The ACC kicks off a 5 part CFB series highlighting some of the undervalued and overvalued sides in college football’s power conferences. Winning bets isn’t a beauty pageant and for those that are familiar with the grind the process often leads to unusual places. Undervalued: Boston College Last Year: 3-9 SU, 4-7-1 ATS Steve Addazio’s team had the best defense in the country last year that the casual fan knew nothing about. BC’s inability to move the ball forward through the air or on the ground in league play kept a stop unit surrendering just 15.3 PPG constantly behind the eight ball. The Eagles return 15 starters and add Kentucky graduate transfer Patrick Towles to their QB competition. BC showed modest promise moving the ball against lesser competition early in the year before Darius Wade was lost for the season against Florida State. There’s a ton of depth at the running back position allowing an experienced offensive line to pave the way for clock control. There’s plenty of experience in the trenches but some of the young talent needs to embrace a leadership role. Defensively there could be an adjustment with defensive coordinator Don Brown’s departure to join Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan. Each of the last two years running against the Eagles was akin to going through a brick considering they’ve surrendered 83 and 94 yards in back to back seasons. Justin Simmons’ presence in the secondary will be sorely missed although the return of eight starters gives bettors plenty to be excited about in Chestnut Hill. Defensive dogs are always my bread and butter; BC fits the mold. If the offense can be serviceable providing adequate rest for an often taxed stop unit the pieces are there for a pointspread darling. The...

It may have taken some backroom handshakes combined with coaxing and prodding but our EPL Insider James Kempton is back for another season of analysis.  For those new to his column Jimmy shares his thoughts on every single fixture of the EPL season each week during the season.  We’ll also be carrying his podcast on the site as well to get you ready for all the top flight domestic league analysis you can handle until a champion is crowned. Arsenal v Liverpool Arsenal -0.25 and 2.5 goals Twelve of the last thirteen EPL meetings between these two sides have seen at least two goals. The exception though was last season’s goalless draw in this fixture. Liverpool have registered just one win in the last fifteen years at the Emirates, back in August 2011. However, the Gunners appear to have a lot of defensive issues going into this opening day encounter. This line opened -0.5 to Arsenal but such is the concern for the home side it has trended down to -0.25. Even after the move that price still does not appeal to me. Over the past five seasons Arsenal are just 4-7-6 on home soil when priced above a level of +110 so give me a small piece of the away team plus a quarter of a goal. AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United Man Utd -0.75 and 2.5 goals The Special One starts on the south coast but last year it was the Cherries who won this match up between the teams 2-1. Their south coast home was not a fortress though with Bournemouth only going 5-5-9 on home soil, compiling the second worst home record in the EPL last season ahead of only Aston Villa. That loss last season here for United was...

Booking futures is free money for bookmakers willing to pay attention (barring the unforeseen ridiculous outcome like Leicester City winning the EPL).  There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to establish a market however working under the business principle of stealing without a gun won’t get you a lot of repeat business. I spent the last few days driving around town comparing prices using NFL futures as my litmus test for the apples to apples comparison.  Some of the numbers contained in the full graphic below were nothing short of staggering.  Marquee establishments showed minimal regard for offering customers a fair shake in a betting market already known for giving the house a substantial advantage.  The numbers color coded in green are the best prices currently available in town.  I realize the graphic is a little difficult to read but I wanted to show every major casino operator’s numbers listed side by side. (Prices included were available from either the sheets in each casino or their mobile application at time of press) Listed below each casino’s numbers is their overall hold percentage.  Hold percentage is defined as the percentage of money won compared to total volume wagered. Despite what some casino operators try to tell you nobody in this business has ever paid their bills in hold percentage.  Normally there are two different philosophies book managers utilize: higher volumes with lower hold or retain a bigger piece of a small pie with high hold and low volume. The hold percentage numbers listed here are theoretical hold.   With 32 teams (theoretically) having a chance to win the title each team’s championship prospects are ultimately worth a different value to the house.  The lower the hold percentage the better a bet for the player.  Each casino raises...

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone with a few contenders making minor moves to bolster their World Series chances.  Surprisingly contenders like the Astros, Red Sox, and Cardinals didn’t do much while the Rangers, Giants, and Indians acquired the kind of personnel capable of putting them over the top.  Here’s what the updated futures look like for two of the major sportsbooks here in Vegas...

Sports betting is an evolving industry.  Las Vegas is is the epicenter for legalized wagering in this country and the business model often becomes resistant to changes taking place at progressive books around the world given their statewide monopoly .  However the influx of mobile apps and increased competition among large operators for share of wallet means the time for change is here. Sportsbooks strive to create extensive wagering menus allowing bettors to keep their money in play around the clock.  With ingenuity comes record betting handles leading to an industry that’s healthier than ever in 2016.  However some books (not all) still lag behind the times hiding their lackluster bookmaking acumen and laziness by utilizing price gouging for feasting on customers.  While it’s always a shame to let a sucker keep his money the industry as a collective needs to offer a competitive and transparent product. Here are 4 things I’d like to see change as we head into the home stretch before football season. Maximum Hold for Futures I’ve always been critical of how certain books handle this particular element of sports betting.  Radio hosts and TV personalities always want to discuss futures meaning there’s nothing more embarrassing than sharing ridiculous numbers with the general public (I had to do it firsthand with my previous employer). My problem with futures is they already give the house a sizable advantage over recreational bettors than certain books in Vegas create an even more ridiculous hold percentage for themselves.  For those unfamiliar with the terminology hold percentage refers to the theoretical amount of money the house keeps on every dollar wagered.  The lower the hold, the better for the player.  I see way too many books taking more than 50 cents on the dollar from...

It’s that time of year…no, not football season but rather a more special tradition that comes along every four years in the form of the presidential election.  Before we get there it’s time to have a bit of fun with props at the various conventions.  Obviously Donald Trump is good with a sound byte however now you can make money on some of his key catch phrases.  Here’s a list of the more entertaining prop bets ahead of Thursday’s convention courtesy of BetOnline Will Trump say “black lives matter” Yes +300 No -400 Will Trump say “all lives matter” Yes +200 No -260 Will Trump say “build a wall” Yes +120 No -150 How many times he says “make America Great Again” Over 3 -140 Under...

Time for the weekly hit with the boys in Nashville…always a friendly reminder that football season is right around the corner...

Major sports are officially over for the season after the Cavaliers were crowned this week.  Sure there are  plenty of sports to bet on for that coveted action fix but once the NBA finals go dark the casual gambler usually turns his or her attentions towards summer vacation. Football season gets here before we know, rest assured the apparently interminable window of non-gambling gets shorter by the year.  To help bridge that time I wanted to get everyone involved in a bracket that could spark serious debate.  Thanks to everyone on twitter for submitting their favorite 90 sitcoms to crowd source our seeding. Basically any show that aired a single episode during the decade was eligible for inclusion in our bracket. I’m fully aware that these seedings have the makings of chalk talk with the top seeds on the Mount Rushmore of network television.  Regardless of the favorites there are a few other intriguing match-ups bound to prompt a swell of nostalgia.  All match-ups will be voted on using twitter’s polling tool with the opening round expected to wrap-up next Friday.  We’ll take time off for the holidays and then come back firing so keep on voting to push your favorite shows onto the next round. My goal is to post a match-up a day from now through the end of next week Here’s IMDB’s top 30 Seinfeld (-300) Friends (+225) Cheers (+550) Home Improvement (+900) Simpsons (+2000) Saved by the Bell (+2000) Married with Children (+3000) Fresh Prince of Bel Air (+4500) Everybody Loves Raymond (+7500) Full House (+10000) Wonder Years (+10000) Boy Meets World (+25000) Family Matters (+40000) Frasier (+50000) Coach (+75000) Roseanne (+100000) Finals Seinfeld Friends Semifinals 1. Seinfeld 75% 5. Simpsons 25% 2. Friends 56% 6. Saved by the Bell...

There may not be a triple crown at stake in this year’s Belmont but that doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity to pick up a few books at the race window.  Kentucky Derby Jay provides his third and final installment of comprehensive race analysis for the third jewel. Governor Malibu — Improving Christophe Clement-trained colt seems to be a very trendy pick.  Rallied nicely to close for 2nd in the Peter Pan, generally considered a key prep for the Belmont.  Likely to be overbet, and I’m not crazy about his ability to get the lengthy 1.5 mile trip.  Will let this one beat me. Destin —  Wasn’t a huge fan of his chances in the Derby, but seems to be in a better spot here.  Ran a decent Derby, making a nice middle move to get to 4th, before encountering a little traffic and dropping back to 6th.  That same move today will put him in the mix.  Key is how much Pletcher got this guy to improve in the five-week layoff.  Contender, but probably just for bottom part of exotics. Cherry Wine — Could probably just copy my Preakness notes for this guy.  He passed a bunch of exhausted horses at Pimlico to rally for 2nd, and will now likely catch a lot of action today off that effort.  Myth among many bettors is that closers fare very well at Belmont, but that isn’t really the case for deep closers like Cherry Wine.  Can certainly be on the trifecta ticket with similar performance as Preakness, but doubt that gets him in the winner circle. Suddenbreakingnews — Might as well just say “See Cherry Wine.”  Made a late move to rally for 4th at Churchill Downs, and is another that is coming off a...

For more Copa America and Euro 2016 analysis all summer long be sure to check out www.sportsline.com Mexico vs Uruguay University of Phoenix Stadium: Glendale, AZ – 8PM ET Uruguay +225 Mexico +145 Draw +215 Total 2 (Over -125) El Tri supporters have reason to be optimistic; their beloved national team hasn’t conceded a single goal since Juan Carlos Osorio took over for Miguel Herrera last October. The green and white find themselves on an 11 game undefeated streak including eight straight victories. Mexico’s depth and home field advantage they’ll see throughout Copa America are a major reason they’ve become a trendy selection, not named Brazil or Argentina, to win the tournament. If Mexico is to extend their 600 minute clean sheet steak they’ll be tasked with limiting Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani. Luis Suarez is nursing a hamstring injury and although he might be available should Uruguay advance to the knockout stage his status is tenuous at best during group play. I don’t buy Cavani’s scoring prowess as the primary attacker considering he’s always been surrounded by world class talent like Suarez on the international stage and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG. While defense has been the strength of this Mexican side, they’ve yet to display that attacking flair in Osorio’s 4-3-3 formation. Javier Hernandez (Chicharito), Andres Guardado, and Jesus Corona need to be that trio on offense capable of leading Mexico on a deep tournament run. With Suarez out of the mix Urguay needs to rely on their veteran defensive core led by Maxi Pereira and Diego Godin. I can’t see Uruguay taking on a full blown defensive posture but I contend that’s their best chance to stay in the mix for top billing in Group C especially against Mexico. Couple all the tactical...

Memorial Day triggers a few constants for most of us; time with family, sunshine (for some of the country), unofficial start of pool season, BBQ’s, and most importantly remembering those that have served to protect our freedoms.  It’s also become one of the single greatest sports days for anyone that shares a love of motorsports.  While some of you read this for the first time the Monaco Grand Prix will be wrapping up (or completed) leaving two of the most iconic races on the domestic sports schedule still to go on this holiday weekend.  Grab a cold beverage or cooler’s worth if needed and buckle-up; we have 1,100 miles of racing and plenty of wagers to make. Indianapolis 500 Open wheel racing has become an after thought in this country.  That is except for the fourth Sunday in May where the entire racing world turns hopeful eyes to the 2.5 mile Brickyard, this year for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Sunday’s race is extra special being tabbed by race organizers as a sell out.  While the track doesn’t divulge exact numbers for spectator capacity, the number of grandstand seats is roughly 250,000 with the track selling at least an additional 70,000 infield tickets.  Doesn’t take a math wizard to realize 320,00 tickets to a sporting event is quite the haul making it one of the greatest spectacle in all of sport. Here are the drivers worth watching and a few match-ups worth investing in for the race (Prices courtesy of the Westgate Superbook) Favorites: Scott Dixon 8-1 & Will Power 10-1 Values: Carlos Munoz 12-1 & Tony Kanaan 12-1 Longshots: Graham Rahal 20-1 & Alexander Rossi 25-1 Matchups: Carlos Munoz +100 vs Marco Andretti & Will Power -120 vs Simon Pagenaud Coca...

There’s one commissioner that understands sports gambling isn’t going anywhere; Adam Silver.  Unlike some of the old boys network that  lives in the stone ages with taboo attached to sports betting, Silver understands a legalized and regulated betting market only helps the integrity of the sport.  Yesterday he shared his thoughts with ESPN on the topic. Here’s a brief transcript of that conversation courtesy of an American Gaming Association press release sent out earlier today. ESPN: “Of all the commissioners in the four major professional sports, you have been the most outspoken when it comes to gambling. There’s a lot of other leagues that are very skittish on that particular issue. Why do you think you’ve been so bold about talking about what generally is – whether people want to admit or not – a huge part of why people watch sports?” ADAM SILVER: “I can’t speak for the other leagues. I’d only say in my case…my many years in the NBA and I used to run NBA Entertainment and we do a lot of business internationally where sports gambling is legal and because the NBA is well known outside the United States there’s a lot of legal betting on the NBA going on just like there is in Nevada in the United States. And for me as I began to study the issue, I realized that there’s this enormous – measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars – underground betting market in the United States.  And ultimately my job as Commissioner is to protect the integrity of the game. Just like the stock market with insider trading, if you don’t have an open exchange you can’t know what insider trading is going on and to me when there’s an enormous amount of betting; it’s...