Between NFL madness, a weekend of combat sports, the World Baseball Classic, Golden Knights’ woes, and much more, it’s been quite the stretch for sports bettors. Let’s quickly review the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports App and the STN Sports Books…
NFL Odds
On Monday, the NFL’s “legal tampering period” began, and players were finding more new addresses than your mailman. Mike Evans is now in San Francisco, Tyler Linderbaum is in Las Vegas and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker calls Kansas City home. The biggest move, though, might have come from the Los Angeles Rams, who traded for star cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson, filling big holes.
“I think the Rams, who were kind of co-favorites, have now become the favorite to win the Super Bowl just with the moves that they made in the secondary,” Esposito said. “They’re a team that recognized that it’s a pass-happy league and they have a great offense, but needed some help on the backend defensively, and they really helped themselves a lot at this point.”
After the defensive upgrade, the Rams’ future book odds dropped slightly, as did the Ravens’, who acquired superstar Maxx Crosby from the Raiders. Esposito also likes Atlanta’s signing of Tua Tagovailoa. “They’ve got a lot of really talented skill position players,” he said.
“They’ve got a good defensive line. They play in the dome, which I think helps him from an arm strength standpoint. But you’re inheriting Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts, and Drake London. If Tua stays healthy, I think he could actually win that starting job. He’s three years removed from being phenomenal. Kevin Stefanski likes a play-action heavy offense, and I think it’s going to help Tua.”
VGK
As has become more normal than a Charleston Road traffic jam, Mark Stone was injured during the Golden Knights’ playoff push. Normally, this could be detrimental, and it still might be, but the Knights are used to this.
“This seems to be a common denominator with him this time of year,” Esposito said. Although he’s one of the league’s best players, Stone’s absence hasn’t shaken up betting odds too drastically, but what they might miss is the intangibles, as evidenced by the VGK’s post-Olympic slump, much of which Stone has been out for.
“Losing your captain certainly doesn’t help. They’re going to miss his off-ice leadership in the locker room and on the bench,” Esposito said. “It definitely has an impact, but this is not unfamiliar territory. We’ve seen it like this down the stretch for several years now.”
The Knights are still a bit of a mystery, considering they’re flirting with the division lead without an exceptionally high point total. “If the Knights were in the Eastern conference, they wouldn’t even be a playoff team based on points,” Esposito added. “They’re one of the bigger disappointments right now.”
Last Man Standing
Guests have just one more week to sign up for the Men’s Last Man Standing competition for the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Players can purchase an entry into the winner-take-all competition in person at any Station Casinos property or Station-run Sports Book. Each entry is $25, and bettors can increase their chances of winning by purchasing multiple entries.
Any contestant who purchases four entries will receive a fifth entry complimentary. The last man (or woman) standing will win a guaranteed aggregate payout of $50,000.
Bets To Know
It’s back! On Sunday, the Pennzoil 400 makes its return to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“Outside of Daytona, which is up for months before the race goes off, nothing compares to the overall handle we get on NASCAR with the Vegas 400,” Esposito said.
In addition to general wagers, the Books also have a variety of prop bets tied to the race. Kyle Larson, who’s won Vegas thrice, enters as the favorite, followed by Christopher Bell.
Need a sentimental longshot? Las Vegas natives Noah Gragson, who won Daytona in 2022, and Kyle Busch, who was once a permanent fixture atop the odds, are large underdogs.
Weekly Winners
GOOOOAL. This STN Sports bettor put down $2 for an incredible $712.66 hit across soccer March 7.
-Nashville -172 over Minnesota
-Vancouver -133 over Portland
-Los Angeles -400 over FC Dallas
-Charlotte FC +100 over Austin FC
-Pachuca -128 over Puebla
-Chivas -156 over Atlas
-Tigres de la UANL -105 over Monterrey
-Club America -128 over Queretaro
-San Diego FC -141 over Sporting KC
-Sounder +113 over Saint Louis City
-Inter Miami -3333 over DC United