On Sports Betting: Take Me Out To The Ballgame On A Cool, Breezy Night In Las Vegas

By Daniel Behringer

LVSportsBiz.com

 

It wasn’t exactly the perfect evening for baseball.

Gray and ominous hung in the sky. A wind whipped out of the north-northwest at about 17 mph. An occasional spritz of rain dampened the sodden air. And the game time temperature was in the low 60s — and falling.

But it was the Albuquerque Isotopes vs. the Las Vegas Aviators on Tuesday at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin before an announced crowd of 8,692, most in jackets or sweaters of parkas, we presume.

And there were the numbers up on the board at Station Casinos properties. Albuquerque was a -125 road favorite and Las Vegas was +105. The total was 12.5 with the over -120 and under even money. (The Westgate Las Vegas also puts up betting numbers on the Triple A team.)

We were tempted to play the favorite but really didn’t have enough information to make an informed betting decision so we passed. That was a good thing as the Aviators scored twice in the fourth, twice again in the sixth and four times in the seventh en route to a 9-2 win that rewarded home underdog bettors.

We were also tempted to play the Milwaukee Bucks, who were -3 favorites vs. the Toronto Raptors, but we also passed there. That was also a good thing as the Raptors won all four quarters en route to a 120-102 victory over the Bucks in Game 4.

Meanwhile over in the NHL, the betting line on the favored St. Louis Blues moved from -160 to -200 by the time of the puck drop. We weren’t tempted even once, but the money was on the right side as the Blues won, 5-1, ousting the Sharks in six games in the Western Conference finals. No fluke call or missed call by the Stripes on Skates could save the Sharks this time. Blues and over 5.5 goals was a nice payday for those who held a betting slip.

We did like the Boston Red Sox to extend their recent surge in Major League baseball play, but the Red Sox — despite loading the bases twice — produced very few runs in a 10-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Clearly, we should have passed there as well, and yet another betting slip was assigned to the shredder.

On the very next day, we decided to put money down on the Aviators, which now were -140. The weather was about the same, cool and breezy and in the 60s by game time, but total had inexplicably risen to 13.5.

We stayed up a little late that night to see the Aviators hold on for a 7-5 victory.

Over in Major League baseball that same day, one of the most intriguing numbers was the heavily favored Houston Astros laying -360 vs. the Chicago White Sox. We didn’t bite on the favorite or the ‘dog, which was +300, but the White Sox rallied for six runs in the sixth inning to win, 9-4. A black chip parlay on the ‘dog and the over would have paid $820.

By Thursday, several touts were insistent that the Astros were a good play to rebound and defeat the White Sox. This time the Astros, who have a 20-7 record at home, were a mere -180. Somebody, however, failed to tell the White Sox that their chances were poor. White Sox starter Lucas Giolito and the bullpen handcuffed the Astros for only four hits in a 4-0 victory.

Over in the NBA on the same day, fans and bettors were focused on Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks were returning home and laying 7.5 with the series tied at two games each. This looked like a classic spot to play the Bucks before a home crowd in the first quarter and the first half.

And we did.

We cashed the first-quarter ticket handily though we paid -130. But the resilient Raptors began rallying in the second quarter. The Bucks were leading 49-46 at the break, but they failed to cover the first-half number of -5. Of course, the Raptors went on to win 105-99, and the total easily came in under 215. It was a great spot for Raptors money line bettors who cashed a ticket at around +250.

By Saturday, with the series returning to Toronto, at least a couple of touts was convinced the Bucks at +2.5 were the right play.

“Expect them (the Bucks) to play with a fire and focus that you see in teams facing elimination,” wrote a senior analyst at CBS Sports Line. “Give me the NBA’s best team over 82 games — Milwaukee — getting points in a must-win spot.”

The Bucks indeed performed well in the first-half, leading 50-43 at the break. But the Raptors pulled away in the second half and closed by winning the fourth quarter, 28-19, in a 100-94 victory to take the series in six games. The Raptors covered a final line of -1.5 and once again, the total went under 214.

Meanwhile in Major League baseball the same day, the Minnesota Twins, the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros and a few other “chalk” teams continued winning. We were out and about, and a hard-nosed gambler was pleased to report his run line parlay on the Twins and the Yankees paid 2-1 for a very sweet payday.

Finally on Sunday in the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces were bet down from -3.5 to -2 at the South Point, but won, 83-70.

And the Reno Aces, +125 at Station properties, dropped the Las Vegas Aviators, 6-3, with the total easily coming in under 13.5. (The game-time temperature in Reno at Greater Nevada Field was 50 degrees.)

What’s next?

— In the NHL, the Boston Bruins are -150 Monday in the first game of the Stanley Cup Final vs. the St. Louis Blues.

— In tennis, there are men’s matchups and women’s matchups Monday in respective rounds of 128 in the French Open in Paris.

— In soccer, the UEFA Europa League Final goes Wednesday with Arsenal +220 and Chelsea +125. A draw is +230. The total is 2.5 goals.

— The NBA Finals open Thursday. Golden State is -1 or -1.5 at Toronto with the total at 215. At the Westgate Las Vegas, the number opened at Golden State -1.5 but then went to “pick” with both sides -110.

— The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is set for June 8. Preakness Stakes winner War of Will is currently 15/4.

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