A fun weekend chock-full of sports betting action is highlighted by one of the most unique matchups of 2021, as YouTube celebrity Jake Paul takes on former UFC welterweight contender Ben Askren in an eight-round professional boxing match on Saturday night. Read below for a breakdown of how PlaySugarHouse.com and BetRivers.com bettors are wagering on the fight, and the rest of the sporting weekend.
BOXING: On Saturday night, controversial YouTube celebrity Jake Paul (2-0, -190 ML) steps inside the ring for the third time to take on former UFC welterweight contender and four-time All-American wrestler Ben Askren (0-0, +160 ML) in an eight-round main event. Paul, who opened as a -250 ML favorite, most recently defeated former NBA star Nate Robinson via second-round KO in November. The public is currently backing Paul with 75% of the total fight bets and 63% of the total fight handle despite facing the first legitimate professional of his career. There has been plenty of line movement as the week progressed and the buzz for this fight grew, as Paul moved from -250 to -220, all the way to -168 and now back to -190.
Askren (19-2-1 MMA), who won 19 consecutive fights and captured the Bellator and ONE FC welterweight titles, is both the betting and public underdog for just the second time in his professional career. At UFC 239 in July of 2019, Askren entered his highly anticipated bout against Jorge Masvidal as the betting and public underdog for the very first time, and was knocked out cold in under seven seconds thanks to a highlight reel flying knee, suffering his first pro loss and only knockout loss of his career.
The largest current bet is a $3,600 wager on Jake Paul (-179 ML) by an Illinois BetRivers.com bettor that will pay out $5,616 if Paul is victorious.
MLB: The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the weekend with a 5-8 record through their first 14 games. While the 2021 MLB season is still young, if the Buccos continue this trend, they will finish the season with 62 wins. The pre-season win total for Pittsburgh — the second most popular N.L. win total bet — was set at 59.5 wins, and 89% of the handle is backing the Under (-111).
On the other end of the spectrum are the red-hot Boston Red Sox, winners of nine of their last ten. Boston is on pace to win 112 games, and while that might be a bit of a stretch, what’s more realistic is the Red Sox winning over 80.5 games, the team’s pre-season win total. The public is backing Over 80.5 (-105) with 79% of the handle and 81% of bets. There is a lot of baseball still to be played, but for bettors backing the Red Sox to make the playoffs (+274), like the Illinois BetRivers.com bettor who wagered $2,400 with a potential payout of $8,976, things are starting off on the right foot.
NBA: The Philadelphia 76ers (+450 East) have the best record in the East but remain behind the Brooklyn Nets (-106) and Milwaukee Bucks (+250) as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia, winners of three straight, host the Los Angeles Clippers this evening (+225 West). The Clippers and Sixers are currently backed by the third and fourth largest percentage of total NBA championship handle respectively, trailing just the Lakers and Nets.
The two teams above the Clippers in the West standings are the Utah Jazz (+400 West) and Phoenix Suns (+900 West), winners of nine of their last ten. The Suns have been backed by more money in the month of April than any team in the Western Conference, while Utah currently holds the NBA’s best record. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder is both the odds-on (-167) and public favorite to win Coach of the Year honors, backed by 41% of the futures handle and 17% of futures bets.
SOCCER: A pivotal weekend of domestic cup action awaits sports bettors this weekend thanks to the Copa del Rey final and the FA Cup semifinals. F.C. Barcelona (-200 ML) is the strong public pick to defeat Athletic Club Bilbao (+475 ML) and win Spain’s top domestic tournament, backed by 89% of total game bets and 86% of total game handle. Barcelona and Bilbao have split their last four meetings, although Bilbao has won the last two meetings in tournament play, including the 2020 Copa del Rey quarterfinals. The first of two FA Cup semifinals, Manchester City (-124 ML) is a strong public favorite, backed by 86% of total game bets and 85% of total game handle to defeat Chelsea (+370 ML) and advance to its third FA Cup Final in three years. On Sunday, Leicester City (-113 ML) looks to advance to its first FA Cup Final since 1969 when it faces Southampton (+300 ML). Leicester is the public pick with 91% of total game bets and 84% of total game handle.
