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Using Run Line Odds to Your Advantage

Using Run Line Odds to Your Advantage

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There are many times when it makes sense to look at run line odds when betting on MLB games. How often are the Los Angeles Dodgers or Atlanta Braves favorites of -200 or longer? When a team is a heavy favorite, it’s often an indicator that you might find some value in betting the run line odds.

Run line odds often offer more value than moneyline odds.

There is a full slate of MLB games today and a handful of big favorites. It’s often said that bettors should stay away from betting heavy favorites consistently. That’s because underdogs do win about 44 percent of the time in MLB. However, one may find value backed by research in a game with a -200 favorite. Favorites do win more often, but one way to potentially find more value is by considering the run line odds.

Why Run Line Odds Often Make Sense

The Atlanta Braves will host the Chicago Cubs tonight in Game 3 of their current series. The Braves are at home and have won six of their last seven games. They are a pretty big favorite tonight at -170. 

Digging a little deeper, you’ll find that the Cubs have Javier Assad (3-0, 1.70) on the mound. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts this season. Maybe you like the value offered on the Cubs moneyline at +142. One may also like Braves pitcher Charlie Morton and the Braves top six offense that scores nearly five runs (4.92) per game.

Using Run Line Odds to Your Advantage
The Braves run line odds are +125 today.

One may also take note of the Cubs 24th-ranked bullpen and see some opportunity in the Braves run line odds. Bettors can get Atlanta at +125 to cover the run line. Remember, the MLB run line is almost always 1.5. For the Braves to cover, they must beat the Cubs by at least two runs. That is something they did in each of the first two games in the series.

With 2-0 and 7-0 wins in Games 1 and 2, Atlanta covered the run line easily. Moneyline bettors faced odds of -170 and longer in both of those games. However, the run line odds in both games offered plus-money opportunities. The run line odds in Game 1 were +155 and +110 for Game 2. 

That means a $100 bettor could have won $50.51 betting Atlanta on the moneyline in Game 1. Or, that same $100 bettor could have bet Atlanta’s run line odds and taken home $155. That’s why looking at run line odds often makes sense when betting on baseball.

Game Advisers Handicappers Take Over Leaderboard

Ryan Davis and Al Grant took the top spot on yesterday’s leaderboard, which featured a complete Top 5 sweep by Game Advisers exclusive handicappers. That means you can only find these cappers at Game Advisers or on one of our partner sites like Sports Hub.

Let’s take a look at how yesterday played out.

Our top cappers for the week in each sport.
  • Ryan & Al: These guys each hit all three of their picks yesterday. They both hit on two MLB picks and one NBA prediction. For their efforts, each capper added $300 to his bankroll. Al is now up $1496 over the last 30 days.
  • Geo loves soccer: If you didn’t know, Geovanny Araya is our top soccer handicapper. Yesterday, he put two picks in the system and both cashed. His profits yesterday totaled $290 and you might want to check him out today. He’s got five more soccer picks in our database.
  • Sports Hub Insider: With tons of inside industry information, Sports Hub Insider went 3-1 on four picks yesterday. The total haul was $277. The Insider does have an MLB pick ready for today. Could it be a run line odds pick? You’ll have to check for yourself.
  • 2-0 guys: A total of five handicappers each went 2-0 and won $200 yesterday. Four of them – Joe Berra, Computer Picks, Mario Deluca, and Jimmy Liu – are all exclusive handicappers. TonyK 3G-Sports comes to us from 10StarPicks. Our Computer Picks have been on a mini roll as of late. They are now No. 2 on the 3-day leaderboard. 

What to Bet on Today

We’re getting used to this. Two NBA playoff games and two more NHL playoff games are on the schedule tonight. It’s Wednesday, so that means we’ve got a long day full of MLB games. As mentioned, there are some run line odds worth checking out today. 

The WNBA is back. We’ve got two more games tonight after last night’s season openers. The big news, of course, was Indiana guard Caitlin Clark making her league debut. She had 20 points for the Fever in a 92-71 loss to Connecticut.

Here’s what is on today’s schedule.

  1. NBA postseason: Boston can end its series with Cleveland tonight with a victory at home at TD Garden. Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET. Dallas travels to Oklahoma City where the Thunder are 8-1 in their last nine games. The series is tied at 2-2. 
  2. NHL playoffs: Dallas can end its series with Colorado with a win at home tonight in Game 5. The Stars are a -150 favorite. Dallas has won three straight since losing Game 1, 4-3 at home.
  3. Wednesday baseball: Take advantage of those run line odds today. You’ll have plenty of opportunities. There are 15 games on the schedule and several great matchups today, including the Dodgers-Giants series. LA has beaten San Francisco in the first two games of the series. Learn more about how to win by betting MLB streaks.
  1. WNBA: One night after Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut, we get two more games. Chicago is at Dallas and Atlanta is at the Los Angeles Sparks. 
  2. Big soccer day: There are two more Premier League matches today and four in LaLiga. It’s a Wednesday full of MLS too. There are 13 MLS matches today. Inter Miami CF faces in-state rival Orlando City SC in Orlando. 
  3. Men’s tennis: There are two quarterfinal matches at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. No. 3 Alexander Zverev faces No. 11 Taylor Fritz in one of them.
  4. Women’s tennis: There are two more quarterfinal matches on the women’s side of the tournament. No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces No. 9 Jelena Ostapenko.

NFL News Is Trending

It’s a big day for football fans as the 2024 NFL schedule is released today. We learned already that Kansas City will host Baltimore on the NFL’s kickoff night, which is set for Thursday, Sept. 5. It is also known that the New York Jets and QB Aaron Rodgers will play the San Francisco 49ers in this season’s first Monday Night Football game. 

Football isn’t the only trending sports news. Let’s take a look.

  • NFL schedule: The entire 2024 NFL schedule will be released at 8:00 p.m. ET today. Be on the lookout for season win totals odds and updates to other NFL futures tomorrow.
  • Clark debut: Caitlin Clark had a tough time last night as her Indiana Fever got stomped by Connecticut. Clark did finish with 20 points but shot just 5-for-15 from the floor. She also committed 10 turnovers.
  • Preakness scratch: The 149th running of the Preakness Stakes is this Saturday, May 18. Muth, the Preakness favorite heading into the race, has been scratched due to a 103-degree fever. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is now the favorite at 5-2.
  • Brunson again: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson collected yet another 40-point game last night. He hit for 44 points in last night’s Knicks win over Indiana. Brunson now has five 40-point performances among his 11 playoff games this season. He’s averaging 33.9 points per game in the playoffs.

Don’t Forget Those Run Line Odds

With 15 MLB games on the schedule today, there has to be some value somewhere. It’s likely that bettors could find some great bets on MLB run line odds today. If you’re having some issues deciding on what to bet on, visit our picks database. We’ve got the best handicappers on the planet right here at Game Advisers and you can have access to them all…for free!

If you’re not a member and would like access to these great picks, click that JOIN NOW button to get started. In a matter of minutes, our expert handicappers will have your card set straight for today.