If you are a regular visitor at Notinhalloffame.com, you know that we created the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where in every regular season game, we award points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five performers.  This is the third year that we have done this, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic won the first two.

To keep everyone regularly in the loop this time, we have decided to give regular updates, starting at when the first player cracked 100 Points, and tell all of you the top ten.  We will this going forward with every update as the first player breaches the elevated ten-point threshold afterward.

Here is the current top ten, based on the first player to breach 180 Notinhalloffame Cup Points:

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 182 Cup Points:  44 Games, 33.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 29.9 PER, 7.8 WS.  (#1 on last ranking)

Doncic is still at number #1, but is he is still the MVP front-runner?  The man at #2 is staking a claim for that.  The European star is currently leading the NBA in Points per Game (33.8) and is 4^th in Assists per Game (8.8).  The Mavericks will go as far as Doncic can take them.

2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 177 Points:  46 Games, 31.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 24.6 PER, 6.8 WS.  (#2 on last ranking)

Tatum is threatening to top the list, and for many is the current front runner for the NBA MVP.  He has never finished with a PPG over 30, but he has that currently (31.0).

3 (Tie). Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 160 Cup Points:  42 Games, 25.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 9.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 32.4 PER, 9.5 WS.  (#3 on last ranking)

The “Joker” has been great lately, and we know someone wants to get that third Cup!  He is currently leading the NBA in PER (32.4), VORP (5.4), Box Plus/Minus (13.2) and Win Shares (9.5).

3 (Tie). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 160 Cup Points:  43 Games, 30.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 27.0 PER, 7.1 WS. (#3 on last ranking)

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be an All-Star this year, and is shattering last year’s averages, which were already good.  How great will this Canadian be?

5 (Tie). Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, 153 Cup Points:  39 Games, 29.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 26.8 PER, 6.4 WS.  (#5 on last ranking)

The Nets were on fire, and Durant was posting his best numbers over the past three years.  K.D. is now on the injured list with an MCL injury, and will miss a month, that will cost him the MVP and of course, the NIHOF Cup.  He dropped three spots from out last update.

6 (Tie). Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 153 Cup Points:  39 Games, 27.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 23.5 PER, 4.1 WS. (#8 on last ranking)

Morant is the face of the Grizzles, and he is posting similar numbers from last year, when he took Memphis to the next level.

5 (Tie). Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 153 Cup Points:  36 Games, 30.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 26.9 PER, 4.4 WS. (#6 on last ranking)

The two-time MVP has the least amount of Games Played of anyone else in the top ten, and had he not missed them, would potentially be in the top spot.

8 (Tie). Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 148 Points:  49 Games, 24.6 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 21.1 PER, 5.8 WS. (#9 on last ranking)

Randle continues to climb the list, and currently has a higher PPG (24.4), as his All-Star year two years ago (24.1).

8 (Tie). Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 148 Cup Points:  34 Games, 33.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 30.9 PER, 6.1 WS.  (#9 on last ranking)

Embiid is currently second in Points per Game (behind Doncic), but is currently dealing with a foot injury.

10. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, 142 Points:  43 Games, 27.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 9.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 21.4 PER, 3.6 WS. (#10 on last ranking)

Young holds the final spot on the top ten, and is the face of an intriguing Hawks squad.  

Our next update will happen after the first player breaches 170 Cup Points.

Ranking the Top 5 Sports in the United States

The United States being a sports-obsessed country surprises no one. Americans love their sports, especially if they get to drink and eat snacks while watching.

Grandstands are nearly always full for the popular professional leagues, while many elite colleges even sell out their arenas while playing games throughout the year.

With online sports betting also legalized in many parts of the country, the nation’s fascination with competitive sports is only likely to get more frenzied.

The love of sports in America has not changed much in the past few decades, but popular sports are slightly different. While dominant sports such as American football are here to stay, some sports have risen up the rankings and captured the hearts of Americans in recent years.

Below is our rundown of the top five sports in the United States.

1. American Football

No game has a deeper meaning in American culture than American football, which was invented and is mostly played in the United States. When you talk with any person on the street in any part of the USA, you can likely get them talking about their favorite football team if you steer the conversation in that direction.

The National Football League regularly has better TV viewership numbers compared to other sports on this list. This shows that even when Americans are not attending football games in person, they watch at home.

Aside from the professional league, college football is also a phenomenon in the United States. Colleges can regularly sell out huge stadiums of 30,000 or 40,000 people, while they even get TV viewership numbers in the millions for big games.

2. Baseball

Another sport that is huge in the United States is baseball. Slightly more popular around the world compared to American football, baseball is still predominantly seen as an American sport. Around half of all Americans have a favorite baseball team, even if all of them are not watching regularly.

One of the reasons why baseball has always remained so popular in America, even in an era of decreased attention spans, is because of its part in the country’s culture. Going to a baseball game is not about watching the sport, but about having a day out with friends or family at a wonderful stadium in a great part of your city.

College baseball is not on the same level as college football in terms of popularity, but ratings for MLB baseball games do compare with NFL football, depending on the time of the year and who is playing. Betting stats also show that similar numbers of wagers are placed on baseball games, as compared to American football matches.

3. Basketball

The sport of basketball is in an interesting position in the United States. There is huge money in the league, with the top players such as LeBron James making a fortune on and off the court.

Stadiums are usually full, and there is a lot of attention on college basketball as well. The issue for basketball is that despite having a lot of money in the sport and a great deal of popular cultural relevance, its TV ratings are not on par with football or baseball.

Around a quarter of Americans say they play basketball semi-regularly, but the issue is that most of them are not watching most weeks. One of the reasons that basketball may not get the TV ratings of other sports is that there are so many regular season and playoff games that it can feel overwhelming for fans.

4. Boxing

While MMA is clipping at the heels of boxing through its popular UFC league, the sport is still hugely popular in the United States. Top athletes of the past, such as Mohammed Ali, are national icons. Even modern stars, like Floyd Mayweather, are well-known and extremely successful because of the sport.

Boxing does have more of a niche audience, compared to the other sports on this list, but that audience is very passionate. Boxing fans not only know a great deal about the history of the sport, but they are willing to pay good money to watch their favorite boxers compete, both in person and on television.

5. Soccer

A surprise appearance on this list, soccer has risen in popularity in the United States in the past decade. While the beautiful game is legendary worldwide, it does not always get the same recognition or appreciation stateside.

That is changing with the latest generation of sports fans in America, with many now tuning in to watch European soccer leagues such as the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga. Competitions such as the men’s and women’s World Cup have also contributed to the sport’s increased presence in the United States.

With America set to be one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup, soccer may even grab a fourth spot on this list in a few years.

If you are a Baseball fan, today is the day in “Hall of Fame Season” that is the pinnacle: the annual announcement of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class.

Rolen enters the ballot on his 6^th year on the ballot.  Increasing his total from 63.2% to squeaking in with 76.3%, Rolen was a seven-time All-Star, a World Series Champion in 2006 with St. Louis and he also won eight Gold Gloves at Third Base and one Silver Slugger.  He enters Cooperstown with 2,077 Hits, 316 Home Runs, a bWAR of 70.1 and a decision as to which hat he will wear on his plaque (it has to be St. Louis, right?).  Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The players who did not make the Hall were:

Todd Helton, 72.2%, 5^th Year on the Ballot.  Helton looks like he will wait one more year, but he is getting in, showing a 20.2% rise from the year before.  The “Toddfather” blasted 369 Home Runs with 2,519 Hits with a lifetime Batting Average of .316, and the five-time All-Star had four Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves.  Helton is ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Billy Wagner, 68.1%, 8^th Year on the Ballot:  Wagner keeps getting closer, showing a sizable increase from his 51% from last year.  The former seven-time All-Star and owner of 422 Saves looks to be the next Relief Pitcher to be inducted. Wagner is ranked #41 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Andruw Jones, 58.1%, 6^th Year on the Ballot:  We were stunned when in both 2018 and 2019, that Jones had less then 10% of the votes, and how could we not be!  The native of Curacao has 434 Home Runs, a bWAR over 60, a Silver Slugger and ten Gold Gloves.  Last year, Jones had 41.4%, and his voting rise tells us that he will enter this decade.  Jones is ranked #38 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Sheffield, 55.0%, 9^th Year on the Ballot:  Sheffield is a member of the 500 Home Run club, but the nine-time All-Star played for eight different teams, and his appearance on the Mitchell Report does him no favors.  He climbed substantially from 40.6%, but he only has one more shot.  He won’t get there.  Sheffield is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Carlos Beltran, 46.5%, 1^st Year on the Ballot.  Betran has the Hall of Fame resume (2,725 Hits, 435 HR, 1,587 RBI, 312 SB & 70.1 bWAR) but we suspect that many voters wanted Beltran to pay penance for his lead   role in the Astros 2017 sign-stealing cheating scandal.  Beltran is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Kent, 46.5%, 10^th Year on the Ballot.  It is the end of the road for Kent, who was a former MVP.  His tally this year is his highest on the Modern Era ballot, and he now moves into the Senior Pool.  Kent is ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alex Rodriguez, 35.7%, 2^nd Year on the Ballot.  A-Rod has the best resume on the ballot.  He is a three-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, ten-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glove winner.  His bWAR is over 115.  He is a World Series Champion.  That will not be enough to overturn his multiple positive PED tests, and no relationship with J-Lo or anyone of her ilk will overcome this.  He did improve from last year’s 34.3, but not by much.  Rodriguez is ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Manny Ramirez, 33.2%, 7^th Year on the Ballot.  Manny Ramirez is one of the most important players in Red Sox history, but like A-Rod, he was caught taking PEDs after the MLBPA agreed to that players would be suspended if caught.  Ramirez will continue to tread water until he is ushered off the ballot in three years.  He is Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Omar Vizquel 19.5%, 6^th Year on the ballot   PEDs have derailed many potential Hall of Famers on this list, but for Vizquel it is domestic violence.  When that scandal came out, the 11-time Gold Glove recipient, who was once at 52.0% of the voting, dropped to 23.9% and is now even lower at 19.5%.  He has no chance.  Vizquel is ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Andy Pettitte, 17.0%, 5^th Year on the Ballot.  Pettitte won 256 Games over his career, won five World Series Rings, but also has a positive PED test, which is costing him a plethora of votes.  He is ranked #39 o Notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Abreu, 15.4%, 4^th Year on the Ballot.  Abreu amassed 2,425 Hits, was a two-time All-Star and he breaks double-digits in voting for the first time.  It is still a tough task for Abreu, but based on his plate-patience, he can wait!  He is ranked #77 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Rollins, 12.9%, 2^nd Year on the Ballot.  The former World Series Champion and MVP remains on the ballot with excellent power numbers, but lousy advanced metrics.  He is Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Buehrle, 10.8%, 3^rd Year on the Ballot.  Buehrle continues to cling to the ballot, but is yo-yoing, going from 11.0% to 5.8% and now back up to.  Ranked #79 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Francisco Rodriguez 10.8% 1^st Year on the ballot.  K-Rod survives the first ballot, and he has similar numbers as Wagner; 437 Saves, but owns a World Series Ring.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torii Hunter 6.9%, 3^rd Year on the Ballot.  Hunter continues to hang on for life on the ballot and at this point that might be the best you can hope for.  Ranked #194 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Any candidate who received less that 5.0% of the votes are now removed from the modern era ballot.

This means that those who received 0.3% (Bronson Arroyo, R.A. Dickey, John Lackey, Mike Napoli and Huston Street) and 0.0% (Matt Cain, Jacoby Ellsbury, Andre Ethier, J.J. Hardy, Jhonny Peralta, Jared Weaver and Jayson Werth) are eliminated.

We will now remove Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen from our Notinhalloffame Baseball List and add those who are now eligible.  The list will also be revised based on your votes, comments, and social media interactions.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and we will see you this summer at Cooperstown!

Betting is a popular hobby that millions around the globe regularly practice. It’s adventurous and simply lets people enjoy sports more. Every new game is an exciting opportunity not only to cheer for your team but potentially win some money. One of the most popular sports globally is NFL. That’s why you’ll find the sports available on online casinos real money platforms. They are easily accessible from both desktop and mobile devices and offer a wide range of NFL betting features. In this article, we’ll answer the question of how to bet on NFL games at casino. Keep reading to learn a couple of valuable tips.

Pick the Right Platform

The starting step is finding the right platform for NFL betting. There are several things to take in mind. Luckily, you can explore them without even creating an account, which makes things simple. Take a look at the following:

• What’s the welcome bonus? - A good welcome bonus will help you get started with a bonus bet or a deposit match bonus that you could use. Compare bonuses offered by other brands and pick your best bet. Pay attention to playthrough requirements as these show how realistic is that you will withdraw winnings from bonus funds.
• What are the casino NFL odds? - This is a crucial thing when you take a look at the whole picture. Picking a platform with competitive odds will work well for you in the long run. You can potentially win more money if a brand is offering great NFL casino odds. Also, check whether there is any NFL casino sponsorship deal, as it might mean that the casino will offer boosted odds when that team is playing.
• What types of bets are available? - The bigger the range of available bets, the better. It only means that you have more chances to show off your knowledge and potentially make money.
• Are live streaming and betting available? - You can have it all in one platform. While you’ll find that many are offering live betting features, not many support live streaming. This is a great way to watch the game and place in-play bets while watching.
• Is the platform reputable? - Last but not least, you want a platform that will pay out your wins. So pick a reputable online casino that holds licensing from the relevant gambling authorities.

Now, let’s look at things to learn to increase your chances of winning the next bet.

Follow the Latest News

Keeping up with the latest news opens an opportunity for smarter bets. The more information you can gather, the better. This usually refers to any player injuries. If someone important is not able to play the next game for any reason, the team will not be as good as it usually is. That needs to be reflected in the bet you’re placing.

On the other hand, if a player is having some kind of challenges in his life off the pitch, there’s a chance that they might not be able to focus fully on the game. All these little things have a big role in betting. Experienced bettors are well aware of this, and that’s why you’ll find them reading about the lives of the players all the time. They are gathering more information to use when they’re betting next time.

Doing your research regularly will turn a bet into a winning one just because you were able to better predict an outcome.

Casino NFL Betting Types

As mentioned above, you want a platform that has all the popular bet types available. That way, you can combine different bets and establish strategies to increase your chances of winning. The most popular betting markets include:

• Point spreads - With a point spread, you’re placing one team at a disadvantage. So one team has to win against the other by a certain amount of points. If you score this type of bet, the reward is usually high.
• Moneyline - This is the simplest form of betting, you’re simply picking who’s going to be a winner.
• Total - This bet guesses whether the teams will score over or under the number of points proposed by the sportsbook.
• Parlay bet - Parlay bets combine multiple other bets and place them on a single bet slip. While it’s much harder to win, it’s really rewarding.
• Futures bet - This bet lets you guess the outcome of an important event in the future. For example, who’s going to win the Super Bowl, months before it happens.
• Prop bet - Prop bets are more custom, meaning that you can bet what a certain player will do in the game.

The key is to combine the knowledge gathered from the team’s previous games and news and make smarter assumptions when betting. These different bets will allow you to create a compelling strategy that might lead to a higher win chance.