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NFC East Preview: Philadelphia Eagles Attempt Rare Division Repeat

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the regular season as the betting favorite to win the NFC East in consecutive years at -135 odds, which is much harder to achieve than you think. There has not been a repeat division winner in a hyper-competitive NFC East since 2004.

Jalen Hurts Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores a touchdown against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 14 last season. (Image: AP)

The NFC East crown is a hot potato. It’s been nearly 20 years since a team won consecutive division titles when the Eagles won three-straight NFC East titles between 2002 and 2004.

Three different teams won the NFC East over the last three seasons, so could the New York Giants prevail and complete a perfect cycle? The Giants have not won the NFC East since 2011. In that 11-year span, their rivals won multiple division titles. The Eagles and Dallas Cowboys won four times each and the Washington Commanders shipped the division crown three times.

The NFC East did not have a losing team in 2022, and the last-place Commanders finished the season with an 8-8-1 record.

Three teams from the NFC East qualified for the playoffs. The Giants and Cowboys were NFC Wild Card teams. The Eagles secured the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a 14-3 record.

The Giants and Cowboys won their first-round games during Wild Card Weekend, but both teams lost in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Eagles defeated a banged-up 49ers to win the NFC Championship, but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Philadelphia Eagles:  Another Shot at the Super Bowl

  • NFC East Odds: -135
  • Super Bowl Odds: +650
  • 2022 Record: 14-3
  • 2023 Win Total: 11.5 o/u

Winning teams can become the victims of their own success, and their coaching staff will get raided by other teams in the offseason. This is an ongoing problem for head coaches like Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay who are unable to retain their coordinators before another team offers them a head coaching job.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni lost two trusted assistants this offseason after a trip to the Super Bowl. Ex-Eagles offensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and ex-defensive coordinator Shane Steichen is the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

While the Eagles adjust to new coordinators, they hit the road for four out of their first six games. After a bye in Week 10, the Eagles have non-divisional road games against the Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks. They also host the Buffalo Bills and 49ers.

The Eagles had the best record in the NFL last season at 14-3, but they have a projected win total of 11.5 o/u this season.

The Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and also boast a top-notch defense. They have dangerous deep-threat duo with quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver AJ Brown.

The Eagles are +250 odds to win the NFC Championship in consecutive years, and they’ll open the season as the consensus favorite. The Chiefs are the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons at +600 odds, but Eagles are right behind them at +650.

Dallas Cowboys: Texas Coast Offense

  • NFC East Odds: +195
  • Super Bowl Odds: +1400
  • 2022 Record: 12-5
  • 2023 Win Total: 10.5 o/u

The Cowboys fired offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, which was a bit surprising consider the Cowboys averaged 27.7 points per game in the last four seasons under Moore. The high-octane Chiefs were the only team to boast a higher scoring average (28.8 ppg) since 2019.

Owner Jerry Jones tossed Moore under the bus after a devastating 19-12 loss in the NFC Divisional Round against the 49ers. Moore wasn’t unemployed for long before the Los Angeles Chargers hired him to run their offense.

The Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new offensive coordinator, but head coach Mike McCarthy will take over play-calling duties. McCarthy hasn’t called plays since the 2018 season with the Green Bay Packers.

Quarterback Dak Prescott joked that he’s running the “Texas Coast Offense,” which is a word play on McCarthy’s affinity for the popular West Coast offense. Schottenheimer admitted that 70% of their playbook and verbiage is what Moore used in the last four seasons.

Running back Ezekiel Elliot is no longer with the Cowboys, and Tony Pollard becomes the focal point of their rushing attack. Wide receivers battled injuries the last few seasons, but the Cowboys have a reliable trio with CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup.

The Cowboys will play challenging non-division road games against the 49ers, Chargers, Bills, and Dolphins.

New York Giants: Best Betting Team in 2022

  • NFC East Odds: +900
  • Super Bowl Odds: +6500
  • 2022 Record:  9-7-1
  • 2023 Win Total: 7.5 o/u

Even though the Giants won nine games last year, they have a win total of 7.5 o/u due to their difficult schedule. They could start the season 1-5 with four road games in a five-week span.

In Brian Daboll’s first season as a head coach, the Giants had the best betting record in the NFL last season with a 13-4 record against the spread. They were also 10-2 ATS as underdogs.

Heading into the 2023 season, the Giants are listed as an underdog in eight out of their first 12 games.

The Giants face challenging non-divisional road opponents including the NFC West favorite 49ers, Dolphins, Bills, and New Orleans Saints. They also host tough home games against the Seahawks, Jets, and Patriots.

In a weird scheduling quirk, two of the final three games of the season are against the Eagles.

The Giants are +160 odds to make the playoffs, according to a prop bet by DraftKings. They’re a betting favorite to miss the postseason at -190 odds.

Quarterback Daniel Jones earned a lucrative pay raise with a four-year contract extension worth $160 million, which troubled many fans who weren’t 100% convinced that his performance in 2022 wasn’t a fluke.

Running back Saquon Barkley was not thrilled when he was unable to negotiate a contract extension with the Giants this offseason. They slapped a franchise tag on him, and Barkley avoided a potential holdout when he signed their tender offer of $10.09 million prior to the start of training camp.

Washington Commanders: ‘Riverboat’ Ron in the Hot Seat

  • NFC East Odds: +1300
  • Super Bowl Odds: +6500
  • 2022 Record: 8-8-1
  • 2023 Win Total: 6.5 o/u

The Commanders hired Eric Bieniemy as their new offensive coordinator. Bieniemy was considered the top offensive coordinator in the NFL after he won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs. He could’ve secured head coaching positions, but the Commanders persuaded him to join them as their OC.

Bieniemy is tasked with revamping their offense. The Commanders named Sam Howell their starting quarterback, but will utilize a running back by committee with Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson.

The Commanders finished in fourth place in the division and missed the playoffs with an 8-8-1 record in 2022. They’re a long shot to make the playoffs at +300 odds, and -370 odds to miss the postseason for a third year in a row.

Head coach “Riverboat” Ron Rivera enters this season with the assumption that he will lose his job if he cannot produce a winning record. He’s 22-27-1 in three seasons as a head coach with the Commanders. He secured a playoff berth in 2020 after the Commanders luckboxed their way into a division title with a 7-9 record.

The division was so bad in 2020 that fans shared memes that included a dumpster fire and trash cans with NFC East logos. Then again, NFC pulled themselves out of the gutter in two years, and sent three teams to the playoffs in 2022.

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AFC North Preview: Cincinnati Bengals Seek Smashmouth Three-Peat

The Cincinnati Bengals are the betting favorite at +140 odds to win a third consecutive AFC North division title.

Joe Burrow Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks downfield during an AFC Divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. (Image: AP)

The Baltimore Ravens are +235 odds to win the NFC North and prevent a three-peat from the Bengals. The Cleveland Browns (+400) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+500) are not far behind in a tight division race.

The NFC North lives up to its “smashmouth football” moniker and it’s widely considered the most physical division in the NFL

The Steelers last claimed the NFC North title in 2020. The Ravens last won the division in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019.

The Browns have never won a division title since the inception of the NFC North when the NFL restructured divisions in 2002. The last time the Browns won a division crown occurred in 1989 in the defunct AFC Central.

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow and the Cool Cats Eye Three in a Row

  • AFC North Odds: +140
  • Super Bowl Odds: +1100
  • 2022 Record: 12-4
  • 2023 Win Total: 10.5 o/u

The Bengals had a huge scare in training camp when quarterback Joe Burrow was carted off the field with a non-contact leg injury. Burrow only suffered a strain calf, and he’s expected to start in Week 1.

The Bengals upgraded their offensive line this season and added tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to protect Joe Burrow’s blind side.

Burrow has the benefit of throwing passes to one of the best wide receiver trios in the NFL with Ja’Marr Chase (9 TDs, 87 receptions), Tee Higgins (7 TDs, 74 receptions), and Tyler Boyd (5 TDs, 58 receptions). Chase and Higgins both logged 1,000-yard seasons in 2022.

The Bengals hit the road to play two 2022 division winners with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 and Kansas City Chiefs on New Year’s Eve. They host tough non-divisional home games against last year’s playoff squads including the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals are +550 odds to win the AFC Championship for a second time in the last three seasons. Patrick Mahomes shrugged off an ankle injury and led the Chiefs to a 23-20 victory over the Bengals in the AFC Championship.

The Bengals are +1100 odds to win Super Bowl LVII as the fifth highest team on DraftKings’ futures board.

Baltimore Ravens: L-Jax Gets the Bag, Revamped Offense

  • AFC North Odds: +235
  • Super Bowl Odds: +1800
  • 2022 Record: 10-7
  • 2023 Win Total: 10.5 o/u

After a tense offseason that included a trade request, the Ravens inked quarterback Lamar Jackson to a contract extension worth $260 million over five years. Jackson earned a ridiculous pay raise because the Ravens have a 45-16 record since he took over as the starting quarterback midway through his rookie season.

With the Jackson drama solved, the Ravens can focus on wrestling away the division crown from the Bengals.

The Ravens hired Todd Monken as their new offensive coordinator. Monken was a part of two college football national championship teams with the Georgia Bulldogs. He gets a chance to devise a playbook for the dual-threat Jackson.

The Ravens upgraded their offense with veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Nelson Agholor. They also drafted Zay Flowers out of Boston College, who is one of the top incoming rookie wide receivers.

The Ravens have three difficult road games late in the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers on Christmas. There’s a couple of non-divisional home games of note including the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Seahawks.

The Ravens are +1100 odds to win the AFC Championship as the fourth highest team on the board. They offer the most value in their division to win the NFC North at +235 odds.

Cleveland Browns: Watson’s First Full Season

  • AFC North Odds: +400
  • Super Bowl Odds: +3500
  • 2022 Record: 7-10
  • 2023 Win Total: 9.5 o/u

Deshaun Watson missed the first 11 games last season while serving a suspension for sexually assaulting multiple massage therapists during his time in Houston. When his suspension ended in December, Watson struggled in the final six games of the season. He completed a career-low 58.2% of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

Watson gets a chance to play his first full season with the Browns. He has a couple of talented wideouts including Elijah Moore and Amari Cooper.

If Watson returns to old form, the Browns have a shot at a winning season and a postseason berth. He passed for over 4,000 yards twice in his career, and tossed a career-high 33 touchdowns in 2020.

The Browns defense is anchored by Myles Garrett, but they made serious upgrades with star pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, and safety Juan Thornhill. They also hired defensive guru Jim Schwartz to handle defensive coordinator duties.

Three teams in the NFC North have win totals that indicate potential winning seasons, including the Browns at 9.5 o/u.

The Browns host three potential playoff squads with non-divisional home games against the 49ers, Jaguars, and Jets.

The Browns are +115 odds to make the playoffs, and -135 odds to miss the playoffs according to a prop bet by DraftKings.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tomlin Faces First Losing Season?

  • AFC North Odds: +500
  • Super Bowl Odds: +5000
  • 2022 Record: 9-8
  • 2023 Win Total: 8.5 o/u

Head coach Mike Tomlin always finds a way to avoid a losing season, even in the NFL’s “smashmouth” division. The Steelers have not had a losing season in 20 years. In 16 seasons as head coach, Tomlin has a 163-93-2 record with three break-even seasons at 8-8. Tomlin led the Steelers to ten postseason berths and a Super Bowl victory with the 2008 squad.

However, the Steelers made the playoffs only three times in the last six seasons. They have not won a playoff game since 2016.

This will be the third season with Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator, and Kenny Pickett enters his second season at quarterback. Despite Pickett’s erratic rookie season, he led the Steelers to a winning record at 9-8 but they bubbled the playoffs.

The Steelers have a win total of 8.5 o/u, and they’re projected to finish in last place in the division. They will be tested with three road games in the final four weeks of the season, and a clash against the Bengals at home in Week 16.

Oddsmakers think this could be the year that the Steelers finally falter, but Tomlin somehow finds a way to win. The Steelers are +125 odds to make the playoffs, and -150 odds to miss the postseason.

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Softswiss Game Aggregator Generated €10bn in Total Bets in July

An important part of the renowned Softswiss ecosystem, a game content hub called the Softswiss Game Aggregator, is becoming more and more strong and slowly taking the position of the ultimate market leader.

Huge increase in revenue

All the aggregator’s projects were successful in July, and the revenue is here to show it: last month, the company earned more than €10 billion in total bets, which was a significant milestone for the company.

This is a huge accomplishment for Softswiss – not only does it show the impact it has on the gaming industry all around the world, but it also points out the strength of the company, which has more than 770 partners in its vast network in all corners of the world. The aggregator isn’t so old – it started its journey in October 2015, and since then, it has established itself as the premier platform in the global gaming market. Its partner network was a great help on that journey.

Innovative tools and ever-growing product portfolio

Kantar Ukraine recently conducted research on behalf of the company among the operators, and the survey resulted in great news for the brand: most of the operators were very satisfied with the collaboration and products so far.

According to the survey results, the satisfaction rating was high – even 8.3 points out of 10 possible. Even more significant is the fact that more than half of the operators, even 51%, rated Softswiss Game Aggregator with 10. Compared to the previous year, that number improved by 14%.

Andrey Starovoitov, co-CEO at Softswiss, said: “The Softswiss Game Aggregator’s achievement of exceeding €10bn in total bets in July serves as an awe-inspiring testament to our team’s dedication and vision. This remarkable milestone reaffirms our unwavering commitment to progress and our ability to deliver a valuable product to esteemed partners. The Softswis’s steadfast commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit of innovation continue to drive our mission, advancing the iGaming industry through our cutting-edge solutions.”

Among the innovations Softswiss has introduced in the recent period is advanced local server infrastructure in LatAm. The product will help in optimizing the connection stability and ensure rapid data transfer.

Additionally, the company updated its famous Tournament Tool with the “Only Real Money” setting as its main addition. The tool is a great help to operators, enabling them to calculate the tournament results more accurately by including only real-money bets and wins, which will ensure that the players generate more profit for the companies.

Source: Piggot, Rachel. “Softswiss Game Aggregator hits €10bn in monthly total bets”, iGaming Business. August 23, 2023.

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Betsson Group Presents Newest Global Marketing Concept; Excitement Of Betting More Valuable Than Big Wins

betsson_launches_new_gloal_marketing_conceptBetsson Group, in addition to commemorating 60 years in 2023, is now debuting its latest international marketing concept named “A bet makes the difference.” Additionally, this concept is all about strengthening the previous message that wagering is more about increasing enthusiasm rather than huge wins. However, the latest commercials, first and foremost produced in-house, are Betsson’s most aspiring production to date and will originally appear in more than 10 countries in Latin American and Europe.

Establishment of an internal global creative center

Betsson, the flagship brand of the Betsson Group, has not so long ago experienced a notable growth, especially in Latin America, where it also not so long ago officially became the “main sponsor” of the iconic Argentine football club, Boca Juniors. In this regard, speaking about the mentioned marketing concept, CEO of Betsson Group, Jesper Svensson, commented: “As we expand our presence across various markets, we have established an in-house international creative hub. I am really excited to unveil our most ambitious commercial yet, solidifying Betsson as the most exciting brand in the industry.”

Moreover, the essence of this concept emphasizes that “the inherent excitement of betting is more important than fixating solely on winnings.” On that note, Global Brand Director of Betsson, Kay Höök, said: “While we can’t control the excitement of a match or guarantee wins, we can assure our customers that placing a bet, small or big, will amplify the excitement. While many other betting companies focus on big, quick wins, our emphasis lies in cherishing the excitement itself and the heightened entertainment that a bet provides.”

Commercials description

To highlight the mentioned message, the commercials show how an apparently ordinary and silly match turns into an outstanding and highly exciting experience when one person in the audience decides to place a bet. The plot of the commercials, directed by award-winning director Rodrigo Saavedra (Immigrant), take place in a “dramatically charged setting,” while production of the film is almost identical to the renowned international lifestyle brand. However, even if it is a casino, the commercials tend to emphasize the enthusiasm of betting as a form of entertainment, rather than “the more typical focus on winning moments.”

On that note, Höök further adds: “Our goal is to enhance the entertainment value and intensify the excitement for our customers. While potential winnings remain a possibility, we don’t want the prospect of winning to define our communication. Our message is that when you gamble responsibly, you will enjoy the excitement even if you don’t win.”

Additionally, for the group, this unique international marketing concept represents an important step towards modifying the industry scene and reformulating the core of entertainment via responsible engagement.

Source: “Betsson Launches New Global Marketing Concept”. European Gaming. August 21, 2023

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Harvey’s Casino Bombing Revisited in ‘Bringing Down the House’ Documentary

A new documentary is examining a decades-old bombing plot. On Aug. 27, 1980, two men disguised as photocopier installers delivered a booby-trapped bomb to Harvey’s Resort Hotel Stateline, Nev., on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

Harvey’s Casino bombing, Bringing Down the House, Stateline, Lake Tahoe
Blast from the past: The image above is taken by an FBI employee, just as the bomb, packed with 1,000 pounds of TNT, ripped through Harvey’s Casino Resort in August 1980. (Image: US Department of Justice)

The plotters told the FBI that the bomb couldn’t be diffused, even by its maker. But the combination of switches required to release it so that it could be detonated remotely in a secure location, would be provided in return for a $3 million ransom. Ultimately, the extortion plot failed, but the bomb exploded, destroying most of the casino.

“Bringing Down the House: The Bombing of Harvey’s Casino” airs Wednesday night on KCRA 3 Sacramento and is available to watch nationwide via the Go Local streaming platform.

The feature-length documentary, a collaboration between KCRA and Go Live, revisits the extraordinary events surrounding the plot and hears testimonies from those involved.

Sophisticated Bomb

The Harvey’s bomb was no ordinary bomb. Delivered to the casino’s second floor executive offices at around 5:30 a.m., it was packed with 1,000 pounds of TNT.

It had three separate timers, each set for different explosion times. It was filled with circuitry and 28 switches, some of which would make the bomb go off and some of which were fakes. There was a toilet float inside, which meant attempting to flood the bomb would cause the float to rise and detonate it. An atmospheric pressure switch would set it off, too. Any attempt to tilt it or drill into it would also result in a devastating explosion.

The FBI has described it as possibly the most sophisticated improvised explosive device ever made anywhere in the world, and it is studied to this day in FBI training school.

The Mastermind

Curiously, though, the plot’s mastermind had little experience building bombs. John Birges Sr. was a Hungarian immigrant to Clovis, Calif., who had flown for the Luftwaffe during WW2. He was captured by the Russians and spent eight years in a Soviet gulag.

After he arrived in the US, he built a successful landscaping business and became wealthy. But he had a gambling problem. Birges claimed he lost $750K at Harvey’s – more than $2 million in today’s money – and he wanted revenge.

Plot Unravels, Bomb Goes Off

The FBI attempted to deliver the ransom but later claimed they went to the wrong place because of vague directions. Birges was waiting for it at a different location.

Meanwhile, bomb technicians determined the best way of diffusing the device would be to separate the detonators from the dynamite using a shaped charge of C-4 explosive. They didn’t realize dynamite had also been placed in the box containing the detonation circuit.

Birges’ claim in his ransom note that the bomb could not be disarmed proved to be accurate.

No one was killed or injured in the blast, and Harvey’s, now Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, a Caesars property, was rebuilt.

Birges was arrested in 1981 following a tipoff to the FBI from the ex-girlfriend of one of his sons. Birges’ two sons testified against their father at trial, admitting they were in on the plot, but argued they were bullied into it by their overbearing father. Neither served prison time.

Birges was sentenced to life and died in prison in 1996 at the age of 74.

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