Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
This is a great time to be a sports bettor. As sports betting becomes legal in more and more locations, the various sportsbooks are all vying for your business.
Targeting daily odds boosts bets can be one of the best ways to take advantage.
Each day, I’ll be highlighting some of the best odds boosts across the industry and where you can find them.
Friday features another day full of big-time soccer matches, and UFC 251 is right around the corner.
English Premier League Odds Boost
AFC Bournemouth vs. Tottenham Hotspur (1 p.m. ET start)
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United (3:15 p.m. ET start)
Boosted bet: Tottenham and Manchester United both win — +140 on DraftKings (up from +122)
This bet allows you to combine two historically strong EPL sides against two bottom dwellers in the league standings.
Tottenham has had a rough season — they currently sit in just 10th place — but they’re still within striking distance of a top-six finish. That would qualify them for the Europa League next season, so they have plenty to play for in this one. They’ve struggled with injuries this season, but Harry Kane is back in the lineup and they were able to secure a 1-0 victory vs. Everton in their last match.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth is currently sitting in 19th place and will need a lot of help just to avoid relegation. They’ve allowed almost three goals per game since returning in early June, which does not bode well against a team with as much attacking talent as Tottenham.
A place in the Champions League is definitely still possible for Manchester United, but they need a win to keep place with Leicester City. They’re currently four points behind Leicester, but they’ve played one fewer game.
Luckily, Aston Villa shouldn’t present much of a challenge. Man U has averaged 2.8 goals per game since returning from the COVID-19 hiatus, and Aston Villa sits at 18th in the Premier League standings. Manchester United and Tottenham are both significant favorites, so the odds boost on a parlay is pretty appealing.
If you’re looking for a more in depth breakdown of today’s Premier League action, make sure to check out Blake Hampton’s preview.
Portuguese Primeira Liga Odds Boost
Tondela vs. FC Porto (2:15 p.m. ET)
Boosted bet: Porto to win 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0 — +162 on FoxBet
Porto is the clear class of Portuguese soccer at the moment, recording 23 wins and four draws through 30 matches. They currently own a six-point lead over Benfica for the top spot in the league standings, which puts them well on their way toward earning a spot in the Champions League.
Their matchup against Tondela shouldn’t present a ton of problems. They rank just 15th out of 18 squads this season, and they’ve been outscored by 17 goals over 30 matches.
Porto smashed them 3-0 in their first match this season, and they are listed as -375 to win on the moneyline. Tondela is also not expected to score very often in this matchup: The under on 0.5 goals is listed at -148.
Ultimately, Porto winning this contest by a score of 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0 seems like a very reasonable outcome.
UFC 251 Odds Boost
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Boosted bets: Fight to end via KO or TKO — +120 on FanDuel (up from -120)
Usman to win — -250 (and dropping) on PointsBet (up from -300)
Friday’s piece will feature a ton of boosts for UFC 251, so consider this a brief appetizer.
The main event between Usman and Masvidal is garnering a ton of action, and PointsBet is offering an awesome crowd booster if you’re looking to back the favorite.
Usman is currently listed at -250, and that number will continue to drop if more bets come in on him. For every 100 bets, price drops for everyone regardless of when they locked in their wager. That means you can grab him now at -250, and if the line continues to move, your wager will be updated to reflect the boosted odds. Usman has won 15 straight fights, so this wager is a no-brainer if you want to back him.
If you’re more interested in just rooting for a good fight, consider grabbing the “super boost” on FanDuel. You can get +120 on the fight to end via a KO or TKO, while the rest of the industry is offering around -120 on that wager.
Make sure to check out the betting previews from Jonah Shiffman and Jon Kelly for a full breakdown of the UFC 251 card.
