Meet Neil Parker, Our Betting Analyst
Neil Parker
Betting Analyst
15+ Years ExperienceNeil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs at some of the top websites in the industry.
Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.
Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.
What makes Neil Parker an expert?
Neil parlayed his passion for sports into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet and other broadcasts.
Experience
Covers.com
- Betting Analyst
- December 2023 - Present
- One Masters Bet We're Making Right Now: Rory McIlroy
- Publication
- Bedard vs. Celebrini: Which Young Star is Better?
- Publication
SportsBookReview.com
- Sports Betting Analyst
- March 2022 - November 2023
Education
Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010.
St. Thomas University
- Bachelor of Arts (Honors History)
Acadia University
- Bachelor of Education
6 outright winners and counting
Neil has been covering the PGA for over a decade and has picked six outright winners already in 2025.
24+ years of NFL betting
Neil has been betting on the NFL for nearly 25 years and finished last season with a 19.79% ROI with his NFL best bets.
24+ years of MLB betting
Neil's numbers-based approach to betting the MLB has him in the middle of another profitable season.
24+ years of NHL betting
Neil's consistently fine-tuning his NHL models and projections to complement his in-depth analysis and handicapping.
How does Neil stay up to date?
Neil leans into analytics and advanced statistics while keeping a keen eye on line movement as the basis of his numbers-based approach to handicapping.
Data Golf
Data Golf offers unrivalled pre-tournament and live statistics and analytics pairing perfectly for handicapping.
FanGraphs
FanGraphs offers a wealth of advanced metrics alongside customizable leaderboards, interactive player charts, and projections.
Natural Stat Trick
Natural Stat Trick offers standard and advanced hockey analytics in a customizable, clean and user-friendly interface.
Covers League Picks
Neil loves to have action on sports outside his expertise. The Covers League Picks pages allow him to enjoy the fun and camaraderie with his Covers teammates as well as the site's thriving betting community.
Q&A with Neil
Where does your love of sports come from?
I was lucky to grow up in a family of passionate and knowledgeable sports fans who fostered my own love and interest. Watching multiple games at once while surrounded by a library of almanacs made it easy. Plus, did anyone else dish out $40 in a fantasy baseball auction for Ryne Sandberg during his 40-homer season in 1990?
What are your favorite sports to play?
When I was younger I tried to play just about everything and never had a particular favorite. Now, I’m a two-sport schmuck playing hockey in the winter and golf in the summer. However, I’ve always had way more success with fantasy sports than the real ones.
What do you look for in a sportsbook?
The best sportsbooks feature a user-friendly interface while pairing a wide selection of betting markets (including same-game parlays and live betting) with competitive odds. I’m also looking to have my experience enhanced with plenty of odds boosts and fast payouts.
What's your best advice for sports bettors?
Stay within your means and remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a nice piece of memorabilia or a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.
Step No. 1 in my handicapping process is to check the Covers’ Scores & Matchup pages. From the actual game previews themselves to the ability to check injuries, projections and line movement, there is a wealth of information available in these one-stop shops for every single game.
Neil's areas of expertise
Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds.
Best Odds & Value
Landing the best number is priority No. 1, and Neil uses his projections and modeling while scouring the markets to find the best odds available.
Experience & Insight
Neil's a life-long sports fan and multi-decade sports bettor who's passionate about bringing his experience, insight and knowledge to the forefront for the Covers community.
Neil's memories
🚀 Big wins
I’d love a DMC DeLorean to go back to 2016. The only thing topping cashing in on Danny Willet at the Masters was never hedging my preseason Chicago Cubs World Series ticket. What a year to be alive.
😭 Bad beat?
Losing is part of the game, and I can’t predict the future, so I don’t dwell on the beats. Plus, always betting on the Dallas Cowboys and Toronto Maple Leafs means the losses come frequently, and especially when it matters most.
Neil's Articles
It's not just Neil doing the research
Jon Metler
Betting Analyst
Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, Jon naturally turned his focus to the NBA when he entered the sports betting world. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in spreads, moneylines, and player propsalways chasing value through sharp market analysis. A firm believer in analytics, Jon trusts the numbers to guide his bets. He monitors NBA betting markets 365 days a year and uses 10+ sportsbooks to find the best prices. If there are NBA games on, Jons up early, caffeinated, and already placing his favorite bets.
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Kyle LaRusic
Betting Analyst
Kyle LaRusic joined Covers in 2020 with a Holland College diploma in Journalism and a Mount Saint Vincent Degree in Public Relations. Stints at Amherst News and the Cape Breton Post helped sharpen his skills in a newsroom setting, while working for MSVU and Dalhousies athletic departments landed Kyle in his comfort zone. Kyle has been an avid bettor for over five years, starting with just one Sports Interaction account before discovering both the beauty and importance of price shopping. bet365 and Pinnacle are his go to books, but accounts at 10+ sportsbooks give him an array of options. Rusty will bet on anything under the sun as long as theres value and good reasoning behind it, but NHL and NFL are his two favorite leagues to watch and wager on especially with friends. Kyles biggest tip for any bettor is simple: gamble responsibly. Only bet what youre willing to lose and make sure to install a proper bankroll method to keep track of your ROI. If youre still dwelling on the amount you lost the next day, its time to decrease your spending.
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Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst
Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu, Greece. Hes the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the Crush and Rush Tennis Podcast. Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications, including Advance Local, SB Nation, FanSided, and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro mens and womens hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe, and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.
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