2011 NFL Draft Preview: Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Draft

April 14th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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Over the next two weeks, Bankroll Sports will provide you an in-depth look on the NFL Draft, examining the top prospects at each position. Today, we look at the top ten quarterbacks for the 2011 NFL Draft.

1. Cameron Newton (Auburn) – This year’s Heisman Trophy winner tops the list as the best quarterback in the draft despite the questions about his accuracy and his mentality heading into the pros. No one doubts that Newton is the most athletically gifted quarterback in this draft, but questions surround his ability to pick up new schemes and whether or not he will ever mature into a team leader. Many mock drafts have Newton going in the Top 5 and there is a lot of speculation that he could go No. 1 overall to Carolina. Newton threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for 20 touchdowns during the 2010 college football season and accounted for over 4,000 yards of offense for the Tigers.

2. Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) – Gabbert is seen by many as the best pure passer in this class and is projected to be a Top 10 pick by many mock draft experts. Gabbert completed over 60% of his passes for 3,186 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions and also ran for 232 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers. His dual-threat versatility along with his rocket arm has helped him move up the draft board despite college stats that fail to overwhelm you. Arizona seems like a likely possible destination for Gabbert with its need for a pro-style quarterback.

3. Christian Ponder (Florida State) – Despite Mel Kiper’s insistence that Ponder is nothing more than a poor man’s Chad Pennington, no quarterback has moved up the draft boards as much as Ponder over the last few months. The former Seminole was injured during the regular season and there have been questions about his durability in the professional ranks. Ponder has the mind to run an NFL offense, having already earned his Master’s Degree, and he greatly benefited from the tutelage of Jimbo Fisher. He is expected to be a late first to early second round draft pick and can be a solid starter if he stays healthy.

4. Jake Locker (Washington) – If Locker came out during the 2010 NFL Draft, he would’ve been a definite Top 10 pick. However, his decision to return to school for his senior year hurt his draft stock after a subpar 2010 NCAA football season. Locker completed less than 60% of his passes for only 2,265 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Locker look absolutely flustered at times during the season, and while there’s no doubt that he has immense raw talent, there is a question of whether or not he’ll be able to put it all together. Locker is expected to be a late first to early second round pick.

5. Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) – Mallett’s stock has fallen off considerably after a questionable media interview at the NFL Combine. Mallett has been compared to gunslingers like Jeff George, quarterbacks with a cannon arm but shaky leadership skills, and this has been the main reason behind his fall down the draft board. However, no quarterback has a stronger arm than Mallett in the draft and the Razorback has shredded some of the best defenses in the country over the last two seasons. Mallett is projected as a second round pick.

6. Andy Dalton (TCU) – Dalton is another quarterback who has seen his stock rise as we have crept closer to the draft. Dalton is one of the few four-year starters in the draft and this has contributed to his rise up the draft board. Despite not having the pure talent that some of the other prospects on the board have, Dalton has the ability to be a solid game manager at the pro level. The Horned Frog QB is seen as a second to third round pick.

7. Ricky Stanzi (Iowa) – Not many quarterbacks put together records than Stanzi did during his time at Iowa. Stanzi went 18-4 during his time as a Hawkeye despite not having fantastic statistics until last season. Last year, Stanzi completed 66% of his passes for 3004 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Much like Dalton, Stanzi is seen as being a solid game manager and has the best shot of all the quarterbacks not taken in the first two rounds to become a solid pro. Stanzi is projected as a middle round pick.

8. Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) – Every year a project quarterback pick impresses scouts with his athletic ability and wows his way into an earlier round than he would normally go. We’ve seen it with Pat White, Tim Tebow, Brad Smith, and others with mixed success. This year’s prospect that falls into this category is Kaepernick. Kaepernick showed blazing speed running the Wolfpack’s offense and over his career developed into an adequate, but raw, passer. Kaepernick will probably see some time in wildcat type formations but whichever team drafts him and may switch positions down the line. He is projected as a middle round pick.

9. Pat Devlin (Delaware) – Devlin originally played for two years at Penn State before transferring to FCS Delaware to become a starter. Devlin shined in the lower level of competition, completing 67% of his passes for 3032 yards with 22 touchdowns against just three interceptions last year, but the question will be whether or not he can make the quantum leap to the NFL. Devlin has the build of a quarterback and draws many comparison to former Blue Hen QB Joe Flacco, both for his build and path to the pros. He is considered a mid to late round pick.

10. Nathan Enderle (Idaho) – Enderle didn’t put up particularly great numbers and played in a weak conference, but led the Vandals to respectability after years of being in the dungeon. Enderle threw for 3314 yards and 22 touchdowns against 16 interceptions in 2010 with the Vandals and at 6’4″ 240 lbs has the prototypical build of an NFL quarterback. He is projected as a late round pick but is one of the biggest sleepers in the draft.

Posted in NFL Football   Comments Off on 2011 NFL Draft Preview: Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Draft

Free NBA Picks: Handicapping the 2011 NBA Finals MVP Odds

April 14th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)

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Complete List of NBA Finals MVP Lines Can Be Found Below

It’s that time of year again, as the playoff rev up to give us some great NBA betting action. With 16 teams still standing in the field, it’s going to be awfully hard to figure out just one player to make NBA Finals MVP picks with, but here at Bankroll Sports, we’re going to give it our best shot and pick out the best prices.

There are co-favorites on the odds to win NBA Finals MVP, and they both very, very predictable. Kobe Bryant (2.50 to 1 @ BetUS Sportsbook) is the easy choice to make, because he always seems to take over come playoff time. The Lakers have won back to back NBA titles, and though they are going to be hard pressed to figure out how to win a third in a row, we know that Kobe will be the MVP if they get the job done in all likelihood. This is a man that is scored at least 21 points in every single playoff game last year from the second round forward, something that he has done in the past as well. If LA is really amongst the favorites to win it all, Bryant has to be considered the favorite to win this award.

The next in line is Derrick Rose (2.50 to 1 @ BetUS Sportsbook). Rose is going to win the MVP award of the regular season, and he is playing on the team with the best record in the league, but the Bulls aren’t even the favorites to win the Eastern Conference this year, let alone the NBA title. Odds have it, Chicago would be a dog against at least one or two other teams in the West even knowing that it does have home court advantage through the postseason, and that makes these odds on Rose easy to pass on, especially since both Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer could win the award as well.

If there is a man that is going to win this award on the Dallas Mavericks, it is Dirk Nowitzki (20 to 1 @ BetUS Sportsbook). Nowitzki has never been able to get over that hump of getting his team a championship, but it is clear that he is the man that has to get the job done for Dallas to win it all. Nowitzki was the difference in the lineup this year for the Mavericks, as the team was absolutely awful when he missed time in the middle of the year. Dallas has reasonable odds to win the NBA title, and this gives Dirk a better than 20 to 1 chance to win this honor.

Another option that might be worth considering is The Field (15 to 1 @ BetUS Sportsbook). You get names like Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Jameer Nelson, and a host of others that are potential candidates to win this honor. Obviously, if you take the field, you’re betting against the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat to win it all, as there really are no NBA Finals MVP candidates out there that aren’t listed at BetUS from those two teams. However, we have seen one player come out of nowhere to take over a series before, and though generally it’s the big star on the big team that ends up winning the trophy, we could definitely see one of these names that we listed above getting the job done when push comes to shove.

2011 NBA Finals MVP Odds @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 4/14/11):
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Amare Stoudemire 40 to 1
Carmelo Anthony 40 to 1
Chris Paul 200 to 1
Derrick Rose 2.50 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 20 to 1
Dwight Howard 15 to 1
Dwyane Wade 5.50 to 1
Joe Johnson 200 to 1
Josh Smith 200 to 1
Kevin Durant 12 to 1
Kobe Bryant 2.50 to 1
LaMarcus Aldridge 75 to 1
LeBron James 5 to 1
Manu Ginobili 8 to 1
Nene Hilario 50 to 1
Pau Gasol 5 to 1
Paul Pierce 8 to 1
Rajon Rondo 8 to 1
Ray Allen 8 to 1
Russell Westbrook 25 to 1
Tony Parker 8 to 1
Zach Randolph 200 to 1
Field 15 to 1

Posted in NBA Basketball   Comments Off on Free NBA Picks: Handicapping the 2011 NBA Finals MVP Odds

NBA Playoff Betting Trends: Round 1 NBA Trends

April 14th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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The dance is finally here for the men of the pro hardwood, and here at Bankroll Sports, we’ve got all of the ins and outs covered for the race to beat the NBA Finals odds! Check out the series prices, along with the trends and history that you need to know for all of these teams as we make our NBA Finals picks!

#8 Indiana Pacers vs. #1 Chicago Bulls
NBA Series Prices
Chicago -4000 vs. Indiana +2000 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Chicago -3500 vs. Indiana +1750 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Chicago -5000 vs. Indiana +1200 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
This is the first time that the Pacers have been in a playoff game since 2006, and they haven’t won a playoff series since 2005. Indiana has never won an NBA Championship, and it will be making its 19th appearance in the second season this year. It has an 81-80 record in these games. Obviously, Chicago has had a team rich in tradition and history thanks to the play of Michael Jordan, who brought the franchise six titles. However, none of those have come since 1998, and there is only one playoff series victory in that stretch.

The Bulls are 8-4 ATS against Indiana over the course of the last three series, and more importantly, they are 5-1 ATS and 6-0 SU at the United Center in that stretch. That’s terrible news for an Indiana team that didn’t even come close to finishing .500 this year, especially knowing that there has to be at least one huge upset in the Windy City to win this series.

#7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #2 Miami Heat
NBA Series Prices
Miami -2000 vs. Philadelphia +1200 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Miami -2000 vs. Philadelphia +1250 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Miami -2500 vs. Philadelphia +900 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
It’s been quite awhile since the 76ers were in the NBA Finals in 2001, and this doesn’t look to be the year that anything changes. The last time they won a playoff series was in 2003, and for proof of just how long ago that was, New Orleans was still playing in the Eastern Conference! This is the third straight playoff appearance in four years for Philly, but both previous times, it bowed out with 4-2 series defeats. Miami hasn’t won a playoff series since winning the 2006 NBA Championship. This is its 14th playoff appearance in team history, and none have ever been considered as important as this one. This is where LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh will be measured, and even one game’s worth of a slip in this series would bring up a ton of questions.

The Sixers really haven’t stood in there against Miami in these last three seasons, going just 5-6 ATS and 2-9 SU over the course of the 11 meetings in the last three seasons. This year, the series was absolutely all in favor of the Heat, as it went 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in this series, winning all three games by at least nine points. Over the last three years, Miami is a perfect 6-0 SU against the Sixers when playing at home at the American Airlines Arena.

#6 New York Knicks vs. #3 Boston Celtics
NBA Series Prices
Boston -400 vs. New York +320 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Boston -360 vs. New York +300 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Boston -500 vs. New York +350 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
You have to go back to 2000 to find the last time the Knicks won a playoff series, but the hype at Madison Square Garden is as high as it has ever been thanks to the assembly of the trio of Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Amare Stoudemire. There’s a lot of history hanging in those rafters in Beantown, though. The C’s have 48 playoff appearances, 321 lifetime postseason wins, and 17 NBA Championships to their credit, and many think that this is yet another year in which they can shine.

The Knicks have tried their best against the Celtics, but they just haven’t been able to get over the hump. They were swept in the season series this year season, and they are just 2-10 against the C’s over the last three years. If you like higher scoring series, this might be the one for you, as five of the last six have gone past the ‘total’ in this series in games played at the Garden.

#5 Atlanta Hawks vs. #4 Orlando Magic
NBA Series Prices
Orlando -600 vs. Atlanta +450 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Orlando -600 vs. Atlanta +450 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Orlando -600 vs. Atlanta +400 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
If the Hawks are making a run this season in the NBA playoffs, they are going to have to overcome a tremendously dull history that hasn’t seen a title since 1958. That was also the last time that the team won more than one series in a postseason. Last year they won a series, only to get run out by these Magic. Orlando knows that it has a lot of work to do to get to its third NBA Finals in team history, and it really doesn’t seem like a task that is all that possible. Dwight Howard and company have had a great run over these last few seasons, but this might be the least equipped team to get the job done.

It’s almost like we can throw the season series out between these two teams. Both squads made significant changes since playing each other in games that meant anything, as we put absolutely no stock in Atlanta’s win right at the end of March against an Orlando team that was resting players. One of the wins for the Hawks in this series also came the day after the huge trades that left the Magic with just eight healthy bodies and virtually no stars to rely on. What we do have to remember is that last year’s romp by Orlando in these playoffs was the most lopsided beating in the history of the postseason in terms of margin of victory.

#8 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #1 San Antonio Spurs
NBA Series Prices
San Antonio -360 vs. Memphis +300 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
San Antonio -360 vs. Memphis +300 @ SportBet Sportsbook
San Antonio -500 vs. Memphis +350 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
The bad news for the Grizzlies is that they have never won a game in the history of the franchise. This team has only made three previous postseason appearances, and it is just 0-12 in 12 games to show for its work. We tend to believe that at least one game will go Memphis’ way in this one, but more than that would probably be considered a bit of a triumph. This is the 31st playoff appearance for the men in black and silver, and it is the 14th straight year in which the team was in the playoffs. The only year that the Spurs weren’t in the dance was in 1997, dating all the way back to 1990, and the team has made a number of Western Conference Finals in this run.

The regular season series was actually split between these two teams, as the Grizz really came on strong at the end of the year. We know that Memphis had the best NBA betting record in terms of ATS this season of any team, and as a result, many are on its bandwagon. San Antonio might be without Manu Ginobili for some or all of this series, and if that’s the case, the door might really swing open for the Rudy Gay-less Grizzlies.

#7 New Orleans Hornets vs. #2 Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Series Prices
Los Angeles -2000 vs. New Orleans +1200 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Los Angeles -2100 vs. New Orleans +1280 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Los Angeles -2500 vs. New Orleans +900 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
Since moving to the Crescent City, the Hornets have only won one playoff series, that coming when they were the No. 1 seed in the West in 2008. Aside from that though, the majority of the series have been quite ugly, including that awful 4-1 loss to the Denver Nuggets in 2009 with a ton of lopsided games. There’s no team that has the marks of the Lakers in the Western Conference. They have 429 lifetime playoff wins in 58 appears prior to this year, and they have a whopping 16 titles in the rafters, including championships in back to back seasons.

If the Lakers can stay out of their own way, they have no reason that they shouldn’t be winning this series with ease, especially with David West out of the fold for the Hornets. Kobe Bryant has a sparkling playoff record, and the Lakers are 9-2 SU and 6-5 ATS over the course of the 11 meetings in this series over the course of the last three seasons. LA is also 29-11 SU since 1996 against the Hornets, though some of those games came against the franchise when it was in Charlotte.

#6 Portland Trail Blazers vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks
NBA Series Prices
Dallas -230 vs. Portland +190 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Dallas -210 vs. Portland +175 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Dallas -240 vs. Portland +190 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
Dallas’ playoff history is definitely marred, especially during the tenure of Dirk Nowitzki. He has always been looked at as the player that just can’t win the big one, and he has only taken the Mavericks to one NBA Finals appearance, the only one in the history of the team. Portland hasn’t really been relevant since 2000, which marks the last time that it won a playoff series.

These two did meet up in the 2003 playoffs, with Dallas taking the series in seven games. This is a potentially wicked matchup for the Mavs, who split the season series with the Blazers. Portland hasn’t lost to Dallas since the acquisition of Gerald Wallace, winning 104-101 and 104-96 at the Rose Garden. The Blazers are 37-27 ATS against Dallas since 1996, but the Mavs own the 35-29 SU edge. Still, this could be a series that comes down to the wire, especially if Portland can flip home court advantage in these first two games.

#5 Denver Nuggets vs. #4 Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Series Prices
Oklahoma City -210 vs. Denver +170 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Oklahoma City -210 vs. Denver +175 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Oklahoma City -210 vs. Denver +165 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
Denver really hasn’t had a great time in the playoffs in team history, as it only has two series victories since 1994, both of which came in 2009. These defeats have been ugly as well in that stretch, as the two games won against the Utah Jazz last year only gave the team eight wins in seven losing series since 1995. Oklahoma City made the playoffs for the first time since moving from Seattle last year, losing out four games to two to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

This is probably going to be the best series of the bunch in the first round of the playoffs because both of these teams love to get out and run, and they are certainly going to be keeping the scoreboard operators both at the Ford Center and Pepsi Arena occupied. Sure, three of the four meetings stayed ‘under’ the ‘total’ this year, but it really isn’t likely that the Nuggets are going to be held to a total of 183 points in any two games in this series. OKC won the regular season series 3-1, and it went 3-1 ATS to show for its work as well.


2011 Aaron’s 499 Odds, Preview, Predictions, and Free Picks

April 12th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)

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Full List of Odds To Win The Aaron’s 499 Can Be Found Below

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at infamous Talladega Motor Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Aaron’s 499 picks!

The fastest race in the history of NASCAR was run on this track in 1997, as the average speed of the Talladega 500 was a whopping 188.354 MPH. Since then, restrictor plates have been put into the fold, and if the running at the Daytona 500 was any indicator, this should be an absolutely fantastic race.

Chevrolets have really dominated here on the high banks of Alabama, as those drivers have won every race but one here since 1999. In fact, a Ford hasn’t won a race here since 1997, and there isn’t an active Ford driver that has won a race here aside from Mark Martin. That being said, we tend to believe that Chevy’s will continue to dominate. Last year’s winner, Kevin Harvick (Current Aaron’s 499 Odds: 7 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) is the relatively hefty favorite to win this event. He has been absolutely fantastic all season long, finishing in the Top 10 five times, including posting two wins at the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 and the Auto Club 400.

However, we know that it is only a matter of time until Jimmie Johnson (Aaron’s 499 Lines: 15.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) really kicks it into gear and becomes a tremendous contender again. Now, it’s true that Johnson hasn’t finished worse than 16th in a race since the Daytona 500, and he does have three Top 3 finishes since the first race of the season, but he has yet to take a checkered flag. Johnson knows that he should really do well in this race, having won it in 2006, the first year in which he won a Sprint Cup Championship.

In fact, Johnson and his teammate, Jeff Gordon (Odds to Win the Aaron’s 499: 15.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook) combined to win four straight Talladega 500s from 2004 to 2007. Gordon has already taken care of his winless streak, winning at the Subway Fresh Fit 500, but since that point, he really hasn’t done all that well. The Rainbow Warrior knows that he can turn it on at any moment though, and that fifth place finish at the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 might be just what he needs to start to turn the corner again. Qualifying well would help, and he hasn’t started in the Top 20 since March 20th.

One man really hasn’t snapped his horrendous losing streak at this point, and that is Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Current Aaron’s 499 Odds: 11.50 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook). Both Little E and his daddy have a great history here on the high banks of Talladega Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Sr. won this race in 1990, 1994, and 1999, and Earnhardt Jr. took down the title in 2002 and 2003 in back to back seasons, making him one of the few back to back champs of this race. Don’t be surprised if Little E has something up his sleeve for his losing streak that dates back to 2008.

Aaron’s 499 Odds @ Hollywood Sportsbook (as of 4/12/11):
(Get a HUGE 25% Bonus at Hollywood.com When Using This Link)

Kevin Harvick 7 to 1
Tony Stewart 10.50 to 1
Kyle Busch 10.50 to 1
Kurt Busch 11.50 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 11.50 to 1
Carl Edwards 15.50 to 1
Jamie McMurray 15.50 to 1
Clint Bowyer 15.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 15.50 to 1
Jeff Gordon 15.50 to 1
Denny Hamlin 15.50 to 1
Jeff Burton 22 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 27 to 1
Matt Kenseth 27 to 1
Greg Biffle 28 to 1
Brian Vickers 33 to 1
Ryan Newman 33 to 1
David Ragan 33 to 1
Kasey Kahne 33 to 1
Joey Logano 33 to 1
Mark Martin 37.50 to 1
Trevor Bayne 43 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 43 to 1
Brad Keselowski 43 to 1
David Reutimann 43 to 1
Paul Menard 43 to 1

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Final Four Picks: Connecticut Huskies vs. Kentucky Wildcats Analysis

March 30th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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The Kentucky Wildcats and Connecticut Huskies met earlier this season at the Maui Invitational, and little did we know that this team that would go on to have a horrible record on the road and the other, which was unranked at the time, would be playing for the right to go to the National Championship Game. Check out how the Final Four odds stack up in this one!

Connecticut vs. Kentucky Odds at JustBet
Connecticut Huskies +2
Kentucky Wildcats -2
Over/Under 140
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Trends Of Note
Considering the fact that both of these teams ended up winning their conference tournaments this year, it’s no wonder why both have a heck of a lot of March Madness trends on their side in this one.

Kentucky has gone 5-1 ATS over the course of its last six games overall, and its only ATS loss in there was that escape from the Princeton Tigers in the first round of the tourney. UK is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 NCAA Tournament games as favorites. It is also 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22 games against Big East teams.

Connecticut has played six neutral site games in which it has been the underdog since the Big East Tournament, and it is a perfect 6-0 in those games. The Huskies are also 8-1 ATS since that magical run in the Big East Tournament started, and the lone failed attempt at a cover came against the Arizona Wildcats in the Elite 8. UConn is 7-2 ATS in its last nine NCAA Tournament odds battles and is 23-8 ATS in its last 31 games as an underdog. Head Coach Jim Calhoun and company are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 neutral site games overall and are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 against the SEC.

We’ve already mentioned the 84-67 win for UConn in this series at the Maui Invitational earlier this year, but there are also two other meetings that these teams have had since 2006. Kentucky won 64-61 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic last season at Madison Square Garden, while the Huskies pulled out an 87-83 win in the NCAA Tournament when these teams met in 2006.

Players To Watch
For Connecticut, this is a simple game plan. Get the ball in Kemba Walker’s hands and let him do his thing. Walker can really do anything and everything that is asked of him. He has averaged 23.9 points, 5.3 boards, and 4.5 assists per game this year, and he already has 74 swipes of the rock as well on the defensive end of the court. This is the leading scorer amongst players left standing in this tournament, and save for perhaps BYU Cougars’ Jimmer Fredette, there is no man in this entire tournament that is more feared than Walker. He also has played all but six minutes during the dance for Calhoun and company.

There are really only six men in the rotation for the Wildcats this season, and though men like Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb tend to get all of the accolades, Josh Harrellson is really the difference maker this year on this team. For a man that, for all intents and purposes, was nothing more than a stiff at the outset of the season, Harrellson has come on strong and averaged 14.8 points and 9.0 boards per game in the dance. He’s coming up with the big plays in the paint over and over again, and Calipari knows that his team would be forgotten if not for the play of Harrellson.

Keys to the Game
Connecticut has to find some players to step up aside from Walker. Jeremy Lamb, just a freshman, has really matured beyond his years in the postseason this year. He carried the team in the win against the DePaul Blue Demons, and since that point, he has had nine straight double digit scoring games. Lamb is a heck of a shooter, and he is likely going to end up being the man that has to take this team over after Walker is gone, and whether it is him or Alex Oriakhi that is picking up the slack, one of them just has to help out Walker.

For Kentucky, the trick is going to be staying out of foul trouble. When Walker is cutting to the basket on a regular basis, he tends to be able to lure some fouls out of some of the most disciplined teams in the nation. The Wildcats just cannot afford to do stupid things, because the team just isn’t deep enough. Calipari complained about turnovers and dumb fouls about this team all season long, and if those issues rear their ugly heads again in this one like they were at times this year, the Cats are in a ton of trouble.


World Series Picks: 2011 NL West Predictions and Preview

March 30th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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Complete List of NL West Lines Can Be Found Below

The NL West is one of the more interesting divisions this year in the game, as always. There really aren’t any teams that you can totally count out of this mess, but there aren’t any that you’d think are a surefire lock either. Check out the NL West odds and our NL West preview!

The San Francisco Giants (1.30 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) are the defending World Series champs, and they largely have the exact same team that they did last year. However, what we have to remember about this team is that it just barely got into the second season last year, and the hope is that it can do a heck of a lot better and get into the dance with plenty of games to spare this year.

The up and coming team on the NL West odds is the Colorado Rockies (2 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). The Rockies really didn’t do a heck of a lot in the offseason this year, but they did wrap up a ton of their young players to incredibly long contracts. Colorado still has a great starting rotation, anchored around Ubaldo Jimenez, who looked like he had a chance to win 30 games last year before he fell off in the second half of the campaign.

We’re really not so sure why the Los Angeles Dodgers (3.90 to 1 @ BetUS Sportsbook) are in the same sort of discussion right now as the Giants and Rockies. Sure, Manager Don Mattingly is certain to bring in a new flare to the team this year, but when push comes to shove, there just weren’t enough moves that were made to keep this team competitive in all likelihood.

The San Diego Padres (13.50 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) were the upstart team down the stretch last season, and they really went for it to get into the playoffs. As we know, they didn’t succeed, and they really don’t have that impressive looking of a team. However, it wasn’t all that sharp looking last year either. Now that Adrian Gonzalez is gone though, this isn’t really the best looking team in the world. Don’t really look for the rebuilding Arizona Diamondbacks (20 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) to compete either, though we know that this team has a great nucleus of young hitters like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton to build around.

Odds to Win NL West @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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Arizona Diamondbacks 20 to 1
Colorado Rockies 1.75 to 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 3 to 1
San Diego Padres 10 to 1
San Francisco Giants 1.25 to 1

Betting Lines to Win NL West @ Sportbet Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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San Francisco Giants 1.30 to 1
Colorado Rockies 2 to 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 3.90 to 1
San Diego Padres 13.50 to 1
Arizona Diamondbacks 20 to 1

2011 NL West Odds @ Hollywood Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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Arizona Diamondbacks 18 to 1
Colorado Rockies 1.80 to 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 2.75 to 1
San Diego Padres 10 to 1
San Francisco Giants 1.50 to 1


2011 MLB Free Picks: NL Central Preview and Predictions

March 30th, 2011 by Adam Markowitz (Bankroll Sports Columnist)
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Complete List of NL Central Lines Can Be Found Below

The NL Central is a wide open division this season, and there are legitimately four teams that could ultimately end up making the playoffs out of this bunch. Check out how we stack up the NL Central odds this season.

The favorites to win this division this year are the Milwaukee Brewers (2.05 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). We know that Zack Greinke isn’t going to be in the lineup on Opening Day, but he really has the ability to win 20 games this year for this team. This is largely the same type of squad that made the postseason a few years ago with CC Sabathia, and now, the Brew Crew have the use of Greinke for the whole year. Yovani Gallardo is a great No. 2 starter, while John Axford should be able to anchor the bullpen. Prince Fielder, in a contract season, could be in line for a great year, and if he gets off to a great start, this team really could be a terror on the rest of the division.

The defending champs on the division are the Cincinnati Reds (2.35 to 1 @ Hollywood Sportsbook). Joey Votto in an unheralded star, and Manager Dusty Baker has a great set of bats and arms at his disposal as well. Was Cincy a one year wonder last year in the postseason? We’ll soon find out. However, one thing is for sure, and that’s that the rest of the division is a heck of a lot better this year.

The team that suffered the worst break of the offseason was the St. Louis Cardinals (3 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). Not only did the team not ultimately end up winning the race with Albert Pujols to get a contract done, but then it lost Adam Wainwright in Spring Training for the year as well. It would be a tremendous accomplishment for this team to make it into the second season this year, and if it doesn’t, don’t be surprised if both Pujols and Manager Tony LaRussa end up flying the Cardinals’ coup.

The team that could be the real upstart this year out of nowhere is the Chicago Cubs (5 to 1 @ Hollywood Sportsbook). The Cubbies were one of the teams that raided the Tampa Bay Rays in this offseason. They picked up both Carlos Pena and Matt Garza in the winter, and those acquisitions really might make up for a number of bad signings over the years. This is the longest shot of the realistic teams that can get the job done, but we aren’t counting out the North Siders yet.

Both the Houston Astros (33 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (45 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) really have no shot to do that much damage. You can bet that the Pirates are good for yet another season below .500.

Odds to Win NL Central @ BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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Chicago Cubs 5 to 1
Cincinnati Reds 2 to 1
Houston Astros 25 to 1
Milwaukee Brewers 1.75 to 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 40 to 1
St. Louis Cardinals 2.75 to 1

Betting Lines to Win NL Central @ Sportbet Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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Milwaukee Brewers 2.05 to 1
Cincinnati Reds 2.35 to 1
St. Louis Cardinals 3 to 1
Chicago Cubs 4.85 to 1
Houston Astros 33 to 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 45 to 1

2011 NL Central Odds @ Hollywood Sportsbook (as of 3/30/11):
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Chicago Cubs 4.50 to 1
Cincinnati Reds 1.80 to 1
Houston Astros 40 to 1
Milwaukee Brewers 1.80 to 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 100 to 1
St. Louis Cardinals 3 to 1