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 Thursday, Aug. 17:
TOP PLAY
The play: NFL preseason, Browns money line over Eagles
The odds: +165
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Our take: So I get we don’t take preseason very seriously, and I am no advocate for betting games that don’t count often, but I sure do like trends.
And here’s one trend I am not going to ignore: Since 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles are 3-11-1 in the preseason, while the Cleveland Browns are 11-5 over the same span.
Also, the teams already have been holding joint workouts, which seem to be going the Browns’ way thus far. On the “Eagles Today” web page sponsored by Sports Illustrated, Philadelphia center Jason Kelce said, “You have to come out here with intensity every day, and it is a good wakeup call to be honest with you.”
Neither starting quarterback will play – Deshaun Watson for Cleveland or Jalen Hurts for Philadelphia – rather it will be more of a game for those on the bubble trying to make the cut. In an even game, we’ll go with the team getting value and the one that has a more recent history of winning.
MLB DIVISION-GAME ADVANTAGE
The play: MLB, Padres money line over Diamondbacks
The odds: -108
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 9:40 p.m. (MLB TV)
Our take: Arizona has played a little better as of late after a horrid stretch, but they’re coming off a series in Colorado, which could take a toll on them. Meanwhile, the Padres have been better since Arizona stung them pretty well late last week in the desert.
It’s really getting to now or never for both these teams if they are going to remain relevant in the wild-card chase, and the momentum for the Padres could be bigger after winning two in a row against the AL East-leading Orioles. (And Fernando Tatis Jr. stealing home untouched.)
HOW WE’VE FARED
BMW Championship: Rory McIlroy to finish in the top 10 (PENDING)
BMW Championship: Rickie Fowler to finish in the top 20 (PENDING)
Wednesday’s record: 0-0, 2 pending
Total for the week: 1-3, 2 pending
Total for August: 13-20, 2 pending
Total for 2023: 187-214, 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).
