On Sports Betting: Just Like Old Times As Vegas Golden Knights Start Season On Winning Note
The Vegas Golden Knights were favored heavily, at around -235, in their home opener on Thursday.
After a few hours of wrist shots, hits and faceoffs, the Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2.
There was the customary conga line of bettors on the side, puck line, over 6 and side-over parlay bettors at the window turning betting slips into folding money. If that weren’t enough, Max Pacioretty to score a goal paid +150, Mark Stone to score paid +210 and Jonathan Marchessault to score also paid +210.
Vegas to score first also was a winner at -180.
“We didn’t like how the second period felt,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. “We wanted to come out in the third and take the game over.”
Mission accomplished. And tickets cashed.
If that weren’t enough, the VGK defeated the Ducks again on Saturday night in overtime. Bettors laid -220 this time.
Next up for the Vegas Golden Knights: At home Monday night vs. the Arizona Coyotes. Vegas is generally -200 with the total at 5.5. Get your prop bets ready.
Elsewhere:
— The NFL Divisional playoffs drew boisterous sports bettors to the race and sports books over the weekend. Chalk prevailed in Saturday’s games with Green Bay Packers, -6.5, defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 32-18, and the Buffalo Bills, -2.5, beating the Baltimore Ravens, 17-3. On Sunday, however, the Kansas City Chiefs, -8.5, beat the Cleveland Browns, 22-17, but the Browns rang up a cover. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, +2.5, defeated the New Orleans Saints outright, 30-20, and rewarded money line bettors at about +125.
In Sunday’s NFL Conference Championship games, the Packers are -3.5 vs. the Saints with the total at 51. Snow is possible. The Chiefs are -3 vs. the Bills with the total at 54.5.
— The Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier match headlines UFC 257 on Saturday on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. UFC fans likely remember the two first met at UFC 178 in 2014 at UFC 178 when McGregor scored a dramatic first-round knockout over Poirier.
McGregor is around -275 this time around with Poirier in the +230 range. According to Vegas Insider, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has under 2.5 rounds at -175. Over is +155.
— The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels rolled over the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday. Laying -11 for the game, UNLV won both halves decisively en route to a 77-58 win. It was the fifth straight win ATS for UNLV. They go for six consecutive covers on Monday in a return match with the Lobos. Oddsmakers have boosted the number to -12 for the game.
— The Alabama Crimson Tide are not only national champions in NCAA football, they are compiling an impressive streak in college hoops. Laying 2.5, they beat the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, 90-59. That left them with six wins ATS in their last seven games. They play at LSU on Tuesday.
— The total of 170 in The Citadel at VMI college basketball game on Saturday went over in dramatic fashion. VMI won, 110-103. The teams combined for 115 points in the second half.
— In tennis, the 2021 Australian Open traditionally held in January is now slated for Feb. 8. According to Vegas Insider, Novak Djokovic is the favorite in the men’s bracket at +130. In the women’s bracket, Naomi Osaka is +600.
