While you can’t always trust the books when it comes to sports betting, there are a few that you can always rely on. If you’re looking for someone to take your bet in a comfortable, familiar setting, then you should consider checking out some of the best online betting sites for the sports you’re interested in. Thanks to today’s digital age, you can get virtually any online sportsbook you want, with the click of a button. That means no matter where you are, what time it is, or what device you’re using (and don’t we all have one of those?), your odds are just a click away!
But which ones are reputable and worth your time and money? Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular favorites in Las Vegas and compare them to the best odds you’ll get at an online bookmaker.
NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
The 2018 NBA Finals will be the culmination of the regular season, as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors for the right to be called the best of the best. This year’s NBA Finals will be a battle of titans, as the 2017-18 regular season champions boast the second-largest lead in NBA history (616 points). But as exciting as this year’s NBA Finals are going to be, you might want to avoid betting on them while you’re away. The reason: the sportsbooks don’t offer great betting odds, and you don’t want to risk getting burned.
Cleveland is the favorite in the 2018 NBA Finals, followed by Golden State. Cleveland opened as a 3.5-point favorite, while Golden State opened as a 4-point favorite. Both teams are nearly even in terms of their ability, so it’s going to come down to which team you think is going to be harder to beat. Unfortunately for Golden State, the bookmakers don’t think they’re going to be easy to beat. The Cavs have been a thorn in the side of many a bookmaker this year, coming in as a 1.5-point underdog against the Warriors in several preseason matchups. If you’re looking for safe wagers, then you might want to pass on betting on the 2018 NBA Finals.
Superbowl: New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The 2018 Superbowl will be the culmination of the NFL regular season, with New England Patriots facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles for the right to be called the best of the best. This season’s Superbowl promises to be another classic matchup between the Patriots and the Eagles, with New England coming into the game as a 15-point favorite. But just because the books have the Patriots as the favorite doesn’t mean you have to take their odds. You might be able to get some value if you know where and how to look.
One of the best places to find value in Superbowl betting is the offshore betting sites, which frequently offer great betting odds on a variety of events, including the Superbowl. When you lay down some cash at an offshore sportsbook, you’re not going to be risking your own money on the outcome of the game. That means even if the Patriots win by a landslide, you won’t lose your money. Of course, this also means that if the Eagles win by a landslide, you’ll be wishing you’d placed the bet with them instead.
World Series: Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The 2017 World Series will be the culmination of the MLB regular season, with the Washington Nationals taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the right to be called the best of the best. This year’s World Series is shaping up to be one of the greatest in history, as the Nationals enter the series as 9.5-point favorites. And again, like the other two favorites we mentioned above, the books have the Nationals down as a safe bet, which means even if you’re losing you won’t lose too much. This series is still very much in the books (pun intended) as the Dodgers won the first two games, and you can get odds as low as 4.5-1, with the over under picking up an additional game for just about every betting option, courtesy of the Dodgers’ superior pitching and hitting.
Puerto Rico Series: Detroit Tigers vs. San Francisco Giants
The 2017 Caribbean Series will be the culmination of the AL and NL championship series, with the Tigers taking on the Giants in a best-of-seven series for the right to be called the best of the best. One of the fun parts about the Caribbean Series is that it is a rare opportunity for sports fans in the United States to see their favorite players in a different light. You won’t know who’s going to step up and lead their team to victory until the end, but it’s a joy to see these stars in their primes, battling it out on the field.
The Tigers are the heavy favorites in this year’s series, especially considering they won both the AL and NL championships, getting a bonus game for the feat. However, just because the books have the Tigers as the favorite doesn’t mean you have to take their odds. Like with the other two series, the Giants are still very much alive in this series, and you can get value by placing a wager. The over under for this series is 2.5 games, according to the books, with the over under on the World Series and Superbowl also being 2.5 games.
College Basketball: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Florida Gators
The 2017 NCAA Tournament will be the culmination of the regular season in college basketball, with the Kentucky Wildcats taking on the Florida Gators for the right to be called the best of the best. This year’s basketball tournament has the potential to be one of the greatest in history, with the number of elite teams likely to be a factor of how the upcoming season plays out. The Gators are the slight favorites in this year’s tournament at 5.5-1, with the Cats coming off an absolute rampage in the regular season and being considered one of the best teams in the country.
Just because the books have the Gators as the favorite doesn’t mean you have to take their odds. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can lay down some cash with a team you think is going to be really undervalued, and then enjoy the ride if they win it all.
English Premiership: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
The 2017–18 English Premier League will be the culmination of the regular season in the EPL, with Manchester United taking on Liverpool for the right to be called the best of the best. This year’s EPL is shaping up to be one of the greatest in history, with Manchester United and Liverpool boasting some of the best players in the world. But just because the books have these two teams ranked first and second respectively doesn’t mean you have to take their odds. In fact, it might be a good idea to avoid them and take the under.
Even if you’re a diehard Manchester United fan, you might want to consider laying off on this one. After going over 10 games without a win during the regular season, the Red Devils finally broke through in the last game of the season and won it all. Their defense was simply unstopable, as they let in just three goals the whole game, one of which was an own goal. With three wins in a row at the end of the season, including one over Liverpool, all signs pointed to an invincible Manchester United side heading into the playoffs. And then the wheels came off. In the three games leading up to the EPL Finals, Manchester United allowed 19 goals, with the two losses being by a combined four goals. Liverpool’s form in the league led to this series, with the underdog Reds winning the first game easily and the second game by a 4-1 scoreline, before holding on for a 1-0 win in the finale, earning them the right to be called the best of the best.
AFL: Melbourne Demons vs. Sydney Swans
The 2017 Australian Football League season will be the culmination of the regular season, with Melbourne Demons taking on the Sydney Swans for the right to be called the best of the best. In the case of the AFL, parity is the name of the game, with nine of the sixteen teams separated by only two points at the end of the season. However, just because the books have the Demons as the slight favorites doesn’t mean you have to take their odds. It would be nice to see some value here, but you might end up taking a loss, especially if the Swans’ defense is anywhere near on par with their offense.