There will be the second-to-last weekend before football takes over from mid-August through the Super Bowl. There’s no World Cup or major tennis or golf tournaments, but there are always sports to bet on. 

1)Baseball. This weekend is bigger than just a normal first weekend of August. That’s because the trade deadline is Monday, August 3 at 6pmET. That means that there could be a major deal or two (most likely) take place this weekend that could impact games. You also might have several teams on the bubble in terms of being buyers or sellers. 

In terms of big series, we have the Yankees (61-48) at Wrigley Field to take on the Cubs (62-47), beginning Friday afternoon. The surprising White Sox (57-51) will travel to St. Pete to face another surprising team in Tampa Bay (64-44). Finally, Boston (56-51) travels to Los Angeles (68-40) to take on the LA Dodgers. Will ace Tarik Skubal get traded over the weekend? 

Right now, according to DraftKings, the Dodgers are a +190 favorite to capture their 2nd straight World Series, while the Yankees (+550) are second-favorite, followed by Milwaukee (+900).

2)UFC Fight Night emanates from Serbia on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 1pmET. It features Uros Medic (-395) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (+310). Medic is the hometown hero, while Rodriguez is looking to re-establish himself after an extended layoff. 

Another potential great matchup is Jan Blachowicz (+250) vs. Navajo Stirling (-310). 

3)Not sure there has been a tennis tournament on hard courts with more name changes than the Mubadala Citi DC Open. This has always been one of the tune-up tournaments for the U.S. Open. One of the top players left is American Taylor Fritz, who is a -236 favorite against Alex Michelson (+189). Top seed Alex de Minaur or No. 2 Ben Shelton are also still around. On the women’s side, No. 3 Naomi Osaka (-640) faces Elisabetta Cocciaretto (+445) on Friday, while No. 1 Jessica Pegula (-292) faces Anna Kalinskaya.

Honorable mention: 

Golf with the Women’s British Open being led by Jeeno Thitikul (-7) after the first round. The PGA is in Detroit, where Peter Malnati shot a 9-under 61 to tie a tournament record and leads the Rocket Classic after the first round.

There’s also Summer Slam for WWE fans if you like to bet on predetermined events, and the Premier Lacrosse League offers two games on Friday, two on Saturday, and two on Sunday with spreads, totals, and money lines.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks, going 16-5! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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We’re a week away from the start of the NFL preseason with Arizona taking on Carolina in the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio on Thursday night. Betting preseason can be profitable with the right information, but remember that like any other sport, football is a marathon, not a sprint.

In other words, bet wisely and when you start with a bankroll, with 0ver 20 weeks of regular season college and the NFL coming up, you should be conservative.

The goal is to maximize your bankroll (1-2%), before the NFL and college regular season begins. Here are some more tips.

A)Avoid chasing losses by inreasing bet size after a bad day. 

B)Be disciplined. If you have a bankroll of $500, bet 1% ($5) and 2% ($10) for strong plays. If you have $5,000, bet $50 (1 unit or 1%) and bet $100 (2 units or 2%). 

C)Start preseason with a plan. Let’s say you have $1,000. Make your standard bet $10 (1 units) and a strong play $20 (2 units). 

D)Skip days when you have no edge. It’s not worth to just guess if you have no confidence in your pick. Don’t just pick a game to be in action, because it’s preseason. 

E)Getting back to the conservatism of betting, you have to 20+ weeks to go crazy on college football and NFL regular season. Focus only on games where you have clear reason to believe the line is off and remember the line, that “few is more” is a good motto in preseason.

E)Another way to protect and increase your bankroll is to shop for the best line. Getting an extra half point or a better price can significantly improve long terms results. 

F)If you are not confident in your preseason picks (there are other options like ATS), you can bet early season future in college and the NFL including the Super Bowl, Heisman Trophy, CFP, Division winners and season win totals.

G)Keep detailed records of: 1)The closing line vs. your bet. 2)Sport. 3)Result. 4)Stake. 5)Reason for bet. 

H)Make sure you have a strong bankroll ready for Week 1 of the NFL and college football. 

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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As mentioned in yesterday’s blog, one of the most important factors to betting on the NFL preseason is knowing the quarterback rotation. Let’s take a look at the latest qb rotations in the preseason as of July 29. Remember that most starters will see limited time, if any, in the preseason, which means a lot of 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks will have their time to shine.

*-rookie; bold is starter. If top 2 in bold, it means they are competing for the starting job.

Arizona Cardinals:
Jacoby Brissett
Gardner Minshew
Carson Beck*
Kedon Slovis

Atlanta Falcons:
Michael Penix Jr. (inj.)
Tua Tagovailoa (inj.)
Cooper Rush
Jack Strand*

Baltimore Ravens:
Lamar Jackson
Tyler Huntley
Skylar Thompson
Joe Fagnano*

Buffalo Bills:
Josh Allen
Kyle Allen
Shane Buechele

Carolina Panthers:
Bryce Young
Kenny Pickett
Haynes King*

Chicago Bears:
Caleb Williams
Tyson Bagent
Case Keenum
Miller Moss*

Cincinnati Bengals:
Joe Burrow
Joe Flacco
Josh Johnson
Sean Clifford

Cleveland Browns:
Deshaun Watson
Shedeur Sanders
Dillon Gabriel
Taylen Green*

Dallas Cowboys 
Dack Prescott
Joe Milton III
Sam Howell

Denver Broncos:
Bo Nix
Jarrett Stidham
Sam Ehlinger

Detroit Lions:
Jared Goff
Teddy Bridgewater
Luke Altmyer*

Green Bay Packers:
Jordan Love
Tyrod Taylor
Kyle McCord
Kyron Drones*

Houston Texans:
C.J. Stroud
Davis Mills
Graham Mertz

Indianapolis Colts:
Daniel Jones
Anthony Richardson 
Riley Leonard 
Easton Stick

Jacksonville Jaguars:
Trevor Lawrence
Nick Mullens
Bradley Carter
Joey Aguilar

Kansas City Chiefs:
Patrick Mahomes
Justin Fields
Garrett Nussmeier
Chris Oladokun

Las Vegas Raiders:
Kirk Cousins
Fernando Mendoza*
Aidan O’Connel
Jacob Clark

LA Chargers:
Justin Herbert
Trey Lance
DJ Uiagalelei

LA Rams: 
Matthew Stafford
Ty Simpson*
Stetson Bennett IV
Matthew Caldwell*

Miami Dolpins:
Malik Willis
Quinn Ewers
Cam Miller
Mark Gronowski*

Minnesota Vikings:
Kyler Murray
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer

New England Patriots:
Drake Maye
Tommy DeVito
Behren Morton*

New Orleans Saints:
Tyler Shough
Spencer Rattler
Zach Wilson
Hunter Dekkers

NY Giants:
Jaxson Dart
Jameis Winston
Brandon Allen

NY Jets:
Geno Smith
Cade Klubnik*
Brady Cook
Bailey Zappe

Philadelphia Eagles:
Jalen Hurts
Tanner McKee
Andy Dalton
Cole Payton*

Pittsburgh Steelers:  
Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph
Will Howard
*Drew Allar

San Francisco 49ers:
Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez 
Kurtis Rourke

Seattle Seahawks:
Sam Darnold
Drew Lock
Jalen Milroe

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Baker Mayfield
Jake Browning
Connor Bazelak
Jalon Daniels

Tennessee Titans:
Cam Ward
Mitch Trubisky
Will Levis
Hendon Hooker

Washington Commanders:
Jayden Daniels
Marcus Mariota
Athan Kaliakmanis*
Sam Hartman

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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The NFL preseason arrives on Aug. 6 with the Hall of Fame Game. Some bettors like to sit the preseason out and wait for college on Aug. 27 or the NFL regular season. If you are playing on your own, we don’t advise that you play the preseason with hesitancy. But if you are going to wager on your own, here are some tips on how to bet preseason, especially if you are a novice.

1)Let’s face it. Most starting quarterbacks sit during preseason (three games) except for maybe Patrick Mahomes.  Though that would be a serious risk with him coming off a knee injury. 

Quarterback rotations:

A)How many series will the starting QB play? The backup quarterback is likely the starting qb and usually they end up going two quarters, but things can change with each coach and each situation. 

B)Who plays the second half? Will the fourth string QB play the last quarter? Again, so many different scenarios for each team. Try and check each team’s website because many coaches will give their gameplan a day or two before the game.

C)Experienced quarterbacks usually have success against 2nd and 3rd string guys. Some are just plain bad. It’s important to know all the QBs and the rotation. *We’ll have one available this week on the blog)

2)Once again, read the comments from the head coach before the game. They can be found on the team’s website, on regular sites (ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, etc.), and in local newspapers. If you can’t get into them due to cost, there are countless blogs for each team that might have that information. SB Nation and Fan Sided are just two of the many communities out there with NFL blogs.

3)Look at quarterback competitions. In Minnesota, Kyler Murray is battling with JJ McCarthy for the starting job. It’s unlikely that Murray will play all three games with his injury history, and he doesn’t have a lot to prove, but that’s just one of the few competitions in the NFL for starting jobs. But there will be a lot of backup jobs up for grabs. In that situation, you might have one guy start a half in Game 1 and the other guy start in Game 2. It’s not fair to judge a guy facing the third string of the second half.

4)BETTING the FIRST HALF. Speaking of the first half, if you want to go out of the box instead of just betting the spread or total, try betting the first half spread or first half money line. That’s where you have most of the starters or players competing for starting jobs. The second half of most of these preseason games becomes a coin flip as third- and fourth-string guys who won’t even be on a roster (maybe practice squad), are showing why they are fringe players.

5)Always look at coaching philosophy and records (once again, stay tuned to this blog as we’ll have coaching records next week). Some coaches treat games as a regular season. Others don’t care, and they are just looking to evaluate players. Most of these gameplans are as vanilla as possible as coaches are very paranoid and don’t want to give anything away. 

6)Be very conservative with your bankroll. Bet smaller amounts than you would during the regular season because the preseason games can be volatile. Don’t chase losses, and if you don’t have an informational edge, pass on those games.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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 All the veterans are now expected to report this week, so NFL Training camps are officially in full swing. Let’s take a look at the latest training camp battles and key questions for each team.

Arizona Cardinals: Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Az.  QB Jacoby Brissett just signed a one-year deal after a brief holdout. That should seal the starting job. Now, the bigger question is whether new coach Mike LeFleur can find wide receivers behind Marvin Harrison. First Preseason Game: Aug. 6 vs. Panthers (HOF game). 

Atlanta Falcons: Location: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, Flowery Branch, Ga. The Falcons are looking for a steady starting quarterback, and Michael Penix Jr. has to step up, or he will be replaced by Tua Tagovailoa, who is making just $1.3 million. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Broncos. 

Baltimore Ravens: Location: Under Armour Performance Center, Owings, Mills, Md.  The Ravens will have competition at center to replace Tyler Linderbaum, while the bigger questions will be how new OC Declan Doyle deal with QB Lamar Jackson (they are both 30. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Eagles.

Buffalo Bills: Location: St. John Fisher University, Rochestery, N.Y.  The Bills have a new head coach in Joe Brady, but it’s the defense that will have a different look as Jim Leonhard bring a 3-4 scheme. The addition of OLB Bradley Chubb should help the Bills improve their pass rush. But is he enough? On offense, there will be competition at left gaurd between Austin Corbett and Alec Anderson. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15. vs Panthers.

Carolina Panthers:  Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC. The running back situation is a concern behind Chuba Hubard, who has veteran AJ Dillong and Jonathon Brooks behind him. The defense gets some huge additions this season including DE Jaelan Phillips and will look to improve a defense that ranked 16th overall. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Raiders.

Chicago Bears: Location: Halas Hall, Lake Forest Ill. The biggest concern is at left tackle where Ozzy Trapilo (knee) might not be available at the beginning of the season. Braxton Jones will have to battle Jedrick Willis Jr. and Theo Benedet to earn the starting job in Week 1. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Browns.

Cincinnati Bengals: Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati. The biggest concern is always the defense, despite the big additions including DT Dexter Lawrence. They ranked 27th in points allowed per drive last season. That must improve. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Lions. 

Cleveland Browns:  Location: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Berea, Ohio. Not an easy challenge for new coach Todd Monken. That’s to find the starting quarterback from Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. Watson has played just 19 games since 2022 due to injuries and a susspension. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Bears. 

Dallas Cowboys: Location: Marriot Residence Inn, Oxnard, Calif.  There are potentially seven new starters on defnse as the Cowboys move to a 3-4 scheme. How good can the secondary become with stud rookie S Caleb Downs, S Jalen Thompson and CB Cobie Durant? First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Seahawks.

Denver Broncos: Location: Broncos Park, Englewood, Colo. The biggest question is the health of QB Bo Nix (ankle), who should be close to 100% by the start of the season. He’ll have a new receiver in Jaylen Waddle and a new OC in 31-year-old Davis Webb, to replace Joe Lombardi, who was fired two days after the AFC title game loss. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Falcons.

Detroit Lions: Location: Meijer Performance Center, Allen Park, Mich. The defense has the most concerns, as safety Brian Branch is coming off a late-season Achilles tear and he’s not likely to be ready for the season. Kerby Joseph (knee) was limited to six games last season. It will be crucial that they shore up the secondary in camp. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Bengals.

Green Bay Packers: Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. The big concern is at cornerback. They cut Nate Hobbs and used their top draft pick on second-rounder Brandon Cisse, while signing Benjamin St.-Juste. They will likely fight with Carrington Valentine for the second corner spot. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Steelers/

Houston Texans: Location: Houston Methodist Training Center, Houston. All eyes will be on QB C.J. Stroud, who needs to improve his production, while the Texans gave him a second-round pick in WR Jayden Higgins. He’ll get the opportunity to be the No. 2 receiver to complement Pro Bowler Nico Collins.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Chargers.

Indianapolis Colts: Location: Grand Park, Westfield, Ind. Daniel Jones (Achilles) is expected to be full go at some point during training camp, but Achilles’ injuries must be treated with caution. At defensive end, Arden Key is expected to compete with Jaylahn Tuimoloau for the starting spot. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Patriots.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Location: Miller Electric Center, Jacksonville, Fla. So where will second-year CB/WR Travis Hunter play more? Corner or wide receiver? At running back, Chris Rodriguez Jr. comes in as a veteran to compete with speedy Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. to replace Travis Etienne, who moved on in free agency. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Saints. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Location: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo. Patrick Mahomes is coming off a serious knee injury, and he’s now in his thirties. He’ll need protection, and the right tackle spot is the key camp battle with Jaylon Moore competing with Kahil Benson, an undrafted player from Indiana, and Esa Pole. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Rams.

Las Vegas Raiders: Location: Intermountain Health Performance Center, Henderson, Nev. All eyes will be on first overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza and whether he’s ready to take over QB1 with veteran Kirk Cousins signed as insurance in case he’s not. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Cardinals. 

LA Chargers: Location: The Bolt, El Segundo, Calif. The offensive line is key for the Chargers, who plan to start Jake Slaughter at left guard after playing center at Florida last season. In the secondary, the Chargers need a deep safety next to Elijah Molden in nickel. Tony Jefferson and RJ Mickens will be in the mix with rookie fourth-rounder Genesis Smith. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at Texans. 

LA Rams: Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. There are not a lot of questions for this Super Bowl favorite. One is the backup quarterback job with rookie Ty Simpson taking on Stetson Bennett. The other big question is whether Aaron Donald will come out of retirement, though that seems unlikely at this point. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Chiefs.

Miami Dolphins: Location: Baptist Healthy Training Complex, Miami Gardens, Fla. Where do we start? We’ll start at wide receiver with a ton of new players added and rookies competing for the No. 1 spot with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill gone. It’s not the greatest situation for new QB Malik Willis to come in. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at Commanders. 

Minnesota Vikings: Location: TCO Performance Center, Eagan, Minn. Who will start at QB in Week 1? J.J. McCarthy is the longshot here as Kyler Murray has the experience and arm talent to thrive in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at NY Giants.

New England Patriots: Location: Practice fields at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. Head coach Mike Vrabel has seemingly been able to get through his off-season distractions and now the focus is on Drake Maye becoming a voracious reader and WR A.J. Brown.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Colts.

New Orleans Saints: Location: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, La.  QB Tyler Shough showed potential last season and should have an improved group at receiver. Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson should be a strong 1-2 duo. But after that, there should be competition for the third spot and depth. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. 49ers.  

NY Giants: Location: Quest Diagnostics Training Center, East Rutherford, NJ; The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WVa. The Giants need QB Jaxson Dart to stay healthy, but he’s also learning a new offense under a new coaching staff. At wide receiver, Malik Nabers has star potential, but he’s coming off an injury as is RB Cam Skattebo. At corner, they’re looking for a second starter with rookie Colton Hood, Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks competing. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Vikings. 

NY Jets: Location: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, N.J.  The Jets are looking for a future starter at QB and at least a backup to Geno Smith. Rookie Cade Klubnik and Bailey Zappe will battle it out. At corner, Nashon Wright could be pushed by Azareye’h Thomas and rookie D’Angelo Ponds. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Buccaneers.

Philadelphia Eagles: Location: Jefferson Health Training Complex, Philadelphia. Sean Mannion takes over as the new offensive coordinator. The key will be getting QB Jalen Hurts back on track and gelling with rookie WR Makai Lemon and newly added Dontayvion Wicks. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 at Ravens.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Location: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa. Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are expected to duel for the backup QB job, with rookie Drew Allar expected to be the No. 3. The Steelers are pretty solid everywhere else with a lot of veterans, but a new coaching staff led by Mike McCarthy.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Packers.

San Francisco 49ers: Location: SAP Performance Center Facility, Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers need to stay healthy because they added WRs Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. There is some competition, including left guard, where Robert Jones and Connor Colby could be pushed by rookie Carver Willis. There are also questions at safety where DC Raheem Morris will have veteran Ashyn Davis as a potential candidate.  First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 vs. Titans.

Seattle Seahawks: Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Wash. The Seahawks lost several key players, including RB Kenneth Walker III and OC Klint Kubiak. New OC Brian Fleury takes over and he’ll have to be patient with RB Zach Charbonnet, coming off a torn ACL in February. George Holani, rookie Jadarian Price and Emmanuel Wilson will compete for time. First Preseason Game: Aug. 15 vs. Cowboys.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Location: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Fla. At corner, the Bucs have Jacob Parris, Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum vying for the starting outside jobs. With Mike Evans gone, there will be some competition with WR Ted Hurst III (6-3) hoping to fill the void. New OC Zac Robinson will have his work cut out for him. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 at NY Jets.

Tennessee Titans: Location: Vanderbilt Health Football Center, Nashville. New coach Robert Saleh brings in OC Brian Daboll to help QB Cam Ward. They’ll have a competition at center and right guard. Until they fill that, Ward will continue to have his struggles. At Mike linebacker, veteran Cody Barton is back, but Saleh could go with second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr., who has more potential. First Preseason Game: Aug. 13 at 49ers.

Washington Commanders: Location: Commanders Park, Ashburn, Va. Head coach Dan Quinn added a new OC (David Blough) and DC (Daronte Jones). On defense, they’ll use a 3-4 base look. The big question is who will start on the inside, with Frankie Luvu, Leon Chenal and rookie Sonny Styles competing. At running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will be pushed by veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford for playing time. First Preseason Game: Aug. 14 vs. Dolphins.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on Aug. 1 from Serbia, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez. UFC wins three straight weeks! Average clients up over $5,200!
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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We’re still a couple of weeks away from the NFL preseason getting underway. We’ll prepare you each day for the preseason as we get closer to Carolina vs. Arizona in terms of stats, trends, and tips. There are no major football or soccer events this weekend, but there are still plenty of sporting events to bet on.

1)UFC Fight Night: Abu Dhabi. UFC heads to Etihad Arena, Yas Island/Yas West, United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

The Abu Dhabi card features a mix of established contenders, late replacements, and prospects, creating opportunities across multiple betting markets rather than only in the main event, which is anchored by light heavweights Magomed Ankalaev (-575) vs. Bogdan Guskov (+425).

ATS coming off 6-2 in Oklahoma last weekend and 4-2 in Vegas the week of July 11th!

2)In baseball, as the trade deadline approaches on Aug. 3, we’ve got some big series coming up. There are some big series coming up, including the Yankees (57-45) vs. Phillies, Cleveland (54-50) vs. Tampa Bay (59-43) and a big AL West matchup featuring Seattle (51-52) vs. Texas (51-51). There are other options aside from moneyines, run lines and totals. You also have same-game parlays, player props and first 5 Innings” (F5) betting—a strategy that lets you focus on what matters most: the starting pitchers.

3)Golf continues after the last major with five tournaments until the TOUR Championship from Atlanta on Aug. 27. This week, the PGA is in Blaine, MN for the 3M Open. The tournament has begun, but you can still bet the winner, with the favorite being Scottie Scheffler #(+166). You can also still bet the Top 5 and Top 10. After the first round, the leader is American Ben Kohles at -9 (62). 

Honorable Mention:

WNBA All-Star game on Saturday night at 8:30pmET from Chicago on ABC.  You can bet on the winner, Team Witherspoon (-3.5) vs. Team Cooper, or the total (279.5). The co-favorites to win MVP are Olivia Miles and Caitlin Clark (+600). While the social media crowd is talking about the technicals, whether Clark is getting treated fairly and a lot of other nonsense, Miles has been a rookie sensation as an old-school, pass-first point guard, averaging 19.3ppg and 5.9apg. 

MLS won’t get the World Cup ratings, but they continue with a busy Saturday schedule. There are also several betting opportunities. Nashville SC (12-3-1, 39pts) leads the East, while Vancouver (10-2-3, 32pts) leads the West. There are 15 games on Saturday, so there are plenty of betting opportunities. 

#-odds from DraftKings

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on July 25
• Ankalev vs. Rountree Jr. from Abu Dhabi.
• UFC Fight Night from Serbia on August 1, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez.
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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At around 11:30amET on Friday, DraftKings had the Philadelphia 76ers as +1000 to win the NBA Finals, just behind the New York Knicks. About an hour later, after the news dropped that LeBron James was signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Futures Odds moved to +900. 

At 1:45pmET, the odds have remained the same, but expect the Sixers’ odds to improve slightly over the weekend. At this point, Oklahoma City (+270) and San Antonio (+270) are both co-favorites to win the 2026-27 NBA Finals, though the Thunder are +150 to win the Western Conference, while the Spurs are +165. In the East, the Knicks are still a slight favorite at +330, while Philly is +350, followed by Boston (+550) and Detroit (+850).

James likely chose the Sixers, who finished a disappointing 7th in the East last season (45-37), due to their talent. VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and, if healthy, Joel Embiid, are a dynamic foursome. But the key for James and the books was the addition of Jaylen Brown from Boston. Brown is coming off a career season with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. 

James still has some gas left in the tank at 41. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for the Lakers. Los Angeles, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, is the sixth favorite in the West at +2000.

There are still questions for Philadelphia and it starts at center with 32-year old Embiid. The talented seven-footer has played in just 96 games combined in his last three seasons. Yet, despite chronic knee problems, he’s a dominant player, averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. 

Someone will have to sacrifice stats and usage rate to make this team a championship contender. The Eastern Conference is also no joke with New York retaining most of their players from their first title team in 53 years. Boston (+550 to win East) loses Brown, but gains Paul George. They also get a healthy Jayson Tatum back. Detroit had the best record in the East (+850) last season and added John Collins and Isaiah Joe to improve the shooting.

Even Toronto (+900), Cleveland (+1000), Miami (+1100) and Indiana (+1600) can make some waves because they have made huge additions. The Raptors, if the Kawhi Leonard trade is complete, will have one of the best defensive teams in the league. Indiana gets star point guard Tyrese Haliburton back from an Achilles injury. The Cavs did very little, but they have Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. 

Then there’s Miami. They were one of the favorites to land James and might end up with another less appealing aging player in free agent DeMar DeRozan. The combination of Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokoumpo up front will put them near the top of the East. 

There are also specials you can wager on, including LeBron James to average 18+ points per game in the regular season (-160), though I’d wait until the weekend to see some of the other specials available and search for other sportsbooks to try and find the best value. 

(odds from DraftKings)

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on July 25
• Ankalev vs. Rountree Jr. from Abu Dhabi.
• UFC Fight Night from Serbia on August 1, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez.
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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When betting NFL futures (season-long bets like Super Bowl winner, division winner, win totals, MVP, etc.), the edge often comes from timing, price shopping, and identifying teams whose outlook is likely to improve before the market catches up.

Here are some of the most important principles:

1. Bet Early When You Expect the Market to Move

Odds shift throughout the offseason because of:

• Free-agent signings
• NFL Draft results
• Training camp reports
• Injuries
• Schedule release

2. Shop for the Best Odds

Different sportsbooks often have significantly different prices.

Example:

• Team A to win the Super Bowl
  • Book 1: +1800
  • Book 2: +2500

Over the long run, consistently getting better prices has a major impact on profitability.

3. Look Beyond Last Year’s Record

Instead of focusing only on wins and losses, consider:

• Point differential
• One-score game record (often regresses)
• Turnover margin (can be volatile)
  
  • Strength of schedule
  • Injury luck
  • Teams that underperformed despite strong underlying metrics can offer value.

4)Understand Schedule Strength

For season win totals, evaluate:

• • Opponents’ projected strength
  • Travel demands
  • Rest advantages/disadvantages
  • Outdoor vs. indoor games
  • Short-week games
  • Late-season divisional matchups

(odds from DraftKings)

NFL Super Bowl Odds/Conference Championship Odds

LA Rams: Super Bowl +550/NFC Championship +295. Comments: Matthew Stafford and Myles Crosby. Look out.

Baltimore Ravens: SB +1000/AFC Champ +470. Comments: Jesse Minter takes over for John Harbaugh as HC.

Buffalo Bills: SB +1000/AFC Champ +510. Comments: Joe Brady takes over for Sean McDermott. 

Seattle Seahawks: SB +1100/NFC Champ +600. Comments: Never easy to repeat, and man, the NFC West is tough.

Philadelphia Eagles: SB +1600/NFC Champ +820. Comments: Can Jalen Hurts get his mojo back without A.J. Brown?

New England Patriots: SB +1600/AFC Champ 760. Comments: Welcome A.J. Brown. The Patriots hope that their training camp is not as drama-filled as their off-season.

Kansas City Chiefs: SB +1600/NFC Champ +770. Comments: Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce back for one more run?

LA Chargers: SB +1700/NFC Champ +830. Comments: Can Justin Herbert finally get over the hump and win a playoff game?

Houston Texans: SB +1800/AFC Champ +850. Comments: The defense is elite, but can C.J. Stroud take the next step?

Green Bay Packers: SB +1800/NFC Champ +900. Comments: Jordan Love is the real deal, but defense will have some major issues early on with Micah Parsons out.

San Francisco 49ers: SB +1900/NFC Champ +960. Comments: Health is the key, but time is running out for C-Mac and Nick Bosa.

Detroit Lions: SB +1900/NFC Champ +930. Comments: Do the Lions miss Ben Johnson? Check on the Chicago Bears.

Denver Broncos: SB +2000/AFC Champ +1025. Comments: QB Bo Nix is coming off an injury, but he just finds ways to win.

Cincinnati Bengals: SB +2000/AFC Champ +1025. Comments: Joe Burrow could get back to the big game if he can stay healthy.

Chicago Bears: SB +2400/NFC Champ +1250. Comments: Ben Johnson helped Cale Williams. Will be interesting this season against tougher competition.

Dallas Cowboys: SB +2500/NFC Champ +1300. Comments: Jerry Jones finally brought in some defensive help. Can they overtake the Eagles in the NFC North? 

Jacksonville Jaguars: SB +3000/AFC Champ: +1500. Comments: How much will Trevor Lawrence miss Travis Etienne, who has been in his backfield since the Clemson days (eight years).

Tampa Bay Bucs: SB +5000/NFC Champ +2200. Comments: Mike Evans is gone, so Baker Mayfield will need to find another serious deep threat and red-zone target.

Pittsburgh Steelers: SB +5000/AFC Champ +2300. Comments: New coach Mike McCarthy reunites with Aaron Rodgers in his final season. Shouldn’t be boring. 

Minnesota Vikings: SB +5000/NFC Champ +2400. Comments: Can J.J. McCarthy beat out Kyler Murray for the starting QB job? Kevin O’Connell will look to turn Murray into another reclamation project (aka Sam Darnold).

Washington Commanders:  SB +6000/NFC Champ +3000. Comments: Jayden Daniels may need to use his wheels again if the Commanders can’t establish a second receiving option.

Indianapolis Colts: SB +6000/AFC Champ +2900. The Colts could be a nice divisional pick, though getting by the Texans and Jags won’t be easy. They were really good last season before Daniel Jones was injured.

NY Giants: SB +7000/NFC Champ +3500. Comments: John Harbaugh will eventually win with the Giants. Expect the defense to continue to improve, but there are so many questions on offense (injuries).

New Orleans Saints: SB +9000/NFC Champ +3700. Comments: Travis Etienne winds up in New Orleans, but he may have to share the backfield with Alvin Kamara. That’s not a bad duo to have and they’ll take pressure off of young QB Tyler Shough.

Carolina Panthers: SB +9000/NFC Champ +3800. Comments: The Panthers improved last season and might be able to take advantage of another weak NFC South. A divisional pick (+310) is a solid one.

Tennessee Titans: SB +13000/AFC Champ +5500. Comments: Unless Cam Ward makes a huge jump under new OC Brian Daboll, this is going to be another long year in Nashville for new coach Robert Saleh.

Atlanta Falcons:  +13000/NFC Champ +5500. Comments: Not high expectations for Matt Ryan’s squad. Kevin Stefanski takes over to maybe push Tua Tagovailoa back to being a solid starter.

Las Vegas Raiders: SB +15000/AFC Champ +7600. Comments: All eyes will be on Fernando Mendoza and whether he’s ready to start or if they open the season with Kirk Cousins as the starting QB.

NY Jets: SB +20000/AFC Champ +8600. Comments: Geno Smith is the Jets’ starting QB. That says it all.

Cleveland Browns: SB +20000/AFC Champ +8600. Comments: The Browns traded Myles Garrett, so the defense shouldn’t be dominant. He’s irreplaceable. For what seems like the 30th year since Bernie Kosar played, the Browns are looking for a starting QB.

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on July 25
• Ankalev vs. Rountree Jr. from Abu Dhabi.
• UFC Fight Night from Serbia on August 1, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez.
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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Can Hedging be Beneficial when Betting on Football?

Hedging involves placing a bet on the opposite side of your initial bet. This is usually done once the odds of your original bet hitting have increased. For example, if you wager on the Eagles to win the Super Bowl at +650. Philly advances to the NFC Championship Game.
Their odds have now dropped to +175. You can now place wagers on the three teams remaining to guarantee you can make some money, though it does come at a potential hit  if Philadelphia
were to hit and win the Super Bowl, your other bets would be losers, cutting into the return.

Hedging can be beneficial in football if…

1)You have a large potential payout. If you placed an early bet at attractive odds and the situation has changed in your favor, hedging can lock in a guaranteed profit or reduce the chance of walking away with nothing.

2)The odds have moved significantly. For example, you bet a team at 6.00 (5/1) to win a tournament, and before the final they’re priced at 2.00 (1/1). Betting the other side can secure a profit regardless of the outcome.

3)Your priorities are risk management. If preserving your bankroll is more important than maximizing profit, hedging can help smooth out variance.

When hedging is less advantageous:

1)The bookmaker’s margin (“vig”) works against you. Every additional bet usually incurs another margin, so frequent hedging can lower your long-term expected return.

2)Don’t hedge out of emotion. Many bettors hedge because they’re nervous, even when the original bet still has positive expected value. 

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on July 25
• Ankalev vs. Rountree Jr. from Abu Dhabi.
• UFC Fight Night from Serbia on August 1, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez.
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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It’s the time of the year when American football begins to take over. Sure, we’re over a month before real football starts, about two weeks before preseason, and a month before college football kicks off. This week, most of the rookies enter training camp, followed by the veterans. Let’s take a look at a brief overview of the NFC.

Arizona Cardinals: Rookies: July 22. Veterans: July 22. Location: Glendale, AZ. Key questions: Who will take over for Kyler Murray at quarterback? Can rookie burner Jermiyah Love spark a running game that will also add RB Tyler Allgeier? Super Bowl Odds: +50000 

Atlanta Falcons: Rookies: July 24. Veterans: July 28. Location: Flowery Branch, GA. Key questions: Who will win the starting QB job between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa? Super Bowl Odds: +13000

Carolina Panthers: Rookies: July 21. Veterans: July 22. Location: Charlotte, NC. Key questions: Are the Panthers for real or will they fall back with more expectations? Can QB Bryce Young take his game to another level?  Super Bowl Odds: +9000

Chicago Bears: Rookies: July 25. Veterans: July 28. Location: Lake Forest, IL. Key questions: Can some of the young receivers rise with D.J. Moore dealt to the Bills? On paper, will they fall back against the toughest schedule in the NFL? Super Bowl Odds: +2400

Dallas Cowboys: Rookies: July 28. Veterans: July 28. Location: Oxnard, CA.Key questions: With all the new additions, will the Cowboys’ defense be good enough to elevate them to first in the NFC East?  Super Bowl Odds: +2500

Detroit Lions: Rookies: July 25. Veterans: July 28. Location: Allen Park, MI. Key questions: Can the Lions’ offense return to prominence under new OC Drew Petzing? Super Bowl Odds: +1900

Green Bay Packers: Rookies: July 27. Veterans: July 28. Location: Green Bay, WI. Key questions: Who will step up to rush the passer with Edge Micah Parsons out injured (for at least 4 games) and Rashan Gary gone in free agency?  Super Bowl Odds: +1800

Los Angeles Rams: Rookies: July 25. Veterans: July 25. Location: Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles. Key questions: Can they keep everyone healthy before the regular season? Will Ty Simpson show enough in preseason that he’s the future Rams’ QB after Matthew Stafford retires? Super Bowl Odds: +550

Minnesota Vikings: Rookies: July 21. Veterans: July 24. Location: Eagan, MN. Key questions: Who will win the quarterback duel, Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy?Who will step on the defensive line with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrove gone? Super Bowl Odds: +5000

New Orleans Saints: Rookies: July 28. Veterans: July 28. Location: Metairie, LA. Key questions: Who will get more carries, Travis Etienne Jr. or Alvin Kamara? Will Tyler Shough benefit from having two strong running backs along with WR Chris Olave and No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson? Super Bowl Odds: +9000

New York Giants: Rookies: July 23. Veterans: July 28. Location: East Rutherford, N.J. Key questions: Will Malik Nabors and Cam Skattebo be ready for the season? How will all the new talent perform for the new coaching staff under John Harbaugh?  Super Bowl Odds: +7000

Philadelphia Eagles: Rookies: July 28.. Veterans: July 28. Location: Philadelphia, PA. Key questions: Who will take over for A.J. Brown at wide receiver? Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon are all in the mix.  Super Bowl Odds: +1600

San Francisco 49ers: Rookies: July 18. Veterans: July 25. Location: Santa Clara, CA. Key questions: Can the 49ers get out of training camp healthy? Speaking of health, can Mike Evans give the 49ers at least 12 games and help take pressure of Christian McCaffrey? Super Bowl Odds: +1900

Seattle Seahawks: Rookies: July 17. Veterans: July 24. Location: Renton, WA. Key questions: Do the Seahawks have enough to repeat? Who will replace Robert Walker III at running back? Super Bowl Odds: +1100

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rookies: July 27. Veterans: July 28. Location: Tampa, FL. Key questions: Who will take the place of Mike Evans at WR? Is Baker Mayfield ready for a big season so he can get a huge deal? Super Bowl Odds: +5000

Washington Commanders: Rookies: July 24. Veterans: July 28. Location: Ashburn, VA. Key questions: Can Jayden Daniels stay healthy and get back to his rookie season’s production? Will the changes on defense get Washington out of the doldrums on that side of the ball? Super Bowl Odds: +6000

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Upcoming and Current Events at ATS:

• Baseball Second Half projected to win 150+ units after a strong finish the last 10 weeks (discounts are available with football).
• UFC Fight Night on July 25
• Ankalev vs. Rountree Jr. from Abu Dhabi.
• UFC Fight Night from Serbia on August 1, featuring Medic vs. Rodriguez.
• Hall of Fame Game (Aug 6). Training camp starts this week! Preseason NFL action begins as ATS enters its 34th football season. Early Bird discounts are still available!
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