You may find this story interesting. It identifies the [five largest winning bets in U.S. Sports Betting history](https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/betting/article/5-biggest-winning-bets-in-legal-us-sports-betting-history-one-bettor-wagered-346-million-against-patrick-mahomes--and-won-162318540.html)

**RBROWNBETS:** Took it on the chin Wednesday, when the Red Sox/Diamondbacks game went over 8 runs even before the teams scored three times in the 10th. Back on the horse Thursday. Last week your patience would have been rewarded if you waited until after the first round was complete to bet on Scottie Scheffler to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship. We're going to use the same game plan this week. Assuming his odds are better than +300 -- and he doesn't crash in Round 1 -- we're recommending an outright win bet on Scheffler at the BMW Championship between the first and second rounds.

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Patience can pay off ... 

Scottie Scheffler went into last week leading the FedExCup points despite having only one victory on the season back in January. However, since that win at The American Express, Scheffler has posted five runner-up finishes and five other top-5 finishes. It seemed like last week that he was going to get back into the winner’s circle, and that is why we bet the “Without Scheffler” market last week and ended up with a 25-1 winner on Si Woo Kim, who finished second. 

Scheffler was 5-1 last week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but posting 17 under and beating the field by eight strokes tends to lower your price for the following event. This week, Scheffler is 3-1 to win the BMW Championship, a title he also won last year, as the final 50 players in the FedExCup tee it up at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. 

[Full BMW Championship Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/bmw-championship-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)


**RBROWNBETS:** As you've probably summized by now, RBROWNBETS is not a volume bettor. The process used to determine what's worthy of a wager generally leaves us with very few plays on a daily basis -- at least during the summer months. The number of plays will go up during the football season. We our recommending only one bet on Wednesday, however, and its the Boston/Arizona game under 8 runs (-106). The Diamondbacks are still without second baseman Ketel Marte and have scored five runs in their first two games of the series against the Red Sox. Boston will have Payton Tolle (8-6, 2.97 ERA) on the mound. Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.11) will pitch for the Diamondbacks, and he will enter the game having not allowed an earned run in his last 33 1/3 innings. We're banking that both pitchers will go deep into the game ... 

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Under Cover?

Here's a [Big Ten Preview](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/big-ten-preview-picks-best-bets-analysis-2026) via Covers.com

**RBROWNBETS: ** We went 2-1 with Friday's play, with the Red Sox being the loss. Boston has lost six of its last seven games, and it could be time to press the panic button if the Red Sox can't get a win tonight. The play:

**Boston (-126) over Pittsburgh**
The Red Sox have Sonny Gray (14-3, 2.79) on the mound and should have Ceddanne Rafaela back in the lineup after resting Friday night. We're expecting Boston to end Pittsburgh's two-game winning streak.

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Sox Talk

[How professional bettors attack the NFL Preseason](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1163oEuBkHmY5d-ky4Bgy7g4uP6rxVxJR/view?_bhlid=f8f2c0b852f0b53864dcff01947ec41600a8d8d6)

**RBROWNBETS:** Three MLB plays to recommend Friday night:

**Boston/Pittsburgh 1st Inning Under 0.5 (-125)**
No Ceddanne Rafaela in the Boston lineup, so that should make Bubba Chandler's first inning less stressful.

**Boston (-119) over Pittsburgh**
The Red Sox have a slight pitching edge with Jake Bennett on the mound, and Endy Rodriguez, Pittsburgh best hitting catcher, was placed on the injured list Thursday. The Red Sox have been better offensively on the road this season.

**Los Angeles (-170) over Milwaukee**
Probable pitchers are Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Robert Gasser. Advantage Dodgers, who were the better team Thursday night until Edwin Diaz took the mound. The price is high, but worth the risk since LA is at home. 

Best of luck with your bets ....
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Early Action

Ten things you should know before betting Week 1 of the [NFL preseason](https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-preseason-week-1-10-things-to-watch)


**RBROWNBETS:** There's nothing we like on the MLB menu Thursday.  We considered Boston (-138) against Toronto, but the price is too high for a Red Sox team that's cooled off significantly. In addition, Boston starter Payton Tolle is 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in three career appearances against Toronto, with both losses coming this season. Pass.

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\
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Ready for some football?

The PGA Tour's regular season is complete. The tour begins a three-week playoff Thursday with the FedEx St. Jude Championship, which features the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 50 scorers in the 72-hole, no cut event will advance to next week's BMW Championship.

VSIN's preview of the [FedEx St. Jude Championship](https://vsin.com/golf/fedex-st-jude-championship-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS:** Typically, we try to avoid betting on two (and only two) favorites in baseball on the same day. Why? Because a split still loses money. We paid the price (albeit a small one) for violating our own rule Tuesday night, when we won with the Blue Jays, but had a loser with the Brewers. We were hoping play the Red Sox and plus money Wednesday, but they are -119 favorites. So no plays in MLB, but we do have two outright selections to recommend in the St. Jude Championship: 

**Viktor Hovland (+3700):** Hovland said he loves the TPC Southwind course, and he finished second here in 2024. The price is more than fair for someone with his talent. If he can keep it in good position off the tee he should be in contention Sunday.

**Si Woo Kim (+3300):** Five top-five finishes this season, and his putting has improved significantly this summer. Has the game to pick up his first win of the season here.

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Two horses for the course ... 

The [ACC outlook](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/acc-preview-picks-best-bets-analysis-2026) from a betting perspective ...

**RBROWNBETS:** It's always good for the confidence level when an underdog comes through like the Blue Jays did Monday night, when the Red Sox scored their only run on one of the strangest plays you'll ever see. We'll try to build on that momentum with two recommendations Tuesday:

**Brewers (-118) over the Padres**

Left-hander Kyle Harrison (9-2, 2.84 ERA) will start on the mound for the Brewers. Harrison is coming off an overpowering outing Wednesday in a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh. He recorded eight consecutive strikeouts at one point and limited the Pirates to one hit in five shutout innings before departing because of cramps. When he exits the mound Tuesday the guess here is the Brewers will be in good position to win the game, and they have a rested bullpen to do so.

**Blue Jays (-136) over Red Sox**

Boston's magical run seems to be over. The Red Sox have lost three in a row and the lackluster offense they had early in the season has returned. This pick is all about Dylan Cease being able to quiet the Boston bats. Cease has a 29 percent strikeout percentage against the Red Sox in their 104 plate appearances against him. Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras, Boston's No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, are 6 for 28 against Cease, who has allowed one earned run in his last 23 innings. Expect Boston's losing streak to reach four games.

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Cease-Fire

The [SEC outlook](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/sec-preview-picks-best-bets-analysis-2026) from a betting perspective ... 

**RBROWNBETS:** The Red Sox are scheduled to start RHP Sonny Gray (14-2, 2.78 ERA) Monday night in the first of four games against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Gray is 4-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Blue Jays. In two starts against them this season, he is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. Right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.96) is expected to make his second start with the Blue Jays on Monday after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs. In his Toronto debut last Wednesday he allowed three runs on six hits in four innings against the Houston Astros. He struck out four and walked two. Taillon is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox. 

**The play:** Blue Jays (+138)

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Still Top 'Dogs?

Here's a thorough breakdown of the BIG XII from college football specialist Paul Stone: [The Oddsbreakers Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDmjKU349FE)

**Something to think about:** The Red Sox went 13 innings with the White Sox on Thursday and will have to give their bullpen some rest since starting pitcher Ranger Suarez was pulled after three innings. Payton Tolle is priced at -178 at Draftkings to record more than 17.5 outs against the Athletics on Friday night. It's high odds, but a wager worth considering ... 

**RBROWNBETS:** There's a good chance Atlanta's eight-game winning streak comes to an end Friday night. The Yankees have Max Fried on the mound and he seems to be getting better by the start since he returned after missing two months with an elbow injury. Fried (4-3, 3.12 ERA) has three no-decisions and a 2.70 ERA in three starts since returning last month, and his pitch count gradually  increased in each outing. He threw 57 and 66 pitches, respectively, in his first two starts before increasing to 78 when he allowed one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the host Chicago Cubs. Tyler Mahle (3-9, 5.17 ERA) will make his first appearance for Atlanta since being acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.

The play:

**Yankees (-128) over the Braves.**

Best of luck with your bets ....


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Eight is enough ... 

Football returns Thursday night with the Hall of Fame Game. Here are some betting trends if you plan to bet the [NFL preseason}(https://www.covers.com/nfl/preseason-betting-trends)

**RBROWNBETS:** No plays Thursday and the night off is needed since baseball hasn't been good to us this week. A couple notes on  the NFL Hall of Fame Game: The underdog has won the last five matchups, and the over has cashed in each of the last four years (the totals were 37, 36, 34 and 33). At Draftkings, the Cardinals are 1.5-point favorites over the Panthers and the total is 34.5.

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How to bet the NFL Preseason

The PGA Tour makes a stop in Greensboro, N.C., this week for the Wyndham Championship, which is the tour's final tournament before the FedExCup playoffs begin. **Cameron Young** is the defending champion. Here's a tournament preview: [Wyndham Championship](https://vsin.com/golf/wyndham-championship-best-bets-and-golf-odds-2/)

**RBROWNBETS:** The baseball world is upside down. The Dodgers can't win and the Red Sox can't lose. Boston's latest victory made Tuesday's pick of the underdog White Sox look foolish. Nevertheless, we're back on the White Sox on Wednesday, hoping Boston starting pitcher Sonny Gray isn't at his best. Chicago will send Sean Burke (7-5, 3.04 ERA) to the mound. Burke has seven quality starts (at least six innings and no more than three earned runs allowed) in his last eight outings. He has also struck out at least 10 batters in three of his five starts in July, and is tied for sixth among American League pitchers in strikeouts (140).  The play: 

**White Sox (+120) over the Red Sox**

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Sox of a different color ... 

[The Big 12 College Football Preview from a betting persective](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/big-12-preview-picks-best-bets-analysis-2026)


**RBROWNBETS:** Coming off a 2-1 Monday night -- anyone else notice that the Dodgers seem to need pitching? -- we're recommending one play Tuesday night:

White Sox (+113) over the Red Sox

Best of luck with your bets ....


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There are two kinds of Sox ... 

We're back from an extended vacation that included having the Royals/Twins game under 6.5 on the day Minnesota hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth to win 4-3. We have two newsletter that you may want to sample between now and the start of the football season:

[-- Betting with Bearman](https://www.bearmanbets.com/red-sox-keep-rolling-is-it-finally-the-bills-year/?ref=betting-with-bearman-newsletter)
[-- BettorDay](https://www.bettorday.com/?ref=daily-newsletter)


**RBROWNBETS:** We're recommending three baseball plays Monday night:

**Dodgers (-128) over the Cubs**
**Diamondbacks (-118) over the Padres**
**Diamondbacks/Padres Under 9**

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News of the Day .. 

Here's Wes Reynolds' preview (with selections) of the [3M Open](https://vsin.com/golf/3m-open-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS:** Our bet on the Orioles on Tuesday was washed away when the Baltimore-Boston game was postponed by rain. We're back on the Orioles on Wednesday night, hoping that Baltimore can end Boston's 15-game winning streak in the back end of a doubleheader. Baltimore's Kyle Bradish has a 2.12 ERA in his last five outings. Wagering on the Orioles (+112).

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The streak ends here ... 

Here's a 30-minute podcast to help you get ready for the college football season from a betting perspective: [2026 College Football Preview Show with Right Angle Sports](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMo5aLmHkCc)

**RBROWNBETS:** We cashed Monday's bet on Philadelphia, which handled the Los Angeles Dodgers at home. On Tuesday we're betting that Boston's 14-game winning streak comes to and end. Baltimore's Kyle Bradish is 6-9, but has a respectable 3.62 ERA this season. Dig a little deeper and you'll see that Bradish has pitched 18.1 innings and has a 3.50 ERA in his last three starts. Boston starter Ranger Suarez is making his first appearance since a stint on the 15-day injured list. Go with underdog Orioles (+113).

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Betting on the Birds

When discussing the most improved teams in college football, you can look at it from a couple of different angles: most improved in terms of wins from last year, and most improved in terms of power ratings.

[Brad Powers' most improved college football teams](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/most-improved-teams-2026)

**RBROWNBETS:** It's rare when a good opportunity to bet against the Los Angeles Dodgers arises, but Monday night may be one of those situations. The Dodgers are coming off a bullpen game Sunday night -- a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees -- and they'll be facing Cristopher Sanchez, who is a far better pitcher at home (0.86 ERA in 11 starts) than on the road (4.97 ERA in nine starts). We'll take a stab with the Phillies (-149). FYI: The Dodgers are 1-0 as road underdogs this season. 


Best of luck with your bets ....

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A rare betting opportunity ... 

Here's a link to betting sheets for each sport provided by Covers.com: [Betting Sheets](https://www.covers.com/sport/printsheets)
You may find these particulary helpful when you're wagering on Major League Baseball.

**RBROWNBETS:** We're invested in three games on Friday's MLB card: Houston (-115) at home against Baltimore; Toronto (-136) at home against the Chicago White Sox; and Kansas City (-103) at home against San Diego.

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Back to betting baseball ... 

Here is VSIN's preview of [The Open Championship](https://vsin.com/golf/the-open-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

Or you can fast-forward to Wes Reynolds' selections:

**Matt Fitzpatrick (18-1, DraftKings)**
Despite having three victories this year and being certainly in the running for PGA Tour Player of the Year, Fitzpatrick has been just a little off at the majors, going T-18, T-14 and 22nd in the first three this season.

Fitzpatrick ranks No. 1 on the PGA Tour for both Strokes Gained: Approach and Strokes Gained: Around The Green and is exceptional at scrambling from the shorter grasses. 

His putter started cold on the West Coast but has gotten better throughout the season, gaining strokes in nine of his last 13 starts. He gained over 4.5 strokes with the flatstick last week on the slower greens at Renaissance and will find similar greens here at Royal Birkdale. 

**Tommy Fleetwood (19-1, DraftKings)**
Unfortunately, we are paying a bit of the hometown tax here on Fleetwood as his odds should probably be in the mid- to high-20s, but this feels like it could be the spot for Fleetwood to finally win his first major.

Fleetwood has finished no worse than 14th anywhere in his last five starts, so he appears to be peaking at the right time. 

He ranks first in Scrambling, third for Strokes Gained: Around The Green and sixth in Driving Accuracy on the PGA Tour. 

There would certainly be no more popular winner than Fleetwood hoisting the Claret Jug in his hometown.

**Collin Morikawa (33-1, DraftKings)**
This has certainly been a busy year for Morikawa. He began by winning for the first time in 28 months at Pebble Beach (former Open winners at Royal Birkdale who also won at Pebble Beach include Jordan Spieth and Mark O’Meara). 

Then, he had a back injury in the early spring, which perhaps stalled his season’s momentum a bit and forced him to withdraw from The Players. Next, he and wife Katherine welcomed their first child. 

Now all of that is behind him, and he can focus completely on golf. 

In his previous start, Morikawa finished third and just one shot out of the playoff with a closing round of 61. 

He fits the prototype for success here, ranking second on the PGA Tour for Strokes Gained: Approach, fifth for both Driving Accuracy and Distance From the Edge of the Fairway.

**Robert MacIntyre (36-1, DraftKings)**
MacIntyre has three top-8s on six starts in The Open, including a T-7 last year at Royal Portrush, and finished second in the 2019 British Masters held at nearby Hillside Golf Club in Southport. 

He finished T-3 last week at his home Scottish Open but led the field with his irons by gaining almost 10 strokes on the field for approach, and appears to be over his neck injury from the spring.

“Bobby Mac” also ranks ninth on the PGA Tour this season for Strokes Gained: Putting. 

The Scotsman is looking to be the first from his country to win The Open since Paul Lawrie in 1999. 

**Tyrrell Hatton (38-1, DraftKings)**
Hatton finished just T-17 at the Scottish Open but led the field for Strokes Gained: Putting. 

He finished T-3 at the Masters and T-7 at the U.S. Open earlier this season, so he is becoming more of a regular factor in major championships.

The Englishman, a Liverpool fan, should feel very comfortable on Merseyside and has a recent victory under his belt, having won at Valderrama on LIV to begin June.  

Like Morikawa, he became a recent first-time father as well, so that has perhaps calmed his demeanor a bit to get him across the finish line for his first major championship. 

**Justin Rose (41-1, DraftKings)**
Despite being the only player to lose two sudden-death playoffs at the Masters and still be in search of his first green jacket, The Open Championship is one that Rose wants to win the most. He has come close twice, finishing T-2 at Carnoustie in 2018 and T-2 at Troon two years ago. 

It was here at Royal Birkdale in 1998 where Rose made his Open Championship debut as a 17-year-old to finish T-4 and win the Low Amateur honors. 

Rose has finished T-3 (Masters), T-10 (PGA) and T-11 (U.S. Open) this year at the first three majors. 

Approaching age 46, time is running short for Rose to nab that second major (2013 U.S. Open), but it feels like he still has one more in him with three top-3 finishes in his last eight major championships, and The Open has been the major for elder statesmen to win in recent years (Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson all won in their 40s). 

**Russell Henley (54-1, DraftKings)**
Henley disappointed at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open after finishing T-3 at The Masters. However, he has become a regular contender in majors lately with five top-10s in his last nine. 

He got back in the winner’s circle seven weeks ago, winning the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, another course where accuracy off the tee is important. Henley leads the PGA Tour for Driving Accuracy.

His best major over the last two years has been at The Open with a fifth at Troon in 2024 and a 10th last year at Royal Portrush. 

**Maverick McNealy (115-1, Circa Sports)**
McNealy has posted career-best finishes in all three majors this season, so why not a fourth here?

Mav always has an elite short game, and this year is no exception, ranking eighth in Sand Saves, 14th for Strokes Gained: Around The Green and 19th for Strokes Gained: Putting on the PGA Tour this season. 

**RBROWNBETS:** On Tuesday we made bets on Robert MacIntyre to win The Open Championship (+3600) as well a bet on MacIntyre to finish in the top 20 plus ties (+138). Since then we've added outright-win bets on Jon Rahm (+1950) and Justin Rose (+4100).

Best of luck with your bets ....

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A Major obstacle ... 

Here's a player-by-player look at the field for Thursday's [Open Championship](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/the-open-championship-profiles-player-by-player-guide-to-the-field-at-birkdale-including-rory-mcilroy-and-scottie-scheffler/232848)

**RBROWNBETS:**  Nothing actionable Tuesday, but we have placed a bet on Robert MacIntyre to win The Open Championship (+3600) as well a bet on MacIntyre to finish in the top 20 plus ties (+138).

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Open Season

To help you gear up for golf's final major, here are [5 storylines entering Thursday's Open Championship](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/the-open-five-key-storylines-ahead-of-the-open-championship-at-royal-birkdale/233143)

**RBROWNBETS:**  Nothing actionable Monday.

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Take Five

If you're thirsting for some quality college football talk: [VSIN College Football BettingPodcast](https://vsin.com/podcasts/college-football-betting/)

**RBROWNBETS:**  The Yankees, in their current injury-riddled state, aren't a very good baseball team. They're 2-9 in their last 11 games, but beat Tampa Bay 5-1 Monday. We're betting the Yankees won't beat the Rays on back-to-back nights. New York starter Will Warren (7-3, 3.73) ERA has good stats, but hasn't picked up a victory since May 31, and the Yankees haven't been doing much in terms of run production with Aaton Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup.Take Ian Seymour (5-1, 4.02) and the Rays to end their three-game losing streak. 

**Tuesday's Play**
Tampa Bay (-122) over the New York Yankees

Best of luck with your bets ....

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Catching some Rays

*Here are Wes Reynolds' selections for the John Deere Classic:*

**Tom Kim (35-1, DraftKings)**
It has been over two-and-a-half years since Kim has won, but he appears closer than he has been in the last 18 months.

He finished third two weeks ago at the U.S. Open and gained strokes across the board. That was Kim’s best finish anywhere since late 2024.

Kim ranks third in this field for Strokes Gained: Approach and sixth in Good Drives.

All of his PGA Tour victories have been in birdie-fests on shorter courses (TPC Summerlin, Sedgefield) and TPC Deere Run fits that bill as well.

**Michael Thorbjornsen (35-1, BetMGM)**
With all of this week’s buzz surrounding Jackson Koivun making his professional debut, let’s look to another former PGA Tour U winner who finished runner-up in his third professional start here two years ago at the John Deere Classic. 

Thorbjornsen has four top-3 finishes in his last 2.5 seasons and has been close to a victory on these birdie-fest courses.

**Ryo Hisatsune (50-1, BetMGM)**
While he has cooled a bit from his early-season form of having four top-10 finishes before April, Hisatsune has remained solid with 18 consecutive made cuts since missing in the first event of the season at the Sony Open in Hawaii. 

He is an excellent positional driver (third in Good Drives Gained) and can go low on easier courses (first in the field for Par-5 Performance; top 20 Birdie Or Better). 

Due to his early-season success, he has played the full “Signature Event” schedule, but now he gets a drop-in class with most of those big names away. The price has drifted too high on a consistent player. 

**Jackson Suber (60-1, Fanatics)**
Suber ranks top 7 in this field for Strokes Gained: Approach, Good Drives and Proximity from 100-150 yards. That’s the recipe to win here. 

His nearest taste to winning was just three weeks ago as the 54-hole leader at the RBC Canadian Open before finishing T-4. 

That was Suber’s third top-4 finish of the year as he also did so at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson (another birdie-fest) and at the Astara Golf Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. 

**Daniel Berger (61-1, DraftKings)**
Berger has been off his game since his agonizing playoff defeat to Akshay Bhatia at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. Since then, he only has two top-25 finishes, including last week at The Travelers. 

However, like Hisatsune, the schedule has been littered with major championships and “Signature Events.”

He ranks first in this field for Strokes Gained: Approach. The putting has been an issue, but he might have found a little something last week, gaining +1.2 strokes on Saturday/Sunday after losing -4.7 with the putter on Thursday/Friday. 

**Denny McCarthy (62-1, DraftKings)**
McCarthy has been consistent this year (made 14 of 17 cuts), but last week’s T-14 at The Travelers was his second-best finish of the season.

The John Deere has been a place to get right for him historically, considering he has finished 11-7-6-6 here the last four years. 

He co-led the field last week at The Travelers for Greens In Regulation along with some of the game’s current elite (Scheffler, Fitzpatrick, Morikawa), so his irons look good and he is always known as “Denny McPutty” and has always been great on the greens here. 

**Ben Kohles (82-1, DraftKings)**
Kohles looks to be in solid shape to regain his PGA Tour card courtesy of earning his fifth career victory on the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this month. Nevertheless, this is one of his few PGA Tour starts this season and he needs to take advantage. 

He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach at the U.S. Open and finished a respectable 23rd after having to qualify the week prior. 

*The full tournament preview:* [John Deere Classic](https://vsin.com/golf/john-deere-classic-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS:** Well, our four-game winning streak came to an end when the Cubs beat San Diego 9-7 Tuesday night.
We won and pushed on our two leans, as Detroit beat the Yankees (win) and the Boston/Washington game landed on 9 (8-1 Nationals). We felt good about the under. We have five plays on Wednesday's MLB card: The Reds (+135) over the Brewers, the Pirates (+119) over the Phillies, the Guardians (-125) over the Rangers, the Royals (+109) over the Rays and the Red Sox/Nationals game Under 9.5 (-109). Best of luck with your bets ....

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Time to play ball!


For those of you who plan to bet this weeks John Deere Classic here's an in-depth look at the course and the field: [John Deere Classic](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/ben-coleys-golf-betting-tips-john-deere-classic-preview-and-best-bets/232957)

**RBROWNBETS:** Hope you've been following our Play of the Day in MLB lately since Arizona's 5-4 victory over San Francisco on Monday night was our fourth straight win. We'll try to keep things rolling with an underdog play on Tuesday night. We're taking San Diego (+129) to win the second game of a three-game series against the ijury-riddled Chicago Cubs. San Diego's JP Sears was good in his last start, his MLB debut, and Chicago's Matthew Boyd has a 5.14 ERA. Two other plays that we're not betting, but we'll put out there for your consideration: Detroit, with Tarik Skubal scheduled to be on the mound, is (-104) against a New York Yankees team struggling to score. Neither Cody Bellinger nor Jazz Chisholm is expected to start for the Yankees. We were also tempted to take the Red Sox/Nationals game Under 9, based on Boston's lack of offensive punch and the fact that Connelly Early will be on the mound. Although not a household name, Early is good and has been consistent this season. Best of luck with your bets ....

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First Look: John Deere Classic

Brad Powers provides his writeups on the [2026 College Football Games of the Year](https://www.covers.com/ncaaf/college-football-games-of-the-year-picks) from a betting perpective for Covers.com. His picks include the Miami/Notre Dame matchup.

You can read the spring issue of [Brad's newsletter](https://nebula.wsimg.com/79f1fe9af02ce62cc4205e7e977161b8?AccessKeyId=F4E5462B12CB60B63AD2&disposition=0&alloworigin=1) at no cost.

**RBROWNBETS:** Looking for four straight wins on the diamond, we're taking Arizona (-144) at home against San Fransicso on Monday night. The Diamondbacks are 6-0 against the Giants this season and scored 39 runs in the six wins. Arizona also has the pitching edge with Eduardo Rodriguez (6-2, 2.27 ERA) going against Tyler Mahle (1-7, 5.49). Best of luck with your bets ....

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Some Pigskin Picks ... 

Required Reading: [America's Last Bookie Goes Down](https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-crime/americas-last-bookie-goes-down)

**RBROWNBETS:** Coming off back-to-back wins with Tampa Bay, were betting on the Atlanta Braves (-120) to end a four-game losing streak Friday night when they visit the San Francisco Giants. San Francisco starter Trevor McDonald (2-5, 4.93 ERA) is 0-5 in his last six outings. Best of luck with your bets ....

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Bringing the A-Game ...

In an NBA draft class considered to be deep with talent, there are sure to be plenty of strong candidates to take home the Rookie of the Year award in 2026-27.

Memphis Grizzlies power forward Cameron Boozer, selected No. 3 overall on Tuesday, is the early odds leader for the award at +240, ahead of both No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa of the Washington Wizards (+300) and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz (+330).

Editor's Picks

Which teams crushed 2026 NBA Round 1? Best picks, biggest questions from the top 30 picks
Jeremy Woo, +2 More

How will the lottery picks fare in fantasy? Outlooks for the 2026 NBA rookie class
Andre Snellings
But there are many others with a strong chance to be in the conversation until the final day of the season. Sacramento's Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 pick, is next on the odds board at +550.

No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls (12-1) and Mikel Brown Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets (14-1) are the others with shorter than 20-1 odds.

So which player is the one to bet on? And is there a longshot worth considering? Several names immediately jump out.

Odds by DK Sports and subject to change.

[FULL STORY](https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/49166763/nba-draft-betting-first-bet-rookie-year-cameron-boozer-aj-dybantsa-darryn-peterson-caleb-wilson)

**RBROWNBETS:** Reeled in a winner when Tampa Bay (-149) beat Kansas City on Wednesday night. We're back on the Rays  (-144) on Thursday afternoon. Although Seth Lugo has pitched well against the Rays during his career, the Royals are still without Maikel Garcia, and Bobby Witt Jr. hasn't played since last Thursday, when he sustained an MCL sprain. Best of luck with your bets ....

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Seeking a repeat performance

Wyndham Clark, at a pre-championship price of 40-1 to 45-1, became the first player since Martin Kaymer in 2014 at Pinehurst No. 2 to go wire-to-wire and win the U.S. Open championship. However, it was the U.S. Open, and it is arguably the hardest event in golf to win. Clark, even while paired in the final group with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (T-4 finish), had a six-stroke lead (-7) going into Sunday’s final round. The 2023 and now 2026 U.S. Open champion carded bogeys on three of his first seven holes but never lost the lead. 

It was not Scheffler who emerged as Clark’s primary challenger, but one of Scheffler’s best friends, Sam Burns, who carded birdies on four of his first eight holes but could not quite reach Clark. Burns, one of our pre-event outright tips at 45-1, did have a chance to make birdie at 18 to post 4 under, the eventual winning score for Clark, but missed the 17-footer by four inches to post 3 under. 

Clark had not won anywhere in over two years and fell to 78th in the world heading into the Masters but won last month in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and is now a two-time U.S. Open champion ranked eighth. 

This week, Clark (28-1) could find the Connecticut crowds a bit more friendly at The Travelers Championship, unless he has a six-stroke lead again and just about takes out all the intrigue in another event. 

Scheffler (4-1), a 2024 winner at the Travelers, is back in Hartford to lead the field at this “Signature Event.”

[Traveler's Championship Full Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/travelers-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)


**RBROWNBETS:**  Cashed on the Diamondbacks (-105), who beat St. Louis 5-1 Tuesday. Hoping to remain hot with the Tampa Bay (-149) against Kansas City tonight. The Rays are the better team playing at home, but have dropped the first two games of a  four-game series. The Royals have won five of their last six. That includes three straight road wins, but we expect that streak to end tonight.  Best of luck with your bets ....

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Feeling the Rays 

The debate about who the Washington Wizards will select with the No. 1 pick has carried on since last month's draft lottery, but as we head into Day 1 of the NBA draft on Tuesday it is BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa who is the big favorite over Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson.

That leaves Peterson as the favorite at No. 2 to the Utah Jazz, and Duke big man Cameron Boozer the favorite at No. 3 to the Memphis Grizzlies. With both expected to be off the board by the time Chicago picks at No. 4, North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson is the big favorite to land with the Bulls.

Where do things fall after that? Well, at No. 5 is when things get interesting, with a bevy of talented point guards expected to be in the mix -- and favored to be picked -- for the LA Clippers at No. 5, the Brooklyn Nets at No. 6, the Sacramento Kings at No. 7 and the Atlanta Hawks at No. 8.

Then, the Dallas Mavericks are on the board at No. 9 before Milwaukee's pick at 10, and the odds for the Bucks' selection are off the board due to all the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.

With that in mind, here's what the betting market tells us about what could happen with the first nine picks of the NBA draft.

Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.

[FULL STORY](https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/49144890/2026-nba-draft-odds-first-round-projections-sports-betting-top-nine-picks)

**RBROWNBETS:**  Thankfully the price on North Carolina in the final game of the College World Series was too high for our liking, as  our lean toward the Tar Heels couldn't have been more wrong. Saved some money by being disciplined there. On Tuesday we're taking Arizona (-105) over St. Louis, hoping the Diamondbacks can end a three-game losing streak. Eduardo Rodriguez (6-2, 2.45) gives Arizona a pitching edge over Kyle Leahy (5-4, 4.63). Leahy has a 6.00 ERA and is winless in his last three starts. Best of luck with your bets ....

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Draft picks ...

Here's a preview of Monday's night's winner-take-all College World Series game between Oklahoma and North Carolina: [College World Series Game 3](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2026/06/22/oklahoma-north-carolina-baseball-pitchers-college-world-series/90637655007/)

**RBROWNBETS:** We have a slight lean toward North Carolina in Monday's College World Series game. The Tar Heels are the better team and should prevail if Caden Glauber has anything left in the tank. The price(-154) is too high, however. We will be betting the Tar Heels only if they are -140 or better. Best of luck with your bets ....

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Nothing would be finer ... 

Some reading material to help you make your U.S. Open bets: 

[VSIN/Wes Reynolds Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/u-s-open-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

[Golf.com/Brady Kannon Preview](https://golf.com/lifestyle/us-open-picks-shinnecock-win/)

[Sporting Life/Ben Coley Preview](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/us-open-golf-betting-tips-ben-coleys-preview-and-best-bets-for-shinnecock-hills/232583)


**RBROWNBETS:** Pushed the button on three U.S. Open wagers on Wednesday, all of which are outright winners: Xander Schauffele (+1900), Russell Henley (+4000) and Kurt Kitayama (+6800). Best of luck with your bets ....

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Out in The Open

Here's an early look at the U.S. Open:

Let the challenge begin.

The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, starting Thursday, and the third major of the season figures to once again be the toughest test in golf.

In five previous U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills dating back to 1896, only three golfers have finished with scores under par. Raymond Floyd finished 1 under when he became the oldest U.S. Open champion in 1986. Corey Pavin shot even par when he won his first major in 1995, and Retief Goosen (4 under) and Phil Mickelson (2 under) were the only golfers under par in 2004.

In the last U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Brooks Koepka became the first back-to-back winner since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 with a winning score of 1 over.

[FULL PREVIEW](https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/page/Usopenrankings2026/2026-us-open-ranking-favorites-contenders-hopefuls)


**RBROWNBETS:** Haven't spotted anything on the MLB or NCAA baseball board worth investing in Monday, so taking the day off. Best of luck with your bets ....

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U.S. Open: First look


For those of you looking to get an early start on [college football](https://nebula.wsimg.com/79f1fe9af02ce62cc4205e7e977161b8?AccessKeyId=F4E5462B12CB60B63AD2&disposition=0&alloworigin=1)

**RBROWNBETS:** We considered four MLB plays on the Friday night menu, but whittled that list to one: Boston (-132) over Texas. Yes, this might be the worst Red Sox team of all time, but the one thing they have going for them is Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.19). Hopefully he can keep things close and someone can have a big night for a woeful Boston offense. It was a quick turnaround for Texas, which left Kansas City hours later than expected Thurday because their game was delayed by rain. Best of luck with your bets .... 

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Is it too early for football?

A betting guide for the RBC [Canadian Open](https://golf.com/lifestyle/rbc-canadian-open-2026-betting-guide-6-picks/)

**RBROWNBETS:** We landed on another winner Tuesday, when the Reds (-125) beat the Padres 5-3 to end a five-game losing streak. Two MLB wagers on Wednesday: Arizona (-114) over Miami,  and Baltimore (-110) over Seattle. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Back On Course

Who will Carolina start in goal for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals? Here's a look ahead to Tueday night's [matchup between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/carolina-hurricanes-embrace-two-day-break-ahead-of-stanley-cup-final-game-4)

**RBROWNBETS:** When I was younger -- much younger -- I hung around with a guy who warned against betting on the NBA. He called it, "One step above professional wrestling." I chuckled at the time, but the Tim Donaghy story and other situations involving home court advantage in the NBA proved this friend to be more right that wrong. This came to mind Monday night when a significant free throw disparity sank our wager on the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. This isn't as much of a complaint against the officiating as it is a warning against betting on an unpredictable NBA product. We'll probably put the NBA bets in hibernation for the remainder of the season. Tuesday we're going with the Reds (- 125) to beat the Padres and end a five-game losing streak. The Reds have a significant edge in the starting pitching department as Chase Burnse (7-1, 2.06 ERA) is scheduled to face Lucas Giolito (2-1. 5.06). Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Who's behind the mask?

NEW YORK — The NBA Finals are so close to a 1-1 series instead of a 2-0 New York Knicks advantage over the San Antonio Spurs.

So close.

Had Victor Wembanyama not committed a turnover with 9.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter of a tie game. Had Wembanyama made the game’s final shot.

Had those things happened and not what transpired – a 105-104 Knicks victory in Game 2 on Friday – the discussion around the Finals would be different.

Instead of talking about a potential six- or seven-game series, the question is:

Can the Knicks sweep and win their first title since 1973 at home in Madison Square Garden … this week?

[FULL PREVIEW](https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-carry-chance-to-sweep-2026-nba-finals-vs-spurs-into-game-3-at-madison-square-garden)


**RBROWNBETS:** It feels like New York is going to sweep San Antonio, so we'll take the Knicks on the moneyline (-130) in Game 3 Monday night. New York has been playing better team basketball and has a more seasoned roster. It's hard to envsion the Knicks losing at home after generating so much momentum in the first two games of the series. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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A New York State of Mind


Meet the horses in Saturday's [Belmont Stakes](https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/48967155/2026-belmont-stakes-odds-bets-horses-triple-crown)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Thursday's handicap of the Red Sox/Orioles game couldn't have been more off base. We showed confidence in Brayan Bello based on his last appearance, but his first-inning issues only got worse in an 8-2 as Baltimore scored six runs off Bello in the opening inning. Fortunately we also had under 10.5 in that game, and then cashed on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. **Friday's picks:** Taking visiting Seattle (-123) against Detroit. Bryan Woo will be trying to help the Mariners end Detroit's three-game winning streak and he should give Seattle an edge over the unpredictable Framber Valdez. Also going to purchase a win ticket on Emerging Market (6-1 morning line) to win Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Market Watch

Here's some helpful information if you plan to bet Saturday's [Belmont Stakes](https://www.drf.com/belmont-stakes)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Wednesday's four underdog selections were no bueno, as only the Mets (+123) cashed. Hopefully you got a good enough price to take one or both of our leans on Boston and the Los Angeles Angels. At the time we published Wednesday, the odds on both were too high for us to pull the trigger on a wager. We're back on the Red Sox on Thursday afternoon. Boston is -118 in the final game of a three-game series against visiting Baltimore. Brayan Bello has been an adventure this season, but he was excellent last time out. He won't be pitching after an opener Thursday, so we're hoping we get the good version of Bello. We're also going to play the under (10.5) in that game. Turning to the ice, Carolina left plenty of room for improvement in its Game 1 loss against Las Vegas. Although we have the Golden Knights to win the series, we're playing the Hurricanes (-162) in Game 2 Thursday night. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Horseplay

Betting preview for the [NBA finals](https://www.covers.com/nba/finals/knicks-vs-spurs-series-odds-predictions-june-2026)

A preview of this week's PGA Tour event, [The Memorial](https://vsin.com/golf/the-memorial-tournament-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Tuesday's wager on the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup (+130) got off to a good start when Vegas beat Carolina 5-4 on the road in Game 1. Still a lot of work to do. We have four MLB plays for you today all underdogs: San Francisco (+129) over Miami, Toronto over Atlanta (+123), New York Mets (+123) over Seattle and Houston (=129) over Texas). Also worth considering if the line dips to -150 or below: Boston over Baltimore, and the Los Angeles Angels over Colorado. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Our favorite kind of dog ... 

Here's a betting preview of the [Stanley Cup finals](https://nypost.com/2026/05/30/betting/stanley-cup-final-series-prediction-golden-knights-vs-hurricanes-nhl-odds-best-bet/) 

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Remained hot Monday with two winners on the MLB card: We had Miami (+119) over Washington, and Minnesota (-156) to beat the Chicago White Sox. Tuesday's only wager is Vegas to win the Stanley Cup (+130). Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Knight Time?

One bettor on DraftKings reportedly won $1.71 million on a four-team parlay placed Feb. 14 when San Antonio beat Oklahoma City in Game 7. The bettor wagered $2,500 on the following:

-- Michigan to win the men's college basketball championship (+500)
-- The United States men's hockey team to win the Olympic gold medal (+180)
-- The New York Knicks to win the Eastern Conference (+330)
-- The San Antonio Spurs to win the Western Conference (+850)

The bettor could have cashed out for $612,212.95 befor the Spurs beat the Thunder in Game 7.

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We have two plays on a limited MLB card Monday: Going with Miami (+119) over Washington, and Minnesota (-156) to beat the Chicago White Sox. Miami's Sandy Alcantara has pitched well against Washington during his career (3.55 ERA in 17 starts), but has struggled in his last two starts. He allowed four home runs in his first 10 starts this season, but five in his last two. We're betting on Alcantara returning to form as an underdog. We're also counting on a strong effort from Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (3-3. 2.94), who is seeking his fifth straight quality start as the Twins attempt to end a five-game losing streak. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Arm Strength


Covers.com provides a [betting preview for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between Carolina and Montreal](https://www.covers.com/nhl/canadiens-vs-hurricanes-prediction-picks-best-bets-sgp-friday-5-29-2026)

Also, here's where you can find [betting sheets for all sports](https://www.covers.com/sport/printsheets). The MLB betting sheet is extremely helpful for handicapping that sport. 

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We're on a good run after winning our bets on the Braves and the Braves team total going over 3.5 runs during Thursday's 10-2 victory over the Red Sox. There's nothing on Friday's betting menu that stands out, so we're not going to force a play. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Putting Things On Ice

Because BETMGM is not available in New Hamphire, we didn't learn about The Roar until earlier today. Among other things, the site offers a preview of Thursday's night's NBA game between [San Antonio and Oklahoma City.](https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/thunder-vs-spurs-prediction-may-28-2026-bm23/)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We won two of our three wagers on Wednesday, although after cashing on the Red Sox and the Cubs the night felt like a loss when the Canadiens forgot how to play offense and dropped a 3-0 decision to the Hurricanes. We're recommending two MLB bets Tuesday: Braves (-137) and Braves team total over 3.5 (-115). Feel confident that Chris Sale can shut down an anemic Boston offense, and the Braves got a look at Payton Tolle earlier this month. He went eight innings against Atlanta on May 16, but we're betting he doesn't last nearly as long Thursday afternoon. Atlanta has been held to no more than one run in three of its last four games, but the team's offense is too good to stay down for long. Best of luck with your bets ...

---

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Up for Sale

*This has to rank very high among all-time bad beats*

One bettor had Jordan Spieth to win his group in Round 2 of last week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson (see photo). Spieth finished with a 62, but Sungjae Im made a HOLE-IN-ONE and an EAGLE in two of his final three holes to shoot 61. 😬 We've all been there ... 

VSIN's preview of this week's [Charles Schwab Challenge](https://vsin.com/golf/charles-schwab-challenge-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We're recommending three bets Wednesday: Red Sox (-101), Cubs (-108) and Canadiens (+120). Best of luck with your bets ...

___

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An all-time bad beat ...

For those of you who are old school in how you do things, you'll be happy to know that what's left of the College Football and Pro Football preview magazines are hitting the newsstands as you're reading this. That said, here are some early lines for Week 0 in college football:

TCU -6.5 vs UNC (in Dublin) 
UVA -3 vs NC State (in Rio) 
San Jose St +35.5 at USC 
New Mex St +28.5 at Florida St 
Hawaii +3 at Stanford 
Memphis +3 (-105) at UNLV 
Jax St +10 at N Dakota St 
Sac St +8.5 at E Michigan

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We're going to recommend a road underdog in Major League Baseball on Friday: St. Louis (+104) over Cincinnati. The Cardinals are 15-8 away from home this season, and will be facing a pitcher (Chris Paddack) who has an 0-5 record, a 7.07 ERA and was released by the Marlins earlier this month. Best of luck with your bets ...

___

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Read all about it!

*Brady Kannon's preview and selections for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, this week's PGA Tour event:*

It feels good to get a break for a minute from the “major” events that have dominated the PGA Tour schedule for the last six weeks. It’s on to a good old-fashioned birdie-fest deep in the heart of Texas, as for the sixth year in a row the CJ Cup Byron Nelson will be held at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

I like to call these next three weeks “The Legendary Swing,” as we go from the Byron Nelson to Ben Hogan’s place, Colonial Country Club, next week in Fort Worth, only to be followed by the Memorial at Jack Nicklaus’ place in Dublin, Ohio. It’s a great lead up to the season’s third major, the U.S. Open, which will be held at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Scottie Scheffler will be looking to complete the career grand slam at Shinnecock — but first, he’ll be looking to defend his title here at Lord Byron’s place.

Scheffler went “Star Trek” last season, boldly going where no man has gone before, getting to 31-under par and winning by eight shots. Reinforcements were immediately called in to investigate, and with the help of Lanny Wadkins, the golf course was tweaked in an effort to make things a bit more challenging.

In the 2026 edition, we will get a par 71 that measures just a shade less than 7,400 yards. Tom Weiskopf originally designed the property in 2004 but Wadkins has since narrowed the fairways, moved some of the bunkering, and renovated many of the greens — again, to try to adjust things to challenge the modern Tour player while still keeping this golf course playable for the club membership. In the five times that Craig Ranch has hosted this tournament, the average winning score is 25.5 under par. At the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, the Over/Under winning score proposition bet is 260.5, meaning 23.5 under par.

Even with the changes to the golf course, my approach to the handicap hasn’t changed. The formula remains the same: efficiency off the tee, greens in regulation, hole putts for birdie. Even though there have been some changes to these Bentgrass greens, I still believe that this will ultimately become a putting contest. Accordingly, I have looked at Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Strokes Gained: Approach, Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass), Birdies or Better Gained, Par 5 Scoring, Hole Proximity from 175-200 yards, and Par 4 Scoring on those measuring 450-500 yards.

I believe the correlated courses are fairly strong this week. In these watered-down field events, we tend to see the same names surface on the leaderboard. I looked at two other Weiskopf designs we see on Tour, TPC Scottsdale and Black Desert Resort in Utah. I also looked at Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Vidanta Vallarta (Mexico Open), and El Cardonal at Diamante (World Wide Technologies Championship).

I’m going with the long-shot approach this week. Scheffler is a prohibitive favorite at around +185. Si Woo Kim and Jordan Spieth are the second choices at around 15-1. Brooks Koepka checks in around 25-1 and after that, there isn’t anything shorter than 40 or 50-1 — and that is where I will get started.

[FULL STORY WITH SELECTIONS](https://golf.com/lifestyle/cj-cup-byron-nelson-betting-guide-7-picks/)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We're not wagering on any of Wednesday's action, but we do have a futures ticket on the Colordo Avalance to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado and Las Vegas open their best-of-seven series Wednesday night. If you like The Avalance in the series against the Golden Knights, you may want to join me and bet Colorado to win the Cup instead, assuming you think the Avalanche can take care of business against the Eastern Conference champion. Colorado is -260 to defeat Las Vegas and win the Western Conference, but you can still get the Avalanche at +130 to win the Stanley Cup. That might be a better investment. Best of luck with your bets ...

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Golf: Crash Course

With a win in tonight’s game, Buffalo would advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2007. It would mark the seventh time the Sabres have appeared in the Conference Final/league Semi-final (1975, 1980, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007).

A win tonight would mark the Sabres’ fourth playoff series victory over the Canadiens in franchise history. Buffalo’s only Game 7 victory came on April 29, 1997 vs. Ottawa (3-2, OT) in the 1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

In his last seven games, Zach Benson has registered eight points (4+4). Benson is two goals shy of Danny Gare’s record, set in 1975, for goals by a Sabres skater age 21 or younger in a single playoff year (7; 20 years old).

In his last eight games, Rasmus Dahlin has posted 12 points (3+9),

including at least one assist in four straight games. Dahlin needs two points to match the most points registered by a Buffalo defenseman in a single playoff year in franchise history (15; Jason Woolley and Zhitnik in 1999). Woolley and Zhitnik appeared in 21 games in the 1999 playoffs and tonight is Dahlin’s 13th game of the 2026 playoffs.

Tage Thompson has tallied 15 points (5+10) in 12 playoff games thus far, including eight points (3+5) in his last four games. Thompson’s eight points (3+5) in his last four games are the most by a Sabres forward in any four-game span in the playoffs since Derek Roy notched nine points (3+6) from May 2 to 10, 2006.

Konsta Helenius has recorded a goal in two consecutive games and a goal in tonight’s game would make Helenius the youngest skater in franchise history to record a goal streak of three or more games in the playoffs.

Josh Doan has registered 10 points (3+7) in his last nine games, including seven points (2+5) in six games against Montreal in this series.

Jack Quinn has recorded four points (2+2) in his last two games, including a multi-goal effort in Game 6 against the Canadiens (2+1). Quinn joined Thompson as the only Sabres skaters to record a multi-goal game in the 2026 playoffs.

[Full Preview](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/buffalo-sabres-montreal-canadiens-game-144609719.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANdxGwhs_sCKwYgJGikjxNr0A1ZEwNsVVJDnEsF6zuDxyqMr0sAOqv8b_bkxNGnOgOcT-f_WRKT8OaTlzY8tgk5a1HeKhh-HQIDMYBSttu87EVXi2Lf6H6YHGsNUZlxgtLzOwAUPiCEuYsos5vVpwo3MT4WqomxZfEfGP00oDaLF)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We've bet under 6.5 goals (and lost) in each of the last two games between Montreal and Buffalo. The teams scored nine goals in Game 5 and 11 in Game 6, now the total has dropped to 5.5. Something doesn't seem right. Yes, the teams could play more conservative because it's a Game 7, but there's also the increased possibility of one or more empty-net goals, since it's win or go home. A 3-1 game can become 5-1 in the blink of an eye. Forced to pick a side we'd take the underdog Canadiens and hope Buffalo's power plays cools off. That unit has a 37-percent success rate through the first six games of the series. This is one of those games it may be best to sit back and enjoy, so no official wager. Best of luck with your bets ...
_____

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Keeping things on ice

Here's a horse-by-horse look at Saturday's Preakness Stakes via the Vosburgh Report: [Handicapping The Preakness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC_PwTxnEp80)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We're going to place a win bet on the No. 1 horse, Taj Mahal (5-1), for Saturday's Preakness Stakes. Taj Mahal is based at Laurel Park -- the site for this year's Preakness -- and has three wins in three tries at that track. Trainer Brittany Russell has won 32 percent of her dirt races in Maryland, and the winning percentage rises to 37 percent when her husband, Sheldon Russell, is the jockey for her horse. Sheldon will be riding Taj Mahal on Saturday. Taj Mahal is one of many speed horses in the race, so if you prefer a closer we'd recommend Incredibolt. Best of luck with your bets ... 

---

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Looking for horsepower

Today we want to bring your attention to the [Betting News website](https://horses.bettingnews.com/). Recreational handicappers who dabble in horse racing may find their Betting Guides particularly helpful, but the site has all sports covered. It'll be worth your while to pay a visit.


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Brought home another winner Wednesday night when the Red Sox (-131) beat the Phillies 3-1. Also hope you took our advice and grabbed Colorado to win the Stanley Cup with +185 was available. We bet on seven golfers to win the PGA Championship, one with modest odds and six longshots. The goals is to pick the winner, of course, but when betting golf our goal is to have a least one golfer in contention with nine holes to play so we can come up with a betting strategy to make money. Our outright picks:

--  Tommy Fleetwood (=2800)
-- Nicolai Hojgaard (+6500)
-- Joaqun Neimann (+10500)
-- Sepp Straka (+9200)
-- Viktor Hovland (+5800)
-- Patrick Cantlay (+5500)
-- Russell Henley (+5000)
___

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Staying on Course

To help you with your picks in the PGA Championship ...

[VSIN's PGA Championship Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/pga-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/?utm_source=newsletter.vsin.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=vsin-daily-5-13-26&_bhlid=a1fbf11e5743cf6825251b4f60e6d304e6e5cf8b)

[Long Shots Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2026-pga-championship-betting-preview/id1517684140?i=1000767480156)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Hopefully you took advantage of the inflated under (6.5) in Tuesday's Canadiens/Sabers game, because even with Buffalo's "fluke goal" the teams scored five times (Buffalo 3, Montreal 2). Good things don't last, however, and the Game 6 total opened at 5.5. Turning our attention to Wednesday night the Red Sox aren't just playing bad -- they're a bad team. Even the worst teams win 33 percent of their games, however, and we're backing Boston (- 131) against Philadelphia tonight. The pitching matchup (Sonny Gray vs. Andrew Painter) favors Boston, and Willson Contreras is scheduled to be back in the Red Sox lineup after missing Tuesday game with a hand contusion. Contreras has been the best hitter in a woeful Red Sox offense. Boston is also at home, although the Red Sox have a 7-13 record at Fenway Park this season.

---

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Another Major Challenge

[A look at the favorite for Saturday's Preakness](https://www.drf.com/news/preakness-2026-late-addition-incredibolt-tabbed-among-favorites-field-14)

[PGA Championship Preview](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/pga-championship-tips-ben-coleys-us-pga-preview-and-best-bets-for-the-second-mens-major-championship-of-2026/231915)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Playing the alternate total under (6.5) in the Canadiens/Sabers series had been good for the wallet until the Canadiens looked like the Gretzky-led Oilers during a 6-2 victory in Game 3. We've been laying between -150 and -160 to play the alternate total, but we won't have to do that in Game 4. The under is set at 6.5 (-125). Can't pass up that price, so we'll take another stab at the under hoping things tighten up a bit Tuesday night.
___

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More Horsing Around


Welcome to our PGA Tour gambling-tips column, featuring picks from GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator Brady Kannon. A seasoned golf bettor and commentator, Kannon is a regular guest on SportsGrid, a syndicated audio network devoted to sports and sport betting, and is a golf betting analyst for CBS Sportsline. You can follow him on X at @LasVegasGolfer, and you can read his early picks below for the PGA Championship, which gets underway on May 14 in Newtown Square, Penn.

“I intended to make this course my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize I built it better than I knew.”

Legendary golf course designer, Donald Ross, said that about Aronimink in 1948, the site of this year’s 108th PGA Championship, 20 years after opening the golf course. Legendary golf historian and master of design restoration, Gil Hanse, was brought to Newtown Square, Penn., along with his partner, Jim Wagner, in 2016 to work their magic and transform Aronimink back into major championship caliber as Ross originally intended.

More than 150 players, including 20 PGA club professionals, will make their way to the Philadelphia area next week for the second major championship of 2026. What a better place to hold one of golf’s crown jewel events than in the Birthplace of America in the year of the nation’s 250th birthday? Hot dogs, apple pie, and likely some fireworks if we can correctly land on the champion and this year’s recipient of the Wanamaker Trophy.

[PGA Championship Preview](https://golf.com/lifestyle/pga-championship-2026-early-betting-guide-3-picks/)



**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We took it on the chin pretty good with last week's golf plays, although If Matt Fitzpatrick had turned in a better final round and beat Rory McIlroy in that H2H matchup somehow we would have turned a profit. No matter, we're looking ahead. No plays on today's menu, but we are going to push the button on the Colorado Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup (+185). Even if Colorado loses tonight, the series will be tied with two of the final three games scheduled to be played in Colorado. Minnesota might be the tallest hurdle between the Avalance and this year's title. The price seems right. 

___

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A Major Issue

*State regulators, lawmakers, and online sportsbook operators are all cracking down on credit card usage, making usage more the exception than the norm ...*

On Monday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission became the latest entity to propose outlawing credit card funding of online sportsbook accounts. 

The Ohio sports betting regulator announced it was proposing to amend its rules to remove credit cards from the permitted forms of payment. Bettors would still be able to use debit cards and wire transfers, among other methods.

Interested parties have until May 15 to submit comments on the proposed rule change. However, it’s possible the commission will get little objection from the major names in online sports betting in the U.S.

[FULL STORY](https://www.covers.com/industry/us-sports-betting-credit-card-funding-bans-operators-trend-may-2026)

---

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** On Friday we're going to again play the alternate total and take the under (6.5/-155) in Game 2 of Canadiens-Sabers series. We're hoping the Buffalo power play, which scored twice in Game 1, cools off a bit, and Montreal plays a bit tighter defensively. At the other end of the ice, Buffalo goalteder Alex Lyon has allowed seven goals in five starts since taking over for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. We were looking for a price of -160 or below and we found it. Best of luck with your bets. 


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Under Pressure

Since we're approaching the second leg of the Triple Crown, here's a horse racing podcast that can not only help you bet The Preakness and the Belmost Stakes, but will keep you informed about the thoroughbred racing scene throughout the year: [At the Track](https://vsin.com/podcasts/vsin-at-the-track/)

---

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We got lucky with our under 6.5 goals bet in Wednesday's Canadiens-Sabers game, as Buffalo failed to score late even though it was shooting into an empty net for the game's final three minutes. Not as fortunate with our wager of no goals in the first 10 minutes since the Sabers took a 1-0 lead 4:31 into the game. Despite that, we plan to bet an alternate total under for the rest of the series if we can get 6.5 goals at around -150 or -160. Buffalo scored two power-play goals in Wednesday win, after going 1 for 24 with the man-advantage in its first-round series against Boston. Plus, the Sabers have been getting strong goaltending since making the move to Alex Lyon (4-1 with a .950 save percentage in the playoffs). Goals should be hard to come by as the series continues. ... As we posted Wednesday, we played two outright winners for the Truist Championship: Xander Schauffele (+1125) and Hideki Matsuyama (+3800). Two matchup plays were added Thursday: Hideki Matsyyama (-112) over Rickie Fowler, and Matt Fizpatrick (+158) over Rory McIllroy. Best of luck with your bets ...

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More horseplay

Brady Kannon's [selections for the Truist Championship](https://golf.com/lifestyle/truist-championship-betting-guide-4-picks/)

Wes Reynolds' [preview of the Truist Championship](https://vsin.com/golf/truist-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** OK, we have four plays for you -- two on Wednesday's NHL games and two more for this week's PGA Tour event, the Truist Championship. Both Buffalo and Montreal played well defensively in their first-round series, and we know the Canadiens are like the former CCCP teams that only put a shot on goal when the chance of scoring was extremely high. For those reasons, plus the fact that Wednesday game will be the first matchup in the best-of-seven series, we're waging on no goal in the first 10 minutes (+120) and we also took an alterate total and bet on the under for the game (6.5 goals). Hopefully there's a feeling out process and no fluke goals early in the game. The way both teams are playing defensively it's hard to picture more than six goals being scored unless it's 3-3 headed to overtime. We also played two outright winners for the Truist Championship: Xander Schauffele (+1125) and Hideki Matsuyama (+3800). Best of luck with your bets ... 

___

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On thin Ice

*Here's a preview of this week's PGA Tour event, courtesy of Betsperts ...*

We typically see an event at the Quail Hollow Club every year. Now, sometimes that’s the former title sponsored Wells Fargo Championship, and other times, like last year, it’s the PGA Championship. Back in 2022, it was the Presidents Cup. This can get tricky to follow, but for now, we’re back at Quail Hollow for the 2026 Truist Championship after the 2025 Truist was held at Philly Cricket Club.

So your defending Truist champion is Sepp Straka, and your most recent Quail Hollow winner is Scottie Scheffler, who won last year’s PGA Championship. Got it? I’m dizzy.

Scottie is not in this year’s Truist field, opting out of the event because he typically likes to rest the week before a major. Back in this week’s field are the five golfers who sat out last week’s Signature Event at Doral, including Rory McIlroy, who’s making his first start since winning the Masters last month.

The course is a par-71 layout that extends to 7,600 yards from the back tees. Using our course stats page, you’ll see the field has used driver off the tee 85.5% of the time over the last five tournaments at Quail Hollow, which is nearly 20% higher than the average PGA Tour event (67.7%). The 2025 PGA Championship data showed more of the same because they didn’t make many changes to the course. They simply made the rough slightly more penal and firmed up the greens even more than normal.

The distance requirements at Quail Hollow extend beyond the tee box. During the same timeframe, the average approach distance at this course is 183.1 yards, which is 16.8 yards longer than the Tour average of 167.3 yards. In an average Tour event, 47.3% of second shots come from 175 yards or more; at Quail Hollow, the five-year average is 60.6%.

While putting can be the most variable of all the strokes gained metrics week in and week out, it has consistently been a critical factor for success at Quail Hollow Club. Over the past five iterations, Quail Hollow ranks as the sixth-toughest course on the Tour for gaining strokes through putting. Longer putts will be particularly challenging here, as it is the second toughest course for putts longer than 15 feet. Additionally, the course has a high three-putt rate of 3.95%, compared to the PGA Tour average of 2.84%. These Poa Trivialis greens will be firm and fast, providing a significant test for the players this week.

[FULL STORY](https://www.betspertsgolf.com/golf-betting/noonans-truist-championship-outright-betting-picks-course-preview-betsperts-golf)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Our "*Home Underdog Play** lost Monday even though Colorado starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano carried a no-hitter into the sixth. The Rockies (-119) didn't hit and lost 4-2. Colorado qualfies as a potential play tonight as well (home underdog with the better record), but the pitching matchup favors the Mets, so we're staying away. No plays on Tuesday. Best of luck with your bets.

---

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Trust Championship Preview

Betting a full season of baseball is definitely a marathon. The number of games and volume of statistics available can make it difficult for a recreational handicapper to stay on top of things. It's also difficult to determine which numbers are important when it comes to handicapping a game and which ones can be discarded. It's much more of a grind than trying to pick winners in other sports, especially football. We're about to give you a situation designed to cut down on the time spent handicapping. It's meant to be helpful to casual bettors who want to profit, but don't have a lot of time to wade through each days MLB card to find winners. Please note: Teams that fit the situation we're about to present are not automatic plays, but the situation does identify possible plays as long as there are no extenuating circumstances (injuries, etc.). **Here's the situation:** Consider a bet on any home underdog of +150 or less when it has a better record than its opponent after the season is one month old. **And here's the logic behind the play:** Historically, MLB teams perform better at home than they do on the road. In most cases you'll be betting on the better team (it has the better record) playing at home, but the opponent is the favorite likely because it has a perceived edge in the starting pitching matchup. We're hoping our team can keep things close, then win the game in the late innings. Or maybe the opponent's starter isn't at his best, and you end up cashing an underdog bet for that reason. The +150 limit comes into play to avoid lopsided pitching matchups, like Tarik Skubal versus a rookie making his first MLB start and/or similar situations. This "Situational Bet" will allow you to scan that day's MLB menu and quickly identify a team or teams that might be worth a play. Then you can handicap that game even further to determine if that team is worth a bet.

**RBROWNBETS.COM: ** On Monday we have a team that fits the situation described above. We're going with the Colorado Rockies (+119) against the New York Mets. The Rockies are a home underdog and are the team with the better record. Upon further study, the Mets are going with an opener before David Peterson (0-4, 6.53) takes the mound. Colorado is expected to start Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA). Colorado swept New York in a three-game series earlier this season, so we're hoping the Rockies can break a four-game losing streak. Best of luck with you bets.

___ 


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Betting the Bases


Daily Racing Form's [Kentucky Derby coverage](https://www.drf.com/derby-watch)

Chris Fallica's [Bear Bets Kentucky Derby Podcast](https://x.com/BearBetsPod)

You can also find plenty of Kentucky Derby coverage here [Racing Dudes](https://racingdudes.com/racing-news/)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** There were no bets Thursday, but we have two plays on the ice Friday night: Tampa Bay (-115) at Montreal, and Boston (-102) at home against Buffalo. The Bruins will be looking to avoid three straight home losses. As for Saturday's horse race, we'll be backing No. 17 Further Ado (6-1). He may be the most versatile horse in the field, and we're not buying the he-can-run-well-only-at-Keenland talk because he's already won a race a Churchill Downs. Also playing a Further Ado exacta box with No. 8 So Happy (7-1). Good luck with your bets ... 

---

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Horsing Around

**Interesting read on Computer-Assisted Wagering (CAW) syndicates:**

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The sixth race at Del Mar on a random Saturday last July should not have been memorable in any way. Running for an $81,000 purse, a 4-year-old Thoroughbred named Nanci Griffith won the one-mile race and paid $14.80 to win on a $2 bet.

But for many of those who backed the winner, the payout was a massive disappointment. As the gate opened, the tote board showed Nanci Griffith’s odds at 18-1. When she crossed the wire, however, the odds had changed to 6-1, meaning those who held winning tickets collected less than half of what they might have expected at post time. 

[FULL STORY](https://sports.yahoo.com/horse-racing/article/kentucky-derby-2026-how-algorithms-are-changing-horse-betting--and-outraging-gamblers-in-the-process-132352101.html)

**VSIN's preview of the PGA Tour's Cadillac Championship:**

Matt Fitzpatrick hit a 35-yard bunker shot to 14 inches and brother Alex tapped in for birdie to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event at 31 under par by one stroke over Hayden Springer/Alex Smalley and Kristoffer Reitan/Kris Ventura. 

The Fitzpatricks were pre-tournament favorites at 10-1, and older brother Matt won for the second consecutive week on tour, having been victorious the week prior at the RBC Heritage. Meanwhile, younger brother Alex earns his PGA Tour card with a two-year exemption. 

[TOURNAMENT PREVIEW](https://vsin.com/golf/cadillac-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The sixth race at Del Mar on a random Saturday last July should not have been memorable in any way. Running for an $81,000 purse, a 4-year-old Thoroughbred named Nanci Griffith won the one-mile race and paid $14.80 to win on a $2 bet.

But for many of those who backed the winner, the payout was a massive disappointment. As the gate opened, the tote board showed Nanci Griffith’s odds at 18-1. When she crossed the wire, however, the odds had changed to 6-1, meaning those who held winning tickets collected less than half of what they might have expected at post time.


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We cashed both of Tuesday's plays: The Blue Jays (-115) beat the Red Sox 3-0, and Joe Ryan pitched six innings in Minnesota's 7-1 loss to Seattle when we needed him to record more than 16.5 outs (-126) to win the money. Wednesday's only play is Toronto to defeat Montreal in Game 5 of their NHL playoff series. We'll bank on no overtime, and ride with the Lightning to win in regulation (-100). Good luck with your bets.

---

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Odds Breakers

Doug Salvatore handicaps Saturday's [Kentucky Derby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFEI4P0hU8)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** There were no plays Monday, but two bets are in the account Tuesday: We took a chance on the **Blue Jays (-115 )** hoping they can end Boston's three-game winning streak. It's the first time the Red Sox have strung three wins together this season. Trey Yesavage is scheduled to make his season debut for Toronto. He began the season on the injured list with an impingement in his right shoulder and then completed a minor ‌league rehabilitation assignment, splitting four games (three starts) between Class-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo. In three regular-season starts last season, Yesavage went 1-0 with a 3.21 and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings. He was even better in the postseason, when he posted a 3-1 record with a 3.58 ERA in six games (five starts). That includes a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA in the ​World Series, when he struck out 12 and walked one in 8 2/3 innings. Expect some regression from Boston starter Payton ​Tolle (0-0, 1.50 ERA), a left-hander who allowed one run on three hits with one walk and struck out 11 against the Yankees last week in his 2026 MLB debut. We're also betting **Joe Ryan will record more than 16.5 outs (-126)** in tonight's home game against Seattle. Good luck with your bets.

---

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Bird Ball

With the Kentucky Derby approaching, this week we'll be heavy on horse racing. We'll start with Daily Racing Form's latest [Derby Watch](https://www.drf.com/derby-watch)


**RBROWNBETS.COM:** We split our two hockey picks Saturday (Minnesota and Philadelphia). No selections today. Good luck with your bets.

---

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Derby Week is here ... 

**Rookie of the Year (DraftKings opening odds):**

• Offensive ROY: Jeremiyah Love (+200), Carnell Tate (+350), Jordyn Tyson (+450), Fernando Mendoza (+550), Jadarian Price (+750)

• Defensive ROY: David Bailey (+350), Sonny Styles / Arvell Reese (+500), Caleb Downs (+700), Mansoor Delane (+800)

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Came up empty when we tried to win a lot by risking a little with our wager of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles going fourth overall to Tennessee.  Styles went to Washington with the seventh pick. No plays for Friday, but we are backing two teams on the ice Saturday: Minnesota (-135) against Dallas, and  Philadelphia (-120) to complete the sweep of Pittsburgh. Good luck with your bets.

---

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On Ice

Haven't found anything of interest regarding the NFL Draft, especially since what the Sportsbooks offer has shrunk significantly in recent years. The following are some NFL Draft wagers that VSIN's Matt Youmans likes, as well as his complete Mock Draft: 

**Quarterbacks drafted in the first round: Over 1.5 (-215, -185 and -160)**
My first of three bets on this prop was made at DraftKings more than a month ago, after ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said he was confident Simpson would be a first-round pick. The bet at -215 turned out to be at a bad number because the market price peaked at -270 before falling all the way to -130 about a week ago. There are reasonable doubts about how many teams are actually competing to pursue Simpson. The Browns, Jets and Steelers need a quarterback, but those teams seem highly unlikely to pick Simpson early. The Cardinals and Rams are the primary candidates in the Simpson chase, but each team would need to make a trade to make it happen. Respected draft analysts Todd McShay and Tony Pauline recently made strong comments in support of Simpson going in the first.

**Ty Simpson drafted by the Cardinals (+130)**
This bet was made a few weeks ago and it’s now a good number, considering DraftKings currently has Arizona priced at -200 to pick Simpson. The Cardinals have a weak QB depth chart topped by Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, so they desperately need a franchise guy and new coach Mike LaFleur reportedly has an affinity for Simpson. Arizona is expected to be dealing and might move up from the second pick of the second round. Rams coach Sean McVay, in need of a backup to Matthew Stafford to groom as the future starter, also reportedly wants Simpson, but that’s probably not happening at No. 13.

**Wide receivers drafted in the first round: Under 5.5 (+125)**
At least four receivers will get called in the first round, with Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson being the first two. USC’s Makai Lemon and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion are likely to follow. The other two who might go are Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. and Washington’s Denzel Boston, but I’m betting one of those players slips to the second round.

**Steelers position of first drafted player: Offensive lineman (+160)**
Aaron Rodgers’ future is up in the air again, and the hiring of coach Mike McCarthy was a dubious decision. If Rodgers doesn’t return, McCarthy should focus on developing second-year quarterback Will Howard. Either way, Pittsburgh’s priority is to build a better line.

**Chargers position of first drafted player: Offensive lineman (+155)**
Injuries to bookend tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater caused the Chargers’ line to fall apart in front of quarterback Justin Herbert last season, and coach Jim Harbaugh’s focus should be to strengthen the interior both to improve the running attack and protect Herbert.

**Bills position of first drafted player: Linebacker (+750)**
Buffalo does not have many needs, but linebacker is one and there could be two good options late in the first round with Georgia’s CJ Allen and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.

**49ers position of first drafted player: Offensive lineman (+100)**
This prop is priced at even money for good reason. In a draft full of strong offensive line prospects, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan will be looking to start up front.

**Seahawks position of first drafted player: Cornerback (+150)**
The Super Bowl champs lost running back Kenneth Walker to Kansas City, but that void can be addressed later. The most pressing need is a corner.

**Matt Youmans’ NFL Mock Draft**
1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. Jets: Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State 
3. Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
5. Giants: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
6. Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
7. Commanders: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
8. Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
9. Chiefs: Rueben Bain, DE, Miami
10. Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11. Dolphins: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12. Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
13. Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
14. Ravens: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
15. Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
16. Jets: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
17. Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
18. Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
19. Panthers: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
20. Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
21. Steelers: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
22. Chargers: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
23. Eagles: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
24. Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
25. Cardinals (trade with Bears): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
26. Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
27. 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
28. Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
29. Chiefs: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
30. Dolphins: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
31. Patriots: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
32. Seahawks: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** Well, money went into the trash Tuesday night by showing confidence in the Red Sox. Connelly Early put forth a good effort on the mound, but this Boston team has no answers at the plate. The 4-0 loss to the Yankees was the fifth time this season Boston has been limited to four hits or fewer in a game. The Red Sox are 0-13 when they trail after six innings. There will be few, if any, best on Boston the rest of this year. ... Two NHL bets today: The Penguins look like a confused team against the Flyers' defense-first approach. We'll take Philadelphia at home (-120) to defeat Pittsburgh and go up 3-0 in the series. We'll also back Dallas (+110) to defeat Minnesota on the road to take a 2-1 lead in that series. ... One note for horse racing fans. Draftkings has done away with it's DK Horse app. Now you can make all of your racing best through DKSportsbook, and you do not need a separate wagering account. Best of luck today.

---

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Draft Thoughts

*Some advice on how to manage your sports betting bankroll via Betsperts:*

The first step is determining how much money you want to have in your bankroll. This depends on your financial status. But generally, only set aside money that you can afford to lose. It sounds like a negative approach, but you should prepare for the worst just in case. It would be a massive mistake to dump most of your yearly salary into your sports betting bankroll.

**What type of bettor are you?**
Start by determining what kind of bettor you are. This will help you in setting a unit size or the amount for each bet. The general rule is that if you’re a:

**Conservative bettor:** You don’t want to take too big of a risk. Therefore, each bet amount should be 1-2% of the bankroll size. This is the safest of the three options.
**Average bettor:** You can handle a higher risk. Each bet should be around 3% of your bankroll. 
**Aggressive bet:** You don’t mind risking a lot. Therefore, each bet should be 4% to 5% of your bankroll. 
Understanding units
You also want to understand the concept of units. These are used to compare the betting results of one bettor with those of another, regardless of the size of the bankroll.

For instance, if you set your unit size to $100 and you’re up $500, that means you’re up five units. You’ll see sports bettors on popular sites and social media talking about how many units they are up for the year. This way they can keep the amount they are wagering private and still be able to show others how well they are doing for the year.

**Proper Bankroll Management Strategies**
There are various strategies you can use for managing your betting bankroll. These include:

**Flat betting model**
This is a relatively simple strategy and a common approach to help you manage your bankroll. You set your unit size and then wager or try to win exactly one unit for every bet you make regardless of the odds, how confident you feel about the bet or your recent betting form. There are two ways to go about it:

To win: Here, you wager additional units needed to cover the vig. This ensures that you can potentially win one unit for the bet. For instance, if you have a unit size of 100 and are betting the standard -110 wager, you’ll risk $110 (1.1 units), so you can win $100 (1 unit). 
Risk: In the risk method, you don’t wager additional units to cover the vig. So, you’ll always be risking 1 unit. Using the same example, you wager $100 (1 unit) to win $91 (0.91) units. 
This method ensures profitability if you pick winners at a higher rate than the break-even point (52.5%). Let’s say you place four spread bets at a sportsbook. All of the odds are -110 and you place a $100 bet on each.

You go 2-2. If you check your calculator, you’re actually down $18 despite going 2-2 because the odds were -110 and you were betting the same amount each time.

So a win percentage of 50% is not going to get you to break even. That’s another reason why it’s important to understand your exact winning percentage to be profitable. Just another factor to consider so you don’t end up with poor bankroll management.

**Percentage model**
The percentage model is quite similar to the flat betting model. This time, however, you’re wagering a specific percentage of your bankroll for each wager. Therefore, your unit size isn’t fixed.

Instead, it changes depending on the size of your bankroll. Let’s say you start with a bankroll of $1000 and set 3% as your standard unit. This means your first unit will be $30. If you win $50 from your bet, you now have a bankroll worth $1,050. Therefore, your next bet will be $31.5.

This model allows you to capitalize on a winning streak. The more bets in a row you win, the bigger your bankroll, bets, and potential winning. On the flip side, this becomes a disadvantage during a losing streak since the size of your wagers is going to decrease.

**Confidence model**
The confidence model adds a bit of flexibility to the flat model. You have a standard 1.0 unit wager. However, you are allowed to increase your bet size by one or two units depending on how confident you feel about the wager.

You can also reduce the bet size to half a unit if you aren’t confident enough. The entire system leans on whether you’re comfortable with shifting your unit size to help you win.

This model is more expensive than the flat and percentage models. You might be confident that your next bet has a chance of winning so you decide to bet 4.0 units. Regardless of your confidence, there is the risk of losing 4 units which would be a big hit to your bankroll.

So make sure being confident isn’t just your gut. New sports bettors need to be learning and developing several strategies to ensure proper money management.

**Kelly criterion model**
In the Kelly criterion model, you determine the winning percentage for each wager. This depends on your confidence level; are you 50-50, 60-40, 30-70, etc, about winning the bet? You then use the following formula to help determine what percentage of your bankroll you need to wager for a certain bet:

(Decimal odds of your wager * win probability – loss probability) / decimal odds of your wager = suggested wager percentage

Let’s say you’re 40% confident about winning a bet placed on an underdog with +200. The Kelly criterion formula will look like this:

(2.00 * .40 – .60) / 2.00 = 0.10

This means that you should wager 10% of your bankroll, which is a lot, even for a risk-averse person. Therefore, this model is typically used by professional sports bettors. It would not be a good bankroll management strategy for a novice bettor who doesn’t have much experience in betting analysis.

[FULL STORY](https://www.betsperts.com/news/sports-betting-guides/bankroll-management-sports-betting/)

**RBROWNBETS:** We were a bit lucky Monday, when we cashed a Red Sox ticket (-143) even though starting pitcher Sonny Gray left the game in the third inning with a hamstring issue that landed him on the IL. We're back on the Red Sox (-108) today based on an edge in the pitching matchup: Connelly Early (Boston) vs. Luis Gil (NY). Early hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his four starts this season. 

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Early Day

*This week's PGA tournament preview via Betsperts ...*

The PGA Tour heads southeast a couple of hours down the road toward the Atlantic coast for its traditional post Masters event, the RBC Heritage. With a reputation as one of the most beloved events by players, this Pete Dye design presents a relaxed vibe compared to the pressure cooker that is the Masters. For a fourth consecutive year, and the third without a cut, the pressure will be taken up a notch as one of the best fields ever gathered here will participate in one of the Tour’s Signature events.

Situated at the Sea Pines Resort on the southwest corner of Hilton Head Island, Harbour Town Golf Links has hosted the annual RBC Heritage each April following the Masters tournament. From the pervasive palmetto trees and Spanish moss draped oaks to the beautiful island scenery that Hilton Head provides, Sea Pines is one of the most popular golf resorts in the nation.

With tight fairways, numerous doglegs, sharp angles, and flat terrain, it presents a stark contrast for players coming over from Augusta National and its broad undulating wide open expanses. Harbour Town is a course where finesse and shot making are prioritized over length and power. Few other courses on Tour require such a premium on positional accuracy off the tee, precise iron shots into minuscule greens, and a competent short game around the green. The list of past winners and contenders is filled with elite short-to-mid iron players with stellar short games including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Jim Furyk, and Matt Kuchar.

[FULL PREVIEW](https://betspertsgolf.com/golf-betting/rbc-heritage-at-harbour-town-golf-links-2026-preview)


**RBROWNBETS:** Sonny Gray -- not Garret Crochet -- has been Boston's best pitcher so far this season. We're betting that Gray and the Red Sox (-136) will bounce back from Monday night's loss at Minnesota. ... No opinion on the NBA play-in games, Just know that Charlotte was playing for seeding when it lost to a Boston team that rested its top seven scorers Sunday. 

---

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Sonny-side Up

*An excerpt from VSIN's Masters Tournament Preview ...*

“A Tradition Unlike Any Other” is here this week as the year’s first major takes place with the 90th edition of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. For the first time since July at the British Open, all the world’s top golfers are at the same venue.

Scottie Scheffler (+550) hopes to continue his trend of winning the green jacket in even-numbered years (2022, 2024 winner). The reigning PGA and British Open champion had a historic season in 2025, and he has been a little down from that to start the 2026 campaign. Nevertheless, he is still the World No. 1 player and arrives with some new precious cargo in tow as his second son Remy was born just 10 days ago. 

Rory McIlroy (12-1) arrives with his own cargo in tow, his green jacket and Champions Dinner menu as McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam and won the Masters for the first time last year. Rory does not arrive in Augusta on the impeccable form that he did last year, having withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational five weeks ago after tweaking his lower back before Saturday’s round and then finishing 46th in defense of his title at The Players Championship. 

Speaking of form, perhaps no one is in better form than 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm (11-1), who has played only five events overseas to start the LIV Golf season. However, he does have a victory and three runners-up in five events with an average finish of 2.4. 

Bryson DeChambeau (11-1) got his first taste of what it was like to be in contention on Masters Sunday and briefly held the lead last year while in the final pairing with McIlroy before finishing T-5. DeChambeau has won back-to-back LIV events in Singapore and South Africa, where he defeated Rahm in the playoff. 

Ludvig Åberg (14-1) was one shot off the lead held by McIlroy and Justin Rose (35-1) with two holes to play before a bogey/triple bogey finish dropped him to T-7. His talent is obvious, but Åberg has had trouble closing it out on Sundays, as was on display last month at The Players Championship when a three-shot lead beginning the back nine ended up in a four-shot deficit to eventual winner Cameron Young (20-1).

Last year was essentially a lost season because of injury setbacks for Xander Schauffele (16-1), who has five top-10 finishes in his last seven Masters appearances and has started 2026 in much better shape, plus comes in off finishes of third (Players) and fourth (Valspar). 

After finally winning on American soil and on the PGA Tour last year at the Tour Championship, Tommy Fleetwood (22-1) is certainly near the top of the “best player to never win a major” list.

Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1) nearly won The Players last month and then dusted off that disappointment to win the Valspar the next week. 

One of the more interesting handicaps this week involves Collin Morikawa (33-1). He has a victory (Pebble Beach) and has played as well as anyone in 2026, but he withdrew with a back injury after one hole at The Players and subsequently pulled out of last week’s Valero Texas Open. 

Several former Masters champions are in the mid-range of the market, including Hideki Matsuyama (35-1), Patrick Reed (35-1), Jordan Spieth (45-1) and Adam Scott (70-1). 

Other notable former major champions in the field include Brooks Koepka (40-1), Justin Thomas (66-1), Shane Lowry (66-1), plus last year’s U.S. Open and this past weekend’s Valero Texas Open winner, J.J. Spaun (70-1). 

Other players looking to win their first major include Robert MacIntyre (37-1), Min Woo Lee (40-1), Viktor Hovland (50-1), Akshay Bhatia (60-1), Patrick Cantlay (70-1) and Tyrrell Hatton (70-1). 

[MASTERS BETTING PREVIEW](https://vsin.com/golf/masters-2026-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS:** We're backing both Bryson DeChambeau (+1050) and Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+2300) as outright selections. It's also going to be hard to pass on Scottie Scheffler at plus money to finish in the Top 5 (+110). One other golfer to consider: Hideki Matsuyama (+2700). We'll likely being adding bets as the tournament unfolds.

---

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Master(s) Plan

[Masters Preview w/Best Bets](https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/the-masters-preview-and-betting-tips-ben-coleys-best-outright-golf-bets-for-augusta-national/231160)

**RBROWNBETS:** Here's an early Masters bet for you, which is available at Draftkings: Bryson DeChambeau or Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+710)
*Check back for more Masters content on Wednesday.*

---

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Here are in-depth team previews for each team in the Final Four:

[Illinois Preview](https://fightingillini.com/news/2026/4/1/mens-basketball-ncaa-tournament-final-four-preview-3-illinois-vs-2-uconn.aspx)
[UConn Preview](https://uconnhuskies.com/documents/2026/4/3/39_-_Illinois.pdf)

[Arizona Preview](https://arizonawildcats.com/gameday/mens-basketball-vs-1-3-michigan/mbball/2865/)
[Michigan Preview](https://mgoblue.com/news/2026/3/31/mens-basketball-top-seeded-wolverines-wildcats-set-for-saturday-night-final-four-showdown)

___

**RBROWNBETS:** At the moment we have no official selections on either one of Saturday's games. although we're leaning toward UConn and Michigan. A few thoughts on the matchups: Both games figure to be close, so that increases the likelihood of overtime. It also means we could see fouling strategy in the final minute, so keep this in mind if you plan to bet the total. At DraftKings the Illinois/UConn total is 139.5, and the total for the Michigan/Arizona game is 157.5. ... Typically, we'd avoid backing a team coming off an emotional victory like UConn is, but it's hard to envision Dan Hurley not having the Huskies emotionally ready. As he said this week, "UConn doesn't hang banners for Final Fours." UConn beat Illinois 74-61 earlier this season, but Illinois is playing its best basketball. Illinois is currently a 1.5-point favorite, so if you do bet on UConn we'd recommend buying onto the 2. ... Arizona has a significant edge at the guard position in Saturday's second game, but that is somewhat negated by the fact that the Wildcats don't typically take a high-volume of 3-pointers. If he stays out of foul trouble, Aday Mara, Michigan's 7-foot-3 center, could be the difference. Michigan is also the older team, and that may count for something. If you like Michigan consider the moneyline. ... Check back Saturday for our official plays.

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Four of a Kind

*Notes on the field for this week's PGA Tour event, the Texas Valero Open:*

**FIELD NOTES:** **Tommy Fleetwood** has three top-10 finishes this season and is the highest-ranked player in the field. His best result at the Valero Texas Open came in 2024 when he finished T7. … **Ludvig Åberg** also returns to action for the first time since THE PLAYERS, when he struggled down the stretch. Åberg also has two top 10s this year and has had a bit of a mixed bag of results at the Valero – two missed cuts, but a T14 sandwiched in between as well. … **Russell Henley, Sepp Straka, Alex Noren** and past winer **J.J. Spaun** are the other top-20-ranked players in the field. … **Brian Harman** will return to defend his title. No one has gone back-to-back at the Valero Texas Open since **Zach Johnson** in 2008-09. … **Gary Woodland** is also set to tee it up after his incredibly emotional triumph at the Texas Children’s Houston Open – less than three years removed from brain surgery. … Woodland punched his ticket to the Masters with his win in Houston and now there are plenty looking to do the same. The final golden ticket is up for grabs at TPC San Antonio with the winner of the event, if he is not already qualified, earning his way to the first major of the year. This has happened in three of the last six tournaments with Spaun (2022), **Akshay Bhatia** (2024) and **Corey Conners** (2019) earning their way in.

[Valero Open Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/valero-texas-open-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

---

**RBROWNBETS:** We're going to resist the strong temptation to bet on **Garrett Crochet** and the Red Sox today (- 150) against the Houston Astros, even though the Red Sox have lost four in a row and Croce gives them a significant pitching edge against **Mike Burrows.** Our hesitation stems from the fact that Crochet is 0-3 with a 6.28 ERA in four career games against Houston, plus Boston's recent struggles at the plate. The Red Sox have scored 13 runs in five games this season, and have struck out 54 times in those five games. **Roman Anthony** K'd four times in Tuesday night's 9-2 loss, and each of the first three strikeouts came on three pitchers. There's also this: Houston has scored at least eight runs in each of its last four games. No plays today.



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**RBROWNBETS:** Here's one rule we've followed for most of our betting career: Do not tease college basketball games. The extra points aren't worth the added risk. Well, today we're going to break that rule. Our only wager for Saturday's NCAA tournament games is a 5-point, two-team tease (+130 at Draftkings) with Iowa (+11.5) against Illinois, and Arizona (-.5) against Purdue. Iowa and Illinois are familiar with one another since they play in the same conference, and both are playing good basketball. If Iowa does lose, we're willing to gamble that it won't be by double digits. Arizona is our choice to win it all. If the Wildcats lose to Purdue we'll tip our hat and move on. 

---

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Rule Breaker

# Lawsuit accuses sportsbooks of using addictive technology #

**Elizabeth Merrill | David Purdum**
Hours after a Los Angeles jury found that Meta and YouTube harmed a young user by utilizing addictive features, attorneys involved in the case filed suit against DraftKings and FanDuel and accused the sportsbooks of using technology and methods similar to those of social media companies to keep customers betting and causing some of them to develop gambling addictions.

In a personal injury complaint filed Wednesday in Massachusetts state court, attorneys allege that the sportsbooks track users' behavior and use that data to target them to keep betting "precisely when they're most susceptible, like late at night or after a big loss."

"Defendants have full visibility into users' concerning betting patterns and then push the users to gamble further through targeted advertising, personalized 'bonus' incentives, and 'push' notifications," the suit alleges.

FanDuel declined to comment. DraftKings did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[FULL STORY](https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/48312490/lawsuit-accuses-sportsbooks-using-addictive-technology)

**RBROWNBETS:** Selections for Friday's NCAA tournament games:

**St. Johns +6.5 over Duke**
A little scared by this pick because the handicap is similar Thursday night's Houston/Illinois matchup. St. John's is the tougher (and older) team, but can the Red Storm produce enought offense to stay within the number? The guess here is yes.

**UConn (money line/-125) over MIchigan State**
The Huskies are the more talented team, they just can't let Michigan State push them around. Hoping Alex Karaban brings his A-game, like he did against UCLA.

**Tennessee +4.5 over Iowa State**
The Volunteers were our sleeper team entering the tournament. Expect this one to be close.

---

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Hoop Thoughts

**RBROWNBETS:** Selections for Thursday's NCAA tournament games:

**Texas +7.5 over Purdue**
This isn't the Texas team we saw during the regular season. The Longhorns are playing better at both ends of the court and if they don't mail it in on defense they should stay within this number.

**Nebraska (money line) over Iowa**
Nebraska is good a making 3-pointers and defending 3-pointers.

**Houston (money line) over Illinois**
Houston is the better team and the Cougars are playing close to home. This is the strongest bet of the three.



---

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A bettor day

We encourage you to take advantage of the BtrBet free trial. One thing they provide that's very helpful when risking 11 to win 10 is the news feed that pops up when you click on any game. You'll receive all the news related to that matchup that's available on the internet. You'll also get injury reports and a statistical team comparison. That's just one of the many features they provide that can help increase your bankroll. It's free with no obligation, and with the NCAA tournament underway now might be the ideal time to give it try.

Favorites in the NCAA tournament went 10-6 straight up Thursday. Underdogs were 11-5 or 10-5-1 against the spread, depending on when and where you bet. 

**RBROWNBETS:** Our confidince is high after a 3-0 start to the NCAA tourney Thursday. Today's plays:

-- Akron +7.5
-- Villanova +1.5
-- Miami (Ohio) +11.5
-- Iowa (moneyline) -130 

---

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More Madness

## Let the Madness begin ##

**FWIW:** Here's our Final Four
**East:** St. John's (5)
**South:** Houston (2)
**West:** Arizona (1)
**Midwest:** Michigan (1)

**Championship:** Arizona over Houston
NOTE: You can bet the sum of the Final Four seeds on Draftkings
Over 8.5 (-110); Under 8.5 (-120)

**RBROWNBETS:** Cashed what will likely be our strongest play of the tournament when Miami +7.5 beat SMU 89-79 on Wednesday. Today's plays:

-- TCU +2.5 (hoping for +3)
-- St. Mary's/Texas A&M under 147.5 (expect St. Mary's to use most of the shot clock whenever possible)
-- St. Louis +2.5 

---

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Let the Madness begin

## Tourney Talk ##

The teams with the highest probability to win the NCAA tournament, per The Power Rank:

Arizona, 29.8%.
Michigan, 23.6%.
Duke, 19.2%.
Florida, 8.9%.
Houston, 4.8%.
Iowa State, 3.6%.
UConn, 2.9%.
Purdue, 1.3%.

The take-home message is that the data really likes Arizona this season.
 
[Interactive win probabilities for each team](https://thepowerrank.com/ncaa-tournament-predictions/)

For anyone interested: [The Power Rank membership information](https://thepowerrank.com/become-a-member/)

**RBROWNBETS:** The only NCAA tournament bet we've locked in so far is Miami (Ohio) +7.5 against SMU. Even though SMU's B.J. Edwards is expected to return from an ankle injury, expect the RedHawks to keep this matchup close. It's what they do. It doesn't hurt that this game is being played in Dayton, Ohio.

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Tourney Talk

## Something's Bruin ##

**RBROWNBETS:**

Three more picks for you today:

**Wisconisin (+12.5) vs. Michigan**
We have plenty of respect for Michigan, but the number seems a bit high for a Wisconsin team that's playing its best basketball of the season.

**UCLA (+7.5) vs. Purdue**
Hopefully you tailed our UCLA selection against Michigan State.Tyler Bilodeau's knee injury has created concern, but UCLA has already beaten Purdue this season.

**St John's (+3.5) vs. UConn**
It will be no surprise here if St. John's wins this game outright.

---

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Something's Bruin

### Getting Picky ###

*Haven't read the sports betting article that ran in The Athletic earlier this week, but with gambling/journalism in the spotlight here's a 2019 story from the The Ringer you may enjoy:*

“Iam not a bookmaker,” Gadoon Kyrollos tells me as we walk through the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, playing penny slot machines. “I’m a sports bettor.” Kyrollos is actually one of the highest-rolling sports bettors in the United States. He bets millions of dollars each year on sporting events, from NFL games to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He’s known throughout the gambling world by the name Spanky, and in his hoodie, sweatpants, and backpack, he very much resembles a 40-year-old version of the Little Rascal. His backpack, however, isn’t carrying school books and snacks. It’s filled with bricks of cash, nearly $150,000 worth.

“Bookmakers hang a number,” he explains, as he pantomimes holding a gun sight up to his eye and pulling the trigger. “And I snipe ’em.”

Despite the bag full of money, Spanky is transfixed by the penny slot machine, pumping one bill after the next into it. On his cellphone he consults a spreadsheet that tells him how to play this particular machine so that it is “plus EV,” or positive expected value, meaning the player has an edge over the machine over time. “This is some real insider shit I’m showing you right here,” he tells me, referring to his spreadsheet, which has formulas for dozens of different slot machines plugged into it. “I mean, it’s probably an edge of, like, $12, but if you were walking down the street and saw $12, you’d bend down and pick it up, right?”

[FULL STORY](https://www.theringer.com/2019/06/05/gambling/sports-betting-bettors-sharps-kicked-out-spanky-william-hill-new-jersey)

**RBROWNBETS:**

Three picks for you today:

**Tennessee (+1.5) vs. Vanderbilt**
These in-state rivals split two regular season games this season. We'll take the points in what should be a tight matchup. You could certainly argue that the Volunteers should be the favorite.

**Iowa State (+4.5) vs. Arizona**
The points seem a little rich here, since an outright Iowa State victory isn't out of the question. 

**UCLA (+5.5) vs. Michigan State**
The Spartans prevailed 82-59 when these teams met on Feb. 17, but Michigan State made 14 of its 27 3-point attempts that day and a repeat of that performance is unlikely. UCLA is 5-1 since that loss and is finally rebounding and playing defense. UCLA point guard Donovan Dent will be the best player of the floor if he turns in anything close to his performance in Thursday's win against Rutgers. This is not a great UCLA team, but expect the Bruins to turn in a top effort here. You'll probably be able to get +6 if you wait ... 

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Getting Picky

### An Island View ###
Here are Wes Reynolds' selections for The Players Championship, courtesy of VSIN:

**Collin Morikawa (+2050)**
Morikawa has kept up a good run since winning at Pebble Beach last month by following up with a T-7 at the Genesis and a fifth last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. TPC Sawgrass has always seemed to be an ideal course for Morikawa’s ball striking, yet he has just one top-10 in five appearances, which came last year. It was here last year that Morikawa got into a bit of a kerfuffle with the media after skipping post-round availability the week prior when he blew a three-shot lead at the 2025 API. He is third in this week’s field for both Strokes Gained: Approach and Good Drives Gained. 

**Ludvig Åberg (28-1)**
After struggling to start 2026, Åberg did show some signs a couple of weeks ago at the Genesis, indicating a turnaround, and it showed last week at Bay Hill, where he finished third and ranked second for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green. The ball striking was on full display as he ranked first for Driving Distance, second for Driving Accuracy, first for Total Driving, fifth for Greens in Regulation and second for Ball Striking. A Ponte Vedra Beach resident, Aberg uses TPC Sawgrass as his practice facility and plays both the Dye Valley and Stadium Course regularly.

**Cameron Young (35-1)**
Young has finished third and seventh in his last two starts. He led the field for Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee and was third for Strokes Gained: Ball Striking last week at Bay Hill. He has never finished better than 51st in four appearances here. However, he has finished inside the top 10 in eight of his last 15 overall starts and finally earned his first PGA Tour victory last fall at a comparable course (Sedgefield — Wyndham Championship).

**Viktor Hovland (40-1)**
Hovland was T-3 here in 2023 and ninth the year prior. On the other hand, he also shot 80 here in the first round to sit dead last but rebounded to win the Valspar the following week. After a couple of down performances in California, he finished T-13 last week at Bay Hill.

**Matt Fitzpatrick (41-1)**
Course form is fickle here at The Players for most, and Fitzpatrick certainly falls into that, having missed the cut here in three of the last five years. However, the other finishes were fifth and ninth. Approach is the name of the game at TPC Sawgrass, and he was eighth at TPC Scottsdale, third at Pebble Beach and 10th at Riviera in the category. Putting has been terrible for him to start 2026, but a return to Florida proved to be a good thing last week as he was 14th for Strokes Gained: Putting and can keep it going here. 

**Min Woo Lee (41-1)**
Lee was sixth on debut here in 2023. He also finished T-6 last week at Bay Hill, where he was top-5 with the irons. Lee was 12th at the Genesis and finished T-2 with Sepp Straka behind Morikawa at Pebble Beach last month. The Australian is an elite driver and should be a contender here if his iron play matches the off-the-tee. 

[The Players Championship Preview](https://vsin.com/golf/the-players-championship-picks-best-bets-and-golf-odds/)

**RBROWNBETS:** Hopefully you took our advice and risked a few dollars on McNeese State to win the Southland tournament. It took three overtimes, but McNeese advanced by beating UTRGV 84-80 Tuesday night in the Southland semifinals. We were hoping Texas A&M Commerce would win the other semifinal against Stephen F. Austin to create a lucrative middle opportunity for tonight's championship game, but you can either ride with McNeese or guarantee yourself  a small profit by matching your McNeese bet by taking Stephen. F. Austin on the moneyline. ... Not forcing any plays today,

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An Island View

### Be a better bettor ###
We're taking today off from wagering while still recovering from two rought beats over the weekend. Valparaiso was +5.5, but lost to Bradley 90-84 in double overtime; and Sepp Straka finished poorly and dropped out of the top 10 during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Today's blog post will be used to promote the tools the guys at BtrBet provide to this web site at very little cost ($10 per month). These tools allow you to find the best line (why take two points when three are available?), gain access to the latest injury reports and analyze past performances. Call up any game and you are provided with a head-to-head comparison, team stats and any news related to the matchup. There are also two active [Chat Rooms](https://www.rbrownbets.com/chat), one for sports betting and the other for horse racing topics. With the conference tournaments underway and March Madness approaching, this might be the best time of year to take advantage of the [Free Trial](https://www.rbrownbets.com/docs). If you like what you see one month will cost you the price of a small pizza ... 

Be a better bettor

### Par for the course ###
This week's PGA Tour event is the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla. This is a “signature event,” so the field is limited to 72 golfers. Bay Hill is a classic Florida style layout defined by its length, penal rough, firm and fast putting surfaces, and an abundance of bunkers and water hazards. The handicap starts with Scottie Scheffler (+333), who has won this event twice (2022, 2024) in the last four years. Notes on some other golfers in this week's field:

* Rory McIlroy (10-1) is also a former winner (2018) here and has six top-10 finishes in 11 career starts at Bay Hill. 
* Tommy Fleetwood (18-1) has finished fourth and seventh in his last two events.
* Xander Schauffele (22-1) earned his first top-10 finish of the season two weeks ago at the Genesis Invitational.
* Matt Fitzpatrick (25-1) has four top-10s at Bay Hill. 
* Russell Henley (28-1) is the defending event champion and outdueled Collin Morikawa (31-1) by a shot here last year.
* Hideki Matsuyama (30-1), who was the runner-up in Phoenix three weeks ago, has one top 10 in 11 trips to Bay Hill.
* Kurt Kitayama (45-1), the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, and 2016 winner Jason Day (60-1) are other former champions in this week’s field. 
* Justin Thomas (66-1) makes his 2026 season debut this week after offseason back surgery
* Sungjae Im (150-1) makes his 2026 debut following wrist surgery.

[LONG SHOTS GOLF PODCAST](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6_DAOTryEo)

**RBROWNBETS:** Taking SMU (-122) on the moneyline against No. 22 Miami (Fla.) tonight. In situations where an unranked home team is playing a ranked opponent, the home team is 14-8 against the spread this season. SMU is -1.5, but we're going with the moneyline so any SMU victory will cash.

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Par for the course

### Identifying true title contenders ###
You'll be filling out your bracket in less than two weeks, so if you haven't come up with a short list of teams that can win the 2025-26 NCAA basketball championship now is the time to do so. Our list is divided into two categories:

**Legitimate championship threats:** Michigan (+330), Duke (+350), Arizona (+475), Florida (+800) and UConn (+1600).
**Others with a chance:** Houston (+1000), Iowa State (+1900), Michigan State (+4000) and Tennessee (+7000).

We'll be surprised if the champion doesn't come from the first list, but the teams on the second list may be worth a wager since you can always find a creative way to make money on them if they reach the Final Four.

Here's a snapshot of how things look at the moment:
**Projected No. 1 seeds:** Duke, Michigan, Arizona and UConn.
**Last four in:** Ohio State, Indiana, Auburn and New Mexico.
**First four out:** TCU, VCU, San Diego State and Cincinnati*

**RBROWNBETS.COM:** It was a good weekend as we cashed with Michigan on the moneyline Friday night, and our wager Nicolai Hojgaard paid off when he finished in the Top 10 (tied for sixth) at the Cognizant Classic. Nothing on tonight's betting menu jumps off the page, although we may put a few dollars on Iowa State if the Cyclones are getting +8 or better at Arizona. Also, for you NBA bettors, be sure to check the injury report before wagering any $$$ on tonight's Bucks-Celtics game. Both teams played Sunday, and the Celtics often rest players (see Jaylen Brown) for one game when they play on back-to-back nights. Good luck with your bets.

---




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Identifying the true NCAA contenders ... 

# **Hoop Thoughts**

Here's the latest [College Sports Rush Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LsPhrjL6E4) to help shape your handcapping of Saturday's college basketball card. The podcast provides analysis of the following games:

-- Virgina at Duke
-- Texas at Texas A&M
-- Vanderbilt at Kentucky
-- Gonzaga at Saint Mary's
-- Missouri at Mississippi State
-- McNeese State at New Orleans
-- Oklahoma at LSU

**RBROWNBETS:** Michigan (-1.5) at Illinois is the marquee game on Friday night's limited college basketball menu. Michigan is the better team, but may have to overcome Illinois' best effort since the Illini will be playing in front of a "juiced up" home crowd. These are the two top offenses in the Big Ten. Illinois leads the conference in made 3-pointers per game (11.3), but Michigan ranks at the top of the Big Ten in 3-point defense (29.5 percent). Another thing to consider is Keaton Wagler's health. Wagler, the likely Big Ten Freshman of the Year, injured his non-shooting shoulder during Illinois' loss to UCLA last weekend. He's had a week of treatment, but there's still a chance he could be at less than 100 percent healthy. We're going to take a chance with a moneyline wager on Michigan (-120) and hope Illinois doesn't turn in the exceptional performance it will need to win. 

---

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## Cognizant Classic: A closer look
 
This week's stop on the PGA Tour, The Cognizant Classic, begins Thursday at PGA National in Palm Beach, Fla. (par-71). An already lackluster field was weakened further when Jacob Bridgeman, last week's Genesis winner and the runner-up in this event last year, Ben Griffin and Adam Scott withdrew Monday. If you're looking to cash a big ticket this may be the week to do it. Here's a look at some recent winners and their opening odds:

2025: Joe Highsmith (120/1)
2024: Austin Eckroat (110/1)
2023: Chris Kirk (25/1)
2022: Sepp Straka (125/1)
2021: Matt Jones (70/1)
2020: Sungjae Im (35/1)
2019: Keith Mitchell (300/1)
2018: Justin Thomas (12/1)
2017: Rickie Fowler (16/1)
2016: Adam Scott (20/1)
2015: Padraig Harrington (400/1)
2014: Russell Henley (300/1)
2013: Michael Thompson (300/1)
2012: Rory McIlroy (9/1)
2011: Rory Sabbatini (80/1)
2010: Camilo Villegas (30/1)

Notes on a few golfers in the field:

-- Shane Lowry (19/1) has finished among the top five in this tournament in three of the last four years.

-- Ryan Gerard (18/1) made his PGA TOUR debut here in 2023 and finished fourth. 

-- Daniel Berger (33/1) was a late addition to the field Friday and has three top-four finishes in this tourney, including a playoff loss in 2015. 

**RBROWNBETS:** We're going to avoid the temptation to pick a long shot and back Nicolai Højgaard, the third choice on the betting menu (+2150). Of the players in the field, Højgaard has been the best at avoiding bogeys this season (6.94 percent). He also appears to be in good form, having finished third at the Phoenix Open and fourth at the Dubai Invitational. We'll recommend taking Hojgaard to win the tournament outright and also put a few dollars on him to finish in the top 20 at plus money (+122).

The best golfer in a bad field ... 

We hope to frequently promote sports betting content created elsewhere that we feel will benefit those who visit this site. Today's we'll recommend the College Sports Rush podcast, which features Paul Stone and Jimmy Ott. Stone is excellent on college football, but provides good insight on college basketball handicapping as well. This show appears twice a week, typically on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday's podcast covers midweek games, and Thursday's show discusses games being playing during the upcoming weekend. 

RBROWNBETS: Took it on the chin with fith-ranked Houston on the moneyline (-135) against the good version of Kansas on Monday night. The line opened at Houston -1.5 and then money came in on Kansas and made the Cougars a 2.5-point favorite. Houston shot 21 of 66 from the field in a 69-56 loss, including 5 of 24 from 3-point territory. Offense may be an issue for the Cougars if they go deep into the NCAA tournament, as Houston dropped to 3-5 against ranked teams this season. FWIW: Darryn Peterson was 5 of 14 and finished with 14 points in 30 minutes. No plays on tonight's card as we lick our wounds.

As a reminder, explore the betting tools available on this site. The information available is sure to make you a better bettor and hopefully put more money in your pocket.

Houston, we may have a problem ... 

Sports bettors typically fall into one of two categories: system players or situational bettors. System players generally take a broader view and follow rules like this: Bet against any favorite playing its third straight game on the road. A situational better is more into examining the matchup, and the strengths and weaknesses of each team. Although the selections you see here will almost always be based on "Situational Handicapping" there are certainly systems that make sense. Here's one tested system play worth monitoring during the remainder of the college basketball season: Bet on an unranked team when it's a home favorite against a team ranked in the Top 25. In those situations you typically have an extra-motivated team playing on its home court. Teams are 12-7 ATS in that situation this season.

RBROWNBETS: There's a limited college basketball menu tonight, but we have a good one in Houston (23-4) at Kansas (20-7). The Cougars are favored by 1.5 with a total of 137.5 at Draftkings. Kansas has lost two of its last three games and is dealing with the Darryn Peterson distraction. Houston is coming off losses to Iowa State and Arizona, both quality opponents. The Cougars haven't lost three games in a row since 2017. Houston also has a pretty good freshman in Kingston Flemings. The Cougars are first among Big 12 teams in points allowed (62.0) and forced turnovers (13.9), and second in offensive rebounds (13.1). In addition, Houston usually takes care of the basketball. The Cougars average fewer turnovers per game (8.3) than any other Big 12 team. Kansas is a formidable oppoent, especially at home, but the Jayhawks are also unpredictable. You're more likely to get a consistent effort from Kelvin Sampson's bunch. We recommend a play on Houston at -1 or better if available. Otherwise, take the Cougars on the moneyline (-135).  

A Cougar Tale ... 

Thanks for visiting rbrownbets.com.  The goal here is to entertain and inform recreational sports bettors. This blog began on Substack and we're thankful that BtrBet quickly offered the opportunity to form a partnership. Our content (blog posts) will remain free. We strongly recommend you explore the tools BtrBet offers on the site, all of which are designed to make you a better bettor. These tools include line shopping (where to find the best price or pointspread), injury reports, bet tracking (how you've fared in each sport, etc.), guidance on tax preparation, chat rooms and much more. It's all good stuff and available for $9.99 per month. If those aren't for you, please visit for the free content. If you choose to subscribe (no cost) you can have the blog posts delivered to you inbox. These posts will often include wagering selections and we will, of course, track the success, or lack thereof, of these picks. We're excited about this new site and hope you enjoy rbrownbets.com.

-- Roger Brown

Welcome to rbrownbets.com ... 

# Welcome to rbrownbets.com

Welcome! This is the home base for Roger Brown’s picks, write-ups, and betting insights, powered by [BtrBet Studio](https://studio.btrbet.app).

This community is where bets live with *context*: real odds, tracking, results, and discussion all in one place. You’ll see official posts from Roger, performance history tied to the picks, and conversations with other members who take betting seriously.

Jump into the comments, ask questions, share reactions, and keep an eye out for new posts and tools rolling out soon. Glad to have you here. 🏈📊

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