Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to make weekly picks in his “Ecks & Bacon” column.
LAS VEGAS — It’s gonna be around 109 degrees today in Vegas, which is the perfect time to tell you about the new Circa Resort & Casino, with a THREE-storey sportsbook and a pool. Wait a minute. There are SIX POOLS on three different levels. They can squeeze in 4,000 people, with 337 chaise lounges, 38 day beds and 30 cabanas. You can rent tables for your group starting at $15 for one person and running all the way up to a required $2,249 minimum spend for a group of eight. Gotta find out about the price for the cabanas. I’ll get back to you.
But maybe the COOLEST thing about the new Circa Hotel is the parking, with maybe the GREATEST name we’ve heard, GARAGE MAHAL!!! This is how they describe it:
“More than just the cleanest, safest parking garage in Las Vegas, Garage Mahal is a literal work of art. Take in art installations by featured artists on our two corner video walls as you take your car in and out. Even on the first floor, everything about this parking experience is elevated.”
It’s gonna be nine storeys with 982 parking spots, just steps from the sportsbook. Heard that they might have a kiosk to bet inside the bridge from the garage to the casino, but still trying to get all the facts.
Any way you slice it, Derek Stevens’ new joint in Downtown Vegas is gonna be one step above NIRVANA for the sports betting public.
Premier League Picks
Over to England, and we’ll look at Liverpool vs Burnley.
Lemme just throw some numbers at you.
Paul McCartney’s Reds are on a run, a HISTORIC run, and they ain’t gonna stop now.
Liverpool has won ALL 17 of their home league games this season and their last 24 in a row.
The Reds’ 57-game unbeaten home Premier League run has seen them score 149 goals and concede just 32. That’s FIFTY-SEVEN at home without a loss!!!
If they win three of their final four, it’ll be the most points EVER, surpassing the current record of 100 held by Manchester City.
In the “what have you done for me lately” category, it’s all BAGELS! Liverpool’s last two games at home were 4-0 over Crystal Palace and 2-0 over Aston Villa.
Oh, and the Reds also bageled the Clarets at Turf Moor in Burnley 3-0 at the start of the season.
If you’re looking at Burnley’s last few games, yeah, it’s impressive, but step back and look at the teams they beat or tied. We’re talking about Watford, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and West Ham. The last time they fought a team at the top of the table, actually second, Manchester City, it was, you guessed it, another BAGEL, 5-0 for City.
So, how we gonna make some cash? For those that are not interested in laying over $400 to win back $100, try OVER 2.5 goals at around -200. Try the exact score wager, 2-0 to Liverpool at +575, and 3-0 to Liverpool at +650. And close it out with Liverpool to win the first half at -170.
Speaking of big PHAT favorites, we would also recommend Manchester City to roll over Brighton & Hove.
And now for something completely different. Just wanted to let you know that Sheila E., Prince’s drummer, is doing a masterclass. Not sure how much she is asking for, think it’s like $15 per month, but this is what she told me.
“In my class, I’ll show you the fundamentals of percussion, drumming, and the language of rhythm. I’ll also share my performance routines, how I practice, and what I do to prepare for the stage. And you will get to meet some of my family as we jam like we did in the early years.”
After we win our soccer wagers, we’re grabbing our sticks and jamming with Sheila!!!
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his email...ben@americasline.com.
