I’m starting today in Las Vegas and ending it in Omaha as VSiN gets ready to broadcast live from Rocco’s, home of the CWS Jello Shot Challenge. The favorite flipped at Circa on Tuesday with Arkansas (+215) getting the nod over LSU (+230). Scroll down for more College World Series coverage.
Back home again in Indiana
VSiN.com senior editor Zach Cohen is banking on the Pacers to feel at home — and play better — in Indianapolis.
I like the idea of going into Game 3 with the plan of taking Indiana on the spread and moneyline in both home games. If the Pacers don’t win Game 3, I’ll attack it again in Game 4. If they do, I can reevaluate heading into that fourth game.
With the series tied at 1, Indiana is a 5-point underdog at Circa for tonight’s game vs. OKC (8:30 ET, ABC).
>>Zach’s analysis and prediction, although I kinda gave it away.
Dan Karpuc isn’t so sure that Gainbridge Fieldhouse will get Tyrese Haliburton back on track. This is one of Dan’s six recommended prop bets:
While he posted 17 points and six assists in Game 2, he had just five points through the first three quarters and looked out of sorts navigating relentless ball pressure. In the series, he’s averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 assists (21.5 points + assists)—well below this line—while committing eight turnovers, his most over any two-game span since March 2023. That’s not a coincidence.
Best Bet: Haliburton Under 25.5 Points + Assists (-105, DraftKings).
Do your own research with VSiN’s prop analyzer.
ICYMI: Steve Makinen’s betting trends for the Finals by game number and line range.
Don’t forget to check for contest picks from the KillerSports NBA Playoff Challenge here after 7 p.m. ET. Las Vegas pro bettor Steve Fezzik leads Zach by one point with two picks left for each.
US Open Best Bets
Oakmont, near Pittsburgh, is the scene of the 125th U.S. Open, starting Thursday for a field 156.
No surprise, Scottie Scheffler (+275) is the favorite.
Wes Reynolds has seven outright bets, including a name I’ve heard mentioned a lot on VSiN this week:
Harris English (100-1, FanDuel): English finished T-2 at last month’s PGA, 12th at the Masters and also won for us earlier this year at Torrey Pines South, a former U.S. Open venue, in the Farmers Insurance Open at 100-1. He has three top-8 finishes in his last five U.S. Opens, so he has the game made for this major.
Wes and Kelley Bydlon trade Best Bets on the Long Shots podcast.
>>Watch
>>Listen.
Check the golf picks page for all the plays collected from hosts and their guests. (There are more than 45 so far.)
CWS Betting Guide out today
Matt Grissom, proprietor of College Baseball Insiders, is producing a special College World Series betting guide for VSiN. It will be available later today on this page.
ICYMI: Matt’s early thoughts on the 8-team field.
Matt will be in Omaha and no doubt you will see him on our shows from Rocco’s:
Thursday-Friday
- Money Moves (Stormy Buonantony/Jonathan Von Tobel), 1-3 CT
- Follow The Money (Mitch Moss/Pauly Howard), 3-6 CT
Saturday
- Follow The Money, 9 am-noon CT
I usually start with the assumption that Brent Musburger has been to every event worth attending, so I checked in with him about Omaha.
Indeed, Brent recalled the time he and Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts were calling a CWS game and a streaker ran out on the field. Based on Brent’s details, I would say the year was 1974 when USC won the title.
How times have changed: Brent said CBS ran taped highlights back then – quite a difference from the barrage of live games on ESPN. And even more surprising, Brent said he didn’t even think about betting on college baseball back then.
Quick Hits
MLB: Greg Peterson has posted his plays for today. Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will post later this morning.
Horse Racing: 1/ST BET handicapper Jeremy Plonk has picks for today’s card at Delaware Park. Horse racing coverage is sponsored by 1/ST BET. Get your $200 sign-up bonus.
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