Keep On Dancing, Baker!
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
The long-rumored trade has finally happened. Cleveland has traded Baker Mayfield to the Panthers, but Carolina is still a longshot heading into the 2022 NFL season. The Panthers do have a better chance of winning the NFC South, according to the betting market, moving from +1200 to +1000 at DraftKings and PointsBet, but large gaps remain between them and the Buccaneers and Saints.
Carolina’s odds of winning Super Bowl 57 are also still high (+10000 at PointsBet; +13000 at DraftKings).
At least one DraftKings bettor has decided to go all-in on Baker. This person put down a cool $10K on the former Heisman winner to win Comeback Player of the Year at +1600. Should Baker win, this lucky gambler will take home a cool $170,000!
Check out what DraftKings has to offer: $1,050 in sign-up bonuses
Not interested in betting on Baker or the Panthers? No problem— there is rarely a shortage of opportunities in the wide world of sports betting. Let's talk about some of them!
2022 MLB Season
With the NHL, NBA, and USFL seasons over, the biggest game in town is baseball, and that’s fine since there are a ton of markets to bet on when it comes to the Boys of Summer.
Every day features a packed card, and each game has upwards of 90+ prop markets. So, yeah, baseball is an endless supply of betting opportunities.
Craig Williams covers a selection of player props and homerun bets for the weekend here.
And if you are a fan of futures, you'll be interested in the latest World Series odds and MLB MVP odds updates.
In terms of MLB betting, it might not be a bad time to jump on the Shohei Ohtani bandwagon. With how he's been playing, one trip to the IL for Aaron Judge might be all it takes to knock the Yankees slugger off the top of oddsboards.
Golf
The LIV Tour controversy has helped quite a few golfers make headlines recently, but the next LIV event is not until July 29. So for now, the betting action lies with the PGA Tour. This week, golfers are teeing it up at two tournaments – the Genesis Scottish Open and the Barbasol Championship.
Play is underway in both tournaments, so the odds are subject to change, and some markets may be closed. But if neither field interests you, there is no better time than the present to get in on the action for the year's final major, The Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy is the favorite, but many guys are playing good golf right now.
Elsewhere In the Wide World Of Sports Betting
Options are a little more limited than usual with so many leagues (NBA, NHL, USFL) finishing their seasons. But if you are not feeling MLB or golf, you do have options:
It is never too early to get started on the 2022 NFL season. This week we looked at 2022 NFL rushing props and odds and 2022 NFL passing props.
The UFC rolls into Dallas in a couple of weeks for UFC 277. A Women's Bantamweight Championship rematch is the main event. Juliana Pena is defending her belt against a UFC legend, Amanda Nunes.
The NBA season may be over, but Kevin Durant is still giving us something to talk about and bet on. Thanks, KD!
Sportsbook Promotions: July 7, 2022
The following are some promotions sportsbooks are running that could come in handy this weekend:
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).
BetRivers: Wimbledon Semifinals Bet and Get. Place a $50 Moneyline Pre-Match Wager on any semifinal match and get $1 towards a Free Bet for every ace your player serves.
FanDuel: Refer a Friend. Invite friends to join, and you'll both get $50 in free bets
Caesars: Cumulative Bet & Get. Opt-In and cumulatively place $100+ on Major League Baseball to earn a $20 Free Bet. Opt-in is required, and the promo is only good for games on July 7.
As is always the case with sportsbook promos, terms and conditions apply.
Pulver's Picks: Comeback Player of the Year
Players need two things to be in consideration for Comeback Player of the Year: (1) to show perseverance in overcoming adversity, and (2) the opportunity to shine.
Mayfield's exit from the Browns meets the adversity qualification. Playing for a lackluster team like the Panthers will undoubtedly give him the opportunity to shine. If he can guide Carolina to the playoffs, he'll be in the running for CPOY at the end of the year.
However, he'll face serious competition in his own backfield from Christian McCaffrey. If the Panthers running back can remain healthy for the bulk of the season, he can produce the numbers needed for an award-worthy season and could overshadow Mayfield’s contribution.
I'd caution betting on McCaffrey because of his injury history, but Mayfield is not a bad bet. With how his exit went down, people will pay attention to how he plays with the Panthers, especially if he starts in Week 1 when Carolina plays the Browns.
He guided the Browns into the playoffs when he was healthy; maybe he does the same in Carolina. The possibility is worth putting down $10 at PointsBet (where his CPOY odds are the highest) at +1400.
Beginner's Beat: Don't Be A Homer
This came to mind when my Aggies made it to the semifinals of the College World Series. Sports bettors are first and foremost sports fans, and when you first start wagering, it is understandable if you want to bet on your favorite teams.
However, it is not hard to rationalize your team overcoming all obstacles and winning the big game. I certainly thought my Aggies could win the CWS, and when their odds were high at the start of the postseason, I seriously considered putting money down.
But I knew my judgment was clouded and resisted the urge.
I was also down on the Longhorns because they are our bitter rivals. While my disdain for UT may have clouded my judgment, I was ultimately proven correct. You can always count on the Longhorns to blow it, no matter how good their team appears to be.
Don't make betting decisions based on how you feel about a team. Resist the urge to bet on your hometown (or favorite) teams. If you are unsure whether you are, it may be best to skip that market and bet on a different one.
Before I close out this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook, I have to give props to DraftKings. If you missed it over the holiday weekend, Joey Chestnut won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest again, but a protester impacted his final tally. So, rather than cash in on this unfortunate mishap, DraftKings gave refunds to bettors who had bet the Over.
Well done, DK. Well done, indeed.
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.
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 this gem from Baker Mayfield:
Rock on, Baker. And bet wisely, my friends.
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer