Thursday Best Bets, Wednesday Recaps

Wednesday was a pretty fun hump day spent outside the Tuley’s Takes home office.

I had some work meetings and also attended Circa Sports’ annual “proxy appreciation lunch” at Andiamo’s at the D, hosted by Derek Stevens. I’m sworn to secrecy on any details learned for the upcoming NFL season’s Circa Sports Million and Circa Survivor contests, except to say that registration won’t be until after they’re able to get the official rules finalized after the NFL releases its schedule (expected to be on or around May 11), so hopefully before Memorial Day Weekend.
During lunch, I also learned that I pushed my first bet on the day on the Mets +120 (was available around +140) in the first 5 innings at the Brewers. It was a roller-coaster of a bet as the Mets scored 1 run in the top of the first, the Brewers took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the second, the Mets tied it 4-4 in the top of the third, the Mets went ahead 6-4 in the top of the fifth and looked like a winner, but then the Brewers tied it 6-6 after five innings.
I then picked up my son Maddux after school and we had a bonus trip to In-N-Out Burger (I just got a chocolate shake as I was still full from lunch) before dropping him off at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Las Vegas as he was playing his first concert there with the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra. That lasted 3 hours (longer than your average MLB game so far this season) but was quite entertaining.
What was less entertaining was my NHL First-Period Over parlay as I lost both legs with the Flames-Jets only scoring 1 goal in the opening 20 minutes and the Oilers-Ducks playing a scoreless first period. There were more scores in the concert (rimshot, please!).
Anyway, let’s get to our daily recaps of Wednesday’s betting action and then look for better Best Bets on Thursday. Again, I’ll leave the Masters handicapping to my VSiN colleagues in the Betting Guide, the “Long Shots” podcast and our other programming on-air and on the VSiN.com website.

Wednesday Recaps

NBA: Favorites went 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS Wednesday with upsets by the Clippers (+2 in 125-118 win vs. Lakers) and the Celtics (+1.5 in 97-93 win vs. Raptors) while the Kings (+6) covered as underdogs in 123-119 loss at Mavericks. Home teams also went 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS. Overs 5-3.

More NBA: On the season, favorites improved to 787-393 SU with 16 games closing pick-’em, but dogs still hold slim lead at 578-576-26 ATS. Home teams lead 698-498 SU and 599-573-24 ATS (51.1%). In totals wagering, Overs’ slim lead improved to 598-580-18 (50.8%).

MLB: Faves went 9-3 with the upsets by Pirates (+132 at Red Sox), Braves (+112 at Cardinals) and Marlins (+105 vs. Twins). Home/road teams split 6-6. Over/Unders split 5-5-2 with pushes in LAA-SEA (7) and MIN-MIA (7). Faves lead 53-37 on season with 1 PK. Road teams still lead 47-44. Overs lead 49-37-5.

NHL: Favorites went 2-1 on Wednesday with the lone upset by the Flames (+120 in 3-1 win at the Jets); Rangers (-120 in 6-3 win vs. Lightning) and Oilers (-340 in 3-1 win at Ducks) won as chalk & also both covered -1.5 puck line. Road teams went 2-1. Unders led 2-1.

Thursday MLB Best Bet

Giants First 5 Innings +115 at White Sox: The Giants’ offense has literally been hit or miss so far this season (scoring 0, 7, 0, 13 and 3 runs in their five games), but we’ll take them to alternate to a fast start vs. Lance Lynn. Meanwhile, we get Alex Wood, making his season debut after an injury-shortened 2022 season in which he was 8-12 with a 5.10 ERA. You can’t put too much stock in exhibition games, but he was 2-1 this spring with a 3.60 ERA and 24 K’s in 15 innings.

Thursday NHL Best Bets

Sabres-Red Wings 1P Over -165 / Blackhawks-Canucks 1P Over -160 (parlays pays +161): We rarely lose both legs on our 1P Over parlays, so hoping for a bounce-back with this play as we won’t have any on Friday. Buffalo is the No. 4 1P Over team and the Sabres and Red Wings combine to go 92-60 (60.5%). The Canucks are still the No. 1 1P Over team at 56-20 (73.7%) and combine with the Blackhawks to go 93-59 (61.2%).

Blackhawks +185 at Canucks: Speaking of Chicago, the Blackhawks are a swagger play as they snapped an 8-game losing streak Tuesday in Calgary. We were hoping to get plus-money with the +1.5 puck line, but it’s around -135, so we’re just playing the straight money line.

​