Pivotal Week for NBA and NHL Titles
Game On! Let's dive into tonight's action with Zach Cohen setting the stage for the Pacers-Thunder showdown (8:30 ET, ABC). With the series knotted at 2, home team OKC is a heavy 9.5-point favorite at Circa. But holding a strong stance, Zach believes the Pacers have a clearer identity in this series and their capability to play fast with numerous bench players is causing problems for Oklahoma City. Indiana seems to be wearing the Thunder out, and Zach is backing the Pacers to keep this game competitive. He's even throwing some cash on the underdogs' moneyline.
Do your research with VSiN's NBA prop analyzer.
In the NHL realm, the Panthers hold the crown as -350 favorites to win the Cup, with a potential Game 6 clincher against the Oilers (+280) on Tuesday in Sunrise.
Time for the championship wrap-up 🏆
The U.S. Open crown has found a new home, as pre-tournament long shot J.J. Spaun claimed the title in style with a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. Spaun finished two strokes ahead of runner-up Robert MacIntyre, as fourth-round leader Sam Burns stumbled in the challenging conditions. VSiN PrimeTime host Matt Youmans admitted that the U.S. Open was a dismal tournament for betting, with the bookmakers surely grinning from ear to ear.
Feeling inspired by Spaun's victory? Matt pubblically stated that Spaun had impressed him during a random encounter at the Sony Open in Honolulu earlier this year. Yet, he didn't bet on the rising champion this week. Instead, Matt had Cameron Young at 115-1 in his sights, ultimately tying for third place.
Devers on the move; Ohtani to make a comeback
The drama continues in MLB with Rafael Devers being traded from the Red Sox to the Giants, causing San Francisco’s World Series odds to see a slight boost from +3000 to +2500. Plus, the Dodgers have announced that Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited return to the mound tonight against the Padres, following a 21-month hiatus since arm surgery.
Greg Peterson, our MLB expert, isn't counting on Ohtani to significantly tip the scales for the Dodgers, as he expects the Japanese star to be used as a "glorified opener" for fewer than 3 innings.
Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will weigh in later this morning.
College Baseball: CWS action
Arizona is out of the College World Series after Louisville rallied for an 8-3 victory. Coastal Carolina remains undefeated with a 6-2 win over Oregon State. Mark your calendar for today's games, as Arkansas is a heavy -500 favorite against Murray State, while tourney favorite LSU will meet UCLA. >>Betting splits.
Tennis glimpses ahead to Wimbledon
As Wimbledon approaches, Zach Cohen shares some intriguing picks and futures for the upcoming grass season.
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Enrichment Data:
- NBA Championship Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
- NBA Championship Odds: -1800 to -520
- NHL Stanley Cup Winner: No clear prediction from the provided data
- US Open Winner: J.J. Spaun
- US Open Odds: Pre-tournament 150-1 shot
- Rafael Devers Trade: Traded from the Red Sox to the Giants
- San Francisco World Series Odds: +2500 after the Devers trade
- Shohei Ohtani: Announced to make his return as a starting pitcher after a 21-month layoff due to arm surgery
- Matt Youmans' US Open Betting Performance: Matt admitted it was his worst career betting performance in a major golf tournament, with the Masters and PGA turning out well this year. He did not have any strong feelings about Cameron Young, ultimately placing 3rd.
