Jason La Canfora

Jason La Canfora

Jason La Canfora grew up around bookies and betting in East Baltimore, with a bar on every corner and someone taking book behind the bar in pretty much all of them as well. As a child, he kept a notebook with his weekly analysis of his favorite ATS plays and charted his progress, and he has been wagering his entire adult life except when explicitly prohibited by his employer. La Canfora has connections with GMs, coaches, players and agents in many sports and has spent over 20 years as a professional sportswriter and reporter at The Syracuse Post-Standard, Baltimore Sun, Detroit Free Press and Washington Post, where he currently writes 50 NFL Insider columns each season. He was the NFL Network's lone NFL Insider from 2009-2012 and was CBS Sports NFL Insider, across all platforms including Super Bowl telecasts and THE NFL TODAY, from 2012-2022. From 2022-2025 he was a betting analyst for CBS SportsLine, appearing across numerous CBS platforms breakdown down betting lines and making daily picks year-round behind a paywall. He’s also an NFL Insider and betting analyst for Audacy Radio and the BetMGM Network, hosting a three-hour NFL gambling show every Sunday during the football season and contributing to all of the BetMGM shows. He has created betting podcasts and also created and hosts “Wanna Bet?” — a daily gambling show on YouTube and other platforms. La Canfora graduated with honors from Syracuse University in 1996 with degrees from the Newhouse School of Broadcasting and the Maxwell School of Citizenship.
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Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora is the right play this week

Wanna Bet? Winning Wagers for Sunday’s Elite Eight Matchups

As the Elite Eight tournament winds down, our gambling duo is back to break down the best bets for Tennessee vs. Michigan and UConn vs. Duke

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora is the right play on Saturday

Wanna Bet? Winning Wagers for Saturday’s Elite Eight Matchups

Our gambling duo breaks down Purdue vs. Arizona and Iowa vs. Illinois to deliver the best bets for Saturday's Elite Eight lineup.

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
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Wanna Bet? Our Favorite Picks for the Sweet Sixteen

Mar 25: Ahead of the Sweet Sixteen, our gambling pros turn the Madness into money, from a Duke-St. John's under to an easy Arizona kill shot

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall is the right play this week

Wanna Bet? NCAA Tournament Day 4 Picks That Will Pay Off

MARCH 22 PICKS: The NCAA Tournament field will be cut to the Sweet Sixteen by the end of the day. Here’s how to extract value in your bets.

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora is the right play this week

Wanna Bet? Picks That Will Pay Off on March Madness Day Three

March 21: March Madness is in full swing, with the field down to 32 teams. Here's how to extract value in your bets.

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall is the right play this Wednesday

Wanna Bet? Winning Wagers For the Tournament's First Day

March 18: Our betting experts serve up 3 winning plays for March Madness' Thursday, March 19 first-round games

By Jason La Canfora, Ben Hall
Wanna bet? Hoops HQ's gambling tandem serve up the best futures bets for the Men's 2026 NCAA Tournament

Wanna Bet? March Madness Futures Wagers to Win On

With March Madness finally here, our gambling duo gives you the best future bets to pounce on before the market changes

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora is the right play this week

One Winning Play for Every Night This Week

March 2: Wrap up the final week of the regular season with 5 smart plays over the next 5 nights

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall is the right play this week

Wanna Bet? Top Wagers for Thursday and Friday Night

Feb 23: Take the over in Louisville at UNC — even with Caleb Wilson out of commission. Our gambling tandem also brings you picks for USC at UCLA, Michigan at Illinois and more.

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
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Five Winning Bets for Every Night This Week

Feb 16: Hoops HQ's Betting Editors have you covered, Monday through Friday

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
Hoops HQ's Wanna Bet? column from Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall is the right play this week

Wanna Bet? Virginia Tech vs. Clemson Tops Wednesday’s Wagers

Feb 11: Red-hot Clemson and its formidable defense are a safe bet to stifle the Hokies' offense. Also, the winning plays for Toledo vs. Western Michigan and Colorado vs. Texas Tech

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
"Wanna Bet?" text over graphic of hand holding hundred dollar bill

Winning Wagers for Tuesday Through Friday Games

Feb 9: A Big Ten mismatch means a layup against the spread. Our gambling tandem brings you winning wagers for Arizona at Kansas and more.

By Jason La Canfora and Ben Hall
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