Ladies and gentlemen, we have finally arrived. My name is Matt Martellucci and welcome to Lucky Lucciano, your new source for gambling content on The Liberty Line. Today is the last day in August. preseason football is a thing of the past. Final 53-man rosters are due this afternoon, and we are moving right into football season. With football (much like every other sport) comes gambling. The Liberty Line is about to launch a huge partnership with a certain Sportsbook for the upcoming NFL season and I’m here to kick things off as a little preview of what to expect over the next 5-6 months. First, let’s start with an origin story to really put my gambling vice into perspective. 

Read More: Eagles Index Preseason >>

Everything starts when I was 12 years old on a family vacation to Captiva Island in Florida. This is where the transformation from a young boy to a degenerate gambler began to take shape. My family was at a restaurant that had hermit crab racing. Yes, Hermit Crab Racing. These were the days before social media, but with a quick Google Search, here’s an accurate scene upon entering the Tween Waters Inn. To note: It was not as nearly this packed but I felt like I was James Bond sitting down at a high-stakes table in Casino Royale. 

God bless America. 

Upon entering this newfound world of gambling, I raced over to my dad and asked him for $1.00 to enter the next Hermit Crab Heat. I then headed over to the bin of “racing crabs” and found my golden ticket. This colossal, not even hermit, just a straight up crab in a shell, sauntered into the ring as the other loser crabs cowered in terror. 

The race started and my newly named crab Goliath caused other crabs to flee back into their shells in the midst of his wake. I won an easy $22.00, including my dad’s contribution, as my life took an abrupt pivot in a new direction. Immediately, my brain rewired itself. It was like I had a new superpower with the ability to predict the future and make money while doing so. 

It only took two heats before Goliath brought home a win. The rest is history. I was now a full blown gambling degenerate at the ripe age of twelve. The years followed with thousands of March Madness brackets, more fantasy football teams than I could keep track of, and side bets at the cafeteria school table rolling dice and betting on which one of my friends would do the dumbest thing around school. 

From there, came my promotion to the big leagues of actual sports betting. 

Back to the real reason for this article. Thanks for sticking with me on a trip down memory lane. RIP Goliath, clearly I will never forget you. If you haven’t noticed, we can finally gamble on sports legally in the state of Pennsylvania. Not like that stopped us before. Block your neighborhood bookie, forget any outstanding debts, and go corporate via one of the million sports books apps online. For The Liberty Line, we are locked in with Parx Sportsbook. But there’s no need to sign up there yet. We will have special odds boosts and promotions coming soon and honestly, until we have links and promo codes, stick with who you have and we’ll let you know when the time comes to make the switch. It’s all about the money, baby. 

But first, if you’re truly a degenerate and can’t stop gambling, do yourself a favor, call 1-800-522-4700; help is available 24/7 and 100% confidential.

First rule of gambling, bet within your means. To put that in simpler terms, bet with the largest amount of money you’re willing to lose in one weekend and spread that over a couple bets. This blog series is a betting menu. Pick and choose your favorite bets, tail me, fade me, I don’t care honestly. Time will tell if I’m worth the follow, but right now in this very moment, my confidence is at an all time high. Do what you want with it. 

One Last Note: I am setting my units to 50, but do whatever amount you are comfortable with waging

*all odds via Parx Sportsbook as of 8/31/21*

Las Vegas Raiders UNDER 7.0 wins

ODDS: -115

BET: $58

WIN: $50.46

Who are the Las Vegas Raiders? Like honestly, what is their identity as a football team? PFF ranked their offensive line at 26th in the NFL, and they even signed 38-year old Richie Incognito to “bolster” that unit. They don’t seem to be a “run it down your throat” team with Josh Jacobs averaging 3.9 yards per carry last season. Their receiving core consists of Henry Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow, John “Smokey” Brown, Willie Snead, Zay Jones, and Bryan Edwards. They possess speed and some reliable hands, but no one has proven themselves as the go-to alpha receiver besides TE Darren Waller.

Mike Mayock’s 6th overall pick in 2019, DL Clelin Ferrell, is currently a backup, and PFF ranks their defensive line as the 26th worst heading into 2021. For more salt on the wound, PFF put them as the 29th worst secondary mainly because of youth and overall inexperience. Lastly, the Raiders have a juggernaut offensive division and the 8th most difficult schedule. It looks to be the Carr & Waller show once again, and this could be Gruden and Derek’s last dance together. This is just a bad team heading for a disastrous season.

Jacksonville Jaguars UNDER 5.5 wins

ODDS: +140

BET: $50

WIN: $70

Urban Meyer is bringing a college head coach approach to a professional team in Jacksonville. What an innovative and never-before-seen strategy! 

The Jaguars bring back the same starting offensive line that allowed the 7th most sacks in the league last season (44). PFF has them ranked as the 23rd worst offensive line heading into 2021. I’m not sure a rookie quarterback can thrive under that with a bottom-tier defense and a mediocre set of weapons. No matter how generational he might be.

New York Jets UNDER 5.5 wins

ODDS: +130

BET: $50

WIN: $65

Speaking of bad offensive lines, the Jets finished right behind the Jaguars, giving up the 8th most sacks last season (43). Another case of a rookie quarterback tossed into NFL action straight away, but even worse, playing for the New York Jets. Luckily, Zach Wilson’s new defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh should help him with the ins and outs of being a professional quarterback.

The Jets’ offensive line is making strides towards improvement, but a lot of pressure is on rookie Alijah Vera-Tucker to hold down a starting guard spot. Also, their atrocious secondary negates whatever Corey Davis and Elijah Moore bring to the table with a first-time offensive coordinator as well.

Detroit Lions UNDER 5 wins

ODDS: -120

BET: $50

WIN: $42

A rookie head coach who’s hopelessly addicted to caffeine and wants his team biting knee caps off. Total football guy, who needs X’s and O’s any way in today’s game?

So the Lions finished 6-10 last season with Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. You’re telling me that replacing those guys with Jared Goff, Tyrell Williams, and Breshad Perriman will even come close to that win total? The Lions boast a formidable offensive line (PFF ranked 10th) and emerging RB D’Andre Swift coupled with Jamaal Williams. However, they face the 6th toughest schedule in terms of opponents’ 2020 win percentage and are in a tough defensive division.

New York Giants UNDER 7.0 wins

ODDS: +118

BET: $50

WIN: $59

It’s the classic case of a team over-spending in free agency with the hopes that it will elevate their young quarterback. The defense is something to be wary of, but if this year falls on Daniel Jones’ shoulders to win games, feed me that under every single day.

I love Saquon Barkley, but any running back (besides AP) coming off ACL surgery gives me pause for concern, especially during the new 18-game season. Lastly, the entire team brawl with Daniel Jones at the bottom of the pile and HC Joe Judge bringing in the actual police to teach accountability has dumpster fire written all over it.

Stay tuned for a ton of new gambling content from The Liberty Line and great promotions and odds boosts from TLL and Parx Sportsbook in the coming weeks. Let’s win some money this football season or at the very least, go down in a heap of flames together.