Newsletter

<p>We have reached Week 1 of the NFL season, and every team in the league is set to be in action this weekend. The return of the NFL means the return of good betting opportunities, and the focus in the season opener should be on the underdogs.</p>



<p>You don’t typically only want to focus on underdogs when betting on the NFL, but it’s a good thing to explore in Week 1. There are just so many unknowns about every team in the league that you can cash in by taking a team that comes out as a big surprise.</p>



<p>There are three underdogs that really stand out heading into Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, and here is a look at those games.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check out the full 2023/24 NFL season odds over on Bookmaker</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tennessee-titans-3-0-vs-new-orleans-saints">Tennessee Titans +3.0 vs. New Orleans Saints</h2>



<p>The Tennessee Titans visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, and this is a battle of two teams that have some questions. Both Tennessee and New Orleans are going to be good enough to win a division title this year, but they could also finish the year under the .500 mark.</p>



<p>The one reason to bet on Tennessee in Week 1 is for the simple fact that they have Derrick Henry running the football. Henry continues to be a nightmare for opposing defenses, and there is a good chance he will have a big game in this one.</p>



<p>New Orleans still has some question marks at the quarterback position, but they believe that Derek Carr can be the answer. This team is going to try to win games on defense, but at some point, they have to score.</p>



<p>This is going to be a low-scoring affair, and taking the points and backing the Titans is the best option in this game.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-san-francisco-49ers-vs-pittsburgh-steelers-2-5">San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers +2.5</h2>



<p>The San Francisco 49ers travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 1, and this is a battle of two historic franchises. San Francisco is a 2.5-point betting favorite, but Pittsburgh is never an easy place to play for opponents.</p>



<p>The Steelers come into this season with a ton of optimism, and they are going to be solid on both sides of the ball. San Francisco is going to go with Brock Purdy at quarterback to begin the year, and that’s going to create some issues.</p>



<p>You simply can’t ignore the fact that the Steelers are getting 2.5 points in this game, especially at home in Week 1. Bet on Pittsburgh to come up with a big win to begin the 2023 season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-miami-dolphins-3-0-vs-los-angeles-chargers">Miami Dolphins +3.0 vs. Los Angeles Chargers</h2>



<p>One of the best games of the entire weekend should take place in Los Angeles as the Chargers are set to host the Miami Dolphins. This will also be one of the most entertaining games, as these teams aren’t known for their defensive abilities.</p>



<p>Miami is hoping that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa is going to make a ton of difference this season, and that offense should be nearly impossible to stop. The Dolphins are going to be trying to hit on some big plays, and they are extremely aggressive when they have the ball.</p>



<p>The Los Angeles Chargers are going to be great on offense this season as well, and quarterback Justin Herbert can be a star. This team has to find a way to get stops on defense, though, as that has been a problem in recent years.</p>



<p>Since neither team in this game is dominant on defense, you are going to have a chance to bet on the underdog in this one. Take the three points as Miami will come away with a win to begin their season.</p>



<p><strong><a href="/s/bookmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bet on the NFL 2023/24 at Bookmaker!</a></strong></p>

Three Underdogs to Bet on in Week 1

BetDSI

Bookmaker

Bet US

BetOnline

Bovada

<p>Looking to win big? The Golden Flashes and Huskies face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Huskies are hosting the game at NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, IL. Kent State is favored by -12.5 in this Mid-American conference contest against Northern Illinois. The game's over/under currently sits at 136.5 points.</p><h3>KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Northern Illinois Huskies +12.5</p><p>This game will be played at NIU Convocation Center at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, January 7th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Huskies.</li><li>Not only will Northern Illinois pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +12.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 136.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Golden Flashes Secure A Victory as Road Favorites?</h3><h3>Kent State Golden Flashes Recent Game</h3> 

<p>Kent State’s season record dropped to 7-4 after a 75-67 home loss to Ball State on Saturday. The Golden Flashes were -10 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 142, surpassing the O/U line of 137.5.</p> 

<p>Kent State trailed 36-31 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, as they scored 36 points but allowed 39.</p><p>In their last game, Kent State struggled offensively, shooting just 35.8% from the field and 26.5% from beyond the arc, finishing with an effective field goal percentage of 41.8%. They managed to score 67 points, with VonCameron Davis leading the way with 20 points, despite shooting 7/19 overall.</p> <p>Jermahri Hill contributed 18 points and 6 assists, hitting 2/4 from three-point range. Mickey Pearson Jr. was efficient, shooting 4/6 overall and 2/3 from deep, adding 9 rebounds and 14 points. Jamal Sumlin also made an impact, shooting 5/7 from the field and 2/3 from three, finishing with 12 points in 20 minutes.</p><p>Even though Kent State gave up 75 points, they held their opponent to just 35% shooting from the field, including 26% from beyond the arc, where they hit 9 of 34 attempts. Inside the arc, Kent State allowed 45% shooting, with their opponent making 15 of 33 two-point shots.</p> <p>From the free-throw line, Kent State's opponent went 10 for 13, hitting 76% of their attempts. Kent State also gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Do the Huskies Have What it Takes to Win as Home Underdogs?</h3><p>Northern Illinois fell to 1-9 on the season after a 75-71 loss to Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Huskies were +6.5 point underdogs going into the game, and while they didn’t get the win, they did cover the spread.</p> <p>NIU led 37-33 at halftime but were outscored 42-34 in the second half. The game’s total points ended just under the O/U line of 146.5.</p><p>In their latest game, Northern Illinois put up 71 points, shooting 39.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 49.1%, thanks in part to hitting 43.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 23 attempts. They were also efficient at the free-throw line, making 19 of 21 for a 90.5% success rate.</p> <p>Da'Sean Nelson led the way with 32 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field. Jalin Billingsley and James Dent Jr. each added 15 points, with Billingsley hitting 71.4% of his shots. Ethan Butler was also efficient, shooting 75% and contributing 14 points. Christian Henry dished out 9 assists to go along with 13 points.</p><p>Even with Northern Illinois giving up 75 points, their defense did a solid job from beyond the arc, holding their opponent to just 5 made threes on 23 attempts, a 21% shooting performance.</p> <p>However, the Huskies struggled to contain the inside game, allowing 59% shooting on two-point attempts, with their opponent hitting 22 of 37 shots. Northern Illinois also sent them to the line 22 times, where they converted 16 free throws.</p>

Kent State Golden Flashes vs Northern Illinois Huskies NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

<p>The three Triple Crown horse races are now over, but there will still be some great action on the track for the rest of the year. This weekend provides some great horse racing action, and there will be a big race set to take place at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.</p>



<p>It’s time for the Stephen Foster Stakes, and this Grade 1 horse race comes with a $1 million purse that will get everyone excited. This is a race that is circled on the calendar for many owners, and there is a loaded field of horses ready to run this weekend.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here is a look at some of the <a href="https://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">betting</a> odds for this race, and where you should be looking to wager. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Clear Favorite</h2>



<p>When looking at the odds to win this big race, there is one horse that stands out right away when looking at the betting odds. That horse is First Mission, and it is coming into this event with odds set at +175 to win the race outright.&nbsp;</p>



<p>First Mission has been dominant over the past 16 months and it has either won every single start, or at least been on the podium. That does put a huge target on the back of First Mission, and it will give all of the other jockeys a horse to chase down.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Disarm has some great odds to win this race as well, as those betting odds are currently sitting at +375. That is another horse that has had a ton of success up to this point, and it has performed well in bigger races this year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Skippylongstocking has been a horse to watch all season long as well, and it comes into the Stephen Foster Stakes at +425 to get the win. Not only does this horse have a name to remember, but it has also put together some great performances this year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Kingsbarns and Dreamlike are two others that you could consider to be top contenders, but there is a gap in the odds. The odds for Kingsbarns are set at +600, while Dreamlike currently has betting odds at +850 to win this race. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><a href="https://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your PROMO code for BetOnline here</a></h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Others in the Field</h2>



<p>There will be nine total horses in this field, but the other four horses don’t have a good shot at coming away with a win. Here is a look at the four other horses that will be lining up to race this weekend:</p>



<ul>
<li>Pyreness +1200</li>



<li>Steal Sunshine +2000</li>



<li>Classic Causeway +2800</li>



<li>Happy American +10000</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Pick is In</h2>



<p>If you are going to make a bet on the Stephen Foster Stakes then you are going to want to look a bit deeper into the <a href="https://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline">betting</a> odds. There is a reason that First Mission has the best odds to win this race, but there are so many other good choices to consider as well. </p>



<p>Skippylongstocking should be a horse that you want to consider, but it will actually be Disarm that is able to win this event. Go with Disarm to win the Stephen Foster Stakes as that will be the horse that comes away with a big win.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><a href="https://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grab your SportsBook Bonus with BetOnline here</a></h2>

Stephen Foster Stakes Betting Preview

The 2017 Major League Baseball season kicks off on Sunday and we’ll tackle it with daily articles, much like we’re doing with the NBA totals. While we have four different NBA methods for totals, and then run those through a Points Per Possession routine if they all agree, we’ll use one basic math-based system for baseball. It’s one that I wrote a few years back and is based on one Jim Jasper created and featured in his book, “Sports Betting: A Computer Expert’s Winning Secrets For Baseball and Football.”

The premise of the system is rather simple. You take each team’s scoring average and compare it to their league average to come up with a percentage. If the average number of runs scored by National League teams is 4.2 and the Pirates are scoring 4.0 runs per game, you have 4.0 divided by 4.2, which equals .952. If the Cubs are averaging 4.5 runs per game, you have 4.5 divided by 4.2, which equals 1.071. Those will be the offense numbers.

Defense, obviously, is going to change depending on who the pitcher is. ERA has proven to be a somewhat questionable statistic, so we’ll simply use the average number of runs allowed each time a particular pitcher takes the mound. Using the Mets’ Seth Lugo as an example, he had an ERA of 2.67, but he allowed an average of 4.25 runs per start. That includes the bullpen and unearned runs. Using our numbers above, we’d expect the Pirates to score 4.05 runs against the Mets with Lugo starting, which is .952 times 4.25 equals 4.05. The Cubs would be expected to score 4.55 runs, which makes sense, as they are averaging a half-run per game more than the Pirates.

Then the run difference is turned into a moneyline price by dividing the difference by .5 and then making an addition for home field.

One surprising aspect was that the American League is really no longer a much higher-scoring league than the National League. In 2016, the average number of runs scored by NL teams was 4.43, while the AL wasn’t much more at 4.51 runs per game. In 2013 for example, AL teams scored 4.32 runs per game compared to 4.0 for NL teams.

We’ll begin with last year’s stats, which are always a bit tricky, and work current stats into the equation and also account for the scoring difference teams have with right-handed starters compared to left-handed starters. Once we have some games under our belt, we can tinker around with park adjustments for totals and other things.

It should definitely be fun.

A Suggested MLB Betting System

Major League Baseball (MLB) might not be the most popular sport in the world to wager on, but it still presents a really good betting option. MLB betting comes in many different forms, and this is a season that presents plenty of betting opportunities as well.

Major League Baseball was founded all the way back in 1876, but the league has obviously gone through some major changes since that time. Most of the major rules are still in place, but the way that the game is played is now much different.

There are currently 30 teams in MLB, and every team plays 162 games during the regular season. MLB games typically start at the end of March, or early April, and the World Series wraps up during the first week of November.

MLB teams are split up into leagues and divisions, but there is now more crossover games than ever before. The American League and National League now operate under the same basic rules, and that keeps things similar regardless of what league you are looking at.

Knowing the best MLB betting sites &amp; sportsbooks is also important if you plan to bet on MLB, and this article will explore that as well. By the time you are done reading this article, you should be ready to bet on baseball.
<h2 id="h-where-to-bet-on-major-league-baseball" class="wp-block-heading">WHERE TO BET ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL</h2>
Here is a look at some of the best MLB sportsbooks that are out there in the industry:

Best MLB Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Yankees Betting Pick & Prediction 10/30/24

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Yankees Betting Pick & Prediction 10/28/24

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/26/24

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/25/24

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/27/24

New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/20/24

New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians Betting Pick & Prediction 10/19/24

New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians Betting Pick & Prediction 10/18/24

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets Betting Pick & Prediction 10/18/24

<p>Saratoga will be the site of a major horse race this weekend as it’s time for the annual Alabama Stakes. This is a race that has always seemed to attract some of the top horses, and the field is loaded with top competitors again this year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There will be eight three-year old fillies set to take to the track for the Alabama 2024, and there are some extremely tight odds for this event. A couple of horses appear to stand out above the rest of the pack, but there could be some underdogs that make a big run as well.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here is a look at the current betting odds to win the Alabama Stakes and a bet on which horse gets it done.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pletcher Has Two Options</h2>



<p>When looking at the betting odds to win the Alabama, there are two horses trained by Todd Pletcher that are near the top of the list. One of his horses has now emerged as a clear favorite, but the other horse isn’t too far behind.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Candied has been the favorite since the field was announced, and nothing has changed as that horse now has odds sitting at +250 to come away with the win. While the odds for Candied have improved since the draw, the other horse that was trained by Pletcher has seen the odds fall a bit.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Miss Justify now has <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/">betting</a> odds set at +450 to win the Alabama, and that horse was once neck-and-neck with Candied. Those are still going to be the top two horses to watch, even though some other contenders have seen their odds improve. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Register for a new account with BookMaker here</a></h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Others in the Field</h2>



<p>There are six other horses set to run in the race, and those odds are a bit all over the place. Some have seen their betting odds improve over the last few days, while others have always been a bit of a longshot.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Power Squeeze (+400) and Just Basking (+500) are the two horses that have seen their odds improve the most, and they will now look to challenge Candied in this race. Out of that group of horses, it’s actually Just Basking that is the horse that you want to keep an eye on.</p>



<p>Chatalas and Intricate are the other two horses that could end up making a move and they have odds sitting at +800 to come up with the win. America’s Vow and Neon Icon are the other horses in this event, and their odds are currently at +1200 to come up with the win.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Picking a Winner</h2>



<p>It has been a wild and thrilling year so far in the horse racing industry, and this is a race that has historically delivered some great results. <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/">Betting</a> odds have been moving a ton ahead of this event, but the clear favorite has remained. </p>



<p>While there are some horses in this field that can push Candied down the final stretch, there is a clear favorite for a reason. Taking the betting odds and betting on Candied to get the win is going to be the best option to explore.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/">Get your bets in at </a><a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BookMaker</a><a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/s/bookmaker/"> today</a></h2>

Alabama Stakes Betting Preview

The National Football League (NFL) is easily the most popular sport in the United States, especially when it comes to betting. NFL betting puts up the biggest numbers every single year, and bettors are always looking for new betting options.

The NFL was founded all the way back in 1920 in Canton, Ohio, and that is where the Hall of Fame is located to this day. There were only a handful of teams in the league when it first started, but it didn’t take long for the league to grow.

There are now 32 teams in the NFL, and the league is broken up into two conferences and eight total divisions. Since the league just continues to be more and more popular, the league has added an extra regular season game for each team to play in.

NFL teams now play 17 total regular season games, and then the top seven teams in each conference advance to the postseason. The NFL regular season begins in September, and the Super Bowl is now played during the month of February.

When it comes to the NFL, the Super Bowl is the event that draws the most betting attention. This league isn’t going away anytime soon, and it’s actually started to become more of an international competition.

This article will not only cover the best NFL betting sites &amp; sportsbooks, but will also provide some tips on how to bet on the NFL.
<h3>Where to bet on NFL</h3>
Knowing where to find the best NFL sportsbooks is a big key if you want to have some success when wagering on this sport. Here are six of the best NFL sportsbooks to use, and all of them are going to be a little bit different.

&nbsp;

Best NFL Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Pick & Prediction 1/13/25

Washington Commanders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Pick & Prediction 1/12/25

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 1/12/25

Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills Betting Pick & Prediction 1/12/25

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25

Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25

Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

Nobody has ever really studied the number of bettors who make their own selections on a daily basis, although I’d venture it’s a relatively small number. Many bettors will follow the selections of a <a href="http://bangthebook.com/touts-thoughts-buying-sports-picks/"><strong>sports service or public handicapper</strong></a> or at the very least, see which teams they like and occasionally tag along depending on how the handicapper is doing and if they happen to agree with their picks. And there’s nobody bettors like to follow more than a “hot handicapper.”

The question of “who’s hot” is one that gets almost daily in most betting forums and many bettors will tag along with somebody who has gone on a 12-2 run. What ends up happening more often than not, however, is that bettors piggyback somebody who is about to cool off and fall victim to the law of averages. Nobody is going to hit 80% over an extended period of time in any sport.

Likewise, many bettors will jump off of somebody who has hit a slump. Again, what often happens here is you stop following them just as they are about to turn things around. Making matters worse is that they’ll jump from the guy who is “cold” and move to the “hot” handicapper just as the two are about to see a form reversal.

This is frequently referred to as “handicapper shopping” and frequently leads to trouble for a bettor. It’s one of the primary reasons why the majority of bettors are going to end up in the hole at the end of the year. Professional touts are quick to boast when they’ve been on a winning run, knowing they’ll likely attract some new customers because of that fact. But if you’ve ever jumped on the “hot” handicapper you probably already know they were unable to maintain their winning ratio over any stretch of time.

All handicappers, good or bad, are going to have periods of doing well and periods where things don’t go right. Just as the worst handicappers around are going to have some winning streaks, the best handicappers will also have some slumps. It simply can’t be avoided.

If you find somebody who has proven himself to be competent over a stretch of time, stick with them. Sure, you’re going to have some losing streaks, but those will most likely be followed by winning stretches, where you can recover previous losses and get in the black.

The Fallacy of the Hot Handicapper

<p>Don't miss out on the NHL showdown between the Hurricanes and Lightning. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on FDSS, and it's hosted by the Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. Get ready to place your bets! The Hurricanes come into this Eastern conference matchup as the -1.5 goal favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 6 goals.</p><h3>CAROLINA HURRICANES VS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Amalie Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, January 7th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:</h3><ul><li>The Hurricanes enter this game as 1.5-goal favorites and in our projections and we anticipate them winning by a score of 4-3.</li><li>Take the Hurricanes on the moneyline</li><li>On the puck line, we like Lightning (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Can the Hurricanes Offense Score Enough in Tampa?</h3><p>Carolina improved to 24-14-2 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total of 6 goals matching the pre-game line.</p> 

<p>The Hurricanes took an early lead, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. Carolina tied it up in the second and added two more, including an empty-netter, to secure the victory.</p><p>Carolina fired 45 shots on goal, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice on his 3 shots. Orlov now has 3 goals this season. Martin Necas added his 6th goal and picked up two assists, bringing his assist total to 12. Andrei Svechnikov also netted his 6th goal, which came on an empty net with 9 seconds left in the game.</p> <p>After a scoreless first period, the Hurricanes got on the board with Necas’ goal at 17:31 in the second. Orlov followed with his second goal of the game at 14:34 in the same period. Carolina’s offense had 14 giveaways.</p><p>Defensively, the Hurricanes will look to carry their momentum from the previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals on 21 shots from the Capitals. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves, finishing with a 90.5% save percentage. Carolina's defense also contributed 7 takeaways, 10 hits, and 11 blocks. After giving up two late goals in the first period, they kept Washington off the scoreboard in the second and third.</p><h3>Does Tampa Bay Stand a Chance at Home?</h3><p>The Lightning fell to 20-15-2 with a 7-4 loss to the Jets. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled in the third period, allowing four goals, including two empty-netters. The total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.</p> <p>Tampa Bay led 2-0 early, but the Jets tied it up and eventually took control. The Lightning were underdogs on the puck line, and their four different goal scorers couldn’t keep pace with Winnipeg’s offense.</p><p>In their 7-4 loss to the Jets, the Lightning’s offense started with Brandon Hagel’s 7th goal of the season. Brayden Point followed with his 8th, scoring on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th, unassisted in the 3rd period.</p> <p>Tampa Bay took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. The Lightning had 4 assists, with Jake Guentzel picking up his 8th of the season.</p><p>Defensively, Tampa Bay struggled late, giving up two empty-net goals and a total of four in the third period. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage. The Lightning's defense finished with 16 hits and 6 takeaways.</p>

Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

College basketball is one of the most popular sports to wager on, especially during one particular month of the year. College basketball betting presents many great opportunities to wager, and bettors tend to do pretty well when wagering on the sport.

There are a handful of different levels when it comes to college basketball, but it is Division 1 that tends to get all of the focus. The NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament takes place during the month of March, and that is one event that always attracts plenty of wagers.

College basketball starts to get things going in November each year, and then a champion is crowned in April. Teams compete in nonconference games to begin the year, but the best time to bet is during conference action later in the year.

Knowing how to bet college basketball is extremely important, and this article will help you out with that. You are also going to find some of the best college basketball betting sites &amp; sportsbooks in the industry, and that is where you will want to do your betting.
<h2 id="h-best-college-basketball-sportsbooks" class="wp-block-heading">BEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL SPORTSBOOKS</h2>
Before you even start to look for college basketball betting odds, you have to know where to go. There are some terrific college basketball sportsbooks out there, and those are who you should trust when doing your betting.

Here are some of the best college basketball sportsbooks that you should be using.

Best College Basketball Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

College Basketball

North Carolina Central Eagles vs Morgan State Bears NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

St. John's Red Storm vs Xavier Musketeers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

UNLV Runnin' Rebels vs Boise State Broncos NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Fresno State Bulldogs vs Colorado State Rams NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs UTSA Roadrunners NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Tulane Green Wave vs UAB Blazers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Arizona Wildcats vs West Virginia Mountaineers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Utah Runnin' Utes vs Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Kansas State Wildcats vs Oklahoma State Cowboys NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs BYU Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/7/25

<p>There is another Fight Night coming to the UFC, and this time the action will be coming to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. You aren’t going to find some of the best bouts of the year in St. Louis, but there will still be plenty of great action to check out.&nbsp;</p>



<p>12 different fights are going to be taking place this weekend, and some of the odds for fights are extremely close. Betting on the UFC is always a great option, but there are some fights in which you should ignore as well.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here is a quick betting preview for the upcoming UFC Fight Night, and the odds that you should be focusing on.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-look-at-the-main-event">A Look at the Main Event</h2>



<p>The main event in St. Louis is going to feature a pair of great fighters as Rodrigo Nascimento will be taking on Derrick Lewis. This is going to be a matchup of heavyweight fighters, and both fighters are trying to work their way up the rankings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There aren’t as many heavyweight fighters in the UFC as some of the other weight classes, and that allows fighters to get into title fights much quicker. Not only is this going to be a matchup that allows each fighter to move up in the rankings, but it comes with great betting odds as well.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Derrick Lewis is the favorite at -155 to win the fight this weekend, and that is where you should be focused. Rodrigo Nascimento will put up a good fight, but this is a fight in which you will want to take the favorite.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-menifield-looking-to-upset-ulberg">Menifield Looking to Upset Ulberg</h2>



<p>There are some other great fights on the main card to check out, including a battle between Carlos Ulberg and Alonzo Menifield. These are two light heavyweights that will be looking for a big win, and each fighter has been winning some big fights this year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The odds for this fight favor Ulberg in a big way, but you should expect to see some great action in the Octagon in this one. There are going to be some big upsets that take place on Saturday night in St. Louis, and this is going to be a chance to cash in on an upset.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Look for Menifield to keep things close in this bout, and that should allow him to come up with some big points later on in the match. This will be one of the biggest scores of the night as the +225 odds for Menifield comes with great value.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caceres-woodson-in-big-battle">Caceres-Woodson in Big Battle</h2>



<p>Featherweights are going to meet up on Saturday night in St. Louis as Alex Caceres will be taking on Sean Woodson in what should be a great fight. Woodson is going to be fighting close to home in this fight, and he will definitely have overwhelming crowd support in this bout.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Woodson is also the betting favorite in this fight at -195, and <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/ufc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UFC</a> has given him a favorable matchup on Saturday night. Alex Caceres has had a ton of success ahead of this fight, but that momentum is going to end at some point. </p>



<p>If you are going to be betting on this fight then you will want to take Sean Woodson at -195.&nbsp;</p>

UFC Fight Night Preview

<p>Planning on watching today's Beavers and Cougars game? Catch the action at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, HI, as the Cougars hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN2. Oregon State comes into this non-conference matchup as the -5.5 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 140.5 points.</p><h3>OREGON STATE BEAVERS VS CHARLESTON COUGARS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Charleston Cougars +5.5</p><p>This game will be played at Stan Sheriff Center at 3:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHARLESTON COUGARS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Cougars.</li><li>Not only will Charleston pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Will Oregon State Shock Everyone at Stan Sheriff Center?</h3><p>Oregon State improved to 7-2 on the season with an 82-45 win over Sacramento State on Tuesday. The Beavers were heavy favorites at -20.5 and covered the spread, but the game’s total points of 127 fell short of the O/U line of 132.5.</p> <p>After leading 30-20 at halftime, Oregon State’s offense exploded for 52 points in the 2nd half while holding the Hornets to just 25 points.</p><p>Oregon State put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 53.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 63%. They connected on 67.9% of their two-point attempts (19/28) and hit 38.5% from beyond the arc (10/26). At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, making 14 of 16 attempts for 87.5%.</p> <p>Michael Rataj led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 66.7% overall (8/12), though he struggled from three, hitting just 1 of 4 attempts. Liutauras Lelevicius added 12 points, shooting 57.1% from the field and 50% from three (2/4). The Beavers also recorded 16 assists and 6 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><p>Despite Oregon State's defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 45 points. The Beavers allowed 53% shooting from the field, with their opponent hitting 29 of 54 shots.</p> <p>Oregon State's defense gave up 67% shooting from two-point range, with their opponent making 19 of 28 attempts. From beyond the arc, their opponent shot 38%, connecting on 10 of 26 three-pointers. The Beavers also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 14 free throws, shooting 87%.</p><h3>Can the Cougars Secure a Win at Home?</h3><h3>Charleston Cougars Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Cougars improved to 7-2 on the season with a 77-67 win over Wofford on Monday. Playing at home, Charleston entered the game as -6.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.</p> 

<p>After a 34-34 tie at halftime, Charleston stepped up in the second half, outscoring Wofford 43-33. The game’s total points of 144 fell just short of the 149-point O/U line.</p><p>Charleston put up 77 points in their last game, shooting 45.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.9%. They hit 50% of their threes, going 12-for-24, and were 84.6% from the free-throw line. Ante Brzovic led the way with 21 points, shooting 69.2% overall and 50% from deep.</p> <p>Deywilk Tavarez added 17 points, connecting on 4-of-6 from three. Luke Flynn also impressed from beyond the arc, hitting 3-of-4 threes. The Cougars finished with 19 assists, with Brzovic dishing out 6, and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds.</p><p>Charleston's defense gave up 67 points, with their opponent shooting 45% from the field, hitting 27 of 59 shots. Inside the arc, they allowed 15 of 35 for 42% shooting.</p> <p>From three-point range, Charleston's opponent connected on 12 of 24 attempts, shooting 50%. They also went 11 of 13 from the free-throw line, an 84% rate. Charleston gave up 8 offensive rebounds.</p>

Oregon State Beavers vs Charleston Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/22/24

<p>FOX will broadcast the NFC wild card round matchup between the Eagles and Packers at 4:30 ET. The Eagles are favored at -237 on the money line and -5 on the point spread. The game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with the Packers at +199 on the money line. The over/under line is set at 46 points.</p><h3>GREEN BAY PACKERS VS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Green Bay Packers +5</p><p>This game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field at 4:30 ET on Sunday, January 12th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE GREEN BAY PACKERS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Eagles winning this one by a score of 24 to 22</li><li>Even though we like the Eagles to win, our ATS pick is to take the Packers at +5</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 46 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Packers Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs</h3><p>After finishing the regular season with an 11-6 record, the Packers head into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak, including a 34-29 loss to the Eagles in week 1. Green Bay was unable to cover the 1.5-point spread, and the 63 total points in the game went over the 49.5-point line. Before that, the Packers lost to the Bears in week 18 and the Vikings in week 17, but they had won two straight prior to that, including a 34-0 victory over the Saints in week 16.</p> <p>Heading into the playoffs, the Packers are 8-8-1 against the spread, with an average scoring margin of +7.2 points per game. They are 6-6 ATS as favorites and 2-2-1 as underdogs. Their O/U record is also 8-8-1, with the over hitting in their last two games.</p><p>Heading into the Wild Card round, the Packers rank 10th in our offensive power rankings. They are 8th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 27.1 points per game, and 5th in total yards, with 370.5 per game. Green Bay has relied heavily on the run game, ranking 5th in both rushing attempts (30.9 per game) and rushing yards (146.8 per game). Despite being 26th in passing attempts, they are 12th in passing yards, averaging 223.6 per game. The Packers have been strong early in games, ranking 3rd in the league in 1st-quarter scoring.</p> <p>Green Bay has struggled in the red zone, converting just 8.7% of their opportunities, which ranks 27th in the NFL, despite being 3rd in attempts. They are 14th in 3rd-down conversions, with a rate of 39.5%. Jordan Love is questionable for the Wild Card round with an elbow injury. He threw for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. In his absence, Malik Willis has played well, posting a passer rating of 126 in week 2 and 120 in week 3, with 202 passing yards in the latter.</p><p>In their 24-22 loss to the Bears, the Packers' defense allowed just 141 passing yards on 21 completions. Chicago managed to score one passing touchdown, while Green Bay picked off one pass. The Packers held the Bears to 83 rushing yards on 26 attempts, with Chicago averaging only 3.2 yards per attempt on the ground. On third downs, the Bears converted 50% of their chances.<p></p>Despite giving up only 224 total yards, the Packers' offense struggled to move the ball effectively. This was partially due to the Bears' time of possession advantage, as they held the ball for 33:55 compared to Green Bay's 26:05. The Packers' defense also recorded one sack and won the tackles for loss battle.</p><h3>Are The Eagles Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?</h3><p>With a 14-3 record, the Eagles finished the regular season on a two-game winning streak, which included a 20-13 win over the Giants in week 18 and a dominant 41-7 victory over the Cowboys in week 17. Philadelphia entered week 18 as 3-point favorites and covered the spread, improving their ATS record to 11-6. Against the spread, the Eagles are 8-6 as favorites and 3-0 as underdogs.</p> <p>Philadelphia ranks 2nd in the NFC and 5th in our power rankings heading into the playoffs. In division games, they went 5-1, and they were 9-3 against NFC opponents. The Eagles had a +9.4 scoring margin this season and an O/U record of 7-10, with their games averaging 45.1 points.</p><p>In our offensive power rankings, the Eagles sit 4th in the NFL, and they are 7th in scoring, averaging 27.2 points per game. They are 8th in the league in total offense with 367.2 yards per game, and they rank 10th in 3rd-down conversion percentage (41.7%). Philadelphia is 4th in red zone attempts, but they have struggled to convert, ranking 26th with a 10.3% conversion rate.</p> <p>Philadelphia has leaned heavily on the run game, leading the NFL in rushing attempts and ranking 2nd in rushing yards per game with 179.3. In the passing game, they are 28th in attempts and 29th in passing yards, averaging 187.9 per game. Jalen Hurts threw for 311 yards in week 3 against the Saints, with Dallas Goedert catching 10 passes for 170 yards.</p><p>In their 20-13 win over the Giants, the Eagles' defense gave up 100 rushing yards on 25 attempts, but they held New York to just 138 yards passing. The Eagles allowed the Giants to complete 75.9% of their passes, with 22 completions, and gave up one passing touchdown. Overall, the Eagles limited the Giants to 238 total yards and held them to a 28.6% conversion rate on third down. Philadelphia did come up with one interception and didn't record any sacks in the game.</p>