You can’t go through the supermarket checkout line without bearing witness to the never-ending phenomenon that is Angelina Jolie’s baby bump. Inquiring minds want to know: Is Brangelina preggers? What will the child be named? What about twins?

The  celebrity props list is here to take your bets. Last month, People quoted a “source close to the couple” that claimed another child is on the way. As long as Jolie delivers by the end of the year, we’ve got action.

Unless someone out there has some inside information (literally), it’s all too easy to bet “No” on twins at –300. According to the Rush University Medical Center, 31 twin births occur per 1,000 women in the United States. You likewise might want to steer away from betting on triplets at 200-1; according to Hellin’s Law, you square the odds for each additional child in a multiple birth. That’s roughly one in a thousand for triplets.

Sometimes it’s too much work just to get out of bed, let alone do the research required to make a sharp bet. That’s when you decide to risk a mouthful of chalk and go for the easy button. It won’t get any easier in 2008 than betting on these 10 guaranteed locks (Note: not a guarantee).

USC over Illinois (straight up) at the Rose Bowl
The New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl
Tiger Woods to win the WGC-CA Championship
Justine Henin to win the French Open
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s first child (1-3) to be born with brown eyes
Germany (8-13) to win Euro 2008 Group B
Australia (-200) over England at The Ashes 2009
Ken Livingstone (1-2) to win the London mayoral election
Ronnie O’Sullivan (3-1) to win the World Snooker Championship
Kanye West’s Graduation (1-5) to win the Grammy for Rap Album of the Year

Boxing doesn’t have nearly the same influence it did even 30 years ago as America’s preferred gambling sport. As they say, power corrupts. But boxing remains a simple sport to bet, and its tenuous hold on the fringes of mainstream sports encourages the same level of ‘fair play’ that has led MMA out of the wilderness.

This is human combat boiled down to a very simple form: punching the other guy, in the front of the torso and head only. Differences in technology and equipment play a very small role in the ring (but a much larger one during training). As a handicapper, you’re looking for easy-to-spot indicators of the ability to throw and take punches: size, strength, even age.

Attitude doesn’t come up on the tale of the tape, but if you’re not already a student of human behavior, don’t sweat it. Win-loss records reveal a lot about a fighter’s attitude.

The best tip you could have received for NBA betting before the season began was to bet it all on the Celtics right from the start. But since the time machine hasn’t been perfected yet, you’ll have to do your homework to make some profit on your NBA bets the rest of the way. You can still keep dumping money on the Celtics, but Boston has since failed to cover the spread for the first time this season and fell to Orlando Sunday.

One factor you can take advantage of in NBA betting that doesn’t exist in the NFL is lengthy opposite-coast road trips. In the NFL teams play one week and get at least six days off before playing again. In the NBA fatigue can become a big factor when an east-coast team heads west, or a west-coast team heads east. Most coast-to-coast trips aren’t for just one game, and during a two- or three-game road trip across the country, the second or third game can be real tough on the visiting team. Give the schedule a closer look, find the teams making the cross-country journey, and try betting against them. It will often pay off.

“What will Nicole Richie and Joel Madden name their first baby?”
“Who will win the 2008 Presidential Election?”
“Who will win the Super Bowl this year?”

Proposition bets (or props): Unusual betting opportunities that can add a new level of excitement to whatever it is that you’re watching, be it a major celebrity, sports or television event.

Futures: Odds posted in advance on the winners of various major sporting events, including the World Series, NBA Championship, Stanley Cup, and Super Bowl, and can also be a valuable source of entertainment.

How to Bet on Futures

If you don’t have a big enough bankroll to tie up your funds for months at a time, then betting futures may not be the way to go for you. But if you do have some money to set aside (for the duration of the NFL football season, say) then betting futures can be very profitable. For example, let’s say you were to put down $500 on the Cleveland Browns to win the 2008 Super Bowl. At 125/1 odds to win, if the Browns pull off a miraculous season and become this season’s champs…well, you’d be in for quite a nice pay day.

Although easy to bet on, the general rule with futures bets is the earlier you bet, the higher your payoff. As the season progresses the odds on your team to win the Super Bowl will undoubtedly change…possibly for the worse.

Keep an eye out for injuries, for teams that are struggling early on, and for teams that get off to a hot start. There are a lot of bandwagon fans out there and if they all bet on one team the odds can be driven way down.

Not sure who to go with? Check the schedule before you place your futures bet. If you see a team with a relatively easy schedule and you think they can bang off five straight wins, you may want to throw some money down as soon as possible.

How to Bet on Props

A prop bet is a wager that is not directly related to the final score of the game (or event).
For example, fantasy sports are totally hot right now and if you bet on certain players who you think might be in for a good game or season, props are a great way for you to profit on your fantasy team.

Not interested in sports? Entertainment props are also extremely popular. By betting on your favorite reality TV show or your favorite celebrities you’re adding a new element of fun to your entertainment dollar.