Best Bets for This Weekend - June 5-6, 2021
It’s the first weekend in June and sports fans can rejoice as the schedule is full. The NBA and NHL playoffs continue as play moves to the next round.
A new NBA series starts in Brooklyn and the Stanley Cup playoffs move to the second round with a few surprises.
One of baseball’s best all-time rivalries rekindles this weekend and the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes happens on Saturday. It’s a full weekend for sports fans and bettors alike.
Here are your best bets for this weekend.
Red Sox @ Yankees
Boston and New York play each for the first time this season. In Game 2, Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez goes up against the Yankees’ Jameson Taillon.
Rodriguez is a respectable 5-4 but has an ERA of 5.64. The left-hander has given up at least four earned runs in each of his last four starts. Needless to say, all four starts were losses for the Red Sox.
Taillon isn’t much better. He is just 1-4 on the season with an ERA of 5.10. He did have a solid outing against the White Sox on May 23. He pitched five innings and gave up two hits and no runs. In his other three starts since May 13, Taillon gave up four earned runs twice and three in the other.
Play the total in Game 2 on Saturday. Both pitchers give up a lot of hits and runs. Expect a total of at least 8.5 and play it up to 9.
Click here to see our best bets for last weekend!
BEST BET: OVER up to 9
Belmont Stakes
The 2021 Triple Crown of horse racing concludes this weekend. Essential Quality, the Kentucky Derby favorite, is favored to win this Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. The horse is given +200 odds to win even though Essential Quality finished fourth at Churchill Downs.
Favorites do not do so well at Belmont, though favorite Tiz the Law won last year. Last year’s race was shortened to 1⅛ miles. This year, it’s back to the normal 1½ miles.
In the last 14 Belmont Stakes races where a Triple Crown was not in play, the favorite has won just three times. In fact, plenty of longshots have won the Belmont like Sarava in 2002 which won with odds of +7000.
The biggest longshot in Saturday’s race is France Go de Ina at +3000, but he doesn’t have the pedigree or the stamina to win. The best bet is on Rock Your World, which is 3-for-4 in its last four races including a win over Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit at the Santa Anita Derby.
BEST BET: Rock Your World (+450)
Jets @ Canadiens Game 3
This second round series gets underway on Wednesday night. The Canadiens are the surprise of the Stanley Cup playoffs having rallied from 3-1 to beat Toronto in Round 1.
With Montreal at home in Game 3, play the Canadiens on the puck line. Regardless of Games 1 and 2, the Canadiens are healthy and play well at home. Plus, there is a chance that they will be a home underdog. Winnipeg won the season series beating the Habs in six of nine games.
BEST BET: Montreal
Bucks @ Nets Game 1
It’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Milwaukee takes on Brooklyn and the Big Three. Game 1 will mark the first time Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden have played together against the Bucks this season.
The two teams play different styles, but one thing is certain. They can both score points. The thing is, the betting public loves the Over. In the three games the two teams played in the regular season, the total was 240, 242.5, and 242.5. Look for similar numbers in Game 1.
With a high total, get in early and take the Under.
BEST BET: UNDER down to 240
