Ring In The New Year With A Longshot College Football Playoff Bet!
Betting picks and news by sports bettors for sports bettors
2021 is coming to a close, and the New Year will bring new light to us all. 2022 is here, my friends!
Before we flip the calendar, we have some business to take care of. Unfortunately, that does not include Thursday Night Football player props, which have become a staple here at the Gaming Today Playbook.
With no TNF game to pick from, we pivot to the College Football Playoff semifinals, which should be fascinating. There are plenty of bowl games to choose from over this holiday weekend, but I am targeting the CFP.
There are also some interesting sportsbook promotions for the bowl games listed below. Same-game parlays are all the rage in the industry, so check out how they are incentivizing you to play.
Cotton Bowl And Orange Bowl Best Bet
Cincinnati to beat Michigan in the National Championship +5000 (DraftKings)
Well, we are predicting two upsets here, predicated on the question, “Is Georgia really that good?” Judging by the odds, sportsbooks agree that Georgia is that good. However, Georgia was dominated by Alabama, who lost to Texas A&M earlier this year.
From a value perspective, the odds on our futures bet are a bit too wide. Cincinnati is +400 to beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and Michigan is +220 to beat Georgia in the Orange. Using the look-ahead line at FanDuel, Cincinnati is a +6.5 point underdog against Michigan if they were to face off, which would put them around +200 to win the game.
Using our parlay calculator, the odds for what amounts to a three-team parlay (Cincinnati to Michigan to Cincinnati) should be +4700, so we’ll scrape the bit of value on this longshot bet. Should Michigan and Cincinnati both win tomorrow, and we’re looking at a potential 50-to-1 payoff, we’d also have a hedge opportunity with the Wolverines moneyline.
Looking To Bet On Bowl Games? Check Your State’s Rules
As a New Jersian, not being able to bet on Rutgers during March Madness was gut-wrenching. However, that pales in comparison to not being able to bet the Scarlet Knights in the Gator Bowl. New Jersey’s sports betting laws prohibit gambling on in-state college teams.
Laws regarding wagering on college sports vary from state to state.
For instance, in Pennsylvania and Indiana, bettors are allowed to bet on in-state teams, but they cannot bet on player props.
Gaming Today’s Mark Ashenfelter: Breaking down college sports betting laws per state
NFL Futures Update: Cowboys Getting Hot For A Super Bowl Run?
As hot as any team in the league, the Dallas Cowboys are rising up the Super Bowl oddsboard at FanDuel. Their defense is loaded with top talent, leading them to +900, the fifth shortest odds in the NFL.
Gaming Today’s Craig Williams: Super Bowl Odds Across The NFL
Sportsbook Promotions 12/30: Plenty Of Love For Same-Game Parlays
Each week, I search the sports betting market for promotions. Sometimes they are awesome, other times not so much. Rest assured, you will not miss another “no-brainer bet” ever again.
FanDuel Sportsbook: Looking to place some same-game parlays? FanDuel is giving site credit to qualifying bowl game SGPs of +400 odds or longer. Below is the parlays payout table.
$20 - $49.99 in Cumulative Parlay Wagers ----> $10 bonus in site credit
$50 - $99.99 in Cumulative Parlay Wagers ----> $25 bonus in site credit
$100 - $199.99 in Cumulative Parlay Wagers ----> $50 bonus in site credit
$200+ in Cumulative Parlay Wagers ----> $100 bonus in site credit
DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings is doing a similar promotion with some key variations. This is eligible for ALL sports, including NFL, NBA, and CFB. The parlay must have three or more legs, and there are no odds requirements listed. Below are the tiers for free bets.
1 qualified SGPs, get a $1 Free Bet
2-4 qualified SGPs, get a $5 Free Bet
5-9 qualified SGPs, get a $25 Free Bet
10-19 qualified SGPs, get a $50 Free Bet
20-29 qualified SGPs, get a $100 Free Bet
30+ qualified SGPs, get a $150 Free Bet
DraftKings Sportsbook: Double Dose from DraftKings! Bet $50 or $100 on CFP games and get money towards free bets!
Opt-in and place $50 or more in pre-game bets on BOTH the Cincinnati vs. Alabama AND Georgia vs. Michigan games taking place on 12/31/21
Bet between $50 and $99.99 on each game, get 50 cents towards a free bet for every point scored
Bet $100 or more on each game, get $1 towards a free bet for every point scored
Qualifying bets require minimum odds of -250 or longer (e.g. -200, +150, etc.)
Caesars Sportsbook: Emperor, Senator, President, Chancellor, Sports Betting King – whatever you want to call yourself – this time, there really are no losers. Caesars Sportsbook is offering all of its users a free NBA jersey when they use promo code – TODAYRF.
Go to the promos page and use promo code TODAYRF to qualify. Terms and conditions apply. Odds boost markets (no super boosts), round robins, parlays, teasers, and player props all qualify for the promotion. Must be only NBA.
All you need to do is bet $100 cumulatively on NBA markets by January 16. Win or lose, you qualify for an NBA jersey. You will get an emailed NBAStore.com credit for $150 (cost of a jersey). Pick your favorite player and enjoy!
Happy New Year From Gaming Today!
We look forward to updating you all on sports betting industry news and giving out winners throughout 2022 :-)
As always…. “Bet with your head, not over it…” -- Furio Giunta
~ Erich Richter, Gaming Today Sports Betting Expert
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