Category Archives: Major Sports

Soccer games get a kick from Bodog bettors this past weekend

The trend that started when NFL and college football action got underway continues on Bodog, with the sportsbook seeing most of the action on football games this past weekend. However, soccer matches in both North America and Europe also proved to be enticing and made an impact on the final numbers. Although they didn’t capture nearly as much attention as football, they still accounted for five of the top ten spots on the sportsbook. 

Heading the top-ten list on Bodog this weekend, the NFL maintained its usual spot with 42.64% of the wagers. Only slightly behind was college football, which captured 42.01% of the bets. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which featured Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez in the flyweight main event (and even Beyonce’s “Halo”), was a distant third at 4.37%. The ATP World Tour Finals took 3.41% as Daniil Medvedev overcame Dominic Thiem on Sunday for the single’s title. 

Soccer was then responsible for five of the remaining six spots, broken up only by table tennis, with 1.17%. Major League Soccer in North America grabbed 1.76% of the wagers, followed by the Premier League with 1.65%. Premier League Live wagers proved interesting, as well, getting 1.06% of the attention on Bodog. Germany and Spain made it on the list, as well, even if they only squeaked on. The German Bundesliga took 0.97% of the wagers, while Spain’s La Liga was responsible for 0.93%. 

It’s possible that, one day, soccer or basketball could prove to be as strong with gamblers as football, but that won’t happen anytime soon. On Bodog, the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders saw the most action, grabbing 26.53% of the share. As expected, the Chiefs won, but only by a four-point margin. The matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts was also a hot one, taking 14.42% of the wagers. The Colts, favored to win at -125, pulled off an OT victory and now have their eyes firmly on a playoff spot.

Tom Brady “forgets” NFL rules as the Bucs take another loss

No one can say that Tom Brady isn’t one of the best football players of all times. He has six Super Bowl rings, is a four-time Super Bowl MVP, four-time NFL passing touchdown leader, three-time passing yards leader (about to be four after this season) and plenty more accolades on his resumé. However, after 20 years in the league, some are beginning to wonder if his memory is starting to go. He may have shown a hint of that yesterday as his Tampa Bay Buccaneers took on the LA Rams, or, maybe, he knew exactly what he was doing and thought he could get away with a little in-pocket trickery. Either way, Brady will always be the GOAT, even if the Bucs couldn’t fight back to defeat the Rams yesterday.

The first half of Monday Night Football’s game saw both teams waging offensive and defensive wars that kept the score equal on both sides. The second half, however, found them running a little more sluggish and making unforced errors that cost valuable position on the field. Interceptions on both sides, missed field goals, sacks and more were the norm as the game wore on. In the midst of all that, Brady managed to throw two forward passes on a single play – one failed, but the other connected. Unfortunately for him, that’s not how football is played and, even though he got the ball to wide receiver Mike Evans, the play was called dead. 

That happened in the fourth quarter when the Bucs were desperately looking for ways to overcome a Rams defense that had kept them on their heels since the beginning of the second half. Brady threw the ball on a third-and-ten, but it was stopped by the Rams defense. However, that block returned the ball to Brady’s hands and he quickly threw a second pass to Evans. Whether he forgot the rules of football – no two forward passes allowed on a single play – or thought he could get away with it, we may never know. Several weeks ago, Brady allegedly forgot that it was fourth down on a crucial play against the Chicago Bears, and some began to question whether his mind is still as strong as his throwing arm. 

Jared Goff was on fire for the Rams last night, completing 39 of 51 attempts for a total of 376 yards. However, his two interceptions thrown were a huge blight on an otherwise awesome game. He routinely connected with receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, who picked up a combined 175 yards across 23 receptions. Big offensive plays throughout the game, coupled with the second-best defense in the league, are what kept the Rams going as they took a 27-24 lead with only minutes left in the game.

Tyson favored over Jones in Saturday exhibition bout

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

One could argue that the popularity of boxing in the United States and Canada started going downhill fast one Mike Tyson’s reign atop the heavyweight division ended. When Tyson was in his prime, there was nothing like one of his fights as he was the biggest and baddest athlete on the planet.

 

“Iron Mike” returns to the ring, somewhat, on Saturday night from Staples Center in Los Angeles against fellow boxing legend and former four division champion Roy Jones Jr. for an eight-round exhibition available via pay-per-view. There will be judges but no fans in attendance. Yes, this is what boxing has come to as it now lags far behind the UFC in terms of popularity. The two were originally set to meet on September 12, but the fight was postponed.

NFL Week 11 Sunday action full of surprises for football fans

Week 11 in the NFL will complete its last game tonight as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the LA Rams and the roundup of games is showing football fans that anything – and everything – is still possible this season. From blowouts to upsets, the NFL continues to keep everyone entertained. There’s a good chance many sports gamblers aren’t happy with the results of a few of yesterday’s contests, but, if winning were easy, everyone would do it.

Someone put something in the Houston Texans’ Gatorade yesterday. Quarterback Deshaun Watson connected for 344 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots, on the way to building a 27-20 lead with less than four minutes on the clock. Pats tried to get back into the game, but QB Cam Newton couldn’t overcome a determined, but tired, Texans defense and couldn’t find his way to advance a last-minute drive.

The Tennessee Titans met the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and both teams fought hard from the first play. However, it was Derrick Henry who will go down as the man who saved the day for Tennessee. The Titans and the Ravens went back and forth throughout the game, leaving the score tied at 24 when regulation play ended. Now headed into overtime, it was the running back who, starting at the Ravens’ 30, took a handoff from QB Ryan Tannehill, busted through the defensive line and ran into the end zone for a touchdown and the OT win. That win gave the Titans a little bit of a boost in the AFC South that is going to prove key later on this season.

There isn’t too much to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers/Jacksonville Jaguars (mix)matchup. The Jaguars are not having anything that resembles a decent season, sitting last in the AFC South, and took a beating from QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers yesterday as they were thrashed 27-3. The Steelers are now comfortably on top of the AFC North and remain the only undefeated team in the league this season.

ATP World Finals winner won by Daniil Medvedev for $1.25 million

The ATP World Finals, probably the most prestigious mens’ singles event outside the three Grand Slams that took place in 2020, was won on Sunday afternoon by Russian Daniil Medvedev for a seven-figure payday after a gruelling three-set win against Austrian powerhouse Dominic Thiem.

Shock Semi-Final Result

The semi-finals saw both favourites – Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – crash out against the odds. It was especially painful for Nadal to go out at the penultimate stage, as he served for the second set at 5-4 up only to be denied by Russian player Daniil Medvedev, who fought back to take that set on a tie-break then close out the decider 6-3. Nadal, who has never won the ATP Finals, now many never do so after the young class of 2020 showed that it is they who have the collective edge in the season-ending spectacle.

This is the final year that the ATP Finals will take place in London as the tournament series moves to Turin, Italy in 2021. It will have a new name on the trophy in its final year from being awarded in England after Novak Djokovic, the pre-tournament favourite, was eliminated by Austrian U.S. Open winner Dominic Thiem.

Seahawks survive fight with the Cardinals to rule the NFC West

There has been talk that the Seattle Seahawks might part ways with defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. after the end of the current NFL season. If his line gave any indication last night against the Arizona Cardinals, the three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Pro Bowler just gave himself a little more job security. The Seahawks defense was able to break through the Cardinals offense again and again to put pressure on quarterback Kyler Murray, becoming a major reason for the Seahawks’ 28-21 win. With that, Seattle improves to 7-2 and is on top of the NFC West, with only six weeks left in the regular season. 

Thursday Night Football found two NFC West teams vying for position and it was a case of “anything could happen” before the game. Both the Seahawks and the Cardinals have turned up the heat as the season progresses and the two teams came into the game ready to battle to the death. Seattle got out to an early lead as quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver DK Metcalf became a perfect combination, and the three sacks recorded by the Seahawks defense kept Arizona scrambling. 

The Cardinals had some tricks of their own last night. They also recorded three sacks as they dropped to 6-4 on the season, but Murray was still able to put up two touchdowns as he racked up 269 yards in the air. He found open receivers, like Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins, to make several key advances, but the touchdowns by Chase Edmonds and Dan Arnold were the biggest threats to Seattle’s dominance. 

A couple of errors in the game could have had the score going either way. The Cardinals picked up 115 yards in penalties, including a questionable holding call in their own end zone that led to a safety. However, they were down by just a touchdown after recovering from the sting, and were able to come knocking on the Seahawks’ door with a series of plays that was setting them up for a potential game-tying score. With under a minute to go and no more timeouts, and well behind midfield, the Cardinals attempted several long passes to pick up the touchdown, but were denied each time. Looking at fourth and ten, Murray was taken down by defensive end Carlos Dunlap. 

The Secret Coach: What exactly should England fans expect?

This week, England took on Iceland in what many saw as a meaningless game – a dead rubber in Nations League terms. It was, however, a great chance to show off England’s young stars and for Gareth Southgate to either experiment or consolidate the national team’s form.

In training before the game, England looked sharp, but could they replicate this speed and dedication in the game?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOoHzODT7Mo]

We spoke to The Secret Coach to find out for a coach’s perspective how Southgate might be able to manage England fans’ expectations as well as build a new side to challenge at the Euros in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. TSC is a professional football coach in English football who will remain anonymous. They’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the game, going through the coaching process in full and is currently part of the coaching team at an English league side… and that’s all we’re telling you. They’ll be honest each week about what they see as they see it. As ever, The Secret Coach pulls no punches!

Super Rugby Unlocked Round 7 Tips & Preview

Super Rugby Unlocked is winding down with the final two rounds on the horizon before the finals commence across South Africa. The Bulls will be the favourites to claim top spot on the ladder if they can find a way to grab a win against the lowly Pumas. The Stormers remain a chance of stealing the number one position from the Bulls but will need results to go their way.

Below are our tips on round seven of Super Rugby Unlocked.

Bulls vs Pumas

This will be the first meeting between these sides in the new Super Rugby competition. The Bulls have won their last three consecutive matches, including a come from behind win against the Lions in their last start. The Pumas have struggled in the new competition, winning only one of their last three games. The Bulls will be hoping that Tim Swiel continues his good form with the boot. The Bulls playmaker is one of only two players to 100% kicking record.

Super Rugby Unlocked Round 7 Tips & Preview

Super Rugby Unlocked is winding down with the final two rounds on the horizon before the finals commence across South Africa. The Bulls will be the favourites to claim top spot on the ladder if they can find a way to grab a win against the lowly Pumas. The Stormers remain a chance of stealing the number one position from the Bulls but will need results to go their way.

Below are our tips on round seven of Super Rugby Unlocked.

Bulls vs Pumas

This will be the first meeting between these sides in the new Super Rugby competition. The Bulls have won their last three consecutive matches, including a come from behind win against the Lions in their last start. The Pumas have struggled in the new competition, winning only one of their last three games. The Bulls will be hoping that Tim Swiel continues his good form with the boot. The Bulls playmaker is one of only two players to 100% kicking record.

Fantasy Football – What to do with your first wildcard

It’s not been the greatest start to the season, has it? Bottom of the table, can’t score goals and your backline is shipping them like a pub side that are still hungover. No, we’re not talking to you, Chris Wilder of Sheffield United, although the same applies.

We’re talking to you, EPL Fantasy Football manager.

Unlike Wilder and other struggling managers Slaven Bilic, Scott Parker and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, you don’t have to wait until January to bring in some emergency reinforcements.

Yes, it’s time to play your Wildcard.

College football odds: Week 12 lines & trends

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The SEC was ravaged by COVID-19 postponements in Week 11 with four games called off; it goes without saying there could be more all across the country in Week 12 with the virus raging – Ole Miss at No. 5 Texas A&M and Georgia Tech at No. 12 Miami are both already postponed to name two.

Chip Kelly was a mega-successful football coach at Oregon from 2009-12 before trying his luck at the NFL, which did not go so well. UCLA hired him before the 2018 season and Kelly has not been able to find his collegiate magic with the Bruins. They are at No. 11 Oregon on Saturday and the Ducks are -14.5. Oregon has won six straight at home in the series by an average of nearly 22 points per game.

While Oregon is expected to win the Pac-12 North, the No. 20 USC Trojans are South Division favorites. They visit two-time defending South champion Utah. It’s quite possible if not likely the winner of that game will claim the South in the Pac-12’s very shortened season. Utah has had its first two games canceled due to COVID-19. It is a 3-point underdog and the visiting team is 1-8 ATS in the past nine in the series.

The Masters keeps football from sweeping Bodog this weekend

Anyone who tuned in to catch the Masters last week saw some amazing shots and an unlikely winner. Jon Rahm’s shot on the 16 at Augusta National while he was practicing for the real thing was one for the history books, but it wouldn’t be enough to see him capture the title. However, it was definitely enough to draw a lot of gambling attention to the PGA golf tournament. The Masters kept football from sweeping the top-ten event list on the Bodog sportsbook this past weekend, with NFL and college gridiron action overwhelmingly taking control of bets. 

As has become standard since September, NFL action captured 45.23% of the wagers on Bodog, with college football taking 40.48%. The closest runner-up was the Masters, but at a distant 6.51%. After this, Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) squeaked in with 2.65% of the bets, and the UEFA Nations League made an appearance, grabbing 0.92% of the action. =Tennis had two places on the top-ten list, thanks to the Sofia Open’s 0.91% and the Linz Open’s 0.82%.

Sandwiched between the two tennis entries was a sport that, for the most part, helped to keep sports gambling operators afloat after leagues started shutting down in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Table tennis was back this past weekend, with the Liga Pro receiving 0.90% of the bets on Bodog. The Chinese Basketball Association and cricket rounded out the list, taking 0.81% and 0.76%, respectively. 

As far as individual games or competitions go, NFL and college football was responsible for nine of the top ten spots on the sportsbook. The Masters proved to be extremely enticing, though, accounting for 14.31% of the action. Anyone who missed the practice shot by Rahm has missed (to steal a phrase from baseball) the shot heard around the world. In the end, though, it was Dustin Johnson who would capture the title and the green jacket. He finished the day at 20 under, breaking a tournament record of 18 that had been shared by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth. It was Johnson’s first-ever Masters win and now allows him to brag of being the first player to win each of the four World Golf Championship Events.

Autumn Nations Cup round two tips & preview

The Autumn Nations Cup continues with the second round of matches for the newest tournament on the international rugby calendar.

There were no surprises in the opening round with England asserting their credentials as favourites to lift the trophy. Four matches are pencilled in for the second round this weekend, but Fiji’s match against Italy remains under serious doubts.

Four members of the Fijian squad have tested positive for COVID-19 and the tight schedule may see Fiji miss another week of rugby. Fiji were unable to field a competitive side in week one, and face a race against time to field a side for the second week in succession. Organisers are expected to wait until the last possible moment before making a decision on whether to proceed with the match.

Below are our tips for the second round of the Autumn Nations Cup.

MMA global superstar Fabricio Werdum joins the Professional Fighters League for upcoming 2021 season

One of the sports all-time great heavyweights will make his PFL

debut in April.

NEW YORK (November 16, 2020) – Today, the Professional Fighters League announced the signing of Fabricio Werdum, one of the greatest heavyweight fighters MMA has ever seen. The charismatic Brazilian is a former UFC heavyweight champion who holds notable wins over fellow heavyweight all-time greats Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Alistair Overeem and Cain Velasquez, who he defeated to win the UFC heavyweight title.

Werdum, a consensus top-3 and arguably the greatest heavyweight fighter in the history of MMA, entered free agency after a Performance of the Night showing on UFC’s Fight Island which saw him submit Alexander Gustafsson by armbar in the first round. Werdum and the PFL came to terms on an exclusive deal that will have the Brazilian competing for the 2021 PFL Heavyweight Championship beginning in the Spring.

2020 NBA Draft betting preview

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Just like essentially every other sporting event on the planet this year, the 2020 NBA Draft did not go off as scheduled (late June) due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also because of COVID-19, there will be no in-person draft at Wednesday’s event but held virtually from ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

The late date isn’t the only reason this draft will be unusual – NBA teams didn’t get to see any top prospects play in postseason games in the 2019-20 college basketball season. More than a few players have jumped up draft boards after a huge NCAA Tournament, for example. In addition, there is no clear-cut top prospect this year like there was in 2019 with Zion Williamson.

Thus, it’s truly up in the air whom the Minnesota Timberwolves might pick at No. 1 – although they reportedly would like to trade back and get a win-now asset as they are eager to return to the playoffs and make superstar Karl-Anthony Towns happy.

Leaving Las Vegas is the theme for fight promoter Top Rank Boxing

Las Vegas has had its share of issues over the years, but it just got hit with a powerful left hook from Top Rank Boxing. The fight promoting company’s founder and CEO, Bob Arum, jumped off the top rope this weekend, slamming the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for not doing its job. As a result, Arum is reportedly fed up with the way things are going in Vegas and is ready to take his fights elsewhere.

This past Saturday, there was a WBA bout between flyweight champion Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney, and the result had a lot of people scratching their heads. The fight was called a no-contest after just two rounds when Franco’s right eye swelled shut and the ref, Russell Mora, stopped the match. The decision was marred in controversy from its announcement, both for the ref’s accusation of how the boxer was left partially and temporarily blind, and with the NSAC for not stepping in.

The ref had asserted that Mora took an illegal head-butt from Moloney in the first round of the match. A ringside doctor backed up the belief that the injury was severe enough to stop the fight, which prevented Moloney from reclaiming the title he lost to Franco this past summer. When the reason for the injury was given, few were happy and Arum tried to plead his case with the NSAC’s executive director, Bob Bennett. However, his words had about as much impact as a toddler hitting Mike Tyson in the gut.

A number of sports outlets covered the action and were quick to show the match in slo-mo replays. At no point can Moloney be seen head-butting – accidentally or otherwise – Franco. The only contact that came close to the eye was a fair jab that landed on its target, but neither the ref nor the NSAC would listen to reason. Arum went so far as to accuse the NSAC of reacting only to protect the ref’s reputation and, when asked what he plans on doing now, Arum told reporter Sean Zittel that he was considering abandoning Vegas, but with more colorful language.

Buccaneers, Patriots show their stuff in Week 10 Sunday action

First, the good news. There is still plenty of football left in the season and, with the NBA season beginning on December 22, sports fans are going to have a lot of action coming up. The bad news, though, is that we’re already more than halfway through the 2020 NFL season, which means the countdown to the end is running. Teams are running out of time if they plan on making an appearance in the playoffs, and yesterday’s slate of games may have given a preview of what to expect. 

The Tennessee Titans were forced to take a loss yesterday after they couldn’t get anywhere against the Indianapolis Colts. The two teams swapped places on top of the AFC South as a result of the 34-17 game after Colts quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, while the Titans were falling apart. Both teams are now 6-3 after the Titans logged their third loss in four games. Neither team has it easy in Week 11, as the Colts are set to play the Green Bay Packers and the Titans take on the Baltimore Ravens. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made up for their embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints when they made easy work of the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of the Bucs squad got off to a slow start and Carolina made sure it took advantage of every opportunity. However, things flipped in the second half, with Brady ending the day with 341 yards and three touchdowns to secure a 46-23 win. The Panthers defense was dominated completely during the last two quarters, with the Bucs able to record a total of 544 offensive yards in the game, including a 322-35 differential in the second half. With that, the Bucs gave themselves a boost to threaten the NFC South leaderboard, which currently has the Saints just slightly ahead of them.

The Saints aren’t too considered, at least not yet. They faced a beat-up San Francisco 49ers team yesterday, easily taking the win with a score of 27-13. It was a costly victory, however, as quarterback Drew Brees was taken out by a shot to the ribs in the second quarter. He almost immediately headed out for an MRI, allowing backup QB Jameis Winston a chance to come in and show his stuff. That wasn’t the last of the injuries for the Saints, however, as wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith and tight end Josh Hill suffered concussions, and three other players were forced to leave the game. 

Thursday Night Football finds a come-from-behind victory

Thursday Night Football (TNF) featured two AFC South teams vying for position and a solid shot at the playoffs after the NFL’s regular season wraps up. The Tennessee Titans hosted the Indianapolis Colts and, ahead of the game, even oddsmakers were unclear on who might come out on top. When the game got underway, the Titans came out strong, but the Colts weren’t having it. They rebounded from a 17-13 halftime score to take complete control of the second half, and never looked back. 

The Titans led the AFC South heading into the game, but the Colts were on a mission. They kept Tennessee out of the end zone for the entire second half as they cruised to a 34-17 victory. In doing so, they toppled the Titans and took over the division while, at the same time, picking up bragging rights for being able to go 3-0 against Tennessee in their last three games. 

Colts running back Nyheim Hines deserves some of the credit for firing up his squad. He scored his second touchdown on the night when Indianapolis launched its offensive surprises in the third quarter, giving his teammates a shot of energy. That was compounded later when linebacker E.J. Speed blocked a punt that allowed cornerback T.J. Carrie to scoop up the ball and head into the end zone to add six to the Colts’ score and continue the team’s onslaught. That punt attempt was made by Trevor Daniel, making his debut with the Titans, and the decision to put him in the game proved costly.

The Colts defense, ranked first in terms of fewest yards allowed, continuously threatened Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, forcing him to throw one incomplete pass after another. He ended the night just 15 for 27 with 147 yards and only one touchdown, not being able to produce the results that had led the team to a 6-2 record. He also took a hit from Colts defensive end Denico Autry for a sack, adding to the difficult night Tannehill was having. 

Nations League sportsbetting preview

The Nations League returns this weekend with some terrific action that will take place between some of the best countries in European International football.  

Hostilities are renewed between rivals from the 2018 World Cup, while other major nations face banana skins they could easily slip up against. Where should your money be at? Let’s take a look at the form.  

Saturday 14th November  

Portugal vs. France (7.45pm GMT kick-off)  

UFC fight night: Felder vs. Dos Anjos odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

UFC 255 is on November 21, but there’s a solid warm-up card this Saturday from the organization’s Apex facility in Las Vegas as a bout between lightweights Paul Felder and Rafael Dos Anjos highlights a Fight Night event. The main card begins at 7 p.m. and is available on ESPN+.

Being honest, this matchup is a huge downgrade from the originally scheduled fight between Islam Makhachev, who is the 12th-ranked lightweight in the UFC rankings, and Dos Anjos, who is No. 12 in the welterweight division.

Originally, those two were to fight at UFC 254 at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, but Dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19 and it was postponed. Dos Anjos left his home in California to train in his native Brazil for that fight, and that country is being ravaged by the virus. Makhachev on social media wrote that he wanted to stay on the card because his good buddy UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was on it, but the UFC said no.