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STN Sports Weekly Rundown

March 20, 2024

Inside Info On Bracket Busters, Betting Trends As Tourney Tips Off

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world at the STN Sports Books! The madness is set to kick off and we’re ready for upsets, blowouts, buzzer beaters and everything in between.

“The handle on the men’s and women’s tournaments get bigger and bigger every year,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos’ Race and Sports Book Director. Industry-wide, an estimated $459 million was wagered on the Big Dance last year. In the conference tournaments alone, STN Books took in multiple $50,000 bets, so that’s just a preview of what’s to come. Esposito adds,

“The tournament is just so wide open and there are so many props that you see on the board. And then I think the live aspect or in-play is such a game changer. We’ve seen no shortage of huge live and in-play handles on the conference games and I can only imagine that that will continue during the big dance.” With all that in mind, let’s quickly look back at the past week in sports and peek at what’s ahead on the STN Sports app and at the STN Sports Books…

The East
The defending champions, the UConn Huskies, face a tall task in the East region, as it features multiple conference champions. “The committee did UConn no favors. The East is by far the most loaded region,” Esposito said. Still, the oddsmaker does believe Dan Hurley’s team will be just fine, as they’re battle-tested.

“I think Iowa State is really good and I think Illinois is really good. The whole region is so tough. BYU is a good team as well. The East is just so superior to any other of the regions,” Esposito said. With apologies to The Sphere’s newest resident headliners, the committee did not take it easy on the champs. Esposito’s pick to come out of the East: UConn…. Expecting someone else??

The West
The West region — featuring North Carolina, Arizona and Baylor — is more top-heavy than a Vegas showgirl. “It’s pretty strong at the top with those three schools, and I think there’s maybe a little bit of a drop off after that,” Esposito said.

Still, there is money to be made in wild, wild west, as Esposito thinks Nevada is a very solid pick to advance past Dayton. Everyone else does, too. “We opened that game at a pick, but Nevada is now the favorite in that game, so I think we’ll definitely see some UNR love in our sports books. I think Nevada is a better team,” Esposito said. His pick to come out of the West Region: North Carolina.

The South
Houston and Marquette enter the South region as the top seeds but both could see last call come faster than Margaritaville. This might be a region to make so much green that St. Paddy himself would shudder. “Maybe it favors Duke a little bit with the matchup against Vermont and then having to play the Wisconsin or James Madison?” Esposito opined.

Prior to Micah Handlogten breaking his leg in the SEC Championship, Florida was a great value play, but his absence changes the dynamic. “I think Kentucky’s a team that could get beaten their second game or could get to the Final Four. They’re the team that kind of intrigues me a bit in the south,” Esposito said. “Overall, they were playing well in the second half of the season, so I think there’s a little bit of value on Kentucky.” Money has also come in on Nebraska. His pick to come out of the South Region: Texas Tech.

The Midwest
We often talk about midwest values, but what about midwest value? Like the South, the Midwest is more wide open than a reservation book at Tropicana restaurant. Purdue, the top seed, has had a history of March failures, including becoming just the second No. 1 seed to ever lose to a No. 16 seed.

Tennessee is a popular pick to head to the Final Four in Arizona, and No. 11 Oregon has been mentioned a few times as a dark horse to make it (if history tells us anything, a double-digit seed making it the Final Four isn’t farfetched.) Bettors, at least in the first round are zeroing in on Kansas. “McCullers is out, but we’ve seen this number go up a full point. That might change by tipoff.” Esposito said.

Who is scaring the book right now? Cats and Dogs. UConn and Arizona both carry liability for the books. “I’m kind of surprised they continue to bet those two schools now. The value’s kind of gone, but those are who they’re backing,” Esposito said. Both teams are low seeds, but guests were betting them in on the future’s market for months, so a Huskies and Wildcats both pose more problems to the STN Books than an accountant error during tax time.

Last Man Standing
Guests have one last chance to sign up for the Men’s Last Man Standing competition for NCAA Basketball Tournament, ie. March Hoops! For $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 100% of the entry fee pot, with a minimum prize of $50,000. Like your sanity with a newborn child, this is going, going, gone.

Bets To Know
Match of the Day has arrived. Check in daily during the college hoops madness and beyond for a 10% odds boost on a key game each day.

Weekly Winners
A nice 10-teamer across basketball and hockey on March 19 had this bettor taking home a nice payday – $50 to win $3,771!

– Pelicans -3 (1st half) vs. Nets

– Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets over 6.5 goals

– Flyers vs. Maple Leafs over 6.5 goals

– Blues +1.5 vs. Avalanche

– Predators -1.5 vs. Sharks

– Canucks vs. Sabres under 6 goals