West Virginia sports betting fans can look forward to yet another welcome back party, as the weekly gambling menu expands.
Thursday marks the start of the NBA restart, while the NHL makes its return on Saturday. These exciting events join a packed schedule of MLB games and thrilling live horse racing in West Virginia, offering a delectable spread of wagering opportunities.
You can take them in any sequence you prefer.
Major League Baseball: A loaded schedule
Due to the lack of full travel days in the new arrangement, the schedule now includes nine Thursday games and a schedule with double-digit matches for the remainder of the weekend.
Despite the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies losing multiple games this week due to Marlins players testing positive for COVID-19 in Philadelphia on Monday, the situation remains the same.
The most anticipated match on Thursday features Ross Stripling from the Los Angeles Dodgers going up against Robbie Ray from the Arizona Diamondbacks. After that, everyone’s attention turns towards the upcoming weekend.
The San Diego Padres have surpassed early predictions with a remarkable 4-1 record.
Among the under-performing teams this week with a 1-4 record, we have notable names like the reigning world champions, the Washington Nationals, along with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. Despite initial expectations of a successful season with predicted win totals exceeding .500, these teams have yet to shine. However, it is worth monitoring them closely as they may experience a breakthrough in the near future.
MLB betting highlights from opening weekend
In the realm of gambling, success is achieved through a combination of calculated strategies, intuitive instincts, and placing the right amount of money on the right intuition. The location of the victory is inconsequential; what truly matters is the approach one adopts.
A bettor at DraftKings WV Sportsbook managed to transform a mere $50 wager into a whopping $2,113 by successfully predicting two home runs in a parlay on Monday.
On Monday night, both Jose Altuve from the Houston Astros and Michael Conforto representing the New York Mets hit impressive home runs.
Conforto has a good chance of hitting home runs, whereas Altuve, an outstanding all-around player, does not have a specific focus on hitting long balls.
However, he managed to do it that night. And his intuition for betting paid off immensely. He hit two home runs, winning $50, and earning over $2,000.
What MLB betting fans learned from the first weekend
For a couple of years now, I’ve been actively observing the strategy of avoiding the sweep. Teams give it their all to prevent three-game sweeps or consecutive losses at the beginning of a four-game series.
That was evident from last weekend.
Despite two poor performances against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates (+180 at WV online sportsbooks) were able to bounce back and salvage the Sunday game. This victory prevented them from being swept on the road and gave them a reason to continue fighting for the rest of the season.
After suffering two devastating defeats from the Houston Astros on Friday and Saturday, the Seattle Mariners showcased immense perseverance on Sunday. Despite trailing behind, they made a remarkable comeback in the eighth inning, ultimately securing a victory.
What’s even better? They had odds of +240 at FanDuel Sportsbook.
After being outscored 17-2 in two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants managed to fight hard and emerge victorious in their next game, defying the odds of nearly 2-1 as predicted by major sportsbooks.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, with odds of +115, managed to prevent a three-game sweep by mounting a ninth-inning comeback, ultimately saving the series finale against the San Diego Padres.
Moving forward, it’s a promising betting strategy to keep an eye on teams that lose the first two games in a three-game series. According to the law of averages, they are likely to bounce back and secure a win, especially considering that the team that already won the first two games has already secured a series victory.
There may be exceptions, such as when the series finale features a standout like Gerrit Cole from the New York Yankees or Max Scherzer from the Washington Nationals. Although the excitement remains, it might be slightly subdued.
The theory will be put to the test on a weekly basis.
The NBA returns — finally
The NBA betting scene revolves around teams embarking on an intense eight-game stretch in Orlando, leaving no room for mistakes. The absence of a home court advantage amplifies the significance of each game.
Make sure to keep a close watch on the Memphis Grizzlies, as they currently hold the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Additionally, pay attention to the teams trying to catch up to them.
That list includes:
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Phoenix Suns
Bettors will quickly notice the high stakes atmosphere as these teams enter the game with a must-win mentality, reflecting in the odds.
Experience the Thursday game opener featuring the Pelicans and Utah Jazz.
At DraftKings, the Pelicans have a point spread of -2.5.
Despite facing a team with 13 more wins than them on a neutral court, the Pelicans urgently require a victory due to the NBA playoff format’s significance for securing the last spot.
You definitely don’t want to miss the highly anticipated second Thursday game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers, as it showcases two top contenders for the championship. Already, there has been movement in the betting lines, with the Lakers going from a 4.5-point favorite to a 3.5-point favorite on Wednesday according to DraftKings. On the other hand, FanDuel has the Lakers listed as a 4-point favorite.
The Grizzlies’ must-win status has been considered by the public.
In BetMGM Sportsbook WV, Memphis currently occupies the eighth playoff spot with a comfortable 3.5 game lead. An overwhelming 92% of the bettors believe that Memphis will secure victory in at least four out of their remaining eight games, thereby maintaining their position in the playoffs.
97% of the gamblers predict that the Boston Celtics will emerge victorious in a minimum of six of their matchups.
The Brooklyn Nets are expected to secure either the seventh or eighth playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, but the majority of gamblers, about 97%, predict they will win fewer than three out of the eight games. However, this might not have a significant impact as they are being pursued by the struggling Washington Wizards.
Drop the puck, NHL is back
West Virginia sports betting enthusiasts show a strong interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, with the NHL odds being readily available at WV sportsbooks.
Beginning on Saturday, the NHL’s best-of-five return-to-action playoff sets will showcase the Pittsburgh Penguins facing off against the Montreal Canadiens, while the Columbus Blue Jackets will go head-to-head with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The games will take place in both Toronto and Edmonton, ensuring no home-ice advantage. Teams that emerge victorious from the early rounds will move on to compete in best-of-seven sets for the remainder of the season. The NHL aims to conclude its season by late September or early October.
Mountain State magic for the WV horse betting crowd
Last week, West Virginia online horse bettors at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races were greeted with even more exciting features, metaphorically speaking, akin to the sound of cha-ching and additional attractions.
Every Thursday through Saturday, Charles Town hosts races at 7 p.m., while Mountaineer holds races from Sunday to Tuesday, also at 7 p.m. These tracks offer great opportunities for betting, thanks to the combination of low-level races and large fields, resulting in some impressive payout possibilities.
Over the past few months, Charles Town has been resembling a virtual slot machine, consistently granting West Virginia gamblers with substantial winnings every week.
Last week, multiple successful superfectas were won, with each one earning more than $1,000. The highest payout was from Friday’s sixth race, where a $1 superfecta yielded almost $17,000.
For a mere $1 ticket, it yielded a whopping $16,680 payout, thanks to the triumphant 6-1 contender Wedding Day Kitten, followed by the unexpected second-place finisher Dynamic Union with odds of 24-1. Surprisingly, the underdog Golden Vale took third place with staggering 60-1 odds, while the heavily favored Singindownthelane disappointingly settled for fourth position.
As the race neared its end, there was an absence of joyful singing. The frontrunner, who had maintained a significant lead of five lengths with only 200 yards remaining, unexpectedly began to tire and struggle.
After engaging in an early “speed duel” with another horse, his performance was compromised. Just before the finish line, a group of underdogs swiftly overtook him. The ultimate victor managed to make up an impressive 12 lengths within a quarter-mile distance.
In addition to the superfecta, the $1 trifecta yielded a payout of $2,230 as well. This particular race stood out as the highlight of the week, ticking off all the boxes for lucrative earnings. Despite being a low-level race with a claiming price of $12,500, it boasted a substantial field of 10 horses, and interestingly, the favorite failed to secure a spot within the top three positions.
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