Cleveland looms as Warriors still hold NBA title favouritism

THAT super team in Golden State is still absolutely cooking, sporting the best record in the NBA.

But they have one massive problem, when it comes to winning this year’s NBA title.

The Warriors are a ridiculous -130 favourite with Bovada.lv to be the last NBA team standing at the end of the season.

But is it a misnomer?

The fact that they lost to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first meeting since their capitulation in the NBA finals last season would suggest yes.

It is not that the Warriors did not look like winning the game – they were up by 14 points early in the last quarter – it’s the manner in which they surrendered.

Dual MVP Steph Curry was meek. Kevin Durant forced up some ordinary, out of rhythm shots and Draymond Green was ineffective as LeBron, Kyrie Irving and company willed their way back into the contest.

The Dubs have a serious problem on the glass and, while they are still an above average defensive team when it comes to the perimeter and switching, it is a lack of a presence inside that really hurts.

The second favourite Cavs – at +250 with Bovada.lv – meanwhile, have just been doing their thing, scorching to the best record in the east and enjoying the improved play of Irving and Kevin Love, taking the pressure off James.

The San Antonio Spurs have been the big fallers in the market, still third favourite, but now way out at +850. There’s a feeling around the league that, with no Duncan leading and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili becoming corpses, the Spurs’ nucleus of Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, coupled with the so-far failed Pau Gasol experiment, the Spurs can’t quite hang with the big guns.

2017 NBA Championship – Odds to Win:

Golden State Warriors -130
Cleveland Cavaliers +250
San Antonio Spurs +850
Los Angeles Clippers +1000
Toronto Raptors +2800
Houston Rockets +3300
Boston Celtics +4000
Chicago Bulls +6600
Oklahoma City Thunder +6600
New York Knicks +6600
Utah Jazz +6600
Atlanta Hawks +6600
Charlotte Hornets +6600
Memphis Grizzlies +6600
Indiana Pacers +10000
Portland Trail Blazers +10000
Detroit Pistons +15000
Milwaukee Bucks +20000
Los Angeles Lakers +25000
Washington Wizards +25000
Sacramento Kings +50000
Miami Heat +50000
Orlando Magic +50000

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

Super Bowl-favourite Patriots guaranteed first or second seed

With just one round left before the NFL playoffs, the New England Patriots are in prime position to avenge their loss in last season’s Super Bowl.

The Pats are +190 favourites to win Super Bowl 51 and would only need either a win or an Oakland Raiders loss, to seal a spot in the AFC.

But they have a very powerful rival in the NFC that is breathing down their necks. The Dallas Cowboys sport the same 13-2 record as the Pats and have been on a a huge role in already clinching home ground advantage for the duration of the playoffs.

At +325, they are the second favourite and represent great value in the market. The question is, can boom rookie quarterback Dak Prescott – who some are saying is the best rookie QB ever – stand up under the pressure of finals and the Super Bowl? Time will tell.

Outside of those two teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers – already locked into the third seed in the AFC – are +800, while the Green Bay Packers are the only other team under +1000, their +900 quote there, even though they can still miss the playoffs. Plus the whole Aaron Rodgers forgetting how to play concerns us.

2017 Super Bowl 51 Winner:

New England Patriots +190
Dallas Cowboys +325
Pittsburgh Steelers +800
Green Bay Packers +900
Seattle Seahawks +1200
Kansas City Chiefs +1200
Atlanta Falcons +1200
New York Giants +1400
Oakland Raiders +3300
Detroit Lions +5000
Houston Texans +5000
Miami Dolphins +6600
Washington Redskins +6600
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +20000

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

Can the Cubs go back to back?

IT comes as no surprise that the Chicago Cubs will go into the 2017 MLB season as favourites to win their second World Series in succession.

The Cubs had a storybook 2016, winning their first World Series since 1908, coming back from 3-1 down to beat the Cleveland Indians in seven games.

The Indians are only third favourite to get a little redemption, with the ever present Boston Red Sox – at +500 – sandwiched between the two teams who played off in last season’s big decider.

2017 World Series – Odds to Win:

Chicago Cubs +400
Boston Red Sox +500
Cleveland Indians +800
Washington Nationals +850
Houston Astros +1400
Los Angeles Dodgers +1400
San Francisco Giants +1400
New York Mets +1800
New York Yankees +2500
Toronto Blue Jays +2500
Texas Rangers +2500
St. Louis Cardinals +2500
Seattle Mariners +2500
Detroit Tigers +2800
Baltimore Orioles +3300
Kansas City Royals +3300
Pittsburgh Pirates +4000
Chicago White Sox +6600
Miami Marlins +6600
Los Angeles Angels +7500
Colorado Rockies +7500
Tampa Bay Rays +7500
Atlanta Braves +7500
Arizona Diamondbacks +10000
Milwaukee Brewers +10000
Oakland Athletics +10000
Cincinnati Reds +10000
Minnesota Twins +10000
Philadelphia Phillies +10000
San Diego Padres +10000

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

Blackhawks favoured for second title in three years

ANOTHER Chicago team is claiming favouritism for the 2017 Stanley Cup.

Just as the did at the start of the 2016 season, the Chicago Blackhawks again open as favourites to win the title.

That favouritism proved unfounded last season, with the reigning champions disposed of by the St Louis Blues in the 2016 playoffs.

The oddsmakers aren’t listening though, and have them the +750 favourites, just ahead of the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets, both at +800.

Stanley Cup 2017 Winner:

Chicago Blackhawks +7500
Minnesota Wild +800
Columbus Blue Jackets +800
Pittsburgh Penguins +900
New York Rangers +900
Washington Capitals +1400
Montreal Canadiens +1400
Edmonton Oilers +1400
San Jose Sharks +1400
St. Louis Blues +1600
Anaheim Ducks +2000
Tampa Bay Lightning +2200
Philadelphia Flyers +2500
Los Angeles Kings +2500
Ottawa Senators +2500
Calgary Flames +2800
Boston Bruins +2800
Nashville Predators +3300
Dallas Stars +3300
Winnipeg Jets +5000
Toronto Maple Leafs +5000
Florida Panthers +6600
New Jersey Devils +12500
Detroit Red Wings +12500
Carolina Hurricanes +15000
New York Islanders +15000
Buffalo Sabres +15000
Vancouver Canucks +15000
Arizona Coyotes +50000
Colorado Avalanche +50000

Odds provided by Bovada.lv