The Lakers are the clear favorite at Las Vegas sportsbooks to win the 2021 NBA title. But that doesn’t mean they’re an automatic bet to cover the spread in Tuesday’s opener.
Todd Dewey
Reporter: Sports betting
Email: tdewey@reviewjournal.com
X: @tdewey33
Todd Dewey covers sports betting for the Review-Journal. Prior to taking over that beat in January 2017, he covered UNLV football, 51s baseball and a wide range of other events that come to Las Vegas. A native of Cambridge, Mass., and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Dewey joined the Review-Journal in 1999 and was the 2013 Nevada Sportswriter of the Year.
Sixteen Circa Survivor contestants who selected the Rams saw their season-long quest for the $1.39 million prize come to a stunning end after the Jets’ 23-20 win.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the +250 favorites to repeat as NBA champions in the 2020-21 season, scheduled to tip off Tuesday.
Alabama and Clemson are favored to meet in the CFP national championship game for the fourth time in seven years.
Handicapper Mark Franco (FrancoSports.com, VegasInsider.com) breaks down the remaining 13 games in NFL Week 15, with analysis, trends and final scores.
Scott Kellen went 5-0 ATS last week to take the lead with a 39-29-2 record. Dave Tuley (38-29-3) is second, and Lou Finocchiaro and Brent Musburger are tied for third at 38-31-1.
Alabama went from a 12-point to 17½-point favorite over Florida in the SEC title game. The line move hasn’t stopped the betting public from wagering on the Crimson Tide.
A few weeks ago, Florida ranged between +11 and +13 on SEC championship game lookahead lines. There’s no reason to inflate the number four-plus points based on last week.
Dana Lane edged Eric Parkila to win the contest for the second straight year. Lane went 41-27-2 ATS (60.3 percent) and Parkila 40-28-2 (58.8 percent) after a 5-0 finish.
Washington’s Ron Rivera would be the worst result for Circa, which took a notable bet on him at 40-1 to win Coach of the Year and had him higher than 100-1 at one point.
Harrison Butker kicked a 46-yard field goal with 1:08 left to give the Chiefs (-7) a 33-24 lead. But Miami covered on Jason Sanders’ 44-yard field goal with 16 seconds left.
Handicapper Ted Sevransky (@teddy_covers) breaks down the remaining 15 games in NFL Week 14, with analysis, trends and final scores.
Lou Finocchiaro (36-28-1 ATS) and Dave Tuley (35-27-3) are tied for the contest lead. Mark Franco (35-28-2) is third and Brent Musburger (35-29-1) fourth.
Indianapolis was a consensus 3-point favorite at Las Vegas sportsbooks Friday after the line opened at 2½. The number was still at 2½ at Station Casinos and Treasure Island.
Defending champion Dana Lane leads the contest with a 39-25-1 against the spread record. Paul Stone and Eric Parkila are tied for second at 35-28-2.