The End Of March Madness Brings ....
The End Of March Madness Brings ....
April sadness? It's a terrible rhyme. I know, and I'm sorry.
The end of the college basketball season is always bittersweet. We finally get to see who the new champ will be, but then we have to wait months for the next game — which is never fun. But from a betting perspective, while there may not be a single massive event like the NCAA Tournament to focus on, bettors have plenty to look forward to.
The Masters is right around the corner, and it sounds like Tiger Woods may be making his return to golf. Kris Johnson explored how sportsbooks are treating Tiger’s potential participation at Augusta.
Next week also brings us Opening Day of the MLB season, and let's not forget about the start of the USFL season on April 16!
Also, the NBA and NHL regular seasons are wrapping up and the playoffs will be here soon.
But March Madness is not over yet. So, let's talk about the Final Four…
March Madness: Battle of the Blue Bloods
While it was fun to watch Cinderella (aka Saint Peter's) dance into the Elite Eight, the four teams left are some of the most storied programs in college basketball. Saturday brings us Vilanova vs. Kansas and North Carolina vs. Duke from Caesars Superdome in Louisiana.
Much of the attention has been going to Duke vs. North Carolina, and rightfully so. We are talking about two historic rivals facing off for the third time this season but for the first in NCAA Tournament history in what could be the last game for Duke's legendary leader, Coach K.
Craig Williams wrote a great piece on the betting history of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry this week.
I wrote an article earlier in the week about Final Four prop bets and will post one soon about player props for Kansas vs. Villanova. I'll go over my favorite ones in-depth, but I will say this now: Don't bank on the superstars going ‘over’ their point totals. While we all know offense wins games and defense wins championships, defense can win games, too.
The NFL Is Never Out Of Season
The NFL stopped playing games in early February, but let's be real — the season never really ends. The entertainment just shifts from on-field action to front-office drama. Thanks to many surprising moves during the offseason, Super Bowl 57 odds for several teams have taken a dramatic shift.
With the bulk of free-agent signings done, most rosters are pretty much set. Teams will add some pieces in the NFL Draft, but we have a good idea of what most teams will be working with. To that end, sportsbooks have posted odds for various NFL markets, from Super Bowl 57, to the conference and division winners, to who will make the playoffs, and win totals.
Here is Kris Johnson on the season win totals Caesars posted today.
But if you do not want to wait until the end of next season to get paid, check out some NFL Draft markets. I'll be writing a few draft-related articles in the weeks ahead, but here are some of my favorite bets for now:
First QB Drafted: Kenny Pickett +210 (BetMGM)
Yes, everyone loves Malik Willis, but the first QB drafted will be taken by a team that needs someone to start this season. I've heard Willis needs time to develop; Pickett is supposedly the most pro-ready in the draft. Part of me likes Desmond Ridder at +3000, but all signs seem to point to Pickett.
First Wide Receiver Drafted: Jameson Williams +700 (BetMGM) or Chris Olave +2000 (PointsBet)
Everyone thought either Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb would be the first WR off the board in 2020, but it was Henry Ruggs. Partly because of that, I'd say take a chance on Williams or Olave over either the favorites, Garrett Wilson and Drake London.
MLB Season 2022: Batter Up!
The 2022 MLB season gets underway next week, providing bettors with a world of markets for their gambling pleasure. There are 30 teams playing 162 games, plus opportunities to bet on division titles, World Series, player performance markets like home runs, etc – so many markets, so little time!
Our writers have been busy getting you ready for the MLB season this month. Dan Holmes took a look at MLB win total and looks at best bets for the Bronx Bombers and Dodgers. Bob Christ thinks it's time to back the Red Sox to win the AL East.
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal Landscape
Several states have been working hard to legalize sports betting in recent weeks. But the next big thing happens north of the border Monday, when Ontario launches licensed sportsbook apps for single-game wagering. For our Canadian friends looking forward to using a sportsbook other than ProLine+, check out Kris Johnson's article, Best Sportsbooks In Canada For NHL Betting.
In other legal news:
The landscape is looking a little more promising in Kansas. Mary Shaffrey went over the recent action in her article, Kansas Sports Betting Bill Passes House, Heads To Conference Committee.
Lawmakers in Georgia are trying to pass legislation that would pave the way for a statewide referendum on sports betting in November.
There is a chance additional mobile operators could be coming to New York in the future.
Sportsbook Promotions: March 31
Many sportsbooks are running some of the same March Madness promotions as they have been for the last couple of weeks. With the Tournament almost over, if you haven't taken advantage of them, it is time to pull the trigger. Promotions may vary from state to state, but these are some of my favorites:
Caesars: Bet $20 get a $200 free bet if your team scores a point.
Caesars: Parlay Bet & Get: Place a $20 four-leg parlay on Thursday with odds of 400+ or longer on any sport and get a $10 free bet.
DraftKings: Villanova vs. Kansas College Basketball Mystery Boos. Get a profit boost up to 100% for Villanova vs. Kansas.
BetMGM: Bet $10, Win $200. Place a $10 bet on March Matchups, and as long as a team hits a 3-pointer at some point during the Tournament, you'll win $200 in Free Bets.
Coming Up On Our Sports Betting Calendar…
Besides the Final Four on Saturday and the NCAA title game on Monday, there are quite a few events sports bettors can look forward to in the days and weeks ahead:
Opening Day for the MLB season is April 7.
The Masters is set for April 7-10.
The USFL gets underway on April 16
The NBA Playoffs tip-off on April 16.
The NFL Draft, April 28-30.
The NHL regular season ends on April 29, with the playoffs getting underway on May 2.
That's it for this week, Sports Fans. As always, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to reach out to me if there is anything you want to hear more about at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or on Twitter at @FatManWriting.
This week, no Jerry Maguire quote. Instead, I leave you with this: Gig'em Aggies! BTHOxavier!