PGA Tour Betting And NASCAR Dominate West Virginia Sportsbooks Again This Weekend

Written By Dave Bontempo on February 18, 2021Last Updated on March 23, 2025

The sharp vision of the eagle spots the boundary.

As various sports gain momentum, a prevailing theme emerges in West Virginia’s online betting communities.

From Thursday to Sunday, the Genesis Invitational takes place in the PGA.

After a bizarre finish at the Daytona 500 last week that caused a major upset, NASCAR is gearing up for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 on Sunday. Big names in the sport are eager to claim victory and make a strong comeback.

There is another fight card scheduled for Saturday in the UFC, and even though there are several strong favorites, there are still betting opportunities available.

MLB futures betting odds have been declared official this week, offering bettors a sneak peek at the potential deals throughout the upcoming baseball season. The new season commences on April 1.

PGA Tour betting: The big names return

How to watch:

  • The scheduled time for the Golf Channel broadcast is from 2 to 6 p.m. EST on Thursday and Friday.
  • On Saturday and Sunday, the Golf Channel will air from 1 to 3 p.m. EST, followed by CBS from 3 to 6 p.m. EST.

The Genesis Invitational, commencing on Thursday, will witness the return of numerous renowned players. To cater to the preferences of bettors, bookmakers have responded by providing a wide range of options throughout the weekend, such as individual matchups, hole-by-hole scores, and the adjusted leaderboard.

Even novice gamblers can find ample wagering opportunities, even prior to the commencement of the event.

Dustin Johnson was heavily favored by the WV DraftKings Sportsbook in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The betting odds:

Winning<br>Top 5<br>Top 10

Dustin Johnson is listed at +550 for a potential win, +120 for a possible tie, and -162 for a potential loss.

Jon Rahm has odds of +1200 to win, +275 to place, and +110 to show.

Rory McIlroy is listed at odds of +1250, +300, and +138.

Justin Thomas is listed as +1400, +300, and +138.

Xander Schauffele’s odds are +1550, +300, and +138.

Bryson DeChambeau is listed as +1700, +350, and +164.

Big names come with big rewards. Last September, DeChambeau dominated the competition and won the highly esteemed US Open. Now, the question arises: how much of that exceptional performance will we witness this time? DeChambeau’s journey is undoubtedly one of the most captivating storylines of the weekend.

According to Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, this event presents an excellent chance for bettors. With the return of renowned golfers like Justin Thomas at 14-1, Xander Schauffele at 15-1, and Bryson DeChambeau reaching as high as 17-1, it is evident that this tournament boasts a highly competitive lineup.

Golf has this remarkable quality where the outcome is unpredictable, especially when you’re in the midst of the competition. It’s rare for the player who takes the lead after the first round to ultimately emerge victorious in the tournament. This means there’s ample opportunity for the player you’ve wagered on to turn the tide and secure a win for you. If they perform exceptionally well throughout the week, they have a real chance of winning.

There is an additional perspective to consider regarding a golfer similar to Jordan Spieth. Following the third round of the Pebble Beach Pro Am last week, he held the top position on the leaderboard, resulting in a +500 return for bettors who placed their bets on him across most of the major sportsbooks.

What happens if he continues to stay hot?

Spieth’s odds for winning are +4000, +750 for a top 5 finish, +350 for a top 10 finish, and +164 for a top 20 finish. There is no downside to taking +164 in any situation. Considering Spieth’s performance last week, it is definitely worth the investment to bet on him finishing in the top 20.

NASCAR: Crank it up again

Tune in: Sunday at 3 p.m. EST (Fox)

Last week’s Daytona 500 witnessed a major collision resulting in a surprising victory for Michael McDowell, who had odds of +8000 at various betting establishments.

However, it is typically the prominent figures who make their presence known on a weekly basis.

Certain tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts event at Daytona will come with hefty price tags.

At DraftKings, the event scheduled for this week is…

  • Chase Elliott +225
  • Martin Truex Jr. +400
  • Ryan Blaney +1200
  • Kyle Busch +1200
  • Denny Hamlin +1200

Hamlin, Kevin Harvick (+1500), Joey Logano (+1600), and Brad Keselowski (+1800) offer incredible value.

Following the unexpected conclusion of the Daytona 500 last week, this race takes place. Elliott, the current Cup Series champion, secured second place as a result of Keselowski and Logano’s collision causing a wreck on the final lap. This unfortunate incident propelled Kyle Busch into the outside wall.

McDowell held a one-car length lead over Elliott as the caution lights illuminated during NASCAR.

UFC at WV sportsbooks: Finding an angle

How to watch:

Please take note of the earlier-than-usual start times. The preliminary fights are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, followed by the main card at 8 p.m. The betting odds provided are from DraftKings.

Despite being ranked second in the heavyweight division, Curtis Blaydes is a heavy favorite at -400 in his main event bout against Derrick Lewis, who is the underdog at +300.

Blaydes has proven to be an unstoppable force, defeating all his opponents except for Francis Ngannou, a highly acclaimed MMA superstar often compared to Mike Tyson, and regarded as a future champion by the MMA community. Blaydes faced defeat at the hands of Ngannou twice. Similarly, Lewis also suffered a loss against Ngannou, but it was through a decision rather than a stoppage.

In the co-main event, bantamweight fighter Ketlen Vieira is favored at -278, while Yana Kunitskaya is the underdog at +215. It is common for women’s fights to go the full distance, however, Kunitskaya has a tendency to suffer significant losses. She has been stopped in her previous four defeats.

Chris Daukaus, who was ranked as the 10th best newcomer in the UFC for 2020, has displayed his skills with two consecutive first-round knockouts. Now, he faces Aleksei Oleinik in a highly regarded bout, which is seen as a progression in his career.

Daukaus has odds of -177, while Oleinik has odds of +140.

Despite losing three out of his last five fights, Oleinik currently maintains his position as the No. 10 ranked UFC heavyweight. At 43 years old, some may question if it’s time for Daukaus to join the rankings. A victory in this fight would secure his spot among the ranked fighters.

Daukaus boasts an impressive record of 10 victories, with an astounding nine of them achieved through KO/TKO. At the beginning of the week, there was no available method of victory proposition. However, this could potentially be an advantageous aspect to consider. It is advisable to monitor the situation closely as the fight draws near.

MLB futures: “Bettor up”

Now is an opportune moment to consider placing futures bets, assess the progress made during spring training, and evaluate various teams.

This week, major WV sportsbooks experienced a notable increase in futures numbers related to World Series, league pennants, divisions, as well as individual accolades such as MVP betting and Cy Young Award candidates.

The projected team win totals will soon follow, and they bring immense joy.

At William Hill WV:

After a quiet offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers, reigning World Series champions, made a significant move by acquiring pitcher Trevor Bauer. This addition will greatly enhance their already impressive pitching depth.

The Dodgers, who initially began with a +450 opening on Oct. 28, have now decreased to +200.

According to Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US, it is extremely uncommon for a baseball team to have such a low standing before the start of the season. He highlights the unpredictable nature of baseball, where a single injury, a poor performance streak, or another team’s sudden success can quickly lead to a team’s downfall.

While the Dodgers possess a complete team, the San Diego Padres also boast considerable talent. However, with odds of +200, there isn’t much value in betting on them. It might be wiser to wait for the playoffs if you believe they can replicate their success. By doing so, you can steer clear of potential disasters in the regular season and still secure a similar price.

Both the Yankees and Padres have equal chances, tied for the second-lowest odds at +650.

The White Sox, who showed significant improvement last year, have odds of +750.

Next up are a couple of NL East rivals, with the Mets listed at odds of +1200 and the Braves at +1400.

Last year, the Mets dominated the National League in hitting and bolstered their pitching staff by acquiring Carlos Carrasco, a renowned hurler in recent baseball seasons. Additionally, they secured the services of Francisco Lindor, a shortstop who showcased his power by smashing 32 home runs two years ago.

Both the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have odds of +1800.

According to William Hill bettors, the NL West is believed to produce the 2021 champion. The Dodgers are leading with 21% of the total wagered amount, while the Padres hold the second spot with 15%. In terms of the total number of tickets, both Los Angeles and San Diego have accumulated 10%, the highest among all teams.

However, there are two additional clubs that have attracted the largest 2021 World Series futures bets up to now at William Hill.

The Yankees and White Sox are the AL teams generating significant buzz for their World Series odds. The White Sox have garnered a 9% share in both the total number of tickets and total wagered amount, while the Yankees have secured 7% and 8% in these respective categories.