Phillies-Rays Lines Preview

The fans at Tropicana Field will be treated to a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays when they take their seats on Wednesday.
The Phillies will give the ball to starter Joe Blanton in this one. Righthander Blanton is 4-3 this season with a 5.28 ERA.
Starting this game for the Rays will be Matt Garza. The righthander has a 3.83 ERA to go along with a 4-5 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 170-moneyline favorites versus the Phillies, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
Chase Utley went 3-for-5 with a two-run jack and four runs batted in, as the Phillies drilled the Rays 10-1 on Tuesday night.
Philadelphia cashed as +140 road underdogs as the teams played OVER the 9.5-run total posted by oddsmakers.
John Mayberry Jr. hit a three-run blast for the Phillies, while winning pitcher Jamie Moyer gave up one run over six innings for Philadelphia.
Jason Bartlett drove in the lone run for Tampa Bay, as David Price was rocked for five earned runs over 4 1-3 innings to take the loss for the Rays.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 37-31 SU
Tampa Bay: 37-35 SU
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After a win are 6-4

Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Philadelphia are 6-4
After playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6

A few trends to consider:
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Philadelphia is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Tampa Bay is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Tampa Bay is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Next up:
Tampa Bay home to Philadelphia, Thursday, June 25

 

Reds-Blue Jays Lines Preview

The Toronto Blue Jays will be trying to extend a winning streak on Wednesday when they take on the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre.
The Reds will trot Bronson Arroyo out to the mound in this one. Righthander Arroyo has a 8-5 record and a 5.16 ERA this season.
It’ll be Scott Richmond toeing the rubber for the Blue Jays in this contest. Righthander Richmond is 5-3 with a 3.76 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Blue Jays listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the Reds, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
Rod Barajas went 2-for-4 with a dinger and two runs batted in, as the Blue Jays defeated the Reds 7-5 on Tuesday night.
Toronto won as -145 home favorites as the game played OVER the 9-run total listed by sportsbooks.
Marco Scutaro had a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, while winning pitcher Brian Tallet tossed six shutout innings for Toronto.
Jay Bruce knocked in two runs for Cincinnati, as Micah Owings was tagged for six runs over 5 2-3 innings to take the loss for the Reds.
Current streak:
Cincinnati has lost 3 straight games.
Toronto has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Cincinnati: 34-35 SU
Toronto: 39-33 SU
Cincinnati most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Toronto are 2-5
After playing Toronto are 3-3
After a loss are 4-6

Toronto most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Cincinnati are 4-3
After playing Cincinnati are 3-3
After a win are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
Cincinnati is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Cincinnati is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cincinnati
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next up:
Toronto home to Cincinnati, Thursday, June 25

 

Cubs-Tigers Lines Preview

A winning streak will be on the line for the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday when they battle the Chicago Cubs at Comerica Park.
The Cubs will give the ball to starter Rich Harden in this one. Righthander Harden is 4-3 this season with a 5.27 ERA.
Meanwhile, it’ll be Rick Porcello who starts for the Tigers. Righthander Porcello is 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Tigers listed as 132-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
Ryan Raburn’s pinch-hit, walk-off, two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Tigers over the Cubs 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Detroit won as -135 home favorites as the teams played OVER the 8.5-run total posted by sportsbooks.
Brandon Inge went 2-for-4 with a two-run blast for the Tigers, while Brandon Lyon picked up the win in relief of starter Edwin Jackson for Detroit.
Micah Hoffpauir smashed a two-run dinger for Chicago, as Kevin Gregg took the loss after allowing Raburn’s walk-off jack in the ninth inning.
Current streak:
Chicago has lost 2 straight games.
Detroit has won 5 straight games.
Team records:
Chicago: 34-33 SU
Detroit: 39-31 SU
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 5-5
After playing Detroit are 4-5
After a loss are 5-5

Detroit most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Chi Cubs are 6-4
After playing Chi Cubs are 7-2
After a win are 7-3

A few trends to consider:
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
Chi Cubs are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
Detroit home to Chi Cubs, Thursday, June 25

 

Red Sox-Nationals Odds Preview

The fans at Nationals Park will be treated to a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals when they take their seats on Wednesday.
Jon Lester will be the starting pitcher for the Red Sox on this day. Lefthander Lester is 5-6 this season with a 4.69 ERA.
It’ll be Craig Stammen toeing the rubber for the Nationals in this contest. Righthander Stammen is 1-2 with a 4.77 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Red Sox listed as 183-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
Jason Bay went 4-for-6 with a homer and three runs batted in, as the Red Sox drilled the Nationals 11-3 on Tuesday night.
Boston won as -135 road favorites as the game played OVER the 9-run total set by sportsbooks.
Jacoby Ellsbury was 4-for-4 with three RBIs for the Red Sox, while Manny Delcarmen picked up the win in relief of starter Brad Penny for Boston.
Adam Dunn and Willie Harris drove in runs for Washington, as Julian Tavarez took the loss after coming into the game for Nationals starter John Lannan.
Current streak:
Boston has won 3 straight games.
Washington has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Boston: 43-27
SU
Washington
: 20-48 SU
Boston most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 8-2
Before playing Washington are 9-1
After playing Washington are 8-2
After a win are 7-3

Washington most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Boston are 3-7
After playing Boston are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
Boston is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Washington
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Boston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Washington is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games at home
Washington is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games
Washington is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing Boston
Next up:
Washington home to Boston, Thursday, June 25

 

Indians-Pirates Odds Preview

The Cleveland Indians and the Pittsburgh Pirates will both be gunning for a victory on Wednesday when they meet at PNC Park in an interleague contest.
The Indians will give the ball to starter Carl Pavano in this one. Righthander Pavano is 6-5 this season with a 5.73 ERA.
The Pirates will counter Pavano with Zach Duke. Lefthander Duke has a 3.18 ERA to go along with a 7-5 record this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Pirates listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Indians, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
David Huff pitched eight scoreless innings to earn the win, as the Indians tripped up the Pirates 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Cleveland won as +105 road underdogs as the game resulted in a PUSH on the 9-run total set by oddsmakers.
Jhonny Peralta was 2-for-4 with a big fly and three runs batted in for the Indians, while Grady Sizemore went 2-for-5 with two RBIs for Cleveland.
Adam LaRoche went 2-for-5 with a solo homer for Pittsburgh, as Ian Snell took the defeat after allowing four runs over 2 2-3 innings for the Pirates.
Current streak:
Pittsburgh has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Cleveland: 30-42 SU
Pittsburgh: 31-39 SU
Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Pittsburgh are 3-7
After playing Pittsburgh are 2-8
After a win are 3-7

Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Cleveland are 5-5
After playing Cleveland are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6

A few trends to consider:
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Cleveland is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Pittsburgh is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
Pittsburgh home to Cleveland, Thursday, June 25

 

WSOP Updates From Bodog

World Series of Poker events are underway and as usual Bodog is at the forefront.  The betting news section will also have updates not to mention live reports about the full legalization of online gambling.

While the smell of Ben Gay and Old Spice waft their way toward media row and the high-pitched whine of electric scooters echoes through hallways of the Rio, a younger and noticeably talented field has joined the Senior event participants in the Amazon Room. The $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Holdem event has kicked off today and the field is littered with familiar faces and names.

Among the players who have turned out to play are Alex Jacob, Amnon Filippi, Barry Greenstein, Gavin Smith, Erick Lindgren, Joe Sebok, Lex Veldhuis, Rafe Furst, Scotty Nguyen, Vanessa Rousso and, you know what, just a whole lot more. This should be a very interesting event to watch, so stay tuned for more updates.

Elsewhere at the 2009 WSOP, the $5,000 No Limit Holdem Shootout is wrapping up, but you wouldn’t recognize any of the names still standing…. so, next.

In the $2,500 Mixed event, there are still many notable players left among the 14 remaining players, including Bodog Poker room regular and online poker pro Jon “PearlJammer” Turner, who is currently in second. Also still playing are Jimmy “gobboboy” Fricke, Layne Flack, Dario Alioto and Blair Rodman. First place pays out and impressive $241,637.

strong and talented field of 295 players came out for the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship two days ago at the 2009 WSOP, and at the end of play last night there were only 25 players left, with Bodog Poker pro David Williams among them.

Those players return to the Amazon Room in just a few hours to battle it out for the $679,379 first-place prize. There are several players who will be looking to secure their first WSOP bracelets, including Day 1 and Day 2 chip leader Noah Schwartz, who has built up a monstrous lead with almost double the chip stack of second place’s Marcus Golser. Those seeking another WSOP bracelet to add to their collections include Barry Greenstein, Josh Arieh, Howard Lederer, Chau Giang and Nenad Medic.

Williams has a below average stack but won several key hands toward the end of play last night to make it through to Day 3. With the wild swings that can happen in Pot Limit Omaha, the event really still is open to anyone, so there’s no counting anyone out.

Stay tuned for more 2009 WSOP updates.

 

NASCAR Betting – New Hampshire Odds and Pick

If you bet on Nascar odds, it’s a lot easier to say “New Hampshire” than “the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway,” which is the official name of this week’s race. Who has the edge as we close to within 10 weeks of the Chase?

Jimmie Johnson
New Hampshire odds: +600

The 2003 winner at this race is the top sportsbook favorite, not so much because he’s piling up wins by the boatload (though two is nothing to sneeze at) but because he’s always threatening, as his 9.0 finishing average and four top-10s in New Hampshire suggest. I can’t fault anyone for picking him.

Denny Hamlin
New Hampshire odds: +700

Hamlin may be the best pick this week if you make sports predictions. His average New Hampshire summer race finish is 5.0, best among active drivers, and he has back-to-back top fives this season. He could be picking at the perfect time. Think hard about taking Hamlin’s odds.

Jeff Gordon
New Hampshire odds: +800

Gordon hasn’t won here since 1995 but he’s often among to the top 10 at New Hampshire, cracking it eight times in 16 starts there. He’s racing well, as he did a great job overcoming loose lugnuts to finish ninth at Sonoma.

Tony Stewart
New Hampshire odds: +900

If you want better value then Hamlin, your sportsbook software may direct you to Tony Stewart. He’s a two-time winner of this race (2000, 2005) and he’s nearing the top of his game right now, having finished second at Infeneon. He’s tempting at +900

Daily sports pick: Denny Hamlin +700

MLB Odds: Nationals-Red Sox, Yankees-Braves Sportsbook Look

Super sportsbook Bodog takes a look at two contests tonight for baseball betting picks.

The Washington Nationals have taken two of three from a pair of the Boston Red Sox’s AL East rivals, and now they’ll get a crack at the division leaders tonight as the Red Sox open their first three-game series in the nation’s capital since 1971.

Boston (-140 favorites according to the latest MLB odds) has won 13 of 18 games in June, a hot stretch that has expanded its division lead from a half-game over the New York Yankees to four full games.

The Nationals had their season-high four-game run snapped on Sunday with a 9-4 loss to the Blue Jays, but still feel positive with the Red Sox coming to town.

John Lannan, the only non-rookie in Washington‘s rotation, will get the start for the Nats.

Brad Penny is 12-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 20 starts against the Nationals’ franchise, whom he hasn’t faced since 2007.

Meanwhile the New York Yankees are at the Atlanta Braves. Bodog has the Braves a slight 109 favorite with a total of 9.5

Two righthanders who may be headed on different career paths meet tonight as the New York Yankees visit the Atlanta Braves for the first time in nine years in the opener of a three-game series.

Chien-Ming Wang earned another start for New York despite losing 3-2 to Washington on Wednesday. He allowed three runs over five innings after failing to last past the fourth inning in four of his first five starts.

Tommy Hanson, on the other hand, has gotten better with each outing  for the Braves and allowed three hits and four walks in six innings Thursday in a 7-0 win at Cincinnati.

This will also be the first game in Atlanta for Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira since he was traded by the Braves to the Los Angeles Angels on July 29.

New York is 10-9 all-time against Atlanta in the regular season, including 4-1 at Turner Field.

Now that it’s established that Bodog is the place to bet, who about winning MLB picks?

The greatest baseball handicapper off all time just keeps winning. GodsTips is 12-5 with MLB Wise Guys, dog winners (or runlines where we get juice) outnumbering chalk losers 12-2 and the losers were tiny chalks. Four of the winners were +130 or better.

It’s a 7-0 Tuesday with the Interleague Underdog Game of the Month, plus a second Wise Guy among seven MLB winners from the only living Grandmaster sports handicapper in American sports betting Joe Duffy. Click now to purchase

Pittsburgh is Championship City; Move Coyotes to Hamilton

Tremendous sportsbook and online casino takes a look at several issues of the day. Pittsburgh, the championship city; why the Phoenix Coyotes should move to Hamilton and what are the best television sports.

Forget Boston or Detroit or even New York City, the sports capital of the United States has to be Pittsburgh, PA.

They now own the Super Bowl champion Steelers and the Stanley Cup champion Penguins.

Even the World Series winners, the Philadelphia Phillies are in the same state. Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy point out that his alma mater, California University of PA will only add to the equation. His beloved California Vulcans football team will win the Division II college football national championship led by Jordan Portis, a former Florida Gator.

California University of PA, it about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.

No city has ever won more than two titles from the NBA, NFL, MLB, or NFL in the same year.

Pittsburgh‘s feat, following the double by the Pirates and Steelers 30 years earlier, solidifies its claim as one of the nation’s most successful pro sports cities, per capita, even if the Pirates can’t overcome their current deficit in the NL Central and make it a triple.

Can you imagine if only Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds had missed that layup? The Panthers could have made a run at the NCAA title.

Other cities like L.A. and New York have had multiple champions before, but they also have more teams.

Get your NFL Futures in the Bodog Sportsbook!

Speaking of the NHL, our partners at Bodog have a few other opinions they’d like to share.

There are many opinions out there on what should happen with the Phoenix Coyotes and where they should end up.

For the sake of the true hockey fans in Arizona, it would be ideal if the NHL can figure out a way to keep the franchise in town. But that seems unlikely long term.

There is a huge belief that the team should relocate to Canada with cities like Hamilton and Winnipeg just waiting to get their hands on a club.

Hamilton seems to be the best place for the Coyotes, as they have the fans and the building and the support of a possible new owner in Jim Balsillie (the BlackBerry guy).

But Gary Bettman seems to have a grudge against Balsillie and Canada for that matter, so expect the team to end up somewhere in the United States.

If the team does not stay put in Phoenix, even Vegas is an option the NHL would really love.

Get your NHL Futures in the Bodog Sportsbook as the odds to win the 2010 Lord Stanley Cup are up.

Did you watch the NBA Finals this year?

If so, you joined millions of others who did as well. The NBA is just one of the many sports that is heavily watched each year in the United States.

NFL football is king, of course, as the Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event every year. People live and breath the NFL and there is little chance any sport will ever replace it as No. 1.

Other major players would be NASCAR and NCAA Football, thanks to the very successful Bowl season.

April is all about NCAA Basketball and March Madness before the sports fan shifts to MLB Baseball.

PGA golf certainly brings in the ratings now that Tiger Woods is back and even Arena Football has a huge following (when the league is actually running).

Last year the Olympics were highly watched of course, and you can’t forget the rise of Mixed Martial Arts.

Sorry hockey, maybe one day.

For more information: Get today’s free pick and MLB odds as well as NFL betting advice on the Offshore Insiders Network.

 

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Dream Team and Best Dressed Male Sports Figures

Elite sportsbook Bodog has it all for sports bettors and those who follow pop culture as well.

They share their choices of hot women as well as best dressed men. Of course, we’d love to see Atlanta weather women Dagmar Midcap in a bathing suit, but she’s not well known nationally. Plus where is Robin Meade? Well at least they didn’t include Kate Gosselin who finally filed for divorce from Jon.

The world’s best-looking models and athletes populate the pages of the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. But why limit ourselves? We know at least 10 other entertainers who would look especially good with the appropriate attire, just like Beyoncé did in 2007.

Jessica Alba: Because we want more of what we saw in Into the Blue.

Megan Fox: There can never be too much media saturation of this woman.

Scarlett Johansson: She isn’t even 25 yet. Great googly-moogly.

Angelina Jolie: A skimpier version of Lara Croft, anyone?

Vanessa Hudgens: The innocent Disney thing works for her.

Natalie Portman: Even looked good bald in V for Vendetta.

Kristin Kreuk: Joins Ming Na in the vibrant world of Chun-Li cosplay fantasy.

Hayden Panettiere: Put her in the same photo with Hudgens. Please.

Eva Mendes: She needs to make up for doing The Spirit.

Rihanna: You know she’d do it in a heartbeat.

Get your Hollywood and entertainment betting odds  in the Bodog Sportsbook!

We go from best looking women in the world, to the sharp dressed men according to a tennis icon.

Tennis icon and 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was recently given the guest editorial reins at ESPN The Magazine. She had some sharp ideas for her sport – shorter seasons, Internet-friendly marketing, tougher on-court restrictions for coaches – but Sharapova also had some fashion tips and opinions to share.

Here’s her Richard Blackwell-inspired list of the 10 best and worst dressed figures in sports.

Best

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

David Beckham, L.A. Galaxy/AC Milan

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Nastia Liukin, USA Gymnastics

Tiger Woods, PGA Tour

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes, F1

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Sean Avery, N.Y. Rangers

Chris Fowler, ESPN anchor

Worst

Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks

Craig Sager, TNT sideline reporter

Charles Barkley, TNT analyst

Radek Stepanek, ATP Tennis

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

Michael Phelps, USA Swimming

DeAngelo Hall, Washington Redskins

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Amanda Beard, USA Swimming

Brad Gilbert, Tennis coach

Get your Wimbledon Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

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