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<p>Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Bisons versus the Blue Raiders? Tip off is at at 7:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Murphy Athletic Center in Murfreesboro, TN. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 147.5 points, and Middle Tennessee is favored by -1.5 at home against Lipscomb.</p><h3>LIPSCOMB BISONS VS MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Murphy Athletic Center at 7:30 ET on Thursday, December 19th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Blue Raiders.</li><li>Not only will Middle Tennessee 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 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Can Lipscomb Pull Off A Win at Murphy Athletic Center?</h3><p>On Thursday, December 5th, the Lipscomb Bisons improved their season record to 6-4 with a 78-60 win over Southeast Missouri State. Playing at home, the Bisons entered the game as -16.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.</p> <p>Lipscomb led 37-28 at halftime and outscored the Redhawks 41-32 in the second half. The game’s total points of 138 fell short of the 145.5 over/under line.</p><p>Lipscomb's offense put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.7%, and they dished out 21 assists as a team.</p> <p>Jacob Ognacevic led the way with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Gyasi Powell hit 5 threes, finishing with 19 points and 4 assists. Dylan Faulkner added 13 points and 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play.</p><p>Despite giving up 60 points, Lipscomb allowed their opponent to shoot 48% from the field, with 29 made baskets on 60 attempts. Inside the arc, the Bisons' defense conceded 19 two-point field goals on 35 attempts, a 54% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Lipscomb's opponent hit 10 threes on 25 attempts, shooting 40%. At the free-throw line, they went 10/16, or 62%. The Bisons also gave up 10 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Do the Blue Raiders Have a Shot at a Home Win?</h3><h3>Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Middle Tennessee improved to 6-3 on the season with a 75-64 home win over California Baptist on Monday. The Blue Raiders entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 139, falling short of the 148-point over/under line.</p> 

<p>After leading 25-23 at halftime, Middle Tennessee exploded for 50 points in the 2nd half while allowing 41 points to the Lancers.</p><p>Camryn Weston led the Blue Raiders with 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, in their latest game. Dominique Daniels Jr. contributed 20 points, but struggled from the field, hitting just 7-of-22 shots and 1-of-7 from three-point range.</p> <p>As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 44.1% from the field and 34.8% from three, with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They also hit 15-of-22 free throws and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, finishing with just 8 assists in the game.</p><p>Middle Tennessee's defense allowed 64 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 44% from the field. They gave up 26 field goals on 59 attempts.</p> <p>Inside the arc, the Blue Raiders allowed 18 two-point field goals on 36 attempts, a 50% shooting rate. From three-point range, the opposing team hit 8 of 23 shots, shooting 34%.</p>

Lipscomb Bisons vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/19/24

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<p>Carlos Rodon and the Yankees will host the Red Sox today at Yankee Stadium in New York, and they come into the game with a record of 86-63, which has them first in the AL East. The Red Sox are 3rd in the AL East with a record of 75-74. Kutter Crawford is starting for the Red Sox.</p>

<p>New York is at -176 on the money line compared to the Red Sox at +147. Today's over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs, and the game can be seen on YES.</p><h3>NEW YORK YANKEES VS BOSTON RED SOX BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: New York Yankees Moneyline -176</p><p>This game will be played at Yankee Stadium at 1:35 ET on Sunday, September 15th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE RED SOX VS YANKEES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Yankees winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Red Sox 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>Boston cruised to a 7-1 win over the Yankees in the most recent game of this series. The Red Sox had a huge 4th inning, scoring all three of their runs. As for the Yankees, they scored their only run in the 5th. Heading into the game, the Red Sox were at +164 on the money line.</p>

<p>Gerrit Cole got the start for the Yankees, going just 4 1/3 innings while giving up seven runs and took the loss. Brayan Bello put together a good outing for the Red Sox, getting the win after going 5 1/3 innings and giving up just one earned run.</p>

<p>Trevor Story had a three-hit game for Boston, scoring one run and driving in one. Rafael Devers and Wilyer Abreu each had two RBIs. As for the Yankees, Aaron Judge went 2/4.</p><h3>Red Sox Records & Stats</h3><p>Boston is 75-74 overall and trails the Yankees by 11 games in the AL East. Currently, they are 3rd in the division and have gone 21-21 against other teams in the AL East. The Red Sox will be on the road today, and they are just below .500 with a 35-40 mark at home.</p>

<p>So far, the Red Sox have been a bit better on the road, coming in with a record of 40-34. As the underdog, Boston is 25-29 this year and 41-33 as the favorite. Looking at their overall series record, the Red Sox are 22-18-6 and have won two straight series.</p><p>The Red Sox are 71-78 against the run line this season, and they have been a better bet on the road, where they are 43-31. They have covered the run line in three straight games overall and as the underdog. Their average run differential in wins is +3.9, while in losses, it is -3.9.</p><p>When the Red Sox are on the road, the over/under line is usually set at 8.5 runs. This season, the combined run average in their games is 9.5 runs. Overall, the over/under record for Boston is 74-67, and when the line is set at 8.5 runs, their record is 25-16. Throughout the season, 63 of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 8.5 runs, which accounts for 42.3% of their games.</p><p>Right-hander Kutter Crawford gets the start for the Red Sox today as he faces the Yankees on the road. Crawford has made 30 starts this season and has a record of 8-14 with an ERA of 4.09. In his 30 appearances, he has turned in 14 quality starts and is averaging 8.34 strikeouts per nine innings. Crawford has had a rough go of it recently, as he has taken the loss in each of his last four outings. Most recently, he gave up three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of work vs. the Orioles. He allowed a homer in three of those four outings.</p>
<p>Heading into today's game, the Red Sox offense is averaging 4.8 runs per game, which is 9th best in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league's 7th best home run hitting team and have the best team BABIP in the league. As a team, the Red Sox are batting .255, which is 4th best in the MLB.</p>

<p>Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill have been the Red Sox's top power threats this season, with Devers leading the team with 83 RBIs and O'Neill's 30 homers pacing the team and ranking 11th in the league. Devers is also 2nd on the team with 28 homers and is batting .278. O'Neill has gone deep five times in his last 10 games, batting .250 over that stretch.</p><h3>Yankees Records & Stats</h3><p>The Yankees are 86-63 overall and lead the AL East by two games over the Orioles. New York is 24-24 in divisional matchups this year. The Yankees have taken two of three games in this series vs. the Red Sox and are 6-4 across their last 10 games.</p>

<p>At home, the Yankees are 41-33 this season and have been really good on the road at 45-30. As the favorite, the Yankees are 68-56 this year and 18-7 as the underdog. New York's overall series record is 27-15-4, and they have won two straight series.</p><p>When it comes to run line betting, the Yankees have been a much better bet on the road than at home. They have gone 44-31 against the run line away from Yankee Stadium, compared to just 32-42 at home. They have an overall run line record of 76-73, but they have been a much better bet as an underdog, going 21-4 against the run line in those games.</p><p>When the Yankees are at home, the over/under line is set at 8.5 runs. Their games have averaged 9.2 runs per game this season, and their over/under record is 79-65. The average over/under line for their games is 9 runs, and when the line is set at 8.5 runs, their over/under record is 32-21. Overall, 51 of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 8.5 runs, accounting for 34.2% of their games, while 45 games have had lower lines, making up 30.2% of their games.</p><p>Carlos Rodón gets the start for the Yankees today vs. the Red Sox and comes in with a record of 14-9 and ERA of 4.15. So far, he has made 29 starts and 15 of them have been quality starts. Rodón has a BB/9 figure of 2.84 compared to 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Rodón finished with a no-decision after giving up two earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without taking the loss. Rodón's ERA on the road is 5.56 compared to 3.62 at home.</p>
<p>Heading into today's game, the Yankees are the top home run hitting team in the league and are averaging 5 runs per game, which is also the best mark in the league. They are also one of the league's top on-base teams, and their team OPS of .763 is the 3rd best in the league. Aaron Judge is not only the team's leading home run hitter, but his 130 RBIs are the best in the league. Judge is also hitting .321 for the season and has gone 7/22 in his last six games.</p>

<p>Over his last six games, Gleyber Torres is hitting .308 with one home run, and Juan Soto has just one home run in this stretch while batting only .136. Soto comes into the game with 39 homers, which is 4th best in the league, and is 2nd on the team in RBIs.</p>

Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees Betting Pick & Prediction 9/15/24

<p>Betting on today's Buccaneers and Lions game? Catch the action at Flowers Hall in Florence, AL, as the Lions hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 146.5 points, and North Alabama is favored by -9.5 at home against Charleston Southern.</p><h3>CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BUCCANEERS VS NORTH ALABAMA LIONS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Charleston Southern Buccaneers +9.5</p><p>This game will be played at Flowers Hall at 7:00 ET on Thursday, December 19th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BUCCANEERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Buccaneers.</li><li>Not only will Charleston Southern pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +9.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Can Charleston Southern Pull Off a Road Win?</h3><p>Charleston Southern’s season struggles continued with an 82-63 loss to South Carolina State on Monday, dropping their record to 2-9. The Buccaneers entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 145, just over the 144.5 O/U line.</p> <p>Charleston Southern fell behind early, trailing 42-28 at halftime. They managed 35 points in the second half but allowed 40, unable to close the gap.</p><p>Charleston Southern's offense put up 63 points in their last game, with a field goal percentage of 45.8% (22/48). They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 16 attempts for a 12.5% three-point shooting percentage, while their effective field goal percentage stood at 47.9%.</p> <p>Inside the arc, the Buccaneers shot 62.5% (20/32), and they connected on 58.6% of their free throws (17/29). Drayton Jones led the way with 34 points, shooting 76.5% (13/17) and adding 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Taje' Kelly contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Reis Jones added 15 points and 7 boards, hitting 7 of 8 shots (87.5%).</p><p>Despite Charleston Southern's struggles on defense, giving up 82 points on 47% shooting, they managed to limit their opponent's three-point success. The Buccaneers held them to just 2 made threes on 20 attempts, a 10% shooting performance from beyond the arc.</p> <p>Charleston Southern sent their opponent to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 18 of their attempts, shooting 72%. The Buccaneers also allowed 8 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Can the Lions Secure a Win at Home?</h3><h3>North Alabama Lions Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>North Alabama improved to 5-4 on the season with a 74-67 win over East Carolina on Wednesday. The Lions were +7.5 point underdogs going into the game but covered the spread with the victory.</p> 

<p>North Alabama led 36-22 at halftime, but East Carolina made a push in the second half, outscoring the Lions 45-38. The total points for the game ended at 141, just over the O/U line of 139.5.</p><p>North Alabama's offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 46.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.6%. They connected on 37.5% of their threes, hitting 9 of 24 attempts, and were efficient at the free-throw line, making 15 of 18 for 83.3%.</p> <p>Jacari Lane led the way with 19 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, while C.J. Walker added 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Taye Fields contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, also dishing out 8 assists.</p><p>North Alabama's defense held their opponent to 67 points on 41% shooting from the field. They gave up 55% shooting from two-point range, with the opponent hitting 20 of 36 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, North Alabama limited the damage, allowing just 5 threes on 24 attempts (20%). They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 19 times, where they made 12 (63%). North Alabama allowed 7 offensive rebounds.</p>

Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs North Alabama Lions NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/19/24

<p>At 5:00 ET, the Pacers (-267) will host the Pelicans (+221) in a non-conference matchup. Indiana is favored by 6.5 points and the over/under is 228.</p>

<p>New Orleans (5-21) has lost three in a row and is 15th in the Western Conference. Indiana (11-15) is 8th in the East and 3rd in the Central Division.</p><h3>NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS INDIANA PACERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Indiana Pacers -6.5</p><p>This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 5:00 ET on Sunday, December 15th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE INDIANA PACERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 116-102 in favor of the Pacers.</li><li>Our projections have Pascal Siakam finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Pacers finishing with a field goal percentage of 50.0% and knocking down 12 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can New Orleans Stun the Crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse?</h3><p>The Pelicans fell to 5-21 on the season after a 111-109 home loss to the Kings on Thursday. New Orleans came into the game as +7 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread, but couldn’t secure the win. The total points for the game ended at 220, falling short of the 232.5-point line.</p> <p>A 14-0 run by the Kings early in the game put the Pelicans in a tough spot, but New Orleans responded by winning the 2nd quarter 29-25. Sacramento took control again in the 3rd, outscoring the Pelicans 38-28. New Orleans made a push in the 4th, holding the Kings to 20 points while scoring 26, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.</p><p>CJ McCollum's 36-point performance, including 6 threes at 54.5%, led the Pelicans in their 109-point effort against the Kings. He scored 17 points in the 4th quarter, while Trey Murphy added 16 of his 21 points in the 1st quarter.</p> <p>New Orleans hit 14 threes at 37.8%, with an overall shooting percentage of 47%. Dejounte Murray contributed 20 points and 9 assists, scoring 9 points in the 3rd quarter.</p><p>Defensively, the Pelicans had a strong 4th quarter, allowing just 20 points, but their 3rd quarter lapse, where they gave up 38 points, proved costly in their 111-109 loss to the Kings. Overall, they held Sacramento to 40% shooting, including 30% from beyond the arc, with the Kings making 10 threes.</p> <p>New Orleans sent the Kings to the line 29 times, where they converted 27 free throws. The Pelicans grabbed 33 defensive rebounds but allowed 17 offensive boards. They also contributed 6 steals and 4 blocks.</p><h3>Will the Indiana Defense Show Up at Home?</h3><p>The Pacers improved to 11-15 on the season with a 121-107 road win over the 76ers on Friday. Indiana, who entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game landed exactly on the O/U line of 228.</p> <p>Indiana started strong with a 14-0 run, pushing the score from 9-4 to 23-4. They led 31-22 after the 1st quarter and 30-28 in the 2nd. Philadelphia fought back in the 3rd, outscoring the Pacers 33-29, but Indiana closed out the game by winning the 4th quarter 31-24.</p><p>Tyrese Haliburton knocked down 7 threes at a 46.7% rate, finishing with 32 points and 11 assists in the Pacers' win over the 76ers. He hit 12 points in the 1st quarter and added 10 more in the 3rd.</p> <p>Pascal Siakam shot 81.8% from the field, contributing 23 points and 8 rebounds, while Obi Toppin added 20 points and 8 boards. The Pacers hit 14 threes as a team, shooting 36.8% from deep and 51.6% overall.</p><p>Defensively, the Pacers held the 76ers to 107 points on Friday, giving up 22 in the 1st quarter and 24 in the 4th. Indiana allowed 33 points in the 3rd quarter but still managed to secure the win.</p> <p>Indiana limited Philadelphia to 43% shooting, including 10 made threes at a 40% clip. The 76ers went 23/32 from the free-throw line. The Pacers also recorded 9 steals and 4 blocks.</p>

New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/15/24

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>At 7:00 ET, the Sacramento Kings will travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers in a non-conference matchup. NBCS will have the TV coverage for this game.</p>

<p>The Cavaliers (-200) are currently favored by 5 points against the Kings (+165). The over/under line for this game is 234.5 points.</p><h3>SACRAMENTO KINGS VS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Sacramento Kings +5</p><p>This game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:00 ET on Monday, February 5th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SACRAMENTO KINGS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 117-111 in favor of the Kings.</li><li>Our projections have De'Aaron Fox finishing with De'Aaron Fox points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Kings finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.0% and knocking down 16 threes.</li></ul><h3>Will Sacramento Secure A Victory as Road Underdogs?</h3><p>Sacramento has won two straight games and is now 29-19 on the season, which is good for 5th place in the Western Conference. In the Pacific Division, they are in 2nd place.</p>

<p>As the underdog, the Kings are 5-7 this season, and they are currently getting 5 points against the Cavaliers. Their ATS record as the underdog is 8-4, and they have covered the spread in two straight games on the road.</p>

<p>This season, Sacramento has played in games with higher over/under lines than 234.5 in 31 of their 48 games. Their games have averaged 236 points per game, and the team's O/U record for the season is 23-24-1.</p>

<p>In their last game against the Bulls, the Kings won by a score of 123-115. They were 1-point underdogs going into the game and have an ATS record of 26-22 for the season. The O/U line for that game was 230 points.</p><p>When it comes to scoring, the Kings have been strong this season, averaging 118.5 points per game (8th). However, they have been even better on the road, where they are averaging 116.2 points per game (13th).</p>

<p>So far, the Kings have outscored the NBA scoring average in 66.7% of their games. In terms of pace, Sacramento is 7th in the league at 100.3 possessions per game.</p>

<p>One area where the Kings have excelled is three-point shooting. They are 4th in the league in three-pointers made per game (14.9) and have attempted the 3rd most threes in the NBA.</p><p>At this time, the Kings' defense is positioned 20th in the NBA, permitting 117.5 points per game. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Kings squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 54.3% inside the arc, and they're also giving up 38.7% from downtown.</p><h3>Can Cleveland Live Up to the Hype at Home?</h3><p>The Cavaliers have won five straight games and are 31-16 overall, which is good for 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. In the Central Division, they are in 2nd place.</p>

<p>Cleveland's ATS record for the season is 25-20, and they have covered the spread in their last eight home games. Today, they are favored by 5 points and have a record of 23-6 as the favorite.</p>

<p>In their last game, the Cavaliers defeated the Spurs by a score of 117-101. The O/U line for that game was 231.5, and Cleveland was favored by 10 points. This improved their ATS record at home to 13-12.</p>

<p>The Cavaliers' O/U record for the season is 22-24-1, and their games have averaged a combined 224 points. In their last two games, the final score has been below the O/U line.</p>

<p>Overall, Cleveland has gone 39-8 as the favorite and has won 17 straight games as the favorite. Today's O/U line of 234.5 is higher than the average line in their games this season (225.5).</p><p>The Cavaliers' offense is averaging 114.3 points per game this season, which is 20th in the NBA. When playing at home, they are averaging 115.4 points per game.</p>

<p>So far, Cleveland has outscored the NBA scoring average in 44.7% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 21st in the league at 98 possessions per game.</p>

<p>When it comes to shooting, the Cavaliers are hitting 47% of their shots, which is 12th in the NBA. Inside the arc, they are 7th in two-point shooting percentage at 56%.</p><p>So far this season, the Cavaliers defense has been performing well, ranking 3rd in the NBA at 109.7 points allowed per contest. On two point field goal attempts, the Cavaliers' defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 52.1% and allowing 35.3% from beyond the arc.</p>

Sacramento Kings vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Pick & Prediction 2/5/24

<p>Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Vandals versus the Tigers? Tip off is at at 4:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, CA. The over/under for this game is set at 143.5 points, and Pacific is favored by -4.5 against Idaho in a non-conference matchup.</p><h3>IDAHO VANDALS VS PACIFIC TIGERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Idaho Vandals +4.5</p><p>This game will be played at Alex G. Spanos Center at 4:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.</p><h3>WHY BET THE IDAHO VANDALS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Vandals.</li><li>Not only will Idaho pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Can Idaho Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?</h3><p>Idaho’s season continues to be a struggle, as they dropped to 2-8 after a 74-66 road loss to UC Davis on Wednesday. The Vandals entered the game as +6.5 underdogs and failed to cover the spread, while the total points of 140 fell just short of the O/U line of 141.5.</p> <p>Idaho trailed 32-25 at halftime but couldn’t make up ground in the 2nd half, scoring 41 points while allowing 42.</p><p>Idaho's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 36.2% from the field and 25% from three-point range, finishing with an effective field goal percentage of 41.4%. They did connect on 85.7% of their free throws, going 18-for-21 from the line.</p> <p>Kolton Mitchell led the way with 26 points, hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and shooting 66.7% overall. Ty Johnson added 19 points, despite shooting 0-for-3 from three, while Niko Rocak contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds, making all but one of his four field goal attempts.</p><p>Idaho's defense gave up 74 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 16 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, for a 44% shooting percentage.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Idaho's opponents went 5/14, shooting 35%. The Vandals also sent the other team to the free-throw line 43 times, where they made 27 free throws, a 62% success rate. Idaho allowed 15 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Will Pacific Find a Way to Win at Home?</h3><h3>Pacific Tigers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Pacific fell to 3-8 on the season after an 81-75 home loss to Portland State on Wednesday, December 18th. The Tigers, who were -4.5 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.</p> 

<p>After trailing 43-29 at halftime, Pacific put up a fight in the 2nd half, outscoring the Vikings 46-38. The game’s total points of 156 exceeded the O/U line of 148.5.</p><p>Pacific's offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 34.5% overall and 24% from beyond the arc, with an effective field goal percentage of 40%. Despite their shooting woes, they managed to put up 75 points, thanks in large part to their success at the free-throw line, where they hit 31 of 36 attempts for an 86.1% rate.</p> <p>Cole Farrell led the way with 18 points, shooting 60% from the field and 66.7% from three. Elias Ralph, Elijah Fisher, Jefferson Koulibaly, and Shane Nowell each contributed 15 points, with Lamar Washington adding 14 points and 6 assists. Isaiah Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with his 12 points.</p><p>Despite Pacific holding their opponent to just 34% shooting from the field, the Tigers still gave up 81 points. They allowed 43% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposition hitting 13 of 30 shots. From beyond the arc, Pacific's defense limited their opponent to 6 of 25 shooting, just 24%.</p> <p>Pacific sent their opponent to the free-throw line 36 times, where they converted 31 attempts, an 86% success rate. The Tigers also gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.</p>

Idaho Vandals vs Pacific Tigers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24

<p>Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Tar Heels and Seminoles. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN, and it's hosted by the Seminoles at Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, FL. Get ready to place your bets! North Carolina is favored by -6.5 in this Atlantic Coast conference matchup the against Florida State. The over/under for the game is set at 153.5 points.</p><h3>NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS VS FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Florida State Seminoles +6.5</p><p>This game will be played at Donald L. Tucker Center at 2:00 ET on Saturday, January 27th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-68 in favor of the Seminoles.</li><li>Not only will Florida State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +6.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 153.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 142 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the North Carolina Defense Show Up on the Road?</h3><p>North Carolina is 16-3 overall and 8-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Tar Heels have won nine straight games and are 15-2 when favored this season.</p>

<p>On the road, North Carolina is 5-2 this season with an average scoring margin of +6.1 points per game. The Tar Heels have won their last five road games and are 7-3 in their last 10.</p><p>North Carolina has an ATS record of 12-7 this season and they are 11-6 vs. the spread when favored. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Tar Heels have gone 7-3 vs. the spread.</p><p>Today's over/under line of 153.5 is similar to the average over/under line in North Carolina games this season (153.7). So far, 10 of their games have finished with more points than today's line, including two of their last three. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 148 points compared to their season average of 152.6.</p><p>The North Carolina offense is coming off a game in which they scored 85 points vs. Wake Forest. Overall their field goal percentage was 52.5% while connecting on 5 threes. The team's top scorer is RJ Davis, who enters today's matchup with an average of 21, while Armando Bacot also carries a PPG average of 14.1 into the game.</p><p>The Tar Heels' defense is presently ranked 95th nationally, allowing an average of 69.1 points per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 6.6 threes per game vs. Florida State. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 27.6%.</p><h3>Can the Seminoles Pull Off a Home Win?</h3><p>Florida State enters this game as a 6.5-point underdog, and they are 5-3 when they are the underdog this season. At home, the Seminoles are 8-4 this season, and their average scoring margin at home is +6.2 points per game.</p>

<p>Over their last 10 games at home, Florida State has gone 6-4, and they are coming off an 85-69 win over Syracuse. So far this season, they have gone 12-7, including a 6-2 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference games.</p><p>As the underdog, Florida State has a solid ATS mark of 6-2 this season. They are 11-7-1 overall vs. the spread in 2019-20. At home, the Seminoles have gone 6-5-1 vs. the spread this year and their last 10 ATS mark as the underdog is 7-3. In their last 5 games as the underdog, FSU is 4-1 vs. the spread.</p><p>Florida State's over/under record for the season currently sits at 11-7-1, and today's over/under line of 153.5 is higher than the average over/under line in their games this season (150.7). So far, 10 of their games have finished with more points than today's line, including two of their last three matchups. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1.</p><p>Florida State finished with 85 points in their game against Syracuse. This total surpasses their season-average of 77 points per game. Jamir Watkins was the leading scorer for the Seminoles, putting up 27 points. In addition, Amir Spears contributed 13 points.</p><p>At present, the Seminoles' defense is nationally ranked 194th, allowing 73.3 points per game. In today's game vs. North Carolina, the Florida State defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Florida State made 22 free-throws vs. the Seminoles.</p>

North Carolina Tar Heels vs Florida State Seminoles Betting Pick & Prediction 1/27/24

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