GAMBLING GUIDE

Jerry Bo: Bookie Busters ride the storm to the final

Jerry Bo: Bookie Busters ride the storm to the final
Four remain in the World Cup. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

The table is reserved for only four, and over the next few days, we will find out who will play in the closing finale on Sunday.

Updated odds

France   +190
England +250
Belgium +255
Croatia  +450

Results

Uruguay/ France Under 2   1U PUSH
First-half draw   1U LOSS
France Advance 1U     WIN

Brazil/Belgium Both teams to score  -130 MAX 5U WIN
Over 2  -178 MAX  5U WIN
Over 2.5  +102 MAX 5U  WIN

Total corners over 9½     3U WIN
Philippe Coutinho scores a goal   +330 1U LOSS
Penalty kick awarded   YES +170 1U LOSS

Croatia Team Total over 1   PUSH
Croatia Advance 2U  WIN

Peoples Parlay   1U (4 spots leave 2 open)

France Advance   WIN
Brazil/Belgium BTTS     WIN
 

Ride the winning storm, into the final…..

All wagers are to win X amount of Units with the Max play being 5U
Over +16 Units won, on the quarters with the peoples parlay still open 2 spots.

MAX plays are 12-4-2 in this tournament: 75%

Belgium vs France

Belgium   +218  
France   + 152     PK (Draw no Bet)-133
Draw   + 226

Over
Under 2.5       -124

Advance
Belgium +118
France   - 128

England vs Croatia

Croatia  +263
England   +137
Draw +210
Over   2 -111
Under

Advance 
England  -157
Croatia   +142

Picks

Tuesday
Belgium/ France Both teams score MAX
Belgium Over TT 1 4U
France Over TT 1  4U
First-half draw 1U
Kylian Mbappe scores a goal    +240 1U
BEL/FRA total offsides in game over 2½   2U
Total Corner Kicks Over 9.5     4U
Penalty yes +160   1U

 

Wednesday
England/Croatia   Both teams score  MAX
England Advance    3U
Harry Kane scores    1U

 

 

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The Astros are cooking! Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.

In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.

It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.

Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?

Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.

Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.

If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.

As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.

And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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