It's a Miracle!
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
When Patrick Mahomes went down with a high-ankle sprain last week against the Jaguars, the hearts of Chiefs fans and those betting on Kansas City sank. But in typical Mahomes fashion, he gutted it out, had a solid game, and led the team to a win. Of course, gutting it out at the moment when the adrenaline allows you to feel no pain is one thing.
Recovering from an injury that typically takes 4-6 weeks to recover from in time for another game a week later is something else. But, if we are to believe what the reports have been saying about Mahomes and his ankle, he might be ready to go after just a few days of rest and rehab.
It's a miracle!
Maybe he had some of that miracle water that Russell Wilson talked about a few years ago, or some of Tom Brady's avocado ice cream. I'd still exercise caution when betting on Mahomes and the Chiefs this week (more on that in a minute).
Pick a Promo: Best Super Bowl Betting Bonuses
We are nearing the end of the NFL season, though. It's time to make the most of the opportunities we have left to bet on the NFL. Not your scene? No worries — we can talk about NBA, NHL, college hoops, MMA, and much more.
So, without further ado, let's talk sports betting!
NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Sunday
The conference title games should be a lot of fun to watch this weekend. Both contests will likely be highly-competitive and hard-fought. The winner could be whoever has the ball last or makes fewer mistakes. Either way, both games are must-see television.
However, when it comes to the sports betting world, these games are less than ideal. Yes, competitive games are what we all want to see. But such games are more challenging to bet on. That doesn't mean you shouldn't bet, of course. But I do recommend doing more homework before putting your money down; I know I will.
As I often do, I'll start by checking out what our writers have had to say this week:
NFL Playoff Sharp Betting Report: Mahomes’ Ankle Fuels Fluctuations
Conference Championship Predictions: 2023 NFL Playoffs Best Bets To Consider
Early Betting Trends, Prop Bets, Huge Futures Tickets Ahead of NFL Championship Sunday
NFL Playoff Odds: Betting Lines for 2023 Conference Championship Games
NFL Conference Championship Parlay
Here's a taste of my conference title games parlays article (which will get posted to GamingToday.com Friday):
Joe Burrow, Under 1.5 Touchdown Passes +144
Christian McCaffrey, Anytime Touchdown Scorer -130
Parlay Odds: +331
In three career games against the Chiefs, Joe Burrow has thrown eight touchdown passes. This season, he had at least two in 11 games, including five of his last seven. Factor in the Chiefs giving up multiple touchdown passes in 12 of the first 14 games during the regular season, and it may seem like taking the Over is the way to go.
However, the Chiefs defense has buckled down over the last month, giving up just one TD pass in each of their last four games. Burrow has had 2+ in just one of his last three, last week vs. the Bills.
With his team just a game away from playing in the Super Bowl, Kyle Shanahan will want to lean on his best players to carry the team there. That means giving the ball to his most dynamic offensive weapon when the offense gets inside the red zone, Christian McCaffrey, who is working on an eight-game touchdown streak (rushing or receiving).
With this two-leg parlay, a $100 wager could result in a $431 payday, your stake plus $331 in winnings.
Check out the full post once it's up.
Elsewhere in the Wide World of Sports Betting…
Looking for something other than football? I understand, and we have been working on covering other sports this week:
Odds to Win 2023 NCAA Tournament: Houston Remains on Top, Kansas State Enters the Fray
2023 World Baseball Classic Odds: Dominican Republic, USA Top Betting Board
Pegasus World Cup Odds, Picks, Betting Considerations: 2023 Event Offers Value for Gamblers
Check the site during the week for previews of upcoming NCAA basketball and NBA games. As always, you can find game lines and championship odds for several sports on our dedicated pages:
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts takes center stage this week in our coverage of the sports betting legal/business landscape. With retail sports betting launching next Tuesday, the state's gaming commission released its approved sports betting catalog this week.
There were no real surprises on what was approved and what wasn't. One interesting development — a players’ group has asked the state to consider including safeguards regarding player safety from disgruntled bettors.
Also coming out of Massachusetts, it appears that bet365 is out of mobile sports betting in the state.
Finally, if you want to learn a little more about where the US gambling industry is headed, check out this article written by Brant James:
Sportsbook Promotions: Jan. 26, 2023.
The following sportsbook promos could come in handy this weekend:
BetMGM: Place a wager of at least $50 on either football conference title game, and you'll receive a $10 Live Bonus Bet to enjoy on the sport of your choice.
FanDuel: Bet $5+, Get $150 in Free Bets! Place your first cash wager of at least $5; Get your $150 in Sportsbook Free Bets upon bet placement (within 72 hours; new customers only).
FanDuel: Kick of Destiny. Get a piece of $10,000,000 if Gronk kicks a field goal LIVE during FanDuel's Super Bowl commercial. Just place a $5 bet on the game to qualify.
DraftKings: New Customers, win $200 in bonus bets! Bet $5+ on any sport and get $200 instantly!
BetRivers: Australian Open 20% Live Profit Boost! Login each day of the 2023 Australian Open and receive a 20% LIVE (in play) Profit Boost!
Terms and conditions will apply with every sportsbook promotion. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Fun With Futures
I'm bringing this section back this week to highlight a few posts from GamingToday.com featuring futures odds. Why? Because in cases like Super Bowl 58 (yes, I'm talking about next year's big game), several teams have value. Once the offseason gets rolling and some players start moving around, that value could disappear in a heartbeat.
For example, take a look at the Super Bowl MVP odds. Odds for the two remaining quarterbacks will get a lot shorter after Sunday's games. If you're like me and Brock Purdy has won you over, you'll like betting on him at +800 (at PointsBet), then whatever his odds are on Monday.
Other articles of interest:
If Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady goes to the Jets, do you think their Super Bowl 58 odds will stay around +4000? What if Shad Khan adds DeAndre Hopkins to the Jaguars roster (via trade or free agency if the Cardinals cut him)? Will Jacksonville's odds remain around +3500? Probably not.
Acquiring said players does not mean those teams will win Super Bowl 58. But if they do, a $5 wager could result in a pretty nice payday.
If it can happen for Patrick…
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.
To close out the GTP this week, since I firmly believe we all need to laugh a little more, let's take a look at that disaster of a play the Cowboys attempted to run at the end of last week's game vs. the 49ers:
Poor Zeke!
Anyway …
Bet wisely, my friends, and have a great weekend!
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer