SPIRIT OF THE GAME (7.14.26): Season 4 of THE WINDOW begins with some summer-hot takes

In this week’s episode of THE WINDOW: Sports betting podcast, Matt Russell (@mrussauthentic) checks in with a summer edition of the podcast, after consuming a month’s worth of World Cup soccer. Even without being a big fan of the sport, there’s still been some notable takeaways that will help our betting in other sports. USA Soccer got overrated before their game with Belgium, as a controversial move didn’t work out. How the Folarin Balogun situation related to college football’s biggest offseason story. Do we need to fix soccer? Or is “soccer” screwing things up for themselves? Matt explains why the “spirit of the game” means something different in soccer versus hockey or football. Speaking of the NFL, we’ve got an updated look at estimated market power ratings for every team with the added data points of the point spread being offered for every game this season. Matt explains the difference between an action changing a team’s rating, and “action” changing it. MAYBE YOU MISSED IT?NFL Betting: Schedule release and power ratings (Pt. 1)NFL Betting: Schedule release and power ratings (Pt. 2)NFL Betting: Free for Yahoo! — The five lookahead line bets to make nowNFL Betting: NFL team estimated market power ratings ahead of training campsThen, Matt gives his take on another province — Alberta — coming to widespread sports betting legalization, and how to treat that. Why the Brendan Sorsby situation should have fallen into the same category as Folarin Balogun’s red card.From now until July 31st, membership is available at $120 annually.Just over $5 (USD) per the 22 weeks of football season from Week 1 of college football until the Super Bowl (plus, you get season-long bets in August, March Madness, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs!).Subscribe nowThat’s the lowest price THE WINDOW has been, or will ever be, offered at.On August 1st, that price will go back to the standard $150 per year. For existing monthly subscribers on the initial $20/month membership, that doesn’t change, even as the monthly subscription goes up with market inflation. However, those paying monthly CAN switch over to the discounted annual rate to save over $10/month.HOW TO CHANGE FROM MONTHLY TO ANNUALPlus, six targets for live-betting at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, after a lame betting weekend at Shinnecock for the U.S. Open. It’s time to head to THE WINDOW, let’s go!