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<p>Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Aggies versus the Hawkeyes? Tip off is at at 8:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on BTN. The game will be played at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 167.5 points, with Iowa being favored by -2 over Utah State.</p><h3>UTAH STATE AGGIES VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -2</p><p>This game will be played at T-Mobile Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Hawkeyes.</li><li>Not only will Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 167.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Aggies Make it Happen in Kansas City?</h3><p>Utah State improved to 3-0 on the season with a 95-83 win over Montana on Monday. The Aggies were -16.5 point favorites going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 178, which went over the pre-game O/U line of 151.5.</p> <p>Utah State led 49-35 at halftime but allowed Montana to score 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 46 of their own. The Aggies will need to tighten up defensively as they move forward in the season.</p><p>Utah State's offense put up 95 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, and they hit 77.8% of their free throws, going 28-for-36 from the line.</p> <p>Ian Martinez led the way with 32 points, hitting 4 of 8 from three, while Mason Falslev and Money Williams each added 25 points. Joe Pridgen was nearly perfect, shooting 8-for-9 from the field, and Karson Templin chipped in 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting.</p><p>Utah State's defense struggled, giving up 83 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field. They allowed 52% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team hitting 20 of 38 shots inside the arc.</p> <p>From three-point range, Utah State's defense gave up 9 threes on 20 attempts, a 45% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 36 times, where they made 28 free throws, shooting 77%. Utah State allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Is A Home Victory Likely for Favored Iowa?</h3><p>The Hawkeyes cruised to an 83-58 win over Rider on Tuesday, November 19th. Playing at home, Iowa entered the game as heavy favorites, listed at -19, and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 141, falling short of the 155-point over/under line.</p> <p>Iowa took control early, leading 40-26 at halftime. They kept up the pressure in the second half, outscoring Rider 43-32 to secure the win.</p><p>Iowa's offense put up 83 points in their last game, shooting 46.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.1%. They connected on 8 of 22 three-point attempts, hitting 36.4% from deep, while making 22 of 42 two-point shots for a 52.4% success rate. At the free-throw line, the Hawkeyes converted 15 of 21 attempts, good for 71.4%.</p> <p>Payton Sandfort led the way with 22 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 56.2% from the field despite hitting just 2 of 7 from three-point range. Owen Freeman added 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting, while Tariq Ingraham contributed 14 points, also going 6 of 11 from the floor. Iowa finished with 18 assists and 10 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><p>Even though Iowa gave up 58 points, they allowed their opponent to shoot 46% from the field, including 52% on two-point attempts (22/42). From beyond the arc, Iowa's defense saw their opponent hit 8 of 22 threes, good for 36% shooting.</p> <p>At the free-throw line, Iowa's opponent went 15/21, a 71% success rate. The Hawkeyes also gave up 10 offensive rebounds in this game.</p>

Utah State Aggies vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

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<p>Planning on watching today's Spartans and Antelopes game? Catch the action at GCU Arena in Phoenix, AZ, as the Antelopes hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Grand Canyon as the -14.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 144.5 points.</p><h3>NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS VS GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Norfolk State Spartans +14.5</p><p>This game will be played at GCU Arena at 9:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-73 in favor of the Antelopes.</li><li>Even though we have Grand Canyon winning straight-up, we like Norfolk State at +14.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Spartans Win in Phoenix?</h3><p>Norfolk State's season continued with a 70-63 road loss to Stanford on Wednesday. The Spartans, who entered the game as +21 point underdogs, kept things much closer than expected. The total points for the game were 133, falling short of the 142.5 O/U line.</p> <p>After trailing 38-33 at halftime, Norfolk State stayed competitive in the second half, scoring 30 points while allowing 32. Despite the loss, the Spartans' ability to cover the spread against a strong opponent is a positive takeaway.</p><p>Norfolk State's offense put up 63 points in their last game, shooting 44.4% from the field and 31.2% from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 16 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they were strong from the free-throw line, connecting on 10 of 11 shots for a 90.9% rate.</p> <p>Brian Moore Jr. led the way with 24 points, shooting 44.4% overall, while Maxime Raynaud added 20 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 58.3% of his shots and 2 of 3 from three-point range. The Spartans managed just 6 offensive rebounds and 5 assists as a team.</p><p>Norfolk State's defense held their opponent to 70 points on 33% shooting from the field. They allowed 11 of 22 two-point attempts to fall, but limited the damage from beyond the arc, where the opposition shot just 23%, making 8 of 34 three-point attempts.</p> <p>The Spartans sent their opponent to the free-throw line 37 times, where they converted 24 attempts for 64%. Norfolk State also gave up 18 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Can Grand Canyon Live Up to the Hype at Home?</h3><h3>Grand Canyon Antelopes Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Grand Canyon suffered a 75-68 home loss to UC Davis on Wednesday, November 20th. The Antelopes were -17 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The combined points for the game were 143, falling short of the O/U line of 152.</p> 

<p>After trailing 46-35 at halftime, Grand Canyon tightened up defensively in the 2nd half, allowing just 29 points while scoring 33. However, their improved play after the break wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.</p><p>Grand Canyon struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 37.3% overall and 16% from three-point range, hitting only 4 of 25 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.7%, but they did manage to connect on 52.9% of their two-point shots.</p> <p>The Antelopes grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and made 20 of 28 free throws, shooting 71.4% from the line. Ty Johnson led the team with 21 points, while JaKobe Coles and Tyon Grant-Foster each added 18 points. Leo DeBruhl and Connor Sevilla both shot 60% from the field, with Sevilla hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.</p><p>Grand Canyon's defense gave up 75 points, despite holding their opponent to 37% shooting from the field. They allowed 18 two-point baskets on 34 attempts, a 52% success rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, their opponent struggled, hitting just 4 of 25 threes for 16%. Grand Canyon also sent them to the line 28 times, where they made 20 free throws, shooting 71%. Defensively, Grand Canyon gave up 15 offensive rebounds.</p>

Norfolk State Spartans vs Grand Canyon Antelopes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

<p>Georgia is favored at -9.5 points as they host Tennessee at Sanford Stadium in Athens. Kick-off is set for 7:30 ET, and the game will be broadcast on ABC. The over/under line is at 48.5 points. The Bulldogs come in with a 7-2 record, while the Volunteers are 8-1 on the season. The money line odds have Georgia at -355 and Tennessee at +276.</p><h3>TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS VS GEORGIA BULLDOGS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Tennessee Volunteers +9.5</p><p>This game will be played at Sanford Stadium at 7:30 ET on Saturday, November 16th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Tennessee Volunteers winning this one by a score of 28 to 14</li><li>Not only do we have the Tennessee Volunteers winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +9.5</li><li>We see this game finishing below the line of 48.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Tennessee Volunteers Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs</h3><p>Tennessee heads into Week 12 against Georgia with an 8-1 record and a 4-0 mark at home. They are 2-1 on the road this season. The Volunteers are ranked 9th in our power rankings and have a 100% chance of being bowl-eligible. They have a 12.6% chance of winning the Southeastern but a 73.6% chance of making the playoff, which is 8th best in the country.</p><p></p><p>So far, Tennessee has been favored in six of their nine games, going 5-1 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin this season is +25 points, and they are 4-3 against the spread, with a 2-1 record on the road and a 2-2 mark at home.</p><p></p><p>The Volunteers’ over/under record is 3-4, with their games averaging 50.1 points. Their average over/under line is 56.9 points, and this week’s line is set at 48.5 points.</p><p>Heading into week 12, Tennessee’s offense is 15th in scoring, averaging 37.6 points per game, and we have them ranked 45th in our offensive power rankings. They are 9th in the nation in rushing, with 237.9 yards per game, and 5th in rushing attempts, averaging 45.9 per game. Dylan Sampson leads the team with 1,129 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry.</p> <p>Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 1,879 yards with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 100. Tennessee ranks 62nd in passing yards per game. Iamaleava has completed 65.2% of his passes. Dont'e Thornton Jr. leads the receivers with 505 yards and four touchdowns.</p><p>Tennessee's defense has been strong this season, ranking 5th nationally by allowing just 12.6 points per game. They’re also 22nd in passing yards allowed, giving up only 171.6 yards per game, and rank 19th against the run, allowing 108.1 rushing yards per game.</p> <p></p><p>In their latest game, Tennessee’s defense gave up just 14 points and limited Mississippi State to 92 passing yards, while forcing one interception. They allowed 179 rushing yards on 38 attempts.</p><h3>Are The Georgia Bulldogs Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?</h3><p>Georgia enters Week 12 against Tennessee with a 7-2 record, going 4-0 at home and 2-2 on the road. They are 6th in our CFB power rankings, with a 100% chance of being bowl-eligible. However, their odds of winning the Southeastern sit at 7.7%. Georgia has a 73.9% chance of making the playoff, which ranks 7th in the country.</p> <p></p><p>The Bulldogs are 5-2 as the favorite this season and 1-0 as the underdog, with an average scoring margin of +12.1 points per game. Against the spread, they are 2-6, going 1-3 at home and 1-3 on the road. As the favorite, their ATS record is 1-6.</p> <p></p><p>The over/under line for this week is 48.5 points, lower than their season average line of 51.7 points. Georgia’s over/under record is 3-5, with their games averaging 49 points per contest.</p><p>Georgia’s offense is averaging 30.6 points per game heading into week 12, ranking 39th in college football. However, they are 16th in our offensive power rankings. Carson Beck has thrown for 2,488 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 90.</p> <p>Georgia ranks 22nd in passing attempts, averaging 37 per game, and they are 21st in passing yards, with 286.4 yards per game. Their third-down conversion rate is 38.6%, and they are 105th in rushing, averaging 125.3 yards per game. Trevor Etienne leads the ground attack with 475 yards and seven touchdowns.</p><p>Georgia’s defense has been solid this season, ranking 14th nationally by allowing just 18.4 points per game. They’ve given up 114.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks 30th, and 195.6 passing yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 77.7 and a completion percentage of 58.4% against Georgia.</p> <p></p><p>In their recent game against Ole Miss, Georgia’s defense allowed 28 points, giving up 396 total yards, including 263 passing yards. They also forced one interception in the game.</p>

Tennessee Volunteers vs Georgia Bulldogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/16/24

<p>The Dodgers are heavy favorites heading into Sunday's interleague matchup vs. the Royals, with their money line odds sitting at -260. On the other side, the Royals have a money line payout of +215, and the over/under line is currently at 8 runs.</p>

<p>First pitch from Dodger Stadium is set for 4:10 PM ET, and SNLA will be televising this one. Brady Singer is starting for the Royals, and he is facing off against Tyler Glasnow. The Royals are 41-31, while the Dodgers are leading the NL West with a record of 43-29.</p><h3>KANSAS CITY ROYALS VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: OVER 8 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at Dodger Stadium at 4:10 ET on Sunday, June 16th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE ROYALS VS DODGERS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Dodgers winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Royals to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Thanks to a four-run 6th inning for the Royals' offense, they cruised to a 7-2 win over the Dodgers in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Royals were at +200 on the money line.</p>

<p>The starting pitching matchup for this game featured Seth Lugo for the Royals, and he went six innings while giving up two runs and picked up a win. Blake Treinen got the loss for the Dodgers, going just two innings and giving up two earned runs.</p>

<p>Kansas City got a huge performance from MJ Melendez, as he went 2/4 with a home run and four RBIs. Both Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez each drove in two for the Royals' offense.</p><h3>Royals Records & Stats</h3><p>Kansas City is 41-31 overall and is 5.0 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central. The Royals are 13-9 against other teams in the AL Central. The Royals took the first game of this series vs. the Dodgers but dropped game two.</p>

<p>At home, the Royals have gone 25-14 this year, and they are just above .500 at 16-17 on the road. As the favorite, the Royals are 19-9 this year, and they are 22-22 as the underdog. So far, they are 10-13 as the underdog on the road. Kansas City's overall series record is 11-10-1.</p><p>The Royals have a run line record of 44-28 this season, including a 21-12 mark on the road. Their average run margin for the season is +0.9 runs per game. They have covered the run line in three straight games and are 29-15 against the run line as an underdog this season.</p><p>The Kansas City Royals are on the road today to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The O/U line for today's game is set at 8 runs. The Royals have an average combined run average of 8.9 runs per game this season, and their O/U record is 33-37. When the O/U line is set at 8 runs, their record is 8-5-1. So far this season, 55.6% of their games have had O/U lines set higher than 8 runs.</p><p>Brady Singer gets the start for the Royals today as he faces the Dodgers on the road. He has made 13 starts this year and has a record of 4-3 with an ERA of 3.30. Singer's WHIP for the season is 1.23. In his 13 appearances, he has turned in four quality starts. Singer's last outing came against the Yankees, where he took the loss, giving up six earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Before that outing, he had gone three straight starts without taking the loss. Singer's ERA on the road is 3.86, compared to 3.12 at home.</p><p>So far this season, the Royals are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is good for 6th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.4 runs per game. As a team, the Royals are batting .251 (5th) and have the 7th best slugging percentage in the league. The Royals have two hitters with 11 homers this season, with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez both sitting at the top of the team's home run leaderboard.</p>

<p>Over his last eight games, Bobby Witt Jr. has gone 12/34 and driven in four runs. For the season, he is batting .326 and has 51 RBIs, which is 5th best in the league. Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are both batting .375 this season. MJ Melendez and Nelson Velazquez are both near the top of the Royals home run leaderboard, but they are batting just .168 and .205, respectively.</p><h3>Dodgers Records & Stats</h3><p>With a record of 43-29, the Dodgers lead the NL West by seven games over the Padres. The Dodgers are 13-10 against other teams in the NL West. Los Angeles is at home today, where they are 23-15 this season. On the road, the Dodgers have gone 20-14 this year.</p>

<p>Los Angeles is 41-26 as the favorite this year but just 2-3 as the underdog. The Dodgers' overall series record is 14-10, and they are tied 1-1 in their series vs. the Royals. Heading into today's game, the Dodgers are 5-5 over their last 10 games.</p><p>The Dodgers have been a solid run line bet overall this season, going 35-37. They have been slightly better on the road, going 18-16. The average run margin in their games this season is 1.4 runs per game, and they have been a run line favorite in 67 of their 69 games.</p><p>Los Angeles has a 36-36 over/under record this season, and the average over/under line in their games is 8 runs. Their games have averaged 8.5 runs per game, and today's over/under line is set at 8 runs. The Dodgers have played 50 games this season with over/under lines set higher than 8 runs, which accounts for 69.4% of their games. When the line is set at 8 runs, their over/under record is 3-6. </p><p>Right-hander Tyler Glasnow gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Royals at home. So far this season, he has made 14 starts and has a record of 6-5 with a 3.24 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Glasnow has a WHIP of 0.94 and opponents are batting .171 this season. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up five earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had given up just one earned run in back-to-back outings. The right-hander has allowed at least one homer in four straight starts.</p><p>Los Angeles comes into the game with the league's best on-base percentage and OPS, and they are also 2nd in team batting average and 3rd in home runs. As a team, they are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 4th in the league. The Dodgers have been even better at home this season, averaging 5 runs per contest.</p>

<p>Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez are tied for the team lead in home runs, with 17 apiece. Ohtani is also 2nd on the team with 44 RBIs, while Hernandez's 50 RBIs are 6th in the league. Both players have been hot of late, with Ohtani going 12/37 with five homers in his last 10 games, and Ohtani is on a nine-game hitting streak.</p>

Kansas City Royals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Pick & Prediction 6/16/24

The MVP races in both leagues are going to be quite fascinating this season. Over the course of a full year and somewhere around 650-700 plate appearances, the best of the best generally outshine the rest. With basically 37% of a season coming up in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, players and statistics are going to be subject to all sorts of variance.

Just look at player splits across MLB. You’re going to see full months covering 25 or 26 games in which a player struggled or at least performed well below expectations. If that happens this year, that accounts for virtually half of the season. We’re also bound to see injuries, guys playing through injuries, and positive coronavirus tests. All of those are sure to affect performance or simply take away games and plate appearances.

When it comes to the American League, you won’t believe it, but the best player on the planet is the +200 favorite. That is Mike Trout, whose wife is expecting their first child in the month of August. There are a lot of questions as to whether or not Trout will even play the full season. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to put up obscene numbers to even be in the discussion.

With all futures in this shortened format, you want to look around for some long shots and some big values. There are a lot of players at very big prices in the AL MVP chase that could post exceptional numbers in smaller sample sizes. On the whole, they probably wouldn’t stack up to Mike Trout’s season-long performance, but in 60 games, posting Troutian numbers or better is a very real possibility.

Here are the AL MVP candidates as listed by <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/5dimes"><strong>5Dimes Sportsbook</strong></a>:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="295">Mike Trout</td>
<td width="295">+200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Aaron Judge</td>
<td width="295">+850</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Francisco Lindor</td>
<td width="295">+1500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Anthony Rendon</td>
<td width="295">+1600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Gleyber Torres</td>
<td width="295">+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Matt Chapman</td>
<td width="295">+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Shohei Ohtani</td>
<td width="295">+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Alex Bregman</td>
<td width="295">+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Josh Donaldson</td>
<td width="295">+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Jose Ramirez</td>
<td width="295">+2800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Jose Altuve</td>
<td width="295">+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Marcus Semien</td>
<td width="295">+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Rafael Devers</td>
<td width="295">+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">George Springer</td>
<td width="295">+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Gerrit Cole</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Giancarlo Stanton</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">J.D. Martinez</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Joey Gallo</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Austin Meadows</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Carlos Correa</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">DJ LeMahieu</td>
<td width="295">+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Yoan Moncada</td>
<td width="295">+6000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.</td>
<td width="295">+6600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Nelson Cruz</td>
<td width="295">+7500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Yordan Alvarez</td>
<td width="295">+8000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Eloy Jimenez</td>
<td width="295">+8500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Gary Sanchez</td>
<td width="295">+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Tim Anderson</td>
<td width="295">+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Justin Verlander</td>
<td width="295">+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Max Kepler</td>
<td width="295">+12500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Byron Buxton</td>
<td width="295">+12500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Bo Bichette</td>
<td width="295">+12500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Andrelton Simmons</td>
<td width="295">+12500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Khris Davis</td>
<td width="295">+15000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Michael Brantley</td>
<td width="295">+17500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Brandon Lowe</td>
<td width="295">+17500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Eddie Rosario</td>
<td width="295">+17500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Edwin Encarnacion</td>
<td width="295">+17500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="295">Andrew Benintendi</td>
<td width="295">+17500</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
There are a few general things to keep in mind about MVP voting. The first is that it, unfortunately, devolves into a team award. Unless you are Mike Trout, it is very hard to win unless your team makes the playoffs. You’ll have to factor that into the equation because this is an award voted on by human beings. They’re going to have biases.

Furthermore, keep in mind that regional biases are going to play a big role here. Because teams are not leaving their respective geographic areas all that much, some writers may not even realize what is happening in other markets and other divisions. Bigger markets are going to get disproportionate national coverage, so beat writers out west may end up only hearing about big-market performances from other cities.

That may be something of a stretch, but these insulated bubbles around the country could impact the voting process. Ultimately, performance will be the most important measuring stick in the voting process, but we don’t know who will put up elite numbers. We’re guessing on that.

Along those same lines with regards to voters, they are getting better and better, but there are still some archaic mindsets out there. Guys that rely on counting stats like RBI or things like batting average. This year, perhaps more than any, strikeouts could be detrimental for MVP candidates, so guys that put the ball in play a lot are likely to be better options.

Furthermore, with a limited sample size of plate appearances, you might almost want more contact-oriented guys that don’t walk as much. They have a higher risk profile in terms of batted ball luck, but they also have a higher reward profile with batting average, home runs, RBI, etc. Walks and OBP may not be appreciated as much if the batted ball fortunes aren’t swung heavily one way or the other.

With all of those things in mind, here are a few of my considerations:

<strong>George Springer (+4000) – </strong>George Springer seems like something of an afterthought on the AL MVP odds board at 40/1. He was limited to 122 games last season because of injury and still hit a career-high 39 home runs. It was his breakout season and he isn't getting enough respect for it because of all the other guys in that lineup.

The obvious concern here is Springer splitting accolades and votes with Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, etc., but this is just too big of a price. Springer plays a pretty good outfield as well and should lead off for the Astros, which means a lot of plate appearances.
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/5dimes"><span class="td_btn td_btn_lg td_3D_btn"><span style="color: #ff9900; background-color: #000080;">BET ON GEORGE SPRINGER TO WIN THE AL MVP</span></span></a></p>
<strong>Jose Ramirez (+2800) – </strong>Jose Ramirez had a throwaway season in 2019. A throwaway season because he had injury issues, including a broken hamate bone. In 2017 and 2018, Ramirez hit 68 homers and posted a 146 wRC+ in each of those seasons. In 178 plate appearances in the second half of last season, Ramirez hit 16 homers and slashed .327/.365/.739 with a 176 wRC+. He got more aggressive at the plate and it paid great dividends.

Ramirez is going to get a ton of chances in the Indians lineup and will likely hit second behind Cesar Hernandez and ahead of Francisco Lindor. While Lindor is the headline guy at +1600, Ramirez is the better bet at +2800 in my estimation.

<strong>Nelson Cruz (+7500) – </strong>With a universal DH, will voters be more receptive to giving the award to a hitter that just puts up monster number? Yordan Alvarez would have been included here, but he’s been slowed to start the season. Cruz has hit at least 37 homers each of the last six seasons. He’s posted wRC+ marks of 137, 158, 148, 146, 133, and 163.

Last season, he ran an OBP of .392, which was a career high in a full season, though he was limited to 120 games. He hit 41 home runs and would have set a career high had he not missed so much time.

It seems like a stretch that a DH could win the MVP, I’ll grant you that. This is also a huge price for a guy that could benefit from what will presumably be a juiced ball again.

Maybe a better play is a Joey Gallo at 50/1 or a Eloy Jimenez at 85/1 because those guys will actually play positions, but there is a very good chance that this season is less about WAR and more about raw counting numbers because they’ll look more impressive in a smaller sample size.

2020 AL MVP Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions

<p>Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Coyotes and Screaming Eagles. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Screaming Eagles at Screaming Eagles Arena in Evansville, IN. Get ready to place your bets! South Dakota comes into this non-conference matchup as the -3.5 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 153 points.</p><h3>SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES VS SOUTHERN INDIANA SCREAMING EAGLES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: South Dakota Coyotes -3.5</p><p>This game will be played at Screaming Eagles Arena at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 84-67 in favor of the Coyotes.</li><li>Not only will South Dakota pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 153 points, and we like the under with a projected 151 points.</li></ul><h3>Does South Dakota Have What it Takes to Win as Road Favorites?</h3><h3>South Dakota Coyotes Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>South Dakota picked up a road win on Wednesday, November 20th, defeating Western Michigan 80-76. The Coyotes, who were -2.5 favorites, covered the spread with the victory.</p> 

<p>After trailing 34-33 at halftime, South Dakota turned things around by scoring 47 points in the 2nd half while allowing 42. The game’s total points of 156 narrowly went over the O/U line of 155.5.</p><p>South Dakota put up 80 points in their last game, despite shooting just 37.7% from the field and 20.7% from three-point range (6/29). Their effective field goal percentage was 42%, but they made up for it by hitting 22 of 30 free throws (73.3%) and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.</p> <p>Markhi Strickland and Dre Bullock both scored 20 points, with Strickland shooting 7/10 from the field. Cameron Fens added 16 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 7/9 overall. Paul Bruns contributed 18 points, hitting 3 of 8 from beyond the arc.</p><p>South Dakota gave up 76 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 40% from the field on 29 of 71 attempts. Inside the arc, the Coyotes allowed 51% shooting, with 25 two-point baskets made.</p> <p>From three-point range, South Dakota's defense held the other team to just 4 of 22 shooting, or 18%. The Coyotes also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 14 for 70%.</p><h3>Does Southern Indiana Have a Shot at a Home Win?</h3><h3>Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles Recent Game/Games</h3>

<p>Southern Indiana fell to Purdue Fort Wayne 93-74 on Saturday, November 16th. The Screaming Eagles were +15 point underdogs going into the game and did not cover the spread. The total points for the game were 167, surpassing the O/U line of 148.5.</p> 

<p>After trailing 41-35 at halftime, Southern Indiana allowed 52 points in the 2nd half while scoring 39 points of their own.</p><p>Jalen Jackson's 29 points on 57.9% shooting led Southern Indiana to a 74-point performance in their last game. The Screaming Eagles shot 46.3% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 55.6%. They hit 9 of 25 threes (36%) and were nearly perfect from the line, going 15 of 16 (93.8%).</p> <p>Jared Washington added 19 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep, while Rasheed Bello and Damoni Harrison each knocked down 2 of 4 threes. Southern Indiana finished with 10 assists and just 5 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><p>Southern Indiana's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 93 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field. The Screaming Eagles couldn't contain the two-point shooting, with the other team hitting 53% of their shots inside the arc.</p> <p>From beyond the three-point line, Southern Indiana allowed their opponent to connect on 13 of 28 attempts, good for 46%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they converted 24 free throws at an 85% rate.</p>

South Dakota Coyotes vs Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

<p>Planning on watching today's Vikings and Panthers game? Catch the action at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Milwaukee as the -5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 162.5 points.</p><h3>PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS VS MILWAUKEE PANTHERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Milwaukee Panthers -5</p><p>This game will be played at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE PANTHERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Panthers.</li><li>Not only will Milwaukee pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 162.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Do the Vikings Stand a Chance on the Road?</h3><h3>Portland State Vikings Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Portland State picked up an 85-76 win over San Diego on Tuesday, November 12th. The Vikings, who were -2 favorites, covered the spread with the victory.</p> 

<p>Portland State built a big lead by halftime, going up 51-33, but allowed 43 points in the 2nd half while scoring 34. The game’s total points went over the 157-point line, finishing at 161.</p><p>Portland State put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 51.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 58.3%. They hit 47.1% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 17 attempts, and went 15 for 25 from the free-throw line.</p> <p>Jaylin Henderson led the way with 23 points, while Keyon Kensie added 20. Steven Jamerson II was perfect from the field, going 6 for 6, and Kody Clouet struggled, hitting just 2 of 11 shots.</p><p>Portland State's defense gave up 76 points, with the opposing team shooting 41% from the field, hitting 25 of their 60 attempts. Inside the arc, they connected on 23 of 47 shots for 48%.</p> <p>From three-point range, the Vikings held their opponent to just 2 of 13 shooting, or 15%. However, they sent them to the free-throw line 34 times, where they made 24, shooting 70%. Portland State also allowed 11 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Is a Home Win Possible for the Panthers?</h3><h3>Milwaukee Panthers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Panthers pulled off an impressive 80-74 win over Duquesne on Tuesday, November 19th. Milwaukee was a +7 underdog heading into the game but not only won outright, they also covered the spread.</p> 

<p>Milwaukee led 37-28 at halftime and scored 43 points in the 2nd half, while Duquesne put up 46. The total points for the game were 154, surpassing the O/U line of 151.5.</p><p>Milwaukee's offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 80 points with a 51.9% field goal percentage and a 57.7% effective field goal rate. They hit 62.5% of their two-point attempts and went 7-for-20 from beyond the arc, shooting 35% from three. At the free-throw line, they connected on 19 of 30 attempts, good for 63.3%.</p> <p>Kentrell Pullian led the way with 22 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the field and 60% from three. Jake DiMichele added 21 points, hitting 69.2% of his shots, while Tre Dinkins III contributed 20 points, knocking down 4 threes. Jamichael Stillwell grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with 11 points.</p><p>Milwaukee's defense gave up 74 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 41% from the field. They allowed 25 made field goals on 60 attempts.</p> <p>From two-point range, the opponent shot 55%, hitting 16 of 29 shots. From beyond the arc, they went 9 for 31, shooting 29%. Milwaukee also sent the other team to the free-throw line 23 times, where they made 15 free throws, shooting 65%. Milwaukee gave up 13 offensive rebounds.</p>

Portland State Vikings vs Milwaukee Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

<p>Looking to win big? The Wolverines and Racers face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Racers are hosting the game at CFSB Center in Murray, KY. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Murray State as the -7 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 144.5 points.</p><h3>UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES VS MURRAY STATE RACERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Murray State Racers -7</p><p>This game will be played at CFSB Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE MURRAY STATE RACERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-69 in favor of the Racers.</li><li>Not only will Murray State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Wolverines Grab a Win in Murray?</h3><p>Utah Valley dropped a 77-71 decision to North Dakota on Thursday, November 14th. The Wolverines, who were -5.5 favorites going into the game, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.</p> <p>After leading 34-33 at halftime, Utah Valley allowed 44 points in the 2nd half while scoring 37. The game’s total points ended at 148, exceeding the O/U line of 144.5.</p><p>Utah Valley's offense put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 47.4% from the field. Their two-point shooting was a strong 59%, but they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 18 attempts (22.2%).</p> <p>Treysen Eaglestaff led the way with 31 points, connecting on 3 of 6 threes and shooting 58.8% overall. Ethan Potter was nearly perfect, hitting 10 of 11 shots, while Amar Kuljuhovic added 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting.</p><p>Utah Valley's defense gave up 77 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 43% from the field. They allowed 21 two-point baskets on 42 attempts, a 50% conversion rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Utah Valley held their opponent to 27% shooting, with just 5 made threes on 18 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they made 20, or 71% of their attempts. Utah Valley allowed 15 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Does Murray State Stand a Chance at Home?</h3><p>Murray State improved to 3-0 on the season with a 79-61 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday, November 20th. Playing at home, the Racers were -25.5 point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points ended at 140, falling short of the 149-point O/U line.</p> <p>Murray State led 36-30 at halftime and pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring the Hawks 43-31 after the break.</p><p>Murray State put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 46.3% from the field. They hit 60% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 29.2% of their threes.</p> <p>Evan Johnson was a standout, hitting 3 of 5 threes and finishing with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Nick Ellington was efficient as well, shooting 7 of 9 for 19 points, while AJ Ferguson hit 5 of 6 shots, including his only three-point attempt.</p><p>Even though Murray State gave up 61 points, they allowed the opposing team to shoot 46% from the field, with a strong 60% from two-point range (18/30). From beyond the arc, the opposition shot 29%, hitting 7 of their 24 three-point attempts.</p> <p>At the free-throw line, the other team went 22/30, shooting 73%. Murray State also allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.</p>

Utah Valley Wolverines vs Murray State Racers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

The Montreal Canadiens have already upset one team from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Can they make it two?

The Philadelphia Flyers were the best Eastern Conference team in the Round Robin games and their “reward” is to face the #12 seeded Montreal Canadiens. The Habs knocked off the Pittsburgh Penguins to become the #8 seed for the first round, as Carey Price turned back the clock and the Penguins didn’t have enough answers offensively.

Will Montreal be able to do it twice?
<h3><strong><u>Series Schedule</u></strong></h3>
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m.: Canadiens @ Flyers

Friday, Aug. 14, 3 p.m.: Canadiens @ Flyers

Sunday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m.: Flyers @ Canadiens

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 3 p.m.: Flyers @ Canadiens

*Wednesday, Aug. 19, TBD: Canadiens @ Flyers

*Friday, Aug. 21, TBD: Flyers @ Canadiens

*Sunday, Aug. 23, TBD: Canadiens @ Flyers

The Flyers took Round Robin play a lot more seriously than the other three teams in the mix. One of the questions regarding the teams that had to play in the Qualifying Round and those that didn’t is how those Round Robin teams will do matching the intensity early in the series. The Flyers looked like a team that meant business, so they should have no issues being ready on Wednesday night.
<h3><strong><u>Series Odds from <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline">BetOnline Sportsbook</a></u></strong></h3>
Montreal Canadiens +180

Philadelphia Flyers -210
<h3><strong><u>Montreal</u></strong><strong><u> Canadiens</u></strong></h3>
In any context, Montreal’s win over Pittsburgh would be viewed as a surprise, but the Canadiens were a team that had some pretty good metrics during the regular season. They had more scoring chances than their opponents by a large margin. Montreal was third in scoring chances in the regular season, trailing only Vegas and Toronto. In terms of scoring chance percentage, only Vegas was higher.

The Canadiens were also second in high-danger scoring chances. They had 118 more than their opponents. So, they got quality looks. They problem was that they had 118 more chances than the opposition, but only eight more goals. They only outscored the opposition by five goals at 5-v-5. By expected goals for and goals against, they should have been +21 in 5-v-5 goal differential.

What happened? Carey Price happened. Price was a slightly below average goaltender during the season and he played 58 games. He had a .909 SV% and a 2.79 GAA with a -1.31 goals saved above average mark. He simply wasn’t good enough and none of the other guys that saw ice time played well either.

Price turned back the clock in the playoffs. He stopped 126 of 133 shots for a .947 SV% and a 1.67 GAA. The Canadiens outscored the Penguins 9-4 at 5-v-5, a testament to what Price was able to do. It would be unfair to fully say that Price stole the series for the Canadiens, but he was a big reason why they advanced. He’ll be a big reason in this series, too, if they are able to move on.
<h3><strong><u>Philadelphia</u></strong><strong><u> Flyers</u></strong></h3>
Nobody wanted to see the NHL shut down when the pandemic took hold, but the Philadelphia Flyers most definitely did not want to see it. They had won 14 of their last 18 games when everything abruptly stopped. Longtime coach Alain Vigneault finally had his team right where he wanted it. The goaltending situation had sorted itself out with Carter Hart. And then everything stopped.

The Flyers picked up right where they left off in the Round Robin, though. They scored 11 goals in three games and only allowed three. They outscored the opposition 9-2 at 5-v-5. They limited opponents to just 10 high-danger scoring chances. They did a great job of playing within their system to keep the opposition out of those quality areas. They actually had one fewer scoring chance than they allowed, but a much higher percentage of theirs came from really productive scoring areas.

This is a Flyers team thick with talent up front. Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier were first and second in points and Claude Giroux found his stride a little bit later in the season. This was also a Flyers team severely banged up on the blue line throughout the year, as Shayne Gostisbehere was limited to 42 games and Robert Hagg was limited to 49 games.

Hart outplayed Elliott. The 21-year-old youngster had a 2.42 GAA and a .914 SV% with a 4.47 GSAA. Elliott was -8.02 GSAA with a SV% under .900. Hart missed a month from mid-January to mid-February and returned around the time the Flyers got hot.
<h3><strong><u>Series Prediction</u></strong></h3>
Montreal in 7.

Let’s pick an upset here. I’ve been chalky with the first round to this point. The Flyers played great in the Round Robin, but none of the other teams seemed anywhere near as concerned as they were. It may work to their advantage getting the Canadiens, but this is a solid Montreal team that struggled because Carey Price did.

Price may not be quite as heroic in this series as he was against Pittsburgh, but he was once viewed as the best goaltender in the NHL and he seems to have taken the break and run with it. Remember, his 58 games were tied for the most with Connor Hellebuyck. A fresh Carey Price could be a great equalizer in this series.
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Odds, Pick, & Prediction

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