How 'Bout Those Orioles!

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

Jul 21, 2022

The thought of betting on the Baltimore Orioles to win a game, let alone the World Series, may sound insane — but these guys might not be that bad this year. Okay, so they are still a .500 club (46-46), in last place in the AFC East, and 3 ½ games back in the AL wild-card race heading into the second half of the MLB season.

But crazy things happen in baseball.

Does that mean you should bet on them to win the World Series? If you are okay with the risk, why not? If you open a new account with the right sportsbook, like BetMGM, it's not a bad way to use your risk-free bet.

Check out what BetMGM has to offer: Promo code for $1,000 risk-free bet

I talk about the Orioles, the World Series picture, upcoming UFC events, the NFL, college football, and more in this edition of the GamingToday Playbook!

MLB: These Orioles Aren't Terrible

Baltimore lost two of its last three heading into the All-Star break, but that was on the heels of a 10-game winning streak that briefly nudged their record over .500. They could easily flop in the second half of the season, but if they continue to play well, they represent an opportunity to make some money.

If you're the daring type or have money to burn, putting a little down on the Birds to win the World Series (+30000 at DraftKings) or the AL (+20000 at BetRivers) may be an option. But if you are looking for something a little less crazy, think about:

Taking the Orioles to make the playoffs at +1500 (via DraftKings or PointsBet)
Over 75.5 wins at -110 (via DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM). They need 30 wins in their last 70 games for the Over to cash.

If you still feel uneasy about betting on a perpetual cellar dweller like the Orioles, consider signing up for a new account and taking advantage of one of the promotions we talk about in these articles:

A $50 bet on the Orioles to win the World Series at +30000 odds would win $15,000! If you lose the bet, the amount is returned to you in site credit.

For those interested in betting on baseball but not the Orioles, check out Bob Christ's latest update on the World Series, the ever-changing MLB MVP races, Mariah Janos' assessment of every MLB team's playoff chances (and odds), and DraftKings bookmaker Johnny Avello’s trends to watch as the second half of the MLB season commences.

Today’s MLB odds

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The wait is almost over. NFL training camps get underway across the country over the next few weeks. Before you know it, it will be time for the Hall of Fame game, Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, and the Super Bowl.

There will be countless betting opportunities along the way, of course, and we've been busy covering some of them this week:

There are always a couple of newcomers to the playoff party. Could this be your team’s year? Kris Johnson covered every team's playoff chances in a recent article.
Kris also has you covered if you are interested in NFL win totals.
The NFC West could be one of the more competitive divisions in the NFL this year.
And here’s my breakdown of the NFL MVP picture.

Is college football more your thing? We'll be publishing more NCAAF content in the weeks to come, but for now, read Kris Johnson's take on the ACC and Pac-12.

Super Bowl odds

Elsewhere In The Wide World Of Sports Betting…

With three of the Big Four (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL) not in season right now, there are not a ton of options out there this weekend. But there are some, and we covered a couple of them this week:

The PGA Tour is in Minnesota this weekend for the 3M Open. Play is already underway, but check out the live odds on your favorite sports betting apps.
The UFC is across the pond this weekend with a UFC Fight Night in London. I don't know enough about the sport to bet on it. However, I'm still tempted to put something down on Curtis 'Razor' Blaydes (coolest fighter name ever).
UFC 277 goes down in Dallas on July 30 and has one heck of a headliner on the card.

Must-Read

Kris Johnson caught up this week with PointsBet Chief Strategy Officer Eric Foote, who said live betting is the future of the sports betting industry. Already more than 50% of the sportsbook’s handle comes from in-game wagering, and Foote says only going to grow.

Read Kris’ article right here.

This Week On The Sports Betting Legal Landscape...

Sports betting could become legal in the most populous state in the country (California) if voters approve one of two ballot initiatives in November — Prop 26 or Prop 27. Last week, Rebecca Hanchett reviewed Prop 26 for us; this week, Mary Shaffrey does the same for Prop 27.

Most of the Native American tribes in the state are backing Prop 26, but the major sportsbook operators are getting behind Prop 27, which calls for mobile betting. It will be interesting to see which, if either, receives enough support from the people to pass.

Elsewhere in the sports betting legal landscape:

Massachusetts has been working on sports betting legislation, but time is running out to get it done.
There has been progress in Ohio! More is still needed for sports betting to launch, but the state released the names of the operators and providers that applied for a mobile license this week.

Sportsbook Promotions: July 21, 2022

The following are some promotions sportsbooks are running that could come in handy this weekend:

FanDuel: MLB Futures Bet and Get. Place an outright wager on an MLB team to win the World Series and get a bonus in free bets for each game they win from July 21-31. Plus, get a free bet to use on the 2022 MLB Playoffs!

Caesars: Bet for a Boost. Place a $10+ wager on a 4+ leg MLB parlay with +400 minimum odds; earn a 10% Profit Boost Token each day you qualify to use on an MLB parlay!

BetRivers: Motorsports Profit Boost. Login every Saturday or Sunday for a 20% Profit Boost for any motorsport!

BetMGM: MLB One Game Parlay Insurance. Place a One Game Parlay with at least four legs and get your stake back in free bets (up to $25) if one leg loses (opt-in required).

Beginner's Beat

The lesson I want to impart in the Beginner's Beat this week is two-fold: (1) stick with what you know and (2) learn from your mistakes.

When you bet, you want to make the most informed decision possible. You are more likely to do that while betting on a sport you are familiar with. Football is my strength, and I usually stick to it when I'm making bets. When I bet on a football market, I know I made an informed decision.

That is not to say that branching out into other sports is bad. But before you do, do your homework, and develop a solid knowledge base first.

Last week, I did some homework, but not enough. As a result, both of my recommendations about last Saturday’s Ryan Garcia vs. Javier Fortuna bout were wrong. I may give boxing another shot someday. But before I do, I have a lot to learn.

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 with some wise words from the greatest baseball player to ever suit up for the Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken, Jr.:

“You could be a kid for as long as you want when you play baseball.”

Bet wisely, my friends.

Until Next Week,

Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer