We haven't had too many Free MLB Picks this summer, as the system cooled off considerably last yaer at this time and we didn't want to go through the same thing this year. We decided to pull the trigger on a pick last night, though, and we were rewarded.
The Brewers beat the Dodgers 4-1 to give us a win in the MLB (and at +134), improving our Free MLB Picks to 100% this month! Hooray!
Due to the success of the pick, we might irresponsibly force out a few more in the coming days out of over-excitement. So stay tuned for that.
We haven't had a Free MLB Pick in some time but we have one tonight.
Milwaukee Brewers +134 over the Los Angeles Dodgers
After Prince Fielder's stalking outside of the Dodgers locker room last night, it looks like the Brewers should be pumped up for the series finale tonight.
To see the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45) National Anthem Prop Bet, featuring Christina Aguilera in the game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, click here.
Over the next week and half leading up to the Super Bowl, we'll be taking a look at various proposition bets for the 2009 Super Bowl, Super Bowl 43, Super Bowl XLIII, The Big Game, or whatever you want to call it.
Before the Steelers and Cardinals can execute their keys to the game, America (and several countries outside the United States) will be paying close attention to some keys prior to kickoff--the keys song by Jennifer Hudson during the National Anthem.
The former American Idol contestant, whether she knows it or not, will be responsible for what might be the first of many prop bets for millions around the world.
Bodog currently has the following odds:
Super Bowl XLIII - How long will it take Jennifer Hudson to sing the National Anthem?
Clock starts as soon as Hudson sings first Note and Stops when she sings her last note. Singles Only. Max $50. (This Prop is Closed for Betting)
Over 1 Minute and 54 Seconds -250
Under 1 Minute and 54 Seconds +195
Thanks to modern technology, aka Youtube, we're able to disect this proposition wager and determine the best possible bet. And we've determined that the Over is, even at -250 odds, an absolute steal. The evidence is below.
Let's first take a look at the Anthem that Hudson delivered at the Democratic National Convention on August 28, 2008.
Her first note starts at about :02 into the video and ends at the 2:03 mark. Simple math will tell you that that equates to a 2 minute and 1 second long anthem, seven seconds longer than the prop bet calls for.
What's interesting about this clip is that you'll notice that she could have been done at about the 1:50 mark when she finished the last word of the song, only to repeat it again immediately after, which would put the anthem at just 1 minute and 48 seconds.
Fear not, over bettors, because she would have held out that last note and dragged out the word "brave" if not for her putting her own creative spin on the Anthem. And, yes, we have more evidence to support our claim.
Here's another Anthem which, despite its phone camera quality, is very telling. This one is from Jackie Robinson Day back on April 15, 2007, prior to a Dodgers-Padres game.
This one, high quality as it is, cuts off the first two words of her performance (Oh Say), beginning with the word "can." It's hard to tell exactly when it stops, but we're going to guess its around the 1:58 mark. Remember, the bet ends on the very last note, and even without two words, she's still four seconds longer than the over/under.
Since the Dodger game is obviously a sports venue, we feel pretty confident that we'll get a similar Anthem out of her at the Super Bowl.
Finally, although Hudson, like many others, tends to drag out more notes or add a creative element during live performance--which the Super Bowl will be, of course--we thought we would go ahead and include her studio release of the famliar tune, in case anyone is paranoid that the audience at either previous performance caused her to go longer than she normally would.
The studio version begins at about the :18 mark and finishes at 2:16 for a grand total of 1 minute and 58 seconds. So, let's recap.
DNC August 28, 2008: 2 minute 1 second; 7 seconds longer than over/under
Dodgers April 15, 2007: 1 minute 58 seconds (w/o two words); 4+ seconds longer than o/u
Recorded version: 1 minute 58 seconds; 4 seconds longer than o/u
Needless to say, we're pretty confident that when Hudson ends with "And the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave," she'll be well over the 1 minute and 54 second mark.
Our system likes Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers to even this series up at two games a piece before heading back to Philly. In fact, Lemmy thinks this thing could go seven.
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in Game One of the NLCS, by a final score of 3-2, well below the total set at 7 1/2.
Thanks to some defense by Derek Lowe on Shane Victorino pictured above, as well as a stellar pitching performance from Cole Hamels, we were able to get a Free MLB Pick win.
Stay with us throughout the MLB Playoffs for more free winners.
With the quest to the World Series now down to the Dodgers, Phillies, Rays, and Red Sox, we're hoping for more frequent (and more successful) bets.
The first game of the NLCS between the Dodgers and Phillies is tonight, and we have a Free MLB Pick on the over/under for you.
Dodgers/Phillies UNDER 7 1/2
With Cole Hamels and Derek Lowe on the mound, this one should be a low scoring affair. We were tempted to take the Dodgers moneyline just for kicks, but will stick with the under play that our Free MLB Pick system shows has a high probability of hitting tonight.
We have two picks for today's MLB post-season action, and the total weight of the starting pitchers for our two winners is well over 600 pounds.
Speaking of pounds, we hope to make some of them for a few of Lemmy's new European friends. Check out the Lemmy's Friends section on the right-side of the page, which includes international punters from England and Italy, among other countries. For the rest of you, we hope to make you some dollars, as always.
On to the Free MLB Picks for today...
CC Sabathia and the Brewers ML -128 over the Phillies
Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs ML -158 over the Dodgers
Yesterday was a rough one for the NL Central, as both of these two teams fell in their respective series openers. We like the Cubs to rebound at home, and CC Sabathia to continue to carry the Brewers.
Hopefully, our winnings today will be as huge as these two starting pitchers.
Now that we're one game away from knowing all eight postseason participants, here's a quick look at the match-ups, with our early prediction highlighted in yellow.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Somebody vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Of course, once the actual playoffs start, we'll take our 63% record and bring back the Free MLB Picks all the way through the World Series.
Thanks to an early two-run homer by Derek Lee, the Cubs took care of the Dodgers today, 3-1. As expected, Ryan Dempster pitched well, so the Cubbies didn't need the offense to dominate as it has all year. The Cubs win means another win for our Free MLB Picks, which, after a slow start, are now at 9-9 on the year.
That record doesn't do justice to how hot the picks have been lately though, as they are now 5-1 in the last six. Did we mention they had a slow start?
Regardless, the picks are clearly heating up, and this last stretch has been more like what we've grown accustomed to with this system.
We have one Free MLB Pick today in the NLCS.
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in Game One of the NLCS, by a final score of 3-2, well below the total set at 7 1/2.
And then, there were four.
Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs ML -158 over the Dodgers
Yesterday was a rough one for the NL Central, as both of these two teams fell in their respective series openers. We like the Cubs to rebound at home, and CC Sabathia to continue to carry the Brewers.
Now that we're one game away from knowing all eight postseason participants, here's a quick look at the match-ups, with our early prediction highlighted in yellow.
Our Free MLB Picks system is very picky, but we finally have another today. These picks are 14-8 this year, which is 64%, and 7-2 in their last nine.
Thanks to an early two-run homer by Derek Lee, the Cubs took care of the Dodgers today, 3-1. As expected, Ryan Dempster pitched well, so the Cubbies didn't need the offense to dominate as it has all year. The Cubs win means another win for our Free MLB Picks, which, after a slow start, are now at 9-9 on the year.