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A Soccer (Football/Futbol) Betting Basics Walkthrough

Why bet soccer?

One big reason to be interested in soccer as a wagering option is the fact that the entire world has professional leagues for the sport, meaning that almost any time of day, any day of the year, you can find a soccer game on which to place a bet. If you focus the majority of your betting on American sports, your window of betting options is limited to a relatively finite number of hours each day and week.  World football allows you to fill in many of those dead betting hours with wonderful wager options. Continue reading A Soccer (Football/Futbol) Betting Basics Walkthrough

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A Quick Overview of Soccer in Italy

For those unfamiliar, this will serve as a quick breakdown of the layout and structure of club football (soccer) in Italy.

The top tier of Italian football is called Serie A (20 teams). The divisions below Serie A begin Serie B (22 teams), Serie C (57 teams in 3 groups), and Serie D (162 teams in 9 groups). Serie A features two of the world’s biggest and most supported clubs in AC Milan and Juventus, who just recently snatched Cristiano Ronaldo away from Spain’s Real Madrid. The league just recently signed a huge contract with ESPN for viewers in the United States!  ESPN+ will be showing on average 9 matches per week, while a match of the week will be featured on ESPN, ESPN 2, and/or ESPN Deportes.  Seasons typically begin in August and end in May with each team playing each other twice (once each on each other’s home pitch) for a total of 38 games for each team. At the end of each season, the bottom three teams are relegated down to Serie B, while three other teams are promoted up from Serie B for the following season. Continue reading A Quick Overview of Soccer in Italy

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2nd Leg Pointers and Pitfalls

I want to discuss some things to look for when betting the 2nd leg of two-legged matches in soccer/world football.  In many tournaments such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, as well as the later rounds and/or finals of many countries’ domestic cup tournaments, teams often play a home and away set of matches with the aggregate result deciding which team advances (or lifts the trophy in a final).    Continue reading 2nd Leg Pointers and Pitfalls

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1 MLB thing to watch in September

As we head down the stretch of the MLB season, here is something I’ll be keeping an eye on.  With just over 40 games remaining, Washington is currently on the outside of the playoff picture. However, things may not be as bleak as they seem.  For starters, they still have the best lineup top to bottom in the NL East.  Secondly, and maybe most importantly, they are chasing two extremely inexperienced teams in Philadelphia and Atlanta. Experience so often plays a major role in a pennant race and should factor into the Nats run at the playoffs.  The Nationals have the experience while the Braves and Phillies do not!  Lastly, Scherzer is a force on another level from any other pitcher in the division, even the Phils’ Nola.  He can carry this team on his back in his starts and inspire them to rise above.  With 9 more games against the Phillies and 3 more against Atlanta, I see the Nationals climbing back into the NL East race before all is said and done.

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3 NFL Longshot Super Bowl Contenders

Every August, the so-called pundits and experts of the NFL choose to brainwash fans with the “fact” that the Patriots, Packers, Steelers, or Seahawks will win the Super Bowl. Rarely does anyone give the longshot a long look. Well, after last year, that needs to change. The Eagles entered last season as 40-1 longshots to win it all. Here are 3 teams that could surprise everyone this year by hoisting Lombardi.

1) Denver broncos 33-1

2) Atlanta 17-1

3) Carolina 25-1.

My personal 2018 longshot selection is The Denver Broncos at 33-1.

Denver’s defense is getting older by the day, but adding a key draft piece like Bradley Chubb should help to keep that defense playing young. On the other side of the ball, Case Keenum could be the QB Elway has been looking for to manage the game and keep that defense off the field. The offense should be better this year and the defense will once again be an NFL POWERHOUSE.

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EPL Surprise Champs?

Going into the opening of the Premier League season last year, pundits and prognosticators alike were justifiably concerned about how Tottenham would perform without a true home pitch.  The new stadium was in full construction mode and Spurs were stuck at Wembley for all of 17-18’s campaign.  After just a so-so start, the Spurs quickly put those concerns to rest and promptly finished top 3 for the second straight season, behind the two clubs from Manchester.

The Spurs, rather quietly I might add, have put one of the best, and easily one of the most consistent, teams together and, I believe, are poised at a title run this season.  Never was that more evident to me than during this summer’s World Cup which showcased Tottenham’s many established and rising star performing at star levels.  With the talen, depth, and coaching consistency and ingenuity that Spurs have again this season, they are my sneaky choice to steal the English Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur 14:1 to win 18-19 EPL

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What to Consider when Betting Matchday 1 in the English Premier League

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 10-12 marks the opening weekend for the 2018-19 English Premier League season.  Manchester City will look to defend its title and build on its 100 point team point tally from 2017-18 (if that’s even possible).  The chase pack will likely include recent oddsmaker sweethearts, Liverpool, who did much this offseason to address their issues in net and lack of team depth, as well as Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal.  Continue reading What to Consider when Betting Matchday 1 in the English Premier League

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A Quick Overview of Soccer in England

For those unfamiliar, this will serve as a quick breakdown of the layout and structure of club football (soccer) in England (and Wales).

The top tier of English football is called the Premier League (20 teams from England and Wales). Below the EPL are the Championship (24 teams), League One (24 teams), League Two (24 teams), and many more. The Premier League is the most lucrative soccer league in the world. They currently have a TV contract with NBC in the U.S. Seasons typically begin in August and end in May with each team playing each other twice (once each on each other’s home pitch) for a total of 38 games for each team. At the end of each season, the bottom three teams are relegated down to the Championship, while three other teams are promoted up from the Championship for the following season. Continue reading A Quick Overview of Soccer in England

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A Quick Overview of Soccer in Spain

For those unfamiliar, this will serve as a quick breakdown of the layout and structure of club football (soccer) in Spain.

The top tier of Spanish football is called La Liga (20 teams). Below La Liga are La Liga 2 (22 teams), Segunda Division B (80 teams split into four groups), and Tercera Division (360 teams split into 18 groups). La Liga features two of the world’s biggest and most supported clubs in Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona. The league currently has a television contract with BEIN Sports for viewers in the United States. Seasons typically begin in August and end in May with each team playing each other twice (once each on each other’s home pitch) for a total of 38 games for each team. At the end of each season, the bottom three teams are relegated down to La Liga 2, while three other teams are promoted up from La Liga 2 for the following season. Continue reading A Quick Overview of Soccer in Spain

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A Quick Overview of Soccer in Germany

For those unfamiliar, this will serve as a quick breakdown of the layout and structure of club football (soccer) in Germany.

The top tier of German football is called the Bundesliga (18 teams). The next divisions below the Bundesliga are 2. Bundesliga (18 teams), and 3. Liga (20 teams). The Bundesliga features FC Bayern Munich, one of the world’s most popular club teams. The league currently has a television contract with FOX for viewers in the United States. Seasons typically begin in August and end in May with each team playing each other twice (once each on each other’s home pitch) for a total of 34 games for each team. At the end of each season, the bottom two or three teams are relegated down to 2. Bundesliga, while two or three other teams are promoted up from 2. Bundesliga for the following season. Continue reading A Quick Overview of Soccer in Germany