stanley cup

First-Round Betting Picks for Stanley Cup Playoffs

by WagerHome Blog on July 30, 2020

When the NHL drops the puck on Saturday for the start of the run for the Stanley Cup, it will be 143 days since the season was paused in March. The league has added a new team since then – the Seattle Kraken – but they haven’t played a single minute of meaningful hockey.

Give yourselves a round of applause for surviving this long, and for the absolute treat that is in store for us in the coming weeks. Not only do we get August hockey for the first time ever, but the Stanley Cup Playoffs – always one of the best events on the sports betting calendar – is going to be bigger and better than ever.

We currently have 24 total teams, eight qualifying series, and for the first time, a round-robin between the top four in each conference to determine seeding.

Minnesota Wild (+110) over Vancouver Canucks

While the rest of the skaters will be working to get back their legs, goaltending will have the advantage in the early stages of this tournament. It’s always key anyway (see: St. Louis Blues 2019 Stanley Cup Champions), but this year even more so.

Minnesota has the better goaltending, and, just as important, more defensive control of their back zone. This is a close matchup – maybe even a tossup – which means the smart money is on the positive number, which is the Wild.

Pittsburgh Penguins (-230) over Montreal Canadiens

It takes a lot to recommend putting money down on a -230 bet. But “a lot” is exactly how to describe the talent disparity between these two teams. A bad patch in early March is the only reason Pittsburgh is even stuck in the qualifying round.

On the other side, Montreal is ranked 24th out of the 24 teams still alive, and they finished the season in March with just four wins in 14 games.

If you like easy money, you like Pittsburgh.

Round Robin Odds

Both conferences will see four-team round-robin battles for the top seed.

Eastern Conference

  • Boston Bruins +140
  • Tampa Bay Lightning +185
  • Philadelphia Flyers +550
  • Washington Capitals +550

Western Conference

  • St. Louis Blues +175
  • Colorado Avalanche +225
  • Las Vegas Golden Knights +300
  • Dallas Stars +550

Boston is on a revenge tour after losing Game 7 in the Finals last year. The layoff helps their legs immensely, and they are a safe bet to emerge as the No. 1 seed.

stanley cup

The Blues are the defending champions and the favorites in the West. But at +225 a little money on the Avs feels like a good value bet.

Pay Per Head Software

With five games on Saturday, five more on Sunday, and another six on Monday, NHL betting is going to be on fire. To manage the rush and make the most of your profit opportunities, independent bookmakers really should be partnered with a pay per head software provider.

The top PPH companies, like WagerHome.com, handle all of your administrative needs, allowing you to spend your time growing your client base. Get a free PPH demo and four weeks to test it out at WagerHome.com.

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WagerHome BlogFirst-Round Betting Picks for Stanley Cup Playoffs
return

MLB, NBA, NHL All Set to Return in July

by WagerHome Blog on June 30, 2020

Normally, the sports calendar in July is so slow that ESPN puts out its annual award show, The Espys, just to help fill the void until things return. With only baseball to fill our weeks, and NFL training camps beginning at the end of the month, sports fans and sports bettors know that July is the best time to take family vacations.

Not this year.

Get ready for the greatest month of July the sports world has ever seen.

The Return of Baseball

Finally, after multiple weeks of negotiating, fighting through the media, telling us the season was 100% going to happen, then not happen, and then happen again, MLB and its players union have an agreement to begin the season on July 23.

It will be an all-out 60-game sprint to the playoffs and a season unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, with all teams only playing games against their division or the corresponding regional division in the other league (NL East vs. AL East, and so on).

NBA Seeding Games and Playoffs

One of the reasons the NCAA Tournament is so great is that there is no waiting for basketball to start. Games tip off early, and never seem to stop. Now imagine an NBA world like that. How amazing would it be?

Imagine no more, because when the NBA resumes on July 30, they will play 88 seeding games to finish out the season in just two weeks time. Twenty-two teams, three courts, four television networks (TNT, ESPN, ABC, and NBATV), and games starting as early as 12:30 pm ET through as late as 9 pm ET.

You can’t really go anywhere at the moment, so grab your remote, your favorite betting app, and prepare for NBA basketball overload.

NHL Playoffs

A Stanley Cup Playoffs like we’ve never seen before will also be coming to our televisions in late July. Twelve teams from each conference are in, with the top four teams in each playing a round-robin tournament for seeding, while everyone else plays in a best-of-five series for the right to get into the final playoff bracket.

return

The NHL still hasn’t decided which cities will serve as hubs for these games, or when exactly players will report. A new CBA is close to finalization, which, along with creating labor peace for the next six years, will create the return-to-play protocols, including a date certain for the resumption of training camps and the playoffs that follow.

Pay Per Head

As the saying goes, get in while the getting is good. And the getting is about to get really good with all the sports action and betting that is coming our way.

The best bookies need the best bookie software and a pay per head service that can truly enhance their business. For a nominal price per head, bookmakers get a fully customizable website, detailed client reports, 24-hour customer service, and all the sports and automated odds and lines your clients could ever want. Get your pay per head demo for free right now at WagerHome.com.

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WagerHome BlogMLB, NBA, NHL All Set to Return in July
restart

Restart Updates For NBA, NHL; MLB Negotiations

by WagerHome Blog on June 11, 2020

You can now get a haircut, go to a restaurant, and very soon you will be able to watch major American team sports on television. We’ve almost made it. Congratulate yourself, and then get ready for the wildest summer of sports you’ve ever seen as leagues continue to put together their plans to restart.

NBA Going to Orlando

The NBA’s return won’t happen until July 31, but when it does, watch out. If you thought two months of playoffs with 16 teams was intense, the restarted NBA will feature 22 teams, eight seeding games, a play-in tournament, and then a full playoff schedule of 16 teams, with every game taking place at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

We’ll get the draft lottery at the end of August and October will feature the end of the NBA Finals, the Draft, and the start of free agency. Then, a new season is set to begin Dec. 1.

All of this has been approved by both the league and players union, but, as with everything in the sports restart world of COVID-19, it’s all subject to change.

NHL With 24-Team Playoffs

One-upping the NBA is the NHL’s agreed-upon restart format. The top four seeds in each conference will play a round-robin to determine final seeding, while the other 16 teams (seeds five through 12 in each conference) will play best-of-five series to determine who moves on to face those top seeds.

An exciting change and one many hockey fans have been pushing for long before this season, is that each playoff round will be reseeded. Instead of a hard bracket, which would render the round-robin of the top seeds moot, the top seed will always face the lowest remaining seed.

restart

Teams have begun to return to their practice facilities, and the league hopes to resume play by late July/early August in two yet-to-be-selected hub cities – one for all Eastern Conference games and the other for all Western Conference games.

MLB Remains A Mystery

For weeks we have heard: “Don’t worry, there is too much money at stake for baseball to cancel its full season.”

Maybe that’s the problem. There is simply too much money at stake, both for 2020 and beyond, for MLB and its players union – two long-time adversaries – to come together.

Sliding scales, prorated pay, and different season lengths have all been discussed. Even the dreaded label “salary cap” has been said.

They’ve blown past their self-imposed June 1 deadline to get a deal done, but negotiations do continue. So does that mean there is still hope for a baseball season? Las Vegas oddsmakers say yes.

There is still a 75% chance a season will be played. But with each passing day, that becomes a longer bet.

Pay Per Head Software

Baseball notwithstanding, sports betting is coming back in a big way, and if you run your own bookmaking service, you need to be ready. Now is the perfect time to join forces with a pay per head software provider and make the most of the coming wave.

A partnership with WagerHome.com gets you a fully customizable website, automated odds, complete customer support, and all for a small fee per person.

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WagerHome BlogRestart Updates For NBA, NHL; MLB Negotiations
NFL Week 3 2019 | Week in Review

NFL Week 3 2019 | Week in Review

by Wager Home on September 24, 2019

If you like upsets, Week 3 of the 2019 NFL season was full of them. Six dogs showed their bite upsetting the favorite, including the Detroit Lions who remain unbeaten after their win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, the Lions are 2-0-1. Only three of Week 3’s straight up winners didn’t cover.

After two weeks of holding penalty after holding penalty, NFL officials dialed it back. The fewer holding calls had a direct impact on the Totals in Week 3. For those who want to know how to be a bookie, that is a piece of information that could help separate you from other pay per head services.

UPSETS

As mentioned, there were six upsets in Week 3, the biggest of which involved a rookie quarterback in New York. Daniel Jones, the sixth pick in this year’s NFL draft, stepped in and took over for veteran Eli Manning.

Daniel Jones stepped in and helped upset Tampa on Sunday

Daniel Jones stepped in and helped upset Tampa on Sunday

All Jones did was lead a fourth-quarter scoring drive and cap it off with a 7-yard touchdown run with just 1:16 to play to give the Giants their first victory of the season. Tampa Bay, the Giants opponent, was a 5-point favorite.

The other big upset in Week 3 was New Orleans heading to Seattle without Drew Brees. The Saints were 5-point underdogs but were never really challenged by the Seahawks. The 33-27 final score was not indicative of how the Saints dominated the game.

The Lions got a 100-yard kickoff return in a 27-24 upset of the Eagles. Philadelphia entered the game as a 4-point favorite. Houston won as a 3-point dog. Carolina beat Arizona as a 2.5-point dog and Jacksonville beat rival Tennessee on Thursday night. The Titans were favored by 1.5.

GOT YOU COVERED

Yes, Miami is still awful.

The Dolphins are so bad they were giving 22 points to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. With Ezekiel Elliott in the lineup, the Cowboys won 31-6 to cover. The Patriots were not as fortunate. New England was a 21-point favorite over the ailing New York Jets. Leading by 23 in the fourth quarter, the Jets Jamal Adams stepped in front of backup QB Jarrett Stidham’s pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown. Final score, 30-14.

Along with the Patriots, Buffalo and San Francisco were both straight up winners but failed to cover. The Bills were 6-point favorites over Cincinnati and won 21-17. San Francisco beat the hapless Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20 also as 6-point favorites.

The Vikings were 9-point favorites against Oakland. Running back Dalvin Cook rushed for over 100 yards for the third consecutive week and Minnesota won 34-14. NFC North foe Green Bay also covered as 7-point favorites against Denver. The Packers sacked Broncos QB Joe Flacco six times and won 27-16.

Indianapolis, Kansas City, the Rams, and the Bears all covered as well.

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MORE BAD NEWS FOR FANTASY OWNERS

If you thought Week 2 was bad for injuries, Week 3 wasn’t much better. The biggest injury news involves New England WR Julian Edelman. The veteran left in the second quarter of the Patriots win over the Jets. He has an apparent rib injury and will be day to day so fantasy owners will have to pay close attention.

Barkley went down with an ankle injury and is out 4-8 weeks

Barkley went down with an ankle injury and is out 4-8 weeks

The other big one was the Giants Saquon Barkley. The running back went down with an ankle injury and did not return. It was later diagnosed that Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain. He will be out four to eight weeks, which will leave many fantasy owners scrambling.

TOTAL TRENDS

With fewer holding calls in Week 3, NFL offenses were able to open up a little and put more points on the board. In Week 2, the Under hit in 13 of the 16 games. Minus the flags in Week 3, 10 games saw the Over hit. Moving forward, this is something a price per head sports book can track to offer great service to its bettors.

CONTEST UPDATES

No perfect records remain in the Westgate Supercontest. Week 3 left a blemish on a few of the leaders’ records. The top-5 is all tied up with 14-1 marks. TUCO, THE801CREW, PHATCAT, ER@JAR, and CHAMPION ICEMAN sit at the top of the leader board. Both ER@JAR and CHAMPION ICEMAN were a perfect 5-0 for the week.

The results of the Circa Sports Million have not been updated to reflect Week 3 results. Mikeybarts1-1 and Mikeybarts1-2 remain tied at the top of the leaderboard with 9.5 points. The same is true of the Golden Nugget Ultimate Football Challenge. Rizzo (11-1-2) and Cuseboy (12-2) entered Week 3 each with 12 points to sit at the top of the standings.

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Wager HomeNFL Week 3 2019 | Week in Review

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