season, and recommended putting money on it being Jackson.

I think the straw that finally broke the camel’s back was the simple fact that franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield wasn’t seeing eye to eye with his head coach.

After spending the number-one overall pick of the 2018 Draft on Baker and him showing some glimpses of stardom, there was no question as to who would go first. And it didn’t take long for the second domino to fall, either.

The Browns front office wasn’t done cleaning house with this move, as they fired offensive coordinator Todd Haley on Monday as well, effective immediately.

I think that Cleveland’s ownership wants to give Mayfield an honest and fair shot at being successful, and they finally came to the obvious conclusion that Jackson and Haley weren’t the combo that was going to take him to the Promised Land.

Rumblings around the Browns locker room stated that the Browns HC and OC never got on the same page with one another and that the rapport between the two was growing colder. Something had to happen, and Haslam made his intentions clear with a simple statement he released yesterday at a news conference.

“The message today is that we’re not going to put up with internal discord.”

Quite frankly, I think axing both was the right decision.

As for what’s next for this organization?

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams takes over for the interim, but I can’t imagine this is anything other than just a temporary solution.

We’ll have to see how the rest of the year plays out, but expect a laundry list of names to start emerging as potential candidates for this head coaching position.

In terms of the rest of 2018, Cleveland will be fortunate to win a few more games. But unfortunately, any serious progress is likely just delayed until next year.

Packers Fumble Away Chance at Victory

It was all set up for another Aaron Rodgers comeback.

Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein kicked a field goal with 2:05 remaining in the fourth quarter to put Los Angeles on top, 29-27. Rodgers and the Packers offense appeared to have a full two minutes to gain about 40 or so yards and give Mason Crosby a chance to win the game.

But then in a flash, all hell broke loose on the Green Bay sidelines thanks to an idiotic decision from a player who decided to take matters into his own hands.

Ty Montgomery, despite receiving strict orders to take a knee in the end zone, made a split-second decision to try and run the ball out and make a play during the return.

Instead, Montgomery fumbled the ball inexcusably and relinquished any opportunity his team had at securing a victory.

Aaron Rodgers was among the Packers players that were less than pleased about Montgomery’s choice.

“Aaron was hot,” a Packers coach told Mike Silver of NFL.com. “And he had a right to be. He yelled, ‘Take a [expletive] knee!’ He was very, very mad.”

Several other players offered their two cents after the game, and some didn’t hold back when the media asked the obvious questions.

The aftermath of this has led Montgomery to feel disappointed and angered that his brotherhood hasn’t kept the matter “in-house.”

However, Montgomery need not worry how his now-former Packers teammates view him, because Ty was essentially let go on Tuesday afternoon.

In return, Green Bay gets a seventh-round pick from the Bears in the 2020 draft , but it is indisputable that the Packers wanted nothing to do with Montgomery after his mysterious gaffe.

As Green Bay looks ahead to Week 9, it won’t get any easier for Mike McCarthy’s squad, as they’ll face the red-hot Patriots in a Sunday Night Showdown on NBC. This game will be played in Foxborough, so there was absolutely no time for the “Green and Gold” to be pointing fingers and causing uproar anyway.

They can somewhat hang their hats on the fact that they traveled to LA and were able to keep pace with the only undefeated team in the NFL for the most part.

The bad news is that this is the National Football League, and it’s 2018.

There are no moral victories.

Raiders Disappear in the Fourth Quarter

Heading into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game in Oakland, the Raiders held a 7-point lead over the visiting Colts. It was looking like Jon Gruden was going to get a W and erase some of the noise and questions surrounding his “dismissal” of star wideout Amari Cooper.

But it didn’t turn out that way, and now the fire is burning even hotter in the Bay Area.

The Colts blanked the Raiders 21 to zip in the final quarter of play and ran away with the ball game. Oakland fell to 1-6 in the process.

Marlon Mack abused the Raiders’ front 7 on 25 carries for 132 yards and a pair of scores, not to mention Nyheim Hines ran wild during his attempts.

In all, Oakland gave up 222 yards on the ground to a Colts team that held onto the ball for 36 and a half minutes.

I could sit here and walk you through all of what’s not going right in Oakland, but I don’t imagine you have time to read a novel.

However, I could summarize things and point out that the Raiders are scoring a measly 19.7 points per game (27th in the NFL) and allowing an egregious 31.1 points per contest, which ranks 31st.

The transactions that this franchise has made since acquiring Gruden in January tell me that Jon isn’t interested in fixing the current problems in Oakland.

It’s more than evident that he wants to build this thing from the ground up, and that means turning the roster upside down.

By this time next season, who knows how many of the current players will even be in Raider uniforms?

For now, it’s hard to imagine we’ll see any semblance of a competitive product on the field in Oakland because there are holes everywhere you look. Now take into account the apparent lack of leadership and communication at the top, and it’s not a very pretty situation right now.

Owner Mark Davis has all the trust and faith in Jon Gruden, so don’t expect any swift moves that shake up the chain of command to come any time soon.

But that doesn’t mean we won’t see a bunch of restless players and fans in Oakland for the remainder of 2018.

The QB Carousel in Tampa Continues

First it was Jameis Winston getting suspended to start the year for acting like a spoiled child who has no manners. Then it was Ryan Fitzpatrick taking the league by storm the first three weeks of the season when he threw for over 400 yards in each game.

Some were even hailing the Harvard graduate as the frontrunner for the 2018 league MVP.

But after that, “Fitzmagic” returned to Earth and regressed to his typical self, leaving the Tampa Bay coaching staff no choice but to turn back to the guy they drafted first overall back in 2015.

And despite Jameis looking serviceable for a couple of weeks, it was only a matter of time before they realized once again that this dude isn’t cut out to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Jameis threw four interceptions while completing just 51% of his throws for a disgusting QBR of just 31.4. Fitzy came on in relief and actually looked sharp, tossing two touchdowns on 11/15 for 194 yards.

Once again, Dirk Koetter has announced a change at QB, this time reverting back to the 35-year-old journeyman who began the year scorching. Not only is this yet another bump in the road for Winston, but this likely marks the end of his tenure in the western region of Florida.

The natural thought and what seems to be the only realistic resolution at this point is that the Bucs will be searching for a new franchise quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Anyone who thinks that Winston or Fitzpatrick are the long-term answers in Tampa Bay just isn’t seeing the writing that’s on the wall.
Trades Galore! Two Bigtime WRs on the Move!

The NFL trading deadline came and went yesterday, but not without a flurry of deals that will immediately impact certain division races.

Golden Tate Heading to Philly

Carson Wentz and the Eagles had been lacking a consistent option out of the slot, but that problem has now vanished. Golden Tate is on his way to Philadelphia after Howie Roseman decided that a third-round pick was worth surrendering for the services of the 30-year-old proven wide receiver.

Tate had been the favorite target of Matthew Stafford since he signed with Detroit in 2014, but obviously Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia feel comfortable enough with Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay to move on.

The Lions get an additional pick in next year’s draft, but was it really worth vacating a guy who’s hauled in 90 or more balls in each of the four years he’s been in the Motor City?

I’m not sure I agree with the move, but I’m happy if I’m an Eagles fan (which I am!).

This move should help expedite the process of the Eagles offense getting on track, as they currently clock in as just the 21st most productive unit in the league.

Demaryius Thomas Dealt to Houston

John Elway isn’t happy with the current state of the Denver Broncos, and a move like this tells me he’s ready to embrace a rebuild on offense.

Demaryius Thomas had been prolific during his time with Peyton Manning at the helm, but this isn’t 2013 anymore, folks.

Thomas will turn 31 on Christmas Day and hasn’t been able to create the necessary separation off the line of scrimmage to put up the beefy numbers he once did.

Here’s a guy who averaged 100.5 catches for 1,446.7 yards and 10.3 TDs per year from 2012-2015, and now all he’s worth is a fourth-round pick!

The Broncos offense will be looking toward their rookie WR Courtland Sutton to pick up the slack and turn into a reliable option on the outside, hopefully something similar to what “DT” had been for the better part of his run in Denver.

The Houston Texas are hoping Demaryius can replace Will Fuller as the #2 wide receiver in this offense after Fuller sustained a season-ending knee injury during their Week 8 win over Miami.

This was a big blow for the Texans’ passing attack considering Will had been starting to really click with Deshaun Watson.

With that being said, the arrival of an established commodity like Thomas should give Watson a legitimate weapon to pair with DeAndre Hopkins.

As wide open as the AFC South currently stands, this was a move I think Bob McNair and Brian Gaine had to make.

Have Fun Watching Week 9!

One intriguing matchup right off the bat will be the 4:05 pm EST kickoff between the aforementioned Broncos and Texans. Perhaps we’ll see right away if trading Demaryius Thomas will come back to haunt Denver.

But we have a couple of marquee matchups taking place as well, starting with the Rams and the Saints in the Big Easy!

I can’t wait for the plethora of highlights that are bound to ensue in that one, and that’s just a warm-up for the SNF game between the Packers and the Patriots!

Week 9 promises to deliver plenty of drama, especially thanks to all the movement yesterday afternoon.

The best part is that you and I get to watch it all play out!

The post NFL Week 8 Recap – Significant News and Notes Heading into Week 9 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Betting Preview of the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open With Recommended Wagers

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Betting Preview of the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open With Recommended Wagers

I’ve been waiting to write this preview for a while now.

Considering I’ve logged a countless number of rounds at TPC Summerlin, and I cover the PGA Tour religiously, I’d say that I’m a pretty good candidate for generating a preview to this week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

But I also happen to be a fairly decent player who has his name on the plaque inside the hallway for winning the 2006 Men’s Club Championship at TPC Summerlin. I honestly can’t tell you how many times I’ve played this week’s venue in all, but I can promise you I know what the players will be facing “to a tee.”

I shot even par there 3 weeks ago and understand the way in which the course will be playing.

I also happen to know a little bit about picking golf matchups, as I’m off to a hot “7-3-1 start” so far since we turned to the 2018/2019 FedEx Cup schedule. Hopefully you have been following along and have benefited from the early season success.

I hope to keep up the pace, which is why I dove into the matchups and browsed the prices that are being offered this time around.

After scouring the sites and comparing what’s out there, here’s what I’ll be locking into. What you do with your money is up to you; I’m just here to offer my advice!

The odds referenced in this article were taken from SportsBetting.ag on 10/30. They may have changed subsequently.
Sam Burns vs. Jason Kokrak

I’ll be honest; I haven’t seen obvious value screaming out like this in a long time.

One site has Sam Burns at +155 to finish inside the top 20, while Jason Kokrak is at +375. Bovada.lv lists Kokrak at +800 to crack the top 10, while Burns is sitting at just +600 for the same wager.

So why on Earth is Jason favored over Sam in their head-to-head matchup at every site I look at? Shouldn’t it be the opposite?

The best of the bunch is at SportsBetting.ag, where we can actually latch onto the former LSU star at even money (+100), while we would be forced to lay -120 on the big-hitting guy they call “Rake.”

I actually like Kokrak as a player and know that his ability to crank out 320+ yard drives is a big bonus at the Sin City stop.

But if you think Sam Burns can’t absolutely rip the cover off the golf ball as well, you just haven’t paid close enough attention.

The 22-year-old stud from Shreveport, Louisiana, has already gotten his feet wet on the big stage by finishing T-3rd last week at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Burns was the best collegiate player in the country as a sophomore in 2016-2017, and he’s just picking up where he left off last year.

Sam recorded a trio of top-20 finishes in limited starts on the PGA Tour last season, including one at the most recent Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. But he also ended the Web.com regular-season money list ranked 2nd to clinch his card for the current year.

The kid averaged 320 yards per poke and had a stout 68.27 final round scoring average.

There is no doubt in my mind that Sam is built to be a superstar on tour, and it’s only a matter of time until he breaks out.

This could likely be the last time you’ll ever see him at even money against the likes of Jason Kokrak, so I suggest not passing it up.

PICKSam Burns+100
Patrick Cantlay vs. Jordan Spieth

Let’s make one thing clear. The only reason Jordan Spieth signed up to play this golf tournament was because he had to add a new event to his calendar to avoid any late-season blunders or potential fines.

Spieth would typically be at home watching football and prepping for the holidays, but now he’ll be in action for the first time since playing in Paris one month ago.

On the other hand, Patrick Cantlay is here because he’s the defending champ of this event. And don’t be surprised if he threatens to go back-to-back, because all this dude does is play consistently good golf and cash bigtime checks.

After finishing 17th at the Safeway Open, Patrick placed 7th last week at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. The former UCLA standout is primed to have another good week in Vegas, as his calm demeanor fits well under the circumstances he’ll be dealing with starting tomorrow.

Now flip the coin and look at Spieth’s fiery character and the emotion he shows on the golf course.

Last time we saw the “Golden Child” tee it up individually on tour was at Aronimink in early September, and his 55th-place showing at the BMW Championship was nothing to write home about.

I wouldn’t have said this in the past, but I confidently can say that Patrick Cantlay is a more consistent golfer than Jordan Spieth is.

The fact that Cantlay is the defending champion and is coming off a top-10 makes me even more assured about how he’ll perform, while there are too many question marks surrounding Jordan.

I’d lay -110 or -115, so you can imagine what I’ll do with the even-money price.

PICKPatrick Cantlay+100
Beau Hossler vs. Ryan Moore

Believe me, I know first-hand that Ryan Moore had a remarkable career at UNLV, and I know he has won this golf tournament before. I also know that Moore lost in a playoff earlier this month at the Safeway Open.

But were you aware that Moore finished 66th and 61st in his two starts in Asia since? And did you know that Beau Hossler finished 30th and 18th in those two events as well?

I’m actually fairly keen on Ryan having a bounce-back week at his former stomping grounds, but I’m even more acute to what’s been brewing for the former Texas Longhorn golfer.

Hossler was fantastic as a rookie last season, compiling eight top-25s and a pair of runner-up finishes. He co-led the Shriners after 54 holes during last year’s edition (finished T-7th), telling me that TPC Summerlin fits his eye.

Beau might only be 23 years old, but trust me when I tell you that he is wise beyond his years. While most kids his age in Vegas will be out on the Strip partying this weekend, I expect Hossler to be locked into the task at hand.

I suspect that Beau will win a golf tournament on the PGA Tour this season, and it could very well happen this coming Sunday.

Despite Moore having a Shriners Hospitals for Children Open trophy to his name, he has actually only cracked the top 42 once in his last four attempts here.

Hossler is +200 to finish in the top 20, while Moore is +225. To finish in the top 10, you’d have to lay +300 on Hossler, while Moore is available at +400.

It’s clear that Ryan has no business being the favorite in this matchup, so I’ll view it as a good opportunity to pounce.

PICKBeau Hossler+100
Danny Lee vs. Rory Sabbatini

I’m riding with the “nappy factor” here, ladies and gentlemen!

Danny Lee’s wife gave birth to the couple’s first child exactly one week ago, and I’m saying that Danny has more than enough motivation to play some good golf this week.

Welcome to the world Roi Theodore lee! 2018/10/21 3:14am 7.11 pound 20inch and mom is doing good! Thank you for all the love messages! pic.twitter.com/J9voj0xXWR

— Danny Lee (@dannygolf72) October 24, 2018

Aside from being on cloud nine right now, Danny has already played twice this season, and he performed favorably in each occasion. After a top-10 in Napa Valley at the Safeway Open, Lee shot a final-round 66 at TPC Kuala Lumpur to finish 33rd at the CIMB Classic.

Now he’ll tee it up for the first time since becoming a father, and I’m saying he has a strong showing right off the bat.

His opponent in this head-to-head is Rory Sabbatini, who finished 20th last week at the Country Club of Jackson. But he missed the cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open last time he was here, and his hot temper might not work well if the course is playing slick once again.

When Rory is playing well, he can compete at any level, but that happens a lot less frequently than the 42-year-old South African would like.

I’d rather not try and guess which “Rory Sabbatini” shows up at TPC Summerlin and instead side with the guy who has lots of positive vibes flowing.

PICKDanny Lee-110
Top-20 Flier to Consider

Sportsbook.ag has at least done some homework and has J.J. Spaun listed at +220 to land a top-20 in Vegas. But it doesn’t look like SportsBetting.ag is paying much attention to the 28-year-old SDSU product.

Either that or they’re just dropping the ball, because this dude can flat-out play.

The former Aztec golfer is coming off a top-10 finish at the CJ Cup two weeks ago and took last week off to rest up. The fact that he shot 66-65 and led this tournament after 36 holes last season should give you comfort that Spaun understands how to attack the TPC Summerlin layout.

A disappointing finish on Sunday slipped the SoCal native back into a tie for 10th, but I can assure you that he’ll be out for redemption this week.

I’m not crazy about reaching for these “top-20 bets,” but I’d be even crazier to ignore the value that’s lurking with this one.

PICKJ.J. Spaun to Finish Inside Top 20+400
The Recap

I love following the PGA Tour and seeing how the guys fare at the specific course setups.

This week is especially fascinating for me, as I know the course inside and out, so I can’t wait to see how things pan out on Sunday.

Will we see a first-time winner break through, or will a superstar like Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, or Jordan Spieth be sitting in the winner’s circle at week’s end?

I’m saying don’t be as concerned with who is hoisting the trophy and instead try and find some matchups you think you can take advantage of. Or you can book the four I discussed above and skip all the dirty work.

Either way, enjoy the golf this weekend, because I know I will!

The post Betting Preview of the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open With Recommended Wagers appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Upset Picks for Bettors to Target This Week – Picks for 10/30 to 11/4

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Upset Picks for Bettors to Target This Week – Picks for 10/30 to 11/4

Last week was not a great one for NFL bettors. At least, not if you bet hard on the Los Angeles Rams to cover a rich -9.5 point spread at home against the Green Bay Packers.

I personally never loved that spread. Betting that hard against Aaron Rodgers felt like a mistake, and I even saw an upset brewing. That was one of my underdog picks of a week ago, and while it missed (thanks, Ty Montgomery!), it was awfully close.

In the process, Todd Gurley made an enemy out of quite a few sports bettors, as well as fantasy football players. The stud rusher opted not to score an easy walk-in touchdown, instead deciding to stay in bounds to ice the game.

That gave the Rams a two-point win instead of what was likely to be a 9-point win. Fantasy owners lost out on another Gurley score, and bettors missed LA covering by just a few yards.

It’s hard to blame Gurley’s team-first logic, though. In fact, you should be applauding it.

Instead of being selfish in his pursuit for LaDainian Tomlinson’s touchdown record (just one of many NFL player prop bets worth targeting right now), Gurley took one for the team to help ensure a victory.

Had Gurley punched in that score and the Rams somehow missed the extra point, Green Bay would have had about a minute left to still tie the game and force overtime. By just taking the knee, so to speak, Gurley locked up a win and kept the Rams perfect at 8-0.

That was a bummer for sports bettors, but anyone who bet on Green Bay to beat the spread (or didn’t roster Gurley in fantasy leagues) was probably pretty pleased.

It was a fun week for sports betting, but not so much for picking underdogs. Let’s recap the week and look ahead to some upset picks worth chasing this week.

All odds referenced for this week’s picks were available online on 10/29/2018. They may have changed since the time of writing.
Week in Review

Let’s just start with the elephant in the room; I loved the Packers to go into LA and get the win, and for about 99% of this game, they looked like they’d do it.

The Packers jumped out to a 10-0 lead early and were up 13-8 in the third quarter. Even when the Rams fired back and took a 23-13 lead, the Packers refused to give up, scoring two straight times to go up 27-26.

Green Bay was much too conservative on offense early in the game and blew some opportunities, but it’s hard not to point to Ty Montgomery’s inexcusable kick return fumble with two minutes to go.

Seriously, why would you even exit the end zone at that moment? It was a mind-boggling gaffe and one that robbed me and perhaps you of a sweet +340 underdog. Well, it at least robbed us of the chance at converting that bet.

Here’s a quick rundown of how last week’s underdog picks fared.

Los Angeles Dodgers over Boston Red Sox+130 Sacramento Kings over Denver Nuggets+535 Green Bay Packers over Los Angeles Rams+340 Carolina Panthers over Baltimore Ravens+110

The Kings were never a very safe play, but their price was amazing, and they’d been playing surprisingly well. They were worth a roll of the dice.

I had two bets concerning LA-based teams. One was with the Dodgers taking game two to even up the series. They didn’t do it (and went on to lose the entire World Series on Sunday), but they were a solid bet at that price.

The Rams were at home and were 7-0, but that was too good of a line to pass up when it comes to Aaron Rodgers. I stand by that pick, and if Montgomery hadn’t taken that ball out of the end zone, you may have thanked me for it.

While it was another down week with my upset calls, I did score a win with the Panthers beating the Ravens at home. It was always a great play, as you need to consider home dogs anytime you can get them, and Carolina has been playing well.

I don’t love the 1-3 record (44-68-2 on the year), but it was dangerously close to 2-2 with a massive upset. Let’s try to get in the winning column again this week with a slew of my favorite underdog plays at GTbets.eu and other betting sites.

Oakland Raiders (+146) over San Francisco 49ers (-165)

Betting in favor of a Jon Gruden team gives me nausea right now, but the Raiders are actually in a great spot. The 49ers are battered by injuries, and both of these teams are hurting on a short week.

The only real edge the Niners have is the fact that they’re playing at home. Oakland doesn’t have to travel very far for this one, while the 49ers have to come to grips with the reality that they’re the type of team that gets swept by the Arizona Cardinals.

Considering those are the only two wins Arizona has in 2018, that’s pretty damaging.

San Francisco is operating offensively with a slew of backups, and they just don’t have much of an identity right now.

I know the Raiders are having a fire sale with their players, but unless some ridiculous third trade comes out of this roster, I’m going to take the money and run.

The Raiders still have some offensive talent, and as bad as they’ve been, they showed fight last week. They’re finally running into a team that they actually (gulp) might be better than. At a +146 price, I don’t mind taking on some risk to find out for sure.

PICKOakland Raiders+146
Pittsburgh Steelers (+135) over Baltimore Ravens (-154)

Baltimore comes into week nine as a home favorite against a Steelers team they already beat pretty easily earlier this year. That game was at Heinz Field, so if you want to argue that the Ravens have the mental edge, I’ll give you a second to plead your case.

The problem here is that the Steelers are starting to hit their stride, and the Ravens are regressing before our very eyes.

Baltimore does have the home field edge (2-1), but they are reeling right now with losses in three of their last four games. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is clicking during a nice three-game winning streak.

I note the Ravens are favored and are at home, but nothing else would get me to bet on them. Their once-proud defense just gave up 36 points to Carolina, and I’m not sure they can stifle the Steelers twice in one season.

History has this matchup swinging Pittsburgh’s way as well. Pittsburgh has been on a nice three-game tear in the series and should look to get back in the win column.

PICKPittsburgh Steelers+135
Houston Texans (+120) over Denver Broncos (-141)

One other interesting NFL game in week nine is this showdown in Denver between the Broncos and Texans. Houston comes in on fire with five straight wins behind them, while the Broncos limp in with five losses over their last six games.

Again, the only thing to hang your hat on if you’re the Broncos is that Vegas likes you, and you’re at home. The Broncos should otherwise be on tilt, as they just lost a tight game in Kansas City.

Houston, meanwhile, is down a burner in Will Fuller but has unleashed Deshaun Watson (5 touchdowns last week!) and looks primed to take over the AFC South for good.

This would be a huge win for the Texans and would get people to take them seriously about a potential title run.

Not because they’re beating the Broncos, of course, but because they keep winning and don’t let themselves get tripped up on the road here.

I like Houston in all facets right now, and I can’t say the same of Denver. Give me the +120 price and run with it.

PICKHouston Texans+120
Philadelphia Flyers (+114) over Anaheim Ducks (-126)

I don’t suggest NHL picks too often, but this one looks like a good case of “ride the wave.” Anaheim has not been in a good way lately, as they’ve dropped five straight and will host the Flyers tonight.

The Ducks got off to a hot start and are a respectable 2-1-2 at home, but they are in quite the slide. It’s not just their last five losses that are alarming, either, as they’ve looked pretty rough since a 2-0 start.

On the other side are the Flyers, who are in a slide of their own with three straight losses.

They’ve stolen two road wins already in the young season, however, and in a “something has to give” streak-buster, I’ll take the team offering better value.

PICKPhiladelphia Flyers+114
Washington Wizards (+1) @ Memphis Grizzlies (-1)

I only have the point spread to work with on this game right now. The game goes down tonight, though, so the moneyline will come out before long.

When it does, the Wizards will probably be offering a +100 or +105 bet, and I’m all for it.

The Wizards may have been really bad to start the year, but they can score with anyone and just need to buckle down and close games better.

Despite the Wizards’ lack of form, John Wall and Bradley Beal are still tough to take out on a nightly basis. And it’s not like the Grizzlies are world-beaters.

Memphis is a surprising 3-2 through five games and is 2-0 on their home floor, but this is a case of talent and urgency trumping home court.

Washington is 1-5 and has dropped three in a row. Road game or not, they need a win, and I think they get it here.

PICKWashington WizardsN/A
Summary

Last week wasn’t good for converting upset picks, but it was pretty close to panning out beautifully.

I don’t see nearly as many high-upside underdog plays this week, but I do like three NFL upset picks, and dabbling in the NHL isn’t a terrible idea.

NBA lines are always slow to get out, but for tonight, I really like Washington to return some mild value. They’ve had difficulty closing games out and just got housed by the Clippers, but they have too much talent to keep losing.

Overall, this gives you five new upset picks to consider mixing into your weekly betting schedule. Good luck with your wagers this week, and enjoy the games!

The post Upset Picks for Bettors to Target This Week – Picks for 10/30 to 11/4 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Critics Say The New York Jets Are Fumbling Their New 888 Partnership

Critics Say The New York Jets Are Fumbling Their New 888 Partnership
NY Jets offense

Before the NY Jets could even formally announce their new deal with 888 Casino, critics are complaining the ads come too close to promoting sports betting.

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Are the Houston Rockets Still a Contender in the 2018 NBA Season?

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Are the Houston Rockets Still a Contender in the 2018 NBA Season?

The Houston Rockets are probably the team that has come closest to toppling Golden State in recent years.

Back in 2017, the Spurs looked to have a great chance. They were up 23 points in Game 1 with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter.

Sadly for them, Kawhi Leonard got hurt after Zaza Pachulia closed him out hard. The Warriors’ center landed in Leonard’s airspace, causing a left ankle injury that knocked the Spurs man out of the series.

The rest, as they say, is history. Golden State swept the Spurs and got their revenge against LeBron’s Cavaliers in the Finals.

It looked like no one would be able to challenge the Warriors for the title. Then, the Rockets burst onto the scene.

The 2016-2017 season showed that James Harden has the potential to lead a successful team. However, his MVP-like performance only took the Rockets to the second round of the playoffs.

It was evident that Harden needed help on the court. It’s never easy to add a franchise-type player, but the Rockets got their man in legendary point guard Chris Paul.

At first, there were the usual concerns whether the chemistry would be right between the two stars. That is understandable, but in this case, they were able to prove us wrong.

Houston racked up an amazing 65 wins in the regular season, becoming the top seed in the West, and James Harden was awarded the MVP.

People were starting to acknowledge the team as a real contender.

Naturally, the Western Conference finals were contested between them and the Golden State Warriors. Houston was agonizingly close to glory. They were on the brink of winning a thrilling Game 7 with an 11-point lead at halftime.

Then a run of 27 straight missed 3s sealed their fate.

Now the Rockets have to try to run it all back. But their situation may have already changed too much to pretend they’re the same team as last year.

Let’s take a look at where things have been going wrong.

Summer Dealings

Everyone was waiting to see how the Rockets would handle the offseason. After all, they proved to be a genuine threat to the Warriors’ dynasty and were bound to build on that.

Sadly, the management did not live up to the expectations, and that can have a dire effect on the team’s ambitions.

Notable Departures and the Arrival of Carmelo Anthony

The obvious difference from last year is the players who left the fold. The Rockets lost Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, two 3-and-D wings who racked up more than 3,800 minutes for the team last year.

Ariza shot nearly 37% from 3 last season and was tasked with tough defending. He rejected Houston and agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns on the first day of free agency.

In turn, Mbah a Moute left for the Clippers. Despite some late-season ineffectiveness due to shoulder injuries, he was a vital cog in the Rockets’ engine. Their “switch everything” defensive game complemented the player’s abilities perfectly.

Most importantly, last year he was the best defensive contributor of any Houston rotation player.

The departures of Ariza and Mbah a Moute might prove to be a huge mistake.

Now Coach D’Antoni has the major task of fitting in the new pieces. James Ennis III and Michael Carter-Williams joined on minimum contracts.

On paper, both can add some value to the team. Ennis III is already drawing rave reviews from his teammates. It seems his energy levels and ability to shoot and rebound can be an asset.

Carter-Williams is a former rookie of the year with the Philadelphia 76ers. He doesn’t look like a natural fit for the Rockets, as his shooting has never been great. However, his defensive contribution will be the one to watch.

As a natural point guard, he might be able to fill in when necessary for James Harden or Chris Paul. He relies heavily on his off-the-dribble abilities, so we will not be seeing him in a catch-and-shoot role.

However, it may prove a bit difficult for him to carve out a significant amount of playing time in D’Antoni’s typically short rotation. That being said, the Rockets could have him as a backup point guard, rather than putting Eric Gordon in that position again this year.

Both newcomers will be eager to impress the coach, and no one breeds confidence in his players quite like D’Antoni. It remains to be seen how often they can step their game up and contribute defensively.

Arguably, the most talked-about decision in the offseason is the arrival of Carmelo Anthony.

I will just come out and say it – Melo is not a good fit for the Rockets. First and foremost, he has a very sketchy history with Mike D’Antoni from their time together on the New York Knicks.

Carmelo can be a very difficult character, and this is bound to cause turmoil somewhere along the road.

The technical ability Anthony brings can also prove unsatisfactory. It is true that the Rockets were very successful with their isolation game last season. However, this relied heavily on Harden and Paul’s brilliant efficiency.

While there would be a chance for Melo to impress, his last season with the Thunder proved that he can be one of the least efficient offensive players in the league.

There is also no chance he will be able to put in a meaningful defensive contribution. Carmelo Anthony is simply not that kind of player.

And although he has racked up some decent numbers in his first few games, there is plenty in there for Houston fans to sweat on.

Chris Paul Re-Signs

This was another big one in the Rockets’ turbulent summer. I can fully understand why GM Daryl Morey pushed for Paul’s signature. After all, his arrival brought about a highly successful season in which they nearly bested the Warriors.

The chance to have another stab at it looks like a no-brainer. Except, it can prove to be much trickier than that.

Yes, Chris Paul is a terrific player, but we cannot neglect the fact that he’s already 33.

Giving Paul a $160 million contract while losing some of the players that made him tick on the court is a big risk.

Paul has missed at least 20 games in each of his last three seasons. He also has a knack of getting into sticky situations.

Will the Rockets’ new-look roster with Carmelo complement the point guard’s ability? It’s very hard to say at the moment.

Morey obviously defended the decision to re-sign him, but he will not be able to get the critics off his back if it backfires.

Early-Season Woes

For now, it seems that skeptics have the upper hand. Houston has had to endure an abysmal start to the season.

Their record currently stands at 1-4, and on top of that, James Harden has sustained an injury. A team that boasted the 7th best defensive record last year now looks like a complete shambles.

Additions were much needed, especially after the notable departures, and the new wings do not seem capable of carrying out the defensive part of the game.

The Rockets have let in 461 points in only five games. Their only win came against a Lakers team that is far from polished.

It doesn’t look like this will change on Wednesday when they entertain the red-hot Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.

It all looks very grim for Houston at the moment, and something has to give.

Coach D’Antoni insists that they will continue playing their game and that Carmelo Anthony is fine with his role and attacking responsibilities within the system.

Melo did shoot 24 points against the Clippers, but that hardly proved enough, as they lost 113 – 133. It was a big slap from a team which is hardly considered as a top playoff contender.

Can the Rockets Turn It Around?

It is very early in the season for grand conclusions, but it doesn’t look good for the Houston Rockets. They doubled down on the plan to go for a title with Chris Paul and pushed away some of their valuable rotation players.

Whether the new acquisitions will be able to integrate as well as Ariza and Mbah a Moute remains to be seen. As I pointed out, they will be eager to impress the coach, but will that be enough?

Harden and Paul look susceptible to injuries, which also does not bode well for the team’s prospects.

Taking everything into account, I would say that the Rockets are a weaker team than last year.

The GM and coach keep defending their summer activity, but it is hard for fans to get on board given their current shape.

How the tables have turned for Daryl Morey, who is fresh from an Executive of the Year award.

After the game against Portland, the Rockets embark on a 5-game road trip. These matches will tell us a lot more about what we can expect. If the results are not satisfactory, there are bound to be some changes.

Everything looks to have an air of desperation at the Toyota Center right now, and everyone connected to the club will be hoping they can turn things around.

It can prove to be one of those high risk/high reward situations, but the team has a long road ahead of them.

So can the Rockets still be a contender in the 2018 NBA season? To be honest, I’m not counting on it.

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Monday, October 29, 2018

Can You Hear Me Now? Mobile’s Growing Role In Betting Too Big To Ignore

Can You Hear Me Now? Mobile’s Growing Role In Betting Too Big To Ignore
chihuahua barking into phone

A large part of the New Jersey sports betting success story can fit in the palm of your hand. Mobile betting becoming the crux of Garden State wagering.

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Week 9 NFL Betting Lines – Early Analysis and Free Picks

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Week 9 NFL Betting Lines – Early Analysis and Free Picks

Week eight in the NFL was fairly anticlimactic. That’s not very true when it comes to the afternoon games (Rams vs. Packers was fun as heck), but the schedule as a whole delivered disappointing results.

I will give that Rams/Packers game props, though. And even though Green Bay didn’t give Aaron Rodgers the chance he deserved, the Packers at least tossed it back in Vegas’ face, easily beating a thick +9.5 point spread.

Not to pat myself on the back, but I actually saw that coming. I strolled into week eight’s NFL betting scene with a healthy 56-47-3 record and tacked on a nice 11-2 record (not counting week 8 MNF), and that included nailing the Packers as +9.5 underdogs.

It was a great week, and if you rolled with me, you should have done all right. Whether it was just week eight or as a whole (67-49-3 on the year), it’s been a solid run throughout 2018.

Let’s get ahead of everyone else and try to keep it going as we break down the early NFL betting lines for week nine.

All odds that are referenced in this post were taken from SportsBetting.ag on 10/28/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Oakland Raiders (+3.5) @ San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) Total: 47

The Raiders put up a valiant effort but fell yet again in week eight in a crazy shootout with the Colts. That drops them to 1-6 on the year, and at this point, they are awfully tough to get behind.

Jon Gruden is dismantling this team with each passing week, but as bad as the Raiders have been, this might be a week to target them.

The 49ers are without much reliable talent these days. I know they’re at home, but they’re just as bad at 1-7 and just got swept by the Arizona Cardinals.

It’s not easy to mutter these words, but give me the value with Oakland to at least keep it interesting.

PICKOakland Raiders (+3.5)-123
Detroit Lions (+6.5) @ Minnesota Vikings (-6.5) Total: N/A

The NFC North will start deciding things in week nine, as the Lions and Vikings – both fresh off of tough home losses – will send someone in this matchup closer to the bottom of the division.

Detroit is admittedly closer to that fate, but you at least have to give them a look. They have some solid wins on the year and have been competitive at nearly every turn.

I love the Vikings to win here, but this is a divisional clash, and the Lions will be desperate. Minnesota is the straight-up call, but the Lions should be able to stay within a touchdown.

PICKDetroit Lions (+6.5)-110
Kansas City Chiefs (-8) @ Cleveland Browns (+8) Total: 52

Aaron Rodgers and co. go into LA as +9.5 underdogs, and the 7-1 Chiefs are barely favored to win by a touchdown? That’s rich.

Cleveland has largely been competitive this year, but they’re no match for the Chiefs. The Browns were supposed to be strong defensively, too, and in recent weeks, they’ve gotten blasted for 45, 38, and 33 points.

Patrick Mahomes will probably go nuts in Ohio, and I highly doubt the Chiefs have a difficult time covering this palatable spread.

PICKKansas City Chiefs (-8)-110
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3) @ Baltimore Ravens (-3) Total: 47.5

Baltimore took care of business at Heinz Field earlier this year, and in week nine, they will go for the sweep of the Steelers. Vegas likes them here, as they’re on their own turf and badly need a win after dropping three of their last four.

The Ravens are dangerously close to falling out of the playoff picture, so I do acknowledge the value associated with them. Not only are they at home against a rival, but they already beat Pittsburgh.

The problem here is that the Steelers are the better overall team, and they’re running hot at the moment (three straight wins). I appreciate where Baltimore is and the importance of this game, but these are two teams headed in very different directions.

Pittsburgh feels like a fun straight-up road dog, but I’ll just bank on this one at least being a tight game.

PICKPittsburgh Steelers (+3)-125
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins Total: N/A

This is the only game for week nine that does not currently have any odds. That’s because Miami isn’t quite sure what they’ll be doing at quarterback or wide receiver.

The Dolphins have been surprisingly competitive all year and will be at home, so even though they are kind of in limbo right now, I feel like they’ll be a solid bet.

Fortunately, Vegas may not back them too hard due to their current issues. I just don’t love the idea of rolling with a rookie quarterback on the road against a rival.

Sam Darnold can be great, but he turns the ball over quite a bit and really doesn’t have many weapons to work with at the moment. Miami could be a sneaky play this week.

PICKMiami Dolphins to WinN/A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6) @ Carolina Panthers (-6) Total: N/A

The Bucs are back to square one, as they benched Jameis Winston after a four-pick effort and nearly beat the Bengals with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

For at least one day, #Fitzmagic was a trending narrative on Twitter again, and the Bucs had some hope. Truly, they were toast in a 34-16 beatdown on the road, yet Fitzpatrick led them to an 18-0 run and nearly forced overtime.

That didn’t happen, though, and now Tampa probably has a locker room divided. The Bucs are going nowhere, and I doubt a change under center rescues them from a tough spot in Carolina.

PICKCarolina Panthers (-6)-115
Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) @ Washington Redskins (-2.5) Total: 48

The Falcons are a very weird team, as they got off to an extremely slow start but are immensely talented and have been in just about every game this year.

Their schedule started easing up two weeks ago, and since then, they have won two straight and can make it three in DC this week. It’s impossible to ignore what is happening with the 5-2 Redskins, but just how long can bettors actually trust Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson?

Washington has the framework of a playoff contender, and they’ve been good (3-1) at home, but Atlanta is easily the more talented team. With their season hanging in the balance, I have to think the Falcons stay hot and get back to .500.

Atlanta ATS is a fine play, but let’s aim higher and go for the nice road upset.

PICKAtlanta Falcons to WinN/A
Houston Texans (+2.5) @ Denver Broncos (-2.5) Total: 47

Denver is merely a favorite in name this week. The Broncos did put up a heck of a fight against the mighty Chiefs in Kansas City, but that loss has to take the air out of this team.

Now 3-5, Denver is going nowhere in a hurry, and now they have to tackle the red-hot Texans (5 straight wins!). Houston could falter here, but I’m not ready to bet against Deshaun Watson right now.

Houston is also figuring out how to run the ball and defend. Case Keenum has an argument for the revenge narrative here, but I’ll pass.

PICKHouston Texans (+2.5)-105
Los Angeles Chargers (+1.5) @ Seattle Seahawks (-1.5) Total: 48

The Bolts have historically been the bane of my NFL betting existence, but they’ve actually surprised with a sweet 5-2 record. Los Angeles has done that without the help of star pass rusher Joey Bosa, too.

I like the Bolts as they stand, but going on the road and taking down the Seahawks is a tall order. Seattle just scored a big road win over the Lions and at 4-3 looks like a potential playoff threat again.

LA is more talented and needs to hang tight if they want to take down the Chiefs in the AFC West, but this could be a trap game for them.

PICKSeattle Seahawks ATS (-1.5)-110
Los Angeles Rams (-1) @ New Orleans Saints (+1) Total: N/A

I felt the first loss could potentially come for the Rams last week. It didn’t, but I’m ready to bite down on a big upset in week nine.

LA is stacked and probably one of the best Super Bowl 53 bets out there, but going on the road and taking down the red-hot Saints is just asking a lot.

Green Bay exposed some flaws in the Rams, and they’ve honestly had several close games already in 2018. They’re undefeated and obviously ablaze, but they’re facing a New Orleans team that is usually deadly at home and is looking pretty unstoppable themselves with six consecutive wins behind them.

If the Saints defend their home turf here, they get a signature win and suddenly look like the new favorite in the NFC. Even if the latter doesn’t last, I do love the value associated with New Orleans as a home dog this week.

PICKNew Orleans Saints to WinN/A
Green Bay Packers (+6) @ New England Patriots (-6) Total: N/A

The Packers did a terrific job beating a gaudy +9.5 point spread last week. Their defense showed real potential, and had it not been for some painfully conservative play-calling and a brutal fumble, perhaps we’d be talking about an amazing upset.

That didn’t happen, and now I have to think Green Bay is on full tilt. That was a potentially season-changing road win, and they have to turn right back around and go face Tom Brady on the road?

I’m not digging that at all, so while I would normally jump at Aaron Rodgers as an underdog, this is more about the Packers (and the Pats) as a whole.

PICKNew England Patriots (-6)-115
Tennessee Titans (+4.5) @ Dallas Cowboys (-4.5) Total: N/A

The last game of the week goes down in Jerry World, where the Cowboys will lick their wounds stemming from last week’s loss to the Redskins.

Dallas doesn’t have much time to reflect on the past, though, as they need to try to regain their footing in the NFC East. I’m rarely into doubting Dallas at home, and I haven’t trusted the Titans much at all in 2018.

Dak Prescott gets to play with new toy Amari Cooper, and I’m guessing any amount of success down the field works wonders for Ezekiel Elliott and the ground game. That being said, I don’t trust Dallas to win by five. The price isn’t amazing, but give me Dallas to simply win this one.

PICKDallas Cowboys to WinN/A
Summary

This sets up as a very fun week. I think it’s very important to take this early look at NFL lines, and that’s going to be the case whether you actually act on those odds right away or not.

For week nine, there is plenty to get excited about. My favorite play of the entire week might be the Saints being loudly doubted at home against the Rams.

Is Los Angeles for sure the superior team? I’m not even sure. They arguably have more talent, but Sean Payton has a terrific system, and I tend to trust the veteran Drew Brees over Jared Goff.

I’m positive it’ll be a terrific showdown, and in all, this shapes up as a fantastic week. Whether you roll with my week nine NFL picks or not, hopefully I shed some light on a few of these games and set you up for success.

Either way, good luck this week, and enjoy the games!

The post Week 9 NFL Betting Lines – Early Analysis and Free Picks appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – NFL Monday Night Football Betting Preview

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New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – NFL Monday Night Football Betting Preview

Is this Monday Night Football game going to be as lopsided as everyone expects?

All signs are pointing to the New England Patriots dominating in Buffalo tonight, and the outrageous point spread backs that claim up.

See, having a divisional game in which the road team is favored by 14 or more points just doesn’t happen very often. In fact, you’d have to go all the way back to a Week 11 Game in 2007 between these same two franchises to find the last time it occurred.

That week, the Bills hosted the Pats as massive 16-point underdogs in a game that was also played during primetime.

And that turned out horrendously for the home team, as Tom Brady trampled all over Buffalo to the tune of passing for 373 yards and 5 scores in a colossal 56-10 beatdown.

But that was then, and this is now.

Can we find any correlations, or was that perhaps an outlier performance?

First things first – I know that the general public is going to be all over the Pats in this one. And at first glance, it’s hard to argue. But before I just sign off on a pick and move toward Week 9’s action, I want to take a deep dive into tonight’s matchup.

I want to “dot my i’s and cross my t’s” before recommending any betting advice, which is why it’s time to start looking at each squad individually. I’ll then transition into what I expect to ensue tonight when the two teams take the field.

I’ll kick it off with an assessment of the visiting team, who appears to be hitting their stride as we approach November.

Surprise, surprise.

Odds Disclaimer Box 1
The New England Patriots

Remember when Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions spanked the Patriots on Sunday Night Football back in Week 3? The Pats fell to 1-2, and some actually thought New England’s reign over the AFC East was coming to an abrupt end.

Well, how’s that theory playing out for all of the Patriot-haters?

Because if you fast-forward five weeks, the Pats are still stuck on two losses, thanks to reeling off four consecutive victories in ultra-impressive fashion.

It looks like that loss at Ford Field was the best thing that could have happened to Bill Belichick’s squad, as the offense has looked utterly unstoppable over the past month.

Josh McDaniels’ unit has scored no fewer than 38 points in each of their last four games, thanks to Tom Brady completing over 70% of his throws during that stretch.

And the scary part is, this offense still isn’t at full strength.

Rob Gronkowski is banged up and missed Week 7’s game at Chicago, rookie RB Sony Michel has a twisted knee, and they’re still working Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon into the mix.

If this offense gets entirely healthy and starts clicking on all cylinders, let’s just say it won’t be a good thing for other teams in the AFC.

We have seen Brady be effective with a bunch of “no-name receivers” time and time again. Giving “Tom Terrific” a bevy of weapons to play with is just asking for trouble if you are the opposition.

Like it or not, folks, an offense led by a 41-year-old signal-caller is putting up points in bunches.

Don’t sit there and act surprised, either.

Anyone who has watched football for the last 18 years knew this was going to happen. What the true Patriot fans are more concerned about is how this defense will hold up as the year progresses.

Because despite being 5-2 and looking good on paper, there are more than a few holes on the defensive side. The proof is in the pudding, as there is some glaring data that demonstrates evidence that Belichick needs to clean things up – especially in the front 7.

New England has accumulated just 9 sacks through 7 games – which ranks 31st in the National Football League. Only the Khalil Mack-less Raiders have recorded fewer sacks, and that’s in part because they’ve played one fewer game than the Patriots have.

The saving grace is that their secondary has been able to cover some things up, as the Pats’ 10 interceptions are the fourth-most in the league. Giving up 25.6 points per game is surely nothing to write home about, but I’ll leave you with this.

Playing on Monday night means Belichick gets an extra 24 hours to prepare. And the quarterback he’ll be facing is a 35-year-old dude who was basking in semi-retirement just three weeks ago.

You can see where this is going.

The Buffalo Bills

I’m going to do everything I can to build this team up.

I’m not a fan of kicking a man when he’s down, so poking fun at the current situation in Buffalo is not something I’m keen on doing.

But this is a blog about betting a football game, so it’s my job to be unbiased and point out the facts and information that’s on the table.

So here we go.

Buffalo is averaging a league-worst 11.6 points per game this season. Their franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, has already been ruled out for this game due to a lingering elbow injury.

The Nathan Peterman experiment was extremely short-lived and unsuccessful, meaning Derek Anderson gets the nod tonight for the second straight week.

Last Sunday against a Colts defense that isn’t very good, Anderson looked inadequate and completely overmatched. Derek threw 3 picks, fumbled once, and threw for just 175 yards and no touchdowns.

And now he’ll face a defense led by Bill Belichick who has had ample time to prepare.

It’d be one thing if Sean McDermott’s team had a reliable running game to depend on, but that hasn’t been the case all season long. People want to make a big deal whether or not LeSean McCoy will play tonight, and I’m saying who really cares anyway?

McCoy has been a ghost of himself all season long, as he’s rushed for just 244 yards on the year and has yet to hit pay dirt.

LeSean is sporting an abysmal 3.9 yards per carry (YPC) and only has 13 catches on his 2018 season resume.

Most fantasy players were wary of drafting McCoy due to the uncertainty surrounding all of his off-the-field allegations. Little did they know that Roger Goodell standing pat and not suspending LeSean would have nothing to do with the fact that McCoy has been virtually “unstartable.”

When you look at the Bills receiving core, you begin to realize just how inept this passing attack is.

I mean, for crying out loud, Buffalo averages just 129.4 passing yards per game in an era where 10 quarterbacks are averaging 300 or more yards per game through the air!

Zay Jones leads the team with 19 catches, and tight end Charles Clay has 16.

This big-mouth WR named Kelvin Benjamin sure gets a lot of publicity for a dude who has brought in just 14 of the 37 passes thrown his way.

The Panthers should be thanking their lucky stars the former FSU wideout is no longer bumping heads in the Carolina locker room.

I’m sure the Bills would love to trade Benjamin, but I can’t imagine any teams will show any interest whatsoever.

So I didn’t make anything up when I said I would have to go out of my way to find some positives about this football team. It’s not easy.

I (along with Bills fans) can at least hang my hat on the fact that they’ve only played two of their first seven games at New Era Field, and they actually played okay in both instances.

After falling to the Chargers by 11 in Week 2, the Bills actually defeated the Titans 13-12 during a Week 5 home game.

So after unsuccessful trips to Houston and Indianapolis, maybe some home cooking and sleeping in their own beds is just the formula Buffalo needs to get things back on track.

We can be hopeful of this happening, but let’s not start holding our breaths.

Tonight’s MNF Game
When: 8:15 pm EST Where: New Era Field, Buffalo, NY Line: Patriots (-13.5) -110, Bills (+13.5) -110 Total: Over 44 -110, Under 44 -115

Whether this game closes at or greater than the “14 number” still remains to be seen, as I’m sure some of the sharp money is still waiting to pounce.

I wanted to do everything I could to research this game and find ways Buffalo could at least remain competitive.

But I am having a really difficult time doing so.

I’m sure that another week under his belt in Buffalo will allow Derek Anderson to utilize more of the playbook and feel more comfortable in this offense. But let’s just be honest and call a spade a spade here.

Derek Anderson was unemployed earlier this month for a reason, and it’s not because he didn’t want to be playing football.

Anderson lacks creativity, he can’t escape the pocket, and he owns a career completion percentage of just 54.3%.

I’m starting to realize that me spending all this time trying to figure out how the Bills can cover the spread isn’t doing any good. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that that’ll be the case, as the coaching and talent level on Buffalo’s sidelines are severely inferior.

New England is 4-0 against the spread (ATS) over their last four games playing at Buffalo, and the Bills look to be as depleted as they’ve been all year long.

Their defense has been mediocre, but Tom Brady and co. are more disciplined and have more firepower than any offense Buffalo has faced.

So while it’s reasonable to think that a divisional clash should offer a closely-contested game, the more logical philosophy is that the Pats annihilate the Bills and make it look easy in the process.

PICKPatriots (-13.5)-110
The Wrap-Up

Tonight’s game should be exciting. That is if you happen to be a fan of the New England Patriots.

The large percentage of you that can’t stand Brady or Belichick probably won’t enjoy watching this one, as Buffalo just has nothing positive going for them at the moment.

As a fan of the game and someone who loves seeing games go down to the wire, I’m just not seeing tonight’s game as one of those contests. I’ve watched plenty of slugfests so far in 2018, but suggesting that the Patriots/Bills game tonight should be one of them is ambitious, to say the least.

With that being said, it’s still Monday Night Football, and it’s still a betting opportunity!

The post New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – NFL Monday Night Football Betting Preview appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

6 Reasons Why the Milwaukee Brewers Could Win the 2019 World Series

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6 Reasons Why the Milwaukee Brewers Could Win the 2019 World Series

The Milwaukee Brewers were one of the best stories in baseball in 2018. Sure, the Oakland Athletics were fun, and for a second there, the Colorado Rockies were interesting. But nobody leaned on analytics and in-game adjustments more to maximize their talent.

All of the Craig Counsell jokes aside, Milwaukee’s skipper made a lot of bold calls and relied on numbers and trends to inch the Brewers along. It’s hard to doubt him at this point, too, seeing as the Brewers won the NL Central and got within a game of a trip to the 2018 World Series.

Milwaukee is one of the smallest market teams in the majors, and they stretched out their talent and took it as far as it would take them.

The in-season moves to improve on the fly weren’t non-existent, either. They did trade for guys like Mike Moustakas, Jonathan Schoop, and Gio Gonzalez. However, the Brew Crew largely picked up where they left off in 2017 and simply kept getting better.

It led to an unlikely #1 seed in the NL playoffs as well as a trip to the NLCS. It was pretty shocking even in a down year for the National League, so it’s fair to wonder if this was just over-achievement at its finest or a classic example of “lightning in a bottle.”

Either could have easily been the case, but baseball bettors also need to wonder if the Brewers are simply just this good.

Milwaukee isn’t exactly in a cakewalk division, though, so assuming they’ll come crashing back down to earth in 2019 isn’t some crazy notion. The Chicago Cubs will be back to try to take back the NL Central crown, while you probably can’t write off the St. Louis Cardinals, either.

Heck, even the Pittsburgh Pirates were making some noise for a second there in 2018.

All of the doubt has crept in already, and it’s bled into the online sports betting sites. Most sites are not favoring Milwaukee to make it to the final four of the MLB playoffs, let alone the final series.

Their odds rest at 14/1 at the moment, which rings in as the eighth best 2019 World Series odds. Depending on what injuries or moves come between now and spring training, they could drop even further.

Still, the Brewers had a certain mentality to them, and there’s no denying their offensive firepower. If they make the right moves and things break just right, they could actually take the next big step and win the franchise’s first World Series title.

I don’t think it will be easy, and I’m not necessarily guaranteeing it, but this is a team worth rooting for.

Here’s how the Brewers could make it happen.

They Still Have All of the Power

That aforementioned power is what made the Brew Crew so dangerous the past two years and a huge reason why they may still contend for their first-ever title in 2019.

MVP candidate Christian Yelich bombed away to a career-high 36 homers, while Milwaukee ranked 4th in home runs, 11th in hits, 12th in runs, 12th in batting average, and 12th in RBI.

The Brewers were only truly ELITE when it came to their power on offense, but they were still above average in every other meaningful statistical category.

The main problem for Milwaukee’s offense has always been strikeouts and a lack of production outside of home runs. It’s easy to see that with one glance at the Brew Crew’s walk rate (15th) and whiffs.

If they can get a little more efficient at the plate (7th most strikeouts last year), they could be even more deadly in 2019.

They also can dong the ball as well as anyone, and their aggressiveness on the bases (4th in steals) shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The pop is there, and this is for sure going to be a team that can hang runs on you.

But if they can find a way to get more efficient while not losing that long ball upside, Milwaukee just might morph into the best team in the majors.

Their Bullpen Is Still Nasty

If you’re not talking about Milwaukee’s power, you have to give a nod to their bullpen.

Their amazing pitching rotation beyond their starters is a massive reason why they won more games in the NL than anyone else and also a key to their playoff success.

Nobody loves the idea of “bullpenning” their way to a championship, but it’s become an increasingly more acceptable MLB strategy. It’s also pretty much responsible for Milwaukee almost reaching this year’s World Series.

I still think Brewers aces like Jhoulys Chacin, Gio Gonzalez, and Wade Miley deserve credit for pitching above their heads all year, even if they’re not what you’d call true aces.

They survived plenty of games and were spot-on with management, but it’s fairly safe to say this team would have been lost without a lights-out bullpen.

As a whole, this was the fifth best bullpen (3.47 collective ERA) during the regular season, and Josh Hader gives them one of the best closing options in baseball. Add the likes of Jeremy Jeffress, Corey Knebel, and others, and Milwaukee looks very strong to close out games.

I was not a fan of the team repeatedly going back to a struggling Jeffress, but this remains a strong unit and should again be one of the best in the big leagues next year.

Jimmy Nelson Will Be Back

One thing people seem to forget is that the Brewers weren’t even at full strength in 2018. Top ace Jimmy Nelson isn’t Clayton Kershaw, but he enjoyed a career year before suffering a shoulder injury in 2017.

After sitting out all of 2018, Nelson should be back at full strength in 2019, and barring some big moves to beef up their starting rotation, he could head an underrated, albeit less than flashy unit.

Nelson has not historically always been dominant, but he does offer strikeout upside, and he seemed to be really turning a corner in his most recent season of work.

Should Nelson pick up where he left off, the Brewers may really have a better starting unit than some suggest.

I also would hate to miss an opportunity to point out the potential rise of youngster Freddy Peralta.

Command has not been Peralta’s strong suit, but he’s immensely talented and could develop into a key arm for the Brew Crew as quickly as 2019. He flashed with 13 whiffs in his pro debut in Colorado, which is not an easy accomplishment.

He was inconsistent as a rookie, but the talent and upside are clear to see.

There are no guarantees, but if Nelson and Peralta come back and give the Brewers two rock-solid starters, this defense could improve by quite a bit without even digging into their pockets.

Milwaukee Isn’t Done Adding Talent

Due to free agency and possible movement on the trade block, the Brewers could look a bit different in 2019 than they did when the season ended.

That’s certainly true on the mound, as Chase Anderson is a trade chip at this point, and guys like Gio Gonzalez and Wade Miley need to come to agreements to stay in town.

Offensively, Milwaukee needs to decide if keeping around aging outfielder Ryan Braun is helping more than it’s hurting.

Eric Thames is another guy the Brewers need to make a decision on, while Mike Moustakas appears ready to enter free agency.

Milwaukee could easily opt to move on from the likes of Braun, Thames, and Anderson, while Moose could go to a team deemed more likely to contend.

All of this could free things up a bit for the Brewers to make a splash, and at this point, it makes more sense for them to chase down a true ace.

Patrick Corbin, Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, David Price, and a few others will be available, while the Brewers could also try to swing some moves via trades.

I don’t know how realistic landing any big-name arms really is, but it’s certainly something Milwaukee will have to look into.

Beyond pitching, the Brewers could be in for an upgrade at catcher. Not every team has a legit catching option behind home plate, but Milwaukee has been dealing with a rotation ever since losing Jonathan Lucroy.

A reunion with Lucroy (who is a free agent) isn’t completely out of the question, while viable upgrades like Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos will also hit the open market.

Elsewhere, mashers like Steve Pearce, Matt Adams, Jed Lowrie, Asdrubal Cabrera, Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado, A.J. Pollock, and Bryce Harper (among others) will be available to the highest bidder.

Milwaukee isn’t stacked with cash like the Dodgers, Yankees, and other big market teams, though, so who they can bring in might be a little more limited than some would care to admit.

That being said, there is room for some improvement, and there will be a lot of options for the Brewers to pursue.

Depending on who they bring in, Milwaukee can still add to an already talented roster and get even better in 2019.

The NL Central Isn’t Exactly Elite

You can debate how Milwaukee’s roster will look once the new MLB season rolls around, but what you can’t ignore is that the NL Central isn’t as scary as it once was.

I said it’s not exactly a cakewalk division, and it’s not. But it’s also not an ELITE division.

Milwaukee finished the year with the best record in the NL, but they still had to take out the Cubs in a one-off game to decide the division.

It was a down year for the NL as a whole, but the Brewers still fended off the Cubs and have been very close to them for the past couple of years now.

Chicago has a talented offense, but they were erratic in 2018, and they do not have consistently fearful pitching. The Cardinals are rather similar, and nobody else in this division is a realistic threat to rise to the top.

This isn’t a bad division by any means, and the Brewers did happen to benefit from a down year in the NL, but the clear path back to postseason play comes through winning the division again.

While it won’t be easy, the Brewers absolutely will be in the mix to repeat, and taking the crown for the second year in a row would at least put them in position to go on another deep playoff run.

Teams Don’t Reach the NLCS by Accident

One last thing to consider is the fact that the Brewers got to the NLCS because they’re good, not because they’re lucky.

Milwaukee beat the Cubs in Chicago in a game that decided the NL Central division. Prior to that, they had the best record in the NL and earned every bit of that division crown on the heels of it.

They also earned home field advantage and promptly swept a pretty good Rockies team in the first round of the playoffs.

Once in the NLCS, Milwaukee did not waver, as they took a 1-0 series lead and even went up 2-1 before ultimately forcing a game seven.

The Brewers ran out of gas in the end, but it was on merit and talent that they enjoyed this dream season.

Recent history suggests that the Brewers could well build on last season’s performance and turn that into another amazing run.

Those Dodgers that just edged out the Brewers by four runs in a decisive game seven? This was their third consecutive NLCS appearance. Winning that game pushed them into their second straight World Series as well.

LA isn’t the only team to be successful once cracking their first NLCS, either.

Chicago had appeared in three straight NLCS’s of their own before this season, while the St. Louis Cardinals played in (and won two) NLCS’s from 2011 to 2014.

The San Francisco Giants also reached the NLCS three times between 2010 and 2014, while the Philadelphia Phillies got here in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

None of this guarantees Milwaukee will be back in the NLCS in 2019, and it doesn’t mean they’ll for sure advance to the World Series (let alone win) if they do.

It does show, however, that teams that reach the NLCS tend to make it there for a reason and that a club like the Brewers could come back into 2019 with a big goal in mind.

Some forget that the Brewers reached the NLCS as recently as 2011. It will be very interesting to see if this is yet another “one and done” Brewers team or if they’ll follow suit like other teams and be back for more.

Will the Brewers Win the 2019 World Series?

Are the Brewers locks to end 2019 with the best record in the National League again? I highly doubt it.

However, they’re in a division where they can easily finish the season in first place again, and if they don’t, they should be pushing for second and give themselves a chance as a wild card team.

Needless to say, the Brewers shouldn’t experience some drastic fall-off, and if they can actually enhance their roster, they have the power on offense and arms in the bullpen to piece together another magical run.

It does feel a bit like the 2018 season was a special one that got away from them, but MLB teams tend to answer the call after pushing hard like this.

Milwaukee has a lot of fantastic pieces in place, and it will absolutely take some big moves to keep them in contention, but I see the foundation of a special team.

More importantly, I don’t see anyone in the NL that is for SURE better than them.

The Dodgers beat them and had more money, but their paid-for talent couldn’t provide some crazy gap. The names and cash make the Dodgers look better, but Milwaukee really wasn’t far behind at all.

Atlanta will be better, and they’ll have the Phillies right behind them in the NL East. The Cubs and Cards will be there, but they’re not automatically ahead of the Brewers by any means.

The NL West has more than just the Dodgers, too, but looking over the NL, it is not a reach to suggest Milwaukee still has a clear path to the playoffs and possibly much more.

That still may involve getting past the Cubs and finishing off Los Angeles, but an improved Brewers team can potentially do that.

 Conclusion

As things stand, the top betting sites don’t think the Brewers will win it all, and I hate to say I have to agree with them.

That being said, the Brewers are a fun underdog story, and they are fully equipped to defy logic again in 2019. Besides, away from the top in the World Series odds department is precisely how these Brewers like it.

Baseball bettors can keep doubting them, but not placing any money on Milwaukee in 2019 may prove to be a big mistake.

The post 6 Reasons Why the Milwaukee Brewers Could Win the 2019 World Series appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Tiger vs. Phil Go Head-to-Head – Get Your Popcorn Ready for the Golf Match of the Year

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Tiger vs. Phil Go Head-to-Head – Get Your Popcorn Ready for the Golf Match of the Year

I’m not one who likes to toot my own horn, but I’ve got to say, I’ve pretty much called Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson just right so far.

When the rumblings initially came out that these two golfing giants would square off in a mano a mano showdown, there was a lot of speculation as to when and where the match would take place and if the match would even go down at all.

Well, take a peek at the Tiger vs. Phil blog I wrote back in July, and you’ll see that my premonitions proved to be correct. Well, just about.

Technically, I suspected it would happen in October instead of November, but I was spot on about it taking place at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.

The most private venue in all of Sin City represents the ideal setting for such a highly-anticipated match. I can say that, as I’m in the lucky boat of people who have had the privilege of teeing it up at the stunning Tom Fazio design in North Las Vegas.

It has already been stated that no tickets will be publicly sold for those interested in attending this event, as the only way to check this thing out will be via television. WarnerMedia owns the broadcasting rights and will be offering the telecast via pay-per-view, so get your popcorn ready.

Because despite being older and perhaps not in their primes, this is THE matchup that the people still want to see.

There will be some who will pout and be upset that they can’t watch it for free and are not permitted to spectate in person.

But here’s what else I know.

This is Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson playing a round of golf with 9 million bucks on the line. I expect a whole bunch of back-and-forth banter, meaning I expect this to be must-see television.

So when push comes to shove, are you going to be caught asking your friends later that night who won the match and if it lived up to the hype? Or are you going to suck it up and do whatever you can to make sure you don’t miss out?

Odds Disclaimer Box 1
What to Expect

What we know is that the match is going down at Shadow Creek Golf Course on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

But other than the date of the match and the venue, a lot is still up in the air.

We still don’t know the actual format for this duel, despite what you may have heard.

Because while you can bet on the spread of the match being less than or greater than 1.5 strokes, Phil has actually gone on record stating that the format will be match play.

Mickelson went as far as telling GolfChannel.com that the match will also feature “mid-round” competitions that will be brought on by “spur of the moment” dilemmas.

For example, a player could challenge the other in a closest-to-the-hole or long drive challenge, but nothing is set in stone just yet.

What looks to be certain is that both Phil and Tiger, along with their caddies, will be “mic’d up.” This will serve as a direct way for the viewers to hear all the discussions, both the good and the bad. This is what Phil had to say about that.

“It allows us to be a little more real, if you will. We think there will be some pretty good interest, but we’re trying to present it in a way that you don’t get to see with normal TV.”

Golf is a gentleman’s game, and I understand it is meant to be played with proper etiquette displayed at all times.

But this isn’t your typical round of golf, as simple math tells us each hole is worth the unfathomable amount of $500,000!

And remember when I said that no tickets were being sold?

Well, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any individuals following the action inside the ropes.

In fact, I’m expecting there to be a crowd of people that somewhat resembles a Mike Tyson fight from the ’90s on the Las Vegas Strip.

You and I might not be able to get a ticket, but you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be more than a couple familiar faces in attendance. Perhaps well-known athletes and/or musicians will be on hand, but this will undoubtedly be an “invite-only” festivity.

Some More Exciting News Brewing

While the anticipation is eagerly building for Black Friday to arrive, it’s looking like this will only be the start of these high-stakes golf battles between the world’s best players.

I learned from a Golf Digest article that Tiger and Phil are hoping to organize more of these “non-traditional golf events” in the future, perhaps even having two-man teams compete against one another.

We all loved watching Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth take on Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter in a foursomes session in Paris last month.

Imagine if they got in the ring again, this time with $9 million on the line, and perhaps during primetime?

My guess is that WarnerMedia won’t have many problems selling packages.

We Have Been Down This Road Before

Do you remember when Tiger was pitted against David Duval at the Showdown at Sherwood in 1999?

I ask because that started out as just being a “one-time thing.” But the fans ate it up and begged for more, so then came the Battle at Bighorn in 2000.

That was a heads-up match between Tiger and Sergio, which made sense after the two battled anxiously down the stretch in the final major of the 1999 season.

Garcia won 1 up and collected $1.1 million for his efforts, but you shouldn’t feel too sorry for “Eldrick,” as he walked away with a cool 400 grand himself.

And there was more. Much more.

We saw Woods and Duval pair up with the LPGA’s two biggest stars (Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb) in 2001 in an alternate shot format in which Tiger and Annika outlasted David and Karrie in 19 holes.

The exciting turnout, which also took place at Bighorn Golf Club, was again a hit, and the winning duo split the $1.2 million check that was awarded to the victorious team.

In 2002, Tiger and Sergio returned to Bighorn, this time in a fourball match that included legends Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino.

Woods and the Golden Bear fended off “El Niño” and “The Merry Mex,” in part due to the remarkable 9 birdies that Tiger poured in over the 16 holes that were played.

The series moved to an upscale area of San Diego called Rancho Santa Fe in 2003, as the “Battle at the Bridges” ensued with a new four-man combination.

Woods and Garcia were again the central figures, but this time Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson hopped aboard to see what these “Monday Night Matches” were all about.

Sergio (partnered with Mickelson) eagled the 16th hole to earn him and Phil the 3&1 victory over Tiger and Ernie, and again, a $1.2 million check was split between the two winners. Don’t worry, Phil and Ernie got to split a smaller check worth half a million dollars, so nobody went home hungry.

The 2004 edition of the Battle of the Bridges decided to change up the pace, and a severe dip in the Nielsen ratings proved it wasn’t necessarily the best idea. Long bombers John Daly and Hank Kuehne were added to the fray, as Tiger and Hank took on Lefty and Big John in a better-ball format.

Woods and Kuehne emerged in 17 holes, but the drop in interest level amongst the general public was notable.

That’s why the 2005 Battle at the Bridges was the final one to be played, although Vijay Singh refused to take part in what was supposed to be a battle of the top-4 ranked players in the world (Els later withdrew as well).

Instead, it ended up being Tiger and John Daly locking horns with Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen.

Phil and Retief won uneventfully, and Tiger officially bowed out of competing in any more “showdowns” for the foreseeable future.

I’d like to note that Tiger did square off against Rory McIlroy seven years later in an 18-hole stroke play match deemed the “2012 Duel at Lake Jinsha.”

This was appropriate given that Rory and Tiger were ranked #1 and #2 in the world respectively and were the two biggest names in the sport at the time. After ESPN and ABC had shared the rights during the previous high-stakes matches, this one was made available via pay-per-view only.

Tiger played well and posted a 4-under-par 68, although he was narrowly edged out by Rory’s 67.

Why Things Will Be Better This Time Around

Out of the previous 7 Monday Night Matches that were nationally broadcasted, the 2000 Battle at Bighorn featuring Tiger and Sergio head-to-head received the highest ratings (7.6) of all.

That’s no shocker to me when you realize how big the developing “Tiger-Sergio rivalry” was at the time.

So while Tiger and Phil might no longer be rivals per se, they are still undeniably the two men that move the needle the most.

As some golfers and analysts say, Tiger doesn’t move the needle. Tiger IS the needle.

Throw in the facts that Tiger and Phil will be jawing back and forth and that the purse has been more than quadrupled since the matches of the early 2000s, and as I’ve said above – get your popcorn ready.

There is going to be drama. There are going to be highlights. And nobody is going to be disappointed they watched this play out.

And once Black Friday passes us by and this match is in the books, look for Tiger and Phil to start conversing about when the next duel will take place, and more importantly, who will be featured.

But until this Tiger vs. Phil match is over, this is the only one worth talking about.

I want to shift gears into the betting aspect of this match, so let’s take a quick glance at each player before I give you my advice.

Tiger Woods

If I need to introduce Tiger Woods and tell you about his accomplishments, then perhaps you clicked on the wrong page.

Tiger won the 2018 TOUR Championship in September, marking his 80th victory on the PGA Tour. Given the status of Tiger Woods’ golf game from 2014-2017, some think his most recent triumph at East Lake Club was as remarkable as any.

And while I was uber-impressed with Tiger’s performance at the season-ending event, I saw this coming from a mile away.

And you should have as well.

It wasn’t like Woods came out of nowhere in Atlanta and caught the 30-man field by surprise. In fact, he was one of the tournament favorites leading in!

What is remarkable is the journey Tiger endured to get back to playing at this elite level.

Remember, folks, this time last year, Tiger was ranked 656th in the world and had no clear goals in sight. He wasn’t even sure if and when he would be playing competitively again, or even playing at all!

If someone would have told you he would contend in majors and be a fixture to win the FedEx Cup title in September, you would have called them crazy.

Look, I’m not trying to pretend that Tiger is back to being invincible and will win 25+% of his starts in 2019. But the truth is, he actually looks happy and more content playing now than he ever has.

This “new version of Tiger” is not only great for the game of golf, but it’s great for his continued development as a human being.

Once Tiger is happy and in a groove with his golf game, the rest of the PGA Tour has no choice but to take notice.
Phil Mickelson

Fans of Phil Mickelson surely would like me to spend my time speaking on his illustrious career, or perhaps even how “Lefty” began the 2018 campaign.

Because if we talk about Phil’s results in the middle and latter part of the 2018 season, you won’t find anything worth noting.

Mickelson logged six top-10s during the 2017/2018 FedEx Cup schedule. The only problem is that the most recent one was at the Wells Fargo Championship way back during the first week in May!

To help put that in perspective, here are a few things that have happened in the world since Phil last recorded a top-10 finish.

“The Royal Wedding” – Prince Harry married Meghan Markle at the Windsor Castle The Vegas Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the NBA Finals

And remember the TOUR Championship that Tiger won last month?

Well, Mickelson finished dead last and essentially embarrassed himself the following week in Paris. Phil was so out of sorts at the Ryder Cup that Captain Furyk had to leave Mickelson on the sidelines for the entirety of Saturday’s play.

Just ask Phil what the 17th and 18th holes at Le Golf National’s Albatros Course were like.

He’d be hard-pressed to tell you considering that Phil got closed out well before he reached the 17th tee in both matches he played!

Believe it or not, I’m not here to poke fun at Mickelson or to laugh at the way he has been playing. I love Phil as a golfer, but it’s my job to point out the facts.

And the fact of the matter is that right now, Phil isn’t playing very well.

Of course, this is golf, and things can change at the drop of a hat.

And once you put an eye-popping amount of cash on the table, something tells me that Phil will kick it into gear.

My Betting Advice

If you want to bet on Phil, the time is now. I can’t imagine the public perception of Phil will get any lower than it is right now, as his horrendous late-season performances (chiefly at the Ryder Cup) are fresh in the general public’s mind.

And I’ll tell you where your best option to do that is below.

Take a look at the current pricing of who will win the match at three of the top betting sites out there.

BetOnline.ag Sportsbook.ag Bovada.lv
Tiger Woods -200 Tiger Woods -220 Tiger Woods -250
Phil Mickelson +170 Phil Mickelson +180 Phil Mickelson +175

The +180 price attached to Phil over at Sportsbook.ag is rather appetizing, considering this is still just one round of golf where a lot can happen.

If you are in the camp that thinks Tiger will demolish Phil at Shadow Creek, you’ll want to place your wager at BetOnline.ag. You can see that the -200 price is currently the most favorable line for those wanting to bet on Woods.

But for those of you who have patience, I suggest waiting this out a bit more until more information is released. Neither player will be competing on the PGA Tour in the interim, so it’s unlikely that the lines for who wins the match will dramatically shift.

But once more details are finalized about the format of this match, expect the floodgates to open.

I’m talking about a bevy of prop bets that are sure to be released as we approach the November 23rd date.

You can already bet on the spread of the match and what color shirt each man will be sporting. I imagine a litany of additional props will be coming out, perhaps ones that even involve the players’ caddies.

If you want to ensure you don’t miss out, you can bookmark our blog homepage so that you stay completely in the loop.

When the time does come for me to create another post concentrated on how to attack betting this match, I promise I won’t leave you hanging!

Get Ready for Black Friday!

I can’t stress this enough, but you aren’t going to want to miss this one. The chances of you ever seeing Tiger and Phil play head-to-head in Sin City for $9 million again are slim to none.

While additional duels will likely be in play in the future, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Woods and Mickelson in the heat of the action again.

Avid golf fans like myself have been waiting and hoping for a long, long time that something like this would take place.

And now, we no longer have to wonder, and we no longer have to wait.

Friday, November 23rd, is a day when most will be digesting their turkey and figuring out which mall to go to.

And while they’re doing that, I’ll be tuned in to a golf match that will be unlike any we’ve ever seen before!

The post Tiger vs. Phil Go Head-to-Head – Get Your Popcorn Ready for the Golf Match of the Year appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

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