BetMGM Provides Updated MLB Division Odds & Betting Insight
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BetMGM
BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the leading online sportsbooks in the United States. The sportsbook has recently provided Lineups.com with some updates to the MLB Divison odds on its platform. Alongside these updates is some very useful and interesting insight into where bettors are placing their money.
2021 MLB Season
The MLB season has been one of the most unpredictable to date, with dark horse candidates flying up the standings in almost every division. Then, there is the giant curveball of the illegal substance crackdown that Robert Manfred and MLB have recently initiated. Pitchers are reportedly using homemade concoctions to stick onto their fingers in order to get a better grip on the ball. When you do this, your spin rate on the ball increases, and you become much harder to hit. With the crackdown coming mid-season, we can see some pitchers and even entire staffs fall apart as they no longer can rely on this illegal crutch.
Odds Updates & Liabilities
As mentioned, dark horse candidates are playing surprisingly well, and this can be an issue for sportsbooks. Liabilities are the measure of how much money a sportsbook could owe on a bet if the bettor were to win. A good example of this is how the Giants are the biggest liability on the NL West Champion odds future. While the Giants are not the most bet on team, their odds were and still remain long, meaning that if they do win, then BetMGM will owe big sums to those that did bet on them. In other words, if the Giants win the NL West, BetMGM will need to pay the most amount of money out of any of the five teams.
The current biggest liabilities for BetMGM are the Red Sox in the AL East, the Tigers in the AL Central, and the Mariners in the AL West. Other than the red-hot Red Sox, BetMGM will not be too worried about the AL Divison odds. The Tigers and Mariners are not challenging for a division title anytime soon. In fact, the White Sox lead the AL Central odds at a whopping -600, and the Astros and Athletics lead the AL West at -140 and +110, respectively. There is little chance of BetMGM owing out a big payday on these bets.
The NL is a little bit scarier for BetMGM. The Marlins, Brewers, and Giants are the largest liabilities in the NL East, Central, and West. All three of these teams have a shot at winning the division. While the Marlins are in last place, they are only 8 games out, and the entire division has been playing poorly. Meanwhile, the Giants and Brewers both lead their divisions. The Brewers are now favorites in the Central at +100.
However, interestingly enough, the Giants still remain third in odds in the West despite boasting the best record in baseball. The Dodgers sit at -225 to win the NL West, and the Padres sit at +250. The Giants still lay at +700, and BetMGM seems to be doubling down on what may be its biggest divisional liability. If the Giants do maintain the lead, BetMGM could be taking a major loss on this future wager.
