Week 1 has come and gone.  The boys are back with comprehensive analysis for a busy Week 2 in the NFL highlighted by a few playoff revenge match-ups.  Take a listen and make some money with Payne and Todd; you won’t be disappointed Click here if you’re still looking for a great offshore option this fall with outstanding sign-up bonuses Listen to the podcast here every week or subscribe on SOUND CLOUD and ITUNES...

I know this feels and sounds like shameless self promotion but I’ve had a number of people ask where they can hear most of my football content each week.  Obviously be sure to check out Bet the Board for comprehensive NFL analysis but my goal here is to collect various radio appearances and plunk them into a post.  This way you can keep tabs on all my thoughts for the biggest games in both pro and college football. http://www.toddstake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/9-7-16.mp3 3HL Nashville – Wednesday Click here for Omaha World Herald Click here for Jox Roundtable Campus Insiders Weekly...

International break be damned, the EPL is back in action come this weekend.  Not only do we have a full slate of fixtures but right out of the gates the soccer gods have given us an early season derby with major table implications.  To make sense of everything by identifying the best betting angles James Kempton is here to do all the heavy lifting. Manchester United v Manchester City Manchester United -0.25 and 2.5 goals Last season saw just one goal scored in the two meetings of the sides in EPL action. I cannot see that happening over the course of the two games this campaign. The openness with which Man City plays at times makes it hard to believe that the top sides will not be able to create chances against them. Despite this being a big game at the top of the table I’m happy to take a bit of the over 2.5 goals in what should be a very exciting game. Looking for more breakdowns? Listen to the “official” EPL punters podcast   Arsenal v Southampton Arsenal -1 and 2.75 goals Since the Saints returned to the EPL in August 2012; 5-3 to the under 2.5 goals in those matches as Southampton’s busy style seems to hamper the Gunners play. Arsenal hit three last time out away at Watford but this is a different challenge. The goal line is set here at a quarter of a goal higher than I’d expected so if I was betting this game I would look to take the unders on this goal line. Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion Bournemouth -0.5 and 2 goals It was 1-1 on the south coast back at the end of last season whilst the return fixture just before Christmas ended...

It’s about damn time the professionals start playing football that actually means something. Our preview podcast is officially in the rearview mirror with all hands on deck focused on isolating the best wagering opportunities for Week 1. Gone are familiar names like Brady and Manning (that Manning) from the betting board in two of the weekend’s marquee games. Reshuffled quarterbacks make some of the more mundane games rather intriguing if you ask me.  Prices have been hung for nearly six months meaning a lot of value is already zapped from the market. However that didn’t stop Payne and myself from giving out a gem and getting Dave Mason’s perspective from behind the counter. Click here if you’re still looking for a great offshore option this fall with outstanding sign-up bonuses Listen to the podcast here every week or subscribe on SOUND CLOUD and...

http://www.toddstake.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/8-31-16.mp3 After a ton of offseason fanfare it’s time for college football to kickoff in earnest.  We hit every big game with the boys in Nashville for what (at least on paper) appears to be one of the biggest opening weekend’s ever in college...

It feels like we never left!!! Season 3 of Bet the Board returns with a bang previewing divisions and win totals.  It’s you, the loyal listeners that make this labor of love truly enjoyable.  Be sure to check out our brand spanking new website and sign-up on itunes or sound cloud to get every episode right as we go live.  Thanks to our lead sponsor BetOnline here are some AWESOME promotions to get your bankroll healthy before the season...

From the outset I have to say this is a very tough looking week as we wait for the form lines to develop. It is a long season so there is no need to rush into bets just for the sake of making bets or as my buddies like to say, “be involved in the action.” A marathon rather than a sprint it truly is so do not unload your bankroll early on in the campaign for games that look tight. In weeks like this I spread the risk over more games but drastically lower the stakes. by James Kempton Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Tottenham -0.25 and 2.75 goals The game of the week is the first game of the weekend! Last season we saw two games hit an under 2.5 goals as both ended all square. Prior to that over 2.5 goals was on a 6-0 run when these sides face off in EPL action. Liverpool are unbeaten in the last seven meetings of the sides with Spurs’ last win at White Hart Lane back in November 2012. After last weekends’ debacle at Burnley only a mad man would back Liverpool in this spot. I expect the influential Mane to return into the Reds’ midfield and I see him as a huge threat going forward for the Reds. With the lines set as they are though I can only offer a tentative lean towards the home team minus a quarter of a goal but even that is based on my trust of Tottenham over my dis-trust of the Reds. Betting football this fall? Check out these special promotions for new customers and available reload bonuses at BetOnline! Chelsea v Burnley Chelsea -1.5 and 2.75 goals Don’t leave your seats early at Stamford Bridge...

If you read the previews, believe the experts, and check the odds it appears the Big Ten is a two horse race. Ohio State and Michigan, at least in the mind of most, have distanced themselves from the rest of the league especially in the East. While I won’t dispute their rightful status as front runners it doesn’t always mean title dreams equate to point spread dominance. Missed the other conferences? Find them here ACC, SEC, Pac 12 Undervalued: Michigan State 2015: 12-2 SU, 5-9 ATS Michigan State struggled early in the 2015 season; at least when it came to Vegas expectations starting the year a wallet breaking 0-6 ATS. There were such high expectations for a team led by experienced pivot Connor Cook the market over valued their potential to cover big numbers (remember this for later) The exact opposite is true of the Spartans headed into 2016. Tyler O’Connor was anointed as Cook’s successor just a day ago.  He’ll enter the season having attempted just 24 passes a season ago but was responsible for leading Sparty to an outright upset of Ohio State as a double digit dog. There’s plenty of experience at running back with three guys toting the rock 100+ times last year. However there’s a major void at the WR position and the coaching staff knows they’ll need a gamebreaker to emerge before conference play. The offensive line requires some seasoning without their C and LT however three starters give coach Dantonio enough of a bed rock to build around early. You don’t just replace three NFL draft choices on the defensive line by waving a magic wand. Malik McDowell, projected starting nose tackle, grades out to All American caliber status and should become the next great defensive lineman...

I don’t remember a year where the Pac 12 felt so wide open going into the season. Conference stalwarts USC and Stanford have  grueling schedules while consistent QB play is a major question mark for nearly every team in the league. When a league is ripe for the picking there should be ample opportunity for bettors to profit in the late night Saturday specials. Betting football this fall? Check out these great promotions from BetOnline Undervalued: Arizona State 2015: 6-7 SU, 6-7 ATS Todd Graham hates expectations almost as much as he hates staying put in a coaching gig. Picked by many to contend for conference supremacy last season, ASU fell flat on it’s face behind erratic quarterback play and a porous secondary. This year the Sun Devils are the forgotten squad in the Pac12 South, pegged to finish as an afterthought behind both Southern California powers. The major question for Arizona State is how quickly new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey develops a quarterback.  There’s a lot of talk about ASU utilizing a two QB system early in the season until a front runner emerges. Current options for the role have thrown exactly ZERO passes at the FBS level. Regardless of who wins the job, running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Bellage will be the bell cows running behind an offensive line that could surprise Defensively there’s only one way to go and it’s up from the 338 yards passing ASU surrendered on a per game basis last year.  Despite a rash of injuries throughout fall camp, the unit has some playmakers but will need continuity at the back end before the early season show down with Texas Tech. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of question marks at every level of the...

Just reading about the big matches this weekend not enough?  Here’s the EPL podcast from Pete Nordsted and James Kempton Read the match capsules here...

Round 2 of the EPL season kicks off in earnest this weekend.  All of the big boys showed their mettle last weekend and we saw what might be the beginning of the end for Leicester City’s title defense.  James Kempton is back with his complete analysis of what you need to know before betting this weekend’s fixtures. Manchester United v Southampton Manchester United -1 and 2.75 goals Friday Night Football is here! Southampton have won their last two trips to Old Trafford by a scoreline of 1-0 and the season before that the game finished one apiece. This trip will hold no fears for them given their recent run of success up north. Even though this is the new improved United I can’t offer a bet in this game as let’s face it; if it was not a stand alone live TV game we would not even consider betting at this market price. Stoke City v Manchester City Manchester City -0.75 and 2.75 goals Stoke won this game at the Britannia Stadium 2-0 last season but prior to that the Blues had been unbeaten in their previous six trips to this tricky venue. Last season City fully covered this line just four times away from home and there were signs on opening day that teams fully understand how to stop Guardiola teams from playing the way they’d like. Knowing how to do it and being able to actually fully implement those tactics are a different matter. I want to take Pep’s men on as I’m not sure of his system working in the EPL but this is another game I shall leave alone. Burnley v Liverpool Liverpool -1 and 2.5 goals There have been at least two goals in each of Liverpool’s last ten...

There’s been so much talk in SEC country about Tennessee finally coming of age. The pressure is real in Knoxville for a program seeking a return to glory with 17 starters coming back. When the whole world knows how talented a team is supposed to be on paper, there’s limited betting value. I toyed with putting them as my sell team within the league however I’m drinking the Kool-Aid as well…at least for now. In the west division supremacy appears to be a two horse race between LSU and Alabama (fancy that!). Fortunately for us picking a champion isn’t job number one; it’s identifying teams that aren’t being priced properly by the oddsmakers. Undervalued: Florida Last Year: 10-4 SU, 8-5-1 ATS There’s been so much talk about Tennessee and Georgia as clear cut favorites in the SEC East the Gators have become an afterthought. A tough three game losing skid to close the year doused the optimism Coach McElwain created in his first season.  Florida might be flying under the radar now but they’re still defending division champs until proven otherwise. Defense is the constant for Florida and the unit appears built for more success in 2016.  Unfortunately you don’t easily replace a talent like Vernon Hargreaves in the secondary but Jalen Tabor and Marcus Maye are exceptional players capable of putting their stamp on the defensive backfield. Today’s suspension of Tabor for the season opener against UMASS is problematic yet I’ll operate under the assumption this is an isolated incident.  Geoff Collins’ job won’t be easy; needing to replace key contributors on the defensive line although returning eight players in that group should alleviate some concern. Losing Antonio Morrison’s 103 tackles could be felt by a thin linebacking core meaning senior Jerrad Davis...