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STN Sports Weekly Rundown

March 8, 2023

Vegas Is Center of Sports Universe, College Last Man Standing Is Here

Question: Two NHL hockey games, a huge UFC fight card, a NASCAR race and a NCAA tournament? Answer: What is “Things that happened in Las Vegas over the course of 72 hours last weekend.”

There’s more interest in Vegas than there is at a payday loan center. “There really isn’t that downtime that we used to see anymore,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos’ Race and Sports Book Director. “It kind of goes from one busy time to the next and this was clearly no different.” Need further proof? One Vegas-based NCAA conference tournament ended on Tuesday night (congrats Gonzaga), but four more will take place in the city this week! There’s more NCAA conference tournaments in just this city than there are in any other state.

With all that in mind, let’s quickly look back at the past week in sports and look at what’s ahead on the STN Sports App and at the Station Casinos Race and Sports Books…

Fight Night

The Station Casinos Race and Sports Books were fighting to get a winner during UFC 285, and it got a big one with Alexa Grasso’s stunning victory over highly-favored flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. The card — headlined by Jon Jones’ victory over Cyril Gané — was dominated by favorites. Grasso’s win, though, proved to be a difference maker for the Book, as Shevchenko saw more action than a Pahrump ranch room. In fact, she opened at -600 and was bet up to -1000 at one point.

“It definitely hurt parlays a lot,” Esposito said. “Anytime you have a big UFC flight like that, probably the biggest one of the year, it always garners a pretty tremendous handle.” The evening had more pop than Jake Gyllenhaal’s fake flying knee.

March Madness

In less than one week, the bracket will be set. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who ya got? Although many teams are still waiting to punch their tickets into the big dance, there are a few teams that should garner a second look… and there’s one top team to be leery of. While UCLA, Kansas and Houston and playing incredibly well right now, Esposito believes there’s value in Tennessee.

“I thought Tennessee was a team earlier in the season that easily could win it all if there was some value there,” he said. On the flip side, of history is any indication, Purdue will fade away like road lanes on Summerlin Parkway. “To me, Purdue has major question marks,” Esposito said. “I think they’re good enough to win it all, but for whatever reason they always seem to have trouble in the tournament.”

Of course, before the field of 68, teams are always looking to win their conference tournaments. “In the PAC-12, Arizona is kind of sneaky good and starting to play well. Miami, in the ACC, is playing well right now, too,” Esposito said. “I look at teams that kind of have that little bit of a swagger and maybe aren’t the top one or two teams in their conference, but they’re teams that are starting to play well right now.”

Last Man Standing Contest

It’s that time of year again. Guests can now sign up for the Men’s Last Man Standing competition for NCAA Basketball Tournament, ie. March Madness! For the low, low price of $25, players can purchase an entry into the winner-take-all competition in person at any Station Casinos property or Station-run sports books. Bettors can increase their chances of winning by purchasing multiple entries. Any contestant who purchases four entries will receive a fifth entry complimentary. The last man (or woman) standing will win a guaranteed prized of $50,000. The pot will be split if there are multiple winners.

Hockey Night

With roughly 20 games left for each team, the NHL is hotter than a jalapeño at Guadalajara. And bettors keep riding with the Bruins and Knights. All season long the Bruins have been lighting up the league like a desert solar panel, and they’ve shown no signs of slowing.

“A lot of the guests are betting them on the puck line for a better price,” Esposito said. “Boston has been so dominant and the class of the East, but the conference is so loaded. In the West, there’s no dominant team.” Vegas, however, is among the West elite, particularly after getting Jonathan Quick at the trade deadline. The move will give the VGK a two-time Cup winner in the net and in the locker room. In theory, Quick should be more wins and more money for bettors.

“The Knights are in a really good spot. They’re kind if battling the Kings for that No.1 seed out west, and what a way to kind of combat the Kings by getting Jonathan Quick,” Esposito said. One thing that’s clear, though, is no one is going to run roughshod in the Western Conference. Would it stun anyone to see Colorado or Edmonton play for the Stanley Cup?

Bets To Know

The STN Sports App recently posted a slew of baseball bets. From home runs, regular season wins, stolen bases and the inevitable Cy Young winner, you can bet it all. In addition, World Baseball Classic bets are available, too.

Although Spring Training has begun (another thing you can bet,) Esposito cautions bettors from reading too much into it. To give an example, the Red Sox and Royals have been taking teams to task like a junior high teacher, but they’re both in the bottom third of the future’s board. They’re also both dead last on the future’s board in their respective divisions (another bet you can make).

Weekly Winners

Check out this NICE cross-sport parlay win from this STN Sports bettor on Tuesday. $5 bet, $1,468.52 collect!

– Maple Leafs +120

– Coyotes +125

– Blue Jackets +1.5 _115

– Cubs +105 (Action)

– Angels +120 (Action)

– Knights +1.5 -190

– Canadians +1.5 +110

– Gonzaga -2.5 -110