Last week, bettors in the Mountain State showed great enthusiasm for the NBA, propelling it to become the second most wagered sport at DraftKings Sportsbook West Virginia, just behind college basketball.
West Virginia gamblers have an exciting betting menu this weekend, with the NBA, UFC 260, and the NASCAR Food City Dirt Race taking place. It’s a thrilling lineup of sports events before March Madness kicks off.
NBA betting: Late scratches mount
A common trend can be observed in the league, where teams strategically rest their high-profile players who are often plagued by injuries. The objective is to preserve their well-being for the playoffs, scheduled to commence in May.
It is important to verify this information prior to placing any bet, as these choices significantly affect the final result and are frequently made just before the game begins.
This holds particularly true for the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
WV market: Cavs, Wizards played tough
On Tuesday, the Washington Wizards suffered a crushing defeat of 131-113 against the New York Knicks after successfully covering the spread three consecutive times beforehand.
On Thursday, they will face the Knicks again in a rematch, followed by hosting the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Russell Westbrook, ranking second in the league with over 10 assists, consistently proves his worth.
As predicted last week, the Cavs showcased their strength and played a commendable game during a recent homestand. They emerged victorious against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, before facing a disappointing defeat against the Sacramento Kings.
This team is characterized by contrasting performances. They can appear formidable on one occasion and be utterly defeated the following night.
The Cleveland team faces a challenging schedule ahead, as they prepare to play against the Lakers on Friday, the Kings on Saturday, and the Jazz on Monday.
The King is injured, Lakers are leaking oil
A week ago, LeBron James was leading the race for MVP, and his Lakers were enjoying great success.
James will be sidelined indefinitely due to a high-ankle sprain he sustained during the first half of the Lakers’ 99-94 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
The Lakers have lost control as their wheels have come off.
The next evening, they were unexpectedly labeled as underdogs with a 10-point deficit against the Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately, they suffered a loss by a margin of 17 points. Subsequently, for their Tuesday night away game against the New Orleans Pelicans, who had a record of 18-24, they were given a +6 advantage. However, they were once again defeated by a significant 17-point margin.
Could this mean the Lakers, the defending champions who have just experienced back-to-back 17-point defeats, are in serious trouble? With the absence of their two key players, James and Anthony Davis, overcoming this challenge seems like a daunting task.
On Thursday, the Lakers will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to their home court. The following day, on Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be the visitors. On Sunday, the Orlando Magic will be hosted by the Lakers. Lastly, on Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks will be the final team to face the Lakers in this series of games.
Start getting accustomed to seeing positive numbers for them as they currently stand as an average team.
An MVP bargain buy?
A few weeks back, both James and Joel Embiid from the Sixers were highly favored with odds of +200 for the NBA MVP title. However, Embiid, who initially took the lead, unfortunately sustained an injury and his odds have now shifted to +500 at DraftKings. Similarly, James, who also assumed the top spot, encountered an injury and his odds currently stand at +600.
Nikola Jokic is now the leading contender at -110, although the current odds offer no significant value. However, those who placed bets on him with double-digit odds a few weeks ago are now reaping the rewards.
Are bettors going to abandon this pattern and start supporting another NBA star now?
According to Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, the person currently making significant gains in terms of betting money is James Harden. Previously, his odds were at 60-1 or +6000, but now they have dropped to +900. Not too long ago, bettors could have wagered on him at odds of 30 or 40-1. His recent performance has attracted a large portion of the betting money, and he has proven to be an exceptional player.
After the season began, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and has become a dominant force on the team. Teaming up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the trio now boasts the league’s top three players and highest salaries. Currently, Harden is playing the most minutes among the three, while Durant has only appeared in 19 games.
Betting trends:
Despite being one of the top teams against the spread, the Utah Jazz had an unproductive road trip. However, they have the opportunity to bounce back as they play the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, they will be hosting the Cavaliers on Monday.
Is it time to go for a short jog?
Despite being favored, the Houston Rockets suffered their 20th consecutive loss last Sunday to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, they swiftly broke the streak by dominating the Toronto Raptors.
They are scheduled to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on both Friday and Saturday, and they are expected to be active participants in those games, at the very least.
UFC 260: Brisk action in competitive main event
In the Saturday card from Las Vegas, top challenger Francis Ngannou is favored with odds of -121, while heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is the underdog at +102.
The positioning of this line has undergone significant changes. Initially, Ngannou had a starting point of -175, but astute bettors heavily favored Miocic, causing the number to gradually decrease.
Since its return on May 9th, UFC has presented the second-most competitive main event.
In 2018, Miocic emerged as the winner in a decision against Ngannou. The early line was influenced by the anticipation of Ngannou’s remarkable power, given his four consecutive KO/TKO wins within a time span of less than three minutes.
Supporters of Miocic anticipate that the fight will extend into the later rounds.
Ngannou’s track record shows that he has never emerged victorious by decision. In instances where the fight goes the full distance, he ends up losing. Therefore, those who place bets on him rely on a knockout or technical knockout (KO/TKO) to secure their winnings.
The Method of Victory and How Fight Ends props available at FanDuel WV are quite appealing. Miocic’s odds for winning by decision have increased to +460, similar to his victory in 2018. If you choose either fighter to win by decision, the odds are at +350.
NASCAR odds: Hitting the dirt
On Sunday, the Food City event will take place in Bristol, Tennessee. This marks the first dirt race in NASCAR Cup standings since 1970.
It’s difficult to predict how it will unfold compared to concrete, but the event has introduced some fresh names to the DraftKings leaderboard.
Kyle Larson, who is well-known in the racing world, is currently listed as a low-price favorite with odds of +250.
Following that, names such as:
- Christopher Bill +700
- Austin Dillon +1200
- Chase Briscoe +1300
Having a betting strategy puts you on equal footing with those who set the odds, making it an advantageous position. However, the outcome is uncertain and holds great potential.
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