Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping News Articles

Football Betting: Weekly Public Action Report
by T.O. Whenham - 9/17/2010

We’ll start with a brief recap of what we are looking for because it’s early in the season. Typically, when a large number of bets - at least 70 percent of all those placed on a game - are on one side then we would expect the odds for that side to get less attractive in response to the attention. Sometimes, though, we see situations where the action is unbalanced, yet the team that gets the attention actually finds their odds getting more attractive.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 9/14/2010

Ines Sainz. The bombshell sports reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca says she has felt uncomfortable around the New York Jets team after she was subjected to catcalls and whistles. Sainz was reporting on Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez, a Mexican-American. Along with the catcalls and whistles Sainz noticed errant footballs kept landing around her forcing players to come near her to retrieve them. Of course if anybody watched Sanchez Monday night it is obvious that those passes landing near the television reporters were probably by accident.

Football Betting: Weekly Public Action Report
by T.O. Whenham - 9/10/2010

If you are new to the Report, the games that capture our attention each week are ones that have line movement that doesn't make sense given the betting patterns. Specifically, when more than 70 percent of bets have been made on one team yet the line on that team is dropping (becoming more attractive), then we take note. That indicates one of two things: either that a small number of serious bettors are betting large amounts of money on the team that the public doesn't like, or that for some reason the books have a good reason not to be afraid of one-sided action in a game.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 9/7/2010

W- Wozniacki, Caroline. Already the top-ranked tennis player in the world, Wozniacki, the Danish blonde beauty is starting to hit the mainstream in the United States with her performance in the U.S. Open. She knocked off Maria Sharapova to reach the quarterfinals and has emerged as a fan favorite around New York and a betting favorite at 3/2.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/31/2010

B – Bears. According to Forbes, the Chicago Bears are the most neglected brand in football. With the second-largest television market at their disposal and being one of only two original NFL teams, the Bears are only the ninth most valuable franchise ranking behind many small-market teams. Their performance in the market has resembled their dismal performance on the field.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/24/2010

C – Chris Johnson. Fantasy football participants have gathered around the country and conducted their drafts and with about half of the drafts completed, a consensus has been reached and Adrian Peterson is no longer the average No. 1 pick. That honor goes to Chris Johnson, who was drafted on average at position 1.6. Peterson was second with an average drafting position of 2.4. He should not feel bad, though, as other former top picks have fallen even further including LaDainian Tomlinson (No. 90) and Larry Johnson (No. 170).

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/17/2010

A – Abbey Clancy. The English lingerie model who is engaged to England footballer Peter Crouch could be headed back on the market after a hat trick of allegations has fallen upon the 29-year old striker. Clancy burst onto the scene in this year’s SI Swimsuit Edition wearing nothing but bodypaint. And now she has been spotted without her $300,000 engagement ring on. This is after news broke of Crouch having a fling with a teenage prostitute and after pictures surfaced of him with two other blondes getting frisky on the French Riviera. Crouch was supposed to be on a romantic trip with Clancy to fix the relationship the night the incriminating pictures were taken.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/4/2010

A – Albert Haynesworth. The 100 million dollar man now has failed three conditioning tests at Redskins training camp. At least his latest failure had an excuse when a small amount of swelling was detected in his left knee Haynesworth was allowed to abort the test. To pass the test Haynesworth has to run 300 yards in less than 74 seconds. No other Redskin player is required to do this because no other Redskin player refused to attend offseason conditioning and because no other Redskin is as grossly out of shape.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 7/27/2010

A – AshleyMadison.com. The dating Web site submitted a $25 million offer to purchase the naming rights to the new Giants Stadium for five seasons through the 2014 Super Bowl. The one big snag with the bid is the nature of the dating Web site. AshleyMadison.com specifically targets people interested in committing adultery. The site’s founder, Noel Biderman, said he is willing to match any other offer that may come in for the naming rights, but the Giants and Jets do not appear to willing to name their stadium after the home-wrecking online service.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 7/20/2010

A – Alberto and Andy. The lack of kuth in this Tour de France has not just been limited to head-butting bikers (more on that later). Former Tour leader Andy Schleck expressed anger not just because his chain came loose during the 15th stage but also because defending champion Alberto Contador did not wait for him to catch up. This is tantamount to a linebacker losing a cleat and a running back waiting for him to catch up so he would have a chance to make the tackle. Fans booed Contador as he donned the yellow jersey after gaining an eight-second lead over Schleck. Thanks to this lack of sportsmanship there may finally be some drama as the Tour winds down this week.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 7/13/2010

A – Andres Iniesta. The 26-year old midfielder from Barcelona immortalized himself in Spanish soccer lore with his career-changing goal in the final minutes of the final game of the 2010 World Cup. It was the latest game-winning goal ever scored in a World Cup Final and it gave Spain the World Cup title that had eluded it for so long.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 7/7/2010

On Monday Stoudemire struck the opening salvo and got the NBA Free Agency frenzy underway by signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the New York Knicks. And with that the summer of spending in the NBA was underway.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 5/17/2010

‘Pretty good’ wasn't good enough for the Hawks. Head coach Mike Woodson is out of a job this week after six years at the helm of the team after his contract was not renewed. His time couldn't be called anything but a success - after winning just 13 games his first year he posted a better record each year and made the playoffs the last three years. The team looked totally hopeless in getting swept by the Magic, though, and management clearly wondered how much further Woodson could take the team. Needless to say, the next hire will be absolutely crucial.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 5/10/2010

Chelsea needed a win in their weekend contest against Wigan to clinch the Premier League title. They certainly got it. Chelsea won 8-0 in a ridiculously lopsided contest. Wigan lost a player to a red card in the first half, but that wasn't the deciding factor in this one. Didier Drogba, who will be starring for the Ivory Coast in the World Cup, scored three goals during the game to bring his season total to 29 and clinch the golden boot for the league's highest scorer.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 5/3/2010

The resurrection of the Hawks may not be complete, but it sure is moving in the right direction. After winning their first two games at home, Atlanta dropped three in a row to the pesky Bucks, but they were able to get their act together to win the last two and move onto a second round meeting with Orlando. The most impressive part of the series came from a Milwaukee player, though - Jerry Stackhouse did an impressive rendition of the national anthem before the sixth game.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 4/20/2010

With the start of every new season there has to be a team that is the last to win their first game. That team was unfortunately the Astros this year. It took them nine games to finally enter the win column. Though losing in never a good thing, there's no real shame in struggling against the deadly collection of teams they were forced to face - after opening against San Francisco they played Philadelphia and then traveled to St. Louis. That's the best of the National League all in a row.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 4/13/2010

The guy is arguably the top MMA fighter in the world, but it seems like he has been hit in the head one too many times. He defended his UFC middleweight title against Demian Maia in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, but it was the strangest fight I have ever seen. Silva obviously could have beat Maia to a pulp at any time after breaking his nose early with a flying kick, but instead of fighting him he just taunted and mocked him for five rounds en route to the decision. Despite being ridiculously talented, Silva seems to have no killer instinct, and no desire to entertain.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 4/5/2010

There are few things as fun to watch as a meltdown by a coach, and Jim Playfair had one for the ages this week. He's the former coach of the Calgary Flames, and now the coach of their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. Upset about a call by the refs, Playfair climbed up on the bench, took a player's stick, and smashed it over the boards. That was just the start. Next, he ripped his jacket off in his best Incredible Hulk impression. Finally, he grabbed a second stick and wrecked it in a way that made the first one look gentle. It was epic.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 3/29/2010

Sidney Crosby, the second best hockey player on the planet, had a bit of a slump last week - seven games without a goal. He ended it with a bang on Sunday - two goals and the shootout winner to beat Toronto. More significant than that performance, though, is the fact that he moved into the NHL goal scoring lead. Crosby has looked for assists before goals before this year, so what we are seeing is a new, scarier version of greatness.

This Week in Betting, A-Z
by T.O. Whenham - 3/22/2010

There is no question what the enduring image of the first weekend of this year's tournament is going to be. Northern Iowa's Ali Farokhmanesh got the ball in three-point territory, briefly considered that he should pass because he had been ice cold all of the second half, couldn't resist the fact that he was wide open, and coolly hit they three pointer that stuck a dagger in the heart of Kansas. It may have been an unlikely win - one of the most unlikely ever - but you sure can't say that the Panthers were a fluke. They looked like they wanted that win from the start, and they outplayed the top ranked team in the country.