Tag: gambling

Can I Legally Become a Bookie | Is it Worth it?

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Let’s not beat around the bush, let’s get right to the point; becoming a bookie is legal and it can be lucrative. The question is this… How do I become a bookie, is it expensive, how do I get the process rolling, what do I do?

First and foremost, let’s tackle the legal issue. The US Supreme court struck down a law that had been in place since the 1990’s, (in a nutshell) the law said this. “Offshore sports gambling was illegal from most of the 50 states.” Now, we all know that millions of folks went ahead and bet on sports and played their favorite online casino with little regard to the law. As a matter of fact, bettors have placed untold billions of dollars’ worth of bets since the early 90’s and even going back to the 80’s. Nobody blinked an eye. Of course, folks would often bet with trepidation and that was simply without merit. The US DOJ never intended to go after gamblers in any way, or for that matter, neither did the individual states.

So, what is the actual state of gambling?

Think about this; have you ever heard of anyone, from any of the 50 states, having been prosecuted for gambling online, from the comforts of their home? Of course, folks have been prosecuted for operating a corner bookie in the local bar. The prosecutorial process will go after folks that were once (famously) running numbers in New York or New Jersey.

Every once in a blue moon, there would be news of a gambling ring bust and they were always underground operations. Just as in the movies, these types of gambling rings would invariably have a secret location, with a secret password and some enormous, scary guy, guarding the place! Look, that’s mostly fantasy. It is, and was indeed, mostly in the movies. Sure, it did happen from time to time and money laundering did go on and still does. Money laundering is absolutely illegal and always will be!

Money Laundering Is Not Gambling!

We know one thing; since the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s, folks have engaged in online gambling and they have not been pursued in any way and they never will be. This is especially the case now that the US Supreme Court has allowed for sports gambling in all 50 states. Do not listen to the Las Vegas “superbooks”! They want you to believe that online gambling is somehow sinister or forbidden and that you can’t possibly talk about it and should you talk about it, it would only be spoken of in hushed tones in dark places. What a bunch of hooey! Stop the insanity. Just don’t listen to this madness.

Why Vegas wants you with them…

  • Money, they want it all and they have been greedy since the 1940’s, even further back then that. Vegas has had their thumb on everybody since the turn of the century and they are afraid of losing what they once had.
  • They want to feed you bad numbers at bad prices. Betting clients will go elsewhere and now, they are going elsewhere. They are flocking to the offshore bookmakers now, more than ever. The reason for this, bad numbers, bad lines and bad odds. Bettors will often have 10 online sportsbooks. Sure, they want the action, but they want the best numbers in the business. If they can get a half point here or a half point there, they will take it every time.

    What is the cost to start an online sportsbook?

    In short, pennies on the dollar. Most of the fantastic Pay Per Head companies offering their services and the better ones, are around $10 per head. If you are looking for a turnkey operation that can be started with no upfront investment and you only spend when your players play, then by all means, look into the pay per head option. A pay per head literally does everything for you. It’s all-inclusive bookie software that acts as your accountant, it grades your bet slips, it keeps track of every dollar won and every dollar lost and exactly what you have taken in and shipped out.

    No matter if you have one playing client or 1,000, you must look into a pay per head. It’s the new way of doing business for bookies that are serious about making real profits and especially for bookies that no longer want to deal with all of the hassle that goes along with being a bookie.

    Now is the time to find an outstanding pay per head service, especially with the onset of baseball. Gamblers love to bet on baseball and they love the best lines and odds. Bookies have been amazed at the difference a pay per head makes.

Is Andrew Luck ready to become the best QB in the NFL

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colts-11

Luck’s youth, his excellent durability and intelligence on the field absolutely make him the perfect player to build a franchise on. Most of the QBs with his sleek ability to scramble, oftentimes try to scramble out of the pocket, in a short moment or two, luckily and smartly he doesn’t always do that. Luck actually at times, seems to scramble into the pocket, to avoid getting pushed into bad situations. He often lets linemen end up corralling around the outside of him but he stays in the middle and fires the ball on a rope. Luck has that big strong arm and a very smooth and quick release. And on top of that, he does have some legs that can get him from A to B in a short period of time.

 

Luck has the strength to take hits and still stand big in the pocket and complete the pass, and has the power to run over pass rushers, he stands in the pocket differently than other, the only other comparatively, would be Roethlisberger.

Granted, his success, some critics say it could have something to do with playing in AFC South, the worst division in the league since he came barreling into the league in 2012. I do like statistics and I feel they absolutely are important in a players career, but of course, they cannot be used at all times. His poor division, has helped him greatly as well. When playing his divisional opponents since coming into the league has accounted for 32 TDs only 11 INTs and 4565 YDs, in 18 games, those numbers are awesome. The teams in that period have had a combined record of 45-97 between them all.
His one biggest issue to me, he has had many problems with his accuracy, having 26 games of completing 59% or less of his passes. And at times can try to do too much, and make some pretty bad decisions when under stress. But, his issues are fortunately coachable. He certainly has all the physical tools that you want from your franchise QB.

 

Luck, in his short career, he definitely has had way too many picks every year to be considered the best right now. Make no mistake, physical attributes can fall apart as well, look at Jay Cutler, who seems to have every needed physical aspect that you want from a QB, big laser arm, scrambling ability, but over and over, comes up with simply mind boggling mistakes no matter who is coaching him.
Can a QB be great, even with making a lot of bonehead plays?  I think historically we can say yes. Favre certainly is the first to come to mind. His ultimate faith in his cannon reminds me very similarly to Jay Cutler. Only difference, is that Favre played with passion, that has always been Cutlers biggest disappointment.
Russell Wilson will be in the comparison with his 2012 draft class buddy. They will always be linked now for the future. But realistically, Luck has never had even close to the backfield or the mighty defense that Wilson has had the opportunity to play with. And Luck, on top of that, has never had a superior O-line. But I think from his class, and the QBs from the 3 year “vets” he could be the best of the bunch.
A teams success cannot be solely judged on the QB. They are brought about by way more than just a quarterback. Think about it, realistically, Tom Brady would not have the ring run like he has had if not for some great FG kickers, and excellent defense as well. Football is, to me, the ultimate team sport, not a solo sport. Just winning a Super Bowl tells you how great and/ or lucky a team is, not how great a player is. Really, is Eli Manning better than Dan Marino? Imagine if we saw a quarterback who didn’t complete one pass go on to win the Super Bowl, would they then be in the discussion about being the best in the league?
C’mon now.
I don’t think currently that Luck is close to the best in the league, of course if he did lead his team to and was even fortunate to win
a Super Bowl, that would certainly help his case. His games in the playoffs have lacked fire , with 9 TDs and 12 INTs in 6 playoff games, isn’t a good thing. I am not sure if it’s the stiffer competition, or the pressure, or the team not always being that talented around him.
Truthfully, Andrew Luck is the real deal and I think he is going to be a great player for many years down the road.Currently, without question, Aaron Rodgers is clearly the best in the NFL right now. And honestly, Brady is at a distant 2nd in my opinion.
I just think it’s a bit premature to call Luck the best in the game now, and he’s taking a brutal pounding behind his lousy O-line every year
Eventually, he may be the best overall, but he has a long way to go to be in the same ballpark as Rodgers, Brady and Brees. Granted, over the next 3-5 years, it could be possible. If he stays healthy, Luck could be the best, he is the heir apparent to this title, but he is not quite their yet.
Written by Mike Anthony for VegasTopDogs.com

Betting the NFL preseason in 2015

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NFL Preseason

Betting the NFL Preseason in 2015
by Jeff Hochman of VegasTopDogs.com

The Hall of Fame Game is the first NFL preseason game of the year, which closes the annual Hall of Fame enshrinement festivities. On August 9th, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will get the ball rolling.

You will hear people say “Don’t bet on NFL Preseason Football”. Big Mistake! It’s actually easier than capping the regular season. In most cases you can read ahead of time the exact game plan for each team. I feel the NFL preseason is a great opportunity to start and build a nice bankroll for the upcoming regular season.

Many handicappers have the opinion that the preseason games should be left alone and not bet on. I feel just the opposite. If you do your homework, the preseason offers the betting public a tremendous chance to make a lot of money. Here are some key factors to consider when betting NFL Preseason football in 2015.

1) Depth

 

This one is obvious. Jo public gets so worked up about the starters and skill position players on certain teams during the regular season. But they’re the same in the preseason. Teams that can go two- and three-deep at the skill positions have a decided advantage over a club that has a few stars that will be sitting after the first or second series. A perfect example of that is a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, who will have Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and possibly Tim Tebow. All four QB’s have NFL game experience and have a distinct advantage over a club like Detroit, who has a solid #1 in Matthew Stafford but a shakey #2 in Kellen Moore and #3 Dan Orlovsky. Orlovsky hasn’t thrown a pass since 2012. Another team that will sport three solid QB’s this preseason are the Dallas Cowboys with a healthy Tony Romo, Brandon Weeden, and Dustin Vaughan. The Cowboys are very high on Vaughan’s skill level.

Quarterbacks are key. NFL Preseason wagers, just like those during the Regular Season, often come down to the last eight minutes of a game. So find teams that have solid depth at QB and/or has some experience or success in the league. They’ll have a tremendous advantage in the closing moments of a game against a third or fourth-string defense.

 

2) Experience

 

I don’t necessarily mean which team has the most grizzled veterans on it. In fact, experience can be a detriment. Most Vets hate preseason games. And teams that have established players in certain positions or roles will often see those guys mail it in during the preseason because they know the games are “meaningless” and already have their “jobs” locked up.

However, experience is a key factor when it comes to coaching systems. Organizations that haven’t experienced much turnaround have a significant advantage over those that are easing in a new brain trust. For example, New England has been running Bill Belichick’s system for many years. They’re going to be much sharper than a team that is changing offenses. Take the Cleveland Browns for example. They are breaking in a rookie offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo. There is going to be a major adjustment period for the Browns this August. Keying on clubs that have familiarity & continuity, and finding clubs that are much less comfortable with their new systems is a big key when wagering on preseason games.

 

3) First-Year Head Coaches with new team (Full Season)

 

We have seven for the 2015-16 season. First year head coaches can be tricky but generally perform very well in their first August home game. A lot of expectations are put on these guys coming in. They want to show the Owner, General Manager, and fans that he is the right man for the job. Setting the tone early means playing to win in the preseason.

Atlanta Falcons: Dan Quinn

Buffalo Bills: Rex Ryan

Oakland Raiders: Jack Del Rio

Chicago Bears: John Fox

Denver Broncos: Gary Kubiak

San Francisco 49ers: Jim Tomsula

NY Jets: Todd Bowles

4) Competition/Philosophy

 

If you know how head coaches were raised and what their philosophies are than you will have a big advantage this August. I know all the personalities/traits of every single HC in the NFL which helps me beat the books in August. I will give you one HC that preaches competition from his players down to the ball boy. That would be Pete Carroll of the Seahawks. His philosophy at USC was to create competition along with a winning attitude. That has continued since moving to the NFL. Pete Carroll is 25-11 ATS in his career when playing in August. On the flip side, Ken Whisenhunt uses the preseason to scout his younger players. His 9-19 ATS career preseason record is very telling.

 

5) Motivation

If you watched the NFL for any number of years you should know that not every Head Coach cares about winning in the NFL Preseason. Different HC’s have different agendas when playing August Football and they all pretty much stick to their beliefs. I gave you two very good examples above that should hold true once again this upcoming season.

Each coach handles the preseason differently. Some put a premium on the second game. For some it’s the third or even the fourth. Some coaches just mess around and tinker with their lineups during the preseason and use it to evaluate their younger guys. But here’s the key – and this is a big difference between the regular season and preseason football – most coaches are forthright about what the game plan will be. All you have to do is a little research from the local beat writers.

 

6) Scheduling

 

The preseason schedule generally isn’t too taxing on the teams and players. But there are quirks. The two teams that play the Hall of Fame Game are a good bet to fade in their next game. If some players are a bit banged up then you can expect those guys to be watching in street clothes. Keep an a close watch on how the players from the Steelers and Vikings come out of the Hall of Fame game.

7) Jeff’s NFL Preseason system to consider

If you are looking for a very solid system/angle in the NFL preseason here is one to consider this year. Teams that begin 0-2 SU over the last ten years are 49-32 against-the-spread in their very next game. Head Coaches/owners tend to get very nervous when they get off to a bad start, even in the preseason, and they have their team ready for that third game. Most teams will take that 0-2 team lightly, thus making those winless teams a smart play by the Wise Guys.

 

Look for more Football articles in the coming weeks. Jeff was ranked No. 2 in the NFL last season at The Sports Monitor of OK, cashing just under 70%. Early Bird Football packages are now on sale.

Jeff Hochman of VegasTopDogs.

Getting Injured Players Back Can Be as Important as a Trade

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Injury

So who is ready to win the World Series? Well, relax , folks, it is only June and baseball is a marathon. Patience and consistency are keys to being the best in baseball, the same two qualities that are necessary in the world of sports wagering.
After all, it is not the hot teams in May and June that win the World Series, it is the team hottest in October. The 2002 and 2003 Angels and Marlins were great examples, along with the 2004 Red Sox and 2006 Cardinals. One year ago this week the San Francisco Giants were riding a six-game losing streak trying to hang on for first place. Cracks in the armor? No, just a short losing streak in the grind of a 162-game season. Or in the case of the 2014 Giants, more games than that as they rolled to another title in October.

Go back to 2010, the start of their title run, the San Francisco Giants (19 to 1 to win the World Series) were in third place in the NL West in mid-June, five games over .500 with a losing road mark. All those teams were less than stellar in the first half of the season before catching fire down the stretch and winning the World Series.
That 2010 Giants team really made their move in July, starting 15-4 after the All Star break. At the end of the first month of the 2002 season, the Angels were 11-14 and no one was talking about them as challengers in October. A year later, on June 1, 2003, the Florida Marlins were 26-32, looking up at the Braves, Phillies and Expos in the NL East. They were just one-game out of last place in the division and 100-to-1 shots to win the World Series. In October, they did.

Many times a roster a team currently has will not be the one they will be using in October, or even July. Managers are still tinkering with lineups, or practicing patience with slumping players hoping they will bust out of it. General Managers are reviewing team needs and plotting trades to upgrade positions and even minor leaguers can come up to help out.
This season, many talented teams have been waiting for key players to return from injuries or trying some new talent. The Reds have ace Johnny Cueto dealing with injuries, while the Detroit Tigers are hoping to get a boost from Justin Verlander and Victor Martinez.

The Miami Marlins probably won’t be repeating their incredible 2003 campaign from worst to first in a few months, but they have a lot of pitching talent banged up in Mat Latos and Jose Fernandez. A pair of hot, healthy arms in the second half of the season can change a pitching staff immensely. And while Ryan Braun’s thump ever get healthy to provide some offense to the punchless Brewers? The Mets would love to help their offense with a trade – or to simply get David Wright healthy.
Maybe we shouldn’t count out the defending champion Giants just yet, either, as former ace Matt Cain is making rehab starts. The Nationals are already a strong team but could get much better soon if Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister return to action.
Another factor is the minor leagues, with teams sometimes able to bring up rookie talent to plug into holes. Sometimes they can be key contributors in the second half, and other times it will be done to showcase the young talent because they want to use the kids as trade bait for an established player. Minor league surprised and getting injured players back can be as important as a trade.

Written by Jim Feist for VegasTopDogs.com

Who is the most important player for a Cowboys playoff run?

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Dallas-Cowboys-3
 
DeMarco Murray has been beyond phenomenal this year with 1845 rushing yds and 13 scores on the ground. His season has done nothing but build an immense amount of confidence in the teams running game, more so than anytime recently.
 
This season, the Dallas Cowboys have had the 3rd most rushing plays in the entire NFL with 508. Murray has been averaging 24.5 carries/game this season. And a total touches of 28.1 a game. Opposed to last year, when Murray was getting just 15.5 carries/game and 19.3 total touches.
 
His pure dominance has blossomed this year, and has become an elite back in the NFL officially this season. Murray has been producing 100-yard rushing games all year for the Cowboys like clockwork with 12 out of 16 games. Demarco Murray carried the team to the amazing season, with his monster games. DeMarco Murray, is obviously the best season of his career.
 
But Murray’s numbers had plummeted in the month of December. Murray had played “human” in December though. At the end of the season, he was putting up just 3.96 yards/carry. And when playing the Colts he had just 58 yds.
 
Think about how Romo has been able to change his style of play, he doesn’t have to throw the ball constantly, as he has had to do in the past. His attempts/game have dropped significantly, from 40.5 in 2012, down to 29 this year. Murray has taken a lot of the offensive burden from Romo.
 
Tony Romo has overcome a back injury that could have easily landed him on the sideline for weeks on end, and Romo, with his turnover issues that so many were concerned about, has only 9 picks and an astounding 7.8% td passing pct. which led the NFL. And has also been the most accurate he has ever been, at 69.9%.
 
The Cowboys used 3 first-round picks to make their O-line what it is currently. Impressively, they have become a dominant squad that has kept Romo up and opened holes like Emmett Smith used to have back in the 90s.
 
Think about this scenario, if Romo ever happened to go down. Could Brandon Weeden lead this team to a playoff win, let alone a Super Bowl? He has shown what he is, when he had played he was awful earlier this season. Going 24-41 with 2 picks. Romo has put them over the top and will be the one who can keep them over the top in the playoffs.
 
Granted during the year, Murray had to play with a broken hand that was surgically repaired and played poorly against the Colts, Romo, in the same game, when so many may have been questioning what would happen when Murray was so questionable as what he would be capable of, Romo took the Boys on his shoulders and picked it up passing the ball at 18-20 with 4 td strikes.
 
So many football fans have awaited for the December downfall. And yet they went 4-0 in the month, and proved many wrong, outscoring opponents 165-79. The month of December where everyone awaits the crumble and the collapse, Romo’s play had soared, while tearing defenses apart in the month, with 12 tds and just 1 int.
 
With the defense adjustments that teams have to make when playing the Cowboys, it makes them that much more difficult to matchup with on the field. They have built a confidence, that they haven’t had in a long time in Dallas. They can rightfully have a a feeling that they can move the ball anyway they want to now.
 
Tony Romo came off off back surgery, and has had one of his best seasons ever. Think about that, a back surgery, and has thrown for 3705 yds, and 34 tds. Romo is having one of his finest seasons in his 11 year career.
 
Romo has been nothing but terrific this season, and keeping him down will be the biggest key for the opponents of the Cowboys this playoff season. Romo is the cog that keeps the starred helmets clicking on all cylinders. He did it vs Detroit, and he played just fairly, wait until he is forced to kick it in.
Written by TonyK from VegasTopDogs.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Is Stephen Curry the best player in the NBA?

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StephCurry

 
 
Stephen Curry and his dominance of the NBA courts this season have been nothing short of awesome. He is a player that should and will remain with this team for a long time. Curry has always been able to shoot the rock with amazing and deadly accuracy. But he has added more to his game. Now he’s getting to the rim more and making plays in the paint as well as breaking ankles with some of his dribbling moves. Drilling 5 and 6 threes in a game, at this point, is astonishingly nothing new for the 26 year old star.
 
When Curry came out of Davidson, I enjoyed watching him in the NCAA tournament, which was where I think the majority of people were likely opened to his skills. Obviously we aren’t and shouldn’t be at all surprised to see him shoot the way he does.
 
Curry can score from anywhere on the court. He can make plays for everyone else. He can create his own shot, and what I love most, is he is a team guy, and doesn’t force things in the game, he doesn’t try to play the hero, he let’s the game just flow. Steph has everything you want from your floor leader, including his great footwork. He can facilitate the game like a legendary PG, with 8 dimes/game.
 
And his defense has gotten better as well. This season he has 17 games with 2 or more steals, I’m mildly surprised at just how good Curry’s defense has been. And with his much improved his defense he can now make the important stops or help out off switches at a higher level. Keeping a belief that his D is just as important, has been excellent, instead of making him solely the offensive specialist, which he has obviously mastered.
 
He does more for his team than any other PG in the league. CP3 and Russel Westbrook as PGs may get a lot of attention, but comparing them to Curry right now, doesn’t come close. Westbrook cannot shoot the ball like Curry. And CP3 simply cannot take a game over like Curry. The argument is invalid, they are both very good PGs and can be talked about that way, but not best. He is doing everything on the court at the elite level.
 
Curry is shooting 39% on 3s, 58% on 2s, 92% on FTs. Averaging 23 ppg, 8 apg, 5 rpg. And has a true shooting of 58% not to mention his PER rating of 26.30 which is higher than LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Blake Griffin, all guys that the media gives an awful lot of attention to over Steph.
 
He has proven with steady leadership, as the Warriors are now 25-5 with only 1 home loss. They have really emerged as one of the league’s true top end teams, and are one to watch for. Curry and Klay Thompson have emerged as the NBA’s best backcourt, with their deadly combination of of speed, athleticism and court smarts that keeps the NBA on their toes, waiting for the explosion from them, when they are on the court.
 
Curry’s ascendance has given Warrior’s fans a much-needed lift on which to have strong belief their future. And play like that has to start from the leaders of the team. And Curry has set the standard. Golden State and their success is because they play as a team. There are no big egos, they don’t play selfish ball, proven by their 4th in NBA ranking in the NBA in ball distribution.
 
There is no question, that Curry is the best PG in basketball right now. With the talent on this Golden State team, Curry knows inconceivably, that when he brings his A-game, there is no one else out there who can beat this team. And yes, that includes the Spurs, who have been very average this season so far. It’s all resting on Curry now, this seems to be his title to lose. I think that the rest of the league is hoping he’s not on that game.
 
Right now, after many years of frustration it’s a good time to be a Warrior fan as they are having a huge winning season.
 
We all have our own concept as to what a best player is. And there really is no right or wrong answer, which is what makes it the greatest conversation in any sport. Stephen Curry has more than proven what he means to his team, with his leadership, maturity on and off the court, his scoring, passing, and all round play have been nothing short of awesome. As for right now, LeBron and Durant may get the media love as the best player, for their own skill sets and what they bring to their teams. but let’s keep a watchful eye on one guy named Stephen Curry Let’s watch him for the next 8-10 years and enjoy, I know I will be.
Written by Mike Anthony from VegasTopDogs.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Can Darren McFadden resurrect NFL Career in 2014, or is it already over?

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Cheerleaders
 
If the 27 year old running back is going to ever turn his 6 year career around, then staying healthy is going to be the main thing for him to accomplish. Darren McFadden at times, has proven to be a very capable player when he’s healthy and on the field. Having games like 171 and 2 TDs and 165 and 3 TDs, he can show what he can do when getting it all together.
 
There was a time, quite awhile ago, when RB Darren McFadden pounded the field for 1,157 YDs and grabbed another 507 in the air, and all in just 13 games in the season. But, as seemingly always, his health continues to be a major concern. He has been knocked on at times, for his inability of elusiveness and little field vision. And he does lack some strength, when getting hit in the backfield, he struggles shaking off that first defender.
 
On the upside of things, his workload over the years has been light. With only 200+ carries only 2 times in his career, and in his 6 seasons, averaging less than 150/season. Workhorse, isn’t the first word that comes to mind for him.
 
But since then, he has never shown that flash of brilliance ever again, from 4 years ago. Let alone, play anymore than 13 games in a season. Truth be told, he has shown potential, and his upside has always been looked at, as a “what he could be” kind of guy, He has to 1st show that he can play a full season, and be productive during the season.
 
After suffering his foot injury back in 2011, it seems Darren McFadden has never regained the play-making ability he had shown when running for an average of 1500+ YDs/season at Arkansas. That was the RB the Raiders fans were hoping to see for a 10+ yr career.
 
In 2014, it’s coming down to this, Darren is either going in 1 of 2 directions, become the player they have anticipated, or he falls to the wayside. And so far it’s been just a nightmare, putting up just 3.4/YPC, with just 1 TD.
 
For a team like the Raiders, who seemingly haven’t had that RB1 since flash in the pan, Napoleon Kaufman back in the 90s. Being only 27 this season, McFadden is still young enough to get things going for the Raiders. Adding 29 year old Maurice Jones-Drew to the lineup has not sparked any fire under McFadden’s feet. Problem of course, is that MJD is no kid, and a poor avg of only 3.4 a carry in 2013, and this year, just slodding along with injuries and not able to get any space to attempt to run, I think the Raiders were hoping to have him reenergize himself as well as their feature back. The last 2 seasons McFadden has only been averaging 3.3 yards per carry, which is nothing to be proud of.
 
Is it possible that Darren McFadden and MJD can become a decent duo on the field. and bring back a deadened running game in Oakland? Or will they continue to fall flat on their faces, and prove it is time to move on and look for younger healthier players? I think it is pretty obvious what is happening in California with them both. The Raiders have worked on their O-line as well, and have some solid run blockers, in Stefen Wisniewski and Donald Penn so you would think they could create some opportunities.
 
Fresh legs are needed at all times for the RB position, and McFadden at his young and unused 27 years should have a lot to offer, with the time he has missed. Mathematically, with his missed time, he only has a full 67 games under his belt, equivalent to 4.1 seasons. But, overall, with the health issues that have plagued him his entire career, I would be surprised to see this tandem become successful. Darren McFadden has had his chance, and he hasn’t capitalized on it. After 6 years of letting the Oakland Raiders down, what else can Darren possibly do to help his cause?
 
I think that Latavius Murray still has the possibility to someday become a feature back for Oakland. If he gets himself together, with his receiving ability as well, he is a big back, and has some speed. But he isn’t getting any touches to get anything moving either. He can be a great asset and should be the direction the Raiders will go in sooner than later. He can be dynamic coming from the back field.
 
McFadden would likely be better off going to a team with a shaky backfield in the NFL action, let him be a guy who can be a change of pace guy, catching some balls out off of some screen plays, he has always been a good pass catcher, 175 receptions in 6 years. And maybe rejuvenate himself elsewhere, I don’t ever see him being able to carry the ball 20+ times a game, and being a loadback, featured for a team. But with his soft hands and his pass catching ability he can thrive as a secondary back to another RB1.
 
McFadden’s days as a RB1 are over, it’s time to think otherwise in Oakland.
Written by TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2014 NY Jets Preview

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SNYJets

Jets Preview by Rob Vinciletti:

Flying high or Stuck on the Run Way The 2014 New York Jets will be the franchise’s upcoming 45th season in the National Football League and the 55th overall. The Jets will attempt to improve their 8–8 regular season record after missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year. The Jets have made several moves this season to improve their team. New York was solid on defense with one of the youngest and most talented front lines. Their weakness which was addressed in the draft was in the defensive back area. They will need to be solid in that are as they have several games this season against teams who will look to throw the ball. So they must get pressure on the Opposing Quarterbacks so that their back field does not get exposed early on while they work out the growing pains. Especially with what looks to be the worst pass defense in the league. On Offense that Jets were a mess at times as they were turnover prone and suffered through the ups and downs of a then rookie Qb in Geno Smith. The Jets this season decided to stick with Smith as he downs have a strong arm and did shoe flashes of big play ability despite the lack of depth at the receiver position. This season in an attempt to limit his turnovers, the Jets brought in star running back Chris Johnson who will team with Chris Ivory to give the Jets the slasher and power back tandem that many teams covet. They will be able to stabilize the passing game with a solid run game. The Jets them brought in Eric Decker who was solid last season in Denver and drafted a bevy of receivers in the draft. The best addition and the hidden gem of the draft is Jace Amaro a high energy tight end out of Texas Tech who is a functional blocker and exceptional route runner. Amaro has been compared to Wes Welker when discussing his route running skills.

While he plays tight end he lines up like Saints Tight End Jimmy Graham in the slot where he caught over 90 of his 100+ receptions. He has break away ability and should rack up some nice yards after the catch numbers as well as giving the Jets another solid red zone option that they did not have last season. Coach Ryan who barely was able to hold on to his job last season, appears to be on more stabile ground right now as the Jets .500 record was mostly looked at as an over achievement. This year while he isn’t talking Super Bowl, he is commenting on the AFC East and his confidence that the New England Patriots could be passed for the Division crown. The AFC East appears to have a lot of parity so it remains to be seen if the Jets can Mesh well together and take off, of whether they will be stuck on the run way. Stay Tuned as this looks to be one of the more interesting teams in the NFL This season. Below is the Jets 2014 Schedule, roster, draft picks and player movement grids. 2014 Season Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Thursday Aug. 7 Indianapolis Colts (Preseason) MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 7:00 p.m. ET CBS 2 NY Saturday Aug. 16 at Cincinnati Bengals (Preseason) Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH 7:00 p.m. ET CBS 2 NY Friday Aug. 22 New York Giants (Preseason) MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 7:30 p.m. ET CBS 2 NY Thursday Aug. 28 at Philadelphia Eagles (Preseason) Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA 7:00 p.m. ET CBS 2 NY Sunday Sept. 7 Oakland Raiders MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET

CBS Sunday Sept. 14 at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI 4:25 p.m. ET CBS Monday Sept. 22 Chicago Bears MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 8:30 p.m. ET ESPN Sunday Sept. 28 Detroit Lions MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET FOX Sunday Oct. 5 at San Diego Chargers Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA 4:25 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Oct. 12 Denver Broncos MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Thursday Oct. 16 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA 8:25 p.m. ET CBS/NFLN Sunday Oct. 26 Buffalo Bills MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Nov. 2 at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Nov. 9 Pittsburgh Steelers MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Nov. 16 — BYE — —

Sunday Nov. 23 at Buffalo Bills Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Monday Dec. 1 Miami Dolphins MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 8:30 p.m. ET ESPN Sunday Dec. 7 at Minnesota Vikings TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Dec. 14 at Tennessee Titans LP Field, Nashville, TN 4:05 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Dec. 21 New England Patriots MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Sunday Dec. 28 at Miami Dolphins Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL 1:00 p.m. ET CBS Quarterbacks •3 Tajh Boyd •5 Matt Simms •7 Geno Smith •1 Michael Vick Running backs •40 Tommy Bohanon FB •23 Mike Goodson •25 Alex Green •33 Chris Ivory •21 Chris Johnson •29 Bilal Powell •35 Daryl Richardson •47 Chad Young FB Wide receivers •18 Michael Campbell •87 Eric Decker •82 Quincy Enunwa •81 Shaquelle Evans •19 Jacoby Ford •10 Clyde Gates •15 Saalim Hakim •84 Stephen Hill •11 Jeremy Kerley •86 David Nelson •17 Greg Salas •16 Jalen Saunders Tight ends •88 Jace Amaro •89 Colin Anderson •85 Jeff Cumberland •48 Terrence Miller •83 Chris Pantale •44 Zach Sudfeld Offensive linemen •75 Oday Aboushi G •65 William Campbell G •66 Willie Colon G •70 Dakota Dozier G/T •60 D’Brickashaw Ferguson T •61 Patrick Ford G •63 Dalton Freeman C •68 Breno Giacomini T •71 Ben Ijalana T •74 Nick Mangold C •79 Brent Qvale T •72 Caleb Schlauderaff G •67 Brian Winters G •76 Markus Zusevics T Defensive linemen •99 T. J. Barnes NT •78 Leger Douzable DE •93 Kenrick Ellis NT •92 Tevita Finau DE •64 Anthony Grady DE •94 Damon Harrison NT •62 Kerry Hyder DE •91 Sheldon Richardson DE •96 Muhammad Wilkerson DE Linebackers •95 Antwan Barnes OLB •54 Nick Bellore ILB •98 Quinton Coples OLB •55 Jermaine Cunningham OLB •56 Demario Davis ILB •58 Troy Davis OLB •48 Steele Divitto ILB •– A. J. Edds OLB •51 IK Enemkpali OLB •57 Tim Fugger OLB •53 Jeremiah George ILB •52 David Harris ILB •50 Garrett McIntyre OLB •97 Calvin Pace OLB •49 Trevor Reilly OLB •77 Zach Thompson OLB Defensive backs •39 Antonio Allen FS •32 Josh Bush SS •42 Brandon Dixon CB •34 Ras-I Dowling CB •38 Brandon Hardin SS •37 Jaiquawn Jarrett FS •31 Ellis Lankster CB •26 Dawan Landry SS •45 Rontez Miles SS •25 Calvin Pryor FS •43 Dexter McDougle CB •27 Dee Milliner CB •22 Johnny Patrick CB •24 Dimitri Patterson CB •41 Jeremy Reeves CB •36 Lowell Rose CB •30 Darrin Walls CB •20 Kyle Wilson CB Special teams •2 Nick Folk K •46 Tanner Purdum LS •4 Ryan Quigley P New Arrivals •The Jets signed Colin Anderson, T. J. Barnes, Tevita Finau, Michael Campbell, Dwight Jones, Dalton Freeman, Tim Fugger, and •Rontez Miles to reserve/future contracts on December 31, 2013. •The Jets signed Ras-I Dowling to a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2014. •The Jets signed Patrick Ford and Lowell Rose to reserve/future contracts on January 8, 2014.

•The Jets signed Jacolby Ashworth and Nick Taylor to reserve/future contracts on January 14, 2014. •The Jets signed Brandon Hardin to a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2014. •The Jets signed Johnny Patrick off waivers on March 5, 2014. •The Jets signed Breno Giacomini and Eric Decker on March 12, 2014. •The Jets signed Michael Vick on March 21, 2014. •The Jets signed Jeremy Reeves on March 28, 2014. •The Jets signed Jacoby Ford[16] and Dimitri Patterson on April 1, 2014. •The Jets signed Chris Johnson on April 16, 2014. •The Jets signed undrafted free agents Tevon Conrad, Steele Divitto, Anthony Grady, Kerry Hyder, Terrence Miller, Brent Qvale, •Zach Thompson, and Chad Young on May 11, 2014. •The Jets claimed Daryl Richardson off waivers on May 16, 2014. •The Jets signed A. J. Edds and Markus Zusevics on May 19, 2014 Departures · The Jets released Antonio Cromartie on March 9, 2014. ·

The Jets released Santonio Holmes on March 10, 2014. · The Jets released Mark Sanchez on March 21, 2014. · The Jets released Tevon Conrad on May 16, 2014. · The Jets released Dwight Jones and Jacolby Ashworth on May 19, 2014. Free Agents Position Player Free agency tag Date signed/released 2014 team Notes LB Nick Bellore RFA March 10, 2014 New York Jets CB Aaron Berry UFA June 2, 2014 Cleveland Browns G Willie Colon UFA March 19, 2014 New York Jets WR Josh Cribbs UFA TE Jeff Cumberland UFA March 7, 2014 New York Jets LB Jermaine Cunningham UFA January 13, 2014 New York Jets DE Leger Douzable UFA March 12, 2014 New York Jets G Vladimir Ducasse UFA March 24, 2014 Minnesota Vikings PK Nick Folk UFA February 28, 2014 New York Jets QB David Garrard UFA RB John Griffin ERFA WR Vidal Hazelton ERFA FB Lex Hilliard UFA T Austin Howard UFA March 12, 2014 Oakland Raiders CB Ellis Lankster UFA March 5, 2014 New York Jets LB Josh Mauga UFA LB Garrett McIntyre RFA April 9, 2014 New York Jets LB Calvin Pace UFA March 16, 2014 New York Jets S Ed Reed UFA TE Konrad Reuland ERFA RB Darius Reynaud UFA QB Matt Simms ERFA January 13, 2014 New York Jets CB Isaiah Trufant RFA March 12, 2014 Cleveland Browns CB Darrin Walls RFA March 5, 2014 New York Jets TE Kellen Winslow II UFA RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, FT: Franchise tag Class of 2014- NY. Jets Draft Picks RD PK

Selection Player Position College Note 1 18 18 Calvin Pryor Safety Louiville 2 17 49 Jace Amaro Tight end Texas Tech 3 16 80 Dexter McDougle Cornerback Maryland 4 4 104 Jalen Saunders Wide receiver Oklahoma From Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Darrelle Revis. 15 115 Shaquelle Evans Wide receiver UCLA 37 137 Dakota Dozier Offensive tackle Furman Compensatory selection. 5 14 154 Jeremiah George Linebacker Iowa State 6 19 195 Brandon Dixon Cornerback Northwest Missouri State 33 209 Quincy Enunwa Wide receiver Nebraska Compensatory selection. 34 210 IK Enemkpali Defensive end Louisiana Tech Compensatory selection. 37 213 Tajh Boyd Quarterback Clemson Compensatory selection. 7 18 233 Trevor Reilly Outside linebacker Utah In closing we hope you enjoyed the MLB Preview. Check back weekly for insightful Previews, systems and Original content that wont be seen elsewhere. and In 2012 Rob was ranked #1 in MLB on some of the most prestigious Leader boards in and networks in the country and followed that up by hitting 73% on Top plays in Baseball last season which was another profitable season. This year MLB And NHL/NBA Playoffs have Cashed big again. In NFL +CFB Combined Rob is 56 games over .500 the past 5 seasons. Check Robs page daily for the finest Data and analysis in the industry RV

VegasTopDogs PAC 12 Preview

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We head on out to the west coast to check on the PAC 12 and breakdown who can challenge the Ducks of Oregon.

NORTH

OREGON DUCKS – Who knows how things would have played out last year if Marcus Mariota didn’t get injured. So we will take him at his word he is ready, and let the rest of the PAC 12 try to slow down this offense. October 11th is a huge road test vs South favorites UCLA. Ducks get Stanford at home with revenge and if they take care of business, a National Championship is possible.

STANFORD – Was as good as any team in the nation last year. But with just 12 returning starters, I don’t see 11 wins again. Tough schedule going on the road in the PAC 12 with 5 games where 4 of those teams combined to go 26-10 in conference play. They took care of Arizona State, Washington, Oregon and UCLA at home. They will all be licking their chops looking for revenge. Can’t leave out Notre Dame on the road.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES – I like where Sark has taken this program. I think new HC Chris Peterson will continue growing this team. What better coach to come in with a talented roster than a guy who went 92-12 at a mid-major, and had his Boise team get a pair of Fiesta Bowl wins. Normally I think teams lose a step when a new coach takes over, especially when they don’t even have their returning QB. But I feel this situation is different because of Peterson. The guy always get the most out of his players. Players who were probably a little below the talent he inherits here in Seattle. I can see them matching last years 9 wins.

WASHINGTON STATE – I’m putting the Cougars here. I like Mike Leach. He took over a crap program and looks like he has them on the right track. He won 3 games his first year with a garbage roster. 6 wins and bowl last year. Now in year 3 he has more of his scheme guys. 14 starters back, including 8 on offense. I think he can match LY’s win total and if things really go well, get 8 or 9 wins.

OREGON STATE – Sorry to say this, but I think it is time for HC Mike Riley to move on. 14 years is a long time. 5-7, 3-9, 9-4, 7-6. Not exactly setting the world on fire the last 4 years. The PAC 12 is getting to be a very deep, talented league. Maybe they catch fire and start 6-1 again and don’t lose 5 straight. I doubt it.

CAL BEARS – Can’t really get any worse for 2nd year man Sonny Dykes in Berkeley. They had a bunch of injuries on their way to a 1-11 season. They now have 15 starters back, 9 on offense. Granted their QB is a sophomore coming off a shoulder injury behind a poor OL. Bears have lost 16 of 18 in PAC 12 play so I really can’t see a huge jump here.

SOUTH

UCLA BRUINS – You know I like my HC’s entering their 3rd years. Jim Mora gets 17 starters back including Heisman hopefull QB Brett Hundley. This is a talented group. They lost back to back roadies last year to Oregon and Stanford. They get both at home here. They have to beat at least one of those teams if they think they are serious in their title hopes. The offense put up 37ppg and should be just as explosive and can make up for a weaker defense.

USC TROJANS – I do love me some Sark. I thought his hire to Washington was a great move, and coming home where he was a OC was just a matter of time. This is USC. There is NFL talent up and down this roster. Now they have a guy who will gel that together. It is his first season in LA, so I don’t expect perfection. The defense is always good and with Sark working his QB magic, the Trojans could steal the south.

ARIZONA and ARIZONA STATE – I will be honest. You can probably combine these two and not beat the teams above them here. I can’t really find a clear edge for putting one above the other. Logic says hey, Arizona State has a great QB who can put up points in a hurry (39.7ppg). In the next breath I see that the Wildcats have 2 returning defensive starters in a league that is getting some excellent QB play. Arizona is the more experienced bunch and should probably win more games. But I have zero faith in Rich Rodriguez as a HC. You will always get the truth with me. Maybe after watching some film I have find an edge or weakness here. For now, I think they are the second tier of the south.

UTAH UTES – Kyle Whittingham must be thinking why the heck did we come to this conference. Things haven’t been easy in Salt Lake in PAC 12 play. Back to back 5-7 seasons, 9-18 in league play the last 3 years. I think they Utes are in over their heads. I have said it before and will say it again. This conference is rapidly improving. The only reason Utah isn’t in the basement is because of the team behind them.

COLORADO – Oh the Buffaloes. Mike MacIntyre enters year 2 looking for more improvement. He took over a 1 win team and tripled that to 4. With 16 starters back, the roster is stacked with experienced players. I will tell you know that I see some real value betting these guys in spots this year.

Be sure to check VegasTopDogs.com  as we head to the SEC Conference next — SEAN HIGGS

New NFL Coaches for 2014

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Coaching in football, more than in any other sport, is essential to a team’s success. The Harbaugh brothers are flying high on different coasts, one going to three straight NFC title games and the other winning the Super Bowl (over the other brother, no less). New York fans have called for Tom Coughlin’s ouster a few times over the last six years, but he has helped deliver two Super Bowl titles, while Bill Belichick has had one losing season (his first, 2000) since taking over the Patriots, taking them to five Super Bowls. In the NBA, any team that has Lebron, or a trio of Duncan/Parker/Ginobili, for instance, would be a very good team, and likely a dominant one. In baseball, a team is essentially only as good as its starting pitching (or payroll). Joe Torre won four World Series with the Yankees, but many forget he was run out of town after coaching the Mets and Cardinals to poor seasons. Football is very different. There are so many players involved on the field that it requires an excellent coach and coaching staff to teach, motivate and organize into a successful unit.

Think for a moment about football on-field personnel: 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense, special teams players, and even specialized personnel, such as third-and-long defensive backs or running backs used only in short yardage situations. It takes hours of time, patience and talent to organize players into an effective group. As preseason kicks off this weekend, here are some teams that made coaching changes to try and upgrade weak areas. Lions: After underachieving and playing sloppy football under Jim Schwartz, Detroit has a new coach in Jim Caldwell. The mild mannered Caldwell won a Super Bowl two years ago as offensive coordinator with the Ravens. He has been a head coach before, too, taking the Colts to the Super Bowl, a loss to the Saints. He started 14-0 with the Colts, then got fired after a 2-14 campaign sans Peyton Manning. For the record, he does not have an impressive college resume, going 12-52 in conference play as head coach at Wake Forest. Browns: The revolving door in Cleveland continues! Toledo native Rob Chudzinski has brought in last year, then fired, so Mike Pettine steps in. He was the Bills defensive coordinator. He was not even on the Browns’ original list of candidates, but emerged as others either took themselves out of consideration or were hired elsewhere. He walks into a tornado.

The Browns were embarrassed by candidates who kept turning them down and he’ll have to deal in August with the Johnny Manziel media circus. At least he inherits a team with some good young talent. The offense was 11th in the NFL in passing with third-year WR Josh Gordon (1,646 yards, 18.9 ypc). Cleveland found a QB in 28-year old Brian Hoyer (5 TDs, 3 picks) who led them to a 3-0 run before blowing out his knee, a former Tom Brady backup. And the defense made huge strides, 8th in pass yards allowed, 18th against the run. The Browns have gone 31-15-2 under the total the last three years. Will that trend continue? Vikings: Minnesota shifts gears with the hiring of Mike Zimmer. He was the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator. At first glance you wonder what is going on here. The Bengals? A team that flames out every postseason? Who wants anyone from that coaching tree? On the other hand, Zimmer is a respected and successful coordinator.

The Bengals have been great on defense and he did a similar turnaround with the Dallas Cowboys defense from 2000 through ’06. Zimmer was interviewed for several head coaching positions in recent years, but his blunt style was at odds with owners and GMs looking for diplomats and skilled media handlers. Bill Belichick has boring, blunt press conferences, but no one questions his coaching ability. Zimmer was DC for the Falcons when Bobby Petrino jumped ship in 2007and had this to say: “Petrino came in and resigned and said he would talk to us all at a later date. He’s a gutless [bleep]. You can quote that.” Wow!

The Vikings might not win just yet, but don’t expect sugar-coated press conferences from this new coach. Bucs: The NFC North is moving south! That is, former Bears coach Lovie Smith is the new coach in Tampa Bay and brings former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier in as defensive coordinator. Despite some train-wreck numbers last year (32nd in passing, 22nd in rushing), there is actually talent to build with. QB Mike Glennon was forced into a tough situation and played well with 19 TDs, 9 picks and the draft adds Texas A&M WR Mike Evans and TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins (Washington), two of the top 38 picks selected in May. Smith knows defense and inherits a talented young front line that has been battling injuries. He turns the offense over to former Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who has a terrific record of developing QBs. This team lost to the Saints by 2, at the Jets by 1, won at the Lions as a +7 dog and lost to the eventual champion Seahawks 27-24 – on the road!

Written by Jim Feist of VegasTopDogs.com