John Reger

John Reger

Sports Betting  |  LAS VEGAS

Muck Rack profile

Journeyman journalist John Reger is in the Vegas sportsbooks chasing down the latest shift in the world of sports betting and all things odds-related. He previously worked as a sports writer for the Orange County Register in California and is the author of Wit and Wisdom of Golf (2001) and Quotable Wooden (2012), among other books.

Carolina defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is ready for Thursday’s Carolina-Tampa Bay game. (Image: AP)

Defensive Tackle Gerald McCoy Not Thinking Revenge in Carolina-Tampa Bay Game

Thursday’s Carolina-Tampa Bay game will see defensive tackle Gerald McCoy’s new team meet his old one, but he isn’t thinking revenge. When McCoy signed with Carolina, many thought this game would give him extra motivation. It’s being billed as a revenge game for McCoy, who sees his old team for […]

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler made his team forget about holdout Melvin Gordon in the team’s win against Indianapolis. (Image: LA Times)

NFL Betting Notes: Austin Ekeler Making Chargers Forget Melvin Who?

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is making management and fans forget holdout Melvin Gordon pretty quickly. Gordon’s understudy the past two years, Ekeler had a breakout game Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, giving bettors plenty to think about. The 24-year-old rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries, including […]

LSU jumped up to No. 4 after defeating Texas on Saturday, 45-38. (Getty)

SEC Showing Dominance in AP Top 25 College Football Poll

Proving they are the strongest conference in football, the SEC grabbed three of the top four spots in Week 3’s AP Top 25 College Football Poll. Clemson remains firmly in No. 1, but SEC’s Alabama, Georgia, and LSU follow. Clemson had an early season test, facing No. 12 Texas A&M. […]

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia was on crutches, but it was his defense that looked crippled in the fourth quarter against Arizona. (Image: Getty)

NFL Week 1 Sees Comebacks, Blowouts, Bad Beats

Comebacks and blowouts were the running theme for Week 1 in the NFL. Some of them were surprising, while others were totally predictable. The favorites went 5-7-1 against the spread, and home teams were 3-9-1 ATS. The biggest comeback of the day was the Arizona Cardinals. They were getting three […]

Georgia scored early and often against Murray State, but it wasn’t enough to cover the big point spread. (Image: Tony Walsh.UGA)

Big Points Spreads – Bigger Problem for Alabama, Georgia

In college football, big points spreads are always problematic for bettors, and Week 2 was no different. Alabama and Georgia both had lines of 50 or more points, and both failed to cover. Alabama, who is ranked second in the country according to the AP Top 25 poll, was a […]

Arizona rookie quarterback Kyler Murray could have a difficult time against the Detroit Lions. (Image: Getty)

One Bet, $100: Arizona Cardinals Could Have Rough Year

The Arizona Cardinals are going to be just as bad this year as they were last year. This is just a hunch, but I believe it, and in a new feature here at OG News, I’m going to share with you that one possible wager in which I’m willing to […]

Antonio Brown was waived by the Oakland Raiders, but was signed quickly by the New England Patriots. (Image: Kirby Lee)

Antonio Brown Waived by Raiders, Quickly Snapped Up by Pats

It didn’t take long for controversial wide receiver Antonio Brown to find a new team. Hours after being released by the Oakland Raiders, the New England Patriots signed Brown to a one-year deal. Oakland had grown tired of the circus surrounding the talented All Pro, especially after Brown’s recent antics. […]

NFL Week 1 Matchups Tackle Unanswered Questions, Reshuffled Rosters

NFL Week 1 Matchups Tackle Unanswered Questions, Reshuffled Rosters

NFL Week 1 began on Thursday with Green Bay beating Chicago by a very Green Bay-Chicago kind of score, 10-3. While we can’t even begin to explain what oddsmakers were thinking when they set the over/under at 47, a little early disconnect between betting lines and on-field results should probably […]

Washington coach Jay Gruden is the 3/1 favorite to be the first NFL coach fired this season. (Image: AP)

Washington’s Jay Gruden Favorite to be First NFL Coach Fired

Jay Gruden knows that he is basically coaching for his job this season with the Washington Redskins. And oddsmakers don’t believe he’ll make it to the end of the season. Gruden is the 3/1 favorite according to Bovada. Pat Shurmur of the New York Giants is next at 7/1, while […]

Jimmie Johnson is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. (Image: Getty)

Jimmie Johnson Looking for Miracle to Make NASCAR Playoffs

Jimmie Johnson needs a miracle to make NASCAR’s Monster Energy Cup Playoff, and the Brickyard might be the place for it to happen. Johnson, though, is a 60/1 longshot to win on Sunday. Kyle Busch is the favorite at 3/1. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are next at 6/1. The […]

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will lead the Crimson Tide against New Mexico State this Saturday. (Image: AP)

Can Michigan, Alabama, Clemson Cover Big Point Spreads?

This is the time of the college football season when there are some big point spreads, but this Saturday, there are some huge differentials. The first couple of weeks of the season is when we see non-conference opponents trade their dignity for some cash and play the big boys. Universities […]

Ryan Newman’s car suffered some damage after contact with Daniel Suarez in last week’s Southern 500. (Image: Getty)

Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman Spinning for Last Spot in NASCAR Playoff

Sunday night’s Southern 500 at Darlington was the penultimate race before the NASCAR playoff, and Ryan Newman tangled with Daniel Suarez while battling for a spot. Suarez made contact with Newman, sending him spinning. He eventually finished in 23rd place, while Suarez finished 11th. That put the two into a […]

Central Florida University has been very kind to spread bettors, and we hope they cover again this week against Florida Atlantic. (Image: AP)
One Bet, $100

Central Florida Experts at Covering Spread

We love Central Florida. We especially love Central Florida against the spread. In a new feature that debuts Thursday, I will be taking a $100 to the sportsbook every week of College Football, and placing it on one game. It might be the moneyline, or ATS, or possibly the over/under. […]

Chicago linebacker Khalil Mack will lead the Bears’ defense, which was ranked No. 1 last season. (Image: Getty)

Longest NFL Rivalry Green Bay at Chicago Never Gets Old

It is the oldest rivalry in the NFL, and the Green Bay at Chicago kicks off Week 1 of the NFL season. One team is getting over a heartbreaking playoff loss, while the other will see if a new coach can turn around the team’s fortunes. Chicago is a 3-point […]

Florida defeated Miami, but the victory didn’t impress voters of the AP Top 25 College Football Poll. (Image: Tampa Bay Times)

Florida Wins, Still Drops in AP Top 25 College Football Poll

Florida’s slim victory over Miami didn’t impress voters of the AP Top 25 College Football Poll. They dropped the Gators from No. 8 to No. 11. Florida didn’t fare much better with the Coaches Poll, slipping from eighth to 10th. Week 1 of the college football season didn’t offer many […]

Philadelphia defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was one of several Eagles that had missed the preseason due to injury, but he and four others could be in uniform for Sunday’s opener against the Washington Redskins. (Image: Getty)

Philadelphia Eagles Could be Getting Five Injured Starters Back on Field

Good news for Philadelphia Eagles fans. The team is getting a bunch of injured players back just before the start of the regular season on Sunday. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, right guard Brandon Brooks, linebacker Nigel Bradham, defensive end Derek Barnett and cornerback Ronald Darby should all be ready for […]

Veteran running back LeSean McCoy was cut by the Buffalo Bills, but resigned with the Kansas City Chiefs. (Image: Getty)

Running Backs Proving to be Overvalued Commodity for NFL Teams

It is not a good time to be an NFL running back. There are exceptions, such as New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, but others at the position are finding it tough. Teams around the league are showing through their actions that they don’t value that […]

Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts showed that he can still compete at a high level, leading his new team Oklahoma to a big win over Houston. (Image: Kevin Jairaj)

Jalen Hurts, Mack Brown Show Former Teams What They are Missing

College Football made its triumphant return this weekend, and Jalen Hurts was one big winner. The games for the most part went according to plan. No team in the top 10 lost, with most of them winning easily. There were some mild surprises below the top 10, with No. 11 […]