Prime Suspects Tackles NBA, NHL New All Star Break Formats and Betting ... Plus Top College Player Props Upcoming

This week's Prime Suspects is back with Ep. 69 (where have we been?), hosted by Matt Landes, and featuring our long time friend Joe Brennan Jr. and gambling software entrepreneur extraordinaire Adam Bjorn. In this broadcast, the guys discuss:

•     How the NBA and NHL All-Star Game format changes impacted betting activity
•     A potential tax hike on online gaming in New Jersey and its implications for the industry
•     Speculation on FanDuel and DraftKings entering the sports prediction market through partnerships

Prime Sportsbook is Ohio's premier high limits regulated online sportsbook.  Covers.com calls Prime Sportsbook the "best odds with reduced juice"

How Much Did the New NBA and NHL Formats Affect Betting Handle?

"We didn't really notice any drop offs but we didn't really notice much action either," Bjorn said of the new formats.

It's not as if Prime Sportsbook users aren't into hockey.  Prime Sportsbook has exposure in New Jersey, where the Devils play, while Bjorn's software Plannatech is used by BetCRIS in Arizona, also a state with an NHL team.

The NHL 4-Nations, in particular, has widely been seen as a massive success in terms of viewership. Tne NBA new format, not so much.  We'll get to that momentarily.

The championship game of the best-on-best international tournament between the United States and Canada on Thursday was watched by 16.1 million viewers in North America, with 9.3 million viewers in the United States and 6.3 million in Canada.

Those numbers sound impressive, and they are.

According to the NHL, it was the second-most watched hockey game in the past decade behind Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

And the NBA All Star new format?

Consider that one an epic fail.

Their game averaged 4.7 million viewers, which was the second lowest after the 2023 All-Star game. A fall of 13% in the viewership according to entertainment reporter Ryan Glasspiegel. The NBA All-Star Game averaged 4.7 million viewers—the second-least-watched game on record.

In other words, nobody was really interested in watching or wagering.

Gambling911.com definitely got some initial search interest for the NBA All Star odds, then mostly crickets when folks realized what a dud this one would be..... and it was.

"The traders (gamblers) did not understand the format," Bjorn says.

And reading Bjorn's expression, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that even he had a tough time understanding the format.

In any event, be sure to subscribe to Prime Suspects on Apple.

This would be a great time to mention that the Gambling911.com videos are coming soon.  We're excited about this endeavor.

Anticipated College Basketball Player Prop Bets for Monday February 24

Michigan vs. Nebraska

The Cornhuskers and Wolverines face off Monday for the first time in Big Ten play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brice Williams is scoring 19.4 points per game with 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the Cornhuskers. Juwan Gary is averaging 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.1% over the past 10 games.

Vladislav Goldin is averaging 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Wolverines. Danny Wolf is averaging 13.6 points over the last 10 games.

Williams we anticipate coming in with a scoring total of 18.5 at BetOnline Monday morning when these numbers are released.

Williams closed Sunday's 68-64 victory over Northwestern with 21 points (6-14 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 8-10 FT), four rebounds, four assists and three steals across 39 minutes.

From Rotowire:

"Williams connected on 8-of-10 looks from the charity stripe, closing with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals during Sunday's win over the Wildcats. The 6-foot-7 senior has started in all 26 games this season, averaging 19.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals on 32.8 minutes per game. Williams will look to keep the Cornhuskers rolling during Wednesday's matchup with the Nittany Lions."

Gary should come in with a total of 15.5, maybe 14.5 with this game expected to be more competitive. He recorded 22 points last week against Maryland.

Goldin will likely come in at 14.5.  He supplied 21 points (7-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 7-11 FT) and five rebounds over 33 minutes during Friday's 75-62 loss to Michigan State.

Houston vs. Texas Tech

The Cougars have gone 15-1 against Big 12 opponents. Houston is seventh in the Big 12 with 33.2 rebounds per game led by J'wan Roberts averaging 6.3.

Texas Tech makes 48.2% of its shots from the field this season, which is 9.9 percentage points higher than Houston has allowed to its opponents (38.3%). Houston has shot at a 46.2% clip from the field this season, 4.5 percentage points higher than the 41.7% shooting opponents of Texas Tech have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: JT Toppin is scoring 17.4 points per game and averaging 9.1 rebounds for the Red Raiders. Chance McMillian is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Toppin should be listed at 16.5 scoring points Over/Under for Monday night's game. He logged 22 points (9-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, one assist and one block in 34 minutes during Saturday's 73-51 victory over West Virginia.

LJ Cryer is shooting 41.2% and averaging 15.0 points for the Cougars. Milos Uzan is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Cryer will likely come in at 13.5 or 14.5 scoring for this game on the prop builders.

Cryer logged 28 points (11-17 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 35 minutes during Saturday's 68-59 win over Iowa State.