The Unrivaled Basketball League just announced the rosters today. The teams were aelected using statistics and analytics. I am sure the league gave some consideration to some of the pairing the public thought were appealing combinations.
I used my expertise in the casino,sports betting and marketing industry to come up with opening odds to win the first 3x3 womens professional basketball championship.I looked at each roster and weighed the teams by position and popularity tocome up with the openig odds.
The Mist - This team is led by Breanna Stewart,who is argubaly the most well known player in fhe league and a WNBA Champion.She is accompanied by Jewell Loyd and Dijonai Carrington. The marquee of Stewart makes the Mist the favorite at -130.
The Rose-This team is led by WNBA rookie sensation,Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky. Reese is immenesely popular and people will want to watch her play. She is joined by the WNBA best point guard in Chelsea Gray.Kahleah Copper is a prolific scorer and can spread the floor. The Rose will open at -130. The number will be lowered if most of the action is layed on the Mist.
As we approach the end of 2024,it is time to get ready to formulate an action plan for 2025. I will share my people, places and things to focus on that will grow your brand.These concepts are applicable to the following indutries. Tourism,Gaming amd Sports Betting are the primay areas that will be impacted. If you are able to incorporate any of these,you will see an improvement in your field of expertise.
Women- This is the audience that is getting the most attention.BetMGM cited an increase of 108% over year to year in wagers on the WNBA. The 2024 Womens NCAA Basketball Tournament drew a larger viewing audience than the Mens Yournament for the first time. The USA Womens Olympic Team led by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier won the Gold Medal. Those players have combined to start the Unrivaled Basketball League that will debut in January,2025 on TNT. The Caitlin Clark phenomenon has added more interest by women and men to professuonal basketball. There is conversation that the NBA All Star Game Weekend may feature a 3 point compeition between Steph Curry and Klay Thompson vs Sabrina Ionescu and Clark.The Taylor Swift effect has increased the amount of women that are watching the NFL and in particular,the Kansas City Chiefs.Beyonce will perform at halftime on Christmas Day during the NFL Game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens.
Expect to see more wagers that are designed for women. 2025 will have more glam cam as the women will get attention for pre game walk in outfits. NIL deals will be offered to women at record numbers.The viewership,merchandise and the sports betting are direct corelations to the women athletes. Use the trends mentioned above to determine if your strategy has a female component so you are in tune to the audience.
I Gaming- The fact that 38 states have sports betting while only 4 have I Gaming is obviously a growth opportunity. When you factor the revenue generated by those 38 states is equivalent to the amount produced by the 4 states, you have a golden opportunity to make money.I do understand some of trepidation that states may have in advancing igaming legislation. There is a thought that this will destroy or at least cannibalize brick and mortar casino business. This is not the case in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.Business is still robust jn retail or onsite gaming.Most of the Sports Betting wagers are made on line. If more states were to offer IGaming, that trend will continue with some modifications. The patrons that play in the casino will continue and be the VIP style of player. The IGaming world will not be as appealing to that player.
Expect a breakthrough of IGaming legislation quth a neighboring state to follow. The trend toward convenience and tax revenue are too much to resist. I concepts that would enhance the spending wallet available to the operators of the IGaming space.
Mexico City and Brazil.- I highlighted both of these places because the interest the NBA and NFL have shown in Latin America. The expansion of Gaming and Sports Betting in those markets is a growth opportunity. While both places are known for tourism,festivaks and excellent cuisine. The introduction of two of themore popular sports leagues will add a new allegiance of fans that will buy merchanduse and bet on the games.Some residents of these places may be looking for business collaborations within the continental United States.
How does your brand connect with the cLatin American Culture? Are any of your managerial team bilingual? I would look at the SBC Summit Americas that will be held in Fort Lauderdale,Florida in 2025. That event could serve as an introduction to the market and some of the constituents.
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On Thursday evening,I was honored to judge the 2nd Annual Sports Analytics Competition at Temple University.The even lasted for approximately 2 and a half hours and had two divisions.There was an undergrate and graduate section.
Each group was given a subset of NFL data from 1980 - 2023.The information consisted of the winners and losers of each game,the total points scored and how the information translated to the outcomes against the spread.The contestants were given the task of scraping the data and looking for trends that would be appealing to an investment firm.
The groups cited,temperature,wind,home field advantage as important variables.They went further and examine the ATS by divisions and individual months during the season. Temple University is one of the few schools in the country that has several courses of studies that address Sports Gaming. While UNLV is the leader in offering gaming and sports related classes,Temple has carve out a niche that introduces the sports betting industry to this region.
If you are interested in sports gaming and how it relates to business, analytics,tourism and hospitality,please contact Yang Yang or George Diemer ,two professors at Temple University School of Hospiality and Tourism.
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#Temple University #sports #Analytics #SportsBetting #Casinos #Gaming
The G2E 2024 concluded over two weeks ago but the buzz is still reasonating around the globe.One of the highlights that many of the 25,000 attendees witnessed was the implosion of the Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
The largest gaming conference in the world continued to talk about the lastest innovations and ideas. The conference also has taken on advocating for diversity and inclusion. The panel about that discussed Out Executive in Gaming allow for conversation that LGBTQIA professionals could share their journey in the ihe industry. Breaking the Glass Ceiling cannot be done alone - highlighted the sponsors and that mentor and develop friutful relationships with people that merit opportunities but need someone to help them.
The Sports Betting captivation ranged from How a stand alone Sport Betting product is better than you think to the Future of Sports Betting. I want to share a perspective that is centered on what the public has gravitated toward. The business is primarily online.the wagers are largely in game and parlays are the largest source of revenue for the operators. Retail Sportsbooks must look for ways to compete with the Android and Apple users.
AI and Cashless Gaming are realities that the industry must embrace. AI will allow regulators,operators and vendors to incorporate computer science with their current framework. Cashless Gaming will save millions of dollars and expedite transactions between the patrons and the operators.
Some of the cooments I saw that highlighted their G2E Expierience were from some of my LinkedIn Network Tammi Barlow Marang- Vice President Global Responsible Gaming stated " I appreciated seeing and learning from more diverse voices in the education trackas they took the stage,representing the C-Suite on down delivering content. I also really valued the support shown by allies from around the world who attended the African Americans in Gaming networkong events sponsored by Penn National and MGM. 2024 was a great year for the G2E> Can;t wait until 2025."
Bill Rettig- Caesars Sportsbook Shift Supervisor stated,"The G2E was an enriching expierience.The presence of slot-playing influencers marked a shift in marketing strategies,highlighting the growing role of social media in Gaming.G2E provided invaluable insights into industry trends and fostered connections that will drive future colloborations."
The video that preceded this post was acknowleged by the following gaming professionals that I hold in high esteem. Bruce Harris,Alex Dixon,April Augustine,Jonathan MicjealsTricia Smylie ,Darien Davenport and Mary Cheeks.
All eyes on 2025 and the Global Gaming Expo!
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The WNBA Semifinals starts today with the top four seeds advancing. The New York Liberty will play against the Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty swept the Aces in the regular season 3-0. TheAces are the two time defending WNBA Champions.The Liberty have the homecourt advantage with the first two games being played in the Barclays Center.
The Aces are led by 2024WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. She was sekected as a unanamous choice.The Liberty are led by last year's MVP Breanna Stewart. The Aces led the WNBA in point average per game at 86.4.The Liberty weresecond with 85.6. The Liberty were in the top 5 of the following statistical catagories. New York was 2nd in rebounds and assists.
The Liberty are the betting favorite. They open at -160 to win the series and the money moved to -170. The game one odds are the Liberty favored by 4.5 and the total at 163.5.
The Minnesota Lynx are going against the Connecticutt Sun. The Lynx advanced to this round by defeating the Phoenix Mercury in two high scoring games. The Sun adavamced by defeating the Indiana Fever. The Sun were able withstand a 25 points performance from Caitlin Clark.
The Sun and the Lynx met last year in the playoffs with the Sun winnig the series 2-1. The Sun also won the 2024 season series against Minnesota. Two of the games wee decided by less than 3 poinus.
The Lynx is led by Napheesha Collier while the Sun is led by Alyssa Thomas. Both plauers have finshed in the top 4 in the WNBA MVP voting in 2024. They were also members of the 2024 USA Womens Basketball team that won the gold medal in Paris,France.
The Lynx are the series favorite qith the listed odds on FanDuel at -198.The Sun odds for winning the series are +166.The Sun made a mid season trade to acquire Marina Mabrey,an outstanding 3 point shooter. They also have DiJonai Carrington,who was voted the WNBA Most Improved Player in 2024.
The Lynx is favored in game one by 4.5 and the total is 154.5
Predictions- Aces in 4 and Sun in 5. A'ja can will her team to win. Collier will put up impressive numbers but Sun plays defense and gets balance scoring from 6 players.
Enjoy Collier and Stewart as they play in the Unrivaled League.Here is a clip!
The NFL Games to watch in week two are on Thursday,Sunday and Monday Night Football. The Thursday Night Football Game is on Amazon Prime.The Buffalo Bills will play the Miami Dolphins. Both teams are AFC East Rivals and won their home openers. The Bills have won 9 of the last 10 meetings between the two. Bills are underdog by 2.5. Miami is the home team/.
The Sunday Night Football Game has the Chicago Bears against the Houston Texans. The game is on NBC. The Bears nad a come from behind win against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans held on winning on the road by 2 points over the Indianapolis Colts. The Bear have the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft,QB Caleb Williams as their starter. The Texans are favored by 6 points. The game starts at 8:20 PM and Houston is the home team.
The Monday Night Football Game pits the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.The Eagles are the home team. Philly won their opener in Brazil by beating the Green Bay Packers 34-29. The Falcons lost their home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers without allowing a touchdown.The Eagles are favored by 6.5.
My selections in these games take s me to the home teams. Buffalo struggled with the Arizona Cardinals. The Dolphins should score more than 20 points they put up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. QB Josh Allen has a injury to his non throwing hamd but is expected to play. Fins win a close game.
Thw Texans and Eagles should put up 24 or more points and easily handle the Bears and Falcons. The inexperience of Caleb Williams will be exploited. The rust,age and lack of mobility of QB Kirk Cousins will be on full display as the Eagles have extra time to prepare for the contest.
Expect big games from Tyreek Hill,Stefon Diggs and Saquon Barkley.
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The Top 1-0 NFL Teams
The top five 1-0 teams in the NFL are the Dallas Cowboys,SanFrancisco 49ers,Kansas City Chiefs,Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. $ of these teams covered against the spread and 80% of the 5 games went over.
The Top 0-1 NFL Teams
The teams that should bounce back after losing in the final seconds of their openers are the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. Key injuries to the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers keep them from making the cut.
The Worst 0-1 NFL Teams
The worst teams in the NFL include the Carolina Panthers.New York Giantsand the Las Vegas Raiders. The Panthers lost by over 30 points on the road. The Giants managed 6 points at home against the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders lack of discipline and physicality on defense led to their loss on the road to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Avoid QBs Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers,Bryce Young and Daniel Jones as players to go over projected totals in passing yardage. Check their prop action for the best price of any of this group throwing an interception in week two.
The NFL starts this Thursday. So I decided to compare my NFL win total and rankings to two reputable media sources. My selections were made prior to seeing what Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports projected.This comparision enables you to see if my thoughts align or contrast with two highly repected publications.
I will start with Sports Illustrated and the rankings of the top 12 teams. My list includes of my 8 division winners,not including the Tampa Bay Bucs and 5 teams that I think will be wild card teams.I based my selections on the prognosis that 4 teams that were not in the playoffs in 2023 will be in the 2024 pairings.
Gaming Guy Rankings Sports Illustrated
1).Niners 1). Chiefs
2).Chiefs 2).Bills
3).Ravens 3).Jets
4).Dolphins 4).Ravens
5)Texans 5).Bengals
6).Eagles 6).Browns
7).Lions 7).Texans
8).Bengals 8).Niners
9).Packers 9).Rams
10).Steelers 10).Lions
11).Chargers 11).Packers
12).Rams 12).Eagles
With the NFLwin total,I decided to look at the lower end of the spectrum and teams not expected to contend for the Super Bowl.
We agreed on the Arizona Cardinals going over 6.5 wins. We disagreed on the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. The reporter projected both teams to exceed 5.5. I have the Chicago Bears going over 8.5 while CBS Sports has them winning 8 games.
The WNBA regular season ends on . The top 8 teams will make the playoffs. The league consists of 12 teams teams so the top eight is regardless of conference standing.Since play resumed after the Olympic break,several teams are making a playoff push. The top 4 teams get home court advantage so seeding is very important.
The Minnesota Lynx have the best record post Olympics. They are 6-0 and in 2nd place. The Lynx are 2.5 games in back of the New York Liberty. The Liberty and Lynx are 8-2 over their last 10 games.The Connecticut Sun is in 3rd place ,3 games in back of New York.
The Indiana Fever are moving up in the standings and are 0.5 games in back of the Phoenix Mercury.The Fever was 11th in defensive effiency prior to the break.They have improved to 8th in that catagory.
The Las Vegas Aces are 5-5 over their last 10 and lost by 3 points earlier this week to the Dallas Wings.A'ja Wilson scored 42 points in that game.She is the top candidate for MVP right now. The team is not scoring as much as they were prior to the break. The Aces are not rebounding or playing championship defense.They are currently in the 5th spot and would not have home court advantage.
Games to watch this week- On friday,the Fever play the Chicago Sky. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark continue their rivalry. Tickets for this game are going for $2,000. The Liberty will play the Seattle Storm as Breanna Stewart return to face the team she won two championships with. On Sunday,there is are two marquee games. The Aces play the Mercury and the Fever play the Wings. The Wings and Fever should be a high scoring contest. Two players that you may not know but are worth watching this weekend are Kelsey Mitchell for the Fever and Satou Sabally for the Wings.
Here is a clip about two teams fighting for the final playoff spot.
The NCAA has expanded the College Football Playoffs. The previous format consisted of the top 4 teams based on the rankings of the College Football Playoffs selection committee. The CFP will adjust the process and award the top spots to the power 4 conference champions. After those teams are desinated one thru 5,7 more teams will be selected and ranked from 6 to 12.
The higher seed will host the lower seed and have home field advantage.The top 4 teams will recieve a bye as the remaining 8 will be matched with the higher seed playing the lowest. If the team that is slotted at 5 did not finish in the top 12 final ranking of the season,they will drop to the 12 seed. The next round the yop 4 seeds will be asign to a bowl game that there is a historic connection. For example,the Big Ten confrence champion would be designated to the Rose Bowl.After this quarterfinal round,a final four will remain with the winners meeting for the National Championship on January 20,2025.
If this format were in place in 2023,Florida State would have the 5th seed and played Oklahoma.Georgia would have a home game against Penn State. Ohio State would have played Ole Miss. Oregon would have squared off against Missouri. Nased on how each of these teams performed in bowl games I have the following teams advancing. Oklahoma and Georgia would advance easily. Oregon would move on while the Ole Miss and Buckeyes would be a toss up.The Big Ten would have 5 teams in the playoffs. The Big 12 would have 3 while the SEC would 4. Noticeably absent is the ACC. With the restructuring of several conferences and the dismantling of the Pac 12,expect the power teams to get the top players via recruiting and the transfer portal.
While the new playoff format will create excitement and generate revenue,there are some consequences.The departures of USC, UCLA,Oregon and Washington, has essentially ended the Pac-12 as a power conference. The NCAA by laws allows the Pac-12 a two year grace period to have at least 8team based on the departures. The mid major conferences must go undefeated to merit consideration for the playoffs. teams.As a result,the power conferences will be reluctant to play against mid major schools. This will hamper the mid major programs from landing the best recruits. The playoffs will allow more exposure to the NCAA College football players.More exposure and opportunities to have Names,Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.
The WNBA season is winding down with approximately 3 weeks until the playoffs. They will conclude with the Finals starting in October. But we won't have to wait until May 2025 to watch some of the best womens basketball players in the world. The Unrivaled league will start in January 2025.
The Unrivaled league is a concept developed by WNBA and Olympic standouts,Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The league is a 3 on 2 game and will have a total of 6 teams. The initial thought was to have an alternative to playing overseas during the off season. The proposal includes offering a great salary to the participants. The games will be played in Miami,Florida/ The rules and court configuration will be announced.
The ESPN list of the top 25 WNBA Players after the Olympic break consist of many of the Unrivaled players that have commited so far.Kahleah Copper,Kelsey Plum,Arike Ogunbowale,Jewel Loyd and Rhyne Howard are in the mix. Angel Reese and Kayla Mcbride have recently committed to play. There are 15 aditions to round out the league.The teams will be spicked by a selection commitee based on position and skill.
Some of the investors in the league include Carmelo Anthony,Megan Rapinoe,Steve Nash,Geno Auriemmaand Ashton Kutcher. The league is player owned and will offer the players opportunities for equity investment.With the popularity of Womens Baketball at it's appex,the league is going to be sucessful. The season will start as the NFL and College Football ending. The viewers will be positioned to enjoy 3 on 3 basketball as March Madness heats up.
WNBA Spotlight:Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart is one of the best womens basketball players in the world.She will be on full display during the WNBA Playoffs and next year in the Unrivaled League. Here is a clip of her exploits.
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This is design to get you or anyone of the millions of people that the American Gaming Association reports that engage in sports betting.The last published reports indicates that over 25 million people enjoy some form of wagering on sporting events. The report also states that people between the ages of 18-24 are at a high risk of developing a gambling disorder. The responsible gaming report from the AGA highlights, "the adrenaline of chance and the excitement of winning but concludes those feelings would not be plausible without a foundation of responsibility".
The Webster 's Dictionary definition of tram is a public transport vehicle that travels along rails and powered by electricity. I get the vision of Las Vegas Mccarran Airport going between terminals and to baggage claim. I now want share my new vertical that is just like the dictionary version of tram but able to accomodate thousands. Not only the young but the millenials and the baby boomers. All of those gorups engages in some form of wagering. Gambling studies indicate that demographicly,African Americans,Hispanics and Asians are high risk for gaming disorders Women are now wagering at a hiher rate than anytime in history.All of the generations and demographics mentioned can enjoy gaming more effectively without being in jeopardize.
So without further adieu,I want to introduce my version of tram that is like you've never seen before.
TRAMS is an acronym that if applied in principal,will make the sports betting expierience fun and controllable. I will share it with you now.
Track the teams,players,sports and leagues that you know and are interested in. You cannot follow all of them.But if you have a sub section of anything that you like or know, you.ve increased your chances because you have eliminated some choices.
Responsible methods are put in place as you open any account or enter a betting emstablishment. If you play online,those methods include limits on deposits,time on device and the amount of wagers. If you wager in brick and mortar places, do it without debit and credit cards.Pay all of your essential obligations to your creditors and your family before engaging with the game.
Alerts are the information highways that will keep you aware of whose playing,the weather conditions,injury reports and anything pertinent to making a selection. Follow news feeds and social media from the sports that captivate you.Avoid the prompts from operators that are designed to stimulate a reaction from you to play a bet. Discipline keeps you in the game.
Market watch is looking at the numbers and the price associated with sports wagering. Here is an example. Before two teams play. visualize what you think that point spread would be.Then examine the numbers that the bookmaker has posted. Final step is compare what operator is offers the best line and the best price. No difference than buying online from Amazon or EBay. Substitute a player for a team and apply the same idealogy.
Statistics should support any selection. Emotion and personal prefence are fine but prudent action calls for an analytic approach to identify trends. If you are able to find two stats that support your selection, you are ready to finalize your action.
And now you have TRAMS.
Each facet works in conjunction with each other. Practicing just one or two of the methods will give minimal results.The foundation of the acroym is to game and wager responsibly. It doesn;t mean that you will win. It does mean that you will keep it fun!
I am available to discuss how the application of this concept can benefit you or a group you are affiliated with
The New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces have played twice during the 2024 WNBA Season.The Liberty have won both matchups. The first game was a 90-82 victory at the Barclays Center/The 2nd contest was at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The Libert's 79-67 win in that contest extended their winning streak. New York has won 7 games in a row.
The Liberty are now leading the Aces in the power ranking in ESPN and are now a slight favorite to win the WNBA Title. The odds I saw are from BETMGM.The Liberty have never won the WNBA Title.They have already clinched a playoffs spot. They have a favorable schedule with most of their games agaisnt teams that are not in contention for the playoffs. That puts them on course to have the best record and playing the 8th seed. That opponent would be the Chicago Sky or the Atlanta Dream.
Here is a clip about the Liberty and Aces.
The Aces are currently in 4th place in the overall standings and a half game ahead of the Seattle Storm. This is important because the top 4 teams get homecourt advantage in the playoffs.The Aces have won seven of their last 10 games. Las Vegas plays a tougher schedule than the Liberty as the season winds down.The Liberty and the Aces will meet again on September 8th in New York City. The Liberty have a 12-1 record at home.
WNBA SPOTLIGHT- A'JA WILSON: Take a peek behind the scences at Wilson during her outstanding 2024 season.
The 2024 NFL Season is less than 3 weeks away.So one of the events that has everyone's attention right now is the Fanatic Fest in New York City. With so many former NFL stars in attendance at this event,I saw a merge of two cultures,the sports world and the comic sphere. Fanatics Fest encouraged people to live out their fanstasies by dressing up in apparel that imitated past legends and celebrities.
I decided to bring the context into 2024 by envisioning a current player playing the role of an action superhero. The ath;ete had to posess traits that would make the portrayal resemble the character. The character I chose is DC Comic Hero Superman. The players I would have vie for the role are Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. Both players have agility,speed and strength. Either player would portray the role of Superman well.
Jackson's NFL resume includes two MVP . Hurts has lead his team to the 2023 Super Bowl. Jackson had 5 rushing towndowns in 2023. Hurts had 15 rushing TDs last year. Which one embodies the role of Superman? As you assess the players include statistics and attributes.
Here is a clip so you can visualize the comparision.
The Olympic Games in Paris have captivated the world. When I watch the basketball games,I marvel at the sight of Lebron James and Kevin Durant playing together. I enjoy seeing the dominance of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart on the court at the same time. So as the games wind down and my longing for more increases,I decided to channel my imagination to a the world of Marvel and DC Comics.
While I can't get more games,I can always look forward to Batman and Captain Marvel. So if I had to cast the role of Batman from these Olympic Games, would I take Durant or James? If I wanted to pitch the role of Captain Marvel,should I go with A'ja or Stewie? Each player has characteristics of the super heroes they would be playing. Batman's speed and agility fit Durant and Lebron. Captain Marvel stamina & durability bode well for Wilson and Stewart. They led the Womens Team in minutes played,points and rebounds.
Here is a clip of Wilson and Stewart in the win over Germany.
So let's continue the conversation as the Olympic Games conclude. The WNBA,Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty will definitely have an opinion on the stars from their league.
This clip teases the casting for the role of Captain Marvel.
This clip previews casting for the NBA version of Batman.
Share this post with your friends that enjoy the NBA,WNBA and the Olympics. Tell me who you would cast in either role?
The NFL AFC East has three of the top quarterbacks in the entire league. The recent ranking of quarterbacks by PFF has Josh Allen,Aaron Rodgers and Tua Tagovailoa as 4th,8th and 14th. This division had at least two teams in the playoffs over the past two years.The wins for the Buffalo Bills,New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are projected at 9.5 or higher. The New England Patriots are not expected to contend for the division. Let's take a peek at each team and see what's ahead.
The Buffalo Bills are projected at 10.5. The Bills have QB Josh Allen and that makes them deadly. Allen can win games with his arm as well as his legs. He will be without his main target ,WR Stefon Diggs,who was traded to the Houston Texans.This places Head Coach Sean McDermott in a make or break year. The Bills have not advanced to the Super Bowl under McDermott. The Kansas City Chiefs and bad luck seem to thwart them every year. The run defense struggled in 2023 so that must improve. I think this is the year that the Bills do not live up to expectations. I see the championship window closing for Allen and McDermott with the coach moving on after this season. Take the Bills under.
The New York Jets are projected at 9.5. The Jets are hoping that Aaron Rodgers can return to form after suffering a torn achilles on the first series of play in 2023. Rodgers is 40 years old and was not at the mandatory workouts prior to the start of training camp. This makes one question if his heart is commited to anotherNFL season. He does have weaponswith RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson. The jets are one of the top defenses in the NFL. Head Coach Robert Saleh is in a position where the Jets must make the playoffs if he expects to return.Since I am not totally sold on Rodgers .I will go in contrast to public opinion and go under on the Jets win total.
The Miami Dolphins are projected at 9.5, The Dolphins just extend Tua and WR Tyreek Hill. Miami has the most potent offense in the league and put up record numbers in 2023. Miami were ranked 1st in passing,4th in rushing and 1st in scoring. I expect 2024 to be a duplication. If the defense remains strong in QB pressure and improve their third down conversion rate,the Dolphins should be the top team in the division again. Miami won 11 games and finished second in the division.They will pass the projected total.
The New England Patriots are projected at 4.5 wins. Long time Head Coach Bill Belcheck has moved on after an outstanding run with the Pats. While new Head Coach Jarod Mayo was considered the heir apparent to replace Belcheck. The last two season the Patriots won 12 games and missed the playoffs. This is a rebuilding situation and a dynamic shift in team culture. QB Drake Mayo is talented but needs time to learn the position.The Patriot go under the projected total.
The NFC North is shaping up as a competitive division. With the Detroit Lions set to defend their 2023 division crown after a impressive season. The Lions won 12 games and won their first playoff game in over 32 years.Two teams from this division made the playoffs. The Chicago Bears had the top draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft so they are looking to improve their recordfrom 7-10. Let's look at the win total for each team
Detroit Lions- Projected Win Total is 10.5. The Lions have won 21 games over the past two regular seasons. Last year's 3 game win improvement was one of the highest increases in the NFL over a year to year period.While a another increase is not foreseeable because of strong streght of schedule,the Lions are on paper the best team in the division.Lions will go over the projected win total.
The Green Bay Packes-projected win total is 9.5. The Packers signed QB Jordan Love to a multi year extension basd his 2nd half performance of the 2023 season. Love led the Packers to a 6-2 record and a win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. They added RB Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillion The Pack movrd on from star RBAaron Jones after he declined to take a pay cut. The Packers are poised to make anther playoff run and will contend for the division. Green Bay will go over the 9/5 projection.
The Chicago Bears-projected win total is 8.5.The Bears selected QB Caleb Williams with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. They moved on from hhe extremely talented but erratic QB Justin Fields.The Bears have weapons around Williams that should help him assimilate into the pro game.The question is will Williams be more like CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans or struggle similar to Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. I see Williams struggling early but doing better after the first 4 games of the season.The Bears willschedule from week four to eight includes the Panthers,Washingron Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals.Bears will not make the playoffs but will scratch out 9 wins. They go over the projection.
Minnesota Vikings projected win total is 7.5.The Vikings are moving on from QB Kirk Cousins and trusting QBs Sam Darnold and top draft pick JJ McCarthy to keep the team in contention. Although they have WR Justin Jefferson who is one of the top recievers in the league, he will not perform at the optomum level due to the drop in quarterback play.The Vikings won 7 games last year without Cousins and Jefferson for most of the season.I am not sold on either QB so this will be a down year for the Vikings, Vikings will go under.
The surge in popularity for the WNBA can be directly related to two members of the 2024 Rookie Class. Those players are Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.These two players came in the league with history.They played against each other in consecutive years during the Womens NCAA Basketball Tournament. In the first meeting, Reese led her LSU Lady Tigers to a win over Clark's Iowa Lady Hawkeyes in the National Championship Game of 2023.Clark's team won the rematch when the two met in the Elite Eight in 2024.Each of those games set records for viewership for a womens college basketball game.
Those trends have followed both players into the WNBA.Clark plays for the Indiana Fever while Reese plays for the Chicago Sky. The attendance in any arena that Clark or Reese plays in is generally a sell out or at least 80% capacity. Teams have moved to larger venues to accomodate the demand for tickets in some cities.Their teams are presently in the last two playoff positions.Each team has approximately 15 games left in the regular season.
The head to head records when the teams have met is 2-1 in favor of the Fever. When you look at their head to head stats and compare them to their regular season total,there is a noticeable difference. Reese averages 1 more point and 3 more rebounds against the Fever. Clark averages 1.5 more rebounds and 1.3 more assists against the Sky.
Clark and Reese have parlayed their sucess on the court to the world of endorsements. Clark has endorsement deals with Nike,Gatorade and State Farm Insurancw.In an unprecedented move,Clark signed a sponsorship deal with Wilson. She isthe first athlete to do so since Michael Jordan. Reese has landed deals with Reebok,Wingstop,Amazon ,Pepsi,PlayStation and Beats by Dre. Reese appeared in Vogue Magazine for a photoshoot and made her announcement to play in the WNBA.The fashion world is now paying attention.
Here are some of the designer looks of all the WNBA Players that participated in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.
The highest selling jerseys in the WNBA right now are worn by Clark and Reese. The Fever and the Sky are also the top sellers in team apparel. There is a correlation between the players and the teams regarding sales. This is similar to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in so many ways. Both of them were college rivals and that rivalry propel the NBA toanother level. These are some ofthe celebrities that came to watch the WNBA All Star Game that featured Clark and Reese on the same team.
The Fever and Sky play again on August 30th.Check out this clip that ask who would play Wonder Woman? I 've got two people that could assimilate into the part.
The WNBA All Star Game featured the USA Womens Basketball against Team WNBA last weekend. Team WNBA defeated USA Basketball 117-109.Team WNBA was led by Arike Ogunbowale with a WNBA All Star record 34 points. Ogunbowale was named MVP. Breanna Stewart led USA Basketball with 31 points and 10 rebounds.Caitlin Clark finished the game with 10 assists, one short of the WNBA record in an ALL Star Game held by Sue Bird. Angel Reese became the first WNBA rookie to record a double double performance in an ALL Star Game. The WNBA All Star Game drew a record number of viewers. Over 3.44 milion people watched the game. The previous record was set in 2003.
The WNBA embraced the history of the league in having Cheryl Miller, Hall of Fame Basketball player and WNBA legend coached Team WNBA. She invited Ann Meyers Drysdale to assist her when she spotted saw Meyers, a fellow Hall of Famer sitting in the crowd. This connected the current players to the previous generation that started the idea of the WNBA,
The top teams in the WNBA at the midway of the season are the New York Liberty,Connecticutt Sun,Minnesota Lynx,Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces. If the playoffs started right now,the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever would qualify. Imagine the first round ratings with Clark and Reese participating in seperate matchups.
The growth of interest in the WNBA has added endorsement opportunities. The players are now wearing design outfits, getting shoe deals and appearing in major periodicals. There will be a 3-on-3 league,founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier ,starting in January 2025. This will allow the players another option to playing overseas in the off season. Angel Reese has committed to playing in the league. The games will be played in Miami in a 10 week window. Several high profile investors are involved and the league will pay 6 figure salaries to the participants. The timing of the league is as the NFL is winding down and as March Madness is heating up.
The NFC South is a division that does not posess one team that is projected with a double digit win total. This shows the low ceiling of expectations that the sports betting operators have for each team. The highest projected win total in the NFC South is the Atlanta Falcons with 9.5. This is a fall from 2021 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl ,defeating the Kansas City Chiefs.The odds for a Super Bowl win in this division are +1500.That number is the hghest of the four divisions in the National Conference. Let's dissect each team and see the win projections.
The Atlanta Falcons are projected at 9.5. The addition of QB Kirk Cousins has infuse some excitemeny in the dirty south.The Falcons had some good players in 2023. RB Bijan Robinson should improve upon his rookie season numbers of 8 TDs and over 1400 yards,rushing and recieving.The Falcons just added depth to their offensive line with two veteran signings. Look for a breakout year from Drake London,a wide reciever entering his third year. The question mark is the recovery of Cousins from his achilles injury. While top QB draft pick Michael Penix Jr. is talented,he is not expected to play right away. The recovery time of Cousins injury is generally a year . The firts three games are potential losses against the Pittsburgh Steelers,Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Falcons will struggle to find 9 wins and they will go under the total.
The Tampa Bay Buccanners are projected at 7,5. Tampa Bay has fwon the NFC South the last 4 years in a row. Look for 4 to 5 wins in the division and 3 possibles against the Washington Commanders,Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. While QB Baker Mayfield is not a top tier quarterback,he can manage a game. TheBucs go over the projection and challenge for the division title.
The New Orleans Saints are projected at 7.5.QB Derek Carr is erratic and does not evoke confidence as you look at the Saints. Rookie QB Spencer Rattler is getting high praise in training camp.The possible wins outside the division are against the Denver Broncos,New York Giants and the Washington Commanders. Three wins against divisonal opponents and the win total is 6. One upset along theway and a win over the Las Vegas Raiders will push them over the projection.
The Carolina Panthers are projected at 5.5. The Panther have the distinction of being one of the worst teams in rhe NFL. While QB Bryce Young did not have much to work with in 2023,his perfomance was not what you would expect from a top draft pick. The Panthers were 2-15 last year. The expectations are similar for 2024. Panther will be hard pressed to win a game within the division.The Panthers go under the 5.5 projection.
The NFC West is the fome of the NFC Defending Conference Champion San Francisco Niners,The division has at least 2 playoff teams in each of the last 4 seasons. The Niners have won the division the past 3 seasons.They are the only team in the division this year with a double digit projection win total.Let examine the entire division and see how they stack up in 2024.
The San Francisco 49ers have a projected win total of 11.5. The Niners record was 12-5 in 2023. The team loss in the Super Bowl to the two time Champion Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 25-22 in OT. The team is relatively intact a in position to dominate the National Conference. Over the past 3 seasons,the Niners have averaged 11.6 wins. They have a potent offense and a top 5 defense.While their schedule in 2024 includes the Kansas City Cheifs,Miami Dolphins,Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, they would be a slight underdog in 3 of those games because they will be on the road. They are 18-8 on the road over the last 3 years for a win percentage of 69.2%. The Niners go over 11.5 barely.
The Los Angeles Rams are projected at 8.5. The Rams have QB Matthew Stafford who is showing no signs of slowing down. The dynamic duo of Cooper Kupp and Puca Nacua put fear into any secondary. The retirement of Aaron Donald will weaken the defense so most games will be shootouts. As long as Stafford is healthy and has a slight threat of a run game,the Rams will be in most contests.The Rams should win 3 of the 4 games they play against the NFC North. I see 3 wins in their division as well. The Rams will edge by the projected total of 8.5.
The Seattle Seahawks are projected at 7.5. The rebuilding is finally reached Seattle. It was supposed to start when QB Russell Wilson left and was traded to the Denver Broncos.Nobody told QB Geno Smith and he proceeded to have two seasons where he led them to consecutive 9-8 seasons.The problem for the Seahawks have been the defense and penalties. The hire of Leslie Frazier as defensive cordinactor will improve some of the problem. However the hirer of Head Coach Mike MacDonald will take time to pay dividends. The Seahawks fall short of the 7.5 and go under.
The Arizona Cardinals are projected at 7.5. At first glance, you may think this is an overstimation of the Cardinals who finished with consecutive 4-13 records. The defense showed flashes of improvement and the addition of WR Marvin Harrison Jr, is part of the optomism. If QB Kyler Murray can avoid injury, a eight or nine game win total is within reach. The potential wins on the schedule include the Minnesota Vikings,Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots. The team is capable of two upsets as they play AFC East opponents, New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.Don 't see playoffs but do see improvement. Cardinals over 7.5.
The NFC NFC East has at least 2 teams in the playoffs in the past 3 seasons. It is not a coincidence that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys have the highest projected win total in the division.Both teams won over 10 games last season.
The Eagles are projected at 10.5 wins. The Eagles had a total collapse at the end of 2023 when they loss 5 of their last 6 and an opening round playoff game to the Tampa Bay Bucanners by ascore of 32-9. The Eagles have added RB Saquon Barklry to upgrade the running attack and drafted two highly touted rookies to shore up the secondary. They should be able to withstand the losses of Jason Kelce,Flecther Cox and D'Andre Swift. The Eagles go over 10.5
The Dallas Cowboys are projected at 10.5. The Cowboys were 12-5 in 2023. They lost in the opening round of the NFL Wild Card round to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 48-32.The Cowboys loss RB Tony Pollard in free agency to the Tennessee Titans. They brought back RB Ezekiel Elliott after he struggled in his one year stint with the Nw England Patriots.This is a contract year for Quarterback Dak Prescott.At this time, WR Ceedee Lamb is not in camp due to a contract dispute. This is not a blueprint for team unity in any situation. The Cowboys go under 10.5.
The Washington Commandersare projected at 6.5. The Commanders record in 2023 was 4-13. The team struggled with injuries and traded key defensive players during the middle of the season. This led to the firing of Head Coach Ron Rivera and the selection of QB Jayden Daniels with the 2nd pick of the NFL Draft. Daniels was thewinner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy.The Commanders should match last year and get at least 3 wins outside of the division.If the combination of Daniels and QB Sam Howell can get 3 wins in the division,that is a pathway to go over. Washington over 6.5.
The New York Giants are projected at 6.5. The Giants record in 2023 was 6-11. The Giants are led by QB Daniel Jones. Jones has not delivered on his 160,00,00 million dollar contract. He has been injury prone and sacked 179 times in his 5 season.His record in games played with Saquon Barkley was 14-23-1. Without Barkley,Jones was 8-14. No Barkley means more problem.The wheels fall off in New York and the Giants go under the 6.5.
This week is the start of NFL Training Camps.Since the next few weeks are relatively light in terms of activity,you should be focused on the NFL Win Total for your team.Those numbers are available to you on most sports betting apps.
The popular strategy for approaching the total wins is to go through the schedule meticulously and look at each game. Remove the emotional attachment and look at the each game objectively.Add up the number of winsnand compare your number to what the sport betting operator has posted. If your total exceeds the projected amount ,you will make a wager going over. If you have less wins than the projection, then the under is the play.
If you are not able to be objective then focus on the win total of a team that is not in your team's division. It should be a team that you are familiar with. Look at the strgenth of schedule and when the bye week takes place. If there is a key injury to the starting quarterback,does the team you picked have a viable backup.Also look at how many trips a team makes across country.and what was their road record in similar situations last season.
The projections are generally the same at every sports book. The difference will be in the price. An example is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are projected at10.5 wins.One operator has the under at -150 and the over at +120.A competitor has the same projection with the price -155 for the under and the over at +130.The competitor is offering better odds at the exact same number. Go with the competitor!
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Follow me on Twitter this week and I will dissect and share teams in the NFC East.
The Summer Games are days away and I want to bring you up to speed on some of the athletes you should be watching and rooting for over the next two weeks. The commitment to just get through the trials is a test.As I did research for this post, I found that many of the athletes do not have sponsors. This means that they have to subsidise their raining. This is inaddition to maintaining a job,attending school and balancing family obligations. So shout out to all of the athletes participating in the Summer Games in Paris,France for their persistence.
A'ja Wilson- A'ja is the star forward for the two time defending WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces. She is currently leading her team in scoring and rebounding. She was the WNBA Finals MVP in 2023.A'ja is an outstanding defensive player as well. Her off the court reume is quite impressive. Wilson was on Time Magazines list as one of the top 100 Influential People in 2024. She wrote a best selling book entitled 'Dear Black Girls:How to be True to You'.The book made A'ja a New York Times best selling author in February 2024. She has major endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade. This is her 2nd Olympics and she won a gold medal in 2020.
Hezly Rivera and Quincy Wilson-Hezly and Quincy are getting accolades for being two of the youngest members of the United States Olympic Team. Rivera is a member of the gymnastic team and trains at the World Olympics Gymnastics Academy where she is one the world's top gymnast.Wilson is taphenom and his track event is the 400 meters. He has set world record times in 3 occassions over the past 6 months.Wilson is the youngest male to ever make the USA Track and Field Olympic Team. Rivera and Wilson are 16 years of age.
Sha'Carri Richardson-Richardson is a comeback story that many everyday people can relate to. She qualified for the Summer Olympic Games in 2020 after breaking the collegiate record for 100 meters.At 19 years old, she was one of the 10 fastest women in history. Sha'carri tested positive for cannabis use following her US Trials, andwas inelgible to compete in the 2020 Games. She enterd a counseling progtam and accepted a one month period of inelgibility. She is in her own words,"I am not back,I am better." Richardson has set records in the past three years at the World Championships and is expected to win the Gold Medal in the 100 Meters and as a member of the Women's 4x100 relay team.
Simone Biles- Biles is known for her epic performances during the Olympics Games. She has also become a public advocate on for mental health. After dominating the 2016 Rio Games,she limited her participation in 2020 as she dealt with mental health issues. She took time away from gymnastics but has returned to her 2016 level of dominance. Simone is considered one of the greatest gymnast of all time and made ESPN top pro athletes since 2000 list. She is ranked at number 7. Biles is a hero to so many people and whatever she does in this year's Games will not deter her legacy.
Here is a clip of A'ja showing off her dance moves! Just another one of her talents,
The WNBA All Star Weekend will feature the Game between Team WNBA and Team USA. Team USA will have the players picked to represent the United States in the Olympics.They are led by A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Team WNBA is led by Jonquel Jones,Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.Team USA is tavored by 6.5 and the total is189.The game starts at 8:30PM and is shown on ABC.
Here is a video of the WNBA Skills and # Point Competition yesterday. It highlights a record setting performance.
There. are many storylines associated with the game this year.Diana Taurasi is preparing for what may be her final ALL Star Game and certainly, her last Olympic Games at the age of 42. Who will be voted MVP of the Game is stirring wagers and conversation.But the fans that are new to the WNBA are tuning in to see Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Their rivalry goes back to college and is continuing in the pros. Now we have the pleasure of seeing them play together.
Here is a clip of Reese talking about playing with Clark and the Olympic Games in Paris.
Here are three players to watch.that you may not know. Kahleah Copper,Nyeka Ogwumike and Arike Ogunbowale are all pro lific scorers than can shoot well from distance. Copper would be my choice of an under the radae MVP. Most of the bets on the game are on Team USA because of they have practiced together during the Olympic Trials.
After seeing the reports that Penn Entertainment had a round of layoff wirh members of their ESPNBet team,I decided to look at the mid year numbers for the top operators. Let's see where everyone is positioned as the NFL returns this fall. These are the market shares of the top operators. DraftKings :38%
FanDuel 36.5%
BetMGM:7%
Caesars:5.9%
ESPNBet 3.2%
Rush Street Interactive 3%
Comparing these numbers to the 1st quarter of 2024,DraftKings increased by 2.7%.FanDuel decreased by 1.3%.FanDuel'sDraft market share shifted slightly toward DraftKings and Rush Interactive.BetMGM decreased by.3%despite some impressive partnerships. Caesars decreased .6% and ESPNBet dropped 1.5%.
Let's look at the stock prices to see if investors are still confident over the last month of activity. DraftKings fell -6.07% but close today up 0,26%. FanDuel is down -0.6% over the last 30 days but closed today up 0.6%. Public confidence is unchanged.BetMGM was up 8.80% in the last month and closed yesterday up ,15%. The public opinion of the stock is unwavered. Caesars Entertainment was down 5% 30 days ago but closed yesterday up .82%/.Caesars was down $9 6 months ago and $2 a month ago. While the market share declined, the price is going up.Rush Interactive's stock price was in the low teens 6 months ago but has dropped to just under $10 yesterday. The shift in market share did not translate to increasing the stock value. Penn Entertainment and ESPNBet are not trending in the anticipated direction. A stock price that was high as $25 a year ago is now at $18.52 and down .27% yesterday.
The Outlook: Expect the two market leaders to jockey for the top position as the NFL and NCAA Football returns in September. BetMGM's partnership with Twitter and the expansion of their sports betting service in Washington, D.C.,will help recoup the .3% loss of the 2nd quarter, I see Rush as a possible acquisition based on a fvorable price. ESPNBet has the advantage of starting this football season off at the inception. By not launching until after week 7 in 2023,they acqiured multiple downloads but were not able to grow the market.A correction is imperative or this media and gaming merger will be short lived.
I encourage you to practice smart responsible gaming and do your homework as you look to invest in the stock market.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games enaged with an audience of over 3 billion people according to an independent reasearch survey conducted by the IOC.This was via linear TV and digital platforms.Along with the Olympic broadcast partners using media and digital platforms,this led to over 28 billion views.Some of those views were done multiple times by the same people. This is still 139% increase over th 2016 Olympics Games in Rio.The power of streaming can not not be undereatimated and the 2024 Olympics should exceed the record set in 2020.
So how many of these people are your customers and how do you plan to involve them over the next 3 week? I have some suggestions that you can use to connect with your customers.
Provide periodic updates during the games with a personal touch. Have members of your team relay scores or video highlights.Share updates that the customer will find relevant. Have a team member that speak the same language as the customer or in the same age range, initiate the conversation.The patron will value the exchange and the team member solidify the relationship.
Plan a special that coincides with the Olympics Games. If you have brisk business in the morning,offer croissants.If your crowd is mid day to dinner time,steak fries will be appropriate. Both of these choices are synonymous with Paris ,France.
Allow your team members to wear t-shirts representing the country they are rooting for. This acknowleges their lineage and the heritage of their ancestors.The employees will feel proud working for you during this two week period.
Poll your clientele and gauge the interest in a watch party.If you get a response rate of 50%,you can realistically expect 30 to 60% of that group to come. Depending on your budget,you can entertain your guests with games of corn hole,Culture Tags and Five Card Draw Poker. Everyone has the opportunity to play with the top three people getting a prize ranking Gold,Silver and Bronze.
Sports Betting on the Olympics has some intrguing odds. The numbers range from prohibitive favoritess to long shots.The USA Mens and Womens Basketball are the overwhelming favorites. The USA Soccer Team is a 25-1 long shot to win a gold medal.You can bet on what country will win the most gold medals and if the USA will win under 40.5 Gold Medals/ The odds are set at -130 for the under.China has the same under price but the number is set at 34.5.
If you are not connecting your venue or brand with something related to the Olympics,there should be a serious look at how you are connecting with your customers.Just by celebrating the diversity of the participants will create a buzz. If you totally sleeping this opportunity then I know you should be conversing with me before NFL starts this fall!
The 2024 Summer Olympics will start July 26th in Paris,France. 206 countries will be participating in approximately 329 events in 32 sports. According to Forbes Magazine, the United States is the oodds on favorite to win the most gold medals.The sponsors for this years Olympics includes Anheuser,Coca-Coca,Panasonic,Samsung and Visa.Each of these sponsors are playing a specific role during the games.
Peacock,NBC streaming platform will broadcast the games along with the opening and closing round ceremonies.The IOC has committed to and inclusive media coverage during the games.I am looking foward to segments featuring the Womens Basketball and Soccer Teams.The social media coverage for the games will incude TikTok,Snapchat,Twitter,Facebook and Instagram. Expect players to post and share photos and comments on all of those mediums.
I expect A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves to become international superstars because of their play in the games.Edwards is going to do this to someone and go viral on ESPN.
A popular method of wagering on sports is totals.Totals are the amount of scores combine in a contest or by an individual. The runs in MLB,the points in the NFL,NBA,WNBA,NCAA Football and Basketball,along with NHL are events that most people will bet on. The total gives you the ability to watch and have a vested interest in both teams.You can make your bet on one team to exceed or go under a projected number as well.
How the Sports Book Operators determines the total for a contest by combining the points that the two teams averaged together.The 2024 Super Bowl LVIII featured the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The total was set at 47.5. The 49ers averaged 28.9 points in 2023.The Chiefs averaged 21.8 points.Both teams had outstanding defenses so a number that would be 50.5 was modified by 3 points. The final score was the Chiefs winning 25-22 in overtime.
There are situations when the Operators are feeling out the public and setting a number based on speculation. Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark played in her first WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun. Her projected points for that game were 20.5. This was based on her performance in college where she averaged 28.4 for her career. She scored 20 in a 92-71 loss.Most of the tickets were on Clark to go over the number.
The public is prone to make wagers on the over because of the appeal of offense. The use of algorithms keeps the projected number close to the final outcome. This is the ideal circumstance for the operator and the betting public. The public will gravitate toward the over in most sports but over the last 10 seasons in the NFL,the games have gone under 51.32% of the time. Less than 2% of the game end in a push . A push is when a game ends in a tie.
The strategies with totals should factor in injuries,weather and if applicable,recent divisional history. Avoid out of conference games unless one team is clearly superior to the other. That team will dominate and the lean to the over would be the play.When looking at individuals,focus on the player's average,last 5 games played and recent performance against an opponent.
Now I will get you ready for the Summer Olympics. Root for your country and make money while doing it. Always practice smart responsible gaming! We will dive into the Summer Games in my next posy.
Sports Betting has a variable that all pundits or bettors are aware of. Who is the favorite is the question asked before any contest or event between teams or individuals.This is the team or individual that is generally considered as the better of the two.The consensus of the public along with the statistics associated with opponents plays a part.
The Sports Betting Operators assess the opponents once an event is scheduled and within moments,provide the betting community with a number. While the bettors is lookung at emotional attachments and personal prefences,the operators uses algorithms and data to arrive at a number. The number the operator selects is designed to create a balance of interest in the event.
When a popular team is onvolved,balance is hard to achieve. Some rabid fans of the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles will wager on their home teams regardless of the designation as a favorite or a underdog. An undefdog is the team that is viewed as the weaker of the two. Regional Sports Book Operators are quietly rooting that the home team wins but does not cover the number assigned to the event. Covering the number is qinning by more than the figure posted. The Eagles may be favored by 7 points over the New York Giants. The Sports Book Manager in Philadelphia wants to win money. The way to do that is for favorites to loses or at least not cover.
When a number is assigned,there are two segments that follow it. Smart Money comes in first. Smart Money is from people that are astute sports bettors that generally wager limit or high amounts of money.Smart Money is known to take advantage of a line or number. Public Money comes next. The public takes time to decipher the number. In that time,the sports book operator can slightly adjust the number based on the smart money wagered initially.
My next post will go into how the operator arrives at a number and the strategy associated with it. Remember that knowlege and discipline equare to power! Always think smart responsible gaming.
Sports Betting is growing exponentially in popularity.While it has always been part of the landscape in other countries,it is still in the developmental stage in the United States. Prior to the repeal of _PASPA six year ago,legal bets were limited to Nevada. That has now expanded to 38 states. So in an effort to understand the business,I will take you inside the numbers on difference levels.This will allow you to make smart and responsible decisions.
Most articles that you see on Sports Betting will give opinions on who will win the game or who will perform at what level during a contest. I am taking the perspective that the number attached to the event should mitigate the play. The play is the amount of the wager. An example is a star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ranger Suarez starting against the Oakland Athletics.The price to wager on the Phillies Money line for that game was -235. The money line is a wager that on who will win the game ,regardless of the score.While the Phillies are the best team reordwise in the MLB and the A's are one of the worst,the price of taking the money line is exorbitant.The win on -235would bring you $100 and you would have $335 in your pocket. A loss would cost your $235.So you would have to win 3 bets at that money line number to recoup your initial loss. The Phillies loss the game 6-2.
If you are deadset on making a wager at this price,an intelligent approach is to include the bet in a parlay. While the price will weaken the payoff ,the odds of you hitting the parlay have increased without the cash overlay.
We just went inside the number. Before lookung at the odds that are posted,have a price in your mind that is optimal to yourbankroll.Do not exceed that price regardless of the conditions associated with the teams.While Sports Betting is fun,it's more enjoyable when you are discipline and strategic.
Check out another sports betting strategy in the videi.
The 2024 ESPYS takes place on Thursday at 8:00 pm . The event is being televised by ESPN and hosted by Serena Williams. The ESPYS is an award ceremony that regcognizes achievements by teams and individuals in the world of sports.This is the 32nd year that the ESPYS have beenheld.
It also hightlights philanthropy with the Jimmy V Foundation and the support to fight cancer.The award hifhlight individuals that have overcome obstacles in sports through determination.Some of the notable winners of the Jimmy V Award include Craig Sagar,Stuart Scott and Dick Vitale. The Jimmy V awards jas raised millions of dollar with all the money going to fight cancer.
The catagories include Best Athlete Mens Sports and Best Athlete Female Sports. The nominees for the Men are Patrick Mahomes,Shohei Ohtani,Scottir Schefflerand Connor McDavid.The nominees for the Women are Caitlin Clark,Coco Gauff,Nelly Korda and A'ja Wilson.A catagory that is highly competitive is the Best WNBA Player. The nominees are Naphessa Collier,Breanna Stewart,Alyssa Thomas and A'ja Wilson. Click this ESPN Press Release and see all the categories.
While Serena has won 12 ESPYS herself,this will be her first time hosting the event. She is the fourth woman to host the ESPYS. I am looking forward to see her navigate the crowd in a star studded room. I aee her being charming and engaging,Make sure you tune in!
The news of thd week is centered around an injury to Minnesota Lynx Star Forward Napheesa Collier. Collier injured her foot during a 78-63 loss to the Commecticut Sun.Collier was the MVP of the Cmmissioner's Cup Final,beating the New York Liberty. She is already a member of the USA Womens Olympic 5-5 team.The speculation has already started about who would replace her if she is out for an extended period and not able to go to the Oympic Games in Paris.
The alternates are Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark and Sun Forward Brionna Jones. The popular choice would be Clark for obvious reasons. Much of the attention the WNBA has recieved this season was predicated on Clark.Jones is a perennial All Star and plays the same position as Collier. If thechoice is based on fit,Jones is the choice. If the dynamics of economics,marketing and media are involved,Clark gets the nod. Here's hoping Collier can participate and make this a mute point.
Two streaks ended on Friday as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Las Vegas Sun in overtime by a score of 98-93,The victory snapped a 6 game winning streak for the Aces. The Sparks ended a 8 game losing streak. The Sparks were led by Dearica Hamby with 28 points and 14 rebounds. A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 35points and 12 rebounds.
Chicago Sky's forward Angel Reese, continued her record shattering double-double streak.In the Sky's upset 88-84 road win over the Seattle Storm,Reese scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds in the victoty.Reese notched her 12th consecutive double-double,tying her with Candace Parkerfor the WNBA record. Reese holds the rookie record that was 7 straight prior to this season. Reese will be in the WNBA All Star Game on 7/20 in Phoenix,Arizona.
The first day of NBA Free Agency is 24 hours old and the Philadelphia 76ers are winners for one day! The Sixers acquired Paul George,Andre Drummond,Eric Gordon and resign Kelly Oubre.George was definitely the best free agent available,after Lebron James. He is a perennial All Star and an upgrade over the likable but underachieving Tobias Harris. George's playoff scoring average is approximately 19 points a game. Harris playoff average over his career is 16,3. Harris did not score in the Sixers final playoff game in 2024.
The excitement of signing George had his name trending on Twitter/X. The odds for the Sixers to win the NBA Title improved as well. There were 7 teams ahead of the Sixers on BetMGM prior to the signing. The Sixers have vaulted those teams and are now near the top,trailing the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.The Sixers odds are +800.
The addition of Drummond solidifys the backup center position.When the Sixers subtittute Joel Embiid for a rest,load management or injury,they will be cohensive on defense and with rebounding.Gordon id s proven 3 point shooter and will spread the floor. He averages 37.1 for his career. The resiging of Oubre allows Head Coach Nick Nurse the flexibility to start him or make him the 6th man off the bench.
While decisions will be made regarding some of the free agents that the Sixers have on the roster,this team is an improvement over the 2023-24 team. That team was 31-8 with Embiid. Tyrese Maxey will get a max deal after the margibal free agents are addressed.The Sixers win on Day One!
Here is my video reaction to the Paul Goerge acquisition.
The NBA Draft took place on Wednesday and Thursday. While all 30 teams had an opportunity to improve their team by selecting someone based on need or best player available,there was no franchise changing player in the entire draft based on a prior body of work.Most of the conversation was centered around where Bronny James would go and at what spot. The Los Angeles Lakers pick Bronny in the 2nd round with the 55th pick. The comments about the pselection range to nepotism to prospect.The nepotism comments are no different than one's associated with Jack Buck,Jeremy Schapp or Wade Phillips. All of these men had famous fathers whose positions afforded them opportunities in fields where the parent was well respected.Lebron James is no exception. He just voiced his desire publicly on multiple ocassions. He is npw psrt of history for being part of the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at th. same time and for the same faranchise.
Acording to CBS Sports,these are 7 teams that earned high grades for the NBA Draft 2024.
Atlanta Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antnio Spur
Philadelphia 76ers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis Grizzlies
Portland TrailBlazers
The NBA Free Ag period is about to start with several prominent players available. DeMar DeRozan,D'Angelo Russell,Isaiah Hartenstein,James Harden,Klay Thompson and Miles Bridges are in that group. The players whose names are being floated in trade talks are Jimmy Butler,Paul George, and Brandon Ingram. The New York Knicks made everyone take notice bywith the acquisition of Mikal Bridges and the resigning of OG Anunoby.
The NHL Draft takes place tonight in Las Vegas. This is the first televised event drom the Sphere. It will be shown on ESPN and the NHL Network. Check out the video for more.
The Commisioners Cup was held this week in the USB Arena between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx won the contest by a score of 94 to 89.The Lynx's leading scorer was Bridget Carleton with23 points. Breann stewart led the Liberty with 23.Each player on the Lynx recieved around $40,000 for being on the winning team. Napheesa Collier was named MVP.
The WNBA All Star Voting is taking place right now. So far,the leader in votes is A'ia Wilson with over 200,000 votes. Since Wilson and 11 other players have been selected to the USA Olympic Team,they are automatically All Stars.Voting by the fans closes on June 29th. To obtain one of the remaining roster spots,the fans votes will account for 50% ,with the media and the players accounting for 25% each.
The teams will be designated as Team USA and Team WNBA. The 5 players I think should be on the team are Jonquel Jones,Dijonai Carrington,Angel Reese,Caiylin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale. Reese and Clark should be in the game because they are having good seasons and would bring more attention to the contest. I envision Team USA as a 6.5 favorite over Team WNBA.
The hottest teams in the W right now are the Liberty,Lynx, the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm over their last 10 games. The coldest team is the Los Angeles Sparks who have lost 6 straight.and the Dallas Wing who are 1-9 in their last 10 games.
The WNBA Commiserss Cup Championship is now set. The Nwq York Liberty will face the Minnesota Lynx.The game will be played in New York at the Barclays Center. The teams met earlier this year with the Lynx winning 84-67.Since the Liberty will be the favorite in this game. There is value in the Lynx and this should be a close game. As the contest approaches,I will dive in and analze it.
Week Five Marquee Match up featured a rematch between the Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces.These teams played for the WNBA Championship last year. The Liberty won the game on Saturday 90-82.Jonquel Jones led the way with 34 points and 8 rebounds. The good news for the Aces is Chelsea Gray was activated for the first time this season. While the All Star guard and member of the USA Womens Olympics team did not play,she is obviously close to returning to action.
The game today that will grab the most attention is the Chicago Sky against the Indina Fever. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to be must see TV. While the teams have won a total of 8 games between them. The focus on the two former college rivals supercedes their teams defencies. It almost equals the rivalry between Hall of Fame NBA Players,Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The hope is that as time goes on, the respect they will extend to each other for what they did to elevate the league will be acknowledged.
After reading this post, you should download the WNBA App to get more information about the league and to vote for the WNBA All Star Team. Many of the players selected will also be on the Olympic Team.
The WNBA race for the Commissioners Cup is in full swing. The teams are vieing for the chance to play for $500,000. The teams will play the other 5 teams intheir respective conferences. The two leaders at the end will play for the in-season championship. The team with the bestrecord will have the home court advantage in a one game winner take all. If there is a tie in the record between the two leaders it will be it will be broken by the team having the higher overall winning percentage in all of the games after the divisional play is concluded.If there is still a tie,the next tie breaker isaverage point differential and then,head to head record.
On Saturday,the New York Liberty won a spot in the Commissioners Cup by defeating the Connecticutt Sun 82-75. This was the Sun first loss of the season. There is a battle in the Western Coference with the Seattle Storm currently 2-0 and the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx having 2-1 records.The Storm play the Lynx today at 7PM. The Lynx are at home and are favred by 2. The total is 161.5.
In news related to the WNBA, the US Womens Olympic Basketball Team was announced and Caitlin Clark did not make the team.The opinions came in on Twitter that she was snubbed while others felt her being left off was warranted. I pose the question of whose spot would she take from the guards selected? Clark will be on the 2028 team. This is not her time for an Olympic moment.
Las Vegas Aces CenterA'ja Wilson is on a double -double streak that includes becoming the first player in WNBA history to have a 35+points,11+reboundsand 6+ steal game against the Dallas Wings.Wilson has 7 double -doubles so far this season.
Here are my WNBA Selections for this weekend. Included in this video is the prognostication of the Indiana Fever defeating the Washington Mystics and the Liberty and Sun game going over the projected total.
The NBA Finals start on Thursday,June 6th. The Boston Crltics will face the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics have the homecourt advantage.The money line at BETMGM has the Celtics at -225 to win the series. The Mavericks have a price of +1180 to win the title.On ESPNBET,the first game has the Celtics favored by 6.5 with the price -110 per side. The total is 214.5 and the money line is Celtics -240.The money line for the Mavericks is +200.Here are the 10 things you need toknow before the series starts.
1).Kristaps Porzingis is expected to play.The Celtics center and former Mavericks star player has been sidelined since the beginningof the playoffs against the Miami Heat. While his return would add another weapon to the Celtics and and enable backup Al Hordford to return to the bench,the Celtics are 11-1without him in the line up.
2).Luka Doncic, star guard for the Mavericks is the first player in NBA History to lead his team in points,rebounds and assist going into the Finals. He has 12 triple doubles in the post season.
3).The Celtics have not lost a playoff game on the road during the playoffs. They are 6-0.
4).Kyrie Irving will have extra motivation ,playing against his former teamates. He played for Boston during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Irving is averaging 22.8 points in the playoffs.
5).Jaylen Brown was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. His clutch 3 point shot at the end of regulation forced overtime in Game One. He led the Celtics in scoring in two of the 4 games and played exceptional defense.
6).The money is on the Mavericks plus the points in Game One 61% of the money is on them.
7).The money on the total has a consensus of it going over. The percentage is now at 74%.
8).Jayson Tatum has a tendency to not perform at a high level in the Finals. He averages 21.5 points in the Finals. He averaged 26 during the season.
9).The Mavericks have won one NBA Title. The Celtics have won 17.
10).Expect both teams to play the starters heavy minutes and limit the rotaion. Expect more from the Mavs bench if Horford has to start for the Celtics.
Bet Smart and Responsibly! Follow me on Twitter during the Finals @gamingguym.
