In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Are the Dodgers unstoppable?

2. Bets to Watch: Betts has a hit in 9 straight vs. Blue Jays

3. NFL: A look at spread trends through seven weeks

4. Public Money: Where bettors have their World Series, NBA and CFB money

5. Overtime: The nine NFL players who could most use a trade (and the NFL father that is keeping his son on his fantasy bench)

1. Leading Off

The defending World Series champion Dodgers didn’t meet their superteam expectations for much of the regular season. There was even a time when it looked like they wouldn’t win their division. Los Angeles did end up taking the NL West for the 12th time in 13 seasons, but at 93-69, finished with its worst full-season record since 2018. They earned the three seed and were forced to play in the Wild Card round.

But the Dodgers have been unstoppable since the postseason began. They’ve won nine of 10 games, sweeping the Reds and Brewers in the process, with a run differential of +18. Predicted to be a liability when the postseason began, the Dodgers pitching staff has been a debilitating weapon, giving up just one run in five straight games.

The Blue Jays come into the World Series as the AL’s No. 1 seed, beating the Yankees and Mariners in four and seven games, respectively. But they are now sizable underdogs against the Dodgers, with FanDuel giving Toronto +190 odds to take home the title (LA is -230). The sportsbook sees a Dodgers 4-1 or 4-2 series win as most likely (+360) and gives LA +680 odds to win in a sweep. Shohei Ohtani is the big favorite to take home the MVP award (+165), followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+600), George Springer (+1000), and Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts (+1600).

Game 1 is tonight in Toronto, with the Dodgers ace Blake Snell (3-0, 0.86) going up against Blue Jays rookie phenom Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.20). The-22 year-old is the youngest pitcher to start Game 1 of the World Series since 1947, when the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca took the mound.

—Abe Rakov

2. Bets to Watch

Blue Jays Relying on Rookie Starter in Game 1, Dodgers’ Betts Feasts on Toronto Pitching

By Todd Cordell

Dodgers SS Mookie Betts over 0.5 singles (-114 at DraftKings)
Mookie Betts has killed the Blue Jays dating back to his days with the Red Sox. That hasn’t changed since becoming a member of the Dodgers. In fact, it may have only…

3. NFL

Indianapolis is 5-2 Against the Spread and 14.5-Point Favorites Against Tennessee

Seven weeks into the NFL season, we now have enough data to look for trends in the spread market. Here’s a look at Week 8 matchups, each team’s record against the spread, and the teams that are backed by 70%+ of bettors so far:

• Bills (-7.5, -102) vs. Panthers (+7.5, -120): BUF 1-5 ATS, CAR 5-2 ATS

  • 77% of the money and 72% of the bets are with Buffalo

• Jets (+6.5, -115) vs. Bengals (-6.5, -105): NYJ 3-4, CIN 3-4

  • 84% of the money and 80% of the bets are with Cincinnati

• Bears (+6.5, -110) vs. Ravens (-6.5, -110): CHI 4-2, BAL 2-4

• Browns (+7, -114) vs. Patriots (-7, -106): CLE 3-4, NE 5-2

• 49ers (+1.5, -105) vs. Texans (-1.5, -115): SF 4-3, HOU 2-4

  • 73% of the money and 81% of the bets are with San Francisco

• Dolphins (+7.5, -112) vs. Falcons (-7.5, -108): MIA 3-4, ATL 3-3

  • 81% of the money and 78% of the bets are with Atlanta

• Giants (+7.5, -120) vs. Eagles (-7.5, -102): NYG 4-3, PHI 4-3

• Buccaneers (-4.5, -104) vs. Saints (+4.5, -118): TB 4-3, NO 2-5

  • 81% of the money and 82% of the bets are with Tampa Bay

• Titans (+14.5, -118) vs. Colts (-14.5, -104): TEN 2-5, IND 5-2

  • 80% of the money and 72% of the bets are with Indianapolis

• Cowboys (+3.5, -115) vs. Broncos (-3.5, -105): DAL 4-3, DEN 2-5

  • 74% of the money and 75% of the bets are with Dallas

• Packers (-3, -102) vs. Steelers (+3, -120): GB 2-4, PIT 3-3

• Commanders (+11.5, -102) vs. Chiefs (-11.5, -120): WAS 3-4, KC 4-3

  • 79% of the money and 70% of the bets are with Kansas City

4. Public Money

Bettors Back Dodgers in Game 1, 7 NBA Games Where 60%+ of Bettors Are Behind a Team

5. Overtime

In the News 

• Multiple current and former NBA players and coaches, including Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in connection with a Mafia-backed poker and sports betting scheme.

• Oronde Gadsden II’s dad, a former NFL wide receiver, continues to keep his son on his fantasy football bench despite his breakout performances (Gadsden II had another 77 yards and a TD last night).

• CBS Sports picks nine NFL players who could benefit most from a move at the trade deadline.

• Lionel Messi signed a contract extension with Inter Miami to keep the superstar with the club as it moves into a new stadium next season.

• The Dallas Wings hired University of South Florida coach Jose Fernandez as their new head coach.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 3pm: Leeds vs. West Ham on USA

• 7pm: Maple Leafs vs. Sabres on ESPN+/Hulu

• 7:30pm: Celtics vs. Knicks on Prime (or Cal vs. Virginia Tech on ESPN)

• 8pm: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays in Game 1 of the World Series on FOX

• 10pm: Timberwolves vs. Lakers on Prime