We have a football heavy slate this week for 5 Bets with a couple of college football picks, the NFL, plus tennis, and NASCAR.
The last Grand Slam event of the year is underway and I like a familiar name to win the men’s singles title.
College football has a full slate this weekend and there are two Power 5 teams I like to beat up on inferior opponents.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin on Sunday and there’s a driver I’m backing who may have an advantage. He’s got a great history at Darlington.
The NFL begins in a week and I thought it was a good time to pick who I believe will win the Super Bowl. Email info@igamingplayer.com & let us know who your pick is…and why.
5 Bets to Make this Week
- Rafael Nadal +333 to win US Open
- Alabama Crimson Tide -41.5 over Utah State Aggies
- Michigan State Spartans -22.5 over Western Michigan Broncos
- Kevin Harvick +180 Top 5 at Cook Out Southern 500
- Buffalo Bills +600 to win Super Bowl 57
Nadal Makes Triumphant Return to US Open
Rafael Nadal didn’t play in last year’s US Open and it wasn’t 100% that he would play this year after suffering a torn abdominal muscle he suffered at Wimbledon.
He is in New York for the last Grand Slam event of the season and looked good in his first-round match against Rinky Hijikata. The No. 2 seed dropped the first set, but won the next three.
The Spaniard said he’s prepared to make a deep run at the US Open.
“It’s about the process, to build off the positive things,” Nadal said. “Today, a three-hour match against a tough opponent. I want to stay positive. I’m here to play my best every day.”
He opened at +400 and after the victory slipped to +333. Take him before he goes any lower.
Wager up to $1,500 for your first bet at Caesars Sportsbook. If you win, congrats! If not, you’ll get that amount back as a Free Bet to use on your next wager.
Alabama Rolls Utah State
Welcome to Week 1 of the college football season where powerhouse programs invite patsies to come to their stadium for a nice payday in exchange for a double-digit beating.
Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide will host the Utah State Aggies. The line opened at -31 for the SEC powerhouse but bettors thought that was too low and bet it up to -41.5 at BetRivers.
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban is 14-0 straight up and 12-2 against the spread in this first game of the season. When the team is favored by 30 or more points in the opener, the Crimson Tide is 3-0 ATS.
I’ll take Alabama and give away the points. Utah State will find out that taking that fat check to show up and get clobbered comes at a price.
Spartans Win Battle of Michigan
The Michigan State Spartans are hosting the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday and there is nothing better the smaller Michigan university would like to do than to pull off the upset.
The only problem is they come in with a completely unproven quarterback who is going to have to face a MSU defense that has vastly improved in pass defense after ranking last among FBS teams in 2021.
The pass rush is improved and the defensive coordinator often employs five defensive backs. That should be enough to slow down Broncos QB Jack Salopek.
Oddsmakers agree. The game opened at 16.5 points but now Western Michigan is getting 22.5.
New players at Unibet Sportsbook can sign up and once funds are added, they’ll insure your first cash bet. Get up to $250 back if you don’t hit a winner.
Harvick has History at Darlington
Kevin Harvick has had a disappointing season by his standards but has two late-season victories that got him into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
The first race in the postseason is Sunday at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It is a track that Harvick has had success at.
Harvick finished first, third, and first in 2020. Last year, he was sixth and fifth. This season, he finished fourth.
Still, I’m not gutsy enough to take him to win despite the great odds of +2000. I will hedge this and take him to finish in the Top 5 at +180. Not nearly as exciting a payday but at nearly double my money, I’ll resist the urge to get greedy.
Buffalo Shuffles off with Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Buffalo Bills endured a painful exit to the 2021 playoffs but I believe that will act more as motivation than disappointment in 2022. The Bills have an elite quarterback-wide receiver combo in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Expect them to tear up defenses.
Supporting wide receivers Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, and newly signed Jamison Crowder only give Allen more weapons if secondaries try to key on Diggs.
The defense was outstanding last year, sans the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but adding Von Miller should give them a star on defense that could help push them over the edge and get that elusive Super Bowl victory.
The Bills are +600 to win Super Bowl 57 and I believe those odds will only shorten as the season progresses.
Download the Tipico Sportsbook app in Colorado or New Jersey and get a risk-free baseball bet up to $750. Lose your bet and receive site credit. Bets can be live bets, props or parlays.
