Welcome to Betting on Hockey, a regular column that examines the latest betting trends and offers a no-nonsense take on whether you should wager on, or against, the over/under for major games. Whether you’re a recreational or professional gambler, this weekly column will help you make sense of the bizarre world of betting on hockey. So grab a cup of coffee and get ready to dive into week 9 of the 2018-19 NHL season.
Francis vs Stipe
Each week, I’ll examine two games separated by a zero and compare the betting trends for both to get a better sense of which games are more suited for betting and which are safer to wager on. This week’s games pit the Boston Bruins’ Patrick Francis against the Vegas Golden Knights’ Tomas Vokoun in a battle of Original Six teams. Naturally, the sportsbooks have caught on to the fact that these games are trending up in the win column and are willing to offer larger odds, making them more attractive bets.
Which Game Is More Suitable for Short-Hair?
It’s fair to say that the odds for both teams are in your favor considering the records of both teams this season. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that these odds will change, often dramatically, across a wide range of sportsbooks. The point is to find the bookmaker that offers the best odds for your liking while also keeping your money in good health.
Which Game Is Safer to Bet On?
If one of your favorite pastimes is reading the betting trends, you’ll notice that there’s a wide range of options for both Bruins and Golden Knights fans. The sportsbooks are clearly favoring the visitors in this matchup, and for good reason. Vegas is 4-0 this season against the Bruins, who are the defending champs, and their star goalies, Marc-Andre Fleury and Connor Hellebuyck, have yet to lose. The Golden Knights are also 10-1 this season against the spread against Boston. It’s also important to keep in mind that the Golden Knights are playing a more offensive style than the Bruins, which means that even though they’re favored, their chances of winning are limited. This is why I’d refrain from wagering on this game unless you want to risk some serious money.
Record-Breaking Heatwave In Las Vegas
If you’re heading to Vegas for the weekend, you’ll want to make sure that you bring plenty of sunscreen with you. The record-breaking heatwave that Sin City is currently experiencing is only going to make you crave for some cold air-conditioned hockey games even more. Luckily, the hockey season is approaching its halfway point which means that there should be a few cool days ahead. Hopefully, this will be enough to make you feel like playing in the desert again. If not, you’ll need to find a way to get your gaming fix in another city. Las Vegas is home to some of the best and most reputable casinos in the world, so you’re sure to have fun no matter what. Just don’t expect to win big – the dice are always stacked against you in that city.
So what does all this mean for you as a hockey fan? It means that any time you see the over/under hit in the 500s for both teams (per game), it’s probably a good idea to sit this one out. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t wager on hockey, it just means that the games that you’re interested in wagering on are more likely to end in a draw or, at the least, not result in a blowout. With that being said, there’s still value in rooting for your favorite team, and you can bet that if your team wins this week, you’ll see plenty of people walking around with a big smile on their face. Just don’t expect to win big, because the house always wins in the end. And last but not least, make sure you’re well-rested before heading to the sportsbook. You wouldn’t want to be falling asleep on the job would you?