Weekly Q&A With Sports Interaction (May 18)

LeBron James and the Cavaliers overpowered the Raptors by 31 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.


Each week, we talk to Sports Interaction to get their thoughts on what’s going on in the sports betting world, with an emphasis on sports betting in Canada.

Here’s our Q&A with them for this week.

(Posted May 19, 2016)

Toronto Raptors Odds For Eastern Conference Finals

The Toronto Raptors made franchise history when they beat the Miami Heat and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time. After two long and grueling series, now they’re up against a well-rested Cleveland Cavaliers team. Is this the end of the road for the Raptors?

It would be a major upset of Toronto knocked off Cleveland. The Cavaliers swept their first two series in the NBA playoffs and opened as huge -743 favourites to advance to the NBA Finals.

The problem with the Raptors is that their superstars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are both banged up and big man Jonas Valanciunas remains on the sideline with an ankle injury. When you’re facing LeBron James and a team like the Cavaliers, you need all hands on deck.

The Raptors are playing a scrappy brand of basketball though and they’re going to be big underdogs on the point spread – especially in Cleveland. We still expect to see a lot of Raptors support to cover these spreads as big underdogs.

 

East Conference finals sIA

 

Preakness Stakes Odds

After Nyquist thrilled the Kentucky Derby crown and came away with the first leg of the Triple Crown, what should we expect at this weekend’s Preakness Stakes?

Nyquist’s odds were set at about +200 or 2-1 to win the Kentucky Derby, but this weekend he is pegged as a -148 favourite at the Preakness Stakes. So, if you want to back the favourite this time around, you’re going to have to eat a bigger price tag.

That said, there was nothing from Nyquist’s performance at the Derby that wouldn’t make you think he could run away with the Preakness, too. If that happens, get ready for even bigger prices as Nyquist goes for the Triple Crown.

 

Preakness Stakes

 

Toronto Blue Jays Betting And World Series Odds

The Toronto Blue Jays are still hovering around the .500 mark. Are Jays bettors starting to get a little anxious?

Maybe a little, but that’s more to do with the hype surrounding this team than the product on the field. The Jays are still very much in the mix in the AL East and have the kind of lineup that can carry a team for a while if it gets hot.

Toronto needs to do some work with its pitching, but this team remains a strong contender in the American League and sees strong betting support every time it takes the field.

 

Jays World Series odds

 

Stanley Cup Betting Odds

Now that we’re down to the final four in the NHL playoffs, have hockey bettors settled on a clear nightly favourite?

Of course, it all depends on each game’s’ odds at this time of year, but the one team that has seen consistent betting support since the playoffs began is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby’s Pens have been the hottest team in the league for months and they remain the most popular team among playoff bettors.

Cup odds