Copyright (c) 2006 TheGreek Sportsbook. All rights reserved. http://www.thegreek.com Sports news announced through TheGreek Sportsbook RSS news feed en-us 8/30/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-opening-week-nfl-betting-strategies.asp Some NFL betting wonks believe that the NFL labor dispute, which shortened practice time and delayed free agent signings this year, could have an impact on the first weekend of the regular season. The theory espouses that teams with continuity in their coaching staffs and stability at the key quarterback position will have an edge early in the season. 1 8/28/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/klitschko-is-boxing-betting-favorite-over-adamek.asp The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, may not be too exciting in the ring but they've been money in the bank for boxing betting fans. In fact, between them, the Klitschkos have won 23 consecutive bouts and have not lost in more than seven years. It will be with confidence, then that bettors rush the windows to back Vitali when he defends the WBC version of the world's heavyweight championship against challenger Thomasz Adamek in Wroclaw, Poland, Sept. 10. 1 8/25/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-nfc-west-nfl-betting.asp At a combined 65 games under .500 and without a single team with a winning record against the number, this is the worst performing pointspread division in the league, a trend NFL betting aficionados will be watching closely again this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/23/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-nfc-south-nfl-betting.asp NFC South teams have been 13-23 as home underdogs the last four years, an emerging trend that NFL betting followers surely will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/21/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-nfc-north-nfl-betting.asp Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay is not just good on the field but at the windows, posting an against the spread (ATS) record of 19-11 over division foes the past five seasons , a trend that NFL betting devotees will be watching in 2011. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/19/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-nfc-east-nfl-betting.asp In a complete reversal of form, Washington was the division's only team with a winning record against the spread last season, an unexpected development that NFL betting fans will be closely monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/18/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/djokovic-serena-head-us-open-tennis-betting.asp Newly minted No. 1 ranked Novak Djokovic and 27-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams opened as respective favorites to win the men's and women's singles titles at the 2011 US Open at Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York, Aug. 29-Sept. 11. 1 8/15/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-afc-west-nfl-betting.asp Combined, Denver, Kansas City and Oakland have amassed just two winning seasons against the spread (ATS) over the past five seasons, a dismal statistic that NFL betting wonks will try to turn to their advantage in 2011. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses 2 8/13/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-afc-south-nfl-betting.asp The Colts have dominated the AFC South for nearly a decade but it's the Titans, who are 45-36-1 against the spread (ATS) overall and 20-10 versus the number within the division the last five seasons, who have been best wagering friends to NFL betting enthusiasts. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/11/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-afc-north-nfl-betting.asp Pittsburgh doesn't just dominate this division but causes pain to anyone it plays as evidenced by the five year 22-39 ATS (against the spread) record of teams the week after playing the Steelers. It's a clear warning to NFL betting devotees that Pittsburgh doesn't just play teams as much as punish them. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-afc-east-nfl-betting.asp Most pundits see the AFC East race as a battle between the offensive minded Patriots and the defensively stingy Jets, the two teams which also have the division's best against the spread (ATS) records since 1998, a statistic not lost on NFL betting fans. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/7/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/lockout-over-nfl-betting-begins.asp With players and owners having settled their grievances and signed a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) that assures football betting fans there will be action for at least another decade, NFL Super Bowl future book betting already has kicked off on home computer screens and at wagering watering holes around the globe in advance of the league's season opener, Sept. 8. 2 8/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-sun-belt-and-independents-college-football-betting.asp Just five of the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams have pointspread records dating back 11 years so there's not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a winning play against the spread (ATS) since 2000. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 8/1/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-mac-college-football-betting.asp The Mid-American Conference is 2-11-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games the last three seasons, a trend that college football betting aficionados will be watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 7/29/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-mountain-west-college-football-betting.asp MWC teams have been 6-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games last two seasons so followers of college football betting know better than to dismiss the league as just some wagering weak sister. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/27/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-pga-championship-betting-is-wide-open.asp The last dozen Major golf events have produced 12 different winners so it's no wonder that golf betting on the last Major of the season, the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Aug. 11-14, is spread as wide as a duffer's tee shots. 1 7/23/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-conference-usa-college-football-betting.asp Rice, East Carolina and Central Florida are the only Conference USA teams to enjoy a winning pointspread record over the last 11 seasons, a trend college football betting enthusiasts are sure to watch carefully this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/20/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-wac-college-football-betting.asp College football betting fans again will be watching to see if WAC teams, which are 37-29-1 against the spread (ATS) versus non-conference foes the last two years, can continue to impress this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/17/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-big-east-college-football-betting.asp It's easy to underestimate the Big East but six of the league's eight teams went to bowls last season and conference teams are 106-82-1 against the spread (ATS) outside the Big East the past five seasons, a statistic that should be of great interest to devotees of college football betting. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/14/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-pac-12-college-football-betting.asp The addition of Utah and Colorado has turned the Pac-10 into the Pac-12 and created a title game at the end of the season. Throw in USC's NCAA probation and the psychological impact it could have on Trojans players, and college football betting followers have much to consider this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/11/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-acc-college-football-betting.asp The ACC sent nine teams to bowls last season, compiling a 6-3 record against the spread (ATS), results that will have college football betting fans re-evaluating the perception that the league is weak. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/8/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-big-12-college-football-betting.asp Conference stalwarts Texas and Oklahoma are a combined 20-30-2 against the spread (ATS) the last two years, something college football betting aficionados will be checking this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/5/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-big-ten-college-football-betting.asp Take Ohio State out of the mix and the remaining Big Ten teams are just 32-51-1 as home favorites the last two years, a development college football betting enthusiasts will watch closely this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/2/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-sec-college-football-betting.asp SEC teams are 53-40-1 against the spread versus non-conference foes the last two years, a trend that college football betting fans will be monitoring this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 6/30/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/mcilroy-favored-in-british-open-betting.asp Fresh off a record-breaking triumph in last month's US Open, sportsbooks have listed Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy as a solid 9/2 favorite to capture the third Major of the season, the British Open at the Royal St. George Golf Club, in Sandwich, Kent, England, July 14-17. McIlroy, who also had the lead with nine holes remaining in The Masters before faltering and finishing 15th, won the US Open by eight strokes while finishing a record 16 under par. 1 6/26/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/coach-big-factor-in-college-football-betting.asp College Football betting is comprised of dozens of variables but gamblers often overlook the wagering impact a new coach can have on an NCAA gridiron program. New coaches are eager to impress and many aren't reluctant to run up the score when they're able to do so, often covering large spreads. In situations where their team is an underdog, a number of head coaches will play conservatively while others will adopt a bold game plan that offers both significant risk and reward. 2 6/23/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/heisman-now-a-part-of-college-football-betting.asp Because it's a team sport, college football betting enthusiasts rarely get the opportunity to wager on individual players. One notable exception is the awarding of the Heisman Trophy, where always accommodating sportsbooks have posted odds on which NCAA gridiron star will carry away the iconic hardware at the end of this season. 2 6/20/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/college-football-betting-includes-conferences.asp College football betting fans who are overwhelmed with trying to select one national champion from among more than 100 schools can improve their chances of achieving wagering success by betting on which teams will win more than a half-dozen individual conferences. And for those wary gamblers who want to narrow the field even more, where it's applicable, many sportsbooks even have future book prices on separate divisions within those leagues or conferences. 2 6/17/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/oklahoma-is-the-team-to-beat-in-future-book-college-football-betting.asp There's still some concern that a labor dispute will delay or even derail the 2011 NFL season but, thankfully, college football betting fans have no such worries about the upcoming NCAA gridiron campaign. In fact, future book odds on teams winning the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title are up and already taking action at most sportsbooks. 2 6/15/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/contador-favored-in-tour-de-france-betting.asp Under a seemingly never ending cloud of illegal drug use, sportsbooks have opened Spain's Alberto Contador as an overwhelming 2/3 favorite to capture the 2011 Tour de France, the premier event on the elite International Cycling Union (UCI) calendar. The 2,150-mile bicycle race starts out with a 112-mile flat stage from Passage du Gois on July 2 and concludes with the traditional ride down the Champs-Elysees, in Paris, July 24. 1 6/12/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/klitschko-haye-adds-punch-to-boxing-betting.asp It's not exactly Pacquiao versus Mayweather but as far as boxing betting fans are concerned, the heavyweight unification showdown broadcast by HBO between reigning IBF, WBO and IBO champion Wladimir "Dr. Steelhammer" Klitschko and WBA heavyweight champion David "The Hayemaker" Haye slated for Hamburg, Germany, July 2, may be the next best thing. 1 6/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/germany-favored-in-womens-world-cup-betting.asp Aided by a home field advantage that most observers believe will be significant, Germany opened as a solid 5/4 future book favorite to capture the sixth FIFA Women's World Cup, which will take place at nine venues across Deutschland, beginning June 26 in Berlin and ending with the final in Frankfurt, July 17. 1 6/6/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/wimbledon-tennis-betting-has-value.asp With at least three men given a realistic chance to bring home the singles title and the women's bracket considered wide open, tennis betting fans may want to take a forehand whack at the future books posted for Wimbledon, the sport's third Major, which takes center court outside London, beginning June 20. 1 6/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/us-open-golf-betting-wide-open.asp How do you fall from No. 1 to No. 13 in the world rankings, go 19 months without a victory and still wind up as the golf betting favorite to win the US Open at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, June 16-19? You probably have to have the cache and name recognition of Tiger Woods. 1 5/31/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/stats-tell-grim-story-for-horse-racing-betting.asp Statistics compiled by the Jockey Club paint a grim picture of what's facing horse racing betting fans and why it's increasingly difficult to beat the game. The Jockey Club, which was founded in 1894 and has as its mission the improvement of thoroughbred racing and breeding, published its findings in the 2011 Fact Book. 2 5/27/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/belmont-stakes-betting-offers-new-challenges.asp Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness hero Shackleford are headed for a rubber match at Belmont Park, June 11, but that doesn't mean that Belmont Stakes betting is just a two-horse race. There won't be the bulky 19-horse field that Animal Kingdom dominated at Churchill Downs or even the 14-horse field that Shackleford beat at Pimlico but this year's Belmont Stakes field should have both enough quantity (10-13 horses) and quality to make the final jewel of the Triple Crown a challenge for horse racing betting fans. 1 5/24/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/getting-back-to-the-sports-betting-basics.asp Sometimes, when it comes to sports betting, it's easy to get lost in the statistics and minutiae of the individual games, often forgetting (or never learning) that whether the gambler is challenging sportsbooks in baseball, boxing or badminton, certain basic rules apply: 1 5/21/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/its-time-to-re-evaluate-baseball-betting-strategy.asp With two months and about a quarter of the current MLB season already in the books, there's more than enough of a sample for baseball betting enthusiasts to take stock and re-evaluate their wagering strategy, analyzing whether expectations have matched reality. 1 5/18/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/poker-betting-not-just-for-the-players.asp What's unique about the World Series of Poker, 58 separate card games that begin in Las Vegas, May 31, is that's it's the one endeavor where you can gamble on how well people gamble. Poker betting, especially when it comes to the Main Event, which starts on July 7, no longer is limited to those players sitting at the table. 2 5/15/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/plenty-of-fuel-for-indy-500-betting.asp If competition is the fuel that propels the wagering engine, then Indianapolis 500 betting fans should have no complaints when "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" returns to the Brickyard, Sunday, May 29. The race, like its four-legged counterpart of three weeks earlier, the Kentucky Derby, appears wide open. 1 5/10/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/mavericks-are-post-season-nba-betting-darlings.asp With the first round elimination of the Spurs, the team with the best regular season record this season, quickly followed by the four-game sweep of the two-time defending champion Lakers, NBA betting fans may be looking for a new team to back in the ongoing playoffs. Look no further than Dallas, where the Spurs are fashioning one of the greatest bettor-friendly streaks in post-season history. 1 5/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/animal-kingdom-will-be-preakness-betting-favorite.asp Animal Kingdom was the 20/1 upset winner of the Kentucky Derby, May 7 but Preakness betting fans eying another big payday will have to settle for a much smaller return should that 3-year-old colt capture the second jewel in the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, May 21. 1 5/6/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/the-seven-deadly-sins-of-horse-racing-bettting.asp Conventional wisdom, especially when it's dispensed by squares and people who engage in horse racing betting as a pastime, not a living, should be taken with many grains of sodium chloride. In reality, what for decades has been passed down as equine wagering gospel are little more than myths and betting sins. 2 5/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/nadal-odds-on-in-french-open-betting.asp Rafael Nadal is an odds-on favorite to win a record equaling sixth French Open men's singles title but the tennis betting is wide open on the women's side where Carolina Wozniacki is listed as the tepid 4/1 choice to capture her first-ever Major. The French Open, the second of tennis' Grand Slam events, begins serve on the red clay courts at Roland Garros, May 17. 1 5/1/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/draft-will-impact-nfl-betting.asp While NFL owners and players wonder how long it will take for the notoriously glacial moving federal court system to bring the game back on the field, NFL betting fans are wondering if the recently concluded draft will have any immediate wagering impact on this year's season...if there is one. 2 4/26/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/expectations-versus-reality-in-baseball-betting.asp The MLB campaign may not even be a month old but it's not too soon for baseball betting practitioners to assess if expectations have matched reality during the first four weeks of the season. 1 4/23/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/kentucky-derby-betting-is-wide-open.really.asp Every spring about this time, Kentucky Derby betting fans complain about the inscrutable handicapping puzzle that is the Run for Roses, grousing that the first leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, which gets its annual airing around the Churchill Downs oval in Louisville May 7 this year, is "wide open. 1 4/21/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/pacquiao-is-big-boxing-betting-favorite-over-mosley.asp Boxing betting fans were hoping to take a wagering whack at a super bout matching Manny Pacquiao with Floyd Mayweather but, with sportsbooks offering dozens of gambling options, shouldn't be too disappointed that "Sugar" Shane Mosley now is the Pac Man's opponent at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, May 7. 1 4/17/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/the-odds-are-you-dont-know-sports-betting.asp Savvy sports betting practitioners understand that getting value involves comparing price to the likelihood of a favorable outcome. But even sophisticated bettors might wonder why they even bothered to bet if they knew the true odds of some of their wagers. That topic heads the list of some of the most informative, funny, silly and downright outrageous things said, whispered and written, recently: 2 4/14/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/sportsbooks-protect-sports-betting.asp Since sports betting would exist even if there weren't legally sanctioned wagering, the NCAA owes sportsbooks a debt of gratitude for helping to expose those liars, cheats and point-shaving thieves who would taint the sport of college basketball by throwing games or bribing players to throw games for financial reward. 2 4/12/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/college-basketball-betting-anything-but-over.asp They've cut down the nets, paid off all those happy UConn backers, and cleaned up the confetti at Reliant Stadium in Houston but college basketball betting is far from over thanks to a number of enterprising and accommodating sportsbooks that already have posted future book prices to win next year's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, scheduled for the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, April 2. 1 4/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/draft-a-part-of-nfl-betting.asp We're not even sure there'll be a season this year but under the assumption that owners and players aren't greedy or stupid enough not to come to an agreement, NFL betting aficionados are gearing up for the April 28 Draft, a parade of talent that innovative sportsbooks have turned into the first bet of the 2011 season even if there is no 2011 season. 1 4/5/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/march-madness-betting-offers-clues-for-next-year.asp Some sportsbooks already have posted college basketball betting future book prices on which team will win next year's NCAA Men's championship but savvy gamblers might be wise to survey the results of the most recent March Madness before investing too much on the 2012 Big Dance. 2 4/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/five-key-factors-for-2011-kentucky-derby-betting.asp For the gambler compelled to analyze as many as 20 precocious 3-year-olds running faster and farther than they've ever run before, successful Kentucky Derby betting probably comes down to an understanding of five fundamental factors: Preparation, stamina, running style, luck and value. 1 3/31/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/hbo-offers-boxing-betting-doubleheader.asp The fights may be separated by more than 3,000 miles and the Atlantic Ocean but boxing betting fans will be able to view both ends of a championship fistic doubleheader on HBO, April 16. On the left side of The Pond, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, it's Andre Berto versus Victor Ortiz for Berto's WBC welterweight title. Across the ocean, Amir Khan risks his WBA super lightweight belt against Paul McCloskey in Manchester, England. 1 3/28/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-nba-playoff-betting.asp The irony, both for NBA teams and NBA betting fans, is that after an 82-game regular season that eliminates just 14 of the league's 30 teams, the playoffs offer a new set of challenges for athletes and gamblers. In fact, the post-season requires a different skill set, with savvy bettors fully aware that what might have been successful strategy in the autumn and winter may have no wagering relevance in the spring and early summer. 1 3/25/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/masters-a-golf-betting-test-for-all.asp Mired in the longest slump of his career, Tiger Woods nevertheless has been installed as a 13/2 future book favorite to win The Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club, April 7-10. Those golf betting fans who wager on Woods will do so with the same trepidation they feel standing over a four-foot putt. 1 3/21/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/proposition-baseball-betting-in-full-swing.asp No sport collects more statistics than Major League Baseball so it should come as little surprise that sportsbooks utilize those numbers to produce hundreds of ways to keep baseball betting fans involved in the game. 2 3/18/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-national-league-west-baseball-betting.asp As often is the case, the team's with the best records in the NL West, the Giants and the Padres, also rewarded baseball betting devotees with the division's best ROI (Return On Investment), +10.6 and +9.6 percent, respectively, if you bet San Francisco and San Diego in each of their games last year. 2 3/15/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-national-league-central-baseball-betting.asp The only division in the Major Leagues with six teams produced some double-digit baseball betting plays in 2010, a ROI (Return On Investment) bonanza that gamblers hope to replicate during the upcoming season: 2 3/12/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-national-league-east-baseball-betting.asp The Phillies were the dominant team in the National League East Division last year, both on the field and, as baseball betting aficionados can readily attest, at the windows. In fact, Philadelphia was the only NL East team to finish the season with a positive ROI (Return On Investment) as Atlanta, Florida, New York and Washington all finished in the red. 2 3/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-american-league-west-baseball-betting.asp The American League West was not the place to turn for baseball betting enthusiasts as all four teams posted a negative ROI (Return on Investment) last season, a fate avoided by each of the league's other five divisions. However, as savvy wagering wonks fully understand, while none of the teams were profitable overall, each could be a reliable money earner for gamblers in specific situations. 2 3/6/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-american-league-central-baseball-betting.asp Performance on the field was duplicated at the windows as baseball betting enthusiasts who stuck with the AL Central Division's top teams, the Twins and White Sox, did better than those who chased the Indians and Royals last season. The Tigers, 81-81 overall, also were very close to .500 as a wagering proposition, posting an ROI (Return On Investment) loss of 1.5 percent. 2 3/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-american-league-east-baseball-betting.asp The Red Sox improved themselves during the off-season, making moves that could also translate to success at the windows for baseball betting fans, especially those who were crushed wagering on Boston last year, losing on their ROI (Return On Investment). With shaky starting pitching, the Yankees will be underdogs more than usual this season and that has not been a scenario that's been kind to bettors who have backed the Bronx Bombers in that situation. The Rays won't be nearly as efficient on the field as they were last season but could still be potent at the windows, in certain situations. The Blue Jays were surprisingly adept as favorites last year while the Orioles excelled in one-run games, trends worth watching this year. 2 2/28/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/phillies-favored-to-win-2011-world-series.asp The Phillies are favored to win the 2011 World Series, snapping a decade-long streak during which either the Yankees or Red Sox were the future book baseball betting choice to capture the October Classic. Philadelphia, which may have one of the best starting rotations in Major League Baseball history if execution matches expectations, opened as the 3/1 favorite for a season that starts March 31. 2 2/26/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/trends-abound-for-opening-round-big-dance-betting.asp If there's such a thing as Christmas in March, college basketball betting fans will celebrate when they unwrap the 32 games that comprise the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Men's hoop Tournament, March 17-18. Technically, the powers that be are calling this the "second round" after a "First Four" round on March 15-16 sends a quartet of teams into the 64-team main draw. Yeah, that's just another reason to call this annual hardcourt mayhem "March Madness." 1 2/23/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/looking-for-value-in-march-madness-betting.asp Three months into the current season and with no team having established itself as anything close to invincible, savvy college basketball betting fans are looking to find value in futures before the start of the Big Dance, March 15. 1 2/20/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/formula-one-betting-a-real-test-for-gamblers.asp Sebastian Vettel will be a narrow Formula One betting favorite to retain his World Drivers Championship when the 2011 F-1 season roars out of the grid at the Bahrain Grand Prix, March 13. Vettel opened as an 11/4 favorite, just ahead of Fernando Alonso, who is offered at odds of 3/1. Lewis Hamilton is tick behind those two at odds of 10/3. 1 2/17/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/boxing-betting-tripleheader-has-eveything.asp Relentless," a boxing betting tripleheader on SHOWTIME pay-per-view that features an overwhelming favorite, a modest wagering choice and a pick 'em fight, should have something for every gambler when the fists fly at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, March 12. 1 2/13/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/heavy-favorites-dominate-2011-oscar-betting.asp Sportsbooks already have indulged gamblers with prices on the Golden Globes and Grammy Awards - and the Tony Awards and Emmy Awards are still to come - but nothing will approach the amount of interest or action that Academy Awards betting generates. Oscar takes center stage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Feb. 27 before a TV audience estimated at more than two billion. 1 2/11/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/nfl-betting-for-2011-kicks-off.asp The glee in Green Bay and the pain in Pittsburgh may linger but NFL betting on which team will win Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Feb. 5, 2012 already has kicked off at sportsbooks and wagering emporiums around the globe. 2 2/8/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/nfl-betting-lessons-learned-from-2010.asp The Super Bowl is over and the 2010 season is officially dead, reason enough to slip on the surgical gloves and sift through the remains of the NFL betting carcass in hopes of finding some useful clues for a 2011 season that, providing the labor dispute is resolved, will kick off in just a few short months. 2 2/6/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/nascar-season-opens-with-daytona-500-betting.asp It may be less than a week after Valentine's Day but most sports betting enthusiasts will be more concerned with fuel than flowers when the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season officially motors out of the garage with 53rd running of the Daytona 500, Feb. 20. 1 2/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/sports-betting-has-gone-to-the-dogs.asp Sports betting, which is comprised mainly of wagering on football, basketball and baseball with ancillary action from auto racing, boxing, hockey, soccer, tennis, cycling, golf and horse racing, finally has gone to the dogs 1 1/31/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/2011-kentucky-derby-betting-underway.asp The 2011 Run for the Roses will take little more than 120 seconds to complete but before the first leg of the Triple Crown is run at Churchill Downs, May 7, more than 120 days of Kentucky Derby betting will have taken place. It is a measure of the enduring appeal of America's most famous horse race that so much time and money is spent on an event that lasts all of two minutes. 1 1/25/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/super-bowl-betting-could-be-super.asp Given a narrow pointspread in a game that most sports betting fans grudgingly acknowledge could be won by either of two storied franchises, the Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers, betting on Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, Feb. 6, could, indeed, be super this year. 1 1/24/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/turn-up-grammy-awards-betting.asp While the action won't even approach what's wagered on a single football game, future book betting on the 53rd annual Grammy Awards could be music to some savvy gamblers' ears when the recording industry hands out the hardware before CBS' cameras at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Feb. 13. 1 1/20/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/nascar-points-system-leaves-sports-betting-fans-flat.asp The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which continues to thrive despite fierce competition from football, basketball and baseball, seems intent on alienating its fan base and, with it, sports betting fans who wager on the elite stock car circuit. 2 1/17/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/johnson-heads-nascar-sprint-cup-betting-field.asp Can anyone beat Jimmie Johnson? NASCAR Sprint Cup betting fans will have to come to terms with that question as the elite stock car league revs up for its 63rd season, beginning with the Daytona 500, Feb. 20. Actually, the season starts with the Bud Shootout on Feb. 12 and although there will be betting on that individual event, drivers do not earn points toward the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the 36-race campaign that concludes with the Ford 400, in Miami, Nov. 20. 2 1/14/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/the-four-legs-of-horse-racing-betting.asp While team sports such as football and basketball basically restrict the sports betting fan to winning about as much as he bets, horse racing betting offers the opportunity for a life-changing experience. That said, turning $20 into $20,000 in a single afternoon (yes, it's been done) not only requires overcoming vigorish of more than 20 percent on multi-horse wagers but a measure of skill, discipline, and, of course, luck. 2 1/11/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/college-football-betting-has-oklahoma-on-top-for-2012.asp They may still be celebrating a second consecutive Bowl Champions Series national title in the heart of Dixie but college football betting fans already have moved past this year's top team, Auburn, and last year's winner, Alabama, to fix their wagering gaze on Oklahoma, the early 5/1 future book favorite to capture the 2012 BCS National Championship. 2 1/9/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/bell-rings-for-start-of-2011-boxing-betting-season.asp Boxing betting fans can get involved in the biggest fight of the young 2011 season when undefeated world champions Devon Alexander "The Great" and Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley duke it out at the 140-pound weight limit before HBO's cameras in Pontiac, Michigan, Jan. 29. 1 1/6/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/golden-globes-awards-betting-leads-to-oscars.asp They'll hand out the first entertainment awards of the year on Jan. 16 and while Golden Globes betting won't approach the amount of cash that's dropped on the Academy Awards six weeks later, it should give us a pretty good idea of what sportsbooks and gamblers are thinking. The Golden Globes also recognize television achievement but with the Emmy Awards not slated until September, have much less of an impact on that entertainment form. 1 1/3/2011 http://www.thegreek.com/2011/australian-open-could-offer-tennis-betting-surprises.asp Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are expected to renew their heated rivalry in the men's singles competition but the women's bracket is wide open and tennis betting fans could be in a for a couple of surprises when the year's first Major, the Australian Open, is served up in Melbourne, Jan. 17-30. 1 12/31/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2011-sports-betting-resolutions.asp A New Year brings new hope, even for the sometimes pessimistic sports betting fan. Of course, hope will have a better chance of turning into reality in 2011 if gamblers resolve not to make the same mistakes they made in 2010: 1 12/26/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2012-presidential-election-on-sports-betting-calendar.asp After an intense few months of seemingly endless campaign commercials and annoying robo-telephone calls, most voters may not be eager to consider the 2012 US Presidential election but sports betting fans looking for a departure from football and basketball appear ready to cast an early cash ballot. 2 12/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nba-betting-packs-early-surprises.asp We're about a third of the way through the regular season and you really can't blame that contingent of NBA betting fans who are crying "foul" for the way things are turning out on the hardcourt, this year. 1 12/20/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/golf-betting-2011.asp Golf betting, where any of 150 competitors are capable of winning an individual event and a gambler could go weeks or even months without cashing, is not for the faint-hearted. But the rewards can justify the pursuit and each new year brings a fresh set of challenges to the sports betting enthusiast 2 12/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/the-funny-side-of-sports-and-sports-betting.asp Let's end the sports and sports betting year by allowing those involved - athletes, journalists, whomever—to have the final say on the year that was 2010: 2 12/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-fans-say-we-do-to-royal-wedding.asp Prince William and Kate Middleton will tie the knot next year and, whether the Royal Family likes it or not, operators of sportsbooks and sports betting fans will play a part - peripheral though it may be - in nearly every nuptial decision made between now and April 29, 2011. 2 12/12/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/betting-college-football-bowl-games.asp College football betting comes to an end (at least for a few months) with a series of bowl games and, as has been our custom over the last several seasons, while we're not sure if we'll go out with a bang or a whimper, at least we're willing to take our best shot at building a Super Bowl bankroll. 2 12/9/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/conference-college-basketball-betting.asp Long the forgotten stepchild to football, college basketball betting now has earned near-equal status with its formidable gridiron sibling as sportsbooks have found new and innovative ways for gamblers to wager on the hardcourt sport. 2 12/6/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/five-factors-to-college-basketball-betting-success.asp College basketball betting fans will have thousands of wagering opportunities over the next few months but whether they win or lose probably will come down to how well they understand six key elements of NCAA hoops 2 12/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/mac-ovc-west-coast-southland-college-basketball-betting.asp College basketball betting fans know there's money to be made by tracking the Mid-Major teams, especially those outfits likely to make an appearance at March Madness. Let's take look at some of those NCAA Tournament candidates. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/29/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/colonial-southern-and-meac-college-basketball-betting.asp Mid-Major teams often don't get the ink many top notch schools do but they can be a presence in both the regular season and the NCAA Tournament. So let's continue to preview the most likely candidates to take part in the Big Dance in March. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-west-ivy-league-sun-belt-college-basketball-betting.asp They're on the board and they receive automatic bids to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, ample reason why college basketball betting fans need to monitor teams from the 11 mid-major conferences. Let's take look at the most likely candidates to take part in March madness. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/25/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-sky-horizon-maac-college-basketball-betting.asp College basketball wagering wonks spend the vast majority of their time and attention dissecting the 11 major conferences. But teams from 11 mid-major conferences frequently are on the board and, thanks to an automatic invitation to the NCAA Tournament, at least one team from each of those leagues will be among the 68-team field that comprises March Madness. That seems like reason enough for savvy gamblers to, at a minimum, follow the leading contenders in each of those conferences. Let's take look at the most likely candidates to make an appearance at the Big Dance. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/010 season are in parentheses: 2 11/22/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/wac-college-basketball-betting.asp WAC teams are 17-29-1 as home underdogs last two seasons, a trend that college basketball betting devotees will be tracking again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/19/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/missouri-valley-conference-college-basketball-betting.asp Northern Iowa (40-24 ATS) has been the only MVC team that has consistently beaten the spread over the past two seasons, a trend college betting fans will checking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/16/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/mountain-west-conference-college-basketball-betting.asp Mountain West Conference teams were 25-11-1 as road favorites last year, a trend college basketball betting fans will be monitoring this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/13/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/conference-usa-college-basketball-betting.asp Conference USA teams were a collective 44-67-2 as home favorites last season, a trend that college basketball betting followers will be watching in 2010/11. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses 2 11/10/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/atlantic-10-college-basketball-betting.asp The six A-10 teams that won at least 20 games straight up last year also were 115-81-7 versus the pointspread, a trend college basketball betting wonks will be watching this winter. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/7/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/pac-10-college-basketball-betting.asp Pac-10 teams were 14 games under .500 ATS versus non-conference foes, a trend that college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sec-college-basketball-betting.asp Overall, SEC teams were a collective 10 games under .500 against the spread last season, a trend basketball betting devotees will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 11/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-east-college-basketball-betting.asp Seven of the nine Big East teams that won 20 or more games also had winning records against the pointspread last season, a statistic that college basketball betting fans will be eyeing this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 10/29/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-ten-college-basketball-betting.asp Only one Big Ten team, Northwestern, was a consistently strong wager versus the pointspread last season, a trend that basketball betting aficionados will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 10/26/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/acc-college-basketball-betting.asp Only three of the ACC's 12 teams played more over games than under games last season, a college basketball betting trend worth watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 10/25/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-12-college-basketball-betting.asp Overall, Big 12 teams have the best out of conference pointspread record over the past eight seasons, a trend that college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season are in parentheses: 2 10/20/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-college-basketball-betting-tips-off.asp Full court college basketball betting won't tip off until December but sportsbooks are ready to facilitate gamblers willing to lob a couple of not-so-free throws at an NCAA Championship future book on which team will be cutting down the nets at Reliant Stadium in Houston, April 4. 2 10/18/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/breeders-cup-a-good-horse-racing-bet.asp OK, you don't know a fetlock from a furlong and horse race betting, with is hieroglyphic past performances and many variables can be a bit intimidating. But even novice gamblers should take the rubber band off their sports betting bankroll when the Breeders' Cup makes a stop at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 5-6. 2 10/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-pacific-division-betting.asp As a whole, Pacific Division teams were 24-33-1 as road favorites last season, a statistic that NBA betting practitioners will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 10/11/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-northwest-division-betting.asp Oklahoma City's success on the court continued at the windows where the Thunder came as a surprise to most NBA betting followers. You can be sure that gamblers will be keeping a closer eye on Oklahoma City this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 10/8/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-southwest-division-betting.asp Southwest Division teams were a collective 66-93-5 as home favorites last season, a trend NBA betting fans will be monitoring carefully again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 10/5/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-southeast-division-betting.asp The Magic has been 46-24-2 against the spread versus Southeast Division foes over the past four seasons, a solid wagering trend that betting devotees will be eyeing again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 10/2/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-central-division-betting.asp NBA Central Division teams were "underwhelming" last season as not a single unit played more "over" games than "under" games, a trend NBA betting aficionados will be following this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 9/30/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-atlantic-division-betting.asp Not a single Atlantic Division team enjoyed a winning record against the spread last season, a trend which NBA betting fans surely will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2009/10 season in parentheses: 2 9/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/future-book-packs-plenty-of-nba-betting-heat.asp Consider yourself the luckiest (or smartest) NBA betting fan in the world if you had the foresight to make a future book wager on the Heat at odds of 25/1. After opening at that generous price, Miami, now with perennial all-stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining resident top pro Dwayne Wade in South Beach, is a solid 7/4 favorite to capture the 2010-11 NBA Championship. The defending champion LA Lakers are a 3/1 second choice to earn their third consecutive NBA title. 2 9/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/oh-brother-a-klitschko-is-a-big-boxing-betting-favorite-again.asp Boxing betting fans will have to decide whether to take another very short price or take a chance on an improbable longshot when Vitali Klitschko risks the WBC version of the world heavyweight championship against Shannon Briggs in Hamburg, Germany, Oct. 16. Vitali, who has not lost in over seven years, is half of boxing's reigning brother act with younger sibling Wladimir, unbeaten since 2004, owning the IBF and WBO versions of the heavyweight title. 1 9/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/bye-week-can-impact-nfl-betting.asp It's been 20 years since the NFL waved good bye to an uninterrupted 16-game schedule, giving each team a bye week during the regular season while providing NFL betting enthusiasts with yet another variable to consider when matching cash to conviction. 2 9/12/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nfl-betting-on-totals-has-merit.asp NFL betting on totals, where the gambler wagers that the combined points scored by the two teams in an individual game are over or under a predetermined number, represents only about 10 percent of overall football handle but that's more a function of bet takers being cautious than bet makers being reticent. 2 9/9/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/monday-night-football-betting-angles.asp Poor strategy or not, as the last game of the week, Monday Night Football, which has been a broadcast staple since 1970, is the final chance for NFL betting fans to get even, or, as often is the case, to get even worse. For bet makers and bet takers alike, MNF, which moved to the ESPN cable network in 2006 and has logged more time on the tube than any show except 60 Minutes, often is the difference between winning and losing. 2 9/6/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/exploring-sunday-night-nfl-betting-trends.asp Although there's still another game left in each betting week, when the NBC network began flexing its broadcasting muscles in 2006 by demanding a stronger schedule, Sunday Night Football quickly emerged as a wagering staple for NFL betting fans. 2 9/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/opening-week-nfl-betting-strategies.asp There's a school of thought that when it comes to NFL betting, the opening week of the season is the easiest one for gamblers to beat sportsbooks. The assumption is that a number of factors, including NFL teams being cautious with their key players and hiding their true nature during the preseason, conspire to thwart oddsmakers, making it difficult for the numbers crunchers to make a clear evaluation of teams for the first week of the season. 1 9/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nfc-west-betting.asp At a combined 65 games under .500 and without a single team with a winning record against the number, this is the worst performing pointspread division in the league, a trend NFL betting aficionados will be watching closely again this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/29/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nfc-south-betting.asp Every team in the NFC South played more "under" than "over" games last season, a possibly emerging trend that NFL betting and against the spread (ATS) followers surely will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/heisman-betting-is-on-the-mark.asp College football betting is mostly about teams but sportsbooks also are challenging gamblers to wager on whether Alabama's Mark Ingram will win a second straight Heisman Trophy this season or which other individual player will capture the award that is emblematic of the NCAA's most outstanding gridiron performer. 1 8/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/klitschko-is-big-boxing-betting-favorite-over-peter.asp Boxing betting fans will know better than to blink when IBF and WBO world heavyweight champion Wladimir "Steel hammer" Klitschko defends his titles against Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 11. With 75 knockouts between them, the fight is unlikely to go the scheduled 12-round distance. We'll have more to say about that in a bit 1 8/22/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/us-open-tennis-betting-offers-many-options.asp The year's final Major, the US Open, which has its first serve Aug. 30 in Flushing Meadows, NY, will offer tennis betting fans several more viable wagering options than in previous years. 1 8/19/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nfc-north-betting.asp Green Bay continued its dominance over division foes last season, going 4-2 against the spread (ATS) to bring its four-year pointspread mark within the NFC North to 17-7, a trend that NFL betting devotees will be watching in 2010. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/16/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nfc-east-betting.asp The division has enjoyed a combined 65-50-5 record against the spread (ATS) versus other divisions the last three seasons, attesting to the overall strength of the NFC East. The division draws the AFC South this year so NFL betting fans might be expecting this recent trend to continue. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/13/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-afc-west-betting.asp Combined, Denver, Kansas City and Oakland have amassed just one winning season against the spread (ATS) over the past four seasons, a dismal statistic that NFL betting wonks will try to turn to their advantage in 2010. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/10/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-afc-south-betting.asp The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003 but it's the Titans, who are 37-28-1 against the spread (ATS) overall and 16-8 versus the number within the division the last four seasons, who have been best wagering friends to NFL betting enthusiasts. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/7/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-afc-north-betting.asp Pittsburgh, which hadn't had a losing pointspread season since 2002, was just 5-10-1 against the spread (ATS) last year, a clear warning to NFL betting devotees that trends can change quite quickly and that every tendency must be monitored with care and diligence. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-afc-east-betting.asp Most pundits see the AFC East race as a battle between the offensive minded Patriots and the defensively stingy Jets, the two teams which also have the division's best against the spread (ATS) records since 1998, a statistic not lost on NFL betting fans. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 2 8/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nfl-betting-already-underway.asp The official kickoff of the 2010 regular season won't occur until Sept. 9 but NFL betting already is underway at sportsbooks around the globe. In fact, operators of some sportsbooks not only have future book prices available for the Super Bowl, the AFC and NFC Championships, and each of the league's eight divisions, but over/under numbers for each team's regular season victories and points scored, as well. There also are odds on each team's chances of making the playoffs and where each team will finish within its own division. And if that isn't enough to quench your NFL betting thirst, some truly ambitious sportsbooks even are offering odds on which gridiron star will win the league's Most Valuable Player award. 2 7/30/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/pga-championship-betting-has-woods-on-top-again.asp He hasn't won a Major in more than two years but oddsmakers are sticking with Tiger Woods, installing the world's No. 1 ranked golfer as a lukewarm 5/1 favorite to capture the 2010 PGA Championship at the Whistling Straights Course in Kohler, Wisconsin, Aug. 12-15. 1 7/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/boxing-betting-fans-eye-tripleheader.asp Promoter Don King's "Gateway to Greatness" fisticuffs doubleheader has become a tripleheader, giving boxing betting fans—particularly those gamblers fond of parlays—even more reasons to become financially involved in the trio of 12-round world championship fights, in St. Louis, Aug. 7. 1 7/23/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sunbelt-independents-college-football-betting.asp Just five of the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams have pointspread records dating back 10 years so there's not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a winning play against the spread (ATS) since 2000. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/20/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/mid-america-conference-college-football-betting.asp The Mid-American Conference is 0-9-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games the last two seasons, a trend that college football betting aficionados will be watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/mountain-west-conference-college-football-betting.asp Teams from the MWC were 4-0-1 against the spread (ATS) in bowl games last season so followers of college football betting know better than to dismiss the league as just some wagering weak sister. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/conference-usa-college-football-betting.asp Rice and East Carolina are the only Conference USA teams to enjoy a winning pointspread record over the last 10 seasons, a trend college football betting enthusiasts are sure to watch carefully this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/11/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/wac-college-football-betting.asp College football betting fans again will be watching to see if WAC teams can match last season's outstanding 22-13-1 record against the spread (ATS) versus non-conference foes again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS)-including kickers-and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/8/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-east-college-football-betting.asp It's easy to underestimate the Big East but six of the league's eight teams went to bowls last season and conference teams are 88-65-1 against the spread (ATS) outside the Big East the past four seasons, a statistic that should be of great interest to devotees of college football betting. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/5/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/pac-10-college-football-betting.asp Southern Cal's NCAA probation could have a psychological impact on how hard the Trojans play, a development that college football betting followers will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 7/2/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/acc-college-football-betting.asp The ACC sent seven teams to bowls last season, compiling a 1-6 record against the spread (ATS), a display of national weakness that college football betting fans will be eyeing this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 6/29/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-12-college-football-betting.asp Conference stalwarts Texas and Oklahoma were a combined 9-15-2 against the spread (ATS) last year, something college football betting aficionados will be checking this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses 2 6/26/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-ten-college-football-betting.asp Big Ten teams were just 19-29 as home favorites last year, a development college football betting enthusiasts will watch closely this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2010 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 6/23/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sec-college-football-betting.asp SEC teams were 27-19-1 against the spread versus non-conference foes last year, a trend that college football betting fans will be monitoring this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2009 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 2 6/22/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/woods-favored-in-british-open-golf-betting.asp Playing over a layout he clearly loves, Tiger Woods opened as a 5/2 golf betting favorite to win the 2010 British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, July 15-18. Woods dominated play each of the last two times the Claret Jug was hoisted at St. Andrews; in 2000 when his 19 under set a record for the lowest score to par in any Major, and again in 2005, when Woods finished 14 under par, winning by five strokes. Woods also won the 2006 British Open at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. 1 6/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/suprise-teams-make-good-college-football-betting-plays.asp At the end of every college football betting season it's easy to look back and identify teams that would have been terrific plays throughout the year. "Result playing," or "red-boarding," as it's called in horse racing, is a familiar lament for gamblers. Of course, it's far better to identify these teams of opportunity before the start of the season and let the sportsbooks do the somber reflection at the end of the year 2 6/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/college-football-betting-includes-conference-futures.asp Many sportsbooks that have been offering future book odds on conference and division titles as well as the Super Bowl also have expanded their menus for NCAA football betting, offering prices on the winner's of the six major BCS conferences. Although some sportsbooks even break down these half-dozen leagues by division, because you get a little more bang for your gridiron buck dealing with a larger field, we'll confine our analysis to the six conferences: 2 6/11/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/college-football-future-book-betting-kicks-off.asp We're still more than several Hail Mary passes removed from the kickoff of the 2010 college football season on Sept. 2 but thanks to the advent of the future book, the college football betting season already is underway. Most sportsbooks and internet wagering outlets have posted odds on which team will win the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title in Glendale, Arizona, next January. 2 6/9/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/contador-dominates-tour-de-france-betting.asp Alberto Contador dominates 2010 Tour de France betting the way Tiger Woods once dominated golf betting. But Contador is an odds-on favorite to win the world's most revered bicycle race, something Woods never achieved in a Major, even in the best of times. In fact, Contador is such an overwhelming favorite that there also is a Tour de France future book in which Contador's finish is not considered. More about that, later. 1 6/6/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/tennis-betting-turns-to-wimbledon.asp The dust, or more appropriately the red clay, barely has settled at the French Open in Paris but for tennis betting fans it's on to the third Major of the year, Wimbledon, at the All England Tennis Club, outside London, June 21-July 4. 1 6/3/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/tiger-opens-as-narrow-us-open-golf-betting-favorite.asp Humbled by injury, humiliated by scandal, and with his No. 1 ranking hanging by the results of a single tournament, Tiger Woods opened as a narrow golf betting future book favorite to win the 2010 US Open, in Pebble Beach, California, June 17-20. 1 6/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/world-cup-betting-is-out-of-this-world.asp Whether you're handing over Euros, dollars, yen, pesos or something else, World Cup betting on the 2010 championship of soccer is expected to break all wagering records this year. The 32-team event kicks off June 11 in the host country of South Africa with the final slated for July 11 (local date) in Johannesburg. 1 5/31/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-system-has-merit.asp A simple truth of sports betting is that it's the superior bettors who succeed, not the most competent handicappers. So, while it may be difficult to contain the snickering when someone says they have a handicapping system, a bit more respect must be shown to those who apply a system to betting. 2 5/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/its-time-to-assess-mlb-betting-strategy.asp BWith nearly two months and a third of the Major League Baseball regular season in the record books and with an eye toward the rapidly approaching Dog Days of Summer, fans of MLB betting would be wise to assess what's worked and what hasn't worked so far in 2010. 1 5/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/belmont-stakes-betting-still-attractive.asp Both Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness hero Lookin' at Lucky will sit out the third leg of the Triple Crown but that doesn't mean that Belmont Stakes betting will be any less attractive for the 135th running of the race, June 5th. 1 5/22/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/rabbi-tries-to-lure-boxing-betting-fans.asp Boxing betting fans will have to decide if it's kosher to bet against a budding rabbi when Yuri Foreman risks his WBA middleweight championship against Miguel Cotto before HBO cameras in New York's Yankee Stadium, June 5. 1 5/19/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/lots-of-options-for-indy-500-betting.asp Scott Dixon opened as a tepid 3/1 favorite but Indianapolis 500 betting fans will have plenty of other viable wagering options when the 94th running of the "Greatest Spectacle on Earth" gets its annual 200-lap run around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of ABC-TV's cameras, Sunday, May 30. 1 5/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-odds-and-ends.asp Before he could even speak, primitive man probably engaged in sports betting of some kind, wagering a meaty boar leg or a prime spot in the cave on who could run faster or throw a stone farther. Gratefully, speech has caught up with betting and athletic prowess, providing an often humorous, sometimes revealing and never-ending stream of entertaining words. 2 5/13/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/boxing-betting-fans-face-dilemma.asp Boxing betting fans will face a dilemma when Vitali "Dr. Iron fist" Klitschko risks his WBC heavyweight championship against Albert "The Dragon" Sosnowski in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, May 29. On paper, this is a classic mismatch but how much is too much to lay on the champion? 1 5/10/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/you-dont-have-to-play-poker-to-bet-poker.asp If you're interested in playing poker it will cost you $10,000 to enter the 2010 No-Limit Hold 'em World Series of Poker Championship. But if you interested in betting on poker, you can be a part of the action for a whole lot less. That's because many sportsbooks already have a future book posted on which card player will win the 13-day marathon event. 1 5/7/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/scratching-the-surface-of-french-open-tennis-betting.asp With four French Open singles titles apiece, it should come as little surprise that Rafael Nadal and Justin Henin are respective men's and women's championship tennis betting favorites to win the second Major event of the year, at Roland Garros, outside Paris, May 24-June 6. 1 5/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/preakness-betting-requires-new-skills.asp Like fingerprints, no two horse races are alike so if you had success wagering on the opening jewel in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, there are no assurances that your Preakness betting will be just as bountiful when the second bauble in the tiara rolls into Pimlico Race Course, outside Baltimore, May 15. 1 4/30/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/draft-impacts-nfl-betting.asp Opinions vary as to which teams improved their fortunes and which ones did poorly at the NFL draft, April 22-24, but you need only follow NFL betting future book odds to see what operators of sportsbooks think of the recent college talent distribution. 1 4/26/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/hbo-doubleheader-helps-boxing-betting-fans.asp Boxing betting fans will be able to root for their money when HBO offers a pair of attractive 12-round bouts on successive Saturdays, May 8 and May 15. 1 4/25/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-glossary-is-for-everyone.asp We're as guilty as anyone of throwing around sports betting terminology as if wagering vernacular is as familiar to the weekend recreational player as it is to those who bet on sports with more sophistication and regularity. Let's bring everyone up to speed: 2 4/19/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/mayweather-mosley-provides-boxing-betting-options.asp "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 knockouts) opened as a -400 favorite (bet $400 to win $100) to beat "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) in their welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, May 1 but sportsbooks also are offering dozens of other ways to bet on the scheduled 12-rounder. HBO will offer the fight on a pay-per-view basis. 1 4/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/value-is-crucial-in-kentucky-derby-betting.asp There are a few more unknowns and a bit more uncertainty but betting the Kentucky Derby is just like betting any other horse race: You have to have value. So when the Run for the Roses takes its annual trip around the Churchill Downs oval, May 1, sophisticated horse race betting fans will be comparing a runner's odds of victory to his betting odds and looking for value 2 4/15/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/keys-to-kentucky-derby-betting.asp When it comes to Kentucky Derby betting, the best strategy is to try to ascertain which horse will race best on the first Saturday in May, not which 3-year-old colt is the best racehorse now. 2 4/12/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/baseball-betting-money-line-can-mean-money-to-bettors.asp Unlike football betting and basketball betting which utilize a pointspread, baseball betting primarily employs a money line, a function which intimidates many gamblers but can be a wagering asset if played properly. 2 4/9/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-word-games.asp Boxing betting fans who felt neglected with all the hoopla surrounding March Madness will have the wagering spotlight cast on them this April as sportsbooks accommodate players with lines and betting propositions on a trio of highly competitive bouts this month. Television will be an unwitting accomplice in driving up handle when HBO broadcasts two of the bouts and Showtime airs the remaining one. 2 4/6/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/the-draft-is-now-a-part-of-nfl-betting.asp The 2010 NFL Draft kicks off in prime time on ESPN, April 22 and while NFL teams will be betting their futures on how wisely they select from the pool of eligible collegiate talent, NFL betting fans will be risking their bankrolls on pretty much the same thing. 2 4/3/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/2010-nba-playoff-betting.asp Even if you've done well during the long NBA betting season, there's no guarantee that your good fortune will continue when the playoffs tip-off, April 17. The post-season is a whole new ball game for gamblers, bringing new challenges and opportunities but no expectation that what worked through the fall and winter will have any betting relevance into the spring and early summer. 2 3/30/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-word-games.asp Sometimes you don't even have to ask a silly question to get a silly answer in the world of sports and sports betting. Witness some of the gems uncovered over the winter months by those who play, write about, officiate and administer the games we all love: 2 3/28/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/baseball-betting-propositions.asp Stretching from the promise of spring through the dog days of summer to the start of autumn, baseball betting can become a laborious, near-daily grind of cash and cunning. No wonder even the most hardened and focused of gamblers may sometimes surrender to the urge to stray from that discipline to pursue an alternate means of profit through proposition betting. 1 3/25/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/woods-adds-twist-to-masters-betting-cocktail.asp Tigers Woods returns from a five-month layoff, adding a twist of doubt to a Masters betting cocktail that always is an unpredictable mix of skill, luck, talent and guile. The year's first golf Major will tee off at Augusta National on April 8 with Woods listed as the tepid 4/1 favorite, a relatively robust price in comparison to seasons past. In fact, Woods, who has admitted to frequent episodes of marital infidelity, was a 5/2 Masters favorite in 2009, a 4/5 betting choice in 2008, and a 5/4 wagering darling in 2007. Woods' current odds not only reflect his long layoff but whether the world's No. 1 ranked golfer can regain his legendary focus under intense - and often unfriendly - media scrutiny. 1 3/21/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/national-league-west-division-baseball-betting.asp After a 2008 campaign in which all five NL West teams were losing wagers overall, posting unit losses (if you bet on a team every game it played) from -5.3 to -37.2, the division bounced back last season with the Dodgers, Rockies, Giants and Padres all in the plus for baseball betting fans. 1 3/19/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/national-league-central-division-baseball-betting.asp The only division in the Major Leagues with six teams produced some double-digit baseball betting plays in 2009, trends that will be well worth monitoring during the upcoming season: 1 3/16/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/national-league-east-baseball-betting.asp The National League East Division has the distinction of housing the best and worst teams in the senior circuit, factors which baseball betting aficionados may be able to use to their wagering advantage again this year. The NL champion Phillies, especially in certain key betting situations, were dependable while the Nationals were dependably awful. 1 3/13/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/american-league-west-division-baseball-betting.asp The American League West was friendly to baseball betting fans as all of its teams sported a positive ROI (Return on Investment) last season, something no other division could claim. That means that, overall each of the four teams were profitable investments for bettors, all showing double-digit gains in specific categories. 1 3/10/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/american-league-central-baseball-betting.asp The AL Central Division was anything but kind to baseball betting enthusiasts last year unless they went against those five teams with regularity. In fact, none of the AL Central quintet had a positive ROI (Return on Investment), meaning you couldn't bet any one of them with frequency and expect to make a profit. 1 3/7/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/american-league-east-baseball-betting.asp The Yankees spent big and won big last year and those baseball betting fans who went along for the ride also prospered as New York was a solid wager in most individual betting categories in 2009. The Red Sox continued to be a good bet at home in 2009 but the Rays, who were darlings of many wagering wonks a year earlier, burned up a lot of cash. You had to be very fortunate to make any money on either the Orioles or Blue Jays last season, a trend which might continue this year. 1 3/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/baseball-betting-not-waiting-for-opening-day.asp The cry of "Play ball" won't be heard around MLB ballparks for a while but Major League Baseball betting enthusiasts need not wait until opening day, April 4, to get some action on the upcoming season. 2 3/2/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/march-madness-betting-is-underway.asp Formula One betting always has been a merger of man, machine and money, an uneasy alliance that again will be tested when the 2010 F-1 season screeches off the grid at the Gulf Air Grand Prix in Bahrain, March 14. 1 2/27/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/big-dance-1st-round-college-basketball-betting.asp College basketball betting doesn't get any more exciting than the opening round of the NCAA Men's Tournament, March 18, 19. The 32 Big Dance pairings, often matching teams that would never play each other, is a test of guts and guile for both bet makers and bet takers. Now you know why they call it March Madness. 1 2/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/march-madness-betting-is-underway.asp College basketball betting has been a near daily occurrence since November but the two most exciting and potentially rewarding wagering days of the year, the opening rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, March 18 ands 19, still are ahead for every March Madness betting fan. 1 2/20/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/pac-man-is-boxing-betting-favorite.asp Boxing betting fans hoping to get a rare chance to wager on Fighter of the Year Manny Pacquiao as an underdog in a bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr., will instead have to lay some serious cash if they want to back the Pac Man when he faces Mayweather replacement Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium, March 13. The Pacquiao-Mayweather bout, in which Pacquiao would have opened as a +140 underdog (bet $100 to win $140) was canceled when the two fighters could not agree on terms. 1 2/18/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/risks-rewards-in-kentucky-derby-future-book-betting.asp The first Saturday in May is still months away but horse racing betting fans know that a future book wager made now could reap big dividends when the Triple Crown opens with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, May 1. 1 2/14/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nfl-future-book-betting-for-hedgers.asp The confetti may not have been swept from the streets of New Orleans yet but most sportsbooks already have NFL betting available on which team will win Super Bowl XLV next February. Every wager should have merit on its own - write that down and store it some place handy - but NFL futures can have additional value as a hedging tool. 2 2/10/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/three-keys-to-horse-racing-betting.asp Of all the wagering pursuits, only horse racing betting doesn't have a season, never takes a day off and offers the bettor the chance to turn $100 into $1,000,000 in a single afternoon. What's more, gamblers don't bet against the house but each other, so winners get their money from losers, meaning that strong, sophisticated, savvy bettors thrive at the expense of those who either lack the talent or diligence to become accomplished bettors. 2 2/8/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nfl-betting-cues-from-last-season.asp The Super Bowl slammed the lid on the 2009 football season but NFL betting fans would be wise to examine the corpse before burying the gridiron body. In fact, an autopsy of the regular season unveils several valuable clues for an upcoming campaign that is just seven months away. 2 2/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/chalk-players-eye-academy-award-betting.asp With six odds-on choices in as many key categories, chalk players are looking at Academy Award betting as an opportunity to write a happy ending to the 2009 year in cinema when the Oscars are handed out, Mar. 7. Ah, but sportsbooks will make you pay for those favorites and it wouldn't take more than an upset or two to turn this drama into a tragedy. 1 2/1/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/daytona-500-betting-a-puzzle.asp Unconventionally, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series runs its most prestigious race, the Daytona 500, at the beginning, not the end, of the stock car racing season and it may seem that oddsmakers have Daytona 500 betting odds in the wrong order, too. 1 1/30/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/tv-coverage-encourages-winter-olympics-betting.asp NBC, along with TV affiliates USA, MSNBC and CNBC, will devote 435 hours of original coverage to the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Feb. 12-28, but it remains an open question whether Winter Olympics betting will come anywhere near matching the peacock network's depth, intensity and dedication to the international sporting event. 1 1/26/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/super-bowl-betting-kicks-off.asp Oddsmakers may have opened Indianapolis as a 4-point favorite over New Orleans but Super Bowl betting fans quickly showed their disapproval of that number, backing the Colts to a 5-point choice over the Saints in the NFL Championship game in Miami, Feb. 7. The total on the game, which opened at 52, also has been bet up to as high as 56 at some sportsbooks. 1 1/24/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/assessing-nba-betting-at-the-half.asp We're about halfway through the current NBA season and if NBA betting fans thought there would be some correlation between winning on the court and winning at the windows they're probably working from a very meager bankroll about now. 1 1/20/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/nascar-sprint-cup-betting-is-open.asp With the stock car season about to put pedal to the metal, many NASCAR Sprint Cup betting fans find themselves in a quandary familiar to gamblers who pursue golf betting or tennis betting; whether to back the overwhelming favorite at an unattractive price or try to beat him with an unpredictable longshot at a much more predictably long price. 2 1/17/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-includes-grammy-awards-betting.asp Sports betting has long been about a lot more than betting on sports, a premise that will be tested by gamblers wagering on the Grammy Awards, which will be broadcast by CBS, January 31. The Grammy Awards, along with the Academy Awards, Tony Awards and Emmy Awards, are part of the Grand Slam of entertainment and, as has become the custom in this media-driven age, are offered for wagering consumption by ambitious sportsbooks around the globe. 1 1/11/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/turning-over-a-new-sports-betting-leaf.asp While most sports betting practitioners judge success or failure on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, there's something special about wiping the slate clean in a new year. Of course, with the NFL, NBA, college basketball and NHL seasons overlapping the change in calendars that may be truer in form than function. 2 1/11/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/sports-betting-resolutions.asp There's no sure path to victory for the sports betting enthusiast but abiding by a few well-chosen New Year's resolutions could lead to greater success in 2010: 2 1/9/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/boxing-betting-mosley-favored-over-berto.asp The first legitimate super fight of the New Year, the welterweight showdown between WBA champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley and WBA 147-pound title holder Andre Berto at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 30, should also be the first major boxing betting event of 2010. HBO will handle the broadcast duties but unlike many other championship encounters, this one is not a pay-per-view affair. 1 1/7/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/federer-serena-favored-in-2010-australian-open-tennis-betting.asp Roger Federer and Serena Williams, the world's top ranked players, opened as modest favorites to capture respective men's and women's singles titles at the Australian Open, the sport's first Major, in Melbourne, Jan. 18-31. 1 1/6/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/golf-betting-is-almost-all-about-tiger.asp Tiger Woods didn't win a Major in 2009 but he did find himself in major marital trouble, a factor which could have a huge impact on the always difficult and tricky prospect of trying to earn some cash through golf betting, in 2010. 1 1/4/2010 http://www.thegreek.com/2010/using-mother-nature-to-bet-the-2010-nfl-playoffs.asp Gamblers have understood the importance of Mother Nature for ages, or at least from the early seventies when a few enterprising bettors began to chart wind velocity and direction in select MLB cities to help them gain an edge wagering on baseball totals. 1 12/23/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sports-betting-new-years-resolutions.asp There's no sure path to victory for the sports betting enthusiast but abiding by a few well-chosen New Year's resolutions could lead to greater success in 2010: 1 12/14/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/smiles-and-frowns-in-sports-and-sports-betting.asp Tiger Woods' marital infidelity was an easy target for chuckles while a wagering scandal in soccer produced a great many grimaces in a review of the best quotes and misquotes from the fields of sports and sports betting in 2009. 2 12/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-bowls.asp Beginning with the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, Dec. 19 and continuing through the BCS title game in Pasadena, Jan. 7, college football betting followers have 34 opportunities to end the season with fattened wallets. 1 12/9/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/world-cup-2010-betting.asp Spain opened as a slight favorite over Brazil to win the 2010 World Cup of Soccer next summer in South Africa. The largest wagering event on the planet kicks off in Johannesburg, June 11 with Mexico taking on the host nation South Africa. The final is slated for July 11. 1 12/6/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-college-basketball-conference-futures.asp College basketball betting fans who waited several weeks before plunging into conference future book wagering waters, now have a better idea of which teams are contenders and which are pretenders in a half-dozen major loops that begin league play at the end of this month or in early January. Unfortunately for gamblers, bookmakers also now have that enhanced knowledge. 1 12/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-versus-the-nba.asp It's still five men a side with what started as a peach basket at each end but fans of college basketball betting face a whole new set of challenges and considerations when moving from wagering on the NBA to the NCAA game. 1 11/30/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mid-majors-(part-4).asp College basketball betting fans know there's money to be made by tracking the Mid-Major teams, especially those outfits likely to make an appearance at March Madness. Let's take look at some of those NCAA Tournament candidates. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/28/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mid-majors-(part-3).asp Mid-Major teams often don't get the ink many top notch schools do but they can be a presence in both the regular season and the NCAA Tournament. Let's take look at the most likely candidates to take part in the Big Dance. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/26/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mid-majors-(part-2).asp They're on the board and they receive automatic bids to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, ample reason why college basketball betting fans need to monitor teams from the 11 mid-major conferences. Let's take look at the most likely candidates to take part in March madness. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mid-majors-(part-1).asp While the majority of college basketball wagering attention is focused on the 11 major conferences, teams from 11 mid-major conferences frequently are on the board and, thanks to an automatic invitation from the NCAA, at least one team from each of those leagues will be at the Big Dance in March. That's reason enough for college basketball betting aficionados to, at a minimum, follow the leading contenders in each of those conferences. Let's take look at the most likely candidates to take part in March madness. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/22/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-western-athletic-conference.asp WAC teams were 7-12-1 as home underdogs last season, a trend that college basketball betting devotees will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/19/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-missouri-valley-conference.asp MVC teams were a collective nine games under .500 as home favorites last season, a statistic college betting fans will checking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/16/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mountain-west-conference.asp Mountain West Conference teams covered 60 percent of the time as road favorites last year, a trend college basketball betting fans will be monitoring this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/13/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-conference-usa.asp With Memphis down for the first time in memory, college basketball betting followers will be watching to see if the other teams in the C-USA try to gain some revenge by crushing the Tigers. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/10/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-atlantic-10-conference.asp Collectively, A-10 teams were 19 games under .500 versus the pointspread, a statistic that college basketball betting wonks will be watching this winter. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/7/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-pac-10-conference.asp Pac-10 teams were 15 games over .500 ATS versus non-conference foes and played 21 more "over" than "under" games last season, trends college basketball betting fans will be watching this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/pacman-versus-cotto-is-boxing-betting-bonanza.asp Two of the sport's premier attractions, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Miguel "Junito" Cotto, will square off in a special 145-pound catch-weight bout before a packed house at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and an HBO pay-per-view television audience on Nov. 14 in which boxing betting fans will have dozens of wagering options. 1 11/2/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-southeastern-conference.asp Only four of the SEC's 12 teams had winning pointspread records last season, a trend basketball betting devotees will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 10/30/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-east-conference.asp Despite it reputation as the nation's deepest and toughest conference, Big East teams were nine games under .500 ATS versus non conference foes last season, a statistic that college basketball betting fans will be eyeing this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 10/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-ten-conference.asp Only one Big Ten team, Northwestern, played more "over" games than "under" games last season, a trend that basketball betting aficionados will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season are in parentheses: 1 10/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-acc.asp Take mighty North Carolina out of the mix and ACC teams were just 54-55-4 ATS outside the conference last season, far from the expected dominance and a college basketball betting trend worth watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 10/21/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-12.asp Even if you're strictly a sports betting practitioner, someone who doesn't know an exacta from exact change, it still might be worth your time to take a run at some horse race betting when the windows open for Breeders' Cup XXVI, to be contested this year at Santa Anita Park, Nov. 6-7. 1 10/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/the-future-is-now-for-college-basketball-betting.asp We're still a few weeks away from the start of the 2009/10 NCAA men's hoop season but college basketball betting fans need not wait until then to start dipping into their wallets for some much-needed hardcourt action. Future book wagering is open for which team will cut down the nets in Indianapolis, April 5, 2010. What's more, some books also are offering odds on which teams will win their respective conference crowns. 1 10/15/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/breeders-cup-betting-has-value.asp Even if you're strictly a sports betting practitioner, someone who doesn't know an exacta from exact change, it still might be worth your time to take a run at some horse race betting when the windows open for Breeders' Cup XXVI, to be contested this year at Santa Anita Park, Nov. 6-7. 1 10/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-pacific-division.asp As a whole, Pacific Division teams were 27 games under .500 against the spread last season, a statistic that NBA betting practitioners will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 10/9/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-northwest-division.asp It probably comes as little surprise to NBA betting followers that the three best teams in the division, Denver, Portland and Utah, also were very solid plays at home, notching a 78-53-2 mark against the spread last season, an evolving trend worth watching. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 10/6/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-southwest-division.asp Every team in the Southwest Division had a losing record against the spread last season, a trend NBA betting fans will be monitoring carefully again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 10/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-southeast-division.asp The Magic has been 30-16-2 against the spread versus Southeast Division foes over the past three seasons, an evolving wagering trend that betting devotees will be eyeing again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 9/30/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-central-division.asp The Cavaliers were wagering bullies but three other teams within the division also had winning pointspread records last year, a trend NBA betting aficionados will be tracking this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 9/26/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-atlantic-division.asp Since acquiring Kevin Garnett, Boston has ruled the division the last two seasons, both straight up and against the spread, trends which NBA betting fans will be monitoring. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2008/09 season in parentheses: 1 9/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nba-future-book-betting.asp The Lakers are a narrow future book NBA betting favorite over the Cavaliers to win a second straight championship next summer. The matchup, which was expected but did not materialize last season when Cleveland failed to keep up its end of the bargain, would pit the game's two biggest super stars, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, and the Cavaliers' LeBron James, against each other in a bonanza for TV ratings. 1 9/19/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sports-betting-lip-service.asp Art Linkletter used to insist that "kids say the darndest things" but when it comes to the fields of sports and sports betting, it looks like the children have little on athletes, journalists, politicians, administrators and just plain folks. 2 9/17/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/total-nfl-betting-techniques.asp While 90 percent of NFL betting action is on the pointspread, there are some gamblers who find value in totals, the wagering pursuit where you bet whether the combined points scored by the teams in an individual game are over or under a prescribed number. Other gamblers believe that "totals," as they're called, are sucker bets, another diversion designed by the house to separate the player from his money. Of course, if that were true, bookmakers wouldn't have to place such severe restrictions on over/under wagering. 1 9/14/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/the-value-of-rest-in-nfl-betting.asp Since the introduction of the 17-week schedule to the NFL in 1990, every team has enjoyed a week off during the regular season, a scheduling phenomenon that has created yet another wagering variable for NFL betting fans to consider. Savvy gamblers will tell you this is a good development; that the more complex the betting equation, the better the opportunity to find advantages where the less focused, less disciplined and less determined bettor fears to tread. 1 9/11/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/monday-night-football-betting.asp Monday Night Football has been broadcast into homes across America since 1970, adding an extra day to the gridiron weekend that has been both used and abused by ardent NFL betting enthusiasts over the past 40 years. Because it is the final game of the week, MNF often is the difference between winning and losing for bet makers and bet takers alike. 1 9/8/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sunday-night-football-betting.asp It's not the last game of the week but when NBC took over and began flexing its muscles in 2006 by commanding a strong schedule, Sunday Night Football quickly became a wagering staple for NFL betting fans. 1 9/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/good-action-for-boxing-betting-fans.asp Arizona eked out a winning record against the spread last season but over the past five years this is the worst performing pointspread division in the league, a trend NFL betting aficionados will be watching closely again this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 9/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-nfc-west.asp Arizona eked out a winning record against the spread last season but over the past five years this is the worst performing pointspread division in the league, a trend NFL betting aficionados will be watching closely again this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/31/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/looking-for-an-angle-in-opening-week-nfl-betting.asp With fewer wagering opportunities than any other team sport, NFL betting places a premium on gamblers to get off to a quick start. That again will be the case when the NFL kicks off another season, Sept. 10. 1 8/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/using-science-in-college-football-betting.asp No system, especially one designed to earn a profit at college football betting, is foolproof but some gamblers have reported success matching the dispassionate "scientific" approach of mathematician Jeff Sagarin against the Las Vegas wagering line. 1 8/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-nfc-south.asp Every team in the NFC South held its own against the spread, especially in non-division play where the four teams were a combined 24-14-2 ATS last season, a statistic that NFL betting enthusiasts surely will be monitoring this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/20/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-nfc-east.asp The division enjoyed a combined 22-16-2 pointspread record in other neighborhoods last season, attesting to the overall strength of the NFC East. The division draws the weak AFC West this year so more wagering success is likely, though NFL betting fans will want to watch for inflated lines. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/17/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/federer-serena-favored-in-us-open-tennis-betting.asp Defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams opened as future book favorites to successfully defend their respective men's and women's singles titles at the final Major of the year, the US Open Tennis Championship in Flushing Meadows, New York, Aug. 31-Sept. 13. 1 8/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-afc-south.asp The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003 but it's the Titans, who are 31-19 against the spread overall and 14-4 versus the number within the division the last three seasons, who have been best wagering friends to NFL betting enthusiasts. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/10/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-afc-north.asp Pittsburgh hasn't had a losing pointspread season since 2002 and Baltimore was one of the league's best against the spread last year, trends that NFL betting devotees undoubtedly will be monitoring this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 8/2/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/pga-championship-betting.asp Although he failed to win any of the year's first three Major events, oddsmakers are sticking with Tiger Woods, installing the world's No. 1 ranked golfer as a 5/2 favorite in PGA Championship future book golf betting. Woods, who boasts four PGA Championship titles among his 14 Major victories, will head a field of 156 golfers who tee off for the season's final Major, at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, Aug. 13-16. 1 08/1/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-future-book-betting.asp For a great many NFL betting enthusiasts, their initial wager of the 2009 season won't be on the first game of the upcoming campaign but on the last. Future book betting on the 2010 Super Bowl, where prices are far more generous than the usual 10/11 odds gamblers readily accept on individual games, is a nice way to start the gridiron betting season. 1 8/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-afc-east.asp Over a two-game span New England lost the Super Bowl and quarterback Tom Brady, traumatic events for NFL betting fans who backed the Patriots. But those events are ancient history and there's nothing to suggest that New England, which has been superb both straight up and against the spread for more than a decade, won't dominate this division again. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 regular season records and pointspread results in parentheses: 1 07/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-sunbelt-conference-and-independents.asp Just five of the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams have pointspread records dating back nine years so there's not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a decent play versus the number since 2000. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mid-american-conference.asp The Mid-American Conference was better than expected out of conference, finishing 28-21 ATS last season, a trend that college football betting aficionados will be watching this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/21/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-mountain-west.asp Teams from the MWC were 6-1 SU and 4-3 ATS versus the Pac-10 last year while producing the nation's only major undefeated team (Utah) so followers of college football betting know better than to dismiss he league as just some wagering weak sister. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-conference-usa.asp Rice and East Carolina are the only Conference USA teams to enjoy a winning pointspread record over the last nine seasons, a trend college football betting enthusiasts are sure to watch carefully this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/15/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-wac.asp College football betting fans again will be watching to see if the WAC, as it was last season when members posted a record of 12-21 ATS, is a "go-against" conference again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-east.asp Pac-10 teams were 19-15 ATS in non-conference games and were 4-1 ATS in bowls, trends that college football betting followers will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/9/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-pac-10.asp Pac-10 teams were 19-15 ATS in non-conference games and were 4-1 ATS in bowls, trends that college football betting followers will be tracking this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/6/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-acc.asp The ACC sent 10 teams to bowls last season, compiling a 7-3 record ATS, a show of national strength that college football betting fans will be eyeing this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 07/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-12.asp Big 12 play produced an average of 67 points per game last year leaving college football betting devotees to wonder if "over" is the way to go again this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 06/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/tiger-favored-in-british-open-betting.asp Tiger Woods opened as a consensus 9/4 future book favorite to capture his fourth British Open Championship, in Turnberry, Scotland, July 16-19. Two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland is the distant second choice at odds of 14/1. 1 06/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-big-ten.asp Big Ten teams were just 15-26-1 ATS in non-conference games last year, adding to the perception that the league really isn't that good any more, a trend college football betting enthusiasts will monitor this season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 06/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-the-sec.asp The SEC may be the strongest conference but its teams were just 25-22 ATS versus non-league foes last year, something college football betting fans will watch this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2008 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 06/21/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-football-betting-surprise-teams.asp One of the best ways to achieve college football betting success early in the season is to identify those teams that have improved enough from the previous year that oddsmakers may be behind the pointspread curve. 1 06/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-college-football-conferences.asp Just as NFL future book betting has evolved to include the winners of the AFC and NFC Championships as well as the league's eight divisions, college football betting has expanded to encompass future book wagering on which teams will earn titles in the six major BCS conferences. 1 06/15/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/bcs-futures-kickoff-college-football-betting.asp It's usually right around this time, after Lord Stanley has had his Cup hoisted, when the NBA Playoffs finally have crowned a league champion, and when the prospect of another three months of Major League Baseball begins to wear on even the heartiest of wagering souls, that gamblers begin to turn their attention to the upcoming college football betting season. 1 06/9/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/federer-and-serena-are-wimbledon-betting-favorites.asp Their results may have been different in France but Roger Federer and Serena Williams each cross the Channel to England as tennis betting favorites to win respective men's and women's singles titles at the Wimbledon Championships, outside London, June 22-July 5. 1 06/6/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/stats-don't-lie-to-baseball-betting-fans.asp "There are three kinds of lies," wrote Benjamin Disraeli, "lies, damned lies and statistics." Devotees of the oft-quoted British Prime Minister (1874-1880) will have to forgive baseball betting fans if they differ with him on the value of statistics. 1 06/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/future-prices-offer-baseball-betting-clues.asp We're about a third of the way through the regular season, a time when many Major League Baseball betting fans assess their future book wagers and look to improve their position. It turns out that MLB futures also reveal quite a bit about day-to-day baseball betting, as well. 1 05/31/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/us-open-golf-betting-always-a-challenge.asp Since bursting on the scene more than a decade ago and quickly establishing himself as the man to beat in every tournament he enters, the fundamental question for golf betting fans always has been whether to take a short price on Tiger Woods or whether to shop for longer odds and wager on someone else. 1 05/29/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/lots-of-wagering-options-forr-boxing-betting-fans.asp The significance of a sporting event often can be judged by the number of sports betting options associated with it. 1 05/26/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/gamblers-have-choices-in-belmont-stakes-betting.asp Horse racing betting fans were left wondering if Rachel Alexandra would join the boys in the in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6 after the filly worked a half mile at Churchill Downs, Monday, May 25. 1 05/22/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sports-betting's-funny-side.asp Although it's fun and occasionally profitable, sports betting can be an unapologetic and unrelenting pursuit, filled with doubt and uncertainty and with far more failure than success. 2 05/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/gamblers-eye-boxing-betting-parlay.asp Fans of boxing betting may be eying a wagering parlay when HBO presents a fight doubleheader featuring a pair of rising stars against a couple of aging former title holders, from Ft. Lauderdale, May 30. 1 05/16/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/poker-betting-not-just-for-players.asp The World Series of Poker, which began nearly four decades ago with less than a dozen players, has grown into the biggest and richest poker game in the world, an event so large in size and stature that gamblers now can bet on the poker betting. Last year, nearly 55,000 card players fought it out for some $180 million in prize money, numbers that could be aced this year. 1 05/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/contrasts-in-french-open-tennis-betting.asp Rafael Nadal is an overwhelming choice to win a fifth consecutive men's singles title but on the women's side, au contraire, where as many as four ladies can claim to be the tennis betting favorite to capture individual glory on the red clay courts at the French Open in Paris, beginning May 24. 1 05/11/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/indy-500-betting-is-wide-open.asp Helio Castroneves had the beat and beat the federal government. Now, with Indy 500 future books listing him as the favorite, can he beat the odds and win America's most revered motor race, May 24? 1 05/7/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/preakness-betting-different-from-derby.asp If winning the Triple Crown, a task that's been accomplished just 11 times in 133 years, is the ultimate achievement for any thoroughbred, then having a winning wager on each of the three races is a primary goal for any horse racing betting enthusiast. 1 05/6/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/preakness-offers-new-betting-challenges.asp Horse racing betting fans, eager to forge ahead to the second jewel in the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, May 16, might aid their handicapping cause by first looking back at the results of the May 2 Kentucky Derby. 1 04/29/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/bouts-test-boxing-betting-fans.asp Boxing betting enthusiasts understand that fighting styles, motivation and conditioning can be almost as important in determining the outcome of a fight - and a wager - as talent. But this time gamblers also will have to ponder whether injury will be a factor when Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) defends his IBF lightweight championship in a rematch against Antonio Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) in Las Vegas, May 9. 1 04/28/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-draft-impacts-nfl-betting.asp The NFL Draft had its impact on NFL betting as 13 off the league's 32 teams had their Super Bowl future book odds adjusted at the conclusion of the personnel lottery in New York City, April 25-26. 1 04/22/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/hope-springs-eternal-for-horse-racing-betting-fans.asp Horse racing betting fans, long famous for carping about the difficulty of handicapping races, will have a legitimate complaint when the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby is contested at Churchill Downs, May 2. 1 04/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/kentucky-derby-tests-horse-racing-betting-fans.asp Horse racing betting fans, long famous for carping about the difficulty of handicapping races, will have a legitimate complaint when the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby is contested at Churchill Downs, May 2. 1 04/16/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/triple-crown-challenges-horse-race-betting-fans.asp There hasn't been a winner of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown in more than three decades but the trio of races that comprise the triad, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, also pose quite the challenge for horse race betting fans, as well. 1 04/13/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/five-keys-to-baseball-betting-success.asp With its wager-friendly dime line and the inability of bookmakers to influence the outcome of games through a pointspread, baseball betting may be a player's best bet. 1 04/11/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/british-invasion-tests-boxing-betting-fans.asp The latest version of the British Invasion to America's shores means that boxing betting fans will be tested on successive Saturday nights, April 25 and May 2. 1 04/7/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-betting-includes-draft.asp The draft has been the biggest non-sporting event in sports for decades but recently it's become a part of the NFL betting menu. 1 04/4/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/proposition-baseball-betting.asp The daily six-month drudgery of money lines and game totals that is baseball betting can wear on any gambler but there are other, far less intensive and much more enjoyable ways to wager on America's pastime. 1 04/1/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nba-playoffs-betting.asp NBA betting enthusiasts who wagered on games during the regular season will need to address a whole new set of challenges when the playoffs tip off in mid April. 1 03/27/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sports-betting-lip-service.asp From the provocative to the insightful to the ridiculous and downright silly, few venues afford the total wealth of verbal treasure as the twin fields of sports and sports betting. 2 03/24/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/master-golf-betting-on-the-masters.asp For the past decade or so, the fundamental question facing golf betting enthusiasts has been whether to bet on Tiger Woods or against him. Once again, gamblers will have to ask and answer that query when Woods and some 125 other of the world's premier golfers tee off at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, April 9-12. 1 03/22/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/tv-boosts-boxing-betting-profile.asp Boxing betting will get a boost when Showtime and HBO bring the action to gamblers during the first two weekends of April. As has conclusively been proven by other sports, most notably football, events that appear on television generate more activity at the betting windows. 1 03/20/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/future-book-kentucky-derby-betting.asp The big risk, big reward strategy that is an inherent part of future book Kentucky Derby betting, never has been more evident that this year when several winter favorites stumbled in the spring on their way to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville. 1 03/20/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/future-book-kentucky-derby-betting.asp The big risk, big reward strategy that is an inherent part of future book Kentucky Derby betting, never has been more evident that this year when several winter favorites stumbled in the spring on their way to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville. 1 03/18/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nl-west-baseball-betting.asp From a baseball betting standpoint, there was no more inept division than the National League West last year. In fact, all five teams were losing wagers overall, posting unit losses (if you bet on a team every game it played) from -5.3 to -37.2. 1 03/17/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nl-central-baseball-betting.asp The teams that were good on the field in the National League Central division also were pretty good to baseball betting fans last year. On the other cleat, the two division teams with losing records, the Reds and the Pirates, rarely merited a gambler's devotion in 2008, trends that are more likely than not to continue in the approaching season. 1 03/16/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nl-east-baseball-betting.asp Not surprisingly, the two teams in the National League East Division that were better than expected, the Phillies and Marlins, also surged at the baseball betting windows last year. But will higher expectations in 2009 take away that crutch from baseball betting fans? 1 03/15/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/al-west-baseball-betting.asp The only suspense in this division will be at the baseball betting windows where gamblers see if LA's field dominance again translates to some wallet-fattening or if bookmakers adjust their money line prices to such an extent that the Angeles become a betting liability. 1 03/14/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/al-central-basseball-betting.asp The Twins, Indians, Tigers and White Sox all have a legitimate chance to win the AL Central title but although these teams are evenly matched on the field, baseball betting enthusiasts know that won't necessarily be the case at the wagering windows. 1 03/13/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/al-east-baseball-betting.asp Seemingly, all it took was exorcizing the name "Devil" from their names for the Tampa Bay Rays to become not just an on-field success, but a baseball betting powerhouse in the American League East last season.>Seemingly, all it took was exorcizing the name "Devil" from their names for the Tampa Bay Rays to become not just an on-field success, but a baseball betting powerhouse in the American League East last season. 1 03/8/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/formula-1-indycar-betting.asp While NASCAR still has more auto race betting horsepower, Formula 1 and Indy Car competition, which rev up with their respective season openers Mar. 29 and April 5, each have been gaining speed with wagering wonks, recently. 1 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/american-idol-for-betting-fans.asp First there was "The Real World," which started on MTV in 1992. Then there was "Survivor," a CBS staple since 2000. But no reality show has gained the mass appeal, including the betting attention, of "American Idol," which has been broadcast by Fox since 2002 and currently is in its eighth season. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/betting-baseball-futures.asp "April is the cruelest month" wrote T.S. Eliot, who probably didn't have Major League baseball betting on his mind when he first put pen to paper to scribble those words. But for anyone who's endured the daily six-month grind of wagering on America's National Pastime, April can seem like little more than the start of a long and difficult journey that has no certain destination or outcome. 1 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/big-dance-first-round-betting-tips.asp The Super Bowl attracts more attention but many sports betting fans believe the opening round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which tips off March 17 this year, is the best wagering opportunity of the year. 1 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/boxing-betting-marquez-diaz-offers-wagering.asp With its inherent unpredictability from both the fighters and the judges and the reality that a contest can end at any time, betting boxing is neither for the faint of heart nor light of wallet. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/boxing-betting-over-the-next-few-weeks.asp WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko opened as a prohibitive -1000 favorite (bet $1,000 to win $100) to dismiss mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Gomez in a bout that will cap two weeks of intense international boxing betting action in March. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-big-dance.asp The Super Bowl attracts more attention but many sports betting fans believe the opening round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which tips off March 17 this year, is the best wagering opportunity of the year. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/horse-race-betting-for-gamblers.asp The 2009 Run for the Roses won't be contested until the first Saturday in May but Kentucky Derby betting fans can run to the windows (or their computer screens) now to place a future book wager on America's premier horse race. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/major-league-baseball-betting-future-book.asp "April is the cruelest month" wrote T.S. Eliot, who probably didn't have Major League baseball betting on his mind when he first put pen to paper to scribble those words. But for anyone who's endured the daily six-month grind of wagering on America's National Pastime. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/ncaa-basketball-tournament-betting.asp College basketball betting will reach an insane pitch this month with March Madness but you can avoid a trip to the asylum and maybe even make a few bucks by observing a few simple rules when wagering on the 2009 Men's Basketball Championship. 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-betting-future-book-early-start.asp With and the start of the NFL preseason still more than five months away, bookmakers quickly rushed to fill the wagering void by offering future book prices on which team will win Super Bowl 2 03/5/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-betting-straight-up-losers-were-pointspread.asp They still may be sweeping the streets of confetti in Pittsburgh but NFL betting fans just about everywhere else already have turned their attention to the 2009 season. 2 03/3/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/march-madness-betting.asp College basketball betting will reach an insane pitch this month with March Madness but you can avoid a trip to the asylum and maybe even make a few bucks by observing a few simple rules when wagering on the 2009 Men's Basketball Championship. 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sportsbooks-academy-award-betting.asp Wagering interest won't be nearly as keen as was on the Super Bowl but with a viewing audience of some two billion people, sportsbooks aren't about to let the Academy Awards be handed out in Los Angeles on Feb. 22 without offering that enormous pool of potential gamblers some Oscar betting with their popcorn. 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-football-betting-already-underway.asp They may still be celebrating Florida's BCS title in Gainesville but college football betting fans across the country already are looking to next season, eyeing a future book on whether the Gators will repeat or whether some other team will end the 2009 campaign ranked No. 1. 2 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/sports-and-sports-betting-2008-lip-service.asp Before leaving 2008 and plowing into the sports betting action in 2009, we offer a fond look back at the athletes, journalists, executives and just plain folks who gave us so much pleasure with the simple act of opening their mouths: 2 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-ivy-league.asp Students of college basketball betting will have to crack open a book before testing their wagering skills on the Ivy League. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-horizon-league.asp Horizon League teams were 51-40-2 ATS outside their conference a year ago, trend college basketball betting enthusiasts surely will be watching this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-analzying-west-coast-conference.asp The over/under for the conference's eight teams was 99-134-3, giving college basketball betting technicians a solid trend. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-metro-atlantic-conference.asp For the second straight season, the five MAAC teams that won 18 or more games straight up also had winning records against the spread, a trend college basketball betting enthusiasts will be monitoring this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-mountain-west-conference.asp The teams with the three best SU records also had the best ATS marks, a trend college basketball betting fans will be monitoring this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nascar-betting-no-signs-of-running-out-of-gas.asp Despite a faltering economy, NASCAR betting shows no signs of running out of gas any time soon. Even the start of the 2009 Sprint Cup season, which puts tires to the racetrack at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15 - the Budweiser Shootout, Feb. 7, is a non-scoring event - demonstrates how stock car racing can attract an expanding audience despite a defiance of conventional wisdom. 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/friday-the-13th-superstitious-sports-betting-fans.asp With Friday the 13th on the calendar for both February and March (and, for those of you scoring at home, November, as well) superstitious athletes, sports betting fans and sportsbooks may be knocking on wood for the next couple of months. 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-betting-early-start-to-season.asp With and the start of the NFL preseason still more than five months away, bookmakers quickly rushed to fill the wagering void by offering future book prices on which team will win Super Bowl XLIV in Dolphin Stadium, in Miami, Feb. 7, 2010. 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-mid-american-conference.asp All seven teams that had a losing straight up won/lost record also were unsuccessful against the pointspread last season, a trend that college basketball betting followers will be watching again this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-ohio-valley.asp College basketball betting followers should expect the unexpected in an Ohio Valley Conference that could look a lot different than last year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-big-sky.asp College basketball betting aficionados made a bundle betting "over" in the Big Sky, a trend they'll be tracking again this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/12/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/college-basketball-betting-sunbelt-conference.asp Only four of the Sun Belt Conference's 13 teams had winning records against the spread, a trend college basketball betting followers will be watching this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 02/10/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/nfl-betting-straight-up-losers.asp One trend, as it has in the previous six seasons, again was validated last year: Straight up (SU) losers are losers against the spread (ATS), too. In fact, of the 11 teams that had SU regular season losing records in 2008, not a single one of them had a winning record ATS: 1 01/16/2009 http://www.thegreek.com/2009/risk-reward-golf-betting.asp With its enormous payoffs but slim chances for success, golf betting is something less than an ideal wagering pursuit for weak-kneed gamblers who might be prone to choke over a two-foot putt. 1 12/19/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-bowling-for-dollars.asp As regular readers (thanks, Mom) will recall, this is the time of the season when we pit art against science in an annual college football betting ritual matching the Nevada oddsmaking community against a man and his computer models. 1 11/7/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-big-12.asp Big 12 teams were 70-57-2 ATS outside their conference last season, providing a winning trend for students of college basketball betting. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/7/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-atlantic-10.asp Atlantic 10 basketball betting junkies profited from the league's 83-64-2 non-conference ATS mark last season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/7/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-wac.asp College basketball betting followers did well going against the WAC in one-conference games (33-57-2 ATS) and will be watching that trend this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/7/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-mvc.asp Missouri Valley Conference teams were worth a wager at home last year, something college basketball betting followers will be monitoring this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/1/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/undervalued-teams-football-betting-success.asp Call it short-term memory loss if you like but NFL betting fans can get spoiled on a team's previous season's results. The notion lingers of the Patriots, Colts, Cowboys, Chargers, Packers and Giants as elite teams while the Dolphins, Raiders, Falcons, Rams and Ravens are etched in the brain as sub-standard football clubs. 2 11/10/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-big-west.asp College basketball betting fans will take note that only three of the conference's nine teams had winning pointspread records last season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/10/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-colonial-athletic.asp VCU not only did it on the court but also proved kindest to college basketball betting devotees of the CAA last season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/7/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-conference-usa.asp Memphis gets most of the coverage but college basketball betting fans know that other Conference USA teams may be better pointspread plays than the Tigers. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/10/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-southern-conference.asp Conference bully Davidson again had the best pointspread record last year, something students of college basketball betting will be watching this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-acc.asp The teams with the best records also were the best bets in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year, a trend which college basketball betting fans will watch closely this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-big-east.asp For all its prowess, only five of 16 Big East teams had winning records against the number last season, something college basketball betting devotees will be watching closely this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-pac10.asp Only three of the Pac-10's teams failed to post a winning pointspread record last season, making the league a favorite of college basketball betting fans. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-sec.asp There should be a lot of volatility in the SEC, forcing college basketball betting aficionados to stay on their wagering toes this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/gamblers-see-future-college-basketball-betting.asp NCAA hoops, which are pushing the NFL for the most popular wagering sport among North American gamblers, won't tip off until November but college basketball betting fans can get an early start on the action right now. 1 11/3/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-basketball-betting-big10.asp College basketball betting fans have to be careful gauging the ever-changing power struggle in the Big Ten. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-atlantic-division.asp Motivation should be the only question as bettor-friendly Boston seeks a second straight NBA championship after competing in the NBA's weakest division. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2007/08 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-central-division.asp Sports betting darling Detroit should be able to hold off Cleveland in a division that always offers many wagering opportunities. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-northwest-division.asp Having emerged as a serious contender last season two or three years before most predicted, don't expect the Jazz to wait around for the rest of the division to catch them. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-pacific-division.asp The Lakers not only were the best team but the best pointspread team in the division a year ago. The former may be easier to achieve than the latter this season. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-southeast-division.asp The Magic were also magic to NBA betting fans last season but a rising Heat and a dangerous team of Wizards may have something to say about that this year. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 10/29/2008 http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-betting-southwest-division.asp It would be wagering justice if New Orleans, the team with the best pointspread record in the Western Conference last season, won it all this time, which is a distinct possibility. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses: 1 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-nfc-north.asp Minnesota and Green Bay were a combined 13-5-2 ATS outside the division last year, a trend which could continue this season for those two NFC North contenders. 1 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-nfc-east.asp The division did not have a team with a losing pointspread record last season, attesting to the overall strength of the NFC East. 1 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-afc-west.asp Take powerhouse San Diego out of the mix and the remaining members of the AFC West were a dismal 10-19-1 ATS outside the division last year. 1 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-afc-south.asp The Colts and Jaguars figure to fight it out for the AFC South title among four teams that were 24-16 ATS last year outside the division. 1 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-afc-north.asp There's not much separating Pittsburgh and Cleveland at the top of the division this year and, come to think of it, Cincinnati and Baltimore at the bottom. 1 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-nfl-betting-analyzing-afc-east.asp New England's dream season ended in a nightmare in the Super Bowl but it's difficult to see how the Patriots won't dominate this division again, certainly straight up and probably against the spread, as well. 1 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-us-open-tennis-championship-wide-open.asp The US Open Tennis Championship takes center court in Flushing Meadows, New York, beginning Aug. 25 but for the first time in recent wagering memory oddsmakers can't even agree on which players should be made the tennis betting favorites to win the men's and women's singles titles in the year's fourth and final Major. 1 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-sun-belt.asp Just five of the Sun Belt Conference's nine teams have pointspread records dating back eight years so there's not a great statistical data base for bettors. Among independents, only Navy has been a reliable play since 2000. 1 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-mid-america.asp The Giants may have won Super Bowl LXII just five months ago but in a lack of NFL betting respect only the late Rodney Dangerfield could appreciate, New York isn't even favored to win its own division this season. 1 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-mountain-west.asp Starting quarterbacks return to the league's top six teams so "over" may be the right play in MWC games this season. 1 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nfl-betting-hedging-with-the-future-book.asp The Giants may have won Super Bowl LXII just five months ago but in a lack of NFL betting respect only the late Rodney Dangerfield could appreciate, New York isn't even favored to win its own division this season. 1 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-analyzing-conference-usa.asp Only one Conference USA team, East Carolina, has enjoyed a winning pointspread record over the last eight seasons, so there are wagering opportunities here. 1 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-wac.asp The WAC may not be at the top of every gambler's list but many of the conference's teams have fallen into statistically reliable betting categories over the past decade. 1 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/golf-betting-wide-open-pga.asp With two-time defending champion Tiger Woods still in rehab following June knee surgery, golf betting fans shouldn't have any difficulty finding value at the final Major of the year, the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Aug. 7-10. 1 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/summer-olympic-games-betting.asp Olympic Games betting never has enjoyed the action of a World Cup, a Wimbledon, an NBA Championship or a World Series, but the inclusion of soccer, tennis, basketball and baseball, not to mention dozens of other sports popular in different parts of the globe, should ensure that the bi-annual five-ring circus, which gets underway in Beijing, August 8, will keep both bet makers and takers hopping. 1 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nfl-preseason-betting-has-its-challenges.asp The continued popularity of NFL preseason betting can be linked to America's growing addiction to anything football. Bettors, particularly those in the United States who have survived a five-month hiatus from their favorite wagering sport, seem unwilling (or unable) to endure another five weeks before the NFL preseason. 1 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-big-east.asp Don't go to sleep on the Big East. Conference teams were 22-16-1 ATS outside their league last year and, if history is a guide, could be undervalued and underestimated by oddsmakers again in 2008. 1 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-pac-10.asp Pac-10 teams were 21-14 ATS outside their conference last season but don't appear to be as strong, overall, this year. 1 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-acc.asp ACC teams were just 22-29-2 ATS versus non-conference foes in 2007, a mark that could get even worse this year. 1 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-big-xii.asp Kansas and Nebraska combined for a 21-4 record ATS last season but look for underrated Texas Tech to reward bettors this year. 1 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-big-ten.asp Big Ten teams were only a combined 22-22 ATS outside the conference, last season. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-sec.asp SEC teams were 28-19 ATS outside the conference last season and, led by Florida, Georgia and Auburn, should be a wagering powerhouse again this year. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish with 2007 records, returning starters (RS) - including kickers - and returning lettermen (RL) in parentheses: 1 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/college-football-betting-future-books-offer-versatility.asp The kickoff of the 2008 season still is weeks away but there are at least a couple of good reasons why college football betting should be near the top of your wagering playbook right now. 2 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/boxing-betting-heavyweight-fights-entice-gamblers.asp When it comes to boxing betting, anything that removes the outcome from the hands of the judges is preferable, thus the affection gamblers have for those knockout prone heavyweights who seem to rarely leave matters to the ringside pencil-pushers. 1 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/british-open-betting-life-without-tiger.asp For the greater part of a decade, when it came to golf betting, the key question always was whether to take a short price on Tiger Woods or put your cash on some other player at much longer odds. 1 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/fly-fish-betting.asp Sports betting began with the basics of football, basketball, baseball and horse racing but it wasn't too long before the growing popularity sports such as hockey, boxing, tennis, golf and auto racing forced bet takers to add those events to their wagering menus. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/obama-favored-over-mccain.asp In a display or rare patience, more than three years after the first future book was posted, 16 months since the start of the campaign, and 54 primaries and caucuses later, some politically savvy Presidential election betting fans finally moved closer to cashing a ticket when Barack Obama secured the Democratic Party nomination to face Republican John McCain in the race for the White House in November. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/tour-de-france-betting.asp If gamblers accept assurances that doping scandals truly are a thing of the past, then Tour de France betting should get a wagering boost when the world's most revered bicycle race wheels out of the western naval port of Brest on July 5 to start its annual three-week journey across the country before concluding with a ride down the Champs-Elysees in Paris, July 27. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-betting-quotes-may-2008.asp Golfer John Daly isn't the only well-known athlete who sometimes has gotten into trouble because of a heavyweight appetite for gambling. Charles Barkley, no Twiggy himself, also bit off a bit more wagering wafer than he could chew, recently. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/golf-betting-is-tiger-worth-the-price.asp Anyone who is contemplating a round of golf betting tees off by asking themselves if Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1 ranked player and the most dominating force on the links since Jack Nicklaus, is worth the price. Sat, 31 May 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/2008-world-series-of-poker.asp Poker betting is one thing but wagering on poker betting is quite another. And yet that's the challenge gamblers will face when they match cash to conviction on the 39th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, beginning May 30. Sat, 31 May 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/scratching-the-surface-french-open-tennis.asp Favorites may have been dominate in recent years but if you want to do more than just scratch the surface of French Open Tennis Championship betting, look to, well, the surface. Wed, 27 May 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nfl-odds-nfl-betting.asp Legendary oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough was fond of saying that NFL betting is part reality and part perception, a description that aptly fits this year's recently concluded NFL draft. Tue, 20 May 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/preakness-stakes-betting-is-a-horse-of-a-different-color.asp The first thing you should know about Preakness Stakes betting is that it's even farther removed from the Kentucky Derby, the opening leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, than the 494 miles that separate Louisville from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, the site of the triad's middle jewel, May 17. Tue, 20 May 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-and-sports-betting-gets-some-lip-service.asp The practice of sports betting always has attracted a percentage of players who not only are loose with a dollar but a quote, too. Thanks goodness for that because we never could make up this stuff:"We had no money on him. I thought he was going out for a run to keep himself warm." Tue, 20 May 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sportsbooks-aim-to-boost-olympic-summer-games.asp Betting on the Olympics always has paled in comparison to the pomp and circumstance of the global extravaganza itself but this year sportsbooks are hoping that, with some innovative offerings, they can transform the five ring athletic competition into a three ring circus of wagering. Tue, 20 May 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/gamblers-strap-on-seat-belts-for-2008-indy-500.asp Rain may have washed away the race's second round of qualifying on May 11 but many bookmakers, looking for maximum wagering mileage, raced to open their windows for Indy 500 betting on the annual Memorial weekend American racing classic at the Brickyard, Sunday, May 25. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/the-kentucky-derby.asp The Kentucky Derby, dubbed - The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports, surely is the greatest two minutes in horse race betting and, come to think of it, probably also is the two greatest minutes in sports betting. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/why-the-nfl-draft-matters.asp The greatest non-sporting event in sports, the NFL Draft, should lure gridiron-starved NFL fans and, far more tellingly, savvy NFL betting fans, to their TV screens when the annual, dust-off-the-Barcalounger, grab-the-giant-Doritos-bag, telethon-like coverage begins April 26. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/nba-basketball-playoffs.asp Don't get too cocky if you did well betting NBA basketball during the regular season because the playoffs, which tip-off at the end of this month, are a whole new ball game for gamblers. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/calzaghefavored-over-hopkins.asp Joe Calzaghe has never lost (44-0, 32 knockouts) so it shouldn't come as a major surprise that the former super middleweight champion of the world opened as a solid favorite to continue his unbeaten streak before HBO's cameras at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 19. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/merger-could-boost-indycar-betting.asp If NASCAR betting is as powerful as a jet airplane turbo and betting on Formula One racing has been as steady as a Mercedes transmission, then IndyCar betting - with the notable exception of the Indianapolis 500 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/two-left-feet.asp Like most gamblers, college basketball fans, particularly those who enjoy sports betting on the NCAA Men's Tournament (who doesn't?) would, understandably, much rather look ahead to the next bet than back at the last one. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/march-madness-betting.asp The best two sports betting days of the year, the opening round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, dribbles into the wagering picture on March 20 and 21 and gamblers already are sharpening their attacks for the 32-game onslaught. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-al-east.asp There's no doubt that the Red Sox and Yankees are the bullies of the American League East but baseball betting aficionados understand that straight up achievement doesn't always translate to wagering success, arguing for a more sophisticated analysis of the upcoming Major League Baseball campaign. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-al-central.asp The Indians were the surprise team in the American League Central Division a year ago, not only winning on the field, but at the wagering windows, as well. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-al-west.asp The Angels may have coasted to a comfortable victory in the AL West but astute MLB betting fans also were able to find winning plays for the other three teams in the division last year. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-the-nl-east.asp Proving that MLB betting is a difficult pursuit for even the most studious sports bettor, the Nationals, who finished a distant fourth in the NL East, were a lot more reliable a bet that the heralded Mets, who were in the division hunt until the final weekend of the season, last year. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-the-nl-central.asp The Cubs won last year's National League Central title (and are favored to do so again in 2008) but savvy baseball betting fans were more than able to find wagering nuggets throughout the division by either betting on or against certain teams in certain situations. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/mlb-betting-inside-the-nl-west.asp With four teams over .500 and three teams involved in the post-season (the Rockies beat the Padres in a one-game playoff for the wild card), the National League West was a high-profile division last season, not just for baseball fans but for fans of MLB betting. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/major-league-baseball-betting.asp The marathon Major League Baseball betting season starts at the end of this month but for those gamblers for whom the cry of "play ball" can't come soon enough or for those other bettors who consider the 2,430-game diamond campaign little more than a walk in the (ball)park, future book wagering is available right now. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/ncaa-bracket-betting.asp NCAA basketball is in full swing but, arguably, the two best wagering days of the year, the NCAA bracket opening rounds of the Men's Basketball Championship, March 20 ands 21, are in the sights of every March Madness betting fan. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/Gamblers-seek-formula.asp F1 betting may not be the equal of NASCAR wagering in the United States but the motor sport, which revs up for the opening of its 59th season in Melbourne, Australia, March 16, boasts an international following that is not only passionate but a favorite of gamblers across the globe. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/horse-racing-kentucky-derby.asp The horse racing odds and the potential payoffs can be enormous but the risks also are substantial, making Kentucky Derby future book betting on the 134th running of the mile-and-a-quarter classic at Churchill Downs, May 3, a gambling pursuit not doctor-recommended for cardiac patients. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/key-to-successful-nfl-betting.asp Before burying the recently concluded NFL season, savvy gamblers will want to sift through those decaying bones to determine if the gridiron carcass left any clues that could be used to uncover a successful NFL betting strategy when the 2008 campaign kicks off in September. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 011:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/wynn-revitalized-las-vegas-casino.asp Las Vegas always has been a city built on hopes and aspirations but only a handful of true visionaries have had a unique and lasting impact of the growth and direction of this desert outpost. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/liberace-has-strong-link.asp Entertainment became linked with Las Vegas in the 1940s when savvy city planners and casino entrepreneurs rightly reasoned that even hard-edged gamblers would need an occasional respite from the drudgery of table games and the challenge of sports betting that had lured them to this desert outpost in the first place. Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/genius-or-madman-howard-hughes.asp By the mid 1960s, Las Vegas was well on its way to establishing itself as the gaming and sports betting capital of the world. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/bugsy-siegel-and-las-vegas.asp From its legal inception in 1931, Las Vegas' gaming and sports betting industry has been built on the dreams and imagination of people who have had the courage to question the status quo. Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/betting-the-nascar-sprint-cup-series.asp The NASCAR Sprint Cup series puts pedals to the metal later this month but sports betting enthusiasts need not wait a minute longer to jump start their wagering engines. Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-and-sports-betting-the-best-quotes-of-2007.asp While most of us have bid farewell to 2007, it's not too late for one final look back at the athletes, administrators and journalists who have given the arena of sports and sports betting such fabulous lip service over the past 12 months Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/looking-for-nba-betting-clues.asp With over half the NBA regular season complete, this would be both a convenient and appropriate time for NBA betting fans to take a detailed look back at the more than 600 games that have been played Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-bettings-key-question-can-you-win.asp For most sports betting enthusiasts, the key question is whether to lay or take the points. Wed, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/super-bowl-betting-offers-many-super-options-for-the-gambler.asp The teams had barely left bone-chilling Lambeau Field in Green Bay when the word arrived from up high (actually, the second floor of a building in Las Vegas) Wed, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/bowl-betting-recap-dont-follow-the-money.asp It was the colorfully named "Deep Throat" who, cloaked in a dark and desolate parking garage in the motion picture, "All the President's Men," admonished Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward to "follow the money" in the Watergate investigation. Wed, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/gamblers-sportsbooks-are-on-the-same-side.asp Like Oscar and Felix, the odd couple that comprises honest bettors and legitimate sportsbooks is on the same side when it comes to anything that threatens the integrity of their sports betting relationship. Wed, 24 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/golf-betting-isnt-par-or-the-course.asp With generous odds offered on dozens of competent players each week, golf betting can be remarkably rewarding. Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-and-sports-betting-impudent-questions.asp Shouldn't anyone eyeing a serious sports bet or three on the NFL Playoffs have their TV remote set to the Weather Channel? Don't games where there is snow, rain and/or wind favor the underdog? Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2008/sports-betting-resolutions-for-2008.asp Rather than attempt something too challenging for the new year, let's stick to making some simple resolutions - improving our sports betting habits. Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-pro-football-betting-nov22.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-wit-and-wisdom.asp If you're one of the handful of people who still believe that tennis is all about starched white clothing and curtseys at Wimbledon then you must have been as shocked as Captain Renault in "Casablanca" to learn that there's also betting on the sport. Fri, 9 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-pro-football-betting-nov13.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. Thu, 8 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-22.asp A 23-59-3 pointspread record outside their league last season tells college basketball betting followers all they need to know about the prowess of the Ohio Valley Conference teams. Thu, 8 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-21.asp The four MAAC teams that won 18 or more games straight up also had winning records against the spread last season, a trend college basketball betting enthusiasts will be monitoring this year. Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-20.asp Students of college basketball betting always have to hit the books when looking for wagering plays within the Ivy League. Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-19.asp The conference's only 20-game winner also was the only reliable pointspread play, an emerging trend that college basketball betting aficionados will be watching this season. Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-18.asp Long Beach State, one of the traditional powers of the conference, also proved to be the best friend of college basketball betting fans, last season. Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-17.asp With a non-conference record of 41-51-1 ATS, college basketball betting followers of the Sun Belt Conference had to be careful picking their wagering spots last season. Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-16.asp All five teams that had a winning straight up won/lost record also were successful against the spread last season, something college basketball betting followers will be eyeing this year. Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-15.asp Conference bully Davidson also had the best pointspread record last year, something students of college basketball betting will be watching this season. Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-14.asp The three teams that won 20 or more games, Butler, Wright State and Illinois-Chicago, also had the best pointspread records a year ago, a trend college basketball betting enthusiasts surely will be watching this season. Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-13.asp Six of the eight teams had losing pointspread records outside the conference, an indication to college basketball betting technicians to tread lightly with this group. Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-12.asp Interestingly, it was a team with a losing record, Towson State, which proved kindest to college basketball betting devotees last season. Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-11.asp The worst team in the league was the best against the spread last season, something college basketball betting followers will be watching this year. Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-10.asp The conference was 60-39 ATS outside the league last year, undoubtedly making some college basketball betting followers of the MVC very happy. Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-9.asp This looks like a down year for the conference, an assessment college basketball betting fans may endorse at the windows. Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/College-pro-football-betting-nov6.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-8.asp Southern Miss was a can't-miss for college basketball betting fans last year but it's a new season in Conference USA. Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-7.asp The Big 12 played just .500 ball ATS outside the conference last year, leaving students of basketball betting to ponder if the league will be as good as advertised this season. Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-6.asp X again marks the spot for Atlantic 10 basketball betting junkies who rode Xavier to a solid pointspread season a year ago. Thu, 1 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-5.asp College basketball betting fans will be warily eyeing a conference that has lost much of its muscle from a year ago. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-4.asp The Pac-10 could be the nation's strongest hoop loop this year, hardly a surprise to college basketball betting fans who backed the league's teams to the tune of a 63-48-3 ATS record versus non-conference foes. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-3.asp Back-to-back titles by Florida and a 77-63-2 out-of-conference ATS record have alerted every college basketball betting aficionado to the power of the SEC. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-2.asp For all its prowess, the Big East was just 90-86-1 ATS versus non-conference teams last season, hardly the stuff to make basketball betting fans coo. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-basketball-betting-1.asp North Carolina and Maryland were the league's only solid performers for college basketball betting fans last season. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-pro-football-betting-nov1.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-6.asp The Suns should have little difficulty repeating in a division that they won by 19 games last season. The fight will be for second among the two LA teams and Golden State. Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-5.asp Having emerged as a serious contender last season two or three years before most predicted, don't expect the Jazz to wait around for the rest of the division to catch them. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-4.asp You know you're in a tough neighborhood when defending NBA champion San Antonio didn't even win its own division last season. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-3.asp Both the Wizards and Magic could move past the Heat in a highly competitive race for Southeast Division laurels, this season. Tue, 17 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-2.asp Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit all are prime contenders in a division that should send three teams to the playoffs. Tue, 17 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nba-betting-1.asp Boston made a couple of huge moves in the off-season which could lead the Celtics past the Nets and Raptors in the NBA's weakest division. Tue, 17 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-nfl-money-lines.asp It was somewhere around 25 years ago - an eon in the prospering life of modern sports betting - that Nevada's licensed bookmakers first began employing money lines. Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-rr.asp In the beginning, God created the heavens and Earth. But it wasn't until an innovative oddsmaker came along that the genesis of sports betting, a biblical event in the history of human existence for those who spend their autumn Sundays praying not for salvation but for a cover, became the mega-industry that it is today. Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/College-pro-football-betting.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on sports books. Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-nfl-betting.asp Most unsophisticated sports bettors hit the gridiron running, with little or no concern for whether their best chance for success rests with college football betting, nfl betting or a combination of both. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-7.asp Granted, New Orleans isn't going to surprise anyone this year but with a solid cast, a new winning attitude, and only Carolina as serious division opposition, the Saints should march to another NFC South title. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-6.asp The Bears have a much more difficult schedule than a year ago when they won 13 games but the NFC North is so weak that it will be difficult for Chicago not to win 10 or 11 games and capture a third straight division title. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-5.asp The NFC East remains the most competitive division in the NFL, with every team capable to beating (or losing) to every other. The most consistent team will win the division. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-4.asp Like the Patriots, Ravens and Colts, the Chargers are the class of their division, arguably the best team in the NFL. Unlike New England, Baltimore and Indianapolis, however, San Diego will get a stern test for the division title from rivals Denver and Kansas City. Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-3.asp Like most recent defending Super Bowl champions, the Colts may find it difficult to repeat, but winning another AFC South title should be no problem. Indianapolis has a wide edge over its division rivals. Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-2.asp The Ravens won the division by five games last season and while the margin may not be as significant this year, Baltimore should have little difficulty defending against wild card hopefuls Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-sep.asp Oregon State at Cincinnati: Oregon State is 3-7 ATS versus non-conference foes on the road the last seven seasons. Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-ow.asp New Orleans at Indianapolis: The Saints have covered four of their last five meetings with the Colts but Indianapolis has been strong out of the gate, notching a 6-1-1 mark against the spread (ATS) in its last eight season openers. Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-ow.asp Sports betting, particularly football betting, has become significantly more sophisticated over the past decade with players mining years of research in an effort to gain an edge on Nevada and online sportsbooks. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/nfl-betting-1.asp Any unbiased assessment would mark the Patriots as the clear division favorite with a good chance to challenge the Colts, Chargers and Ravens to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-q.asp From an NFL player alleged to be so cruel to dogs it should make you cringe, to an NBA referee who went on a sports betting binge, to a Tour de France rider with a syringe, it's been an interesting few months in the world of sports and sports betting. Wed, 8 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-11.asp Of the eight teams in the Sun Belt conference, only two, Troy and Middle Tennessee, had winning records last year and just one, Troy, is above .500 for the past seven seasons. Tue, 7 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-10.asp Western Michigan and Toledo look solid but overall the MAC appears mediocre at best with a quartet of teams (Miami, Temple, Buffalo and Eastern Michigan) having won two or fewer games last season. Fri, 3 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-9.asp Southern Mississippi and Houston, the winners of the respective East and West divisions of CUSA last season, again will be the teams to beat this year. Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-8.asp For the second year in a row, there could be another undefeated BCS bound team from the WAC, only this season it's more likely to be Hawaii than Boise State. Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-7.asp The MWC is a league with three strong teams and six weak ones with BYU, TCU and Utah clearly in position to dominate. The Cougars get the nod because they get to play both the Horned Frogs and Utes at home this year. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-6.asp Either West Virginia or Louisville - but not both - could have a chance to play for the national championship. The teams meet before a Thursday night national television audience in Morgantown, Nov. 8. Notre Dame will be the best of the three independents, though Navy may have more victories this season. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-5.asp Oklahoma and Texas meet in the Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl on Oct. 6 in a contest that could decide one of the representatives in the BCS title tilt. Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/election-betting.asp.asp Not that members of the sports betting industry needed it but when Chris Matthews, the loquacious and assertive host of MSNBC's Hardball, quoted odds on the 2008 race for President of the United States, the practice of betting on elections gained a measure of acceptability. Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-4.asp Virginia Tech and Florida State have top five, if not national title aspirations and no team in the Atlantic Division will be an easy target. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-3.asp USC will begin the year as the top team in the nation, a position the Trojans will have a good chance of defending, if they can negotiate road trips to Oregon and California. Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-2.asp Michigan should replace Ohio State atop the Big Ten with Penn State as a possible sleeper. Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/boxing-betting.asp With HBO as an unwitting accomplice, betting on boxing should move to the top of the sportsbook betting menu around the globe over the first three Saturdays in July. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-gc.asp From the actor George Clooney to golfer Lee Trevino and athletes, journalists, business leaders, executives and whomever in between, June was a very good month for those of us who enjoy quips and quotations, some side-splitting, some strident, some silly, some sophomoric, on the world of sports and sports betting... Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/college-football-betting-1.asp Half of the 12-team SEC could wind up in the top 25 with LSU given the best chance of the bunch to play for a national championship. Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sportsbook-casino-games-3.asp The fast-paced nature of craps and the physical involvement of the player make it a target of opportunity for casino cheats, or crossroaders, as they're commonly called. Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sportsbook-casino-games-2.asp Blackjack is every casino's most popular and profitable game but the house's bottom line could be even stronger were it not for the efforts of thieves, called crossroaders. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sportsbook-casino-games-1.asp It was more than two decades ago that Barron Hilton, the chairman of the hotel chain that bears his name (and grandfather of you-know-who), shelled out $50,000 for a private, six-hour seminar from Steve Forte, arguably the leading expert on casino games cheaters and scam artists. Mon, 07 May 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting-math.asp There's a school of thought that prescribes to the notion that it's the proficient bettors, more than the astute handicappers, who wind up with the cash at the end of a sports betting transaction. Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-nl-west.asp With improved pitching, the Dodgers look like the team to beat in the highly competitive (but not overly skilled) National League West. Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/sports-betting.asp The idea was to read several newspapers a day and peruse the Internet to chronicle and amass the year's most interesting sports and sports betting quotes which we would present in a December column. Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-nl-central.asp The Cardinals finished the regular season just five games over .500 but won the World Series when their pitching jelled in the post-season. Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-nl-east.asp The Mets came within a game of the World Series and hope that better health, especially in the pitching staff, and a good mix of emerging young players and veteran performers, will get them to the October Classic this year. Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-bets.asp With 30 teams playing 162 games each, Major League Baseball provides the player with 2,430 betting opportunities, more than any other sport. Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/betting-baseball.asp "The Boys of Summer" are in full swing and sportsbooks everywhere are bracing for another six straight months of baseball betting. Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-al-west.asp The Angels hope to use a familiar formula, six innings from their starters and a superior bullpen, to get the job done in the mediocre AL West. Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-al-central.asp Chicago's fall from World Series champion to also-ran can be traced to a pitching staff that yielded exactly one more run per game (3.61 to 4.61) than in 2005. Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/baseball-betting-al-east.asp The Yankees scored the most runs in baseball last year and a lineup that features Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, Hidecki Matsui, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano figures to be every bit as potent this season. Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/academy-awards-bettors.asp While betting totals for the Feb. 25 Academy Awards won't approach what was wagered on Super Bowl XLI earlier in the month, with a worldwide television audience estimated at more than two billion people, there's plenty of incentive - including cultivating a slew of new bettors - for sportsbooks to post prices on many of the top categories. Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/march-madness.asp Second only to the Super Bowl in wagering popularity, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which is set to tip-off March 15, offers a unique set of challenges for bettors who get involved in "March Madness." Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/kentucky-derby.asp The Kentucky Derby always poses sports betting risks, especially now, months before the running of America's most esteemed horse race. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/horse-betting-eclipse.asp No matter what time of the day or night you're reading this, odds are you're little more than a few mouse clicks away from horse betting somewhere in the world. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2007/golf-betting.asp Probably the only thing more difficult and frustrating than gaining a degree of proficiency at playing golf is trying to make a buck betting golf. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2006/sports-betting-gambling.asp While the end of one year and the start of another always bring about a measure of self - examination for the gambler, it should be comforting to know that over the eons, other people, some of great fame, repute and disrepute, have pondered the complexities of sports betting, gambling and luck, as well... Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST http://www.thegreek.com/2006/sports-betting-christmas.asp 'Twas the night before Christmas and in every casino, Not a player was stirring, from sports book to keno.