Handicapping Experts: Sports Betting Predictions - NBA Basketball Picks

The Players Championship Leaderboard 2012

Sean O'Connor — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:06:04 +0000

The Players Championship is always one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year. Beyond the actual major tournaments, this is basically the next highest tournament out there, so it draws a lot of attention, and the competition is always stiff. The Players Championship Leaderboard 2012 will certainly bring in a good deal of speculation and intrigue over the weekend, as some of the sport’s biggest names battle for huge win, or in the case of some, simple relevancy.

These days, it all comes down to Tiger Woods in terms of who people are interested in with golf. Heading into the Masters, he had some momentum back finally because he got his first win on tour in several years. But then he had a poor showing there, and then he missed a cut at another tournament. So now Woods has to find a way to get his game back and be competitive with the young crop of golfers out there.

After the first round, things didn’t go so well for him, and he could be in trouble and potentially miss the cut for a second straight tournament. Looking at the Players Championship Leaderboard 2012, Woods is at +2, which is a full 9 shots back from the leader, Ian Poulter, who is at -7. It puts him all the way back at tied for 107th position with a handful of other players.

It’s not necessarily that surprising either, and not just because of Woods’ poor recent performance, and overall several years of slumping and controversy. It’s also that Woods has only won once at the TPC Sawgrass in his career, and he doesn’t have a ton of high finishes either. So even if he was at his best, he wouldn’t be a favorite to win this tournament.

The next guy besides Tiger who gets a ton of attention lately is Rory McIlroy. The young sensation is right now tied for 24th after day one, putting in a -2 for the round. It’s four shots better than Tiger, but it also shows how many golfers, nearly 100, are separated by just a few strokes in that range.

After Poulter, at -7, comes Blake Adams at -6, Kevin Na at -5 and Ben Crane at -5. Poulter is a top 10 player in the world, and Crane is 17th, but still, not a ton of star power at the top of the Players Championship Leaderboard 2012 thus far. As for Phil Mickelson, he was putting in solid work through the first half of his round, getting to a -1, which would have been good for a tied-39th position if that’s where he ended the day.

Will Tiger Woods be able to dig himself out from his first day hole to come back and score a surprising win? Will McIlroy or Mickelson inject some big name power into the top of the leaderboard? We’ll have to see over the weekend how it all plays out and which man ends up hoisting the trophy, and the huge paycheck.

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Mayweather vs. Cotto Picks, Predictions & Odds

Vernon Croy — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:07:24 +0000

On Cinco de Mayo, the biggest boxing match of the year will take place when Floyd Mayweather steps into the ring against Miguel Cotto. Not only are these two of the best boxers in the world today, but they are also two of the biggest names, and most popular. So this is going to be a huge event for fight fans, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how each man performs, and how each approaches the challenge ahead of him.

Cotto comes into the fight on a winning streak since he has moved up to 154 lbs. After losing to Manny Pacquiao, he moved up in weight and won a title at junior middleweight against Yuri Foreman. He then beat Ricardo Mayorga, and most importantly, at the end of 2011 he scored his revenge against Antonio Margarito by stopping him in their rematch. So Cotto has a lot of momentum and confidence in his corner right now.

Mayweather, of course, is undefeated. He’s moving back up to 154 lbs to challenge Cotto, after having had one fight at the weight several years ago, a win against Oscar De La Hoya. Most recently, Mayweather stopped Victor Ortiz in their welterweight title clash. It was an impressive showing against a young, strong kid, and Mayweather will be looking to make a statement here with a victory against Cotto that he’s the top dog in the world right now, not Pacquiao.

Looming on the horizon isn’t just a date with Pacquiao – hopefully – but also an upcoming jail sentence for Mayweather. He needs to serve three months in jail, and he had his sentence delayed from earlier this year in order to fight on Saturday after having had that date reserved.

So taking a look at the official odds for the fight, you’ll see that Mayweather is a big favorite, at -600. He’s listed on different places at as much as -700 or -750. Cotto is coming in at between +400 and +500. The over/under for the rounds is at 9.5, with the over being -250, and the under being +190.

If you’re a fan of Cotto, you’ll love these odds. It’s a rare opportunity to get a legit star and one of the best fighters in the world at such favorable betting odds as the big underdog. If you think Mayweather is distracted or not taking this fight seriously, then you should also be jumping at the chance to pick Cotto at +400 or +500, as that’s too juicy to ignore.

Ultimately though, Mayweather is undefeated and regarded as the number 1 pound for pound guy for a reason, and actually for many reasons. In this case, his speed, defense and precision counter punching should all help him win the day against Cotto. Cotto will be game and will make a fight of it, but Mayweather will emerge as the winner, as the fight goes the distance and he takes home a decision victory.

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Kentucky Derby Start Time: Official 2012 Kentucky Derby Post Time

Sean O'Connor — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:05:14 +0000

If you’re planning on taking on the biggest horse race of the year and one of the best sporting events all year round of any kind, then you’ll need to know the 2012 Kentucky Derby post time. Use this guide to make sure you know when and where you’ll have to be to enjoy this one of a kind race, and don’t miss out on any of the action or show up too late and end up wondering how it all went down.

The official 2012 Kentucky Derby start time is at 6:24 pm Eastern. That’s the post time actually, so the start time will come a few minutes after that depending on how long it all takes to get everyone into the proper position. You can expect the horses to be off and running from the gates at about 6:30 pm, give or take a few minutes.

After that, the entire thing will wrap up about three minutes later, so this isn’t a sporting event where you can be fashionably late and still see all of the important action! You have to be right in place at that post time to make sure you can watch the race. An untimely trip to the bathroom or the bar or your friend’s house could mean you end up missing the entire thing, and that’s a nightmare scenario for everyone.

The live race itself will be televised on NBC, and it will have a two-hour time slot from 5 to 7 pm on the network. There will also be a one hour all-access preview special on NBC from 4 to 5 pm. After the race, you can continue your viewing over on NBC Sports Network from 7 to 8 pm, where a post race show will cover all the analysis of what went down and how the horses fared.

Of course, other networks, such as ESPN, will have long, multiple hour blocks of coverage before and after the race. So whatever your preference is, you won’t be shorthanded when it comes to watching it all on television and either getting psyched for the event or following it up with some analysis and breakdown.

Before the 2012 Kentucky Derby start time, you’ll also be able to take in the Kentucky Oaks. This race has a post time of 5:45 pm Eastern, so about 45 minutes before the Derby is scheduled. Each of these two races are in their 138th renditions, although of course beyond the horse racing community, only the Derby really captures everyone’s attention and imagination.

So there you have it. The official 2012 Kentucky Derby start time is at 6:24 pm Eastern, and it will be shown live across the country no matter where you live. Expect to see the horses running a few minutes after that, but don’t risk showing up late, you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to watch. After all, the event itself only takes two or three minutes, so you have to see the entire spectacle.

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Kentucky Derby Odds 2012

Sean O'Connor — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:30:42 +0000

Whether you’re a horse racing aficionado, or you’re a casual spectator looking to take in one of the biggest, best and most unique sporting events of the year, you’ll need to know the 2012 Kentucky Derby odds so you can place your bets. As opposed to some years, the 2012 Kentucky Derby has a deep field with many different horses being considered as legit contenders or amongst the upper echelon. There’s no single standout, so anything can happen, and you’ll need to make some good choices and get lucky to cash in.

Of course, with all of the odds and figures to come, keep in mind that these numbers can change all the way up to right before the race. Depending on how people are betting and how things like post position assignment affects the field, the numbers will certainly be swaying up and down. So these are the pre-race numbers as of today, and be sure to double check to see what they currently are as you’re putting down your wagers.

At the top of the list for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Odds are two horses which are co-favorites right now. The first is Bodemeister, and the second is Union Rags. Both are at +450, or 4.5 to 1. Bodemeister is a very unique case because the horse wasn’t race when it was 2 years old, and a horse like that hasn’t won the Derby in 130 years.

That’s a huge disadvantage against the horse, and tells you how much people like it anyway, to have it as a co-favorite despite that fact. Union Rags therefore seems less risky to many people at the same odds, and this is a horse with a lot of physical skill and capabilities, as well as emotional and mental character.

The next two horses to keep in mind with the 2012 Kentucky Derby Odds are Gemologist and Dullahan. For many people, Gemologist is actually the frontrunner. You can get the horse at +700 right now, but don’t be surprised to see those odds get reduced before the race as people jump on the bandwagon. Dullahan is at +800.

After that, two more horses are seen as being about even with their chances to win. Alpha and Creative Cause are both at +1100. Next is Hansen, at +1400, after having dropped down with some bad performances. Hansen was at one point seen perhaps as the favorite, and people are now mixed on how the horse will perform and whether it will live up to the early hype, or fall in line with its recent showings instead.

The next group of horses includes Ill Have Another and Daddy Nose Best, each at +1500, and Take Charge Indy and El Padrino at +1600. Went the Day Well is +1800 and Optimizer is +2000.

Then you start moving into the real longshots with the 2012 Kentucky Derby odds. The two longest shots in the field are Done Talking and Prospective, each of which is at +5000.

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2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders

Joe Gallo — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:43:56 +0000

The field for the 2012 Kentucky Derby is deep, and there are a number of horses who are considered to be legit contenders to take home the crown. The biggest horse racing event of the year always brings in tons of interest and speculation, and that will certainly be the case once again this year with such as even seeming lineup. Which horses are real contenders, and who has the best chance to win? Use this quick guide to see a list of the 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders.

The list of contenders this year begins with Union Rags. Union Rags is the betting favorite thus far, and right now he’s going off at about +450. He’s trained by Michael Matz, and his jockey is Julien Leparoux. This is a horse with some good experience, and a horse which has shown everything from speed and stamina to heart and determination. For all of these reasons, Union Rags is at the top of the field and is the pre-race favorite to take it all home.

Next in line amongst the 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders is Bodemeister. Bodemeister is in an unusual position, as the horse didn’t race as a two year old, and no horse in such a place has won the Kentucky Derby in 130 years. Still, this is a fast and talented animal. His advantages also include respected and well known trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Mike Smith. So there are good caretakers in place, but at +450, it might be a stretch considering that 130 year barrier.

Another strong choice amongst the contenders is Gemologist. Many people believe that if Gemologist can get out in front, the horse will be able to stay there and ride off to victory. Todd Pletcher is the trainer, giving the horse a good deal of credibility, and Javier Castellano is the jockey. The odds right now for Gemologist are at +700.

From there, you’ll still have many more horses to consider in what is a deep and diverse field. Dullahan is going off at +800 right now. Hansen used to be one of the frontrunners, but has fallen off and is now +1400. Alpha and Creative Cause are both at +1100. Those are the top 7 horses in the field according to most observers and to the current betting odds. But I’ll Have Another, Daddy Nose Best, El Padrino and Take Charge Indy are just a few of the other horses in the mix as well for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

As you can see, there are many different horses who have a legitimate chance to win this race. As is usually the case in such a scenario, small factors will make for big differences come race time, including the post position of the horses, and general luck in navigating the track. Which of the 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders will win it all? It’s anybody’s guess, so choose wisely and get in on the action with a smart bet or two.

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Kentucky Derby 2012: Derby Horse Preview

Sean O'Connor — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:07:55 +0000

Before the race unfolds in the two most exciting minutes in sports all year on Saturday afternoon, it’s time to take a look at a quick Kentucky Derby 2012 preview to get an idea of the field, what to expect from the event, and who the likely winners may be. Below, you’ll find just that, so you can prepare yourself for the race and even place a few quick wagers on the horses you think will get the job done. Read on for our Kentucky Derby 2012 preview.

If most people were asked to choose one word to describe the field for the 2012 Kentucky Derby, they would probably choose deep. This is a deep field, with 5 or even 10 legit contenders to win the race depending on who you ask. Many years, one horse is the prohibitive favorite and it’s basically their race to win or lose, or maybe you have a clear cut number 1 and number 2 choice. That’s not the case this year, so you’ll be able to go in many different directions depending on who you’d like to back.

The two co-favorites in the deep field this year though are Bodemeister and Union Rags. Bodemeister would probably be the top dog in the mix if not for one major factor going against it – it wasn’t raced at all as a two year old. No horse in the past 130 years has won the Kentucky Derby without being raced as a 2 year old, so the odds are against in when you consider that.

And keep in mind, the Derby itself is 138 years old, so that record dates back basically to its inception. Union Rags is a strong horse and is coming in rested, and many people believe its steady and fast enough to win it all. Each of these horses are going off right now at about +450.

Many people actually believe that the real favorite to win it all should be Todd Pletcher’s Gemologist. Gemologist is at +700 right now, and is a very capable horse with the physical capabilities to win this race. If Gemologist can get in front of the pack, odds are that it will stay there, so that will be an interesting development to watch in the first half of the race. You can also expect those odds to drop before the race as more people start betting on it to win.

From there, a half dozen other horses can all be in the mix, like Alpha, Dullahan, Creative Cause, El Padrino, Hansen, Ill Have Another and Daddy Nose Best.

As always, the Derby this year will be a fun event and one to remember. Ultimately, the bottom line with our Kentucky Derby 2012 preview is that this is a deep, open field. There are many contenders, but no horse has really risen above the pack to be the standalone favorite. It’s anybody’s race out there, so pick your horse, put down a bet or two and get in on the fun, and get ready for one of the best sporting events of the year on Saturday.

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UFC 145 Fight Card: Jones vs Evans Predictions

Vernon Croy — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:56:35 +0000

UFC 145 takes place this Saturday night. It’s the first major UFC event in a couple of months, and that has raised the anticipation to another level. It’s also been highly anticipated because of the spectacular headline fight, a light heavyweight contest between champion Jon “Bones” Jones and former champion Rashad Evans. Right here, find the UFC 145 Jones vs. Evans predictions you need to preview the fight and potentially make a few bets on how it will play out.

Both of these guys are great fighters, however, Jones definitely seems to be on a different level. He has exploded and absolutely taken the world of MMA by storm in a short time. He’s the youngest UFC champion in history, and he has been blowing by everybody he has faced, including a string of champions and former champions in Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida and Rampage Jackson.

This guy is obviously the real deal and he keeps on getting better and better. That’s a scary thought, and you have to wonder what he’s capable of. Part of the fun in watching him fight is just taking it all in, in terms of his physical and athletic capabilities, the dynamic and innovative moves he comes up with, and his well rounded technical skills.

Rashad Evans is no slouch, of course. He’s been around at the top level of the sport for quite some time, and he holds some very big wins and names on his resume as well. He’s the more experienced of the two and the more seasoned in the octagon. He also knows some of the pain of losing, and losing the title, so he’s ready to try to make Jones feel that too.

Of course, one of the huge pre-fight aspects to Jones vs. Evans is the background story they share. Both guys trained with Greg Jackson at his gym and were on his team. With Jones rapidly rising, he became the favorite son, and Evans felt like he was pushed out. So he left their camp and began training someplace different, and he felt very spurned by the whole situation. Since then, Evans has been talking a ton of trash and angling for this fight for a long time. Both guys are eager to get in there with one another, and both are eager to show what they’re all about.

The odds for the Jones vs. Evans fight show Jon Jones as the big favorite, no surprise there. He’s going off at -450 right now, while Rashad is going off at +325. Jones deserves to be the favorite, but those are huge numbers for Rashad. He’s a top level fighter and you can get him as the underdog at better than 3-1. Those are fantastic odds, and you may want to consider jumping on that.

Ultimately though, Jones is too gifted, too focused and too skilled. Evans is going to make this the toughest fight of Jones’ young career, but Bones will get the job done and pull out the win.

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UFC 145 Betting Odds

Sean O'Connor — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:54:12 +0000

UFC 145 takes place this weekend, and there are a number of intriguing fights on the card. If you’re looking to get in on the action and place a few bets, then you’ll need to take a look at the UFC 145 betting odds. Right here, you’ll find a rundown of the odds for all the fights on the main card and the undercard, and there are definitely some opportunities that you may be interested in taking advantage of depending on who you favor.

The UFC 145 betting odds start with the headline fight for the night, and this is the one that everyone has been excited about. It’s Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, and not only are they both extremely talented fighters, there’s the whole back drop of the animosity between them stemming from the fact that they used to be training partners at the same gym.

The odds for that fight show Jones as the big favorite. He’s at -450, and Evans is at +325. Jones certainly deserves to be the heavy betting favorite, but Evans can’t be discounted. If you’re feeling like taking a chance on an upset, then this will be the only time you’ll be able to get a guy like Rashad, in his prime, at such great odds. Getting him at +325 is definitely a high value, even against Jones. Remember, nobody is unbeatable.

Moving down the card and the rest of the UFC 145 betting odds, Rory McDonald is at -500 against Che Mills in a welterweight clash, who is at +300. McDonald is the fighter to watch here and it’s no surprise he’s going off as such a huge favorite. In a bantamweight fight, Miguel Torres is at -120 against Michael McDonald, at -110. This depends on how much you think Torres has left, as he used to be a top fighter in the sport.

At heavyweight, Brendan Schaub is at -250 against Ben Rothwell, who is at +190. Schaub is more athletic but Rothwell has worlds of experience, and also has the power to potentially change the dynamics of the fight. Rothwell could be an interesting choice for an upset. Also at heavyweight, Travis Browne is a -225 against Chad Griggs at +175. Those odds seem pretty close, as Browne is a beast on the rise.

Undefeated Stephen Thompson is a -300 favorite against the always tough Matt Brown, at +240. Mark Hominick is an overwhelming -600 against Eddie Yagin, +400. Mark Bocek is another big favorite, at -500 for his fight against John Alessio, +300. Mac Danzig is a slight favorite at -175 over Efrain Escudero, +145.

So there you have it, the completion collection of UFC 145 betting odds. There’s definitely some action there for the taking, and some serious upset potential with favorable odds if you’re willing to take the risk. So put your money where your mouth is and lay down a few bets on your picks and see who ends up coming out ahead on Saturday night.

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UFC 145 Picks, Predictions & Odds

Joe Gallo — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:52:17 +0000

With UFC 145 finally ready to go off on Saturday night, it’s time to take a look at the fight card, the match-ups and more, and make some picks and predictions on how things can be expected to play out. Right here, you’ll find a rundown of all of the main card fights and some of the undercard bouts and prelims. Maybe you want to make a bet on some of the fights or you just want to see what the matches are all about. Either way, you’ll find what you need for UFC 145 right here.

There’s no better place to start than with the main event, Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans. This one has been hyped up for months, and at this point, there’s not much more to be said. Both of these guys are ready to battle it out, and they’re both extremely talented. The back story is the feud they have over Evans’s split with Greg Jackson and his camp, and that has been what helped to push this fight to the forefront, and what has been used to promote it.

The fighters themselves of course don’t need any introduction. Evans is the former Ultimate Fighter winner, and former champion. He lost his belt to Lyoto Machida, but since has beaten Rampage Jackson. Jones has been an absolute phenom, and has a crazily impressive run of victories from Ryan Bader to Mauricio Rua to Machida to Jackson, all consecutively. Doesn’t get better than that.

Taking a look at the odds, Jones is a big -450 favorite and Evans is a +325 favorite. If you think Evans has gotten into Jones’ head, or simply has the stuff to push him to the brink, then you have to jump on those juicy odds for him. He’s a top guy and you don’t get that chance with such favorable numbers often. Ultimately though, Jones should be able to take care of business, as he’s simply all alone at the top of the mountain right now.

One of the main supporting bouts is Rory MacDonald against Che Mills at welterweight. MacDonald is the big favorite at -500, and Mills is at +300. You have to like MacDonald in this one, he should look impressive as he continues to rise through the ranks.

There are two intriguing heavyweight fights. In the first, Travis Browne is at -225 against Chad Griggs, at +175. You have to like Browne in this match-up. He’s too dynamic and powerful, and he’s definitely a guy to watch in the division. Then, there’s Brendan Schaub against Ben Rothwell. The more experienced Rothwell is the underdog at +190 to the more athletic Schaub, at -250. Rothwell is a live underdog there, and taking him to pull off the upset isn’t a bad move with his veteran experience and power.

Also, Miguel Torres -120 and Michael McDonald -110 are about even for their bantamweight fight. If you think Torres isn’t washed up yet, then jump on him here to get the win.

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