10StarPicks Handicappers Blog

Are you ready for the madness? Before you fill-in your bracket or bet on your favorite team, take a look at some facts and stats we think matter in picking a winner. We’ll even recommend a sportsbook to help you profit from March Madness this season!

TOP 3 SERIOUS CONTENDERS

1. Kentucky Wildcats (30-1 SU, 12-17-1 ATS) Maybe these cats have never been tested the entire season but they’ve blown out their opponents by an average of 19.6 points per game. Their only close win was against North Carolina in December where they scraped out a 73-72 victory. NBA prospect Anthony Davis is the leader in scoring for the squad at 14.4 PPG but is defensively leaving his mark with 4.7 blocked shots per game (#1 in the nation). Add to his strengths four other teammates that average double-figure scoring and Kentucky is a formidable team on both ends of the hardwood. Kentucky is priced at +200 to win it all.

2. Syracuse Orange (30-1 SU, 17-13 ATS) Except for a disappointing loss against Notre Dame in January, Syracuse has been one of the dominating teams this season. The Orange spent time at the #1 spot from Weeks 6 to 11 and stayed consistently inside the Top 3 the entire year. Syracuse’s success relies on ball movement and they are 15th in the nation in assists per game. Led by senior forward Kris Joseph (14.1 PPG) and sophomore guard Dion Waiters (11.9 PPG) they are ranked 32nd in the nation on offense at 75.3 PPG while holding their opponents to 60.2 PPG (24th in team defense). The Orange are +600 to earn the national title.

3. Missouri Tigers (27-4 SU, 15-9-2 ATS) The Tigers have slowly but surely risen up the national rankings. They broke inside the Top 5 in Week 12 and have not let up since. The Tigers’ offense is one of the most potent in the nation and they’re ranked #8 nationally in scoring with 79.7 points per outing. Four players average a dozen points or more led by senior guards Marcus Denmon (18.0 PPG) and Kim English (14.1 PPG). The Tigers are pegged at +1000 to win this year.

TOP 3 SPREAD-BUSTERS

1. South Dakota Jackrabbits (18-6-1 ATS, 26-7 SU) A mid-major team (Summit League Conference) making a bit of noise because of their scoring (78.6 PPG, 13th in the nation).

2. North Texas Mean Green Eagles (17-6-2 ATS, 18-13 SU) A mid-major team (Sun Belt Conference) who’s making a mark against the spread while sometimes mediocre in play. In 2012, they are 11-1-1 ATS too.

3. Tennessee Volunteers (19-9-1 ATS, 18-13 SU) Banked on a good start (5-0 ATS to begin the year) and an equally good ending (4-0 ATS to end) the Volunteers have been one of the better teams this year in covering the spread in the regular season.

TOP 3 REASONS TO JOIN TOPBET NOW

1. U.S. Players Welcome – TopBet accepts players internationally including those residing in the States.

2. March Madness 50% & 10% Bonuses During March Madness – TopBet is offering a 50% deposit bonus on initial deposits and a 10% deposit bonus on reloads.

3. $50 March Madness Free Bet - Adding more value to your tournament betting, TopBet is also offering a $50 March Madness Free Bet for the futures odds once the Sweet Sixteen teams are decided.

Start your March Madness betting at TopBet now

Here at 10StarPicks.com, we highly recommend that all of our customers have multiple sportsbook accounts (or multiple outs). Different sportsbooks have different lines on games, sometimes with a spread as high as a point or two. That’s why it’s important to have open accounts at multiple sportsbooks. If you are playing an underdog in football, would you rather have the dog at +3 or +3.5? Definitely +3.5. Conversely, would you rather play a favorite at -2.5 or -3? Obviously, -2.5. With multiple sportsbook accounts, you may be able to get a free half or full point. This could add up to thousands of dollars over the course of a season. With that in mind, we have three sportsbooks that we highly recommend and they are listed below along with some quick hit information.

TopBet Sportsbook – Click Here to sign up for TopBet

• 50% Instant Signup Bonus
• 10% Reload Bonus
• Hassle Free Payments
• Competitive Betting Odds
• Exclusive Parlay Challenges 

BetOnline Sportsbook – Click Here to sign up for BetOnline

• Lifetime Bonus Guarantee
• Up to $900 in Free Plays on Every Deposit
• Hassle Free Payments
• 100% Casino Bonus
• Competitive Betting Odds

BoDog Sportsbook – Click Here to sign up for BoDog

• 10% Sign-up Bonus
• 100% Casino Match Bonus
• $1,100 Poker Sign-up Bonus
• $100 Referral Bonuses
• Competitive Betting Odds

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/10StarPicks.

Game on! Join in on all the betting action with the new TopBet Sportsbook where betting on your favorite games is fun and easy. The TopBet Sportsbook welcomes all players with a no-frills and no-gimmicks approach to online sports betting. From their exclusive TopBet Parlay Challenges to quick and hassle free payouts, the TopBet Sportsbook is a must have betting account in any bettor’s repertoire. 

Right now all new TopBet signups will get an instant 50% Signup Bonus with a minimum $20 deposit. The maximum signup bonus amount is $250 and can be used in in either the TopBet Sportsbook or Casino.  If that wasn’t enough, every deposit thereafter entitles you to a 10% Reload Bonus.  See website for more details. 

TopBet Sportsbook Pros

• 50% Instant Signup Bonus
• 10% Reload Bonus
• Hassle Free Payments
• Competitive Betting Odds
• Exclusive Parlay Challenges 

The TopBet Sportsbook enters the game with 20+ years of management experience and proven proprietary online betting software second to none. TopBet is physically located in Manila, Philippines and is fully licensed in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. TopBet has laid their foundation with a commitment to providing their players a safe and exciting betting experience which has TopBet winning the loyalty of sports bettors from all over. 

Getting started with the TopBet Sportsbook is as easy as pie. Just enter a few details about yourself, fund your account (all major credit cards accepted), and your new TopBet account will instantly be credited with a 50% bonus. 

The TopBet Sportsbook offers a wide selection of wagering options and competitive betting odds for bettors to choose from. From exclusive Parlay Challenges that allow you to include Over/Under selections in your parlays, to a huge variety of prop bets there is not much left that you cannot bet on at TopBet.  To start betting all you need is a minimum of $5 and the convenient TopBet betting slip makes keeping your bet selections organized. Players also have the option to have bet receipts e-mailed to them along with winning notification e-mails. 

If you have any questions on how to get started you can always contact TopBet Customer Service via telephone and/or e-mail 24/7/365. If you don’t like stopping for directions we are sure you will find what you are looking for directly on the website which is very user friendly and offers quick tabs to get you going where you need to be in a hurry. 

Getting money into your betting account before game time has never been easier with a wide variety of hassle free payment options to choose from.  TopBet does not charge any fees on deposits and all players get 1 free payout per month. Subsequent withdrawals may be subject to a fee depending on selected payout method. Now TopBet players can also fund their accounts with Visa, MasterCard, and eWallet. Getting paid is even simpler with the popular option of having your winnings credited straight into your bank account! 

We’ve all done more than our fair share of waiting so without any further delay get in the game with the TopBet Sportsbook today. Game on! Click Here to join.

In keeping our promise to update you on interesting bonuses, contests and developments in the offshore sportsbook world, BetUS is offering quite a compelling opportunity for those betting hoops.   The $25,000 Court King Contest is a no-brainer for those already betting hoops, as you are entered to win up to $25,000 with virtually zero risk. Just bet any regular season NBA or NCAAB games between today and April 14, 2011.  To begin your rise to the throne, all you have to do is register and place a minimum $10 real-money wager to lay claim to the BetUS Crown and your chance at $25,000.  If you win 15 bets in a row, you get a $1,000 Free Play. If you win 20 bets in a row, you get a $5,000 Free Play. If you’re the first player of the season to win 25 bets in a row, not only will you be crowned the BetUS Court King, but you will receive $25,000 cash. Follow this link to Register Now.

As a part of our ongoing mission to locate the safest and most reputable Sportsbooks, Online Poker Rooms and Internet Casinos for our players, we’d be remiss to not mention the Bodog Casino is right up there at the top of the list.  Under a recent round of intense scrutiny by the 10StarPicks.com Sportsbook Advisors, it became clear as day which casino platform is among the best in our eyes.  The Bodog Casino is one of the most popular and long-running online casinos in the world and quite frankly has far too many benefits to report on these pages.  So for sake of space, we will boil them down to three main factors and then let you judge yourself.

You’ll never be bored – they have 100+ games, from Blackjack to brand new slot machines with huge progressive jackpots. And if you don’t want to download anything you can still play – either in your browser, or on your cell phone or other mobile device. You can play for free, learn new games in their casino school and you can even bet on sports and horses and play poker on your casino account.

Help is always available – their customer service aims to answer calls on the 1st ring and emails in 15 minutes. And these aren’t just operators, they’re casino hosts who know about the games and the software and can take care of any issues right away. They’ll even remember who you are, just like a host in a Las Vegas casino.

Your money is safe – they have a perfect security & payout record since they started up in 1994. So many other casino sites just haven’t been around long enough to build that same level of trust. They use all the latest technology to make sure your money and all your personal information is totally safe. And they get their software independently certified by two organizations: Technical Systems Testing and Gaming Associates.

Playing in an online casino is all about having fun and hopefully winning some money. Bodog really seems to get this, as they make sure you don’t have to think about anything except playing the games. Of course, The Bodog Group of companies offers a host of entertainment services, including online gaming, which includes Poker, Casino and a suite of other world-class gaming products.  There are no two ways about it, it is definitely time to take another look at the Bodog Casino.

Click here to learn more and/or for easy sign up instructions.

It has long been one of 10StarPicks.com’s missions to scout out and find our clients the safest, most stable, most reliable and most player friendly sportsbooks on the net.  Having several sportsbook accounts is imperative for any sports bettor, but sometimes finding several good ones is not quite so easy.  With more than 15 years of industry experience, we know all too well what makes up a good sportsbook, which ones to stay away from and clue you in on the best way to cash in on the various promos many of the these books are running.  In our ongoing series, let’s take a look at SportsBetting.com, which certainly fits the bill as a premier option.

This book has been in business for better than 12 years now and is as stable as they come.  With a name like SportsBetting.com, you can pretty much guarantee they are one of the biggest and most prominent sportsbooks you can find.  They offer 10% Free Cash on all first time deposits, and other incentives like 5% Reload Bonuses each Thursday, 10% Free Cash on all wire transfer deposits and 10% Refer-a-Friend bonuses.  Of course, these sorts of offerings are all pretty standard among sportsbooks these days and not too big of deal.

What really draws us to this sportsbook, aside from its financial stability and reputation, is the array of contests, promos and other player friendly rules they have running at pretty much all times.  For instance. they offer all Football and Basketball lines at -105 each and every Friday.  If you play a high volume of Saturday NCAA Football and/or NCAA Basketball games like many of us do, this can save you some serious money.  It’s real simple, get your picks in on Friday and lay only -105 on all those wagers.  This also means improved parlay odds, which is not to mention they offer up -105 on all first and second half bets on TNT televised NBA games.  Again, it is hard to argue with reduced juice.  On those occasional losing wagers we all have to endure at times, we’ll gladly take a 5% rebate on those losses, which is more or less what reduced juice equates to.

SportsBetting.com also has an array of free contests, inlcuding a $1,500 Weekly Pick-n-Win, which in essence gives you a chance to win $1,500 every weekend of the year.  Having the opportunity to take home $1,500 each weekend without any sort of risk is pretty hard to pass up.  Again, every weekend brings a brand new contest and your chance to win $1,500, or even more.  In our eyes
it is almost a no-brainer to set up an account for that reason alone.

Click here to join up with this terrifically solid and player friendly sportsbook.

Several sportsbooks have released mobile applications, which allows gambling enthusiasts to place bets when away from the computer directly from a cell phone or PDA.   Our guess is more than a few wives out there are shuddering at the thought that their hubbies can now bet at any time and from anywhere.

One of the better apps we have tested comes from Sportsbook.com.   Not only is the interface smooth and easy to use, but they are offering a free $20 bet to players just to try it out.

Here is how it works: :

• Register for free at Sportsbook.com.
• Login or download Sportsbook.com to your mobile phone or device.
• Place your first $20.00 mobile wager on any NFL or NCAA Football Half-Time Line (second half).  If it loses, they will automatically refund up to $20.00 to your account.

Again, the beauty of this is not the free bet, but that you can bet anywhere and at anytime.

Who hasn’t missed a bet by being stuck in traffic, away on holiday or trapped at your in-laws?  Now you can just whip out your mobile phone or device, place your bet and you’re good to go.

Sportsbook.com Mobile offers up several other on-the-go features including:

• Easy login and mobile wagering
• In-Running, Props, Parlays and More
• Live Betting, Live Scores, Results, and Line Changes
• The latest news and your complete betting history
• Support for over 1500 mobile devices powered by 600 carriers worldwide

Sportsbook.com remains right near the top of our most trusted sportsbooks list, which of course is mandatory for us to even be recommending this Mobile App.

Bottom line is that we tried it and now use it regularly.   Visit Mobile Sportsbook.com to try it out and don’t forget to claim your free bet.

There are so many sportsbooks in the online realm nowadays it’s hard to find one that’s truly trustworthy when it comes to payouts, customer service, and even honoring your bets.

So how do you decide?

Players need to focus on the same attributes any sharp sports bettor would use before placing a wager: positive statistics, history, and reputation.

The Bodog Sportsbook has got all three.

Bodog has been in the sports betting business for 15 years, delivering a professional betting experience for every sport from football to cricket. It’s dished out over $50 billion in winnings to all of its players and has the rep of never, ever, missing a payout.

Long known as one of the best online sportsbooks, Bodog Sportsbook does it all:

It’s easy to bet on every game: They have every major sport & league covered, their software is a cinch to learn and they have some nice extras, like live betting and tons of fantasy leagues. This is a big part of why they’re always ranked so highly at sportsbook review sites.

Useful help is always available: If you ever have to call customer service, they’ll handle your problem quickly and without any hassles.

Your money and your information are safe: They have a perfect security, privacy & payout record since they started up in 1994.

Bodog Sportsbook has its head office, and is licensed in, the Caribbean nation of Antigua. The Bodog group of companies offer a host of entertainment services, including online gambling, which includes Poker, Casino and a suite of other world-class products. Bodog Sportsbook is operated in North America under License by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.

To learn more about BoDog, click here.

One of our trusted sportsbooks, SportsInteraction.com, is offering a fairly interesting
incentive for the bowl season.  Place a bet with them anytime during the bowl season and they will give you up to $100 on your first deposit, plus a guaranteed bet up to $25 on your first bet placed on any Bowl Game.

So as we understand it, you open an account, place an initial deposit of $20 or more and then get a 10% bonus up to $100.  Pretty standard.  But then place a bet on the point spread of any College Bowl Game and if the bet doesn’t win, they will refund your bet amount.

At very least, it is a deal we felt was worth mentioning.  You can take advantage of this offer by clicking here which will walk you through the process.

For those not familiar with SportsInteraction.com, they were the first online sportsbook
to be licensed and regulated in North America.  They are actually located in Montreal, Canada and have been in business for better than 12 years.  Adding to their credibility, Sports Interaction has partnered in the past with Yahoo, ESPN.com, and Fox Sports.com by providing live odds feed and expert analysis.

SportsInteraction.com has been on our trusted sportsbook list for several years now and we’ve had no negative customer feedback on them.   Again, you can take advantage of this offer by clicking here which will walk you through the process.

BetUS $5000 College Bowl Contest Kicks Off This Weekend

We wanted to let our readers know that the BetUS.com $5000 college bowl game
contest kicks off this weekend. This contest will give you the opportunity to
match wits against other BetUS.com players and compete to win a $5000 cash grand
prize. We’ve always known 10StarPicks.com customers are among the sharpest
players around and it would not surprise to see one of you bring home the bacon
here.

To learn more and enter to win, go to BetUS Bowl Contest.

Sportsbook Advisor Alerts is a service of www.10starpicks.com.