College Basketball

VCU at Rhode Island College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/3/21

Akron at Toledo College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/2/21

UCF at Memphis College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/1/21

UNLV at Nevada College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/31/21

Minnesota at Purdue College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/30/21

Coastal Carolina at Georgia Southern College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/29/21

New Mexico vs. Fresno State College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/28/21

Utah State at UNLV College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/27/21

Stephen F. Austin vs. Abilene Christian College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/27/21

Wisconsin vs. Maryland College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/27/21

Newsletter

The numbers that books throw out are not by any means random, and I'd like to break down some of the components that I look at when <strong>betting a total</strong>.

<strong>The Parks</strong>

Most parks are notorious for being a hitters' park or a pitchers' park, and there aren't many in between. Here is a list of the top five "over" parks in my book, and they happen to correlate to exactly the number of home runs hit in each park this season. What is also true is that not only is it THIS season, but this list doesn't vary from year-to-year by much at all.

The most:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="319"><strong>Park</strong></td>
<td width="319"><strong>HR'S/Game</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Great American/Res</td>
<td width="319">54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Yankee Stadium/Yankees</td>
<td width="319">53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Minute Maid/Astros</td>
<td width="319">52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Miller Park/Brewers</td>
<td width="319">48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Coors Field/Rockies</td>
<td width="319">47</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

Granted, it's early in the season and the amount of games played can vary a fair bit, but in the end these parks will all be there, perhaps in a different order.

<strong>The Starters</strong>

Yes of course, but it is much more than the name of the pitcher and what he's done against the opposing lineup. There is the last few games and in particular the pitch count. If a pitcher doesn't typically throw many 100+ pitch games and all of a sudden has two in a row, that's a problem for betting an under, or on his team, really. There are also pitchers that are much more prone to giving up fly balls as opposed to inducing ground balls, and of course that matters. In Yankee Stadium a ball to RF is a home run whereas in Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City) it might be a routine out.

<strong>The Bullpen</strong>

And it is more than just looking at the closer and the setup man. Yes, we know the Yankees have Betances and Chapman for the 8th and 9th innings. But, if they've been used two or three games in a row, they may be unavailable. Another reason to look at fading the Yankees in that case, especially with a starter that might not pitch more than six innings. So, <a href="http://dailybaseballdata.com/cgi-bin/bullpen.pl?lookback=7"><strong>bullpen usage is key</strong></a>.

<strong>The Weather</strong>

Of course. We need to know which way the wind is blowing and how hard. Most know that. But, the temperature is as important, if not more so. The higher the temperature and humidity the more carry the ball has. Of course in Colorado there is the thin air, which also makes the ball carry. <a href="https://weather.weatherbug.com/life/gameday/"><strong>Checkout Stadium Weather here</strong></a>.

<strong>Recent Hitting</strong>

As I have said before, streaks are important. It is simple and takes but a minute to go on <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/batting"><strong>ESPN.com</strong></a> and sort hitting over "The Last 7 days", which I use all the time. It's an indicator as to what's happening right now, not last month or last year, which is typically what people remember about a team. You can also sort that same sheet by hitting with runners in scoring position, which is also key. Most games offer opportunities, and we need to know what teams are currently taking advantage of them. You don't have to be hitting .300 to score, just getting the timely hits will do it.

<strong>The Umpire</strong>

Whoever was at first base last night is going to be behind the plate tonight. Quite simple. And all umpires are not created equal. They all have their tendencies and many of them are pretty dramatic. Those numbers can also be sorted by NL or AL. And we can take that one step further. You may find an umpire that over the years had trended to the "over" but recently had a series of  "unders". Well, look at who has pitched and where. He could have called games with Kershaw and Sale, and in big parks. <a href="http://bangthebook.com/picks/umpires.php"><strong>Checkout the MLB Umpire Report Here</strong></a>!

And then of course there is the NUMBER. That matters, and that's for the next article.

Betting Baseball Totals Over/Under Strategies

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Bovada

<p>At 9:30 ET, the San Antonio Spurs (18-18) will look to snap their two-game losing streak as they travel to take on the Milwaukee Bucks (18-16) at Fiserv Forum. ESPN will broadcast this non-conference matchup.</p>

<p>On the moneyline, the Bucks (-206) are favored by 5.5 points over the Spurs (+174). The over/under line for this game is set at 222 points.</p><h3>SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -5.5</p><p>This game will be played at Fiserv Forum at 9:30 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 141-133 in favor of the Bucks.</li><li>Our projections have Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Bucks finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.7% and knocking down 17 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can San Antonio Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?</h3><p>San Antonio’s season record dropped to 18-18 after a 114-110 road loss to the Bulls on Monday. The Spurs were favored by 3 points but couldn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 224 points fell short of the 236.5-point over/under line.</p> <p>San Antonio led 95-82 going into the 4th quarter but managed only 15 points in the final period while allowing the Bulls to score 32. An 11-0 run by Chicago early in the 4th helped them close the gap from 79-63 to 79-74, setting the stage for their comeback.</p><p>Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 23 points and 14 rebounds in their 114-110 loss to the Bulls, hitting 4 threes at 36.4%. Chris Paul added 18 points and 9 assists, while Julian Champagnie chipped in 12 points, also knocking down 4 threes at 44.4%.</p> <p>San Antonio connected on 15 threes as a team, shooting 32.6% from deep and 46.3% overall. Wembanyama scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter, while Paul added 7 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters.</p><p>The Spurs started strong defensively, holding the Bulls to just 20 points in the 1st quarter, but they couldn’t maintain that momentum, giving up 30 points in the 2nd and 32 in both the 3rd and 4th quarters. Overall, they allowed 114 points on 43% shooting from the field.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, San Antonio gave up 13 threes on 33% shooting. The Bulls also went 13/15 from the free-throw line. The Spurs finished with 36 defensive rebounds but allowed 14 offensive boards. They also recorded 8 steals and 12 blocks.</p><h3>Does Milwaukee Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?</h3><p>The Bucks improved to 18-16 this season with a 128-104 win over the Raptors on Monday. Milwaukee, favored by 6 points, covered the spread with the win. The game’s total points of 232 just went over the pre-game line of 231.</p> <p>A 17-0 run by the Bucks turned the score from 13-11 to 30-11, setting the tone for the game. Milwaukee led 66-47 at halftime and 99-75 after three quarters. The teams played evenly in the 4th, each scoring 29 points.</p><p>The Bucks shot 57.3% from the field and hit 22 threes at a 50% clip in their win over the Raptors. Damian Lillard led the way with 25 points, knocking down 5 threes at 62.5% efficiency.</p> <p>Bobby Portis added 20 points, hitting 4 threes at 66.7%, while Gary Trent Jr. contributed 17 points. Lillard scored 15 points in the 3rd quarter, and Trent added 10 in the 2nd.</p><p>The Bucks' defense shined on Monday, holding the Raptors to 104 points. Milwaukee started strong, giving up just 19 points in the 1st quarter, and maintained their defensive effort throughout, allowing 28 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters and 29 in the 4th.</p> <p>Milwaukee limited Toronto's three-point shooting, allowing just 9 made threes on 25% shooting. The Raptors went to the line 21 times, hitting 13 free throws. The Bucks also recorded 7 steals and 8 blocks.</p>

San Antonio Spurs vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25

<p>The Cavaliers and Golden Bears are set to face off at 11:00 ET on ESPNU. The Golden Bears will host the game at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA. The over/under for this game is set at 131.5 points, and California is favored by -3.5 vs. Virginia in a Atlantic Coast conference matchup.</p><h3>VIRGINIA CAVALIERS VS CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Virginia Cavaliers +3.5</p><p>This game will be played at Haas Pavilion at 11:00 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE VIRGINIA CAVALIERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Golden Bears.</li><li>Even though we have California winning straight-up, we like Virginia at +3.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 131.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Does Virginia Stand a Chance on the Road?</h3><h3>Virginia Cavaliers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Virginia’s season record fell to 8-6 after a 70-50 loss to Louisville on Saturday. The Cavaliers were +5 point underdogs at home and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points (120) came in under the O/U line of 130.5.</p> 

<p>After trailing 32-27 at halftime, Virginia struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 23 points while allowing 38.</p><p>Virginia's offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 50 points on 37% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.7%, and they hit only 5 of 26 three-point attempts, shooting 19.2% from beyond the arc. They did connect on 53.6% of their two-point shots and went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.</p> <p>Andrew Rohde and Reyne Smith each scored 15 points, with Smith hitting 5 threes on 10 attempts. Aboubacar Traore also added 15 points, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and grabbing 8 rebounds. Virginia finished with 13 assists and 6 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><p>Virginia's defense held their opponent to 70 points on 37% shooting from the field. They were able to limit damage from beyond the arc, as the opposing team shot just 5/26 from three-point range, a 19% rate.</p> <p>Inside the arc, the opponent found more success, converting 53% of their two-point attempts (15/28). Virginia also sent them to the free-throw line 6 times, where they made 5 of those shots.</p><h3>Can the Golden Bears Lock in a Home Win?</h3><p>California fell to 7-7 on the season after an 80-68 road loss to Clemson on Saturday. The Golden Bears entered the game as +14.5 point underdogs but managed to keep things closer than expected.</p> <p>Cal trailed 39-36 at halftime but couldn’t keep pace in the 2nd half, scoring 32 points while allowing 41. The game’s total points of 148 narrowly missed the O/U line of 148.5.</p><p>In their latest game, the Golden Bears put up 68 points, shooting 45.6% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.9%. They hit 35.3% from three-point range, going 6-for-17, and connected on 50% of their two-point attempts, hitting 20-of-40. From the free-throw line, they shot 62.5%, making 10-of-16 attempts.</p> <p>Andrej Stojakovic led the way with 30 points, shooting 73.3% from the field. Ian Schieffelin added 21 points, hitting 80% of his shots, while Chase Hunter contributed 19 points and 6 assists. The team finished with just 6 assists and 9 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><p>California's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 80 points on 62% shooting. They allowed 31 made field goals on 50 attempts.</p> <p>Inside the arc, the Golden Bears gave up 23 two-point baskets on 32 attempts, a 71% shooting percentage. From three-point range, they allowed 8 made threes on 18 attempts, or 44% shooting.</p>

Virginia Cavaliers vs California Golden Bears NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25

<p>Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Avalanche versus the Blackhawks? The puck drops at 7:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on TNT. The game will be played at United Center in Chicago, IL. The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 in this Central division showdown. The game's over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.</p><h3>COLORADO AVALANCHE VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at United Center at 7:30 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS:</h3><ul><li>Despite being 1.5 goal underdogs, we predict the Blackhawks to come out on top with a final score of 4-3.</li><li>We like the Blackhawks on the moneyline (+214)</li><li>The Blackhawks are also our pick on the spread at +1.5</li></ul><h3>Can Colorado Lock in a Road Win?</h3><p>Following a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche now sit at 25-15-1 for the season. The Avalanche took the lead early in the second period, but the Predators responded with five unanswered goals. Going into the game, the total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.</p>

<p>As the underdog on the puck line, Colorado failed to cover. They scored first, with Cale Makar finding the net at 17:06 in the second period, but Nashville tied it up at 11:29 in the same period and took control from there.</p><p>In their 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche took 30 shots on goal but only managed to score twice. Cale Makar netted his 5th goal of the season on a power play, while Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal late in the third period.</p> <p>Makar and MacKinnon also picked up assists, with Makar now at 16 assists for the season and MacKinnon at 14. The Avalanche had 23 giveaways in the game.</p><p>Colorado's defense struggled late, giving up two goals in the final 1:14, both empty-netters. They also conceded the first goal of the game at 11:29 in the 2nd period and another at 5:15 in the 3rd. Justus Annunen made 21 saves with an 87.5% save percentage. The Avalanche's defense finished with 11 takeaways and 26 hits.</p><h3>Will Chicago Find a Way to Win at Home?</h3><p>Chicago improved to 13-25-2 with a 4-2 win over the Ducks. As underdogs on the puck line, the Blackhawks covered, and the total of 6 goals fell just short of the 6.5 line.</p> 

<p>Four different players scored for the Blackhawks, who held a 4-1 lead until the Ducks added a goal with just 4 seconds left. Isaak Phillips opened the scoring at 7:03 in the first period.</p><p>Chicago’s offense found the net four times in their 4-2 victory over the Ducks, with four different players scoring. Ryan Donato netted his 7th goal of the season, while Seth Jones added his 2nd. Teuvo Teravainen, who scored his 4th, and Isaak Phillips, with his 1st, also contributed.</p> <p>Connor Bedard picked up two assists, bringing his season total to 9. The Blackhawks fired 29 shots on goal and capitalized twice on power plays. They recorded 12 giveaways in the game.</p><p>Defensively, the Blackhawks will look to carry over their performance from the previous game, where they allowed just two goals to the Ducks. Arvid Söderblom recorded 38 saves with a 95% save percentage. The defense also had 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both goals they allowed came in the 3rd period, with the second coming with just 4 seconds left in the game.</p>

Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25

<p>The Aggies and Sooners are set to face off at 9:00 ET on SECN. The Sooners will host the game at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 147.5 points, and Oklahoma is favored by -1.5 to win at home against Texas A&M.</p><h3>TEXAS A&M AGGIES VS OKLAHOMA SOONERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Oklahoma Sooners -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Lloyd Noble Center at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, January 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-67 in favor of the Sooners.</li><li>Not only will Oklahoma pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will Texas A&M Shock Everyone at Lloyd Noble Center?</h3><p>The Aggies improved to 12-2 on the season with an 80-60 win over Texas on Saturday. Playing at home, Texas A&M entered the game as 6-point favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game ended at 140, just under the 142.5-point O/U line.</p> <p>After a 37-37 tie at halftime, Texas A&M dominated the second half, outscoring the Longhorns 43-23.</p><p>Texas A&M put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 47.4% from the field. Their two-point shooting was a standout, hitting 65.8% (25/38), but they struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 2 of 19 attempts for 10.5%.</p> <p>The Aggies were solid at the free-throw line, making 24 of 32 attempts (75%). Zhuric Phelps led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Pharrel Payne added 15 points, shooting 83.3% from the field.</p><p>Texas A&M's defense gave up 60 points in their last game, allowing the opponent to shoot 47% from the field. Despite that, the Aggies held them to just 2 made threes on 19 attempts, a 10% success rate from beyond the arc.</p> <p>Inside the arc, Texas A&M's opponent shot 65%, hitting 25 of 38 two-point attempts. The Aggies also sent them to the line 32 times, where they converted 24 free throws at a 75% clip. Texas A&M allowed 11 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Will the Sooners Find a Way to Win at Home?</h3><p>Oklahoma's perfect season came to an end on Saturday, as they fell to 13-1 after a 107-79 road loss to Alabama. The Sooners entered the game as +13.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 186 exceeded the pre-game over/under line of 166.5.</p> <p>Oklahoma found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 48-29 at halftime. Despite scoring 50 points in the 2nd half, they couldn’t slow down Alabama, who put up 59 points after the break.</p><p>Oklahoma's offense put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 47.8% from the field. They hit just 26.3% from three-point range, going 5-for-19, but were strong inside, connecting on 56.2% of their two-point attempts.</p> <p>Mark Sears led the way with 22 points and 10 assists, despite shooting 38.5% overall and 16.7% from deep. Jalon Moore added 20 points, hitting both of his three-point attempts and shooting 64.3% from the field.</p><p>Oklahoma's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 107 points on 50% shooting. Opponents hit 61% of their two-point attempts, going 29/47.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Oklahoma allowed 9 threes on 29 attempts (31%). They also sent their opponents to the line 30 times, where they converted 22 free throws (73%).</p>

Texas A&M Aggies vs Oklahoma Sooners NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/8/25