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Sports Betting Futures Odds: Three NBA Playoff Series Knotted Up at 2-2


by - 5/7/2019

Kawhi Leonard Toronto Raptors

Only one team in the NBA's conference semifinal series has taken complete control, and it's not the Warriors. Milwaukee leads Boston 3-1, while the rest are tied at 2-2 through four games. Meanwhile, the National League Central is once again looking like one of the toughest divisions in baseball, and now that the NFL Draft has come and gone it's time to start looking ahead to the 2019 season.

All odds provided by Bovada Sportsbook .

NBA series prices

Toronto (-280) over Philadelphia - The 76ers seemingly took control of this series when they stole Game 2 on the road and then seized a 2-1 lead with a 116-95 rout last Thursday. The Raptors, however, regained home-court advantage thanks to their 101-96 win in Philly on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 38.0 ppg through four games.

Denver (-160) over Portland - This best-of-seven set has been nothing short of spectacular so far. Like Philadelphia, Portland lost Game 1, took Game 2 on the road, prevailed at home for a 2-1 advantage, and then relinquished the momentum with a loss on Sunday. Jamal Murray has poured in 34 points in back-to-back contests.

Golden State (-240) over Houston - This is the only one of the four series in which the home team has gotten the job done on every occasion. The Rockets appeared to be down and out when they dropped the first two at Golden State, but they came back with a bang in Houston. James Harden averaged 39.5 ppg in the two victories.

Milwaukee (-50000) over Boston - One series is not like the others, and it's Milwaukee vs. Boston. It has escalated quickly, too, as the Bucks got clobbered 112-90 at home in the opener only to do a complete 180 over the next three games. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company have won three straight and now head back home.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Nick Bosa (+400) - Bosa was the first defensive player off the board, going No. 2 overall to the 49ers behind Kyler Murray. The star DE skipped most of his final season at Ohio State to get ready for the NFL. He still recorded 17.5 sacks during just 29 career games in college.

Quinnen Williams (+400) - There were a lot of teams rumored to be interested in trading up for Williams, but the Jets stood pat and grabbed him with the third pick. The former Alabama defensive tackle delivered eight sacks and made 19.5 tackles for loss last season.

Josh Allen (+600) - If there is one thing Allen can do, it's get to the quarterback. The 6'5'', 260-pound outside linebacker had seven sacks with Kentucky in 2016, seven in 2017, and then 17.5 last year. Jacksonville rewarded his efforts with the seventh overall selection.

Ed Oliver (+800) - Like Williams, Oliver boasts an impressive combination of size and speed for a defensive tackle. He played almost all of the 2018 campaign for Houston, skipping his team's bowl game. Buffalo's No. 9 pick made 53 tackles for loss in three college seasons.

National League Central

Chicago Cubs (+160) - In the last nine years, the Cubs have won the NL Central twice, St. Louis three times, Milwaukee twice, and Cincinnati twice. Another jam-packed race is on, albeit one that certainly won't involve the Reds. Chicago had won seven in a row before falling to Miami, of all teams, on Monday, leaving it in second place in the division.

St. Louis Cardinals (+160) - The Cardinals are clinging to a half-game lead over Chicago with a 21-14 record. Only the Dodgers are better in the National League. Shortstop Paul DeJong is batting .336, while outfielder Marcell Ozuna has belted 11 homers and driven in 30 runs. Veteran catcher Yadier Molina has 25 RBIs.

Milwaukee Brewers (+205) - Interestingly, the Brewers have a minus-8 run differential even though they are 21-16 and just one game out of first. In other words, they have been blown out plenty of times but are managing to pull out a lot of close games. Milwaukee is riding a four-game winning streak that includes a sweep of the Mets.

Pittsburgh Pirates (+2600) - There's the Cubs, Cardinals, and Brewers, and then there's the Pirates and Reds. Amazingly, Cincinnati boast a plus-23 run differential despite being in last place at 15-20. Pittsburgh owns a winning record (16-15) even though its run differential is minus-26. Can the Pirates continue to keep pace?

Byron Nelson Classic

Brooks Koepka (+750) - Koepka has not done much at this event of late, but he did finish runner-up in 2016 (lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff). The third-ranked American is obviously at his best in majors, but he can't be discounted from smaller tournaments. Koepka picked up a win last fall and was second at the Honda Classic in March.

Hideki Matsuyama (+1600) - Matusyama has been consistent in 2019; unfortunately, he has been consistently mediocre. The world No. 29 from Japan is 12-for-12 in cuts made but has finished in the top 10 only three times and is coming off a T32 performance at the Masters and a T31 showing last week at Quail Hollow.

Jordan Spieth (+2000) - Like Koepka and Matsuyama, Spieth is seeking his first win at this event. The fans would certainly approve, as this is basically the 39th -ranked American's home tournament in Dallas. Spieth made the cut at 16 years old in 2010 and made the cut again in 2011. Right now, however, he is mired in a slump.

Aaron Wise (+2200) - Why is Wise the fourth favorite this week? Well, he won the Byron Nelson Classic in 2018 and did so with room to spare. The 22-year-old American is coming off two straight top-20 performances. Henrik Stenson is +2500, Patrick Reed is +2800, and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is +150000.

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