A Sportsbook Magazine

I am going with the St. Louis Blues today. They are a pretty even match with the Blue Jackets and probably why each team has won their on their own ice this year when they faced each other. Both teams goaltenders are struggling thus far this year but I think St. Louis has the better all-around talent.

I got a good number too which is always a deciding factor.


St. Louis Blues ML -155

DOCTOR MMA GET OVER HERE!! IM HEMORRHAGING BASKETBALL MONEY!! GET OVER HERE NOW GOD DAMMIT!!

That would describe my month if it were a tacky drama on network television. Unfortunately, this is not television, and I really have been hemorrhaging money on useless basketball games. No more. Daddys home, and he brought a gold-plated tourniquet. There will be mixed martial arts action taking place on three of the next four weekends. And that off weekend in between? Ill be leaving the house that weekend. Enough of the nonsense!

On Saturday night Strikeforce: Miami will air live on Showtime. There are several notable fights taking place, including: Cristiane Santos (-610) vs. Marloes Coenen (+455), Melvin Manhoef (-190) vs. Robbie Lawler (+165) and Herschel Walker (-350) vs. Greg Nagy (+290). Yes, that Herschel Walker. Im as of yet undecided on these, but there are three other fights that I have given some thought to.

Nick Diaz -270
Marius Zaromskis +230

The Diaz brothers loom around every corner that I turn. Did you hear the one about me being 0-9 in any fight involving Nate Diaz? Would be funny if it was a joke. I have a little better luck predicting big brother Nicks (20-7) outcomes. And Im looking for paydirt.

Diaz has been victorious in five straight bouts, most recently taking out Frank Shamrock and Scott Smith. A brilliant product of the Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu camp, Diaz poses a difficult opponent for many guys with his unorthodox style. Sure he is fun to root against because hes such a jackass, but you have to give credit where it is due.

Marius Zaromskis (13-3) is a Lithuanian fighter who has been racking up victories in DREAM. Very few people will have heard of him once he faces off with Diaz, and I believe that the odds are overblown to reflect this. Zaromskis likes to throw crazy knees and head kicks, and this could neutralize Diazs striking. Im going with the upset here. Besides, Diaz in Miami during Super Bowl festivities if he doesnt get arrested before the fight, he will definitely be hungover. Im taking a shot.


Bobby Lashley -1475
Wes Sims +800

Wow isnt that something? -1475. Im not sure Ive seen a guy that high for an MMA fight. Strikeforce is hoping that they have the second coming of Brock Lesnar in Lashley (4-0). A giant brute of a man, this ex-professional wrestler has breezed through the competition in his fledgling career. For various reasons, his opponents for this matchup were scratched twice. Enter Option C - Wes Sims (22-12-1).

Sims has been around for a long time, and UFC fans will recognize him from his recent stint on the latest installment of The Ultimate Fighter. Turns out he was much better at telling jokes than he was in the Octagon, as he was bounced in the first round of fights by Justin Wren. He should be an easy sacrifial lamb to usher in the Lashley era at Strikeforce. BUT.

I mean, Sims has tons of experience. Hes thrown down with guys like Frank Mir and Tim Sylvia. He has to have a punchers chance here, right? Right?! Aw hell, its worth throwing down a bit of lettuce on him. If this doesnt come in, I dont even want to hear it. Im not throwing out a lock on a +800 goofball underdog. Im just saying. Why not?

Oh no I diint!​

Jay Hieron -320
Joe Riggs +260

So one decent-sized dog and one ridiculously no-chance-in-hell colossal dog so far. The tomfoolery ends there. Jay Hieron (18-4) is, simply put, a cut above Joe Riggs (32-11-0, 1 NC). Im looking for a win and Im looking for it to arrive in a manner that requires no sweating on my part.

The last time most of us saw Riggs, he was whuppin up on perennial loudmouth Phil Baroni like it was his job. He snuck in a couple more fights since then that nobody has ever heard of, winning both. Riggs is a good guy to have in your stable, for sure. Youre just not ever going to allow him to sire your mares is all Im saying.

The talented Hieron will not be stopped on this night. If he can deliver the 1st round finish that Im banking on, we can both make the South Beach Super Bowl parties on time. That reminds me, I wonder what the Heat line is

Jay Hieron​

Going with the Sabres at home tonight.

I am hoping they can keep the Bruins down for at least one more game. That team is in a complete Tail Spin.

I ended up getting the Sabres at -145

San Jose Sharks -120

I think this number is going to move on me so I like it here.

In Thursdays Australian Open semi-final clash, the British Andy Murray is out for revenge against Marin Cilic from Croatia. It was Cilic as the 4th seed who knocked the 2nd seed Murray out of last years US Open in straight sets. Murray was suffering from a wrist injury which kept him out for most of the tail end of the 2009 season but he had a 3-0 record against Cilic before that meeting. But still a disappointing result all the same. Or as John McEnroe put it as only John McEnroe can put it he laid an egg on court.

As well as avenging that US Open defeat, Murray has got the chance to reach his second Grand Slam final which would be the most for any British male in the modern era, not to mention being the first British male to win any Grand Slam since the days of Fred Perry. But lets not get too far ahead of ourselves here since he will probably have to pass Roger Federer in the final if he wants to get his hands on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. They met in the 2008 US Open final where Federer gave Murray a quick yet thorough tennis lesson, winning with ease in straight sets.

Aside from Murray having the advantage of a world ranking 10 places higher than Cilic, he also has another distinct edge. Murray has won each of his five matches without dropping a set, and he even got an early reprieve in his last match when Rafael Nadal retired mid way during the 3rd set. Even though Cilic has been playing some of his best tennis, beating world #7 Andy Roddick along the way, he has been taken to 5 sets on all but two of his matches. That translates to 10 hours of playing time for Murray against 18 for Cilic. Murray can afford to go all out with a two day break until the final, Cilic might not have enough left in the tank.





Pinnacle currently has Murray at a chalky -406 with Cilic at +360. The spread is Murray -6 games priced at +118 which would seem a better value wager considering Murrays increased ability and, more importantly, increased energy levels. Thankfully for both players, and definitely to the advantage of Cilic, the temperature is forecast to be a comfortable 69 degrees at game time.

The match is due to start around 0030PST, 0530EST, 0830GMT or 1930 local time depending on your location.

If you believed the press, there was going to be a changing of the guard this season in Manchester. Manchester United had dominated the English Premier League since it began in 1992 with a record 11 titles plus a couple of Champions League trophies as well. Manchester City on the other hand, not so great. They haven't one any of the major trophies for the past 30 years and, despite their loyal support, it seemed they might wait another 30 years for a sniff at anything.

But that changed in 2008 when they were bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan who has a family fortune close to $1,000 billion. And, it was soon apparent, he's not afraid to spend it. Robinho was signed around $50 million at the start of the 2008 season but that was just the beginning. By the start of the 2009 season, City were the biggest net spenders over the summer spending close to $200 million. Not that City rubbed United's nose in it. Well aside from the billboard they put up in Manchester starring Carlos Tevez who they poached from United for $40 million.



United, on the other hand, took a step back after having their star asset Ronaldo bundled to Real Madrid. The changing of the guard was upon us according to the press. But, you really shouldn't believe everything you read in the press. Sportsbooks had City as a +2000 outsider before the season started. Now you can get them at +3500. There's always next year. But this year, the rivalry just keeps heating up. And Wednesday night it reaches boiling point.

The Carling Cup is the least attractive prize in English football. The big teams generally don't pay it any attention, fielding their reserve squad unless they get to the final. If the Carling Cup was a child it would probably be ginger but Wednesday's semi-final will be different. Both sides will be full strength and United need to overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. Sportsbooks are naturally giving the edge to United as the home team in this game, with the Pinnacle line at -151 for a win. However, progressing to the final is essentially a coin flip but with United a currently a slight favorite at -107. Yesterday City were the -106 favorite.

The most entertaining aspect of the first leg last week was the spat between City's Tevez and United's Gary Neville. Not exactly all out fireworks admittedly but, after being compared to a set of female genitalia, Neville flipped him the bird.



Warnings all round from the English Football Association so tomorrow's referee will be keeping a close eye on those two. However, the Football Association are generally spineless so even if there is a repeat performance, the punishments will not be severe. Skybet has a price of +1000 for Tevez to be booked for a goal celebration during the 90 minutes; with a price of +240 for him to score during 90 minutes that implies around a 1 in 4 chance he's going to and get so caught up in the moment. With the referees keeping a close eye on him, with his hatred of United, with his Argentinian passion and with him resembling one of the orcs from Lord Of The Rings I like that bet for entertainment value.

Just one play in the NHL for me tonight.


Dallas Stars -112

Anaheim Ducks +105

That price isn't available anywhere offshore.

It was this morning when I bet it.

Sucks to be you would be my point here.

Enjoy the new, improved, 200% more annoying Matty Rain.