It's a big week in sports, with the NBA and NHL playoffs in full flight,
the NBA Draft lottery on Tuesday, another star-studded golf tournament, and
most of the top tennis players in the world fine-tuning their games for the
upcoming French Open. But the big story could involve a horse. After
winning the Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming is heading to this weekend's
Preakness Stakes as the obvious favorite.
Odds provided by BetOnline Sportsbook
unless otherwise indicated.
Preakness Stakes
Always Dreaming (-150)
- Always Dreaming was the post-time favorite at Churchill Downs two weeks
ago, and he did not disappoint, taking care of business on a muddy track
without too much trouble. The son of 2012 Derby and Preakness runner-up
Bodemeister, Always Dreaming has now won three straight races.
Classic Empire (+375)
- Classic Empire was favored in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby
but ended up being the second choice behind the eventual winner. He made a
late charge and finished fourth. Classic Empire is the son of 2009 Derby
runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, who also sired 2015 Triple Crown champ
American Pharoah.
Lookin at Lee (+900)
- Despite going off at 33-1 odds and drawing the unfortunate inside post
spot at the Kentucky Derby, Lookin at Lee turned in an impressive
second-place performance. The son of 2009 Preakness champion Lookin at
Lucky, he also finished a solid third at the Arkansas Derby earlier this
spring.
Gunnevera (+1000)
- Gunnevera won the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March and finished a
mediocre seventh out of 20 horses at Churchill Downs. He was runner-up
behind Irish War Cry at the Holy Bull Stakes in February and third at the
Florida Derby (won by Classic Empire). Cloud Computing is a +1200 fifth
choice on Saturday.
NBA Draft No. 1 pick
Markelle Fultz (-300)
-The NBA Draft lottery is on Tuesday, with none other than Boston (via
Brooklyn) holding the best chance to bag the first pick. Phoenix is next,
followed by Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Fultz finished his freshman
season at Washington averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds
per game.
Lonzo Ball (-300)
- Ball was one of the biggest names in college basketball throughout the
2016-17 campaign. He has-thanks mostly to his dad-become an even bigger
name in the offseason. Many consider LaVar to be a detriment, but the
bottom line is Ball can ball. He averaged 14.6 ppg, 7.6 apg, and 6.0 rpg in
one year at UCLA.
Josh Jackson (+1000)
-There's Fultz, there's Ball, and then there's everyone else. Jackson may
be the best of the rest, or at least the most likely-other than Fultz and
Ball-to be selected No. 1 overall. The former Kansas guard also played only
a single NCAA season, during which he scored 16.3 ppg and grabbed 7.4 rpg.
Jayson Tatum (+2000)
-Are we seeing a trend at the top of this year's draft class? Yes, and it's
not an unusual one. All of the top contenders for the top spot declared
following their freshman season. Tatum dealt with injuries at the beginning
of his Duke career, but he ended up averaging 16.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg in
2016-17.
French Open
Maria Sharapova (+500)
-Following a 15-month absence due to a drug-related suspension, it took
Sharapova only three matches in Stuttgart to become a co-favorite for this
month's French Open. The Russian reached the semis there, lost early in
Madrid to Genie Bouchard, and won her first Rome match on Monday.
Simona Halep (+500)
- With Serena Williams sidelined by pregnancy, Victoria Azarenka the same,
and no one near the top of the game in any kind of dominant form, Roland
Garros is wide open on the women's side. Halep, the French Open runner-up
in 2014, successfully defended her 2016 Madrid title last week.
Garbine Muguruza (+750)
-Muguruza is the defending champion in Paris, so there will be extra
pressure on her. She has not handled pressure well since winning her first
Grand Slam title last spring. The current world No. 7 lost in round two at
Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and hasn't been great in 2017, including an 0-2
record on clay.
Angelique Kerber (+800)
- Kerber was outstanding in 2016, but the French Open was the one
aberration to the rule. She won the Australian Open and U.S. Open and
finished runner-up at Wimbledon, but she lost in round one at Roland
Garros. Kerber, who has reached the quarters only once in nine appearances,
has slumped bigtime in 2017.
AT&T Byron Nelson
(MyBookie.ag)
Dustin Johnson (+380)
- Johnson was forced out of the Masters by a back injury, but his comeback
is off to a fine start. He finished runner-up at the Wells Fargo
Championship and a Sunday 68 propelled him to T12 at The Players
Championship this past week. Johnson was T8 at the Byron Nelson in 2015 and
T12 last year.
Jordan Spieth (+900)
- Spieth missed The Players cut, but he is simply not very good at the TPC
at Sawgrass (also missed the cut in 2015 and 2016). The 23-year-old
American first made a name for himself at this Byron Nelson event when he
played the weekend as a 16-year-old in 2010 and again as a 17-year-old in
2011.
Sergio Garcia (+900)
- The Masters champion aced the island hole on Thursday and contended for
The Players title with a Saturday 67, but a final-round 78 put a swift end
to his chances. Still, Sergio has to be feeling good about his game these
days. It doesn't hurt that he is the defending champion of the Byron
Nelson.
Jason Day (+1300)
- Speaking of former winners of this tournament, Day triumphed in 2010.
Unfortunately for the Australian, that is just about where the good news
ends. Day has slumped in 2017 while dealing with various physical and
family issues. Brooks Koepka, who lost to Sergio in a playoff last year, is
a +1500 fifth choice.
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Read more articles by Ricky Dimon
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