Why Sports Betting Is An Investment

Being a sports betting enthusiast is as much about being an investor as it is about making a profit. Whether you are wagering on the big four sports in North America, or UFC, soccer and boxing, in order to be successful, you need to use bookie software, to handicap which team or athlete provides you with the best chance to win your wager. Each year, millions of people take to casinos and online sportsbooks in an attempt to spend their hard earned cash on their favorite team or athlete. However, only a handful of NBA handicappers ever make a profit, because they look at it as an investment. Simply put, if you’re risking your money on something, do you not want to research if it is a good or bad risk?

For years, the sports betting industry has received a bad wrap, yet it has become a more stable industry then the local real estate and stock market industries of different nations. Consider, that in Denmark, they just legalized sports betting, and their economy is completely fine, yet places such as Greece, Italy and the United States, which rely heavily on hedge funds and the stock market, have been in rough shape since the 2008 recession. If sports betting were legalized in these nations, we aren’t saying that their fortunes would change like day and night, however we are suggesting they wouldn’t be in as rough shape as their economies are now.

The average handicapper is a huge statistics nerd. In baseball, the best sports bettors understand all of the statistics that the average fan can’t pronounce. For instance, baseball has a statistic called WAR, which indicates how a team fares when a player is in the lineup and how they compare to a call up. If the player has a high WAR, it dictates to the bettor, that the team is better with that player in the lineup. Conversely, if a player has a low WAR then you can determine whether that’s a team you should wager upon.

National Championship Game LSU v Alabama

Last Sunday, the NCAA shocked the college football betting world, when it announced, that the BCS Allstate National Title Game, would be a rematch between SEC members LSU and Alabama. In the years leading up to this season, the NCAA had always prided itself on allowing the two best teams in the entire country to face one another, in the biggest game of the season. This year, as bookie software polls indicate, that isn’t exactly the case. Here is a preview of the National Championship game, which should appear similar to the first matchup between LSU and Alabama this season.

The National Title Game, will feature the only team to remain perfect this season in division one football, the Louisiana State Tigers, and the one loss second place team Alabama Crimson Tide. In one of the more bizarre National Title Finals, the Alabama Crimson Tide, were rewarded, for losing. That is to say, despite losing to LSU two months ago, and not playing in their own conferences Championship game, the Alabama Crimson Tide, single handily rewrote what the NCAA is supposed to stand for.

Essentially, in the 13 years, since the NCAA took on the BCS approach, the team’s that not only have the best record, but are the most dominant in their conferences are awarded the opportunity to play for the National Championship. Alabama meets neither of these conditions, as they weren’t the best team in their conference, and they didn’t own the best record. In reality, the LSU Tigers should be facing the Oklahoma State Cowboys, as despite sharing a similar record to Alabama, OKSU ran over Oklahoma in their Conference Championship game. For this reason, and the fact that LSU got better as the season progressed, we expect LSU to cap off a dream season, with another NFL victory over Alabama.

UFC 140

In two weeks the UFC will make its triumphant return to Toronto, Canada, this time for UFC 140 headlined by a Light Heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida. The last time the worlds top MMA promotion ran in Toronto, they sold out the Rogers Center in nearly 20 minutes. This time around, bookie software agents were shocked to learn, the UFC would be running out of a smaller venue, the Air Canada Center. Here is a preview of the card.

Entering the final month of 2011, the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC has literally been the talk of the company. From the aforementioned Jon Jones crushing Shogun Rua at UFC 128 to win the title, to UFC 139 Shogun v Henderson fans both casual and hardcore have been chomping at the bit for more Light Heavyweight action. When Jones and Machida face at UFC 140, it will once again feature a Light Heavyweight event, in which fans are hoping the champion looses to the more brand name recognizable fighter in Machida.

This will be the first time that Jones and Machida have met in the sports betting octagon. According to a slew of reports, Machida was going to fight top Light Heavyweight prospect Phil Davis in the main event of this card, but Davis had to pull out due to injury. Then Jones was going to fight Rashad Evans at a later event, but that too fell through, so Machida received the title shot against Jones at this event.

Speaking strictly from a marketing standpoint, a victory for Jones can go a long way to build up the division. As we have seen throughout the course of the year, the division really jumped to the forefront of the company, once Jones took over as champion. That isn’t to say that Machida would make a bad champion, but Jones as the younger prospect can grow with the division.

UFC 139 Shogun V Henderson Preview

In just over a week, sports betting enthusiasts wagering on MMA, will welcome back Dan Henderson to the octagon, as he headlines UFC 139 against former Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Shogun Rua. UFC fans will have the pleasure of watching back to back amazing fight cards, as this weekend, the world’s top MMA promotion is set to debut on FOX with a Heavyweight title fight between Cain Velazquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos. Here is a preview of UFC 139.

Live from HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Saturday November 19, 11 Dan Henderson makes his triumphant return to the octagon, in hopes of winning a title shot against current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Henderson, the former Light Heavyweight King in Strikeforce, recently dropped back down to Light Heavyweight, after destroying the Last Emperor Fedor Emelianenko in a Heavyweight fight in the summer.

After forcing the Last Emperor into retirement, fans and experts alike are wondering if Henderson’s challenger, Shogun Rua has enough energy to put Henderson away. Shogun will be making his third appearance in the octagon this year, after missing the majority of the 2010 season due to a knee injury. So far, bookie software agents, have Shogun as an underdog, despite a one and one record, including his last fight where he knocked Forest Griffin out in the first round. Shogun is fighting with a chip on his shoulder, as he felt he put in an awful performance in March when he lost to Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight title.

The other big fight on the UFC 139 card will be Wanderlei Silva taking on Cung Le in a middleweight eliminator matchup. Currently riding a one fight winning streak, and sporting a seven and one record overall, Cung Le will be attempting to show the UFC brass, that he has what it takes to defeat Silva in their upcoming battle. Meanwhile, Silva will be looking to pull the upset win, after two disappointing fights this season.

Breeders Cup Preview

The Breeders Cup betting lines are quickly coming to a close, as later next week, the 27^th annual Breeders Cup will be held next Friday. Yesterday it was announced, that over 193 horses had already pre-registered for the two day 15 race event. One horse that will be wagered heavily using bookie software, is the legendary filly Goldikova. Goldikova is the only horse in the Breeders Cup 27 year history to win on three separate occasions. Can next Friday at the Breeders Cup Mile be the fourth consecutive win for Goldikova? Here is an NHL preview of the race.

Originally based out of Paris, France Goldikova will be attempting to win her fourth consecutive Breeders Cup Mile on Friday November 4, 11. In the past three years, Goldikova has continuously been able to beat out her previous years fastest time. This in turn, has left fans and analysts alike pondering, why Goldikova owners would keep her in the same race annually, rather then move her up to tougher competition. On paper, by all accounts, last year she should have entered the Breeders Cup Classic to run against the greatest horse in American horse racing history, Zenyatta. However, as we indicated earlier, Goldikova instead raced and won at the Breeders Cup Mile.

Goldikova like the aforementioned Zenyatta has experienced much success over her career. In 26 career starts, Goldikova has won 17 of them, 14 of which were Grade I stakes races. Three of those 14 wins we already eluded too, as Breeders Cup victories. Now for the casual horse racing fans, it should be noted, that Goldikova is on an uncontested path to the horse racing hall of fame. She is the only horse who has won three Breeders Cups in a row. By winning four, she could entrench her name beside some of the greatest colts in the industry.

UFC 137 Previews

The UFC has been busy in 2011, as it seems like every weekend we are previewing another fight card. In just over two weeks, UFC 137 GSP v Condit takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Entering the weekend’s action, Canadian folk hero George St. Pierre will be putting his Welterweight title on the line against last minute opponent Carlos Condit. In the co-main event, the man GSP was supposed to face, Nick Diaz will be battling fan favorite BJ Pen. Here is a sports betting preview of UFC 137.

UFC 137 as has been the case with many UFC cards in 2011, is a stacked show. From the top of the card all the way to the main event, MMA fans whether live or at a bar, will have trouble staying in their seats. For fans of the Heavyweight division, expect top draws Mirko Cro Cop and Roy “Big Country” Nelson to kick off the main card. Nelson the former TUF 13 winner is looking to rebound, after a disappointing loss to best friend Frank Mir back in April. However, he will be in tough against the man simply known by his fans as Cro Cop. Coming off knockout loss to Brendan Schaub in March, a victory against Nelson, may go a long way in helping Cro Cop return to Heavyweight glamour.

Jumping ahead to the main event, fans and bookie software agents alike are giving Carlos Condit little to no chance of defeating Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre. But then again, when the Champion is riding a six fight win streak, you usually do not bet against him. This fight should be a difficult one for GSP, as he has had little time to readjust his game plan against Condit. Nevertheless, look for GSP to finally win a fight by knockout, as the unanimous decision victories are beginning to become tiresome.

NFL Betting – Significant Fallout From Bills’ Win Carries Over To Week Four

Few NFL betting lines experts would have projected that heading in to week four of the regular season it would be the Buffalo Bills standing alone at the top of the AFC as the only undefeated team, but after a shocking win over the division rival New England Patriots, that is exactly the case. The fallout from that game has carried over to this week, and affected the early lines.

Buffalo Bills (-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Bills have looked dominant at home with consecutive comeback sports betting wins, but how will they fare this week after three straight wins, when they find a team that isn’t very talented but very strong and desperate for a win. Cincinnati will be hostile territory for Buffalo, and if they get behind early again this week they may not be able to rally for another comeback.

NFL Betting Pick: Cincinnati Bengals +3

New England Patriots (-4) @ Oakland Raiders

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

After a tough fishing loss at Buffalo, don’t expect Tom Brady and the Patriots to come out looking tentative. Head coach Bill Belichick doesn’t lose back-to-back games against teams that didn’t make the playoffs the year before, and after the Raiders hit the high of their season with a big win over the New York Jets, look for them to struggle to keep up with a New England team that will put nine in the box if need be.

NFL Betting Pick: New England Patriots -4

UFC Betting – UFC Returns To Denver In Style With Light Heavyweight Title On The Line

Finally, the UFC returns to Denver, Colorado and the Pepsi Center for the first Pay Per View event in nearly 20 years with UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage. After rehabbing his hand and getting back in to fighting shape for the past several months, UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones is ready to make his first title defense against one of the biggest names in the sport in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jones has been dominant since arriving in the promotion and at just 24-years old he is only beginning to tap in to his immense potential. Rampage is known for his aggressive style, and that has set the stage for one of the most highly anticipated main event matches of the UFC betting year.

As has been the case with a lot of Pay Per View events, UFC President Dana White has had to deal with numerous injuries affecting his card, but in this case more than in the past he has taken those bumps in stride. After scrapping a bout between Norifumi Yamamoto and Damacio Page when both suffered injuries, White may have actually found a more intriguing back up plan with the addition of a tilt between Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck taking its place. With Nate Diaz, Travis Browne, and Takanori Gomi all in action on the main card, you don’t have to go fishing long for a reason to catch UFC 135 later this sports betting month.

MLB Betting – Brewers Could Be En Route To World Series

One of the few teams that MLB betting critics don’t seem to be talking about enough in the same sentence as World Series contenders is the Milwaukee Brewers, who have absolutely blown away the rest of the National League Central over the past month. In only July it seemed as though the Brewers would have a tough time holding off the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in the division race, but fast-forward eight weeks later and Milwaukee is looking like a lock to not only clinch the NL Central, but also compete for a championship banner as they go fishing for more.

The Brewers will have a tough road out of the NL with the Philadelphia Phillies as the consensus sports betting favorites to win it all, but they do have the talent to get past them. Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and Rickie Weeks represent a strong offensive core that could be good enough to challenge the Phillies’ incredible rotation, and with Shaun Marcum leading the way the Milwaukee pitching staff has been respectable. The Boston Red Sox are the consensus favorites to represent the American League, and with the perfect blend of offense and defense they would definitely be the favorites to beat the Brewers. But while they may not be able to close against the best in the World Series, Milwaukee should get more consideration as a team that can represent the NL and at least get to the big series.

UFC Betting – Silva Should Have No Problem WithOkami In Front Of Home Fans

When the lights come up at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro for UFC 134, the Brazilian UFC betting fans will be on their feet as they welcome home one of the most dominant pound-for-pound fighters that the sport has ever seen. It marks only the second time that the UFC will be in Brazil for an event, and that will make it that much more important to UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva as he looks to defend his title against challenger YushinOkami.

After reviewing this fight, it becomes pretty obvious that Silva is once again in position to dominate his opponent, which is something that the home fans should love. Okami has been productive since coming over to the UFC, but he has been far from dominant, and while UFC President Dana White has struggled to find bodies capable of holding their own against Silva, this may have been one of the bigger misses along the way. Silva has been training hard and is in the best shape of his life despite fighting at 36-years old, and it will be difficult for Okami to slow him down as the fight goes on. Patient, and well-versed in a variety of different martial arts, Silva is among the most dangerous fighters in the sport, and Okami is simply one more victim that will be added to the list of talent that the champion has taken down on his record sports betting title run.

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