The stage is set for exciting showdowns as both the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals begin soon, with the Edmonton Oilers and Oklahoma City Thunder tipped as favorites in their respective leagues.
On Wednesday, the NHL will see the Florida Panthers face off against the Oilers in what is a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, which the Panthers won.
Meanwhile, the NBA Finals kick off on Thursday with the Indiana Pacers going head-to-head with the Thunder. Indiana is still seeking its first-ever NBA championship, while Oklahoma City, formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics, last tasted victory in 1979.
This week’s betting trends point heavily in the Thunder’s favor, as they hold a strong lead with odds of -700 to win the series against the Pacers. “The Thunder are heavy favorites and seeing strong support from bettors in the NBA championship futures market,” remarked a leading sportsbook manager. The Thunder entered the season with odds of +900, whereas odds for Indiana stood at +5000.
In the NHL arena, the Oilers are considered slight favorites with odds of -115 to triumph over Florida. A leading sports trader expressed hopes for a Panthers victory due to the Oilers consistently resulting in losses for sportsbooks this season. Bettors have shown significant confidence in the Oilers, encompassing 51% of bets and a dominant 72% of the monetary stakes placed on the series. Connor McDavid is the frontrunner for the Conn Smythe Trophy, credited as a significant favorite with odds of +100.
The golf scene also witnessed excitement as Scottie Scheffler clinched his third PGA Tour victory this season, winning the Memorial by four strokes. Leading into the tournament with impressive odds of +300, Scheffler captured 18.7% of the bets and a notable 44% of the monetary pool.
A notable upset took place in Major League Baseball when the New York Yankees, despite entering as +145 underdogs, secured a 7-3 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Sunday Night Baseball. This marked their second triumph as underdogs this season, improving their record from 1-5.
Looking ahead in the MLB, the Dodgers continue to reign as favorites to clinch the World Series, holding odds of +240. Closely following are the Yankees with odds of +550 and the Detroit Tigers at +900. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies both hang in the balance with odds of +1000.