UFC 272 Picks and NBA DPOY Betting Value, As Madness of March Awaits
Sports betting news for bettors by bettors....
This. Is. March. With March Madness right around the corner, the Gaming Today team will feature plenty of college basketball content over the next few weeks. Be sure to check the site frequently for betting insight and analysis.
You may have noticed that the NFL Combine is this week, with plenty of drills coming this weekend. I am a big fan of the Combine, and Gaming Today’s Travis Pulver highlighted some of the betting options around the event.
This weekend, we have some NBA, UFC 272, and plenty of college basketball to choose from. Below you will see my picks for UFC (my favorite sport) with some basketball thrown in as well.
But first, a personal announcement: This is my last issue as your host of the Gaming Today newsletter. This has been one of my favorite things to do every week, and I appreciate each and every one of the readers. Feel free to interact with me on Twitter, @erichterrr.
Thanks to all of you for following along for nearly 50 issues of this weekly newsletter. It’s been a freaking blast making some fun bets with you all.
For the final time, I relay these words of advice from Furio of The Sopranos …. “Bet with your head, not over it.”
UFC 272 Picks And Parlay
This parlay was outlined in my full breakdown of UFC 272, which is linked at the bottom of this section. For all of my picks for Saturday’s card, check that out.
We have been one leg off in each of the last two parlays we’ve done. Thankfully, FanDuel usually offers UFC parlay insurance up to $25, so be sure to use that if possible.
UFC 272 Parlay +341:
Rodriguez -265 + Covington -340 + Agapova -205 + Smith/Klein Over 1.5 Rounds -150
*The below plays were not in my main UFC 272 article, as they are exclusive to subscribers of the free Gaming Today Newsletter*
My favorite play of the weekend on Ludovit Klein that you see in the article linked below.
Tim Elliott ML +200
The vet! Tim Elliott does one thing well: getting beat up (in a good way). Yes, as brutal and unfortunate as this sounds, Elliott is able to take punches and roll with them while coming forward like a zombie. This fight should be about even-money, so at +200, the value is here. His opponent, Tagir Ulanbekov, has underwhelmed in his two wins. Tagir just hasn’t earned -250 status.
Mariya Agapova Wins ITD +210 (Bet365)
A highly thought of UFC prospect, Agapova has sputtered in a few fights but looked absolutely electric in her last outing. Losing as a -1000 favorite to Shana Dobson two fights back is concerning. On the other hand, she was a -1000 favorite and came back to look like a -1000 favorite in her last fight against Sabina Mazo, a third-round submission win. Agapova could easily be -300 this weekend. Take the discount.
Read: UFC 272 Odds, Betting Picks, And Props
This Week In Sports Betting Biz: Oklahoma, Missouri Bills Move Forward
Not expected to be the biggest market but still noteworthy, Missouri sports betting legislation barely survived a House Committee vote this week, by a 4-2 court. The bills move on to the Rules committee.
Read: Gaming Today’s Rebecca Hanchett breaks down next steps for Missouri sports betting
Oklahoma Sooners stand up! After barely clearing the House budget committee before the deadline, sports betting legislation in Oklahoma has more than a pulse. The clock is now ticking for legalized sports betting to be voted out of both of the state’s chambers.
More from Hanchett: What’s next for Oklahoma sports betting
Sportsbook Promotions, March 3rd: FanDuel UFC Parlay Insurance
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” again.
FanDuel Sportsbook: $25 UFC parlay insurance is back! Any parlay of 4+ legs is insured up to $25 if exactly one leg loses. FanDuel has this almost every week, and in each of the last two, the official Gaming Today newsletter parlay has missed by one leg. Here’s to hoping we break that streak! Opt-in at the FanDuel promos page.
BetRivers Sportsbook: College basketball has taken center stage now that the NFL season is over. BetRivers has a great weekly promotion where you can bet $25 on a college basketball game and receive a $10 free bet, win or lose. Each leg must be -200 or longer. Opt-in at the promos page.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Get a $10 free bet every Monday. Place a combined $50 of qualifying wagers (Monday-Sunday), and BetMGM will hook you up with a $10 free bet that ensuing Monday. Check out terms and conditions on the promos page.
Odds Inaccuracies For Defensive Player Of The Year
Followers of my Twitter account know I have been tweeting about NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds. Rudy Gobert is the consensus favorite, and it makes no sense to me. Gobert, a three-time DOPY winner, is the modern-day Tyson Chandler. Good player? Yes. All-time great defender? Not so sure.
In the story linked below, I break down the argument for Bam Adebayo, the true Defensive Player of the Year. The best part? I bet him at +8000 a few days ago, and he’s down to +600 at one sportsbook.
Read: Are bookmakers mispricing Bam Adebayo for Defensive Player of the Year?
~ Erich Richter, GamingToday Sports Betting Expert
*The Gaming Today Playbook is intended for readers ages 21+. It's important to Gamble Responsibly. If you think you have a problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER