The Rock Isn't the Only One With Something Cooking

Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...

Feb 16, 2023

The question made famous by one Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is iconic in the realm of pro wrestling. But his popularity has transcended into mainstream pop culture. So, even non-wrestling fans know what you're talking about when you say, "Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?"

He's had something big simmering in the metaphorical pot for a couple of years now — XFL 3.0, which gets underway this weekend. It is hard to know how to bet without seeing these teams play yet, but if past spring leagues are any indication, lean toward the teams whose coaches have spring league experience.

They are more likely to have their teams better prepared to play in Week 1. But I do not want to focus on the XFL in today's edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. No, because the Rock is not the only one with something cooking this week:

The NBA All-Star festivities are this weekend.
The Daytona 500 is Sunday.
Tiger Woods is back in action.
Baseball season is fast approaching.
The NCAA basketball season is heating up, which means it's almost time for March Madness, baby!
The latest version of UFC Fight Night is set for Saturday in Las Vegas.
The NHL season rolls on.
We can never stop talking about the NFL

It's an exciting world, this Wide World of Sports Betting. So, let's get right to what you're reading the GTP for. Let's talk about sports betting!

Life After Football

To many football fans, it may feel like there’s no life after football; but there is.

I typically lead the GTP with a specific sporting event, but this week I want to begin by focusing on the many options bettors have at their fingertips this week. It's been easy to focus on the NFL with the playoffs and, of course, the Super Bowl. But the NFL hasn't been the only game in town.

Since the NFL season has finished, I want to prove that there is life after the NFL for sports bettors by spotlighting some of the many betting opportunities available:

If you are interested in the odds for your team's game tonight or how the championship odds are shaping up, check out our dedicated pages:

Football Never Truly Goes Away

The sentiment in this headline is always true. Sportsbooks, for example, have already posted futures odds for Super Bowl 58 and NFL MVP. In the days and weeks ahead, more NFL Draft markets will pop up. Before we know it, sportsbooks will post a host of additional markets from win totals, to make/miss playoffs, division winners, player props, awards, etc.

Oh, and then there's the spring leagues.

The XFL gets underway this weekend, and you can bet on who will be the XFL Championship! I'm backing Bob Stoops and the Renegades, but I also have my eye on a few other teams.

XFL Championship Odds 2023: Back Bob Stoops to Lead Renegades to Title

But, like I've already said, the NFL never truly goes away. This week, we've looked back at Super Bowl 57 while also looking forward to next season:

Curious About XFL 3.0?

Here's an excerpt from my preview of this weekend's XFL action:

Guardians vs. Roughnecks: Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total

Houston was undefeated at 5-0 when the XFL 2.0 shutdown; it opens the season as a 2-point favorite (Guardians odds and Over via PointsBet; Roughnecks odds and Under via Caesars):

Point Spread: Guardians +2.5 (-113); Roughnecks -2 (-110)
Moneyline: Guardians +106; Roughnecks -125
Total: Over 35.5 (-120); Under 36.5 (-110)

Orlando has some talent on the roster, but its head coach and coordinators have never served in their current capacities. This puts the Guardians at a disadvantage against one of the most experienced head coaches in the league, Wade Phillips. His experience should help Brian Stewart craft one of the better defenses in the XFL.

This is A.J. Smith's first job as a coordinator, but he was an integral part of the Roughnecks staff during the 2020 season (when Houston was 5-0 and had a solid offense).

Brandon Silvers gives Houston an experienced spring football quarterback. Orlando has to choose between Paxton Lynch and Deondre Francois. Lynch was a standout at Memphis in college but struggled in the NFL and was unimpressive with the Michigan Panthers (USFL) last season.

Francois exploded onto the college scene at Florida State, leading the Seminoles to a 10-3 record as a redshirt freshman. But injuries and off-field issues hounded him for the rest of his college career. He's the more athletic of the two quarterbacks, but Silvers's experience should make him a front-runner for the job.

Our Pick: Roughnecks -2

Pitting a team with one of the most inexperienced coaching staffs in the league against one with one of the most experienced staffs was not nice. Wade Phillips will have his team better prepared this week.

This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…

If there is ever a time for a state that has yet to legalize sports betting to start thinking about it, it's in the wake of the Super Bowl. As officials see reports about the money states with legal sports betting made, they have to think it would be nice if their state could get in on the fun.

Legal Sports Betting Still on Georgia's Mind, as Lawmakers File Robust Bill

If you have been following stories coming out of Ohio, then you know that the Buckeye State has not been messing around with sportsbooks and how they advertise. If the DraftKings commercial that referred to "free bets" set an alarm off in your head, it may not have had the same impact on regulators.

Despite Mention of 'Free' Bets, DraftKings Super Bowl Ad Complies with Ohio Ad Regulations

But that does not mean regulators hesitated to drop the hammer on violators:

Ohio Fines Barstool, DraftKings for Sports Betting Advertising Violations

So far, it looks like Massachusetts regulators are not going to take it easy on sportsbooks, either:

Sportsbook Promotions: February 16, 2023

The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:

BetMGM: Bet $50 On College Hoops, Get A $10 Bonus Bet. Just opt-in and place a $50 bet on any college basketball game, and you'll receive a $10 Bonus Bet to enjoy on your favorite sport.
BetRivers: NCAAB Saturday Parlay Insurance. Place a 4+ leg NCAAB parlay and get your stake back, up to $25, if exactly one leg loses!
Caesars: NFL Futures Bet & Get. Monday 2/13 - Sunday 2/19: Opt in, wager $50+ on a 2024 Super Bowl winner, and get a $25 Bet Credit!
DraftKings: New Customers, bet $5+ on any pre-game moneyline and win $150!

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: MLB Home Run King

If you are like me, betting makes watching and following your favorite sports a little better. Betting on games is awesome, of course. But I also like futures. Yes, you don't get paid until the end of the season (which can turn some bettors off). But it gives me something to follow and a reason to engage with the game a little bit more.

Plus, if you pick the right longshot, you can turn a small wager into a sizeable payday. This week, I'm diving into the MLB Home Run leader odds.

Aaron Judge is favored (+600 at Caesars) after hitting 62 last season. Those odds give him a 14.29% chance of winning. Factor in his injury history, and he doesn't look too appealing to me. Yes, he's been relatively healthy the last two years, but that could mean he's due get injured.

Besides, there hasn't been a repeat home run king since Jose Bautista cracked 54 and 43 in 2010 and 2011. The following are some of the players I'm looking at putting a little money on:

Vlad Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (+1000)
Yordan Alvarez, Astros (+1200)
Eloy Jiménez, White Sox (+3500)
Cody Bellinger, Cubs (+15000)

Newsletter is over, Rock.

Harsh, man. Harsh.

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, I want to share the best Valentine's Day message I saw on Tuesday: