Hot takes, bad beats and all things sports betting, a weekly newsletter by Steven Money.

STN Sports Weekly Rundown

August 9, 2023

Football Preseason Betting Tips, YouTuber KO’s Guest’s Tickets, Plus More

Unlike the PAC-12, the STN Sports Books are alive and well, especially since preseason football has returned. While the Hall of Fame game technically began the 23-24 season last week, the real NFL slate begins this week with every team getting in on the action. In addition, baseball is starting to get into the nitty gritty and a UFC legend got knocked around like he was on an Alabama riverfront dock. 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 Station Casinos Race and Sports Books…

Football’s Back, Baby!

Even Lucille’s at Red Rock doesn’t have pigskin flying like this! Although it’s no secret that preseason games don’t generate the handle of a regular season game, the meaningless gridiron battles still draw significant action and money can be made. Since starters sometimes see limited or no action in the early preseason games, paying attention to available information is worth its weight in gold.

“The first thing you look at is quarterback rotations, which are widely available,” advised Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos’ Race and Sports Book Director. “You should also look at coaches.” For instance, the Ravens are on a 23-game winning streak in the pre-season under John Harbaugh’s leadership. Esposito believes there’s value in betting the first half of preseason games because premiere players can actually play. Again, see what information is out there, as coaches aren’t as inclined to keep their player plans as close to the vest in August. “I like younger quarterbacks in the preseason because they’re trying to get their footing. So, I’d look at Carolina or Indy or Houston, all with rookie quarterbacks,” Esposito said. “I also like a new coach or someone trying to change the narrative, like a Sean Payton in Denver.” Payton criticized the former Broncos coach and has appeared to bring stability to the team’s sideline.

“He clearly sounds like a guy that wants to get a winning record right out of the gate,” Esposito said. Bettors agree, too, as the Denver line as shot up like a winless Mega Millions Lottery. “They’re playing the Cardinals who aren’t projected to be very good. It’s a great spot for Sean Peyton and the Broncos to change the direction the team was in last year and get off to a really early win in a dominant performance,” the oddsmaker said. Preseason should be every bit as spicy as Red Rock’s Leoncito plans to be.

For all intents and purposes, the NFL season began last week with the Browns and Jets squaring off in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The game featured Las Vegas product Dorian Thompson-Robinson, some awful field conditions, and less fight than the White Sox and Cleveland Guardians (thoughts and prayers to Tim Anderson’s bruised ego).

“In many cases, a preseason game handle will dominate a baseball game with teams in the middle of a pennant stretch, and I would say that held true again this year,” Esposito said. “Betting on the Hall of Fame game was phenomenal, a really, really good handle on it. It just screams how strong football is.”

Last Man Standing

The Last Man Standing competitions in both the pro fooball and college football has begun. Guests can sign up in person at any Station Casinos Sports Book, and the cost is $25 per entry. Each contestant that purchases four entries will receive a fifth free. While still active in the competition, guests must turn in weekly picks in person. Active participants are required to select one game against the spread for each entry. For reference, the Last Man Standing competition in the college field will win a guaranteed minimum of $100,000, and the NFL’s Last Man Standing will take home a guaranteed minimum of $150,000.

A Social Fight

After Nate Diaz went down like the Women’s World Cup team, the STN Sports Book celebrated. It badly needed a Jake Paul win in that social-media-famous boxing match. Diaz, a UFC legend, walked into the fight as a +330 underdog, meaning the price was juicer than a Tropical Smoothie drink. Paul, meanwhile, stepped into the ring as a -400 favorite. “There was substantial, substantial play on Diaz, so it worked out well for us,” Esposito said. “These kinds of quasi-exhibition type fights have drawn a lot of media attention and a lot of betting attention. It looks like they’re going to continue.”

MLB Races (and Bad Bets)

Bettors began to pick their horses in the aftermath of the trade deadline, and two teams from the American League became trendy picks. “The Angels became a very popular futures bet once they said they wouldn’t trade Shohei Ohtani,” Esposito said. The Angels also acquired Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. Since then, they’ve tanked harder than Battlefield Vegas experience and find themselves swimming upstream without Trout… Mike Trout. The Rangers also got a lot of post-trade deadline love after getting ace Max Scherzer. That bet looks like a smarter gamble. “They’re so good at home. It is pretty impressive,” Esposito said. “If they can win the division and make sure that the Game 1’s and deciding games in the playoffs are in Texas, I think that favors the Rangers.”

Bets To Know

It’s never too early to look at College Football Week 0! Bets are available for all the games towards the end of the month’s official (?) kickoff to the College Football season.

Weekly Winners

6 teamer for a HUGE $100K+ payday! This STN Sports bettor had a 6-leg parlay hit across baseball games over the weekend on August 4th, cashing $103,293 off a $500 bet! The legs:

– BRAVES -1.5 +105

– RAYS -1.5 +115

– BLUE JAYS +142

– PIRATES +151

– ROCKIES +153

– ROYALS +205