If you are going to bet the Boston Red Sox to win the 2008 World Series, now might not be the time, regardless of how hot they might get.

After a slow start (they lost their last three games), Boston was at the bottom of the standings in the American League East.  A remedy could be forthcoming with the team facing an even more disappointing Detroit Tigers team this week.

It's not as if the oddsmakers have really reacted to the Red Sox early woes.  After all, Boston opened the season with odds of 4 to 1 to win the 2008 World Series.  Now they have odds of 3 to 1.  You can bet Baseball online here 

Even if the Red Sox were to get hot down the stretch, we here at Gambling911.com believe that this is a team that could be given much better payout odds over the next few weeks.  3-1 payout odds with a 3-4 record.  No value!

The New York Yankees, on the other hand, were a decent value heading into the second week of regular season baseball. 

They had an unimpressive 4-3 record but the payout odds for winning the 2008 World Series would result in $600 for every $100 bet or $6000 for every $1000 bet.  The Yankees are typically the perennial favorites to win at the start of each season.

And while the Yankees are a value right now, their counterparts - the New York Mets - are not.  With a record of 2-3, they would only pay $400 for every $100 bet.  Other early favorites like the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers were already down into double digits, even thought the Angels are leading in their respective division. 

Some of the best value at press time would have to be on the Chicago White Sox, a team that has every chance in the world to win the World Series and was listed early with +9000 odds (paying $9000 for every $100 bet).  Now they are listed with 30 to 1 odds (a payout potential of $3000 for every $100 bet).  These odds are likely to be shortened in the coming week to where we might see the White Sox listed in single digit odds.  Therefore, now is the time to bet on the White Sox to win the 2008 World Series.  They were tied with the Baltimore Orioles for longest win streak - five.

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Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com

Originally published April 7, 2008 10:46 pm EST