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Ben Burns |
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BEN KNOWS BASEBALL MLB is 142-79 since last season, good for $30K in profit. Totals are 86% Y-T-D. Longterm? Top rated MLB = +$71,710! |
YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
NHL | Apr 16, 2021 Sharks vs Wild |
UNDER 6 -122 |
Won $100 |
Play Type: Top Premium | ||
I'm playing on SJ/Minnesota UNDER the total. While the Wild have been involved in some high-scoring games of late, a date with the Sharks should change that. San Jose has scored just three goals in its last three goals combined. Recent meetings have been relatively high-scoring. However, three of the last four have been at San Jose. Games between these teams at Minnesota tend to be lower-scoring. In fact, the UNDER is 7-1-1 the past nine meetings here. While the UNDER is 4-1 the Sharks' past five as a road underdog, the UNDER is also 7-1 in Minnesota's last eight as a home favorite. Expect another relatively low-scoring affair. |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
NBA | Apr 16, 2021 Knicks vs Mavs |
Mavs -5 -110 at Mirage |
Lost $110.0 |
Play Type: Premium | ||
I'm playing on DALLAS. The Knicks come in on a roll. However, I expect the Mavericks to cool them off this evening. I really like how the Mavs won their last game, Doncic hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer. That 1-point victory is the type that often gives a team positive momentum. I expect that to be the case for the Mavs. The Knicks are still 1-5 SU/ATS their last six, when off three or more consecutive wins. Keep in mind that they're much better at MSG and that only one of their recent wins has come on the road. On the season, they're 12-17 on the road, averaging just 103.7 ppg. Including a 99-86 win at MSG a few weeks ago, the Mavs are an outstanding 46-31-2 ATS in non-conf. games the past 2+ seasons. Look for them to ride the momentum of Luka's last second shot, en route to improving on those stats this evening. |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
NBA | Apr 16, 2021 Grizzlies vs Bulls |
Bulls +4½ -105 at linepros |
Lost $105.0 |
Play Type: Top Premium | ||
I'm playing on CHICAGO. Everyone is suddenly really down on the Bulls. They've dropped four in a row and now they're without LaVine. As a result, we're now able to get them as a home underdog. I feel that's providing us with excellent value. Keep in mind that the Bulls were only +2 at Memphis, a few days ago. Now, they're at home, more desperate and playing with revenge, yet we're getting even more points. With all due respect to LaVine, that's providing us with excellent value. That recent 3/12 game, at Memphis, was a tough spot for the Bulls. While both teams were playing the second of b2b games, the Bulls were also playing their fourth road game in five nights. The Grizzlies took advantage. The Bulls are back home now though and they had yesterday off. They've still got plenty without LaVine and I expect their very best effort. Look for the Bulls to bounce back and move to 7-3 ATS their past 10, after having lost their previous three or more games. |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
MLB | Apr 16, 2021 #Blue Jays vs #Royals |
#Blue Jays -111 at pinnacle |
P |
Play Type: Top Premium | ||
I'm playing on TORONTO. In today's all southpaw affair, the Jays should have the advantage. Yesterday, Toronto fell into an early hole and was unable to dig itself all the way out. Today, the Jays need to take advantage of the fac that Matz is on the mound. In two starts, Matz is already 2-0 with a stellar 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He's striking out more than a batter per inning. Matz will face a KC team which is 22-34 against left-handers the past 2+ seasons. During that span, the Royals are also just 32-56, when off a win. While Matz is going six or more innings each time out, Minor (4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) went just four innings last time out. Keep in mind that he was 1-6 with a 5.56 ERA in 2020. The Toronto bullpen has a combined 2.09 ERA thus far and that number dips to 1.63 on the road. KC relievers have a combined 4.18 ERA. Even though they're missing some key players, the Jays still have some dangerous hitters in their lineup. Look for them to provide Matz with the support he needs for his third straight win. |
PICKS IN PROGRESS | ||
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
MLB | Apr 17, 2021 Blue Jays vs Royals |
Blue Jays -102 at linepros |
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Play Type: Premium | ||
I'm playing on TORONTO. In today's all southpaw affair, the Jays should have the advantage. Thursday, Toronto fell into an early hole and was unable to dig itself all the way out. Today, after yesterday's game was postponed, the Jays need to take advantage of the fact that Matz is on the mound. In two starts, Matz is already 2-0 with a stellar 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He's striking out more than a batter per inning. Matz will face a KC team which is 22-34 against left-handers the past 2+ seasons. During that span, the Royals are also just 32-56, when off a win. While Matz is going six or more innings each time out, Minor (4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) went just four innings last time out. Keep in mind that he was 1-6 with a 5.56 ERA in 2020. The Toronto bullpen has a combined 2.09 ERA thus far and that number dips to 1.63 on the road. KC relievers have a combined 4.18 ERA. Even though they're missing some key players, the Jays still have some dangerous hitters in their lineup. Look for them to provide Matz with the support he needs for his third straight win. |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
NHL | Apr 17, 2021 Capitals vs Flyers |
Flyers +1½ -199 at pinnacle |
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Play Type: Premium | ||
I'm playing PHILADELPHIA on the puckline (+1.5 goals) The Flyers have a score to settle in this one. Not only have the Capitals beaten them four straight times, but the Caps also embarrassed them by a 6-1 score in the most recent meeting. Since that 4/13 beating, the Flyers responded with a 2-1 shootout win over Pittsburgh, the type of win they can build some momentum from. The Caps, on the other hand, check in off an upset loss to lowly Buffalo. While that 5-2 loss marked their third staight "lopsided" result, the Caps had seen four of their previous five decided by a single goal. The Flyers have seen five of their last eight decided by a single goal. I'm expecting another tight one, the revenge minded Flyers bringing their best effort and earning AT LEAST a "puck-line cover." |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
NHL | Apr 17, 2021 Devils vs Rangers |
Devils +1½ -116 at pinnacle |
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Play Type: Premium | ||
I'm playing NJ on the puck-line (+1.5 goals) With the Rangers heavy favorites on the moneyline, we're able to get an extra +1.5 goals with the Devils for a very reasonable price. In a game that should be tight, that extra +1.5 goals could well prove invaluable. These rivals will meet for the third straight time. Having dropped the first two of those games, the Devils should be motivated to avoid getting "swept." Note that the Devils are actually 3-1 here at MSG, since March of 2020. The Rangers are just 21-33 (-9.5 vs. ml) the past 2+ seasons, off a win by two or more goals. During that span, the Devils were a profitable 21-19 (+10.6 vs. ml) when off three or more consec. losses. Look for them to bounce back with AT LEAST a "puck-line cover." |
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Matchup | Selection | W/L |
Soccer | Apr 17, 2021 Sheffield United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Wolverhampton Wanderers -143 at pinnacle |
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Play Type: Top Premium | ||
I'm playing on WOLVERHAMPTON. The line on Wolverhampton came down from its opener, providing us with some extra line value on the superior squad. Given the gap between these teams, I feel that it easily could have gone the other way. The Wolves have indeed been disappointed with their campaign. They sit 12th in the standings and had absolutely hoped for better. They're off an exciting 1-0 win last time out though and while that win cost them Neto due to injury, I expect them to carry the momentum into this game. I like the fact that they scored late, kept fighting and found a way to win. Sheffield sits last in the standings with relegation a certainty. United has scored just 17 goals (Wolverhamption has 31) while allowing 55. Sheffiled continues to deal with several important injuries including captain Billy Sharp. Highlights have been few and far between for Sheffield but Sharp has provided them with a few. He'll be missed here. Off the late win against Fulham, Wolverhampton boss Nuno Espirito Santo noted: "The win was very important. This is what we want for the rest of the season, there are a lot of games to be played ... " Having been outscored 10-1 its last three league matches, Sheffield has essentially packed it in. Wolverhampton won the last meeting 2-0 and won't be denied another victory here. |
SERVICE BIO |
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Age: 45 Background In "Outliers," Malcolm Gladwell asks the question: "What makes high achievers different?" Gladwell suggests that those at the top of their field have a number of similarities - that their upbringing (culture, family, what generation they came from, experiences) had much to do with their success. As a professional sports handicapper, Ben Burns is widely recognized as being "at the top of his field." A look at Ben's upbringing shows that he fits Gladwell's model to a tee. Exposed to the world of point spreads early and often as a child, Burns reached adulthood as the Internet was first beginning to explode, just as the first offshore sportsbooks were springing up. By that time he'd already spent thousands of hours learning and studying stats. From an early age it became apparent to family and friends that Ben wasn't a "typical" fan. At age 11, he was mentioned in a major newspaper (Toronto Star) for correctly predicting a high profile trade before the Major League Baseball trading deadline. (Winner of the contest got tickets to the All Star game.) Ben's father and uncles were always involved in a weekly NFL (ATS) pool. Some of Ben's earliest memories included that pool and his fascination with it. As soon as he was allowed to play, Ben demonstrated an uncanny ability to surprise the adults. Around this time, one of his uncles moved his casino business to the Caribbean. This was the environment which he came from. The caption underneath Ben's high-school graduation photo references Ben's love for betting on football. That's because he was famous throughout his school for annually winning the local football contest, along with the $1700 per year which was awarded to the champ. Coming of age right as the first sports books were coming online, Ben was fortunate to enjoy some success with his some of his early online sports betting endeavors. He did so well that the first shop he ever played at ended up refusing to take his hockey bets. Also, in the very early days of the Internet, Ben won an NBA playoff contest, put on by a company which was called NSS.net. The contest victory awarded him a trip for two to Las Vegas, $1000 cash, a limo at his disposal, free shows, hotel and live sports odds for a year. Not a bad prize for a kid in his early 20s. However, the bigger prize was that Ben was exposed to the world of "professional sports handicapping." Inspired by his personal success and encouraged by his peers, Ben first made his picks available to the public in 1998. Achievements in Handicapping/Sports Top Ranked NFL Handicapper From the years of 1998-2007, Ben's selections were independently documented at one of the Internet's earliest and most respected sports monitors, Big Guy Sports. During that time, Ben earned literally dozens of documented Top 3 finishes in football, basketball, baseball AND hockey, including numerous #1 titles. Competing against a field of 150 of the biggest names in the industry, he ranked as the #1 NFL handicapper in the existence of that sports monitor, in their All-Time rankings. No competing handicapping service ever came close to matching his NFL record. In fact, Ben also ranked as the #1 combined NFL/NCAA football handicapper. 10 Straight Super Bowl Winners A big part of the reason for Ben's #1 NFL titles was his annual success in the playoffs. He fared particularly well with his Super Bowl selections. In fact, from 1999-2007, he released 10 Super Bowl picks (3 Sides, 7 totals) and went a perfect 10-0. (All selections independently documented.) In the middle of that 10-0 streak, in the 2002-2003 season, Ben won with both the Bucs and the "over" the year that they beat the Raiders. That win was particularly sweet as he predicted that Tampa would win the Super Bowl in a number of national magazines, prior to the season even starting. Fantasy Legend Ben got pretty seriously into the DFS world in 2014 and 2015. Recently, he was featured as "The High Roller" in the 2015 documentary, "Living the Fantasy." A regular fixture at Fan Duel and Draft Kings live championship events, Burns has taken down 6-figure scores in football, basketball AND baseball. While many of the other prominent DFS players come from a poker background, two decades as a sports handicapper provide a unique perspective. Biggest Win of 2016 The year has just begun but Ben has already enjoyed some notable wins. His "Bowl Game of the Year," which happened to be a total (WVU/ASU "over") saw the teams combine for 85 points and 1196 total yards, all of them in regulation. Closing out the campaign with wins on Clemson AND the "over" in the championship game was also rewarding. Systems Used For Handicapping Bruce Lee noted: "Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style of system." Lee was known to talk about being shapeless, formless (like water) and ready to adapt to any situation. Likewise, Burns doesn't rely on any one particular methodology. Rather, he combines fundamental, technical and situational techniques, making use of any and all data, which he deems relevant to the situation. Ben does tend to pay particular attention to the 'situational' side of things. Among numerous other factors, this includes trying to determine when (and why) a team will be extra motivated ("pumped up") to play its best and also when a team may be ripe for a "letdown." Burns has a contrarian nature and this trait is often revealed in his selections. Betting Philosophy Ever adapting, Burns is just as likely to take points as he is to lay them. Over the years, he's played more "unders" than "overs" but that doesn't mean that he won't pull the trigger on an "over" when the time is right to do so. While many handicappers shy away from playing MLB/NHL favorites on the money-line, Ben has proven that one can be highly successful by doing so. For him, it’s all about value. If he can get a team at -130 that he likes and that believes should be -160, than that's a play.
Rating and Titles of Plays Ben uses a scale of 5-10 to show his level of confidence with each play. Plays may include "titles" in order to give users a better idea of what to expect. Some of those titles include: Personal Favorite - Strongest favorite (or pick'em game) in that sport for the day. Best Bet - Strongest underdog (or pick'em game) in that sport for the day, occasionally can be a total. Blue Chip Total - Strongest rated total in that sport/category for the day. Main Event - Big play which is featured on national television. Game Of The Week/Month/Year - Top rated side or total for that particular week/month/year. |