Start your weekend off in style with a few winners in the EPL.  James Kempton is back to give you angles worth exploring for every fixture across the pond. Leicester v Newcastle Leicester -0.5 Goals 2.5 The Foxes bandwagon looks set to continue this Saturday as the home side full of momentum take on an awful Newcastle side. Six weeks ago this line would have been a Pk so have the teams changed so much in their overall quality since then? Maybe not but it’s the home team or nothing here. Aston Villa v Everton Pk Goals 2.5 Sherwood Mania is gripping the Claret and Blue side of Birmingham but will they start looking ahead to Wembley? The match market looks tricky so I prefer to side with the overs on the goal line here as Villa play a far more expansive game under Sherwood. Liverpool v QPR Liverpool -1.5 Goals 2.75 Rangers’ failure to beat West Ham last week has all but condemned them to relegation. The home team need a performance after that horrible midweek loss to Hull and the visitors seem perfect for some goal difference improvement. I favour the home win and overs on the goal line. Sunderland v Southampton Southampton -0.5 Goals 2  I love what Ronald Koeman has done at St Mary’s but at this stage of the season laying half a goal with them away from home seems loaded with risk. The home team could scrap for a point so I lean towards Sunderland on the handicap line. The Saints don’t concede many goals to poor teams so it’s under or pass regarding the total Swansea v Stoke Swansea -0.25 Goals 2.25 Both clubs have taken big steps forward this season but this has all the hallmarks...

The opening weekend of May should be called turn back the clock day; its the only time all year where boxing and horse racing dominate the sports discussion.  Everyone has an opinion (some good, some bad) on who takes home the Run for the Roses and of course who will walk out of the ring at Grand Garden with a championship belt.  Apparently a few jockeys at the track had a bit of fun recently making their selections but we can’t quite blame them for who they picked to win the prize fight. Keep it locked here all weekend long with plenty of fight analysis and derby tips to get you ready for a busy sports...

UFC 186 Johnson vs. Horiguchi: Catchweight’s in Quebec Good day Enthusiasts. We believe that it is our role to scour these UFC cards for value and catch canine’s capable of cashing for it is our manifest to manage mangy mongrels on these fight cards and convert results into profit. All fight analysis provided by Gamblou Our recent UFC results coupled with what we believe is a substandard fight card has us taking a very measured and conservative approach to today’s fights. We take our own advice when we hit a rough stretch so our choice today is to perform even more comprehensive Due Diligence, continue to practice supreme Selectivity and reduce our wagers exercising meticulous Money Management. We’ve been profitable at Sports Gaming for decades and it’s because we back off when we are experiencing difficulties and we flex when we are riding dirty Sally. The fact is that there is tremendous UFC opportunity ahead in 2015 with stellar fight cards available so no need for us to get impatient. ‘Swing it Easy’ implies no gripping so we will do as we practice and forge ahead in measured fashion. UFC 2015: 27-31 + $672.00 Aubin-Mercier -370 vs. Michaud +330 If we were going to make lines based on future potential then this line would make some sense to us. However in this TriStar vs. MMALab matchup we feel these two grappling based fighters are like mirror images of one another. Michaud is fighting for his UFC career and we feel owns an advantage over the home town kid on the feet. Olivier is off a loss and fighting in front your fans does not always equate to advantage. We handicap this fight much closer than what we see as of this writing so our...

The race for league supremacy might be over but that doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity to make some money this weekend in the EPL. James Kempton is back with his weekly installment of betting capsules on every fixture. If you’re looking for more in-depth analysis tune into his podcast with Pete Nordsted. Burnley v Leicester Scratch  Pk & 2.5 goals Leicester looked dead and buried a few weeks ago but recent results for both sides force this game priced at scratch. This is a big game for the home team and nobody rolls them over at Turf Moor so at this current price I favour Burnley. Crystal Palace v Hull City Palace -0.5 and 2 goals Palace lost to a relegation threatened side last time out at home in West Brom so why not again here? Away win straight up is the way I’d play this but for minimal stakes in a game you should probably pass on. Manchester City v Aston Villa City -1.75 and 3 goals City dominated West Ham last week but still only won 2-0. Here they welcome a rejuvenated Villa side with a genuine attacking threat. The away side will more than likely find the back of the net given a shakier than usual home defence so I lean towards over on the goal line. Newcastle United v Swansea City Newcastle -0.25 and 2.25 goals The heat is on at St James’ Park and if Newcastle can’t win this game then they are in real trouble. Swansea let us down last week at Leicester so it’s a brave man who trusts them in this spot. A draw is agreeable for both sides so I will take that and lean to the unders. QPR v West Ham United QPR...

Last night marked a major event for the upcoming NFL season; the release of all 32 schedules.  Inevitably it left oddsmakers “scrambling” to finalize those power rankings so they could hang Week 1 lines for the hordes of degenerates clamoring for football that’s still months away.  The team at the Westgate Superbook complied and here’s a full list of their opening sides and totals.  We’ll do a deeper dive next week and talk a bit about finding value and looking at the numbers that won’t look anything like this when September rolls around. Thursday, September 10, 2015   STEELERS PATRIOTS -6, 53   Sunday, September 13, 2015   PACKERS -4, 50 BEARS   CHIEFS TEXANS -1.5, 43   BROWNS JETS -1, 41   COLTS -3 EVEN, 48 BILLS   DOLPHINS -2.5, 44.5 REDSKINS   PANTHERS -4, 43.5 JAGUARS   SEAHAWKS -3.5, 44 RAMS   SAINTS CARDINALS -2.5, 48   LIONS CHARGERS -2, 46.5   TITANS BUCS -3, 42.5   BENGALS -3, 44.5 RAIDERS   RAVENS BRONCOS -4, 53   GIANTS COWBOYS -5.5, 50   Monday, September 14, 2015   EAGLES -1.5, 53.5 FALCONS   VIKINGS 49ERS -3.5, 42...

UFC FN 65 Machida vs. Rockhold: Beatdown on the Boardwalk Written by UFC Analyst GambLou “Down on the boardwalk they’re gettin’ ready for a fight gonna see what them racket boys can do”* It’s been a couple of UFC cards now that we have underachieved with bottom line results. The UFC holding this event in the ‘Badlands’ of Jersey today which is as close to New York as the organization can get in attempting to get those backward ass legislators off their arse and allow the UFC to offer productions in the Garden state. We trust today is our time to experience ‘Better Days’ and show our Enthusiasts the there’s ‘No Surrender’ in Ol’ Uncle Louie. UFC 2015: 25-27 +762.00 Means -170 vs. Sullivan +160 Means has looked quite awesome in his last few fights but he has fought guys that want to give him distance and strike with him. We refuse to be ‘Blinded by the Light’ for while Means is one bad hombre on the feet he is also incomplete in tight, against the cage and on the mat. Our belief is that George Sullivan, a local Jersey boy has more than ‘High Hopes’ for this matchup. We feel he’ll grind Means against the cage, take him to the mat to deliver ground & pound and smother the longer striker. Sullivan has what we believe to be the style to cage the dirty bird today. Sullivan opened a fair -115 so without hesitation we’ll take value offered in the current price. Sullivan +160 Sterling -395 vs. Mizugaki +350 This is a value position solely. Sterling has great skills, superior athleticism, fights out of a top camp and appears to be ‘Easy Money’ in today’s fight. Takeya arrives the more experienced fighter and...

It may not be a complete slate this weekend with a few EPL sides pulling FA cup duty but that doesn’t stop James Kempton from powering through his weekly analysis.  Be sure to follow him as well for his EPL podcast among other great soccer analysis. Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion Palace -0.5 and 2.25 goals The team managed by the man the media are calling ‘Pardiola’ welcome back Tony Pulis as his West Brom side are starting to look nervously beneath them at the drop zone. A tentative lean to the away side as the Baggies have drawn five of eight games away to bottom half sides but given the form of the home team it would be a bet made with no real conviction. Everton v Burnley Everton -0.75 and 2.5 goals Despite some great performances by Burnley this season they continue to sit 19th in the table with just one win in their fifteen away games. I think I’d rather have a small piece of the over 2.5 goals and swerve the match market. Leicester City v Swansea City Leicester -0.25 goals and 2.5 goals Leicester have put in a string of impressive recent results and are fighting for their EPL lives whilst Swansea have, on paper, nothing to play for. The Swans are 9-7-1 overall when facing bottom half sides so the trends say there is great value going with the away team. Who are we to disagree? Stoke City v Southampton Southampton -0.25 and 2 goals Two teams that are in good form meet here but it’s those defensive qualities of both teams that I am looking at to cash us a winning bet. Even with this line set at just two goals I like the under bet...

The NHL playoffs start in earnest this evening and for many of us sports fans it is the greatest post season in all of professional sports.  I’m not here to give you keys to the kingdom for postseason riches (there are much better hockey handicappers out there) but can share a few of the key facts, figures, and storylines to make you more informed before investing on ice. For those wondering who I’m picking to get to the Cup I’ll stand by my selection from the beginning of the year: Tampa wins the East and Chicago Wins the West Totals Trends Keep in mind that Game 1 in 7 of the 8 series have a total listed at 5 (albeit with juice attached).  Last year Over bettors flourished in Round 1 with 29 Overs, 11 Unders, and 8 pushes.  Don’t be surprised if you see totals inch closer to 5.5 rather quickly mainly because of a phenomenon we call the “Roy effect;” the emerging trend of pulling your goalie a lot earlier than hockey purists have grown accustomed to over the years.  Here was the full totals breakdown from last year: Round 1: 29 overs, 11 unders, 8 pushes Round 2: 10 overs, 13 unders, 4 pushes Round 3: 8 overs, 3 unders, 2 pushes Round 4: 1 over, 2 unders, 2 pushes Total: 48 overs, 29 unders, 16 pushes Montreal Canadiens (#1 Atlantic) -160 vs Ottawa Senators (#1 Wildcard) +140 Season series: Senators 3-1 Odds to win the Stanley Cup: Canadiens 8-1 Senators 30-1 Canadiens Senators Goals Per Game 2.6 (20) 2.8 (9) Goals Against 2.2 (1) 2.5 (13) Power Play 16.5% (23) 16.8% (22) Penalty Kill 83.7% (7) 82.9 (11) We all remember major dates in sports…For Senator fans February 18 should...

We see it all the time in international sports; major franchises building advertising partnerships with betting houses. They’re the kind of mutually beneficial relationships that make a world of sense with similar demographics but really haven’t had a place in American sports…until now. William Hill US has become the official sports book of the Las Vegas Outlaws. For those wondering exactly who the Outlaws are, it’s a fair question; they’re the Vegas based Arena football expansion franchise, owned and operated by non other than former member of Motley Crue and business mogul Vince Neil. “You will see the William Hill logo on the Outlaws’ jerseys and on the dasherboards.  Adults attending the game can sign up for the William Hill Mobile Sports app in the Thomas & Mack concourse and then are immediately able to wager on our full sports menu – including futures, pre-game lines, and InPlay for the Outlaws,” Michael Grodksy, director of marketing for William Hill told me. Talk about the kind of business partnership that would send chills down the spine of Roger Goodell! People betting on sports, a behavior directly embraced by the league and franchise?! Man, we should condemn everyone in and around Arena football for ruining the purity we’ve all come to expect in our athletic competitions. While Arena Football is still very much an emerging niche market in the American Sports landscape, the opportunities are endless for a league and franchise able to build a symbiotic relationship with an actual gambling entity to drive fan interest, viewership, and potentially long term brand loyalty. The Outlaws and William Hill aren’t quite at the same level yet as European Sportsbooks with international football clubs where physical betting shops exist within major stadiums. I spent time studying overseas at...

Welcome Fight Enthusiasts. Saturday’s card from Krakow offers several fighters we have little information on and as a result we’re reluctant to force the issue. Further we have been out of town for personal reasons which will force us to be brief in our positions and reasoning for each. Written by @Gamblou UFC 2015: 24-25 + $887.00 -Let’s Fight- Stasiak -125 vs Meza +105 This seems a fight that is set up for Stasiak’s success. He is the younger fighter and a polished Polish prospect. Meza arrives in Krakow the older fighter returning to the 145 division with the design of taking the local kid to the mat for a maul. We feel Stasiak with a strong karate base and an advantage on the feet is a value here even though he faces a capable cat from the MMA Lab. Stasiak -125 Edwards -130 vs. Baczynski +110 Baczynski will have the crowd and will need to get this fight to the floor. It will be Edwards however who sports the skills. We will side with the lefty who is more skilled in the stand-up department, faster and much the younger fighter. Edwards -130 Manuwa -155 vs. Blachowicz +135 Manuwa is an impressive looking athlete but we do not trust his ability to fight for more than 90 seconds. If Blachy can withstand the furious first few minutes we believe he will be able to control the fight as he is the more well-rounded fighter. In his second UFC spot we see potential in the pup. Blachowicz +135 GambLou.com Profitable Sports Gaming                ...

The weekend can’t officially launch until we’ve gotten our football fix from James Kempton. As the rounds wind down the stakes still remain high for a handful of clubs.  As always Jimmy shares his thoughts on each and every game for the coming weekend. Swansea City v Everton Pk Goals 2.25 Swansea are a machine in this spot when they host bottom half sides going 6-3-0. Everton have picked up their play of late but to have this line priced at a Pk is madness. Give me the Swans. Southampton v Hull City Southampton -1 Goals 2.25 Southampton are 7-1-0 at home to bottom half placed sides. Scoring twenty two goals and conceding just one in those eight games. They play with a pace, freedom and vibrancy that should tear Hull apart. I used to be afraid of laying a full goal with the Saints but not anymore. Sunderland v Crystal Palace PK Goals 2 Pardew for Manager of the Year! Palace are 4-4-1 away to bottom half sides but those nine games have seen twenty seven goals. With a goal line set at just 2 the carefree approach Palace can take in this spot may reflect a more open game than you’d expect. Give me the overs on the goal line. Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Tottenham -1 Goals 2.75 The return of Sherwood to Spurs and there are some players with a real point to prove to him. I expect a reaction from Spurs after that goalless draw at Burnley whilst Benteke fresh off his hat trick against QPR will trouble the home defence. Give me overs in what could be another high scoring game at the Lane. West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City WBA -0.25 Goals 2.25 Are West Brom out...

Thursday marks the start of a great annual sports tradition, the Masters.  I’ll admit I’m not much of a golf bettor in the least but that doesn’t stop us from sharing some of the most recent odds on the tournament currently available at the Westgate Superbook.  Like some of the other major sporting events that capture our wagering dollar tread lightly if betting golf isn’t in your wheelhouse.  Also remember when you build a portfolio of outright winners don’t try and just lock in one golfer trying to capture lightning in a bottle.  Diversify that portfolio a bit and have some fun hoping you’re right in the thick of the chase come Sunday afternoon. THE MASTERS AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB – AUGUSTA, GEORGIA APRIL 9-12, 2015 ODDS TO WIN: RORY McILROY                                      6/1 TIGER WOODS                   40/1 ADAM SCOTT                    15/1 PHIL MICKELSON                20/1 BUBBA WATSON                  10/1 JASON DAY                     12/1 RICKIE FOWLER                 30/1 JORDAN SPIETH                 10/1 JUSTIN ROSE                   40/1 MATT KUCHAR                   30/1 SERGIO GARCIA                 40/1 HENRIK STENSON                20/1 DUSTIN JOHNSON                12/1 LEE WESTWOOD                  40/1 CHARL SCHWARTZEL              80/1 BRANDT SNEDEKER               40/1 MARTIN KAYMER                 60/1 ZACH JOHNSON      ...