Episode 111

Andrew Pace [00:00:00]:

That was not when they were down to nothing. It was one or sorry. Not two nothing. Down two. It was once they were down, one goal.

Shane Mercer [00:00:06]:

So they were wow. So after they went down one goal, it was 18 to one still on three six five? Yeah. She's cooked. She's done. Oh, yeah. She she got the email this morning.

Welcome [00:00:16]:

You're listening to Behind the Lines, a podcast presented by inplayLIVE and powered by Pinnacle, the number one sports book where winners play and never get limited. Go to pinnacle.com/inplaylive to sign up and get in the game.

Shane Mercer [00:00:43]:

Welcome in. It's behind the lines powered by Pinnacle, purifying the sports betting industry. I'm Shane. Pace is here. And on today's show, betting on the pope, round two NBA and NHL, and even more hockey with the world championship. So much on the agenda, pace. But first, a big shout out to my man KB for filling in for me last week. He did a fantastic job.

Shane Mercer [00:01:07]:

I knew he would. You know, pace, I saw a lot of the comments, about KB, in in our, IPL Discord chat and then some of the comments under the, in the YouTube there and, you know, saying, oh, pay KB did such a great job. You know, he's a natural. He's amazing. You know? And I'm like, oh, I I might be out of a job here as as I kinda joke with you and him as well. But, you know, as far as KB being a natural, I knew KB would be great because the guy's got years of radio training. Alright? He didn't just show up and, you know, was able to just do this. Like, I I've chatted with the guy quite a bit.

Shane Mercer [00:01:43]:

We both have broadcasting backgrounds, him and I. Yeah. Gonna be a perfect fit.

Andrew Pace [00:01:48]:

He hid that from us. Hey?

Shane Mercer [00:01:50]:

Oh, there you go. Alright.

Andrew Pace [00:01:53]:

Shane, what's your ethnicity?

Shane Mercer [00:01:55]:

Yeah. Actually, you know what? I'm glad you brought that up too because he comes on here. He's, like, finally adding a little bit of color to the show, and I'm like, KB, dude. What do you mean? We and him and I, I'm pretty sure, have talked about this. So, you know, he's a full brown guy, so maybe he did add, you know, a little more color to the show. But, I'm I'm a half brown guy. My dad's from Bangladesh, and my mom's white, Irish, Scottish. So, you know, I've got a little bit of color, not quite as much as him, so I guess he you know, that that statement held true, but, you know, I I feel like I I got slighted there just a little.

Andrew Pace [00:02:28]:

You give him you give him just a little bit of thread to pull on, and he'll yank it as far as he can. Right?

Shane Mercer [00:02:34]:

Well, that that's KB for you. Yeah. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:02:36]:

He did a great job. It was a lot of fun

Shane Mercer [00:02:37]:

Yeah. He did a great job. And, I think we gotta bring him back on and and maybe him and I host together or or something like that. I have a show where where we're both on at the same time.

Andrew Pace [00:02:46]:

Well, he messaged me this morning asking where his his link was to to run the show, and I said Shane's back in the saddle. And, Shane, I see that you're wearing a looks almost like a nice collared jacket there. So, it seems like the attire is kinda met in the middle a little bit after the, being called out for the hoodie. And I love that I'm not called out in any of this. It's like, no. The host needs to be the one.

Shane Mercer [00:03:08]:

Yeah. Yeah. This is a host battle here. Yeah. You know, I love that he came on with the with the suit and tie. I mean, you know, he he looked great. I I guess, you know, like, the tie was a little bit crooked, and it did maybe get the feeling that he wasn't wearing any pants. But, you know, hey.

Shane Mercer [00:03:21]:

Whatever. That that's, you know

Andrew Pace [00:03:22]:

If Kevin O'Leary can do it if Kevin O'Leary can do it, so can KB. Right?

Shane Mercer [00:03:27]:

Exactly. No. Definitely gotta have a a KB back on the show, dude. Thanks, like, for for hosting if you're out there listening, which I'm sure you are. And, I'm sure you'll drop a comment too, rebutting perhaps some of some of the things I said here. But, yeah, we we'd love to have him back on the show together and, had a chance, to meet him in in Vancouver, both times, that that I was there. And, hopefully, I'll get a chance to connect with him again when, I'm there coming up at the June in a couple of months for the for the big annual retreat.

Andrew Pace [00:03:56]:

So you're in?

Shane Mercer [00:03:57]:

I'm in. I'm in. Yeah. I had a few things to work out, but, I'm saying it here on the show. I am in. I don't know if I'll be able to be there for all three days, though.

Shane Mercer [00:04:05]:

I think I might have to leave early. And especially after the way the third day went the last time I was there, and I almost missed my flight, I think it's probably a good idea that I that I bail a day.

Andrew Pace [00:04:13]:

We can talk about that offline. You'll you'll be there. But that's good good to know that you're there, Shane. It's gonna be great.

Shane Mercer [00:04:19]:

Yeah. Definitely, I should be able to make an appearance. So so that'll be great. Alright. Pius, we've got a a lot of the agenda to get through, and, there's a big one this week, and it's very fitting with with kind of where we are at least in Canada. And even The US having gone through a a presidential election not that long ago, and we just are, of course, coming off of a, a federal election in which, by the way, I did end up betting liberal minority, at plus, two fifty. So three and a half to one and, hit on, that bet. Did you bet it live? That's my first election bet.

Andrew Pace [00:04:52]:

Did you bet it live, or did you bet it before things had kinda started? Like, when did you

Shane Mercer [00:04:57]:

I bet it I bet it, like, I guess, we would call it, like, right before polls close. So so pregame, so to speak, but right right at close kinda thing. So I had the benefit of kind of watching, the market sort of move. I I sort of started paying attention to it about a week, week and a half before and and kind of watched where it was moving. And and as far as I could tell, all signs, both polls and books were pointing to a liberal win. Liberal majority was heavily favored, but having looked at everything and the odds, the liberal minority just made a lot of sense for for a bet.

Andrew Pace [00:05:32]:

Yeah. Yeah. So, like, I took I actually I haven't bet many elections, but I I took my first ever loss. I bet conservative majority, and the reason why I did it was because of the odds. So you could say that it was a bad bet, but I got almost 15 to one on conservative majority. And, you know, you could obviously be like, oh, well, that was stupid or, like, the obviously, you know, Poliyev lost his steam or whatever. And I get that. But my rationale was so much based on polls being wrong.

Andrew Pace [00:06:04]:

And if you're wrong again at 15 to one, I was like, I just can't say no to taking a little crack at this. And then, obviously, very quickly, I learned that, you know, I was I was gonna take the loss on that one. But the, yeah, the liberal minority, that that was a that was a nice snipe there, Shane. Great great job.

Shane Mercer [00:06:20]:

Yeah. Yeah. Happy to, you know, win my first, election bet. That that was that was a that was a lot of fun. But, I'm bringing it all up because guess what? We've got another sort of, political bet, if you will, that's, that that's on the menu for this week. It's a little bit different than than the others, but it's, getting a lot of interest. And I think this might be sort of the first. It's the first time in our age of betting, but it's certainly not the first time, that this has happened, when it comes to this.

Shane Mercer [00:06:50]:

So what am I talking about? Well, we're about to elect a new pope. Well, we aren't. We are not. You're right. You and I, Pace, are absolutely not going

Andrew Pace [00:07:00]:

No public is electing a new pope.

Shane Mercer [00:07:01]:

No public is electing this, but, Conclave begins on the day this episode comes out. So Wednesday, May 7, and, yes, you can bet on it. So, pace, full disclosure, yes, I will not be able to bet, but I am a Catholic. Born, raised, raising my kids as Catholic. Just celebrated my youngest daughter's first communion this past weekend.

Andrew Pace [00:07:24]:

Okay.

Shane Mercer [00:07:25]:

So so I come from a very, long line of Catholics big Catholic family. So putting putting my bias out there right now for everybody as I as we kinda go through this. But, yeah, Wednesday, a 35 cardinals are eligible to vote for the next pope. They'll enter the secret conclave and, will vote repeatedly until a new pope is selected. So it's like day one, they have one vote. Day two and day three are two votes. And then after that, it's just one vote a day. They need to get to two thirds majority.

Shane Mercer [00:08:00]:

Yeah. It's, it's quite a quite a significant, threshold, and that's why these things can go on for for quite a long time.

Andrew Pace [00:08:07]:

Okay. So, Shane, let me just ask you a couple questions since you're this is maybe a little bit more close to home for you even though it's the same you know, we're we're we're in we're in Canada, and this is happening at the Vatican, I'm assuming. I don't even know where where

Shane Mercer [00:08:22]:

The Sistine Chapel. Yeah. Of all places. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:08:25]:

Okay. And for people out there listening, the reason why we're bringing this up is specifically because of Benning, obviously. Now yeah. With that out of the way, this is probably one of the most unique and obscure processes in modern day elections. Like, this is, like, something that you would almost watch in, like, some sort of, like, Game of Thrones or, like, biblical type, you know you know, film or fantasy land or something like that. So there's, like, a 30, cardinals, and the cardinals are, like, highly elected, you know, cath the top of the the Catholic organization, I guess. Yeah. And they vote behind closed doors.

Andrew Pace [00:09:08]:

And this is where you're gonna have to correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah. If I'm not mistaken, once the voting starts, they have no contact with the outside world, so we are in the dark.

Shane Mercer [00:09:20]:

That is absolutely correct. Yeah. As soon as they get conclave on Wednesday, they are locked off from the outside world.

Andrew Pace [00:09:27]:

So no one knows what's going on. But in the process of the conclave, you will so they have to get to the 60% majority, but a part of that process is eliminating the other people. And will Polymarket and these betting markets know who's been eliminated?

Shane Mercer [00:09:44]:

They shouldn't. They absolutely should not because nothing is supposed to get in or out. So And

Andrew Pace [00:09:50]:

if if history repeats itself, you're gonna have scenarios where the favorite may not even be running anymore because of what transpires and how intense the process can be on these individuals. Some people some people want it. Some people don't want it. You can get voted in without any desire to be at the top if people put your name forward, very much like becoming, you know, the the the king of the night's watch. You know? If if someone puts their token on your name and it starts gaining steam, then all of a sudden, someone not even on this list, in theory, could be could rise as, like, this is the person of the people, and you get voted in even though you didn't want it. Right? So it's it's a really bizarre process, really crazy process. And that's what I'm like, from a betting standpoint, I'm thinking, like, jeez. This is all behind closed doors.

Andrew Pace [00:10:42]:

Yeah. These people could be eliminated, and they're the only people you could bet on.

Shane Mercer [00:10:46]:

Yeah. That this is what makes it so much you know, it is an election. Right? So so it's it falls into that category, but this is what makes it so different. Like, there is no real polling, you know, that's gonna be conducted. Right? You're not gonna have any information. There's no, you know, newsers, press conferences, policy announcements, like, none of that stuff. Right? And it's like, well, how do you, you know, handicap this thing? Right? And how is, you know, a a sharp a sharp look like PolyMarkets gonna figure it out?

Andrew Pace [00:11:15]:

Right. Well, I think also too, like, we are comparing this to two elections that just came through. And the handle on this, I'm assuming it's still in the millions, but it's not even gonna be even close

Shane Mercer [00:11:26]:

No.

Andrew Pace [00:11:26]:

To the volume of the US election or the Canadian election for that matter. No. And and the other thing too

Shane Mercer [00:11:32]:

millions is what we're talking about here. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:11:34]:

So pope John Francis passed away. He was elected, if that's even the term. It what? Fifteen years ago? Ten years ago? It's thirteen.

Shane Mercer [00:11:45]:

He was elected in 2013.

Andrew Pace [00:11:46]:

12 years ago. Before that was pope John Paul the third.

Shane Mercer [00:11:52]:

The pope John Paul the second. No. No. Before him was Benedict, and before that was pope John Paul the second.

Andrew Pace [00:11:57]:

Okay. So in our in the time that you could I I doubt you could even have bet on this in two popes ago. But what I was gonna say is pope John Paul was the pope for so fucking long that there wasn't even Internet before. Yeah. When right?

Andrew Pace [00:12:14]:

So this is completely uncharted territory from the standpoint of betting, where we're at in the world of betting, and the fact that these elections are now getting so much attention.

Shane Mercer [00:12:25]:

Yeah. We're we're totally so unchartered territory in the sense that betting online, betting on sportsbooks the way we do now, totally, totally different. Even compared to when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, you know, the the online betting landscape wasn't what it is today. But I do have to note that people have been betting on the pope and who's going to be elected for, like, six hundred plus years. You know?

Andrew Pace [00:12:49]:

It's Oh, okay.

Shane Mercer [00:12:50]:

Were, like, you know, old bookies back in the day, you know, outside the Vatican taking bets from people. It it was it was really sort of a a popular thing, a bit of a pastime even then.

Andrew Pace [00:13:01]:

Crazy. Well, I mean, super cool and separately of any religious opinion or belief or anything like that. You can see right here on the graphic if you're watching. Different sportsbooks are offering different odds than what Polymarket, is offering. And I think that some people just look at the exchange model strictly as a way to get better prices, number one. And then number two, obviously, that presents potential ARB opportunities. And I think that in smaller markets, so, you know, if you have the Super Bowl, you know, the US election, people will say those markets are extremely efficient because of how much money is coming in. Well, when you get into things that are less in the spotlight, that's where things might be less efficient, meaning there could be greater line discrepancies, meaning there could be greater EV there regardless of whether you actually have an angle yourself, but just simply playing the numbers.

Shane Mercer [00:13:52]:

Exactly. And that that's why I like this graphic so much. And this article for anybody out there, it's on USA, Today, so you can go and have a a good look at it. But I I like this this graphic so much because it really sort of highlights, you know, one, you know, perhaps what the Sharp money is saying or at least, you know, what what the Sharp books are indicating. And then you get a a sense of where some of these softer books are at and and how they're kind of, you know, putting the lines up there. Specifically looking at Bet US here. It's like, hey. For you know, the odds imply that, Pietro Perlin here has a 40%, chance at winning along with, the guy from The Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle.

Shane Mercer [00:14:30]:

You know, both of them have 40%, but then you got 20% on this guy and 20% on that guy and 13. You know? It's like, wait a minute. Something's off here at that US, and you might not be getting the best odds depending on who you decide to to bet on. You know, when you know, you they're they're giving you 40%. So, you know, that would be, like, plus one fifty on a guy who maybe really only has a one in five shot at at getting in. So, definitely, if this is something you're looking at, go and shop around, look at the lines, and and use something sharp to to kind of compare because, you may not be getting the best price or, you know, you may be, you may be able to get a really good price depending on on where you're looking and that kind of thing.

Andrew Pace [00:15:12]:

Yeah. And if you wanna know more about this stuff from a, I say more of an entertainment standpoint, there's a a film that's readily available to stream called Conclave. Lord Voldemort, whoever that actor is, is is, I think he's the main character. And

Shane Mercer [00:15:28]:

Yeah. It's Ralph Fiennes.

Andrew Pace [00:15:30]:

That's him? So he's he's he's it's critically acclaimed. It's fabulous. I would say it is brilliantly done. It's just not like this high paced sort of, you know, film. You have to be into this stuff. Yeah. I Shane, right now, one of the most bizarre things is happening to me. I'm looking out my window, and I'm on the Ninth Floor, and there's probably 15 stories up from me.

Andrew Pace [00:15:57]:

There is a cat hanging out of a window, an open window, looking down at the street. And I've never seen this before, and I know cats are extremely agile, but I'm sitting here going, holy shit.

Shane Mercer [00:16:09]:

Is this cat gonna make it?

Andrew Pace [00:16:11]:

Well, we're gonna have to set a line on on cat safety here. I'm gonna I'm gonna say minus a thousand that the cat the cat is, not gonna fall. Or maybe that's the but, you know, I just looked up, and I can't not talk about it because it's right in my face right now.

Shane Mercer [00:16:27]:

Alright. Minus a thousand that the cat makes it out alive. Let's not let's not place any bets on on the cat's life here.

Andrew Pace [00:16:34]:

Well, we we can get the conclusion next week. But There we go. Perfect. Yeah.

Shane Mercer [00:16:38]:

You can keep it. You can keep us up to date. But, yeah, glad you referenced that movie because that is a fascinating, film. If you do wanna learn more while being entertained at the same time about how the poll process works, it is a real slow burn. And, I don't I don't wanna give it away or or spoiler alert, but, you know, there there's a real twist ending that, you know, we could see something similar play out in real life, which makes this whole process that much more, fun to watch.

Andrew Pace [00:17:06]:

For sure.

Shane Mercer [00:17:07]:

Yeah. Okay. Let's move on to actual sports now, what we normally cover, here on the show. Playoffs. Round two beginning pace. You've already put together some round two parlors, and I think, you did that piece. What's that?

Andrew Pace [00:17:23]:

I've already lost one.

Shane Mercer [00:17:24]:

You've already lost one. Yeah. You already lost one, but you did win some round one parlas.

Andrew Pace [00:17:27]:

Yeah. We basically swept round one. We had one that was, like, point o five units that lost to the because I had the box plus two and a half in their series. They're up seven in in overtime with thirty seconds left and lost the game. But the when I called it, a lot of people, it was, like, five minutes before tip. So a lot of people subbed that out for the Pistons or left it off entirely. And if that was the case, they they swept everything. But, yeah, no.

Andrew Pace [00:17:52]:

I had a great round one of the playoffs. I actually just put so you on this show, sometimes I rewind the tape, and I think to myself, Jesus, we recommended the Bucks to win the East. We recommended the Pacers to win the West. We recommended the Nuggets to win the West and the Clippers to win the West. But people have to and and those teams just so happen to be also playing each other, so it seems like, you know, you're just offering everything. But from a recreational standpoint, I took just a little bit of that profit from my round one parlors because I kind of viewed that as, like, I guess, different than what we do, Shane. Like, this isn't, you know, live betting, you know, in the moment, you know, hit hitting the bets in in real time really quickly. I view this more as a recreational thing even though round one over the last freaking five years has just just been insane to me.

Andrew Pace [00:18:36]:

Just insane picking my spots and and hitting, pretty consistently there. I took a little bit, and I just had to had to throw a little bit on on the warriors to win the west. And the reason why I chose that instead of the the, the finals so they're plus one sixty to win their series against the wolves before game one has happened. K? As long as they play the thunder, they will be, I would say, about plus 200 to win that series. They're gonna get if they make it through the woofs so if they make it through the woofs, plus 200 may be actually a little bit aggressive because then the hype comes. The Curry train, the public, you know, he's done it before. They're gonna get a lot of money on them, in my opinion. They probably already have.

Andrew Pace [00:19:26]:

That that so I think that there's a chance that it's it's less than plus 200. But if you take plus one sixty and plus 200, it's less than the payout of them to win the West. But then if you take them to win the championship, it implies that they'd be a favorite in the championship if they got there, but I don't think they would be if they're playing against Boston. I just personally don't think so. So I was like, it's actually a worse bet to take them to win it all and a better bet to take them to win the West and separately of picking when you take them. So let's say they lose game one, the numbers obviously gonna jump up. But if you just look at it before the series starts, it's better to take them to win the West than to take them to win each individual series. So I actually looked at all that, and I was like, hey.

Andrew Pace [00:20:11]:

This isn't as as recreational or as bad of a bet as it seems. So the last thing we wanna do here is make it seem like we have every single team to win the conferences. But I when John when I was in Hawaii and John was on and he said Nuggets to win the West, I did take that. So I I I have that, and then I sprinkled a little bit on the Warriors here. Now if the Nuggets can upset the Thunder, I think Nuggets Warriors will be a pick them. It's possible, Shane. It's possible.

Shane Mercer [00:20:41]:

It's possible. It's possible. I think it's unlikely, but you're right. It's absolutely possible.

Andrew Pace [00:20:44]:

And this is the thing you gotta think about. Okay? So the Cavs, as we're this I I hate that we film on Monday and shoot and release on Wednesday because you want information to be current when people are listening.

Shane Mercer [00:20:54]:

Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:20:55]:

But the Cavs

Shane Mercer [00:20:56]:

A couple of the first games of round two behind us by the time this comes out on Wednesday.

Andrew Pace [00:21:02]:

Yeah. The Cavs are down one nothing to the Pacers. Now will the Cavs win that series? I have no fucking clue. But the Cavs are a team that haven't been there. The Thunder are a team that haven't been there.

Shane Mercer [00:21:19]:

Like, no one on the Thunder has been there. That's really important to point out. Like, nobody on that personnel has ever been there.

Andrew Pace [00:21:25]:

So if you rewind the tape to the Rockets and you go, oh, Fred Van Vliet's been there. Sure. I'm not gonna argue against that, but that team and that squad has not been there. Okay? Now if you're like, oh, Pace, well, none of the warriors have been there. Well, that's not true.

Shane Mercer [00:21:38]:

Well, no.

Andrew Pace [00:21:38]:

Right? The warriors have been there, and the Nuggets have been there. They've both checked all the boxes. They've both got it done. So the Celtics, the Nuggets, and the warriors, those are the three teams that know what it takes. Now that doesn't mean that they don't have a chip on their shoulder. But typically speaking, teams like the Cavs struggle as they get down the stretch in the NBA playoffs because they haven't built up that resilience of where they go, hey. We are the one seed. You gotta come through us.

Andrew Pace [00:22:09]:

And they might think all that stuff, but they actually don't know what it takes. And those Celtics, they had that chip on their shoulder. They went there and lost and came back hungrier with more fight inside them and ready to get the job done. Who am I describing this year while I might be describing the Thunder? They were the one seed. They you're maybe they were the two seed. But either way, they were top top seed. They got bounced out of the playoffs like it was nothing. Now they're here knowing and ready what it might take.

Andrew Pace [00:22:36]:

So you have to build up that resilience over time. And the same could be described for the WUFs. They made it to the West final. They lost. You know, they might be ready to to to go to work here. So separately of all that, I think that these matchups are unbelievable. They're so exciting. It's gonna be so intense.

Andrew Pace [00:22:55]:

And, yeah, sprinkle a little bit on the warriors. But and I have so much passion. I love Shea. I love Jokic. I love Anthony Edwards, and I love Steph Curry, and I love Jimmy Butler. So, like, the West is like, I I feel like I can't lose. I'm I'm gonna be happy for whom whomever comes through over there.

Shane Mercer [00:23:11]:

I I love I love okay. I love that you started off with with the Golden State Warriors because I was gonna come here and pump their tires too. So so you've kind of taken taken that away from me because Sorry. I I I no. That's and that's totally fine. I'm I'm glad I'm glad you did because I think you hit on a lot of the a lot of the points that I that I wanted to make as well. And I I just wanna point out on Pinnacle right now, warriors to win the Western Conference paying, 8.79, 20.

Andrew Pace [00:23:34]:

So so but, again, do the math. Right? Yeah. 2.6 times three point o, 8.79 is better.

Shane Mercer [00:23:39]:

Yep. It it it's a you got you got a bit of an advantage there for sure. And and it's rare that we that we see that kind of thing. And and, again, this is a team you know, they've they've been there with the main core of, coach Kerr, your favorite player pace of all time, Draymond Green, and and Steph Curry. But then also Jimmy's been there, you know, and he's done it with a different team. So, you know, you've got you've got these guys that that exactly, as you said, know what it takes to get there and to win. And, you know, they they just came through a tough fought series. They showed that resilience, that bit of, that bit of grit that that you're gonna need to carry you through more of those series.

Shane Mercer [00:24:20]:

And, I I just think that that, you know, they they've got what it takes in the West full stop. We saw Denver play play the Clippers, and and they kind of did the same in a very close series, a great fun series to watch. You know, and and could they do it again? Yeah. They could, but I think if I had to pick one in the West, it it's probably the Warriors. Now all of this to say that Oklahoma City is a huge favorite to win the West, paying 1.44 right now. So, you know, the the books love them to to win it all, and and I I love Shay, You know? Uh-uh, being a Canadian guy from Toronto area, gotta gotta represent and support him. You know, and that would that would be fun to to to see that series. Although seeing, you know, Shea, and and the Thunder against the Wolves and Anthony Edwards would be a lot of fun too.

Shane Mercer [00:25:13]:

You know? So I think I think you're right. In the West, we kinda win no matter what happens. Let's talk about the East for a moment before we move on to the NHL, though. In the Knicks, Celtics is, I think gonna be I'm hoping is gonna be an incredible series to watch. I I do think I don't think that the Celtics are gonna roll over the Knicks. And, it's funny because, on the East Side too, we have the Celtics as huge favorites up currently paying 1.62 to win the East. So by far, heavy favorites, which we're gonna contrast with the with the NHL playoffs coming up in a little bit, which is a very sort of different scenario, where where you don't really have this kind of heavy, heavy favorite. But, you know, John called the Pacers to to win the East, I think, 30 to one on a on a few shows back there.

Shane Mercer [00:26:01]:

And, seeing how they came out against the Cavs, was really, really impressive. So I I don't know. I mean, I'm kind of I I I like that wager. I kinda wanna see that one come through. If the Pacers made it to the finals, do I think they could win against any of those Western Conference teams? I don't know. I think that would be really a a a tall task. Maybe if the Wolf somehow got there and it was Wolf's Pacers, you know, they might have a chance, but I I don't I don't. Right right now looking at it, it it seems like the West is going to be the stronger side unless the Celtics get to the final, in which case, you know, the Celtics will probably be the strongest team.

Shane Mercer [00:26:44]:

That that's kind of where where I'm at thinking about it. Any any thoughts on the East?

Andrew Pace [00:26:50]:

I think it'll be super exciting. I think the Celtics will handle the Knicks. Yeah. Obviously, I don't know what's gonna happen. I I really do think the Celtics will handle the Knicks.

Shane Mercer [00:26:58]:

Yeah. I I I I see a scenario where the Knicks get to the final and and the Pacers get to the final, you know, and and then Pacers beat the Knicks, and then it it you know, depending on who they meet in the West, the that Western team kinda handles the Pacers. But, I I think the most likely scenario and as the books are telling us is that the Celtics are gonna win the Eastern Conference, and I think that's probably right.

Andrew Pace [00:27:19]:

Yeah. I so so, again, like, just back to this whole discussion of, like, being there and knowing that they it they have what it takes. The Knicks Pacers and Cavs don't check those boxes for me.

Shane Mercer [00:27:33]:

Yeah. They don't. Yeah. And and I'm talking about winning the whole thing. The whole thing. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:27:38]:

Right. Could they? Of course, they could. But, you know, I don't know. Yeah. And the the Cavs, I mean, apparently, their their round one victory against the Heat, the way they did it put them in a similar category to the first warriors team that won. And a lot of the statistics were comparable. It's, like, some of the greatest stats of all time, and there's a good chance they win it all now. I don't think they were tested.

Andrew Pace [00:28:01]:

I feel like it wasn't a they weren't real matches. They just played their first real match, and they didn't lose. They got their asses kicked. So I'm not saying they won't win the series. I'm not saying they won't win the championship. I just I think there's teams out there that I think have a little bit more understanding of what it truly takes to get it done. Separately of that, just quickly back to the West, Steph Curry got interviewed. He said, this series was the single most intense defensive series he has played in in his entire career.

Shane Mercer [00:28:32]:

Wow.

Andrew Pace [00:28:34]:

So you gotta give the Rockets credit. He's basically saying that Rockets defense is the best he's ever played against.

Shane Mercer [00:28:38]:

Well, yeah, that's that's gonna be a good test because I think when you get to that Celtics defense, if they get there, that that will be the new one. That Celtics defense is incredible. They play lockdown, Dee. And I think I think that is what's gonna carry them to the final.

Andrew Pace [00:28:55]:

Totally. And and they they just they have another level. They just have they have that next level. They know what it takes to get it done. The the Magic looked great, honestly. They looked great. And the Celtics, did what they had to do to adapt to each game and to shut them down and to to to get the wins that they needed to advance, obviously.

Shane Mercer [00:29:14]:

Yeah. Yeah. Seeing seeing the those Celtics play, Dee, is is really something. They can just you know, they could they can turn it up to, like you said, that next level and just completely lock it down. So that that's always impressive. Alright. Let's turn our completely lock it down. So that that's always impressive.

Shane Mercer [00:29:24]:

Alright. Let's turn our attention over to the NHL and pace. So we are coming off of a pretty awesome win on Sunday night. Watching those jets come back and win as a team total. That was that was honestly fucking awesome to watch. They're like, what was it? Two seconds left when they when they scored that goal? I think it's the latest tying goal ever in the game seven series or something like that I read this morning. It was phenomenal.

Andrew Pace [00:29:48]:

There was a film production crew in my unit.

Shane Mercer [00:29:50]:

Yeah. That's right. You had somebody there doing a documentary.

Andrew Pace [00:29:53]:

I said it could take an entire season to get a moment like that. And the fact that you guys were here for it was so cool. Not only that, the girl, she's spending $5 bets. Her name is Jess. Three six five put up 18 to one on the Jets money line. I'm like, you have to take it. But you get choice, dude.

Shane Mercer [00:30:11]:

Yeah. Yeah? That's awesome. Wow. Yeah. Look at that. You called her you called her an 18 to one bet there. That's phenomenal.

Andrew Pace [00:30:19]:

Well, I the number was insane. Yeah. And just just for anyone listening, that was not when they were down to nothing. It was one or sorry. Not two nothing. Down two. It was once they were down, one goal.

Shane Mercer [00:30:31]:

So they were wow. So after they went down one goal, it was 18 to one still on three six five? Yeah. She's cooked. She's done. Yeah. She she got the email this morning.

Andrew Pace [00:30:41]:

She's done.

Shane Mercer [00:30:42]:

Yeah. That's it. $5 went out out of 18 to one.

Andrew Pace [00:30:47]:

Female account too, Shane. So it's automatically assumed that she's just someone's girlfriend or spouse. Oh, for sure. For sure.

Shane Mercer [00:30:53]:

And was she connected to your Wi Fi or anything like that? God. No. No. No. No. No. Because that would have that would have just been the nail in the coffin there. But that that's pretty cool that that that moment happened while she was there, filming.

Shane Mercer [00:31:07]:

That that's super cool. And then guess what? They're making some kind of documentary on sports betting?

Andrew Pace [00:31:12]:

Yeah. They're doing, specifically, like, a thing on some some female bettors across North America. So they've, like, I guess, they've they've traveled and met some some crazy female horse bettor

Shane Mercer [00:31:24]:

Cool.

Andrew Pace [00:31:24]:

That that bets horses. And, they just got back from where you are, Shane. Okay. What's your race track called?

Shane Mercer [00:31:32]:

Oh, Woodbine.

Andrew Pace [00:31:34]:

They just got back from opening day at Woodbine, and the professional better who worked with them advised so this isn't in the won't be aired because it wasn't filmed. I don't know who the girl is, but I'll learn who she is. She advised the production crew to take sovereignty to win the Kentucky Derby at five to one, and they all hit. Wow. They and they did bet it. They took her advice, and they bet it. So I guess sovereignty was the second to one favorite, and journalism was the favorite. And so the whomever and she didn't say take this horse and this horse and this horse.

Andrew Pace [00:32:17]:

She said that's the horse you gotta bet on for this, Kentucky Derby, and and it did come through. So another another positive story with them following Cruise around. So they I guess they followed this female horse bettor who's a pro and then maybe a few other, women in the industry. And then basically what happened was they are doing a little bit of a piece on someone who's female that hasn't bet. Oh. So they figured that I would be a decent fit to teach her some stuff.

Shane Mercer [00:32:48]:

Ah, that's how okay. That's how they got, cool cool.

Andrew Pace [00:32:50]:

Yeah. And the the it's it probably won't air until the fall, and it'll probably be on at, like, 6AM. It's it's, like, not a Netflix thing. It's, like, cable TV, CBC.

Shane Mercer [00:33:00]:

Okay. Hey.

Andrew Pace [00:33:01]:

You know? So it'll be it'll be, like,

Shane Mercer [00:33:03]:

You can watch it online.

Andrew Pace [00:33:05]:

It'll be on at, like, 6AM or something, you know, on on regular broadcast. But, and who knows what they'll end up putting in, if anything, of some of the stuff. But Right. Yeah. They, she watched our full master class. She, you know, she she isn't a numbers person, so she was pretty lost. But, yeah, she got her books funded. She'd actually hit a bet in Tony bet previously to meeting me, and she can't get her money out.

Shane Mercer [00:33:30]:

No. One bet out of Tony bet and can't get her money out?

Andrew Pace [00:33:34]:

But it's like the roll like, just think about a total outsider, right, coming into the industry.

Shane Mercer [00:33:38]:

I was just gonna say. She didn't know about the rollover. She probably deposited more than she planned to bet.

Andrew Pace [00:33:43]:

She did the rollover. So she got that done. And then they're like, oh, we need your ID, and, oh, now we need your bank statement, and, oh, now we need your selfie. And when you actually think about, okay. I'm a recreational player.

Shane Mercer [00:33:56]:

Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:33:56]:

I'm playing on a sports book that is regulated in Ontario. Right? In order to get my funds, this is what I have to do. And versus let's just say, you know, you're in Vegas. You walk up to the counter. You say, I wanna bet this, and then you bring your bet slip back, and they give you cash. There's no there's no identity sharing. There's no and it's like, I understand why some of those policies are in place, but separately of them. You really feel it when you're working with someone who is ultimate level beginner, where you're like, yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:34:26]:

Like, this is wrong. It's just not right. Whatever you need, tell me upfront. Once it's accomplished, it's done. Not this slow rolling process of trying to put me on tilt to get me angry, to get me aggravated, to ultimately try to get me to lose my money. Like, it's bullshit.

Shane Mercer [00:34:46]:

You know, and just thinking about it too. Right? Like, that that rigmarole that you go through, right, of of, you know, sending all the documents, the bank statement, and all of that bullshit. And it's like, you just mentioned, you know, she she bet $5 on on, you know, the 18 to one jets win. So I'm gonna guess that the bank role in Tony bet might have been at most a few hundred dollars if she had won a few bets, you know, like, if she had gone on a good little run. You know? And she's probably sitting there asking herself, is it worth compromising all my personal information for for a few hundred dollars?

Andrew Pace [00:35:19]:

Yeah. But I don't even think it was, and I think that the few hundred bucks this is the thing. It meant it means something to her. She's withdrawing it for a reason.

Shane Mercer [00:35:27]:

Yeah. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:35:28]:

Right? So, like, you know, she hit the bet, and she's like, $90. Like, this is insane.

Shane Mercer [00:35:33]:

Right. Right.

Shane Mercer [00:35:34]:

She wants to take it, go buy herself a nice dinner or something like that?

Andrew Pace [00:35:36]:

%. Hundred %. Right? So, like and I'm not talking about, like, some homeless person. You know? I'm talking about someone who has a job. It's like an extra $90. It's like that's nice. Yeah. You know?

Shane Mercer [00:35:48]:

And she doesn't wanna have to, you know, give an arm and a leg to get it.

Andrew Pace [00:35:53]:

Exactly. Exactly.

Shane Mercer [00:35:54]:

Yeah. Yeah. It is it is quite a you know, when you yeah. As as sort of an insider, it's easy to sort of, you know, forget how those feelings were when you first had to go through the process, you know, or as as sort of somebody new to it and winning it. But, yeah, I guess it's a it's interesting when you see it from that perspective. And and, you know, it's not a you know, we're not talking thousands of dollars. We're talking, you know, maybe maybe a few hundred, if that. So yeah.

Shane Mercer [00:36:22]:

Anyway, why don't we bring it back here to to the NHL playoffs, pace where, hopefully, we'll make a few more thousand dollars at least over the next little while, because we you know, round two and and the season is gonna come to a close. And before we know it, you know, it's gonna be one game every few days, you know, and then we're gonna be heading into heading into the actual, conference finals and then the finals. And, you know, the volume really comes down. So this is sort of a I I like this this time, round one, round two, where we still do have games done on a daily basis, and we can kinda, you know, be be regular and active, without, you know, breaks in in between. I I I like it like that a lot, myself. But these, the the NHL, playoffs are are have a very different landscape than the NBA, when we look at who's favored, where, why. So right now, I just wanna sort of point this out. You know, we talked about OKC being, like, 1.4 and Boston being, like, 1.6 to win the East.

Shane Mercer [00:37:20]:

When I go and look at at the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, you know, Florida is the favored. They're plus money, paying plus one fifty, two point five eight on on Pinnacle right now. On the West, Dallas at three to one is the favorite. What? Yeah. That's right. Pinnacle's got Dallas as the favorite at three point o five two one to win the West. The Oilers are the second favorite at 3.44. Wow.

Shane Mercer [00:37:48]:

And I I so why don't we start there? Because I thought seeing Dallas as the favorite to win the West, I was like, wait a minute. Didn't they just, like, come that close to being eliminated by the Avs the other night? Yeah. They had a huge rally in in in the third period, to to win the game, but they were on the brink of elimination. And now I see here that they're actually the favorite to win the West. So, give me your breakdown of the of the NHL west right now.

Andrew Pace [00:38:12]:

Well, the thing is we talked about this earlier, like, oh, the team that plays better wins the series. I actually don't think that was true.

Shane Mercer [00:38:20]:

Okay.

Andrew Pace [00:38:20]:

I think that the avalanche outplayed them in game seven. I think they had extremely bad puck lock, couple goals from behind the net. Mhmm. And all of a sudden, their season fell apart. I think that when they were up to nothing, they were outplaying the stars. They had better scoring opportunities, and the puck just didn't go in. So credit the goaltender. And then all of a sudden for Dallas, you know, you find a puck bouncing off of someone's skate from behind the net, and it slides into the net, and that's hockey.

Andrew Pace [00:38:53]:

So, yeah, like, I think McKinnon was pretty crushed. Obviously, Ranton and stuck a stuck a knife in his heart there with the hat trick to to eliminate him. I think he's pretty crushed that he's off his team. I think he was questioning everything, and I don't think he should. I think that the Avalanche were the better team. And the fact that Dallas is favored right now, does that mean that Colorado would have been favored? Like, I I I don't know. Like, I think that's a it sounds like they're not really favored. Like, everyone's around the same, but, you know, they're yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:39:24]:

I think Dallas had a gritty series. I really don't wanna see them advance. I didn't wanna see them advance. I don't wanna see them advance again. Then then as far as just, you know, you look at let's let's just look at the landscape of hockey a little bit over the last, like, five years in playoffs. We saw the golden knights in their opening season make it all the way to the NHL final and fall. Yeah. Guess what? You get that chip on your shoulder.

Andrew Pace [00:39:49]:

You know what it takes to get there. You come back stronger. You come back harder. You get ready to get out there, get it done. Well, I'm describing the Dallas Stars right now. In the last five years, they've been there. They didn't get it done. The team's largely different right now, but they have some of those same veteran players that they're gonna have that edge, that intensity.

Andrew Pace [00:40:07]:

Well, guess what? I'm also describing the Edmonton Oilers who went to the final and lost to Florida. And, of course, then we have the Golden Knights who beat Florida the year before. Well, guess what? That put that chip on Florida's shoulder to come back the next season and win the Stanley Cup. Right? So looking at these teams, who are the outline teams here? You know, you got Ovi in the caps that have done it, but I feel like everyone knows they can't this year. You know? Of course. Yes. They can. Blah blah blah blah blah.

Andrew Pace [00:40:36]:

I feel like everyone knows that this isn't their year. But sure enough, they're they're there. Right? You got the Panthers who are going for the repeat. You got the Canes. They maybe are an outlier here, and the Jets maybe are an outlier here where they really haven't had those massive runs super recently, to to go all the way there. And then I guess, Shane, you gotta talk about the Leafs.

Shane Mercer [00:41:01]:

We gotta talk about them. Of course you gotta talk about them.

Andrew Pace [00:41:04]:

Up three nothing. Felt like they almost lost a series again. Things got a little intense, a little sweaty. But this is the thing about this series. Right? Toronto's playoff history has largely been them coming into a series as a big favorite with a big lead and shitting the fucking bed. Well, that script is not the case against Florida.

Shane Mercer [00:41:28]:

No. Not at all.

Andrew Pace [00:41:29]:

And they're in unchartered territories. Tavares and Matthews and, you know, Nylander, they're underdogs. They're never fucking underdogs. So maybe they'll embrace the role and get to an east final here. It's gonna be a great fucking series. Florida's a fucking good hockey team. And, honestly, I if I look at every single team that's on the board there, there's only one that I think doesn't belong in the same class, and it's the Capitals. You might think I'm crazy for saying that.

Andrew Pace [00:42:01]:

They had a great regular season. I just don't see their ability to beat these other teams in a best of seven series. So, yeah, I think it's gonna be electric. I wouldn't even dare try to pick a winner. I have the but I have the Jets from, again, that same podcast with John where we bet on the Nuggets and the and the Jets. So, I mean, you know, on both of those bets now, I think we're ahead.

Shane Mercer [00:42:25]:

K. So, I I like I'll I'll just start with the east here and go through the odds quickly. I think I mentioned Florida, two and a half, half, 2.58 on Pinnacle. The Canes at 3.2, and then, yes, you got the Leafs paying five to one. I mean, I'm looking at that, and I'm like, oh, is this a Homer bet if I were to bet this? I don't know. I mean, like, you know, they're got they've got to embrace that underdog mentality, especially with all of the years of of failure, postseason failure, you know, to come into a series as an underdog. They I I would love to see them just embrace that and and pull off the upset. But at five to one, I'm thinking like, hey.

Shane Mercer [00:43:01]:

It might be worth it, and the caps are at 5.48. So we're talking about an East here where it's like there isn't anybody that's that's hugely favored. You know? And it's the same thing on on the West. Stars, three point o. Oilers, three point four four, nights, 3.8, and then you have the jets set at five to one at five Wow. Five point o. So, you know, you've got So

Andrew Pace [00:43:24]:

so let's just pause there for a second. Yeah. Why are the jets the biggest underdog as the Presidents Cup winners?

Shane Mercer [00:43:33]:

It's a it's a great question. You know? And we just saw them, you know, play a great series. I mean, they they, you know, again, they they showed that that grit and resilience that you look for in teams. You know, they got tested. They overcame it. You know, come from behind victory, score with two seconds left, force the OT, go to a second OT, and win it there. You know what I mean? Like, that's that's just an like, it it just shows a lot of heart for that team. And and, you know, coming in against a a a team like Dallas that that was on the brink also, I guess, you know, pulling off a big, come from behind win to to get there, in a seven game series.

Shane Mercer [00:44:11]:

You know, I don't know, though. I mean, I'm I'm looking at it going like, is Winnipeg really that much worse than Dallas? And and Dallas is, you know, so heavily well, is the favorite. I don't wanna say so heavily because they're still at three point o. But, yeah, are are the jets really that much worse than the stars?

Andrew Pace [00:44:27]:

Yeah. So I guess I guess at this point, if you're listening, you start picking apart the holes in anyone's game. Like, if we're saying why not the jets, you you start looking at some of the things that they lack in. And and I think what we saw in St. Louis specifically was a team that couldn't rise defensively to the occasion that's required to win a Stanley Cup. And that has been the Achilles heel heel for the Oilers for a decade.

Shane Mercer [00:44:55]:

Mhmm.

Andrew Pace [00:44:55]:

They've got everything you could possibly ask for in a team from an offensive standpoint, but they can't they can dominate a hockey game. The shots can be 30 to 10, and then it's one bad counter where their opponent gets a better chance on their one chance than the Oilers had in the entire game controlling the puck. So shitty goaltending, shitty defense. Now you wouldn't think I'm describing the Jets right now. You just wouldn't because they have Connor Hellebuch. But he was so bad in Saint Louis that some people might be like, oh, well, that was the the fault of the d. It wasn't his. Sure.

Andrew Pace [00:45:28]:

But it's all goes in tandem, and they need to get back to who they were in the regular season, with good, strong goaltending and great defensive play. Now once it was three one and then became three three last night, the jets dominated the game. They were the better team, but the blues had some good fucking chances. We're talking about how how many minutes of play was it? Like, thirty three minutes of play in overtime? Yeah. Hollowbuck rose to the occasion. He got the job done, and that's what they're gonna need from him if they're gonna have a chance. And then the Knights, I don't even think we need to talk about them. They're a complete hockey team.

Andrew Pace [00:46:06]:

They can beat anyone, but it you gotta face Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. So, you know, it's it's gonna be super exciting. Wide open is the the that's the mess message here. The the it's wide open. And, from a betting standpoint, guys, a lot of these futures are loaded with vague. We've talked about them a lot on the show. This is not our bread and butter. We're having fun with this stuff.

Andrew Pace [00:46:29]:

We're shooting the shit. There's gonna be some great live opportunities in all of these series that we're very much looking forward to.

Shane Mercer [00:46:37]:

Yeah. Definitely looking forward to. I gotta I I just wanna point out you you mentioned the Oilers. Their ability to score is is insane, and, they give up a ton of goals. So, I'm I'm already leading the over in that Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For game one.

Shane Mercer [00:46:53]:

I was watching, the Oilers. Actually, I was so I was in Alberta. That's why I wasn't here last week, on the show. I actually watched that Oilers game in a bar in Banff, and it was just like goal, goal, goal. And it was you know, the mood kept shifting from, you know, one side to the other where everybody was just cheering for the Oilers, and it was like, they would score and then they'd immediately get scored on. So just, you know, a a a team that that likes to score but also likes to give up a lot of goals. And, as as you mentioned, the Knights are a complete team. So, I I I think we could see a lot of goals there.

Andrew Pace [00:47:24]:

Well, I'm going, I'm going back to Kelowna here, and, I was in Kelowna last year for the Canucks Oilers series. And this is where I developed such an unrelenting dislike for the fans, of Edmonton. Now Okay. I don't mean disrespect to you, guys. You cheer for your team. You cheer for how you want how them how you want to. What I found, and this might be a specific type of fan that that happened to be traveling, at that time. So I don't wanna pigeonhole the entire fan base.

Andrew Pace [00:47:55]:

But they seemed uneducated on the game of hockey. They seemed to not understand certain things.

Shane Mercer [00:48:00]:

Oh.

Andrew Pace [00:48:00]:

And the bias poured out in a way that I was like, well, if this was like, I can talk shit about the Canucks till the the, you know, the sun goes down twenty four seven. Right? And it's like you kinda have to look at things as objectively as possible, which is hard to do. But it because these aren't these situations are not black and white. But the bias was so it was it hurt my brain. Like, it made it bleed, but I feel like I'm gonna have a much higher acceptance that the Canucks are not in the playoffs, and I actually kinda do wanna see Connor McDavid get get the job done. Like, that would put a smile on my face to have someone at his caliber of the game complete, you know, what every kid dreams of and and hoist the Stanley Cup. So, I'm gonna be amidst a ton of Oilers fans in the next couple months here as they make their run. And, I don't know.

Andrew Pace [00:48:51]:

Maybe I'll just buy a jersey and and, you know, if you can't beat them, join them. Right?

Shane Mercer [00:48:56]:

Right. Yeah.

Shane Mercer [00:48:57]:

And I mean, hey. That's just one more jersey for your massive collection. So, like, I mean, that's the big deal. Right? Just book out a better jersey, and then off you go.

Andrew Pace [00:49:05]:

Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly.

Shane Mercer [00:49:08]:

Yeah. No. That that should, I I mean, I would love to see them go back to the to the finals after you know, the you'd be talking about teams with chips on their shoulder. I mean, they they've gotta have the biggest chip on their shoulder.

Andrew Pace [00:49:19]:

100%

Shane Mercer [00:49:20]:

Okay. Let's talk about maybe some players now with chips on their shoulder and more hockey layered on top of this hockey with, the, world championships. Kick when does that when does the puck drop on that? I think it's the ninth. I think it's Friday, this week. Puck drops on more hockey, international hockey. And, you mentioned a guy, who will now be playing for team Canada, Nathan MacKinnon, who was hoping maybe that he wasn't gonna be playing for team Canada, but here we are.

Shane Mercer [00:49:55]:

He's he's gonna be, joining team Canada along with Sydney Crosby. Our guy, Matt, Matt Gurden, if for those who don't know, aren't in the IPL community, whatever the pros, within IPL, making some calls, today on on team Canada. You know, we we like to tease Matt for making a lot of, like, Homer calls. He's got big time fanship and all that, but I think, there might be some good value on team Canada, Payson.

Andrew Pace [00:50:20]:

So I'm sorry. We're because the four nations were pretending to care about this tournament for the first time in a hundred years.

Shane Mercer [00:50:25]:

You know what? Maybe maybe the four nations does have people, caring about international hockey a little bit more. I don't know. I mean Maybe. Yeah. It it was a lot of fun. And and, you know, we're gonna be seeing some of these big time, NHL players playing, because they're not in the playoffs.

Andrew Pace [00:50:39]:

I question whether this is like, hey. Let's shoot the shit with some guys that play for our country and keep our bodies fit and play hockey as we ease in the summer because we didn't make the the playoffs for the guys that accept. Like, I really don't know what the motivations are. Team Canada historically hasn't done well in this tournament. I I I don't know. We care we care? Okay. We care.

Shane Mercer [00:51:01]:

I don't know. Do we? I don't know. I mean, you know, you're more than I am. Four nations. Care, then maybe maybe we don't. I don't know.

Andrew Pace [00:51:08]:

Shane, you talk you heard me talk about the four nations before it happened. I said this is gonna be as big as any game seven of any hockey.

Shane Mercer [00:51:15]:

And it was bigger. Lived up to the hype.

Andrew Pace [00:51:17]:

And it was bigger. And Yeah. That that isn't the game being good. That was more money taken on any hockey game in, like, the last decade.

Shane Mercer [00:51:25]:

Oh, that Canada, US Right?

Andrew Pace [00:51:26]:

It used everything that came through before the game even started. People cared, and they cared in a massive, massive way. This is not that, and it won't be, and it never will be. Right? It people knowing that Auston Matthews is in the playoffs and not representing USA, that Matthew Tkachuk is is on the Panthers, and he's not representing USA, Jack Eichel, the list goes on and on. The the the they they don't sit there and go, oh, we lost to Canada or vice versa. They go Yeah. This wasn't our best.

Shane Mercer [00:52:01]:

Any, would you watch, though, for for sort of any of the same live opportunities that that we maybe get, in in NHL?

Andrew Pace [00:52:09]:

Yeah. So just, like, this is a really good piece of advice, guys. When you go to Pinnacle and Pinnacle is the best resource for this. So, obviously, we bring them up a lot on the show, but they they just simply are the best resource for this. The day of the game, click the max bet on one of the two teams that are the puck is about to drop. So a couple hours before puck drop. Click the max bet button on Pinnacle, see what the number is, then do the same thing for the NHL playoffs. That's a really good indicator on whether or not this is something that you can bet on in a in a capacity that won't overly expose you to limit risks.

Andrew Pace [00:52:53]:

So if we're talking about tens of thousands of of max bet pregame, you know, a lot of people are betting on it. They have a great handle, and it's gonna be a great event to wager on for you pregame and live. And, obviously, Pinnacle doesn't limit winning players, but, you know, that's that's a good sort of angle to take into, into your other sportsbooks. Now if the limits are quite small, that's a really good sign that, you know, this just isn't the best event to be, hunting down soft lines on another book. Can you make money? A %. But can you make money and and and keep your account? Well, the answer to that is always no, but will you be be able to fly under the radar a little bit longer, you know, having bet that? And and just look at that as something, and and I'll do the same. So that's that's how I'd answer your question. If we're gonna be looking at this as something that we're actually gonna be live betting as a group, because I know people will be doing it regardless, we we definitely wanna make sure that, they can take some action.

Shane Mercer [00:53:55]:

Right. Yeah. Great great point there because exactly if if Pinnacle like, you know, if if the sharp books are gonna take less money, well, that tells you that the market isn't that efficient, which means if you go and bet it on a soft book, are you likely to to win? Maybe. Probably. I mean, are you you're probably looking at something that's soft and you probably have an edge there, but will you get cooked faster? Most likely. So it's it's sort of like, you know, you gotta kinda play play it play the sides there and determine whether or not it's worth betting on that on that book. You know, and and maybe maybe it means you don't play it on on the soft book and you just play it on a sharp book for, a low, an amount that might be lower than what you might typically bet.

Andrew Pace [00:54:33]:

Totally. And that that's a that's really good advice as well.

Shane Mercer [00:54:36]:

Yeah. Alright. Well, with that, pace we're talking about Pinnacle, we gotta bring up the Pinnacle contest. It turns out Nick never did claim his prize, did he? No. No. Nick. Womp womp womp. Buddy, if you

Andrew Pace [00:54:48]:

We're meeting him in Vancouver too. He's never gonna live it down.

Shane Mercer [00:54:50]:

Jeez. No. I feel bad for you, Nick. Because, actually, when Vancouver and and the retreat happens, we're gonna only be, like, a week away from announcing the, the the second round of of what what should be the second winner, but it'll actually be the first winner who's gonna win 2,000 USD and have that put into their pinnacle account. That's where we're at. Right, Pase? Sure. Yeah. Yeah.

Andrew Pace [00:55:16]:

It breaks my heart a little bit. I'm not gonna lie.

Shane Mercer [00:55:18]:

Yeah. Yeah. It's a bit sad there. But you know what? For whoever is going to win that next one, they got double the prize. I mean, 2,000 USD into your Pinnacle account. Who doesn't want that? So if you do want it, which I think most of you out there probably do, all you gotta do is make a bet on Pinnacle during this quarter. So that would be from April 1 to the June. Make a bet $10 minimum on Pinnacle and, send your bet slip over to, Mark Rodman.

Shane Mercer [00:55:43]:

And, you can do that, through our Discord server. Right, Payson? And everyone can access it whether you're a member or not.

Andrew Pace [00:55:49]:

Let me ask you a question, Shane. Yeah. If you win, are you entering?

Shane Mercer [00:55:54]:

I didn't enter. I didn't I don't feel like I have, like I just sort of self exclusion here. Like, you know, I'm I'm thousand USD, Shane. We're getting up there. Well, you know, we're getting up there. But, Pace, I mean, come on. I'm I'm here doing hosting the show and everything like that. I I don't feel like I should be you know, I'm I'm helping you run the contest here.

Shane Mercer [00:56:10]:

I don't think I should be able to enter it just like you can't enter it. Right, Pase? You're not putting yourself in.

Andrew Pace [00:56:13]:

I entered the last one. I just went out.

Shane Mercer [00:56:15]:

No you didnt, come on.

Andrew Pace [00:56:16]:

Of course. I gotta show my support and send my bet slip in.

Shane Mercer [00:56:19]:

And if you won the thousand USD, you'd be like, sorry, guys. I won. No.

Andrew Pace [00:56:23]:

There's never never never no. No. Absolutely not. If if if when I randomly clicked that thing, it landed on me. I just would've clicked it again. I wouldn't have even I wouldn't have even said anything. But I actually was curious if you were gonna enter, and if so, if, how rigged it would look and how hard KB would be after you.

Shane Mercer [00:56:41]:

So Yeah. Though there we go. That's another reason we got to enter.

Andrew Pace [00:56:43]:

In the battle of hosts, this host will not enter out of pride. So I guess now we have to find out if if he too would handle the situation the same way you would.

Shane Mercer [00:56:53]:

Oh, well, KB, let us know. Let us know. I've been I guarantee KB is putting putting an entry in. He might even try to get two or three entries in.

Andrew Pace [00:57:00]:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He may he may re he may rake it a little bit. Right? Yeah. Yeah.

Shane Mercer [00:57:05]:

Yeah. Exactly. Alright, guys. Well well, definitely get those entries in, though, because that price is now 2,000 USD. Sorry. A lot of money. Yeah. So it's a good chunk of money, and, we'll be doing it for the third and fourth quarters of the year too.

Shane Mercer [00:57:17]:

And by that point, pace, you know, you might see a bet slip in there that's got, like, either preseason NFL in that third quarter of the year. You might get some CFL bets coming at you because I know Pinnacle does offer some CFL every once in a while. It's a little it's a little funny, I think, when you you go to find the markets on Pinnacle, but they do offer CFL. I'm pretty sure.

Andrew Pace [00:57:36]:

Big time. It's it's one of the best books for CFL.

Shane Mercer [00:57:39]:

Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's great. So, who knows? You might see some bets come through for for some of those sports football on the menu in the third quarter of the year. Look at that. Well, before you know it, we'll be back in September. Yeah. Alright, Pace.

Shane Mercer [00:57:50]:

Lot of fun chatting with you today about playoffs. I'm sure we'll be talking more playoffs in the in the weeks to come, but, until then, keep beating those bucks. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of behind the lines. Remember to like, download, and subscribe. We are on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and everywhere you get your podcasts. Have a betting story or wanna be featured on our podcast? Drop a note in the comments below. And if you wanna join inplayLIVE, use promo code BEHINDTHELINES.