For better or worse, late inning drama was everywhere on Opening Day. It was certainly instrumental in getting the two positions in our post to the pay window. The over in Kansas City was all but shriveled up on the vine until the 8th run came across in the final…
Last week's two-game Tokyo Series appetizer course is over and done with. Now the 2025 Opening Day buffet is well within sight with 14 games served up. Colorado/Tampa Bay kicks off their seasons Friday. ICYMI, the Rays are playing their games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa this season…
Hungry for the MLB season to get started? How about an appetizer to hold you over? With just over one week until the official Opening Day, we get the 2025 Tokyo Series two-game set between the Chicago Cubs and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The series spans Tuesday, March…
For a few months anyhow, the Seattle Mariners looked to be the cream of the AL West crop. Then things went sideways. Trust the Houston Astros to take advantage of the stumble and push their way back to a seventh division crown in the last eight seasons. No thanks to…
What a change of fortunes within the AL East last year. The Yankees and Rays all but swapped their positions in the AL East pecking order. The Orioles kept their eyes on the postseason prize while the floor dropped out from beneath the Jays. And the Red Sox, well, they're…
The NL Central typically has the feel of an "up for grabs" division except in reality it's been a two-horse race - at best - since the shortened 2020 season. Milwaukee stands as the cream of the crop the last couple years, though the Cubs have positioned themselves well into…
The Dodgers' stranglehold on the NL West continued with an eleventh division title in the last twelve seasons. This time, however, the big payoff came to fruition. After two postseason runs stopped dead in their tracks by division foes, Los Angeles fought through a feisty Padres squad and the OMG…
If the final month of last year's race is any indication of what's in store, the NL East is going to be one of the better showdowns in the MLB. Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta stand at the head of the class with odds to win the division at 2/1…
Infamously known for a lack of widespread playoff-caliber competition, the AL Central turned out to have one of the better divisional races of the 2024 season. Cleveland held firm as one of the more consistent teams while Chicago broke records with their "performance". For anyone paying attention to the MLB…
Feeling penalized by Martinsville or just thrilled to get to the final race of the season? Ryan Blaney was as-advertised on The Paperclip, winning his way into the Championship race as Christopher Bell frittered away a comfortable lead in the points. It all comes down to the Championship 4 teams…
How do you follow excellence in the NASCAR Playoffs? As Paul asks on The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 35: Martinsville, was Homestead the best playoff race in the history of this format? There's a lot of buzz after last week and maybe - just maybe - the former "option…
The dice weren't the only things shaking in the Southern Nevada desert last weekend! Tyler Reddick's ill-fated pass on the outside separated the field of 8 Cup Series Champion contenders into a clean 4 vs. 4 break around the cut line. A 27-point gap between fourth place William Byron and…
Another blowout performance from Kyle Larson going into the highly advantageous Round of 8 officially put the field on notice. Will he make it three straight Las Vegas wins? The books sure as hell think so. We cover this, head-to-head betting matchups, and DFS on The Bank On NASCAR Podcast…
The Roval reconfiguration will be debated for quite a while. It was a contest in which drivers were challenged to pass one another - not great. But it was the post-race news that has the most impact. We're leaving the controversy to social media and looking ahead to the 2024…
The time is now for a handful of drivers remaining in the playoff field to make their moves. The Roval stands in as the Round of 12 elimination race once again - this time with a twist. Charlotte Motor Speedway's road course hybrid may be reconfigured but the challenge remains…
Risky business this weekend in Talladega, Alabama could lead to some sizable swings in the playoff standings. Especially as the 2024 Cup Series Championship run is knee deep in the Round of 12 action with the Roval on deck. Volatility is in store on Sunday and we're here for it…
The 2024 NASCAR Playoffs move on from Bristol - no comments needed - with Kansas Speedway leading off the Round of 12. We lost 4 teams from Championship contention after Kyle Larson put on a clinic in the Night Race. Cars looking for grip all over the place has been…
The jury is definitely out on the Bristol Night Race as a racing product. When it comes to playoff positioning, however, Kyle Larson stole the show and reinforced his top dog status as the 2024 Round of 12 opens. But for four teams, the results were less than favorable. And…
What a way to finish off a day full of shenanigans at Watkins Glen! At the end, it was SVG and Chris Buescher trading blows in overtime until the #17 powered through to his first win of the season. But poor points days for several prominent teams leaves a lot…
On the heels of Atlanta flipping a few playoff drivers' positions, The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 28: Watkins Glen comes at you with a look at the first road course of the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs. JJ eats crow as the boys break down four matchups and look for value…
One last push for the playoffs ushered in another driver who snagged their win-and-in at the Southern 500. Congrats to Chase Briscoe and the #14 team for punching their postseason ticket while claiming a Crown Jewel victory. Now it's time to get down to business in the Round of 16…
What a race. More specifically, what a finish in Sunday night's Southern 500! There was plenty to take away between Martin Truex Jr. putting himself on shaky ground and season first-time winner Chase Briscoe punching his postseason ticket at the last possible moment. Briscoe's Crown Jewel victory and Harrison Burton's…
What more can you say about Daytona?!? Harrison Burton put the squeeze on the logjam of drivers flirting with the postseason cut line. And their last hope is a 500 mile attrition race at The Track Too Tough To Tame, Darlington Raceway. It's one of my favorites - if not…
From the big-HP Michigan oval to Daytona's fabled 2.5-mile superspeedway, The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 25: Daytona tries to make sense out of what matters in this era's drafting races. Volatility? Plenty to go around. Enough margin to get some coin down on the Coke Zero Sugar 400? Yes…
Well if there wasn't enough going on in the NASCAR Cup Series world already, the playoff push is getting shorter with just three regular season races left. The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 24: Michigan digs deep to find value on Brooklyn's speedy 2-mile oval with a quintet of matchup…
The Olympic break felt about as long as the offseason but the Cup Series is back in action with just four regular season races left. The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 23: Richmond gets you ready for the Cook Out 400 at The Action Track - Richmond Raceway. Will we…
Inclement weather was indeed a factor in Friday night's AL East contest in the Bronx. Then again, so were the Blue Jays' bats! But in my case nothing ventured, nothing gained with the scrappy underdog that evening. Now we shift to the AL West for a Texas-sized series that could…
I think I've nailed down all of my Trade Deadline adjustments. What a whirlwind once again between buyers, sellers, and even a few in-between clubs straddling the line. After a slim Thursday slate, the MLB Morning Breakdown for 8-2-2024 gets back in action to handicap the series opener between the…
Our first post-ASB edition comes after a full seven days of action on the diamonds. And with the trade deadline looming, we're starting to find out which borderline clubs are buyers and which are sellers. The MLB Morning Breakdown for 7-26-2024 hones in on the competitive AL East in which…
The Tricky Triangle swapped rain and tire strategy for fuel mileage - and this weekend shapes up very similarly. But it's no ordinary race as the Cup Series returns to the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Crown Jewel Brickyard 400 Let's get the training wheels off and fire…
Rain tires saved the weekend once again as the Cup Series action on the streets of Chicago rolled on, sparing us from a Monday finish - and sparing our matchup bets. Mother Nature looks to be more accommodating in northeast Pennsylvania this weekend for The Great American Getaway 400. As…
Monday's slate certainly wasn't worth pounding on the keyboard for. But when it comes to the series-opening game between National League titans, I'm willing to set the alarm clock an hour early. The Los Angeles Dodgers travel cross-country into hostile territory to trade blows with the Philadelphia Phillies. Both clubs…
Okay, who survived the caution-fest that was the Ally 400 at Nashville last weekend? My matchups seemed to get picked off one by one with each yellow that popped up...first Ross, then Chase. Now the Cup Series rolls on to the Windy City for the Grant Park 165. This year…
Expect no shortage of motivation in Seattle tonight as the 53-31 Baltimore Orioles face the 47-39 Mariners in a clash of American League division leaders. The AL East co-leader Orioles find themselves in a high-powered race with the Yankees, currently sitting as the 1-2 combo atop the runs scored leaderboard.…
Everybody likes a little Mother Nature Mayhem, and that's what we got in New Hampshire last weekend. Let's just say the betting could have been better yet could have been much worse. This week, The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 19: Nashville heads to the Music City (area) for the…
The grind rolls on as summertime settled in abruptly last week. Fortunately, many of us - including the MLB's finest - catch a break from the steamy hot weather that has gripped most of the USA. Conditions are great for baseball tonight, so let's jump right into the new week…
Iowa leaves New Hampshire with some big shoes to fill after Sunday's show under the lights. You better believe the Cup Series is going back to corn country next year after that performance! Maybe there is something in this racing package after all. Want some matchups for The Magic Mile?…
R.I.P. to a legend. A pillar of the sport's storied past. On with the MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-19-2024... Detroit Tigers @ Atlanta Braves (ATL -125, 7) Last time we checked in on the Braves, Albert Suarez was cutting through the lineup like a hot knife through butter. Then Atlanta's…
The NASCAR Cup Series heads into uncharted territory for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Nothing to worry about though as the boys have you covered with race insights, five head-to-head matchup breakdowns, and DFS talk. Buckle up and get ready for Sunday night racing with The Bank On…
Monday's lackluster slate pulled a couple totals wagers out of me with mixed results. As for inspiration to write up a handicap yesterday morning, slim to none is a good way of putting it with those six games. Different animal altogether on this fine Tuesday morning. So let's get things…
The boys are back from vacation just in time for the Cup Series' clash in California wine country. With Gateway and the Coca-Cola 600 in the rearview mirror, The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 16: Sonoma dives into DFS and a mega slate of eight head-to-head breakdowns. Featured Head-To-Head Matchups:…
The Breakdown is back after a 10-day bucket list trip to Peru where the streets are crazy and the terrain is epic. Those Incas really knew how to hammer some stones! Back to business after Monday's short slate. Today's menu presents more options and the MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-4-2024…
After the All-Star Race hiatus the boys are back to take on the Cup Series' longest race of the season - a Crown Jewel race, at that. Matchups and DFS are on tap as usual in The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 15: Coca-Cola 600. It's a test of stamina…
It's Monday morning and the perfect time to scope out a batch of fresh series kicking off across the Majors. There's also a doubleheader day to close out the Padres/Braves series, but those are a pass for me. Instead, the MLB Morning Breakdown for 5-20-2024 highlights the AL Central leading…
The 2024 MLB season is roughly one-quarter of the way finished, making now a great time to self-assess our preseason projections. Where are things on track? And more importantly, where has JJ's outlook led him astray? Weather is improving across the country but recent cooler temps have reminded us how…
Another banger of a race at Kansas leads into one of the best tracks on the NASCAR circuit, Darlington Raceway. It's Throwback Weekend at the Track Too Tough to Tame and we have you covered with six head-to-head matchup breakdowns and DFS talk. Tune into The Bank On NASCAR Podcast…
Monday ushers in a handful of new series getting underway, joining a weekend carryover in Philadelphia. Divisional battles in Cleveland and Oakland shape up to be interesting early-season tests. This week's Breakdown turns to Target Field with a pair of teams on the right trajectory as May comes into bloom.…
Aero blocking at Dover have you searching for clean air? Well, the Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 13: Kansas fires away at the small selection of matchup bets early in the week. Lines continue to move, turning some spots into stay aways and bringing value to others. Five head-to-head matchups…
The MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-29-2024 takes on a matchup between squads exiting big series against playoff contenders. In the meantime, an interesting thing to note: we're 4+ weeks into the 2024 season and scoring is down about one-tenth of a run per team/game compared to this point last year.…
Feeling empty after Talladega? JJ joins Paul to handicap the Wurth 400 on the Monster Mile. Who's heating up and who has breakout potential this weekend at Dover? The skies are clear and temps shaping up for good racing action at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday. As always, The Bank…
A little too much "excitement" at the day job kept me away from a midweek Breakdown. Fortunately, the new week kicks off with a pretty chunky Monday slate to break down. Without a ton of strong feelings on today's contests, we've dialed up an interesting Solo Shot in the MLB…
The caution fest at Texas is quite the segue to this week's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Weather permitting, drafting is back on tap Sunday (or Monday) and The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 11: Talladega has you covered with a cheap DFS leads and an 8-ball of head-to-head matchups.…
Rain and travel washed out the Thursday Breakdown but Monday is clear and the slate is jam packed. The MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-15-2024 kicks off with the early Patriots' Day tilt in Boston before heading to Milwaukee for a juicy matchup between NL playoff contenders. We'll be back Wednesday…
Feeling empty after the Martinsville race? The Cup Series says goodbye to the short tracks for now and hello to the season's second bread-and-butter 1.5-mile intermediate: Texas Motor Speedway. The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 10: Texas looks past the mediocrity that Texas Motor Speedway has produced since the repave…
A telling resolution to yesterday's question about which way to go in Toronto came down to Luis Castillo extending his troubling start to the season to a third outing. 4 more runs given up and another high BABIP outing helped the Jays snag a much needed win in their home…
We left off with a Friday night Solo Shot before the weekend hit and I headed west on the highway. The Mets bats had enough oomph to claim the team's second win of the season, all while keeping the under alive in Cincinnati. With the weekend in the rear view…
It's time to shorten the short track as The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 9: Martinsville tackles Sunday afternoon's Cook Out 400. After ending up on the right end of last week's late-race shakeup, you know we're digging deep into some matchups. Where's the value? As always, Paul has us…
Cool temps couldn't hold the ball in the yard in Saint Louis or Washington, that's for sure. And despite plenty of shaky moments, the AL Central tilt in Minnesota featured in yesterday's post somehow stayed under the total. Cleveland's hit parade in the 3rd was enough to bring home the…
Mother Nature might actually cut today's action on the diamonds some much needed slack - especially in New York where the undefeated Tigers want to keep their status as the last remaining undefeated team alive. The Tigers/Mets double header makes six games on the slate with a pair of AL…
The sloppy show in Cincinnati soured Baltimore's rocking chair winner Saturday afternoon. Being risk averse helped in that case, though getting involved in what turned out to be a messy one is another story altogether. A productive opening weekend left us ready to tackle a meaty Monday slate that is…
Opening Day is in the books and what a ride Thursday's 4:00 window was. The excitement and the sweats that came with it force me to remind myself that we're only 12 wagers into a 400-600 wager season! With yesterday afternoon's pair of rescheduled games wrapping up unfinished business, the…
We walked away from the lefts and rights of COTA with a few extra bucks in hand as boring got the job done. Green flag racing stifled the excitement but the best road course drivers came through in the end. The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 8: Richmond gets back…
Alright boys and girls, March 28th is so close you can taste it. And that means one thing - okay, maybe more than just one - it's time for a rundown of 2024 Opening Day handicapping. Then we'll kick off the 6th Annual MLB Morning Breakdown series with a featured…
The Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 7: COTA is coming in hot after another banger of a race at Bristol. Chalk up another entertaining one in a season that has definitely started off on the right foot. This week, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the great state of Texas…
The "real" Opening Day isn't until March 28th but the MLB World Tour's 2024 Seoul Series officially counts as the first two games of the season. Festivities kick off with a two-game set between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres across the Pacific Ocean. It's a shorter commute…
Say goodbye to the Dirt Race as the Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 6: Bristol takes on the Food City 500. It's back on the concrete if somehow you haven't heard already. With C-Bell now locked into the postseason, will we see another team join him with a win Sunday…
Milwaukee persevered in a division of hot runs devoid of staying power. Of course, perennial NL Central favorite St. Louis bottoming out did not hurt whatsoever. The 20-8 start from Pittsburgh flamed out, Cincinnati's early summer heater ran out of fuel, and the Cubbies' post-ASB run petered out in September.…
No audio issues this week as the Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 5: Phoenix went off without a hitch! Recording during Cup Series practice was interesting with odds off the board. But we still break down seven matchups - a few of which should become clearer after the cars get…
What a difference one year makes! Sure, the Baltimore Orioles gave us a sneak peak of their future plans in 2022 but last year's achievements were far and away one of the MLB's biggest surprises. Despite Tampa Bay's 29-7 start to the campaign, Baltimore outlasted the Rays in the division…
When it comes to last year's preseason expectations, the NL East showed tremendous strength with four of its five teams ultimately exceeding their win totals. The debacle in Queens stood as the lone exception. That's a whole other story onto itself. Marginal clubs like the Marlins and Nationals finished the…
Viva Las Vegas! Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 4: Las Vegas: heads west to handicap the 2024 Pennzoil 400. That's enticing enough to bring JJ up for air out of the bunker to talk head-to-head matchups and a little DFS with Paul. As usual, we have strong drivers and a…
Last year I asked whether there were enough cracks in L.A.'s armor to unseat them from the NL West throne. The answer was a resounding "no". But things quickly went downhill once the postseason rolled around. Ironically, the Dodgers' early exit came at the hands of no other than the…
JJ joins Paul Napier on the Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 3 to talk a little more drafting at Atlanta. It's not Daytona, but it shares a lot of skills with it. Only four points of reference on this surface and boy can those numbers spin some tales. We break…
From a torrid 40-20 start through a ho-hum summer, the Texas Rangers played the role of postseason road warriors on their way to the franchise's first World Series Championship. 11 of their 13 playoff wins came away from Globe Life Field! The Rangers' third AL Pennant came at the expense…
JJ joins Paul Napier on the Bank On NASCAR Podcast Episode 2 to talk up the Daytona 500. The Duels set the starting grid while telling us a lot about where each manufacturer stands in the superspeedway pecking order. Volatility is up. And the early season brings plenty of uncertainty…
We're becoming big fans of the AL Central after a correlated under/over win total pairing with Chicago and Minnesota got home. And that was one year removed from being rewarded for buying low on both Minnesota and Cleveland. (Don't worry, this self-back slapping gives way to shame in the NL…
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship landscape just got rockier. Strong work by the teams on top combined with Ryan Blaney's must-win execution ushers in a dicey Round of 8. Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville stand in the way of four drivers punching their ticket into Championship contention at Phoenix.…
The first set of cuts in the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs came after one hell of a Bristol Night Race. JGR's domination on that misty night led to a Denny Hamlin victory while his cohorts Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell moved on in the postseason gauntlet. Toyota's five playoff representatives…
Last Chance at Daytona was one hell of a show. Three-wide racing and hard hits led to the RFK Racing boys executing to perfection, delivering Chris Buescher a career-high victory #3 in 2023. Yanni has us covered for the NFL season with a must-read series of divisional previews and the…
It only took three days or so but I think I've finished making adjustments after a hectic Trade Deadline last week. Teams are crystallizing into their stretch run forms as the grind continues in the first half of August with a full slate of Tuesday baseball. And the search for…
A ho-hum week and choppy weekend right aligned well with the dog days of summer while leaving me in the game with an interesting Monday slate ahead. As July comes to a close, it drags along with it the MLB trade deadline where hopeful contenders pair up with sellers to…
Much like taking a catcher's mask to the face, failure to plate an early run or two in Anaheim left last Monday's Solo Shot - and my only wager of the evening - a tad short. I appreciate both bullpens following the script, but an L is an L. A…
Boston's decisive victory Friday night was more than welcome coming out of the All-Star Break. Plus it jumpstarted a busy weekend on the diamonds that provides a bright spot for the week ahead. A strong outing from Brayan Bello and late run support got us to the pay window, shaking…
The second half of the 2023 MLB season is here after what seemed like the longest All-Star Break in a while. I missed the game and I missed handicapping it even though the break lined up well with a hectic workweek. The lackluster first half of featured handicaps represented about…
Indecision on my part with Wednesday's Jays/White Sox game simply did not matter as Chicago succumbed to another day getting pounded by rain. Today I'll shift gears to a conflict between the market and my numbers that has me locked up this morning. The issue is whether to do something…
Last Thursday's whiff came in the middle of an up-and-down betting week that gave way to a two-day break for the July 4th holiday. We have five days of "first half" action left in the 2023 season before the All-Star Break rolls around on Monday. So let's get back in…
Less sweat, more profit. That's something I can get behind. A rare dub for the featured handicaps leads into an interesting slate of matinee baseball on this fine Thursday. My betting card is all totals and the MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-29-2023 takes us to a steamy Kauffman Stadium for…
An uneventful start to the betting week leads into a low-volume Wednesday with just a pair of wagers in hand this morning. I'll take what the slate gives me as the season rolls along with less than two weeks before the All-Star Break. After splitting Friday night's featured handicaps, it's…
Last week's puff piece about the Cincinnati Reds' heater was ironically hung out to dry via a failed team total bid. Never fear though, their bats revved back up to close out the weekend series in Houston strong and keep the funds rolling in the right direction. I would apologize…
A sketchy 6th inning in Oakland made things interesting yesterday afternoon to say the least. But that goes with the territory with full game unders...and I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's switch gears today to a pair of team totals in a late MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-16-2023.…
I won't say the L train has been derailed but at least the Giants slowed the thing down a bit. San Francisco's smooth sailing over their team total Tuesday night helps the featured handicaps a touch as we roll into another solo shot in the MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-15-2023.…
A close call with the Marlins Friday evening unfortunately did not pay the bills. Eury did his part to push the first half wager, though the full game position keeps the featured handicap L train rolling down the tracks. It's borderline comical what kind of garbage I'm tossing out there…
Life after vacation has a way of punching you in the mouth...at least for us suckers with day jobs. The choppy betting week meets a slate that I have embraced with a card as full as the days before heading overseas. Overextended? Maybe. It's Friday though, and Smokey had it…
What a long strange trip it's been. That was to be expected with Amsterdam anyhow. Getting home from Germany took an unexpected twist though, eating up all of Sunday and most of Monday. It's good to get our feet back on U.S. soil and get my handicapping tools updated after…
Last weekend's 1-1 split with the featured handicaps paints an accurate picture of my total action on the diamonds the last week or two. Choppy weeks are part of the grind and I've learned to take the chop in stride at this point in my handicapping "career". As opposed to…
At this point, our features gladly welcomed some 8th inning heroics to get a much-needed win. Baltimore's failure to produce in the 6th & 7th innings with multiple runners on base went by the wayside when Ryan O'Hearn picked up the slack in a major way. Still plenty of work…
Between a crazy work schedule and a 101-degree fever this week, I'm just happy it's the weekend. We all hit rough patches here and there but vacation is right around the corner so the vibes are good around these parts! No complaints overall with progress this season other than weakness…
Handicapping on a daily basis is a challenge that I've loved tackle for a long time now. Choosing which ones to headline a few days a week in the Breakdown has been the tough part so far in 2023. Saturday was no different. My reliance on Houston's bullpen and defense…
As good as Eduardo Rodriguez was last week, JV's big day in Cincy overshadowed Wednesday's early win. I made the fatal flaw of underestimating the accomplished veteran and overvaluing the top of the Reds lineup. Thursday's sketchy slate left the door open for Friday action but I left my morning…
I took it personally when the A's pushed a pair of runs across in the 6th inning Monday night, then quickly got over it with the help of Kansas City's rout of the White Sox. Neither Cease nor Cortes were especially effective despite Oakland going scoreless in the first half…