Sports Betting

The sting of losing a perfect season and a national championship in the same night will linger for Gonzaga for some time. This probably won't be the Zags' last crack at a title, though.

Following Baylor's victory in the 2021 NCAA men's basketball championship, DraftKings Sportsbook released its initial odds for the 2022 season. The Bears are +1200 to repeat (bet $100 to win $1,200), with Gonzaga leading the field at +900.

That's somewhat surprising since Jalen Suggs is almost certainly going to declare for the 2021 NBA draft. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman listed Suggs second behind Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham on his newest big board.

Corey Kispert is a senior as well, but the key players are otherwise positioned to return. The Zags also have commitments from shooting guard Hunter Sallis and center Kaden Perry, who sit sixth and 53rd, respectively, on 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2021 class.

Baylor's hopes of a second straight title will rest somewhat on whether juniors Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler return. Wasserman had both stars among his top 25 players, and turning down the opportunity to potentially be a first-round pick will be tough.

Like Gonzaga, Baylor has a blue-chip recruit incoming with small forward Kendall Brown (No. 15 overall). Head coach Scott Drew has already shown an ability to win without attracting elite prep talent to Waco, Texas, too.

Given how much luck factors into any team's quest for a title, another Baylor-Gonzaga matchup in the final is probably unlikely.

But both programs figure to be near the top of the polls for much of the 2021-22 season.

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You can't buy much with $2, unless you put it down on a 15-event parlay spanning college basketball, the NBA and NHL that manages to hit and wins you over $14,000.

Then, you can buy a whole lot with that $2. One lucky bettor did just that:

Talk about the wild ride it must have been for that bettor, following along with that improbable ticket. There were moneyline wagers, point spreads, total goals, even an over-under wager.

Granted, when you only have $2 on the line and are facing +725632 odds, well, maybe you aren't sweating it too much. But you can bet by the end of that ticket, that person was sitting on the edge of their seat, praying for a miracle.

And they got it. All while you were buying a 20 oz. soda with your two bucks.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

As has been the case for the majority of the 2020-21 men's college basketball season, the rest of the country is chasing Gonzaga and Baylor.

The Bulldogs and Bears, who are the No. 1 seeds in the West and South Regions, respectively, check in with the most favorable championship odds heading to the Elite Eight, per DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Gonzaga: +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
• Baylor: +250
• Michigan: +550
• Houston: +600
• USC: +1200
• Oregon State: +1600
• Arkansas: +2000
• UCLA: +2800

There's a reason these two teams are atop the list.

Gonzaga is undefeated and won its first three tournament games over Norfolk State, Oklahoma and Creighton by a combined 77 points. Baylor has lost just twice all season and won its first three games against Hartford, Wisconsin and Villanova by a combined 48 points.

Still, anyone looking for a long shot should at least consider USC.

The Trojans have a potential top-two pick in big man Evan Mobley and handled quality competition in Drake, Kansas and Oregon by a combined 64 points. The 34-point win over the Jayhawks was a stunning development, and they will now get a chance at mighty Gonzaga.

Talk about a chance to play Cinderella.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

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The first day of the NCAA women's basketball tournament went all chalk as the higher-seeded teams punched a ticket to the second round. Now that those teams are back in action for the round of 32, perhaps Tuesday can provide some more surprises.

Here is the day's schedule and odds for each of the eight matchups:               

• No. 8 South Florida vs. No. 1 North Carolina State (-16.5), 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 5 Iowa (-8) vs. No. 4 Kentucky, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU
• No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 3 Tennessee (-6.5), 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 5 Georgia Tech vs. No. 4 West Virginia (-2.5), 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU
• No. 7 Virginia Tech vs. No. 2 Baylor (-16), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• No. 8 Oregon State vs. No. 1 South Carolina (-7), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 1 Connecticut (-20.5), 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
• No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 1 Stanford (-15.5), 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Bold represents the writer's pick against the spread. Betting lines are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

With No. 1 Connecticut expected to cruise past Syracuse, many will be watching Iowa's game against Kentucky since fans could get to see Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark in the Sweet 16.

Of course, that shouldn't overshadow the fact the Hawkeyes will have to stop Wildcats star Rhyne Howard on Tuesday. Howard is averaging 20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists, and the junior guard is fresh of a first-round victory over Idaho State in which she nearly posted a double-double (14 points, nine rebounds) to go along with five assists and four steals.

Clark was similarly excellent, going for 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Iowa knocked out Central Michigan.

For casual fans, Iowa/Kentucky might be the one game you go out of your way to watch.

As the oddsmakers indicate, none of the four No. 1 seeds looks too vulnerable at the moment. UConn and Stanford each won by 43 points in the opening round. North Carolina State started a bit sluggish against North Carolina A&T but eventually hit its stride in the second half. And South Carolina encountered little trouble from Mercer.

The seven-point gap separating the Gamecocks from Oregon State is a somewhat surprising number.

Oregon State's 12-7 record is deceiving because of the strength of the Pac-12. According to Her Hoops Stats, the Beavers averaged 102.5 points per 100 possessions in the regular season and held opponents to a 43.7 percent effective field-goal rate.

Still, South Carolina is outscoring the opposition by 24.3 points per 100 possessions while playing against the fourth-toughest schedule in terms of opponent winning percentage, per Her Hoops Stats.

Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton scored 20 points apiece Sunday, with Boston adding 18 rebounds. If Boston and Saxton are controlling the game inside like that again, then the Gamecocks could make easy work of Oregon State.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

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The more things change, the more they stay the same.

While the 2021 NCAA men's tournament has featured a number of stunning upsets and four double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16, the majority of this season has been about Gonzaga, Baylor and the field.

The latest championship odds from DraftKings Sportsbook reflected as much, with Gonzaga and Baylor pacing the field:

• Gonzaga, +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
• Baylor, +300
• Michigan, +650
• Houston, +900
• Loyola-Chicago, +900
• Alabama, +1100
• Florida State, +1300
• Arkansas, +1700
• USC, +1800
• Creighton, +2000
• Villanova, +2500
• UCLA, +2700
• Oregon, +3100
• Oregon State, +3100
• Syracuse, +4500
• Oral Roberts, +7000

It makes sense that Gonzaga landed the most favorable odds since it didn't lose a game all season and defeated Norfolk State and Oklahoma in the first two rounds by a combined 59 points, but Loyola-Chicago certainly stands out.

The Ramblers are tied with Houston for the fourth-best odds to win the tournament after stunning No. 1 seed Illinois in the second round. Such a result would give them their second national championship and top their 2018 Final Four run, and they have the defense—ranked No. 1 on KenPom.com—to hang with any team in the nation.

But it may be too much of an ask for Loyola-Chicago to beat Baylor and Gonzaga.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
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Talk about sweating the final game.

One bettor put in a Hail Mary $10 parlay during the NCAA men's tournament that paid more than $33,000. He needed Abilene Christian to beat Texas, UCLA to beat BYU, Arkansas to beat Texas Tech, Loyola-Chicago to beat Illinois, Oral Roberts to beat Florida, Baylor to beat Wisconsin, Villanova to beat North Texas, Syracuse to beat West Virginia and Houston to beat Rutgers.

And, finally, Oregon State to stun Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma State.

Nailing those first nine that required multiple upsets was impressive enough, and the bettor had the opportunity to cash out when the Beavers took a 14-point halftime lead in the final game. The cash out would have paid more than $23,000.

Rather than playing it safe, he let it ride on the second half of the final game.

Cunningham and the Cowboys surely drove up his heart rate when they cut the deficit to as little as two, but Oregon State never relinquished its lead.

Just like that, $10 turned into more than $33,000.

If some of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history occur this weekend, one bettor could be $47 billion richer.

As seen in this screenshot courtesy of B/R Betting, someone placed a 10-cent parlay bet to win over $47.4 billion:

The screenshot shows six moneyline bets on some huge underdogs in the first round of the men's tourney. That means each of the teams must win their games outright.

The bettor needs No. 15 Iona to beat No. 2 Alabama, No. 15 Cleveland State to beat No. 2 Houston, No. 12 Oregon State to beat No. 5 Tennessee, No. 15 Grand Canyon to beat No. 2 Iowa, No. 15 Oral Roberts to beat No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 14 Morehead State to beat No. 3 West Virginia.

Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, a 15th seed has beaten a second seed only eight times. The most recent instance was Middle Tennessee defeating Michigan State 90-81 in 2016.

More than one No. 15 seed has won a first-round game in the same tournament just once. That was in 2012 when Lehigh beat Duke and Norfolk State beat Missouri.

For the 10-cent parlay to win, all four No. 15 seeds this year will have to win in the first round, which is something that has never come close to happening in March Madness.

On top of that, the bettor needs a No. 12 seed and a No. 14 to win as well. A 12-over-5 upset isn't particularly rare anymore, but only 21 14-over-3 upsets have occurred—and none since 2016.

It is unclear which service the bettor used to place the bet, but it would seemingly be impossible for a $47 billion payout to occur.

If the near-impossible happens and all of the bettor's upset picks come through, some kind of arrangement may have to be worked out between the two sides.

A bettor at DraftKings Sportsbook will be paid $34,500 after placing a $1,500 bet on Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski to score the first touchdown of Super Bowl LV.

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady found Gronkowski for an eight-yard score to give Tampa Bay a 6-3 edge late in the first quarter versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gronkowski scored off a run-pass option and found space to hit paydirt after Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans impeded Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen's path to the ball-carrier:

Gronk's eight-yard catch marked his 13th postseason touchdown from Brady, marking the most from any quarterback/pass-catcher duo in NFL playoff history:

The 31-year-old added his 14th playoff touchdown after hauling in a 17-yard pass to give Tampa a 13-3 advantage in the second quarter:

Brady is playing for his seventh Super Bowl win in his 10th appearance, having won his first six with the New England Patriots.

Gronkowski, who was Brady's Pats teammate from 2010-18, is looking for his fourth Super Bowl win in six appearances. 

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday bolstered their status as the favorites to win the 2021 World Series with the signing of free-agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.

B/R Betting tweeted that the Dodgers now have plus-425 (17-4) odds to win it all for the second year in a row, via DraftKings:

Bauer announced Friday in a YouTube video that he had decided to sign with L.A.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Bauer agreed to a three-year, $102 million contract with opt-outs after the first and second years. Passan noted Bauer will make $40 million in 2021 and $45 million in 2022 if he opts in.

In Bauer, the Dodgers added the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner to a starting rotation that already included Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler.

Last season, which was Bauer's only full campaign with the Cincinnati Reds, he went 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 73 innings. He also played a huge role in the Reds' reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Before getting traded to the Reds at the 2019 deadline, Bauer pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland. His only All-Star season was with Cleveland in 2018 when he posted a 12-6 record with a 2.21 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 175.1 innings.

Over his nine-year career, the 30-year-old Bauer has gone 75-64 with a 3.90 ERA and 1,279 strikeouts in 1,190 innings.

The Dodgers already had one of the best pitching staffs in MLB, as Kershaw and Buehler led them to their first World Series title since 1988.

Now, Bauer will headline the rotation along with Kershaw and Buehler, while veteran David Price and youngsters Julio Urias and Dustin May figure to compete for the fourth and fifth spots.

The Dodgers also still boast one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball with Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Max Muncy.

While many things can happen to derail a season, including injuries, the Dodgers have every right to be considered the odds-on favorites after winning last year's World Series and adding another ace to their rotation.

The National League West rival San Diego Padres could have something to say about it after acquiring starting pitchers Yu Darvish and Blake Snell this offseason, but the Dodgers will remain the team to beat until another club proves otherwise.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.