By Daniel Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
If you like betting on UFC favorites, UFC on ESPN 12 at the UFC’s Apex complex near the 215 Beltway in southwestern Las Vegas was your night.
In the headliner bout, the line on favorite Dustin Poirier veered from -200 to -230 and back to -210 by Friday. Dan Hooker was generally a +170 to +175 ‘dog in the lightweight event on Friday. By fight night on Saturday, Poirier was generally around -220 and Hooker +190.
Poirier prevailed by unanimous decision in a combative, bloody bout that turned bettors’ tickets on the favorite, virtual or otherwise, into winners.
Over 2.5 rounds at -145 also paid.
It was generally a good night to lay the price. Favorites went 7-3, according to Vegas Insider.
Elsewhere:
— After weeks of negotiations, Major League Baseball returns July 23 or 24. When it does, however, the game will have some unusual twists as it adapts to a shortened, 60-game season in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Among the more many rules in MLB’s hundred-page-plus safety manual are no spitting and no chewing tobacco. Many players will sit in the stands instead of the dugout to practice social distancing. Spacing shouldn’t be a major issue since there will be no fans.
There’s also the newly implemented rules of the game itself. Forget pitchers batting in National League games. Instead, there will be a universal DH. Also, games that go to extra innings will start each additional inning with a runner on second base. Imagine your favorite broadcaster saying, “No runs, no hits, no errors but one runner on second as we go to the top of the 10th.”
Forget the TV close-ups of your favorite star relaxing in the damp cool of the dugout while he spits sunflower seeds in Gatling gun-fashion. Instead, watch for cameras to focus on players blowing giant pink chewing gum bubbles.
Regardless, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees (surprise, surprise) are still favorites to win at all at +375 and +400, respectively according to Vegas Insider. The defending champion Washington Nationals are +1800.
The New York Post first reported that an opening day matchup will likely feature the Yankees with Gerrit Cole on the mound vs. the Nationals with Max Scherzer as starter at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has made the Yankees a -110 favorite for the game with the total at 7.
— Even though 16 unidentified NBA players have tested positive for coronavirus, professional games are scheduled to begin July 30 from the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The games will begin with the traditional TNT double-header that has the Utah Jazz -1 vs. the New Orleans Pelicans with the total at 222.5. The second game will be the L.A. Clippers -1.5 vs. the L.A. Lakers with the total at 220.5.
The Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Clippers are +240, +250 and +333, respectively, to win the NBA Finals, according to Vegas Insider. The last possible date for Game 7 of the NBA Finals would be Oct. 13, NBA officials said.
— If you’re going to bet the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, it pays to shop around. The mobile app for Station Casinos has the Golden Knights at +400.
Vegas Insider still lists the Vegas Golden Knights as +800 to win the Cup, but BetAmerica has the home team at +850. Vegas Insider has both the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning with the shortest odds at +650.
Daniel Behringer is a long-time Las Vegan. Follow posts at doublegutshot.com. On Twitter, @DanBehringer221.