With the NBA and NHL postseasons in full swing, baseball about 1/5th into the regular season and the Kentucky Derby just days away, the STN Sports Books is busier than the Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. In addition to all that, the NFL Draft just finished, giving fans of every team a reason to set unrealistic expectations — it’s a tale as old as time.
“The Browns had a great draft, in my opinion. I like what the Jets and Giants did, but there wasn’t that needle mover,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Sports Book Director, referring to whether future book odds changed in the wake of rounds 1-7.
“When you see odds drop, it’s usually because of a trade. Had AJ Brown or Miles Garrett been traded, you would see that more. There’s just so much unknown, and there’s not a quarterback that’s going to come in and make an immediate impact.”
It’s entirely probable that the Raiders’ shiny new toy, Fernando Mendoza, won’t see the field this year, and it’s entirely probable that Ty Simpson, the Rams’ new QB, won’t see the field for two years.
With all that in mind, 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…
VGK
It’s only the first round of the NHL Playoffs, but the Vegas Golden Knights are giving fans more heartburn than a hot wing. After dropping Games 2 and 3 to Utah, the VGK came out swinging in Game 4, taking a 3-0 lead. They then lost the lead, falling behind 4-3 before tying it up. The VGK eventually won 5-4 in overtime, evening up the series. As Journey said on the Red Rock stage on Wednesday night, Don’t Stop Believing!
To little surprise, the Game 4 result wasn’t financially advantageous for the House, as betting activity massively favored the VGK. A multitude of bets were also on the over, which easily covered.
“The only thing that was a little bit of a saving grace is the Knights didn’t cover on the puck line,” Esposito said. The Mammoth is keeping things competitive, probably more so than many assumed before the series began. There’s little doubt that Utah is a faster team, but VGK has invaluable playoff experience. “The fact that they blew the 3-0 lead and then were still able to win speaks a lot about that team,” Esposito added. “If the Knights were to win, we just hope that it’s in 7, the game stays under and they don’t cover the puck line.”
NBA
The Minnesota Timberwolves were in the driver’s seat in the series with the Denver Nuggets, but then a spell of bad luck befell them when Anthony Edwards, the team’s best player, and Donte DiVincenzo, the team’s best role player, both went down with injuries, making their offense more reduced than Hoover Dam’s water flow.
“Those injuries definitely affect the line,” Esposito admits, adding that Edwards’ on-court absence is worth about two possessions in regard to setting the spread. That’s not to say the Wolves can’t win on Thursday and finish off the Nuggets, but they are two-possession underdogs at home. “They’re going to have to have that Circle-the-Wagons mentality and win one game,” Esposito said.
Derby
We’re back in the saddle again! The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, and the Station Casino’s Race and Sports Books is prepping for all the pomp and circumstance. “When it comes to the Derby, it’s by far our busiest race day of the year. It’s a little bit like the Super Bowl in that you don’t have to necessarily be a fan, but because it’s so exciting and because it’s such a spectacle and a historical event, everybody wants a piece of it,” Esposito said.
Renegade, who will come out of the dreaded No. 1 post position at the rail, is the favorite. “I never like the favorite, and I don’t like the favorite especially coming out of the one hole, but I think there’s some value on So Happy coming out of the No. 8 position,” Esposito added. In addition to STN’s twin quinella promotions and the staggering amount of mint juleps set to be consumed, official Kentucky Derby t-shirts will be awarded for $25 wagers.
Reds
While the Chicago Cubs were the preseason favorite to win the NL Central (and still are), the Cincinnati Reds have come out swinging early in the season and seem to have what it takes to make more noise than a Vegas street busker.
The Reds have one of the smaller ballparks in the majors, which gives them an advantage, but they’ve also been exceptional on the road, with a 10-3 record away from the Great American Ball Park. Ironically, Cincinnati has middled around .500 at home, where you’d expect them to be great. Still, Esposito says, “The fact that they can go on the road and win is a really good sign.”
Bets To Know
Station Casinos is offering a $2 twin quinella promotion for Friday’s Oaks races, in which a winner could take home $10,000. A $2 twin quinella promotion will also be offered for the Derby. A winner could take home $20,000 for that one. How do those bets work? A bettor must pick the top two finishers in two predetermined races. The pot will be split if there are multiple winners.
Weekly Winners
A NICE $10 hockey parlay pays $549.65, inclusive of VGK’s Monday night win.
-Sabres moneyline
-Bruins/Sabres over 6 goals
-Lightning moneyline
-Golden Knights moneyline
-Ducks moneylone
-Mammoth/Golden Knights over 6