1-800-PREGAME | support@pregame.com | LIVE HELP
 
Info Worth Betting |

Main Sections » home

» Blogs Home

Recent Posts

See All Recent Posts

Popular Posts

See All Popular Posts

Post Archive


Search

About Matty O'Shea

A native of suburban Chicago and 1995 graduate of Syracuse University, Matty O'Shea has over 10 years experience in sports journalism. O'Shea is a strong believer that content is king since his early days as a newspaper reporter at the age of...
Read More About Matty O'Shea

Matty O'Shea's Popular

See All of Matty O'Shea's Popular

Pregame Wire

See News Wires

Pregame Cheat Sheet

Sportsbook Spy

Matty O'Shea (see all posts from)

Are you ready to make money betting on the 2008 Olympics?

by Matty O'Shea on 08/04/2008 11:45 AM

 The image http://www.greendiary.com/images/2008-beijing-olympics_9.jpg cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Preaseason NFL football has finally arrived, baseball playoff races are heating up and college football picks are just around the corner.  So do you think oddsmakers really have the time to make sharp lines for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing?  Definitely not. 

I used to work closely with Las Vegas Sports Consultants here in town, and I can tell you that they have one guy dedicated to setting the odds for all of the different Olympic sporting events.  That is obviously a lot of responsibility to fall on one oddsmaker, which means there is plenty of value for bettors like us to take advantage of after the Opening Ceremonies kick off the games officially on Friday. 

In fact, I will be personally posting my OlymPick O' the Day here starting this  Saturday.  Will I be betting the United States to win gold in mens basketball at -350 or take them in their Olympic opener at -33 against Yao Ming and China on Sunday?  Stay tuned.

The bigger question is, will you be betting on the Olympics along with me?  If you are a true sports gambling junky like me, I would assume so.  I can still remember my first Winter Olympics in 1998 after I moved to Vegas, as me and my buddy Jason (an oddsmaker at LVSC) had money on Hiroyasu Shimizu to win the 500-meter speedskating event.  We were up at 3 in the morning our time awaiting the results from Nagano and proceeded to cash our tickets.  Yes, it is a bit sick, but there is certainly money to be made betting the Olympics Stick out tongue

Are you game? 

OlymPick O' the Day for 8/9/08: Team USA women's basketball team -28.5 (EVEN) vs. Czech Republic - WINNER (97-57)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/10/08: Argentina men's basketball team -2.5 (-115) vs. Lithuania - LOSER (75-79)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/11/08: Team USA women's volleyball team +185 vs.Cuba - LOSER (0-3)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/11/08: Croatia men's handball team -8.5 (-120) vs. Brazil  - WINNER (33-14)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/12/08: Malaysia's  Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong (-220) in Doubles of men's badminton vs. Japan's  Shuichi Sakamoto & Shintaro Ikeda - WINNER (21-12, 21-16)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/13/08: Team USA baseball team -2.5 (-125) vs. Korea Republic - LOSER (7-8)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/14/08: Greece men's basketball team +20.5 vs. Team USA - LOSER (69-92)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/16/08: Jamaica's Usain Bolt (-105) to win 100m - WINNER
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/16/08: Brazil women's handball team +125 vs. Sweden - LOSER (22-25)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/17/08: Pakistan men's field hockey team -2 (-130) vs. South Africa - PUSH (3-1)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/17/08: Greece/China men's basketball UNDER 148 - LOSER (168)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/18/08: Team USA men's basketball -36 vs. Germany - WINNER (106-57)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/19/08: Team USA women's basketball -42 vs. South Korea - WINNER (104-60)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/19/08: Team USA's Nastia Liukin to win balance beam (EVEN) - LOSER
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/20/08: Team USA men's basketball/Australia OVER 179 - WINNER
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/21/08: Team USA baseball team/Cuba UNDER 9 (-130) - LOSER (10-2)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/22/08: Team USA men's basketball/Agentina OVER 183 - LOSER (101-81)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/23/08: Cuba women's volleyball team -105 vs. China - LOSER (1-3)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/23/08: Korea baseball team +160 vs. Cuba - WINNER (3-2)
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/23/08: Team USA men's basketball team/Spain OVER 180 - WINNER
OlymPick O' the Day for 8/24/08: China's Zhilei Zhang (+220) vs. Italy's  Roberto Cammarelle super heavyweight boxing - LOSER


Add Pregame Blogs to your list of bookmarks

100 Comments:

 

posted by sawastea on 08/04/2008 12:01 PM

Looking forward to your insight Mattias.
 

posted by Stew on 08/04/2008 12:42 PM

I'm already tired of hearing about the Olympics lol
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/04/2008 2:35 PM

No worries Stew - I know you're not a junky LOL
 

posted by Are you ready to make money betting on the 2008 Olympics? on 08/04/2008 3:04 PM

Pingback from  Are you ready to make money betting on the 2008 Olympics?
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/08/2008 7:22 AM

First pick is up.  Let the games begin!
 

posted by coachp on 08/08/2008 10:51 AM

Thanks-- I will check in every day for my fix!!!
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/08/2008 10:42 PM

Looks like the line is down to -28.  Tip-off is 8 am Eastern.
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/09/2008 4:20 AM

I'm on it Matty, let's cash it
 

posted by thequietinvestor on 08/09/2008 6:08 AM

Matty I am playing right along with you... I got ir for 28.5, thank you.  
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/09/2008 7:01 AM

Winner!
 

posted by coachp on 08/09/2008 7:43 AM

GREAT JOB-- WHATS NEXT????
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/09/2008 8:34 AM

I'm going with Argentina in men's basketball over Lithuania (it's a 4:45 am Eastern start).  Manu & Co. can't afford to lose an early game like this and enter the Olympics with chips on their shoulders due to some injuries.  I think they take their frustrations out on the Lithuanians.
 

posted by coachp on 08/09/2008 9:08 AM

Thanks matty-- Good luck on all your picks today!
 

posted by thequietinvestor on 08/10/2008 2:05 PM

Matty are you going with any plays this evening in these Olympics? I'm wit you all the way...
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/10/2008 3:50 PM

No more picks today guys other than the Sunday Night Baseball game.  I'll look things over and have something for you on Monday.
 

posted by thequietinvestor on 08/10/2008 6:13 PM

thanks for all the work, appreciated here!!!!!!!
 

posted by coachp on 08/10/2008 6:38 PM

thanks-- good luck tonight
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/10/2008 6:55 PM

Thanks guys - I'm actually making a small play on the Team USA women's volleyball team tonight (12:30 am eastern) against Cuba.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 9:57 AM

Hope you guys missed the volleyball play.  It looks like the big favorites are coming through in the preliminary rounds so let's put this theory to the test tonight with a men's handball play.  This one goes off at 9 p.m. Eastern tonight.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 3:19 PM

Anybody with me on this one?
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/11/2008 3:22 PM

I missed last night's play, which worked out nicely.  Let's see what we got today...handball?  Are you kidding me?  Screw it, I'm in.  Let's cash it!
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 3:29 PM

Ha, that's what I'm talking about Chad!  This is a true test of betting a big favorite.  I checked out women's softball and saw we were favored at -8.5 with the O/U set at 9.  Funny shit.
 

posted by thehitman on 08/11/2008 3:31 PM

Yeah I saw that too about the women's softball team...I took the 9 runs, lol
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 3:35 PM

Just looked at the lines again:

USA -8 (-120) vs. Venzuela O/U 8.5

China -8.5 (-110) vs. the Netherlands O/U 9
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 7:41 PM

Handball = WINNER (33-14)
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/11/2008 8:26 PM

Call me crazy, but I'm betting $110 on this one to win $50 (7 am Eastern on Tuesday)....

THE Beijing Olympics takes centre stage in 2008 with all Malaysians fervently hoping that our badminton players will finally deliver the country's first gold medal that has eluded us all this while. Malaysia will not have a better opportunity come August as doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are currently ranked No 1 in the world.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/12/2008 7:16 AM

Another easy winner - gotta love these big favorites LOL
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/12/2008 10:38 AM

Wednesday EARLY (6 am Eastern) pick is posted.

FYI, Michael Phelps is -5000 to win the 200m butterfly tonight at Pinnacle if any of you have accounts there LOL
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/12/2008 1:39 PM

Team USA softball team covers the -8 with the OVER 8.5 also cashing in an 11-0 win over Venezuela.  They set an Olympic record for most runs scored in a game
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/12/2008 8:47 PM

Anybody with me on this baseball play early tomorrow morning?
 

posted by thehitman on 08/12/2008 9:03 PM

Heck, I'll follow along with ya...good luck!
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/12/2008 9:10 PM

ill lay the 125 .. Lets Go Matty

 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/12/2008 11:03 PM

Let's cash it boys!
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 7:21 AM

Sorry guys, I should stay away from the homer picks here.  I can't seem to pick a baseball winner to save my life right now.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 11:58 AM

With gold medals in his last three events, Michael Phelps will break former U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz's
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 11:58 AM

With gold medals in his last three events, Michael Phelps will break former U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz's
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/13/2008 12:43 PM

Matty, I'm not sure if you're interested, but I've been looking at the Men's 100m sprint and it looks like the gold will go to either Usain Bolt of Tyson Gay with Asafa Powell taking the bronze.  I got Bolt at +140 at Sportsbook and Gay at +200 at BetUS for $50 apiece.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 1:08 PM

Definitely interested - I didn't see this event up yet but just found it at BetUS.  I think I will be fading the Team USA men's basketball team but will be playing Bolt as well (-105).
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 1:25 PM

Added picks for Thursday.
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/13/2008 2:42 PM

Matty was going to play that play, but my book only had moneyline at 300 so i passed on it

 

posted by Floridachad on 08/13/2008 2:45 PM

Glad to see you're on Greece also.  Grabbed that yesterday at +22.5.  
 

posted by petey on 08/13/2008 4:50 PM

would like to get your take on usa/greecw Basketball tom morning. usa-20.5 iI think usa will come out and want to put a hurtin on them. might just lay the 20.5.

 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 7:14 PM

Petey, I'm taking Greece.  I think Team USA wins this one by 15.
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/13/2008 9:29 PM

Good luck Matty, hope you can hit these. I am on it with you.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 9:36 PM

Cool - nice avatar.  I think you're lying LOL
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/13/2008 9:39 PM

that is actually a tee shirt, but I liked it and thought it would be perfect for posting here at pregame. :) I like you blog as long as you are posting winners!! :)
 

posted by jmoo2k8 on 08/13/2008 9:56 PM

I saw something else about the USA/Greece game the total is 173. I have read and heard the Greeks are good at the slowing the tempo. I locked in on Greece at +22.5 yesterday and im going to play the under also.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/13/2008 10:03 PM

I actually like that as a parlay and will follow you.  Thanks!
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/13/2008 10:21 PM

Got Bolt at +140 for 50
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/14/2008 6:32 AM

Looks like US may have been the play today!
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/14/2008 6:46 AM

That was Sad even in garbage time Greece was outplayed
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/14/2008 6:49 AM

You think USA knew what the spread was?  D-Wade was trying to help us out by missing all those free throws too.  I am still not impressed with this team at all.  They just play hot potato on offense, and the difference is clearly on defense where they have superior size and speed.  They still won't win gold.
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 7:15 AM

Where's the plays?  Taking USA -16 v Greece this morning.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 7:23 AM

I had the 100m final up here for tonight and didn't really like anything else.  Are you taking USA over Spain?
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 7:32 AM

Yeah, we'll see what they're made of today.  They definitely have the ability to destroy Spain, the question is whether they have the heart.  
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 7:33 AM

Ah, I see I wrote Greece rather than Spain.  I'm an idiot sometimes.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 7:38 AM

Gotcha - I'm staying away from that one but tend to agree with you.  If they are gonna win the gold, they will win big today.
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 7:57 AM

Bolt just won the gold and set a new world record 9.69 seconds.  Holy cow that's fast.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 8:04 AM

Awesome - that's a nice winner for us.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 9:02 AM

Great call on the Redeem Team Chad - looks like they might win the gold medal after all.
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 9:04 AM

Easy money with Team USA today.  They flat out ran Spain out of the building.  119-82 final.

 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/16/2008 9:21 AM

Matty Thanks For the Bolt  Pick that was easy considering  I got it at +140 thanks

 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 9:28 AM

You're welcome Casey - I added a women's handball underdog pick for tonight (9 pm Eastern).
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 7:38 PM

Added an early men's field hockey play for Sunday (6 am Eastern).
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/16/2008 8:45 PM

Bolt easier winner!!
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 10:06 PM

Sumbitch!  I made the Usain Bolt pick 4 days ago in this thread.  And I told everyone that they could get it at +140.  How 'bout "Thanks Floridachad"?  No respect
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/16/2008 10:08 PM

Thanks Floridachad for the free money!
 

posted by Floridachad on 08/16/2008 10:18 PM

Right on! (high five ensues)
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/17/2008 7:57 PM

Couple men's basketball plays - one for late tonight and one for early Monday morning.  Kaman is gonna wish he wasn't playing for Germany in this one.  Final tuneup for the Redeem Team should be an easy 40-point win if not more.
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/17/2008 8:10 PM

Just got the Redeem team at -35, lets Go USA!!
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/17/2008 8:10 PM

Thanks Chad for the Bolt pick

 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/18/2008 7:22 AM

Should have just stuck with Team USA.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/18/2008 9:55 PM

Sticking with the Team USA women's basketball team early Tuesday (8 am Eastern).
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/19/2008 6:55 AM

Looks like I took the wrong American to win the balance beam though I must say Shawn Johnson wasn't even an option.
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/19/2008 10:56 PM

Matty what do you think about Team Usa mens and Aussies over 179 I like it think that Mills will push Tempo and lots of Scoring
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/19/2008 11:05 PM

I like it Casey and will ride the OVER with you as my play.  I really wanted to make a pick on the side but can't do it.
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/20/2008 6:46 AM

Nothing Better than a Easy Over    $
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/20/2008 7:18 AM

Thanks Casey!  Glad I stayed away from the side too (-31) LOL
 

posted by CASEYWARD420 on 08/20/2008 7:43 AM

I hear ya Man ... I almost took the Aussies but Liked the over alot it looked to Good to pass up
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/21/2008 10:27 AM

Baseball play added for tonight (10:30 pm Eastern).
 

posted by Straguzzi on 08/21/2008 1:14 PM

I took the Under; we'll see what happens!!!
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 7:10 AM

Late pick on the OVER in the Team USA men's basketball game.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 9:17 AM

Brutal couple losses the last couple days  guys.  Six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the Cubans yesterday and then losing today's game by a basket hurts.  Sorry for the losers.
 

posted by Denver Money on 08/22/2008 9:26 AM

I can't believe noone scored the last 1:30 that sucked to kill the over for us! I thought this would be an easy winner!!!
 

posted by giraffe on 08/22/2008 1:06 PM

what you think about womens volleyball pk em cuba vs china, cuba undefeated, dont see why china is favorite
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 1:15 PM

Very good question - I see we can get -105 on Cuba right now.  I didn't understand why the Chinese were seeded higher than Misty May and Kerri Walsh either.  Let's take a shot here.
 

posted by giraffe on 08/22/2008 1:30 PM

thanks for all your picks, you keep betting fun with all these huge baseball moneys that are getting out of hand been doing well, laid off over today usa and cuba yesterday but i love cuba tonight in volleyball
 

posted by giraffe on 08/22/2008 1:31 PM

matty im talking about regular volleyball not beach
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 1:38 PM

I know, I was just making the comparison between the Chinese being seeded higher than the Americans in beach volleyball even though they got smoked.  It seems like there is a bias to the Chinese, but I'll take a shot with you on the unbeaten Cubans.
 

posted by giraffe on 08/22/2008 1:41 PM

host country, they thought they would win medal count but getting smoked at the present moment
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 1:42 PM

Right, I agree, so we definitely have some value here with the better team.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/22/2008 11:17 PM

Small play on Korea in baseball for the gold ($50 to win $80).
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/23/2008 7:21 AM

Finally cashed a nice doggie.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/23/2008 8:51 AM

Congrats to the Team USA women's basketball team for winning the gold medal.  I added a play for the men's game late tonight.
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/23/2008 10:55 PM

Anybody else have action on tonight's game?
 

posted by Dommylocks on 08/23/2008 11:00 PM

Have a nice play on ESP +22, no way the teams shoot  the same way (esp 21.4 % usa 56%) from 3pt land.....

My rule for team USA is play -20 or less fade -20.5 or more.....

My gut says 97-77

Good luck Matty
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/23/2008 11:03 PM

How 'bout 102-82?
 

posted by Dommylocks on 08/23/2008 11:05 PM

Okay 101-82
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/23/2008 11:08 PM

Do you think we have a shot in water polo (+250)?
 

posted by Matty O'Shea on 08/24/2008 1:07 AM

Passed on water polo but just made my final pick of the Olympics in boxing.
Featured posts from Matty O'Shea


Add Pregame Blogs to your list of bookmarks
Pregame > Blogs > Matty O'Shea
direct link: www.PregameBlogs.com

PregameForums.com: free sports betting picks, sportsbook gambling tips