Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping News Articles

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 3/7/2017

A. All-Star Game. In the wake of an NBA All-Star Game that made the San Francisco 49ers' defense seem awesome by comparison, changes are coming. So says commissioner Adam Silver, who is welcoming suggestions from any and all parties to Adam@NBA.com. Can we also get a change to the Dunk Contest? Like, either get people who can do cool dunks or just get rid of it?

Sports Betting Futures Odds: March Madness is Just About Here
by Ricky Dimon - 3/6/2017

A month the Atlanta Falcons, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and anyone who isn't a fan of cold weather or Valentine's Day will want to forget has come to a merciful end. And that means March is here. While the Big Dance does not tip off until next week, some bids have already been handed out and major conference tournaments get underway this week. Prepare for the madness!

Case of the Mondays: Costly Loss for Duke, and not Just Because it was to UNC
by Ricky Dimon - 3/6/2017

Duke took care of business on its home floor earlier this season against North Carolina, but the Blue Devils could not pull off the sweep. A date last Saturday with the Tar Heels in the Dean Dome in front Michael Jordan-and a whole lot of other UNC fans more hostile than Jordan, proved to be too much for the visitors. Thus Duke has some serious work in front of it if the team wants to cut down the nets at the upcoming ACC Tournament. On the NBA hardwood, meanwhile, the Celtics suffered an almost inexplicable loss to Phoenix on Sunday.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 3/1/2017

A. Atletico Madrid. Fourteen matches remain in La Liga, but Atletico can just about kiss its title chances goodbye. The Club lost to FC Barcelona 2-1 last weekend when Lionel Messi scored the game-winner for the visitors in the 86th minute. Atletico is now tied for fourth on the table, 10 points back of Real Madrid. Barcelona is one point behind Real in second place. Real is -200 favorite at Bovada Sportsbook to win the league title.

Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 2/28/2017

Spring training is in full swing as all 30 MLB teams begin preparations for a run at the 2017 World Series title. It took the Chicago Cubs more than 100 years to win their last world title. However, in this week's discussion with Doc's expert handicapper and former Chicago native Raphael Esparza, we will get his thoughts on his beloved Cubs' chance to repeat.

Case of the Mondays: La La Land Blows Biggest Lead Since Falcons in Super Bowl
by Ricky Dimon - 2/27/2017

La La Land just made the recent championship-costing collapses by the Warriors, Indians, and Falcons pale in comparison to its demise on Sunday night at the Academy Awards. After all, the three aforementioned teams had not entirely won (well, the Falcons basically had) before they ended up losing. La La Land, however, did win Best Picture-before it didn't. That's right; the Oscars ended in such stunning fashion that even Steve Harvey would be proud.

Thank God it's Friday: Sacramento Cuts Ties With Cousins
by Ricky Dimon - 2/24/2017

DeMarcus Cousins sounded genuinely sad to be leaving Sacramento, but it will likely be the the Kings who are feeling much worse than their departed star in the near future. The consensus is that Sacramento got ripped off by New Orleans in this week's blockbuster deal. An even more overwhelming consensus agrees that the Slam Dunk Contest was a complete dud. Zach LaVine was not a part of the festivities, and Aaron Gordon did not have the same kind of spring in his step that he displayed in 2016.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 2/23/2017

B. Bet. Genie Bouchard paid off a Super Bowl bet with a Twitter follower by going on date with him to the Nets vs. Bucks game last Wednesday. Of course, it was probably just a publicity stunt to shed light on what's really important: have you seen her in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue?!?!

Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 2/21/2017

Racing moves to top of the list in this week's discussion with Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza, starting with a key Kentucky Derby prep race at Fair Grounds this Saturday and moving on to NASCAR for Sunday's Daytona 500. We will also try and pin Raphael down on his top-unit play for Sunday night's Oscars.

Sports Betting Futures Odds: Earnhardt Starting on Front Row at Daytona 500
by Ricky Dimon - 2/21/2017

The NASCAR season gets underway this weekend with the most important race in the sport, the Daytona 500. Chase Elliott, son of Bill Elliott, is on the pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start right beside him. This week also marks the start of the NBA's proverbial second half, with the All-Star Game and Slam Dunk Contest having come (unfortunately) and gone (mercifully). Russell Westbrook may be feuding with Kevin Durant, but James Harden is the one Westbrook is battling for MVP.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 2/16/2017

B. Brandon Phillips. Phillips rejected a trade to the Braves earlier in the offseason but agreed to one last weekend. Since the end of the 2016 campaign, Atlanta has acquired the 35-year-old Phillips, 42-year-old R.A. Dickey, and 43-year-old Bartolo Colon. Maybe the Braves are purposely getting guys who would have put them in the playoffs a decade ago so that they won't actually have to go this year's playoffs and put the city of Atlanta through more heartbreak. MyBookie.ag has the Braves at +4500 to win the National League Pennant.

Sports Betting Futures Odds: NBA All-Star Weekend Takes to New Orleans
by Ricky Dimon - 2/15/2017

The NBA all-star break is almost here, and it will be highlighted by festivities in New Orleans this weekend. Zach LaVine is out of the Slam Dunk Contest (first by his own decision and then via injury, anyway), but that doesn't mean it will be easy in the Big Easy for Aaron Gordon.Derrick Jones Jr. could challenge Gordon, while Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving are among those entered in the Three-Point Contest.

Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 2/14/2017

Doc's Sports expert handicapper Raphael Esparza is one of the best in the game when it comes to horse racing. And while the annual "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs is still a couple of months away, in this week's discussion we will get his early thoughts on some up-and-coming three-year olds trying to make a name for themselves on this year's Kentucky Derby trail.

Case of the Mondays: Thunder Lose Big in Durant's Return
by Ricky Dimon - 2/13/2017

Kevin Durant's return to Oklahoma City did not end well for the home team this past Saturday night. Once Durant's sidekick and now a borderline one-man show, Russell Westbrook did not have enough to lead the Thunder past Golden State. Indiana's week on the hardwood was even worse than that of OKC as the Hoosiers saw their recent skid continue with losses at the hands of Purdue and Michigan.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 2/10/2017

A. Alabama. Death, taxes, and Alabama finishing with the No. 1 class on National Signing Day. If those aren't the three certainties of life, they should be. As usual, head coach Nick Saban welcomed the finest haul of recruits in the land to Tuscaloosa last Wednesday. The Crimson Tide are +300 favorites at BetOnline Sportsbook to win the College Football Playoff.

Thank God it's Friday: Atlanta Chokes Again
by Ricky Dimon - 2/10/2017

It will take a lot longer than five days for Atlanta to get over its latest choke-job. Even the most painful of the Braves' playoff failures paled in comparison to what transpired this past Sunday in Super Bowl LI. But it's been a tough week for others, too. Tiger Woods may be back on the shelf due to injury, Zach LaVine wouldn't have been able to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest even if he had wanted to, the Boston Bruins need a new coach, and a bizarre tennis incident took $7,000 out of a 17-year-old's pocket.

Sports Betting Futures Odds: Time for Other Sports to Shine
by Ricky Dimon - 2/9/2017

Football season has come and gone, but plenty remains to whet the appetite of sports fans. Basketball and hockey are in full swing, and spring training is soon to begin. Who will win a competitive NBA MVP race between James Harden and Russell Westbrook? Can the Washington Capitals parlay regular-season momentum into an eventual playoff run? Those questions, and more, will be answered in the not-too-distant future.

Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 2/7/2017

We just witnessed one of the wildest Super Bowls in the history of the NFL. However, it's a brand new week of sports betting at Doc's Sports, so we will get expert handicapper Raphael Esparza to weigh in on everything from college basketball to MMA fighting in this week's discussion.

Sports Betting Futures Odds: Super Bowl Sunday is Almost Here
by Ricky Dimon - 2/2/2017

Super Bowl Sunday is just a few days away, and after more than a week of analysis the football world can mostly agree on just one thing: it will be an offensive shootout between the Falcons and the Patriots. Supporting casts that include Julio Jones, Julian Edelman, Devonta Freeman, and LeGarrette Blount should help Matt Ryan and Tom Brady put on a show.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 2/1/2017

A. Anthony, Carmelo. Four teams (Golden State, San Antonio, Houston, and Cleveland) are hogging so many wins that if you aren't in an NBA playoff spot, you stink. Charlotte is three games under .500 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference; Denver is five games under .500 and in eighth place in the West. The Knicks are even worse than that and therefore on the outside looking in-2.5 games out of playoff position at 21-29. Anthony may want to think about waiving his no-trade clause if New York is successful in shipping him out of town. The Knicks are -2.5 favorites at Brooklyn on Wednesday, per GT Bets.