Sports betting isn’t always easy. Sure, you can set your watch by teams like Golden State Warriors, safe in the knowledge that they will be in the mix, but there are many instances, like with the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles, when a team rips up for the form book and defies preseason predictions.
In light of that – and at the risk of looking foolish – we have picked five interesting sports betting predictions for 2019. They won’t be overwhelming favorites, so no GSW to retain at short odds. Rather, it’s about pinpointing some value, those bets which might offer more bang for your buck. If you like any you see, check this guide to recommended betting offers from top sportsbooks for a free shot. Without further ado:
Nashville Predators – 14/1 – Stanley Cup Finals
Nashville are one of the top teams in NHL, so this pick is more about shopping around different bookies for the best price possible. BetVictor and 188Bet have priced them at 14/1, well behind rivals like Tampa Bay at 3/1 and Toronto at 9/2. Peter Laviolette’s men will be in the playoffs – barring catastrophe – and should give any team a run for their money. Put simply, it’s a standout price, with some sportsbooks as low as 6/1 on the Predators.
Borussia Dortmund – 33/1 – Champions League
Borussia Dortmund have defied all expectation and currently lead the German Bundesliga by six points to fierce rivals Bayern Munich. 33/1 from BlackType betting looks pretty tempting for the classy Germans, who have been scoring for fun in European competition this season. Sure, the usual suspects – Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid – will all be favoured by pundits, but Dortmund have been the most exciting team in Europe this season – worth a shot.
Boston Red Sox – 6/1 – World Series
Yes, nobody has retained the World Series since the Yankees in 2000, and the Red Sox will have tough competition in 2019, especially from the Dodgers, Astros and Yankees, but it’s hard to go against a team that won 119 games last season and marched through the postseason without breaking a sweat. Moreover, the Sox have kept most of the elements of the team together and, one could argue, have several young players who could improve on last year’s performances. They are favorites, but the 6/1 from William Hill is still outstanding value.
Justin Rose – 16/1 – The Masters
The golf world is losing its head over Tiger Woods at the moment, who has shown some signs of being back to his old self. The jury is still out on that, but one expects the betting markets to move in favor of Tiger as the first major of the season gets underway at Augusta. While it would be nice to see Tiger’s story conclude with an arc of redemption, the smarter money is on Justin Rose at 16/1 (Betfair). He has Masters winner written all over him and the classy Brit will sure add another major or two as he enters the peak of his career.
New England Patriots – 13/2 – Super Bowl LIII
They have flattered to deceive this season, but the preseason favorites for the Super Bowl have more or less done what was needed in the regular season. This is not very scientific, but you just get the feeling that Brady and Belichick will find a way, possibly to go out with a bang on what has been one of the greatest partnerships in US sports history.
Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr, C.C 2.0
