Championship Round in the NFL (2008-01-17)
It’s no secret that I have been bullish on the Giants during this year’s NFL playoffs. They are a team playing with a ton of confidence right now and they have been quite impressive for about a month now....
Playing as the short stack in a tournament (2008-01-17)
So you’ve been playing a tournament for a while now. It’s crunch time and the money bubble is approaching. You’ve held your own, took down some pots and knocked your share of players out....
Going Against Conventional Poker Wisdom (2008-01-17)
If you are a good poker player, you must have a sense of what hands to play and what hands to fold in a given situation. For example, say you are playing no-limit hold em and before you act, an early position player has raised and 2 players called....
NFL Divisional Round Picks (2008-01-10)
One team has been playing well, while the other limped to the finish line. They meet for the 3rd time this season this Sunday and it should be a great game. ...
Hand of the week (2008-01-10)
The more you play poker, the more crazy things you are likely to see. This is what happens through experience....
NFL: Early Super Bowl Line (2008-01-04)
The Super Bowl is still four weeks ago, but one of our writers is already making an early prediction. ...
The Suns will Shoot Down the Rockets (2007-11-28)
Things don’t look good for the Rockets tonight. The last time the Phoenix Suns lost a game, they responded with eight straight wins and they are coming off their first loss in 3 weeks....
When all you have are overs (2007-11-27)
You’re a solid no limit hold em player and in this current session, you are sticking to this solid style and you’re doing well. But then, you all of a sudden without warning, go flop-dead, meaning that no matter what your hole cards are, the flop misses you completely. ...
Hand of the Week (2007-11-13)
I was recently playing $2-$4 no limit hold em online when a very interesting hand came up. I had built my stack up from $200 to $500 playing solid straight forward poker when this one happened....
The 49ers will Hang Tough with the Seahawks (2007-11-12)
The Seahawks haven’t been very good this year at all, but they still lead the NFC West. On Monday Night Football, they look to bounce back from their most recent loss against the San Francisco 49ers, who haven won in almost two months....
A lesson in slowplaying (2007-11-12)
All poker players slow-play hands here and there. Better players won’t do it as much but they do and that is part of the reason why slow-playing should be a weapon in your arsenal too....
Taking out the trash hands (2007-11-12)
If you are a solid player, you probably have some good standards on what cards you should and shouldn’t be playing. You probably exclude most if not all trash hands from your playbook....
Internet Player Guide to Playing Live Part (2007-11-06)
As an internet player gains experience plays online, there is a strong urge to go and play live for the first time. Before taking the leap, you need to learn the proper decorum of doing so. ...
Week 9 Football Picks (2007-11-02)
If youe spent the past week on Mars, what Im about to tell you will surprise you. There is a very big game this weekend in the NFL. The Patriots and Colts, both undefeated, will meet in the marquee matchup of the season this Sunday....
Learning to Make the Right Decisions (2007-11-02)
Even if you feel very confident in your opponents hand, you still must be able to make the right decision. Have you ever found yourself in the situation when you are 100% sure that you are beat, but you desperately call a river bet anyway?...
Early Stages of a Tournament (2007-11-02)
When you first start a tournament, how do you play? Do you play tightly and pick favorable spots or do you take advantage of small bind structures and play lots of hands? Different players have different opinions about which is best and I’m going to tell you about it....
The Broncos will Buck the Packers (2007-10-29)
The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL. Theyve climbed to the top of their division in spite of having a one-dimensional offense as they have no running game....
The Jaguars will Upset the Colts (2007-10-24)
An eight-day layoff may have killed the Colorado Rockies momentum while another tremendous comeback in the AL championship series may have given it to the Boston Red Sox....
How to Play Against a Maniac (2007-10-23)
To improve your game, you must see your playing style as an evolution. You can not make the same plays against everyone as players have different styles. Depending on their style, you need to adjust your strategy accordingly....
The Jaguars will Upset the Colts (2007-10-22)
My football picks have been heating up and tonight, I like the Jaguars to upset the Colts because you may or may not know this, but the Jaguars may be the NFLs best team that no one is talking about. ...
Week 7 in the NFL (2007-10-19)
The New England Patriots are on a quest for NFL immortality, while the Miami Dolphins could be on a collision course for a dubious place in the record books....
The Red Sox Will Force a Game 7 (2007-10-19)
Could history be repeating itself for the Boston Red Sox? In the past, that question would have made Red Sox Nation shudder at the thought since their past history was littered with so much heartache....
There is more to poker than results (2007-10-19)
So, let me start this column off by telling you this bad beat story…Just kidding. We hate those, so I won’t waste your time. But that’s my point. Every poker player has them....
The Red Sox Will Start their Comeback (2007-10-18)
The last time the Boston Red Sox were in the AL Championship Series, they came back to win the pennant. Tonight, they start their ace and probable Cy Young winner Josh Beckett to begin the comeback....
Hand of the Week (2007-10-17)
Sometimes, you really need to trust your reads and instinct at the poker table. You really need to learn about and understand your opponents if you have any chance of being a winning player....
The Rockies will Sweep Away the Diamondbacks (2007-10-15)
The Rockies are on one of the greatest runs in the history of Major League Baseball. It is because of this that I fully expect them to finish off the Diamondbacks in game 4 tonight in Colorado....
Week 6 in the NFL (2007-10-12)
Friday Night’s Recap
Pick – Yankees over Indians
Result –
Amount - 50 units
Season Bankroll - +$250...
Do You Know How to Value-Bet (2007-10-12)
Does this situation ever happen to you. You have a big hand, you flop a bigger hand and you bet the flop and turn. Then the river hits and it frightens you, so you check only to see that you won the hand....
The Diamondbacks will Scale the Rockies (2007-10-11)
The Colorado Rockies late-season surge nearly allowed them to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks for the NL West division crown. Now, they square off in search of the National League pennant....
Hand of the week (2007-10-11)
I was playing online last night and there was a crazy hand that happened that I wanted to tell you about. The game was $1-$2 no limit and it was a pretty loose table....
The Yankees will Chop Down the Indians (2007-10-08)
I had a great week in the NFL, winning all 3 of my best bets. Hopefully you followed suit as well. Tonight, it’s back to baseball and I like the Yankees to even the series with the Indians....
Hand of the Week – A Real Head Scratcher (2007-10-05)
I was in my local card room when the following hand happened. It was just about one of the oddest things I’ve seen in quite awhile. The game was $1-$2 no limit hold em and we were 9-handed....
Maximizing a Hand - Building up a winning pot (2007-10-05)
One of the most important skills in poker is getting paid when you flop a huge hand. I mean, it’s nice to flop quads, but if you make less than $10 when you do, what’s the point right? Back in the day, the thing to do was to slow-play and wait, but as more players get better, this doesn’t always work....
Week 5 in the NFL (2007-10-05)
Thursday Night’s Recap
Pick – Yankees over Indians
Result –
Amount - 50 units
Season Bankroll - +$200...
The Yankees will Scalp the Indians (2007-10-04)
As if I needed another reason to hate the Phillies (I am a Mets fan), now they are costing me money. They could do nothing against Jeff Francis so I’m back to the drawing board. Tonight, I like the Yankees to beat the Indians....
The Phillies will Rock the Rockies (2007-10-03)
So for the 3rd straight week, I lost 2 and won just one of my 3 best football picks. It’s time to regroup with some playoff baseball. Tonight’s matchup features the 2 teams that caught fire at the end of the season, the Phillies and the Rockies, the two top offenses in the National League....
When should you NOT go all (2007-10-03)
To a no-limit Hold’em player, going all in is the biggest weapon a player has. Well, that’s not entirely true. When relatively short-stacked in a tournament, going all-in is often times the LAST weapon a player has. As such, it is vital to use it in a manner in which you give yourself the best chance of winning....
Avoid Making Errors when Drawing (2007-09-27)
When inexperienced players begin playing poker, many times, they play was too loose. What does that mean? Well, for starters, they play too many starting hands. Then to compound that error, they keep on going in the hand with weak pairs and/or they chase draws with terrible odds....
Hand of the Week (2007-09-27)
When I’m not playing online, I like to visit my local cardroom. These fine folks offer a bad beat jackpot....
Week 4 in the NFL (2007-09-27)
This game features two of the NFL’s elite running backs…well, they were last season. LaDainian Tomlinson won the MVP last year as his San Diego Chargers joined the ranks of the NFLs elite....
The Cubs will Reel in the Marlins (2007-09-25)
Another lost football weekend as I dropped 2 of 3. It’s a strange season so far as underdogs have been winning with regularity, making for some rough times. Back to baseball tonight. Tonight, I like the Cubs to beat the Marlins in Miami....
Hand of the week (2007-09-21)
There are many kinds of hands that we as poker players remember. We certainly recall taking terrible beats. We don’t often forget our big calls or bold bluffs....
Re-Buy tournaments (2007-09-21)
Re-Buy tournaments are a lot of fun. The first hour is shear chaos but relatively stress free as you can’t get knocked out. The key is picking spots to amass as many chips as possible....
Picking 3 NFL Week 3 Winners (2007-09-21)
The Mets pulled off a gigantic choke job last night. But it’s time for football again and it’s a big week 3. ...
The Mets will Fry the Marlins (2007-09-20)
I have the taste of winning fresh in my mind again as I’ve won 2 in a row. Tonight, we go for 3. The Mets are in desperate need of victories. Luckily for them, their final road series of the season takes place in a ballpark where they haven lost this year and they have Tom Glavine going for them....
The Indians will Tame the Tigers (2007-09-19)
Perhaps baseball picks are my calling. I’ve been rock solid all season long and I look to do it again tonight. Today, I like the Indians to beat the slumping and fading Tigers....
The Blue Jays will Shut Down the Red Sox (2007-09-18)
For the 2nd week in a row, I got brutalized in my best bets as the 3 lowly teams I bet against showed some real character and spunk while my picks are as leaky as the New York Giants defense. But not to worry, I’m still operating at a profit....
Knowing your Opponent (2007-09-17)
What should you not do when you first sit down at the table. You should not let your mind wander. You should not think about what you’re going to do once you leave. ...
Selecting the Right Game (2007-09-16)
When I first started out playing cards, I realized that I would continually go broke. It was so very frustrating. I knew I wasn’t a bad player, but if I wasn’t, then why did I keep losing. It took me a while, but I finally realized that one of my biggest weaknesses was selecting the right game. ...
Online Tells (2007-09-14)
Many of a magicians best tricks aren’t magic at all, just illusions, changing our perspective of an object or event. Just because that object is no longer visible to the audience doesn’t mean it isn’t there. ...
Picking 3 NFL Week 2 Winners (2007-09-14)
Thursday Night’s Recap
Pick – Reds over Cardinals
Result – Win
Amount - 50 units
Season Bankroll - +$250
...
The Reds will Fly Past the Cards (2007-09-13)
Orlando Hernandez’ balky toe and horrid performance kept me from winning a 2nd in a row. But I feel today is a bounce back type of day. Today’s prediction has all to do with pitching matchups....
The Mets Will Chop Down the Braves (2007-09-11)
Thank goodness for the Bengals cover on Monday night football. Prior to them winning for me, I had dropped 5 straight. I feel like I’m ready for another hotstreak. ...
Why are maniacs dangerous? (2007-09-11)
Easy. Because of their reckless abandon, you just never know when they actually have a hand. Do you like to play against maniacs? Some people do, and some don . Many players don like to be run over while others think they hurt the integrity of the game. Ive never quite understood that one. Personally, I love playing against them....
Is There Really a Difference Between Online and Live (2007-09-10)
I began playing poker much like many of you, online at various online poker rooms. After losing a ton of money learning , I eventually reached the point where I consistently increased my bankroll and felt pretty good about my game. ...
Chip Tricks - The Butterfly (2007-09-07)
Today, I show you how to improve your image at the table by teaching you how to do another chip trick, the butterfly. The butterfly is probably the coolest looking poker chip trick there is and probably the most difficult.! ...
So You Think YOU Had a Beat Beat? (2007-09-06)
My local card room has a bonus in place if you lose a terrible hand, a bad beat jackpot. If you’ve never played in a poker room with a bad beat jackpot, the rules are pretty simple: using both hole cards (for Hold’em), if your high hand (normally aces full of kings or better) is cracked by a higher hand (often quads or better), you have qualified for a bad beat jackpot to take the sting off....
Picking 3 NFL Week 1 Winners (2007-09-06)
The losing streak is now at 4 games, but it’s time for my weekly football picks. Every Thursday, I will handicap 1 game, give you my 3 best bets, and also provide my picks for EVERY game. So sit back, relax and enjoy....
Hand of the Week - A True Donkey Call (2007-09-05)
So I was playing at my local card club when the following hand came up. The players seated at my table were pretty poor players, weak-tight types who were more concerned about making the good laydown, or not being pushed around than actually focusing on the game....
Some Omaha Tips - Part 2 (2007-09-03)
In my last article, I discussed some raising situations/guidelines when playing Pot Limit Omaha. Today, I will expand on that column....
What’s the Big Deal about Switching from Online to Live (2007-09-03)
These days, I play both online and live and everyone I know, knows this. As a result, one of the common questions I get is what’s the difference between the two. Naturally, the online players ask me what are the biggest changes to make when live events. ...
To Raise or Not to Raise (2007-08-31)
Most of the poker strategy you read online centers around Texas Hold Em, both limit and no limit. As a poker writer, I know I’m guilty of centering a big proportion of my topics around Texas Hold em...
The Mets will Crack the Phillies (2007-08-30)
All good things must come to an end and my personal winning streak was snapped at 11 as Brandon Webb blew 2 different leads last night. Talk about a freak occurrence. Oh well, I plan on starting a new streak tonight. For tonight’s game, I like Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez on the road against the Phillies and Kyle Lohse....
Do you know that you, part 2 (2007-08-28)
In my last poker post, I began the discussion about how alternative types of tilt can be just as destructive as the over-aggressive type. Today, I wanted to continue the same topic. ...
What to Do During a Losing Streak (2007-08-28)
One of the most common questions players have is, "I was doing really well and have hit a rough patch. I can seem to win a hand! How can I change this trend?" It just so happens that Im in a stretch like this now so it seemed like a good time for a post on the subject of what to do when you can win a hand....
Do You Know that You’re on Tilt? (2007-08-28)
A friend of mine recently asked me if I had any explanation for his dismal losing streak. Here’s a little background on him. Generally he wins on medium limits live but he’s been losing big for over 2 weeks. ...
A little bit about Overcalling (2007-08-24)
Has this ever happened to you? Someone bets and sometimes you just don’t know for sure what that bet from the first player really means. But before you act, someone calls....
The Red Sox will beat the White Sox (2007-08-23)
The streak now stands at a robust 9 consecutive wins. Do I have a chance to make it 10 in a row? You bet I can. Josh Beckett has pitched very well this season, good enough to win the Cy Young in a league if it didn’t have Johan Santana....
Chip Tricks – Doing the Twirl (2007-08-22)
The mental aspect of poker is huge. Normally, I tell you guys about some cool hands or strategy, but today, I thought it would be fun to hit a different aspect of poker, table appearance, specifically chip tricks. I will tell you guys how to do a different one from time to time, but today I’ll show you how to do the twirl....
The Orioles will Fly Past the Rangers (2007-08-21)
I have now won 8 straight games. Can I make it 9? I think so as I will take one of the top American League pitchers, Erik Bedard and the Orioles over the Rangers....
The Basics of Betting in Texas Hold ‘Em (2007-08-20)
One of the most basic, simple things in poker, perhaps the most basic thing is betting. One of the most potentially complex things in poker is betting? This is not a contradiction as both sentences are true. Betting is oh so simple, but knowing how much to bet can be tricky sometimes. So for today, I thought we’d get into the basics of betting. And I mean the basics. Most people don’t know these very common things when they first sit down to play in a poker game. ...
The Twins will Corral the Rangers (2007-08-20)
When you need a win in the 2nd half of the baseball season, you turn to Twins Ace Johan Santana. That’s just what I’m doing as I try to win my 8th straight bet. Santana takes aim at win No. 13 this afternoon when the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers play the rubber match of a three-game series at the Metrodome....
Hello again folks (2007-08-20)
Hello again folks. Today, I wanted to share a pretty funny hand I had recently while playing in a single table tournament. First, I need to tell you about the hand preceding this one. ...
The As will Wash the White Sox (2007-08-16)
Yesterday’s Braves win gave me 6 straight wins and my confidence is through the roof. I’m trying very hard to not get cocky or complacent, as luck is a very fickle thing. For today, I look for win #7 in a row as I take Dan Haren and the A’s over Javy Vazquez and the White Sox....
The Mets will Beat Down the Bucs (2007-08-14)
I’m feeling hot right now as I’m riding a 4 game winning streak. So tonight I’ll try to keep it going with the Mets over the Pirates....
The Yankees will Roll Past the Orioles (2007-08-13)
After posting a solid weekend, my confidence is riding high. And for that matter, so are the New York Yankees who have crept back into serious contention after being an afterthought for most of the season in the AL East....
The Mets will Reel in the Marlins (2007-08-13)
The Mets are hanging on by a thread in the National League East and they dropped 2 straight to the Marlins and 3 straight overall....
The Red Sox will Knock out the Orioles (2007-08-13)
The Red Sox are limping along in the AL East as their once commanding 14 game lead over the Yankees is nothing but a distant memory these days. But you’re hearing it here first, they will win today in Baltimore....
The Diamondbacks will Veto the Nationals (2007-08-10)
I definitely don’t like losing 2 days in a row so I’m looking to turn things around tonight. My pick is the Diamondbacks at home against the Washington Nationals....
Picking the Padres to Beat the Cardinals (2007-08-09)
Ok, so last night didn’t quite go as planned as the much-heralded Gallardo gave up 11 runs in 2 innings. But I have a chance to redeem myself today. ...
The Brewers will Beat the Coors Field Rockies (2007-08-08)
The Milwaukee Brewers have a bright young pitcher that almost no one is talking about. His name is Yovani Gallardo and he is good, really good, so good in fact, that I’m picking him to beat the Rockies on the road today. ...
The Mets Will CHop Down the Braves Tonight (2007-08-07)
Today marks the start of a grudge match at Shea Stadium in New York as the Braves visit the Mets. The Mets are still in 1st place but the Braves have retooled and are no doubt ready for this series. ...
The Tigers will Maul the D’Rays (2007-08-06)
The Detroit Tigers hope Justin Verlander can help them stop their season-high losing streak at five games tonight when they open a four-game set with the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That sentence alone tells you all you need to know. The Tigers are desperate for a win, and their sending their ace to the mound to do it. Don’t overanalyze it, just take the Tigers. (Sigh) Need more proof still? Ok, here goes. ...
The Mets will tame the Cubs Today (2007-08-06)
Tom Glavine will once again shoot for career win No. 300 when he leads the New York Mets in the finale of a three-game series this evening against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Glavine owns 299 career victories and is just one win shy of becoming the 23rd pitcher to reach the illustrious plateau. He is 9-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season and 2-0 over the previous five trips to the mound....
The Yankees will be a “Royal” Problem for Kansas City Today (2007-08-06)
The New York Yankees are the highest scoring team in the majors this season, and the dominant offense will be on display in the Bronx tonight for the second of three weekend games against the Kansas City Royals. It’s a battle of rich vs. poor or excellence vs. terribleness if there is such a word. Why would you not pick the Yankees here?...
The Cubs will Squeak by the Mets Today (2007-08-03)
Today’s Forecast:
Even though Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez has pitched brilliantly for the Mets this season, he is running into a tough customer is Chicago today in Carlos Zambrano as the Mets arrive to face another NL Central leader in the Cubs. ...
One Single Game Wager (2007-07-31)
On this particular Monday, there wasn’t much action in professional sports. With only 5 games scheduled in baseball, there was just one measly game I felt confident in. In a battle of 11 game winners, I thought Cole Hamels and the Phillies would beat the Cubs with Ted Lilly....
My If-bet on the Yankees and the Mets (2007-07-27)
For yesterdays action, I decided to go with two hot team that were looking to complete sweeps of really bad teams. So I went with the Yankees over the Royals and the Mets over the Pirates.
...
Another Single MLB Wager (2007-07-26)
Another less than exciting baseball schedule forced me to again choose just one game to wager on. It seemed like an easy one as Brandon Webb was taking on the Marlins and their troubled young starter Scott Olsen. I went with the former Cy Young winner Webb....
A Straight MLB Wager (2007-07-25)
With the Pirates going to New York, I liked the first place Mets and 10-game
winner John Maine to beat Ian Snell and Pittsburgh....
One MLB Wager (2007-07-24)
I wasn thrilled with the slate of MLB games on the schedule, so I picked one great pitcher and went with that game. My choice: Johan Santana and the Twins over Shawn Marcum and the Blue Jays....
1 MLB Wager (2007-07-23)
There was a full slate of MLB games on Sunday, but I only really liked 1 of them. I expected the Mets to take 3 of 4 from the Dodgers by beating them on Sunday. It was Orlando Hernandez taking the mound against a rookie named Eric Stults....
1 Straight MLB Wager (2007-07-20)
Last night, I really only liked 1 game. I liked Tom Glavine to get career win number 299 in LA against the Dodgers. To do so, the Mets would have to beat Derek Lowe, a pitcher they smacked around during the playoffs last year....
A Straight MLB Bet (2007-07-20)
Once again, I wasn feeling very strong about any particular game. So I decided to keep it simple and just pick 1 game. My choice was Johan Santana and the Twins at home against Tigers rookie southpaw Andrew Miller. Johan Santana just never loses in the 2nd half and that was the big factor in my choice.
...
3 Straight MLB Bets (2007-07-18)
With winning 7 games in a row, comes a certain sense of confidence and it was with this confidence I decided to go with a 3-team If-Win bet. ...
Betting on the Yankees to Keep it Going (2007-07-17)
With the Yankees being so hot since the All-Star break and me winning consistently since Friday, I figured it would be a good idea to keep that winning formula intact. I did this even though the Yankees starter Kei Igawa just stinks. I wasn’t betting on him per se, I was betting on the Yankees outscoring Toronto....
1 Straight MLB Wager (2007-07-16)
With a busy Sunday ahead of me and already making some good money all
weekend long, I decided to kick back and take the Yankees over the hapless
DRays in Tampa....
1 Straight MLB Wager (2007-07-16)
I wasn particularly thrilled with the slate of baseball games on Friday
night. So I just went into the old think tank and picked the one game I
liked the best. I liked Tom Glavine and the Mets at home against the Reds
and Matt Belisle, who hasn won a game since May and has a 5+ ERA over the
past 2 months....
A 3-Team MLB Parlay (2007-07-16)
On Friday, there were 3 games that really caught my eye, so I thought it was
the perfect time for a 3-team parlay. I liked Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs
at home against the Astros. I liked Erik Bedard to out duel fellow lefty
Mark Beuhrle as the Orioles hosted the White Sox. Lastly, I liked the
rejuvenated Tim Hudson to take care of the up and down Pirates.
...
3-Straight MLB Wagers (2007-07-05)
Following Monday nights massacre, I was looking for some payback. I liked the Brewers and Chris Capuano to beat the Pirates and a pitcher I never heard of. I liked Yankee ace Chien Ming Wang to beat the Twins. Lastly, I liked Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs to beat the Nationals....
4-Straight MLB Wagers (2007-07-03)
For a Monday, there were lots of games to choose from. I was looking through them all and picked the 4 I liked best. So I went ahead and bet them all separately. I expected to see a slugfest at Fenway between the Rangers and Red Sox. I liked Felix Hernandez to shut down the Royals. I liked Brandon Webb and the D’Backs to cruise past the Cardinals and Braden Looper. Lastly, I liked the Mets to beat the struggling Rockies....
Another 3-Team If-Win MLB Wager (2007-07-02)
Saturday was chock full of baseball games so I thought the solid play would
be a 3-team if-bet. I liked the Indians to extend Tampas Jamie Shields
recent losing streak. I liked Oakland As to beat the Yankees in the Bronx.
Finally, I expected John Lackey and the Angels to beat the Orioles in
Baltimore....
A 3-Team If-Win MLB Wager (2007-07-02)
Saturday was chock full of baseball games so I thought the solid play would be a 3-team if-bet. I liked Ben Sheets to beat the Cubs. I liked Tiger rookie Andrew Miller to beat the Twins. Finally, I expected Jorge Sosa and the Mets to beat the Phillies, who were starting a pitcher I never heard of....
A Doubleheader Parlay (2007-07-02)
There was only one team I was interested in today, and thats the New York Mets as they head to Philadelphia for a 4 game series against the Phillies. On Friday, they get things started with a day night doubleheader and my choice was to parlay them both. In game one, I liked Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to outclass JD Durbin. In game 2, I expected John Maine to pull off an upset over Philly ace, Cole Hamels....
A 4-Team MLB If Bet (2007-06-29)
There was a full slate of games yesterday in baseball and a slew of favorable matchups. So I picked 4 of them and did an If-Win bet. Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez to beat the Cardinals and last year’s game 7 nemesis, Adam Wainwright. I also liked Randy Johnson in his return from the disabled list against the Dodgers. I also expected Roy Oswalt to win a game because he’s due, I think. Lastly, I like lefty Scott Kazmir to beat the White Sox....
A 4-Team MLB If Bet (2007-06-28)
There was a full slate of games yesterday in baseball and a slew of favorable matchups. So I picked 4 of them and did an If-Win bet. I liked Brandon Webb and the D’Backs to beat the Dodgers in Arizona. I also liked Tom Glavine to beat the winless Anthony Reyes. I liked Erik Bedard to beat the slumping Yankees and lastly, I liked John Smoltz and the Braves to beat the Nationals in Atlanta. ...
One Straight MLB Wager (2007-06-27)
For last night’s action, there wasn’t a whole lot that I liked. My favorite pitchers to wager on this season were either playing against hot teams or their own team’s were struggling. So I decided to only bet one game and I took the Mets and Oliver Perez at home against the Cardinals and Todd Wellemeyer....
Another 3-Team If Bet (2007-06-25)
On Saturday, there wasn a whole lot of action I liked. I did however expect Justin Verlander to dominate the Braves, I expected the Twins to beat up on Josh Johnson and lastly,...
One Straight MLB Wager (2007-06-25)
I had a busy day planned for Sunday so I wasn going to be able to watch much baseball. However, I knew I would be at home in the evening in time to watch the game of the week, as the Detroit Tigers wrapped up interleague play on the road in Atlanta against the Braves....
A 3-Team If Bet (2007-06-22)
Thursday was very light in terms of major league action. So I just bet on 3 games as an if bet. I thought Erik Bedard would get the Orioles a win at San Diego, ...
A Quartet of MLB Straight Wagers (2007-06-21)
Following a cue from yesterday, I decided to up the volume of games and bet on 4 games separately. I liked Oakland ace, Dan Haren against the slumping Reds. I liked Cleveland ace CC Sabathia against the Phillies at home. I liked the surging Yankees at Colorado. Lastly I liked San Diego rookie Justin Germano at home against the Orioles. ...
A Trifecta of MLB Straight Wagers (2007-06-20)
I tried to get back on a winning track. So rather than do a parlay today, I decided to do 3 straight baseball wagers. I liked Brewers ace Ben Sheets at home against Giants rookie Tin Lincecum. ...
A 4-Team MLB Parlay (2007-06-19)
I had an excellent betting weekend. So I was looking to keep it going on Monday with a 4-team parlay. I went with teams who had their aces on the mound. So I liked Cole Hamels and the Phillies over Cliff Lee and the Indians....
Betting on Offense in Subway Series Finale (2007-06-18)
It was a really fun baseball weekend. And the finale for it all would be on ESPN, as the Mets took on the Yankees. Chien Ming Wang, the Yanks young ace against Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, the Yanks former ace. Believe it or not, I thought offense would prevail and that was my bet....
A 3-Team MLB Parlay (2007-06-18)
Very exciting Saturday in Major League Baseball. So I decided to go after it with a 3-team parlay. I really liked these 3 games, so I bet heavier than normal....
Betting on the Mets in the Subway Series Opener (2007-06-18)
As interleague play resumed on Friday night, I expected to be glued to game 1 of the Mets vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees had Roger Clemens going and the Mets countered with Oliver Perez. I expected runs to be at a premium and also thought the slumping Mets would diffuse “The Rocket”....
Betting on the Cavs to Cover a Sweep (2007-06-16)
Ok, so it’s no secret that I’ve been way off base with this NBA Finals matchup. Don’t get me wrong, I fully expected the Spurs to win the series. I just thought it would be somewhat competitive with closer scores that’s all. ...
A 3-Team MLB Parlay (2007-06-14)
Wednesday night featured a full slate of MLB interleague games. There were several matchups I liked so I decided to do a 3-team parlay. I liked the Yankees to extend their winning streak to 8 games against Arizona. I also really liked John Lackey to get his 10th win against the Reds...
Betting on the Cavs in the NBA Finals (2007-06-13)
Ok, the Spurs severely outclassed an overmatched Cavalier team in games 1 and 2 in San Antonio. I know that Cleveland didn even look like they belonged on the same floor as the Spurs....
2 Straight NBA Finals Wagers (2007-06-11)
Anyone who watched game 1 of the NBA Finals saw what I saw, that the Cavaliers were severely over matched by a far superior Spurs team in San Antonio....
A 4-Team MLB Parlay (2007-06-11)
With round 2 of the years interleagues games starting on Friday, I decided a parlay was in order. I liked the Yankees and Andy Pettitte to beat Tom Gorzelanny and the Pirates....
Another 4-Team Baseball Parlay (2007-06-08)
The Major League schedule was pretty light so I decided to go with another 4-team parlay. I expected the Yankees to knock around their former starter, Jose Contreras and the White Sox in Chicago....
A Single NBA Playoff Wager (2007-05-31)
After losing my bet on Game 3 of the Spurs/Jazz series I felt it was best to take Game 4 off. ...
A Single NBA Playoff Wager (2007-05-31)
After cruising thru the NBA Conference Finals so far, things were destined to get difficult at some point. Well that time is now....
A Single MLB Straight Wager (2007-05-31)
I’ve been living a charmed life betting on the NBA Conference Finals thus far. Taking the Spurs out West and the under in the East have combined for a lucrative week....
A Subway Series Showdown (2007-05-21)
This weekend marked the beginning of interleague baseball games and it was of the “rivalry” variety....
Two NBA Playoff Wagers (2007-05-21)
Friday night featured two NBA playoff games and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wager on both, as I would be watching the games anyway. ...
2 Straight Wagers – 1 NBA and 1 MLB (2007-05-17)
I won just 1 out of 3 games the night before, so I could feel the momentum changing my way. I tried to follow that up with 2 games. ...
3 Straight Mixed Sports Wagers (2007-05-17)
It was a pretty heavy sports night for a Monday, and there were plenty of games to choose from. I went with the Mets over the Cubs who would be playing without slugging 1st baseman Derrek Lee. ...
Parlaying both Parts of an NBA Playoff Game (2007-05-17)
Maybe it’s because I have been doing so well lately that I decided to raise the level of difficulty in my wagers. It is difficult enough to pick a winner sometimes. It is also difficult to make an over/under correctly....
A 4-team NBA Playoff Parlay (2007-04-24)
Saturday night was day 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. To get things started, I took each of the 4 games, made straight wagers on each and then parlayed all 4 games. I finished up the regular season in record breaking fashion. Could I keep it going in the playoffs? I couldn’t wait to find out....
Betting on the Best to Beat the Worst (2007-04-16)
On Saturday, I just wanted to keep things simple, so I picked just one game to bet on. The awful Nationals against the juggernaut Mets. The Nationals were starting an unknown Shawn Hill and the Mets countered with veteran Orlando Hernandez....
If Winning a Bet (2007-04-16)
It was a dreary Sunday on the East Coast so all there was to do was put in a few bets and watch some basketball. Most of the MLB games in the East were washed away so my only viable options were in the NBA. I did a 4-game If Win Bet...
Betting While I’m Hot (2007-04-12)
After having heavy volume action the past couple of days, I decided to take it somewhat easy today and I picked two relatively easy games....
An If-Bet that almost was (2007-04-10)
For last night’s action, I saw a plethora of games I liked. So what I did was place an If Win bet so I could bet a minimal risk while having a chance to win a lot....
Team Mixed Sport Parlay (2007-04-09)
For last night’s action, I decided to pick just 2 games and parlay them. I chose the Mets, who were gunning for a sweep in St. Louis and the Nuggets as they hosted the Kings who were on the road on the 2nd game of a back to back. ...
Another 2-Team NCAA Tourney Parlay (2007-03-26)
After a seeming eternity between NCAA tournament games, it was time for the Elite 8! At stake? A trip to the Final Four and a chance to win an NCAA National Championship. ...
Another Prosperous Bruin Bet (2007-03-26)
With the NCAA Tournament essentially playing out like the Anti-Underdog Invitational, it has been very tough for me to know exactly which bet to make....
Handicapped while Handicapping the NIT (2007-03-22)
I had been doing very, very well with March Madness light. What’s March Madness light? Well, that would be the Men’s NIT tournament of course! I had been riding Syracuse and Air Force hard so with the opportunity to watch both of them play, I decided to take them. I was bit turned off by the 7 point Air Force spread, but I have to go with my gut....
A Bracket Buster Buckeye Bet? (2007-03-19)
The 2nd round of the tournament started with an all-Ohio contest between Ohio State and Xavier. The Musketeers were riding high after their win over BYU, while the Buckeyes were looking to extend their winning streak to 19 games....
Betting Against the Evil Empire (2007-03-19)
As every sports fan will attest, Christmas comes early every year in mid March with the start of the NCAA Tournament....
Wagering on the King….Or So I Thought (2007-03-14)
Two more days before the tournament, and I decided to wager a little money on the Cavaliers. With no Knicks game to distract me, I thought I should take advantage of the free time and watch Lebron play....
Bet ‘Em, Longhorns (2007-03-12)
As I’ve written about a couple of times, the Texas Longhorns have been a pain in the butt to bet on this year. As talented as they are, they are equally inexperienced with their two biggest stars being freshmen....
Betting Against the Luck of the Irish (2007-03-12)
Having grown up in the New York City area, there is nothing more exciting to me than the Big East Tournament. UConn, Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova, and St. John’s epitomize all that is great about college basketball....
Betting Against the Luck of the Irish (2007-03-12)
Having grown up in the New York City area, there is nothing more exciting to me than the Big East Tournament. U Conn, Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova, and St. John’s epitomize all that is great about college basketball....
A Non-Bullish Bet (2007-03-08)
To say that the Miami Heat are quite a different team without Dwayne Wade is like saying a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is different without the peanut butter: it’s blatantly clear. ...
Cleveland Rocks! Wanna Bet? (2007-03-06)
While the majority of enthusiasm this week regarding basketball resides in the hearts of college fans, there is still a lot of excitement in the NBA ranks. ...
Betting on Some Winners (2007-03-01)
After getting a taste of victory on Tuesday night after my mini-weekend slump, I felt energized and invigorated. My mind was clear and I felt that I could just see winners as I looked over the morning lines....
I’m tired of losing or breaking even. (2007-02-28)
I want to come out on top and win some money. Don’t we all, you might say? Well yes, of course. So tonight, I wanted a sure thing and the closest thing to a sure thing is the Dallas Mavericks riding their third winning streak of the season, an accomplishment only a select few have done in the history of the league. Their opponent? The Minnesota Timberwolves, who are nothing to write home about. The Mavs were favored by 6 and I would have taken them even if the line was 16....
3 Lost Bets and Counting (2007-02-28)
Riding a brutal 3 game losing streak, I looked to reverse my fortunes on Monday night with a blend of NBA and college hoops games. In the marquee NCAA matchup of the day, Big East leading Georgetown, who has been red hot, traveled to the Carrier Dome to take on Syracuse....
Bad Beats or Bad Bets (2007-02-27)
On Sunday night, I scanned the newspaper to see which games I liked. I decided I would pick the one NBA game I felt the most comfortable with as well as the one college hoops matchup....
New York Bet of Mind (2007-02-27)
I’m big into principles in regards to betting, as I’ve chronicled in previous blogs. Betting on teams that are on streaks (i.e. Suns), betting against teams that are on slumps (i.e. Celtics), and going with my gut instead of overanalyzing a pick (God bless you, Cornell!). ...
New York Bet of Mind (2007-02-26)
I’m big into principles in regards to betting, as I’ve chronicled in previous blogs. Betting on teams that are on streaks (i.e. Suns), betting against teams that are on slumps (i.e. Celtics), and going with my gut instead of overanalyzing a pick (God bless you, Cornell!)....
A Big Ten of a Wager (2007-02-26)
I typically try to stay away from parlays because as any experienced gambler knows, you’re just as likely to have your wife ask you to bet for her as you are to win a parlay. It’s pretty simple stuff, actually. ...
Passing the Puck on a Sports Bet (2007-02-20)
Yes, it was President’s Day yesterday, a national holiday mind you so I found myself sitting at home all day long. The NBA was still recovering from its All-Star weekend in Vegas, wouldn’t we all be in the same boat if we were them?...
Betting the Rush (2007-02-16)
On a big night of college hoops, I really liked two games. I liked the Memphis Tigers at Tulsa and I also liked Florida at home against Alabama....
A Knick (2007-02-15)
Last night had a full slate of college and NBA action. To be honest though, there weren’t any games I was in love with....
That pick (2007-02-15)
One of the principles I’ve always held true to my heart during my years of wager on sports is bet on a team that’s on a winning streak and beat against a team that’s on a losing streak. ...
When in Doubt, Bet on the Stars (2007-02-12)
With no more football around on Sundays until next September, we sports bettors must divert our attention and money making opportunities elsewhere. For now, the only game in town is basketball. And every Sunday on free TV, you can catch 1-2 games per week. ...
Parlaying the Road Favorites (2007-02-09)
Scanning the NBA and college schedules, there were a ton of games on the docket. For some reason though, there weren’t any home favorites that I particularly liked. The only teams I liked were all on the road and I don’t like risking a lot of money on road teams as they are just not at all predictable.
So tonight, with no single game really jumping out at me, I decided to go low-risk, high-reward with a $20 5 team parlay. If I hit, I win $500, if not, I only lose $20.
...
Duke vs. North Carolina (2007-02-08)
This is the single most special rivalry in college sports and may be the biggest rivalry in sports, period. ESPN and the other sports networks hype it and it’s covered like it’s some kind of conference championship. It is far from just a regular season game....
Last night, I decided to go with the Over (218) (2007-02-06)
There were tons of NBA games to choose from last night. I chose to wager on the one with the most star power, the marquee matchup of the night, the Suns vs. the Nuggets in Denver. I didn’t have a feeling on who would win, though I thought the Nuggets giving 7 points on the road seemed high. So last night, I decided to go with the Over (218). To me, this seemed like a fairly low number, even without Iverson playing for the Nuggets. Neither team is strong defensively and both have multiple scoring options....
Last night was the single most anticipated gambling event of the year (2007-02-05)
Well friends, unless you have been living under a rock, you are quite aware that last night was the single most anticipated gambling event of the year. Yes, it was time for Super Bowl XLI and you could get action on just about everything. You could wager on coin flips, # of 1st downs, you could even bet the over under on how long the National Anthem would last....
Wisconsin + 19 ½ at home against Northwestern. (2007-02-05)
Wanting to stay away from betting with my “gut” after winning last night’s Nets/Magic game on that principle, I decided to bet on a game based on what I felt would be a very logical bet: Wisconsin + 19 ½ at home against Northwestern. ...
My picks for tonight (2007-02-02)
Ok. Ive been colder than a Jamaican in Alaska this week. But my mind is clear, my judgement sound and my resolve strong. So with these things, Ill keep on trucking....
People love the Christmas holidays. People also love their birthdays (2007-01-31)
People love the Christmas holidays. People also love their birthdays (until they reach a certain age of course.) Why is that? What do they have in common? That’s right. In both of these events, you get gifts. In the gambling world, gifts don’t come often, but when they do, they are to be cherished and celebrated....
My picks for tonight (2007-01-30)
Coming off a decent 2 for 3 outing on Sunday, I decided today I would split the action going for one college basketball game and one NBA game. ...
I always say, “Don’t bet with your heart (2007-01-25)
That means, if you have a favorite team, don’t just blindly put money on them. This is a surefire way to go broke. In my case, my favorite team is the Knicks and I know anytime I wager on them, it’s an iffy proposition....
I have 3 teams whom I will always take as part of a 3-team parlay (2007-01-24)
Yesterday, I wrote about the Denver Nuggets and how now that they feature my two favorite NBA players, I would be betting them just about every single night. Well, my friends, I have 3 teams whom I will always take as part of a 3-team parlay, pretty much regardless of who they’re playing. ...
What an exciting Sunday I had in store for myself. (2007-01-22)
In was time for both the NFC and AFC Championship games. Towards the latter stages of the NFL playoffs, I tend to up the ante of my wagers. Usually, I double everything and then for the Super Bowl, I quadruple my risk....
There are few things in this world as unsatisfying as a game ending in a tie (2007-01-16)
The legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers once said, “A tie is like kissing your sister.” Now, I don’t have a sister and if I did, I doubt I would try this out to find out if it’s true, but there are few things in this world as unsatisfying as a game ending in a tie, with no winner and no loser. For all the excitement and preparation and hard work, to walk away without a tangible result is incredible anti-climactic and leaves everyone with an empty feeling. Even the fans are disappointed because they don’t get to leave happy or upset with the outcome....
There’s an old saying that goes, “Never bet with your heart.” (2007-01-11)
For the most part, I try to stick to this principle when it comes to betting on my favorite teams. But the problem is that I have my teams that I always watch so there is always the temptation to “juice” it up by putting some money on them.
...
...I mean that I prefer straight wagers as opposed to exotic bets like parlays or teasers... (2007-01-11)
Generally, when it comes to betting on sports, the key is to just keep things simple. By this, I mean that I prefer straight wagers as opposed to exotic bets like parlays or teasers. Though the exotic bets are fun and filled with excitement – after all, you don’t have to risk as much and if you hit, the payout is much higher making for a nice return on investment for wins....
|
|
