Each week, our “What’s on Tap” series previews the week ahead in the world of sports betting. Come here for a summary of upcoming financial happenings, legislative and regulatory meetings, industry conferences, top games scheduled for the week and much more.
Monday, Sept. 23
NYSGC Hearing on ESPN BET
More than six months have passed since PENN Entertainment announced that it reached an agreement with Wynn Interactive Holdings to purchase its mobile sports betting license in New York. The $25 million purchase of WynnBET's New York license set the stage for ESPN BET to gain market access in the Empire State.
PENN will take the next steps on Monday when the New York State Gaming Commission will consider its licensing application during a virtual meeting. ESPN BET is live in 18 states, including leading mid-Atlantic states New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The operator originally intended to launch in New York before the start of football season, but the state did not approve the license transfer on time.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Mets and Braves Begin Key Series in Final Week of Season
The Mets defeated the Phillies on Sunday to move into a tie with the Diamondbacks for the second wild-card spot in the National League behind the Padres. The red-hot Mets have won 18 of their last 23 games. Despite dealing with a litany of injuries, the Braves trail the Mets and D'Backs by only two games.
With six games left in the season, the teams open a key series on Tuesday. At DraftKings, the Mets have odds of +1500 to win the NL pennant. The Braves, meanwhile, are the longest shot on the board at +2000. Also on Tuesday, Tarik Skubal will be on the mound for the Tigers as they host the Rays in Detroit. At 17-4 with an ERA of 2.48, Skubal is the favorite for the AL Cy Young award.
The Tigers are tied with the Royals for the second wild-card spot in the AL. The Royals, who have lost seven in a row, lead the Twins by one game for the final position. The Mariners also lurk two games behind Detroit and Kansas City. The Tigers have odds of -370 to make the postseason, while the Mariners are a veritable long shot at +1200.
The hottest team in baseball is the Detroit Tigers.
How?
Free and unlocked at ESPN: A cadre of position-playing kids, a mastery of bullpen games, the best pitcher in the AL and A.J. Hinch, who could lead Detroit to a wild-card matchup in … Houston. https://t.co/eiDOs1gwBf
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 20, 2024
Flutter Hosts Investor Day In New York
FanDuel is coming off a strong quarter in which the operator maintained its lead in U.S. online sports betting market share. Investors will receive an update on FanDuel's plans for innovation when parent company Flutter hosts its annual investor day presentation.
One topic of conversation will surround the operator's parlay mix across the nation. In Illinois, about 64% of FanDuel's handle comes from parlays, according to Barclays, an amount that is considerably higher than archrival DraftKings (37%).
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Clark, Fever Attempt to Even Series With Sun
Caitlin Clark had a rough afternoon in her WNBA playoffs debut, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting on Sunday. Clark and her teammates shot just 21.4% from 3-point range as the Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 93-69, suffering their worst playoff loss in franchise history.
Clark must erase the painful memories quickly as the teams meet for Game 2 on Wednesday night. The Fever must win the next two games of the Best-of-3 series to advance. Clark's odds to win WNBA Finals MVP have ballooned to 100-1.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Georgia and Alabama Square Off in Tuscaloosa
No. 2 Georgia will face fourth-ranked Alabama for the first time since the Crimson Tide ended the Bulldogs' 29-game winning streak last December. Despite the loss in the SEC Championship, Georgia has won 42 regular season games in a row, which is three less than Oklahoma's all-time FBS record.
The two quarterbacks from last year's game, Jalen Milroe and Carson Beck, will both be back on Saturday. Milroe, a dual threat for Alabama, has six touchdowns on the ground this season. Beck, a potential No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, has seven passing TDs without an interception.
The Bulldogs had a bye over the weekend after a narrow 13-12 win over Kentucky on Sept. 15. Georgia's vaunted defense is only allowing six points per game. Georgia is a 2.5-point favorite at ESPN BET; the total is 49.5.
Carson Beck, Georgia offense working to ‘clean up’ before Alabama https://t.co/WtQ8UATo0b
— Chip Towers AJC (@ctowersajc) September 23, 2024
Also on Saturday, No. 15 Louisville travels to South Bend to face Notre Dame. Neither can afford a loss if they hope to remain in playoff contention. Notre Dame is a 4.5-point favorite; the total is 48.5.
Finally, No. 9 Penn State will host No. 19 Illinois in a battle of unbeatens. The Fighting Illini head to Happy Valley after an upset win over Nebraska. Penn State is favored by 18.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Vikings Eye 4-0 Start
The Vikings thrashed the Texans 34-7 on Sunday to remain undefeated on the season. For a team that entered the season with Super Bowl odds of 80-1, Minnesota has been a pleasant surprise. The Vikings can move to 4-0 with a win against NFC North rival Green Bay.
Despite the early-season dominance, the Vikings have received little support on the Super Bowl futures market. As of Monday, the Vikings had odds of 30-1 at BetMGM — odds that placed Minnesota behind 11 teams. The Packers, who have odds of 22-1, may welcome QB Jordan Love back from a knee injury on Sunday.
Four other teams are currently undefeated: the Seahawks, the Steelers, the Bills (who play Jacksonville tonight) and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Kansas City will face the Chargers on Sunday in Southern California.
Have a good week, everyone!
