USL Championship side Louisville City FC will open its new venue, Lynn Family Stadium, on July 12 with a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and fans in the stands, sources have told ESPN.
The second tier USL Championship has been shut down since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Along with other matches scheduled for that weekend, the USL will be the first U.S. sports league to play matches in its home markets.
The game will also be played in front of fans after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gave his approval for the venue to operate at up to 50 percent of its 15,304-seat capacity, though the actual attendance will likely be less than that.
Social distancing and other safety protocols will be in effect for those in attendance.
A formal announcement is expected later on Tuesday, while the full USL Championship schedule will be announced in the coming days.
Construction was completed on the $65 million facility prior to the start of the 2020 USL Championship season, but its home opener — scheduled for Saturday, April 11 against Birmingham Legion FC — was postponed due to the pandemic.
The stadium will utilize a health and safety protocol called VenueShield that will be implemented by operators ASM Global.
In addition to social distancing, fans will have to pass a temperature screening prior to entering the venue, and wear a face covering while inside the stadium.
The program also calls for touch points to be consistently sanitized, clear bags only will be allowed, and the venue will operate cash-free.
Concessions will be in separately wrapped containers and plexiglass barriers will separate cashiers from customers.
One major step for making successful bets on your favourite sports is by finding a legal online bookmarker. Numerous bookies are released every year, some with the right intentions while others might be scammers.
So if you are searching for a bookmarker, ensure they have the proper license for operating their business. Other than that, new bookies are known to come with the best odds and display the most popular and recent events. They also understand the competitive market, hence making sure they deliver top services. In this guide, we will list some of the best and latest legal online bookies. Our list only contains licensed and trusted sportsbook.
Vulkan Bet
Vulkan Bet is a highly respected bookmarker reputable for offering the best sports odds as well as bonuses for regular customers. This is a must-have for any serious bettor searching for a site that will make them feel right at home.
Vulkan Bet allows players to wager on copious events for different sports such as football, baseball, tennis, golf, horseracing, basketball, ice hockey, and so much more. The platform regularly updates the scoreboard as well as informs bettors of upcoming events.
One significant advantage of this site is it allows in-game betting. This means you can wager on your preferred sports while the game is ongoing. This is an even bigger bonus as you get to change your predictions if something occurs.
Besides sports, Vulkan Bet is home to casino games as well as esports bets. Thus, you can wager not only on common sports disciplines, but also electronic sports like DOTA 2, Counter-Strike, and Rainbow Six among many more. The platform allows you to follow on live events of such games and even predict the score of your favourite teams or players. Vulkan Bet always provides the best odds for different tournaments beforehand, so you can check on them before betting.
Betwinner
Established in 2018, Betwinner is another recent bookmarker. It has managed to catch the eyes of many bettors thanks to its high odds and bonuses. The casino has a license from the Government of Curacao. It offers thousands of live events almost every day from over 55 sporting activities. Some of the sports tournaments you can follow from Betwinner include NBA, La Liga, Euroleague, etc.
The minimum deposit needed for betting in this sportsbook is €0.20. Moreover, the platform provides multiple banking methods with vast currency options.
BetRegal
BetRegal is a European bookie, which was established in 2017. The company operates from Malta and has a license from the UK Gambling Commission. This platform is customer-centred, thus making sure that all of their punters receive an exceptional betting experience.
The interface is filled with gold and purple colours, which are easy to the eyes. You only need a minimum of $10 to bet on this website. The maximum wager depends on your budget and the type of sports you are betting on. Furthermore, BetRegal is a legal gambling platform trying to make its way to the global through its plenty of live events and user-friendly design.
Why Choose a New Legal Online Bookie
Picking a new sportsbook is not an easy task. However, it depends on what the bettor desires. The reasons might be numerous, but you can enjoy several general benefits from a nice looking interface to better odds. Below are some of the reasons for finding a new bookmarker.
Better Odds: The industry is fierce and packed with bookies of all kinds. That is why new betting sites will try anything to appeal to customers. One effective way of doing so is by providing high and better odds than their competitors.
Bigger Bonuses:Just like better odds, new sites tend to give lucrative bonuses to their punters. Newcomers want punters to consider them, hence reward them with frequent bonuses and promotional offers. Such bonuses are meant to increase your winnings with free money other than your funds. Besides, who does not like a juicy bonus that is not offered by any other site?
Lovely Interface: So many aspects contribute to a punter’s betting experience. This includes things like bonuses, odds, payouts, customer service, etc. Apart from these elements, a user interface plays a big part as well. If the platform has a fresh look with inviting graphics, the chances are that customers will flood it. Moreover, it has to be user-friendly to everyone, including newbies.
There are plenty of bookies on the market, and new ones are being born every year. As a result, scammers might emerge amidst and give some players their worst nightmare. However, this does not have to be you. Before you pick a platform, make sure that it has a license from appropriate authorities. What’s more, make sure to take advantage of the marvellous benefits that these fresh sites come with.
The idea of hosting a WSOP Online Bracelet Series during the Covid era serves a purpose. But the watered-down, 85-event schedule is a huge swing and a miss. And the long-term effect to the World Series of Poker, and poker in general, could replicate that of Major League Baseball’s declining popularity over the past decade-and-a-half.
Barry Bonds made a mockery of the most coveted records in American sports. (Image: barrybonds.com)
When the WSOP claimed to have postponed the 2020 series in Las Vegas, plans changed for tens of thousands of poker players. In any other year, summer is the most wonderful time for bracelet hunting. But not this year, thanks to a pesky global health pandemic.
So the WSOP came up with a solution: move the series to its online poker platform, WSOP.com and global partner site GGPoker. In theory, the idea is solid. Poker players can still chase bracelets this summer without risking their health. And, from a business standpoint, Caesars Entertainment stands to salvage some of the revenue lost from the “postponed” live WSOP.
Sounds like a win-win scenario, right? Well, not exactly. Just have a look at baseball during the steroid era and the subsequent fallout that followed.
Money Over Integrity
Bud Selig, MLB commissioner from 1992-2015, turned a blind eye to the rampant steroid use in baseball during the 1990s. Following a player strike in 1994 that turned off many fans, with attendance shrinking fast, he failed to act on the abuse of performance enhancing drugs around the league. And because of that questionable play, the game’s popularity today isn’t the same.
It was 1998 when St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa chased arguably the most coveted record in all of sports — 61 homers in a season, set by Roger Maris in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 60 set in 1927. ESPN chronicled the McGuire-Sosa duel in the recent 30 for 30 documentary, “Long Gone Summer.” This epic home run derby was the break Selig needed to bring fans back to the stadiums. Baseball’s popularity was again on the rise.
McGwire ended up winning the historic battle, hitting a record 70 dingers, while Sosa smacked 66 out of the park. Three years later, San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds would break McGwire’s record, hitting 71 long balls. Then by 2007, he would surpass the legendary Hank Aaron’s all-time home run mark of 755, before eventually finishing his illustrious career with a new record of 762.
But the three sluggers, baseball fans would soon learn, all were using steroids, thus delegitimizing their accomplishments.
While steroids had been on baseball’s banned substance list since 1991, the major leagues didn’t begin testing players until 2003. Even though there was no enforcement at the time, these players were basically in violation of baseball’s Terms of Service, not unlike an online poker player using a HUD, VPN or some other technically banned performance-enhancing device.
Not surprising, fans now reject the value of records that for decades were some of the most vaunted. So do the baseball writers who refuse to induct them into the Hall of Fame.
Devaluing Accomplishments
Bonds and the other steroid users made a mockery of the home run records. When “Barroid” set his records in 2001 and 2007, they didn’t receive the same type of attention from the media or fans as when McGwire and Sosa chased history a few years earlier. That’s due to fans having discovered by then that PEDs helped those players accomplish those feats.
Prior to 1998, Ruth and Maris posted the only 60-homer seasons ever. Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire hit that difficult milestone a combined six times.
Selig’s refusal to ban steroids in baseball 20-some years ago not only tarnished these home run records, but also caused severe long-term damage to the game’s popularity. Average attendance at MLB games in 2019 was 28,198, a decline of more than 4,000 fans per game compared to 2007, when Bonds passed Hank Aaron. From 1968-2004, at least 20 million people watched baseball’s World Series on TV almost every year, with over 30 million in many seasons. Average viewership over the past decade, however, has declined to just 14.2 million.
As baseball fans can attest, there are records, and there are records with asterisks attached to them. (Image: New York Times)
If you listen to sports talk radio these, you might notice baseball discussion is minimal compared to the other major sports such as the NFL, NBA, and College Football. My theory is that baseball has lost some of its intrigue with the casual observers. The home run records, which brought in all types of sports fans to the game, are now meaningless thanks to the steroid users 20 years ago. So, the casual audience now has less reason to follow the sport.
MLB could never turn me away, as I’m a die-hard fan (go Royals!). But when I look through the lens of a casual observer, I can see why the game has lost its appeal to so many. I’m fearful the upcoming WSOP Online Bracelet Series will have the same negative effect on poker, and if the WSOP doesn’t take note, they could get Selig’ed.
Unfair Advantages
I’ll never forget a sign fans in the outfield in Philadelphia held up in 2007 to heckle Bonds, who was playing left field that night. It read, “Ruth did it on hot dogs & beer. Aaron did it with class. How did YOU do it?”
How did Barry do it? The same way you’re about to see certain poker players win WSOP bracelets this summer — by taking advantage of loopholes to gain an unfair advantage over the competition.
Most of the 85 online bracelet events are inexpensive one-day events — as cheap as $50 (!) — but only eight are freezeouts. Because players can enter most events multiple times, well-bankrolled pros can take extra shots in nearly every tournament to increase their odds of winning a bracelet.
The WSOP is allowing this to happen much like Selig did when he ignored rumors of rampant steroid use in the 1990s and early 2000s. If the WSOP isn’t careful, the game of poker could head toward a similar downward spiral in popularity as baseball. Cheapening awards and records decreases fan interest in a product.
Giving players, especially the most heavily bankrolled ones, a shot to rack up bracelets in low buy-in, multiple reentry tournaments online lowers the prestige of being a WSOP champion, much like the steroid era did to baseball’s coveted records.
So while the WSOP may hope to salvage its summer of poker during COVID-19 with rolling online bracelet ceremonies, doing so may cause long-term, irreparable harm to the tournament series that has long been considered a measure of poker’s overall health. If you lower the prestige of winning a bracelet, part of what draws poker players to Vegas each summer is gone.
With the 51st World Series of Poker starting Wednesday as the first contested all online, you have to commend the few unfurloughed WSOP officials for stepping up to the plate and attempting to play ball during the global health pandemic. But so far, in the lead-up to this unprecedented event, it looks like what we’re about to see is a deep foul ball.
Written by
Jon Sofen
LAS VEGAS — Like many others, Jon began playing poker after Chris Moneymaker’s WSOP victory in 2003. Since then, he’s become a prolific writer about the game, offering daily news coverage for the CardsChat community. Away from the table, he’s a proud Midwesterner, and possibly the world’s biggest Kansas City Royals and Iowa Hawkeyes fan.
Messi, who converted a cheeky panenka spot kick to reach the milestone, has scored 630 times for Barca in 724 appearances in all competitions and another 70 for Argentina in 138 caps.
He’s the top scorer by a distance for both club and country, having overtaken Barca legend Cesar Rodriguez (232 goals) in 2012 and former Argentina international Gabriel Batistuta (52 goals) in 2016.
Since 2014, Messi has been La Liga’s all-time top scorer. The record was previously held by former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra, who scored 251 top-flight goals. Messi is currently at 441. Cristiano Ronaldo scored 311 for Real Madrid before his 2018 move to Juventus.
Following Tuesday’s effort, Messi, who turned 33 on June 24, has scored 22 goals in La Liga this season. He brought up 20 for the 12th consecutive season in a 4-0 win at Mallorca earlier this month and was on target three days later in the win against Leganes.
However, he has work to do if he wants to win the European Golden Shoe for the seventh time in his career — and the fourth season in a row.
Robert Lewandowski leads the way with 34 Bundesliga goals, which equates to 68 points, and Messi’s 22 goals are worth 44 points. However, the Barca man has five games to go, whereas Bayern Munich are finished playing after winning the league title again.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu plans to hold talks with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, in the coming months. There is currently no rush, though, with Jorge Messi in Argentina and Bartomeu happy to wait until some form of normality returns following the coronavirus pandemic.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien said bringing Antoine Griezmann on earlier against Atletico Madrid risked “destabilising” the team after leaving the Frenchman on the bench for the third time in four games.
Griezmann came on in second-half stoppage time against his former side as Barca were held to a 2-2 draw which further damaged their flagging title hopes. If Real Madrid beat Getafe on Thursday, they will move four points clear with just five games to play.
Setien opted for a midfield four against Atletico and when he did eventually bring on another attacker, in the 85th minute, he opted for Ansu Fati. Griezmann, a €120 million signing from Atletico last summer, finally came on with just three minutes of additional time remaining.
“The problem is not everyone can play,” Setien told Movistar when asked about the World Cup winner’s absence. “We have to make decisions. Maybe it wasn’t logical to bring him on [that late], but it was worse to not do so.
“A player like him can always do something. We didn’t bring him on before because the team was doing well, Riqui [Puig] was doing well, we always try to have [Luis] Suarez and [Lionel] Messi on the pitch. It is difficult to find a place [for Griezmann] without destabilising the team.”
Griezmann, 29, has been ever-present in his first season at Camp Nou, scoring 14 goals, but he’s fallen out of favour in recent weeks.
He started on the bench against Sevilla, Celta Vigo and now Atletico — three games which Barca drew — as the Blaugrana have given up a two-point lead over Madrid at the top of the table.
“I don’t agree with that I have no confidence in him,” Setien added in a news conference. “He’s an important player but I understand it’s tough for him to come on with so little time left.
“I will speak with him [on Wednesday]. I won’t say sorry because [it’s about] decisions, but I understand he may feel bad and I feel bad for him because he’s a great person and a great professional.”
Barca had twice led Atletico in a game dominated by refereeing decisions. Diego Costa‘s own goal had opened the scoring early on, before three penalties were awarded by referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez.
play
1:37
The FC guys question whether Barca should’ve been awarded a penalty, which was converted by Lionel Messi.
Diego Costa missed the first but it was re-taken, and scored by Saul Niguez, after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was ruled to have stepped off his line too early. Messi converted his 700th career goal from the spot to restore Barca’s lead before another Saul penalty earned a point for the visitors.
The result further increased the pressure on Setien. The coach only replaced Ernesto Valverde in January but sources told ESPN this week, after the draw at Celta Vigo, that the players and the board of directors were losing confidence in him already.
“I feel supported by the dressing room,” he disputed when asked if the players still backed him.
Setien did confirm that he met with president Josep Maria Bartomeu and other board members ahead of the Atletico game, although he wouldn’t explain the purpose of the meeting.
“I won’t talk about the meeting with board or reveal what was said,” he added.
Barca next play on Sunday, away at Villarreal. Before then, Madrid play Getafe and Athletic Bilbao, meaning Setien’s side could be seven points off the pace the next time they take to the pitch.
Bruno Fernandes capped a fine individual performance with two goals and Mason Greenwood added another as Manchester United won 3-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Tuesday to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Having stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 games, United climbed back into fifth place on 52 points from 32 games, two behind fourth-placed Chelsea who have a game in hand and ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers on goal difference.
The result and the performance pleased manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who praised his team after United celebrated their first league win at Brighton since 1982.
“It’s a joy to watch them when you see them express themselves like that,” the Norwegian told the BBC.
“The confidence comes from performances and knowing they’ve done the right things leading in to the restart. They worked hard during the lockdown and we know we have loads to play for.
“The third goal was a great team goal. To see so many players sprinting forward to get on the end of it was fantastic. A great finish by Bruno Fernandes.”
Solskjaer added to Sky Sports: “Mason’s first goal was brilliant and he played fantastically. He’s a special kid, we know when he gets faced up he looks dangerous. His link-up play was great today.”
United dominated from the start and Fernandes hit the post with a rasping first-time shot from 20 metres before 18-year-old Greenwood fired them ahead in the 16th minute from a jinking solo run capped by a crisp low shot inside the near post.
play
1:02
Steve Nicol heaps praise on Mason Greenwood but isn’t ready to pen him into the Manchester United XI.
Fernandes made it 2-0 with a deflected effort in the 29th following a superb build-up, with Luke Shaw piercing through on the left flank before the ball eventually fell to the Portugal midfielder on the edge of the penalty area.
United scored a high-quality third goal shortly after the break as Nemanja Matic released Greenwood with a searching long ball and the forward delivered an inch-perfect cross for Fernandes to volley home superbly from 10 metres.
Substitute Daniel James missed a chance to score United’s fourth in the 86th minute when he had only Mathew Ryan to beat but the home keeper did well to deny the Wales winger.
United are next at home to relegation-threatened Bournemouth while Brighton visit bottom team Norwich City on Saturday.
Frank Lampard made match-changing substitutions at half-time against Leicester. Who will he give the start to against West Ham on Wednesday? Photo by @ChelseaFC (Twitter).
On the back of wins over Manchester City and Leicester, Chelsea visit London rivals West Ham
West Ham could have dropped into the bottom three by the time this one kicks off on Wednesday
Get the latest odds, betting analysis and a pick below
Wednesday, July 1st sees four matches taking place in the Premier League. West Ham and Chelsea, two clubs with contrasting concerns, are the headline fixture of the evening, with the two meeting at London Stadium.
The Hammers are in the midst of a relegation battle that is getting tenser by the week. Only goal difference is keeping West Ham out of the bottom three as it stands. Chelsea have made significant strides towards qualifying for the Champions League since the Premier League resumed.
There’s pressure on both clubs ahead of this eerie London derby. Matchday 32 could prove to be pivotal at both ends of the table.
West Ham vs Chelsea Odds
Team
Spread
Moneyline
Over/Under
West Ham
+1 (-119)
+440
Over 2.5, 3 (-112)
Chelsea
-1 (-101)
-167
Under 2.5, 3 (-108)
Draw
N/A
+285
N/A
Odds taken Jun. 30
Abysmal Irons
For a team with the talent West Ham have, this has been a woeful season. Only Newcastle have accumulated fewer expected points by Understat’s model. They haven’t scored in their last three matches, losing both since the season’s restart. This is a squad with big names and plenty of investment, but they have been playing like a relegation side for most of the campaign.
There’s a bit of positive news for David Moyes ahead of Wednesday’s derby. Sebastien Haller, West Ham’s top scorer with seven goals, should be available, although he may have to settle for coming off the bench. After they failed to create anything of note against Spurs or Wolves, the return of a natural center forward will be welcome – Michail Antonio has often looked ineffective as the lone frontman.
West Ham’s record in the Premier League since Christmas makes for ugly reading: 14 played, two wins, two draws, 10 defeats.
The names on the team sheet, which should include the returning Angelo Ogbonna on Wednesday, can be misleading. This West Ham team is in trouble.
Matches in quick succession have forced managers to rotate. Frank Lampard has shuffled his pack since the resumption, making a lot of changes for the FA Cup clash with Leicester. Tammy Abraham started ahead of Olivier Giroud, who may well get the nod for the trip to the Olympic Stadium. Mateo Kovacic came off the bench against Leicester and is in with a good chance of starting.
Christian Pulisic scored a superb individual goal against Manchester City and caused Leicester problems aplenty. He was struggling with a knock when he was taken off at the weekend, though, and is a doubt.
Chelsea have won all three of their matches since the restart and come into this match full of confidence. Their first-half performance against Leicester was poor, however, and Lampard criticized his team in his post-match interview. There’s no doubt they deserve their status as favorites here, though.
West Ham vs Chelsea Premier League Stats
17th
Position
4th
35
Goals scored
55
45.2%
Average possession
57.1%
56 yellows, 1 red
Cards
55 yellows, 0 reds
10.3
Shots per match
16.6
60%
Shots inside the area
57%
26.24
Understat expected points
59.44
Blues to Come Out on Top
Chelsea’s defense continues to look shaky. West Ham may well end their scoreless streak on Wednesday, but the Hammers have been suspect defensively themselves and are desperately short on confidence. Chelsea, in contrast, is on a good run that extends to before the season’s suspension.
West Ham have a good record in this fixture in recent seasons. With no crowd and the relative positions of the two teams, it’s hard to place faith in that. Bettors should be looking towards Chelsea.
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
NBAMLBSoccer
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
Arsenal to include Guendouzi in summer swap?
Arsenal are said to be entertaining the idea of including midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in a swap deal during the summer transfer window.
Sources told ESPN last week that a meeting between Guendouzi and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta ironed out any differences the young France international had with the club, but now the Mail says that a transfer could be in the cards.
Arsenal officials have reportedly begun putting out feelers to clubs in order to see what kind of players they could get in return for the controversial youngster. The Gunners are set to have a limited transfer budget, and as such, they’re willing to explore all possibilities in the name of strengthening their squad.
Guendouzi has missed Arsenal’s past two games after a poor disciplinary showing against Brighton, with the club hoping that there’s still substantial interest in the 21-year-old across Europe.
The 24-year-old has been at the heart of growing speculation in recent months, with North London being tipped as his end destination during the upcoming transfer window. If they want to get a deal done, though, Spurs may have to go down the swap route.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho will have to raise the funds for the move by selling members of his own squad, with one possibility being the sale of Kyle Walker-Peters who is currently out on loan with the South Coast club.
Now, it appears their most valued young star Torres may soon be headed for the exit, too, which would cap off a rather rough season for Los Che.
Tap-ins
– Australia‘s Daniel Arzani is on his way to the Eredivisie, according to SBS. On the books at Manchester City, the 21-year-old has spent the past two seasons at Celtic — mostly on the treatment table after rupturing a ligament in his knee. Now, the young Socceroo is looking to get back to fitness with an “unnamed” mid-table Dutch club.
– La Razon is reporting that Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey alongside three other La Liga players this summer. Arteta is seemingly planning a raid of the Spanish top flight that will include a £47 million move for Partey in addition to potential bids for Espanyol‘s Marc Roca, Valencia’s Carlos Soler and Levante‘s Enis Bardhi.
– AC Milan and Napoli could both be interested in making a move for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic, Le10 Sport reports. La Viola is hoping to make the 22-year-old the main man in their defence next season and would require a fee of at least €30 million to agree to sell him. As it turns out, Milan could be looking to make him one of their priority signings, whereas Napoli see him as a possible replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly.
– Tuttosport is reporting that Lazio would require a huge fee of around €100m in order to agree to the sale of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer. Paris Saint-Germain had previously put forward an offer of €60m and, while Lazio president Claudio Lotito initially wanted at least €85m, that figure has reportedly risen to nine figures.
LeBron James and Lakers were the top seed in the Western Conference before the NBA season shut down in March. Photo from @CBSSportsNBA (Twitter).
The Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA prior to the COVID-19 shutdown
The Los Angeles Lakers are the top team in the Western Conference as the league restarts
Find out our prediction for win totals and seed changes below
If you can remember back to when we actually had competitive hoops, LeBron James and the Lakers had just finished off one of the great weekend sets of the year, laying waste to the Bucks and Clippers in back-to-back wins.
By the time the NBA tips off again on July 30, it will have been roughly 150 days since pro players have been showcasing their wares for anything of significance.
Which is why the latest round of exact win odds for the league’s top two teams – the Bucks and Lakers – is so intriguing.
NBA Exact Win Total Odds
Wins Total
Los Angeles Lakers Odds
Milwaukee Bucks Odds
6
+125
+115
5
+150
+175
7
+375
+250
4
+500
+650
8
+1200
+1000
3
+1400
+2200
2
+4000
+6000
1
+12500
+15000
0
+40000
+40000
*Odds from June 30
We’ve literally sat through an offseason and are restarting with what amounts to tune-up games and the playoffs. For LA and Milwaukee, they’re pretty entrenched as top seeds, and with all games happening in the Orlando bubble the rest of the way, who cares?
As we work our way down to an eventual NBA champion, let’s see if we can’t pick out a few winning wagers for you along the way.
Does Strength of Schedule Matter?
Not really, but the Lakers have drawn one of the toughest remaining slates in the bubble. They open up the restart against the Clippers, and still have to deal with the Raptors, Nuggets and Rockets. They’ll also have three other squads who are currently in the playoff mix: OKC, Utah and Indiana. Their only relief is the Kings.
10.
9.
8. LeBron James
7.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. @ColinCowherd lists the NBA players under the most pressure in Orlando: pic.twitter.com/otiPEm1fZX
Milwaukee, meanwhile, has a lighter slate, getting the decimated Nets and the Wizards, who would need to essentially run the table just to get into a play-in series. They also have the lower-ranked Grizzlies and Mavericks, with their only true tests being the Raptors and the Celtics.
Sprint vs Fine Tuning
With Milwaukee centering around their young superstar and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, you could see the Bucks picking up right where they left off, sprinting to the finish by blowing teams out.
There may be some concerns around Giannis’ knee, which sidelined him right before the break, but concern should focus to hitting that jumper than health. His 30.6% clip from deep on 4.8 attempts per game doesn’t mean much when you’re cratering teams by double digits. It will when it’s the shot his team needs him to make most in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Lakers know what they have in LeBron James, who we know will show up with a usual 27, 7 & 7 each night, and the ability to orchestrate and make the right play. LA’s top concern is probably keeping Anthony Davis healthy for the playoffs, and making sure their defense gets shaped back into its elite pre-COVID form.
Breakdown of Runs. The Lakers went on a 18-0 run against the Bucks in the third, to spark a 27 point turnaround. Took a look at what they did defensively to slow down the team with the best record & reigning MVP. pic.twitter.com/WX6wPuOByZ
That’s not going to be easy: losing Avery Bradley is a significant blow to their best defensive lineups, even worse when you consider JR Smith may be filling that roster spot in crunch time.
What’s the Best Bet?
LA’s priority has little to do with this 8-game run. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lakers sit James and Davis on the one back-to-back that they’re scheduled to play, as well as keeping their two stars to a considerably lower minutes restriction than in the regular season (James, 35, played the 15th-most minutes per game at just under 35 a night).
Seeding doesn’t matter, and there is no home court or home fans to win for. LA could lose all eight games and still be the favorite to come out of the West.
And though the East top seed is locked up for the Bucks, any slippage this late into the playoffs is not the doubt they need as one of the more fragile top seeds chasing the title.
The picks: Lakers 4 (+500) & Bucks 7 (+250)
NBA Restart O/U Props
Prop
Over Odds
Under Odds
Seed changes from current seeding
O 4.0 (-115)
U 4.0 (-115)
Most points scored by player – single game
O 55.5 (-115)
U 55.5 (-115)
Most points scored by a team – single game
O 139.5 (-115)
U 139.5 (-115)
Fewest points scored by a team – single game
O 84.5 (-115)
U 84.5 (-115)
Enough Shuffling to Wager?
All signs indicate that change is coming – and that’s before including Zion Williamson’s attempt to chase down the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth seed.
New Orleans has the easiest schedule remaining, and they also have a crucial showdown with the Grizz Aug. 3. That will go a long way in determining the final spot in the West.
Zion Williamson vs. LeBron James in the 1st round… do you wanna see it?! 😳
But it’s the middle of each conference where you should make your hay. The Rockets and Thunder are in a virtual tie for fifth, both a game back of the Jazz, with the Mavericks just 1.5 games behind them. In the East, the Pacers and 76ers are in a tie for sixth, and both trail the Heat by just two games.
In a season that we’ve never seen before, it’s time to bet on the zaniness.
The pick: Over 4 (-115)
Final Quick Picks
Most points by a single player: If anyone’s doing this, it’s Bradley Beal, who’s really just showcasing as the Wizards are participation fodder, hoping to show a team they should give up mass assets for him. (Under 55.5 points)
Most points by a team, single game: You know one thing players miss most? Buckets. You know what they miss least? Defending. (Over 139.5 points)
Fewest points by a team, single game: In the last week of the season (56 games) before lockdown, two teams failed to crack 84.5 points. One was Detroit. The other? Brooklyn. Over 88 games, someone is going to stink it up at least once. (Under 84.5 points)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric’s work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
NFLNBA
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric’s work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
It’s been quite a week for Lionel Messi. The Barcelona superstar celebrated his 33rd birthday on June 24, then joined one of elite football’s most exclusive and illustrious clubs six days later when, against Atletico Madrid, the Argentina captain netted the 700th goal of his career.
Having sat on 699 senior career goals for club and country since converting a penalty in Barca’s win over Leganes on June 16, Messi hit the latest milestone in his stunning career when he converted a 50th-minute spot kick, nonchalantly sending Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way.
Messi has taken 862 games to reach this incredible landmark, which is 111 games fewer than his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo needed to reach the mark at the end of 2019. However, the 35-year-old Ronaldo still boasts the status of the highest active goal scorer, and by some margin. Here are the top five:
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi became the seventh member of a select club of players to have scored 700 or more goals; the group includes some of the greatest stars to play the game, plus one less-heralded name (some records are unverified, so allow for variations in actual totals).
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo took his place among the 700 Club last October with a goal for Portugal with a consolation strike from the penalty spot in a 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying defeat against Ukraine. The Juventus superstar is also still the world’s highest-scoring active player and the one still plying his trade to have scored more than Messi.
Fiendishly prolific for West Germany and Bayern Munich in his heyday, “Der Bomber” is fifth on the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF)’s all-time list having scored 735 goals in 793 games. Fourteen of Muller’s goals came at World Cups.
4. Ferenc Puskas
The legendary striker, nicknamed “The Galloping Major,” scored 746 goals in 754 matches between 1943 and 1966 for Honved, Real Madrid and Hungary. Little wonder that FIFA’s award for the world’s greatest goal each season is named after him.
As per the RSSSF, the Brazilian nabbed 772 goals in 993 first-class matches during a career in which he played for clubs on five different continents between 1985-2007. Romario scored five goals as Brazil won the World Cup in 1994.
2. Josef Bican
The Slavia Prague icon is the highest scorer of all time in official games according to the RSSSF, which lists the striker as amassing a remarkable 805 goals in 530 competitive games between 1928-55. He played internationally for three countries.
According to his Guinness World Record, the Brazilian colossus is the highest scorer of all-time with a mind-boggling 1,279 career goals to his name (Edson Arantes do Nascimento on his birth certificate) between 1956-77. That figure is disputed by some — RSSSF gives him 767 — but Pele’s status as the only male or female player to win three World Cups is not in doubt.
Everton defender Michael Keane scored the winner in the 1-0 win away against Norwich City and will hope his side can continue their drive to claim a Europa League qualifying place when they take on Leicester City on Wednesday. Photo from @Everton (Twitter)
Four more fixtures on Wednesday in England’s Premier League
Third-placed Leicester have to get back on track for UCL qualifying place
See all odds and best bets for EPL Round 32 Everton vs Leicester City
Leicester City will attempt to repair their attempt to qualify for the Champions League when they visit Everton in England’s Premier League Matchday 32 on Wednesday.
In third place, Leicester have drawn twice since the competition’s re-start after slipping from second place when their form began to dive in January.
Everton have an outside chance of qualifying for the Europa League. They are in 12th place after a draw and a win since the resumption of play.
Premier League Everton vs Leicester City Odds
Team
Spread
Moneyline
Total
Everton
pk (-127)
+154
Ov2, 2½ (-118)
Leicester City
pk (+107)
+195
Un2, 2½ (-102)
Draw
(N/A)
+197
(N/A)
Odds taken June 30
Oddsmakers list Everton as favorites for a home win at +154 at Goodison Park at 1:00 pm EST on Wednesday. Leicester are priced at +195. The draw is +197.
With both teams struggling for goals and no spread offer matching the prices for a result prediction, a draw looks the best value here at +197.
Goal-Scoring Problems for Both Teams
Both teams have managed to score only once in their two EPL games this month.
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester team enjoyed a seven-week run in second place from early November until Christmas during a spell in which they won 12 of their opening 16 games.
Things slipped in the New Year and in the five matches before shut-down, they won only once while drawing twice and losing twice.
There have been just four wins in the last 15 outings for the club which surprisingly lifted the EPL title in 2016 – and just one win in seven games.
They returned to action with an uninspiring 1-1 draw at struggling Watford after the break and were then held 0-0 at home by Brighton & Hove Albion in another dour contest.
It means there have been just four wins in the last 15 outings for the club which surprisingly lifted the EPL title in 2016 – and just one win in seven games.
It also meant they have failed to score in four of their last six league games although there was a 4-0 thrashing of strugglers Aston Villa just before the break in early March.
Leicester were also beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinal last Sunday.
Premier League Everton vs Leicester City Statistics
11
Wins
16
8
Losses
8
12
Draws
7
38
Goals
59
46
Goals Against
28
8
Clean Sheets
11
59
Yellow Cards
35
4
Red Cards
1
Everton’s re-start began with a 0-0 draw at home in the Merseyside derby against leaders Liverpool. They then won 1-0 at bottom club Norwich City last weekend.
That marked improvement upon the three-match spell before the shut-down when they lost twice and drew once in a three-match run – with their final game before suspension a 4-0 hammering by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Improvement Under Ancelotti
Overall, there has been an up-turn under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti since he took charge on December 21 last year.
After only three defeats under his command, the team has climbed from 16th to 12th place.
But they have scored only 38 goals all season – with just two in their most recent four matches.
They also met in the quarterfinal of the EFL Carabao Cup at Goodison Park on December 18 with Leicester winning 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw.
Ancelotti has endeared himself to Everton’s fans by remaining unbeaten in the six home games in which he has been in charge. There have been three draws, two in the most recent games at their own HQ against Manchester United and Liverpool.
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK’s sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
Soccer
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK’s sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
