Being raised in Las Vegas, I felt I was spoiled enjoying the inaugural season for the Vegas Golden Knights. Now with a year behind them, I am looking forward to this upcoming NHL season more than I have in the past.
In this post, I will take a look at the teams I feel have separated themselves from the pretenders and are the true contenders at raising the Stanley Cup in 2019.
From the betting favorites in Vegas to the dark horse I feel has a shot at making a deep playoff run, I’ll be covering 5 teams with a realistic chance of glory. I’ll give you an idea of what happened for these teams during the offseason that has set them up nicely for their shot at the Stanley Cup.
The leading sportsbook Bovada has Tampa Bay as the betting favorite to lift the Stanley Cup this season. And I can easily understand why.
Tampa Bay has been a top team the last couple of seasons. They look primed to continue their success in the competitive Atlantic Division and will battle the Toronto Maple Leafs to be the division’s top seed.
They have been busy this offseason keeping their core intact for another run at the playoffs. First, they signed forward J.T. Miller to a five-year contract. Then, they quickly followed that up with a seven-year deal for defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
Taking a peek at the 2019 NHL schedule, it seems the NHL is doing their part in making sure Tampa Bay starts and finishes strong.
The Lightning will open 2018-2019 with five straight home games and end the season with their last four at home. On top of that home-ice advantage to open and close the regular season, the Lightning is already scheduled for 12 nationally broadcasted games.
This shows the spotlight the NHL will be trying to put on the betting favorite Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now let’s take a look at a couple of teams in the toughest division in the NHL. The Central Division boasts a number of strong teams, headlined by powerhouses in Nashville and Winnipeg.
It’s a shame that only 5 teams from the Central can make the playoffs because all 8 teams have a legitimate shot to enter the postseason in 2018-2019.
The Nashville Predators were the club that had the best regular-season record in 2017-18. They were also a Stanley Cup finalist in 2017, so they are certainly in the running for glory this season.
With a strong defense led by P.K. Subban, and with the Vezina Trophy winner for best goaltender Pekka Rinne back, the Predators have the right formula to chase another Stanley Cup. Add top line forwards Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Viktor Arvidsson, and Nashville is primed to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Despite his strong regular season, Rinne really slipped during the postseason with a bloated goals against average of 3.07
With Nashville’s backup goalie having limited experience, Rinne’s postseason performances could be pivotal to the Predators’ championship hopes this time around. If they make the playoffs again, they’ll need their goaltender to step up his game.
If he can maintain his form beyond the regular season, Nashville will be the team all opponents want to avoid.
Let’s move on to the next contender out of the Central division.
The Winnipeg Jets were true contenders last season, and I predict that they’ll be able to follow up with another good season in 2019.
Even with Paul Stastny leaving for Vegas and losing Joel Armia to free agency, the Jets still have plenty of firepower to battle in the Central Division.
The reason the Jets parted ways with these experienced players is because of the young core they have. The young, deep, and dangerous offense they currently have has the tools to fill the holes left by the departing veterans.
That’s not the only thing helping their case of making a run at the Stanley Cup, though. They also have a promising young gun on the defensive side in 24-year-old goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Goalies are vital come playoff time. The fact that Winnipeg has a young goaltender that has the potential to become elite automatically puts them into contender status.
Phew! We got through the toughest division in the NHL. Time to turn our attention to a team that came up 3 wins short of winning it all last season – the Vegas Golden Knights.
What a year. The Vegas Golden Knights started out as the biggest underdog to win the Stanley Cup last season, but they defied all expectations and only just fell short of landing the trophy.
How can the Knights repeat what they were able to accomplish last season? I’ll tell you how. George McPhee.
Going into the offseason, it was always going to be hard for McPhee to keep everyone. Somehow, though, he was able to keep key players for another run at the Stanley Cup.
Center William “Wild Bill” Karlsson, defenseman Colin Miller, left wing Jonathan Marchessault, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury are all back to take another shot at the Stanley Cup.
On top of re-signing their stars from 2018, the Golden Knights made an impressive move in bringing in forward Paul Stastny on a 3-year deal. He was brought in to fill the void left by James Neal.
The most important difference between Stastny and Neal is that Stastny performs in the postseason, which can only strengthen the Vegas roster.
With a weak Pacific division, I see Vegas winning the division again. This will give them home ice for the first two rounds in the post season. With T-Mobile Arena one of the biggest home-ice advantages in the NHL, look for the Vegas Knights to make another run at Las Vegas’ first professional sports championship.
As promised, it’s now time to give you the team I feel represents the best value out there for a team to win the Stanley Cup: the team from the current “City of Champions.”
Here’s the team I am willing to throw some money on. My dark horse for the 2019 Stanley Cup champion. The Philadelphia Flyers.
When the Flyers enter next season, there will be a variety of benchmarks the entire team must meet in order to better the 98-point result from the 2017-18 campaign. Much of the benchmarks will have to come from the continued maturation of the young players on the roster.
I’m expecting head coach Dave Hakstol to start leaning on his young guys to increase their responsibility. For example, defenseman Travis Sanheim will likely be trusted with more ice time as his sophomore season progresses.
Nolan Patrick and Travis Konecny will be relied upon as regular offensive contributors, and left winger Oskar Lindblom and defenseman Robert Hagg must build upon their rookie year successes as well.
The main point is that the Flyers are very young. Having a roster full of young players can work for or against you. I personally believe they possess the value we are all looking for.
Regardless of youth, the Flyers are talented, and I see them continuing the maturation process. Even though the Flyers are stuck in a division with the past two Stanley Cup champs in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, they are just as dangerous.
Young players don’t know what’s good for them. Some young guys don’t recognize the magnitude of the situation, allowing them to play at their best.
That being said, at a 25 to 1 shot, the Philadelphia Flyers represent the type of value we all look for with futures.
With only 43 days left before the first games of the regular season, it is time to start thinking about which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. Don’t worry, though. I have done the work for you, separating out 5 contenders I believe are worth keeping an eye on.
Hopefully, with the five teams I have outlined, it will help you narrow down which teams have the value to try to book a futures win.
I will be taking my chance with my dark horse pick, the Philadelphia Flyers. For a dangerous young team, 25 to 1 is just too much value for me to pass up.
The post Betting on the 2019 Stanley Cup – Latest Odds and Top Contenders appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Get ready for some electrifying highlights, because the 2018 Ryder Cup will be nothing short of spectacular.
As an American, I’ll be pulling hard for the red, white, and blue to get it done in Paris and retain the Ryder Cup.
But I’d be completely ignorant if I sat here and told you it’s going to be a walk in the park for Captain Jim Furyk’s squad. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that right now, I give the edge to the Europeans.
I think that Thomas Bjorn and the 12 men he’ll be bringing with him to France will feature even more of a stacked lineup than the US team – and that’s saying a lot.
The plan for this blog is to quickly identify the European roster and mainly focus in on who Captain Bjorn will be selecting as his captain’s picks. When you see the pool of talent he has to choose from, it won’t take you long to realize how formidable the “Blue and Yellow” squad will be.
Unlike the American side, the automatic qualifying is still going on for European players to try and make the team. With that being said, there are 7 names on the European side we can pencil in for who will be competing in Paris for the Ryder Cup.
Francesco Molinari Justin Rose Tyrrell Hatton Tommy Fleetwood Jon Rahm Rory McIlroy Alex NorenRegardless of what happens over the next couple weeks, Bjorn knows that he’ll be able to count on these 7 men to put up some points at Le Golf National.
Right now, Thorbjorn Olesen is narrowly hanging on to the 8th and final automatic qualifying spot, but that outcome will depend on how things shake out by the end of next week.
Eddie Pepperell can pass Olesen with a strong performance at the D+D Czech Masters in Prague, although it’ll take something special.
Who Thorbjorn really needs to dodge is the quartet of players competing at the Northern Trust who can all pass him in the standings. I’m going to focus on those four players in the segments below, as well as two others who absolutely cannot be counted out when it comes to potential picks.
Whether or not Olesen stays inside the top 8 could be the difference of whether or not the 28-year-old Danish golfer gets to taste Ryder Cup Action this fall. Unfortunately for Olesen, the world-class players lurking for a captain’s pick means there will be some really good players left off this roster.
Assuming Olesen is the 8th man on the squad, here are the 6 players who I believe are essentially competing for the last four spots.
I take it back. Ian Poulter is not competing with anyone for a spot on this team, because if he’s not in the top 8 by September 3rd, he’s an absolute lock to be picked. Kind of like the Tiger Woods situation for Team USA, there are absolutely no versions of Ian Poulter not being on this roster.
The 42-year-old Englishman has made 11 of his last 12 cuts, which includes a win at the Houston Open. He’s added 5 other finishes inside the top 12 and was a quarterfinalist at the WGC-Match Play.
Do I really need to remind you how incredible Poulter has been at the Ryder Cup? Press play below, and you’ll be reminded how cold-blooded this dude is when he’s playing for his country.
Let’s not waste any more time making a case for Poulter to be picked, because it’s already a foregone conclusion.
How good is the European team looking?
So good that Paul Casey is on the outside looking in as things currently stand. Casey has had one of his better years on the PGA Tour in 2018, finishing in the top 25 in 11 of his 16 regular-season starts. He won the Valspar Championship back in March, and I know he isn’t afraid of the big stage.
But Casey hasn’t played his best golf as of late, and with as competitive as it is for these last few spots, he could wind up missing out.
A strong performance at either the Northern Trust and/or the Dell Technologies Championship would probably be enough to solidify his spot, but at this point, there are no guarantees.
Look at the caliber of players still to go on my list, and you’ll see why Casey isn’t a sure thing.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello might not be as “household of a name” as some of the others on this page, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he isn’t a serious contender to be on the chartered team plane to Paris.
A 17th-place finish at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational propelled Rafa into a top-10 at the PGA Championship. Rounds of 68-69-65-64 at the Wyndham Championship landed Cabrera-Bello in 11th, and more importantly, back onto the short list of the possible captain’s picks.
The 34-year-old Spaniard is known as a premium ball striker, and Le Golf National has already been deemed “a second-shot golf course.” Well, I suppose the fact that Cabrera-Bello leads the PGA Tour in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, I’d say his iron game is in complete control.
If Bjorn really wants to key in on the guys who are rounding into peak form as we get closer to the end of September, he probably won’t want to look past Rafa.
Russell Knox is the guy on this list who I feel has the most to prove to Thomas Bjorn if he’s going to be on the receiving end of a happy phone call from the captain.
Without giving away who is left on this list, let’s just say that there are two European Ryder Cup stalwarts who are relying on a pick if they are going to be on this team.
That means that Russell’s best opportunity to make this squad is to snag the 8th and final spot via automatic qualifying.
He’ll have to play extraordinarily well at the first two Playoff events, but it’s still within the realm of possibilities. As good of a putter as Russell is, I just have a hard time imagining Bjorn and his assistant captains will pull the trigger on Knox if it means passing up one of the two players listed below.
Henrik Stenson is as good of a ball striker as there is on this planet, and I don’t think many individuals in the golf industry would argue with that statement.
But an elbow injury that has been hampering him all summer was enough for Stenson to withdraw from the Northern Trust, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his Ryder Cup status.
Hopefully this is more of a precautionary WD than one that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the Playoffs, but that remains to be seen.
The PGA Tour leader in greens in regulation percentage (GIR) also tops the charts in strokes gained on approach shots.
Given the setup of the course, there is no way that Captain Bjorn will leave Stenson off this roster if he is healthy. Stenson’s elbow injury not subsiding is about the only realistic way I could see the 42-year-old Swede not in France when September comes to a close.
It’s hard to believe I am talking about Sergio Garcia as someone who might not be on the 2018 European Ryder Cup Team. The 2017 Masters champ is in the midst of the worst funk in his 19-year career as a professional, as Sergio missed the cut in all four majors in 2018 for the first time ever.
I understand that getting the monkey off his back after winning the Green Jacket last April was a huge moment in Garcia’s career. Getting married later in the year and having his first child 5 months ago are obviously going to take the focus off of golf in the interim.
After not qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs (also a first), Sergio now has to sit back and wait, hoping he’ll get the call from Bjorn.
Garcia has been an instrumental participant for the Europeans, and I don’t suspect Bjorn will have any trouble remembering how big a factor Sergio has been during his 8 appearances as a member of the team.
Perhaps nobody has shown more passion and heart for this team competition than Sergio, and it’s that enthusiasm that will hopefully outweigh Garcia’s porous play over the past 8 months.
In the end, I think Sergio brings too much to the table to leave off the team. And this could be the event that gets the wheels spinning back in the right direction for the guy they used to call “El Niño.”
Any way you slice it, the European Ryder Cup team is going to be loaded.
Will the captain and his assistants decide to lean on veterans like Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson? Or perhaps they’ll opt for the hot hand of Rafa Cabrera-Bello?
What I know for sure is that Ian Poulter will be part of the roster.
I already wrote a piece last week about which players are in the mix to be chosen for the US Ryder Cup team, so it was only fitting that I brought you up to speed on what’s going on for the Americans’ counterparts.
We’re just one month away from the festivities, and I’m already counting down the days. As we inch closer to September 27th, I’ll be releasing more Ryder Cup-related posts to keep us clued in to exactly what’s going on.
Until then, enjoy the FedEx Cup Playoffs!
The post Which Players Will Make the European Team for the 2018 Ryder Cup? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
The Emmys are usually a time for celebration and recognition. Like most entertainment award shows, they’re also a time for predictability.
While you can generally see the winner coming a mile away, there are still upsets to be had. The 2018 Emmy Awards aren’t without their fair share of categories that contain a few long shots worth looking at, either.
At least, that’s what the top entertainment betting sites want you to think.
Then again, SportsBetting.ag and sites like it aren’t just trying to pull you away from the favorite. They’re simply setting the odds based on public perception and how they think people will wager money.
Needless to say, the public has been wrong before.
I still suggest betting on mostly favorites when it comes to the Emmys and really any award show you ever come across. The ones with insanely fat lines almost never lose.
Still, it’s fun to dream, and there are a few cases where big names have delivered more than deserving performances. Should their ridiculous odds pan out, you may be missing a crazy chance at some obscene profit.
Of course, it’s ultimately all just a matter of opinion.
You don’t have to agree with me, the top Emmys betting sites, or even the Emmy Awards experts. But you probably can’t ignore some sick betting value when it’s associated with some viable threats.
Here are my five favorite long shots to pull for (and bet on) at this year’s Emmy Awards.
I don’t know if it’s just because everyone knows Bateman more for his comedy chops or if season one of Ozark was simply that good, but I feel like Bateman deserves this award.
In reality, it’s probably both.
Bateman has actually flexed his drama muscle (see: The Gift) in the past, but he really takes you down a dark and winding hole in this one, and he’s completely convincing the entire way.
It’s pretty special anytime someone known almost purely for comedy can do that, and perhaps that alone sets his performance ahead of so many others.
Sterling K. Brown (-195) was admittedly more emotional and raw in This Is Us, but he won last year. Bateman has less to draw from and is ultimately more compelling. And at +3300, he’s just a really fun bet.
While I’m not down for Sterling K. Brown repeating as best actor again this year, I do appreciate and respect his talent and performance. He’s absolutely still worthy, and he certainly deserved last year’s award.
Either way, the ensemble cast for This Is Us is ridiculously gifted and borderline flawless. Acting aside, however, the web this series spins throughout the year and from scene to scene is complicated, authentic, and most importantly, believable.
This is master storytelling and complex character development at its finest, and it’s all happening fluidly and organically. That isn’t easy to accomplish, and despite how hard this show has hit TV viewers, it has yet to be properly rewarded.
If you want a gut punch to the feels, take on This Is Us. If you want a big payday for a show that deserves high-level recognition, consider tossing some cash at this +4000 price at SportsBetting.ag.
The only reason I’m not a bit more heated that Maslany has such poor odds to win best actress in a drama is the reassuring fact that she already did.
The Emmys paid tribute to Maslany’s absurd versatility and range just two years ago (2016), which was a clear sign of pure respect for one’s talent and craft, without allowing a television show to cloud judgment.
While unique at its core, Maslany’s Orphan Black has lost steam and wit through the years. She, however, absolutely has not.
Maslany has been tasked with perfecting many variations (clones) of herself, and at virtually every turn, you feel like you’re being introduced to a brand-new character.
The Emmys can stop at giving her open applause just the once, but her efforts deserve another award. She’s a true long shot in the face of likely repeat champion Elisabeth Moss (-350), but at +4000, that’s a wager I don’t mind rolling the dice with and cheering on.
While I love Jason Bateman’s case to win this year, I do understand the need for a lasting mark.
He’s only had one season of playing a serious role on Ozark, while people like William H. Macy have been proving their worth for years and years on shows like Shameless.
Shameless itself has never really been given the credit it deserves – at least not by the Emmys. It’s also worth pointing out that while Macy is the big name that drives the bus on this show, he’s far from the only interesting or well-acted character.
Regardless, he’s crushed the role of loser father for nine seasons, and yet here he stands, without the Emmys ever paying him any mind.
These award shows tend to be more about the moment, rather than honoring true art. Macy isn’t portraying a glorious individual, but his work is nothing short of magical.
It’s time the Emmys honored that, and thanks to crazy +5000 odds, Macy is worth rallying behind.
Speaking of Emmys nominees that deserve your backing, Silicon Valley joins a long line of actors/actresses/series that have been denied by the Emmys.
I understand that a show like Shameless isn’t for everyone. Westworld might be a bit too far out there, too. The Americans, well, I’ll never understand why that show wasn’t given more appreciation before it called it quits.
Hopefully, the Emmys will make up for past and current mistakes here by giving Silicon Valley the nod.
All too often, the best comedy genre has been dominated by one show, while greats like The Office, Seinfeld, Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friends, Will & Grace, Sex and the City, and so many others have won just once – or never.
I mean, seriously. Seinfeld won for best comedy one time in 10 years. Meanwhile, Frasier (Frasier!) won five years in a row. Veep is a heck of a show (seriously), but it’s been on a three-year run, and before that, nobody could take down Modern Family (five wins in a row).
The streaks end this year, though. Veep isn’t in the running, and the top two favorites are Atlanta (the likely winner) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (the best upset contender at +160). You could even build a case for Barry (+1800).
The point is that someone new is going to win. Silicon Valley isn’t the favorite. At +5000, they’re really not even in the running.
That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be, and it doesn’t have to necessarily mean they don’t stand a chance. It’s pretty arguable their latest season was their best, filled with sharp wit, fresh takes on our modern world of technology, and a warped take on social cues and interpretations.
Silicon Valley isn’t leading the race this year, but it probably should be.
Looking over the 2018 Emmys field, it’s painfully obvious that this is probably going to be a pretty predictable night of awards.
That’s fair in a lot of regards. Not only are the main favorites very deserving, but they’ve stood out in a great year for television. The acting talents or competing shows they’re being tentatively picked over are not weak. There are no scrubs here.
For the most part, my betting advice would be to stick to the favorites without putting too much money on wagers that don’t have any upside at all. Play the favorites, but certainly feel out some viable contenders and sleepers you feel good about.
I’d also throw a few long shot flier bets at the wall and see what sticks.
That sounds like winging it, but this entire article’s purpose is to do the opposite. It’s just one writer’s opinion, but all five of these long-shot bets are fun, deserving, and extremely profitable.
Who would actually balk at William H. Macy, Jason Bateman, Silicon Valley, Tatiana Maslany, and/or This Is Us taking home some hardware? Probably and hopefully nobody.
That doesn’t mean all (or any) of them will actually win, but at their crazy prices, I think a roll of the dice or three is on the table.
However you plan on betting on the Emmys this year, I hope I was somewhat helpful and that you find a way to finish in the green. Either way, happy betting, and enjoy the Emmys!
The post 5 Outsiders That Can Win at the Emmy Awards in 2018 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
