It's been another great week in the wide world of sports betting, and the outlook for the next few days is just as good. We should know which two teams will play in the NBA Finals by the end of the weekend -- unless Luka and the Mavs can force a Game 7 (which would be on Monday). The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs could wrap by then, too.
There's the MLB season as well, along with the Charles Schwab Challenge on the PGA Tour. The Champions League Final is Saturday, and did I mention the USFL has yet to fold? If spring football is not your thing, there has been a lot of drama involving college football, and NFL odds are out.
There is plenty to talk about, so I better get to it. But first, in honor of that vicious dunk Andrew Wiggins slammed down on poor Luka, this week's edition of the Gaming Today Playbook is dedicated to dunks from the hit movie, Space Jam.
You know what time it is. Let's talk some sports!
NBA Playoffs: How Long Can The Mavs Hold Out?
The Mavericks surprised us all when they came back to beat Phoenix Suns, but they could get eliminated in Game 5 in Golden State tonight. However, if you are a Dallas diehard, you may be interested in putting a couple of bucks on Luka to win NBA Finals MVP.
The idea sounds crazy, I know. But you can get him for +4700 at FanDuel (a $10 bet could win you $470). If he continues to play as he did in Game 4, the Mavs could make history and become the first team to win a series after being down 0-3. Should that happen, beating Miami or Boston will be nothing.
Of course, the Mavs could get eliminated by tonight, thus making any bets on Luka wasted money. They are 7.5-point underdogs heading into Game 5 tonight.
You can find our latest NBA articles on our NBA Playoff Betting Odds page and the betting lines for the next game in each series.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 2 Rolls On!
Much like the NBA, this is a big weekend for the NHL. While the Lightning have already swept the Panthers, Edmonton vs. Calgary could wrap up tonight, Colorado could close things out on Friday, and the Rangers and Hurricanes are tied at two games apiece. We could have a pair of Game 7s on Monday (Edmonton-Calgary and New York-Carolina).
For odds on each game, check out our NHL Betting Odds page. Not sure how to bet? These trends may be of interest to you:
Rangers are 5-1 in their last six games played on one day of rest.
Hurricanes are 6-1 in their last seven games following a loss of 3+ goals.
Oilers are 16-5 in their last 21 Thursday games.
The Flames are 7-2 in their last nine games as home favorites.
Avalanche are 4-0 in their last four road games.
Blues are 5-2 in their last seven games playing on one day of rest.
But if you are looking for something other than the puck line, Kris Johnson has you covered on the Conn Smythe Trophy Odds.
Elsewhere in the Wide World of Sports Betting…
Basketball and hockey not your thing? No problem! The NBA and NHL may be taking center stage right now, but there is a lot more going on:
Soccer fans will enjoy reading Craig Williams' article on the UEFA Champions League Final. Liverpool is the favorite, but I know enough about soccer to know you can never count Real Madrid out.
Are you a fan of the Los Angeles Rams? Then you may enjoy my deep dive into their futures odds, season win total, and player props for the 2022 NFL season.
Have you ever heard of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis? You may want to get to know him because there is a real chance he's the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
Canelo vs. Golovkin 3 is months away, but there may be a good reason to make your bet now on this epic battle.
As a Texas A&M grad, I had a blast following the blowup between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban last week. I got the feeling Saban was already trying to manage the fallout for when the Aggies beat the Tide in Tuscaloosa this year.
Not an Aggie or Bama fan? Then check out my article on the odds for some of college football’s biggest games in 2022.
Pulver's Parlay: USFL Week 7
My USFL picks for last week stunk, 1-3. Some of the spreads made me nervous, but I thought the Maulers would cover. I'm surprised the Bandits lost to the Stars, and I did not expect the Gamblers to put up such a good fight against the Generals. Anyway .... on to this week (odds via DraftKings):
‘Over’ 42.5 for the Generals-Bandits game, Breakers -6, Stallions -12.5, ‘Over’ 43.5 for the Stars-Gamblers
All four bets can be had as individual wagers at -110, but as a four-leg parlay, they combine for +1228.
I'd lean towards the Generals beating the Bandits, but I have no confidence in that pick. However, with how both offenses have been playing, I am confident going ‘over’ the total. The Breakers are a decent team, and Jeff Fisher's Panthers — well, they aren't. I like Shea Patterson, but I do not think Fisher knows how to put a football team together without an NFL-caliber superstar.
As bad as the Maulers have been, 12.5-points is a lot. If you were to cut one leg out, I'd say cut this one. The Stallions should win, but your guess is as good as mine on whether they can cover the spread. With how unreliable the Maulers have been, I can't recommend going ‘over’ or ‘under’ the total here.
As for the weekend finale, the Gamblers have made a habit of losing on the last play of the game. Both offenses have been playing well, so I feel better taking the ‘over’ rather than trusting them to win ATS.
This Week On The Sports Betting Landscape…
Good news for all the Tar Heels out there! There is a good chance mobile/online sports betting could be legal in time for the 2022 football season. The impression I got reading Mary Shaffrey's article was that legislators are confident it will happen and online betting will go live sometime this fall.
In other legal developments…
Sorry, Minnesota. With the state Senate adjourning on Monday, sports betting legislation in the North Star State is dead until next year.
Maryland has launched retail sports betting, but online betting has yet to go live. In an article posted earlier this week on our site, Chris Gerlacher discussed how much the delay had cost the Old Line State.
It sounds like folks in Massachusetts may have legalized sports betting at some point in the near future — that is, if legislators can iron out a compromise over betting on college sports. How to handle college sports has been a tough hurdle for many states, but at least they have the benefit of seeing how other states have handled betting on college sports.
Sportsbook Promotions: May 26, 2022
The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:
BetMGM: Get Up To $25 Back On Your First Goal Scorer Prop Bet
BetMGM: Overtime Insurance. Bet on an NBA team to win and if they lose in overtime, get your stake back up to $25.
FanDuel: Place a Pre-Live, Straight, "First Goal Scorer" wager on an eligible NHL game and if your bet loses but your player scores in the game, get a refund in free bets (max $25)
Caesars: 7th Inning Winnings. Place a straight, pregame, full game, money line wager of at least $50 on the Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals and receive a $25 Free Bet for every run your selected team scores in the 7th inning (for today's game. May 26).
BetRivers: Place a $25+ Same Game Parlay on any MLB game and receive a $10 Free Bet.
Terms and conditions apply, so make sure you read them before claiming a bonus.
Beginner's Beat: Line Shopping
When I first started betting, I stuck with one book because I didn't want to be tempted to bet more than I could afford. But then I discovered line shopping (and bonuses, too). We all want to win more money while risking less, and line shopping makes that possible.
All it entails is looking at the odds different sportsbooks are offering for the market you are interested in. My article on NFL win totals featured several good examples. If you think the Cardinals can win at least nine games, you are better off taking the ‘over’ at DraftKings (8.5 games at -105) than PointsBet (8.5 games at -110).
The total is the same, but you risk $105 to win $100 at DraftKings, but you'd have to risk $110 to win $100 at PointsBet. The 49ers’ win total is an even better example. To bet ‘over’ 10 wins at BetRivers and Caesars, you'll have to risk $115 to win $100. At DraftKings, a $100 bet can win you $110.
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to get covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.
This week, I'd like to leave you with some wise words from an infamous gambler, dunker, and rebounder — Sir Charles Barkley:
“I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.”
So true, Sir Charles. So true.
Till Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer