Sports Betting
Friday’s Best Draftkings Bets: Red Sox-Pirates, Bulls-Heat, Kings-Pelicans
We experienced our first rainout with the Winning Picks, but we still could not get a win, finishing 0-2. The over could not over in Oilers/Avalanche in the last regular season game for each team. The Diamondbacks did not win as underdogs in San Francisco. Marlins/Cubs was postponed. We moved to 253-197-3 on the year.
We have some big-time matchups tonight in the NBA. Winners move on to the playoffs, losers can start their vacation early. I have already talked about some series futures for the upcoming first round, and I will have more on the way, but there is a conference finals matchup to be made on DraftKings right now. Actually, it’s two bets.
Right now, the potential matchup with the lowest odds is the Thunder/Nuggets at +370. This would be a showdown between the top two seeds in the West. But given this is this Thunder group’s first time playing together in the postseason, I don’t believe they will make it that far. But at +450 is Clippers/Nuggets and Mavericks/Nuggets, which will face either Thunder or Kings/Pelicans in the next round. You have a chance to double your money even by betting both of those matchups.
And even more of a twist, if the Kings get past the Pelicans tonight, I believe the Kings will beat the Thunder. If you want to get crazier with a Kings/Nuggets Western Conference Final, that is +7000. A $10 bet there pays $700. Even with two teams under +300 odds, there is still money to be made on upsets in the NBA playoffs.
Now time for the Winning Picks!
States: OH, MA, MD, AZ, PA, NC, KY, KS, NJ, NY, WY, LA, IL, IN, IA, CO, WV, VA, TN, MI. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GET THE APPBoston Red Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates (-115) O/U 8.5 6:40 PM on SportsNet Pittsburgh
Tonight will be the first Pirates game of the season for me, and I finally get to see the Boston Red Sox. I nearly saw the Red Sox play in 2003 with my late father on Turn Back the Clock Night to 1903, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first World Series. That game was rained out unfortunately and the celebration was moved to a couple days later. Now I finally get to see them, and Pirates fans get to see Quinn Priester for the first time this year.
Normally, I would take the Pirates given that I am going to the game, but I really like the over in this one. Priester surrendered an average of 4 runs in each of his 10 starts last season. Boston starter Brayan Bello has been solid this year and gave the Pirates some problems in Spring Training, but I think their bats will finally wake up after falling asleep in New York.
Over 8.5 Covers, Boston Red Sox 5 Pittsburgh Pirates 6
States: OH, MA, MD, AZ, PA, NC, KY, KS, NJ, NY, WY, LA, IL, IN, IA, CO, WV, VA, TN, MI. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GET THE APPChicago Bulls at Miami Heat (-1.5) O/U 205.5 7:00 PM on ESPN
It’s like Groundhog Day for the Miami Heat. They once again find themselves in an eliminator game for the last spot in the East for the playoffs. This time, however, they will have to do it without their star and face of the franchise Jimmy Butler.
Butler is at least out through the first round of the playoffs if the Heat can even make it that far. Guys like Tyler Herro will need to step up in his absence, I think he will. I like Miami to cover and pick up the win tonight. Boston will await them.
Heat Cover -1.5, Chicago Bulls 98 Miami Heat 102
States: OH, MA, MD, AZ, PA, NC, KY, KS, NJ, NY, WY, LA, IL, IN, IA, CO, WV, VA, TN, MI. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GET THE APPSacramento Kings (-1) at New Orleans Pelicans O/U 210.5 9:30 PM on TNT
In the other eliminator game tonight, we find another home team missing one of their top stars. New Orleans star Zion Williamson, like Butler, will miss several weeks of being injured in their â…ž matchup this week. But luckily for the Pelicans, they have owned the Kings this year.
New Orleans comes into tonight 5-0 on the season against Sacramento. That even includes a game without Zion in the lineup. Naturally, you would think I would take the Pelicans to win right? Well, I’m not. Even though they only beat the dusty, old Warriors to reach this game, I believe the Kings have enough momentum and gas in the tank to finally beat the Pelicans this season when it really matters.
Kings Cover -1, Sacramento Kings 106 New Orleans Pelicans 104
States: OH, MA, MD, AZ, PA, NC, KY, KS, NJ, NY, WY, LA, IL, IN, IA, CO, WV, VA, TN, MI. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
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