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 Friday, Aug. 25:
TOP PLAY
The play: MLB, Texas Rangers over Minnesota Twins
The odds: +102
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 8:10 p.m. (MLB TV)
Our take: The Texas Rangers have been one of the best teams in all of baseball this season. However, their league-leading offense has gone cold as of late, resulting in a seven-game losing skid. The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are now knocking on the door of the American League West and it’s time for Texas to start winning now.
The Rangers hand the ball to Dane Dunning, who is enjoying the best year of his career as a part of the starting rotation. While Texas has lost Dunning’s previous two starts, he’s given up just four combined runs in that time. He hasn’t given up more than three runs in an outing in over a month.
Dunning is a calming presence on the road for Texas. He’s got a 2.98 ERA away from home. The 28-year-old has allowed just 22 runs in 66.1 innings. Therefore, we’ll back the Rangers to break out of their funk tonight behind Dunning.
TITANS TO WIN FINAL TUNE-UP
The play: NFL, Tennessee Titans over New England Patriots
The odds: +105
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 8:15 p.m. (NFL Network)
Our take: The New England Patriots are favorites in Nashville this evening, likely because Bill Belichick’s defense has often caused issues for young quarterbacks. Mike Vrabel has left the door open for Ryan Tannehill to play for a few series but it’s unlikely we see him get significant time under center.
Therefore, oddsmakers rightly see Malik Willis and Will Levis struggling to sling the rock against a solid defensive unit. Last week’s game told a different story about Tim Kelly’s new-look Titans offense though. Tennessee got it done on the ground — even without Derrick Henry — and that may be the difference tonight.
The Patriots are giving many of their starters a rest and they’ll be without two key individuals on the offensive line. We’re taking the Titans at home to get this one done on the ground.
HOW WE’VE FARED
MLB: Cubs money line over Pirates (WON)
NFL: Steelers -4.5 over Falcons (WON)
Thursday’s record: 2-0
Total for the week: 4-2, 2 pending
Total for August: 19-29, 2 pending
Total for 2023: 193-223, 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).
