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STN Sports Weekly Rundown

May 4, 2022

The ice at T-Mobile Arena is sitting idle and lonely. The roars aren’t there. The goals are being scored elsewhere. Aside from a few concerts, The Fortress isn’t rocking. The Vegas Golden Knights failed to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. A Knight-less postseason is something we’re not accustomed to, and it’s something the sports betting industry is saddened over. “Having them in just ties everything else in — NHL bets, NBA bets, the crowds, the atmosphere at our sports books, viewing at all the bars and lounges and restaurants,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos Sports Book Director. “It’s a major disappointment for everybody involved. They’re good TV for the league. They’re definitely good for the fan base out here, and most certainly good for the sports books.” While we mourn a lost season, we can take solace in the multitude of sports and betting options at the Book. Let’s quickly look over the sport’s landscape and take a peek at what’s ahead on the court, on the ice, on the field, on the track and on the STN Sports App and at the Station Casinos Race and Sports Book.

Postseason On Ice
Can anyone stop the Colorado Avalanche in the West… or in the NHL? The Avs came into the NHL Playoffs as the odds-on favorite to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. While crazier things have happened, it’s tough to envision anyone in the West stopping them… After all, did you see that Tuesday night beatdown of Nashville? Ouch! “There’s a considerable drop-off between Colorado and the Flames,” said Esposito. In the Eastern Conference, things are much different. Although the Panthers have the lowest odds to come out of the East, the conference is more wide open. The Capitals, for instance, have the highest odds in the East, but would it shock anyone if they made a run, especially given that the Great 8 still suits up for Washington? Plus, they already stole Game 1. Meanwhile, the Rangers and Bruins are more defensive than Amber Heard’s lawyers. “In the Eastern Conference, it would not surprise me to see an upset or two,” Esposito said.

Purists know that postseason hockey is gritty, chippy and defensive. The open style of play that dominates the regular season often doesn’t work in the playoffs (Oilers, Leafs and Panthers, you hear that?) Still, Esposito cautions against hammering the hockey unders in the first round. “Historically I would recommend betting unders, but this year was so wide open and you saw totals like you’ve never seen before. I think this is a wait and see.” The first day of the playoffs saw several games go under but only because one team just couldn’t put the puck in the net. Esposito noted, “Maybe it’s a different league now, but for the most part, especially as you get into the next round and then the conference finals, you do lean towards the unders somewhat.”

The People’s Court
There’s a Big Sean song from 2015 called “One Man Can Change The World.” In the Philadelphia 76ers world, that man is Joel Embiid. The potential MVP, who was already playing with a torn thumb ligament, suffered the orbital fracture against Toronto, which kept him out of Games 1 and 2 against the Heat. Like NSYNC without Justin, Philly just isn’t the same without him. The Sixers saw their future championship odds sink to 30 to 1 after a Game 1 beatdown, but a lot of that is due to Embiid’s absence. “Without him, it opened up the door for Milwaukee, Boston and Miami,” Esposito said. Fans are betting heavy on Miami, and Philly isn’t giving them any reason to stop.

The Mavericks and Grizzlies might just basketball’s equivalent to a couple of Maître D’s — you know, just showing the Suns and Warriors to their next series (yes, we know the Grizz took Game 2.) Regardless, the Suns and Warriors appear to be on a collision course. “The bettors are now really riding the Warriors and the Suns, so I don’t know if there’s a value play right now,” Esposito said. Similar to the NHL Playoffs, teams tend to clamp down on defense in the NBA Playoffs, too. Postseason totals, Esposito said, are typically going under in the Association so far.

Derby Day
Just like Steven Tyler says, we’re “back in the saddle again!” The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, and the Station Casinos Race and Sports Book is prepping for all the pomp and circumstance. “When it comes to the Derby, it’s by far our busiest race day of the year. It’s a little bit like the Super Bowl in that you don’t have to necessarily be a fan, but because it’s so exciting and because it’s such a spectacle and a historical event, everybody wants a piece of it,” Esposito said. In anticipation of the race, Station Casinos is offering a $2 twin quinella promotion for Friday’s Oaks races in which a winner could take home $10,000. A $2 twin quinella promotion will also be offered for the Derby. A winner could take home $20,000 for that one. How do those bets work? A better must pick the top two finishers in two predetermined races. The pot will be split if there are multiple winners. The key to betting the horseys is knowing how your animal performs in certain conditions, so pay attention to the track. “There’s always a chance for rain and a slower muddy track, which favors some horses. Some horses do much better in a speed track,” Esposito said. “Historically, over the last decade or so, you haven’t seen those huge, huge upsets in the Derby, but that’s always possible.” Fair warning: Don’t brag about “the fastest two minutes” in the bedroom — it doesn’t have the same effect.

Bats and Balls
Steven Money spoke last week about baseball unders cashing at an incredible rate, and nothing has changed. You’ll recall there was a lockout and shortened spring training, so hitters are still trying to get their timing down. Simply put, pitchers are ahead of hitters right now. However, two teams that have treated the guests well include the Giants and Twins, as they both keep winning with bettor-friendly odds. That’s doesn’t mean bettors will steer clear of the Dodgers and Mets, two teams who are usually heavy favorites. “Baseball is a sport where so much is based on the pitching and bettors aren’t afraid to lay a big price on a pitcher when they feel he’s far superior to the other guy,” Esposito said. Wager what you will, but under bets seem to be the way to a win in this early portion of the season.

Draft Fallout
Make no mistake about it, Esposito all but suspected the guests would conquer the Station Sports Book before the NFL Draft. He was right. “Historically we don’t do well on the draft, and this year was was no different,” he said. The Book got whacked harder than Tommy DeVito in “Goodfellas.” In the days leading up to the draft, guests bet heavy on Travon Walker going No. 1 overall. The big fella is among the “field” candidates on the board, as he wasn’t getting any buzz when the draft board was first put up. Hell, three months ago the “field” bet was 50 to 1. “Overall we did well on a lot of the individual player props for overall draft position, but we did not do well with Walker being the first pick,” Esposito lamented.

The NFL draft not only changed the rosters of NFL teams. It also changed the odds. Baltimore saw its futures odds drop lower than the Lake Mead shoreline after a stellar draft. Likewise, the Eagles odds were lowered after acquiring AJ Brown from the Titans. Tennessee, meanwhile, saw its odds raised now that Ryan “I Won’t Mentor Him” Tannehill will have one less guy to throw to. “There definitely was some movement that day on future book odds based on what occurred,” Esposito said. “And it wasn’t just really one player. It was an accumulation of players for, say the Jets, Saints and Ravens who I, and most people, thought had just terrific drafts.”

Bets To Know

STN Sports Weekly Winners

– Celtics UN 217 -110
– Warriors OV 221.5 -110
– Nationals +155
– Yankees -1.5 -115
– Dodgers -1.5 -120
– Reds OV 10.5 -110
– Padres -1.5 -105
– Red Sox OV 8 -120