The NJ sports betting menu currently resembles a refrigerator after returning home from a long vacation.
There is some live-action, but the more popular events fall under the wait-and-see category.
Hopefully, the NBA, NHL and MLB will all be back in time for summer. Now that the NFL Draft prop party is over and done with, the wagering action is expected to be light.
But May will have a few highlights:
- Sometime in the next week, the 2020 NFL schedule will be announced.
- UFC 249 is still slated for May 9.
- Start your engines because NASCAR is back on May 17.
Hopefully, sometime soon, the pro sports leagues will announce restart plans.
In the meantime, here is a look at four sports you can bet on now.
Where is Andy Dalton going?
It’s no surprise that the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow No. 1 overall last week.
Days later, the team released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
We have released QB Andy Dalton. Andy has not only been an outstanding player on the field, but a role model in the Cincinnati community for the last nine years.
Thank you for everything, Andy. pic.twitter.com/pBj9THIot5
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 30, 2020
As far as local football fans are concerned, he is no Nick Foles. However, betting on where Dalton ends up is something to ponder.
The New England Patriots still have a major void to fill after Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. But they could look at a short-term fix until next year’s draft rolls around.
The Philadelphia Eagles certainly don’t make sense after selecting Jalen Hurts. The odds are +10,000 that it will happen.
So, before Dalton signs with a team, here is the odds breakdown from DraftKings Sportsbook:
The New England Patriots are currently the favorites to land Andy Dalton 🧐 pic.twitter.com/sQHZbWKPNV
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) April 30, 2020
iRacing: Finish Line 150 at Dover
Until NASCAR returns later this month, NJ sportsbooks continue to take an outside-the-box approach with its offerings.
IRacing is one of the newer events recently approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). Some have no idea what it’s all about.
Here is a quick tutorial.
Like a real NASCAR race, there are wagers on the final outcome. Up next is Sunday’s Finish Line 150 at Dover.
Bettors can put money down that the driver will be the outright winner, place in the top three, or crack the top 10.
As far as the favorite to win goes, here is the odds breakdown from DraftKings:
- William Byron +165
- Timmy Hill +650
- Garrett Smithley +900
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1200
- Danny Hamlin +1200
- Ryan Preece +1200
As a bonus, there are several race props available, too.
Belarusian soccer action
The good news about Belarusian soccer is the games are taking place early in the morning. So, those who decide to wager on Saturday’s games could potentially learn the result while drinking the morning coffee.
This is another one of the sports recently approved by the DGE.
The games start at 7 a.m. EDT. Streaming is available via the FanDuel Sportsbook app for customers who place a wager.
The first matchup is FC Minsk (+150) versus Torpedo BelAz (+180). Bettors also have the option of betting that the game will end in a tie (+200).
There are several props on the board as well, including:
- First goalscorer
- Over/under total goals
- Correct score
- Half-time result
Get $150
NJ sports betting + NBA Draft on the horizon
Besides figuring out how and when the league is returning, the NBA has another big event in the not too distant future.
The NBA Draft is tentatively scheduled for June 25. At this point, don’t be surprised if it’s conducted virtually.
FanDuel is one of the sportsbooks offering odds on the No. 1 overall pick. Here are the top five names on the board as of Friday:
- Anthony Edwards +100
- James Wiseman +180
- LaMelo Ball +300
- Deni Avdija +550
- Obi Toppin +550
At this point, the league still needs to hold its lottery to determine which franchise gets the No. 1 pick.
Remember, American pro sports are coming back. Just be very, very patient.