Do you find yourself going through NJ sports betting withdrawal?
The NBA and MLB continue to delay their respective restart plans, but New Jersey sportsbooks remain operational.
So, what is there to bet on this week?
The NFL Draft, taking place live April 23-25, is the most popular option, and by a big margin. Other bettors may decide to put money down on what teams’ quarterbacks Cam Newton or Jameis Winston will play for (hopefully) this fall.
And, who will be the No. 1 overall pick in tonight’s WNBA Draft? FanDuel Sportsbook has the odds.
Here is a closer look at the NJ sports betting menu.
NFL Draft betting heats up
The concept of live sports on television seems like foreign territory these days.
But come next week, all seven rounds of the NFL Draft will unfold from remote locations. First-round picks will have to wait until after the social distancing guidelines are lifted to have a photo-op with Commissioner Roger Goodell.
As far as betting options go, Garden State customers will find there is no shortage of props and parlays. Here is a small sampling from DraftKings Sportsbook:
The NFL Draft is just a week away, and we’ve got odds boosts:
Jordan Love drafted top 10
+300 ➡ +330Jalen Hurts drafted in 1st round
+1100 ➡ +1300Patriots’ 1st pick a QB
+300 ➡ +330Tua Tagovailoa drafted among the top 3 picks
200 ➡ 225🏈👉https://t.co/JIZ1ljz6Tn pic.twitter.com/BSSaoqfdMp
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) April 16, 2020
Another option is correctly picking the top-three players selected in the first round. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is looking like a lock to go No. 1, but what names will be called after him?
Fox Bet NJ is boosting the odds.
🚨 Limited-Time NFL Draft Boost 🚨
Will the top three picks be in this exact order?
This boost will expire at 3 p.m. Friday … but there will be more boosts coming! Check back daily until the draft. 👀
(Available in NJ)
— FOX Bet (@FOXBet) April 16, 2020
Play GM with an NJ sports betting twist
Unlike the other pro sports, the NFL has a little more time to figure out its 2020 plans. At the same time, two starting quarterbacks will likely be playing for new teams in the fall.
The Carolina Panthers released Newton last month, which means he is free to sign with another team. He is a big reason why the franchise played in Super Bowl 50 (they lost 24-10 to the Denver Broncos).
So, where will he play next? Phillip Rivers is no longer with the Los Angeles Chargers, so there is an opening there.
And Tom Brady has parted ways with the New England Patriots (where he won six Super Bowl rings) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These are just two of the potential landing spots:
- Chargers +200
- Dolphins +300
- Jaguars +350
- Broncos or Patriots +550
Winston is another QB still on the open market. The former Bucs starter could sign as a backup and battle for a starting role in training camp. The question is which team would benefit the most from adding the veteran?
The Jaguars, who recently traded Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears, are the current favorites at +220. Based on the odds, here are the other squads currently in the mix:
- Dolphins +370
- Saints +430
- Broncos or Steelers +600
- Patriots +650
With the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft …
The new WNBA season was scheduled to get underway in May. But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the new start date remains to be determined.
But no matter when teams return to the basketball court, players are needed to fill the rosters. So, the draft is taking place as scheduled this week via a virtual format.
🚨 Update: Good news from our broadcast partner — #WNBADraft 2020 will be on ESPN. Same date (Friday, April 17), new time: 7 p.m. ET. Let’s go! #WNBATogether 🚨https://t.co/yS0xeZgx4E
— WNBA (@WNBA) March 27, 2020
As expected, the betting options are extremely limited, especially compared to the NFL version. But it’s not like there are any basketball or baseball games taking place this weekend.
FanDuel has posted odds for each of the top four overall picks, along with a couple of other props.
As far as the top overall pick goes, the University of Oregon senior guard Sabrina Ionescu is the clear-cut favorite at -20,000. She finished her collegiate career with 2,562 points, 1,091 assists and 1,040 rebounds. A pro career with the New York Liberty is looking like an extremely likely scenario.
This also means wagering on the No. 2 overall pick may be the smarter play for the WNBA bettors out there.
Fellow Oregon Duck Satou Sabally is -300 to go No. 2 while Lauren Cox out of Baylor University is +200.
The bottom line is NJ sports betting customers have options.
Hopefully, one day soon, actual games with point spreads will be back on TV.