When it comes to NCAA basketball tournament betting, one of the things that I look for are the Mid Majors that should win their conference tournament. If they don’t, the teams from major conferences may lose one of the 37 At-Large bids that are given to the teams that don’t win the conference tournament. By the time that this happens, there will usually only be 6 to 8 bids that are not already claimed by the good teams.

Mid Major Conferences

West Coast Conference – Saint Mary’s always seems to play second fiddle to Gonzaga in this conference. Whenever Saint Mary’s wins the tournament, Gonzaga will get an At Large bid. If Gonzaga wins, more often than not Saint Mary’s will be one of the last teams out of the tournament. Saint Mary’s strength of schedule hurts them but their record and RPI this year are both very good.

Of course the nightmare scenario for the major conferences is a dark-horse team from the WCC winning the tournament. If you are rooting for a team on the bubble, you will want Gonzaga to win the tournament.

Missouri Valley Conference – Two teams will definitely be invited to the tournament from the MVC: Wichita State and Creighton. Both teams are really good and I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these two go to the Elite 8. The rest of the teams in the conference will need to win the tournament to receive a bid. Again, if you are a fan of a Bubble Team, you will want either Wichita State or Creighton to win their conference tournament.

Conference USA – Memphis is undefeated in conference play and surely has a tournament bid locked up. The same can’t be said for Southern Miss and their 21-7 record. The quality of opponents that they have beaten isn’t good enough and neither is the conference as a whole. If Memphis wins their tournament, they will be the only team representing Conference USA.

Ohio Valley Conference – Belmont may be good enough to lose in the conference tournament and still receive an NCAA tournament bid. The Bruins have made some noise in past tournaments and may receive the recognition nod from the Selection Committee. Murray State (20-8) and Eastern Kentucky (23-7) will need to win the conference tournament to receive a bid.

Sun Belt Conference – Middle Tennessee (26-4) is the only team that you need to worry about in this conference. The Sun Belt tournament has been pretty unpredictable in the past with a sub .500 team winning last year. The only way that Middle Tennessee makes it as an At Large bid is if they sweep until they get to the Sun Belt tournament’s Championship game.

Mid American Conference – Akron (23-4) is close to being a lock for an At Large bid, but no one else in the MAC are even close. If Akron doesn’t win the MAC tournament, then there will probably be two teams from the MAC in the Big Dance. Ohio (20-8) and Western Michigan (18-9) will need to win the tournament to get in.

Western Athletic Conference – Louisiana Tech (25-3) have a very good record. However, their strength of schedule is horrible. The Bulldogs are in the top 25 rankings, but this doesn’t mean anything for getting into the tournament. They have an outside shot of an At Large bid, but not a very good one.

So, if we look at this logically, here is what we have:

There are 7 Mid Major conferences that are capable of receiving multiple teams to the NCAA tournament. I see these Mid Majors taking a minimum of 1 At Large bid if Gonzaga, Wichita State or Creighton, Memphis, Belmont, Middle Tennessee, Akron and Louisiana Tech win their conference tournaments. The worst case scenario would be 7 At Large bids taken by Mid Majors if Gonzaga loses, neither Wichita State or Creighton win, and Memphis, Belmont, Middle Tennessee and Akron lose as well.

You do not need to worry about the following conferences during tournament week: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial Athletic Association, Horizon League, Ivy League, MAAC, MEAC, Northeast, Patriot League, Southern, Southland, SWAC and Summit League. Some of these teams have great records (Stephen F. Austin 23-3) but they simply don’t play tough enough competition to receive an At Large bid.

If you like to bet on college basketball, you can check live March Madness betting odds here.

While we’re on sports betting, let’s swing over to a method I zero in on. A lot of you will oppose this play, but at least look at my theory before putting a contract on my head.

A teaser is a bet that requires you to pick multiple winners, but are given extra points to sweeten the pot. I am going to give you teasers that are available in Las Vegas or the best online sportsbook, not the way your friendly local “book” allows you to bet.

We’ll start with a two-team 6-point teaser where you lay $60 to win $50. You must pick both winners, but have 6 points per game, to either deduct from the “lay,” if you bet the favorite or add to the “take,” if you bet the dog.

We’ll say the two games you decide to bet on are as follows:

1. Green Bay -10 vs. Washington
2. New England -4 at San Diego

We’ll say you like Green Bay and San Diego. With the Packers you can take 6 points off the amount they are favored by, making them minus 4. With San Diego, you can add 6 points to the 4 you are getting and now you are plus 10.

If you were to bet a ten-time teaser, you’d be risking $60 to win $50 and have Green Bay –4 and San Diego +10. Please notice that I took two games in different time zones, which makes this a powerful betting tool. This is for hedging reasons.

If you like Green Bay –10 then you gotta love those giving only 4. We’ll say you are a $200 per game player. Sunday comes and you plan to play $200 on Green Bay (1 p.m. Eastern Time).

Instead of laying $200 on the game, call your “man” and take a teaser on Green Bay and the 4 p.m. game between New England and San Diego for the same $200 ($220 lay instead of $210).

If Green Bay loses laying 4 points, you would have lost anyway laying 10 points. But suppose they do cover with or without those extra 6 points, you are alive for a $200 bet on San Diego, but instead of getting 4 points, you’re getting 10.

You check the paper and notice Minnesota is favored by 7 at the Giants in the 8 p.m. night game (ET). You love the Vikings. Here are options.

1. Sit with the teaser bet on San Diego getting +10 instead of +4
2. Go back and bet New England -4 for half the $200 teaser wager. You now have San Diego +10 and a $110 to $100 bet on New England –4. You have a middle of 6 points and can lose only $100, but if you catch a middle you in $300. You still win $100 if San Diego covers outright. Note: I’ve rounded out the wins and losses without the Vig.
3. Take the opposite of the open teaser (San Diego +10) and start a new teaser on New England (-4) +2, tied with Vikings (-7) -1 for $120 to win $100. You now have San Diego +10 and New England +2. You can catch middles all over the place.

I know, I know, I know your head is spinning. This is not just pen marks on a piece of paper. It is a logical simple use of money management at gambling.

Take a deep breath and advance.

Guaranteed To Be Alive

Las Vegas has cut down on the places that provide teasers. Your local “man” has dropped the 6 points to 5 and 4 and called a no decision on 6 or 5 to be a loss. Vegas gives you a push.

In a two-team 6-point teaser, if the decision falls on the number, Green Bay (-10) -4 and Green Bay wins 24-20, it is a push and there is no action. Read this sentence. If the decision falls on the teaser number, the teaser is a push and you do not lose, even if the other side loses!

Results: Green Bay (-10) -4 and final score is Green Bay 24-20 over Washington. But New England beats San Diego (+4) +10 by the score of 48-7. Your second team, San Diego gets creamed. It is a push, because a tie occurred on the other game.

If you bet over/unders, which I do regularly, the same rule applies for two-team 6-point teasers. You lay $60 to win $50. For example:

1. Green Bay 39 Washington
2. New England 37 San Diego

If you like the over, you get the Green Bay game over 33 (take off 6 points) and the New England game over 31.

If you like the unders in both games it’d be under 45 in the packer game and under 43 in the New England contest. A quickie example of what I would do:

1. Take Washington (+10) +16 and San Diego/New England (37) over 31
2. Also take the Green Bay/Washington game (39) over 33 and San Diego/New England (37) over 31

Notice you have Washington +16 and over 33 in two separate teasers. If Washington scores just 10 points, they now have 26 including the teaser take. Green Bay must score 27 to beat the cover.

Well, if they score 24 and beat the cover, the 24 Green Bay scored and the 10 Washington scored give you a cover on the over 33. So with just a TD and a field goal, Washington has guaranteed at least one teaser will make it to the second game over 31, where hedging can start all over.

Plus you can still win both front ends of that initial game. When I have a situation like this, as soon as Washington scores 10 points, I grab a pencil and start working out my options for Game 2, because I’m guaranteed to be alive on at least one teaser.

Use Parlays and Round Robins

I also use teasers to hedge off my second and third open bets for my parlays and round robins. Plus I use parlays and round robins to hedge off second and third open bets on my teasers. And you wonder why I rarely use a flat bet?

NOTE: This is a commercial, so if you don’t wanna listen (or is it read), just skip to the next message. I’ve written twelve books and the top two are “Advanced Craps” and “Sports Handicapping.” Read them! These are the two greatest books ever written on gambling!

I’m gonna list a couple of other available teasers but won’t give samples of them as there are so many offshoots and hedges it would take a book of its own. See above, it’s a pretty sharp way to get across my message on sports betting.

1. Two-team 6/2-point; the lay is $65 to $50
2. Two-team 7-point, the lay is $70 to $50 (a tie is a push)
3. Three-team 10-point, lay varies between even and 6-5 and a tie pushes
4. Three-team 7-point teaser pays 3-2 ($90-$60 etc.)

Number 4 is the one I use almost exclusively. The payoff and the amount of points, allows for a tremendous chance for middles, especially on over/unders, where totals usually range between 33 and 48.

Approximately 75 percent of NFL games end in this area (33-48), so you can see the possibility of middles. Don’t forget, I’m a grinder and accept small returns.

By the time you read this article, some of the available teasers, both lays and takes may have changed, but the ones listed are as close to the staples as you’ll see.

I’ve gone on and on about one of my favorite gambling outlets because there are millions of sports bettors and they have the right to hear my theories.

Now back to table-game betting.

There are other prominent horse racing events across the globe. One of them is the Cheltenham Festival over in the UK. Bookmakers have a variety of Cheltenham offers which will take place in mid-March. This is a four-day event for National Hunt racing. This is different than the track races (called flat racing) that are the most common in the United States. The national hunt is more like a steeplechase race on grass and with jumps. Check out the World Hurdle Betting – Cheltenham Festival 2013.

Here you will find some information to consider when wagering on horses:

1. At the beginning of each season do not excite, take it easy. The form can take some months, perhaps a couple, to sort it’s self out.
2. You don’t need to study every race, you will realize which race is the best to bet, so concentrate on them.
3. It’s important to view the horses. Watch the broadcast signal while the horses are in the paddock and in the Post Parade.
4. You can buy a tip sheet or handicapping aid. These are prepared by excellent handicappers and may provide useful wagering selections.
5. We also recommend to check on the draw in large fields, it can be the difference between your horse getting a run or not.
6. Bet on the favorite. Favorites win approximately one third of the time. The favorite is the horse with the lowest odds or the one on which the most money has been wagered.
7. If you have followed a handicap horse that is on a winning run, and it´s unplaced in a large field, in one of the major handicap races of the season, always back it on its next run, as once it returns to its usual grade, they often continue were they left off.
8. Try not to be influenced by reports or tips that speak about horses in the newspapers, unless they are proven successful. And remember; if they are so good at picking winners, why are they working for a paper? Do you think they have the time to study them all?
9. A good tip is not bet in amateur or apprentice races unless you are sure both of the horse and the jockey.
10. Try to avoid betting ante-post, unless you are sure your horse will run, and the price will have contracted on the day.
11. Finally, it´s important to re-check ground conditions on the day.

Some Handicapping Factors to Help you when Wagering:

1. Trip – For a bettor is important to watch his horse during the running of the race and again on the replays after the race and observe what kind of trip he had. Was the horse blocked at the quarter pole or carried wide on the turn or squeezed back at the start? The animal that loses a race because of a troubled trip could be a good bet in his next race. Usually trouble encountered by a horse in a race is shown in the past performance lines.
2. Medication – Lasix and Butazolidin are medications administered to racehorses. Butazolidin is an anti-inflammatory medication and Lasix, a diuretic, is used to control bleeding (certain horses bleed from a ruptured vein – or veins – in the nostrils, the pharynx or the lungs). Some handicappers pay attention about this believing that these medications might enhance that runner’s performance.
3. Breeding – Some horses are bred for speed, others are bred for grass racing and certain horses have inherited stamina from their sires and dams and are able to run long distances.
4. Pace – The pace of the race. A horse usually can’t have it both ways. He can’t run extremely fast early and still have enough left in reserve to run fast late in the race.
5. Changes in the horse equipment – Mud calks are used for off tracks. Calks, pointed extensions on a horse shoe are designed to prevent a horse from slipping. The Blinkers are used to limit the horse vision’s and to prevent them from swerving from objects or other animals.
6. Trainers and jockeys – Some jockeys seem to ride better on the front end, and others are better known for their come-from-behind style. A good idea is to check the standings, which show the leading trainers and jockeys at the meeting. Some trainers do well with 2-year-olds while others are particularly adept with horses shipping in from long distances.
7. Weight – It’s significant to take notice when the horse is carrying more weight than they did in their last start. It’s just as important to watch for horses that are carrying much less weight than they did in their last outing.

When it comes to baseball betting, there are a whole host of factors that you must take into play. The most popular bet in baseball is the “runline” bet. This would be refereed to as the puckline in hockey or the spread in football or basketball.

Basically, it is baseball’s version of saying that two teams aren’t equally matched and one team is favored over another by a certain number of runs. As an example, if the Detroit Tigers were playing the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers would most likely be favored by a couple of runs based upon certain situations.

Let’s say that Justin Verlander is pitching and the Tigers are at home. This will affect the runline. Then, you will have to take a look at who is pitching on the other side. How has he fared over the past 2 games? Over the past month? How often does Kansas City win on the road? How often do they lose by more than 3 runs?

These are all questions that you should be asking yourself if you are looking to place a bet on a game. Did a team have to use their closer in multiple games? Maybe that team won’t have the pitching left in the bullpen for a close game. Is the team as a whole on a hitting streak or a hitting slump? Most teams will get hot or cold in the middle of a season seemingly out of nowhere.

Baseball is a stats based game. The stats don’t always tell the truth, but they also don’t often lie over a 5, 10, 20 or 40 game stretch. The bad teams will win some games, but many times they will be outmatched. The good teams will lose some games that they should win, but many times the game won’t be close.

You don’t have to go all sabermetrics in order to place a bet. Just make sure you know enough information to make a well informed decision before you place your bet. Start with the runline bets. Don’t place bets on straight bets unless the odds are pretty even because a loss will end up costing you more if you bet on the favorites.

Sports Betting Tips

It’s always important to remember these sports betting tips when you are thinking about placing bets on sports games:

• Never bet more than you can afford. If you want to bet on sports, it is important to set aside a certain portion of your money for sports betting and to stick with that bankroll, win or lose. If you bet your whole bankroll on one game and lose, you will be more likely to try and chase your losses but if you spread your bankroll among several smaller bets, you are more likely to make a profit in the long run. In the cases when you win you can increase the amount of your bets.
• If you want to be prosperous in sports betting you need to operate with a clear mind, so if you had too much drink, our advice is not to bet. Also it is good for every bettor to read books and articles about sports betting. So find the best sports book Odds and betting Lines. Finding accurate odds is a very important factor in sports betting. If you want to win more it is good for you to study statistics, line moves, game analysis, team trends, situational trends and so on. In this way you will increase your winning percentage.
• It is also good to limit your selections and betting money. Playing too many selections is gambling against high odds. Look for value odds as much as likely winners. If you want to be in control, you must put back in your pocket some or most of your winnings.
• One of the most important aspect of sports betting is shopping for the best number. There will be more discrepancy in the numbers on different sports at different sports books, because these books change their numbers according to the sports betting patterns of their customers.
• Always check the Odds. All you have to do is a little research of the sports books you usually bet at. Most books have their payout odds listed in way that is easy for every bettor to find them.
• Another important thing is to bet at the right time. Never bet too early, just wait for the right moment. It is best to get your bet in as late as possible, where there is heavy action from squares on favorites.

Make sure that you are selective with your bets. Only place a bet when you feel that you have a good chance of winning. If you aren’t sure, don’t place the bet unless you have a rooting interest. If you aren’t trying to make money, than make sure you are having fun while doing it.

How many times have you been so caught up in the ball game, so enthralled by the fact that everything has been going your way – that you only wish had placed a bet on the game? Those are the games that hurt, the ones that got away, the winners you didn’t have any money riding on, even though you knew it was a sure thing.

Well, the solution to your problems lies in the world of online sports gambling. Online sportsbooks always add an extra bit of spice to your sports betting experience. There are literally hundreds of online sports gambling sites you can visit today.

With these online sports betting sites and sportsbooks you’ll be continuously updated on all of the lines for every major sporting event. Online sports gambling sites provide real-time information on a 24/7 basis, so that you can place your bets while taking into account all of the latest information.

Online sportsbooks provide you with the information you need to make logical and safe wagers. They provide the same stats the experts use to make the lines. You can find more about the odds at Superbowl360.com.

The next time you can’t make it to your favorite casino, or you simply feel like placing a bet on your favorite team, try visiting one of our preferred online sportsbooks. You´ll find it easier than you think, you’ll be able to review every aspect of the game from the privacy of your own home.

Follow your favorite sporting events

Following sports is one fun even without betting on them, but when you also do little sports betting they became even more interesting and fun. Thanks to the internet everyone who has an internet connection can now participate in the exciting world of online sports betting.

From this site you can find the latest spots betting news and information, as our writers bring you the latest information every single day. We bring you news from all the major sports, including European football (soccer), ice hockey, basketball, the American sports such as MLB & NFL, boxing and many more.

Also, you can find sport gossip, so you will always know which players might be missing the next game and know if there is something special going on in some team.

If you are looking for the best betting articles you have come to the right place. From this site you can find new sports betting articles every single week, the good thing for you as a bettor is that the writers of the articles have been doing betting for years – unlike the writers of some other articles you might find on the internet.

When it comes to online betting information this site is the number one. We bring you fresh and extensive reviews of the best online bookmakers. The reviews include all the important information such as what deposit methods the site accepts, how good promotions they have, have they had any payment issues and all the other important information. We will help to you find the best American bookmakers.

We also list of the best sports betting bonuses on this site. You are able to find out what is the best current betting bonus.
As if this wasn’t enough you will also be information any time there is a special high quality promotional offer waiting for you. Meaning that for an example if there is a nice free bet or nice reload bonus you will be among the first ones to be informed. Especially the free bet offers tend to offer great value for bettors.

One way people can participate in betting online is by using an online betting exchange. This is where a person bets on a game online against another person. Betting online with someone else offers a lot more convenience than going to the game itself and betting.

The betting exchange online handles all kinds of sports betting, and you can place your bets right then and there. With online betting, you have options. You can place your bet, or you can become a bookie. When you take the bookie role, other people can match the odds you post. Matching works in a similar way that the stock exchange operates where a buyer and seller get together to buy and sell. Betting online is when the bettors all meet online to match bets.

Remember that a betting exchange is a sort of forum where the bettors get together, match and make money from your winnings. If you want to make use of the forum so that you can place a bet and make cash, you have to choose a game or event, pick a price and place your bet like any other type of sports betting. Or, you can also be the bookie and just post your odds and wait to have other bettors match your bet.

Betting sports online is a highly growing trend, and it offers a world of convenience to have the ability to go online and make betting exchanges with others. It also adds to the excitement and thrill of the game, making the results much more fascinating if you win your bet.

With all things, betting online has its share of ups and downs. When you make betting transactions online using money, you must exercise extreme caution. Make sure you are using legitimate and safe websites to make transactions, and make sure you know how to spot a website that is just a scam for someone to try to take your money. Always make sure your financial information online is safe and secure.

If you like to take risks and are a lover of sports, you will surely enjoy sports betting online and the opportunity to make extra money from it. With a good bit of knowledge and learning the tips and tricks of the betting trade, you can eventually master betting online as well as exchange betting. There are many resources online that you can check out to learn all you need to know about sports betting and how to determine the odds of winning. This is always a fun and exciting way to make your online time more productive. The bottom line is that you always want to be sure you have more wins than you do losses.

If you’re ready to explore the world of online betting for yourself, why not get up to date on the latest news, gossip and tips at http://onlinebetting.com.au the place is a goldmine for betting info!

If you know your favorite sport inside and out, you can overcome “the juice”, beat the oddsmakers and fatten your wallet. Also, placing a sports bet makes the outcome of the game more meaningful and the game itself more enjoyable and thrilling.

The sportsbook and the oddsmaker

To place a sports bet, simply go to a sportsbook — a place that accepts sports bets. Pyramid SportsWager is an example of an online sportsbook. Many sportsbooks also accept bets by telephone. You may sometimes hear sportsbooks referred to as bookmakers or bookies. These terms are generally reserved for disreputable or illegal operations — the leg-breaker variety.

Note that a sportsbook is not the same as an oddsmaker. The sportsbook simply accepts sports bets. An oddsmaker is a person who sets the betting odds. Most major sportsbooks use odds set by Las Vegas oddsmakers. These oddsmakers typically work for major hotel sportsbooks.

Most online sportsbooks are located in the Caribbean and Europe.

Types of bets

You can place a number of different bets including straight bets, parlays, teasers and over/unders. Read on for details.

Straight bets and the point spread

Straight bets are the most common sports bets. When you place a straight bet, you simply pick the team that will win or lose the game. But of course you’ll also need to consider the point spread or moneyline.

The oddsmaker sets a point spread for football, basketball and hockey games. The point spread is the number of points that the favored team is expected to win by. For example, say the New York Knicks are favored to beat the LA Clippers by a point spread of 7.

That means that if you pick the Knicks to win, they have to win by more than 7 points for you to win your bet. If they win by fewer than 7 points or lose the game, you lose your bet. If they win by exactly 7 points (the point spread), the result is a push or tie. That means that you don’t win or lose, your original bet is refunded.

The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign and the underdog by a plus sign. For betting purposes, the result of the game is determined by taking the actual score and subtracting points from the favorite’s score or adding points to the underdog’s score. In our example, we could say that the Knicks are -7 or that the Clippers are +7. In other words, we subtract 7 points from the Knicks final score or add 7 to the Clippers score to determine the winner.

If the teams are evenly matched and there is no spread, the sportsbook will display PK or PICK, which means the spread is zero.
Sometimes the points spread is not an even number but a half point. For example, 5 ½. By setting the spread at a half point the oddsmakers ensure there will not be a push because a team can’t actually win a game by 5 ½ points.

So, a favorite can win the game but lose it for betting purposes and an underdog can lose the game but win it for betting purposes. If you wager on an underdog your selection can lose the game and you still can win if they do not lose by more than the point spread.

Straight bets pay $10 for every $11 wagered.

All selections must be played on scheduled date or there is no action on these selections. Make up games or games that have been rescheduled will have no action.

The moneyline

Baseball games and some other sports events are handled a little differently than football, basketball and hockey. Oddsmakers don’t set a point spread for baseball games, instead they set a moneyline. The moneyline gives the odds that one team will beat another.

There is a different moneyline total for either side on a money line bet, a negative side (the favorite) and a positive side (the underdog): Seattle -170 LA +150 What this means is that Dallas is the favorite and for every $17 you bet on Dallas, you win $10 if they win. For every $10 you bet on Washington, the underdog, you win $15 if they win. By offering different odds for each team the sportsbook is able to balance action on both teams.

For example, the Atlanta Braves may be favored over the Chicago Cubs by 150. In this example, the customer must lay $150 in order to win $100 if Atlanta wins the game, no pointspreads are involved. If Atlanta loses, the customer loses $150. However, the customer could bet on Chicago, in which case the customer would lay $100 in order to win $150 if Chicago wins the game. If Chicago loses, the customer only loses $100, because Chicago is the underdog.

Total or over/under bets

A total wager is a bet on the number of points scored in the game by both teams combined. You can bet on whether the actual number of total points scored is over or under the line posted. The total points scored includes points scored in overtime.

You can also bet whether the combined number of points or goals scored by the two teams in the game will be over or under the total set by the oddsmaker. For example, if the total is 32 and you believe that the combined points scored by the two teams will exceed that number, you would bet over 32.

This is really another form of straight bet and the payoff is also $10 for every $11 bet. Again, if the total is exactly on the line, it is a push or tie and your original bet is refunded.

Parlays

A parlay is a combined bet on two, three, four or more games. You have to win all of your picks to win your parlay. If one of your picks loses then your whole wager is lost.

If a game is a tie, postponed, incomplete, cancelled, or rescheduled for another date, your parlay is reduced to the next lowest level. That means that a three team parlay with a tie becomes a two team parlay, or a two team parlay with a tie becomes a straight bet that is calculated at $10 to win $9.

At many sportsbooks, ties are often considered losing bets, not pushes.

You know how you always save dessert for last because it usually is the part of the meal you look forward to? Well, I saved sports betting for last, because it is by far my favorite gambling outlet.

I like poker, blackjack, craps, etc., but I love online sports betting. Seems every game comes down to the buzzer, but the thrill of walking on that edge drives people like me to the sports windows. It doesn’t matter what the sport, as long as there is a game between two teams and the man puts a number on it – there will be action pouring in from every nook and cranny in the country.

Sports bettors are of a different ilk than casino players or poker players or horse players. And the amounts bet in sporting events make the so-called high roller in a casino look like a penny-ante gambler.

I’ll go over the betting techniques in the next part, but right now I’ll try to tell you why, what, when, and who to bet on. Of course, the suggestions on these pages are “for information only, and not to be used in violation of any county, state, or federal laws!”

I guess I sneaked that disclaimer in nicely.

Most people like to bet on football, especially the pros, and Las Vegas is a beehive of activity during the fall and winter months as all types of bets are available. Basketball is next on the popular list, then baseball, hockey, boxing, and golf.

My opinion is that it is easier to handicap sports in this order:

1. Major league baseball
2. College basketball
3. College football
4. Hockey over/under
5. NBA basketball
6. NFL football

The Easiest To Handicap

Baseball is the easiest to handicap. Since pitchers can dominate a game, and it is believed pitching is 70 percent to 80 percent of a team’s success, you start with the listed starter for each team.

In fact, when a line is put on a game, we’ll say Texas is playing at New York, the line at the online bookies will read something like:

New York (“Garcia”) 7-8 Texas (“Feldman”)

Here is the breakdown:

1. New York is the home team
2. “Freddy Garcia” is the starting pitcher
3. If you bet on New York (favorite is listed first), you lay $80 to win $50
4. If you bet on Seattle (underdog listed second), you bet $50 to win $70
5. Highest number is the lay, based on a $5 bet ($8 to $5 or $80 to $50, etc.)
6. Lowest number is for the dog and they get or take money ($5 for $7 or $50 for $70, etc.)
7. Underdog (Texas) is listed second with their pitcher, “Scott Feldman.”

Since the line is based on the starting pitcher and “John Smith” is a star, you’ll be forced to lay heavy money. But if a lesser pitcher were listed as starting for New York, you might see the line only 7 to 5 or 6 to 5. The starting pitchers get the most respect from the odds-makers and usually dictate which team you’ll bet. In baseball I look for:

1. The starting pitcher is on a hot roll
2. The team I take is over .500
3. The opposing pitcher is not a dominant star (I never bet against top pitchers)
4. The team I take is over .500 in the last seven games
5. I want the team I take to have strong closer
6. I never lay more than 8-5 on a flat bet, but will definitely put an 8-5 team in a round robin or parlay.

What it comes down to is betting power teams vs. lesser teams, leaning toward strong pitchers, yet staying with teams on a roll. In baseball betting, remember the term “round robins” – you’ll be seeing a lot on this.

Since baseball is the easiest to figure because of the power of pitching, college hoops at number 2 is in the same ballpark.
In the NBA you’ll rarely see big heavy dogs, where a team gets 20-25 points, regardless of who is playing. But in college hoops, a 25-30-point favorite is not uncommon.

That’s because power teams in college run up scores, sometimes at will. So it is not uncommon to see the number 1 teams in the polls give 27 points to a number 22-ranked team and win by 40.

Also, in college games you’ll see the home team, backed by 12,000 screaming students, have a giant edge over a visitor.

Don’t be afraid to lay the wood on college games. I look for top-ranked teams, on the road or at home, to beat up on lesser teams. Think favorite before dog.

Number 3 is college football. Again, home field is important. Unlike the NFL, college power teams like Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Ohio State are usually loaded and take no prisoners. I would never bet against these powerhouses but rather look for them to meet a patsy and I’ll lay the wood.

Peyton Manning to Denver

Peyton missed all of last year when it took 3 surgeries to repair his neck. Indianapolis suffered a 1-15 season which gave them the number 1 pick and a chance at the best college QB prospect since Elway. The chaos that ensued rocked the NFL as the Colts decided to give up and cut Peyton Manning from the team instead of owing him some $20 million in roster bonuses.

The man that delivered a Superbowl and made Indianapolis relevant was thrown away in favor of the newer model. The Colts selected Andrew Luck, who may find these first couple of years as difficult as Troy Aikman’s rookie season.

As for Peyton, there was a massive campaign to recruit him which the Denver Broncos ended up winning over teams like the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. However, there are still lingering questions whether he is 100% and whether he will be able to fit the ball into tight spaces without his normal velocity.

As far as his fantasy football value goes, I wouldn’t reach for him in the first 5 rounds. There are plenty of other good QBs that should have better years including Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton for starters. However, the new TE on Denver, Jacob Tamme, should be one of Manning’s favorite targets.

Tim Tebow to the Jets

Tim Tebow went from positive roll model and team player to starting QB, team leader and playoff winning QB in one season. The streak of luck that the Denver Broncos found was amazing. Kickers kicking 50+ yard game winning field goals and players going out of bounds to not keep the clock rolling; in short it was amazing.

Now Peyton took the job and Tebow got shipped out to the New York Jets. This has created a near deafening roar of clatter amongst the sports news agencies who are endlessly speculating on Tebow and Mark Sanchez for the starting job. Neither of them are really any great fantasy option until they prove that the offense can be more productive than last year. I say it is a whole lot of nothing about a team that may make the Playoffs as a Wild Card.

New Orleans Saints’ Bounty Scandal

The Saints were hit hard by Rodger Goodell for their purported involvement for putting bounties on certain players and winning cash if you injured the player from the game. They were previously warned to stop this behavior, but apparently didn’t listen. The defensive coordinator that was in charge of the scheme was suspended from the NFL indefinitely.

However, coach Sean Payton was also struck with a full year suspension. In addition to that, several players including Jon Vilma for part of or all of the 2012 season. Vilma has responded to the year long suspension by suing the NFL. There are current reports that states the suspension may be reduced if he drops his lawsuit.

In the middle of all that, New Orleans was seemingly jerking around Drew Brees after he had just broken the single season passing yards total and had already won a Superbowl. This situation seems to be resolved.

Fantasy wise it should still be another big year for the Saint’s offense, but their defense may take a big hit with all of the suspensions and a temporary head coach.

Off Season Arrests

The final big story of this off season was the proliferation of alcohol and violent crime related arrests for NFL players. The Detroit Lions had the ignominious roll of having by far the most after suffering through an entire year of lack of composure on the field.

However, there were players all over the league that participated in a lack of discipline which may draw the ire of more suspensions. For fantasy football players, you may want to keep that in mind when you take Marshawn Lynch or the Detroit Lions’ defense.

Other Player Movement

Here is a brief description of some of the notable moves in this past offseason:

Terrell Owens signed a 1 year deal with the Seattle Seahawks. He may be an interesting target for new QB Matt Flynn who came from Green Bay after riding his 500+ yard passing day against Detroit. Terrell will be competing with Braylon Edwards who has been floundering ever since he left the Jets.

Randy Moss is also in the same division, signing with the San Francisco 49ers. Any of these three receivers have potential upside if the teams can utilize them correctly and if they stay motivated. However, do not even use a middle round draft pick on any of them.

Brandon Jacobs now backs up Frank Gore in San Fran. It make may wonder if this will affect Gore’s value near the goal line. However, Gore is still one of the top backs in the league. Mario Manningham also went to the 49ers; he may be a better bet for this team than Randy Moss.

The Chicago Bears signed Matt Forte because he was the entire Bears offense after Jay Cutler went down. They chose to help lighten his load by signing Michael Bush from the Raiders. Interestingly, they did not improve their wide receivers enough in my opinion.

The Bengals signed the law office of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and don’t be surprised if he is the starting RB for this team after cutting Cedric Benson.

Don’t be surprised if Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Bucs have a bounce back year with Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams as WR, Dallas Clark at TE and LeGarrette Blount as RB. Now they just need to find a defense …

The Chargers have made a whole lot of moves in the off season; however I don’t think these moves make them any better. Philip Rivers needs to prove that he doesn’t throw interceptions and Antonio Gates needs to prove that he is healthy before I think this team has a chance of making the playoffs.

Peyton Hillis to the Chiefs, how the mighty have fallen. One year ago he was the toast of Cleveland. Then he forgot that being a hard working blue collared man was the reason the city loved him. Once he lost that, he had to go. Now he gets to back up Jamaal Charles and his hopefully healthy knee.

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