Stephen Nover is unique among professional handicappers. A multiple award-winning sportswriter for numerous newspapers, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nover has one the best combinations of gambling and media sources in the world.
The author of two sports gambling books, “Las Vegas Sports Beat” and “Sports Gaming Beat,” along with a book on fantasy football titled, “Winning Fantasy Football,” Nover is a former professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas having taught a football handicapping class there. He also was the co-host of the Sunday night sports betting radio show “The Stardust Line” during the 1990's.
Parlaying nearly 50 years worth of professional gambling experience with tremendous knowledge of the players through elite deep-roster Rotisserie leagues and building on copious gaming and media sources - having worked for newspapers in the Midwest, South and West and also for legendary oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough - Nover is a true Las Vegas wise guy. He helped learn his craft from such masters as Roxborough, Dave Malinsky, Lem Banker and Russ Culver.
Part of what makes Nover so special is the pride he takes in writing his deep-dive analysis, which always is unique, well-researched and sometimes entails out-of-the-box thinking.
Nover's VI record speaks for itself. No matter what the sport, Nover wins. Since rejoining Vegas Insider in 2012 and heading into 2021, here are some of Nover's accomplishments in each sport he handicaps:
NFL: Overall percentage and money leader twice. Placed among the top three in percentage and money won three times. Finished above .500 in 24 of 27 years.
NBA: Nover's 10-year NBA percentage record from 2012-20 is unmatched. He has finished in the top three in either money won, or percentage, every season while being the No. 1 money leader in four of those years.
College Basketball: Nover has placed in the top three in percentage, money won and totals in five seasons. Twice he was the money and percentage leader and a third year he finished No. 1 in guaranteed wins.
College Football: Twice he finished among the top three in percentage and money, including having the highest winning percentage in 2018 while also ranking No. 2 in money won that season.
MLB: Nover has placed in the top three in either money, member leaders and guaranteed percentage four times.
NHL: Nover started handicapping hockey in 2015 and during the last six years has finished in the top three in either money, member leaders or guaranteed percentage five times.
Niche sports (WNBA and CFL): Nover began handicapping these sports in 2019. That year he was first in the WNBA in money won and percentage and third in the CFL in money and percentage.
Handicapper Hot Streaks
• 25-5 NBA Guaranteed Run: 8/8/20 - 9/12/20
• 12-0 NCAA BK Guaranteed Run: 1/26/20 - 2/12/20
• 19-1, +1,818 NHL Pick Run: 11/30/18 - 12/12/18
• 13-0, +1,316 NHL Guaranteed Run: 11/30/18 - 12/13/18
Documented Records
• 2021-2022 NFL #2 Totals Leader: $975
• 2021 NHL #2 Underdog Leader: $1,365
• 2020-2021 CBK #3 Totals Leader: $812
• 2019-2020 NBA #3 Money Leader: $2,579
• 2019-2020 NBA #2 Percent Leader: 59%
• 2019-2020 NHL #2 Money Leader: $1,606
• 2019-2020 CBK #3 Money Leader: $2,625
• 2019-2020 CBK Percent Leader: 62%
• 2019 CFL #3 Percent Leader: 56%
• 2019 CFL #2 Totals Leader: $440
• 2019 WNBA Money Leader: $1,189
• 2019 WNBA Percent Leader: 60%
• 2019 WNBA #2 Totals Leader: $1,047
• 2018-2019 NCAA BK #2 Money Leader: $2,989
• 2018-2019 NCAA BK Percent Leader: 62%
• 2018-2019 NCAA BK #3 Totals Leader: $928
• 2018-2019 NFL Money Leader: $1,412
• 2018-2019 NFL #2 Percent Leader: 58.5%
• 2018-2019 NCAA FB Money Leader: $2,246
• 2018-2019 NCAA FB Percent Leader: 63%
• 2017-2018 NBA #3 Money Leader: $1,334
• 2017-2018 NBA #3 Percent Leader: 55%
• 2017-2018 NHL #2 Money Leader: $2,831
• 2017-2018 NHL Totals Leader: $3,314
• 2017-2018 NFL #2 Totals Leader: $563
• 2017 MLB #2 Money Leader: $1,583
• 2017 MLB #2 Underdog Leader: $1,351
• 2017 MLB #3 Favorite Leader: $724
• 2016-2017 NBA #3 Money Leader: $1,413
• 2016-2017 NBA #3 Percent Leader: 55%
• 2016-2017 NHL #3 Money Leader: $1,083
• 2016-2017 NHL #3 Underdog Leader: $1,329
• 2015-2016 NBA Overall Money: $1,138
• 2015-2016 NCAA BK Percent Leader: 58%
• 2015-2016 NCAA BK #2 Totals Leader: $565
• 2015-2016 NCAA BK Overall Money: $1,567
• 2014-2015 NBA Money Leader: $4,765
• 2014-2015 NBA #2 Percent Leader: 59%
• 2014-2015 NBA #2 Totals Leader: $1,438
• 2014-2015 NCAA BK #3 Percent Leader: 53%
• 2014-2015 NFL #3 Percent Leader: 56%
• 2014-2015 NCAA FB #3 Percent Leader: 57%
• 2014-2015 NCAA FB #2 Totals Leader: $1,332
• 2013-2014 NBA Totals Leader: $1,320
• 2013-2014 NBA #3 Percent Leader: 56%
• 2013-2014 NBA Overall Money: $1,679
• 2012-2013 NBA #3 Money Leader: $3,400
• 2012-2013 NBA #3 Percent Leader: 58%
• 2012-2013 NFL Money Leader: $2,869
• 2012-2013 NFL Percentage Leader: 65%
• 2008-2009 NBA Money Leader: $3,809
• 2008-2009 NBA Totals Leader: $3,659
• 2008-2009 NFL #2 Money Leader: $2,342
• 2007-2008 NCAA BK #3 Money Leader: $1,960
