By Daniel Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com
It was a prime spot for the Golden Knights. They were down 1-0 in their series vs. the Dallas Stars, and Ryan Reaves was back in the lineup after a one-game suspension. Not only that, but the price was almost realistic for Knights fans and bettors — a relatively modest -170.
If we were on the Knights — and we were — we have to figure that every sharp, wannabe sharp, square and casual sports gambler was on them as well.
The hometown team didn’t disappoint. They blanked the Stars, 3-0, and squared the series at one game each.
“That first goal relieved a little bit of pressure,” coach Peter DeBoer told reporters. “We got our game back, and I think once we got that first goal, I think we looked like we normally do, which was making plays and finding space and sticking pucks in the net.”
It was also the fifth straight under for bettors.
Later the same day, we watched the Las Vegas Aces go off as 14.5-point favorites vs. the Indiana Fever. We were highly suspicious of that number and leaned strongly toward the ‘dog.
The Aces rolled to a 58-41 lead in the first half. But the second half belonged to the Fever, who won the third quarter and played the Aces even in the final quarter.
The result was a 92-86 win for the Aces but a backdoor cover for the ‘dog.
We had a similar lean toward the Knights in Game 3 on Thursday. The price was the same, and we thought the Knights had reclaimed momentum.
We were wrong.
Tied at 2 at the end of regulation, the Stars scored in overtime to beat the Golden Knights, 3-2.
But yes, under came in again. If you were scoring at home, that was six straight games under the total.
Over in the WNBA, the Aces were laying 5.5 points vs. the Minnesota Lynx. They trailed 29-25 after the first quarter of the game, which was televised on ESPN2, but won the remaining quarters for a 104-89 win and a cover.
In fact, Thursday was a sports bettors’ buffet. Not only were the Golden Knights and Aces in action, but the NFL kicked off and there was college football. Toss in the NBA and Major League Baseball and it was almost like the world was normal for a moment, which it clearly isn’t because of the coronavirus pandemic.
If you needed any further evidence of that, there was walrus-mustachioed Andy Reid, head coach of the Chiefs, behind a face shield on the sidelines in the Chiefs-Texans game. (The Chiefs covered -9 in their 34-20 win, and the total was an over for those who had 53.5 and a push for those who bet it at 54.)
The VGK were back in action on Saturday. Down 2-1 in the series, we figured it was a prime opportunity for DeBoer’s team to show their playoff grit. The price was -175, and we bit.
Wrong again.
The Stars won 2-1, and the Knights couldn’t score during a 5-on-3 power play in the third period.
But what about that under streak? It’s alive, intact and is seven games and counting.
Game 5 is Monday. The VGK are again -175, and the total is 5.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces dumped the Los Angeles Sparks, 84-70. The Aces were -4 and outscored the opposition in all quarters except the third and limited the Sparks to 10 points in the final quarter.
The Aces followed that up with an 86-84 win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday that sent them into the playoffs with the No. 1 seed and a double bye. The final score landed right on the number of Aces -2.
“We started the year with a lot of uncertainty,” Las Vegas coach Bill Laimbeer told ESPN. “To have this kind of success so far, we’ll take it.”
Bettors, too. Finishing 12-7-2 ATS, according to Vegas Insider, is very respectable.
Elsewhere:
— The Las Vegas Raiders rolled to a 34-30 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, scoring on six of their first eight possessions. In doing so, they covered what some considered an inflated line of -3. It was their first game since moving from Oakland to Las Vegas. The total easily eclipsed 48.
The Raiders will inaugurate Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 21 in Monday Night Football. They are +5.5 vs. the New Orleans Saints. The total is 51.5.
— After losing the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, the Los Angeles Lakers won the series with four straight wins over the Houston Rockets. It was also four straight covers. Yes, you could have made money simply by betting on one of the most popular teams in the NBA. Under paid in four out of five games.
— In Major League Baseball, notable streaks belong to the San Diego Padres, who have won seven in a row, and the Cleveland Indians, who have lost six in a row as of Sunday.
— In college football, the Army Black Knights have outscored their opponents 79-7 in their first two games and covered both games. They next play Sept. 26.
— As astute readers of these posts know, we made the L.A. Rams +2.5 vs. the Dallas Cowboys our pick back on July 20. The Rams won outright on Sunday Night Football, 20-17. Our record now stands at 3-2. We’ll take the Baltimore Ravens -6.5 vs. the Houston Texans in the NFL next Sunday.