Monthly Archives: March 2020

How the Global Economy Affects Sports Betting

Betting had always been a part of the human history. It may be safe to say that from the moment money way invented, man started gambling. I mean, from the days of wagering nickels and copper over certain ancient sports down to this modern era of online betting sites, man had always found a way to gamble. Now it is important to note that betting was somehow a part of the culture of people of the old.

For instance, a young lad would hunt some animals in the woods, sell them to buyers and very likely use part of the proceeds to wager with his peers. Tis may not be very popular for the young men of old but it was a stable activity for the old. Taverns where countrymen and travelers drink had a reputation for being a place where gambler slug it out with their money. This may in fact shed light on the earliest origin of what happens in Vegas.

Who builds a casino without building or at least adding a bar for alcoholic alcohol? No one. At least no smart entrepreneur would make that mistake. But this could be another article for another day and another blog. In this blog post, we will be looking at how the economy affects.

The Good Times

Generally, people often never admit that there are good times in the economy. People will always say that economic times are difficult and all that but the truth is this: there are some times that we can generally call good times. It is common sense that the global economy was way better in 2006 compared to 2008-2009 when the stock market took a nose dive and crashed in consequential proportions.

But whatever the economic conditions looks like, you can expect two outcomes: the people who will be more willing to bet on sports and the people who not be willing to do the same. For the sake of this article, we will name them optimists and pessimists. Their decisions will determine whether bookmakers make a lot of profits or not. Also, these decisions will determine whether they make a ton of money or not. Let us start with the optimists when the economy is great.

Optimists

Think about it. The economy is doing, great or fine or not bad (in the least) and there is still a decent level of cashflow in the society. Would people still want to bet? Perhaps there is no need for betting as things are moving just great. How about using the extra income to gamble in the hopes of growing that fortune?

Optimists will bet. Period. The truth is: optimists place bets irrespective of the prevailing economic situation. Whether the stock markets crash completely or internet access (data) becomes three times more expensive than usual, optimists will bet online, still. I am not talking about the young lads and old folks that are addicted to gambling.

Their Logic: In times of financial abundance, the optimistic punter believes he has extra cash to invest in sports through betting. In fact, most career punters will double or triple their betting budgets if they have extra cash to spare. Unlike people who do not bet at all or individuals who bet part-time, fulltime optimistic punters will only place better sums when they bet. Usually, they focus on choosing one or a few games and putting a lot of money in there as opposed to staking a little amount but choosing way too many games or outcomes.

Pessimists

In times of financial abundance or balance, punters who aren’t fully into sports betting are likely going to see less needs for placing bets. The ones who love sports and betting may stake a little amount of money here or there but they often do not inject a lot of money into the betting economy as they feel financially comfortable enough to do just fine with what they are currently earning.

Their Logic: “Things are moving just well and there is no immediate financial crisis. Why would I risk placing huge bets online? What if I lose? Is it worth placing any bets at all since I already know that things are moving just fine?” Thoughts and questions like this dominate the heart of the punter who had always been a pessimist at the fundamental level. It goes without saying that pessimists see little to no reason to gamble when there is enough money in their pockets and a lot of time to make more.

The Bad Times

Nothing lasts forever. Even good things must come to an end at some points. Same for bad times too. But let’s think about it. The Corona Virus Diseases aptly named the COVID-19 has been on a roll for well over 2 months now. Almost every independent country of the world has its fair share of infections and in some cases, deaths. Businesses are shutting down and people are being forced to stay indoors in many cities across the globe as it is hoped this move will stall the spread of the virus.

But how does this affect economic activities? Simple. The world’s economy heavily relies on two things: buying and selling. Technologies of several millennia may have changed how we do business but the fundamental philosophy remains the same. If people do not interact with each other in ways that are economically relevant, money will not flow smoothly and the economy will suffer.

As anyone can guess, it is the internet based businesses that are faring well in this challenging time. Freelancers are having a field day if we compare them to their counterparts who work in brick and mortar establishments. Content creators, influencers and webpreneurs as a whole are to an extent not affected by what’s going on in the world’s economy as we speak.
But are bettors affected? If so, how? If not, why? How does the entire saga affect punters and betting sites or bookmakers? Let’s get down to it below.

Optimists

The will continue to bet. Like I had already stated in a previous paragraph, economic times do not affect a punter’s desire or willingness to gamble. It only affects the amount of money he can afford to play with. But beyond their desire to continue gaming, they often do it believing there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. For instance – and this is one of those unpopular betting tips out there – bookmakers are more likely to motivate bettors in times of general despair (as many people won’t be eager to place bets) than in normal times when more people will be willing to bet on games on their sites. But, for the optimists, why would they keep betting even when dark clouds are brewing?

Their Logic: The odds are higher where and when people are not overly excited about placing their money. If you pay attention on bookmaker sites, you will realize that outcomes that are very uncertain or unlikely to happen often get the highest odds. The same thing applies to harsh economic times like the one the world I facing. As expected, odds will be generally higher. The more the global economy suffers, the higher the odds available on these sites. Devoted punters (especially the ones who already have a decent amount of money they currently use for betting) are really going to capitalize on these weird opportunities.

Pessimists

They will stay far away from betting and anything that remotely looks like it. The fear of losing a bet is such a great obstacle for pessimistic bettors. However, the fear of losing a bet (and, of course money) at such a critical time like now is one that they’d typically consider unthinkable. “How would I cope if my I fail to win? I’ve got bills to pay and cannot currently afford to risk any money on betting” He assumes.

Their Logic: They have nothing to fall back to in the event that the bet(s) they place fail to work out just fine. Another common logic would be that since things aren’t generally great, then betting would not have much to offer in terms of profits. This reasoning is incorrect but is very understandable. Another factor could be the fear that I they win huge sums of money, it is possible that the bookmakers may not be able or willing to payout winnings if they are broke. Or worse, they could wind up operations with bets placed!

In a Nutshell

At all times, global economic conditions affect the sports betting industry. People are generally more willing than usual to place bets when they know that if they lose their money, they have something to fall back on. As already stated, above, the optimists will bet a lot when the economy is doing fine. They will still do the same when times are hard but with less money. Pessimists will attempt to earn through betting or doing it part-time. Some will do it full-time but betting with very minimal sums. However, they almost don’t bet at challenging time. Generally, at trying times, the desire to bet on sports both online and offline isn’t exactly great.

Who are the favorites for winning UCL and EL and what are their betting odds?

The Champions League and the Europa League have been in the focus of the entire football fanbase following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Many were wondering what will happen with two of the most prominent football competitions in Europe. The fans were debating about the possible format of the finishing stages, whether it would reach its end at all, and about all sorts of other, let's technical stuff.

But in the end, they would all come down to one question – who is going to lift the trophy?

Well, according to the bookies, the No.1 favorite for taking the Champions League title is Manchester City. The Citizens were the biggest right from the start, and they never moved from that place.

The odds bookies gave on their success are currently at 3/1, Bayern Munich is now second with 13/2, Paris Saint Germain 5/1, and Barcelona 7/1, with Atletico Madrid sitting at 10/1. If you follow this link, you can find lots of stuff offered by new online UK bookmakers for 2020 season.

The Citizens were focused only on this competition even before all the turbulences caused by their ban from Europe and the COVID-19 chaos. Simply, this was Pep Guardiola's obsession, and since the campaign started, it was obvious that the Spaniard aims to attack the UCL trophy before the Premiership title. With the development of the situation in the EPL and Liverpool's domination, City slowly began moving all of its resources to the Champions League, and when UEFA's ban appeared, they thought about nothing else but conquering the continent.

Meanwhile, Bayern was in a completely different situation. At the start of the year, the German powerhouse had numerous problems inside the club. Niko Kovac wasn't getting along with the players, and at one point, it seemed that the season would go down the drain. But, as soon as he left Allianz Arena and Hansi Flick jumped in, things changed.

The young German coach brought back the old attacking style to the table and removed Kovac's philosophy, which didn't suit Bayern's mentality. And the impact was obvious right away. The German champs have the top candidate for winning the UCL top goalscoring award.

Robert Lewandowski is 1/14 to take the honors, and the first one after the Polish international is Lionel Messi with 33/1. Raheem Sterling is 35/1, Serge Gnabry 40/1, Kylian Mbappe 50/1, while one of the best scorers ever, Cristiano Ronaldo, sits at 150/1.

Now, about the Europa League, the situation there is pretty exciting. We have several teams aiming at the trophy, and the automatic ticket to the Champions League.

Two of the top ones are from England – Manchester United and Wolverhampton. The Red Devils are 3/1 to win the competition, while Wolves sit second with 5/1, slightly ahead of Inter Milan, 6/1. Bayer Leverkusen is 13/2, the same as Sevilla, with Shakhtar Donetsk sitting at 14/1.

It is no wonder to see United and Wolves at the top of the list. English teams value the Europa League a lot, as some of them find it much easier to reach the Champions League there than through the domestic competition. We already saw the Red Devils and Chelsea doing that in the past.

Both United and Wolves are not certain to finish among the first five in the EPL, and they need to play with 100% here. We need to underline that Wolves might be chasing this trophy because of the ambitions to bring back the old glory to this side, who was one of the best in the world during the 1950s. Their owners have an agenda to make the club one of the best in England and to make them a powerhouse as before.

Inter meanwhile, is chasing the Serie A title and has that as a priority. Nerazzurri would like to lift the trophy, but are keener to stop Juventus and its domination in Italy.

Bayer is a solid team, but they lack experience at these stages, and vas majority of experts don't believe in their consistency, predicting that the Germans might choke when needed the most.

Meanwhile, many are suggesting that Sevilla might be a dark horse to take the silverware. The Spanish team is the most successful in the history of this competition, and they know how to behave when things get rough.

Hole In One Insurance Contests

Hole In One Insurance For Tournament And Contests Prize Reimbursement

In the 80s, golf tournaments began awarding prizes to contestants who were successful in making a hole-in-one at tournaments. During this same time, hole-in-one insurance started to increase in popularity. A majority of sponsors or those promoting events don't use funds that are set aside for the game to pay the winnings. Instead, they buy ‘prize indemnity insurance' or ‘putting contest insurance,' which covers the likelihood that they will need to award a prize.

Prize Indemnity Insurance

For those who offer a significant prize for a sporting event, there is a need for prize indemnity insurance or indemnification coverage. This insurance, which is also known as ‘hole in one insurance‘ for golfing contests, pays the insurer an indemnity if a contest participant were to win the prize. If you happen to sponsor a golfing event where you put up $20,000 for a hole-in-one to take place on a particular hole, your insurance carrier will need to reimburse you that amount if the golfer clears the shot and you have to award the money.

This insurance is comparable to any other insurance as it gives compensation or indemnity when an insured member has a loss. In the case of a hole in one, the loss suffered would be the cash prize that needs awarding for a successful shot. The insurance policy coverage limit would be the value of the prize offered by the contest. Insurance companies typically have stipulations on their guidelines, and these types of policies are no different. You would need to work out any variables that pertain to the game, such as the potential for the issuing of a consolation prize, and how the carrier will deem proof for the hole in one.

Insurers and Prize Insurance Costs

Although it's typically called hole-in-one insurance, this coverage can be useful for a multitude of different spectator, sporting, or participant events and with many organizations responsible for promotion. The prizes range considerably in size for each game, and the price for the insurance will, therefore, vary greatly. The carrier has many factors to take into consideration for a particular event, but a few of the things that they examine in making a decision is:

  • The level of difficulty involved in a contest.
  • The participants' skill level.
  • The number of contestants who participate in the event.
  • The cash or prize award value.

    • A more fabulous prize will bring more significant costs in insurance premiums. Prize money for contests can fluctuate from as little as a couple of thousand dollars to as extravagant as more than a million dollars. Money is not always the award for these tournaments. Some offer vacations, cars, boats. Depending on how the sponsor chooses to award the prize will affect insurance costs. The more luxurious the sponsor opts to be in their prize offering, the higher the rate is for the insurance carrier's quote. Go to https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2007/08/20/83341.htm to learn more about this protection.

    Variables Insurance Carriers Take Into Consideration

    Event organizers know that they will likely have to pay out the prize money that they offer in one or more of the tournaments they sponsor. As opposed to hoping against it, they purchase insurance to cover the award. The insurance carrier has variables that they take into consideration to determine if they want to take on the risk, whether it be the high value of the prize or the talent of those playing.

    • How many participants involved in the tournament will influence the insurance carrier. The odds of one particular contestant getting a hole-in-one is not affected by the volume of players involved in the contest. But a considerable amount of participants in a tournament will increase the chances for a hole-in-one to take place. Insurance premiums will be higher for an event where there is a massive number of players.
    • The hole-in-one tournaments typically take place on par-3 hole. For an insurance provider to cover an organizer, the distance to the green from the tee has to equal specific yardage. The carrier will decide that yardage. It is tough to make a hole-in-one on a longer par-3 as compared to a shorter one, the chance for success diminishes. Premiums for a longer hole are going to be much less. Follow this link to read about the ‘ace' tournaments.
    • A professional player works better under pressure allowing them to make the challenging shots with greater ease. When it comes to insuring a professional over an amateur, the insurance carrier is going to charge higher rates for the more skilled player. The odds of them making the shot are more likely. A tournament involving professionals is going to be an event bearing much higher rates.
    • There needs to be verification for payout. For a hole-in-one, a sighting needs to take place from the club's swing to the point where the ball drops into the hole. There can't be any obstruction of vision during any aspect of the viewing. The insurance provider's form has to be signed by the witness as confirmation of the shot. In instances of enormous prizes, winning holes may need to have video documentation along with the verification process.

    With all the variables taken into consideration, hole-in-one insurance costs can vary widely from tournament to tournament. A lot is based on the prizes the organizers choose to award. Each carrier will be different in how they make their determination and what rates for which they opt.

    For a prize valued at $1 million, the prices are going to be significant across the board. But because the insurance providers offer these plans to the sponsors, the tournaments have an extra sense of excitement for the spectators and provide a more significant challenge for the players.

    Zach LaVine Not Happy With ESPN’s Birthday Tweet Last Tuesday

    Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine turned 25 last Tuesday and ESPN’s Twitter account wished him a happy birthday but he didn’t like the way they did it. ESPN shared a highlight reel of LaVine’s performance in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest but he didn’t appreciate it.

    LaVine replied to them by simply tweeting:

    “Still just want to talk about dunking huh 🤦🏽♂️”

    LaVine clearly doesn’t want to be seen as just a dunker. He made it clear by choosing to participate in the 3-point contest during the All-Star Weekend in Chicago last month instead of going for his third Dunk Contest title. Even after fans begged him to go for his third Dunk Contest title.

    He admitted that he was planning to participate in the Dunk Contest before the NBA snubbed from his first All-Star appearance:

    “If I would’ve made it, I would’ve done it for y’all, man. But I just don’t — I don’t have it in me. If I would have made it, I would’ve made it even then. It’s not like I really wanted to. I would have just put on for my city. You know it’s in Chicago, and I don’t need a lot to prove about the Dunk Contest.”

    The reaction that LaVine had to ESPN’s tweet confirms that he will feel indifference towards the contest in the future as well. The controversy surrounding the end of the contest this year also doesn’t help the chances of seeing LaVine participating in it again. LaVine should have been an NBA All-Star. The 25-year-old is averaging career-highs with 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. He also dishes out 4.2 assists in 34.8 minutes over 60 games.

    Odds to Win the Eastern Conference

    Milwaukee Bucks -175
    Boston Celtics +500
    Toronto Raptors +700
    Philadelphia 76ers +1000
    Miami Heat +1200
    Indiana Pacers +2000
    Brooklyn Nets +4000
    Orlando Magic +10000
    Washington Wizards +15000
    Atlanta Hawks +25000
    Charlotte Hornets +25000
    Chicago Bulls +25000
    Cleveland Cavaliers +25000
    Detroit Pistons +25000
    New York Knicks +25000

    More Pay Per Head tips:
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    Norwich City vs. Southampton

    Norwich City hosts Southampton on March 14 in a battle of teams coming off 1-0 losses. Norwich City suffered their loss on the road against Sheffield United while Southampton lost at home against Newcastle United. Which team can bounce back at Carrow Road?

    We take a closer look at where the value is in this matchup.

    Betting Odds

    Team to Win (Regular Time)

    • Norwich City: +180

    • Draw: +220

    • Southampton: +149

    Spread

    • Norwich City PK (+103)

    • Southampton PK (-123)

    Total

    • Over 2 3/4 (-111)

    • Under 2 3/4 (-109)

    Key Points to Consider

    Last Six Games in All Competitions

    Norwich City is coming off a 1-0 road loss against Sheffield United in the Premier League. They have three losses, two draws and one win in their last six games overall. Southampton is coming off a 1-0 home loss against Newcastle United in the Premier League. They have five losses, one win and zero draws in their last six games overall.

    Momentum: Southampton has been on a downward trend — losing three of their last four games in the Premier League.

    Head-to-Head: These two teams met on December 4, 2019 and Southampton won 2-1.

    Players to Watch

    Simulations I have run projects Teemu Pukki, Danny Ings, Ondrej Duda, Emiliano Buendía and Todd Cantwell as the players most likely to score. Four players of the five players on this list are from Norwich City.

    Southampton has lacked consistency this season with long losing droughts often followed by winning runs. Their current slide is very concerning. They have just three points since the start of February and facing a desperate Norwich City team on the road will not be easy.

    Free Soccer Pick: Norwich City +180

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    Ways in Which You Can Excel At Online Casino Games

    Online casinos have lent the world of gambling a new edge. Interested individuals do not have to travel all the way to a land-based casino to play their favorite casino games. With online casinos flourishing, they can do so at the touch of their keypads. Online casinos have been quite a revelation, and they must be acknowledged for the kind of effortless entertainment they bring into the lives of those who would want to escape from the boredom of their 9 to 5 lives. However, you just cannot sign up to an online casino site and hope to mint money by the minute. You need to have some knowledge and tact to excel in this domain. You can always go by the trial and error method. But, when it is gambling that we are talking about, losing a hand or two could cost you a significant amount of money, and that is why it is advisable to have some expert guidance at your disposal. Here are a few things to keep at the back of your mind while registering for an online casino that might just do the trick for you and help you win a handsome reward.

    Choose Your Games Wisely:

    You need to have clarity of the games that you would be playing at the online casino. Do not go for the games that you know nothing about if you have some serious winning on your mind. You might end up losing quite a lot. Therefore, when it is winning that you have got to do, you must keep experimentation at bay. And in case you are an amateur and do not know the ways casino games function, you might want to do some research and find the right games for you. Choosing the right casino games for you becomes all the more important when you are quite a newbie in the field.

    Know Your Strategy:

    Strategy matters as much as choosing your casino games. You must not proceed further without having the right strategy all chalked out for yourself. Understand which moves will get you to turn the table and spin the wheel to your favor. Each person might have a move that could get them to win big, and you must understand that move of yours and plan your strategy accordingly. It might take some time and effort to understand your game, but it is worth all that.

    Freebies Are Up for Grabs; Do Not Miss Out On Them:

    Freebies are thrown up every once a while by online gambling sites like www.onlinegamblingcalifornia.com, to entice people to sign-up for their sites. There is no catch, and it is not a rat-trap that would end you up in legal or financial complications. Therefore, do not be afraid to get your hands on these freebies whenever you have the chance. They are up for grabs, and you could learn quite a lot by getting your hand on them. Freebies might come in the forms of vouchers, rewards or even bonus points, and they are not something that must go amiss.

    Work Out A Budget:

    The siren call of the casinos, online or land-based, have such a lure to them that it is easily possible to go with the flow and end up spending wads of cash. Therefore, a very essential trick to keep the perils of financial complications at bay is by working out a budget before spinning the wheel or rolling the dice. Understand your constraints and learn how much you would not mind losing out on. With this casino hack on your mind, your chances of winning and enjoying the games shall be tweaked by default.

    Conclusion:

    Online casinos can be a fun affair if you know the tricks of the trade and plan your game accordingly. The house might always be at an advantage, but with the right knowledge and hacks in your arsenal, you could always have a fair chance at winning and grabbing the biggest rewards that there are.

    Kansas Jayhawks at Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview

    When Kansas and Texas Tech square off on Saturday, two of the Big 12’s finest teams will be facing off in the conference’s regular season finale. When these two teams met in early February, the Jayhawks emerged victorious in a tightly contested three-point victory in Lawrence, the smallest margin of victory Kansas has had in a home game this season. While the Jayhawks will be looking to clinch yet another Big 12 regular season title, Texas Tech is still fighting for both a better seed in the Conference Tournament and a potential spot in the NCAA Tournament. This one is shaping up to be another close ballgame with two rivals squaring off with equal necessity to earn a win.

    Jayhawks Hope to End Season Flying High

    Kansas has been arguably the hottest team in the country over the past few months, with a 16-1 record since the start of the New Year. The Jayhawks haven’t just been squeaking by, either, with nine double-digit wins in that span against Big 12 opponents. Remarkably, Kansas has been nearly as good away from home as it has at Allen Fieldhouse, putting together a 10-1 record in true road contests this season. This is a team that isn’t afraid to walk into their opponents house and dominate, although each of the Jayhawks last two road wins have come by four points or less.

    Kansas has two of the Big 12’s best players in guard Devon Dotson and center Udoka Azubuike. Dotson’s 18.2 points per game lead the Jayhawks on the season, but Azubuike has been the team’s unquestioned star with an average of 13.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Even more impressive is the Nigerian senior’s 74.0% clip from the floor, a seemingly impossible mark that shows what a nightmare match he’s been for the entire country this season. When Kansas and Texas Tech last squared off, it was actually Dotson who led the way with a team-high 21 points on 9-16 from the floor as Azubuike was held to 5 points in 16 minutes after getting into early foul trouble.

    Red Raiders Hoping to Turn Around Fortunes

    Texas Tech has been a hard team to figure out this season, alternating between looking like one of the Big 12’s top three teams and also having the capability of barely seeming like an NCAA Tournament team. After three consecutive losses, the Red Raiders find themselves in a nearly must-win game to make March Madness a possibility. Despite the recent struggles, the Red Raiders did play Kansas extremely tough on the road earlier in the year.

    Led by freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey’s 26 points, Texas Tech nearly pulled off a stunner on the road last month. Ramsey has been the Red Raiders best scorer all season long with 15.4 points per game, and it’ll likely take a superhero effort from the stud freshman guard to notch the upset on Saturday against one of the country’s most balanced offenses and stifling defenses. With a 13-3 home record to this point in the year, the Red Raiders will certainly need a raucous crowd to knock the Jayhawks off their game and put an end to the Kansas win streak.

    Overall, Kansas just seems too good to drop this game, especially with the Jayhawks likely needing a win to lock up the conference crown. Texas Tech will play well enough to keep the score respectable, but Kansas is much more trustworthy in crunch time to get the job done. Look for the Jayhawks to get the job done on Saturday night, as Texas Tech will now have to sweat out Selection Sunday. We are taking the Kansas Jayhawks in this one at our favorite pay per head bookie site https://www.realbookies.com/ .

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    Iowa Hawkeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Pick

    The Big Ten Conference race is coming down to the final week, and there are some monster games on the schedule on Sunday. The Illinois Fighting Illini will host the Iowa Hawkeyes in the regular season finale on Sunday in a game that will have huge conference race implications. Iowa was able to beat Illinois earlier this season on their home floor, but the Fighting Illini will be looking for revenge in Champaign.

    Illinois enters the week with a 12-6 record in Big Ten play, which puts them in a tie for second place. The Fighting Illini have gone 20-9 overall, but they have really turned things around since league play began. Iowa enters the week with an 11-7 mark in Big Ten play, and they are still in line to earn a double-bye in the conference tournament. The Hawkeyes are also 20-9 on the regular season, and will join the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament.

    Garza Leads Explosive Iowa Offense

    The Iowa Hawkeyes might have the player of the year in the Big Ten Conference on their team, and they are also one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Iowa is averaging over 78 points per game, and they live and die by the three point shot. The Hawkeyes are allowing just under 72 points per game, but they are comfortable trying to win each game in a shootout.

    Center Luka Garza does a little bit of everything for the Hawkeyes, and has emerged as one of the premier players in college basketball. Garza leads the team with close to 24 points per game, and he can do damage on the perimeter as well. The Hawkeyes have four different players who are averaging at least one made three point field goal per game, and they will shoot a ton of them in this one.

    Illinois Can Really Defend

    Despite losing the first matchup with Iowa, the Fighting Illini were able to hold the Hawkeyes to just 72 points. Illinois is holding teams to under 65 points per game this season, and they are one of the highest rated defensive teams in the league. The Fighting Illini play a solid man to man defense, but they will need to find a way to contain Garza in this matchup. Illinois can’t afford to get into a shootout with the Hawkeyes.

    Point guard Ayo Dosunmu is leading Illinois with more than 16 points per game, and the ball will be in his hands if the game is close. The NBA prospect has shown a propensity for hitting clutch shots to lift his team to victory. Freshman center Kofi Cockburn is an absolute monster that has been putting up a double-double almost every time out.
    Illini Get Revenge on Home Floor

    There is no love lost between Illinois and Iowa, and this should be a great regular season finale on Sunday. Illinois looked like they were going to knock off the Hawkeyes in Iowa City a few weeks ago, but Luka Garza had other ideas. Iowa is an extremely tough team to beat when they are making shots, and Illinois will have to be locked in on defense.

    This game just means too much for Illinois for them to suffer a slip up on their home floor. The crowd will be rocking, and it should help the Fighting Illini find just enough offense to pull away from the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa will keep it close, but Illinois is getting revenge with a victory.

    We are taking the Illinois Fighting Illini in this Big Ten showdown, at our favorite pay per head bookie site PayPerHead247.

    Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls Betting Preview (Friday March 6, 2020)

    Friday night’s NBA slate features some intense matchups between playoff teams, as well as some seemingly lopsided contests between one playoff-bound team and one that is battling for a lottery spot at this point in the year. In the case of Indiana and Chicago’s matchup, the Pacers are a playoff-bound team looking to improve upon its playoff seeding, while Chicago is trending towards its third consecutive non-playoff season. With two of the league’s slowest-paced teams facing off, Friday night’s contest figures to be one of the few games on the day that won’t feature a high-scoring affair from either side. Indiana has swept the season series three games to none so far, as Chicago will look to salvage one game against its Central division foe.

    Pacers Fighting for Playoff Seeding

    Indiana is in the midst of a five-game road trip, one that started off on a positive note with consecutive victories over Cleveland and San Antonio, respectively. As the Pacers round out the road trip with Friday’s contest in Chicago and Sunday’s game in Dallas, Indiana is currently fighting for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia 76ers. While the difference between the fifth and sixth seed won’t factor into home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, it does differentiate between matching up against the Raptors, Celtics or Heat. Indiana’s 16-14 record on the road is the fourth-best in the Eastern Conference, so winning away from home has not been an issue for the Pacers this season.

    The Pacers have utilized an extremely balanced offensive attack this season, with seven players averaging double figures in scoring led by forward T.J. Warren’s 18.6 points per game. Forward Damontas Sabonis has been the unquestioned star of the team this season, averaging a double-double with 18.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in this All-Star campaign. Indiana also recently got star guard Victor Oladipo back from injury, and even though the playmaker hasn’t returned to full health yet, his mere presence on the court likely provides a boost for his teammates. For a team that ranks sixth in the NBA allowing just over 107 points per game on the season, Indiana has largely found success on night’s where the offense has held up its end of the bargain.

    Bulls Looking to Build on Recent Success

    Despite this season being largely a struggle for the Bulls, Chicago’s recent performances on its home floor have them looking like a team with upside. The Bulls have put together two wins in their last three contests at the United Center, including a win over the playoff-bound Mavericks on Monday night. While Chicago’s 13-19 record at home isn’t overly impressive, the growth and development of this young team in recent weeks has made the Bulls a more credible threat down the stretch of the regular season.

    Zach LaVine has put together an impressive season for the Bulls, averaging 25.5 points per game in just under 35 minutes per night. After LaVine, there has been a significant drop-off on the offensive end for Chicago, as only forward Lauri Markkanen has averaged more than 15.0 points per game, and the seven-footer has only seen action in 46 contests this season. With the league’s 25-ranked scoring offense (106.8 ppg) has rarely been consistent enough to support a defense that ranks in the top half of the league.

    Even with some major struggles throughout the season, Chicago’s improved play over the past week has Friday night’s contest shaping up to be closer than the experts figured. Indiana likely will rely upon its superior defense to stifle the struggling Bulls offense, and figures to emerge victorious in a low-scoring affair in this one. We’re taking the Indiana Pacers in this one, at our favorite pay per head bookie site A1pph.com.
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