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2022 NBA Stats to Watch

What’s your feeling on upcoming 2022 NBA stats? The one stat that all NBA fans were watching heading into the 2021-22 season was career three-pointers. Hall of Famer Ray Allen held the record, but Golden State’s Stephen Curry eventually broke the record earlier this season.

Curry’s new career three-point mark is just one of a number of records that could be broken this season. There are also a number of other NBA stats to watch in 2022.

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James, Durant Still Lighting It Up – 2022 NBA Stats

LeBron James is third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He is 1,561 points away from passing Hall of Famer Karl Malone. Based on his average over the last four seasons, it appears James will pass the Mailman.

James has averaged 1,645 points in each of the past four seasons. He might also pass Malone on the all-time field goals made list. James has averaged 620 made field goals in each of the last four seasons. He needs 625 to pass Malone who is second on that list too.

Chris Paul Chases Record

Only five players in the history of the NBA have recorded 10,000 assists. The Suns’ Chris Paul is one of them. Paul is currently fifth on the all-time NBA career assists list behind Mark Jackson, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and the leader John Stockton.

Paul has averaged 506 assists per season over the last four and is set to pass Jackson and Nash to move into third place. Paul is averaging 9.9 assists per game this season.

Paul could also pass Gary Payton for fourth on the all-time steals list. Paul needed 113 coming into this season to pass Payton. He is averaging 105 over the past four seasons and he’s tied for third in the NBA this season averaging 1.9 per game.

The Unthinkable of 2022 NBA Stats

Phoenix was 33-9 heading into a Martin Luther King Day game against San Antonio. The best record in NBA history, of course, belongs to the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. The Warriors finished 73-9 and eventually lost in the NBA Finals to Cleveland.

Could Phoenix tie an NBA record by breaking another one? Maybe you like them to win it all. Go take a look at our live NBA Finals odds!

Can the Suns break the record

The Suns would need to break an NBA record by winning 40 games in a row just to tie the 2015-16 Warriors. By the way, the longest winning streak in NBA history belongs to the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers who won 33 straight. Jumping on streaks like this will instantly make you become a smarter sports bettor.

ATS Season Records

The 2009-10 Milwaukee Bucks went 46-36 and made the postseason. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Atlanta Hawks. Milwaukee was very competitive that season finishing with an NBA best 54-28 ATS record.

So far this season, Cleveland is 28-13-3 ATS for a cover percentage of 68.3, slightly better than the ‘09-’10 Bucks 65.9 percent. The Cavs best ATS season ever was in 2008-09 when they went 49-33.

Oklahoma City has just 14 wins in 42 games this season, but the Thunder has a 27-14-1 ATS record. That’s exactly 65.9 percent. Both the Cavs and the Thunder could challenge the ‘09-’10 Bucks.

We have some more great information for you. Check out 2021 NFL betting stats so far.

2021 NFL Betting Stats So Far

It’s time to look at 2021 NFL betting stats to come out of the first 13 weeks. The 2021 NFL season has been an interesting one for bettors. To say that it has gone to the dogs is no understatement.

Here’s a look at how underdogs have done so far this season as well as other trends that could continue over the final five weeks of the regular season.

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Underdog Trends – 2021 NFL Betting Stats

If you have been betting underdogs against the spread this season, you are probably pretty happy. So is your bankroll at online sportsbooks.

Overall, underdogs are 106-84-1 ATS this season. Those betting dogs to win outright have not fared as well, but $100 bettors would be up nearly 26 units ($2600). Underdogs are 77-115-1 straight up so far this season.

Double-digit underdogs are just 5-22 straight up this season, but they are 12-14-1 ATS.

Teams to Back When Wagering

If you are searching for a team to back against the spread in 2021, it’s the Green Bay Packers. They have the NFL’s best ATS record at 10-2. Don’t forget, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is 118-76 ATS since 2009.

Arizona and Dallas are both 9-3 ATS and New England, which has won seven straight games, is 8-4 ATS. Take a look at our live Super Bowl odds, you may be surprised where these 3 teams are.

The big surprise among the top 5 in ATS record is Detroit. The Lions won their first game of the season in Week 13, a 29-27 win over Minnesota. New head coach Dan Campbell gets the most out of his players. Detroit keeps games close and as a result the Lions are 8-4 ATS this season.

Bettors might want to stay away from the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams broke a three-game losing streak with a win over Jacksonville in Week 13. They covered the spread which improved their season record to just 5-7 ATS. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are also teams with winning records with a 5-7 ATS record.

Totals – 2021 NFL Betting Stats

Quick, take a guess which NFL team has the best Over record so far in 2021 sports bettors. It’s not Dallas or New England or any other team that fans typically associate with scoring a lot of points.

The best Over record in the NFL right now belongs to … drumroll … the Indianapolis Colts. The Over is 8-5 in Colts games this season. Tennessee (7-5) and Philadelphia (7-6) are next and are the only other teams with a record that leans toward the Over.

How About the Under?

Bettors are taking a long look at Denver, Jacksonville, and Seattle games this season. At this point, none of the three are in the thick of a playoff race.

However, all three make for strong totals bets. The total has gone Under in eight of ten games for the Broncos, Jags, and Seahawks this season. Jacksonville has struggled on offense and the defense isn’t terrible.

Denver’s defense was second in the NFL in points allowed per game heading into Week 13 and Seattle’s offense struggled first without Russell Wilson at quarterback and then with him when he returned. Last week, Wilson finally broke out of his funk. Still, the Under is 8-2 in Seahawks games this season.

Sports Betting Evolution in Nutshell

Legal wagering and sports betting evolution has come a long way in a short period. However, wagering has always been intertwined with American culture. People in the United States have always found things to bet on before there were sports. Political betting was a significant trend in the United States initially, and it still is today.

We live in a society that enjoys betting, and this will never change. Here is the sports betting evolution in a nutshell.

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1920s: The Golden Era of Sports – Sports Betting Evolution

In the 1920s, sports betting started to be introduced because leagues were formalized. College football and basketball started to become reputable wagering options. It’s important to note that betting was outlawed at this time.

1920 – The Golden Era of Sports

This golden era coincided with the Great Depression. People still bet during the depression because they thought it was a quick way to make money. Although, betting continued to bankrupt people during this time.

This was a reason there was a negative connotation around the practice.

ICYMI > A Look Back at the 2021 NHL Season

1931: Nevada Legalizes Gambling

Nevada was the first state to legalize gambling in 1931. Other states did not pay attention to this decision and kept betting illegal. New York crime families started to fill the void on the east coast.

The mob dealing with wagers pushed the nation to pass the Interstate Wire Act of 1961. This was the government’s way of removing illegal gambling. Nevada became the only location where the practice was legal.

More States Join Nevada

Delaware, Montana, and Oregon followed Nevada for legal sports wagering in the seventies and eighties. This made more states start to consider sports betting. The government did not want legal wagering instilled in United States culture.

Sports betting was gaining traction, which made Congress pass the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This was maybe the single biggest event that will mark the sports betting evolution.

PASPA in 1992

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was enacted in 1992. This banned nearly all sports betting in the United States. Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon were grandfathered into the bill.

Sports betting could only occur in four states once PASPA was passed. This made illegal gambling and offshore betting very popular. States were losing money because of PASPA, and there came to a point when the law was questioned.

PASPA is Questioned – What Does it Mean for Sports Betting Evolution

The New Jersey government believed that it was unconstitutional to ban sports betting in the country. The state fought the federal government for nearly a decade on the law.

The sports leagues got involved and lobbied against New Jersey. However, the legal battle ended up going in favor of the state. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that PASPA was unconstitutional by a 6-3 decision.

This decision gave states the right to legalize, adding to sports betting evolution. Many states had already passed sports wagering bills pending the repeal of PASPA. New Jersey was the first state to enact a bill following the ruling. What impact will this have on sports history?

PASPA was removed on May 14, 2018, through the case Murphy vs. NCAA. New Jersey legalized sports betting less than one month later, on June 11. Sports betting is now legal in 31 jurisdictions throughout the United States.

All wagering frameworks are different, but the industry has swept the nation.

A Look Back at the 2021 NHL Season

The 2021 NHL season was not completely normal, but the league was able to make it through. Now that the playoffs have started, it’s time to look back at the 2021 NHL season with a betting focus.

NHL futures betting is extremely popular, but sometimes the oddsmakers are way wrong in predictions. Other times, the top teams are easy to predict, but making an early bet provides some value.

Here is a closer look at some opening futures betting lines and how the season affected those odds.

Avalanche Still on Top of the 2021 NHL Season

The Colorado Avalanche opened at +700 to win the Stanley Cup, making them the hockey betting favorite. Colorado is a team that is loaded with talent, and it was easy to make them the favorites.

The Avalanche did not disappoint in 2021, winning the President’s Trophy and the West Division. Now, the Avalanche have odds set at +250 to win the title, and that still makes them the favorite.

A bet on the Avalanche back in January would have been much more valuable than it is today. Colorado continues to have its odds shortened, and that trend won’t change throughout the postseason.

Vegas was also listed at +700 to win the Stanley Cup, and they are now being offered at +550. The Golden Knights and Avalanche could soon be meeting for the West Division final.

North, West Easy to Predict

Along with picking the Stanley Cup champion, making a bet on each division winner is another popular bet. There are just four divisions this season, and that made betting a bit more interesting in the preseason.

Sportsbooks struggled with the realigning of the divisions and how to handicap each team. The opening lines for the North and West Divisions were correct, as the season played out that way.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were +140 to win the North Division, and it played out that way. Colorado was +154 to win the West, and the Avalanche narrowly won that division.

In the Central and East, Dallas (+400) and Boston (+280) were the favorites to win those divisions, respectively.

ICYMI > Recapping the 2021 NBA Season

Boston, Toronto Make Big Jumps During the 2021 NHL Season

When making future preseason bets on which team will win the title, choosing an underdog is a great play. This season, it appears that Boston and Toronto were two teams worth betting on.

Boston opened up at +1200 to win the Stanley Cup, and those odds have now been slashed to +450. Toronto was +2000 before the season began, and the Maple Leafs are now being offered at +600.

Both of these teams still have some work to do if they want to win the Stanley Cup, but they have a shot. If you are someone that bet on either Boston or Toronto, then you could be in for a big payday.

Other teams such as the Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers had odds go the other direction during the year. Both teams have been eliminated and will not win the Stanley Cup.

Recapping the 2021 NBA Season

What a wild NBA campaign we had witnessed in 2020-21. There has been craziness every day, star players emerging out of the left field, and some wild trades being made. Let’s look back at some of the highlights.

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Julius Randle, Superstar

Nobody took the Knicks seriously two summers ago. They whiffed on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, who opted to play for the Brooklyn Nets. They failed to land the #1 pick in the lottery and ended up with RJ Barrett instead of Zion Williamson.

And they signed five big men. One of whom was Julius Randle. He had been good before, but never GREAT. What he has done for New York this year, making them a playoff team and upping his averages across the board, has been incredible. He is now a bonafide star and a legitimate building block for the future.

He proves people wrong every day. He is a top NBA player. An All-Star, and likely the most-improved winner.

Nets Acquire James Harden, Go Small

Brooklyn entered the year with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in tow. The roster looked good enough to be a winner. About a month into the season, though, they were part of a wild four-team trade. Jarrett Allen would be shipped out. Victor Oladipo would switch teams. And the team had to part with its beloved budding star Caris LeVert to make it happen.

They acquired an unhappy James Harden from Houston. And there was a stretch earlier in the year where he led them to a 16-1 record over a 17-game stretch, with rare appearances from Kyrie and 0 from Durant.

The team now has a big three, and come playoff time when they are all healthy, they will be pretty much unstoppable.

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The Return of Steph Curry

Nobody is truly surprised by how well Stephen Curry is playing this year. But, the fact that he is putting up incredible numbers every single night is telling. He doesn’t need stars around him like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson (get well soon) to put up big numbers and guide his team to victories.

The record hasn’t been great, but the Dubs are destined for the play-in tournament. Curry is averaging an NBA-best 31.3 points per game. He’s making north of five triples per game. And he leads the league with eight games of over 40 points. Only playing in five games last year did nothing to keep him from returning to greatness.

Jazz and Suns Leading the Pact

When asked who they expected the best teams to be this year, many answered with the Lakers and Clippers. Some may have said the Nuggets. The 76ers, or Bucks. But, who has the best record in the league? The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have been the best teams in the league, record-wise.

The Suns went 8-0 in the bubble a season ago and then proceeded to trade for Chris Paul. It may have been pre-destined. But snapping a 10-year playoff drought by having a 46-19 campaign with seven left? Incredible.

Utah blew a 3-1 lead in the first round of the playoffs. They got Bojan Bogdanovic back after he was out from March 2020 onwards and brought Derrick Favors home. That was really all they did. But, here they are. Armed with weapons and dangerous on both offense and defense.

The road to the finals will still be a brutal one, but both Utah and Phoenix went from ‘capable of consistent wins’, to real contenders.

We hope you enjoyed our look back on the 2021 NBA season. But, in case you missed it, take a look at our last article … Look Back at the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Look Back at the 2021 NCAA Tournament

The 2021 NCAA Tournament was different from years past in a number of ways. One of the things that did not change was the excitement and drama that came with this event.

There is a reason the NCAA Tournament is dubbed “March Madness”, and that rang true in 2021. Most are already looking ahead to the 2022 tournament, but it’s important to take a look back.

These are some of the biggest memories from a great three weeks of college basketball.

RECAPPING THE 2021 NCAAB SEASON

UCLA-Gonzaga: Instant Classic

The most memorable game of the 2021 NCAA Tournament happened on the final weekend. Gonzaga outlasted UCLA in overtime to advance to the title game in an absolute thriller. The Bulldogs are currently the favorite next year on the live college basketball national championship odds.

The Bulldogs were the top overall seed, and they coasted all the way to the Final Four. Most expected a blowout win over 11th-seeded UCLA, but the Bruins played a nearly perfect game.

UCLA barely even made the tournament field and had to survive a First Four game against Michigan State. The Bruins rode that momentum all the way to the Final Four and gave Gonzaga all it could handle.

Of course, the game-winning shot from Jalen Suggs will be an NCAA Tournament moment that many won’t forget.

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Baylor Cream of the Crop

Even though Gonzaga was the betting favorite, it was the Baylor Bears that reigned supreme. Gonzaga-Baylor was the matchup everyone wanted to see, and it happened in the National Championship Game.

Baylor jumped out to a massive lead in the first half, and the Bears seemingly made every shot. Gonzaga made a few small runs, but the Bears always had an answer.

The Bears had just two losses all season long, and their guard play was the best in college basketball. Few teams play defense like Baylor, and that allowed it to shut down an explosive Gonzaga squad.

There was no doubt who the best team in college basketball was this season.

Bad Look For Big Ten

The Big Ten Conference has traditionally struggled in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and this year was no exception. There were nine Big Ten teams in the field, and only one of them advanced to the Sweet 16.

Illinois was a No. 1 seed, but the Fighting Illini were beaten handily by Loyola Chicago in the second round. Ohio State, a number two seed, suffered a massive upset loss in the first round.

Michigan still had a chance to get the Big Ten to the Final Four but came up just one game short.

Glass Slipper Fits for ORU

Once again, there were a number of Cinderella teams to emerge, but none was bigger than Oral Roberts. The Golden Eagles became just the second No. 15 seed in the history of the tournament to reach the Sweet 16.

Oral Roberts stunned Ohio State in the first round and did the same to Florida in the second round. The miracle run eventually came to an end, but this team gave fans a terrific and exciting ride.

Abilene Christian and North Texas also pulled off stunning upsets in the first round over big-time schools. These upsets are what make the tournament great and bust brackets throughout the country.

The History of March Madness

The History of March Madness is a good story. It was first played in 1939, the same year that an Illinois high school basketball official coined the term “March Madness” in reference to the game. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has come a long way since its inception some eight decades ago.

March Madness has become a part of popular culture in the U.S. with thousands of people competing to predict the outcomes of all 67 games in the tournament. Bracket challenges and betting on the tournament make March Madness one of the most important sporting events of each year. Here’s a look at its history.

MARCH MADNESS 2021 NEWS & NOTES

The Beginning of March Madness

The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) was founded in 1938 and was actually more prestigious than the NCAA tournament that began the following year. Only eight teams played in the very first tourney. Oregon beat Ohio State 46-33 to claim the first-ever national championship.

Until the 1950s, teams often turned down an invite to the NCAA tournament to play in the NIT. Some schools – like City College of New York (CCNY) – would enter both. CCNY is the only school to win both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same year. Ironically, they beat Bradley University in the final of both tourneys.

Expansion – The History of March Madness

March Madness remained at eight teams for its first 12 years before expanding to 16. The tournament’s popularity saw the field grow from 16 in 1952 to 25 by 1969. In 1975, the field expanded to 32 and in 1979, 40 teams played for the national title.

From 1979 to 1985, the tournament field grew from 40 to 64 teams. It was 2001 when the NCAA added a 65th team and a single play-in game. The current field of 68 was established in 2011.

The Turning Point

The popularity of the NCAA tournament rose substantially after Earvin “Magic” Johnson of Michigan State battled Larry Bird of Indiana State in the 1979 national championship game.

The number of teams in the field would increase almost annually from ‘79 to 1985. The nation could not get enough of March basketball.

NCAA Tournament Upsets

What helps to drive the popularity of March Madness are the upsets. Once a team gets into the tournament, anything can happen. Just ask UMBC which entered the field of 68 in 2018 as a No. 16 seed. These upsets are where basketball bettors can earn money quickly!

UMBC had to face No. 1 Virginia, one of the favorites to win the national title. For the first time in NCAA tourney history, a No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 when UMBC won 74-54.

Another driving force in the rise of the history of March Madness was the result in the first tournament to feature 64 teams. In 1985, favorite Georgetown met No. 8 seed Villanova in the championship game. It wasn’t supposed to be close, but the Wildcats won the school’s first-ever tournament with a 66-64 upset victory.

Editor’s Choice > Recent NHL Trends to Watch

March Madness Record History

There have been 80 tournaments since 1939. Last year’s event was the first time it was ever cancelled. That was due to the coronavirus pandemic. Isn’t it unfortunate that the History of March Madness is forever tainted by the coronavirus!?

Kentucky has the most appearances at 58 and North Carolina (50) is the only other school with at least 50. UCLA has won the most national championships (11) and Kentucky is second with eight.

The Wildcats also hold the record for most March Madness wins with 129. North Carolina has 126, Duke 114, Kansas 108, and UCLA 101. They are the only programs with more than 100 victories.

Recent NHL Trends to Watch

The NHL is well underway, and we have some recent NHL trends to watch.

Following the NHL’s Lake Tahoe adventure, which saw Saturday’s game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche delayed until midnight Eastern after poor ice conditions created safety hazards, the league may not hold an outdoor game again any time soon.

In a season unlike any the league has experienced before, here are a few trends you should be aware of before placing further hockey bets.

How much do you love horse racing? Let’s get ready for the 2021 Triple Crown.

Puck Line Performances

A few of the teams near the bottom of the standings have impressed on puck line bets this season. As of Feb. 22, the top five teams by win percentage on the puck line are:

Winnipeg Jets (15-3-0)
Los Angeles Kings (12-4-0)
New Jersey Devils (9-4-0)
New York Rangers (11-5-0)
New York Islanders (11-6-0)

The Islanders, Rangers, and Jets have earned their spots on this list through quality goaltending. As a team, the Islanders allow the fourth-fewest goals per game (2.35) in the league.

Semyon Varlamov and Anaheim goaltender John Gibson are tied for the league lead with three shutouts this season.

Los Angeles is off to a surprising 7-6-3 start, sitting in fourth place in the West Division. Two of the Kings’ three overtime losses came against the Minnesota Wild, where they blew 3-1 leads in the third period.

Anze Kopitar (four goals, 17 assists), Drew Doughty (four goals, 11 assists), and Dustin Brown (eight goals, six assists) are all having excellent rebound seasons after disappointing 2019-20 campaigns.

Must Read: Early Look March Madness 2021

As for the Rangers, they’ve seen six one-goal losses this year, including three in overtime. While it snuck into the playoffs as one of the bottom seeds in the Eastern Conference last year, New York was not expected to be a playoff team this year.

The Rangers have at least been a competitive team, despite an abundance of injuries and off-ice drama, including a fight between teammates in the tunnel after a shootout loss.

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Over/Under Analysis

If you look a little deeper into recent NHL trends, four of the top five teams with the highest “over” percentage were playoff teams last season. They are:

Los Angeles Kings (68.8%)
Philadelphia Flyers (66.7%)
Carolina Hurricanes (65.6%)
Washington Capitals (64.7%)
Arizona Coyotes (61.8%)

One interesting trend here is that both the Kings and Coyotes (7-7-3) have losing records in the standings but are hitting the over. Their live NHL odds are proof of them scoring and allowing plenty goal. Arizona has a minus-five goal differential this season, so some of its “over” hits have come from giving up too many.

Philadelphia (3.40), Carolina (3.69), and Washington (3.35) all rank in the top 10 in goals-per-game average. Adding to the “over” factor for the Flyers and Capitals is that they also rank in the top 10 in highest goals allowed per game (Philadelphia at 3.27, Washington at 3.41).

As for teams with the highest “under” rate, the top five are:

New York Rangers (75%)
New York Islanders (70.6%)
Detroit Red Wings (70%)
Anaheim Ducks (69.4%)
Colorado Avalanche (64.3%)

The Rangers, Islanders, Red Wings, and Ducks are among the lowest-scoring teams in the league (Anaheim and Detroit are worst and second worst, respectively). However, the Avalanche are one of the top five Cup favorites, earning their positioning on this list with outstanding defense and goaltending, not to mention higher “over” totals from night to night, given their scoring prowess.

Early Look March Madness 2021

The 2020-21 college basketball season is now in its final full month, and it’s time to look at March Madness 2021. Before long, teams will be preparing for their conference tournaments which can only mean one thing.

March Madness isn’t all that far away.

Last year because of the coronavirus, the NCAA tournament was cancelled. This year, it’s going to happen though it might look a little different than in year’s past.

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Tournament Schedule

The biggest thing that will look different in this year’s March Madness is the location. Instead of games in different venues around the country, the NCAA decided to hold the entire event in a single location – Indianapolis.

Indianapolis was set to host the Final Four, so the NCAA made the decision to hold the entire tournament there. Six different venues in and around Indianapolis will host all of the March Madness games.

Selection Sunday will be held on March 14 with the tournament to begin that week. The NCAA moved the First Four to Thursday, March 18, with the first round to begin on Friday, March 19.

Instead of the traditional Thursday-Saturday, Friday-Sunday games on the tourney’s first weekend; teams will play on Friday-Sunday and Saturday-Monday.

Related Link: Are You Ready for March Madness 2021?

COVID Protocols

Local health officials will be responsible for all coronavirus protocols. That will include testing of all players, coaches, and staff members. All teams and their personnel will be housed by Marriott, which has a sponsorship agreement with the NCAA.

Teams will have special transportation to take them to and from games. Some of the venues are connected to Marriott hotels via an enclosed skywalk.

There has been no decision as of yet on whether or not fans will be permitted to attend. It appears the NCAA will allow immediate family members, but there has yet to be a definitive decision.

Did you miss our last article? It’s ok, go check out a look back on 2020 NFL numbers now.

The Favorites

There has been little change in the favorites to win March Madness 2021. Preseason No. 1 Gonzaga has been the odds-on favorite to win it all this year since the start of the regular season. The Bulldogs, who are now 17-0, are the +250 favorite.

For those thinking Gonzaga’s soft schedule will hurt them come tournament time, think again. The Bulldogs played a brutal non-conference schedule that included a season-opening win over Kansas and then victories over Auburn, West Virginia, Iowa, and defending national champion Virginia.

No. 2 Baylor is listed at +450 and is the only other major conference team that is unbeaten. The Bears are 16-0 heading into the final weeks of their regular season schedule. Neither Baylor nor Gonzaga has ever won an NCAA tournament title.

March Madness 2021 – Other Contenders

Villanova (11-1), which has two national championships in the last five years, is ranked No. 3 and will likely win the Big East again. Michigan (13-1) has been a pleasant surprise and will probably be a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Villanova is listed at +800 and the Wolverines check in at +1200 on the betting board. Texas, which is 11-3, is given the same odds as Michigan and No. 19 Wisconsin is listed at +1300 despite having five losses this season.

The names you don’t see among the contenders are blueblood programs like Duke and Kentucky. Both are struggling and neither team is ranked in the latest AP Top 25. Bettors looking for longshots might consider the Blue Devils and Wildcats, both of which are listed at +5000 to win this year’s NCAA tournament.

A Look Back on 2020 NFL Numbers

Now that the 2020 NFL regular season has wrapped up, it’s time to look at the 2020 NFL numbers and some of the interesting statistics and numbers. Some of them are startling, and others may prove useful for future reference.

The most surprising number is how many games were lost due to COVID-19: 0. There were postponements and rescheduling of a handful of contests, but no games were outright canceled by the pandemic.

If anyone had an NFL futures wager on that prop, your time is running out. Can you believe there are only 3 NFL games left?

EDITOR’S CHOICE: GETTING READY FOR MARCH MADNESS 2021

Betting Favorites

New Orleans was favored in the most games this past season at 16. Four teams were the favorites in 15 of their games, including the Kansas City Chiefs. Among the teams who were most often favored at kickoff, Baltimore had the best record against the spread.

When they were favored, the Ravens were able to cover in nine of the games. At the other end of the spectrum, the Chiefs were only 6-9 against the spread as favorites. For all games played, Miami led the way with a record of 11-5 against the spread. The bookmakers had a difficult time catching up to their surprising run.

Miami was also the most impressive as a home favorite against the spread. They won all three games in their home stadium when they were favored to win. Dallas was the worst home favorite, failing to cover in five attempts.

The Denver Broncos were the only team in the NFL that wasn’t favored in a single game during the season. Three teams, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, and the New York Jets, were only favored once the entire season. Only Cincinnati was able to cover the spread in their lone game as a favorite.

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Betting Underdogs

Pittsburgh and Buffalo led the way in cover percentage during the 2020 NFL season in games where they were the underdogs. Both teams covered the spread four of the five times they weren’t favored in a contest. Miami was next, going 7-2 against the spread as underdogs.

On the season, underdogs covered the spread 55% of the time. Road dogs covered at virtually the same rate, 54.8%. When looking at 2020 NFL numbers, a case could be made that there wasn’t a home-field advantage without fans in the stadiums.

The two worst teams as road underdogs were Philadelphia and Dallas, both going 1-4 against the spread. Dallas was also the worst team against the spread for all of their games with a 5-11 record. Considering how disappointing their performance was in 2020, it shouldn’t be surprising.

Over/Under

Early in the season, teams were outscoring the over/under lines at over a 60% rate. There was a lot of scoring, and the lines just weren’t being set high enough. As the season carried on, bookmakers adjusted, and so did the defenses.

By the end of the 2020 season, the numbers swung in favor of the under bettors. Games in which the teams failed to reach the over/under line comprised 50.3%, with 48.6% over and 1.1% pushed.

Some of the lower scoring games can be attributed to sidelined key skill players due to COVID-19 protocols. Injuries also accounted for some teams not showing as much offensive firepower as they did early in the season.

The Las Vegas Raiders led the way against the over, with their games going 12-3-1 against the line. Tennessee, led by Derrick Henry’s 2027 rushing yards, was just behind them at 12-4-1.

It's easy to see there was a lot going on for bettors and fans alike when it comes to the 2020 NFL numbers. We'll be back after the Super Bowl to bring you the playoff numbers.