The NBA and NHL playoffs are progressing as expected, and the MLB season is now one month in. However, the biggest buzz recently in the sports betting world has been the NFL Draft Odds, especially the prop bet surrounding Shedeur Sanders and which team would draft the Colorado quarterback. This betting market highlighted key details along with notable wins and losses from the past week.
Among the favorites to pick Sanders were the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints, with the Pittsburgh Steelers also in the mix when the first round began. But neither team selected Sanders in rounds one through three. By the fourth round, DraftKings Sportsbook labeled Cleveland a long shot for Sanders, favoring the Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders ahead of them. However, Cleveland eventually drafted Sanders in the fifth round, 144th overall, rewarding anyone who bet on them at +3000 odds with a substantial payout. For example, a $100 bet on Cleveland choosing Sanders would have returned $3,000. One bettor even placed $500 on Cleveland for Sanders earlier in the week, earning $2,500 profit. Those who missed these odds might consider that FanDuel offered +4000 on Sanders to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Another interesting NFL draft bet was on Miami QB, with BetMGM offering incredibly steep odds at -10,000. One bettor risked a dollar on this and won a cent, a humorous story that gained attention.
In live betting, Caesars Sports saw a bold $25 bet on a 13-leg parlay, where all favorites won, producing an astonishing payout of over $13,000 at +54028 odds. Similarly, a DraftKings bettor’s creative four-leg parlay on specific players making four or more three-pointers, boosted by a 20% odds increase, resulted in an $8,400 profit.
On the hockey front, Caesars Sports customers accurately predicted eight goal scorers in a playoff game with just a $10 bet, resulting in a massive $75,602.29 payout.
Big bets have appeared in both basketball and hockey playoffs, with some bettors risking tens of thousands. For example, Caesars customers cashed in on a Memphis Grizzlies bet despite the team’s second-quarter explosion and Ja Morant’s injury. Other large bets included notable wins and losses on NBA and NHL games, involving amounts from $40,000 to $73,500. These bets belong to high rollers who can afford such risks, so regular bettors are advised to remain sensible and only wager what they can afford to lose.
Patrick Everson, a Fox Sports betting analyst based in Las Vegas, provides these insights, reminding fans to gamble responsibly.
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Fan Take: For hockey enthusiasts, this news highlights how precise sports betting can elevate engagement with playoffs, bringing excitement beyond just watching the games. It shows the increasing intersection of analytics and fan participation, potentially driving greater interest and investment in hockey as a sport.
