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There are a lot of strategies when it comes to betting on sports. Some people take a high-volume approach because they feel like a lot of small edges add up to a much bigger advantage. Others bet a small number of games but a larger amount of money because they believe that one big edge is a better situation than a lot of small edges. Some people like to “chase the steam” and immediately follow along with the “sharp side”, based on line movement or the opinions of some of the industry’s most respected bettors. Others like to “fade the public”, which means that they will bet against the “consensus” opinion because the public loses over the long-term.

<a href="http://bangthebook.com/sports-betting-what-is-public-money/"><strong>Fading the public</strong></a> is also called contrarian betting. Technically, it doesn’t just have to be fading the public, because the public and the sharp side can sometimes be the same. It’s akin to playing the “Don’t Pass” line on a craps table. If you break down the house edges in craps, it’s actually better to play the “Don’t Pass” line rather than the “Pass” line. But, it’s hard to do that. Craps has a community feel. When everybody wins, everybody wins on the “Pass” line. Everybody is having fun. Who wants to be that guy that plays the small advantage to go against everybody?

It’s different with <strong>contrarian betting</strong> because you don’t have to look anybody in the eye when you are deliberately doing the opposite. The motto for a contrarian bettor would be, “It looks too good to be true”. Do this long enough and you’re bound to hear the phrase “public dog”. What this means is that the public, a group that collectively bets more favorites than underdogs, has found a team it loves that isn’t supposed to win the game. One of the best examples we’ve seen of this recently was the Green Bay Packers against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship. The Packers were a five-point underdog most of the week, even though they had won eight straight games and Aaron Rodgers looked like a guy ready for a bust in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As we know, the Falcons crushed the Packers and Atlanta wound up being the sharp side in that game. They also closed -6.5.

When too many people climb on board a team or an athlete in an individual sport, alarm bells start going off. Think about it. If you’re in a room with a lot of people, isn’t it a weird feeling when everybody agrees? Say you’re doing a group project at work or school and there are no dissenting opinions. Everybody is on the same page. Isn’t there that voice in the back of your mind that knocks on your skull and says, “Aren’t you missing something?”

Contrarian betting basically has the same type of mindset. The team that nobody wants to bet on is the team that the contrarian player is dying to bet on. There is a method to this madness. For starters, perception of these teams or individuals is very low. Because of this, oddsmakers often shade the lines a little bit on the team or player that everybody likes. It may be subtle, just an adjustment of the vig or a half-point here or there, but there’s already value built into the line on that undesirable betting option. For another thing, there’s probably going to be even more value on that side as betting action increases. The more action, the more the bookmakers need to adjust the lines. The more the lines adjust, the more value there is on the side that nobody wants to play.

Understanding bias is such an important part of being a handicapper. If the Milwaukee Brewers have lost seven straight games and were just beaten 11-2 by the Chicago Cubs, who is going to bet on them in the next game? The models for that game may have the Cubs listed as a -275 favorite, but oddsmakers open the game -300. The Brewers are playing the reigning World Series champions, have lost seven straight, and just lost by nine runs. Who wants to play them the next day? Throughout the day, the line climbs up to -340. Mr. Contrarian strolls up, dashing and debonair with his coiffed hair and designer suit, and plops a couple dimes on the counter on the Milwaukee Brewers.

Some people look at him and question his intellect. They’ll wonder whether or not he even cares about that $2,000, considering it’s less than his suit cost. But, Mr. Contrarian walks away knowing that he got 65 cents of value that should not have been there because nobody wanted to bet on the Brewers. The Brewers may win. They may not win. The one thing we cannot debate, however, is that Mr. Contrarian got the best of the number and that has proven to win more often than not over the long-term.

These are decisions that you are forced to make as a handicapper. It’s no fun losing and it’s no fun being an island, but it’s also not fun losing with everybody else. A lot of deep-pocketed professionals will subscribe to contrarian betting theories. It’s all about line value. It’s nearly impossible to get more line value than to bet on a team that nobody wants to bet on.

In this industry, we look for “buy points”. You try to buy low. You try to buy stock in a team that nobody wants to buy. Whether it’s simple variance or regression to the mean, those teams are generally going to improve. It’s harder to envision with a money line sport like baseball, but the Phoenix Suns aren’t going to get beat by 15 or more points every game over the course of a season. String together three or four of those losses and everybody throws that team away. Some bettors believe that is the time to buy.

The nice thing about sports betting is that there are a lot of approaches and a lot of ways to make money. Maybe contrarian betting doesn’t work for you. Maybe you don’t want to have to root for that bad team. Unders are usually the preferred total bets for professional handicappers. Why? Joe Public on his couch with a PBR tall boy and a bag of pork rinds is rooting for points. Oddsmakers and bookmakers know that Joe Public is rooting for points. It’s more fun to watch points. The percentage of <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sports-betting-what-is-sharp-money/"><strong>sharp players</strong></a> that oddsmakers and bookmakers are worried about is a lot smaller than the large percentage of public players that come in on the game no matter what. In a way, betting the under and the underdog are the simplest ways to be contrarian.

That’s not always the case. Sometimes the public will back an under or an underdog, in which case, sharp players generally go contrarian the other way. Sometimes, everybody is on the same page and a contrarian bettor will wait until close to kickoff, tip-off, or first pitch to get involved.

There’s no right or wrong way to handicap games, but there’s a wrong way to handicap the industry and that’s to not be aware of all of these different approaches and strategies. This is just one more for you to consider as you look to improve as a bettor and look to bang the books.

Sports Betting: What is Contrarian Betting?

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College Football

SMU Mustangs vs Virginia Cavaliers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Stanford Cardinal vs California Golden Bears Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Miami Hurricanes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

UConn Huskies vs Syracuse Orange Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Virginia Tech Hokies vs Duke Blue Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

North Carolina Tar Heels vs Boston College Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Vanderbilt Commodores vs LSU Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Ole Miss Rebels vs Florida Gators Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Missouri Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Betting on today's Avalanche and Panthers game? Catch the action at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Panthers as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.</p><h3>COLORADO AVALANCHE VS FLORIDA PANTHERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Florida Panthers -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Amerant Bank Arena at 6:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE FLORIDA PANTHERS:</h3><ul><li>Our projections indicate that the Panthers should come out top with a projected score of 4-2.</li><li>Take the Panthers on the moneyline</li><li>The Panthers should also cover at -1.5</li></ul><h3>Do the Avalanche Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?</h3><p>With a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche now sit at 11-9-0. Colorado was favored on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals. The combined 7 goals pushed the total over.</p> 

<p>Colorado took the lead early in the second period, but Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. The Avalanche’s defense struggled, allowing two empty-net goals in the third period.</p><p>In their 5-2 loss to Nashville, Colorado took 30 shots on goal but only converted twice. Cale Makar netted his 5th goal of the season on a power play, while Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal, coming with just 2:17 left in the game.</p> <p>Makar also picked up his 16th assist on MacKinnon's goal. MacKinnon, who took 6 shots on goal, earned his 14th assist on Makar's earlier tally. The Avalanche recorded 23 giveaways in the game.</p><p>Colorado's defense gave up the tying goal at 11:29 in the 2nd period and allowed four more after that, including two empty-netters. Justus Annunen made 21 saves with an 87.5% save percentage, and the Avalanche's defense recorded 11 takeaways and 26 hits.</p><h3>Can the Panthers Pull Off a Home Win?</h3><p>Florida improved to 12-7-1 with a 4-2 road win over the Stars. The Panthers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6.5 goals fell short, with the teams combining for 6 goals.</p> 

<p>All four of Florida's goals came from different players. They held a 2-0 lead before the Stars tied it up, but the Panthers scored twice in the third period to secure the win.</p><p>Carolina’s offense took 25 shots on goal, with A.J. Greer netting his first goal of the season at 17:28 in the third period. Sam Reinhart added an empty-netter, marking his 10th goal of the year.</p> <p>Earlier in the game, Evan Rodrigues opened the scoring in the first period with his third goal of the season. Matthew Tkachuk followed with his third goal as well, this one coming on a power play at 11:13 in the second period. The Panthers registered 16 giveaways and finished with 6 assists.</p><p>Defensively, the Panthers will look to carry their momentum from the third period of their last game, where they didn’t allow a goal. Overall, they gave up 2 goals to the Stars, both of which came in the second period. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage, and the Panthers’ defense added 8 takeaways and 22 hits.</p>

Colorado Avalanche vs Florida Panthers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

BYU Cougars vs Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

UCF Knights vs West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Arizona Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Iowa State Cyclones vs Utah Utes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Baylor Bears vs Houston Cougars Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas State Wildcats Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Colorado Buffaloes vs Kansas Jayhawks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Pittsburgh Panthers vs Louisville Cardinals Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>With a money line of -558, the Commanders are the heavy favorite as they face the Cowboys on Sunday, November 24th at 1:00 ET on FOX. The Commanders are favored by -10 in this week 12 matchup, which is being played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. The over/under line is set at 44.5 points.</p><h3>DALLAS COWBOYS VS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Dallas Cowboys +10</p><p>This game will be played at Northwest Stadium at 1:00 ET on Sunday, November 24th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE DALLAS COWBOYS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Commanders winning this one by a score of 24 to 23</li><li>Even though we like the Commanders to win, our ATS pick is to take the Cowboys at +10</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 44.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Cowboys Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs</h3><p>Dallas heads into week 12 against Washington looking to snap a five-game losing streak, which includes a 34-10 home loss to the Texans in week 11. This dropped the Cowboys to 3-7, leaving them 15th in our power rankings and giving them just a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs. They are now 3rd in the NFC East with a 1-1 division record.</p> <p>Against the spread, Dallas is 2-8 and has failed to cover in five straight games. They were 7-point underdogs against the Texans in week 11. The O/U line was 41.5, with the teams combining for 44 points. The Cowboys’ O/U record is 6-4 this season.</p><p>Heading into week 12, the Cowboys rank 28th in our offensive power rankings. They lead the league in passing attempts per game (41.1), resulting in 240.6 passing yards per game, which ranks 7th. However, they are 23rd in points per game, averaging 18.7. Dallas has struggled on the ground, ranking 28th in rushing attempts and 31st in rushing yards per game (81.7). On 3rd down, they rank 23rd with a conversion rate of 35.6% but are 2nd in red zone conversion percentage.</p> <p>Cooper Rush threw for 354 yards (32/55) in week 11, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, but Dallas scored just 10 points, all in the 2nd quarter. Rico Dowdle led the team with 28 rushing yards on 10 carries, while CeeDee Lamb had 8 receptions for 93 yards. Dallas has failed to score in the 4th quarter in their last three games.</p><p>In their 34-10 loss to the Texans, the Cowboys' defense gave up 141 rushing yards on just 25 attempts, allowing Houston to control the game on the ground with 5.6 yards per attempt. Despite this, Dallas did limit the Texans to a 33.3% conversion rate on third down. They also defended the pass well, not giving up any touchdowns through the air and holding Houston to 250 passing yards.<p></p>The Cowboys' defense managed one interception and held the Texans to a 67.6% completion rate. However, they struggled to generate consistent pressure, finishing with only one sack and losing both the QB hit and tackles for loss differentials.</p><h3>Are The Commanders Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?</h3><p>Washington enters week 12 with a 7-4 record, putting them 2nd in the NFC East despite two straight losses. After a narrow home loss to the Steelers in week 10, the Commanders couldn’t bounce back in week 11, falling 28-16 to the Eagles. Washington was a 4.5-point underdog in that game and failed to cover the spread, bringing their ATS record to 7-3-1 this season.</p> <p>According to our projections, the Commanders have an 87.7% chance of making the playoffs and a 15.1% chance of winning the division. They currently rank 13th in our NFL power rankings and have a +5.9 scoring margin this season. Their O/U record is 7-4, with their games averaging 50.1 points per contest.</p><p>Heading into week 12, the Commanders rank 3rd in our offensive power rankings. They are 4th in the NFL in points per game (28) and 6th in total yards, averaging 366.7 per game. Washington has been run-heavy, ranking 4th in rushing attempts and 6th in rushing yards, while sitting 24th in passing attempts and 14th in passing yards. They are 8th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversions and rank 2nd in red zone attempts, but their 8.7% conversion rate in the red zone ranks 26th.</p> <p>Jayden Daniels threw for 191 yards and a touchdown in week 11, completing 22 of 32 passes and posting a passer rating of 81. He was sacked 3 times and threw an interception. Brian Robinson Jr. led the team with 63 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Austin Ekeler had 8 catches for 89 yards.</p><p>Washington's defense gave up 228 rushing yards to the Eagles in their 26-18 loss, with Philadelphia averaging 5.7 yards per attempt on the ground. Despite this, they did a good job against the pass, allowing just 206 yards through the air and no passing touchdowns. The Commanders also held the Eagles to a 64.3% completion rate.</p><p></p><p>On third downs, however, Washington struggled, allowing the Eagles to convert 56.2% of their chances. They did manage two sacks and had a positive quarterback hit differential, but they were at a -5 disadvantage in tackles for loss.</p>

Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24

<p>This week 13 matchup between the Iowa State Cyclones and Utah Utes is set for 7:30 ET at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with FOX handling the broadcast. Iowa State comes in with an 8-2 record, while Utah is 4-6. The Cyclones are -6.5-point favorites on the road, and the over/under line is currently at 42.5 points.</p><h3>IOWA STATE CYCLONES VS UTAH UTES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Utah Utes +6.5</p><p>This game will be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 7:30 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE UTAH UTES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Iowa State Cyclones winning this one by a score of 27 to 23</li><li>Even though we like the Iowa State Cyclones to win, our ATS pick is to take the Utah Utes at +6.5</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 42.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Iowa State Cyclones Win As Road Favorites?</h3><p>Iowa State enters Week 13 with an 8-2 record and a 23rd-place spot in our power rankings as they face Utah. The Cyclones are already bowl-eligible and have an 11.1% chance of winning the Big 12. They also rank 22nd in the nation with a 10.2% chance of making the CFB playoff.</p> <p></p><p>This season, Iowa State has been favored in eight of their ten games, going 6-2 as the favorite. They are 3-1 on the road and 4-1 at home, with a +12.8 average scoring margin. Against the spread, they’ve posted a 6-3 record, covering in three of four road games.</p> <p></p><p>The over/under line for this week is 42.5 points. Iowa State’s games have averaged 50 points, with an average line of 48.8. Their over/under record stands at 5-4, with their games typically going over by an average of 4.1 points.</p><p>Heading into week 13, Iowa State’s offense ranks 32nd in points per game, averaging 31.4, and they are 43rd in our offensive power rankings. Rocco Becht has thrown for 2,628 yards with a passer rating of 98, leading the Cyclones’ passing game. He has 17 touchdown passes and has been intercepted seven times.</p> <p>Overall, Iowa State is 30th in passing yards per game, averaging 267.7 yards. They are 37th in passing attempts. Carson Hansen leads the rushing attack with 503 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Jaylin Noel has 935 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 57 catches.</p><p>Heading into this week, Iowa State’s defense ranks 16th nationally, allowing just 18.6 points per game. They’re 8th in the country in passing yards allowed, giving up only 153.4 yards per game, and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 54.8, the 4th-lowest in college football. Iowa State’s defense has faced 27.6 pass attempts per game, allowing a completion percentage of 50.8%, the 5th-lowest in the nation.</p> <p>In their last game, a 34-17 win over Cincinnati, Iowa State’s defense allowed 17 points and 15 first downs. Cincinnati ran the ball 39 times for 287 yards, while Iowa State’s secondary gave up just 66 passing yards on 18 attempts.</p><h3>Are The Utah Utes Going Win In At Upset At Rice-Eccles Stadium</h3><p>Utah enters Week 13 with a 4-6 record, facing Iowa State at home. They rank 53rd in our CFB power rankings and have just an 11.7% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. Utah is 1-3 at home this season and has been favored in seven of their ten games.</p> <p></p><p>Despite a +2.4 average scoring margin, Utah is 2-7 against the spread. As the favorite, they are 1-6 ATS and 1-3 at home.</p> <p></p><p>The over/under line for this week is 42.5 points. Utah’s games have averaged 43 points, with their average O/U line at 46.4 points. Their over/under record this season is 3-6.</p><p>Utah’s offense has struggled this season, averaging just 22.7 points per game, which ranks 76th nationally. They are 109th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 13. Their third-down conversion rate is low, at 33.8%, and their rushing game is producing 139.7 yards per game.</p> <p>Isaac Wilson leads Utah’s passing attack with 1,436 yards, but he has 11 interceptions and 10 touchdowns, resulting in a passer rating of 69. Utah ranks 37th in passing attempts per game. Micah Bernard has rushed for 880 yards, averaging 5 yards per carry. Dorian Singer has 681 receiving yards and one touchdown.</p><p>Utah's defense, ranked 26th nationally, has allowed 20.3 points per game this season. They’ve given up 131.7 rushing yards per game and 191.5 passing yards, with opposing quarterbacks completing just 51.6% of their passes, the 7th-lowest rate in the country.</p> <p></p><p>In their recent game against Colorado, Utah allowed 49 points, including three rushing touchdowns, despite limiting Colorado to 65 rushing yards. The Utes gave up 340 passing yards but also recorded an interception.</p>

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

<p>Sportsbooks always have some sort of promotion that they offer their players. &nbsp;Some sports betting sites have a few, while others have more to choose from, but if you are going to bet online, you want to make sure that you are playing at a sports betting outlet that has plenty to offer.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When a new sports bettor looks to <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/us/">sign up and bet on sports online</a></strong>, they have plenty of things that they have to consider. This of course includes the safety and security of the sports betting site as well as the reputation that they bring to the table. It will of course include the cashier and the methods that they use for a player to fund their account or get paid out, but they also have to look at one more thing; the promotions. At WagerWeb they realize that players love promotions and that is why they have a long list of things to choose from. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It all starts with a high roller promotion that they have for their players. At <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/reviews/wagerweb/">WagerWeb</a></strong> this is considered good options if you want to place a couple of bets and eventually consider stepping out on a big bet. They have a 20% cash or 30% free play which is a very good bonus and it has a 10 time rollover and there are no restrictions on your bets. These types of bonuses are available at many sports betting sites but this is just the start of the great things that WagerWeb offers to new players. They always recommend cash bonuses to their players and they also offer up several rebates. The new player can get 5% on Race book Volume on all Major Tracks and 5% Casino Loses and they have other options as well. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They pay back for betting on sports as they also offer up a sports betting rebate to the player if they don&rsquo;t take cash on the bonus when signing up. They have a weekly cash back program which automatically credits your account every Monday. Pick the Elite Bonus program and receive 1% cash back based on volume every week. So, win or lose WagerWeb gives you 1% cash back every Monday which will instantly put cash back into your account every week so you will not miss out on the action. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They also make sending money to your account very easy and they have a special promotion for that too. With this great sport betting site they had a great deposit promotion that they started January 1st 2016 which allowed you to get your 10th deposit for free. Make nine deposits in a row without making a payout and you&rsquo;ll get the 10th one for free. Your deposit amount will be the average of the last 9 deposits and you will not have to pay anything. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are signing up with a quality sports betting site they will have a great reputation and they will have a safe and secure site, but they will also have great promotions. <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/wagerweb">Sign up at WagerWeb today</a></strong> and see what they have to offer! </span></p>

WagerWeb Sportsbook: Plenty of Promotions

<p>The Ravens are favored on the road in their week eight matchup against the Browns. The game, set for 1:00 ET on Sunday, October 27th at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, has Baltimore at -469 on the money line. The Browns, with a +9 point spread and +364 on the money line, are looking to add to their record, as are the Ravens. The over/under line is set at 44.5 points, and this AFC North matchup is being televised on CBS.</p><h3>BALTIMORE RAVENS VS CLEVELAND BROWNS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Cleveland Browns +9</p><p>This game will be played at Huntington Bank Field at 1:00 ET on Sunday, October 27th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CLEVELAND BROWNS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Ravens winning this one by a score of 26 to 20</li><li>Even though we like the Ravens to win, our ATS pick is to take the Browns at +9</li><li>Look for this game to go over the line of 44.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Ravens Win As Road Favorites?</h3><p>Heading into week 8, the Ravens are riding a five-game winning streak, including a 41-31 road win over the Buccaneers in week 7. This puts Baltimore at 5-2, giving them a 69.9% chance of winning the AFC North and a 96.4% chance of making the playoffs. They currently rank 2nd in our NFL power rankings.</p> <p>Against the spread, the Ravens are 4-2-1, including a 4-1-1 record as favorites. Their O/U record is 6-1, with the over hitting in three straight games. Baltimore’s games have averaged 56.9 points, compared to an average O/U line of 47.6.</p><p>Heading into week 8, the Ravens are 2nd in our offensive power rankings. They lead the NFL in points per game (31.1) and passing yards per game (461.4). Baltimore ranks 5th in passing yards per game, despite being 22nd in passing attempts. Lamar Jackson has been on fire, throwing for 281 yards and 5 touchdowns in week 7, with a passer rating of 158. He also had 323 yards in week 6 and 348 yards in week 5.</p> <p>On the ground, the Ravens lead the league in rushing attempts and rushing yards per game, with 210.9. Derrick Henry rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries in week 7. Before that, he had 132 yards on 24 carries in week 6 and 92 yards in week 5. Baltimore ranks 2nd in the NFL in 3rd-down conversions, with a 50% success rate.</p><p>Despite giving up 356 passing yards to the Buccaneers, the Ravens' defense came away with two interceptions in their 41-31 win. Tampa Bay completed 31 passes for a 68.9% completion rate and averaged 7.9 yards per attempt through the air. Baltimore struggled on third downs, allowing the Buccaneers to convert 64.7% of their third down attempts.</p><p></p><p>On the ground, the Ravens allowed 125 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Even though they gave up 481 total yards, the Ravens' defense forced two turnovers and came away with three sacks in the game.</p><h3>Are The Browns Going Win In At Upset At Huntington Bank Field</h3><p>Heading into week 8, the Browns are on a five-game losing streak, dropping their record to 1-6. This includes a 21-14 home loss to the Bengals in week 7. Cleveland was a 5.5-point underdog but couldn’t cover the spread, and the 35 combined points fell short of the 42.5-point line. The Browns rank 17th in our power rankings and have a 3.9% chance of making the playoffs.</p> <p>Cleveland has a -7.6 scoring margin and is 2-5 against the spread. They are 0-3 ATS as favorites and 2-2 as underdogs. Their O/U record is 2-5, with the under hitting in their last two games.</p><p>Heading into week 8, the Browns rank 32nd in our offensive power rankings. They are 25th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 15.6, and last in the league in total yards per game with 253.9. Cleveland ranks 30th in passing yards per game (159.6) despite being 5th in passing attempts. On the ground, they are 27th in rushing attempts and rushing yards per game, averaging 94.3. The Browns have struggled on 3rd down, converting just 23.7% of their attempts, which ranks 31st in the NFL. However, they have been efficient in the red zone, ranking 2nd in conversion percentage.</p> <p>In week 7, the Browns scored 14 points in a loss to the Bengals, with 8 points in the 4th quarter. Deshaun Watson completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards, finishing with a passer rating of 98. Cedric Tillman led the team with 81 receiving yards on 8 catches, while Dorian Thompson-Robinson rushed for 44 yards on 3 carries. Cleveland converted 8 of 19 3rd-down attempts and scored on both of their red zone trips.</p><p>In their 21-14 loss to the Bengals, the Browns' defense allowed just 59 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Despite this, they gave up two passing touchdowns and allowed 164 passing yards on 15 completions. The Browns' defense was tough on third down, allowing the Bengals to convert just 15.4% of their third down attempts.<p></p>Cleveland's defense also managed three sacks and held the Bengals to a 60% completion percentage. However, the Browns' offense struggled, and the defense was on the field for 32:53 of the game.</p>

Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns Betting Pick & Prediction 10/27/24

<h3><strong>College Football Betting - Orange Bowl Could Be a Shootout - Will North Carolina's Weaponry Prevail?</strong></h3>
The Texas A&amp;M Aggies feel they made a case for themselves to appear in the four-team college football playoff. But they were denied, as the selection committee, along with the Big Ten, seemed to have paved the way for Ohio State to get there despite only five games in the regular season. The Aggies' only loss came at the end of Alabama, who will be playing the rampaging Buckeyes in the national title game.

Now the question must be asked as to whether the Orange Bowl berth they received is a letdown, even though it is indeed one of the "majors." They will go up against the North Carolina Tar Heels, who have demonstrated themselves to be an offensive machine. The game gets underway at 8 PM ET at Hard Rock sStadium in Miami Gardens, televised on ESPN.

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This game pits coaches who have won national titles at other schools. Of course, Jimbo Fisher coached at Florida State, where he succeeded Bobby Bowden. and after suffering their only loss of the season, a 52 - 24 shellacking at the hands of Alabama, the Aggies came back to beat Florida 41 - 38 the next week. On balance, they've done a good job on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just 3.3 yards per carry, and they are going to need some stops against this North Carolina team which has exceeded 40 points on seven different occasions.

That's easier said than done.

Mack Brown, who won a national crown with Vince Young at Texas, came out of retirement to take the job at Chapel Hill. and he has one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Sam Howell, a super soph who completed 69% of his passes for 10.6 yards per attempt and 27 touchdowns. North Carolina ranked fourth in the nation in total offense, piling up 557 yards per game.

One of their most imposing efforts came in this very stadium, as they pounded Miami 62 - 26 behind the obscene total of 554 rushing yards.

In the college football betting odds posted on this Orange Bowl game at <a href="https://record.commissionkings.ag/_SwFIINNFoTmu11z-n_bVh2Nd7ZgqdRLk/1/"><strong>BetOnline</strong></a>, Texas A&amp;M is the favorite:

<strong>Texas A&amp;M Aggies -7.5 (-112)</strong>
<strong>North Carolina Tar Heels + 7.5 (- 108)</strong>

<strong>Over 65 points -110</strong>
<strong>Under 65 points - 110</strong>

The Tar Heels have been held below 400 yards only once this season That came against Notre Dame in a 31 - 17 loss. They also lost three point decisions to Florida State and Virginia, as the defense obviously took a nap and left UNC open for the upset. No, the stop unit is not the strength with these Heels.

But you have to really admire the versatility. Howell, who threw for 3352 yards, has a home run threat in Dyami Brown, who averaged 20 yards per reception. In the backfield there is remarkable balance. Javonte Williams (1140 yards) and Michael Carter (1245 yards) have combined for a whopping 7.7 yards per carry. Williams had 182 total touches on the season, with Carter having 181. Yes, that's what we call "balance."

Jimbo's team does not lack for offense either. Quarterback Kellen Mond has a nifty ratio of 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Isaiah Spiller has run for 993 yards on 5.6 per carry, and this is the second best offense in the nation on 3rd down conversions (56.7%), right behind Alabama.

There is no doubt about the weaponry A&amp;M possesses. What we question is whether they can get really fired up for this game. And we can tell you that if they are not focused, North Carolina has more than enough dynamite in its lineup to steamroll them. We actually feel comfortable taking the points in this one, as we see the Tar Heels being an offense that won't get slowed down much. And the OVER may not be a bad idea either.

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Capital One Orange Bowl Odds, Pick, & Prediction: North Carolina vs. Texas A&M

<p>Betting on today's Broncos and Sun Devils game? Catch the action at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, NV, as the Sun Devils hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on None. Santa Clara comes into this non-conference matchup as the -4.5 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 151 points.</p><h3>SANTA CLARA BRONCOS VS ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Arizona State Sun Devils +4.5</p><p>This game will be played at Lee's Family Forum at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Sun Devils.</li><li>Not only will Arizona State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 151 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will Santa Clara Make it Happen on the Road?</h3><h3>Santa Clara Broncos Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Santa Clara opened their season with an 85-78 win over Saint Louis on Monday, November 4th. Playing at home, the Broncos entered the game as -1.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game reached 163, surpassing the over/under line of 158.5.</p> 

<p>Santa Clara led 48-41 at halftime and maintained their lead by matching Saint Louis point-for-point in the 2nd half, with both teams scoring 37 points after the break.</p><p>Santa Clara put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range, hitting 12 of 35 attempts. They were strong at the free-throw line, converting 17 of 20 for 85%.</p> <p>Adama-Alpha Bal and Isaiah Swope each scored 24 points, with Swope knocking down 6 threes. Christoph Tilly was efficient, shooting 85.7% from the field and adding 8 rebounds.</p><p>Santa Clara's defense gave up 78 points, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 28 made field goals on 66 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the opposition hit 12 of 35 threes, shooting 34%. Santa Clara also sent them to the line 20 times, where they converted 17 free throws, an 85% rate.</p><h3>Can the Sun Devils Pull Off a Home Win?</h3><h3>Arizona State Sun Devils Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Arizona State opened their season with a 55-48 win over Idaho State on Tuesday, November 5th. Playing at home, the Sun Devils were -18 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points were 103, well under the 145.5 O/U line.</p> 

<p>ASU led 31-20 at halftime but allowed Idaho State to outscore them 28-24 in the 2nd half, raising questions about their ability to maintain focus and intensity throughout the game.</p><p>Arizona State struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 55 points on 36.4% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.6%, with the Sun Devils hitting 29.2% from beyond the arc, connecting on 7 of 24 attempts.</p> <p>Alston Mason led the way with 14 points, shooting 55.6% overall and 50% from three-point range. Isaiah Griffin and BJ Freeman each added 12 points, with Freeman also grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists.</p><p>Arizona State’s defense shined, holding their opponent to just 48 points on 36% shooting. The Sun Devils limited damage inside, with the other team hitting 41% of their two-point attempts (13/31).</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Arizona State kept the pressure on, as the opposition shot 29% (7/24) from three. The Sun Devils also sent them to the line 12 times, where they made 8 free throws (66%).</p>

Santa Clara Broncos vs Arizona State Sun Devils NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/8/24

If only they were all that easy. Valparaiso went to Loyola Chicago as a 20.5-point underdog at time of writing and lost the game by two points. Sometimes you find a game that simply looks too good to be true and that was the one. It brings us up to 2-1 for the week now with the lone loss that heartbreaker from ETSU on Monday.

Let’s keep the good vibes going as we inch closer to the weekend. Thursday’s college hoops card presents a few opportunities, but the spotlight game is a big one in the America East Conference between Vermont and UMBC. The Catamounts head to Baltimore County favored by 1.5 with a total of 133 at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada"><strong>Bovada Sportsbook</strong></a>.
<h3><strong><u>Vermont</u></strong><strong><u> Catamounts</u></strong></h3>
These are the unquestioned best teams in this conference and with conference tournaments just a couple of weeks away, this back-to-back on Thursday and Friday could very well decide seeding for that tournament. Of course, both teams could just end up with byes to the semifinals and then meet for a third and decisive meeting in the conference tourney, but first we have to see what happens in this one.

Vermont started slow with losses in three of the first five games of the conference play season, but they’ve rattled off seven straight since. The closest win was the most recent one with a four-point dub over Stony Brook in a look-ahead spot in advance of the huge games with UMBC. Vermont was just 11-of-33 on two-point shots in that game and had to rely on a 10-for-26 effort from three to survive the upset bid.

John Becker’s team moves methodically, as it always does. The Catamounts rank 259th nationally in adjusted tempo. They play well on offense and play exceptional defense. Offensively, they are 43rd in eFG% and 32nd in 2P%. The three-point success rate sits at 35.1% and they certainly needed just about all of that against Stony Brook in that most recent win. They take threes at a 41.5% clip, which seems counterintuitive to me with their 2P%, but they’ve been a good team for a long time and deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Defensively, the Catamounts shine. They are 15th in eFG% defense. They are in the top 20 in 3P% defense and 46th in 2P% defense. It is perfectly fair and reasonable to look at the opposing slate of offenses in the America East and factor that into the equation because there are very few quality teams in this league.
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<h3><strong><u>UMBC Retrievers</u></strong></h3>
UMBC is a quality team. The Retrievers did get to play a few non-conference games as well, including a close loss to Georgetown and wins over George Washington and Delaware, a couple of teams better than most of what the AEC has to offer. Still, UMBC has also lost three conference games, so this is a battle for first place in the league.

The Retrievers haven’t played in 10 days, so they’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this one. Vermont last played on Sunday. Both teams have ample prep time, but UMBC has more time to pore over the intricate details of this matchup. A matchup they lost two out of three times last year. UMBC doesn’t have the offense that Vermont does. The Retrievers don’t really stand out in any discernible way offensively. They are third in the conference in 3P%, but that’s really about it.

Where UMBC does stand out, though, is on the defensive side. They are tops in the conference in 2P% defense and in free throw rate against. They are second in eFG% defense. Obviously the team first in eFG% defense is Vermont, but the Catamounts are at 45.1% and the Retrievers are at 45.3%, so the difference is nominal at best.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Games tighten up as they increase in importance. This is a highly important game for both teams. I would expect max efforts on both ends of the floor, but especially on defense. That is where both teams shine anyway. Vermont does have the big offensive edge and deserves to be the favorite here, but this is also a step up in class for both teams in a weak America East Conference.

As long as this one stays mostly close throughout, fingers crossed that we can avoid a foul fest. I look at this game and see two teams that probably feel like equals given some of the matchups that we’ve had recently. They both succeed in similar ways. To me, that level of familiarity and commonality lends itself towards an under.
<h4><strong>Pick: Under 133</strong></h4>
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Vermont at UMBC College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/18/21

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