Belmont Betting Odds: Animal Kingdom Made Morning Line Favorite

Horse racing's Triple Crown does not draw the excitement that it used to in the US, but that does not mean that gamblers do not look forward to the three big races. There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, but there will still be plenty of excitement in New York tomorrow.

The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, has seen several horses in the past decade come to New York with a chance at becoming the first horse in decades to win the Triple Crown. Unfortunately, none of the horses succeeded.

This year, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will be looking to capture at least two of the three races. Animal Kingdom has been made the morning line betting favorite, with odds of 2/1 to win the Belmont. John Velazquez will be the jockey attempting to ride Animal Kingdom to the win.

Nehro, who has been shut out of the first two Triple Crown race wins, is the second choice tomorrow, at 4/1. Shackleford was the horse that ruined Animal Kingdom's hopes by winning the Preakness, is the third choice, at 9/2. Jose Castanon will be on top of Shackleford, and Corey Nakatani has been called on to ride Nehro to victory.

Horse racing has slipped in terms of overall popularity over the past two decades. As the popularity has dropped, the race tracks across the US have started to experience financial trouble. Lawmakers in many states have created bills allowing slot machines at the tracks to help ease the financial burden created by the lack of attendance. Kentucky lawmakers have yet to pass a bill that would help legendary Churchill Downs with slots.

The Belmont cast of horses is better than any the race has seen in years. For the first time ever, the top seven finishers from the Kentucky Derby will all be running in the Belmont. Traditionally, some horses are held out of the Belmont because they are not used to running three races in the span of seven weeks.

Others are held out of the race due to the length. The Belmont is longer than both the Derby and the Preakness.

June 10, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Gamblers Watch Helplessly As Heat Give Away Game And Wagers

When gamblers place money on an NBA game, the hope is that the game will be decided in their favor before the last five minutes of the game. That appeared to be the case on Thursday in game two of the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat, one of the most talented teams in the league, went up by fifteen points with five minutes left when Dwyane Wade hit a three pointer from the corner. At that moment fans in Miami, and gamblers who had bet on the Heat, began to celebrate. What happened next game both the aforementioned groups heartache.

The Dallas Mavericks returned a favor the Heat had provided over five years ago. Dallas came storming back on the strength of strong defense and Dirk Nowitzki's seemingly unwillingness to lose. When Nowitzki made a left-handed layup with less than four seconds to go, Miami fans headed for the doors, and gamblers who placed wagers on Miami headed for the bathroom.

As unpredictable as sports can be, a fifteen point lead for a team that has Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, is as close to a sure thing as there is in sports. Much like the New York Giants showed a couple of years ago, however, there is no such thing as a sure bet.

Now the question for gamblers will be whether or not the Heat can recover from this type of devastating loss. When Miami came back from thirteen down the last time these teams met in the finals, they went on to win the next three games and capture a championship. Dallas will be looking to do the same, with the next three games in the series being played on their home court.

The Mavericks will head into game three on Sunday as the betting favorites. Dallas is a 2.5 point favorite, and if Miami does not get something going early, they may have a difficult time against a team that has lost on their home floor only once during these playoffs. The total for the game is 189, suggesting another defensive battle is in store.

June 4, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Finals Game Five Betting Preview: Mavericks And Heat Battling

The Miami Heat have had the public scrutiny come at them the entire season, so there is no reason for that to stop now. With LeBron James' legacy on the line, Miami is preparing to play game five of the NBA Finals tonight in Dallas.

The Mavericks avoided the disaster of losing their first two games at home in the series when they rallied to win game four. The series is now tied at two, and has been reduced to a best of three, with the Heat holding the home court advantage. Before they move back to Miami for game six and possibly game seven, Dallas will have a chance to take the series lead at home.

Miami has been the betting favorite to win the NBA title since they assembled Dwyane Wade, James, and Chris Bosh last summer. After struggling early, the Heat started looking like a championship team once the playoffs began. Las Vegas sports books have installed Miami as a 1.5 point betting favorite in game five. The total for the game is 185.

While Wade has had a strong series, James has disappeared at times, causing the national media to again question whether King James has the intestinal fortitude to win the big game. James has had only nine points combined in the fourth quarter of the four games in the finals, and he himself acknowledged that he must step u starting tonight if the Heat are going to win a championship.

"I placed a bet here in Las Vegas when the season began, and I came back this week with the hopes of cashing in that ticket," said Barry Walter, who is in Sin City for the World Series of Poker. "I have to admit though, with the way Miami has melted down a couple of times in this series, and with the way Dirk (Nowitzki) is playing, there is no guarantee I'm holding a winning ticket."

No matter who wins tonight, the series will shift back to South Beach for a game six on Sunday. If necessary, game seven will also be in Miami, on Tuesday night. Analysts have asserted that Dallas must win game five if they are to have a chance of winning a title. Most analysts agree the Mavericks will be facing almost insurmountable odds if they must win the final two games in Miami.

June 10, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Irving And Thompson Chosen To Change Cavaliers Betting Odds

The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers were in a position similar to the one they found themselves in Thursday night, Cleveland took a high school player by the name of LeBron James in the first round of the NBA draft. Now, many years later, Kyrie Irving was the name that came out of David Stern's mouth as the number one pick in the draft.

Irving was selected by the Cavaliers to become the new face of the organization. Unfortunately for Cavaliers fans, the NBA draft is not a science, and there is no guarantee that Irving will provide even a quarter of the highlights that James delivered in his seven seasons with Cleveland.

What James did when he arrived in Cleveland was change the perception of the Cavaliers franchise. Cleveland was no longer considered the bottom-feeders of the league, with odds makers even making them one of the favorites each year to win the title in James' later years with the team.

Irving will be joined on the court by forward Tristan Thompson, of Texas. The duo will be looked upon as possible saviors in the aftermath of what was one of the messiest divorces in NBA history. If Irving and Thompson can deliver on their potential, Cleveland once again could become a contender in the future in the Eastern Conference.

That is a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of two players who have played a combined two seasons of college basketball. Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert made a proclamation last summer that the Cavs would win a title before James did in Miami. He almost was proven wrong in James' first year with his new team.

Dallas gave Gilbert a reprieve, and bought the owner some time. Now, it will be up to Irving and Thompson to make good on that promise. Cleveland winning a title before Miami is still a long shot, but at least now the Cavaliers and their fans have hope, and that is more than they had when they woke up Thursday morning.

June 24, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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With NBA Draft On The Horizon, Gamblers Brace For Odd Changes

The NBA draft is only a few days away, and team executives are busy on the phones attempting to complete last minute deals that could alter the draft order. Two teams expected to be betting favorites next year, Los Angeles and Miami, have no number one pick.

That could change by the end of the week. Sources have confirmed that both the Heat and Lakers are looking to pick up a first round pick. The teams are in much different positions when it comes to trade pieces, with the Lakers having many players they could move, and the Heat limited in their assets.

With LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all locked into long term deals, and the NBA labor negotiations not going well, it is unlikely Miami would make much of a splash on the trade market. If the Heat did pick up a pick, it would likely come at the expense of Mike Miller, unless they decided to move Bosh.

The Lakers have the opportunity to make a major deal if they choose to do so. L.A. has Andrew Bynum, a commodity that dozens of NBA teams would like to acquire. It would take a player such as Dwight Howard for the Lakers to even consider moving Bynum, according to league sources.

What is a definite for Thursday's draft is that the Cleveland Cavaliers have two of the top four picks. If they choose to keep the two picks, Cleveland would suddenly have one of the youngest and most exciting teams in the league. Owner Dan Gilbert has vowed that the Cavaliers would win a title before James, an assertion that almost was proven wrong in the first year of the Big Three in Miami.

The Heat are currently the top choice of odds makers to win the championship next year. The Lakers are the second choice of odds makers. The fate of gamblers this season lies not as much with the players, but with the league labor situation.

If players and owners do not reach an agreement by July 1st, a lockout would be put in place. A lockout would threaten at a minimum, the length of the regular season next year. In the worst case scenario, the entire year could be lost to the labor unrest.

June 20, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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MLB Betting Not Working Out As Planned For Twins, Dodgers, Bettors

One of the bets that is popular at Las Vegas sports books before the Major League Baseball season begins is which teams will win their divisions. The sports books place odds on all teams based on how strong they look on paper, and gamblers can take their chances with whichever team they wish.

This season, two teams that were picked to be near the top of their divisions are in last place. That means that thousands of gamblers are holding betting slips that will end up in the garbage if the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins do not turn things around quickly.

The Twins have been perennial favorites to win the American League Central over the past decade, and this year was no different. Minnesota, along with Detroit and Chicago, were considered the favorites in 2011. Through the first two and a half months, Minnesota has played horrible baseball. The Twins are currently 10.5 games out of the division lead.

If Minnesota has shown anything over the past few seasons, it is that they can get hot when the summer months arrive. The Twins have not been a healthy bunch this year, with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan all missing significant time due to injury. Mauer is expected back this week, and that is welcomed news for gamblers that are holding Twins division winner tickets.

In the National league, it has been the Los Angeles Dodgers that have been the biggest disappointment. The Dodgers are not in as bad a shape as Minnesota, mainly because nobody in the National league West has played very good baseball yet this year. The Dodgers are 7.5 games out of first, a lead that L.A. bettors hope dissolves over the next several months.

For all of the tough luck news there is this season so far for gamblers, there is also good news for those who bet the favorites. The San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox, all favorites to win their division before the year started, are sitting on top of their respective divisions.

Underdog gamblers also have reasons to be excited heading into the summer. Cleveland is in first place in the AL Central, while Arizona sits only two games behind the Giants in the NL West. In the NL Central, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati, all teams expected to compete for the division title, are first, second, and third, respectively, in the division.

June 11, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Finals Betting Preview: Series Shifts To Miami For Finale

The NBA Finals have played out much like many analysts had predicted, with neither team being able to sustain long winning streaks in the series. The Dallas Mavericks became the first team in the series to win two straight on Thursday, and it has them within one game of their first championship.

The story lines for this year's finals have centered around LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwyane Wade. Throw in Jason Terry's mouth and clutch performances in games four and five, and suddenly this NBA Finals has become as riveting as any in recent history, including last year's Lakers. Celtics, seven game battle.

Nowitzki has never been this close to a championship. The closest he had been before this year was back in 2006, when Wade and the Heat turned a 2-0 series deficit into a 4-2 series win. This time, Dallas is looking to turn the tables on Miami, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to hold their current 3-2 lead.

The NBA Finals are set up to reward the team with home court advantage, so basketball purists will say that the series has gone exactly as scripted, and that Miami should win the series by holding serve on their home court. The Mavericks, however, are not looking at it from that view.

Instead, Dallas players understand that they were the best road team in the playoffs this season, and they have already won one game in Miami earlier in this series. To do so again, the Mavericks will have to get the same type of production out of Terry as they have in the past two games.

The Heat will return home as betting favorites. Miami is favored by five points in game six. The total for the game is 187, staying consistent with the rest of the series' totals. In game five, the two teams exploded offensively, but with the series back in Miami, nobody is expecting another offensive performance like the one the teams put up on Thursday.

June 12, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Heat Look To Move Bulls To The Brink

The Miami Heat came into this season as the most hated basketball team in the NBA. The Heat pulled off a summer slam last year when they signed Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh to long term contracts. With the Big Three in place, James predicted many titles for the Heat.

Early on in the season, Miami looked more like an expansion team than a world champion. As the season went on, Miami players started to gel, and by the time the playoffs rolled around, Miami had put it all together. Now, they find themselves only two wins from the NBA Finals, and NBA fans in other cities are on edge.

"I really hope this team falls apart down the stretch and loses," said Marc Hansley. "They are just so arrogant, and I couldn't stand having to hear their fans talk about how great they are all year. I am a big Bulls fan right now."

That anger is seen throughout the US. When James and his teammates joined forces and threw a party on South Beach last year, many saw that as arrogance. It may be James and Wade, however, that will get the last laugh, and their next party may be a celebration of an actual championship won.

Tonight, Chicago has their backs up against the wall. It is unlikely they can win three in a row against Miami, even with two of those games in Chicago. For the Bulls to win, they must play tougher defense than they did down the stretch in game three. Miami has still not loss at home in the playoffs this season.

Odds makers have made Miami the betting favorite for game four. The Heat are favored by five points. Sports books have again installed a low total of 179 for the game. The defenses in the series are considered to be two of the best in the league. The winner of this series could be on a collision course with Dallas, who has a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference over Oklahoma City.

May 24, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Rubio's Arrival To Alter NBA Betting Odds For Timberwolves

Look at any sports books' odds on the 2012 NBA season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be listed somewhere near, or at, the bottom. The Timberwolves have been the laughingstock of the league since they traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics.

In the time since that acquisition, the Celtics have vaulted to the top of the betting choices when it comes to winning a championship. Boston has already won one title with Garnett, and they came close two seasons ago when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Although Minnesota may still be in the lower half of the betting odds when the season starts, there will be reasons that underdog gamblers may take a chance on the T-Wolves. Ricky Rubio, the teams number one pick two seasons ago, has decided to leave Barcelona and head to the NBA. The guard is considered to be the best thing to arrive in Minnesota since Garnett.

In addition to Rubio, the Timberwolves have Kevin Love, perhaps the most dominant force on the boards in the NBA. With the combination of Love and Rubio, Minnesota fans can start getting excited enough to believe the team may be able to make a run for the playoffs as early as next season.

Minnesota will not vault to the top of the odds makers' list, with the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and the Lakers still holding down those positions. Defending champion Dallas is also considered a high choice to win back-to-back titles. That is, if there even is an NBA season this year. A lockout looms, and an abbreviated season could put a damper on gambling in 2012.

Sports books are facing their worst nightmare already this summer. If the NFL and its players cannot get together on a new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL lockout could force the elimination of games, causing sports books in Las Vegas to lose millions of dollars every week. The NBA faces a similar work stoppage, but NBA betting does not provide but a small fraction of wagering in Sin City compared to the NFL.

June 18, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Finals Betting Preview: Heat Favored, Mavericks Dangerous

The Miami Heat have been the betting favorite to win an NBA championship for nearly the entire season. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh signed on the dotted line to join forces with Dwyane Wade in Miami, odds makers immediately made the Heat the team to beat.

After a rough stretch early on caused them to lose their title of betting favorites, Miami has not looked back. They have been the best team in basketball for several months, and now they head to game one of the finals later tonight as the favorites to win the championship.

Their opponent, Dallas, is used to being in these situations. Dallas was an underdog in round two when they faced the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas won that series in five games, and cruised through the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.

The two teams' best players have something in common, neither has won a title. Dirk Nowitzki and James are two of the top five players in the game, but the title has eluded each in their careers. Over the next two weeks, one will have achieved their life-long goal, while the other will be left to ponder the question of when their time will come.

Miami holds the home court advantage in the finals due to their better overall record during the regular season. The Heat are also betting favorites for game one of the series. Miami is favored by 4.5 points, and the total for the game is 187. The two teams have combined to play some of the best defense in the playoffs thus far.

The playoff runs of Miami and Dallas is eerily similar. The Heat and Mavericks have both went 12-3 this post season. Dallas has won one more game on the road, and Miami one more at home. The Heat have not lost at home during this year's playoffs.

Game one is scheduled for 9 PM tonight, with game two on Thursday. The series will then shift to Dallas for the middle three games, and head back to Miami for games six and seven, if necessary.

May 31, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Florida Marlins Giving Gamblers Fits With Two Wins In June

The Florida Marlins are showing gamblers in the month of June why it is not a wise betting choice to keep chasing bad money. The Marlins lost again on Friday, and with five games left in June, Florida has just two wins in the month.

Conventional wisdom of some baseball gamblers is that long winning and losing streaks must come to an end. That has not been the case for the Marlins in June, and any gambler that has subscribed to the aforementioned theory has given Las Vegas sports books plenty of money this month.

A month ago, Florida was one of the feel-good story's in the league. They were just a few games behind Philadelphia in the National league East, and they had reasons to believe they would be in the wild card race through the end of the season. Then the calendar turned to June. The month that ushers in summer has given the Marlins and their fans a lesson in humility.

During June, Florida has had separate losing streaks of eight and eleven games. Their two wins came eleven days apart, and now with only five games left in June, the Marlins must win a couple of games to avoid having the worst month ever. In the meantime, gamblers have continued to place money on the team with the expectation that the losing must stop eventually.

During their long losing streak, Manager Edwin Rodriguez stepped down. The front office then dug into their history vault and pulled out Jack McKeon. The eighty-year-old manager has not been on the bench since his last stint with the Marlins, but management felt he was the right man to help turn around the team's fortunes.

McKeon brought his fiery personality to the clubhouse on day one, benching shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The all-star has responded well, but it has not translated into victories for Florida. The Marlins have two games left against Seattle, before finishing the month off with three games in Oakland.

June 25, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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PGA Golf Betting In Limbo While Tiger Woods Continues Hiatus

Tiger Woods was once so dominant on the PGA Tour that he had almost even odds in some tournaments he entered. In an individual sport, it is rare to see any participant with betting odds of less than 4/1, if only because of the amount of players competing each week.

Las Vegas sports books experienced some of the biggest bets ever on golf while Woods was dominating the tour. High rollers would come into Vegas, and even if they had no idea where the golf tournaments were being held that week, they knew Woods had a chance to win.

Times have changed, however, since Woods ran his SUV into a tree on Thanksgiving night two years ago. The most popular athlete on the planet at the time, Woods has since become a shell of his old self o the golf course. His endorsement deals have run dry after he admitted to having numerous affairs on his wife, and no longer are gamblers flocking to betting windows to place action on the world's best golfer.

On Tuesday, Woods finally acknowledged his own mortality. For years, fans thought that Woods' body was indestructible, and that his mind was stronger than any injury. Over the past year, that has proven to be untrue.

"Usually I set a timetable when I want to come back and play when I've had injuries before," said Woods, holding a press conference at his own tournament, the AT&T National. Woods will not be playing in the event due to an injury he has been battling for months, and he explained why this time, he will not rush back.

"This one is different. I'm going to learn my lesson from what I did at The Players and apply it this time and come back when I'm 100 percent. I don't know when that's going to be. That's kind of the frustrating thing about it right now is I don't know."

Admitting defeat to injury is something new to Woods. Back when he was at the height of his game, he won the US Open on a broken leg. That performance was the last of the heroic days for Woods. Now, fans will sit and wait for their fallen hero to return and save golf. Until that day, sports books will have to rely on other sports to bring gamblers to the windows.

June 29, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NFL Bettors Hoping Owners And Players Reach An Agreement Soon

The NFL is aware of the possibility that the league will lose millions of dollars should the owners lockout spill into the season, even the preseason games. That is why the players and owners are working diligently on a new collective bargaining agreement.

On the outside, it is the fans, mainly the gambling fans, that will be watching closely the next couple of weeks. If a deal is not struck by around Independence Day, preseason games would be compromised. While gamblers do not place a big emphasis on the preseason, it is a time when they start considering their betting strategy.

In past years, Las Vegas sports books have made hundreds of millions of dollars each season on the NFL. The sports books are part of a Las Vegas gaming industry that has seen revenue drop consistently in double digits for many months over the past several years.

The economic recession caused a sharp decrease in Las Vegas visitors, and it was only the past couple of months when gamblers started to return to Sin City. With the World Series of Poker helping the casinos and sports books survive the summer, it is the NFL that is being counted on to carry the Fall.

Today, sources revealed the latest offers on the table from the owners. It would give the players around forty-eight percent of the total revenue of the league. That is a sharp decrease from the last collective bargaining agreement, and it is a number that many analysts believe the players will turn away.

Part of the proposal would include a sixteen week Thursday nigh schedule. The Thursday night games became popular among bettors after the NFL started to play games mid-week, and that popularity has left owners wanting more. The television deal associated with the sixteen game Thursday schedule would make up for some of the revenue that would be lost at the negotiating table.

June 21, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NFL Players May Lose Millions From Alabama Gambling Trial

NFL players throw their money into many different businesses with the hopes of recouping a large profit. Over two dozen current and former players allegedly invested their money in a gambling operation set to open later this month in Alabama.

The player invested in Center Stage, formerly Country Crossings. The latter's developer, Ronnie Gilley, has leaded guilty to bribery charges stemming from an electronic bingo bill that was drafted in the state Senate. The bill would have authorized voters to decide the gaming issue in Alabama.

The NFL players, some of who are said to have invested upwards of $7 million in the renovation project, could be in jeopardy of losing more than just their money. The league is looking into whether the players broke NFL rules by being associated with a gaming operation.

The casino that will house electronic bingo machines, is only a small part of the facility. Also included in the complex will be shops, restaurants, festival space, and a water park. The issue of whether the casino portion of the facility will even be legal is being questioned by many, including the attorney general in Alabama.

AG Luther Strange has issued a strong directive to the gaming community that he will be keeping a close eye on any gaming halls that open. The AG has eliminated former Governor Robert Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling, but that does not mean he is open to the idea of gaming halls re-opening with illegal gambling machines.

The players could face fines and suspensions should NFL officials find them to be in violation of the league's rules on gambling. With the future of the gaming facility in doubt, and a return on their investment possibly years away, and suspensions or fines would be an additional penalty for the players that have invested in Center Stage.

"If it were to be determined that an NFL employee had made an investment in violation of league policy on gambling-related activities, that individual would be directed to withdraw the investment and it would be reviewed for potential discipline," said NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello, as reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Among the players who are said to be involved in the investment are Santana Moss, Terrell Owens, Santonio Holmes, Adalius Thomas, and Gerald Warren.

June 17, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Gold Cup Betting Odds: Mexico Favored Over US At Rose Bowl

The US and Mexico have squared off in many International soccer battles over the years, and another will take place this evening in California. The legendary Rose Bowl will be the site of the Gold Cup final.

The two teams have reached the final in completely different fashion. Mexico blew through the group stage, having no trouble at all. The American squad struggled, losing to Panama in the group stage, and then avenging that loss while not playing well later in the tournament.

Mexico has been installed as the betting favorite for the final game, although it is by the slimmest of margins. The Mexican team has odds of +135. The US carries odds of +185, meaning that no matter which team wins, gamblers will be gaining a positive price for each $100 they wager.

Already during the Gold Cup there have been rumors about the integrity of some of the matches. Mexico had two wins over opponents that are under suspicion of possible match fixing associated with Asian gambling interests. In Asia, there have been several allegations of impropriety's in recent years involving the game of soccer.

Mexico and the US are heated rivals, and this game will be even more heated with what is at stake. The winner of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final will earn an automatic birth into the 2013 Confederations Cup. A victory in that tournament would move the winning team closer to a World Cup Birth.

The US team has been criticized for their play so far in the Gold Cup. The past two games, Landon Donovan, argumentatively the US' best player, has been out of the starting lineup. Donovan did come on in the US' semi-final win, and helped the team to victory. Donovan is expected to be back in the lineup this evening in Pasadena.

June 25, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Cavaliers Looking To Make Good On Gilbert Gamble Through NBA Draft

NBA fans have one last major event to look forward to before a possible lockout threatens the entire 2012 season. The amateur draft takes place this evening, and fans will be watching closely as their teams make selections that could change the balance of power in the league.

Last summer, when the Cleveland Cavaliers lost LeBron James to free agency, owner Dan Gilbert made the bold statement that his team, depleted by the loss of the league's best player, would win a title before The King did. That proclamation almost was dispelled in the first year of James' contract with the Miami Heat.

The Heat ended up losing in the NBA Finals to Dallas, and it left Gilbert still clinging to his bold prediction. The first step towards realizing that prediction takes place tonight, when the Cavaliers make their picks at number one and four in the draft. The stroke of luck Gilbert has had in securing the first and fourth picks gives Cleveland fans a reason to hope.

The Cavaliers have already decided that they will select Duke guard Kyrie Irving with the top pick. From there, it is any gamblers bet as to who falls to Cleveland at number four. The Cavs had entertained the idea of taking Derrick Williams number one overall, and then hoping Irving fell to number four.

In the end, Cleveland decided in Irving in the top spot, making it unlikely they will land Williams. There is always the option of trading the fourth pick for a veteran star that could help Irving grow, while giving the Cavs a chance to win next season. That possibility seems remote as Cleveland officials have said on Wednesday they would keep both the first and fourth picks.

James' Heat join the Los Angeles Lakers as teams that do not have a first round pick. The Lakers and Heat are currently the betting favorites to win the NBA title next season, assuming the lockout does not end the season before it starts. Miami is the top pick of odds makers, with L.A. in the second position.

June 23, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Detroit Tigers Give Gamblers A Reason To Take A Deep Breath

Coming into the season, the Detroit Tigers were a team that odds makers made one of the betting favorites to win the American League Central. Early on, Detroit struggled, much to the chagrin of gamblers who had placed bets before the year at Las Vegas sports books.

Tuesday, those gamblers took a big deep breath after the Tigers reclaimed the top spot in the division from the Cleveland Indians. The Indians had been the feel good story in the seasons first two months, but have struggled mightily in June. Justin Verlander became the latest pitcher to carve up the Indians lineup on Tuesday night.

Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for several years now, and he was one of the reasons that odds makers were high on the Tigers this season. Verlander has already thrown two no-hitters in his career, and on Tuesday he flirted with history once again.

Eventually, Cleveland broke through and got a hit off Verlander, but the Tigers ace was able to complete the job and move Detroit back into first place. The Tigers, White Sox, and Twins have all been hot in recent weeks, but Detroit did not have as big of a hole to dig out of as the other two teams.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has had underdog gamblers giddy with their play in 2011. Their young talent was melding well with the veterans, and analysts believed the Indians could have been for real. The pitching has remained strong through their recent slump, while the offense has been nearly non-existent.

Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana were being counted on to do much of the heavy lifting for Cleveland, and neither has performed up to the expected level. Choo has struggled after receiving a DUI, and Santana has yet to find a groove at the plate. Despite the rough stretch, the Indians had held on to first place until Tuesday.

Minnesota received good and bad news on Tuesday. Joe Mauer is close to returning from the disabled list. The move will amount to nothing more than a switch of great players, with Justin Morneau heading to the DL with a wrist injury.

June 15, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Women's World Cup Betting Underway: Germany Favored

The women's FIFA World Cup got under way on Sunday morning in Germany, and the rest of the world will be keeping a close eye on the host team. Germany not only will be playing at home for the duration of the World Cup, but they are also the betting favorite to repeat as champions.

The US team has long been considered to be the standard by which other squads are judged, and that may be the case again by the end of the tournament. Going in, however, it is the German team, and not the number one team in the world, that odds makers believe has the best chance of capturing the cup.

Germany has odds ranging from +180 to +200, depending on the Las Vegas sports book. Germany won it all four years ago, and it signaled a changing of the guard, and the idea that the rest of the world was catching up to the Americans. The US is not even the second choice this year.

That honor goes to Brazil. The Brazilian club has been considered to be the most talented bunch the past decade, but they were unable to capture the cup four years ago. Brazil currently has odds of +550 to finally complete their mission of winning soccer's biggest event.

The US team is only slightly behind the Brazilians, with odds of +600. After the top three, all other countries are considered long shots to hoist the cup. The next closest country in terms of betting odds is Sweden, at 15/1. France, another team looking to pull a minor upset, is a 22/1 choice.

On Sunday, the German squad showed that they would not look past any opponent when they defeated Canada in Berlin 2-1. The win gives Germany a leg up in their group, and a strong chance to advance past the group stage. The US team will begin their quest for the cup on Tuesday, when they face North Korea.

In the first game of the 2011 Women's World Cup, France defeated Nigeria. That left Germany and France tied with three points each after the first round of games in Group A.

June 26, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Despite Finals Loss, Heat Again The NBA Betting Favorites For 2012

The Miami Heat were the betting favorites to win the 2011 NBA Championship the minute they assembled Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, last summer. Bettors who took their chances on the short odds of the Heat, had to rip up their tickets on Sunday night when Dallas defeated Miami.

Now, less than twenty-four hours after their finals loss, the Heat will again have the pressure of being the favorites heading to next season. Miami has been installed as 2/1 betting favorites for 2012, assuming there is a 2012 season at all.

With a lock out looming and players and owners, by all accounts, far apart in negotiations, it seems unlikely that a full schedule will be played next year. That could work to the advantage of both Miami and Dallas, the two teams that finished their 2011 season playing into mid-June.

As for the rest of the league, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the darlings of NBA bettors. Las Vegas sports books have the Lakers as the third choice, along with Oklahoma City and the now-defending champion Mavericks. The three teams are all listed at 7/1. L.A. will try to return to the finals without Phil Jackson on the bench, as the legendary coach has retired following last season.

The Chicago Bulls have the reigning league MVP in Derek Rose, and they are young and hungry after losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago is the second choice of odds makers, with odds of 6/1. The Bulls had the best record in the NBA this past season.

The list of odds includes several other perennial contenders. The Boston Celtics have odds of 8/1, while Orlando is 20/1, and the Knicks 30/1, in the East. Out West, San Antonio is a 15/1 choice, and Portland and Denver come in at 30/1. Other playoff teams this past year, New Orleans and Memphis are 40/1 choices, while Atlanta is 50/1 and Philadelphia is 60/1.

June 13, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Dodgers Bankruptcy Filing Not Having Much Affect On Gamblers

The Los Angeles Dodgers' owner situation has been up in the air for the entire season so far, and on Monday it took another ugly turn. The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection, ensuring that the battle with Major League Baseball will go on for a longer period of time.

The Dodgers' decision to file for bankruptcy was not met with kind words from the commissioner's office. Bud Selig blocked an agreement between the Dodgers and Fox last week, and it appeared to be the last straw for owner Frank McCourt. The owner had hoped the deal would give the Dodgers the money necessary to make payroll for the rest of the year.

The bankruptcy filing did not have much impact on the sports betting world. Sports books in Las Vegas continued to take action on Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, before the Dodgers scheduled game with Minnesota. Gamblers were walking in and out of the sports books with a business-as-usual look.

What has had an impact on bettors' decisions this season is the Dodgers play on the field. L.A. has been largely a disappointment, with one of the best young lineups in baseball, the team was expected to compete for the National league West title. Instead, they have hovered near the bottom of the standings for most of the year.

Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and normally he would be a Cy Young award candidate with the season he is having. His team, however, has not backed Kershaw up on days when he was not on the mound, and it has some questioning whether Don Mattingly was the right choice as the team's manager.

With all the focus on the ownership situation, Mattingly has been able to fly under the radar with his team's poor start. Instead of answering questions about his futile bullpen or his team's untimely hitting, Mattingly was speaking Monday of how the bankruptcy situation has, or has not, affected the team.

L.A. was expected to miss payroll on Thursday, but the bankruptcy will buy the team some time. Analysts now believe that the situation revolving around ownership could be muddled until the end of the season and possible into the winter.

June 28, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Kentucky Derby Betting Preview: Favorite Dialed In Has Winning Post

The Kentucky Derby is only a couple of days away and as the horses are taken through final preparations, the betting favorite should be feeling good. Dialed In received the eighth post position on Wednesday, a place at the starting gate that has housed ten previous derby winners.

Dialed in was the morning line favorite, and on Thursday the horse remained the first choice of odds makers. The closest competitor to Dialed In, Uncle Mo, may not even run in the race. If that occurs, the favorite may have a clear path to the roses waiting at the end for the winner.

Uncle Mo has been battling a gastrointestinal infection for the past month. The horse has only lost once, at last month's Wood Memorial, and the gastrointestinal infection is being blamed for that loss. Now, the trainer and the owner of Uncle Mo are contemplating whether to run the horse should he be less than 100% going into the derby. That decision will be made late Thursday or early Friday.

Trainer Scott Pletcher is hoping that the blood work taken on Thursday afternoon comes back negative, and that Uncle Mo will be in top form, although he did tell ESPN he believes the horse can win even if not at full strength.

"But we're committed to bringing him over there at 100 percent," said Pletcher. "anything less than that, we won't accept."

Owner Mike Repole had previously stated that if Uncle Mo is not at 100%, then he will not run in the derby. Either way, nineteen other horse owners and millions of fans will be waiting for a decision on a horse that could end up as the favorite by post time should he run.

Further aiding Dialed In's effort to win the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby was Tuesday's revelation that Toby's Corner would not be running. Toby's Corner was the horse that ended Uncle Mo's undefeated streak at the Wood Memorial, and likely would have been one of the top three betting choices on Saturday.

May 6, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Heat And Thunder Favored In Second Round

The second round of the NBA playoffs has arrived. On Sunday, the second round will begin with two monster match ups, one that analysts and fans have been waiting for since the Miami Heat pulled off their impeccable summer.

Dwyane Wade always knew he would be back in a Heat uniform this season. Despite being a free agent, Wade never asserted that he wanted to be anywhere but Miami. What he did not know was that he would be joined in Miami by the biggest NBA star on the planet, LeBron James, and a capable sidekick in Chris Bosh.

Tomorrow, James, Wade, and Bosh will take the court for the first game of their second round series, and the opponent on the other side of the floor will be a well-known foe. The Boston Celtics have won two of the past three Eastern Conference titles, and they have beaten James and his then-team, the Cleveland Cavaliers several times on their way to the title.

Analysts started touting this as a possible Eastern Conference finals match up before the season even began, but Miami and Boston allowed Chicago to slip by them and steal home court advantage. Finishing second and third meant the Heat and Celtics would meet one round sooner than anyone predicted.

Oklahoma City will be the other host on Sunday. The Thunder will face Memphis, a team that became only the fourth eighth seed in NBA history to knock off the top seed in the conference. The Grizzlies are playing with a lot of confidence, but Oklahoma City has been here before, losing to the Lakers last year in the second round.

The betting odds suggest that Oklahoma City and Miami will hold serve in game one tomorrow. The Heat are a five point favorite over Boston, while the Thunder are 6.5 point favorites against Memphis. The totals for the game are 182 and 196, respectively.

The Lakers begin their series Monday at home against Dallas, and Chicago will open up their series with Atlanta Monday as well.

April 30, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Mavericks Looking To End Lakers Run

Before this NBA season started it was the Miami Heat, and not the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, that were the betting favorites to win the title. Gamblers jumped on the opportunity to get the Lakers a little cheaper than in the past, but now it looks as though the odds makers may have been right.

After the first two games of the Western Conference semi-finals, the Lakers are hanging on by a thread in their series with the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas has won the first two games in L.A., and the defending champions must win tonight to avoid a 3-0 fate, a deficit that no team has ever come back from in playoff history.

The Lakers are saying all the right things after their two losses. Kobe Bryant showed no panic in speaking about the deficit, even suggesting that he cannot understand what everyone is worried about. Bryant believes the Lakers can win the two games in Dallas and head back home with the series tied at two.

Odds makers are not that sure. Sports books have installed Dallas as a two point favorite against the Lakers in game three tonight. The total for the game is 188, and L.A. will be without their starting forward, Ron Artest. The Lakers defensive specialist was ejected from game two in the closing seconds when he picked up his second technical foul.

Over in the East, the Hawks and Bulls will play game three of their series as well tonight. Chicago was able to shake off a game one loss and even the series at one heading back to Atlanta. The Hawks are three point underdogs at home this evening, despite playing more consistent basketball than Chicago so far in the playoffs. The total for this game is 178.

The other two series' will resume on Saturday. Boston will head home as three point favorites against Miami. The Celtics are in a similar 0-2 hole to the one the Lakers find themselves in, but Boston will have the next two games in their series on their home court.

Oklahoma City will be in Memphis for the first time this post season on Saturday. The Thunder are three point underdogs for game three in a series that is tied at one.

May 6, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Celtics Prepare To Make One Last Stand

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Bynum's Flagrant Foul May Haunt Gamblers Early Next Season

Andrew Bynum's future with the Los Angeles Lakers was in doubt from the time the Lakers started getting blown out in game four of their Western Conference semi-final series against Dallas Sunday. By the end, Bynum had given L.A. even more reason to trade him.

In the closing minutes of a blowout loss to Dallas, Bynum committed a flagrant foul on Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea. The foul was uncalled for to the point that Lakers great Magic Johnson showed his embarrassment after the game. Bynum knew there would be a punishment coming from the league.

On Tuesday, David Stern issued that punishment, a five game suspension to start next season. Now the question will be whether or not Bynum will serve that suspension as a member of the Lakers, or with another team.

Rumors have surfaced at several different times over the past couple of years as to whether or not the Lakers should trade Bynum. As the youngest star on the two-time defending champs, other teams look at Bynum as a player they can build a franchise around. With Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher getting older, the Lakers, too, must decide if Bynum is good enough to be the centerpiece moving forward.

Regardless of what Los Angeles decides with Bynum, odds makers will have to adjust their betting odds for the five games the center is suspended. Early in the year in any sport, the gambler has an advantage, with odds makers not knowing where to set the odds, and Bynum's suspension will only complicate that process.

The Lakers were one of the betting favorites this season to win their third straight championship. After surviving a first round series with New Orleans, many fans and analysts predicted L.A. would cruise past Dallas.

The Mavericks had other plans, winning the first two games in L.A., and then finishing off the improbable sweep by winning games three and four at home. Dallas will now meet the winner of the Oklahoma City, Memphis, series in the Western Conference finals.

May 11, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Thunder Looking To Rebound In Memphis

The Oklahoma City Thunder were many analysts' pick as the team to watch in the Western Conference playoffs this season. After Memphis knocked off San Antonio in the first round, it looked as though the Thunder had a clear run to the Western Conference finals.

Now, after the Grizzlies have won two of the first three games, Oklahoma City must beware. It is the Grizzlies and not the Thunder who appear to be the up and coming, athletic team in the league. Game four in Memphis could provide a glimpse to which team will advance.

The Thunder have been one of the toughest teams to beat at home this season. If Oklahoma City can capture game four, the pressure would again shift to Memphis. If the Grizzlies should win, they would need just one win in the final three games to advance to their first-ever conference finals.

Memphis has been led by Zach Randolph. The team rewarded Randolph's strong play this season with a contract extension, and with each game the team wins in these playoffs, Randolph is becoming more of a fan favorite, and a trip to the finals would cement his place in Memphis sports history.

The Thunder, meanwhile, have been seen as the emerging team in the West. Kevin Durant won his second straight scoring title this season, but he will need to be adding some hardware to his trophy case before analysts start putting him among the best of all-time. As young as he is, there will be plenty of opportunities for the team to win championships in the coming years.

Memphis is a 1.5 point favorite in the game four match up tonight. The total for the game is 198, suggesting that both teams will be scoring at will. These playoffs have seen frequent totals of less that 190, but the Thunder-Grizzlies series has consistently been up over 195.

May 10, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Phillies Living Up To Gambler Expectations So Far This Season

The Philadelphia Phillies have been the talk of the baseball gambling world ever since they swooped in and signed Cliff Lee this past off season. Lee was the prized free agent, and Philadelphia played coy through most of the winter.

At the least minute, however, Philly tugged at Lee's heart strings and got the ace left-hander to sign. Once that occurred, odds makers immediately made Philadelphia the team to beat in the National League.

Bettors were unfazed by the short odds they were given when it came to picking the Phillies to win the East and the pennant. With a pitching staff that, on paper, looked as good as any in the past twenty years, many analysts predicted Philadelphia would run away with the National league East.

Lee was added to a staff that already included Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt. World series hero Cole Hamels is the fourth member of a group that could challenge some of the all-time pitching records for a starting staff. Joe Blanton is the fifth man in the rotation that includes several Cy Young award winners.

"This staff has been put together to do one thing, and that's win a World Series," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Anything short of that will be considered a failure, and anything short of a World Series win could cost gamblers who paid big prices to bet on the Phillies this season."

So far, Philadelphia has lived up to the lofty expectations. The Phillies completed the seasons first month on Saturday with a 2-1 win over the New York Mets. The win was the eighteenth of April for the Phils, to go along with eight losses. The eighteen wins are the most ever for the Philadelphia franchise, and they send a message to other National League foes that this team is not resting on their laurels.

April 30, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Gamblers About To Cash In When Derrick Rose Wins NBA MVP Award

Before the season began, there were all kinds of debates taking place over who the best player in the NBA was. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant were all players that were on the top of the debate list. Derrick Rose's name was nowhere to be found in those discussions.

In addition, Rose was considered a betting long shot to win the league's MVP award. James, Bryant, Durant, and even Dwyane Wade were all players with shorter odds than Rose. Today, the Chicago Bulls guard will make underdog gamblers happy when the NBA announces him as the league MVP.

The NBA has never had a younger MVP than Rose, who is only twenty-two years old. Rose led the Bulls to the best record in the NBA this season, surprising analysts who had predicted the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics would be the top seed at season's end in the East. The Heat and Celtics finished two and three, behind Chicago.

"It would have taken a lot of courage to be a gambler before this season started and walk into a Las Vegas sports book to place money on Derrick Rose as the MVP," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "With LeBron winning the past two, and moving to a better team, most people would have went for the sure thing."

As is often the case of sports betting, there is no such thing as a sure thing. Underdogs often pull off big upsets, and the games have to played on the filed or on the court. Any gambler has a chance when betting on a sporting event or a prop bet such as who will win an MVP award.

An example of a major upset occurred in the first round of the NBA playoffs. San Antonio had the best record in the Western Conference in the regular season, but they were defeated in six games against the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis became just the fourth team in league history to be an eight seed that beat a one seeded team.

May 3, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Lakers And Bulls Favored Big To Even Series'

The Los Angeles Lakers have come up with several different ways to keep teams in playoff series' the past several years. This season, the trend that is developing is the Lakers losing game one at home, it is a trend that continued Monday night versus Dallas.

The Lakers blew a sixteen point third quarter lead at home in one of their sloppiest performances in years, and the result is a 1-0 deficit in the Western Conference semi-finals against the Mavericks. L.A. will try to rebound in game two later tonight.

Before that game takes place, the Chicago Bulls will attempt to recover from a blowout loss at home to Atlanta. The Bulls are the number one seed in the East, but as San Antonio showed in the first round out West, the seedings do not mean much at this time of year.

The Lakers and Bulls are both considered heavy betting favorites for tonight's games. Los Angeles is favored by seven points over Dallas, while the Bulls are favored by 8.5 at home against the Hawks. The totals for the games are 187 and 179, respectively. If either of the favorites should lose, it would make it difficult for them to come back and win the series, going on the road for the next two.

The Lakers have been in this position before. In the opening round of the playoffs, L.A. spotted New Orleans the first game. The Lakers then went on to win four of the next five and capture the series. The difference in this series is that they are facing a team that was right behind them for the second seed in the Western Conference.

For Chicago, the defense will have to find a way to slow down Joe Johnson. The Hawks guard exploded in game one, and the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the series will be enough for Johnson and his Hawks teammates to be focused again in game two.

May 4, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Western Conference Betting Preview: Mavericks Favored

The Dallas Mavericks have been here before. Dirk Nowitzki and company have been as far as the NBA Finals, but after taking a 2-0 series lead against Miami, the Mavericks blew a big lead in game three and then were swept in the remaining games of the series.

This year, Dallas is looking to take that final step that has eluded Nowitzki and Jason Kidd for their entire careers. The two future Hall-of-Famers have both been to the finals once before, and each has lost. If they avenge those loses this season, owner Mark Cuban may be throwing the party of all party's in Dallas later this summer.

Standing in their way in the Western Conference Finals is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City is led by Kevin Durant, a player who many consider to be the best in the game today. Durant has won two straight scoring titles, and now has his team on the cusp of the NBA Finals.

Odds makers are giving Dallas a slight edge in the series. The Mavericks are favored, with odds of -240 to win the series. The Thunder returns odds of +200. As far as winning the championship, the two Western Conference teams are behind both teams from the East.

The Miami Heat, who lost game one of their series with Chicago, are big favorites at 19/10. The Chicago Bulls, a team that had the regular season's best record, is a 2/1 choice. Dallas is next, with odds of 5/2, and the Thunder are considered the long shot in Las Vegas, with 11/2 odds.

Game one in the West is scheduled for later tonight in Dallas. The Mavericks are six point favorites, having had nine days off since their series-ending game four against Los Angeles. The total for the game is 193, a stark contrast to the low total that was offered for game one of the Heat, Bulls, series.

May 17, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Kentucky Derby Betting Odds: Dialed In And Uncle Mo Favored

The running of the 137th Kentucky Derby will take place this weekend and the two betting favorites will be nowhere near each other at the start of the race. Dialed in and Uncle Mo will be starting in the eighth and eighteenth position, respectively.

The post positions were drawn on Wednesday, and the two favorites will have an opportunity to feel each other out before they likely will come together down the stretch. Jockey John Velazquez will have to make the decision on when to bring Uncle Mo from the outside.

Dialed In is in a position near the middle where it can feel out how the race unfolds. There is no chance of being pinned to the rail, or having to come from the far outside. There will be some clutter in the middle of the track, however, that could cause problems if Dialed in does not get out of the gates clean.

The morning line odds have Dialed in as a 4/1 choice to win the Derby. Uncle Mo is right behind, with odds of 5/1. Running next to Uncle Mo in the nineteenth position will be the third betting choice, Nehro, a horse with 6/1 odds. These three horses are the only ones in the field with odds of less than 10/1.

With twenty horses currently entered, Decisive Moment and Watch Me Go are the two long shots, with odds of 50/1. There are several horses in the 30-40/1 range, so gamblers will likely be looking to pair one of the long shots in the trifecta bets they make. In past years, the long shots have provided some shining moments at the Derby.

The Kentucky Derby was once one of the premiere sports events in the US. In recent years, horse racing in general has fell out of favor with the American public. Gone are the days where all Americans would gather in front of the television for the Run for the Roses. Churchill Downs, the legendary track where the Kentucky Derby is run, has been struggling, as have many tracks around the US.

States have been considering adding slots at race tracks in their jurisdiction to help ease the financial burden. As of yet, Kentucky has yet to authorize slots at Churchill Downs, although lawmakers have been discussing the issue in recent years.

May 4, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Future NBA Betting Odds May Never Be The Same After Lakers Swept

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have always been two of the teams where the most betting has taken place in the NBA. The Celtics and Lakers have been the darlings of the NBA for decades, and the latest run of good luck for bettors may have ended in Dallas on Sunday.

Los Angeles was swept by the Mavericks, the last lost Sunday being an embarrassing one. With a defeat by more than thirty points, questions quickly surfaced as to how the Lakers will look when they take the court next season. Most analysts believe a major shakeup is coming in Hollywood.

Despite having won the last two NBA championships, the Lakers have never been a team that gamblers could fully trust. In their championship runs, they have been brought to the limit by Houston, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans. In each of those series', L.A. was an overwhelming favorite.

If the Lakers front office does decide to break up the team, it may be a while before the team from California is again favored to win a title. With the Heat, Thunder, and Memphis Grizzlies all young and athletic, it would take an infusion of a big time player for odds makers to make the Lakers the favorites next season.

Dwight Howard is one name that has been rolling off the tongue's of analysts on Sunday in the aftermath of the debacle in Dallas. If L.A. can somehow wrestle Howard away from Orlando, they could become instant contenders next season, with Kobe Bryant still leading the way. If not, however, the days of penciling Boston and Los Angeles into the finals could be gone for a long time.

The Celtics are facing a similar situation in the Eastern Conference that the Lakers faced out West. The younger Miami Heat won the first two games against Boston, making the Celtics look old. In game three, Boston responded when they were back on their home court, and now it is the Celtics, not the Lakers, chasing history this season.

May 9, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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NBA Betting Preview: Thunder, Grizzlies Look To Wrap Up Series'

It is not often that young NBA teams become the darling of gamblers in the playoffs, but the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder have made themselves a betting favorite. Tonight, both teams will try to wrap up their first round series'.

It was expected that the Thunder would be in a position to clinch their series with Denver as Oklahoma City was the betting favorite coming into the series. The Thunder had a 3-0 series lead before Denver finally won a game, forcing the series back to Oklahoma.

The Thunder are again favored in game five, this time by seven points. The total for the game is 205. Should the Thunder wrap up the series this evening, they would then face the winner of the Memphis, San Antonio series in the second round.

Memphis was the number eight seed coming into the Western Conference playoffs, but anyone watching their first four games with the top seed, San Antonio, would have guessed differently. Memphis has been the aggressor for much of the series, and they will try to wrap up their series in San Antonio.

The Spurs, despite being down 3-1 in the series, are favored by seven for tonight's game. The low total of 190 shows how the Spurs have struggled to score points during the post season. San Antonio is attempting to avoid the fate of having the best record in the West and getting eliminated in the first round.

Miami will also be looking to end their first round series with Philadelphia in South Beach. The Heat were eleven point favorites for that game, and if they can finish off the 76ers, Miami would be on their way to a second round match up with Boston. The Celtics have beaten Miami three out of four games the teams have played this season.

April 28, 2011
Posted By Terry Goodwin
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NBA Betting Preview: Heat Move Closer To A Championship

The economical choice before the season began would have been to take a chance on the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics. The two teams have combined for the past three championships, and both had longer odds to win a title than Miami.

Gamblers, however, are prone to stay with the front runner. Miami put together their own version of the big three, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, and odds makers immediately made the Heat the favorite. For those bettors who still decided to place money on the Heat, the time may be nearing to head to Las Vegas and collect on those bets.

Miami ousted Boston from the playoffs on Wednesday evening, winning their second round series 4-1. With the Lakers having been eliminated last Sunday, the path to the NBA title may go through Miami. Chicago, the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, is the only of the remaining teams that would hold home court advantage over the heat.

If Chicago can close out Atlanta in game six, Miami would start their championship series run on the road in Chicago. If Atlanta can somehow rally and win the Chicago series, the Hawks would head to South Beach for the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals.

Gamblers will keep a close eye on Miami from here on out. Dallas, a team the Heat defeated for their lone championship, is playing as well as any team in the league. Oklahoma City could also pose a threat to Miami, and there is always the Bulls, who had the best record in the league this season.

It is likely the way the Heat are playing that they will be the betting favorite in any series they are in the rest of this year. Miami has played nearly flawlessly in two series' so far, and they have three of the top players in the NBA.

The Bulls would counter with league MVP Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, and a slew of role players who have done the job all season long. Dallas and Oklahoma City, should they advance, have two of the top players in the game in Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant, respectively.

May 12, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
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Oklahoma City Will Have Gamblers On Their Side In Game Seven

Over the years, gamblers have consistently gravitated towards the betting favorites in the NBA playoffs. When the stakes are raised, and game seven arrives in a playoff series, the bets come in to Las Vegas sports books even more overwhelmingly than the rest of the series.

History shows that the home team has a big advantage in game seven. The NBA has a long list of home teams that have played, and won, game seven in front of their home crowd. On the flip side, it is rare that a road team steals the final game of a series on the road.

Today, Memphis will have the task of performing that feat. The Grizzlies won big at home Friday in game six, and now a trip to the Western Conference finals hangs in the balance as they prepare to square off with Oklahoma City.

The Thunder have been one of the best home teams in the league this year. Facing a crucial game five at home in this series, Oklahoma City came up with a big effort, and ran Memphis out of the building. many analysts predicted that would be the beginning of the end for Memphis.

As they have done throughout the playoffs, the Grizzlies answered their critics in game six. With two of the youngest rosters in the NBA, the Grizzlies and Thunder will now play a game and see which group of young players can handle the spotlight in better fashion.

Odds makers have made Oklahoma City a 6.5 point favorite in game seven. The total for the game is 191, a full ten points lower than game one of the Eastern Conference finals between Miami and Chicago. The winner of the Grizzlies, Thunder, game will move on to face the Mavericks starting Tuesday night in Dallas.

May 15, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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NBA Betting Preview: Lakers Looking To Wrap Up Series Tonight

Gamblers who have chosen to jump on the Los Angeles Lakers bandwagon over the past couple of years while they were winning championships may not have been as impressed with the results as Lakers fans. The team has, more often than not, made a roller coaster out of their playoff runs.

Each season, the Lakers have played teams with inferior talent and infrastructure, and each year those teams have taken the Lakers to the brink of elimination. It happened a couple of years ago with the Houston Rockets, and it happened again last year with Oklahoma City.

This season, the Lakers drew New Orleans in the first round and most analysts predicted this would be no longer than a six game series. Tonight, the Lakers find themselves playing a game six in New Orleans, with the prospects of a game seven looming if they cannot close out the Hornets this evening.

"L.A. has made things very tough on themselves and on bettors over the past few years," said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins. "It seems as though the Lakers don't play their best until their backs are against the wall, and that can be frustrating for gamblers who have to lay a lot of points each game."

Despite being pushed, the Lakers have always found that extra gear to get the job done. Even in last year's finals, L.A. was able to win both games six and seven to capture their second straight title. This season, the team from Los Angeles may not have the luxury of relying on home court advantage in the finals.

The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat had better records than the Lakers in the regular season. If either of those teams make it the finals, they would hold home court advantage. The Celtics would again be looking at Los Angeles having home court advantage if they come out of the East.

April 28, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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Gamblers Having A Hard Time Trusting Lakers And Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers have not been eliminated in the Western Conference playoffs in the past three years. Each season, the Lakers have gone on to win the conference, and the past two years they have won the NBA title.

That is the good news for gamblers. The bad news is that the Lakers have been anything but dominant in those playoff runs. It seems that every year, a different, inferior, team takes the Lakers to the brink of elimination before they get L.A.'s attention.

The Dallas Mavericks will be the Lakers opponent in the next round of the playoffs that begin today. The Mavericks have done their share of teasing gamblers as well, having had great regular seasons over the past several years, but then fizzling out in the playoffs. The frustration will reach a heightened level for gamblers with the teams facing off over the next two weeks.

"These have been two of the most confusing teams when it comes to betting in the playoffs," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "The Lakers always win their series, but they don't always cover the point spread, while the Mavericks have lost series' outright that they were favored in."

The Lakers are the favorites in their Western Conference semi-final match up. Los Angeles still has the best closer in the game in Kobe Bryant, and L.A. has had little trouble with Dallas in the regular season. Had the Lakers lost their last game of the season, this series would have started in Dallas, and not Los Angeles.

The Mavericks will rely on Dirk Nowitzki to try and end the Lakers recent run of Western Conference championships. Dallas and Los Angeles have never met in the playoffs with their current stars leading their teams. The Lakers are six point favorites in game one, and the total for the game is 189.

May 2, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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Australian Olympic Head Calls Gambling This Generation's Doping

Next year, the Olympics will be held in London, and officials from many countries are concerned with the rise of illegal gambling taking place at these events. Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates and the rest of the committee have sent a message to the country's athletes that illegal gambling will not be tolerated.

Coates is being backed by Federal Minister of Sports, Mark Arbib. Together, they have come up with regulations that they hope will discourage athletes from betting on themselves or their peers while at the Olympics. It is a string of regulations they hope will only be the beginning of eliminating the illegal gambling problem.

Back in the 1980's and 1990's, doping was the big problem in the Olympics. Coates and Arbib are concerned that gambling is this generation's problem at the Olympics, and they are actively searching for a way to ensure that Australian athletes are not at the center of any controversy's.

Coates has warned athletes that if they are found to be taking part in illegal gambling, they will be shamed by having their names released. Arbib wants to take it a step further, indicating he is seeking a possible jail sentence for those in violation of gambling rules and regulations.

The NSW Law Reform Commission have talked about penalties for up to ten years for match fixing. That is something I support," said Arbib. "This is a very serious crime and there are large sums of money involved internationally."

Athletes train their entire lives for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. In recent years, several athletes have thrown that training away by the lure of a big cash payday. Illegal gambling operators are always actively seeking out athletes and officials who are willing to cheat in exchange for money.

The most famous case in recent years came in the US where former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was found guilty on charges of corruption, admitting to having relationships with bookies and mobsters. The Donaghy case brought to light a problem that many fans had long assumed, that NBA referees do their job with an agenda on certain nights.

May 14, 2011
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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Bulls Already Betting Favorites In Eastern Conference Finals

The Chicago Bulls are less than three hours removed from winning their second round series against Atlanta, but that has not stopped gamblers from looking ahead. Several sports books have already made the Bulls the betting favorite in game one of the Eastern Conference finals.

Chicago will be facing the Miami Heat, a team that has cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Heat have knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. The win over the Celtics has caught the eye of gamblers.

Before the season began, Miami was the betting favorite at almost every sports book. After a slow start, Miami fell out of favor with odds makers, and the Lakers became the favorites. Towards the end of the season, the heat regained their winning form and again were favorites heading to the playoffs.

The Bulls, meanwhile, have received far less publicity for what they have done this season. Chicago not only outplayed Miami head-to-head, but they also finished with the best record in the league. That record has assured Chicago of home court advantage against the heat and again in the finals should they reach that point.

For game one of their series, Chicago has been listed as a 1.5 point favorite. That is an early line that certainly could move once all of the gamblers who have been riding the Heat start to place their bets. Chicago is favored in game one, but it is Miami favored to win the series.

While Miami was busy stealing the spotlight last summer, Chicago made some moves of their own. The Heat brought in LeBron James and Chris Bosh, while the Bulls went after Carlos Boozer. The Bulls also have the now-reigning league MVP, Derrick Rose, and a bunch of young talented players.

May 13, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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NBA Eastern Conference Betting Preview: Heat Favored Over Bulls

The Miami Heat and their fans had one vision when they assembled a team that included LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. That vision was of the three of their new stars hoisting both the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals championship trophies.

Tomorrow, Miami can take the next step in achieving that goal. The Heat will face the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals, and it is Miami that is the betting favorite going into the series. Miami has odds of -195 to win the series, while Chicago returns odds of +165.

The series odds, however, have little bearing on the game one odds. The Bulls are favored in game one at home by two points. The total for the game is 181. The two teams have combined to play some of the best defense in the playoffs, and odds makers have reflected that defensive play in the low game total.

The Bulls have some unfinished business they would like to take care of in relation to the Heat. Last summer, it was Chicago that was the closest competitor to Miami for the services of James and Bosh. The Bulls also made a strong push to lure Wade away from South Beach, enticing him to go back to his roots in Chicago.

In the end, it was the heat that landed all three players. Chicago then turned their attention to Carlos Boozer, and the Boozer addition has paid off tremendously for the Bulls. The Heat may have the Big Three, but Chicago can lay claim to the league's MVP, Derrick Rose. It was Rose who led the Bulls to the best record in the NBA.

Chicago holds the all-important home court advantage over Miami. If the Bulls can win four games on their home court, they will return to the finals for the first time since the Michael Jordan days. If the Heat prevail, it would be the first, of what many analysts believe will be, many, trips to the finals for James, Bosh, and Wade.

May 14, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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Sports betting help comes in a number of styles. You can choose general betting guides, done up in a sports betting for dummies kind of way, or you can go for a sports specific guide, like a football betting guide or an insiders guide to tennis. Either way, you will find that bet help can answer questions and help inform good decisions.

There are good betting guides offline and a growing number of betting guide services online as well. In many cases, you’ll find it’s helpful to dabble in a bit of both. The online betting guide industry is booming, though, so don’t pay for anything offline that you would be able to find online for free.

Many betting guides are included as part of the online sportsbook experience. After all, it is certainly in the oddsmaker’s best interest to provide you with sports betting help if you have need because that will make you a more comfortable and more frequent punter. Some of these services will really be a difference maker in your wagering experience.

The sports specific betting guides typically include an explanation of the types of bets, the major tournaments, and the star players. This will ensure that you are well-grounded before you start wagering. You may also find that the player profiles help you connect more completely with the nuances of your favourite teams performance patterns. The betting odds guides will also keep you from making costly errors as you wager.