The NFL is less than 50 days from the regular season kicking off, and STN Sports Books will soon be releasing a bevy of prop bets tied to skill positions — this in addition to what’s already up on the board, including win totals, Super Bowl odds, MVP odds and more. For more immediate betting gratification, baseball continues to play out like a chess match and is more unpredictable than an actual Frontier Airlines departure time.
The Red Sox, for instance, were left for dead in early July, and they’re now hotter than the Vegas pavement. “The bettors are all over them right now,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Race and Sports Book Director. 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…
World Cup
¡Viva España! On Sunday, the longest World Cup in history came to a close with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 in the Final at Met Life Stadium. The game, which went into extra time tied 0-0, was exciting, but it was also one-sided: Argentina registered exactly zero shots on target in the world’s largest single game. The soccer result was actually “perfect” for the Book.
“The way it fell in regulation with no goals scored, and then Messi not getting a goal or an assist, it was actually a perfect outcome for us,” Esposito said. Going into Sunday, guests hammered Argentina, believing the great Messi would will his team to victory. Said Esposito, “We needed Spain in the final game big time. It was probably one of the biggest non-football decisions I can remember in any sport.”
MLB
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been playing slightly above .500 baseball all season long and are in the running to nab a wildcard bid in the playoffs as of now, but they are actually leading the entire league in batting average. Who woulda guessed! These guys hit like an Ed Sheeran song.
They are also among the league leaders in high-scoring games, as their games are hitting the over at nearly a 60% clip. The Pirates trail only the Twins in terms of cashing overs. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Tigers and Phillies are leading the league in low-scoring games, with unders hitting about 57% of the time when they play.
“This could be a little bit ballpark driven for all four teams,” Esposito said. “The Twins score at an epic pace, but the Phillies have a very talented, loaded lineup with so many All-Stars.”
NFL
You know the old adage: Good teams win, but great teams cover. With the NFL season approaching, STN Books have been taking in countless bets on team win totals, but there are two totals that Esposito sees as potential bargains for guests.
Just two seasons ago, the Minnesota Vikings went 14-3, and last year, with subpar quarterback play, they notched nine wins. Their total currently sits at 8.5. In the offseason, they inked Kyler Murray to a contract to take over as QB1.
“The NFC North is a super competitive division, and any one of the four teams can win it, but I’m going to say the Vikings go over,” Esposito said. The Giants are also a value, he believes, with win total set at 7.5. The AFC North, on the contrary, might have a team going the opposite direction: the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, isn’t getting any younger, and who has a new coach in Mike McCarthy.
“If they get off to a poor start, I think the wheels can come off really, really quick,” Esposito said. Pittsburgh’s win total is set at 8.5, which, under the former Mike Tomlin era, the over was all but automatic. Tomlin, however, is now sitting comfortably in a broadcast booth. “I think the Steelers step back this year,” Esposito said. The Steelers could flop like a World Series of Poker hand.
Bets To Know
Boxing is alive and well this summer as Zuffa Boxing 09 is taking place this Sunday at Madison Square Garden. STN Sports has odds on all the fights.
Weekly Winners
Baseball continues to give bettors nice little wins, like this $5 baseball parlay, which hit for $644.46 on Tuesday:
-Dodgers over Phillies
-Braves / Padres over 9 runs
-Mets over Brewers
-Rockies / Nationals over 13 runs
-Guardians / Twins over 8 runs