Is it Time for the Finals Yet?
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
Patience is supposed to be a virtue, but it certainly isn't one of mine. I've enjoyed the NBA and NHL postseasons, but I'm ready for the Finals. Hockey fans could find out tonight, or as late as next Wednesday, who will face Florida in the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas leads Dallas in the Western Conference Finals 3-0 ahead of Game 4 tonight. In the NBA, the Eastern Conference Finals could come to an end tonight (Game 5), Saturday (Game 6), or Monday (Game 7).
Both postseasons have been fun to follow and even more to bet on (more on that in a moment). But there is more to the Wide World of Sports Betting than the NBA and NHL playoffs. We'll talk about some of those events in a moment as well.
Pick a Promo: Best Offers From Top Sportsbooks
On that note, let's get to the week in sports betting!
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Florida needed seven games to eliminate the Bruins but has made quick work of its other postseason opponents, taking care of Toronto in five and sweeping Carolina. The road hasn't been as easy for Vegas, but the Golden Knights hope to complete the sweep of the Dallas Stars tonight.
While that sounds great for Vegas fans, the Golden Knights are short underdogs to get it done tonight. Ken Bates has more:
Looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Final, Florida is currently the favorite, but Vegas is not far behind. To follow those lines and see how they change after tonight's game, check out our Stanley Cup odds page.
NBA Playoffs
We have yet to determine who the Nuggets will face in the NBA Finals, but we do know one thing: No matter who it is, this year's Finals will be historic.
Not only is it the first trip for the Nuggets, but if the Heat make it, they will be the second No. 8 seed (first in a non-strike-shortened season) to make it to the championship round.
If the Celtics make it, they will have become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit. So far, 150 have tried, and 150 have failed. Can Boston do it? That's an excellent question.
The Celtics are heavily favored in Game 5 tonight, and the series price is just -255 for Miami and +210 for Boston (via DraftKings).
That means, according to the betting odds, Boston has a 32.26% shot at making history and winning the Eastern Conference. Anyway… if you are looking to bet on Game 5 tonight, our team has you covered:
Heat vs. Celtics Game 5 Predictions, Odds, Props: Series Price Tightens
Heat vs. Celtics Same-Game Parlay Picks: Three Bets for Game 5 of East Finals
Heat vs. Celtics First Basket Scorer & Player Prop Bets for Game 5: Tatum Favored to Strike First
With its ticket already punched, Denver is a large favorite at -215 (via Caesars) to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Miami can be found as high as +390 (via BetRivers), with Boston coming in at +450 or +460, depending on the book.
To those prices and to see if they change after tonight's game, check out our NBA Championship odds page.
Elsewhere in the Wide World of Sports Betting…
The NBA and NHL playoffs may be dominating the sports betting landscape right now, but there are plenty of other wagering options.
Soccer fans are looking forward to tonight's Liga MX Final match between Tigres and Chivas.
Prime fans looking to bank on Deion Sanders in his first season as Colorado's head coach may want to think twice before putting money down on the Buffs.
Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are reportedly slated to fight on July 29, and you can bet on a winner now.
For golf bettors, the Charles Schwab Challenge is already underway in Forth Worth, and the latest LIV Tour, LIV Golf DC, will start tomorrow.
Baseball fans can keep up with the lines for upcoming games via our MLB odds page.
This Week on the Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
We have good news this week for bettors in North Carolina and Kentucky and some not-so-good news for DraftKings. Sports betting took a step forward in the Tar Heel State this week when the latest sports betting bill, HB 34, passed out of a Senate committee. More work is needed, of course, but it's a move in the right direction.
In Kentucky, it looks like sports betting could launch sometime during the 2023 NFL season. As for when, that is still up in the air. Talk about something to look forward to!
If bettors in Massachusetts were wondering if the state would hold sportsbooks accountable when they cross the line, the answer is yes. DraftKings is facing potential penalties after taking 864 unapproved wagers on three separate Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) Pro Series tournaments in March.
Sportsbook Promotions: May 25, 2023
The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:
FanDuel: Claim Your 50% MLB Profit Boost Token to use on any 5/25 MLB Game!
BetRivers: NBA Playoffs Live Bet & Get! Place a real money, LIVE (in-play) wager of $10+ on any NBA Playoff Game, and receive a 50% Matched Bet as a Bonus Bet, up to $25.
Caesars: 50% Same Game Parlay Token. Opt-In and get one (1) 50% Profit Boost Token to use on a Same Game Parlay, with +400 minimum odds, between May 25, 2023, and May 26, 2023.
DraftKings: Bet $5+ and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly: For new customers only. * Three days left!!!
Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Fun With Futures: College World Series
We all want to win money when we bet. Correction — we all want to win a lot of money. Of course, we don't want to risk too much in the process if we can avoid it. To that end, you can roll the dice on a longshot like Kentucky (+1050 via BetRivers) when they take on Georgia in their 2023 CFB season opener, or you can bet on the right futures market.
What makes a futures market 'right?' You want to find one where it is not unusual for a team with longer odds to win, like the College World Series.
Sixteen teams will be designated as national seeds when the postseason tournament starts; prior to 2018 there were only eight. Those teams will probably have shorter odds than the rest of the 64-team field. Only 28 national seeds have made it to the CWS Finals since 1999, and just 11 went on to win.
If history is any indication, some of the non-national seeds have value. Ole Miss, last year's winner, was not a national seed. During the opening weeks of the regular season, their College World Series odds were around +2200.
They were not in the top 25 when the 2022 postseason started.
So, while LSU and Wake Forest have been incredible this season and are front-runners for a reason, it may not hurt to put $10 down on someone like Campbell, Duke, or Virginia.
That’s it for the GTP, Daffy.
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.
Bet wisely, my friends.
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer