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Sports Betting Futures Odds: It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than This Weekend

by - 4/28/2015

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston

The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night and extends through Saturday. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao is on Saturday. So, too, is the Kentucky Derby. The NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs will also be taking place. Get your popcorn-and the remote control-ready. And get your sportsbook accounts ready, as well.

All odds provided by Bovada Sportsbook.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather to win (-225) - The line has been fluctuating rather wildly with so much money coming in on the biggest boxing match in years. Mayweather was -240 in early March before crashing to -190 when the calendar turned to April. Now he is back to a considerable -225 favorite as he looks to improve his professional record to 48-0.

Mayweather to win by decision or technical decision (-135) - Only 26 of Mayweather's 47 wins have come via knockout, and most if not all of those fights have come against opponents of much less impressive ilk-especially in the defensive department-than Pacquiao. If Mayweather takes care of business, it will likely be via decision.

Over 11.5 rounds (-310) - Neither man goes down frequently. At the same time, neither one does much knocking out. Both fighters have KOed fewer than 50 percent of the opposition in their careers (Pacquiao is 57-5-2 with 38 KOs). As such, the money is coming in on this one going the distance.

Neither fighter gets knocked down or out (-170) - Both Mayweather (38) and Pacquiao (36) are in the latter stages (at the ends?) of their careers. Does either one have enough left to deliver a crushing blow against the other's impressive defense? Pacquiao is +245 to hit the canvas; Mayweather is +265.

Kentucky Derby

American Pharoah (+225) - With the Run for the Roses four days away, Bob Baffert's two all-star horses (American Pharoah and Dortmund) are still the considerable favorites. The trainer will have to hope Pharoah is better at running than the horse's owners are at spelling the word "pharaoh." The derby favorite won the Arkansas Derby last month.

Dortmund (+450) - Both Pharoah and Dortmund have stellar pedigrees. While Pharoah is the grandson of 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, Dortmund is the son of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Big Brown. Included in Dortmund's undefeated record is the Santa Anita Derby earlier this spring.

Carpe Diem (+700) - Carpe Diem is the great grandson of Unbridled (1990 Kentucky Derby champion) and grandson of Unbridled's Song (1996 Kentucky Derby favorite; finished fifth). He is 2-0 this season with wins at the Tampa Bay Derby (March 7) and the Blue Grass Stakes (April 4).

Materiality (+1200) - Todd Pletcher, whose horses have won two Belmont Stakes (2007, 2013) and one Kentucky Derby (2010), trains both Carpe Diem and Matierality. The son of Afleet Alex (2005 Preakness and Belmont winner), Materiality is 3-0 this year and coming off a Florida Derby triumph on March 28.

NFL Draft

Jameis Winston to be No. 1 pick (-1500) - The Tampa Bay Bucs need a quarterback, and two that have the potential to be great are available. Winston did not run particularly well at the combine, but his offseason throwing workouts have been outstanding. Marcus Mariota is +750 to be taken first overall; any other player is +900.

Marcus Mariota to be No. 2 pick (-500) - Like Tampa Bay, the Tennessee Titans are also in desperate need of a top-flight franchise quarterback. Mariota is the heavy favorite to go No. 2 if he is not the first pick, but offensive line is also an option for Tennessee. Leonard Williams is +300 to be the second selection; Dante Fowler Jr. is +750.

Over 5.5 WRs drafted in first round (-140) - This impressive wide receiver class includes Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Breshad Perriman, DeVante Parker, and Jaelen Strong among plenty of others. Those five should go in round one. Will Devin Funchess and/or Nelson Agholor sneak into the first 32 to push this over 5.5?

Todd Gurley drafted 14th or earlier (-130) - The former University of Georgia running back may be hurt by the fact that he is coming off a season-ending ACL injury. Atlanta is interested at No. 8, but that is a long shot. If Gurley is available to Miami with the 14th selection, will it take him?

Cadillac Championship (Match Play)

Rory McIlroy (+900 ) - The match-play championship has a new format, with all 64 players guaranteed at least three matches in their respective groups of four. McIlroy finds himself with three Americans-Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker, and Jason Dufner. The world No. 1 should be confident after blistering through the last three rounds of the Masters.

Jordan Spieth (+900 ) - Whichever man has the best record in his respective group after three days will advance to the last 16 for the knockout stages. Spieth, the Masters champion, is going up against Lee Westwood, Matt Every, and Mikko Illonen. The world No. 2 reached the quarterfinals last year before losing to Ernie Els.

Jason Day (+1400 ) - Day won it all in 2014, prevailing in an epic final over Victor Dubuisson. So it's safe to say the Aussie knows what he is doing in match play. Of course, Day has been in fine form regardless of format. He is coming off a T4 showing at the Zurich Classic and owns five top-10s (including one win) already this season.

Dustin Johnson (+1600 ) - Johnson was mediocre last week in New Orleans (T43), but he preceded that with three top-10s (including one win and a T6 at Augusta National). Paulina Gretzky's other half is in a pod along with Dubuisson and Charl Schwartzel. Henrik Stenson, who won this event in 2007, is also +1600.

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