Weekly Sports Betting and Handicapping News Articles

Weekly Q&A with Doc’s Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 1/2/2014

Doc’s Sports: Wild Card Weekend in the NFL is often filled with unexpected twists and turns, so starting in the AFC, which teams do you like in Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Colts contest and in Sunday’s tilt between the Chargers and the Bengals?

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 12/26/2013

A. Arizona Cardinals. It’s a good time to be the Arizona Cardinals. One year after going 5-11, they are 10-5 and still in playoff contention thanks to a three-game winning streak that includes a Week 16 upset of the Seahawks in Seattle. Of course, it could be even better. Had San Francisco lost its Monday night thriller against Atlanta, Arizona would be in control of its own destiny. After the 49ers pulled it out, the Cards’ Twitter feed simply read: “Ouch.”

Back to the Futures: Strong Candidates for Texas Job
by Ricky Dimon - 12/26/2013

It’s always the same this time on the calendar. With a new year comes new jobs at the highest level of the football coaching rankings, and 2014 will be no exception. Mack Brown? Already gone (well, almost). Jim Schwartz? See ya. Jason Garrett? Coaching for his job—allegedly—on Sunday. At the other end of the spectrum, however, it’s time to delve into NFL Coach of the Year talk.

Blue Christmas: Cowardly Lions Strike Again
by Ricky Dimon - 12/24/2013

Are the Detroit Lions afraid of winning? They have lost so many games of late, and you just cannot make up the fashion in which they have lost them. Of course, the weekend was even worse for the likes of Notre Dame basketball. Let’s take a look at the teams and players that could really use a Christmas break.

Weekly Q&A with Doc’s Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 12/24/2013

Doc’s Sports: The playoffs start early for four NFL teams in the final week of the regular season with two divisional title games on Week 17’s slate. In the first showdown, Green Bay needs to beat Chicago for the NFC North crown, but it is still awaiting word on the playing status of Aaron Rodgers. The way the Bears looked last Sunday night in a lopsided loss to Philadelphia, do the Packers still need him to play to win this game?

A Holiday Wish List: Taking a Look at Trends Bettors want to Continue
by George Monroy - 12/24/2013

The holiday season may be the only season that bettors wish was a bit shorter. The long lines, the crazy parking, and a wife that makes you miss Sunday night football to go Christmas shopping can make a two month season feel like a 162-game Major League Baseball marathon. Luckily for all the bettors out there, the holiday season is nearing its end, and for everyone that is about to receive a bunch of gifts that are two sizes too big or out-of-style neck ties, here is a quick list of betting trends that most gamblers would love to see continue into the New Year.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 12/18/2013

B. Dez Bryant. Bryant channeled his inner Randy Moss and peaced out of the Cowboys’ stunning 37-36 home loss to the Packers last Sunday with 1:21 remaining. The star receiver said he had to go cry in the locker room, unable to watch the visitors kneel out the final ticks of their come-from-behind win. Tony Romo threw two interceptions in the final 2:46, including one with Dallas trying to run out the clock leading, 36-31. The ‘Boys are +130 at Sportsbook.ag to win the NFC East.

Case of the Mondays: Big-Time Meltdown in Big ‘D’
by Ricky Dimon - 12/16/2013

The Dallas Cowboys were well on their way to a home win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, leaving them tied atop the NFC East with Philadelphia and assured of no worse than a winner-take-all scenario against the Eagles in Week 17. Thirty minutes of football and two Tony Romo interceptions later, the ‘Boys found themselves one game back and at risk of being eliminated by this coming Sunday. No other team can be feeling so bad on this Monday, but the Patriots and Saints could be close.

Back to the Futures: The World Awaits
by Ricky Dimon - 12/13/2013

The 2014 World Cup draw ceremony was held last Friday, so now it’s time to get serious. Host Brazil remains the tournament favorite, but its path could be more difficult than it appears at first glance. We’re almost exactly six months away from finding out what unfolds. We won’t have to wait nearly as long for college football to sort itself out as the bowl season will soon be upon us.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 12/11/2013

A. Auburn. The miracle season continues for Auburn, which did not need any divine intervention to roll over Missouri in the SEC Championship. It did, however, get a huge assist from Michigan State when the Spartans upset then-No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. As such, the Tigers vaulted into the second ranking and will face Florida State for the National Championship. FSU is a -9 favorite over Auburn, according to 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Weekly Q&A with Doc’s Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 12/10/2013

Doc’s Sports: We have already covered your thoughts on the NFC East and NFC North Division races, so turning to the South, does this past Sunday night’s dominant win over Carolina give the Saints the inside edge to win the title, or is this race coming down to the wire as well?

Case of the Mondays: Bedlam on the Football Field and the Golf Course
by Ricky Dimon - 12/9/2013

Here’s hoping you have the Red Zone channel, because the finishes of Sunday’s 1 p.m. NFL games were out of control. Among them was a miracle comeback by New England (and spectacular choke by Cleveland). The back-nine showdown between Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson out in Thousand Oaks, Ca. was equally wild and hard to believe. All of it has people wondering just what the heck happened over the weekend.

Thank God it’s Friday: Winston Cleared for Action, Alabama not so Much
by Ricky Dimon - 12/6/2013

Well, thank God that’s over. The Jameis Winston case that we have been hearing about just about nonstop for the last month reached a low point when it singlehandedly caused the cancellation of Ron Burgundy’s anchoring of the 6 p.m. EST “SportsCenter” on Thursday. For others, however, a long week continues on the gridiron, the hardwood, and on the pitch.

This Week in Sports Betting by the Numbers
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/5/2013

December has arrived, but it is tough to ignore how November ended with one of the wildest weeks in college football history capped by yet another improbable win by Auburn. While Auburn and Ohio State -- and everyone else in the college football world -- fret about decimal points in the BCS Standings, here are the numbers that mattered this week in the world of sports.

Back to the Futures: Football Winding Down, Hot Stove Heating Up
by Ricky Dimon - 12/5/2013

Conference championships will be decided on the college gridiron this weekend, and a number of NFL division races are either toast or virtually toast. Will Jameis Winston be allowed to burn his Heisman competition to a crisp this weekend? As for baseball, the hot stove is not waiting for next week’s winter meetings.

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 12/4/2013

A. Auburn-Alabama. “Holy cow! Oh my god! Auburn wins! Auburn has won the Iron Bowl! I cannot believe it!” Yep, the call by Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett just about sums it up. BookMaker has the Tigers as -2 favorites over Missouri in Saturday’s SEC Championship.

Doc’s Sports Fourth Down and Inches
by Max Powers - 12/3/2013

For the most part, the 2013 college football regular season finished up last Saturday. And while many teams are awaiting their bowl destination, there is still work left to do for a number of teams this weekend. This week’s card may be smaller than usual, but it features some great action across the country. The two games that everybody will be watching this Saturday are the SEC Championship in Atlanta at 4 p.m. and the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis starting at 8:17 p.m.

Weekly Q&A with Doc’s Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 12/3/2013

Doc’s Sports: The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks are coming off of huge victories that have them in prime position to claim the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences. Are Denver and Seattle your top two teams heading into the final four weeks of the NFL regular season?

This Week in Sports Betting, A-Z
by Ricky Dimon - 11/27/2013

A. Bruce Arians. Arians took over for Chuck Pagano last season and led the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs. On Sunday, he hammered his old team with his new squad—the Arizona Cardinals. After losing to Arizona 40-11, the Colts have now dropped two of their last three games by a combined 59 points (the other to St. Louis in Week 10). The Cardinals are +3 road underdogs on Sunday against Philadelphia, according to 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Back to the Futures: Two-Way Traffic to the BCS Championship
by Ricky Dimon - 11/27/2013

The Iron Bowl may be the final stoplight in the way of an Alabama vs. Florida State BCS National Championship. FSU’s remaining schedule is a joke, and any SEC Championship opponent for the Crimson Tide would likely be easier than Auburn on the road. If college football is currently a two-team race, the early bid for NBA MVP is a three-man battle.