By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Happy New Year players! Sorry I missed a week, I was gone for the Holidays to make sure my wife stays with me for another year. I’ll give you the Holiday sports betting recap in an 8-day review of the college bowl action and the last week on NFL (thank God).

On Monday the 26th, per usual, the Monday Night Football game came favorite and over as the New Orleans Saints crushed the Atlanta Falcons. In the Independence Bowl game, more of the same as Missouri Tigers routed North Carolina Tar Heels to give the players a nice lead for the week. I’ll dive into NBA statistics next week but, in short, I will say the action is ok and so far so good.

Tuesday the sportsbooks won both sides small actually needing both small favorites while the players won both totals small to wash out the day and keep their big lead for the week intact.

Wednesday the house did ok with the Cadets from Air Force Falcons covering, and Texas Loghorns doing what they had to do beating California Golden Bears and staying under the total. Both wins were sufficient to make a dent in Monday’s big win, more so when adding some money made in basketball wagering to get close to even for the week.

I’d love to skip Thursday, but I guess I can’t. Players won both games – Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State Seminoles -3 and RG3-led Baylor Bears -9 – don’t t ask me how, but they did; a little Heisman magic I guess. It should have been expected by the house the way the year has gone though, two miracle covers and all teaser sides pay. College teasers, usually a big money maker for the books, have been bad this Bowl Season also and would continue through the whole week with teaser middle after middle.

Friday was a huge day for the house on the sides winning with BYU Cougars, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. And only losing Oklahoma Sooners small to have a it was a good day, once again didn’t beat a single teaser, but that was the norm for 2011.

Saturday the players jumped out with a Texas A&M Aggies win, but the house did win the total to split it out. The players also won small with Utah Utes and Illinois Fighting Illini and the house won with Cincinnati Bearcats to make a little bit for the day on sides and total and, not to beat a dead horse, but the players won any teasers they did play again, fortunately there weren’t many.

Sunday, the last day of NFL regular season when usually I’m sad, this year I’m relieved. The players won with the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots. Also Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins landed on the number to make it a nice final week of the regular season for the players. The house won the Saint Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns and the players put together a good teaser day only losing Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys late, but winning with Philly Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, etc., etc., etc. In other words, the usual for a bad 2011 football season to get even for the week.

Now for some bonus coverage for Monday, we saw a lot of the same: the house won with Michigan State Spartans and Stanford Cardinal and lost the rest. The players also won big with Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal totals both going over to make it a nice start to the week for the players. Glad we are in the New Year so we can have a do-over to this season. 

Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.

Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! Let’s see how things went down in sports betting this past, starting with the San Diego Super Chargers blowout of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The public once again had a good Monday Night Football game and cashed in on the side and the total; there was some “sharp” money on the Jags that helped ease the pain but still a nice win for the players to start the week per usual. The Chargers disappointing season so far probably kept a few more squares away than usual.

Tuesday featured college basketball only; the public won with UMass Minutemen -1.5, North Carolina Tar Heels -24 (beating the sharps who took 25.5), and Memphis Tigers +2 (once again beating the sharps, who laid -1), so the house did ok on the mixed action games plus won with Long Beach State 49ers covering against Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks to make a few pennies for the night.

Wednesday the public won with Coach K and Duke Blue Devils -22, Wichita State Shockers -3, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -4. The house picked up wins on the Dayton Flyers +5.5, Princeton Tigers +6, and Nevada Wolf Pack +6.5; these, combined with a nice slate of action, made it a winning day for the house in NCAA hoops.

About Thursday all I have to say is the last Pittsburgh touchdown was a monstrous swing for the players, as it would’ve killed almost all starting teasers going forward but as usual in the NFL the favorite teasers are alive and well and running wild to the likes of the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, etc. on Sunday. Guess how this is going to end? If no one bet a pro teaser with me the rest of my life I’d die a happy man.

Friday’s one football game was a small winner for the players as Montana got bet like a good thing and they were; the house as usual made a few bucks in baskets resulting in a wash for the day.

On Saturday, the under in the Army Black Nights – Navy Midshipmen college football game got bet by certain groups like it was free money. In this spot, I had 54.5 and still saw 56 at CRIS, 5 Dimes, and Pinny among others. The screen finally dropped near post and guess what? Yup, it went under to make the last regular season college football game a loser for this house. Baskets were a winner for the house to make it a blah, but busy, day.

Ahhh, what a lovely Sunday. Players hit all teasers with New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, and New York Giants. The house split its two big games winning with Arizona Cardinals +4 and losing New Orleans Saints -3.5. Once again, the late game was a disaster: New York Giants and over, where we had 4 on a game that was 5 at most places, we beat a few wise guys on it but the public loved the G-Men and over to end a nothing week. As scripted this year the Dallas Cowboys, Coach Garrett and Tony Romo lost a close game that they could have won.

Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.

Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello again players! Let’s see how things went for the sportsbooks this week, starting with another Monday Night Football favorite and over winner. The New Orleans Saints crushed the New York Giants 49-24 a week ago Monday and, ironically, I get to end my report with the Saints crushing the Detroit Lions 31-17 last night. Outside of the Green Bay Packers, the Saints seem to be playing at an elite level the last few weeks. Monday’s game wasn’t a total disaster as there was some Giant money and teasers so, overall, it was a wash for the night for the books.

Tuesday there was no football but a good card in college basketball betting as the sharps took down the public in two TV games when the Virginia Cavaliers and the Ohio State Buckeyes rolled to victories; the public liked Michigan Wolverines and Duke Blue Devils in these spots but both NCAA hoops games turned in easy wins for the sharps and a good result for the books.

Wednesday was also void of football and the public faired a little better in college hoops with Pittsburgh Panthers and Indiana Hoosiers covering. The books got a little back with Wisconsin Badgers covering 7 versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. Overall, Wednesday was a small winner for the house as the action is good in the baskets as the steam catches fire which leads to followers, which leads to moving numbers, which leads to buyback action. It’s the way to do it, Bookmaking 101.

Thursday’s NFL was a good football game for the house as the Pete Carroll-led Seattle Seahawks beat ‘the mess of a Philadelphia Eagle team’ 31-14; the public won the total but still a good win for the books.

Friday was going to be a good day and – boom! – Northern Illinois Huskies falls 3 siding the books on the number in the college football Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship game. Rick Neuheisel’s last game as the Bruins coach was good for the house with UCLA covering against the Oregon Ducks’ offensive machine, but the total going over ate up most of the profit becoming a small winner for the night overall. The books turned a small earn because of juice, not decisions.

Saturday was the transition period day of football to basketball; normally I’d be sad but after this football season I’m ok with it. The first game out of the box with Cincinnati Bearcats landed 8 for a big middle for the players as the game opened 10 and closed 7; 8 would be the worst number for the house in that scenario and guess what happened? 8 happened. The San Diego State Aztecs game also landed 7; another game that opened 8 and closed 7, once again all bets win or push at the worst. The house basically won one game, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles handling the undefeated (and BCS bound with a victory) Houston Cougars in front of a 32,000 packed house in Houston, Texas. The players won with Les Miles’ LSU Tigers, Oklahoma State (murdering Oklahoma University in the Bedlam Series) and RG3’s (also known as Robert Griffith the 3rd) Baylor Bears beating the sharps on Texas to have a big day for the betting side of the counter. Rumblings are now being heard about Mack Brown’s job stability in Austin, maybe those can be put to rest with a successful showing in their bowl game against California Bears in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

Sunday some decisions were good for the house, including the Kansas City Chiefs over a quarterback-less Chicago Bears team, the Eli Manning-led New York Giants team covering against the only undefeated team left in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, and the Arizona Cardinals breaking Dallas Cowboy fans’ hearts with a 6 point over time win. Garret’s timeout at the end of regulation iced his own kicker who put it through the uprights, but after the timeout was way off the mark. The public also had their winners with Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers, Harbaugh’s workhorse San Francisco 49ers team, and Tim Tebow’s Denver Broncos proving his critics wrong for another week handling business against the Minnesota Vikings. The killer was, and I know you may have heard this, before teasers: Steelers, Ravens, Packers, Saints, and Tennessee Titans. The house beat one teaser with the Bears so at least it wasn’t the usual trend of players sweeping teasers.

Now we head into Bowl Season and NBA on Christmas Day.

Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.

Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Well, players, a long and profitable week for you has ended; the books were doing ok until Saturday evening when players started their march to glory. Let’s see how the whole week in sports betting played out.

Monday the 21st the players jumped out to a lead with the Tom Brady and ‘Mad Scientist’ Bill Belichick led New England Patriots burying the overmatched Kansas City Chiefs 34-3 in the Monday Night Football game, and the books saved a little hay with the game staying under. The first half was a tease to the house with the Chiefs moving the ball at times, and stopping Brady for the most part; what a set up for the second half where the Pats had their way with the overmatched Kansas City Chiefs.

Tuesday saw the NCAA football game with Ohio Bobcats fall 7 to cause a small loss for the house as they won the total, but paid out most of the side as players who bet the favorite bought to 7 or even 6.5 in some cases to win all sides.

Wednesday had no football but the bettors had a nice day as the Michigan Wolverines covered 5.5 in college hoops against UCLA Bruins, and Duke Blue Devils covered 5 against Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks in the two most heavily bet games of the day. The players also had Texas San Antonio Roadrunners -1.5 over Oklahoma State Cowboys in another easy win for the players.

Thursday was an action packed day as the players won with the still undefeated Green Bay Packers lead by Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, and company but there was some Detroit Lions public money out there so it wasn’t as bad for the house as previous years. Even if Ndamukong Suh wouldn’t have been ejected the ‘Cheese Heads’ were too much to handle for Motown’s home team. The house won the Miami Dolphins game +7 but needed the fish on the field to knock out Packer – Cowboy teasers, which of course didn’t happen and hasn’t happened much all year so no reason to expect the holidays to change this year’s trend . The house won the battle of the Harbaugh brothers on Thanksgiving Day football when the Ray Lewis-less Baltimore Ravens covered the side small to make a little money for the day.

Friday the house won with Eastern Michigan Eagles +17.5, Louisville Cardinals +6, Pittsburgh Panthers +7, Boston College Eagles +13 while the players picked up money with Western Michigan Broncos -27.5 and the undefeated Houston Cougars in a game that went off at -2.5 (sharps take another beat down from the public, there were some stores had Houston -1 at post, not sure if they are located in downtown Tulsa but nothing else makes much sense), and a small win on LSU Tigers -11 but it was a mixed action game where the house lost the total. The Nebraska Cornhuskers covered the spread in their first ‘Heroes Rivalry’ match against the neighboring state’s Iowa Hawkeyes, but the game stayed under for a nothing decision. Overall, it was a winning day for the house in college football wagering and on to Saturday.

Saturday things started out ok for the books in NCAA football with Ohio State Buckeyes +7.5 covering against rival Michigan Wolverines in the Big House, Kansas Jayhawks +25.5 (in Turner Gills’ final game as head coach), Minnesota Golden Gophers +10, Kent State Golden Flashes +7, and Iowa State Cyclones +28.5 were all winners then the wheels came off and the players went on an Archie Karras type run winning with Georgia Bulldogs -4.5, North Carolina State Wolfpack -12 (miracle cover), North Carolina Tar Heels -14, Alabama Crimson Tide and Heisman hopeful Trent Richardson rolling and covering the 21 point spread, Oregon Ducks -27.5 (landing 28 to make it a sweep), Washington Huskies -8.5, Mississippi State Bulldogs -17, South Carolina Gamecocks -4, and, the two daggers through the books’ heart, Florida State Seminoles minus any number (there was no Florida Gator money to be had) and Andrew Luck’s Stanford -7. Books also lost USC Trojans in their 50-point massacre over rival UCLA Bruins (division winners, by the way, who face Oregon next Saturday in the Pac-10’s Championship game) but at that point were numb and didn’t notice until Sunday morning.

Speaking of Sunday, the carnage continued with the public winning the two biggest NFL games of the morning, Houston Texans -6.5 (no Schaub and now no Leinart, but division leaders) and Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers -3.5, plus paying all teasers as the Cincinnati Bengals came back to win but, why wouldn’t they? (Add sarcasm here.) We haven’t beaten a 6-point teaser all year. In the afternoon, the book had to win the Michael Vick-less Philadelphia Eagles +3 (another game much like Houston and Tulsa where there were some odd lines form sharp books and once again the public jammed it up their skirt with New England romp). If the house hadn’t won the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs game late, it might have been the worst Sunday on record.

Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.

Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! Let’s recap last week to see how the books faired during the last few days of sports betting action.

Monday started out as most Mondays this year have – with a big win for the players – as the Green Bay Packers routed the Minnesota Vikings 45-7. The books would’ve got out of this one ok had the Monday Night Football game stayed under but they scored 35 points in the second half just to put the nail in the coffin and pay all the parlays and teasers with Green Bay also.

Tuesday the books split the Mid-American Conference (MAC) NCAA game winning with Ball State +18 and losing the total over 72 to get back a dribble of Monday’s Packers flood.

Wednesday saw double MAC college football action and the books won 3 of the 4 decisions but managed to make only small gains, Western Michigan was the killer for the sportsbooks. The sharps and the public were wagering on Western Michigan; I had guys laying 2 on them with no Miami Ohio money in sight. The house won the two totals as they both stayed under and also won the Bowling Green – Ohio side small to make another tiny leap forward.

Thursday the house did well with the Denver Broncos beating the New York Jets outright and winning all the college games (not big wins, but we’ll take it) on the board to pull ahead for the week over the players.

Friday the books split the games winning with Iowa State’s huge upset of Oklahoma State but losing the Toledo – Central Michigan game. And both games staying under helped also, as the books put back-to-back winning nights together.

Saturday was a day of huge swings and big decisions. First, the players won big with Kansas State at plus any number; they took 9 early in the week and took 7 at kickoff with no Texas money on my chart. The players also won big with Arkansas -13 -14.5 (they laid me any number) and with Houston -21 (again, the number didn’t matter). To prolong the player’s wins, they did well on Iowa -1.5, Tennessee -1.5, and Michigan -4.5. The house won their big games too with USC +15, Baylor +16, Arizona +10.5, Duke +10, and California +17.5 to come out with a winning day overall for the house.

Sunday was another day of big swings in football betting. The house did well with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins covering but lost big on the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions coming back. Two other games that landed on the number – Baltimore Ravens at 7 and Atlanta Falcons at 6 – were bad middles for the books as the players like to buy on or off key numbers (7 in Baltimore and Atlanta moved through 6), making nice middle there for them. The players also won on the main teasers with Dallas Cowboys -1, Detroit Lions -1, Baltimore Ravens -1, along with Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers making it a can’t miss teaser day for the public. The only savior for the books this football Sunday came in green and white and at night: the Philadelphia Eagles stopped what could have been ‘black Sunday’ for the books with a huge win over the New York Giants to cut into the players’ losses and keep the books a small winner for the week.

I’ll start getting into basketball with you as football dies down. College hoops have been busy with the sharps firing away at virtually every game on the schedule daily; it makes for an exciting day and you have to be on your toes at all time as they come in at certain times throughout the day.

Want to get in on this week’s action? Check out the current lines at Legends. And check back with us next week to see how your betting dollars impacted the week’s outcome.

Good luck to you players; talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! Glad to be back after a much-needed vacation; let’s see how you faired last week in baseball and in the first week of pre-season football.

Monday the players correctly tabbed Atlanta Braves -18, Philadelphia Phillies -65 plus the run line, the Chicago White Sox -31, Tampa Bay Rays -58, and Texas Rangers run line while the house managed a small win on Pittsburgh Pirates +70 to set the stage for the week as the players rolled out to a big lead.

Tuesday the players once again had Atlanta Braves -137 and Philadelphia Phillies -75 (but the house won the run line to even that game out). The players also had the L.A. Angels +20 (the players have a knack of all piling in on the same dog and having it get there), the Chicago White Sox again -40, Tampa -79, and Boston Red Sox -34. To battle back the house picked up a win on Seattle Mariners +75, but lost more ground for the week.

Wednesday saw the players grade wins with Atlanta Braves -25, New York Yankees -200, and Tampa Bay Rays -40; the house finally made up some ground with wins on Milwaukee Brewers +12, Seattle Mariners +200, and Minnesota Twins +185 to ease some of the week’s MLB pain.

Thursday brought a smile to everyone’s face, players and books alike, as the NFL kicked off with 5 games; there weren’t any big decisions or a ton of action but it was a nice feeling to have foots back nonetheless. In the baseball betting, the players won with Cincinnati Reds -46, Arizona Diamondbacks -205, Tampa Bay Rays -200, and the Chicago White Sox -25. Also, the house and players split the New York Yanks and Detroit Tigers game as the players won the sides and the house the run lines. All in all, same old baseball this time of year: a good day overall for the players.

Friday there was one interesting game to note in the NFL; the sharps were all over Cincinnati Bengals +3.5 and the public loved the Detroit Lions. I guess the public had a better feel for this one as the Lions looked sharp crushing Cincinnati 34-3, the same way Big Suh crushes quarterbacks. In the bases the players won with Cincinnati Reds -15, Atlanta Braves -50, Milwaukee Brewers run line, Detroit Tigers -20, L.A. Angels +12, and Beantowns’ Red Sox -60. To even up the day overall, the house won with Washington Nationals +240, Florida Marlins +09, and Tampa Bay Rays +70.

Saturday the players won with San Francisco Giants -50, Los Angeles Dodgers -220 plus the run line (as Kershaw keeps showing his greatness), Texas Rangers -24, New York Yankees -64, and Detroit Tigers -30 (they need to make the lines higher against Baltimore and Florida; it is a one-way highway against those squads). In turn, the house won with the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays but the players had yet another winning day.

Sunday didn’t end much better for the house either, as the players won the last game of the week – Saint Louis -60 plus the run line – to cap off a big week in bases. It’s normal, though, this time of year and it evens out over the long run but certain teams do well now and certain teams don’t and the players have done a good job of identifying that. That is your roundup for this week.

Good luck to all of the players and talk to you next week!

June 20-26, 2011

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! Another week of pretty much just baseball action has come to an end; let’s see how the Interleague went and what MLB teams are hot and which are cold.  Starting with Monday, the players came out with winners on New York Yankees +13, Los Angeles Angels -30, Texas Rangers -205, and LA Dodgers -45. The house countered with the Chicago Cubs +53 and Tampa Bay Rays +28 to push around the day to kick off the week.

Tuesday the players tabbed the National League contest with bets on Mr. Halladay -68 plus the run line, and they also landed on Colorado Rockies -42, San Diego Padres +70 (the public still likes Matos), and the Chicago White Sox -25. Meanwhile, the house battled back with Pittsburgh Pirates +15, Florida Marlins +20, Oakland A’s +29, and Houston Astros run line to cut into the players’ big baseball betting win on Halladay, but still lost a little for the day.

Wednesday started out the same with the wagering public hammering the Philadelphia Phillies and Señor Lee this time to take a big lead heading into Interleague play, where the bettors also correctly picked Atlanta Braves -50, Tampa Bay Rays -15, Detroit Tigers -12, and Cleveland Indians -40. The San Diego Padres +95, Oakland Athletics -14, and Houston Astros +85 were what the house countered with to lose another peanut for the day as the bettors held serve heading into Thursday.

On Thursday the players once again tasted MLB wagering victory with the Philadelphia Phillies – Saint Louis Cardinals game, this time of course tabbing Saint Louis -15, along with the New York Mets -42 and Arizona Diamondbacks. The house picked up a win on Washington Nationals +10 but lost more ground as the players stretched their lead for the week.

Friday the players picked up wins on baseball bets with lines on Colorado Rockies +28, Texas Rangers -70, Tampa Bay Rays -30 against the sad and struggling Houston Astros, and Milwaukee Beer Drinkers (Brewers) -38 against the once again slumping Minnesota Twins, who had the best record in June heading into this week but managed to head back into the abyss.  The house picked up wins on Pittsburgh Pirates +65, Washington Nationals +12, and Toronto Blue Jays -19 to stay even for the day and stuck for the week.

Saturday, players successfully placed their action on Atlanta Braves -44, Chicago White Sox -68, The Incredible Verlander with his Detroit Tigers -205, Tampa Bay Rays again +15, Milwaukee Brewers -50, and San Francisco Giants -42. The house came back a little with the New York Mets +60, Oakland A’s +85, and Pittsburgh Pirates +34 to once again just wash out the day heading into the make it or break it day – Sunday.

This final day, Sunday, the players reinforced their mastery for the week winning with a big priced Philadelphia Phillies team -250 plus run line, Boston Red Sox -56, New York Yankees -65, Tampa Bay Rays again -38, Milwaukee Brewers-75, Toronto Blue Jays -16, and the LA Dodgers with Mr. Kershaw on the hill -10. Managing to squeak out wins on Washington Nationals +52 and New York Mets +48, the house scraped some gains, though it was still a good baseball day and week overall for the players.

Heading into July, things slow down with the All Star Break coming up on the 12th, and labor talks now looming for NBA as well as NFL. While we eagerly wait for the coming football and basketball betting seasons, we’d like to suggest you have a look at our WNBA, soccer, and tennis lines available for the week to get your wagering fix. Keep in mind you can also place your bets at our Casino and Racebook.

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! The NBA has come to an end we will see how the books did on that game in addition to the rest of the week in sports betting, including a shocker in the Belmont Stakes. Monday the players picked up diamond wins on Philadelphia Phillies run line, Tampa Bay Rays -44, Milwaukee Brewers -40, Cincinnati Reds -30 (playing the Cubs, new week same ****), and the Chicago White Sox -110; the house countered with Baltimore Orioles +02, Minnesota Twins +45, and Kansas City Royals +15 to cut into the players’ positive start for the week.

Tuesday, in the all important NBA Finals game 5, the Dallas Mavericks rallied in the 4th again to beat the Heat; the game landed on the number so a lot of pushed action but the players did good since they either pushed or won (if they bought a half and game flashed to 2.5 briefly if they caught it) and the house won the total small but still a good game for the players.  This was a tight game that anyone could win, but it came down to too little too late for the talent loaded Heat team.  In the bases, the players picked up wins on Arizona Diamondbacks -22, Cincinnati Reds -67 (guess who they played?), Saint Louis -36, Washington Nationals +25, and the Chicago White Sox +20. Meanwhile, the house came back with the L.A. Dodgers +65, San Diego Padres +45, and Tampa Bay Rays +60 to make some money in MLB wagering and wash out the day overall.

Wednesday saw the players tab San Francisco Giants -75, Houston Astros +33 (Bud Norris popular), Texas Rangers -75, and Tampa Bay Rays +35; in turn, the house won with Boston Red Sox +35 and Seattle Mariners +42 to make it a knock around day. On the ice, the Boston Bruins crushed the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 to maybe make it a series; Boston could’ve won either or both games in Vancouver and they really look like the best team while watching it. We will see what is in store for these NHL playoffs en route to winning the Stanley Cup.

On Thursday, the house picked up a win on the baskets with the Dallas Mavericks beating the Miami Heat again while outplaying them late 112-103.  This was another tight game until the end when the Mavericks’ Kidd and Terry hit a couple of threes to increase the margin. The Mavericks have one more to go.  They have to win one of two in Miami and they would be deserving champs, taking down the Lakers and Heat (both preseason picks to win it all). In baseball the players picked up wins on Arizona Diamondbacks -22, Atlanta Braves -25, Cincinnati Reds -18, and Boston Red Sox +40. The house battled back with the Cubs (yes, the Cubs) +38, Colorado Rockies -14, Minnesota Twins +25, and Chicago White Sox -10 to make a good day for the books.

Friday’s baseball resulted in players correctly tabbing Philadelphia Phillies run line, Atlanta Braves -50, Colorado Rockies -70, Boston Red Sox -50, and Texas Rangers -60; the house came back with Washington Nationals +38, Baltimore Orioles +18, and Oakland Athletics +32 to make it a nothing day overall for either side.

Saturday was a good day for the books because of the horse races, especially the Belmont that saw the horse Ruler On Ice win at 24-1. He looked like a 75-1 shot on paper that, combined with another long shot – Stay Thirsty – for second, made it a good horse racing betting event for the books. In MLB betting, the players won with Philadelphia Phillies -200, Atlanta Braves -30, Milwaukee Brewers -40, Washington Nationals +06, Boston Red Sox +25, and the Chicago White Sox -11. The books won with the L.A. Dodgers +45, Minnesota Twins +40, and Detroit Tigers -30 to have an ok day in bases but a good day overall.

Sunday the Mavs took care of the Heat to win the 2011 NBA Championship Series.  It was an ok game for the house overall with even action and lots of volume in basketball bets; the Series was also a small winner for the house, good playoffs overall for the books.  In the end there were a few factors contributing to the fall of arguably the NBA’s most loaded roster.  Being outcoached seemed to be one such factor, as the NBA’s labeled “best player”, LeBron James, settled for jump shots and really was a non-factor.  King James showed that, not only is he not the best player in the NBA, he may be only the third best on his team. Talent-wise, the sky is the limit for the young star, but as many have said, Miami is D-Wade’s team.  In terms of being a “team” nobody fit that description better than the Mavericks throughout this year’s playoffs; distributing the ball well, playing great D, and having roll players like Tyson Chandler and Jason Terry do their part to get wins.  Closing the week in MLB, the players won with Arizona Diamondbacks -24, Washington Nationals +03, Seattle Mariners even, New York Yankees -57, and Boston Red Sox -76. In response, the house came back with Tampa Bay Rays +28 and Minnesota Twins +18 to push the bases around. It was an ok week overall.  NBA season is over, hockey will be done this week, and baseball will carry us through to hopefully a full NFL and college football season.

Good luck players! Talk to you next week!

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! Let’s get a betting recap for the week of May 30th to June 5th, as the NBA season is winding down and the word is the NFL will have an agreement in place in the next two weeks so we don’t miss any football to start the season (fingers crossed). Monday in Major League Baseball saw the players tab Philadelphia Phillies -200 (books won the run line though so it was a wash), Houston Astros +52 (Cubs just aren’t any good), red hot Arizona Diamondbacks -35, New York Yankees +01, and the Anaheim Angels -23. The books counteracted with San Diego Padres +60, LA Dodgers -19, and the Chicago White Sox +85 to pick up a few pennies to start the week.

Tuesday in game 1 of the NBA, the house was split on the side and won the total small to have a good start to the 2011 Finals. In the bases, the players won with bets on Milwaukee Brewers -40, Houston Astros +60 (Cubs still aren’t any good), Kansas City Royals -05, and Seattle Mariners -30. The house battled back with Washington Nationals +60, Florida Marlins +30, Tampa Bay Devil Rays +22, Cleveland Indians +60, and White Sox +75 to have a nice wagering day overall.

Wednesday in baseball the players correctly tabbed Houston +17 (Cubs may actually be worse today than they were Monday if that can be possible), Arizona Diamondbacks -70, San Francisco Giants -15, Colorado Rockies -20, Texas Rangers +40, New York Yankees -13, and Cleveland Indians -17 to have a big day for the betting public. The books won back a few scraps on Cincinnati +10 and Chicago White Sox +40 but overall it was a big baseball betting day for the players.

In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Mavericks had a 1% chance to come back from a 17-point deficit with under 8 minutes left in the game; but they did just that. With the Heat working on shot clock settling for some tough perimeter shots, the Mavs super star Dirk Nowitzski led a comeback Thursday that rivaled one of D-Wade’s in the 2006 series.  The players once again were mixed on the side but won the money line on the game and the total was a wash as it landed 188 to get the players about even for the week. In MLB, the players put up wins on San Francisco Giants +15, Houston Astros +18, and Seattle Mariners -15 while the books won with Washington +20 and Minnesota +15 to stand at dutch for the week.

Friday in the diamond notes the players won with Atlanta Braves -15, Saint Louis Cardinals -75 (Cubs haven’t improved much since our last notation on them), Arizona -69, San Francisco Giants -14, Boston Red Sox -205, and Seattle Mariners  -28. Countering were the books with Pittsburgh Pirates +70, Milwaukee Brewers +28, Minnesota Twins +50, and the Anaheim Angels -35 to squeak ahead for the week.

Saturday’s baseball resulted in the players correctly tabbing Colorado Rockies -20, Saint Louis Cardinals -82 (I won’t comment on how filthy the Cubs are as it is getting redundant), Milwaukee Brewers -42, Texas Rangers +05, and New York Yankees -46; the house came back with the LA Dodgers +10, New York Mets +08, Baltimore Orioles +17, and Minnesota Twins +40 to hold sway for the day and week.

Sunday’s basketball was an exciting game that once again came down to the buzzer.  The house was dead split again on the side but won the total as it stayed under 88-86. In baseball, the players gained ground with the Philadelphia Phillies’ side and run line, Saint Louis Cardinals -54 (guess who they played?), San Diego Padres -70, Texas Rangers -35, New York Yankees -30, and Seattle Mariners -55. In turn, the house won with San Francisco Giants even, Toronto Blue Jays +40, and Minnesota Twins +40 to make a small profit for the day and week.

Good luck players! Talk to you next week.

P.S. My biggest hockey decision was a dime or two and I can’t remember if we won it or lost it.

By B. Sharps / Head Linesman

Hello players! The NBA playoffs are winding down; let’s see how things went for the books and players for the week of May 23rd to the 29th.  On Monday, the house split the hoops game winning the side, Dallas Mavericks +4.5, small and losing the total, over 197, to pick up a few bucks overall on the playoffs game.  In the bases the players won their bets with Philadelphia Phillies -75, Milwaukee Brewers -75, Texas Rangers -56, and the Anaheim Angels -200. While the house countered with three dogs – Houston Astros +25, Cleveland Indians +11, and Toronto Blue Jays +85 – to wash out the day in MLB betting.

Tuesday’s basketball game overall was closely bet.  The books ground out a little with the LeBron James led Miami Heat covering in overtime and the game going over the total to put the Bulls into a big hole heading home and we know what happened in game 5.  In baseball wagering, the players picked up wins on Atlanta Braves -23, LA Dodgers -35, New York Yankees -66, Detroit Tigers -70, and Chicago White Sox +15. The house battled back with Arizona Diamondbacks +70, Florida Marlins +25, and Oakland Athletics +190 to pick up a few bucks overall for the day.

Wednesday in the NBA Conference Finals players won the game with Oklahoma City Thunder +6 and the house won the total small winning the under 199 but still a good game for the players’ bets.  In MLB betting, the players tabbed Atlanta Braves +02, Milwaukee Brewers -75, Boston Red Sox -78, New York Yankees -60, Seattle Mariners -18 (against the hapless Minnesota Twins and their minor league line up), and the Anaheim Angels -10. In turn, the books countered with Houston Astros +20, Arizona Diamondbacks +12, and Texas Rangers -65 to cut into a pretty good day for the players.

Thursday saw the Heat beat the Bulls in Chi-town and stay under to wash out the evenly bet contest and set up the Finals 2006 rematch with the Dallas Mavericks.  Dwyane Wade carried the 06 Heat team on his back and proved that he knew how to win a Championship.  This time the German Dirk Nowitzski and his Mavericks played a small underdog, but are playing as well as anyone.  It is often documented on ESPN that no European player has been able to ‘lead’ his perspective team to an NBA Championship; this will be Dirk’s shot to do just that, and try to bring home an NBA Championship, which has hung around the top of the West for a decade.  On the diamond, the players won with Philadelphia Phillies -48, Florida Marlins even, and Boston Red Sox +08 and the books came back with wins on Arizona Diamondbacks +55 and the White Sox +38 to make a few bucks for the day.

Friday, with hoops on break until next Tuesday, the players bet and won in bases with Pittsburgh Pirates -15, Philadelphia Phillies -52, Arizona Diamondbacks -47, red hot Boston Red Sox even, and Oakland A’s -75; the house countered with Cardinals +55, Kansas City Royals +85, and Seattle Mariners -21 to wash out the day and maintain their small lead for the week.

Saturday’s MLB saw the players pick up wins on the Pirates again +08, Brewers-50, and Phillies -58; the house came back with Rockies +19, Marlins -22, Blue Jays -23, Indians +90, and Minnesota (amazingly) +65 to have a big day for the books and pull comfortably ahead for the week.

Sunday the players won with Diamondbacks (becoming very popular with the public quick) -20, Brewers -60, Dodgers -30, Blue Jays -65, Devil Rays -55, and Yankees-59. The house’s MLB action saw wins with St. Louis +34 only to give back most of Saturday’s earnings to the players and overall a small winning week for the books.

Good luck players! Talk to you next week.