Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Sunday, June 18:
TOP PLAY
The play: CONCACAF Nations League, United States over Canada
The odds: +105
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 8:30 p.m. (Paramount+)
Our take: The United States Men’s National Team thrashed Mexico earlier in the week to make it six consecutive contests unbeaten against El Tri. The Stars and Stripes put on a dominant display that went somewhat unnoticed afterward due to the fighting on the pitch and disgraceful chanting by Mexican fans off it.
Make no mistake, though, America’s 3-0 win was fully deserved.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned extracurricular activities saw two of the United States’ most important players — Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie — ruled out of the Nations League final against Canada. Nevertheless, the Americans have enough depth and quality across the board to make due.
Canada has emerged as a CONCACAF giant in recent years, but a poor display at the 2022 World Cup has skeptics’ eyes on the Canucks. They have found success against America in recent years, though, splitting the last three matches (1-1-1).
The addition of Folarin Balogun could prove to be the difference here as the United States is a completely different team with a real No. 9 in the ranks. Christian Pulisic is firing on all cylinders too. The USMNT simply looked too dangerous in all departments against Mexico to bet against in this contest.
TAKING TCU TO SURVIVE
The play: College World Series, TCU Horned Frogs over Virginia Cavaliers
The odds: +162
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Our take: It’s always fun to see how different teams respond to being punched in the mouth, and that’s what this game is all about. TCU and Virginia thought they would be meeting under different circumstances today after both took leads into the 9th innings. However, Oral Roberts and Florida had different plans.
Now, the Horned Frogs and Cavaliers are set to square off in a do-or-die elimination game in Omaha.
Virginia is the favorite (-180 money line at Caesars), likely due to the fact the Cavaliers are the higher-rated team with the better record. But I like TCU in this game. The Horned Frogs are scrappy and they’re battle-tested.
Kirk Saarloos’ squad has been swinging the bats really well lately. TCU has already sent two national seeds packing (Arkansas and Indiana State) this postseason, Virginia would just be another name to add to the list. Factor in the reality that the Horned Frogs have some plus juice attached to their name this afternoon and I’m all in on the Big 12 program.
HOW WE’VE FARED
MLB: Baltimore Orioles over Chicago Cubs (LOST)
CWS: LSU-Tennessee UNDER 9.5 runs (WON)
Saturday’s record: 1-1
Total for the week: 5-5, 2 pending
Total for June: 14-18, 2 pending
Total for 2023: 134-152, 2 pending
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
