Take a Deep Breath ...
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
The long, painful wait is almost over. Tonight, we watch and bet on real, competitive football. We do not have to fill the void with the USFL, CFL, or indoor stuff (I think I saw some indoor odds posted at DraftKings this summer).
Yeah, the college football season is in progress -- but it doesn't compare to the NFL. At least not when two solid teams like the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills face off.
That's not a knock on NCAAF. To be honest, I think I enjoy those games more than the NFL these days. But when it comes to betting and watching football at its best, nothing beats the NFL.
Pick a Promo: Find the Best Sportsbook Bonuses Here
So, as cliché as it sounds, I find that I have to ask you guys one question before we move on with the latest edition of the GamingToday Playbook:
NFL Kickoff: Bills vs. Rams
The 2022 NFL season kicks off tonight with what could very well be a Super Bowl 57 preview with the defending champs, the Los Angeles Rams, taking on the betting favorite as the season gets underway, the Buffalo Bills. Both teams feature high-powered offenses capable of putting up a lot of points. But they also have solid defenses that know how to make life hard for opposing offenses.
What does that mean for us?
It's going to be a heck of a game, and one you may want to consider using one of the many sports betting bonuses sportsbooks are offering (and there are quite a few). But I'll have more on those in a minute.
As Dani Rojas would say, “Football is life” (I know he's talking about a different game, but the quote fits).
We have been hard at work posting content that can help you get the 2022 NFL season off to a good start, whether you are a novice, intermediate, or experienced bettor.
Bills vs. Rams Odds & Prediction: LA in Rare Position as Betting Underdog on TNF
NFL Week 1 Odds: Updated Point Spreads, Moneylines, Totals as 2022 Season Looms
NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Are Chargers Undervalued by Betting Market?
NFL Week 1 Picks & Betting Predictions: Two Totals and a Moneyline
Super Bowl Odds 2023: Buffalo Bills Remain Favorite Heading Into Week 1
What's a Wong Teaser? Here's a Pick to Consider for NFL Week 1
If you only click on one link (but I hope you click on more), allow me to recommend the Wong Teaser post by Kris Johnson. It talks about something that isn't the norm, but it’s smart, exciting, and could add some wins along your sports betting journey.
2022 College Football Season: Week 2
With Week 1 now in the rearview mirror, we have an idea of how some teams will look this season. Alabama and Georgia are as dominant as ever. While Ohio State didn't explode against Notre Dame, the Buckeyes are not a team you should overlook.
Plenty of teams took it easy and played soft opponents in Week 1, so the book is still out on them (talking about you, Texas A&M, Michigan, Baylor, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and the list could go on and on).
How about those Florida Gators?
No one wins a championship or award in Week 1. But considering how some players and teams performed, CFP National Championship and Heisman Trophy odds have shifted.
I'm not saying Stetson Bennet will win the Heisman, but with how he played against a solid Oregon team, I'm kicking myself for not putting a few bucks on him when his Heisman odds were north of +10000.
If you are interested in game previews, check out what Rob Miech had to say about these two games:
Baylor vs. BYU Odds & Pick: Cougars Out For Revenge
As I write the GTP, I do not have my CFB Picks and Parlay post completed yet, but it will be up soon.
Elsewhere in the Wide World Of Sports Betting…
Mr. Rojas may think Football is Life, but it isn't everyone's cup of tea. If football is not your thing, or you want to bet on something else, the following links will take you to our coverage of other sports:
This Week on the Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape ...
Kansas has been the focus of the legal/betting landscape of late, but now that betting has launched in the Sunflower State, it is time to look towards who is next. It won’t be Florida, where one casino exec predicts sports betting may not launch until 2025
In other news…
Maryland took another step towards launching this week. Sportsbooks can start applying for a license in the Old Line State.
Missouri Border a Sports Betting Hot Spot As Kansas Launches Online Wagering
If you are looking for a sports betting show to watch, check out Beat The Odds, hosted by our own Mariah Janos.
Sportsbook Promotions: September 8, 2022.
In this section, I usually talk briefly about various promotions sportsbooks are running this week. But with the NFL season getting underway, it feels like I can serve you better with more of an explanation than what I usually provide. To that end, if you are in Kansas, the following links will take you to our sportsbook promotion coverage for the week:
PointsBet Kansas Sportsbook Promo Code: Claim $2,000 in Free Bets for NFL Season Kickoff
FanDuel Kansas Promo Code: Get $150 in Free Bets for NFL Season Kickoff
BetMGM Kansas Sportsbook Bonus Code: Exclusive Offer for $1,050 Ahead of NFL Kickoff
Caesars Kansas Promo Code: $1,250 First Bet for NFL Season Kickoff
DraftKings Kansas Promo Code: $1,250 in Bonuses for Bills vs. Rams on TNF
PointsBet Kansas Promo Code: Claim $2,000 in Risk-Free Bets for New Launch
For those of you not in Kansas, allow me to recommend the following:
DraftKings: DK has a few good ones available right now, but I wanted to highlight this NFL Week 1 promo — bet the moneyline on any Week 1 game, and if your team gets out to a 10-point lead, your bet wins. Talk about a good reason to roll the dice on a few underdogs!
FanDuel: Super Bowl Win Bonus — Place a $50+ straight wager on the "Super Bowl LVII - Outright Betting" market and get $5 in Free Bets for each game your team wins during the 2022-2023 NFL regular season
BetMGM: Completely Free One Game Parlay Free Bet for Week 1 — Just log in to your account by September 12 and received a Free Bet. Enjoy your Free Bet on any Week 1 pro football One-Game Parlay.
SI Sportsbook Michigan Promo Code: Bet $10, Get $80 in Free Bets
Beginner's Beat: FOCUS
With the college football and NFL seasons underway, it's only natural for sports bettors to get excited. So many games, so many markets, so little time. Right? With the number of markets sportsbooks offer, it can be overwhelming and easy to lose your focus.
Don't do it.
When you lose your focus, it becomes easier to make decisions based on emotion or your "gut." If you are enjoying an adult beverage or two while figuring out your bets, it becomes even easier to lose focus.
Unfocused bettors are prone to betting on too many markets and not making decisions with a calm, cool, collected, rational mind, as you should.
How do you know when you're losing your focus? If you think you might be, you probably have. Otherwise, before you place any bets, take a step back and think about what you're doing before you do it.
If you have doubts about a wager, maybe you shouldn't place that one. If that means you place fewer wagers this week, that's okay. It's a long season.
Are you excited for the next edition of the GTP, Bart Scott?
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to get covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.
To close out the GTP this week, well, don’t ask me why, but I feel compelled to share this:
Bet wisely, my friends, and have a great weekend!
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer