New York Post - 27.08.2019

New York Post, Tuesday, August 27, 2019

nypost.com

39

ACTIONACTION

In association with

By JEFF FOGLE

It’s not quite an elimination battle

when the Cubs visit the Mets for three

games Tuesday through Thursday. Both

teams, or neither team, still could reach

the playoffs regardless of what happens.

But, futures bettors rooting for either

side are certainly feeling a sense of

urgency after both teams were swept at

home in high-profile litmus tests this

past weekend.

The Cubs lost three times to the red-

hot Nationals, getting outscored 23-10.

The Mets were humbled by the NL

East-leading Braves, scoring just seven

runs in a three-game sweep. That

dropped New York 12 games behind

Atlanta. Backers who took fliers on

those 500/1 and 300/1 divisional tickets

temporarily available from William Hill

now have virtually no chance to cash.

Atlanta is still on pace to make a run at

100 wins. At 67-63, the Mets wouldn’t

reach 100 wins even if they finish 32-0!

Recreational bettors will find it’s

helpful to think about win targets when

evaluating past futures bets, or placing

new ones at updated prices. It can seem

easier for your choice to “chase down” a

team from behind if you’re only

thinking about that one leader. Baseball

is full of come-from-behind stories —

but those were usually because the

leader collapsed, not because the chaser

won 80 percent of its September

decisions. Most leaders don’t collapse.

If it’s going to take 95 wins or more to

capture a division (likely true in all but

the NL Central this season), what would

it take for your team to reach that

target?

What will it take to earn a wild card?

In the American League, the answer

might still be 95 victories with three

current threats within reasonable reach

(Rays, Indians and A’s). In the NL,

Washington’s recent surge has put 95

within reach. The other spot might go

to a record as bad as 85-77.

Required closing charges:

To finish 95-67: Cubs 26-6, Mets

28-4 (not going to happen for either!)

To finish 90-72: Cubs 21-11, Mets

23-9 (possible, but challenging in a

competitive league.)

To finish 85-77: Cubs 16-16, Mets 18-

13 (the clear target for both, though this

threshold is also within reach for the

Cardinals, Brewers, Phillies and even

Giants.)

As you evaluate futures prices to win

a division, league, or world

championship, first consider what it

will take just to get into the playoffs.

Then, map out the likely postseason

pathway to go the distance.

It quickly will become apparent that

no wild-card contenders are being

priced anywhere near “true” odds to

win their leagues or the World Series.

And, most serious championship

threats already return so little that you

can probably wait until the playoffs and

still get similar returns. Why not wait to

make sure your best players enter

October in good health?

If your handicapping suggests one or

two teams are poised to close strong,

pick your spots game-by-game rather

than betting futures.

Get more betting information like this

by signing up for VSiN’s free daily

newsletter at VSiN.com/newsletter.

BET SMART

ODDS & ENDS

NFL

Life After Luck

Odds to win...

SUPER BOWL

LIV

AUG. 18

ODDS

CURR.

ODDS

Patriots 6/1 11/2

Chiefs 13/2 13/2

Rams 11/1 11/1

Saints 11/1 11/2

Bears 11/1 12/1

Colts 14/1 50/1

Chargers 15/1 14/1

Eagles 15/1 14/1

Packers 15/1 15/1

Cowboys 15/1 15/1

Browns 16/1 15/1

Steelers 20/1 20/1

Vikings 20/1 18/1

49ers 28/1 30/1

Seahawks 28/1 25/1

Falcons 30/1 28/1

Ravens 35/1 35/1

Raiders 40/1 40/1

Panthers 40/1 40/1

Jaguars 40/1 30/1

Texans 45/1 35/1

Broncos 50/1 50/1

Jets 75/1 60/1

Bills 75/1 75/1

Buccaneers 75/1 75/1

Titans 75/1 60/1

Lions 100/1 75/1

Cardinals 100/1 150/1

Giants 125/1 150/1

Redskins 150/1 200/1

Dolphins 200/1 250/1

Bengals 200/1 200/1

AFC TITLE AUG. 18ODDS CURR.ODDS

Patriots 3/1 +275

Chiefs 16/5 3/1

Colts 7/1 25/1

Chargers 15/2 7/1

Browns 15/2 15/2

Steelers 10/1 10/1

Ravens 17/1 17/1

Raiders 18/1 20/1

Jaguars 20/1 15/1

Texans 22/1 17/1

Broncos 25/1 25/1

Jets 35/1 30/1

Bills 35/1 35/1

Titans 35/1 30/1

Dolphins 100/1 125/1

Bengals 100/1 100/1

AFC SOUTH

TITLE

AUG. 18

ODDS

CURR.

ODDS

Colts -150 4/1

Texans 4/1 11/5

Jaguars 9/2 2/1

Titans 7/1 +280

COLTS REGULAR-SEASON WIN

TOTAL

Aug. 25

Over 10 wins +115

Under 10 wins -135

Aug. 26

Over 7¹/₂ wins -120

Under 7¹/₂ wins Even

Home Team Lineups HOME AWAY

 TODAYAug. 27 Aug. 28WED Aug. 29THU Aug. 30FRI Aug. 31SAT Sept. 1SUN Sept. 2MON

Seattle

10:10

YES Network

WFAN 660 AM/

101.9 FM

Sea.

4:10

YES

WFAN

NO

GAME

Oak.

7:05

YES

WFAN

Oak.

1:05

YES

WFAN

Oak.

1:05

YES

WFAN

Tex.

1:05

YES

WFAN

Chicago Cubs

7:10

SNY

WCBS 880 AM

Chi.

7:10

SNY

WCBS

Chi.

7:10

SNY

WCBS

Phila.

7:05

SNY

WCBS

Phila.

4:05

SNY

WCBS

Phila.

7:05

ESPN

WCBS

Wash.

1:05

SNY

WCBS

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

Colo.

7:00

MSG

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

Van.

10:00

YES

WNYE

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

Phoenix

7:00

YES Network

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

CT

7:30

NBATV

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

NO

GAME

Tri-City

7:00

No

Radio

HV

7:00

No

Radio

HV

7:00

No

Radio

HV

7:00

No

Radio

Bklyn

6:00

No

Radio

Bklyn

1:00

No

Radio

Bklyn

4:00

No

Radio

Vermont

7:00

No

Radio

Abd.

7:05

No

Radio

Abd.

7:05

No

Radio

Abd.

7:05

No

Radio

S.I.

6:00

No

Radio

S.I.

1:00

No

Radio

S.I.

4:00

No

Radio

Thursday Thursday

Exh. Patriots

7:30

TV - Ch.4

Radio - WFAN 660AM

/101.9 FM

Exh. Eagles

7:00

TV - Ch. 2

Radio - ESPN 98.7 FM

Today's Sports on the Air

MLB 7 p.m. Pirates at Phillies MLBN

7:10 p.m. Cubs at Mets SNY, WCBS (880 AM)

10 p.m. Rangers at Angels FS1

10:10 p.m.

Yankees at Mariners YES,

WFAN (660 AM/101.9 FM)

Tennis Noon U.S. Open: First Round ESPN

7 p.m. U.S. Open: First Round ESPN

WNBA 7 p.m. Mercury at Liberty YES

7 p.m. Sparks at Mystics ESPN2

Soccer 3 p.m. UEFA Champions League: Crvena Zvezda vs. Young Boys TNT

GOLF

Favorites to win 2020 Masters

GOLFER ODDS

BrooksKoepka 17/2

Rory McIlroy 10/1

TigerWoods 12/1

Dustin Johnson 13/1

Patrick Cantlay 15/1

Jordan Spieth 16/1

RickieFowler 18/1

Jon Rahm 18/1

JustinRose 18/1

Justin Thomas 18/1

Xander Schauffele 25/1

Tommy Fleetwood 28/1

Jason Day 30/1

Tony Finau 30/1

GOLFER ODDS

Bryson DeChambeau 35/1

Francesco Molinari 35/1

Matt Kuchar 40/1

Hideki Matsuyama 40/1

PatrickReed 40/1

Adam Scott 40/1

Bubba Watson 40/1

Webb Simpson 50/1

MatthewWolff 50/1

GaryWoodland 50/1

Paul Casey 60/1

Marc Leishman 60/1

Louis Oosthuizen 60/1

Kevin Kisner 75/1