With apologies to LMFAO (remember them?) this time of the year in the sports world is all about the shots! shots! shots! shots! We are rapidly approaching March Basketball Season — arguably the best month of the year — and STN Sports Books are preparing for wall-to-wall coverage. While brackets aren’t ready to be filled out just yet, NBA, NHL and NASCAR are all keeping the Books more lively than Ryan Reynolds’s wife.
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…
College Hoops
So, who’s the best team in college basketball? The answer to that is more up in the air than an Oakland A’s relocation. “There’s just so much parity in college basketball right now, and none of the top teams can win on the road,” said Chuck Esposito, Station Casinos’ Race and Sports Book Director. “That being said, it makes the NCAA tournament that much more competitive this year.”
You’ll recall that last year’s Final Four featured one #4 seed, two #5 seeds and a #9 seed. “Last year there were about 10 teams that you could say had a legitimate chance to cut down the nets, but you could double that this year,” Esposito said. “I think it’s even more wide open than it’s been in the past. And, I think with each year we’re going to continue to see smaller schools do well. With so many kids in the big schools going one-and-done, the smaller schools have kids that have two, three, potentially four years or experience. The whole dynamic of the college basketball tournament has really changed over the last five years.”
Need more proof? The Mountain West Conference, hardly the juggernaut of hoops in year’s past, could very well get six teams into the Big Dance. That’s more rare than Leap Day! Esposito added, “I look at teams ranked in that 15 to 25 range, and I’m looking at Auburn, Creighton, Dayton. I can see several of those teams being really competitive in the tournament.” Most bracketology experts don’t have any of those teams as #1 or #2 seed. That didn’t matter last year.
Scoring Going Up!
Scoring in basketball — both in the NBA and NCAA — has gone up higher than a Southwest Gas bill. A team like Alabama, for instance, can score with just about anybody. But, after giving up 117 points to Kentucky earlier in the week, the Tide also proved that they have worse defense than Ralph Macchio did in My Cousin Vinny. Ironically, defense could be the difference in the tournament. “I’m looking for those teams that can play on both sides of the court, teams that can play some defense and can come up with that stop when they need to,” Esposito said. “I think defense could be the difference maker in a year where scoring and offense appears to be a premium. I would stay away from teams that can’t win on the road and can’t play defense.”
There isn’t much time left before conference tournaments begin. Still, a trend has emerged and it could get you more bills than a Golden Knights ownership group. “Our guests are still backing a lot of the good teams, but small home underdogs in conference play are winning at a high clip,” Esposito said. “Again I stress, it’s awfully tough to win on the road in college hoops this year.” The NCAA field this year will be more diverse than a Smith Center lineup.
Last Man Standing
It’s that time! Beginning March 1, guests can sign up for the Men’s Last Man Standing competition for NCAA Basketball Tournament. For the low, low price of $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.
Wolves Warning
It’s no surprise that big market teams hoard the headlines in the NBA, but the Minnesota Timberwolves are quietly staking their claim as one of the best teams in the league. Their rise to glory came nearly as quick as Durango’s AAA Four Diamond designation. Educated NBA bettors have noticed what’s happening with Anthony Edwards’ squad and are betting them nightly. Simply put, the Timberwolves are very good at basketball. However, once the playoffs roll around, Esposito expects Wolves support to pause like an Adele residency. “You’re going to look at teams that are playoff savvy or have that experience. The Nuggets and Clippers have those veteran players that have been there and done that,” the oddsmaker said. “The Timberwolves can certainly do it, but once the postseason begins it’s not going to surprise me to see some action on some of those Western teams that are right below them.”
Bets To Know
NASCAR again returns to Las Vegas this weekend for the Pennzoil 400, and STN Sports Books are expecting a big handle.
Kyle Larson is the clear favorite heading into Sunday, followed by William Byron, Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell. With Kyle Busch being the hometown kid, he’ll be a sentimental favorite among bettors and money will more tipped than a spacecraft on the moon.
“There’ll be a lot of props that we end up putting up this week and a number of ways to bet the race,” Esposito noted. “You can be out of the track and have everything at your fingertips on the STN Sports App.”
Weekly Winners
When a big bet on a 5-team parlay pays off. CONGRATS to this STN Sports bettor last night. $5,000 to collect 156,116!
-Golden Knights moneyline +135
-Mavericks +4.5 -110
-Thunder -6 -108
-Timberwolves -7.5 -112
-Pelicans -3 -110