Online betting cappers are excited that the football betting season is finally underway. We’ll get a taste of the action on Thursday as the college season kicks off and the NFL betting will commence a week later with the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers contest. 

Lost in the shuffle a little bit has been Major League Baseball but as the calendar now flips to September, there are some juicy races to keep an eye on.

A lot of people who were making their MLB predictions a month ago thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers might not even win the NL West. For most of the season, they had been on cruise control with a comfortable lead but they had been struggling since the All-Star Break. The Dodgers needed a boost at the trade deadline and although they didn’t get much of one, they definitely made some key additions this week.
The Dodgers picked up Jim Thome, who will serve as a good lefthanded bat off the bench and pitcher Jon Garland, who will make his first start with the Dodgers on Thursday. 

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers

Billy Buckner vs Jon Garland

Jon Garland was expected to pitch on Thursday night in the series-ending contest but what he didn’t realize is that he’d be pitching for the other team. Garland was schedule to start for the Diamondbacks this Thursday but after the Dodgers claimed him, he will now make his schedule start again – just for the opposite team.

Garland has been so-so this season but he’s off one of his best starts of the season. On the whole, he’s just 8-11 with a 4.29 ERA but he’s off an outing where he went seven innings and gave up just five hits and no runs.

Since the All-Star Break, Garland is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and he’s walked just 12 batters while striking out 39. He’ll take on former teammate Billy Buckner on Thursday.

Buckner has been getting rocked of late and over his last four starts, he’s been one of the worst pitchers in baseball. Buckner has given up 26 earned runs in his last four starts (18.1 innings pitched), which puts his ERA at an unhealthy 12.93. He’s given up 34 hits and six walks in those four starts.

Since the Dodgers are at home with the better pitcher on the mound, they are the play tonight.

Baseball Sports Betting Pick: Dodgers

Not only do sports bettors have the best football betting information in the free pick and articles section of OffshoreInsiders.com, but now the loyal Canadian bettors can have the same peace of mind that Americans have had for years.  

It has been a monumental year for the Bodog brand and its licensees, and Bodog Europe is excited to officially announce yet another key milestone in the brand’s history: the launch of the Bodog experience to the Canadian market.  Perhaps fittingly, Bodog Europe’s launch of Bodog.ca coincides with the 15-year anniversary of the Bodog brand, for the first time giving Canadian players the ability to cash in on some hot new promotions just in time for the remainder of the CFL season and the beginning of the NFL and NHL seasons. 

Bodog Europe is lead by industry veteran and Managing Director Keith McDonnell, and is regulated and licensed by the Antigua & Barbuda Financial Services Regulatory Commission, Directorate of Offshore Gaming.  McDonnell noted, “We’re extremely excited to be able to bring the unique Bodog experience to Canadian players.  Canadians are passionate sports fans and are extremely savvy consumers.  The Bodog brand is known world-over for its unmatched customer service and here at Bodog Europe we put the player’s experience and entertainment ahead of all else – I’m confident that we’re going to quickly earn Canadians’ loyalty and trust.” 

Bodog.ca offers Canadian players safe, secure and simple access to world-class sports betting, a thriving and dynamic poker community, and a full Vegas-style casino with more than 80 web-based and downloadable games. Bodog Europe offers its players a simple, feature-rich sports betting product, offering a vast selection of sports betting opportunities across all major leagues and featuring live betting and an 80+ track Racebook. The Bodog.ca Sportsbook also has a particular focus on Canada‘s most popular sports: NHL Hockey and CFL Football.

Bodog Europe – the upstart Bodog brand licensee already taking the UK by storm with its European-facing site bodog.co.uk – had originally secured the rights to the world-famous “Bodog” brand for use in Europe only.  However, when Bodog Europe Managing Director Keith McDonnell learned of BodogBrand.com’s willingness to entertain proposals to license the brand for use within Canada, he was quick to act, and secured the exclusive Canadian license. 

“The Bodog brand is celebrating its fifteenth year anniversary this year – an absolutely remarkable pedigree and testament to its enduring values in an industry that quickly kills off mediocrity.  The brand has gone through quite an evolution during that long history, and Bodog Europe is looking forward to carrying the torch forward for at least another fifteen years of world-class customer service, unbeatable promotions, and, above all – fun.”

To learn more about Bodog Europe’s Canadian site, visit http://www.bodog.ca/welcome/1861245.

About Bodog

The Bodog licensing enterprise (www.bodogbrand.com) is a branded venture capital and licensing organization with its head office in the Caribbean nation of Antigua. BodogBrand.com holds the global rights to license the Bodog brand across all sectors, and its mandate is to partner with and/or license the brand to carefully-selected licensees to accelerate partner growth while simultaneously extending the Bodog brand into new and adjacent markets. BodogBrand.com currently licenses the Bodog brand to a variety of brand licensees for an array of products and services worldwide, including online gaming, music, and other entertainment properties. For more information, visit www.bodogbrand.com.

About Bodog Europe

Bodog Europe (www.bodog.co.uk and www.bodog.ca) is the exclusive licensee of the “Bodog” brand for online gaming services within Europe and Canada, offering world-class sports betting, a thriving and dynamic poker community, and a full Las Vegas-style casino with more than 80 web-based and downloadable games. Bodog Europe does not offer gaming services within the United States of America and is regulated and overseen by the Antigua and Barbuda Financial Services Regulatory Commission, Directorate of Offshore Gaming, which was  designated and recognized by the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport as a trusted, highly-regulated, “white listed” jurisdiction effective Nov. 3, 2008. For more information, visit www.bodog.co.uk/welcome/1861245 or www.bodog.ca/welcome/1861245

It’s South Carolina and NC State on national television. The ESPN college football point spreads has North Carolina State -5. Sportsbooks have the total at 46.

Here is the handicapping preview for winning compiled by the best professional handicappers.

The USC Gamecocks have a recent history of getting out of the gate much quicker. When the teams met last year to open the season, NC State got shutout 10-0.

South Carolina has won nine straight openers and head coach Steve Spurrier is 18-1 straight up in season-opening games.

The old ball coach claims he will stick with one quarterback tonight: sophomore Stephen Garcia.

Two starters on USC’s front four are suspended: Clifton Geathers and Ladi Ajiboye. NC State also has a strong defensive front, but is very young at LB and defensive backs.

The Wofpack lost one of their best linebackers in June, when Nate Irving suffered serious injuries in a car accident.

Couch potatoes will want to note that it’s Erin Andrews returning to the sidelines for the first time since she was secretly videotaped nude in a hotel room.

The four starters in NC State’s secondary have a combined 14 starts. DeAndre Morgan is out with an ankle injury. He would be the most experienced if healthy.

Against the spread records: The Wolfpack are 7-0 on grass, but 7-19 their last 26 as a favorite.

Top expert pick on this game: The Duke, Jonathan Mardukas built up a large scorephone following over the last dozen or so years.  With a database that goes back to 1980 the MasterLockLine say he is the top ranked college and pro football handicapper EVER. It’s his biggest opening night release ever in collegiate football, a 1 Billion Star release on the South Carolina/NC State side and it’s among many top service picks on the MasterLockLine. Click now to purchase at OffshoreInsiders.com.

Important betting information: Today’s free football pick, college football tipsheet, and the NFL betting notes for tonight are up.

It’s time for American tackle football, the regular season edition. One of the most appealing games for football bettors is North Texas at Ball State. The Cardinals are a 16.5 point favorite at Bet Online.

At GodsTips, we are going with North Texas and the points. Here is the football betting analysis:

Remember one of our most important Golden Rules and one that the square player cannot grasp is this concept: uncertainty is the enemy of the oddsmaker and hence the ally of the sharp player.

The sportsbooks despise the fact that both teams are debuting new QBs. It’s certainly a downgrade for the big chalk and all indications are that it’s an upgrade for the significant underdogs.

North Texas QB Riley Dodge did run the same offense system in high school.  He can only improve a Mean Green offense that was dead last nationally each of the last two years in offense.

Those numbers are a bit deceptive as North Texas has played a BCS heavy non-conference schedule during that span including Oklahoma, LSU, and Kansas State.

Dodge is no slouch. He is a former Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year in the capital of high school football Texas.

On the other hand, Ball State‘s Kelly Page must replace NFL draft pick Nate Davis. They must also supplant four starters on the offensive front; three were first team All-MAC. The Cardinals offensive line has just one experienced starter in left guard Mike Switzer.

To top it all off, Ball State also has a new coach in Stan Parrish, so they are a team in transition.

North Texas also has their share of team speed that will give Ball State fits. In addition, they return running back Cam Montgomery, who rushed for 928 yards, so they have some balance to keep defenses honest against their Blue Chip signal caller.

Ball State has to use this game as a tune-up with so many new players and a new coach. North Texas is fighting for respectability, so keeping the score close is very much a building block for them.

While not quite a “Golden Rule” as stated above, a very strong and profitable rule of thumb is teams coming off one of their best years ever are great fades early the next year. Rutgers last year is a perfect example.

Well Ball State is coming off their first undefeated regular season ever. There will be a big hangover versus a team that only wants to keep the score close.

While we can’t go so far as to bet this game on the moneyline, there are plenty of ingredients for an upset.

Free pick: North Texas +16.5.

For more information: Leading the list of NFL and college football picks for tonight is Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy, who is 18-7 already in football. Get 10 NFL and college football winners now, plus five MLB. That’s 15 winners for $17. Click now to purchase at OffshoreInsiders.com

Sports bettors have NFL betting information for Thursday night’s preseason action. The best football picks against the Vegas odds are up.

Troy-Bowling Green

Against the spread records: The Trojans are 15-5 their last 20 on grass, 7-3 as road favorites and on an 18-8 overall run. The Falcons have dropped 14-of-16 at home, yet are 7-2 their last nine in the rare roll of home underdog.

Top expert pick on this game: Nobody is better nor hotter than GodsTips. Already 18-7 this football season including the Preseason Game of the Year on Detroit outright over Indianapolis, has two NFL Wise Guys, six NFL majors, and two college football Majors including on Troy and Bowling Green. Plus MLB and any late steam is included.

GodsTips is almost unanimously accepted at the top football handicapper of all-time.

Get GodsTips five-day pass for the Labor Day weekend for just $67 or get tonight’s winners for $17. Click now to purchase

South Carolina-NC State

Handicapping notes: South Carolina has won nine straight openers and head coach Steve Spurrier is 18-1 straight up in season-opening games. Two starters on USC’s front four are suspended: Clifton Geathers and Ladi Ajiboye. NC State also has a strong defensive front, but is very young at LB and defensive backs.

Against the spread records: The Wolfpack are 7-0 on grass, but 7-19 their last 26 as a favorite.

Top expert pick on this game: From the MasterLockLine which is the power of 620 sports services behind every selection: The Duke, Jonathan Mardukas built up a large scorephone following over the last dozen or so years.  With a database that goes back to 1980 the MasterLockLine say he is the top ranked college and pro football handicapper EVER. It’s his biggest opening night release ever in collegiate football, a 1 Billion Star release on the South Carolina/NC State side. Click now to purchase    

North Texas-Ball State

Handicapping notes: Both teams are debuting new QBs. However North Texas QB Riley Dodge did run the same offense system in high school. Ball State‘s Kelly Page must replace NFL draft pick Nate Davis. They must also replace four starters on the offensive front, three were first team All-MAC.

The Mean Green was dead last nationally each of the last two years in offense.  

Against the spread records: The Mean Green are 8-20 in September and 8-21 as road double digit dogs. They’ve lost 20-of-26 outside the conference but are actually 4-1 their last five on grass. The Cardinals sport a 10-1 September record and have covered 8-of-13 as a favorite.

Utah State-Utah

Handicapping notes: Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham has not publicly said who his staring QB will be though the team and coaches know. JC transfer Terrance Cain and freshman Jordan Wynn are battling to take over following the Utes best ever season.

Against the spread records: The Aggies are 9-19 outside the conference. The Utes have won 7-of-8 on field turf and are 20-6 as double digit favorites. They have also covered 25-of-34 non-conference games. 

Oregon-Boise State

Handicapping notes: This is the biggest game in the history of Boise‘s famed Smurf Turf. Boise could be a BCS spoiler, but they face their biggest hurdle opening night. It’s a big revenge game for Oregon which was thrashed by the Broncos last.

It’s the first game for Ducks new head coach Chip Kelly. Boise though is minus two key run stoppers from last year.

Against the spread records: The Ducks are 14-6 on turf and 11-5 as road underdogs. The Broncos are a sensational 15-3 their last 18 laying 3.5-10 including eight straight covers at home. Overall, they are 40-17 on the blue turf.

Top expert pick on this game: True the NFL card is even bigger, but a superstar handicapper has a huge bet on this game. Superstar Stevie Vincent is the founder of revolutionary forensic sports handicapping. He is 14-4 this football season. Thursday his Pro Football Preseason GAME of the HALF CENTURY is on the Eagles/Jets. He has three NFLX, a collegiate football winner highlighting the Thursday card. Get his three-day pass for $99 or daily pass for $40. Click now to purchase