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Douglas Farmer

Douglas Farmer - Betting Analyst at Covers

Douglas Farmer

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Betting Analyst Years of Experience Icon16+ years experience
Betting Analyst
Years of Experience Icon16+ years experience Covers Email Icon Twitter Icon

Douglas Farmer spends his days thinking about college football and his nights thinking about the NBA. His betting habits and coverage follow that same pattern. He covered Notre Dame football for various outlets from 2008 to 2024, most notably spending eight seasons as NBC Sports’ beat writer on the Irish. That was also when his gambling focus took off. Knowing there were veteran beat writers with three decades more experience than he had, Douglas found his niche by best recognizing Notre Dame’s standing in each year’s national landscape, a complex tapestry most easily understood and remembered via betting odds.

In 2021, that interest created a freelance opportunity with Covers, a role that eventually led to Douglas joining the company full-time in 2023. In the fall, Douglas will place five or six dozen bets each week, a disproportionate amount via BetRivers because the operator tends to have lines slightly different than the rest of the market. The same can be said of Circa Sports’ futures markets.

While Douglas is an avid NBA fan and covers the league throughout the year, the vast majority of his bets are on college football, because that is the biggest key to sports betting: Know what you do not know.

Favorites
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Sport to bet on: College football
Sports movie: Finding Forrester
Sports snack: Whiskey
Covers feature: Line movement tracker
A "return to living" trip to Vegas before the 2021 football season started by seeing value on Georgia to win the national championship at +800. By then, mid-August, the consensus line was +650. So, I took my entire weekend's bankroll and put it on what I affectionately referred to as "Clifford." The logic was, Georgia should make the Playoff and by then, I'll be sitting on great value to hedge out. Except, I never hedged out. I just added to the investment all season long, including with live odds of +140. The joy was not in the win, but in the five months of vindicated conviction.
Best Betting Memory Icon Best Betting Memory
This may seem trivial, but it is the one that still aggravates me years later. There are few better bets in life than fading a Brian VanGorder defense. So when Bowling Green visited Notre Dame in 2019, I trusted the Irish to run it up on their former defensive coordinator, betting the Notre Dame team total Over 54.5. I think I am the only person in the world who vividly remembers Javon McKinley dropping an open crossing route inside the 10-yard line, forcing the Irish to settle for a field goal en route to a 52-0 win.
Best Betting Memory Icon Worst Beat

College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker

Dec 22, 2024 • 1:14 PM ET

Keeping on top of player opt-outs during college football bowl season can be a daunting task. Fortunately, we're here to help with the latest opt-outs and odds for all 47 postseason games.

CFP Quarterfinal Round Odds: The Outcomes and Trends You Should and Shouldn't React To

Dec 22, 2024 • 11:13 AM ET

Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State all handled business in their first-round CFP matchups, but how might those squads fare in Round 2? Read our quarterfinal reactions below to find out.

Early Penn State vs Boise State Predictions, Picks, and Odds for Fiesta Bowl

Dec 21, 2024 • 6:58 PM ET

Featuring the best ground attack in the nation, Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty will keep things close in Glendale as the Broncos look to spring an upset of the Nittany Lions.

Tennessee vs Ohio State Predictions, Picks, Odds — College Football Playoff First Round

Dec 21, 2024 • 5:01 PM ET

Farmer's best bet: A tall task awaits the Tennessee Vols in the first round of the College Football Playoff as they face a gritty defense that lies within the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Indiana vs Notre Dame Predictions, Picks & Best Bets for the College Football Playoff First Round

Dec 20, 2024 • 7:22 PM ET

Farmer's best bet: Expect the scoring to be kept to a minimum Friday night.

Bucks vs Cavaliers Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 20, 2024 • 1:42 PM ET

Coming off the high of winning the NBA Cup, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks could be in for a letdown when they take on the Eastern Conference leaders.

Clemson vs Texas Player Props & Best Bets — College Football Playoff First Round 2024

Dec 20, 2024 • 1:11 PM ET

Douglas Farmer's Clemson vs Texas prop picks focus on Quinn Ewers, Cade Klubnik, and Bryant Wesco.

SMU vs Penn State Player Props & Best Bets — College Football Playoff First Round 2024

Dec 20, 2024 • 12:35 PM ET

The QB spotlight is fully on Drew Allar, and he'll rise to the occasion for the Nittany Lions in the CFP.

Georgia Southern vs Sam Houston Predictions, Picks, Odds — New Orleans Bowl

Dec 19, 2024 • 3:55 PM ET

Farmer's best bet: After moving down to 4.5-point favorites, the value is firmly on the Eagles' side as they're set to take on the Bearkats at Caesars Superdome.

Knicks vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 19, 2024 • 9:05 AM ET

The prodigal son returns. Karl-Anthony Towns plays his first game at Target Center against his old team, the Timberwolves. The newly-minted Knicks star won't waste any time in reminding Wolves fans what they lost.

Early Clemson vs Texas Predictions, Picks, and Odds

Dec 17, 2024 • 9:01 PM ET

Not many people will be quick to back Clemson in this spot, but Douglas Farmer believes something's amiss with the Longhorns offense. Because of that, Doug is grabbing as many points as possible with the Tigers.

Best Rockets vs Thunder Props Predictions for Tonight: Defenses Dominate NBA Cup Semifinal

Dec 14, 2024 • 4:48 PM ET

Two of the league's best defenses square off in tonight's marquee clash in Oklahoma City. Douglas Farmer expects a low-scoring affair, making points scarce for several player props.

Hawks vs Bucks Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Today’s NBA Game

Dec 14, 2024 • 1:56 PM ET

Douglas Farmer isn't sold on Atlanta following its upset over New York, and his Hawks vs. Bucks predictions explain why you shouldn't be either.

Army vs Navy Player Props and Best Bets: Horvath Sets the Tone in Rivalry Game

Dec 14, 2024 • 9:32 AM ET

One of the best rivalries in college football headlines Saturday's action, and Douglas Farmer has you covered with his favorite props ahead of kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jackson State vs South Carolina State Predictions, Picks, Odds for the Celebration Bowl

Dec 14, 2024 • 9:05 AM ET

FCS powerhouses are set to square off on Saturday in Atlanta, and Douglas Farmer has his expert analysis lined up for the first bowl game of the year.

Lakers vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 13, 2024 • 4:13 PM ET

Anthony Edwards has provided early Christmas gifts for NBA prop bettors, and Douglas Farmer's go-to handicap reigns true in tonight's matchup against the Lakers.

Kings vs Pelicans Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 12, 2024 • 3:37 PM ET

Douglas Farmer thinks the Kings are being undervalued on the spread and is targeting the away team vs. the Pelicans.

Pistons vs Celtics Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 12, 2024 • 2:32 PM ET

Boston prevailed by double digits just over a week ago against Detroit, and Douglas Farmer expects the defending champs to come out flexing their muscles after a lengthy break.

Best Warriors vs Rockets Props for Tonight: Houston Shuts Down Curry From Deep

Dec 11, 2024 • 4:55 PM ET

The Houston Rockets have excelled at locking down perimeter threats this year, and their defenders are bound to affect Steph Curry’s output in tonight's Western Conference clash at the Toyota Center.

Hawks vs Knicks Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Dec 11, 2024 • 2:12 PM ET

The Knicks have proven they are the better team than the Hawks all season. With the NBA Cup quarterfinals on deck, the Knicks get to show how they have the upper hand.

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