WNBA Playoff Watch

 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.

Follow me on Twitter and TikTok.

NCAA College Football Playoffs

 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.

Enjoy this clip about the new format.

Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn.

UNRIVALED-bEST OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

 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.

Follow me on Twitter,Instagram ,TikTok and LinkedIn.

TRAMS: Just in time for Responsible Gaming Month

 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

WNBA: Liberty and Aces

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.

NFL and Fanatics Multiverse: 2024 Superman

 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.  

Follow me on Twitter,LinkedIn and TikTok.

Olympic Stars from NBA & WNBA enter Multiverse

 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?

Follow me on TikTok,Twitter & LinkedIn.

NFL- AFC East Win Totals

 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.

Here is a clip of the AFC Total Wins

Follow me on Twitter,TikTok and Instagram.

NFL- NFC North Wins Totals

 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.

Here is a clip of the NFL North Win Totals.

Folow me on Twitter,TikTok and LinkedIn.

WNBA Wonder Woman -Caitlin or Angel

 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.

F

Follow me on Twitter,TikTok and LinkedIn.