Not solely limited by MLB, many future wagering options on the board are worth considering

For serious and habitual sports bettors, the last two weeks of July offer the ultimate boring challenge.  And for those not traditionally attracted by baseball wagering face an even more frustrating road toward the NFL and NCAA college football season.  No wonder they plan the ESPY Awards the day after the MLB All-Star Game.  There isn’t even a home run contest to bet upon.

But fear not.  There is some worthy wagering and analytical homework to invest your time on.  And with due respect, we’re not talking about WBNA or NBA Summer League action either.  There is a bevy of future action to consider while saving your brain for serious day to day action that begins in about six weeks from now. 

Batter Up

With baseball, the unofficial mid-season point offers the last opportunity to forecast division, pennant and a World Series winner. By September 1st, likely most races will be decided and only a few remaining teams will seriously be considered to have a legitimate chance.

The preferred offshore sportsbooks have varied options and more important varied odds to select who you might want to wager upon.  Bovada, BetOnline, Diamond Sports and others on the preferred sportsbook list offer the best opportunity to receive many wagering options.  The most important rule as always is to shop around for optimum value.

Unlike the NBA, where perhaps four teams have any legit chance of winning a championship (and maybe one), MLB offers several who could win the World Series at enticing prices.  Below is the complete list courtesy of BetOnline:

Houston Astros           +450
Boston Red Sox          +475  
New York Yankees       +475  
Los Angeles Dodgers   +650
Chicago Cubs              +700  
Cleveland Indians      +1000  
Philadelphia Phillies    +1600  
Arizona Diamondbacks +2000  
Atlanta Braves            +2000  
Milwaukee Brewers      +2000  
Seattle Mariners          +2000  
Washington Nationals  +2000  
San Francisco Giants   +3300  
Oakland Athletics        +5000  
St. Louis Cardinals      +5000  
Colorado Rockies         +6600  
Los Angeles Angels    +30000  
Minnesota Twins        +30000  
Pittsburgh Pirates      +30000  
Tampa Bay Rays        +30000  
San Diego Padres     +100000  
Toronto Blue Jays     +100000

I’m targeting the top of the list Houston Astros as the best play to repeat at +450, simply because the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are getting over bet due to their fan popularity.  Not that the Red Sox or Yanks won’t win it all, but the Astros are as good a team and IF they win the American League, they will be a major favorite again in late October.  Again, excellent value. An almost similar case can be made for the Cleveland Indians at +1000.   The best argument for the Cubs +650 or Dodgers +700 is receiving their current odds.  But again, both teams figure to be underdogs to these four AL teams unless turning it on the rest of the season.

NFL – The Future is Right Now

We don’t have to look very far back to learn a lesson getting wealthy on opportunity betting on NFL futures.  As of October 1st, last season, Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles were an incredible 40-1 at most Vegas and offshore sportsbooks.  Who could be “this year’s Eagles”?  Unlike the other three major U.S. sports, the one game elimination playoff system offers the upset opportunity to make long-shots happen.   Not that you might want to bet against the Patriots, Steelers, Eagles, etc., but some very tempting opportunities are on the board with realistic promise.

New England Patriots    +700
Minnesota Vikings       +1000
Philadelphia Eagles     +1000
Los Angeles Rams       +1200
Pittsburgh Steelers     +1200
Green Bay Packers      +1400
Atlanta Falcons           +1600
New Orleans Saints     +1600
Houston Texans          +2000
Jacksonville Jaguars    +2000
Los Angeles Chargers  +2000
San Francisco 49ers    +2000
Dallas Cowboys           +2500
Kansas City Chiefs       +2500
New York Giants          +2500
Carolina Panthers        +3300
Denver Broncos           +3300
Oakland Raiders          +3300
Baltimore Ravens        +4000
Detroit Lions               +4000
Tennessee Titans         +4000
Seattle Seahawks        +5000
Cleveland Browns        +6600
Indianapolis Colts        +6600
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +6600
Arizona Cardinals       +10000
Buffalo Bills               +10000
Chicago Bears            +10000
Cincinnati Bengals      +10000
Miami Dolphins          +10000
Washington Redskins +10000
New York Jets           +15000

Opposite of the baseball favorite, the first team I want to toss here are the New England Patriots.  So much inner-team turmoil, plus new player assignments, make the Pats more questionable than in the past.  Also, despite unknown scientific logic, Mr. Tom Brady will be pushing 41 years old shortly and no human has ever escaped this athletic reality.   Add in a cranky head coach that likely will be turning in his retirement plans very soon.  At +700, not a very good investment.

Notice that beyond New England and Pittsburgh at +1200 the AFC list dips way down to the Texans, Jaguars and Chargers at +2000.  That’s a strong indication of the NFC’s superior strength this season.  Should Brady or Ben Roethlisberger get injured this year, a wise-guy opportunity to pick up an AFC representative at a great price.

Inside the AFC might offer an even better opportunity without depending on a Super Bowl win.  BetOnline and other preferred sportsbooks also offer divisional race odds as well.  The following is an excellent value on traditionally the NFL’s most competitive division every season.

Odds to Win the AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars +175 
Houston Texans       +200
Tennessee Titans     +300
Indianapolis Colts    +550

This division is totally up for grabs with four teams that could either exceed expectations or potentially flop.  If quarterback is undoubtedly the most important football position, who would you bet on to lead your team to a division title.  Blake Bortles or Andrew Luck?  No disrespect to Bortles, who had a nice season last year.  But remember Luck was among top three QB’s in the NFL prior to his injury.  If he returns strong along with an improved Colts defense, an outstanding +550 play to win this division.  Add in new head ex-QB coach Frank Reich, and it makes even more sense.

Perhaps the most positive indicator might be in the early Wins Total wagering line.  Of all 32 teams, the Colts were the heaviest bet at major sportsbook Bovada at -170 to win over -7.5 games.

College Football Kick-off

Hard to believe but NCAA College Football season is only about a month away.  All preferred sportsbooks have both championship and individual conferences to wager upon. The following focuses upon the most popular SEC, courtesy of BetOnline:

Odds to Win the Southeastern Conference

Conference Futures Odds to Win the Southeastern Conference Including playoffs.

 
Alabama              -125
Georgia               +350
Auburn                +800
Mississippi State +1200
Florida               +1600
LSU                   +2000
Texas A&M          +2000
South Carolina    +2500
Missouri             +3300
Tennessee          +4000
Arkansas            +6600
Ole Miss             +6600
Kentucky          +10000
Vanderbilt        +10000

Very simple strategy here.  Apply the NBA Golden State Warriors thinking to the Alabama Crimson Tide and forecast your winnings for a Florida vacation in January 2019.  Despite being depleted from the NFL draft, the Tide have reloaded with talent for this season along with two spectacular quarterbacks leading them to another division title.  Maybe not another NCAA Championship, but an SEC Conference crown is highly likely in the nation’s most competitive division.  Even with one or perhaps two losses, they will get the opportunity to play the SEC championship game and be the favorite.

Overall, hang in there sports bettors.  Only five to six short weeks until football season begins, and serious daily sports handicapping resumes.  Please pretend the NFL pre-season is an illusion and start thinking of the futures. 

Glenn Greene covers the games from a betting angle every week exclusively at OSGA.com. For weekly betting insights, inlcuding previews and picks from Glenn, click here.