CREATED BY SPORTS BETTORS FOR SPORTS BETTORS
LET’S HEAR YOUR STORY
This season's NFL score totals are significantly lower than in previous years. Unders are 107-86-2, excellent for a 55.4% winning percentage, and bettors have taken advantage. During the first two months of the NHL season, the reverse is true. Goals are being scored at a rate not witnessed since 1994. Despite this, bettors have not been able to profit.
Scoring is up, but overs aren't money
A brief glance at Wednesday's NHL scoreboard reveals a lot about the league's present status. The Buffalo Sabres won 9-4 over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Edmonton Oilers scored eight goals in an 8-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-5 in overtime. In a thrilling back-and-forth battle, the Calgary Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3.
The NHL is averaging 6.42 goals per game this season. This is an increase from the 6.28 recorded previous year. This is the most goals scored per game since the 1993-94 season. That season, Wayne Gretzky topped the league in scoring. It's been a long time.
On the season, 22 of 32 teams are scoring at least three goals per game. Symmetrically, 22 of 32 NHL teams are allowing at least three goals a night. Eleven teams are allowing at least 3.5 goals a night, and eight teams are scoring at that rate.
The fun teams
When betting on an NHL game to go over the total, look for a club that can score but will also surrender goals. The simplest way to cash an NHL over is to pick a game in which you believe both teams will score at least three goals. Sure, you can take the over in a lopsided game with a final score of 6-1. However, goals are considerably more likely in close games where goaltenders are withdrawn late for more attackers and potential empty net goals.
Which teams have been good to over bettors this season?
Buffalo Sabres
Fresh off a 9-4 win on Wednesday night, it's no surprise to see the Buffalo Sabres on this list. So far, the over is 15-9 in Sabres games this season. When you look at this team, it makes perfect sense. It's a young team littered with talented players like Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Jeff Skinner and Rasmus Dahlin. They score on average four goals a game.
However, they're also allowing 3.69 goals a night. That ranks bottom five in the league. Their goalies are stopping just 88.5% of shots they face, well below league average. With Eric Comrie injured, the Sabres are relying on 41-year old Craig Anderson and rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes. Goals have been aplenty on both sides of the ice in Sabres games.
Florida Panthers
Florida led the NHL in goals last season, scoring an average of 4.11 goals per game. They are outside of the top 10 this year, scoring just 3.42 goals a night. Despite that, Panthers games are 16-8 to the over this season. The equation for Florida this season has been simple, bet the over when they start Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky is giving up over 3.7 goals per game and stopping just 88% of shots. The team's other goalie, Spencer Knight, is giving up 2.6 goals a night and stopping nearly 92% of shots. For some reason, the Panthers are splitting the goalies' games relatively evenly.
St. Louis Blues
Blues' goaltender Jordan Binnington took the NHL world by storm when he stepped in and won the Stanley Cup in 2019. Since then, Binnington has been at best an average NHL goaltender. This year, he's been bad. Binnington is stopping just 88.9% of the shots he's facing and giving up nearly 3.5 goals a game. Offensively, the Blues are doing enough, scoring over three goals per game. As a result, overs are 16-8 in Blues games.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have the worst team save percentage in hockey, stopping just 88% of the shots thrown at their net. As a result, they're giving up over 3.5 goals a game. Thankfully, their offense has kept them afloat as they rank top 10 in goals. That combination has resulted in overs going 17-9 in Los Angeles games so far this season.
Edmonton Oilers
New season, same questions with the Edmonton Oilers. We know they can score with MVP favorite Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl forming the best duo in the league. The Oilers signed Jack Campbell to solve their goaltending issues, and that hasn't worked. They're giving up over 3.5 goals a night so far this season, and Campbell has lost his grip on the starting job. Oilers' games are 14-9 to the over.
What about unders?
Most people like rooting for goals, so they lean toward betting overs. However, you can always bet the other side and take the under. Which teams have been playing the most under games so far this season?
Toronto Maple Leafs (18-8 record to the under)
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
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