BMR Social
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2022
- Messages
- 237
By: Doug Upstone
Ready to go with a new edition! Baseball is back and bettors like us are thankful because, while a break is a good thing, we still like the action. Check out today’s free picks and top trends. MLS starts on Saturday with a full slate, with all the buzz about Miami and Lionel Messi. It will take years for Northwestern to recover from the Pat Fitzgerald situation, which was already in decline. This and our boiling-hot Free Betting picks!
About This Week…
MLB
Baseball’s All-Star game again saw a viewing decline, down 7% from the prior year. Since 1993, viewership is down more than 300%. Many of the reasons are choices and cord-cutting, but baseball has become a regional sport and is no longer “America’s Game”. That is now the NFL. Younger fans identify with players on teams and most starting All-Stars play three innings and are gone.The games themselves are often dull, dominated by pitching, and while you can bet on various aspects of the game, it feels like 50-50 wagers by and large. As far as solutions, none here, though the FOX presentation feels very forced. All-Star games in all sports are not what they used to be.
The trade deadline will come into focus starting immediately. It makes sense for teams like the Cubs, Cardinals, and probably the Angels to be sellers. The NL Central teams have veterans that could attract draft choices. Though it will be weird, it is time for the Halos to move on from Shohei Ohtani, as they are at least two years out from being a true AL contender. Besides the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets, the Mariners are in the Ohtani market.
Tennis
Novak Djokovic closed in on a record-tying eighth title at Wimbledon and fifth in a row today by beating Jannik Sinner in straight sets and should be favored to win again.Trendy Talk
MLB
- Detroit is 9-1 (+12.8 Units) playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 54%) this season.
- Miami is 17-4 vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .260 or worse this season.
- Chicago Cubs are 0-12 in home games vs. an AL team with a batting average of .265 or lower in the second half of the season since 2021.
- Kansas City is 15-1 OVER off an upset win vs. a division rival as an underdog of +130 or higher.
- CHIC. White Sox are 31-13 Under after five or more consecutive home games.
- Colorado is 17-5 Under after a game with a combined score of three runs or less.
- J. Verlander of the Mets is 32-8 in home games vs. teams outscoring foes by 0.5 or more runs a game in the second half of the season in his career. (Team’s record)
- Texas is 30-8 against the run line vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better the last two seasons.
CFL
- Toronto is 9-1 Over after allowing 7.6 or more yards a play in their previous game. (Friday)
- Ottawa is 0-8 ATS in home games off a road loss the last three seasons. (Saturday)
- Calgary is 15-4 ATS in road games since 2021. (Saturday)
What to Watch for and Win (Hopefully)
MLB
Baseball returns from the All-Star break and it is time for the pretenders to show they are contenders or become sellers at the trade deadline. Review our latest best bets, top props and more for this weekend.Soccer
The MLS season kicks off this Saturday with a full slate of games, and all eyes will be on Inter Miami and superstar Lionel Messi, who could change the league forever.UFC
This weekend is UFC Vegas 77 and we have best bets, parlays, and top picks from the preliminary card and the main event between Holm vs. Bueno.Football
We have posted our newest array of football articles for you to look through and prepare for the upcoming season. With it the middle of July, time to gear up for college and pro football with our weekly articles and picks.The Buzz
MLB – Opening Odds For 2nd Half
*Odds from BetOnlineTo Win AL
- Tampa Bay Rays +225
- Texas Rangers +400
- Houston Astros +425
To Win NL
- Atlanta Braves +150
- Los Angeles Dodgers +285
- Arizona Diamondbacks +1000
Soccer – The Messi Era Begins
With all the buzz about Lionel Messi, which is justified, Miami still needs more players and is not in the Top 10 of teams that could win the MLS Cup. Here are the favorites:- FC Cincinnati +350
- Los Angeles FC +500
- Philadelphia Union +850
- New England Revolution +1000
- Nashville SC +1200
- St. Louis City SC +1200
NBA – Necessary Rule Changes
The first is a second coach's challenge if the first one is successful. This is something coaches have pushed for some time and it is rewarded.The second is more important to the watchability of the NBA and this is - an in-game flopping penalty. Now, when a referee calls a flop, there will be a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul called on the offending players' team, and the opposing team will get a free throw.
Top Betting System
MLB – White Sox vs. Braves (-135 RL)
Play against road underdogs with a money line of +175 to +250 like Chicago, after a loss by two runs or less, against an opponent after a loss by six runs or more.Teams like the White Sox are an abysmal 4-46 in this spot, losing by 4.0 RPG, making this an ideal RL play.
Out The Door
NCAAF – Northwestern Mess
While loyalty is a lost form in today’s society on many levels, it should be rewarded for doing things the right way, no matter the structure. For years, Pat Fitzgerald made Northwestern football matter.He always seemed like the perfect college football coach at a university that should not compete against the goliaths of the Big Ten.
Somewhere along the line, Fitzgerald lost control and the school’s student newspaper broke a national story about “hazing” in the football program. Fitzgerald pleaded ignorance (or indifference) and is out of a job.
What a sad ending for Fitzgerald, who has lost too many recruiting battles the last few years and stopped watching over the program. Reports today have DC David Braun taking over as interim head coach.
NBA – Summer League
With not much to watch the last several days in sports, the NBA Summer League has been a good diversion. The quality of play has been good to watch and several rookies have shown improvement against their peers, if not more experienced players.Eight of the top 10 picks of the 2022 draft have participated in summer league action, and in particular Chet Holmgren (Thunder) and Jabari Smith Jr. (Pistons) have stood out.
The top pick, Victor Wembanyama, has been underwhelming, but we will wait and see on him later.
MLB – Rule Changes Update
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, attendance is up primarily because baseball is more watchable. Here are some new updates.WWE – Going to College
Did you know the WWE has set up camps for current college athletes or those who have recently left to compete in tryouts to be a part of the WWE? We didn’t either, but think that is a smart move.What Bettors Like – Play or Fade?
MLB - Top 4 Bets by Percentage - Highest First (111-74 record, 14-3 of run)
- Braves
- Rays
- Nationals/Cardinals Over
- Marlins/Orioles Over
- Yankees
CFL - Top 3 Bet by Percentage - Highest First (1-1 record)
- Winnipeg (Saturday)
- Calgary (Saturday)
- Toronto/Montreal Over
Let’s get some winners! Have a great weekend, and see you back here Monday.
