Casino S51 - Christmas Season Showdown Edition

Well we’re getting close to the end of the line, the season ends in about a week or so, and the Casino numbers are getting closer to where they need to be to start seeing some winners and losers pop up, as well as riding some parlays around. The league had a few minor shake-ups since my last update but for the most part, has stayed close to the status quo.

Shameless plug, the Casino is hiring and I hope to see some of you who enjoy the Casino, have ideas, or just plain need a job to apply and, hopefully, join me in the near future to supply you all with quality betting content season after season, even if it needs some tweaking from time to time.

Without further ado, onto the recap as of the 12/18 sim:

Buffalo Stampede
Over/Under 29.5 games
Current Record: 20-16-2
On Pace For: 26-21-3
Over Bets: 1
Under Bets: 14

The Stampede have remained in an area of normalcy compared to much of the league, and though they have now snuck into a playoff spot, the East is tight. However, if they were in the West, they’d have 3rd place locked in right now with ease. They need to win 10 games in 12, which looks out of reach for them without a lot of luck. Under betters should rejoice seeing this.

Calgary Dragons
Over/Under 27.5 games
Current Record: 18-17-3
On Pace For: 24-22-4
Over Bets: 6
Under Bets: 2

The Dragons have quieted down a bit from the last update, and this doesn’t bode well for our over betters. The have 12 remaining games and need to win 9 of those to hit the over. They remain 5 points into a playoff spot but a bad finish to the season could spell doom for the Calgary squad, and though the 9 wins seems out of reach, it’s feasible in the West.

Chicago Syndicate
Over/Under 23.5 games
Current Record: 22-16-0
On Pace For: 29-21-0
Over Bets: 11
Under Bets: 0

Chicago has done pretty well for themselves so far, and though they likely won’t catch Hamilton in the Great Lakes division, they can keep Buffalo at bay the way they are playing. For our betters, they need 2 wins in the remaining 12 games, which I think our users can start cashing in their bets on this one.

Edmonton Blizzard
Over/Under 27.5 games
Current Record: 27-8-3
On Pace For:  35-11-4
Over Bets: 0
Under Bets: 8

The only thing keeping Edmonton from looking even more elite right now is the Specters, but they are a dominant team in the league right now and look to be a serious cup contender in the end. Betting wise, it looks REALLY bad for our players here, and unless Edmonton goes on a massive losing streak to close out, it’s fair to say that the betters lost this one.

Hamilton Steelhawks
Over/Under 24.5 games
Current Record: 24-11-3
On Pace For:  31-15-4
Over Bets: 9
Under Bets: 1

Hamilton looks poised to sit atop the East right now and though they look ready to make a serious cup run, their outlook versus teams like NOLA and EDM in the West makes them seemingly vulnerable. Not to mention that any and every playoff team will be gunning for them after their offseason dramatics, but I digress. Over betters should rejoice.

Los Angeles Panthers
Over/Under 23.5 games
Current Record:  17-18-2
On Pace For:  23-24-3
Over Bets: 14
Under Bets: 0

The LA squad has cooled off since the last update, but GM @Wasty has made a big push this season, acquiring two top forwards in an effort to push his squad over the threshold. Since then they have won two games but I see this improving shortly. The 23.5 mark is gonna be close but if they can find the back of the net again, the over will be safe. However, this could come down to the wire.

Manhattan Rage
Over/Under 26.5 games
Current Record: 18-16-4
On Pace For:  24-21-5
Over Bets: 8
Under Bets: 1

The Rage have reached a level of normalcy not wanted by any team as the season progresses, dropping from a team sitting atop the East to being barely in the playoffs and in danger of getting pushed out. They have 12 games to win 9, and this is doable, but sadly unlikely. Over betters on this one better hope for some raging Rage else the money goes to the Casino.

Minnesota Chiefs
Over/Under 21.5 games
Current Record:  16-20-2
On Pace For:  21-26-3
Over Bets: 4
Under Bets: 2

At least the Chiefs are making the Casino lines interesting, honing in close from the get go on that betting line. This could come down to the wire for the Minnesota squad as they have a real chance to push into the playoffs and hit the over here. Otherwise the minority will win, but either way it’s fun.

New England Wolfpack
Over/Under 28.5 games
Current Record:  16-19-4
On Pace For: UNDER BETTERS WIN
Over Bets: 0
Under Bets: 3

Without the luck of the STHS gods, the Wolfpack have gotten rabies. They have already lost the ability to hit the over, paying out to the few players that bet their way, and they need to get close to nearly winning out to have a chance at a playoff spot. Some are wondering where previous MVP Leitner has gone, but with players like Wagstrom on the squad lighting the lamp they have a chance in hell. The rest of the team needs to find the same spark or they will be in the draft lotto.

New Orleans Specters
Over/Under 28.5 games
Current Record:  28-8-3
On Pace For: 36-10-4
Over Bets: 3
Under Bets: 5

The Specters look great, there’s no other way to say it, and it’s going to be one hell of a fight between them and the Blizzard in the West as the playoffs approach. Either way, many may be thinking the eventual Cup champion is coming between those two squads, and it’s hard to argue that. In terms of the Casino, the minority looks poised to win here without the team going down in a fiery plane crash in the near future

San Francisco Pride
Over/Under 27.5 games
Current Record: 13-21-4
On Pace For: UNDER BETTERS WIN
Over Bets: 3
Under Bets: 4

The Pride have seriously underperformed from their impressive outing last season, and it’s unfortunate. Fielding what is likely the best Dman squad in the league, that sadly wasn’t enough to help them score. In fact, it didn’t help them much defensively either considering they have allowed the most goals in the league. Under betters win here and the Pride look forward to a top draft pick this offseason.

Tampa Bay Barracuda
Over/Under 26.5 games
Current Record: 18-17-3
On Pace For:  24-22-4
Over Bets: 4
Under Bets: 0

Tampa is sitting on the edge of the outside looking in, but they have a squad competitive enough to overtake Manhattan, Buffalo, or both, before the season is over. They require 9 more wins to hit the over and it’s gonna be close. I think they can do it, but we’ll see. Our betters, however, should buy a few Barracuda jerseys to support this cause.

Texas Renegades
Over/Under 19.5 games
Current Record: 15-22-1
On Pace For:  20-29-1
Over Bets: 2
Under Bets: 4

Texas has had a little more success since the last update I did, and though they likely will not see playoff action this season, the Casino action is spot on. A nail biter is in progress and though the Renegades need only 6 wins of 12 to hit the over, this can easily go either way more than most. Though only 6 bets ride in total on the Dallas squad, they all look to end in spectacular fashion.

Toronto North Stars
Over/Under 21.5 games
Current Record:  17-19-2
On Pace For: 22-25-3
Over Bets: 11
Under Bets: 1

Toronto has slowed the pace as the season has gone on and, like Texas, they look to make the casino interesting to close out. ROTY winner Mika Kandinsky has slowed her pace dramatically, and the team itself hasn’t found the same spark as last season. However, they need 5 wins in the last 12 and it’s not out of the realm of possibility for the North Stars.

West Kendall Platoon
Over/Under 22.5 games
Current Record: 20-16-2
On Pace For:  26-21-3
Over Bets: 3
Under Bets: 2

West Kendall somehow continues to stay afloat with a squad that doesn’t score and can’t stop the opponents from doing so. It defies logic but despite this, they stay 3 games away from the over here. While only 5 total bets ride on this, the chances of them getting 3 more wins is still pretty close based on how they have performed in the last 10 games (3-6-1). Keep an eye on this one, who knows what could happen.

Winnipeg Jets
Over/Under 21.5 games
Current Record:  15-18-4
On Pace For: 20-24-6
Over Bets: 10
Under Bets: 2

Winnipeg has racked up a few points since the last update and sit in the final wildcard spot in the West. If they can keep the pace up they can reach the playoffs this season, and they need 7 wins in 13 games to hit the over. This is gonna be a close one and another fun finish to the Casino season.

So in the end, a few bets have finalized, and many are going to finish very close to the mark. This should play out in an interesting manner for many of the parlay betters and hopefully pique the interest of those of you who did not partake in the betting action this season, or seasons past. Thank you again for playing and good luck to you all!

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