VegasInsider Ranks The Best Handicappers for January 2026
To navigate the complex sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) industries, we have analyzed the top sports handicappers and platforms providing winning picks across multiple sports. This comprehensive guide at VegasInsider breaks down the professional sports handicapper landscape in 2026, evaluating everything from advanced analytics and statistical analysis to the track record of a consistent winner.
Whether you are looking for NFL handicapping expertise or betting strategies for college basketball, we have vetted the most profitable bettor resources to give you a definitive edge. By looking at long-term data and market movements, VegasInsider identifies the services that offer a true advantage in the current sports betting world for both traditional bettors and DFS players.
VegasInsider's Best Sports Handicappers
When it comes to finding winners at sportsbooks, VegasInsider sits atop the mountain as the premier destination for betting tips. Providing in-depth analysis, expert picks, real-time odds, and data-driven insights, our roster of sports handicappers is second to none.
Curated to deliver high-value picks across major leagues, VegasInsider excels at helping users navigate the complexities of the sports betting industry so our users can bet with confidence.
Below are some of the profiles of the leading sports handicappers, each known for their consistent performance and unique knowledge that round out the robust VegasInsider portfolio of handicapping services.
These handicappers provide picks to users, and you can make the most of those using our sportsbook promos including our bet365 bonus code, BetMGM bonus code, and more.
Zack Cimini
Zack Cimini is a veteran of the sports handicapping world, who came into the industry in 2000, starting as a ghostwriter for a Las Vegas-based company before becoming a full-time handicapper in 2009.
With his specialization in NFL, NCAAF, MLB, and NBA handicapping services, Cimini is a disciplined, value-based handicapper who relies on units instead of "game of the year" type claims.
Because of his methodical approach, Cimini's picks are appealing to both short-term and long-term bettors, and a look at his results confirms that narrative:
Zack's Top Historical Records
- 2023 MLB #2 Profits Leader: $873
- 2021-2022 NFL #3 Percent Leader: 62%
- 2021-2022 NFL #4 Profits Leader: $1115
- 2020-2021 NFL #2 Percent Leader: 62%
- 2020-2021 NBA Percent Leader: 57%
- 2020-2021 NBA Overall Profits: $1463
You can find Zack's picks and analysis right here at VegasInsider
Stephen Nover
With nearly five decades of experience being a sports handicapper, Stephen Nover has authored books on sports betting and fantasy football while contributing to countless major sports outlets, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
A former college professor who taught football handicapping at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Nover's scope of sports covers everything from the NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, MLB, NHL, WNBA, and CFL.
Taking a unique approach to sports handicapping, Nover's style is research-heavy as he often uncovers unconventional angles that other sports handicappers are not paying attention to.
His recent records, tracked exclusively here at VegasInsider, speak for themselves:
Stephen's Top Historical Records
- 2022-23 NHL Profits Leader: $4491
- 2022-23 NHL Totals Leader: $2398
- 2022-23 NBA Profits Leader: $4956
- 2022-23 NFL #2 Totals Leader: $813
- 2022-23 NCAAF #2 Totals Leader: $2373
- 2022-23 NCAAF #2 Percent Leader: 63%
- 2022-23 NCAAF #3 Profits Leader: $2405
- 2021-2022 NFL #2 Totals Leader: $975
- 2021 NHL #2 Underdog Leader: $1365
- 2020-2021 NCAAB #3 Totals Leader: $812
You can find Stephen's picks and analysis right here at VegasInsider
Nick Galaida
Referred to as "The Commish" by his friends, Nick Galaida is a sports handicapper focused on analysis over athletics. He is a former high school pitcher that eventually transitioned full-time to the sports handicapping industry as an expert writer.
Focusing on the NFL and MLB here at VegasInsider, Nick also covers the NBA and NFL player props at ScoresAndOdds and RotoGrinders.
Whether it be NFL betting or Major League Baseball, Galaida's content focuses on same-game parlays and player props, making him a must-follow for DFS enthusiasts.
Quickly growing into one of the top sports handicappers in the player props and DFS space, Nick is a must follow for those looking for consistent winners in sports gambling across multiple leagues.
You can find Nick's picks and analysis right here at VegasInsider
Bruce Marshall
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make any list of the top sports handicappers in the world without mentioning industry veteran Bruce Marshall.
With more than four decades of experience in the industry, Marshall is linked to the infamous "The Gold Sheet." Starting in 1981, it was a football handicapper newsletter of sorts that was a pioneer in the sports handicapping services industry.
Since expanding his NFL handicapping to college football, the NBA, NCAAB, and NHL, Marshall is known for his extensive media presence, including regular contributions to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and radio appearances.
His analytical style is appealing to bettors seeking advice and picks on everything from spreads, totals, and moneylines. Some recent contributions to VegasInsider show just how prolific Bruce is to the industry:
Bruce's Top Historical Records
- 2021-2022 NCAAB Profits Leader: $4007
- 2021-2022 NFL Profits Leader: $2115
- 2021-2022 NFL Percent Leader: 65%
- 2020-2021 NCAAF #3 Totals Leader: $245
You can find Bruce's picks and analysis right here at VegasInsider
Brian Edwards
Last, but certainly not least, Brian Edwards rounds out our list of the top sports handicappers here at VegasInsider, where he has called home since 2000.
With a background in sports writing and a degree from the University of Florida, Edwards specializes in NCAAF, NFL, NBA, NCAAB, and UFC, with a focus on SEC teams when it comes to college football and basketball.
Also a media darling, Edwards is a regular on numerous radio shows and has bylines that include ESPN, among other major outlets. While his full list of impressive records is too long to list, below are a few of his recent accomplishments right here at VegasInsider:
Brian's Top Historical Records
- 2022-2023 NBA Totals Leader: $1293
- 2022-2023 NCAAB #4 Totals Leader: $724
- 2020-2021 NBA #2 Profits Leader: $1972
- 2020-2021 NBA #3 Totals Leader: $1176
- 16-4 all-time record in NCAA FB Championship Games
- 16-5 Super Bowl record since 2009
You can find Brian's picks and analysis right here at VegasInsider
Common Tips and Tricks for Following Sports Handicappers
Following the best sports handicappers and analysts is one of many betting strategies to help bettors maximize long-term success while minimizing risks.
Below are a few of the critical guidelines to consider when tailing the paid or free picks of the best sports analysts/handicappers:
- Track Performance: Keep track of your own units and ROI by maintaining a personal record of bets, allowing you to evaluate your performance independently. This helps to ensure you are not solely reliant on the handicapper's reported success, but serves as a secondary audit of how they (and by proxy, you) are performing.
- Find a focus: Whether you choose professional sports or college basketball/football, find a lane and narrow your handicapper selections to cappers that focus on those sports. As you will find, every sports handicapper has at least one focus when it comes to where they excel.
- Don't Chase Losses: In a sport as volatile as college basketball, it's easy to get caught up in the swings of a season, and losing streaks are inevitable. Whether you are taking free picks or paying for them, even the best sports handicappers in the world have down periods. Don't chase losses with higher unit action.
- Do Your Own Research: While it's easy to just jump on the back of handicappers' winning streaks and the sports analytics they produce, assist handicappers in doing your own research to make sure what you find aligns with their views. At the end of the day, the best sports handicappers in the world win at just over 50% of the time, so following team trends, injury news, and other sports monitor services ensures your winning picks are a product of both of you.
MORE OF THE BEST HANDICAPPERS FOR SPORTS BETTING
Whether you are betting on college or professional sports, VegasInsider is the premier destination for a profitable bettor to find picks and analysis from the best sports handicapper talent in the business.
While we take pride in our roster, we recognize the value of the broader market and have evaluated the other top platforms offering sports betting, DFS, and hybrid approaches to help you find an edge.
Each of the below options takes a different approach, whether it be data models, research-intensive focuses, or media-based platforms.
Ranging from a focus on straight bets, player props, futures, niche markets, and more, let's take a closer look at the remaining best handicappers for sports betting.
Parlay Science
Parlay Science is a primarily X-based (formerly Twitter) entity known for crafting value-based parlays across major sports, including the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
Their winning streaks are often centered around data-driven approaches to combining everything from computer models, trends, player stats, and odds movement, with picks shared via social media for community engagement.
Sean Koerner
With over a decade of experience in the sports betting industry, Sean Koerner is currently the Director of Predictive Analytics at Action Network.
With more than 20 years of knowledge in the sports betting and DFS spaces, Sean covers the NFL, college football/basketball, and player stat projections, owning computer models like in-game win probabilities and detailed DFS rankings.
A great follow for any sports bettor, Koerner's accolades include multiple FantasyPros accuracy titles, with an all-time win rate of +55%.
You can find Sean Koerner's latest betting tips and best bets here
Stuckey
A social media juggernaut with his own business in the sports handicapper space well before joining Action Network, Stuckey has been a staple of the sports betting world since Twitter became mainstream.
Now a Senior Betting Analyst at Action Network, Stuckey specializes in NFL, college basketball, and college football, hosting podcasts across The Action Network Podcast network.
With a background in finance and nearly two decades of providing picks, Stuckey has an uncanny ability to use data-driven insights to pick winners in style.
Find all of the latest analysis from Stuckey here
Chris Raybon
Another Senior Betting Analyst at Action Network, Chris Raybon, primarily focuses on the NFL, NBA, and fantasy football, with 15 years of experience covering sports betting.
Known for his podcast hosting and sharp projections, Raybon has a win rate of 54% and has been a great addition to a strong cast of handicappers at Action.
You can find Chris Raybon's latest betting tips and best bets here
Collin Wilson
Collin Wilson currently serves as a Senior Writer at Action Network, covering mostly college football.
Known for his power ratings and data visualization skills, Wilson also covers the MLB and NFL. With more than two decades of experience predicting game outcomes, Wilson is an increasingly popular handicapper at Action Network.
You can find Collin Wilson's latest betting tips and best bets here
Nick Giffen
With a focus on advanced analytics and statistical analysis, Nick Giffen is a Predictive Analyst at Action Network.
Creator of the NFL Luck Rankings, a metric used to identify teams due for regression, Giffen has a decade of experience in the field, specializing in the NFL, NASCAR, and NCAAB player props.
You can find Nick Giffen's latest betting tips and best bets here
Sean Zerillo
Sean Zerillo currently serves as a Senior Betting Analyst at Action Network, covering the MLB, MMA, and horse racing for the conglomerate.
With nearly two decades in the industry, Sean's expertise lies in his proprietary models, which include everything from weather reports to player trends, using statistical data and line movements to provide value for his customers.
You can find Sean Zerillo's latest betting tips and best bets here
Gilles Gallant
If NFL anytime touchdown scorer props are your thing, Gilles Gallant is your guy.
Currently a sports handicapper at Action Network, Gallant has been a leader in the anytime touchdown prop space since 2015, while expanding his portfolio of deep knowledge to the NBA,NCAAB, and MLB as well.
You can find Gilles Gallant's latest betting tips and best bets here
Mike Calabrese
Mike Calabrese is the college sports guru at Action Network, focusing on college football, basketball, and baseball.
With two decades of developing a deep understanding of college sports betting, Calabrese covers everything from line moves to injury reports in picking winners across the board, making customer satisfaction his priority in the process.
You can find Mike Calabrese's latest betting tips and best bets here
Joe Dellera
Joe Dellera is another sports handicapper at Action Network, with his biggest plays focusing on NBA player props and futures.
Up more than +200 units since joining Action Network, Joe is a must-follow for NBA bettors of all shapes and sizes.
You can find Joe Dellera's latest betting tips and best bets here
Kyle Murray
A Projections and Betting Analyst at Better Collective, Kyle Murray excels in player props, focusing on the NBA, MLB, NFL, and Golf.
With more than five years of experience in DFS and sports betting, Murray has claims to multiple six-figure wins.
- You can find Kyle Murray's latest betting tips and best bets at Action Network and RotoGrinders
Derek Farnsworth
AKA Notorious, Derek Farnsworth is a DFS expert, currently contributing to both Action Network and RotoGrinders.
With a broad net of expertise, Farnsworth covers the NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA Tour, with some of the top rankings in the world across each of those leagues.
DFS lovers keen on money management should absolutely be tapped into Derek's latest offerings.
- You can find Derek Farnsworth's latest betting tips and best bets at Action Network and RotoGrinders
Charlie Wright
Currently a staff writer at Action Network and RotoGrinders, Charlie Wright leans on his journalism roots to provide expert picks across both platforms.
Excelling in both DFS and sports betting, Wright has developed a knack for finding inefficiencies in the market.
- You can find Charlie Wright's latest betting tips and best bets at Action Network and RotoGrinders
Grant Neiffer
Once a full-time accountant, Grant Neiffer is now a full-time DFS and sports betting analyst, making the jump in 2015 and peaking with a 2021 DraftKings Championship.
Specializing in player props and projections in the NBA, NFL, and MLB, Grant is a must-follow for bettors who focus on player props and DFS.
- You can find Grant Neiffer's latest betting tips and best bets at RotoGrinders and Action Network
Brit Devine
A former pro poker player, Brit Devine now focuses on DFS cash games and sports betting, with a particular focus on the NFL.
Now providing analysis at RotoGrinders and Scores and Odds, Devine burst onto the scene in 2023 as one of the top NFL handicappers in the world.
You can find Brit Devine's latest betting tips and best bets here
Derek Carty
Using sports data query languages, Derek Carty created projection systems like THE BAT X for MLB and THE BLITZ for NFL to create massive ROI for his followers.
Now covering multiple sports, Carty is a fantasy and sports betting analyst with MLB Scout School credentials.
You can find Derek Carty's latest betting tips and best bets here
Bonus Action Network Group: BetLabs
Bet Labs is a collective of the expert community at Action Network, using data and qualitative insights for daily strategies and picks.
Great for choosing betting strategies and what works best for you, Bet Labs is a collection of the best sports betting minds in the world at any given moment.
Explore more of Bet Labs here at Action Network
How Can I Track the Best Sports Handicappers?
Whether it comes to success against the point spread, moneylines, or totals, tracking sports handicappers effectively involves leveraging tools that, first and foremost, provide transparent data on picks, wins, and the correlated ROI.
The VegasInsider app is an excellent resource for all of the above, offering features such as real-time odds, expert picks, line movements, and customizable alerts directly in the app.
Users of the app can check out leaderboards, historical records, and betting trends across all major sports.
The VegasInsider app also directly gives you access to the handicappers mentioned today, the ability to subscribe to their profiles for daily updates, performance metrics, and direct pick notifications.
The Action Network App is also a great way to keep up with your favorite personalities. Check out our complete list of the best sports betting apps.
Daily Picks Hub on VegasInsider
VegasInsider's Daily Picks Hub pulls together the latest premium picks from the top sports handicappers on the site, covering everything from the NFL, NCAAF, MLB, NBA, and NCAAB, with markets including point spreads, totals, props, and moneylines.
Handicappers such as Brian Edwards and Stephen Nover provide picks daily, often with their strong recent records front and center. Access to this section requires a premium subscription for unlimited picks and expert analysis, ideal for following documented experts on the platform.
Track the Expert Sports Bettors on VegasInsider
VegasInsiders does an excellent job of tracking experts' records via the leaderboard for profits and percentages.
This exclusive tool allows the tracking of sports handicappers' performances in real-time, with links to individual profiles for fully detailed breakdowns that help bettors find value consistently.
Best Responsible Gambling Practices
Whether you have been gambling for seven decades or seven days, responsible gambling is critical for sustainability in the venture.
Responsible gambling ensures that sports betting remains enjoyable and does not lead to financial or personal harm.
To practice it, users should set strict limits on time and money spent, using app tools, and only wagering with discretionary funds they can comfortably lose.
If issues do arise, seek help right away from organizations such as the National Council on Problem Gambling (800-522-4700) or Gamblers Anonymous.
VegasInsider's Best Handicappers Final Tips
Now that you have the highlights on the top sports handicappers from VegasInsider and beyond, emphasizing their expertise across ports, bet types, and approach, we have a few final words of wisdom to part with.
- Transparency: Pick a sports handicapper with a verifiable track record on platforms like VegasInsider or Action Network.
- Money Management: Practice responsible bankroll management and never wager more than you can afford to lose. Just like the stock market, sports betting can be volatile, so make sure to stash enough funds for rainy days.
- Stay Informed: Don't rely only on sports handicappers to make your picks, but also do your own research to make sure you are at least partially informed on the picks you are making.
- Track Performance: Analyze your own results every week and month, refining your strategies and handicapper selections.
Best Sports Handicappers FAQ's
To navigate the sports handicapping industry, it is essential to look beyond a recent winning streak and focus on a professional handicapper with a proven track record. We at VegasInsider evaluated these experts through statistical analysis to ensure you find a consistent winner for your future in sports betting. This FAQ section addresses common questions about betting strategies, advanced analytics, and finding a profitable bettor in today's sports betting world.
What is a sports handicapper?
A sports handicapper is a type of sports betting expert who analyzes players, teams, and games to provide betting picks and predictions. They often use stats, trends, and computer models to identify value in odds, distinguishing themselves from casual tipsters via their extensive research and consistent results. Among the best handicappers out there, this expertise translates to reliable guidance for sports bettors to pick winners.
How do bettors define the best handicappers?
Bettors typically define the best handicappers by tracking long-term performance metrics like win rate, ROI, transparency, and consistency across sports. The best handicappers are those whose records speak for themselves in the long term, and don't just tout their short-term success.
What does ROI mean in sports betting?
ROI (Return on Investment) measures profitability in sports betting as the percentage returned based on wagered amounts, calculated by (net profit / total risked) x 100. It is critical for evaluating the best handicappers because it shows the true efficiency beyond win rates and straight records.
How can I tell which handicappers are profitable?
In order to identify profitable handicappers, look for verified records from independent platforms, detailing unit histories and transparent tracking of all picks. The best handicappers provide audited results, showing steady ROI and win percentages over the long term.
What is the best way to track units and picks?
Tracking betting units involves looking at each wager's size, outcome, and ROI to track handicapper performance accurately. The VegasInsider app excels in this, offering tools to log picks, track records, and units, and follow the best handicappers in the world seamlessly. The Action Network App is also a great option for tracking bets and has features like BetSync.
Should bettors follow every pick from the best handicappers?
No, bettors should absolutely not follow every single pick, even from the best handicapping services in the world. Losses are always inevitable, and blindly tailing can deplete bankrolls quickly. It's best practice to use selective picking and proper unit sizing, betting responsibly to maintain long-term chances of success.