After New Orleans was ravaged by a hurricane, the city was left in distress, desperately looking for a source of hope and relief. The Saints, who had known struggles in the NFL for a longtime, were able to build a Super Bowl run, feeding off the energy of a rejuvenated city who all were able to come together and rally around something bigger than themselves and their losses. This year, sportsbook online players might be witnessing something similar as the Houston Astros close in on an MLB title. It would be some story for a city who is experiencing something almost identical to what New Orleans went through. But the 2017 World Series is just getting started and it’s way too early to start crowning one team a champion over the other. Instead, let’s take a look at which team USA sportsbooks are favoring ahead of Game 1 of this year’s MLB championship series.
Betting Houston
Coming off a season in which they failed to make the playoffs, it’s safe to say that Astros fans are ecstatic about their team’s 2017 success. Nonetheless, the Astros completing the title run would be nothing short of historic but there’s still plenty of work to be done. Houston has posted a 101-61 record thus far this season, so getting the work done is nothing new to this squad. This is the same team that was able to overcome the Boston Red Sox in the AL Divisional Series 3 games to 1. However, the Astros did have a harder time against the New York Yankees, dragging out the AL Championship Series to the full length of 7 games. Houston was able to come up big in the clutch, giving us one of the best series of the year. Now, the Astros are ready to prove the USA sportsbook odds, who are ruling against Houston in Game 1, that they don’t quite know this year’s Astros squad.
Betting Los Angeles
It’s no surprise seeing the Dodgers compete for a world title after the franchise got so close last season. Los Angeles made their way to the World Series by posting a 104-58 record so far. Sportsbook betting sites are pegging the Dodgers as the favorites in the World Series debut and there’s no doubt a large part of that has to do with the stellar performance Los Angeles has posted so far in this year’s postseason. In the National League Division Series, the Dodgers were able to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks without breaking a sweat. Shortly afterwards, Los Angeles faced off against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series. The reigning MLB champions posed more of a problem to the Dodgers, picking up a win in Game 4. Nevertheless, the Dodgers were still able to survive the threat, winning the National League 4 games to 1.
Clayton Kershaw will get the start in Game 1. Kershaw is 18-4 on the season with a 2.31 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Kershaw will be competing against Dallas Keuchel, the man the Astros are sending to the mound to kick off the World Series. Keuchel is 14-5 on the season with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
USA Sportsbook Betting Lines & Odds:
Houston Astros +1 ½ (-150) 7 (+110) +156
Los Angeles Dodgers -1 ½ (+130) 7 (-130) -166
AL Champs. #EarnHistory https://t.co/wbw1c39m2l
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 22, 2017
