I enjoy betting on sports, and I always love figuring out the best upcoming events so that I can anticipate what my bets will be. In the first half of 2018, I loved watching the Australian Open, the nail-biter Super Bowl game with the underdog taking home the trophy, and the spectacular progression of the brand-new Las Vegas Knights in the NHL playoffs.
As the first half of 2018 wrapped up, I started looking toward the latter part of the year to see what major events I could expect to put some money on. Here are my best bets for sporting events in the second half of 2018.
The big fight in UFC 227, which will be held August 4th, is the rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt. Though the first fight was over in less than eight minutes, everyone in the betting community has high hopes for a barnburner of a rematch. Dillashaw is the favorite at -135 and has won seven of his last eight fights, but don’t let that lull you into thinking he’s a lock.
His opponent and former workout buddy Garbrandt is a stellar wrestler who was undefeated before Dillashaw beat him in the first fight, so he definitely has a chance that just might be worth betting on. Of course, the hoopla and trash-talking that always takes place in UFC matches — especially between former friends — is enough of a reason to watch the event.
But if you can win some money in the process, why not?
The final PGA championship of the year will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, from August 6th through the 12th, and the heavy odds favorites are Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson, each coming in at 12-1. However, with Tiger Woods still in the running at 16-1, many betters may gamble on the hopes that Woods will prove his greatness once again.
With a lot of famous names hitting the links in early August, the 100th PGA Championship might be just as much fun to watch as it is to bet on.
August 25th is the kickoff to college football season, and there will be plenty of exciting games to bet on as it gets underway. If you’re like me, you’ll want to get your bets in during the first week when everyone’s emotions and expectations are high.
I recommend focusing on the Purdue (-4.5) vs. Northwestern game, Minnesota (-14.5) over New Mexico State, and you might even want to put some money down on big favorites Ohio State (-38) vs. Oregon State.
Looking for a close game to gamble on? I would take Michigan (-1) over Notre Dame, which should be a fun one to watch and doesn’t have a clear favorite.
The 2018 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 6th. Just as I like to get in on the action in the first week with college football, I like to throw my hat in the ring right away in the NFL as well.
The first week is full of good match-ups, but I’m putting my money down on the Rams (-1.5) who are on the road against the Raiders despite the fact that everyone is holding out high hopes for Jon Gruden’s coaching debut. I’m also taking the Broncos to cover the small spread (-2.5) against the Seahawks since they’re in their home stadium.
In NASCAR, the Federated Auto Parts 400 is the last race in the regular season before the “playoffs” begin. This makes the stakes extremely high, and I love betting on events that have a lot of meaning. The race takes place on September 22nd and will be live on NBC Sports Network, so you can watch your favorites run the track in real time.
Since this is the last qualifying event, I tend not to bet on those who have already clinched a playoff spot, so I won’t put money on Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, or the seven other drivers in the big show. Instead, I will wager on those still trying to qualify. Jeff Gordon (+800) is always a good bet, as is Kyle Busch (+450), so these two drivers will get the nod from me.
It’s not called America’s Pastime for nothing! The 2018 Major League Baseball season comes to close at the end of October, but that sure doesn’t stop me from betting on the winner of the whole enchilada right now. With the recent blockbuster trade of Manny Machado to the LA Dodgers (+850), I’m definitely putting some money on this team to win it all. I might also slap down some cash on the favored Houston Astros (+450) and the long-shot Cleveland Indians (+1300) just to keep things interesting.
With the post-season starting on Tuesday, October 3rd, I’d recommend getting your bets in now for the best return on investment. Of course, it’s also fun to bet the individual playoff games so that you stay in the loop and can continue to enjoy (and react to) new developments as they arise in each game.
Any true gambler knows that horse racing is one of the most exciting events to bet on. The Breeders’ Cup, which runs from Friday, November 2nd, to Saturday, November 3rd, is a perfect one to lay some money down on. The favorite by far is West Coast (+500), followed by Accelerate (+700) and Thunder Snow (+800), which makes for a great Trifecta bet. If you’re looking for a long shot, I’d suggest waiting a bit, as expert predictions tend to get a lot more accurate the closer we get to the actual race.
The year is not yet half over, and there are plenty of exciting sporting events coming up before 2018 comes to a close. The events above are some of the best sporting events to bet on in the second half of 2018 and should hopefully help you make some fun (and lucrative!) wagers.
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