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…
With my civic duty completed and our annual Kentucky Derby party in the books, it's time to get back in the saddle with the MLB Morning Breakdown for 5-8-2023. Minnesota's first half stalemate way back on Tuesday dropped the featured handicaps back into the red. But the season is alive…
Sunday's see-saw battle in Oakland brought home the over even with 18 men left on base between the Reds and A's. Hey, whatever it takes to get the dub is good enough for me. Unfortunately, the new month brought a short Monday slate that I had to pass on. Today's…
Today's MLB slate shrinks with wet weather peppering the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for a second day in a row. So we'll head west to find clear skies for a solo shot in the MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-30-2023. It felt good to be on the right side of Cincinnati's late-game…
Much like the Rangers' bullpen meltdown Monday night, the "success" of our featured handicaps ran away and appears to be in hiding. That's the risk of writing up about a third of my total action on the young season. For all of you who keep coming back, we appreciate you.…
A rather blah betting weekend for me with the MLB was in the cards after a decent run to start the season. Saturday's Mets call did not come to fruition against an on-point Logan Webb. After all, riding the David Peterson train can be a bumpy ride at times. But…
Turns out it was the Twins bullpen that blinked last night. Credit is due to both Tyler Mahle and Trevor Williams for sharp pitching performances at a cold Target Field. Griffin Jax, well, not so much. After a give some-take some kind of night including a cancelled under ticket in…
Thursday's short MLB slate kept me on the sidelines after a nice Wednesday run featuring the under in Detroit. Three weeks into the season and some teams have shown their true colors while others are still beating around the bush. That makes for very interesting early season handicapping! After a…
No harm, no foul with Monday's position on the Phillies in Chicago. Guess I should have seen that coming with nasty weather blowing through the Great Lakes this week. After a Tuesday with no action - my first dry day of the season - the MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-19-2023…
Getting back to the homefront after a productive week on the road feels good but Monday means out of the frying pan and into the fire for me. A sweaty Saturday at Fenway transitioned to an easier finish in Kansas City to get our featured handicaps back into the black.…
After three straight dropped solo shot features, a winning Thursday was just what the doctor ordered. Since those three positions were the only wagers on Thursday's personal betting card the Rays' big 5th inning was a breath of fresh air. That and fixing what made our website go rogue made…
The MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-13-2023 may or may not be reaching your inbox this morning. Our webmaster (me) really fouled up the site yesterday with some updates that went afoul. So I'm firing off a two handicap breakdown before I rebuild several pages and try to get the rest…
Dishing out handicaps with losing results is not quite what I'm going for, but that's been my M.O. in the last couple articles. Regardless, the season rolls on with plenty of action to keep us all busy. Let's fire up Wednesday with an early game solo shot in the MLB…
The MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-10-2023 is back after an Easter weekend hiatus...and a dud of a featured handicap on Friday. After spending 8 hours on the highway only to watch the White Sox crumble in Pittsburgh - good thing long term, bad thing for that particular wager - an…
Happy Easter weekend everyone! Wednesday's rainout in Cincy left us with a small 1-unit win as the grind rolls along on Good Friday. It's almost time for me to hit the road, but first a quick solo shot is on the docket with the MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-7-2023. I'll…
I guess playing the bullpen volatility game was the move after all. Lack of execution squandered a shot at sneaking away with the D-backs first 5 innings team total. That was extra frustrating since Darvish was expectedly ripe for the picking. In a Groundhog Day scenario I would bet the…
We needed runs in Cincinnati last night and boy did we get them. Throw a couple of guys out there who struggled all spring and those lineups took batting practice for a good hour or so in Cincinnati. Hey, whatever it takes to get an easy winner after plenty of…
After a quick break on Sunday, the MLB Morning Breakdown for 4-3-2023 returns with a quick solo shot to get the week started. Unfortunately, the last couple featured handicaps were duds to say the least. So I owe our readers some good ones this week. Let's dive right into a…
A swing and a miss with the Mets yesterday was not the look we were going for when backing the short road favorite. Aside from spectacular defense that both clubs flashed, Jesus Luzardo was a man on a mission. The young lefty absolutely dominated the stout Mets lineup and cut…
Opening Day is in the books and was it something or what? Other than our Fenway Park under getting obliterated, we survived a very sweaty day on the diamonds. And I wouldn't have it any other way. The hangover from the first MLB bender of the year is real...and it…
We made it through the offseason. We made it through six grueling Divisional Previews. Now it's showtime. Shameless plug: visit our MLB page to check out the six preview articles and futures positions. March 30th is in sight and we have your 2023 Opening Day handicapping covered with a quick…
Is the 2023 AL West a two-horse race once again after the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners rose to the top in 2022? Anchored by tested veterans and juiced up by a pair of phenomenal rookies, these two clubs represented the division in the postseason after their division mates floundered…
There was certainly something about the East divisions last year as the American League and National League versions each sent three representatives to the playoffs. Yet it was the NL side's representative that had enough left in tank to reach the sport's biggest stage. Even though Philadelphia fell just short,…
The AL East stood as MLB's deepest division with four teams above .500, three of which made the postseason. New York's return to the top of the hill got them as far as the ALCS where the ride ended abruptly at the hands of the World Series Champion Astros. In…
From a win total futures betting perspective, the NL West joined the AL Central as sweet spots for the bankroll last fall. The Dodgers could not be stopped while the Giants fell off a cliff once May rolled around. But Los Angeles and their MLB-leading 111 wins couldn't keep them…
The second half of the 2022 MLB season featured a pair of noteworthy NL Central battles. Most importantly was the tug of war for last place between my Cincinnati Reds and their dance partner Pittsburgh Pirates (that's sarcasm, folks). In a fitting conclusion they both held down the cellar with…
It's quiet out there in the Midwest - and that's how the Cleveland Guardians stayed under the radar with one of the strongest second-half performances in the MLB. The rebranded - and still beloved - Guardians squad finished the regular season on a 38-18 heater that yielded an eleven game…
With the Clash right in front of us, there's no better time to break down our featured 2023 NASCAR futures position. At least I don't have to eat crow from last year's handicap that was loosely based on the premise that Kyle Larson is not the next Jimmie Johnson. Might…
Just like that, two domestic books drop their season win totals out of the blue. Days away from the NFL Playoffs kickoff and our mid-January projections get put to the test. Caesars Sportsbook and BetRivers (Kambi) posted eight totals in common this week and the other 22 varied anywhere from…
And then there were eight. Of course it is a group missing one key name: defending Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson. Talk about an unusual series of events that turned a fairly tame race at the Roval into mayhem after the final restart. An iffy caution with a handful of…
Chopping last week's featured matchup bets represented a split of my entire Talladega betting card. Despite the Blaney/Elliott bet flip-flopping on us in the final laps, Charlotte approaches with my bankroll intact. When it comes to making the Round of 8, the top teams headlined by Chase Elliott sit in…
We all know that you don't mess with Texas. But wow. Sunday's 500 miles fought hard against several playoff teams, burying the #20 & #48 at the bottom of the heap. Plus William Byron's self-inflicted 25-point penalty submarined the #24 team's chance to advance. What a way to kick off…
New week, new round of the NASCAR Playoffs! The Round of 12 fires up this afternoon with the 2022 AutoTrader Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. 500 miles on the lone "vanilla" track of the round calls for sustained speed and handling over the long haul. You better believe the…
Plenty of NASCAR Cup Series teams' prospects took an abrupt turn for the worse at the Bristol Night Race. Unfortunately, I did not get the memo on Ford's tire pressure gamble that snagged our Joey Logano Top 10 bid late in the race - let alone the early blowout that…
Nighttime is the right time in my old stomping grounds of East Tennessee. There are few better ways to eliminate four drivers from the playoffs than with one of the toughest tracks in NASCAR: Bristol Motor Speedway. And you know the 2022 Bristol Night Race is going crush some dreams.…
Seems like there might be a little something bubbling in the 23XI organization after their season sweep at Kansas Speedway. Kurt's W in the spring followed up by Bubba's statement victory on Sunday says a lot about the trajectory of that organization. As for me, 2-1 seems to be the…
With the Bristol Night Race on deck, the field of 16 Championship hopefuls approaches the 2022 Hollywood Casino 400 as a prime opportunity to take the checkered flag and advance to the Round of 12. These 1.5-mile intermediate tracks are like a mid-range jump shot in basketball - occasionally overlooked…
We knew the Southern 500 was going to chew some cars up and spit them out. But wow did Sunday night's test of stamina consume some of the best teams in the Cup Series. Kevin Harvick's late charge failed in an unforeseen fiery end while mechanical issues rejected the bids…
It sure is good to have practice and qualifying back to help finalize this week's betting card. Saturday's action at Darlington shed some light on likely contenders and, of course, pretenders. In the good news department, Mother Nature appears to be in a favorable mood as the sun goes down…
Not getting Daytona under the lights last weekend was a damn shame, but that's on Mother Nature. I will say that the action in the Sunday morning into the late afternoon delayed race had my heart rate up for way too long. My eight matchup bets on the final regular…
The third time was NOT a charm at Watkins Glen for Kevin Harvick or my three-pack of matchup wagers. But the race was far from a bust by any stretch - it was highly entertaining and I didn't get swept. Plus it was another reminder that The Glen puts on…
What more can you say about Kevin Harvick's back-to-back dubs? Ms. JJ's 2022 Season Championship future bet on Happy Harvick is officially off of life support. Kudos to her being live in the postseason and in keeping me humble despite delivering back-to-back 3-0 matchup winners after Richmond played out nicely.…
Tensions are rising as the Cup Series regular season schedule winds down to just three more races. Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex, Jr. are battling for one playoff slot at this point in the game, though a wild card winner here at Richmond or Watkins Glen will push them into…
After an eventful Indy Road Course fiasco the Cup Series migrates north to Michigan for a different style of action. Turn 1 debacles and the frenzied overtime restart combined to wreak havoc on some betting cards, while leaving others victorious. Daniel Suarez getting knocked out in that final sequence hurt…
Sometimes the best laid plans get crushed by reality. As for Triston McKenzie's curveball Tuesday night, Arizona watched it miss the strike zone time and time again, pouncing on the inevitable fastball. An ugly swing-and-miss on my part. But the MLB Morning Breakdown for 8-6-2022 rolls on with a pair…
Saturday's look at Mitch Keller's sinker paid some dividends in an interesting way to play what turned out to be a pitchers' duel in Pittsburgh. Today we stay focused on starting pitching with young starting pitchers who are steadily moving forward in their major league career progressions. So let's head…
What else can you say about last week's battle at Pocono? Let alone the course of events that shook out a couple hours after Denny Hamlin completed his burnout and popped his bottle of bubbly. Just another week on the Cup Series circuit, right? When it comes to the on-track…
Here I am on the fence once again. Gotta admit that I like writing about the tricky handicaps more than the ones that carry higher conviction though. Thursday's edition highlighted an unsung starting pitcher against one of the more prolific lineups in the league. Now the MLB Morning Breakdown for…
Today's short MLB slate left more questions than answers as far as I'm concerned. Can Philly's bats support Wheeler as a 2/1 favorite? Will the Red Sox get out of their own way for a change? And the most interesting question among Thursday's games will be answered in the Bronx…
Although our good friend Paul's Playing the Odds NASCAR Style podcast is still on hiatus, we continue to plug away at betting the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. That said, there is a growing NASCAR handicapping community on Twitter and other outlets providing a ton of quality content and betting insights.…
The MLB second half is off and running after Friday night's display of prolific run production. We see you Toronto and Chicago! Talk about some pent up lineups around the league - except for a pair of teams with postseason trajectories that played to a 4-1 finish at the expense…
The short and sweet All-Star Break left JJ & Yanni with no choice: jump on a pod with Big Tasty and D-Nice to talk Major League Baseball's first half and futures bets as the season heads down the stretch. You know The BetCrushers Team is in good hands with these…
The clock is ticking on the first half of the 2022 MLB season with the All-Star Break just a couple days away. This means a break from daily handicapping while providing some time to take a step back to look at the league. I'd lay odds that D-Nice will have…
The MLB Morning Breakdown for 7-12-2022 comes at you after a disappointing - yet not surprising - failure to produce runs in Chicago. It sure seemed like a good idea at the time...what more can I say? And in full disclosure, today's Solo Shot does not have my money behind…
All I can say about yesterday's handicap is that I am thanking my lucky stars for Josh Naylor being in the lineup. Not that he made a huge impact in the Guardians' blowout victory as much as he was my trigger point to play the over. More importantly, Naylor's availability…
The BetCrushers Team's prodigal son returns to writing with the MLB Morning Breakdown for 7-9-2022. Overseas vacation is over. Anniversary is in the books. And despite the day job having a firm stranglehold around my neck, I'm back to what I truly enjoy: breaking down some sweet MLB action. As…
The MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-25-2022 gets me back in the writing game after a week away from the keyboard. What can I say...when the day job has a firm grip on your throat, you have to buckle down and TCB. Not that my betting results have been anything to…
JJ@BC The MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-18-2022 drops with a pair of handicaps on this windy Saturday morning. Despite staying ahead of the market since my last post on June 14th, I gave some back to the gambling gods this week after returning from vacation (holy LOB, Boston!). Not to…
JJ@BC It might have been shaky here and there, but coming home to sweat a first 5 inning under ended up being the right move. Legitimate threats by each team in the early innings fortunately resulted in a 1-1 tie after the 5th, making my half-unit dip back into the…
JJ@BC As great as vacation can be - which last week's trip to the Azores certainly was - there's no place like home. Especially when you've spent a week in a nation that blocks access to gambling websites! The things we do to get away, right? Despite being sleep deprived…
JJ@BC With two days left to grind out profit before I head overseas, the MLB Morning Breakdown for 6-3-2022 delivers a Friday Solo Shot after nickel and diming my way through the week. Thankfully I was not awake to watch the Brewers score 4 runs in the bottom of the…
JJ@BC We've made it just about two months into the 2022 MLB season with more victories than battle scars. That's testament to a ton of offseason prep, grinding through daily handicapping, and undoubtedly a friendly kiss from Lady Luck. I jumped on a pod with D-Nice, braintrust of the Wager…
JJ@BC With just one week left before leaving the country, it's almost like I'm in one of those money booths with cash swirling around. How much can I grab before the thing shuts off and my 10-day hiatus kicks in? While I joke, my MLB betting has maintained a positive…
JJ@BC Monday's extra-innings nail biter in St. Louis somehow, some way kept the positive momentum rolling. It rolled right into...a day off from handicapping yesterday. That break from betting on baseball left me plenty of time to gear up for a special three man production to cover today's action. The…
JJ@BC Talk about one hell of an "engaging" Sunday on the diamonds. And somehow I made it out the other side unscathed. A couple serious sweats in the 5th inning of both first 5 innings positions and a Coors Field under resulted in one near-miss push and three half-unit Ws.…
JJ@BC Many thanks to Big Tasty for hosting our five-game Friday night livestream breakdown. And give a tip of the cap to Tasty for his call on the Texas Rangers - at my expense, mind you! Still, Friday & Saturday treated us decently despite the Astros setback so we roll…
JJ@BC The MLB Morning Breakdown for 5-20-2022 is far from a morning production today as I jumped on with Big Tasty for an afternoon live stream. We last joined forced at the beginning of May for an excellent show with some nice results. Can we put our heads together for…
JJ@BC Despite bombing my featured handicaps while on the road last week, I have NOT yet been exiled from The BetCrushers Team. Yanni kept me around because I kept firing Sunday & Monday and got things back on track for the crew. Admittedly, I rushed some of my handicaps last…
JJ@BC The MLB Morning Breakdown for 5-14-2022 drops late this morning off of a disappointing loss with the Orioles. Disappointing not so much in Eduardo Rodriguez' good outing but with Baltimore leaving the bases loaded in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. The O's 14 men left on base is…
JJ@BC Who would have thunk that four days days of golf and hiking would leave me next to no time to write up handicaps? No worries on your end, however, as Monday through Thursday was about as close to a break-even chop as can be. I've finally made the jump…
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, especially those who gave birth to the nightmare known as The BetCrushers Team. Especially the mothers of our wives who keep us in check. Speaking of keeping in check, we skated by with the Rays first 5 inning wager while cruising…
Imagine thinking that Wednesday night's Bundy-Bradish matchup was going to be a pitcher's duel. That's where I left off, dropping the Twins game and watching my ROI slip into a more reasonable level. The day job has been punishing enough but today we head south to kick back and hit…
First off, I owe our loyal readers an apology - a two-fold one. 1) Pablo's bad day on Monday and my overconfidence in the Marlins. 2) Getting sabotaged by the day job early Tuesday AM, sinking my plans for an article. The day job also poses a high likelihood that…
Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Many thanks to Big Tasty for sparing me from writing yesterday morning by bringing me on his show. It was a good time breaking down five games on the Sunday slate - two of which we took positions on, yielding a…
The Cubbies had me fooled Friday morning and sure I paid the price. Combined with another half-unit loss at Coors Field, those two losses ate the Mets' profit plus a little bit of my bankroll. At least Friday's action did not yield an 0-3 whoopin. After a day off from…
When the Tigers failed to plate the tying run in the 5th yesterday afternoon, I thought of what could have been for my first 5 inning dog bet. Then the Twins piled on 4 more runs in the bottom half of the inning and that thought turned to "damn I…