Category: Hockey
Because its the Cup
I like the Rangers -160 and -1.5 at +195 tonight vs LA
Home teams are 8-0 since 2005 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, winning by an average margin of 2.5 goals per game: pic.twitter.com/Sagp3z2xiA
— Bet Labs Sports (@Bet_Labs) June 8, 2014
Survivor
Pretty good day for me yesterday, despite me losing the Thunder bet (I ended up being quartered as I also too the over, but missed teaser/line/ml). The buzz in the WSOP at the end of the game was kinda neat though. Of the many moments that you take away from Vegas, the random guy going, “YEAH!” at any time for the various result he is desiring is truly a great, positive, human feeling of elation, relief, and joy. Who needs shrinks and prozacs when you have miracle cover run good to turn that frown upside down! I will say: I abhor the cigarette culture here. I’m surrounded by cig butt ash no matter where I go, which in a sense is a fun ironic metaphor for the ashes of the millions of dollars being set on fire in Vegas, ON A DAILY basis.
For yesterday, I went 3-1: missing the White Sox at +105…..but hit a UFC play (CB Dollaway +150), the Orioles at +110, the Athletics at -120, and those 3 in a parlay that paid out 10 to win 127. I also made it to Day 2 of the WSOP Millionaire Maker NLHE tournament with 18.2k in chips. Not bad for a “day”s work”.
Things I like today:
Blackhawks/Kings Under 5 at -105 (Game 7, I expect the best from these two goalies)
Blue Jays/Royals Under 8.5 -110 (Buerhle has pitched well lately)
Cubs +128
Giants +100
A’s -142 (I might also look at taking them winning the AL at some point, they are due. I’ll need to look at this more, and hope I won’t be able to because that will mean I am still playing poker or $1.3 million dollars)
Leave you with this interesting nugget on Spurs futures for the title:
While the #Heat never had higher odds than +280 to win the title, the #Spurs were listed at +1500 back on Feb 14th. pic.twitter.com/lb5U9DaVVm
— Action Labs (@ActionLabs_HQ) June 1, 2014
Thunder Dome
I like the Thunder tonight -2.5 (-105) vs the Spurs to tie things up 2-2 in the series. Also made a speculative play at Thunder +536 to win the series when down 0-2……but they got Ibaka back. He’s the difference, because he can actually guard Duncan 1v1 (Perkins is OK individual defender, but he’s mostly a great “plug” team defender).
I just have this feeling that Durant and James are going to meet again, and I’ll be giddy for it all as I have the Heat pre-season to win the title, and I’ll get some freeroll action like I did last weekend in the UEFA Champions League Final when Real Madrid beat Putty’s Atletico (I would have posted the amount of stuff I bet to hedge on here last Saturday, but I am afraid I would have broke the site and drowned out all of the content Lou has posted. I also think at one point a “Real to win at -170 and Blackhawks/Kings Under” parlay may have happened. It was that degenerate).
I’ll be in Vegas next week for the WSOP and will be posting UFC and World Cup thoughts.
I’ll leave you with this nugget for Pat Darts and the NY Rangers:
Rangers advance to Stanley Cup Finals with win tonight. They last advanced on this date in 1994 on 2-OT goal by Stephane Matteau
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 27, 2014
Monday
No luck with our series play on Columbus I left you with a few weeks back. The price got up to +240 or so in some places and as has been the mantra for all of hockey season, plus odds on coinflips or close to them are our friends. I probably would have doubled down and taken the Rangers in round 2 if given the opportunity.
In baseball tonight there is an unusually large slate of games for a Monday. One play so far and that’s Washington +101 hosting the Dodgers.
On Hiatus
Back on or around May 1. I leave you all with MC’s favorite team, The Columbus Blue Jackets +200 or so to defeat Pittsburgh in Round 1.
Saturday
Winners all around yesterday. Wizards won outright and both the Oilers and Predators were winners in the late games. Apologies for getting my play up 5 minutes or so before whatever the euphemism is for starting a hockey game. One early play this afternoon and that’s Philadelphia +165 @ Boston. I am not a fan betting against this year’s Bruins side, but they seem to be resting up for the playoffs with the #1 seed all but confirmed. Winnipeg tonight is an option for the aggressive folks at Toronto.
In baseball, Mets are a lean and I am passing. Dodgers are showing up right now, which is probably a mistake, as well as Oakland both at 4:00.
Friday
We were all winners yesterday as Columbus shutout Philadelphia 2-0. I am really, really, really hoping Columbus gets drawn against Pittsburgh in the playoffs as that would give us a chance to repeat our Montreal/Washington heroics from a few years back. They’ll probably get Boston though who is much more suited to a long playoff run. 5-3 +3.58 on Columbus alone this season.
Mets, Jays and Astros are on the MLB shortlist as well as the away teams late in NHL, Nashville and Edmonton. Nothing confirmed yet so it may be an empty day. Edmonton is interesting as they are in Phoenix who have suddenly been awful and unable to score. Edmonton is just awful all around so it may be a decent gamble. Not sure if it will come to pass, but I’m always happy to encourage others to try :)
Lastly, the White Sox are currently in action and Tyler Flowers, White Sox catcher and career .206 hitter, is 2 for 2 so far following his 4 for 4 performance yesterday against the Twins. The Twins had a rare performance of their own yesterday with Worcester Tornado alum Chris Colabello getting 6 RBIs.
Updates if at all to be posted before gametime.
UPDATE: Some NBA! Wizards +5
UPDATE2: Nashville for +165
Thursday
Mets were a loser last night by a combination of scoring only 1 run and Bartolo Colon giving up a HR to the opposing pitcher with two strikes in the 5th. No day game action but we have a possible play on the Astros again who are going for the sweep against the Yankees. One hockey play tonight on our favorite team, Columbus +128.
Opening Day
It’s my favorite day of the year and effectively starts the new year For me so hooray to that. 1-0 on our leans with San Diego’s win and we have another leaner with the Mets and Gee hosting the Natinals. Possible play on Arizona tonight. Hockey later as well.
Just as a reminder that we will have plays on home teams underdogs up to +200 only with some other criteria. Unlike other sports baseball has a tangible benefit to batting last which benefits home teams in addition to the usual referee and travel biases that cover all sports. More on this as time allows…
UPDATE: All 4 away hockey games qualify for leans though there is only one play and that is Carolina EVEN at Ottawa. One baseball game as well Arizona +111
Friday
Posting on time and with the correct day today. No plays yesterday or today but we do have a lean on Toronto +145 at Philadelphia. I’ve added an exclusion for teams on long losing streaks to avoid having plays on the hockey equivalent of the Astros popping up over and over again. Toronto has lost 6 straight heading into tonight and they’re legitimate losses not the OT or shootout variety. They’ve also conceded 3+ every game as well. So they are in the leaner column along with Nashville who is on a back to back. Hopefully we will get a real play in this weekend.
