Stock Lemon Blog

NFL Quarterly Report: Power Rankings, Excuses, High Interest Loans

2013-09-30T23:45:00.002-05:00

We love the NFL. There's no questioning that. But it's a love that's been unrequited in this 2013 betting season. Black is white, up is down, the Texans can't cover and Stock Lemon Blog has been quiet as ever.

Needless to say, we're off to a rocky start in the 2013 NFL season, and we're glad that we decided against posting our plays, thus saving our internet reputation as NFL gambling gurus. Until this post, explaining how we are definitely not NFL gambling gurus.

And since we're sick of only using the internet to google "high interest loans," "second mortgage rates" and "how much can you charge for back alley handjobs?", we've decided to dust off the blog here before the calendar strikes October and try to sort things out in the world of pro football.

The easiest way we know how to do that? Power rankings. Overplayed, lazy, can-be-found-anywhere power rankings. All those things are true, but it's also true that simply ranking the teams the good ole fashioned way is a good way to get an idea on how various games in the upcoming week will play out. So here goes...

1. Denver Broncos
2. New Orleans Saints

Stop right here. This is our Super Bowl prediction through four games. Peyton Manning doesn't look human, and Sean Payton, fresh off the NFL reminding him that he definitely is, continues to Brees his way to redemption.

3. Seattle Seahawks
4. San Francisco 49ers

Ultimately, we like the 49ers to storm back and take the division, leading the Seahawks vulnerable to a road playoff loss.

5. New England Patriots
6. Kansas City Chiefs

Giving them their due at 4-0. Both have been relying too heavily on defensive production, though. We think Tom Brady gets his offense going (as he did this week). Alex Smith maybe not, but maybe he won't have to.

7. Green Bay Packers
8. Detroit Lions
9. Chicago Bears

This is how the NFC North will turn out, so why patronize these teams after four strange weeks?

10. Houston Texans
11. Indianapolis Colts
12. Tennessee Titans

Same here.

13. Dallas Cowboys
14. San Diego Chargers

Are these two teams the exact same?

15. Atlanta Falcons

1-3 after a tough slate, but not time to panic yet.

16. Miami Dolphins

3-1 after an easy slate, but not time to celebrate yet.

17. Cincinnati Bengals
18. Baltimore Ravens
19. Cleveland Browns

Your final AFC North standings.

---END LIST OF VIABLE CONTENDERS--

20. Carolina Panthers
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Arizona Cardinals

Things get ugly pretty quickly here.

23. Washington Redskins
24. Philadelphia Eagles

One of these teams can figure it out and salvage a 1-3 season and contend in their crappy division.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers
26. New York Giants

How the mighty have fallen.

27. New York Jets

Might end the year 0-14.

28. St. Louis Rams

So.

29. Minnesota Vikings

Very.

30. Oakland Raiders

Bad.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

But not as bad as...

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

-----

Here's hoping for a better October.

About Those CFL Picks...

2013-08-27T20:16:00.002-05:00

Boy, we are easily distracted by the NFL.

We tried, in earnest, to cap an entire year of Canadian Football. And you know what, we were actually doing it quite effectively. But despite a 17-11 start (60.7%!) to our CFL betting experiment, NFL preseason football has stolen our hearts, as it often does, and we're in full-on NFL mode at this point getting ready for the 2013 season.

First it was Tim Tebow on the Patriots, then Vince Young on the Packers, but what really but us over the edge was Matt Leinart on the Bills. So many random roster spots! We can't get enough!

We may jump back in on the CFL later in the year, once we get bored of legal hits on the quarterback being flagged and fined for some reason, but for now, we're tabling these picks and looking forward to watching a version of football that doesn't allow you to score on a punt. Freaking rouges.

Anyway, we enjoyed our foray into football up north, but we thought we'd explain our mysterious absence from what was a weekly affair (unless we forgot and posted our picks hastily on twitter instead).

Fear not, though, for sporadic coverage of the NFL awaits...

Our Week 7 CFL Picks, And Who Needs the NFL?

2013-08-08T03:27:00.001-05:00

The moment we've been waiting all summer for--NFL football, even in it's preseason form--and, weirdly, we don't much care.

Perhaps because this year, we've gotten used to this game called football that our neighbors to the north are playing, only with silly rules like three downs and a 55-yardline and the ability to score on a punt.

It could just be a lucky little run, and surely our optimism will lead to a couple of rough ones this week, but we've seemingly become decent at capping the CFL's brand of football. After a 2-0 week last week and an 11-3 run since a shaky 5-7 start, we're hoping for similar results from our two-game card in Week 7.

Toronto -2 over Montreal

If Toronto has been slightly underwhelming (until a Week 5 shellacking of BC), Montreal has been downright disappointing, not that anyone should have expected much from the Als this year anyway. Toronto's last two games have been wins of 16 and 26, and we're not discounting the possibility of a pattern developing with a 36-point win Thursday night. Montreal's wins this season have been far less impressive, both coming against division bottom-feeders, the 1-5 Eskimos and 1-5 Blue Bombers. We were in danger of overthinking this one--it seems like the visitors should be favored by a touchdown--but we're going to keep it simple, stupid.

Saskatchewan +3 over Calgary

Kevin Glenn is more than capable as a starting quarterback--a position he's in for Calgary on Friday--and the Stamps have an incredibly solid team. But we're getting three points on Kory Sheets and the Riders? The 5-0 Riders who've looked nothing short of unstoppable thus far? At this point, we're riding the Green Machine in Regina until they give us reason not to. This might be the game of the year thus far in the CFL this year, and it really could go either way, but Saskatchewan has more than earned the benefit of the doubt--especially as a dog.

Last Week: 2-0
Overall: 16-10

Our Week 6 CFL Picks, Even Though Half the League Isn't Playing

2013-08-01T23:27:00.006-05:00

That's how things are in the CFL--when you have only eight teams, giving four of them the week off accounts to half of your league, and there's scant little action for the degenerates betting football north of the border until the real games begin: preseason NFL.

But you could make the argument that only half the league has been playing to this point anyway. Things appear very top heavy thus far, and in many cases there isn't value in the underdogs of a touchdown or more. It hurts us to bet on heavy favorites--especially on the road, but--with the exception of the BC stomping Tuesday--that's been the correct route thus far. Trust us: after going 5-7 to start the season, we're 6-2 in the last two weeks, and clearly have this CFL betting thing down pat.

Although, this could be a week in which we're grateful to have half the normal betting slip. Case in point:

Hamilton +3 over Edmonton

Things have not gone well for either of these teams, both at 1-4, but our faith lies more in the Ti-Cats to get things turned around than the Esks. And this is taking into account the fact that Edmonton's sole win of the year came IN Hamilton! Still, we're getting points on the Cats looking to avenge in earlier loss to a fellow shitty team, so we're taking the visitors in this rematch.

Winnipeg +11 over BC

Remember all the stuff we said about how touchdown dogs still don't represent value when we're talking about the top-heavy nature of this year's field? Well forget it. This is 11 freaking points! Sure, BC will be out to wipe the slate clean after last week's pitiful effort in Toronto. And sure, Winnipeg is generally a pretty bad football team this year. And sure Peg has lost its last two games by 13 and 16 points, respectively. And... wait a minute, why are we betting on the Bombers? For us, it's just a matter of value. Obviously BC is the better team. But they aren't 11 points better, and in fact haven't played consistently well this season themselves. Like, you know, last week, when they were blown out by 26 points. But public perception has inflated this line, because so many bettors did exactly what we originally wanted to: saw BC vs. Winnipeg and pounded the Lions without giving a second thought. But we're banking on a big day from Chad Simpson here amidst the terrible quarterbacking in Winnipeg. And we're taking the value here, knowing we could take our lumps this week.

Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 14-10

Injury Problems Mounting in NFL

2013-07-31T20:20:00.001-05:00

All sides have to deal with injuries; they are an unpleasant fact in the hard-hitting and sometimes brutal NFL. However, that is usually during the season. This year, the injuries have been coming thick and fast in the pre-season and, already, there have been three (at least) major and season ending injuries.

The Baltimore Ravens lost starting tight-end, Dennis Pitta, to a dislocated hip, while the Philadelphia Eagles suffered an offensive blow when their top wide receiver from last season blew out his right knee with a torn ACL. Then, the Denver Broncos lost their starting center, Dan Koppen, with a similar torn ACL this time in his left knee. All of those three injuries would have been a blow at any time. It’s interesting to evaluate how each blow will affect the teams involved.

As fans who bet on NFL will no doubt be aware, Pitta was a vital part of the Ravens offence last year especially on third down. With Pitta on the field, the Ravens averaged more than twice as many yards per play as they did with him off the field, and all seven of their third-down passing touchdowns came from Pitta.

Pitta was also very much Joe Flacco’s “go-to” guy in the red zone, being very dependable and having dropped just three balls that have come his way in the past two seasons. Given those statistics, he is going to be very hard for the Ravens to replace and leaves a considerable hole in their offence.

We do not yet know who is going to be starting at quarterback for the Eagles but, whoever it is, they are not going to have the team’s premier receiver available to them – Maclin led the Eagles in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns last season, and has done so in those categories for the past four years.

If Michael Vick does convince Chip Kelly that he should be the starting QB then he, more than most, will miss Maclin, as he has completed more TD’s (17) and more passes (138) to him than any other Eagles receiver. Pitta was and is a huge loss for the Ravens; Maclin’s loss is on a similar scale for the Eagles.

It’s not only receivers that can be important though, and protecting the quarterback is one of the major goals for the offensive line; that’s why the Broncos “O” line has taken a major hit with the injury to Koppen.

Look at what happened last year – in the first three games, Koppen didn’t manage a single snap and Peyton Manning was sacked eight times. In the remaining 13 regular season games, the Denver center played 95 per cent of the team’s snaps and Manning was only sacked 13 times. That gives you an idea of how important Koppen was to the Broncos and how his absence may affect the effectiveness of Manning.

None of these players are irreplaceable but they all leave big gaps in the rosters of their sides; the NFL betting odds for next term have already noted their absence.

Looking to Complete a Perfect Week 5 in the CFL

2013-07-29T09:54:00.000-05:00

We realize not enough people follow @stocklemonblog for us to solely post our picks on twitter, so we're going to embed another tweet on our little corner of the blogosphere (since soooo many more people come here and actually read this thing).

And so, here's the big reveal on our fourth and final CFL Pick of Week 5 (a Tuesday game, how about that?):

Trying to finish off a perfect 4-0 week in the #CFL with our last Week 5 pick on Tuesday: BC -3.5 over Toronto. Looking for a favorite sweep
— Stock Lemon Blog (@stocklemonblog) July 29, 2013

Toronto is lucky to be 2-2 at this point, and the champs are looking more like they did in the regular season last year than they did in the playoffs. After a slowish start for the Lions (in which they've still won three of four games), we're confident that they are the far superior team, and at a number that ain't too tough to swallow (though they are on the road).

We're going with Travis Lulay and the Lions to close out a hopefully undefeated week of CFL action (either way, our second straight winning week), banking on BC in what should have been last year's Grey Cup matchup.

College Football 2013: 3 Keys To Success For Penn State

2013-07-28T21:24:00.000-05:00

The best bookie software facilitates more betting action during football season. At payperhead.com and other sites, betting becomes the central point of discussion, and no sport in America generates betting interest more than football.

This season, the Penn State football team will try to build off its immensely successful 2012 campaign. What made last season so remarkably good for the Nittany Lions is that they lost several players due to immediate transfers less than two months before the season began. The transfers that plagued Penn State were triggered by the July 2012 announcement of NCAApenalties against the football program, flowing from the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal that engulfed the university. When a substantial degree of depth was abruptly snatched from this team at a particularly inconvenient time (just when summer training camp was about to begin), it seemed that head coach Bill O’Brien was going to be in for a particularly difficult first season. Instead, O’Brien led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record, 5-3 in the Big Ten. Matthew McGloin, a quarterback who showed promise at times under former coach Joe Paterno but never really blossomed as a signal caller, finally found a groove under O’Brien, the former offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the New England Patriots during their most recent Super Bowl season in 2011. O’Brien showed how well he can coach an offense and provide meaningful instruction to a collegiate quarterback. Now, O’Brien will get a chance to start from scratch in 2013.

Tyler Ferguson leads Christian Hackenberg in the race for the quarterback job, with McGloin having graduated. O’Brien’s ability to mold one (if not both) of these players into a credible passing threat will be the foremost key for the Nittany Lions this season. The Big Ten has historically been a pound-on-the-ground smashmouth conference, but it is now a conference in which creative speed-based offenses have emerged. You need to score to keep pace with the rest of the Big Ten, so Penn State has to make sure before anything else that its offense is up to the challenge.

The second key for the Nittany Lions is to devote that much more attention to their offensive line. With a young and entirely unproven quarterback in place, the need to give that quarterback time to make reads and progressions will become that much more important. It’s true that a quarterback must use pocket presence to help his line, but for the first half of this season at the very least, Penn State’s offensive front must give its quarterback an extra helping hand.

The third and final key for the Nittany Lions this season is a psychological one. Last season witnessed an emotional autumn unlike any other in the program’s history… and in the history of the sport of college football, for that matter. Penn State was torn apart by the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and the players on the team responded to a difficult situation with a high level of motivation and determination. One year later, NCAA penalties remain in effect, but the situational cocktail of 2012 is no more. Can this team, ineligible for the postseason, still manage to display the passion and resilience needed to produce a successful football season?

Author Bio:

Blogger and bookie Jack Doveless has been around the sports betting world for years now, but only since discovering payperhead.com has he been able to offer his clients a full range of betting options. Jack believes that PayPerHead.com offers the best bookie software, and highly recommends the software to anyone else who is interested in offering bookie services.

If You're Betting on the NFL Preseason...

2013-07-27T21:42:00.002-05:00

This sentence can be finished in a number of ways.

-you're crazy
-you're a genius
-you need to get a life
-you must be a huge fan
-you need help

We're going with the less judgmental 'here are a few tips.' Our first tip is that if preseason football is something you're getting into this year, check out the sportsbooks at www.topbettingaction.com and find a good line.

Betting preseason NFL is not something we usually do (instead focusing our attention on Canadian Football during this time, which is either better or worse). We have done it, both successfully and not, in the past, but it is a very volatile thing to cap, since the end result--a win or a loss--is not always important to the people in charge of such matters.

Sometimes, and to some coaches, it is very important. Some believe it can set the tone for an entire training camp, or a team's practice habits, or even, perhaps ridiculously, the team's eventual outcome in the upcoming season.

And then some coaches simply see it as a way to evaluate the talent (or lack there of) of the players on his football team, mix-matching lineups with no concern over how a given set of personnel will perform relative to the game's final score.

The key, then, is knowing which coaches feel which way. Keep your eyes open for any headlines about coaches thinking a particular game is of some perceived importance, and obviously make sure to know as much as you can about who is going to receive a bulk of the playing time, especially at quarterback. Week 3 is the 'dry run' for most teams, in which starters will often go into the third quarter, but occasionally starters will get a longer look in Weeks 2 or 4 as well. Know if and when that's the case.

So which coaches do value the preseason winning percentage as a key piece of their Canton resume? Quite a few, in fact.

We couldn't be less surprised to know that Jim Schwartz, a man of great ego and little perspective, is 12-4 in the preseason, his Lions winning the Week 4 contests in all four seasons he's coached them, which has helped prepare them for exactly one winning season in that time.

Another ego, Mike Shanahan, boasts a 49-23 record, while Mike Tomlin is 19-6 (also, 6-0 in Week 4). These are important nuggets to know before you place your bets, and they can be very specific by week.

As we said, Week 3 is the dry run, so a coach like Sean Payton takes it seriously, holding a 6-1 record in Week 3 and a get-this-over-with record of 1-6 in Week 4. It hasn't worked out so well for Jeff Fisher (4-11) and Marvin Lewis (2-8) in Week 3, but they've recovered in Week 4, Fisher with an 11-4 record and Lewis a 7-3 mark.

Bill Belichick perhaps just wants to start things off right, going 10-4 in Week 1 and 6-7 in all other weeks.

By purely looking at the historical data, you can tell a lot about how some of the veteran coaches feel these tune-up games.

If you keep your ear to the ground, it's not hard to turn a profit simply by consuming as much public knowledge as possible. Plenty of bettors still treat these exhibition contests as if the teams in them were going at full strength. Enough people will bet on the Packers over the Cardinals, for example, purely because of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers reputation. This will allow you to get a good price if you feel that the odds favor the underwhelming opponent, or if you just want to fade the hell out of Graham Harrell.

If you are taking the preseason plunge, best of luck to you. And if not, believe us when we say there's plenty of room on the CFL betting bandwagon.

Draft/Free Agency Review: Philadelphia Flyers

2013-07-26T23:19:00.002-05:00

The Philadelphia Flyers have been an administrative enigma for the last couple of years. Ever since Bobby Clarke stepped down as general manager in 2006, the Flyers have made some very bizarre and bad player personnel choices. The most notable issue for Philadelphia is in net, where the team has been unable to find a reliable starter. The team had drafted Sergei Bobrovsky and tried to give the young goalie a chance, but they wound up trading Bobrovsky away. After the 2012-13 season, Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy.

Draft:

When you look into sport betting at Sportsbetting.ag, you will see that the Flyers’ Stanley Cup futures odds are firmly stacked against the team. The team had six chances to draft impact players in the 2013 NHL draft, but the team did not seem to make the choices that it should have made to improve.

The best choice that the Flyers did make was when they picked Samuel Morin with the 11^th overall pick. Morin looks and plays like former Flyers’ captain Chris Pronger. Even though Pronger is still on the Philadelphia roster, he will unlikely play for the team ever again as his health issues seem insurmountable. Morin is expected to make an immediate impact, but it will be years before he can even come close to playing like his idol, Chris Pronger.

The Flyers picked four defensemen in the draft, which seemed like a waste of draft picks on a team that needs defensive help right now. There were too many good defensemen available in free agency that the Flyers passed up and that could be a problem for the team in the coming season.

Grade: D

Free agency:

The two most interesting free agent signings that the Flyers made in 2013 were goaltenders Ray Emery and Yann Danis. The Flyers lost forward Danny Brier to Montreal, but replaced him with former Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier. The Flyers did not re-sign eccentric goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, which leads most fans to think that Emery will be the starter when the season opens.

One notable free agency signing that kept an important player in Philadelphia was the re-signing of defenseman Mark Streit. Other than that, the Flyers were pretty quiet in free agency.

Grade: D

The Bottom Line

The best live sports betting action will probably see the Flyers’ Stanley Cup futures odds drop even further as the season approaches. Once again, the Flyers have settled for a career backup goaltender instead of pursuing a proven starter. Ray Emery’s days as an effective, full-time starter are behind him. The rest of the moves that Philadelphia made did very little to improve a team that needs help in so many different areas. The Flyers may be effective during the regular season, but they have done nothing to strengthen their chances of playing well in the playoffs.

Author Bio:

Jay Moreny is a sports and gambling blogger with a passion for earning money from the comfort of his couch. Over the years he has searched for the best live sports bettingsite, and Jay will tell you that sport betting at Sportsbetting.ag is the only choice for those who are serious about their sports bets.

Our Week 5 CFL Picks, And Trust Us, We Had the Alouttes

2013-07-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

The one bad thing about being an American and capping the CFL is that you might sometimes forget about the CFL. Even after your best week of the year (3-1, finally a winner), you might just forget to get your picks posted before the first game of the next week.

Kind of like we did tonight.

So you'll have to trust us this week. And since we're the only ones reading this, we trust ourselves. We had Montreal -4 at home over Edmonton tonight, mostly because we think the Eskimos are pure garbage and we're fading until further notice. The Als pulled it out, winning by five, and we're counting this as a win on our year-to-date record. Got a problem with that? Hey, Bill Simmons does it for his Thursday nighters all the time, and people actually read him. Had we lost this pick, we would have shared that information just the same. Or maybe we wouldn't have. Whatever, fuck you.

So congrats to us!

The rest of this week's picks, which we'll actually share with the general public:

Calgary -5 over Winnipeg

Home dogs will bark, but we hope that's not the case this week. We don't have enough reasons to bet against the favorites this week, against completely inferior opponents. Calgary is a close second behind Saskatchewan in our eyes as the best team in the league at this point in the season.

Saskatchewan -4 over Hamilton

As for the best team... Saskatchewan is not going undefeated this season, but the CFL's last unbeaten team has given more reasons to ride the hot streak than to try and predict an end to their exciting season-opening run. They still haven't even won by less than double figures and are just tearing up the competition so far. That competition hardly includes Hamilton, who last week lost in Regina by a count of 37-0. We see no reason why they'll avenge the loss this week, and will happily take four points on the far better road team.

Stay tuned for our pick on Tuesday's game (BC at Toronto), which has yet to have a line available, but be warned that we're leaning with the likely road favorite again. And we may just forget about it altogether.

Last Week: 3-1
This Week, Honor System: 1-0
Total: 9-8

Our Week 4 CFL Picks, Because We Haven't Given Up Yet

2013-07-19T18:55:00.000-05:00

Surely, you expected our Week 4 CFL Picks to come sometime during the barrage of posts from various authors on Tuesday. And surely, when you didn't see them, you thought, "About time they stop trying to cap the CFL."

Not so fast, Shirley. We're back after another 2-2 week to try to figure out this damn game once again. Like last week, we took to twitter for our first pick, tonight's game:

Giving the Argos another opportunity to let us down tonight. Taking Toronto -3 1/2 over Winnipeg. Will have the rest of our #CFL Picks soon
— Stock Lemon Blog (@stocklemonblog) July 19, 2013

We can't quit on last year's champs, and we hate ourselves for it. The smart pick here is Winnipeg, who opened as even odds but have since been bet against into getting more than a field goal and half a rouge. This time, though, our reason for betting Toronto is less about the Argos and more about the team they're playing. We're still of the opinion that the Bombers are the worst in the league, with Suck Pierce at the helm (we thought of that all on our own!). Despite their solid D, we're making this pick as a fade against 'Peg, all the while giving Toronto one more chance to disappoint.

Calgary -7 over Montreal

This is another case of betting against a team just as much as we're betting for the Stamps, but with much more confidence in Calgary than we have in Toronto. We hate these back-to-backs but like Calgary to stop the Als for a second consecutive week.

Edmonton +9 over B.C.

We're not big fans of what's going on in Edmonton, and they looked terrible at home against B.C. last week (this is another back-to-back), but we still think the Lions have looked a little shaky in the early going, and aren't as deserving of this nine-point spread as some think. Until B.C. gets in a rhythm offensively and really starts looking like a Grey Cup contender again, we're going to take the points (at least when we get this many of them).

Saskatchewan -6 1/2 over Hamilton

We wanted to take the points here, it's just our nature, but the Ti-Cats have done nothing to show us that they can stop the undefeated Riders from a fourth-straight double-digit victory. Thinking Toronto could compete with Saskatchewan last week was one of our worst calls of the season, and we're not making that same mistake this week. This game isn't until Sunday, so we're counting on Darian Durant's sprained foot to be functioning properly in time for Geroy Simon's debut.

Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 5-7

College Football 2013: 3 Keys To Success For Oregon

2013-07-16T21:45:00.000-05:00

At www.evodp.com, you will find more information about bookie software. When you take a tour of that site, you will learn more about the mechanics of processing bets. The Oregon Ducks football team is interested in the mechanics of becoming a better unit, good enough – at any rate – to overthrow Stanford and attain Pac-12 Conference supremacy.

The first key to success for Oregon is its offensive line. One has to look at the way in which Oregon’s front was dominated by Stanford’s front seven in the Cardinal’s upset win over the Ducks last year at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. The shocking aspect of Stanford’s win was not that it held Oregon to 14 points in the Ducks’ own lair (though that was certainly stunning indeed). The mind-blowing part of Stanford’s win is that the Cardinal gave Oregon the ball in favorable spots on the field. Stanford committed turnovers in the middle third of the field, inviting Oregon to score touchdowns, and yet the Ducks still couldn’t do anything with those gifts. That’s how impressive Stanford’s defensive front turned out to be. The Cardinal simply pummeled Oregon’s linemen and got off their blocks with regularity. Stanford imposed its will on Oregon’s offensive front, and that’s what has to change more than anything else when the Cardinal and the Ducks meet again this autumn. If Oregon can’t block better and generate a better forward push at the line of scrimmage, it will not beat Stanford, and if it can’t beat Stanford, it won’t win the Pac-12 North. If it won’t win the Pac-12 North, it can’t win the Pac-12 championship, and that means a BCS bowl spot will be very hard to attain. Oregon would have to win the rest of its games to have a shot under such a scenario. Two losses including one to Stanford in the regular season would likely knock Oregon out of the BCS bowl picture altogether.

The second key to success for Oregon is that if the offensive line is better, quarterback Marcus Mariota has to be better. Mariota is supremely skilled, and he did a very good job of leading Oregon’s offense in 2012. However, Mariota did experience some games in which his reads and progressions didn’t flow very well. Especially against Stanford, Mariota will need to make better throws and play with a dimension of crispness that he seemed to lack in the home stretch of the 2012 season. Showing better mental toughness – a small but substantial degree of internal resilience – will make Mariota and Oregon that much better in 2013.

The final thing the Ducks need to emphasize this season is that they must trust the system. Former head coach Chip Kelly is gone, a reality which could very easily lead to a mental letdown throughout the program. However, the Ducks hired offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich as their coach, meaning that Oregon is going to continue to do the things it did under Kelly… only without Kelly’s presence. As long as UO’s players buy into the system, they can maintain their winning edge and preserve the swagger Kelly brought to them. This is such an important psychological key for the Ducks this fall.

Author Bio:

Pete Lomur is constantly up to date on the latest sports bookie software options and pay per head bookie services. When managing his network of players he always uses the bookie software at www.evodp.com and highly recommends that other players in the industry take a tour of the site for more information.

Three Reasons To Think That Helfrich Will Ultimately Fail As Oregon Head Coach

2013-07-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

The Oregon Ducks only narrowly managed through potential sanctions and major fines despite a ton of flack they had to deal with this past offseason, finding a way to emerge from it all as the sports betting online favorites to win the PAC-12 and contend for a national championship. However, it won’t be just smooth sailing from here for new head coach Mark Helfrich, with three major obstacles in his way as he takes over for the departed Chip Kelly.

1. Added Responsibility Will Take Away From Offensive Focus

Helfrich is the former offensive coordinator that has graduated to the head coach role in order to keep the continuity going, but the added responsibility that comes with the shift could take away from the offensive focus. Helfrich still has two potential Heisman trophy candidates in quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De’Anthony Thomas, but how much time he gets to spend with the offense is questionable with a brand new role. Scott Forst was named the new offensive coordinator and at least understands what he wants, but there will be no substitute for the countless hours that Helfrich spent designing the offense these past couple of seasons.

2. Linebacker Position Is Thin Following Key Offseason Losses

The Oregon defense will return six of its top seven defensive lineman and all of its starters in the secondary, so the defense should be in pretty good shape. However, expectations are high for the Ducks, and losing a handful of talented linebackers has left the defense thin at the position. Dion Jordan was a top-five NFL Draft pick and inside linebackers Michael Clay and Kiko Alonso have both graduated, so Helfrich and defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will need to address the position in spring camp. Junior Derrick Malone and sophomore Tyson Coleman are the favorites to step in at inside linebacker, while junior Tony Washington gets a look outside.

3. Overwhelming Pressure With BCS Championship Within Reach

The football information on online sports betting is testament to how much pressure there will be on this Oregon program, as it tries to finally live up to the hype of being a national championship contender. The Ducks have settled for consecutive BCS Bowl wins with LSU and Notre Dame each getting a shot and losing to Alabama, and there will be even more pressure on this program the third time around. Helfrich will also be dealing with a ton of scrutiny for every little thing that goes wrong with the skeptics that feel he isn’t ready to replace a coach that was as successful as Kelly was, and all of this will come full circle with Oregon trying to survive a difficult schedule that includes trips to Stanford and Arizona later in the season. The Ducks are fortunate they will avoid USC, but even one loss could mean them not reaching the BCS Championship game.

Author Bio:

Nick Troove is always on top of all the latest news and updates int he online sports betting world, and in his blogs you can great tips and information on online sports betting tactics and options that will help you win! Nick loves sports betting online and has years of experience that he continues to share in his blogs with other sport betting enthusiasts.

Draft/Free Agency Review: Colorado Avalanche

2013-07-16T21:15:00.000-05:00

It looked like no team was going to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the shortened 2013 regular season. By the time the Blackhawks had gotten to Colorado on March 8, 2013, Chicago was sporting a 21-0-3 record. By the time Chicago left Colorado the next morning, Chicago’s record was 21-1-3. But that milestone win over the Blackhawks was a very high point to a very low season for Colorado. The Avalanche finished dead last in the Western Conference and the Colorado fans had very little else to cheer about last season.

Draft overview:

There was a lot of talk that the Colorado Avalanche would draft Denver native Seth Jones and give the Avalanche a strong, local marketing angle and a good player. That didn’t happen, but the Avalanche did wind up having one of the stronger drafts in the league for 2013. The Avs missed out on Jones, but Colorado did manage to pick up highly-touted prospect Nathan MacKinnon. The team is not rushing the rookie, but they are hopeful that he can be a starter when the season opens in October.

Another good draft pick by Colorado was Chris Bigras. If you do horse betting online, then you are familiar with the longshot with potential. Bigras is that longshot that the Avs used a second-round pick to get. Colorado was very defensive-minded in this draft, which was a very smart move.

Draft grade: B+

Free agency:

The best online sports betting experts were expecting the Avs to be very active in free agency because Colorado needs to fill in roster holes to be competitive now. While Colorado was busy, they were mostly busy picking up prospects who may or may not help the team.

Among the most notable free agency pickups for Colorado include defenseman Andre Benoit from the Ottawa Senators and defenseman Nick Holden from the Minnesota Wild. The Avalanche did not seem to be too concerned with preserving its core of players, which is probably a smart move. Overall, the Avalanche were a little conservative in free agency and did not bring in the scoring forward or goaltender that the team needs right now.

Free agency grade: D

Nathan MacKinnon may very well be a rookie of the year candidate in the NHL, but he won’t have a lot surrounding him. The trend in free agency and the draft for most teams this season was defense. The Colorado Avalanche followed that trend, but did not make enough big splashes to convince people that the Avalanche would be a real contender this season.

The Colorado Avalanche is in a re-building mode and it is still collecting the pieces it needs to be successful. The hiring of former goaltender Patrick Roy as the team’s new head coach and vice president could be a marketing move, or it could prove to be the catalyst the team needs to build a championship caliber team in Denver.

Author Bio:

Steve Millburne has years of experience with sport and horse betting online and in his blogs he shares some of the valuable lessons he has learned along the way with his followers. His insight will help you win money and help you find the best online sports betting websites to use and he personally recommends Lowvig.ag as his online sports book of choice.

Bengals, Vikings, Ravens Top List Of Most Impressive Defensive Lines

2013-07-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

The NFL season is right around the corner, but fans betting NFL futures on the best sportsbooks in the country can’t wait for the action to get underway. The will to win means everything at the NFL level, and it starts in the trenches as games are won and lost along the lines. Owning an outstanding defensive line is usually the key to having a top-10 defense, and the following three units should rank among the best in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have had one of the most consistent defenses in the NFL over the past couple of seasons, with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer getting the most out of the talent at his disposal. The secondary has largely been a revolving door with Leon Hall the one staple at cornerback, and the linebacker spot isn’t rife with studs, but one of the best defensive lines in the league has made sure that Cincinnati’s defense ranks among the best. Tackle Geno Atkins is the best inside pass rusher in the league with 20 sacks over the past two seasons combined, while fellow tackle Domata Peko has been a rock against both the run and pass having started every game in five of the last six seasons. The Bengals also have a pair of quality rushers off the edge in Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson. Johnson in particular stood out last year, registering a career-high 11.5 sacks on a Cincinnati defense that recorded a franchise-high 51 sacks last season.

Minnesota Vikings

Once upon a time it was Pat Williams and Kevin Williams forming the best defensive tackle tandem in the NFL. Pat has retired, but Kevin is still among the best tackles in the league as he can stuff the run or shed blockers and get after the quarterback. Kevin will get the chance to tutor first-round pick Sharrif Floyd, who should see plenty of snaps as a rookie in 2013 while stealing snaps from the underrated Letroy Guioin as nose tackle. Jared Allen’s motor hasn’t slowed down one bit at the defensive end spot, while Brian Robison has emerged as more than just a role player with the chance to attack so many one-on-one looks opposite Allen. Williams and Allen are perennial Pro Bowl talents, and Floyd’s emergence should make this the best defensive line in the NFC.

Baltimore Ravens

The Buffalo Bills’ defensive line has been raved about, and the defenses of both the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys should be strong up front as they switch from the 3-4 to the 4-3 this season, but in terms of production it is hard to argue against the Ravens. Haloti Ngata will move back to the nose tackle spot where he can show off his 340-pound bulk as one of the best run stoppers in the game and a terribly underrated pass rusher. Baltimore lost Kelly Gregg in the offseason, but general manager Ozzie Newsome didn’t an excellent job in free agency by signing both Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. Terrence Cody’s bulk could allow Ngata to play outside, and that rotation should be the most dominant 3-4 defensive line in the NFL. You can see where the defending Super Bowl champions rank in terms of the favorites to win it all this year online, so to bet on all NFL futures now check out the odds at www.betonline.com.

Author Bio:

Nick Graffor is a regular blogger and sports nut with years of experience under his belt. Whether you are looking for great tips on how to win money betting on your favorite sport or want to discover the best sportsbooks online, be sure to check out his blog and his favorite site for online betting, www.betonline.com.

College Football 2013: 3 Keys To Success For Georgia

2013-07-16T20:45:00.000-05:00

Any betting agent who looks at college football knows that the Georgia Bulldogs will be favored to win the Southeastern Conference’s East Division this season.

If you take a tour of any college football-focused betting site, you will arrive at the conclusion that Georgia should win the SEC East because the Bulldogs get their chief competitor, the South Carolina Gamecocks, at home in week two. Georgia does have to play LSU, but the Bulldogs get that game at home. They avoid Alabama and Texas A&M in SEC competition, although South Carolina does, too. At any rate, beating South Carolina is a primary point of emphasis for Georgia this season, so at least one of three keys to success for head coach Mark Richt’s team is to beat Steve Spurrier’s squad.

How will Georgia beat South Carolina? Chiefly, quarterback Aaron Murray – who has played poorly against the Gamecocks in three previous attempts – must deliver the goods this time. Murray is a seasoned quarterback who should be able to make the right reads and adjustments. He panicked last year in the face of the imposing pass rush of South Carolina superstar Jadeveon Clowney, who got inside his head and rattled him. Murray needs some help from his offensive linemen, but he must ultimately be the man who can stand tall in the pocket and deliver darts to his wide receivers. South Carolina’s secondary is vulnerable, so as long as Murray can find enough time in the pocket, he should be able to flourish against the Gamecocks and give Georgia the leverage it needs to win the SEC East.

The second key for Georgia in 2013 is for another defensive playmaker to emerge. Jarvis Jones played through injuries in 2012, missing several games, but when he played, the linebacker carried Georgia’s defense. Without being hurt, Jones might have been able to forge a 13-game body of work that would have catapulted him into the heart of the Heisman Trophy race – he was that good in the games he played (the exception being the SEC Championship Game against Alabama, in which he and the rest of Georgia's front seven got demolished by Alabama's offensive line). Jones created havoc. He established himself as a legitimate playmaker who generates substantial pressure as a pass rusher. When attacking running plays, Jones displayed a nose for the ball and an ability to force turnovers. He showcased the full extent of his abilities in a dynamic performance against Florida this past season, giving the Gators their only loss in the regular season. Someone else has to become the new Jarvis Jones – and not necessarily at the linebacker spot; anywhere on the field will count – if Georgia is to live up to its potential.

A third key is for Georgia to maintain an even keel. The Bulldogs must play South Carolina one week after visiting Clemson. They have to deal with a rough October slate in the SEC. This team probably won’t go unbeaten; responding well to an occasional loss – while beating South Carolina and Florida – should still translate into an SEC East title.

Author Bio:

Ricky Winnor is an avid sports blogger and professional betting agent. He personally uses the sportsbook software at Wagersolutions.com to manage his clients, and won’t use any other site. He highly recommends that other bookies take a tourof their website to see the amazing features they have to offer.

Which Three AFC Quarterbacks Will Lead The League In Passing?

2013-07-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

The 2013 NFLseason is coming closer and closer, so it’s very much worth exploring how various aspects of the season will unfold. For one thing, which three AFC quarterbacks will lead the league in passing? The answers might be obvious, but one mark of an intelligent person is to be forthright and sober enough to give the obvious answer when the obvious answer is both accurate and warranted.

Experienced minds who engage in sports betting online at Betonline.ag know that Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Andrew Luck should be the top AFC passers this season. Just about every football pundit would agree with this statement, but one could probably find a few commentators and observers who might disagree with the claim that Luck will be part of that trio. It could very well be true that Luck, after his rookie season, will become a marked man in the NFL. Luck could regress from his first season and suffer some setbacks. As defenses learn how to defend him and his Indianapolis Colt receivers, Luck might get rattled. He seems poised to enjoy a great career, but it would hardly be an unheard-of situation (without precedent or comparison) if Luck did indeed struggle in 2013. Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, fresh off his Super Bowl-winning season, could very well overtake Luck for third place. However, there’s one important detail to note about Flacco: He won’t be throwing the ball to his favorite receiver on the Ravens in 2012, Anquan Boldin.

Let’s realize something about Boldin, who will play for the San Francisco 49ers this upcoming season: He regularly grabbed jump balls in traffic, making Flacco’s job so much easier. In the AFC playoffs and especially in the Super Bowl against San Francisco, Flacco knew that Boldin’s strong and rangy frame would make him a good bet to win a leaping battle against a smaller and less muscular cornerback or safety. Flacco was able to make low-percentage throws into coverage precisely because he knew that Boldin would have a better than even chance of making him look good. Boldin was such a security blanket for Flacco, the kind of player who increases any quarterback’s margin for error to a substantial degree – that he changed the way Flacco approached games and situations. The value of Boldin’s presence cannot be overstated, and the absence of it is going to be appreciated this year. Baltimore is not likely to repeat as AFC and Super Bowl champion, and accordingly, Flacco is not going to be a top-three passer in the AFC.

If you bet sports, you know that the other AFC quarterbacks are not inspiring a lot of confidence. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger regressed last season and should not be trusted to ring up big numbers. Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans was great through the month of November, but in December, he noticeably regressed and should therefore be viewed with quite a bit of skepticism this season. This is a Brady, Manning and Luck conference, the AFC. Expect those three men to rule over everyone else as far as quarterbacking is concerned.

Author Bio:

Rick Tildor is an online sports betting expert and his blogs can help you become more profitable when you bet on sports at your favorite online sportsbook. Rick has tried many sites and highly suggests that you do your sports betting online at Betonline.ag, his favorite online sportsbook.

Our Week 3 CFL Picks, Technical Difficulties Be Damned

2013-07-13T16:09:00.001-05:00

Maybe it was a sign from above (above as in North, like, in Canada), but a week after going 1-3, our attempts to post our Week 3 picks on our modest blogger site were foiled by some technical glitch that we somehow caused by tinkering with our site layout.

So the site stays the same for now, and we're hoping that the results of our picks don't.

For those loyal followers of the blog, these technical difficulties may have caused you to miss our first two picks of the week. Which is why you should also follow us on Twitter, should this kind of disaster happen again.If you did miss them, our first two picks this week were:

Having blogger issues, but our square #CFL Picks for Thurs. and Fri. are: Toronto -2 and Calgary +3. Follow us on twitter for our 38% picks!
— Stock Lemon Blog (@stocklemonblog) July 11, 2013

We had all kinds of things to say about the Argos, and how they couldn't possibly let us down again, but alas, we can have the same conversation next week. We split the picks above, with Toronto's loss and Calgary's win, so you didn't miss much if you did in fact miss them.

As for the remaining games:

Hamilton -5 1/2 over Winnipeg
The Ti-Cats are looking for their first win, and it's generally no fun betting on a winless team has a 5 1/2 point favorite, but we think they're good enough for a touchdown win at home against Winnipeg, with whom we are not impressed. A couple of underwhelming games, even in victory, over Montreal, in addition to our preconceived notion that they suck, has us all in on anybody playing against them early in this season. Time for old Henry Burris to get his Ti-Cats off the schneid and in the thick of things this year.

British Columbia -3 1/2 over Edmonton
Wrestled quite a bit with this one, because we're not sure B.C. is going to be the team we thought they were going to be just yet. It still feels like they need time to gel. Meanwhile, Mike Reilly and the Esks had a big week last week, though they did have the advantage of playing three preseason games to get ready for the contest. What's that? That third game was Week 1? Yikes. That blowout loss still fresh on our minds, we're reluctantly going with the Lions.

Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 3-5

Our Week 2 CFL Picks and an Introduction to the Wacky World of CFL Betting

2013-07-04T04:40:00.002-05:00

What better way to celebrate America's independence and the 4th of July than with two Canadian Football games! But before we get to this week's action, we need to recap our Week 1 roller coaster ride.

In the very first game of the year, we were welcomed to the world of full-time CFL betting in the most CFL betting way possible

With Winnipeg down four late to Montreal, our +4 1/2 bet on the Blue Bombers looked prime to cash. And then came the god damn rouge.

For those unfamiliar (ignorant American filth!), the CFL has several rules that differ from the NFL and other forms of American Football. The three basic and most noticeable of the bunch are:

1. Three downs instead of four
2. 110-yard field instead of 100 (the field is also wider)
3. The god damn rouge

The god damn rouge is a one-point play that is made when the team kicks the ball into the opposing team's end zone and the "receiving" team fails to cross its own goal line, which means that teams can come away from a possession with one point even if they badly miss a field goal (and it goes far enough) or have such an unsuccessful possession (two downs) that they have to punt. That was the case last Thursday, when the Alouttes punted with a four-point lead and 25 seconds left. And scored a point. And covered.

We're hoping to be on the other side of some of these along the way, but we thought that this was a fitting beginning to what is sure to be a rocky journey for us this year as we prepare to cap every single CFL game (until we inevitably quit midseason when the NFL is nearer and our patience and bankroll are significantly depleted).

We won our next game by, of course, a 1/2 point, and then were on the right and wrong side of the blowouts, giving us a 2-2 week to open this experiment.

But what's past is prologue to this: our Week 2 guesses... er, carefully crafted opinions.

Montreal -7 over Winnipeg
These home-and-home back-to-backs are tough to cap, particularly when we're on the losing side of the first one (by a god damn rouge). This time we're switching it up and going with Montreal, who, as we said in Week 1, is clearly the superior team. We went with the whole opening a new stadium/emotional lift storyline in taking the Bombers last week, but Buck Pierce did little to inspire confidence in Winny's prospects this year. We can't be caught dead picking them in consecutive games, even with the Als giving a full touchdown.

Saskatchewan -2 over Calgary
We don't live in Canada, which means sometimes we're not completely up to speed with some of the regional factors that might impact a game. Much like the Saints upsetting the Falcons on national TV after Hurricane Katrina, the Stampeders in Week 1 responded to the floods in Calgary by serving as the diversion the area needed, handling the BC Lions with ease--and we totally biffed that pick. Forgot about those floods, man. By that same token, we're going with a comedown game for the Stamps, who are back on the road against a good team in Saskatchewan. This is consecutive weeks for us betting against Calgary, who looked incredible last week riding the legs of Jon Cornish. But Drew Tate can't be THAT good, can he? He'll be tested this week.

Toronto +6 1/2 over British Columbia
We liked last week's pick of B.C. on the road against Calgary a little too much, and we fear that we're doing the opposite to the Lions this week. But 6 1/2 points for the champs? Seems a little much, no? BC simply didn't look ready to play last week, and we're not sure they'll figure things out defensively until well into the season--if at all. Week 1 overreaction? Probably, but B.C. looked like a team that expected things to be handed to them this year rather than earned--and all they got handed to them in Week 1 were their own keesters.

Hamilton -7 over Edmonton
Another case of taking a big home favorite, because the alternative is extremely unsettling. Mike Reilly didn't look like The Guy in Edmonton, and Hamilton opened very well on the road against the reigning Grey Cup holders. We like Henry Burris and the TiCats to hand the Esks another blowout loss. And we expect a very long year in Edmonton.

Happy hunting, and may the fireworks on TSN be equally as impressive and hopefully less dangers than the ones in the States this weekend.

Last week: 2-2

Our Week 1 CFL Picks, Because We Need Football

2013-06-26T09:59:00.000-05:00

Hey! Guys! Professional football starts on Thursday--of this week! Does that sound like something you'd be interested in?

Because, truth is, we are. And way too much, considering it's the Canadian Football League. But we plan on doling out against the spread picks for every game of every week of the CFL, a format we're adopting for the NFL as well.

You should know ahead of time, though, that we might not be very good at this. Last year, in our limited CFL betting, we were something like 2-5. So after capping just seven games in an entire season--very poorly, at that--it might seem a little crazy to try and hit all four each week, but hell, only about 20 people actually read this site, so this is a pretty low risk on our part.

So let's get to it!

Winnipeg +4 1/2 over Montreal

This is a horrible bet, right off the bat. We hate Winnipeg's prospects this season, and Montreal is a rather good team with consistent quarterback play (Anthony Calvillo). But Winnipeg is opening a new stadium in this 2013 CFL opener, and we can't shake that fact. The CFL is a weird game, and things like new stadiums opening up is a big deal. So we're going with the points and what we think might be the worst team in the CFL this year. Prove us wrong, Bombers!

Toronto -4 1/2 over Hamilton

The defending CFL champs open up against a Hamilton team that is coming off a disappointing season AND offseason. Henry Burris and Co. folded amid realistically optimistic expectations last season, and this year, their best player (Chris Williams) wants no part in the team. Toronto wasn't great last year, but if you can only remember two CFL players from this meandering blog entry, make them Ricky Ray and Chad Owens, the best QB/WR tandem in the league. They hit their stride late after a 9-9 regular season, and we like the champs to come out firing on all cylinders in the home opener.

BC +3 over Calgary

We subscribe to the theory that one should take BC any time they get points, even if it's against last year's Grey Cup runner up. Which it is. Travis Lulay could start for several NFL teams, but instead he's quarterbacking north of the border. And after a disappointing playoff exit, we like Lions to storm into Calgary and try to set things right in Week 1. Calgary's quarterback situation is in relative flux (they are going with the oft-injured Drew Tate again), and we think there's just enough of a clusterfudge in Calgary for the Lions to knock them down a peg.

Saskatchewan +1 over Edmonton

This was the toughest one for us, but we're going with the visiting Rough Riders to beat the home team, mainly because we think Darian Durant and Saskatchewan underachieved last year and should be better in 2013. It's hard to think too much of Edmonton, who struggled after the ill-advised Ricky Ray trade (and watched their former QB hoist the Grey Cup), and we still have little faith in their quarterbacking situation. But both of these teams were not particularly good last year, and we're having a helluva time getting a read on either of them. That's what Week 1 is for, we suppose.

Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee. As long as thee provides us with football months earlier than we're used to it. Good luck, and may God have mercy on your CFL betting souls.

A Look at President Obama's Vast Jersey Collection

2013-06-06T01:12:00.000-05:00

With the Baltimore Ravens visiting el Presidente at the White House yesterday, we got to thinking: how many jerseys has Barack Obama collected from these White House visits and what the hell does he do with them?

Our calls to Barry have not been returned so we're not sure what becomes of all these replica duds (we like to imagine they're all kept a closet that used to hang Teddy Roosevelt's undershirts or something), but thanks to the Internet, we are able to piece together some info on the number of uniforms he has been presented with--and this doesn't include the dozens he's received on campaign stops and other visits.

While Barack doesn't have a handy site to keep track of all the sports teams to visit him at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue like George W. Bush did, we've been able to cobble together images from all the major sports leagues (and a few other leagues that make the annual White House guest list).

We're still years away from a sportsbook offering odds on the jersey number and name of the uniform presented to the President, but hopefully, when that day comes, you'll have read this and will be prepared.

NFL
1985: Chicago Bears - Obama - 85
2008: Pittsburgh Steelers - Obama - 44
2009: New Orleans Saints - Obama - 44
2010: Green Bay Packers - Commander In Chief - 1
2011: New York Giants - Obama - 44
2012: Baltimore Ravens - Mr. President - 44

As you see, 'Obama 44' is the standard, since he is, of course, the nation's 44th president. But some teams like to get creative, giving a sort of He Hate Me feel to the uniform--which actually wouldn't be a bad inscription for someone in the Oval Office. The Packers went with 'Commander in Chief' and the No. 1 (on the chain of command, we presume), while the Ravens went with the formal 'Mr. President.' The '85 Bears, retroactively honored because Barack is a noted fan and they never got a White House visit back in 1986, chose to go with their championship year on the jersey, which makes sense in their case.

MLB
2008: Philadelphia Phillies - Obama - 44
2009: New York Yankees - None - 27
2010: San Francisco Giants - None - 44
2011: St. Louis Cardinals - Obama - 44
2012: San Francisco Giants - TBD

In baseball, 'Obama 44' is still the standard, though the Giants and Yankees are too traditional-like to go ahead and stain their uniforms with the name of our country's leader. Additionally, the Yankees, arrogant bastards that they are, went with the #27, indicating the team's 27th championship. We just hope they asked permission from 27th President William Howard Taft, even if he wouldn't have been able to fit in the uniform himself anyway.

NHL
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins - Obama - 44
2010: Chicago Blackhawks - Obama - 44
2011: Boston Bruins - Obama - 11
2012: Los Angeles Kings - Obama - 44

'Obama 44' looks especially good on those long-sleeved hockey jerseys, and considerably better than the #11 given to him by the Bruins, who obviously won in 2011. If Obama wears any of these around the house, our guess is that beautiful red jersey of his hometown Blackhawks.

NBA
2009: Los Angeles Lakers - Obama - 1
2010: Los Angeles Lakers - Championship Banner
2011: Dallas Mavericks - Obama - 23
2012: Miami Heat - Obama - 44

Some interesting stuff going on in basketball. In 2011, knowing Obama is a Chicago native, the Mavs went with the number of Michael Jordan. Thankfully they went with 23 and 45, which would have looked like an error considering that will be the number of our next President (will Hillary get a ladies cut jersey?). But again, we doubt 23rd President Benjamin Harrison got a say in this. The Lakers, having gone with 'Obama 1' in 2009, just mailed it in and gave the Prez a championship banner upon meeting the Commander a second time.

MLS
2008: Columbus Crew - Obama - 44
2009: Real Salt Lake - Obama - 10
2010: Colorado Rapids - Obama - 10
2011: Los Angeles Galaxy - Obama - 1
2012: Los Angeles Galaxy - Obama - 1

This is strange because both Real Salt Lake and Colorado went with the #10. Salt Lake won it in 2009--but met with Obama the next summer, in 2010. The Rapids actually won it all in 2010. So, two #10 jerseys for Obama. This could also be a nod to Pele, the most famous soccer player of all, who wore that number, but 10th President John Tyler is not amused either way. The Galaxy, who won back-to-back titles, basically gave Obama the same jersey two years in a row.

WNBA
2008: Detroit Shock - Obama - 08
2009: Phoenix Mercury - Obama - 09
2010: Seattle Storm - Obama - 10
2011: Minnesota Lynx - Obama - 11
2012: Indiana Fever - TBD

This seems like a coordinated effort on the WNBA's part not to get cute with these uniforms. It's OBAMA and the year on every one of them. Boring.

NCAA Football
2008: Florida Gators - Obama - 1
2009: Alabama Crimson Tide - Obama - 1
2010: Auburn Tigers - Obama - 1
2011: Alabama Crimson Tide - Obama - 14
2012: Alabama Crimson Tide - Obama - 15

In college, 'Obama 1' appears to be the industry standard, but Alabama visits the White House so often they had to mix it up. After their first visit, they started pulling the Yankees move and assigning the number of championships they've won to the back of the jersey. In 2012, they even switched from their crimson jersey to the white one, allowing Obama to mix and match. Just because we know who is going to win the title every year, that doesn't mean the President shouldn't be able to get a variety of jerseys.

Men's NCAA Basketball
2009: North Carolina Tar Heels - Obama - 1
2010: Duke Blue Devils - Obama - 1
2011: Connecticut Huskies - B. Obama - 1
2012: Kentucky Wildcats - Obama - 1
2013: Louisville Cardinals - TBD

As with football, there is an emphasis in college on being 'No. 1', and that's the number most teams assign Barack. Some things of note: how about Duke going ahead and framing the thing? Hopefully Barack doesn't plan on wearing these things in pickup games. Also, UConn gave him the first initial treatment. To distinguish him from that other Obama you know, of course. Will be interesting to see if Louisville gives Barry O. his first basketball jersey with sleeves.

Women's NCAA Basketball
2009: Connecticut Huskies - B. Obama - 1
2010: Connecticut Huskies - B. Obama - 1
2011: Texas A&M Aggies - Obama - 12
2012: Baylor Bears - Obama - 1
2013: Connecticut Huskies- TBD

So we know now that the B. Obama thing is standard procedure at UConn, for whatever reason. Don't really know why Obama got a #12 jersey from the Aggies, who gave the traditional #1 to Michelle Obama. They both won it all and met with the President in 2011. Apparently it's because of the whole 12th man thing in football--but this is women's basketball. Not the same.

Commander-In-Chief's Trophy
2008: Navy - Helmet
2009: Navy - Obama - 44
2010: Air Force - Obama - 23
2011: Air Force - Obama -18
2012: Navy - No. 44 Helmet

The Commander-In-Chief trophy is awarded to the winner of the most games between Army, Navy and the Air Force, which is almost always the Navy or the Air Force. Since the President sees so much of these guys, they sometimes opt for a helmet rather than a jersey, the the uniforms change so much in college football that it very well could be a new jersey every year anyway.. It's interesting that in the eyes of the Navy, he's #44, but to the Air Force, he's Air Jordan's #23. Then the following year, he's #18, since Air Force has 18 of these arbitrary awards. A shame we'll never know what number the Army would give him.

If you're scoring at home, that's 42 jerseys, two helmets and one championship banner. And his term goes through 2016.

What are we missing? Let us know of any others at stocklemonblog@gmail.com or hit us on twitter @stocklemonblog. This is American history people! Somebody has to keep record of this stuff, and it might as well be us. Lord knows we're not doing anything else this time of year.

Top Sports Betting Sites Online

2013-06-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

June is what many Stock Lemon followers would typically refer to as the "slow season" for sports betting, and generally all-around following sports. Sure, the NFL season has yet to begin (though the CFL is just around the corner!) and there are only a few NHL games on each week as the playoffs near an end, but that does not mean there is nothing to bet on.

The MLB wagering season is now flying in high gear and, across the pond, Premiership Soccer has also gotten a lot more interesting. Regardless of the time of year, there are always sports betting events to place bets on--as you can see at SportsBetting-Sites.com, which is currently posting Live Odds on the upcoming NFL season.

With the Denver Broncos signing Wes Welker in the off-season from the New England Patriots, many sports bettors have slated Peyton Manning and the Broncos as early betting favorites to win 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII (48). Sure, this is a bit premature considering NFL preseason has not even begun, but Broncos fans are welcoming the optimism from online sportsbooks.

Speaking of online betting sites, currently the Bovada Online Sportsbook has the San Francisco 49ers listed as 6/1 odds to win Super Bowl 48, and the Denver Broncos posted at 13/2 betting odds at taking home the NFL Championship.

Many sports bettors in search of a list of top NFL betting sites will notice that most sportsbooks are still riding the Colin Kaepernick bandwagon and believe that the San Francisco 49ers will play in back-to-back Super Bowls, paying no mind to the typical Super Bowl jinx that we have seen so many times in NFL years past. Will the 49ers debunk the curse of the Super Bowl loser, or will Kaepernick and Co. fall victim to even greater expectations?

Either way, sit back and enjoy the slow season. Relish the time with your loved ones now, because the upcoming NFL betting season will be here before you know, taking husbands from their wives and fathers from their children until the "slow season" returns next June.

Early Thoughts on Some 2013 NFL Win Totals

2013-05-23T01:10:00.002-05:00

The 2013 NFL season can't come soon enough, but in its notable absence, we at least have 2013 NFL win totals. And of course, we have some first impressions.

Our main focus is in identifying the obvious "regression teams" who are coming off good seasons and not expected to replicate that success with theoretically more difficult schedules and a brighter spotlight. Then, we take a look at some value in contenders who have fallen slightly off the radar for whatever reason. And lastly, we look at the Raiders, just for fun.

Having said all that, here are our thoughts on a few of the win totals at present date for teams with varying Super Bowl odds.

First, for the optimists:

Packers OVER 10

Look, the Packers have won 10 games in each of their last four seasons with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, failing to do so only in his very first year as starter. He's worth 10 wins alone. The division is tougher, and we fully expect the Bears to compete and the Lions to be better, and the Vikings were a 10-win team last season and went to the playoffs, so it won't be easy. But it never is, and they continue to get to 10 wins.

Ravens OVER 8.5

The masses are freaking out about the Ravens' offseason. No more Boldin? Lewis? Reed? Pollard? OMFG! These aren't your big brother's Ravens, but Ozzie Newsome and Co. have quietly replenished the roster, filling some of the aging names for capable--and younger--players. We like a winning record out of the Super Bowl champs, mainly as a spite bet to everyone who thinks you win football games in March.

Texans OVER 10

How are they not good for 10 wins in that division? The Titans aren't any better, the Jaguars certainly aren't any better, and the regression train figures to roll through Indy like the Mayflower truck that got them there in the first place. Houston is smack dab in the middle of its window, and there isn't even a screen in the division to stop them from getting through it.

Raiders OVER 5.5

And then the Raiders. This is a weird gut feeling more than anything. Just too many people completely writing them off, ignoring some positive work being done by their new GM, Reggie McKenzie. Matt Flynn is competent, and their defensive facelift has given them some young talent to work with (and a guy a couple years removed from a DPOY award). We can't back this pick with logic. The Raiders are the kind of team that's crushed optimism into a bloody pulp. But there is something there that can't stop us from gravitating irrationally toward the over on this one.

As for the Debbie Downers:

Colts UNDER 8.5

Almost too easy of a regression pick (yeah, like the 49ers were last year). Their schedule was cake, nobody had seen Luck in the pros, #Chuckstrong happened--just too many unlikely positive occurrences. What happened last year doesn't seem sustainable. Make no mistake, Luck and the Colts will be perennial contenders, just not this year. They were tricked by last season into signing several patchwork vets into bad contracts, thinking that they are closer to the Holy Grail than they really are. We see a 6-7 win team.

Redskins UNDER 8

Following the regression pattern, here's another playoff team we think will fall from grace, and RGIII's health is a big factor in that thinking. The total has already been adjusted as such, which makes this tricky, but we see the Skins solidly as the third best team in this division behind the Giants and Cowboys. Another team with a bright future, but it won't be as easy as it sometimes looked last year.

Seahawks UNDER 10.5

The regression we are least certain of, because man that D is good, but 10.5 wins is a hefty sum for Bill Simmons' boyfriend. It'll take a full season of replacement refs for the 'Hawks to get to double-digit wins in an improved division. We could see the Rams passing up the Seahawks as second-fiddle to the 49ers next season, and then sign Bradford to an extension and completely suck for the next five years. But again, this is about next year, and it'll be tough to replicate the 2012 success in Seattle.

Bengals UNDER 8.5

We are least confident in this one, as the Bengals seem to have a good thing going with Dalton and Green and a solid defense. But we're betting with history on this one. The Bungals have never had three consecutive playoff seasons in franchise history, and we think the Ravens and Steelers still have a lot to say about that. Shit, maybe even the kind-of-slowly-improving-but-boy-Weeden-sucks Browns will start having something to say about that.

Vikings UNDER 7.5

Lastly, the Vikings, who rode Adrian Peterson's undetectable steroids into the postseason after a season-long choke by the Lions and some major chokage by the Bears down the stretch. This might be the worst team in the NFC North, and we're not going to let a fluke playoff berth fool us into thinking the Vikings can get to .500. We were down on Minnesota last year, so it's possible we are completely wrong again (betting against AP specifically is clearly a bad idea), but it's a bet we're willing to make in mid-May.

So there you have it. Some actual, hastily written offseason content that includes no links to any advertising whatsoever. Of course, we can change that, for a small fee.

Please come back, NFL.

A Few Handy Online Casino Betting Tips

2013-05-17T03:28:00.002-05:00

It occurred to us recently that when we talk about betting online, many of you don't quite know what exactly we are referring to. So, for you old fashioned types that still use your dad's sketchy friend as a bookie, you might want to heed some of the advice that was recently passed on to us regarding online casino betting.

Play Online Casino Games and Win Big

When you play casino games online, make sure you look for a secure network that you can rely on. The safer your site, the better you online casino experience will be!

Searching for a Safe and Secure Online Casino

Millions of people enter casino gaming sites every day like this site - http://www.casino.com/ca/casino-games/, and it is a top priority of the company to provide their members with a secure environment 100% of the time. You want to be able to focus on your gaming strategy and finding the perfect blackjack or roulette game for you, and not have to think twice about whether or not your money is safe and secure. Online gaming companies are continuously working on updating software and improving the experience of its members.

Security on online gaming sites is by far one of the most important priorities for any company, and this is one reason why people keep coming back to play their favorite casino games day after day. The software that you are able to download is secure and safe to use on any computer, with access anywhere in the world. Many sites offer software in a wide range of languages, with members spanning the globe.

The Importance of Customer Support at Your Fingertips

Aside from the guaranteed security of your private information, one benefit of playing casino games online is the availability of help when you need it. Casino gaming sites have a reputation of providing the best customer service and are available 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. It doesn't matter where you are or when you are playing, you can always feel free to contact a customer service representative and receive the help you need.

So sign up at your favorite gaming site and download the secure software to start playing with real money. The sooner you start, the sooner you walk away a winner. Be sure you play a few rounds in practice mode to get the hang of it, and then create a real money account to start winning real cash prizes.

Entering the Age of the Personal Sportsbook

2013-05-06T16:47:00.001-05:00

There's nothing like the thrill of placing a sports bet at a casino. The wide array of TVs, the gathering of anxious patrons, the overpriced concession food that somehow always hits the spot, and the palpable feeling of action in the air. It can't be beat.

It's like flipping through the yellowing pages of a used paperback, with each flip of the page inhaling the musty scent of the dozen libraries its belonged to. Holding a piece of literature in your hands is half the reason for reading the book in the first place, just like going to a sportsbook is all part of the experience of sports betting.

And yet, convenience will cause you to drop these essential elements of the experience quicker than you can close a pop up ad. Just as many modern readers prefer the Kindle to a hardcover book, many bettors prefer the ease of the iPhone to their hardened bookie. Through sites like http://www.mobilecasino.mobi/, the casino is in the palm of your hands, 24/7. All you have to do is find some crappy but oddly fulfilling concession food (Jack in the Box is a good substitute).

While those wagering on a mobile device may miss out on certain elements of the gambling experience, few of them will miss it. There are occasions when placing your wager and watching a game from a sportsbook are appealing, but if you bet every day, week, or even month, casinos become a chore. All the things you thought you enjoyed--the people, the food, the buzz--become annoyances in the way of your moneymaking. And they are a thousand times more annoying if you're moneylosing. There is a tremendous appeal to being able to bet from the comfort of your own coach, or bathroom, or secret sex dungeon, and that's exactly what mobile betting provides.

More and more we find ourselves sneaking in some blackjack on the iPad when we can't fall asleep at night, or conversely, hurriedly placing a wager on the early football games when a night of drinking turns into a morning of regret. No longer are hangovers a deterrent to our earning potential.

And, outside of our sex dungeon, we've found the convenience of the mobile to be greatly beneficial. We haggle over numbers and articles and game footage when it comes time to making our picks, and we rely on a combination of those things when we finally pick a side on a game. The problem, though, is that we arrive at our conclusion at various points in our day. In the shower, on a jog, out at dinner--something will click for us, no matter where we are, and we know which way we're picking. With mobile betting, we don't have to wait any longer than that moment to get in on the action at the best possible price.

There's not doubt that mobile betting--as with mobile anything--is on the rise as we become more and more technologically dependent as a society. But we don't think it will bring down the number of patrons in sportsbooks and casinos. Rather, it will introduce--and reintroduce--several others to the wonderful, and unbelievably convenient, world of sports betting.