All Good Things Must Come to an End

Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...

Sep 07, 2023

Lazy summer days, an ice-cold beverage, awesome tailgate parties, the best overtime football game you have ever seen…these are all good (great?) things that we know will inevitably come to an end. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

When good things end, the door opens up wide for something even better to begin—like sports fans in Kentucky getting to place bets at retail sportsbooks as of today. (Gaming Today’s Rebecca Hanchett was on the scene at Churchill Downs, where Gov. Andy Beshear placed the first legal bet in the state’s history.)

Also, while I will miss those wonderful lazy summer days, I am so excited for the start of a new NFL season.

First up, the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Detroit Lions tonight at Arrowhead.

I know what some of you are thinking: Chiefs and Lions? That's a no-brainer, and it might be. But the Chiefs no longer have Eric Bieniemy running the offense, Chris Jones is still holding out, and if Travis Kelce can't play, who can Patrick Mahomes count on when the team needs a clutch catch?

Or just a catch?

It should be a great game to watch and an even better one to bet (more on that in a minute).

And speaking of new beginnings, I have a personal note to share at the end of today’s newsletter.

For now, let's talk about the week in sports betting!

NFL Week 1

You can breathe easy, NFL bettors. The season is here, and it begins with an exciting game between the defending champs and the Lions. If you are looking for some guidance or maybe just a couple of ideas, check out these links:

If tonight gets you jazzed to make a few more wagers, Sunday features a full slate of games. Here’s a 49ers vs. Steelers preview from Cyrus Eshaghoff.

NFL Week 1 odds

College Football Week 2

Who thought Colorado would upset TCU last week? I sure didn't, and not because I thought TCU would be a phenomenal team this season. Yes, I figured the Horned Frogs would take a step back, but Colorado is practically a brand-new team. Anyway, hats off to Coach Prime and the Buffs.

Onto Week 2…

There is always so much to cover with college football. Check out these links:

If you want to see a rundown of the odds for upcoming games, here’s your link:

This week's college football lines

Don't Forget About Futures

It may seem silly to invest in futures at this stage of the football season. The NFL is just getting started, and most college football contenders have yet to face a competitive team! We have no idea how well teams will play (or how badly).

That sentiment is not wrong, but if you are looking for futures bets with value, now could be the time to strike. What if a team like the 2019 LSU Tigers rises up and dominates the college football landscape? In the Heisman market, as excellent as Caleb Williams may be, voters will jump ship in a heartbeat if he stumbles. There are quite a few solid candidates for NFL MVP, and then there's the Super Bowl.

There are so many futures markets, and we've covered many of them (you can search for that coverage at GamingToday.com). The following links will take you to our Super Bowl, NFL MVP, Heisman, and College Football Championship odds pages.

Elsewhere in the Wide World of Sports Betting

Football has taken up a good chunk of our time this week, but we haven't forgotten about the other great sports you can bet on. Like always, David Fletcher has MLB strikeout prop bets covered for today's games:

MLB Strikeout Props: Max Fried, Braxton Garrett Among Over Picks for Thursday, Sept. 7

There’s a light slate of games tonight, but our MLB odds page will keep you up to date with betting lines for upcoming contests:

MLB Odds 2023: Daily Baseball Odds & Betting Lines

Also, UFC 293 is on tap for Saturday.

UFC 293 Odds, Props, Predictions: Adesanya vs. Strickland Headline Australia Card

It's never too early (or late) to bet on the following:

This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…

As I mentioned in the intro, retail sports betting has launched in Kentucky! Mobile/online betting will launch in three weeks.

Kentucky is one of the few states with the legal betting age set at 18. Many sportsbooks set their minimum age at 21, but a few will take bets from 18-year-olds.

Is allowing people at such a young age to bet a bad thing? The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling does not appear to be concerned.

As Rebecca reports:

“Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) Executive Director Michael Stone told Gaming Today that his agency doesn't "make moral judgments" when asked about the decision of a few sportsbooks to allow 18-year-olds to use their products in the state. What he did say is that problem and addicted gambling have two risk factors: accessibility and availability.”

For more on the story, read Rebecca's article: Kentucky Problem Gambling Council Eyes Risks With Three Sportsbooks Planning to Allow Age 18-Minimum Betting

In other news, North Carolina has taken another step forward by opening email registration for sports betting service providers. Jake Paul's sports betting app, Betr, launched in Virginia on Wednesday morning. Also, Betr has entered into a new partnership with WagerWire, a platform that intends to allow sports bettors to trade bets like stocks.

Sportsbook Promotions: Sept. 7, 2023

With the NFL season kicking off tonight and many new sports bettors looking to sign up and get in on the action, it seems like the perfect time to review some of the welcome bonuses offered by sportsbooks:

This article will give you a rundown of our top 5 offers, including PointsBet's new NFL jersey offer:

Best Sports Betting Promo Codes for NFL Kickoff: Lions vs. Chiefs

But there's more:

BetRivers: NFL Outright Winner - Weekly Win Special! Place a real money, futures wager of $50+ on any NFL team to win the 2023-24 Championship, and receive a weekly $5 Bonus Bet each week after the team you select records a win!
Caesars: NFL Futures Bet & Get: Friday 9/1 – Thursday 9/7. Opt in and wager $50+ on the NFL Futures Super Bowl LVIII 2024 Winner market and get a $5 Bonus Bet for every game your team.
DraftKings: TNF Up 7 Early Win. Go up a TD and get paid immediately! Win your moneyline bet if your team leads by at least 7 points at ANY time, even if they lose the game!
FanDuel: NFL Week 1 No-Sweat Bet! All customers get a No-Sweat Bet to use on any Week 1 NFL Game from 9/4 through 9/11!

Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.

One More Thing…

I touched on the CFL last week and want to do so again this week. Like most of you, I will focus on college football and the NFL this weekend. But I will not forget about the opportunities that the CFL provides.

Winnipeg is a great team, but the Blue Bombers seem to do just enough to win—which means taking the other team to cover the spread is not a bad idea (Winnipeg is 6-6 ATS). Despite losing to Saskatchewan last week (32-30), the Blue Bombers are 8.5-point favorites against the Roughriders this week (via DraftKings).

Winnipeg should win this game, but go with Saskatchewan plus the points.

Finally, Calgary beat Edmonton last week, 35-31, but the Elks are the favorites this week. The Stamps needed a late fourth-quarter drive to pull ahead. I'm glad Edmonton has become competitive, but I don't see them winning this game. There is certainly value in taking Calgary via the moneyline at plus-money odds.

As for that personal note, that's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook and my time writing it. This is my last one, as I move on to a new gig here at Catena Media. (Thanks to an awesome new partnership, look for my stuff on SportingNews.com!)

If my tally is correct, this is my 77th newsletter, and I have enjoyed writing each one. I'll miss you guys, but I am confident the newsletter will be in great hands with Gaming Today’s Brant James.

While I may not be writing the GTP, I will always be more than happy to field any questions you may have. If I can't answer it, I'll find someone who can. You can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.

Bet wisely, my friends.

Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer