Full 2015 market updates for the major US sports

WITH most of the major US sports still in off-season, there’s a shift in focus with betting in the world of US sports.

The MLB is in full swing and title contenders are beginning to emerge, the CFL is well underway and NASCAR is starting to heat up.

If that doesn’t whet your appetite, there’s a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks.

It won’t be long before football starts (NFL & NCAAF) and soccer fans are anticipating the start of the English Premier League in the coming days.

If you’ve found value in the markets and want to place a bet, take a look at our recommended bookmakers and get some free cash to play with!

Are the Royals and Cardinals the best teams in baseball?

There’s still plenty of time left in the MLB season, but the Kansas City Royals (60-38) and St. Louis Cardinals (64-35) have easily been the best teams in baseball up to this point and neither team appears ready to falter down the stretch.

The Royals are on a 7-3 run, while the Cardinals are on a 8-2 run at the time of publishing.

Kansas City hold a 4-game lead over the Yankees in the America League, while the Cardinals have a huge 6.5-game lead over the Pirates in the National League. Both teams have been incredible, but will that hold true come playoff time?

Right now you can bet on the Royals to win the AL Pennant at +230 at 5Dimes or the Cardinals to win the NL Pennant at +350 at Bovada. The Cardinals present excellent value at this line, but I’m still not convinced about the Royals.

The Yankees (+435 to win the AL Pennant) and Angels (+500 to win the AL Pennant) are both having great years in the AL, plus you can’t count out teams like the Blue Jays, Astros or Tigers yet.

With the MLB trade deadline closing in this week – teams will be looking to shuffle up the rosters and get ready for a final push into the MLB playoffs. The Jays and Rockies have made the biggest move thus far.

The Jays and Rockies swapped shortstops, as Troy Tulowitzki is now a Blue Jay and Jose Reyes is on Colorado. There were some other prospects involved in the trade, but the Jays have to be pleased with adding such a big bat at SS.

If the Jays can trade for a pitcher before the deadline – they’ll instantly become a top contender in the AL.

2015 MLB World Series odds update:

Kansas City Royals +550
Los Angeles Dodgers +650
St. Louis Cardinals +650
Washington Nationals +750
New York Yankees +1000
Los Angeles Angels +1050
Pittsburgh Pirates +1200
Houston Astros +1600
San Francisco Giants +1700
New York Mets +2300
Chicago Cubs +3300
Toronto Blue Jays +3300 at Bovada.lv
Baltimore Orioles +4000
Detroit Tigers +4000
Minnesota Twins +4000
Cleveland Indians +5000
Tampa Bay Rays +5000
San Diego Padres +6000
Chicago White Sox +6600
Seattle Mariners +7500
Boston Red Sox +10000
Texas Rangers +10000
Oakland Athletics +12500
Arizona Diamondbacks +20000
Atlanta Braves +20000
Cincinnati Reds +50000
Miami Marlins +50000
Milwaukee Brewers +75000
Colorado Rockies +100000
Philadelphia Phillies +500000

United States leads final medal count at 2015 Pan-Am Games

Say what you will about the talent at the Pan-Am Games, but the athletes pour their heart and soul into the competition.

It’s unfortunate that many of the best athletes don’t compete in the event, unless the event is on home soil. Toronto was the host of the 2015 Pan-Am Games and Canada had its best showing in history – winning 78 gold medals.

Despite the valiant effort – Canada finished second in the total medal count — trailing the United States. Four years ago – Canada had its worst placing in the Pan-Am Games in fifty years, so it was good to see them get back on the map.

Here’s the final medal count for the top five countries at the 2015 Pan-Am Games, which ended on July 26th 2015.

United States: 265 Total Medals (103 Gold Medals)
Canada: 217 Total Medals (78 Gold Medals)
Brazil: 141 Total Medals (41 Gold Medals)
Cuba: 97 Total Medals (36 Gold Medals)
Colombia: 72 Total Medals (27 Gold Medals)
2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship odds update

There are only six Sprint Cup races left before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins in September. August is always a great month to be a NASCAR fan, as drivers are working towards qualifying for the Chase or maintaining their current position.

Kevin Harvick (777 Points) is first in the Sprint Cup standings and he has a pair of wins in 2015. Jimmie Johnson (675 Points) hasn’t been as consistent as Harvick, but Johnson has already won four Sprint Cup races this season.

Who has the best shot at beating Harvick and Johnson in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup?

That’d be the resurgent Kyle Busch. Busch broke his right leg and left foot at this year’s Daytona 500 back in February, but he has come back from injury like a man possessed. Busch now has three Sprint Cup victories in a row.

Busch has won the Quaker State 400, 5-Hour Energy 301 and Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400. He’s second in the market at 6/1 to win the Windows 10 400 this Sunday at Pocono – Harvick is the favorite to win the race at 4/1 odds.

No driver has won three Sprint Cup races in a row since Johnson back in 2007 – when he won four races in a row.

Busch is driving incredibly well and seems to have an answer every week for his opposition. His odds have steamed in since the winning streak started and he’s now second in the Sprint Cup Championship market – only trailing Harvick.

Kevin Harvick 4/1
Kyle Busch 5/1
Jimmie Johnson 7/1 at Bovada
Brad Keselowski 8/1
Joey Logano 8/1
Matt Kenseth 8/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10/1
Kurt Busch 10/1
Carl Edwards 12/1
Martin Truex Jr. 12/1
Denny Hamlin 15/1
Jeff Gordon 18/1
Kasey Kahne 30/1
Ryan Newman 75/1
Tony Stewart 85/1
Jamie McMurray 100/1
Kyle Larson 100/1
Clint Bowyer 200/1
Greg Biffle 200/1
Austin Dillon 300/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 300/1
Paul Menard 300/1
AJ Allmendinger 500/1
Danica Patrick 500/1
Ricky Stenhouse 500/1
Sam Hornish Jr. 500/1
Trevor Bayne 500/1

NFL in the news: What football stories are making headlines?

Some players may already be back early, but most players report this week for NFL training camps. Expect the NFL headlines to pick-up over the next month, as we start to get closer to the start of the regular season.

Tom Brady suspension expected to be upheld

What a mess “Deflate-gate” has turned out to be for the NFL. Tom Brady is still professing his innocence and today a ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the league is expected to uphold the 4-game suspension for Brady.

That won’t sit well with Brady’s camp, who are adamant on accepting a fine only and no suspension. Either way – the league needs to decide shortly — as the Patriots need to start preparing for the season-opener against Pittsburgh.

J.J. Watt learns how to “Nae Nae”

J.J. Watt does a ton of work across Houston communities and another touching video surfaced on Monday showing Watt learning how to “Nae Nae”.

Check out the video below – I wonder if Watt will bust out the dance after a sack this season?

#khou11 This is too funny! JJWatt asks some kids at #Texans YMCA to teach him the Nay Nay…. pic.twitter.com/zfq6qTRTis

— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) July 27, 2015

Jen Welter signs with the Arizona Cardinals

Jen Welter has been brought on by the Cardinals as a “training camp and preseason coaching intern”.

Why’s that big news? Well, Welter is believed to be the first female coach in the NFL’s history – another big step in the right direction.

Welter has the experience to hold her own on the field.

She played a game at RB for the Revolution last year – becoming the first women to play men’s pro football at a contact position.

She also has years of playing and coaching experience.

Where’s Waldo? – NFL needs to find this man and sign him!

Wow! Check out the video below – believed to be shot in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Clearly this guy doesn’t like it when his bicycle lane is blocked. He decided to dead-lift the car out of the way, as onlookers videotaped the rare sighting.

The NFL needs to find this man and offer him a contract stat – I know many teams who could use a big body with his strength to fill in holes in the trenches. Just don’t get in his way, or you may be abruptly lifted off your feet.