WNBA- ALL Star Game and Mid Term News

 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. 

Here is a clip about the new league.

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NFL-NFC South Win Totals

 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.

Here is a clip of the NFC South Win Projection.

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NFL-NFC West Win Totals

 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.

Check out the clip of the NFC West Win Total.

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NFL-NFC East Wins Totals

 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. 

Check out the clip of the NFC East Win Total. 

 

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Sports Betting-By the Numbers:NFL Win Totals

 

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.

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The Olympics: 5 Athletes to watch

 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,

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WNBA All Star Weekend

 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.

Enjoy the Game!

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers: Operators Mid-Term

 

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.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Olympic Marketing

 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.  
4. 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.
5. 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!

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers: Olympics

 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.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Totals

 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.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Favorites

 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.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers

 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.

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2024 ESPYS

 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! 

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WNBA-Week Eight

 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.

Here are the WNBA Weekend Selections. 

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NBA Free Agency Frenzy in Philly

 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.

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