Rivalries are what makes college sports part of the fabric of American society.  With continued expansion and conference realignment, many of these longstanding traditions will be forever changed.  In last week’s twitter poll, college sports fans responded in droves and while there were a few historic matchups you won’t see included, know “other” exclusion was only because they represented less than 2% of the total.  As always, thanks to those who shared their vote....

By James Kempton Follow him on twitter @ukbettingpro Martin O’Neill has engineered an amazing turnaround at the Stadium of Light since he took over as manager of Sunderland in early December. For those not familiar with O’Neill, he is a master of maximizing the production out of his players. His managerial resume is extremely impressive as he has led his clubs to continually overachieve and I expect him to turn Sunderland into a consistent top half finisher in the coming years. Before O’Neill took the reigns, Sunderland had won 2 , drawn 5, and lost 7 of their Premier League games.  Upon him taking over I expected an immediate response from the players as that is what O’Neill demands and gets from his teams. The response has been incredible with the team winning seven, drawing one, and losing three of their EPL games following his appointment. The 3 losses were to Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham who all reside in the top 6 of the table. They have picked up 22 points under O’Neill compared to only 11 before he arrived or to put it another way, they average exactly 2 pts per game now compared to 0.78 pts per game earlier in the season. These stats alone could prove very valuable over the next month or so for us bettors as market prices should over adjust in certain games. I do not believe that Sunderland is either as bad as their performances at the beginning of the season nor as good as they have been under O’Neill. If pushed towards one or the other for true impression of the team I sense they are more aligned to the performance in their first 14 games though and that is why I sense there will be...

Click here to listen Linsanity, Murray State’s tournament prospects, and the dating life of a bookmaker all included in this week’s edition of behind the bets podcast hosted by Chad Millman

Click here to listen Handicapping the 5 day trip to Nashville, UT hoops, and way too early college football lines for big games in 2012

  For anyone not familiar with the Haka, you haven’t seen one the most intense pre-game traditions in all of...

Every sportsbook operates with a different philosophy all aimed at achieving one primary objective: turning a profit.  Whether it’s a square shop like Bovada marketed to the recreational gambler or a sharp operation like Pinnacle booking to the professionals, the key is understanding the appropriate product mix for your clientele and responding appropriately to their bets.  There are pros and cons for every bookmaking approach and it all hinges on management’s tolerance for liability, exposure, and limits.  Below is an interview with senior trader John T of Pinnacle who explains his operations’ strategy and why his shop is so successful booking limits to the world’s best...

Here are the statewide figures for the last 22 years of Superbowl data.  Each chart is sorted and filtered from high to low in regards to handle, win, and of course hold %.   Year Handle Win Hold 2006 94,534,372 8,828,432 9.34% 2012 93,899,840 5,064,470 5.39% 2007 93,067,358 12,930,175 13.89% 2008 92,055,833 -2,573,103 -2.80% 2005 90,759,236 15,430,138 17.00% 2011 87,491,098 724,176 0.83% 2010 82,726,367 6,857,101 8.29% 2009 81,514,748 6,678,044 8.19% 2004 81,242,191 12,440,698 15.31% 1998 77,253,246 472,033 0.61% 1999 75,986,520 2,906,601 3.83% 2003 71,693,032 5,264,963 7.34% 2002 71,513,304 2,331,607 3.26% 2000 71,046,751 4,237,978 5.97% 1996 70,907,801 7,126,145 10.05% 1997 70,853,211 2,265,701 3.20% 1995 69,591,818 -396,674 -0.57% 2001 67,661,425 11,002,636 16.26% 1993 56,811,405 7,174,869 12.63% 1994 54,483,221 7,481,541 13.73% 1992 50,334,277 301,280 0.60% 1991 40,080,409 3,512,241 8.76% Year Handle Win Hold 2005 90,759,236 15,430,138 17.00% 2007 93,067,358 12,930,175 13.89% 2004 81,242,191 12,440,698 15.31% 2001 67,661,425 11,002,636 16.26% 2006 94,534,372 8,828,432 9.34% 1994 54,483,221 7,481,541 13.73% 1993 56,811,405 7,174,869 12.63% 1996 70,907,801 7,126,145 10.05% 2010 82,726,367 6,857,101 8.29% 2009 81,514,748 6,678,044 8.19% 2003 71,693,032 5,264,963 7.34% 2012 93,899,840 5,064,470 5.39% 2000 71,046,751 4,237,978 5.97% 1991 40,080,409 3,512,241 8.76% 1999 75,986,520 2,906,601 3.83% 2002 71,513,304 2,331,607 3.26% 1997 70,853,211 2,265,701 3.20% 2011 87,491,098 724,176 0.83% 1998 77,253,246 472,033 0.61% 1992 50,334,277 301,280 0.60% 1995 69,591,818 -396,674 -0.57% 2008 92,055,833 -2,573,103 -2.80% Year Handle Win Hold 2005 90,759,236 15,430,138 17.00% 2001 67,661,425 11,002,636 16.26% 2004 81,242,191 12,440,698 15.31% 2007 93,067,358 12,930,175 13.89% 1994 54,483,221 7,481,541 13.73% 1993 56,811,405 7,174,869 12.63% 1996 70,907,801 7,126,145 10.05% 2006 94,534,372 8,828,432 9.34% 1991 40,080,409 3,512,241 8.76% 2010 82,726,367 6,857,101 8.29% 2009 81,514,748 6,678,044 8.19% 2003 71,693,032 5,264,963 7.34% 2000 71,046,751 4,237,978 5.97% 2012 93,899,840 5,064,470 5.39% 1999 75,986,520 2,906,601 3.83% 2002 71,513,304 2,331,607 3.26% 1997 70,853,211 2,265,701 3.20% 2011 87,491,098 724,176 0.83%...

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by Rob Perez (Follow him on twitter @world_wide_wob ) BUY BOSTON CELTICS 11-10 team record, 11-10-0 ATS Old, wrinkly, and well past their prime. Ladies and gentleman, your 2012 Boston Celtics. This team struggles to score points, seems to be on another planet at times, and barely mustered a split from the lowly Cavaliers this week. Mediocre ATS record, mediocre SU record but like any good investor I see opportunity … no better time to buy this veteran gang than right now … LOW. Why? Despite all of their flaws, Boston is one of three veteran teams (Boston, San Antonio, LA Lakers) you can trust to win when it matters. Even though we are only 21 games into their NBA campaign, this is a pivotal time for teams to separate from the rest of the pack. If you are able to create some breathing room in the conference standings now you get the luxury of resting before the playoffs. Of all teams, the Celtics know/need this most. Right around this time last year, the Celtics put together two modest winning streaks and rolled off 8 of 11. They built a nice little cushion and went into, “we’re ok with 3rd place in the East” mode, where all of their regular season value evaporated into thin air. IF they are able to string a winning streak together now, they know they can coast through the back end of the regular season into the playoffs. They are relatively healthy, sans Rondo’s wrist injury, and if you ever wanted to bet on the Celtics … NOW is the time. NOT when they win 8 of their next 10. LA CLIPPERS 13-7 team record, 11-8-1 ATS Despite their popularity amongst the public, great overall record, and being anointed...

by Bruce Friedman (follow him on twitter @notthefakebruce) BUY: Baylor (2-4 @Oklahoma State, 2-8 Kansas) Just the team Baylor needs to see at this point to right their ATS ship.  They absolutely destroyed the Pokes in their first meeting in Waco 106-65!!  Now, I don’t expect that kind of a drubbing in Stillwater but I do expect a road cover.  OSU has played pretty well lately while Baylor has burned their ATS backers yet this is a match-up they can exploit and could be undervalued.  After the OSU game,  Baylor has a home revenge date looming with KU who took the Bears to the woodshed in the first meeting.  Look for this game to be hotly contested but I feel Baylor will pull away behind the strength of their home crowd Missouri (2-4 Kansas, 2-6 @Oklahoma) I wont go as far as calling Missouri Jekyl and Hyde when it comes to home/road splits but they’re getting close.  Missouri needed every ounce of energy to dispose of Texas Monday while KU easily clipped OU for the 2nd time this year.  However, things are about to get a lot tougher for Bill Self’s crew this week as they get into the heart of their Big XII schedule.  Missouri knows they need to show the nation they are one of the top teams and that 75% of their body of work wasnt a fluke and I believe they’ll prove it with a comfortable win over Kansas.  The Tigers then head to Norman for a date with OU where they’ll be installed as road favs.  Look for the momentum from a win over KU to propel them through this game as Mizzou makes a push towards the Big XII title. SELL: Kentucky (2-4 @South Carolina, 2-7 Florida) Well...

Click here to listen Ryan and I not only dive into the Superbowl and everything that surrounds the event in Vegas but also delve into Pac12 hoops.  Apparently the Wildcats wanted to prove me wrong since I called them a bubble team prematurely considering their huge win at Haas...

Click here to listen David Bastl and I provide a quick hitter about where I believe the Superbowl line is headed before game time.  We also discuss a few of the unique prop offerings for this year’s...