2013 March Madness Begins

There have been a couple of themes with College basketball this season:

1) There is no dominant team this season. All of the top teams have shown flaws this season. There are literally at least 15 teams that have a legitimate shot of winning the NCAA tournament.

2) The Big Ten is the power conference this year. They have consistently had 5 teams in the top 25 all season long. That being said, only Indiana has proven to be dominant. Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State have all shown weaknesses.

Here are the current teams that are definitely have a spot in the Tournament so far:

ACC - Duke, Miami, NC State
The ACC is pretty top-heavy with Duke and Miami leading the conference. NC State would have to absolutely collapse not to make it to the Big Dance. The other teams that have a look at it are North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. Of these teams, I could only see Duke and Miami going past the 2nd round.

A10 - Butler, St Louis
The A10 should get four teams in the tournament this year. Butler has proven to always be a tough team to beat, although they are currently looking up at St Louis in the standings. VCU, La Salle and Temple will be fighting for the third and fourth NCAA bid. If things work out right, the conference may get a fifth team in the First Four. Big East - Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame
It's too bad that the Big East is breaking up. This was the best basketball conference for the majority of the past 25 years. Now, the Catholic 7 schools (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova) are leaving and they are being replaced with Conference USA squads.

With all of that being said, the Big East is still the second best college basketball conference. Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown and Marquette are all capable of a making deep runs this year. The Big East will probably get at least 8 team into the tournament.

Big Ten - Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois
The Big Ten has been the power conference this year so far. They have had to beat up on each other during the season and you will probably see the conference champion with 4 losses. The seven teams listed are all definitely in the tournament.

Of these teams, I would be worried about taking Michigan or Ohio State deep into the tournament. Both teams have shown significant weaknesses that a bad matchup will exploit during tournament time. On the other hand, I would expect Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin to be able to make decent runs past the first weekend.

Big 12 - Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma
Kansas is still the class of the league, although Kansas State and Oklahoma State are hot on their trail. Those are the only teams that I really see making any noise during the tournament. Oklahoma should be in based upon their strength of schedule. This gives them the nod over Iowa State, who still could make it as well.

Mountain West - New Mexico, Colorado State, UNLV, San Diego State
Don't sleep on the Mountain West this year. The strength of schedule for New Mexico, Colorado State and UNLV are all top 30. However, you will want to watch out because this conference has traditionally struggled with their high seeds, so be careful taking them deep.

Pac 12 - Arizona, Colorado, Oregon
Now, there should be more than 3 teams making from the Pac 12, like UCLA and California. But, this is just indicative of the Pac 12 being one of the weaker conferences again this year. The problem is that many of the teams play a very soft non-conference schedule so many of the teams records seem better than they actually are.

SEC - Florida, Missouri
Perhaps the biggest surprise this year is how poor the SEC has been. Kentucky should still get in as well, although they won't be the same without Nerlens Noel. But, there is likely only one other team that will make the tournament between Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas. As with the Pac 12, many of these teams' strength of schedule is very poor.

Mid Majors - Gonzaga, Wichita State, Memphis, Creighton
Belmont should also probably be in the tournament as well, but they should probably still win their conference tournament so they don't give the selection committee a reason to leave them out. The same holds true for Middle Tennessee, Saint Mary's (been snubbed a couple of times), Akron and Louisiana Tech. All of these teams have great records for conferences that will likely only receive 1 NCAA bid.

Gonzaga is primed to be the #1 ranked team in the country. This is a team that will likely go deep into the tournament. Wichita State and Creighton will also be a very tough out.

You can learn more about this year's upcoming NCAA tournament at MarchMadnessAction.com. March is the best time of year for betting on basketball. The NCAA tournament is second only behind the Superbowl for placing wagers. You can find live betting at http://www.marchmadnessaction.com/betting.php. Visit them for more information.

2012 Superbowl Prediction

There are only a couple of times a year that I still place wagers on sports. I used to really be big into the NBA and MLB, but the past few years I have only bet on March Madness and the Superbowl.

This is a very interesting matchup this year with the two Harbaugh brothers coach the opposing teams. The 49ers are favored over the Ravens by 3.5 points at most sportsbooks. The moneyline is between -160 and -180 ($160 to win $100) for San Francisco and between +140 and +160 ($100 to win $140). The Over/Under is 47.5 points.

I always like finding trends when betting and I've found a couple that I would like to share with you. The first bet is the Total points (over/under) for the game. The last 8 times that the Super bowl total has been 46.5 points or more the Under has won. This dates back to 1999.

The coin flip is another trend that lots of people are betting on. The coin flip was Heads for the past 4 years. There has never been a 5 straight streak for either heads or tails. That is why many people are betting it this year.

Super Bowl Spread

Currently, 56% of the overall wagers on the Spread are for the Baltimore Ravens. The Spread opened at 4.5 points and it has been bet down to 3.5 points. When I see this, I don't like to go with the crowd, unless the Spread gets bet down to 2.5 points or the wagers even up for both sides.

I'll give you the NCAA National Championship for an example. Notre Dame was #1 going in but was still a 10 Point underdog. This was as high as they could make it while still looking like a good bet for Notre Dame. Many people were betting the line down for Notre Dame because they thought it would be a close game.

This game is shaping up the same way. The Ravens dominated in the 4th quarter over New England and San Francisco needed a big comeback against Atlanta. People are feeling good about the Ravens; but the spread hasn't moved much, which has gone relatively unnoticed in the midst of the Harbaugh brothers, Ray Lewis' last game and the Colin Kaepernick show.

If the sportsbooks didn't feel strongly about San Francisco, they wouldn't have opened at 4.5 point favorites. And the fact that this line still hasn't gone under a field goal even with the lopsided betting in favor of Baltimore means that Las Vegas thinks highly of San Francisco.

Final Score Prediction

The final score of the game has only been 3 points or closer once since 2005. I doubt that this game will be either.

That means if you really think that Baltimore is going to win, you should place a Moneyline bet on them or find a sportsbook that offers a moveable line and take Baltimore as a 3.5 point favorite. You should be able to find this at +240 ($100 to win $240).

I personally don't think that the Ravens will win. While Atlanta did choke the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco has consistently beaten good teams that are outside of their division. They also went on the road and beat the Patriots and they dispatched of all four AFC opponents that they faced this year.

I believe that the final score is going to be San Francisco 24, Baltimore 20 and that is the way that I am betting for the game.

How To Choose an Online Casino

Even the most skilled land-based Casino gambler would be lost in the fast paced world of online gambling.

As technology advances forward, online casinos advance with it. The casinos become more realistic and the entertainment they provide may even rival that of the real thing.

When visiting Vegas or any other gambling town, how do you choose which casino to invest your time and money at? Do you study each casino for yourself? Do you use recommendations?

Imagine taking that same evaluation process and multiplying it by 100. Now you're faced with the same choice millions of online gamblers are faced with when they are trying to decide what makes the best casino online.

So with so many casinos on the Internet to choose from, finding the best casino online can be a serious challenge.

There are a few specific points of discussion when searching for the best Casino en Ligne.

What to Look For

First, is the casino reputable?

Do a search on the casino in question and see how it rates on the review sites. Often the review sites will have a list of the top 10 and also a list of specific casinos to stay away from.

Next, check out the statistics on their software. Is it made by a reputable company like Playtech, Microgaming or other mainstream casino software makers? Reputable software companies that supply software to many casinos make sure their numbers are truly random.

The good online casinos will probably give you all the information about how the gambling odds or payout percentage are set up in the software.

Lastly, Check if they have a good, fast payout rate. Make note of the payment methods they accept. With some online options, this can be a little as 1 to 2 days. If you are requesting a check or another paper option, you can expect to wait up to 10 days to 2 weeks in some cases.

If it takes more than 2 weeks to receive payment, that is not a casino that you want to continue playing at.

And most importantly try out the software to see if you like the virtual casino itself. Most online casinos will allow you to play for fun before you are required to make a deposit.

All the top casinos offer free easy to use software you can download, install and try out in free mode to get familiar with it before you start betting for real money.

If you pay close attention to these important steps of evaluation you'll arrive at the best possible casinos online and maximize your gambling experience!

Exploring Your Options for Online Betting

Online betting allows gambling lovers to pursue their interests without having to travel to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Men and women who have engaged in electronic gambling in the past will be aware of the variety of intriguing activities that await them. While some people choose to place monetary bets on the major sporting events of the week, others choose to play online casino games for a thrill. Once individuals find a particular activity that they enjoy, they can stick with it. They may even be able to get friends to do a bit of betting alongside them.

Football and baseball have long been beloved sports. Those men and women who are intimately knowledgeable in one of these sports might even place a few bets on their favorite teams from time to time. If they know how to read the spread correctly, then they can likely find some subtle observations that will allow them to make money.

Once they have discovered the secrets to success, they can continue to place bets on a regular basis. While the Super Bowl is probably the biggest gambling event of the calendar year, the World Series also sees its fair share of action. After individuals have placed a few bets, they will quickly get the hang of the process and become professionals in their own right.

There are a number of other casino games that are perfect for online betting. Slots, for example, are hugely popular with men and women of all ages. Many of them also feature special themes. The jackpots on some of these machines can be quite large, though this assumes that players are placing the maximum possible bet each time. Some individuals may wish to make very small bets at the beginning until they get a feel for the machine.

Men and women can also take part in online poker tournaments, which can be quite fun. They can play with both amateurs and professionals from all over the world. In fact, if they have never been involved in a card tournament before, this is the way in which they might get their feet wet. As long as they understand the basic rules of the poker game they are playing, they should have fun. Of course, gambling enthusiasts may also wish to play against an automated machine in an online gaming arcade. This way, they can hone their skills before they move on to real competition.

As with any event where money is involved, people should come into the process with a general idea of how much they can afford to spend. When they have given themselves a hard budget, they will be more likely to quit before they fall into a financial hole. If they happen to win quite a bit of money, however, they will be able to use it in whatever manner they want. Some individuals may choose to splurge for a family vacation, while others will want to use the cash to make some improvements to various features of the household.

This post was proudly handed to us by the betting aficionados at onlinebetting.com.au, if you rate their advice, you ought to jump on their blog and see what all the fuss is about.

Playing Blackjack at the Casino

Over at my main website, CasinoDave.com, I primarily explain Blackjack Bonuses and how to bet on and play blackjack in an online setting. However, this doesn't teach people about the correct etiquette to use when you are playing at the blackjack table at a casino.

Blackjack Etiquette, Terms, and Rules

How to Conduct Yourself

Do you know how to conduct yourself in the casino? Pit bosses, boxmen, and dealers will give you the respect and courtesy you’re entitled to. Act like a gentleman or lady and you’ll be treated like one. Act like an ill-mannered boob and you’ll be treated accordingly.

When you sit down at a Blackjack table, the first thing you should do is take out the amount of money you want to convert into chips, say $100. Put the money down in front of you because a dealer is not allowed to take it from your hand.

The dealer will take the money, lay it in front of him, count out the same amount in chips, and then tell the Pit Boss the amount of money he is changing. In this case, he would say "$100 change." He will wait until he gets clearance from the pit boss and then put your $100 in chips in front of you.

Pull the stack close to you and place your bet on the layout in the spot in front of you. When the cards are dealt, you will be given two cards face up (Atlantic City rules - the rules vary from casino to casino in Las Vegas). The dealer gets one card face up and another face down.

Don’t touch your cards! (Again, this is an Atlantic City rule.)

Don’t be a Nuisance

All signals to the dealer regarding hitting, staying, or splitting and doubling down, are done with movements of your hand or by placing additional chips in front of your cards. Also, don’t touch your bet once it has been made!

If you touch your cards or bet, the dealer will give you a polite warning. Perhaps he’ll give you two polite warnings. Beyond that, you’re exceeding your quota. Don’t force the dealer to scold you a third time; you’ll make him angry.

Nobody likes an angry dealer.

If you are a smoker, show consideration for the people next to you by asking their permission to smoke. If they object, don’t smoke or go where you can. Some casinos now have smoking and no smoking tables, so take note of which one you’re at.

Don’t carry on unnecessary conversations. It’s distracting to other players. Besides, it’s extremely difficult to chatter and concentrate on your cards at the same time. What do you want to be? A socializer or a smart player?

Don’t be a cry baby.

Don’t ask for the waitress every two or three minutes.

In general, don’t be a nuisance. Acquire the conduct and class that will make you welcome in the casinos.

Embrace The "Anchor"

There are usually seven available spots at a typical blackjack table. Of all the seven available positions, it is spot one and seven that tend to dictate the outcome of the hand for the rest of the players.

I am not suggesting that spots two through six are not important. It is that spot number one called the “lead” and spot seven termed the “anchor” are more prone to allowing the house to benefit when a mistake by a player at those two positions are made.



The anchor position can be the most stressful for a player and some people even shy away from playing blackjack at any position close to the anchor more specifically, any spot closest to the left side of the table usually being spots five through seven.

However, what some people do not realize is that playing the game of blackjack at spots five through seven can actually have its advantages. A more intermediate or advanced player has the added benefit of being able to watch the cards as they are dealt out to the players closest to spot one which in turn, can alter their decision as to whether they want to pull a card.

For instance, if a player at a spot closest to the left side of the table is dealt a hand of soft eighteen meaning they are given an Ace and a seven against a dealer's bust card some blackjack players may choose to do double down.

However, if the player is looking for a face card or ten for that matter, and the three players sitting to that players' right are dealt face cards, there is the option to stand knowing that the chances of pulling a face card are now more minimal.

Furthermore, sitting on the left side of the table can have its advantages in terms of watching the cards as they are dealt out when deciding whether to double down in situations where the player may not feel completely comfortable in doing so. If a player sitting at spot five, six, or seven has the option to double down against a dealer's non-bust card, previous face cards can determine how confident a player is when deciding whether the chances of another face card being pulled from the deck are more or less probable.

That being said, when deciding which spot to sit down at when playing the game of blackjack, remember that sitting at spots five through seven will not give you a better chance of winning but at a minimum can sometimes give you a more clear indication of what cards may be coming next.