Betting Blog Picks and Tips on Football, NBA, NHL, MLB

NHL Playoffs – All Eyes on the Eastern Conference Finals in Game Six

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:14:00 +0000

Online Sportsbook Overview

With the Los Angeles Kings securing a berth in this year's Stanley Cup Finals, it is time to see what happens between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers. Most people are expecting the Eastern Conference Finals to go the full seven games because that has been the Rangers' M.O. throughout the playoffs. If the Rangers take all seven games to close out this series, then that may play into the Kings in the Finals. But there is no guarantee that the Rangers will be able to dispatch the Devils even if the series goes seven games.

The New Jersey Devils have absolutely nothing to lose in these playoffs and that is precisely how the team has been playing. The online betting sites never expected the Devils to be in the Eastern Conference Finals, nor did they count on New Jersey being as competitive as it has been. The Devils have shown that it can score in this series and it can play strong defense. The problem for New Jersey is that it has not been able to put the two facets of its game together as often as it would like to. Being physical with the Rangers works to a certain extent. But the Devils are going to have to start skating if it wants to end this series.

New York Rangers

It is hard to say why the Rangers cannot seem to dominate an opponent in these playoffs but yet the Rangers keep advancing to the next round. Many online betting USA experts started questioning the Rangers' ability to go deep in the playoffs when it took seven games for the Rangers to take out the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs. But the Rangers just seem to be more comfortable playing in a close series and grinding out each win. During the regular season, the Rangers became known as the best defensive team in hockey with a potent offense. In the playoffs, it seems like the Rangers are content to play conservative all the way to the Cup.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils have been playing this entire series like a team that has a chip on its shoulder. The only thing that ties this team to the Stanley Cup glory days of the Devils of the 1990's is goaltender Martin Brodeur. The good thing for the Devils is that Brodeur looks as effective in these playoffs as he looked in any other playoff run New Jersey has made. The best sports betting sites are reserving judgment on the Devils until the Eastern Conference Finals is over. But there is a growing sentiment that New Jersey may be better prepared to beat the Los Angeles Kings than the New York Rangers.

The Bottom Line

The New Jersey Devils may want to stop throwing caution to the wind and start playing a little conservative at times. The Rangers have the talent to exploit a sloppy New Jersey defensive effort and that may be what the Rangers are waiting for. But in game six of this series, the Devils have a chance to show why it belongs in these playoffs and why it should be considered a contender.

Pick: New Jersey Devils

NBA Playoffs – Heat and Clippers Try to Get Back on Track

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:13:00 +0000

The sports betting sites had some things they expected in these NBA playoffs, and some things that they did not expect to happen. What most bettors expected was to see the San Antonio Spurs jump out to an early lead in its series with the Los Angeles Clippers. But what the online sports book experts did not expect to see was the injury bug strike yet another top Eastern Conference team and cause chaos in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The degree to which things have been affected has yet to be determined, but the series between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers just got interesting.

Miami Heat @ Indiana Pacers – Game Three

Was it the injury to Chris Bosh that cost the Heat game two, or was it LeBron James disappearing yet again in a critical playoff situation? There is a lot of evidence to suggest that it was one or the other, and there is just as much evidence to suggest that it was a little bit of both. The sportsbook experts were wondering how LeBron James would respond as the playoffs entered the second round, and it has been hit and miss. With the injury to Bosh, most of the perimeter shooting duties fall to James as Dwyane Wade spends time in the paint. But that did not work in game two and many people are wondering if it will work in game three as well.

The Indiana Pacers are not going to light up the scoreboard with three-pointers all night long. Many Pacers fans realize that Indiana was the provident recipient of a bad night from LeBron James in game two. But the Pacers now have confidence, which is something that LeBron James is sorely lacking as game three begins. It is not out of the question to see Indiana prolong its momentum into a win on its home court.

Pick: Indiana Pacers

Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs – Game Two

It would be a mistake to underestimate the Los Angeles Clippers at any point in the playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs have the experience to know this and that is why the Spurs are playing the Clippers very carefully. Both Los Angeles NBA franchises are in trouble in the second round of the playoffs, but there is at least some feeling that the Clippers can pull out of it and win a game or two in its series with San Antonio.

The best sports betting sites give all of the odds to the Spurs in this series, but the Spurs display a steady confidence that seems to be overridden by the Clippers' swagger. The fact that the Clippers has been able to maintain its swagger in the face of a 108-92 game one loss is a testament to this team's confidence. But, at some point, Los Angeles will have to figure out a way to get through the San Antonio defense. The Spurs were able to shut the Clippers down in the fourth quarter of game one and Los Angeles will need to find a way to counteract that if it wants to get back into this series.

Pick: San Antonio Spurs

NHL Playoff Preview – Who Has What it Takes to Win the West?

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:34:00 +0000

Sports Bet Overview

When the NHL regular season started, each conference had its favorites. In the Western Conference, most fans looked to the Vancouver Canucks or the upstart St. Louis Blues as the favorites. Most people expected the Detroit Red Wings to be in the running because Detroit always seems to be there when the conference finals roll around. Not even the best online sportsbook would have been so bold as to predict a Los Angeles Kings versus the Phoenix Coyotes Western Conference finals. But that is exactly what has happened, and it should prove to be interesting.

The Phoenix Coyotes have been clamoring for respect for years, but it has been hard to come by. Not even a coaching stint by The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, helped to make the Coyotes a contender. Now, on the brink of bankruptcy and a pending sale to a new city, the Coyotes are playing for a Stanley Cup berth. The Los Angeles Kings have been slowly building one of the best teams in the Western Conference. With the acquisition of Jeff Carter at the trade deadline, it looks like Los Angeles has discovered the formula for playoff success.

Los Angeles Kings

The online betting sites are very familiar with the strength of the Los Angeles Kings' defense and the rise of goaltender Jonathan Quick. As with most conference finals series, this will be a goaltending battle. The Kings definitely have a good dog in this fight when it comes to the goaltending. But even with the addition of Jeff Carter, the Kings have been suspect on offense. A good defensive team like the Phoenix Coyotes will give a struggling offensive team like the Los Angeles Kings just enough trouble to make this series very interesting. If Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter can all start scoring goals, then the Kings will be in good shape.

Phoenix Coyotes

The sports betting sites have been ignoring the Phoenix Coyotes for years. The Coyotes caused a stir a couple of seasons ago when it made big moves at the trade deadline and then finished in the top three of the conference. But nothing the Coyotes has ever done has translated into playoff success. With the addition of goalie Mike Smith, the Coyotes claimed the third spot in the conference and are now playing in the Western Conference finals. Smith has been the difference for the Coyotes all season, and he has been a welcomed addition to the team in the playoffs as well. The only question is whether or not Smith can sustain his play all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.

The Bottom Line

This will be a great goaltending battle that will be won by the team that can produce consistent offense. The Kings have been showing flashes of offensive brilliance all playoffs, while Phoenix has been steadily relying on Mike Smith to win games. If the Kings' big guns can step up, then Los Angeles will play for the Cup.

Pick: Los Angeles Kings in seven

NBA Playoffs – Miami is Putting Finishing Touches on Sweep

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:06:00 +0000

Online Betting Overview

With or without Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks are having problems with the Miami Heat. The series started out on a good note for the Heat as Miami blew out the Knicks 100-67 in game one. The sports betting online experts don't need to know if that is a record low point total for the Knicks in a playoff game to know that it was a pretty bad game. Things got a little better in game two for New York, but it is all still very disorganized and chaotic on the Knicks' side of the court. The superstars that are in the line-up are not producing and the pending return of Jeremy Lin is not capturing the imagination of Knicks fans like it did earlier in the season. The Knicks are a team in transition, the problem is that no one knows what they are transitioning into.

The bookie software has been crunching numbers on the Miami Heat all season. Even during its down times during the season, the Miami Heat remained a favorite to go deep into the playoffs. The playoff-ending injury to Chicago Bulls' superstar Derrick Rose has thrust the Heat into the premier spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Heat is responding well to the pressure. But the pressure applied by the New York Knicks is much different than pressure that would be applied by the Boston Celtics or the Indiana Pacers. The Heat need to stay consistent and put the Knicks away quickly to gain the momentum it needs to succeed.

New York Knicks

The NBA scores that the Knicks have been posting since the Jeremy Lin sensation has died down have been erratic at best. The Knicks do not play as a team, but rather a collection of superstars and wanna-be's that cannot get their game together. Towards the end of the regular season, New York showed signs of life and the ability to play a strong team game. But the destruction of New York in game one of this series set a tone that will spell the rapid demise of the Knicks on the court. The Knicks will come back home to hopeful but hostile fans that will let New York know the moment something is going wrong. Unfortunately for New York, that moment will arrive all too quickly.

Miami Heat

The Heat looked like it was in trouble towards the end of the season. Dwyane Wade was sidelined with an injury and LeBron James was having trouble responding. But the Heat got it together and LeBron James looks like he is ready to wipe away years of playoff frustration in his career. The Heat plays strong on offense and is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. It is a combination that the New York Knicks have not yet been able to overcome and it is a combination that will drive New York to an early playoff exit.

The Bottom Line

The Knicks have a roster of impressive names, but injuries and inconsistent play have conspired to bring the Knicks down. The Miami Heat is looking for a quick playoff sweep so it can rest up before the next round. It looks like Miami will get its wish. Read more NBA picks articles at the Sports betting edge NBA section.

Pick: Miami Heat

Top Three Bookies for Mobile Betting

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:51:00 +0000

Betting on the go has become a industry-wide standard in recent times, and with the spreading of the touchscreen technology it has become very easy to choose your bet on your smartphone. It is estimated that more than 25% of all bets are now placed through smartphones, and the percentage is steadily growing. Bettors around the world are using iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone to access the betting market.

1 UNIBET

The mobile betting platform will open in your language, as it detects your location. And that is just the beginning, as the design it the best among all mobile betting services offered in the world today. It includes live scores, live betting, a list of most popular events, statistics, access to the customer service – all on one screen. The live betting console is identical to the one on Unibet's website, which is a great thing, since Unibet's live betting console is regarded as the graphically most attractive one in business. No other mobile betting console can match Unibet's standard. The only thing which is missing – and which isn't implemented anywhere yet – is direct live streaming on your smartphone. Judging by the look of things, when live streaming does become available on mobile betting platforms, Unibet will be the one to do it first. And if you're already using Unibet's mobile betting platform, you'll get to see it first.

2 BETFAIR

A fine application for mobile betting makes a customer feel the same as accessing the website on a personal computer. Betfair's mobile betting platform is designed to offer the full functionality of the website, which has its good sides and bad sides. Unfortunately, the developers didn't have in mind the design of smartphones and the possibilites which touchscreen is offering, and the navigation is suffering because of it. It takes quite a few clicks to get to the match which you want to bet on, and quite a few clicks to get back. Still, Betfair is Betfair and it's available on your smartphone. Come to think of it, that's priceless. Don't forget to check the lates betfair sign up bonus

3 SPORTINGBET

Sportingbet's mobile betting platform is easy to use and offers very good navigation which is instantly understandable. The only thing which is missing is the current score in the in-play events, but they can be easily accessed through their livescore service on the same platform. All the betting options which are available on Sportingbet's website are also available on the mobile betting platform, and in Sportingbet's case that means a lot of bets. Everything about Sportingbet's mobile betting platform is easy, pleasant and intuitive, making it a great choice.

Enjoy mobile betting with the best online bookmakers.

...if the Manchester derby ends goalless

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:48:00 +0000

On 30th April, Premier League champions Manchester United make the short trip to noisy neighbours Manchester City in a match which, before the season had even begun, many had earmarked as a title decider. If the match fail to deliver and should end goalless, you can rest in the knowledge that you will still be able to enjoy the result with bet365’s superb Bore Draw Money Back offer. Simply place a pre-match Correct Score, Half-Time/Full-Time or Scorecast bet and if the game finishes 0-0 then bet365 will refund all losing bets on these markets.

This unbelievable offer runs all year round and applies to matches from every league, cup and competition around the world, meaning that a blank scoreline will never leave you disappointed again!

NHL Semifinal Preview – How Surprising are the Phoenix Coyotes?

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:18:00 +0000

The sports betting online experts were not really sure what to make of the first round series matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Phoenix Coyotes. The concept behind it was pretty cut and dry. The Blackhawks cannot play defense and have good but not great goaltending. Chicago excels at playing offense and bases its entire game plan around offense. The Coyotes play excellent defense and have extremely strong goaltending. But Phoenix relies on crashing the net to score goals and relies very little on finesse. If you bet on sports, then you call this the unstoppable force meets the immovable object.

Underneath all of this was another cliché that seems to prove true every year. That is "offense sells tickets but defense wins championships." When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, it was over flowing with defensive talent. After the Cup win, Chicago released most of the talent in a salary cap purge. The Phoenix Coyotes were able to shut down the Blackhawks and move on in the playoffs.

Offense

The Phoenix Coyotes will never bowl an opposing team over with its offense. Of the six games played in the series with the Blackhawks, five of them were decided by one goal. None of the games in the series saw either one of the teams score more than four goals in a game. Then the Coyotes pulled off the ultimate clinching game by beating Chicago 4-0 in the series closer. It was the Coyotes' way of showing the league that it could play offense as well as defense. But the Coyotes will need real goal production if it is going to beat teams like Nashville or St. Louis as the playoffs move on. The only team that the Phoenix offense matches up with in the second round is the Los Angeles Kings. But the Kings are also the best defensive team in hockey.

Defense

The sports betting world stood up and paid attention to Phoenix goalie Mike Smith this season. Smith was always a promising goaltending prospect, but he was never given the chance to blossom into a starter. Phoenix gave him that chance and now the team is reaping the rewards of a good decision. But it is not just Smith that makes Phoenix tough on defense. The Phoenix defensive unit is big and punishing. These guys can also skate and score goals. This is a championship defense backing up a decent offense. That is not a combination which will go far in the playoffs.

Summary

No matter who Phoenix plays in the second round, the online sportsbook experts are not going to give the Coyotes much of a chance. But Phoenix is not that far away from being a serious Cup contender. It just needs that one scoring line that puts fear in the opposing defense. Until then, Phoenix is a good playoff team that is probably going to be in over its head when the second round starts.

NBA Game Preview for Thursday April 19, 2012 – Bucks Give it One Last Try

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Online Betting Overview

The Philadelphia 76ers is doing everything it can to help the Milwaukee Bucks make it into the NBA playoffs. The problem is that the Bucks are not taking advantage of its opportunities. The 76ers started a three-game losing streak over the weekend that gave Milwaukee the chance to swoop in and grab the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Click here to see the odds on the Bucks beating out the 76ers for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth. But the Bucks cannot sustain a winning streak long enough to move up in the standings. Philadelphia is 3-7 in the last 10 games and looks like it is ready to keep giving Milwaukee a chance to move up. The Bucks need to start grabbing those opportunities.

The Indiana Pacers have locked up a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and have no real reason to be concerned. The price per head bookie experts do not foresee the Pacers giving up the third spot in the conference any time soon. Indiana has a four game lead over the Boston Celtics, and the Celtics have not been able to consistently win as the season winds down. The Pacers have been playing pretty good basketball as of late, and as Indiana gets ready to host a desperate Milwaukee team in this Eastern Conference showdown, the Pacers know that the Bucks are going to pull out all of the stops to win this one.

Milwaukee Bucks

A bodog review of the last 10 games shows the Bucks with a respectable 6-4 record in that stretch. But most of those wins came before the 76ers started to tumble. The Bucks have been frustratingly treading water for the last three or four games and have not been able to grab the opportunity Philadelphia is presenting. To make matters worse for Milwaukee, the Pacers are 2-0 against the Bucks this season and both of those losses came in Milwaukee. As the season series shifts back to Indiana, it looks like the odds are starting to stack up against the Bucks.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are 21-8 at home and the Milwaukee Bucks are 14-16 on the road. That should give a clear indication of exactly what the Bucks face in this game. Indiana plays a strong team game and does not give up a lot of shots from inside the paint. The Pacers are not big, but they do know how to cycle down low and run with the opposition. The Bucks do not have an offense that can counteract the active Indiana defense, and that will be a problem for Milwaukee in this game.

The Bottom Line

NBA fans do not expect a lot from either one of these teams in the playoffs. But many feel that Indiana is a superstar point guard away from being a real contender. The Bucks lack the consistency needed to be a winner down the stretch and that is what will keep Milwaukee out of the playoffs this year. Philadelphia will back in to the playoffs as the Bucks keep giving away opportunities.

Pick: Indiana Pacers

NHL Playoff Preview – How the West Will be Won

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:33:00 +0000

The sports betting anticipation has begun for the NHL playoffs. Last season, all eyes were on the Vancouver Canucks as the team won the President’s Trophy and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to Boston. This season, the Canucks have once again won the President’s Trophy, but a trip to the Stanley Cup finals is not a sure thing for this team. There is a lot of competition in the Western Conference and there are a lot of teams that could trip up the Canucks as it attempts to repeat as conference champions.

Vancouver Canucks

The online betting crowd is getting used to the Canucks being the best regular season team in the NHL and then falling short in the playoffs. The difference between the Canucks last season and this season is that Vancouver is riding a wave of momentum heading in to the playoffs. But goaltender Roberto Luongo has not shown the stability necessary to be a consistent playoff winner and that will hurt the Canucks.

Los Angeles Kings

Do not discount the Los Angeles Kings as the playoffs begin. The Kings quietly sealed up the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference a few days before the season ended and then started scoring goals down the stretch. But an injury to newly-acquired forward Jeff Carter could cause the Kings to bow out early in these playoffs.

San Jose Sharks

The pay per head sportsbook experts just don’t see it with the San Jose Sharks this season. The team plays grinding offense but it has a slow defense. Goaltender Antii Niemi has proven to be wildly inconsistent and is not showing the big game poise that caused the Sharks to sign him in the first place. The Sharks are getting older and lack the speed they will need to advance in the playoffs.

St. Louis Blues

The one very positive thing that the Blues have going for it is the ability to put either goaltender in net and get a strong performance. Sportsbook reviews of the Blues’ record shows that St. Louis is not nearly as dominating on the road as it is at home. But since every team except Vancouver would have to yield home ice to St. Louis, then that puts the Blues in a very good spot.

Nashville Predators

The Predators had two late-season additions that could be very helpful in the playoffs. Power forward Paul Gaustad was picked up from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade at the trade deadline and could be a force in the playoffs as soon as he recovers from his hand injury. Alexander Radulov made headlines when he finally put on the Predators’ sweater and hit the ice paying immediate dividends. With Pekka Rinne in goal, this is a very dangerous Nashville hockey team.

Phoenix Coyotes

NHL fans know that goaltending is the key to winning championships, but the goalie does need to have a good team around him too. Mike Smith is the solid goalie that backstops the Coyotes’ team, but the team still needs goal scorers around Smith to win it all.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are an interesting mix of very old players, very young players and a few players in the middle. Detroit broke the record for most consecutive home wins this season, but then fell apart when injuries set it. This is a fragile team that could go all the way to the Stanley Cup finals or it could lose out in the first round. It is extremely difficult to say.

Chicago Blackhawks

As well as the Blackhawks have played this season, the team is still very suspect in goal and on defense. Goaltender Corey Crawford is a solid goalie, but his inability to grab a shutout all season long shows that he is unable to steal games for the team. The Blackhawks are all offense, and that is not going to win playoff series.

Pick: St. Louis Blues

Cars, cash and a cruise are being given away in the bet365 promotion in April

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 07:15:00 +0000

A lavish cruise for two, luxury cars, big cash bonuses and tickets to Soccer’s Euro 2012 Final, in Ukraine this summer, are among the great prizes to be won in the Casino at bet365 this month.

The spectacular bet365 Prize Ladder promotion means the more casino games you play, the more Comp Points you earn and the higher up the ladder you climb. The further you rise, the better the prize. It’s so simple; just play big to win big throughout April.

A Jaguar XJ, a Range Rover Evoque and an Audi A1 Sportback are the cars on offer, or you can land yourself the cruise of a lifetime, 25 nights onboard the Queen Mary 2 – the largest ocean liner ever built – taking in America and Canada.

The Euro 2012 package is also for two people and includes flights to Kiev, a three-night hotel stay, tickets to the Final and £1,500 in spending money.

Get over to the Casino at bet365 now and start making your way up the ladder.

QPR to shock another favorite?

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:24:00 +0000

Arsenal's recent run has been nothing short of spectacular. A team struggling at the start of the season has now recorded eight straight victories in the league and is holding the third spot, three points above Tottenham. QPR is fighting against relegation, but if there's something they've shown this season, it's their ability to shock favorites. The most recent victim was Liverpool.

The third spot was reached by Arsenal only in the last two rounds, when Tottenham scored two consecutive draws, and it's a dream come true for Arsene Wenger. Despite the large number of wasted points at the start of this season's campaign, Arsenal finally managed to find balance and turn things around. The Gunners fans can also celebrate that the club signed one of the hottest players in Europe right now, Lukas Podolski, who will join after this season.

Tottenham, who was 10 points above Arsenal as recently as last month, wants the 3^rd place too. Harry Rednknapp said they will rise above Arsenal as the Gunners have a tougher schedule, and it's up to Arsene Wenger to prove them wrong and keep winning to maintain the distance. Redknapp has so far not been outspoken about wanting the third spot, this is the first time he made a public note and a threat to Arsenal.

The Gunners are still missing several players, such as Per Mertesacker, but there hasn't been any new injuries lately. It's quite possible that the injury situation, which has been bothering Wenger for the entire season, has finally sidelined the “right” players, leaving the ones who work well together.

Queens Park Rangers are a prime candidate for relegation, and after a period in which they've managed to win only once in 16 matches, they took out Liverpool 3-2 at home. Although coach Mark Hughes hoped the big victory marked the start of a good run, QPR lost easily at Sunderland 3-1 in the next round. The squad seems to be highly motivated against heavy favorites, and have also beaten Chelsea earlier in the season.

Queens Park Rangers are priced at 6.000 @ Bet365 to do it again, and Arsenal is given a decent price of 1.630 @ PinnacleSports for continuing their long winning streak against a rich but yet unbalanced club. Robin van Persie is the Premiership top scorer, with 5 goals above Wayne Rooney, and the amazing striker has scored in almost every match this season, but failed to find the net in the last two.

Suggestions:

Arsenal to win, 1.630, Expekt

Goalscorer market – Robin van Persie to score anytime, 1.85, BWin

More football betting tips you can find at bettingfellow.com.

NHL Game Preview for Thursday March 29, 2012 – Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:09:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

It has now officially become “do or die” time for the Washington Capitals. After a completely unimpressive performance against the Buffalo Sabres that cost Washington the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Capitals must now try to regain that spot without the chance to play the Sabres head to head anymore this season. As the college basketball betting starts to wind down, so does the NHL season. This game is one of only five that the Capitals have left and, considering how well Buffalo has been playing, the Capitals have to assume that they need to win all five to get back into the playoff picture. From what the Capitals showed in its last outing, getting the team together enough to climb back up in the standings is not going to be easy.

The price per head bookie experts are starting to wonder if the Boston Bruins have a real shot at defending its Stanley Cup championship this year. The Bruins had slipped in the standings a few weeks ago and was in danger of losing the lead in the Northeast Division to the Ottawa Senators. But Boston has been able to pick up its play as of late and put some space between itself and Ottawa. It seemed like the Bruins were having a difficult time adjusting to the loss of backup goaltender Tuukka Rask. But new backup Marty Turco has finally gotten his legs back under him and has been playing well when asked to relieve Tim Thomas.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals look like a team of disgruntled teenagers who are more interested in fighting than winning. Alex Ovechkin is not offering any special kind of inspiration that would motivate the team and head coach Dale Hunter remains strangely quiet behind the bench. A sportsbook review of the situation in Washington shows that the team has no confidence. If Washington wants to climb back into the playoff race, then it needs this win. The problem is that the Capitals are a terrible road team and may be headed into this game more intent on acting like angry kids than motivated professional athletes.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins are on a three-game winning streak, which means that the team has adjusted to whatever changes had caused it problems a few weeks ago. Boston has created a five-point pad in the NHL standings between itself and Ottawa and it looks like Boston should be able to hold on to the Northeast Division lead as the season comes to an end. But games like this one against the Capitals late in the season are almost like traps for the Bruins. Boston cannot afford any key injuries at this point in the season, so the Bruins need to avoid getting drawn in to the kind of game that the Capitals will want to play. Boston needs to save that aggression for the playoffs if it wants to defend its title.

The Bottom Line

Whether the fans in Washington think that the Capitals can climb back into the playoffs is immaterial because the Capitals’ players do not play with any confidence. You can see it in the players’ faces every time something goes wrong. With how the Bruins have been playing lately, there is bound to be a lot going wrong for Washington in this game.

Pick: Boston Bruins

5 Things to Look for to Get the Best Odds in a Casino

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:24:00 +0000

There are many reasons why people enjoy gambling, but everyone that wagers a bet always agrees that it’s much more fun to win. The excitement that comes with winning a bet is second to none.

For the casual gamer, things like strategy and odds don’t mean much. It’s all about how much fun you can have, hopefully without losing more than you can afford to.

However, knowing how to get the best odds in a casino game can increase the amount of times you win, lower the house edge and help your bankroll to last longer. You don’t have to be a genius at math or memorize a bunch of statistics, just try to look out for the games where your money is going to go further:

1. Blackjack pays 3 to 2

When it comes to blackjack, this is the simplest way of increasing your odds without knowing anything about basic strategy or counting cards. Make sure the table you play at offers a 3 to 2 payout when you hit a blackjack. What this means is that you will receive 3 chips for every 2 chips you wager. For example, if you bet 10 chips and hit a blackjack, you will receive 15 chips. Avoid the tables that pay 6 to 5. At that table, the same 10 chips bet will only give you 12 chips.

2. Single Zero Roulette

For many Americans, there is only one version of the roulette table: the one that contains both 0 and 00. For Europeans, however, there’s a different version of the table. Here’s another trick to instantly increase your odds without studying up on strategies. Simply look for the roulette table that only has a single zero. This alone will dramatically decrease the house edge and help to keep your stake in front of you that bit longer. You don’t have to be in Europe to find one. Many casinos in the US offer it, as well. The only downside is that they will probably have a higher minimum bet.

3. Baccarat

A lot of casual gamers have never heard of the game Baccarat, but it has one of the best bets you can make in the casino. The player can choose to bet one of three ways: on Player, Banker, or Tie. By choosing to bet with the banker, the house edge drops to just over 1 percent. The bet does include a 5 percent commission to be paid, but it still is the safest bet you can make.

4. Craps – The Pass Line

This is another game most casual gamers do not understand that has some great odds. It can seem really intimidating at first, but simply betting on the pass line can have you playing the best bet and learning at the same time.

Another big advantage to Craps is that you can interact with the other players; you don’t even need to bet on every roll, just bet every now and then and enjoy the atmosphere. This is a great way to have a cheap but enjoyable night.

5. Pai Gow Poker

It may be more confusing than Texas Hold ‘Em at first, but Pai Gow Poker is actually not very difficult and has some of the best odds at a casino. If you already know how poker hands are ranked, it won’t take long for you to get a hold of this game and start earning money.

Summary

Of course, it should go without saying that increasing your odds does not guarantee that you will win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose and always play responsibly. These five tips are simply meant to lower the house edge to make losing happen less frequently and enable you to enjoy playing longer.

This guest post was written by Nisha on behalf of Jackpot Party, where you can play casino games and slots online (US players can play for fun!)

NBA Game Preview for Thursday March 8, 2012 – Orlando Magic @ Chicago Bulls

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:39:00 +0000

Online Betting Overview

The Chicago Bulls are trying to recapture the glory days of the 1990s and they are doing a pretty good job with it. As the March Madness betting gets underway, the Bulls find itself with the best record in the NBA and pulling away in the Eastern Conference standings. The Miami Heat has been on quite a roll lately winning eight of its last 10 games. But that is still not good enough to get close enough to the Bulls to take over first place in the conference. Derrick Rose and the rest of his crew are playing a high quality style of basketball that will make it difficult to beat the Bulls when the playoffs come around.

The price per head sports experts just cannot figure out the Orlando Magic. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, Magic superstar Dwight Howard remains the topic of heated trade rumors. Dwight Howard himself has come out and said that he would not disregard a trade that got him out of Orlando. The rumors have Howard going to the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. But, as of yet, a move has not been made. Despite the rampant trade rumors, Howard and the Magic are the third seed in the Eastern Conference and only five games back of the Southeast Division leading Miami Heat. It is a performance that defies conventional sports logic and the fans in Orlando love it.

Chicago Bulls

It stands to reason that the best team in the league would also be the best team at home. The Bulls are 15-2 at home, which is one of the best home records in the NBA. In the last 10 games, the Bulls are 9-1 and it is 32-8 on the season. The common message here is consistency. The Bulls play strong defense and are great on the offensive boards. Derrick Rose’s speed is a key in the paint for Chicago and the Bulls also get some great perimeter shooting from the bench. As long as the Bulls stay healthy, then this is going to be a difficult team to beat in the regular season or the playoffs.

Orlando Magic

Orlando is a good team, but it isn’t a great team. The Magic has a 12-8 record on the road but is a lackluster 6-4 in the last 10 games. Dwight Howard has a good supporting cast around him, but things tend to drop off a little when the bench starts getting into the game. Howard has been running into foul troubles lately, which has put the bench more into the spotlight. The Magic starters can match up with the Bulls’ starters fairly well, but once the depth comes into play then the Magic is in trouble.

The Bottom Line

A bodog review of the Magic’s season shows a team that is overachieving. As the season starts to wind down, the overachievers will sometimes start to fall to the wayside. As long as Orlando is in the playoff hunt, Dwight Howard isn’t going anywhere. But that does not mean that the Magic is assured of regular season or playoff success just because Howard is on the roster.

Pick: Chicago Bulls

Free Bets and Excellent Horse Racing Offers for the Cheltenham Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:41:00 +0000

Get ready for the famous Cheltenham roar as the 2012 Cheltenham Festival gets underway on 13^th March, opening with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The four-day festival will build to a crescendo as Long Run looks to defend his crown in the Cheltenham Gold Cup against a strong field of challengers which includes perennial crowd-pleaser Kauto Star.

Dont't forget we can make the most of all the action with bet365’s excellent Horse Racing offers.Their Price Promise means that all prices are constantly updated for races broadcast live on Channel 4 and the BBC. This ensures that bet365 offers the best price or joint best price on every horse running.

Channel 4/1 Free Bet Offer is another cracker - if you back a single winner at 4/1 or more on a UK or Irish race televised live on Channel 4 then you can have a free bet to the same stake on the next live Channel 4 race. If your free bet also wins at odds of 4/1 or more, then you will qualify for a further free bet. Keep backing those winners and bet365 will keep giving you free bets!

There’s also bet365’s Best Odds Guaranteed, which applies to every UK and Irish race, every day. So whenever you place your bet, if the Starting Price ends up being bigger then bet365 will pay out at the bigger odds.

Good luck with your Cheltenham horse racing bets!

NHL Game Preview for Thursday March 1, 2012 – St. Louis Blues @ Vancouver Canucks

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:24:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

Now is that time of the season where NHL teams show of their NHL trade deadline 2012 acquisitions. The St. Louis Blues do not get to show off any new acquisitions because they did not make any moves at the deadline. Considering how well the Blues have been doing this season, it was probably a good move by management to not mix up the chemistry by taking a part out or putting a new part in. The Blues have not been this competitive in a long time and in Ken Hitchcock’s first year as head coach, the team is showing a tremendous amount of promise.

The Vancouver Canucks, on the other hand, do have a new acquisition to show off. The price per head sports experts took notice when the Canucks sent rookie forward Cody Hodgson and defensive prospect Alexander Sulzer to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for tough guy forward Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. Both players started off with a lot of promise in Buffalo, but things have not worked out the way the team had hoped they would. Kassian scored a goal in his first game with the Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver is hoping that is a sign of things to come. The Canucks are still smarting from its Stanley Cup finals loss last year and are trying everything they can to get back to the finals again this year.

St. Louis Blues

It does not take long to see why the Blues did not make any trade deadline moves. The price per head bookie experts have the Blues in fourth place in the Western Conference. But St. Louis is only two points out of first place in the Central Division and three points out of the overall lead in the conference. As good as St. Louis has played this year, the team is only average on the road. With a 13-13-3 record on the road, St. Louis needs to find a way to win away from home if it wants to go deep into the playoffs. The Blues are riding a three-game winning streak, but they will be coming up against an extremely tough opponent in the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks

A sportsbook review of the Canucks’ last 10 games shows a record of 6-1-3. Vancouver remains the highest scoring team in the league, but it has been handed back to back overtime losses in its last two games. The goaltending has been a little suspect in Vancouver as of late and it seems to be affecting the rest of the team. The Canucks are 18-6-4 at home, but the team has more wins on the road. Vancouver has been unpredictable at home and that could be a problem come playoff time.

The Bottom Line

The Canucks are adjusting to two new players and that takes a little time. The chemistry on offense for Vancouver has been disrupted with the loss of Hodgson. This game is more of a matter of timing than anything else as the Blues are on a roll and Vancouver is still trying to adjust.

Pick: St. Louis Blues

NHL Game Preview for Thursday February 16, 2012 – New York Islanders @ St. Louis Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:49:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

While basketball fans are betting March Madness odds, hockey fans are watching the playoff races in both conferences. The New York Islanders looked like they were done for the season as the All-Star break was approaching. Then the Isles started to come to life and put together consecutive wins. One of the biggest problems the Islanders were having was in goal. While they still have the 15-year man in Rick DiPietro, the Islanders are realizing that really long-term relationships in the NHL are a bad idea. DiPietro has spent most of the past few years injured, so the Islanders have been looking for a new goalie. The team brought in former San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabakov, but he has been inconsistent. The team thinks it may have something in youngster Al Montoya, but he has also been inconsistent. If the Islanders could find a goaltender, then it may be a playoff team.

The St. Louis Blues made an upgrade in the coaching department when it hired Ken Hitchcock over the summer. Since then, the price per head sports experts have found it difficult to ignore the St. Louis Blues. After a lackluster year in 2010-2011, the Blues are in fourth place in the Western Conference and challenging the Detroit Red Wings for the Central Division lead. The St. Louis Blues have an average offense, but it is one of the best defensive teams in all of hockey and it is using that defensive prowess to put itself into a prime position to contend for the Stanley Cup in April.

New York Islanders

The Islanders are more competitive this year than it was last year, but it still cannot find consistency on defense and in goal. Despite its struggles, the Islanders are 12-11-3 on the road and do tend to play a more aggressive game in other teams’ buildings. A betonline.com review of the Islanders’ last 10 games shows a record of 5-3-2, which has helped the Islanders to climb within six points of a playoff spot. On the road is where the Islanders seem most comfortable and that puts this team in a good spot to win this important game.

St. Louis Blues

While the Islanders may be a good road team, the Blues are one of the best home teams in hockey. At 24-3-4, the Blues trail only the Red Wings for the best home record in the league. This is just a solid hockey team that plays all the fundamentals very well. The main change the team made in the off-season was bringing in Hitchcock, and it seemed to make all of the difference in the world.

The Bottom Line

As the NHL trade deadline 2012 approaches, Islanders fans are wondering if the team will try to make a move to bring in a goalie and strengthen its playoff run. But for now, the Islanders need a road win against the team that is second-best in the league at not allowing visiting teams to win.

NFL 2012 Preview: How the Top Teams will Fare in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:49:00 +0000

The online betting crowd has turned its attention to Super Bowl XLVI and is anticipating the kickoff for the big game. There were several teams in the NFL that saw vast improvements this year over last year. It can be difficult to maintain that kind of play every year, but some of the improved teams have elements that will insure that they will at least be competitive for many years to come. But which of those improved teams will show sustained improvement and be around when the playoffs start in 2012?

While the Super Bowl betting continues for the Super Bowl XLVI, lets look at some of the teams that were top performers in 2011 and should be top performers again in 2012.

San Francisco 49ers

The roster for the 49ers changed very little from 2010 to 2011. The most significant change for the 49ers from 2010 to 2011 was the hiring of head coach Jim Harbaugh. When he played in the NFL, Harbaugh was an energetic quarterback. He is now a very energetic NFL head coach. He has turned the San Francisco defense into one of the best units in football and has turned a mediocre quarterback into an excellent game manager. The price per head sportsbook experts agree that this team is too talented and too well-coached to just disappear. There is a very good chance that the 49ers will be in the 2012 NFC Championship game with much different results.

Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis believes that the Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl material. The future hall of fame linebacker must believe that or else he would have no other reason to come back for a 16^th season in 2012. People like to point at listless Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco as the reason why Baltimore lost in the AFC Championship game to New England. A 5 dimes review of the game shows that it was not Flacco who forgot to call a timeout to calm the Baltimore special teams unit down just before the field goal at the end of the game. The Ravens do need more out of its quarterback to win big games, but the AFC Championship game was a combination of bad coaching and bad play-calling. If the Ravens’ coaching staff can tighten up its approach, then Baltimore can be a Super Bowl contender next year.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are teetering on either being a dynasty or a bust. The entire team needs to mature significantly if it is going to make a run at the Super Bowl in the near future. Even the veterans on the team were getting caught up in bad penalties after the whistle in the playoffs in 2011. The Lions can put up impressive NFL scores when it wants to, but there needs to be a collective effort to help the team grow up if Detroit wants to be considered one of the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFC.

Houston Texans

A healthy Houston Texans team could have made a much deeper run in the playoffs than the injured 2011 team did. If the Texans can keep its key players healthy in 2012, then this team is definitely a contender for Super Bowl XLVII.

NFL Super Bowl Betting: The Updated Super Bowl Odds

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:50:00 +0000

The sports betting world is getting anxious to get to Super Bowl Sunday. But before we can get to Super Bowl Sunday, the four remaining teams still have to square off in Championship Sunday. The best in the AFC and the NFC fight it out to see who will meet in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.

As is the case throughout a playoff tournament, the Super Bowl betting odds change constantly before each new round. The favorites suffered some pretty significant losses in the divisional round as the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers were dispatched and sent home for the rest of the playoffs. Now we have the championship games all set to go and, as expected, the odds have shifted yet again.

New England Patriots (2 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVI)

Despite having the worst defense in all of football, the New England Patriots have managed to convince the price per head experts that it is the odds-on favorite to win it all. What gives the Patriots such clout is the success of the combination of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Four AFC Championships and three Super Bowl titles between the duo carries a lot of weight. But this Patriots’ team has yet to really be tested this season against a team that can play a complete game. The Baltimore Ravens have a great running game and one of the best defensive units in football. The Patriots were able to exploit the weaknesses in the Denver defense because there were a lot of weaknesses. The Ravens’ defense is a much different thing.

New York Giants (4 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVI)

Under head coach Tom Coughlin, the Giants have become a terrible regular season team but a very effective playoff team. Once Coughlin gets this team into the playoffs, anything can happen as the team showed in Green Bay in the divisional round. It is hard to find a weakness with the Giants, but if you had to find one then you would look at the defensive secondary. But that Giants’ defensive front has a way of preventing the opposing offense from getting too deep into the secondary.

San Francisco 49ers (4 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVI)

A sportsbook review of the 49ers season shows a team that has found its coach and now intends to dominate the NFC for a long time. But the 49ers offense is still suspect. San Francisco did stand up to the New Orleans Saints and outscore the top offense in the league. But the New Orleans defense has been nothing to write home about all season long. When the 49ers step on the field to play the New York Giants, San Francisco will be facing a team that has a ferocious pass rush and has been getting to the quarterback as of late. When the playoffs started, the Giants seemed to flick on a switch and became a playoff monster. The 49ers have an excellent pass rush, but it may have problems getting past that New York offensive line.

Baltimore Ravens (6 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVI)

Even considering the NFL scores that the Patriots have been able to run up on teams lately, including 45 points in the divisional round against the Broncos, there is still concern in New England over this AFC Championship game. The Patriots faced a defense similar to Baltimore’s when it played the Steelers in the regular season. The Patriots’ offense was completely neutralized in that game. NFL fans can expect the same results in this AFC Championship game.

NFL 2012 Playoffs: AFC Playoff Teams and their Super Bowl Odds

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:14:00 +0000

The online betting crowd is getting geared up for the playoffs and the price per head sports experts are applying Super Bowl winning odds to each playoff team. While the NFC is considered to be the strong favorite to win it all in February, the AFC has some strong teams that will make this year’s Super Bowl fun to watch. Let’s take a look at the AFC playoff teams and compare their Super Bowl odds to their chances of winning the big game.

Baltimore Ravens (6 to 1)

What makes the Ravens go is its defense and running back Ray Rice. The problem for the Ravens is that if one person on the defense seems off for a game, then the whole defense has a problem functioning. Baltimore still possesses one of the top defenses in all of football, and the Ravens have won a Super Bowl with a much worse offense than what it has now. The pay per head bookie experts seem to think that the Ravens have an excellent chance to win the Super Bowl this year. If Baltimore can hold together and play as a unit while avoiding injuries, then a Super Bowl win is possible.

Cincinnati Bengals (70 to 1)

The disappointing thing about the odds applied to the Bengals is that Cincinnati is considered the least likely team to win the Super Bowl this year. Denver may very well be the least likely team to win the Super Bowl and the Broncos will have its hands full with the Pittsburgh Steelers. A 5 dimes review of the Bengals roster shows a young offense backed up by a veteran defense. This may not be the year that the Bengals compete for the Super Bowl, but that year is coming.

Denver Broncos (60 to 1)

The planets seemed to align and Tim Tebow was given credit for helping the Broncos to sneak into the playoffs. What really carried the Broncos during its six-game winning streak is the defense. When you throw in a kicker in Matt Prater that is regularly hitting clutch 50-plus yard field goals, you start to get the impression that Tebow is more of a liability than an asset.

New England Patriots (7 to 2)

Can the New England Patriots take the worst defense in football to the Super Bowl? The NFL experts seem to think so. The problem with the Patriots is that its offense is all about Tom Brady throwing the ball short. Teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh will easily be able to take that away from Brady and knock the Patriots out of the playoffs before Brady and head coach Bill Belichick have a chance to play in another Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10 to 1)

When the Steelers announced that running back Rashard Mendenhall will miss the playoffs with a torn ACL, the Steelers’ stock dropped immediately. Ben Roethlisberger can pass his way into the Super Bowl so long as the Pittsburgh defense can hold up. But the defense is going to have to be extremely sharp to get a team with no running game, especially a Pittsburgh Steelers team, into the Super Bowl.

Houston Texans (35 to 1)

The Texans made the playoffs for the first time in team history riding one of the best running games in football. But without starting quarterback Matt Schaub in the mix, the Texans are just an average team. As the Houston defense improves under new coordinator Wade Philiips, then this team will become a serious Super Bowl contender. But there are too many missing pieces from the Texans’ lineup to consider Houston a Super Bowl threat this year.

NFL Week 16 Preview: Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens (-13 ½)

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:07:00 +0000

Online Betting Overview

Cleveland starting quarterback Colt McCoy looks like he will not be playing in this game. The concussion he sustained against the Steelers in week 15 is still lingering. But that does not mean that all is lost for the Browns in this game. This is the same team that pulled off upset wins over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots last season. It is true that former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had a lot to do with those wins, but the point is that this team is capable of that. According to the price per head sports experts, the Browns are about as long of a shot as a team could be to win this game. But you should never count the Cleveland Browns out, and you should always take the points when the Browns play the Ravens.

The Ravens have one of the best defensive units in the league. This defense may not be quite as dominating as the 2000 defense that won the Super Bowl, but it is very close. This defense was good enough to help Baltimore sweep the Steelers for the first time in a long time. But the pay per head sports analysts are concerned about the Baltimore offense. Head coach John Harbaugh keeps trying to give the ball to quarterback Joe Flacco to be the offensive leader, but it always keeps coming back to running back Ray Rice. Flacco has a habit of throwing interceptions at the worst possible times while Rice scores points. It is a balance that the Ravens are still struggling with.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are not completely dead in the water for this game just because Colt McCoy is not playing. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace has plenty of experience and he adds an element of mobility that McCoy does not have. Whatever kind of quarterback the Ravens were planning on playing will be completely different than the quarterback it will get. Don’t forget that running back Peyton Hillis can grind the Baltimore defense into the ground as well. A 5 dimes review of the Cleveland defense shows a team that could give Ray Rice problems, which would put the responsibility of winning the game on to the shoulders of Joe Flacco. That may be the only chance the Browns have of winning this game.

Baltimore Ravens

Even if the Ravens had a chance to rest starters, it probably wouldn’t. There are very few players on the Ravens’ roster that want to be rested and coach Harbaugh is not a big believe in days off either. The Ravens believe in playing the NFL schedule right down to the wire. Besides, the Ravens are still in a battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North title, which means that Baltimore needs this win. So look for the Ravens to throw everything at the Browns in this contest.

The Bottom Line

When the Ravens are turned up to 11, as they are at this point in the season, it is just too much for the Browns to handle. But you may want to take the Browns anyways as the Ravens may not be able to cover that spread. The safe bet is the Ravens.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens

NFL Week 14 Preview: Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3)

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

The price per head sports experts started counting the Houston Texans out of the playoff race once starting quarterback Matt Schaub went down for the season. But the fans were still holding on to hope that backup Matt Leinart had those special qualities that head coach Gary Kubiak said Leinart had to be a leader and a quarterback. Leinart was also looking forward to the chance to prove to the Arizona Cardinals, and the rest of the league, the he could play quarterback in the NFL. Part of the way through his first regular season game in over two years, Leinart broke his collarbone and rookie third-string quarterback TJ Yates was in. Yates is 2-0 as an NFL quarterback and 1-0 as a starter. Maybe the Texans know something that the betting experts don’t know.

No matter how many wins the Cincinnati Bengals get this season, the team will never get respect until it beats the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals will also never win the AFC North divisional title until it beats the Steelers and Ravens. So far, Cincinnati has been unable to beat the Ravens and the Steelers, which means the team is working on next season. The numbers being churned out by the bookie software show that Cincinnati rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is slowly improving but still has a lot to learn. But the combination of the Cincinnati offensive line and Dalton seems to be one that can grow together into a very potent unit.

Houston Texans

Even with defensive star Mario Williams out for the season, the Houston Texans’ defense is still able to come to the team’s rescue when things get bad. Rookie quarterback TJ Yates played smart football in the Texans’ week 13 win over the Falcons. He handed the ball to Arian Foster most of the time and when Yates did throw the ball, he did not throw an interception. The betonline sports experts are starting to think that if the Texans can keep playing this way, then Houston can retain its place on top of the AFC and enter the playoffs as the top seed in the AFC. Could Schaub or Leinart come back this season? Schaub may be ready of the Texans get to the AFC championship game. There is nothing to say that the Texans won’t get that far.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a young team that will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come if it can stay together. The NFL schedule will always be working against the Bengals because it will have to play the Steelers and Ravens twice each season. Until the Bengals can come out of those four games with a winning record, it will not be considered a playoff contender. But the Bengals do have a chance in this game. Cincinnati’s defense is a better unit that the one in Atlanta that the Texans just ran over. This game will come down to a battle between the Cincinnati offense and Houston defense. This is where Dalton gets his chance to shine.

The Bottom Line

The Texans’ game plan is going to be the same as week 13. Houston will run Ben Tate and Arian Foster while giving TJ Yates only safe passing plays. Since the Texans will be without its starting quarterback at least until the playoffs start, do not be surprised if Kubiak puts in the recently signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia to provide an offensive spark.

Pick: Houston Texans

NFL Week 12 Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers (-10 ½) @ Kansas City Chiefs

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:52:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

It is correct to have the Steelers be favorites in this game because, logic would suggest, that the Steelers will win this game and by a significant margin. But the Kansas City Chiefs are so hard to figure out this season that almost anything could happen in this game. With quarterback Matt Cassel injured, the Chiefs have turned to the tuft of hair known as Tyler Palko to try and win games. But Palko is not playing the role of able backup. He is unpredictable, undisciplined and makes really bad decisions in the face of just the slightest pressure. In the week 11 loss to the New England Patriots, Palko throw three interceptions without countering with a single touchdown pass. Will we see rookie Ricky Stanzi this week? Considering how bad Palko is playing and the luck that other 2011 rookie quarterbacks have had, we just may see the rookie in week 12.

The price per head sports fans in Pittsburgh have seen the Steelers develop from an unpredictable bunch on offense to a potent offensive unit. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger keeps making up the offense as he goes along, but his adlib solutions are extremely effective. The Pittsburgh running game is helping to spread out the opposing defense and Big Ben is showing the arm strength that everyone was expecting to see. The bookie software is still unsure about the Pittsburgh defense. It looks like the Steelers are having a tough time adjusting to the new rules regarding hitting, but it is making progress.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have become a shell of what it was last season. Running back Thomas Jones has shown that he cannot carry the running game without the injured Jamaal Charles. What was one the most potent running game in football has been completely neutralized. A bodog review of the Chiefs’ 2011 season shows that, without the dominating running game, the Chiefs are not contenders. When you strip away the running game you see that the Chiefs have not made many substantial changes to the rest of the team, and that is causing problems.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL schedule has never been something that has bothered the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the NFL rules committee looked like it had short-circuited a great Pittsburgh defense. But the Pittsburgh defense has rebounded to become the second-best unit in the league. Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do as two losses to Baltimore this season means that the Steelers do not own the tie-breaker over the Ravens as the Steelers did last year. The Steelers need to win the division straight-up, and that won’t be easy.

The Bottom Line

The Steelers will be able to do whatever it wants against this Kansas City Chiefs team. The Chiefs don’t have the defense to stop the adlibbing Ben Roethlisberger, and the Chiefs offense lost all of its punch with the injuries to Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel. The Steelers should not look past this game, but it is a game that Pittsburgh should definitely win.

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Week 10 Preview: Tennessee Titans @ Carolina Panthers (-3)

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

Cam Newton-mania is reaching a fevered pitch in Carolina, and rightfully so. Newton is a lock to be the offensive rookie of the year, and he gives Carolina an offensive edge that it has never had before. Another thing that Newton offers that the Panthers have never had is a franchise quarterback. Yes, Jake Delhomme took the Panthers to the Super Bowl and had some good years. But most people do not know who Jake Delhomme is. There are a lot of football fans who know who Cam Newton is that have never seen Newton play. Now the Panthers just need to parlay Newton’s abilities into a winning season.

The price per head sports fans in Tennessee were prepared to be patient this season and see if veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck could help bring along rookie Jake Locker and make Locker the new face of the franchise. But, because of the weak team that surrounded him in Seattle, a lot of people forgot that Matt Hasselbeck can still play football. With the collapse of the Indianapolis Colts, the AFC South became an open race. The Texans look like it is in control of the division title, but the Titans can still come around and challenge for the division before the season is over.

Carolina Panthers

The price per head services know that when a defense practices against a quarterback like Cam Newton all week, that defense is bound to get better. The Panthers have the 13^th best pass defense in football. That may not sound like much, but it beats being one of the worst pass defenses in football like the Panthers were last year. Newton makes everyone better, and it won’t be long before the lure of playing with Cam Newton brings some big defensive talent to Carolina. For now, the Panthers should have just enough defense to keep Hasselbeck in check and give the Panthers’ offense a chance to win this game.

Tennessee Titans

Fans in Tennessee are starting to wonder if running back Chris Johnson is a betonline scam. Johnson is one of the highest paid players in the NFL, but yet his production is half of what it was last season. In Johnson’s defense, the run blocking in Tennessee has been awful. Johnson will turn his game around, but the Titans are wondering if it will be in time to help Tennessee make a playoff run. The young Titans’ receivers have been benefiting from Hasselbeck’s influence and it has shown on the football field. But with veteran receivers lost for the season due to injury and a defensive secondary that is having problems stopping the long ball, this could be a long day for the Titans.

The Bottom Line

The NFL scores that the Panthers have been involved in this year do not reflect the impact that Newton has had. The defense let the team down early in the season, but now the defense is making its stand along with Newton. The Panthers may not make the playoffs this season or even go .500, but it is definitely a playoff team in the making.

Pick: Carolina Panthers

NFL Week 8 Preview: Cleveland Browns @ San Francisco 49ers

noreply@blogger.com (Aiven) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Sports Betting Overview

The Cleveland Browns are starting to feel the same growing pains that any improving team would feel. The problem for the Browns is that these pains are real. Running back Peyton Hillis is still unable to play and wide receivers Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi are still recovering from injuries. The wide receivers may play, but they will not be at full speed. Hillis will be out for this game against San Francisco. The price per head sports injuries that the Browns are suffering contributed to the lack of offense in week seven against the Seattle Seahawks. Cleveland could only muster two field goals in that game, and things do not propose to be any better against the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers do not do any single thing particularly well. But the 49ers win games because it does know how to play well in important situations. It was no small feat to hand the Detroit Lions its first loss of the season after destroying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the week before. The San Francisco 49ers have quietly become one of the best teams in the NFL and the only real off-season change was the head coach. A bookie software analysis of the 49ers roster shows many of the same guys that could not win last year still playing for the team. Aside from running back Frank Gore, there are no superstars on this team. It is just a really good football team.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns’ offense has been struggling all season because it cannot stay healthy. Running back Peyton Hillis is a huge part of the offensive game plan for the Browns and he has been out for three weeks now. With the wide receivers injured and its star running back out, the Browns have very little to work with when it comes to generating points. But quarterback Colt McCoy has managed to bring the team to a 3-3 record. That could slip below .500 by the time this game is over.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers roster is full of NFL picks no one else wanted. New head coach Jim Harbaugh kept struggling quarterback Alex Smith because no other team wanted him and Harbaugh saw great things for Smith. Under Harbaugh, Smith has not necessarily become more prolific with his passing yards, but he has become more efficient at scoring points. Smith has eight touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions this season. He is giving the 49ers a chance to win, and San Francisco is taking full advantage of that chance.

The Bottom Line

The Browns are turning into a very good football team, but its offense is wounded. Cleveland could only manage two field goals against a very bad Seattle Seahawks’ defense. The Cleveland defense is playing well and should be able to keep the Browns in this game. But the intertops advantage has to go to San Francisco.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers