Articles by Cappers Picks related to Sports handicapping, and betting on live sporting events. Tips and advice from the best vegas expert handicappers.
With the NFL season just around the corner, this is good time to look at what might happen this fall on the gridiron. NFL Future Odds are out for each team.
A year ago in this column I looked at the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were projected for 9 wins, and wrote: “The Steelers had 10 wins in 2007 with the No. 1 ranked defense.
The BCS has made running up the score a smart move instead of an unsportsmanlike one.
The embattled system forces coaches to emphasize their dominance, because, like it or not, style points matter.
Those style points also can lead to a bad beat.
The WAC has two teams—Boise State and Nevada–capable of busting the BCS.
It also has a handful of teams capable of being complete busts (Hawaii, New Mexico State, Idaho).
Either way, there is money to be made on the WAC. The below power rankings will help.
Another year is upon us in the NFL and what do you know the New England Patriots are once again the favorite to take home the Lombardi trophy. Coach Belichek and Tom Brady seem motivated by the expectations and don’t be shocked if this team once again wins the AFC East.
Today Craig will break down the offense and defense and give you his predictions for the Patriots 2009 season.
NFL PRE-SEASON PRIMER
By Marc Lawrence • Playbook.com
With this year’s NFL Hall of Fame game now in the history book, let’s take the time to assess some of the key do’s and don’ts when it comes to handicapping pre-season football games.
When deciding where to place you’re hard earned cash in the sports betting arena most will tell you to find a solid underdog and back that puppy because they will lead to more cash in your portfolio in the long run? This seems to be a basic concept when playing football, basketball and especially baseball where the odds are certainly against you when playing favorites.
Conference USA Power Rankings (ATS records are from last three seasons.)
1. East Carolina Pirates
ATS: 23-17 (Home: 11-6. Away: 10-9)
Thing to remember: This is coach Skip Holtz’s best team, featuring 16 returning starters and plenty of all-conference talent on both sides of the ball.
NFL Power System:
Play ON a .550%+ favorite of 4+ points coming off a game where they were outscored in each quarter.
SU: 16-0 (20.5)
ATS: 16-0 (12.0)
EXPLANATION:
Even good teams lose a game here and there in NFL play; however, some losses are harder to swallow than others. When a good team gets thoroughly whipped, they like to do some whipping of their own the next time out.
The last time we heard from the Mountain West, Utah was dismantling Alabama as 14-point underdogs in the Sugar Bowl.
The upset capped the Utes’ second undefeated season in the last five years and gave the MWC ammunition to make its case to be included in the BCS.
The BCS pushed aside the Mountain West like it was the WAC.
Following the extremely suspenseful Open Championship at Turnberry, the PGA Tour crosses another border this week at is heads to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario for the RBC Canadian Open. This will be the 25th time this track has hosted this event but just the 3rd time since the redesign took place in 2001.
NFL Football Futures Betting – 2009 NFL PreSeason Analysis – Packers Football Gambling
You could excuse the Packers if they were a bit distracted last season, as fans throughout the country speculated as to whether Aaron Rodgers was going to self-destruct in taking the quarterback reins from Brett Favre.
NFL Football Futures Betting – 2009 NFL PreSeason Analysis – Lions Football Gambling
I’m not sure how much can really be said about the Detroit Lions’ 2008 season except that they lost every game and were near the bottom of the NFL in almost every meaningful category.
Ben Burns
Last week ‘s Bad Beats column either spawned the most intellectual conversation ever had in a Sports betting forum or the dumbest, depending how you look at it.
To quickly summarize, some of you believe there is no such thing as a bad beat. A loss is simply and ultimately a bad bet.
Bettors are starting to take some notice of the upcoming NCAA football season, with betting action picking up in the future book for the college kids.
There are no surprises at the top of the food chain heading into the 2009 season, with the Gators, Trojans, Sooners and Longhorns firmly entrenched as the favorites to win BCS National Championship.
Florida’s assumed dominance is going to make handicapping the SEC very difficult.
College Football Oddsmakers, fearing being pounded by public Gator action, will be forced to inflate lines. But it might not even matter.
With Superman Tim Tebow back at quarterback and all 11 starters back on defense, covering 30-point spreads might seem like child’s play to the defending champs.
NFL Football Futures Betting – 2009 NFL PreSeason Analysis – Chargers Football Gambling
The San Diego Chargers almost screwed themselves until the final month of the season, losing eight of their first 12 games. At that point they had to win the rest of their games and get some help from Denver, and that’s exactly what happened.
