This is the latest in a series of a Godgepodge of sports betting strategy and other sports handicapping and gaming issues.

Does the Commissioner Want to Send a Stern Message?

Though David Stern was non-committal on how the referee Tim Donaghy betting scandal would affect Las Vegas’ bid to get an NBA team, most experts agree the fiasco will be the death knell for Sin City’s bid for a franchise.

Stern has admitted it is his understanding the bets were placed illegally and not through Vegas. If Stern were genuine about stopping point-shaving, he would ban NBA games being played in cities where illegal sports betting is rampant: Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Better yet, Stern could campaign for complete legalization, where a legitimate activity need not be forced underground and into the underworld.

Methinks Stern will choose the hypocritical road.

Sharpie: 5 Inning Lines the Best Prop Play

Stevie Vincent of OffshoreInsiders.com is the top expert when it comes to evaluating pitchers. Vincent says starting pitching is the one certainty because gamblers can specify pitchers, thus it is the easiest to exploit proposition bet.

“We can’t specify a bet is cancelled if a clean-up hitter is scratched. We don’t know beyond reproach how the pinch hitter/relief pitcher chess game will transpire. But we do know who the starting pitchers will be.”

He elaborates that pinch hitters and the bullpen can determine full-game bets, but starting pitching is the primary decider on five-inning wagers. 

Some Things Are Worth Repeating

I’ve authored my share of articles on preseason betting strategy. Though we refine strategies as the fluid art of handicapping dictates, one truth that remains indisputable is that the Internet has been most invaluable during the NFL preseason.

Accurate quarterback and key player rotations, motivational information and other key intel are available for the adept Internet surfer. Best of all, more precise lowdown evolves after sportsbooks post odds, putting the advantage to the gambler.

Preseason football is a boon to the true sharp player because it is a goldmine for so-called “intangible” information.

Futures Bet

The most popular futures bet is on who will win the Super Bowl. We say the San Diego Chargers. Only baseball’s Bobby Cox and perhaps the NBA’s George Karl have consistently done less with more in the postseason than disposed Bolt coach Marty Schottenheimer. A clear case of addition by subtraction, we expect new coach Norv Turner to take the already loaded Chargers to the Promised Land.

Joe Duffy of JoeDuffy.Net, the “NFL Specialist” has for the first time ever, by popular request, full-season football-only packages. They are available at OffshoreInsiders.com