While the build-up from the Super Bowl to the annual March Madness tournament to the Masters, NBA, and NHL playoffs, and then the Kentucky Derby is one of the better runs in sports, this weekend is shaping up to be a dud.
The NBA is breaking for its annual All-Star Game, which will bring plenty of entertainment over the weekend, but a break from traditional sports betting. Obviously, the NFL wrapped up with the Super Bowl on Sunday, and the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated with a parade with their fans.
So that leaves a handful of opportunities to find the best sports bets this weekend. There is plenty of soccer going on, the National Hockey League is cruising through the back half of its season, and there are pivotal college basketball games that could go a long way in determining seeding for the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.
Here is a breakdown of some of the top games to keep an eye on.
Friday Night Pucks
The NHL gets some attention in the spotlight and has queued up a trio of quality games for sports fans who may not be into hockey. Those who bet on sports will have likely had success betting on hockey already. It is one of the more fun games to follow because of the constant action when the puck is in play.
Here is a look at the three key games on Friday:
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders, 7:07 pm ET: Two points separate the Penguins and the Islanders as each team is vying for a playoff spot. Pittsburgh enters at -105 moneyline odds, while the Islanders are -115. The teams have split the last four meetings, but the Islanders are 5-2 in the last seven.
- Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild, 8:07 pm ET: The Stars have 10 points on the Wild in the Central Division, but Minnesota is slotted into the second wild card spot in the West. The teams enter with each at -110 on the moneyline, and the road team is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
- New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers, 9:07 pm ET: Both the Oilers and Rangers figure to be playoff teams as things stand. Edmonton is -130 on the moneyline, while New York is +110. The Oilers have won six of the last seven games in the series, which is likely why they’re favored despite the Rangers being better in the standings.
Rivalry Saturday
There are a lot of great opportunities for sports fans, especially catering to college basketball, to enjoy a great slate of games on Saturday. There is money to be had with crafting the best betting picks and parlays from a slate that featured several key rivalry games.
Here is a rundown of those games:
- Illinois vs No. 14 Indiana, noon ET: A pair of inconsistent teams who have plenty of talent meet. The Hoosiers are coming off an upset loss at Northwestern and return to home sweet home, where they are 13-1 this season. Illinois has lost its last two road games.
- No. 10 Tennessee vs Kentucky, 1 pm ET: Speaking of inconsistency, Wildcats fans wanted John Calipari fired, and the heat could turn up in a rivalry loss to the Vols, who just upset No. 1 Alabama at home.
- No. 19 Iowa State vs No. 12 Kansas State, 2 pm ET: Two of the top teams in the Big 12 meet in a pivotal game for tournament seeding. The Cyclones won, 80-76, on Jan. 25 after the Wildcats had moved up to No. 5. The Wildcats are 13-1 on their home court, while Iowa State is 2-6 on the road.
- No. 9 Baylor vs No. 5 Kansas, 4 pm ET: The saying the Big 12 runs through Lawrence, Kansas, still holds true, unless Baylor pulls off the upset. The Jayhawks are 12-1 at home, though they lost at Baylor 75-69 on Jan. 23. The Bears are 4-3 in true road games and 7-5 away from home overall. These two teams are tied atop the standings, with Texas entering the day.
Other Sports Games to Watch and Bet on This Weekend
Other games that should be of interest for best sports bets this weekend include a few bubble teams. The Wisconsin Badgers are progressing with a healthy Tyler Wahl and are at home against a Rutgers team that lost badly at home to Nebraska and is 2-7 away from home. Both Wake Forest and Miami (Florida) should make the tournament, but that is a sneaky good game that will not be on major networks.
There are some pretty lopsided matchups on paper in the SEC and Pac-12 that bettors could find a liking to, even if it is just stringing together a few moneyline parlays.
Best Of The Rest
One of the premiere events of the racing season is the Daytona 500. While the odds likely will not be out until qualifying settles the grid, it is sure to be one of the more popular sports to bet on this weekend. For those who do not know how to bet on sports, it is as simple as picking a driver to win the race. Of course, it can get more detailed than that, too.
The NBA has plenty of events going on over the weekend. Betting on Rising Stars MVP on Friday, the dunk contest, 3-point shooters, and skill challenges give fans something to look forward to on Saturday before the actual All-Star Game on Sunday, which will have plenty of player prop possibilities. Did you know that Team LeBron has not lost since the captains drafted teams beginning in 2018?
The Genesis Invitational is also being played on the golden coast this weekend. Tiger Woods made waves Thursday with his first-round performance, but it is still Jon Rahm who is the favorite after his solid start. Can Max Homa, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, or others catch Rahm?
Through all this, international soccer has been glossed over. There are eight Premier League matches on Saturday, followed by two more Sunday morning. But be sure to place those bets before going to be or waking up early to catch the action.
As for the best sports bets this weekend? Fans should do their research ahead of lines becoming available, so they are ready to pounce one way or another and turn what appears to be a dull weekend into an exciting and profitable one.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.