Author: Travis Pulver

Odds On Where Will Giannis Antetokounmpo Play Next Season?

Posted on by Travis Pulver

After dominating the NBA during the regular season, the Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks were expected to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. But, instead, they do not even make it back to the Conference Finals.

It is safe to say the season was a major disappointment for the Bucks and their fans. Yes, the regular season was great, but no one cares about who had the best record during regular season play. They care about who won the championship.

Following yet another disappointing playoff exit, it is fair to wonder what the future may hold for Bucks superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The oddsmakers at Bovada.lv give the Bucks great odds to keep him:

  • Milwaukee Bucks -450
  • Miami Heat +600
  • Golden State Warriors +800
  • Toronto Raptors +900
  • Dallas Mavericks +1200
  • New York Knicks +1600

Since he is still under contract for a year, the Bucks do not have to do anything. But if Antetokounmpo wanted to, he could demand a trade. It has worked for lesser superstars, so why not him? The Bucks could keep him anyway, of course. But teams would pay a fortune to have Antetokounmpo for a year.

Following the Bucks elimination at the hands of Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, Antetokounmpo said what the Bucks front office wanted to hear. When asked if he would request a trade, he said: “That’s not happening. Some see a wall and go in [another direction]. I plow through it.”

Of course, it helps that the Bucks can offer him a supermax deal worth upwards of $220 million, about $80 million more than anyone else. But Antetokounmpo has said it is not about the money for him but winning. After another disappointing exit, it would not be shocking if he were to look elsewhere.

Rumor has it, the Bucks may be finding some help for him next year. The Bucks are said to be pursuing a trade for Chris Paul.

With how Miami has looked during the playoffs this year, they could become an intriguing option for him. Some have wondered if he might do like Kevin Durant and join forces with the Golden State Warriors to win a title.

According to the rumor mill, the Toronto Raptors are expected to make a run at him. Even though they didn’t have a superstar to build the team around this season, the Raptors were still very competitive.

With a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber at the center of that roster, it would not be hard to imagine the Raptors making it back to the Finals.

Mark Cuban could build arguably the greatest Big Three ever if he were to pursue and sign Antetokounmpo. But there hasn’t even been a rumor have supposed interest. As for the New York Knicks, they have the cap space, but who wants to go there?

So—who should you bet on?

The smart money and safe money is on the Bucks. While many players like to give indirect answers when asked about their futures to leave their options open, Antetokounmpo has never been that way.

Many guys would answer questions about their future following a loss like he did, only to backtrack later. But not Antetokounmpo.

He’ll be in Milwaukee next year.

2020 Odds To Win Sec East

Posted on by Travis Pulver

As much as fans of the other college football conferences hate to admit it, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is the best of its kind. Winning the conference practically guarantees a trip to the College Football Playoffs. Just making it to the title game means you have a shot.

The only time two teams from the same conference made the playoffs was in 2017-18– two SEC teams (Georgia and Alabama). So, for teams in either SEC division, the ultimate prize (a national title) can still be had even if you lose the SEC title game.

But first, you have to get to the title game, which means winning a division. According to the oddsmakers at Jazzsports.ag, the SEC East is a two-team race:

2020 Odds To Win Sec East

  • Georgia -125
  • Florida +100
  • Kentucky +800
  • Tennessee +1000
  • South Carolina +2500
  • Missouri       +3000
  • Vanderbilt +5000

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It should come as no surprise that Georgia is favored to win. They have won the division for the last three years with relative ease. But it may be a little surprising that they are favored as much as they are with the offense practically having to get rebuilt.

Defensively, they are in great shape, but their offense is a huge question mark.

Florida, on the other hand, comes into the season with fewer question marks. With the surprising emergence of Kyle Trask at quarterback last year, the offense should be in good shape. They have some key positions to fill but have guys on the roster capable of stepping up.

Defensively, they had one of the better units in the country last year. While they did lose a few key players off that squad, they should still be in good shape for this season.

Kentucky has been an emerging program in recent years and should be an entertaining and competitive one this year. But it may be too soon to think they can win the division and earn a trip to the conference title game.

Tennessee will enter the season with a ton of buzz after finishing last year on a six-game winning streak. But they are in the tougher of the two divisions and will need a lot of guys to elevate their games to compete with Georgia and Florida.

As for South Carolina, Will Muschamp will be coaching for his job this year. With the roster he has coming back, there is a good chance he may lose it. Unless he strikes gold with a few new starters this season, it is hard to see South Carolina winning the division.

Missouri rolled the dice by hiring Eli Drinkwitz away from Appalachian State after he led them to a 12-win season last year. While he did a remarkable job with the Mountaineers, it is not easy to see him doing the same with Missouri this year. He’ll need a season or two to build the roster first.

Vanderbilt may be doomed from the start. Derek Mason had some real talent on last year’s squad but failed to get enough out of them. Unless he can get the team turned in the right direction, he may be out of a job come January as well.

So—who should you bet on?

Georgia has too many question marks to bet on them at those odds. Florida is the safe bet and, realistically, the best choice by far. It shouldn’t even be considered a two-team race; the SEC East is Florida’s to lose.

Check out the SEC West Odds Betting Preview

2020 SEC West Odds: Who Is Going To Win?

Posted on by Travis Pulver

When it comes to the college football season, it doesn’t get much more competitive than the SEC. Members have won more college football playoff games than anyone else (9), the most appearances (7), and the most championship wins (3).

Most of the appearances, wins, and titles have come courtesy of the SEC West, specifically Alabama and LSU. Because of that, winning the SEC West division can be a great indicator of potential CFP success. The odds at Jazzsports.ag make it clear who they think will win the division this year:

2020 Odds To Win Sec West

  • Alabama  -225
  • LSU +300
  • Auburn +450
  • Texas A&M +700
  • Mississippi State +2000
  • Ole Miss  +2500
  • Arkansas +5000

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Defending champions often start the season favored. But with the personnel losses LSU is dealing with due to guys graduating, moving on to the NFL, and opting out over coronavirus concerns, they only have five total returning starters.

Ed Orgeron will make sure the team is competitive, but it would be foolish to consider them favorites.

But Alabama is going to come into the season looking for redemption. Nick Saban will want to get his Crimson Tide back on top, and that journey starts with winning the SEC West. With the veterans coming back, it is not hard to picture them getting back on top again.

Auburn looks like a good candidate, but whether they can do it will depend on how well they can rebuild their offensive line (one returning starter). Texas A&M will be lurking in the background as well, but it is hard to say if it is because the team is that good or if its because people want the investment in Jimbo Fisher to pay off.

As for Ole Miss and Mississippi State, they should be better this year under the guidance of Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach.  But it might be asking a bit much to think either can turn their team into a contender in one year.

If you really want to bet on Arkansas, go ahead. But don’t be mad if an unproven head coach (Sam Pittman) fails to turn around a floundering program in one season.

So—who should you bet on?

Alabama is the obvious choice and the best one. Nick Saban is the best in the business and has an incredible roster of talent coming back. LSU is a hard sell; Ed Orgeron will have to really earn his paycheck for the Tigers to come out on top.

If you are looking to take a risk in hopes of a bigger reward, Auburn is not a bad candidate. Gus Malzahn has some work to do with his defense and offensive line. But he also has a good talent built up thanks to solid recruiting.

But if you really want to roll the dice, go with Texas A&M. Kellen Mond is capable of coming through in the clutch, but it is hard to count on him and the passing game.  Should Jimbo Fisher get the most out of the team, they will certainly make the race an interesting one.

ACC Champion Odds: Can Anyone Challenge Clemson?

Posted on by Travis Pulver

Clemson has been the team to beat in the ACC (heck, the entire country) for years—and they have not faced a challenger that made them sweat, not even a little bit. With how well the Tigers recruit, this season is expected to be more of the same.

But due to a late addition to the schedule—Notre Dame — that may not be the case this season.

With every active Power Five conference going with a conference-only schedule and two of them canceling their seasons, independents like the Fighting Irish were left with no one to play. The easiest way to fill their schedule was to come to an agreement with one of the three active Power Five conferences.

Due to their relationship with the ACC in every other sport, joining them made the most sense. Does that mean Clemson fans need to be concerned this season? Their team is the No.1 team in the country. But Notre Dame is the No. 10 team, and win the new rankings take all the Big Ten and Pac-12 teams out they are going to jump right up.

So, it sounds like Clemson could be given a run for their money this year in the ACC. While Notre Dame has decent odds to win the conference, Clemson is still a strong favorite (odds via Bovada.lv):

2020 – 2021 NCAA ACC Champion – Odds To Win

    • Clemson -450
    • Notre Dame +500
    • North Carolina +800
    • Miami Florida +1000
    • Virginia Tech +1800
    • Florida State +2800
    • Pittsburgh +3300
    • Louisville +4000
    • Virginia       +5000
    • NC State +8000
    • Wake Forest +8000
    • Boston College +10000
    • Duke +10000
    • Syracuse +10000
    • Georgia Tech +50000

Before adding Notre Dame to the lineup, the ACC was the easiest conference in football to predict this season—Clemson, by far.

Yes, the Tigers a new offensive line this season. But with how well Dabo Swinney recruits, that shouldn’t be an issue. But with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Ettiene in the backfield, they don’t have to be great—just good enough.

The defense will need a few new guys to step into leadership roles. But with arguably the best defensive coordinator in college football, Brent Venables, in control, the Clemson defense will be just fine.

Miami could be an attractive option with D’Eriq King transferring in from Houston, and a lot of people are high on North Carolina. But while both might be able to give Clemson a good game, they are not going to beat them.

But then Notre Dame had to go and enter the picture. Clemson is still favored, of course, but it is not hard to imagine the Fighting Irish pulling off the upset. Ian Book is an excellent quarterback, and he will have one of the best offensive lines in the country to work behind.

On the defensive side, they lost a few pieces but have enough coming back. With the talent they have on the roster, the unit should be fine.

But can they beat Clemson?

Eh—maybe. It will be a good game when the two meet, one that will likely be decided by one possession. How should you bet? If you want to play it safe, go with Clemson. But put a little down on Notre Dame, too—just in case.

What Does The Future Hold For The Houston Astros This Season?

Posted on by Travis Pulver

One thing is for certain this season when it comes to the Houston Astros—everyone is going to be watching them closely.

Opposing players and fans will watching them carefully to see if they can catch Houston player cheating again. There will be the ever-present risk of getting hit by an angry pitcher—and the Commissioner coming down on anyone he thinks does it on purpose.

Then there will be the loyal Houston fans that will be dying to talk up their team every time they win a game.

Of course, with so many eyes watching the Astros this season, there will be plenty of things fans can bet on related to the team other than World Series odds (+900 via MyBookie.ag). Odds favor the Yankees to win the AL this year.  But the Astros still have the second-best odds (+425).

They also have the third-highest win total in baseball (94.5) and are expected to take the AL West division again:

  • Finish Order Of Houston Astros Al West Standings

    • First -275
    • Second +250
    • Third +350
    • Fourth +1400
    • Fifth +10000

No one has really come close to challenging the Astros in the AL West for years. Texas and Oakland are promising but are probably not ready to challenge Houston just yet. The Angels have Mike Trout—but that is about it. Unless Houston implodes this year, they will win the West again.

As interesting as the outcome of the season is, MyBookie.ag has several other Astros-related wagers fans can put money on:

  • Will The Houston Astros Get Caught Sign Stealing?

    • Yes +3000
    • No -5000

With the scrutiny, degradation, and trouble that the ’17 scandal has brought the franchise, it would be shocking if the team was dumb enough to try to cheat this season. Then again, the team is still employing the person that devised the ‘codebreaker’ program that started it all.

So, maybe they are that dumb (but probably not).

  • Astros Players To Charge Mound 2020 Regular Season

    • Over 1.5 charges +275
    • Under 1.5 charges -450

Several factors could come into play here. Does Manfred come down hard on pitchers targeting Houston batters? Does the player’s union let him get away with it?

If players can get away with targeting Houston batters, then it is not hard to imagine guys getting tired of it by midseason and charging the mound—which will likely encourage pitchers to do it again. But guys could also be taking big right now because they can.

When the season starts, they could choose to act like professionals instead. This one could go either way, but the smart money is probably on the under.

  • Astros Most Hit By Pitch 2020 Regular Season

    • Alex Bregman +100
    • George Springer +225
    • Jose Altuve +300
    • Carlos Correa   +400
    • The Field (All Others) +350

Bregman led the team last year after getting hit nine times, followed by Springer, Altuve, and Correa with six. If opposing pitchers are going to target guys, some are bound to get hit more than others. Bregman is a good candidate since he was one of two guys to offer a lame apology when the team finally spoke.

Altuve was the other but could also be more of a target depending on whether pitchers think he did have a buzzer under his jersey and because he won AL MVP in ‘17. Correa could get targeted for speaking out against Cody Bellinger and everyone hating on Altuve for winning the AL MVP.

Whether the Commissioner comes down hard on pitchers for targeting Houston batters will impact this one. But if you really want to put money down now, take Altuve or Correa.

2020 Puppy Bowl Odds & Prop Bets

Posted on by Travis Pulver

Dumb people do not run sportsbooks. They know that football fans will be quick to bet on anything and everything football-related regarding the Super Bowl. But with the Super Bowl being a social event that pulls in even non-football fans, they need something else to appeal to them.

Enter the ‘novelty prop bet.’

Just in case the many football-related bets are not enough for fans, many online sportsbooks are offering a wide variety of novelty prop bets on—well, everything else.

For instance, Bovada.lv has a whole slew of prop bets available about the Puppy Bowl. The Puppy Bowl is an annual event held and broadcast by Animal Planet every year on Super Bowl Sunday featuring dogs from animal shelters playing in a model stadium with commentary.

Sound silly? It is, of course, but that’s part of its charm. Last year’s edition, Puppy Bowl XV was enjoyed by over three million viewers—which explains its appeal as a betting market:

  • Puppy Bowl XVI—Age of MVP
    • Over 17.5 weeks +135
    • Under 17.5 weeks        -175
  • Puppy Bowl XVI—First letter of the name of MVP
    • A-J -120
    • K-Z -120
  • Puppy Bowl XVI—Game spread
    • Team Fluff -7.5       -140
    • Team Ruff +7.5      Even
  • Puppy Bowl XVI—gender of MVP
    • Male -130
    • Female -110
  • Puppy Bowl XVI – Will Mike Vick tweet about the Puppy Bowl?
    • Yes +1400
    • No -10000
  • Puppy Bowl XVI—Will a puppy attempt to mate?
    • Yes +350
    • No -600
  • Puppy Bowl XVI—Will the MVP be a purebred or mixed breed?
    • Purebred +550
    • Mixed breed   -1000

For many of these, you are pretty much going to have to make a wild guess. Unlike the Super Bowl, there isn’t a mountain of data and trends to help you make an informed decision. There are, however, a few nuggets of information that may help.

The first letter of the name of nine of the 15 MVPs fell in the A-J range; this year’s participants have 21 within each range.

According to the Puppy Bowl Wikipedia page, at least nine of the 15 MVPs were definitely mixed breed—but just because they didn’t list a dog as mix doesn’t necessarily mean it was a purebred.

Then again, the event is filmed with dogs from animal shelters, so the likelihood of a purebred being in the game, let alone winning MVP, has to be low(there are only seven listed on the website).

It’s probably safe to assume that the younger dogs are going to be the more playful ones and will have a better shot at winning MVP. Of the 42 dogs listed on the Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl website,18 of them are 18 weeks and older, while 24 are 17 weeks and younger.

As for the Mike Vick bet, while he was an idiot in his younger years, he seems to have enough sense about him now not to say anything about the Puppy Bowl. Since the game itself is filmed over two days, chances are the production team edits out anyone that tries to get amorous.