After a glorious month of the beautiful game, we’re at the bitter end of the 2014 World Cup with only 2 fixtures remaining.  Obviously there’s still money to be made this weekend and our crack staff of OTL personalities Drew Collins and James Kempton helped identify some of the value on the betting boards.  Thanks for listening to our futbol podcasts throughout the World Cup, been a pleasure bringing them to you for the last 2 months. Remember, the OTL crew will be back intact for the fall with hard hitting college football (err drinking) analysis you’ve come to expect so favorite us on itunes. Can’t see the link? Click here to access directly. Iphone user? Download the podcasts from...

Last night we broke down the World Cup Semifinals on Let It Ride.  Special thanks to Spencer Hall of SB Nation fame for joining Clay Travis and I on our magical mystery tour through handicapping the World Cup.  Two games, two winners (at least from Spencer and I) to help you make some money the next 2 days....

I know you all missed us when we decided to take the quarterfinals off rather than providing podcast gold. Don’t fret, we couldn’t leave you hanging with the 2 biggest games in international futbol taking place over the next 2 days.  We brought the band back together: Drew Collins to host and James Kempton providing the international perspective from across the pond while I rambled aimlessly hoping to make a useful point. 7 Things worth knowing before you bet the games Germany and Brazil last met in the 2002 World Cup Final: Brazil hoisted the trophy after a 2-0 victory. The last 6 times Brazil made it to the semifinals of the World Cup have resulted in 6 trips to the final; compiling a record of 5-0-1 in regulation during that span. Neymar had a hand in 5 of the 10 goals scored by Brazil so far this tournament.  Thiago Silva will also miss the game not because of injury but rather for yellow card accumulation. Germany has outscored their last 3 opponents 2-0 in regulation. The only team to score on Germany during regulation this World Cup is Ghana. The Netherlands haven’t scored a goal before the 77th minute in any of their last 3 games (Chile, Mexico, & Costa Rica). Argentina is the only remaining team to keep 2 clean sheets during the knockout phase, a span lasting 210 minutes. Argentina is playing without starting Real Madrid midfielder Angel Di Maria but may could a boost from the return of Sergio Aguero. Netherlands will be without the services of Nigel De Jong.        ...

Haven’t been paying attention to the World Cup yet? Now’s the time to start with the field paired in half from 32 down to 16.  Stakes are cranked even higher meaning there’s no margin for error when it comes to winning soccer’s greatest prize.  Even if you’ve resisted the first 48 matches, 16 contests remain that will have you riveted, especially from a betting perspective.  Not only did we prepare a podcast covering each of the upcoming fixtures but we’ve included a best bets segment from Fox Sports Live and a compelling read about how bettors should handle shootouts in their handicapping.  Sit down, strap in, and get ready for 4 days of the best competition in sport. Complete list of updated odds click here The OTL Podcast (with Drew Collins and James Kempton) Iphone user? Download the podcasts from iTunes Android user? We’ve got you covered on stitcher   One World Cup Knockout Game in Five Decided by Penalties  Sports Interaction calculates odds on World Cup games being decided by shootout  The FIFA World Cup moves into its knockout phase on Saturday, when it’s win or go home for the sixteen teams left in the competition. Since 1978 the spectre of a penalty shootout looms for teams that can’t find a result after extra-time. Penalty shootouts are one of the great pieces of theatre in world sports, but exactly how likely are they to happen? Sports Interaction has crunched the numbers to find out. “Penalty shootouts are thrilling moments in sports,” says Frank Doyle, a spokesman for Sports Interaction. “Players hate them, and so does the nation that’s just lost one, but for everybody else they’re like Old West showdowns with the entire population of the world watching. What could be more dramatic...

Today marks a seminal moment in US Soccer: the chance for an often fringe sport to capture the attention of an entire nation for at least another 5 days.  Sunday’s tilt against Portugal was the highest rated soccer match ever in the States meaning the entire country is about ready to burst at the seams given what’s at stake today.  We all know what’s on the line; a birth in the round of 16 most likely against the Group H winner, most likely Belgium.  However it’s more than that…Rarely is our national sports program thrust into the underdog and I believe all of us relish the opportunity to prove to the international soccer community we’re not in Brazil just to make an appearance. Last night on Let It Ride Clay Travis and I discussed the seismic shift in the national team’s odds since the tourney started and shared our somewhat optimistic predictions for today’s game.  Give it a watch…if for nothing else to see us sport our most patriotic attire ever on the...

For 2 hours this weekend Soccer, yes soccer of the American variety, captured the attention of our entire country. Bars and viewing parties from New York to Chicago to Kansas City were filled to the brim with optimistic soccer fans holding their breath waiting for the whistle to blow on what should have been a 2-1 victory for the stars and stripes.  We groaned with an errant clearance in the 5th minute that led to Nani’s goal; We were rejuvenated when Jermaine Jones perfectly struck ball slid inside the post in the 64th minute; We erupted with excitement when Clint Dempsey’s goal in the 81st minute looked to secure our passage to the round of 16 and then we died with the outstanding cross from Cristiano Ronaldo in stoppage time that left us hollow with a 2-2 draw. Bookmakers rooting for the good guys breathed a sigh of relief getting a draw as the optimal result, not dashing advancement prospects for Team USA but while protecting their balance sheets in a game that saw nearly 74% of the money being wagered on the Red, White, and Blue. While we as a nation still lick our collective wounds, all isn’t lost as the focus shifts towards Thursday’s monumental tilt with Jurgen Klinsman’s homeland the Panzer Tanks of Germany.  Interestingly enough the price being offered at betting shops throughout Europe don’t scream I believe that we will win but rather I believe that we may draw. Now about that pesky 3 way line and what we can read into it…Portugal ended up closing -135 Sunday against the United States at most of the large offshore books yet Germany opens up at nearly the exact same price overseas?  Clearly oddsmakers aren’t in the business of creating value...

The first set of group stage games is officially in the books.  Somehow, by virtue of friendly scheduling Brazil & Mexico were even able to play their second fixture yesterday before Russia & South Korea started the tournament.  As a handicapper it’s always important to assess what you’ve learned (even from a small sample size) separating fact from fiction in order to capitalize on oddsmaker over reaction and market perception.  Here are 4 things I learned that can help all of us profit handsomely as the tournament moves forward. Overs were an ATM…it won’t continue One thing we know is that bettors love to ride a trend into the ground especially betting games over the total.  It’s hard to argue with the success firing overs yielded during the first set of group games.  Hopefully you were able to capitalize on the 12-3-1 run to start the tournament if banking on offense is your chosen pursuit.  The 49 goals scored in the first set of matches is a World Cup Record. Wait for it…  I’m here to rain on the parade by saying that won’t persist through the 2nd game in the group stage. Why you ask? All of the totals have been adjusted up from 2 to 2.5 with a smattering of 3’s entering the market.  Going over 3 is a tall order at this level and has actually been the number most of these games landed on making for a push, not a win.  Bookmakers are keen to adjustments, expect to pay a premium going over inflated prices during the second round of group stage games. Gambling takeaway: Overs won’t hit at a 80% clip for the entire tournament. Regression is imminent: identify the right opportunities to take advantage of market adjustment allowing you...

Four days of matches in the books and the biggest surprise of the tournament so far isn’t the Dutch dismantling of Spain but rather the 10 Overs to only 1 under.  Books are in scramble mode looking to adjust the prices to reflect a higher scoring version of the beautiful game and I’ll break it down more extensively from the betting perspective in the next few days. Meanwhile, here are updated future odds courtesy of the LVH as a few teams saw their chances for Copa Mundial glory while others (Honduras) took a massive blow. 2014 WORLD CUP VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT BRAZIL   JUNE 12 – JULY 13, 2014   ODDS TO WIN: BRAZIL                    5/2 ARGENTINA                 7/2 SPAIN                    12/1 GERMANY                   5/1 NETHERLANDS              12/1 ITALY                    15/1 ENGLAND                  30/1 FRANCE                   15/1 PORTUGAL                 25/1 URUGUAY                  60/1 CHILE                    40/1 USA                     100/1 MEXICO                   80/1 IVORY COAST              80/1 RUSSIA                  100/1 CROATIA                 200/1 GHANA                   150/1 ECUADOR                 250/1 CAMEROON               1000/1 COLOMBIA                 30/1 JAPAN                   250/1 AUSTRALIA              5000/1 NIGERIA                 250/1 SOUTH KOREA             300/1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA      150/1 SWITZERLAND              80/1 GREECE                  500/1 ALGERIA                2000/1 BELGIUM                  20/1 COSTA RICA              250/1 IRAN                   2000/1 HONDURAS               5000/1...

Today marks the start of the greatest spectacle in all of international sport.  Eric Wynalda and I debated the teams/players to watch for the next few weeks with a bit of disagreement. Just...

I’m not sure there are 2 more disparate groups than what we’ll see in D and E.  From European heavyweights Italy & England to South American sleeper Costa Rica in group D compared with mercurial France and a trio of unknowns things could get very interesting.  The OTL futbol crew (Drew, Jimmy, and I) shared very different views on how we see these groups unfolding not only for qualification but also the pace and tempo we’ll see in the matches. Take a listen and as always share your feedback Can’t see the link? Click here to access directly. Iphone user? Download the podcasts from iTunes Android user? We’ve got you covered on stitcher WILL ITALY ADVANCE FROM GROUP D? YES                 -240 NO                  +200 WILL URUGUAY ADVANCE FROM GROUP D? YES                 -185 NO                  +165 WILL ENGLAND ADVANCE FROM GROUP D? YES                 -165 NO                  +145 WILL COSTA RICA ADVANCE FROM GROUP D? YES                 +900 NO                 -1600 WILL FRANCE ADVANCE FROM GROUP E? YES                 -450 NO                  +375 WILL SWITZERLAND ADVANCE FROM GROUP E? YES                 -150 NO                  +130   WILL ECUADOR ADVANCE FROM GROUP E? YES                 -110 NO                  -110 WILL HONDURAS ADVANCE FROM GROUP E? YES                 +650 NO                  -1000...

The World will officially shift it’s attention to Brazil beginning next Thursday. In anticipation of the biggest sporting event every 4 years, bookmakers both domestically and abroad generate a multitude of markets to keep every bettor in action through the month long tournament.  If you haven’t already noticed my site has taken on a very futbol friendly focus and will continue to do so over the next 6 weeks in an effort to provide you with the best information/odds possible. Below are not only prices on who will hoist the Copa Mundial trophy but also prices to advance from various groups, total points amassed in the group stage, and confederation props available here in Las Vegas.  Remember before placing a single wager on a sport you maybe unfamiliar with, please read all the house rules before walking to the window.  Whether it’s 3 way line confusion, regulation totals, or group winner there are some variations of the rules every punter needs to understand. All prices courtesy of the LV   2014 WORLD CUP VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT BRAZIL JUNE 12 – JULY 13, 2014   ODDS TO WIN: BRAZIL                    5/2 ARGENTINA                 9/2 SPAIN                     6/1 GERMANY                   9/2 NETHERLANDS              25/1 ITALY                    20/1 ENGLAND                  30/1 FRANCE                   25/1 PORTUGAL                 25/1 URUGUAY                  25/1 CHILE                    50/1 USA                     100/1 MEXICO                  100/1 IVORY COAST             150/1 RUSSIA                   80/1 CROATIA                 150/1 GHANA                   150/1 ECUADOR                 150/1 CAMEROON               1000/1 COLOMBIA                 25/1 JAPAN                   150/1 AUSTRALIA              1000/1 NIGERIA                 250/1 SOUTH KOREA             300/1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA      150/1 SWITZERLAND             100/1 GREECE                  250/1 ALGERIA                2000/1 BELGIUM                  15/1 COSTA RICA             1000/1 IRAN                   1000/1 HONDURAS               1000/1     ODDS TO WIN GROUP A: BRAZIL                    1/6 MEXICO                    8/1 CROATIA                   8/1 CAMEROON                ...

While Group A offers as much intrigue as an international friendly, Groups B and C have story lines aplenty to keep our interest during group play.  From the 2010 Cup Final rematch between Spain and Netherlands starting Group B to the injury impact of world class striker Radamel Falcao’s to the group C landscape it’s anyone’s guess as to what 4 sides will emerge from these 2 groups.  As always consummate OTL podcast host Drew Collins is here to navigate us through while resident soccer expert James Kempton stops by to provide his unique perspective from across the pond Having problems accessing the podcast? Click here to access the link directly Below are prop prices for points accumulated by the 8 teams in Groups B and C Group B Spain  6.5 (Under -140) Netherlands 4.5 (Over -140) Chile 3.5 (Over -160) Australia (Under -220) Group C Colombia 5.5 (Over -140) Greece 3.5 (Under -160) Ivory Coast 3.5 (Over -160) Japan 3.5 (Over -130)  ...