Straight Outta Vegas AM

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest preview and picks for the 2026 Masters Tournament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday Michigan is a national champion, Uncle Diamond Dave Esler cashed a 5-to-1 futures ticket, and there are still three MLB games, two NBA matchups, and a Masters first-round leader portfolio to get through before the week really starts. That is the agenda on this Tuesday, April 7th edition of Cash That Ticket on the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed, hosted by Munaf Manji alongside Dave Esler. The show opens with a full championship recap of Michigan's 69-63 victory over UConn, breaking down how the Wolverines won despite shooting just 38 percent from the floor and going 2-of-15 from three-point range, leaning instead on a 25-of-28 free throw performance and a 36-22 edge in points in the paint. The guys walk through the sharp money signals on the spread, why the total was never going to go over once the pace was established, and why UConn fans have no real basis for their free throw complaints given how the Huskies are built offensively. On the MLB side, Munaf and Dave break down three Tuesday games starting with the Dodgers and Blue Jays in Toronto for Game 2, where Yoshinobu Yamamoto faces Kevin Gausman in what projects as a low-scoring first-five-innings battle worth playing both from the under and the Toronto run line. Dave makes the case for Gausman's historically dominant start to 2026 as genuine value against the Dodgers price, flagging Max Muncy as the one hitter with the résumé to hurt him, and declines to lay the full-game number on Los Angeles given continued bullpen concerns. The second game sends the Mariners to Arlington, where George Kirby carries a jaw-dropping career record against the Rangers into a matchup against Nathan Eovaldi, who has allowed 11 earned runs in fewer than nine innings this season. Munaf names Kirby and Seattle at minus-120 as his official best bet of the episode. The third game features Cristopher Sánchez and the Phillies visiting Oracle Park against Robbie Ray and a Giants team that has gone 1-and-7 since opening weekend, with Dave pointing to the first-five Phillies run line and the under as his preferred structure in a pitcher-friendly park. The NBA card covers Boston hosting Charlotte in a game that means considerably more to the Hornets, who are scrapping for seeding in a tight play-in race, while the Celtics essentially mark time before a more consequential Thursday matchup with New York. Both hosts like the under, backed by back-to-back regular-season meetings that stayed well beneath their respective totals and top-ten defensive ratings from both clubs over the last ten games. The late game puts a streaking but arguably fraudulent Rockets road run to its toughest test yet in Phoenix, where the Suns are a strong home team and both Dylan Brooks and Jalen Green will be facing former employers with something to prove. Dave takes Phoenix, and Munaf agrees. To close, Dave delivers the week's first Masters betting segment with first-round leader plays for Thursday's opening round at Augusta National, building a plus-money portfolio anchored by Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler as proven top-five finishers in round one, Adam Scott at an eye-opening 50-to-1 given his current form on approach shots and first-round scoring, Chris Gotterup at 39-to-1 in his Augusta debut, and Jason Day at plus-475 to finish in the top ten after round one, a number Dave considers well below fair value given Day's documented history at this course. Dave's official best bet for Tuesday is the Yankees to win the first five innings against Oakland on the run line at minus-140 with Cam Schlittler dominating a lineup that has never faced him. Use promo code PLAYBALL20 at Pregame.com for 20 percent off, including MLB season all-access packages. Good through April 13th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji talks betting for Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor delivers the sharpest preview and card for the Valero Texas Open at Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday Cash That Ticket opened the month of April the same way it closed March — with winners. Host Munaf Manji and co-host Uncle Diamond Dave Esler delivered Wednesday's episode on the Straight Out of Vegas AM feed riding a 2-0 night from March 31st that pushed their season best-bet record to 54 wins and 35 losses, 60.6 percent, plus 14.5 units, a pace Munaf openly challenged any daily sports betting podcast to match. Dave added important framing: every pick on this show goes out before noon Eastern, before injury reports are finalized, before the market has all available information, a degree of difficulty the raw numbers don't reflect but the results consistently reward. The episode covered four games across three sports, beginning with the College Basketball Crown quarterfinals at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where Dave quickly identified the transfer portal as the dominant storyline in the Oklahoma-Colorado matchup, with Colorado missing three players to opt-outs including freshman Isaiah Johnson, their leading three-point and free-throw shooter, and a 7-foot-4 starting center who had scored 22 points in two of their last three games. Dave called the full-game under 166 the play in a lopsided game where neither team has reason to push pace or run up score, and also floated the Colorado team total under as a derivative. For the late quarterfinal at 10:30 Eastern, Dave took Minnesota to upset Baylor, citing Baylor's 13th-ranked conference defense and turnover-prone offense while expressing greater belief in the Gophers' motivation under coach Medved. On the MLB side, Dave endorsed Joe Ryan first five innings in the Twins-Royals matchup, calling the Royals nine-run total through four games evidence enough that Kansas City won't solve Ryan tonight, while Munaf locked in the Twins -120 full game as his primary play and flagged the under 8.5 as a lean. The featured matchup was the Guardians visiting the Dodgers with Gavin Williams, a pitcher carrying a 13.03 career ERA against Los Angeles and a six-walk performance in his season opener, lined up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto coming off a 0.38 ERA across four April starts in 2025. Dave took the Dodgers first five innings on the run line, while Munaf made the Dodgers full-game team total over 4.5 at -135 his official best bet, citing Williams' walk tendencies and the Dodgers' pending offensive breakout as the two forces converging tonight. Dave's NBA best bet was the Knicks team total over 121.5 against Memphis, an intangibles call built on the argument that New York, sitting three games behind Boston for the two-seed, cannot afford to drop a fourth straight game to a Grizzlies team that plays no defense and has no season left to play for. Munaf endorsed it as a textbook get-right spot. Listeners who want in on Uncle Dave's MLB season-long package can visit Pregame.com and use promo code PLAYBALL20 for 20 percent off anything on the site, including already-discounted season-long subscription packages, through April 13th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Wednesday. Griffin Warner, the Realness of Pregame.com, returns for the April 1 episode of What I Bet riding a 5-2-1 run over his last eight plays and targeting a sixth win with a best bet built around one of the strongest pitching matchups on the board. The episode covers the opening day of the Crown college basketball tournament in Las Vegas, starting with a deep dive into Oklahoma's rapidly inflating line against Colorado, where a move from minus 6 to minus 9.5 triggers genuine curiosity about the Buffaloes without quite enough roster clarity to commit. Baylor and Minnesota follow in the late game, where Griffin makes the case that minus 4 is cheap for Scott Drew's program given how competitive the Bears were all season despite historic injury attrition, while Minnesota's road limitations and talent drain make them difficult to trust on a neutral floor. The bulk of the episode belongs to major league baseball, where Griffin works through all 12 games on a packed Wednesday slate. In Atlanta, Chris Sale and Luis Severino frame a matchup where the under 8 and the Athletics run line both draw interest, while Oakland's strikeout vulnerability against ace-level pitching provides the clearest structural lean. The most committed play of the card comes in Cincinnati, where Griffin fades Paul Skenes at minus 154 and backs Andrew Abbott at plus 139, citing Skenes' worst big-league start in his previous outing, O'Neil Cruz's likely absence against a left-hander, and a recurring market inefficiency where Pittsburgh gets more love than their roster deserves. Griffin also identifies Tampa Bay at plus 120 in Milwaukee as a legitimate lean, likes the Kansas City Royals as underdogs against a Minnesota rotation being carefully managed toward a trade deadline, and acknowledges Gavin Williams in Los Angeles as a pitcher still worth backing despite recent rough luck against the Dodgers' power lineup. Before the best bet, Griffin rolls out the Pregame.com promo code HOMERUN20, good for 20 percent off everything on the site including full MLB season all-access packages through the World Series, the largest discount he has offered in his seven-year tenure with Pregame.com. The episode closes with the best bet locked in on the New York Yankees versus Seattle Mariners, under 7, with Cam Schlittler opposing George Kirby in Seattle. Griffin reinforces the setup with a reference to Monday's low-scoring result in the same series, credits Kirby as the defining factor in the pitching matchup, and offers a first-five under as an optional half-unit side play for listeners who want an extra layer of protection against extra innings. Use promo code HOMERUN20 at Pregame.com to save 20 percent, follow at therealnessgorgiewarner across all social media platforms, and find the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday. The Cash That Ticket podcast returns for a stacked Friday edition covering three MLB games from the opening weekend card, two confirmed Elite Eight matchups with live lines, and a pair of best bets to send listeners into the weekend with a plan. Host Munaf Manji and veteran handicapper Uncle Diamond Dave Esler open the show on a high note, with Dave having cashed his Pregame.com dollar best bet the night before on Texas covering against Purdue, a play he held firm on despite the line moving from 7 to 8.5. The MLB conversation starts with the A's visiting Toronto, where Dave makes the case against Kevin Gausman at a steep price point, citing shaky early-season splits and a structural argument against backing home teams on the run line when they might not bat in the ninth. Both hosts like the under 9 on a cold night with the Rogers Centre roof closed, and Munaf takes the plus-money A's given Luis Severino's strong road profile from last season. The Royals and Braves provide the pitching matchup of the night, with Cole Ragans facing Chris Sale in Atlanta. Dave leans into Royals history against Sale, highlights Salvador Perez's success in career at-bats against the veteran lefty, and notes Sale's pattern of allowing three or more earned runs in his first four outings of a season. Both hosts agree on under 7.5 and find value with Kansas City at plus money. The third game sends the Guardians to Seattle for Game 2 of a series Cleveland opened with a 6-4 victory. Dave challenges the assumption that the Mariners automatically bounce back, pointing to taxed bullpens on both sides, George Kirby's history of being managed carefully on innings, and Gavin Williams' quiet effectiveness against Seattle in limited head-to-head history. The Guardians run line in the first five innings is the preferred play. The show then shifts to Saturday's Elite Eight, with Dave and Munaf covering both confirmed games. Iowa gets the points against Illinois, with both handicappers respecting the familiarity factor between Big Ten programs that already played a close game this season, and cautioning against overreacting to Illinois' dominant win over Houston. Arizona gets the stronger endorsement, with Dave breaking down Purdue's difficult tournament path, its free throw-dependent win over Miami, and a late scare from Texas before facing a Wildcats team that dropped 109 on Arkansas and holds a top-three defense nationally. Best bets close the episode, with Dave backing Michigan team total under 91.5 based on the weakness of the Wolverines' previous tournament opponents, and Munaf laying the points with the LA Clippers against the Indiana Pacers behind Kawhi Leonard's recent form and Darius Garland's fit alongside him in the backcourt. Use promo code MVP15 at Pregame.com for fifteen dollars off any picks package, valid through April 6th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Manji and co-host Uncle Diamond Dave Esler arrive on Thursday, March 26th locked in and ready to work. Dave opens the episode acknowledging a backdoor cover loss on Auburn from Wednesday before confirming the OKC-Boston play cashed and kept the audience in the green, then pivots immediately to a live golf position on Marco Pence at 43-to-1 at the Texas Children's Open, tied for the lead through seven holes before the afternoon wind picks up. Before the first baseball pitch is handicapped, Munaf drops significant league news, as two NBA expansion franchises have been formally approved by the Board of Governors, one heading to Las Vegas and the other returning professional basketball to Seattle for the first time since the SuperSonics departed for Oklahoma City. The NBA breakdown centers on the most meaningful game of a thin three-game Thursday slate, the New York Knicks traveling to Charlotte to face the Hornets as 1.5-point home favorites with a 222.5 total. Dave makes the case for a first-half under, noting that Charlotte's recent win streak has been built almost entirely against bottom-of-the-standings teams and at home, while Munaf backs the Knicks plus the points after pointing out the Hornets hold a 19-24 record against above-.500 opponents this season. The real work of the episode is Opening Day itself, and the hosts cover three full games with methodical depth. Red Sox at Reds features Garrett Crochet at -163 against Andrew Abbott, and both hosts identify the first-five under and the Cincinnati run line as the sharper plays rather than following the public money on Boston, with Dave raising valid concerns about relying on Crochet's strikeout prop at 7.5 given Opening Day pitch count management. Tigers at Padres brings Tarik Skubal to Petco Park to face Nick Pivetta, and Munaf delivers a detailed case for the Padres plus odds, citing Pivetta's seven shutout innings against Detroit last April, his 0.99 WHIP and 8-1 home record in 2025, and a San Diego bullpen built to close games. The evening game at Dodger Stadium pits Zach Gallen against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Dave and Munaf both gravitate toward unders, with an alternate first-five total of 5.5 as the cleaner entry, while Munaf notes that Yamamoto's career home ERA of 1.33 against Arizona and his tendency to finish Opening Day starts around 72 to 90 pitches complicates any strikeout prop that requires a deep outing. Dave closes with his best bet on the Orioles-Twins first-five under 4.5, crediting Trevor Rogers and Joe Ryan as two elite early-innings arms, and uses the moment to reflect openly on a 2025 baseball season where his top-rated plays were profitable but overall volume worked against him, committing to a tighter, sharper approach in 2026. Munaf's best bet is the Padres money line at +113. The episode closes with a mention of the Pregame.com season-long baseball package available at $15 off with promo code MVP15, and a preview of Friday's episode covering Sweet 16 results, more MLB action, and a look at the NBA standings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. Munaf Manji and Uncle Dave Essler came ready to work on the March 25th edition of Cash That Ticket, rolling through three sports with sharp opinions and sharper picks. The NBA led the charge, with Boston hosting Oklahoma City in what Munaf called a potential Finals preview between two of the three true title contenders in the league alongside San Antonio. The Celtics entered as 2.5-point home underdogs with a total of 218.5, and both hosts landed on Boston, with Dave targeting the Celtics team total over 108.5 at DraftKings as the cleanest angle in the game. The reasoning was airtight. In the previous meeting, Boston shot just 40 percent from the field, got out-rebounded, and still hung 102 points on Oklahoma City, all without Jason Tatum and Derrick White. With both players back in the lineup and Nikola Vucevic the only notable absence on the Boston side due to a right ring fracture, even a modest shooting improvement pushes the Celtics comfortably past that team total. Dave noted he had personally bet Boston the day prior at plus 3.5, a number that had since moved to 2.5, and while he acknowledged the rematch rarely produces the same result, he could not argue against the value Boston represented at home. Munaf was equally firm, backing the Celtics outright and noting their defense would keep Oklahoma City in check on the other end. The Friday Sweet 16 card came next, and the hosts worked through all four matchups in order. Duke opened as a 6.5-point favorite over St. John's with a total of 141.5, and Dave made the case for the Blue Devils while freely admitting a Red Storm victory would not shock him at all. His reasoning centered on Jon Shire's year-over-year improvement at Duke, a neutral-site resume that included wins over Kansas, Arkansas, and Florida, and the fact that St. John's only loss since January came to UConn, a team that plays a style nearly identical to Duke. Rick Pitino received full credit as perhaps the best in-game coach in the sport, but Dave believed Duke gets it done. Michigan State and UConn served up the most creative betting strategy of the episode, with the Huskies laying 1.5 points on a total of just 135.5. Dave went two-part, backing UConn in the first half and the first-half under, then floating the idea of grabbing Michigan State at an improved live number at halftime. Both teams ranked in the top 13 nationally in defensive efficiency, and Dave was emphatic that fading Tom Izzo in the final minutes of a close game is simply not something he is willing to do. Munaf liked Michigan State for the full game and agreed that patience at halftime represented the sharpest path to the number. Iowa State laid 4.5 against Tennessee with a total of 138.5, and both hosts landed on the Cyclones despite the number feeling short. The case against Tennessee was statistical and pointed. The Volunteers turned the ball over more than every SEC team except one, struggled to score consistently, and were poor from the free throw line. Iowa State led the entire Big Ten in turnovers forced, and the teams that beat Tennessee this season did exactly what the Cyclones do best. The Josh Jefferson injury loomed over the entire conversation, but even accounting for his potential absence, neither host could build a convincing case for Tennessee covering. Alabama and Michigan closed the college card with the biggest total on the board at 174.5 and Michigan laying 9.5. Dave went Alabama with the points, crediting the Crimson Tide for handling better tournament competition than Michigan despite missing their suspended star Holloway, while questioning whether the Wolverines had truly been tested after wins over Howard and St. Louis. The MLB segment landed just as the season officially opened, with both hosts aligned on the Boston Red Sox at plus 320 in the AL East, pointing to Garrett Crochet as a Cy Young candidate and the division's best overall rotation. The AL Central produced a split, with Munaf backing Detroit at plus 110 and Dave preferring Kansas City at plus 225 behind Bobby Witt if not the Tigers. Both agreed Seattle wins the AL West at even money, with Dave pitching a creative parlay structure combining the Mariners and Tigers with the Yankees, Red Sox, or Blue Jays for returns between 11-to-1 and 16.5-to-1. The best bets closed the show cleanly. Dave went Auburn minus 9.5 over Nevada in the NIT, citing 12 wins over top-20 opponents for Auburn against a Nevada team whose last true road win came January 17th at Air Force, the 345th-ranked program in college basketball. Munaf laid the big number with San Antonio minus 16.5 against Memphis, pointing to four recent Spurs wins by margins of 28, 1, 15, and 25 points, three of which featured 130 or more points scored, against a Grizzlies squad getting blown out by 39 and 23 in back-to-back outings. Dave endorsed the pick and suggested 16.5 might actually be light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Wednesday. Griffin Warner opened his March 25th episode of What I Bet on the Pregame.com Podcast Network by reporting a 4-1-1 record over his last six plays, with the push coming from a Tulsa bet that held a 16-point first-half lead in Tuesday NIT action but failed to cover after Wichita State reached the number late. Warner then broke down his Wednesday NIT quarterfinals, starting with Illinois State as 7.5-point underdogs at Dayton, total 139.5, tipping at 6 p.m. Central. He praised coach Ryan Piton for rebuilding the program and retaining talent in a transfer-heavy Missouri Valley Conference, but flagged Chase Walker, the preseason Player of the Year, as a major liability due to recurring foul trouble. Walker projects at roughly 6-foot-8 against Dayton's 7-foot-1 center Latong, a length mismatch Warner called a serious structural problem. He leaned Illinois State as a value play with 7.5 points of cushion but stopped short of a firm bet given the home crowd advantage Dayton carries, which he called among the most valuable in college basketball. The second NIT game featured Nevada as 9.5-point underdogs at Auburn, total 154.5, at 8 p.m. Central. The line opened at Nevada plus-10 before moving a half-point toward the Wolf Pack. Warner identified Auburn point guard Pettiford, a McDonald's All-American, as the best player in the game and noted Auburn finished around 17-16 under a first-year coaching staff after Bruce Pearl retired. He highlighted Nevada guard Corey Kamper Jr., coming off a triple-double, as the key player to watch in late-game fouling situations. Warner called Nevada his bigger NIT interest but held reservations on both games. For the Friday Sweet 16, Warner addressed Duke minus-6.5 over St. John's, total 142, in Washington D.C., stating that Duke point guard Caleb Foster would not play. He credited Rick Pitino as a major coaching edge over Jon Scheyer and noted the line dropped from St. John's plus-7 to plus-6.5 without significant Duke money arriving, calling that movement rare and meaningful. His official best bet was Alabama plus-10 against Michigan in Chicago, total 174.5, where he called the number disrespectful and backed the Crimson Tide to stay competitive through perimeter shooting despite Michigan's dominant interior led by 7-foot-3 center Adai Mara. Warner also noted Michigan State as a straight-up win candidate against UConn despite being plus-1 to plus-2 underdogs, and favored Tennessee plus-4 against an Iowa State team likely missing star Josh Jefferson due to a high ankle sprain. The episode closed with promo code SPRING25 for twenty-five dollars off at Pregame.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest preview and card for this week's golf action at Memorial Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Munaf Manji and Uncle Diamond Dave Esler roll through a multi sport betting card on Tuesday March 24 2026, starting with the final MLB season win total in their run and ending with Sweet 16 Thursday leans and two best bets, the MLB focus is the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at 102.5 wins, with Munaf recapping last seasons 93 win profile plus a strong run differential and Dave centering the handicap on one key question, whether a loaded roster stays locked in across the regular season, the discussion turns into practical futures logic around pitching depth, lineup protection, and how a team with elite talent can survive injuries and variance, both hosts ultimately lean to the Dodgers over despite acknowledging it feels like the obvious side, then the show pivots to March Madness with Dave explaining why he prefers betting the second weekend when matchups are clearer and situational factors matter more, on Thursdays Sweet 16 slate Dave leans Texas plus 6.5 against Purdue and also sees a path to the over 148.5, citing free throw rate and defensive concerns, he follows with Iowa versus Nebraska where Nebraska is a small favorite at minus 1.5 and the total sits low at 133.5, Dave cautions against overreacting to recent results, sticks with his pre tournament view, and leans Nebraska with interest in the over because close games can turn into late free throw scoring, the best bet segment closes the episode with Dave taking St Josephs versus New Mexico under 152.5 in the NIT based on pace control expectations perimeter defense turnovers and free throw limitations, while Munaf stays in the NBA and plays Hornets team total over 123.5 versus the Kings by targeting a matchup where he expects Charlotte to keep scoring against a defense that has been giving up points Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Tuesday. Warner delivers a college basketball only episode built around immediate NIT betting and an early market read on Thursday Sweet Sixteen lines, he opens by recapping a four and one run over the last five and sets the goal of adding another winner on Tuesday night, the first handicap focuses on Wichita State at Tulsa in a rematch scenario where he expects Tulsa to play sharper at home and prefers laying four instead of paying up for the half point, he then breaks down St Josephs at New Mexico and explains why the number feels larger than expected even while respecting the challenge of playing in The Pit, the show pivots into a Thursday preview where he notes the Texas line move versus Purdue but remains skeptical about matchup scoring and late game separation, he follows with Iowa versus Nebraska in Houston and argues the game profile points toward a slower tighter contest that makes underdog and under logic connect, the late window includes Arkansas versus Arizona where he emphasizes perceived market disrespect and the importance of key numbers in late foul sequences, and Illinois versus Houston where he questions crowd dominance and leans toward taking points in a game he expects to stay close, he shares promo code Spring twenty five for twenty five dollars off purchases on Pregame dot com good through March thirty, and he closes with the official best bet for Tuesday, Tulsa minus four in the NIT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. On the Thursday March 19 2026 episode of Cash That Ticket on the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed Munaf Manji and Uncle Diamond Dave Esler set the table for a massive sports day as the NCAA Tournament officially tips off and they remind bettors that if today feels busy the prep was done wrong They open with a best bets recap including a push after late injury news and a win on Illinois State then shout out listener Kelvin Welch for tracking the shows results with the updated best bets mark sitting at 46 31 1 and up 10 point 8 units while hitting 59 point 6 percent From there the NBA talk starts with a major update on Cade Cunningham as the Pistons star is expected to miss extended time due to what is being described as a mild collapsed lung and the guys discuss the immediate ripple it creates in the MVP futures market The first handicap targets Suns at Spurs with San Antonio laying a big number as Dave digs into market movement and why the total may be more mispriced than the side while Munaf leans into the Spurs season profile as an elite defense paired with top tier offense and looks to Spurs scoring including the team total over They then turn to Lakers at Heat with uncertainty around who plays for Los Angeles on a back to back and with travel details noted after a late night arrival into Miami the angle centers on Miami pace and team totals with both hosts looking for ways to attack Heat scoring and Dave adding a Tyler Herro points rebounds assists over look After a quick reminder about pregame dot com the March Madness contest format and the LUCKY25 promo code the show shifts to MLB season win totals for the two New York teams Munaf and Dave break down the Mets at 90 point 5 as a talented but volatile roster in a competitive division and land on the under then move across town to the Yankees also at 90 point 5 focusing on pitching health offensive regression risk bullpen questions and the reality that public teams often get shaded high with both hosts again siding with the under The episode closes with best bets as Dave goes to the NCAA Tournament with Gonzaga team total over 87 point 5 projecting a fast paced scoring script and Munaf stays in the NBA with the Miami Heat team total over 122 point 5 tied to pace travel and matchup dynamics with final reminders to enjoy March Madness bet within your means and avoid chasing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor delivers the sharpest preview and card for the week 10 golf action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. Munaf Manji and Dave Esler open the March 18, 2026 Cash That Ticket episode by talking through the reality of betting variance, how quickly public reaction swings after a bad day, and why long term results matter more than short term noise. They move into the Friday college basketball slate with a breakdown of Utah State versus Villanova, including market movement, rest, pace control, and the three point dependency that can decide a one game setting, with Dave ultimately leaning Utah State for added margin for error. Next they dig into Iowa versus Clemson, a slow paced defensive matchup with a very low total, and the discussion expands into one of the most actionable segments of the show, first half under logic, why end of half possessions can suppress scoring, and how live second half over numbers can become valuable after an early cold shooting stretch. The Friday card wraps with Missouri versus Miami Florida, where they separate trend driven narratives from matchup specific issues like turnovers, free throws, and perimeter defense, and again emphasize late game variance as a reason to consider first half angles. The conversation then shifts to MLB win totals, starting with the Philadelphia Phillies at 89.5, where they question repeat dominance, point to bullpen uncertainty and roster aging pressures, and lean under, followed by the Seattle Mariners at 89.5, where elite pitching upside is weighed against lineup inconsistency and a home run heavy profile that can lead to feast or famine stretches, producing another under lean. The episode closes with best bets, Dave on Illinois State laying points against Kent State based on conference strength and motivation, and Munaf on Naz Reid over 14.5 points with Anthony Edwards out, citing the expanded scoring role and matchup opportunity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Wednesday. Griffin Warner drops a Wednesday edition of What I Bet with a full board across Champions League second legs, the NIT, and the First Four for March eighteen, he opens in Europe with Barcelona hosting Newcastle, recaps how the first leg swung late into a one one draw, and explains why the aggregate situation changes the second leg tactics, he leans Newcastle plus one and talks through the risk of a fast swing if Barcelona score first, then he turns to Liverpool hosting Galatasaray, explains why he is watching for the price to reach a key number, and lays out why Galatasaray can stay dangerous even in a tough road spot, he adds quick notes on Bayern versus Atalanta after a six one first leg, and on Tottenham versus Atletico with the advance market implying the tie is close to done, then he moves to college basketball with a run through First Four and NIT matchups including Kent State at Illinois State, George Washington at Utah Valley, Dayton at Bradley, Sam Houston at New Mexico, SMU versus Miami Ohio, and more, he shares the Dream Bracket promo code DREAM sixty for sixty dollars off on Pregame dot com, and he closes with his best bet for the night, Utah Valley minus two at home against George Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Munaf Manji and Uncle Diamond Dave Esler tee up March Madness with early Thursday game breakdowns, covering TCU versus Ohio State, Hawaii versus Arkansas, and St Louis versus Georgia, with sharp talk on matchups, tempo, turnovers, coaching edges, and how to time live overs after early jitters, then they shift to MLB season expectations with win total debates on the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs, and close with Tuesday NBA best bets featuring a Tyler Huerter points prop and a Pacers plus points play against the Knicks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Tuesday. Griffin Warner breaks down the Tuesday March 17 slate across Champions League and college basketball, he explains how second leg aggregate situations shape spreads and totals, he runs through Sporting Lisboa versus Buduglimpt, Arsenal versus Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea versus PSG, and Manchester City versus Real Madrid, then pivots to the First Four and NIT board with quick matchup notes and market reactions, and he closes with his best bet for the episode, Texas as a pickem over NC State, plus a quick mention of the DREAM60 code tied to the Dream Bracket with RJ Bell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday. Friday's Cash That Ticket episode on the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed moved across several betting markets, with Munaf Manji and Dave Essler touching on college basketball, MLB futures, NFL offseason movement, and Friday best bets. The tone opened with some frustration after both hosts dropped their Thursday selections, but they framed it as a bump in a strong recent run and turned quickly toward Friday's card. Essler also shared details from a long volunteer shift at The Players Championship, describing the physical toll of a full day on his feet in the rain, while also reflecting on the contrast between players who treated volunteers and fans with appreciation and those who did not. He highlighted Ben Griffin and Eric Cole for thanking volunteers, and noted Patton Kizzire and Nicolai Hojgaard for handing balls to kids during tournament play. On the betting side, the MLB discussion centered on the Toronto Blue Jays. Manji noted Toronto's 94 win season, AL East title, strong home record, World Series appearance, and current win total in the 87.5 to 88.5 range. Essler said he was higher on Toronto than the market, arguing the club had strengthened its pitching despite losing Chris Bassitt, pointing to additions including Dylan Cease and other offseason moves. He questioned why the team was being priced several wins lower than last season and said he liked the over on the win total. Manji agreed, citing Vladimir Guerrero Jr., roster depth, front office aggression, and the organization's willingness to spend and make in season upgrades. He said Toronto could reach 90 wins again and backed the over 88.5. The conversation then shifted to NFL win totals and quarterback changes. Atlanta drew attention after Tua Tagovailoa joined the Falcons on a one year deal. Manji framed the move as a fresh start for a quarterback whose availability has been a recurring issue, and asked whether Atlanta could clear a 7.5 win total with new coach Kevin Stefanski, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts in place. Essler was skeptical, raising concerns about Tagovailoa's durability, Atlanta's ceiling at quarterback, and whether Stefanski's reputation exceeds the results. He said everything would need to break right for the Falcons to get to eight wins, though he conceded the division leaves room for a team to outperform modest expectations. Manji leaned under 7.5, saying the number likely comes down to health and whether Tagovailoa can hold up for a full season. The Minnesota Vikings were also discussed after signing Kyler Murray. Manji argued that Murray was an upgrade and could benefit from Kevin O'Connell's offensive approach, even if the fit still comes with questions. Essler pushed back harder, saying Arizona's willingness to move on spoke loudly and questioning whether Murray matches what Minnesota wants to do offensively. He also noted uncertainty at quarterback overall and said the Vikings' finish last season looked less impressive under closer inspection. Both hosts leaned under Minnesota's 8.5 win total, with Essler saying the team was still moving in the wrong direction from where it stood a few years earlier. To close the show, the hosts gave out Friday best bets. Essler went with the under in Timberwolves Warriors, saying recent high scoring Minnesota games would drive an overreaction in the market and create value on a lower total in a matchup he expected to play slower. Manji backed the Pacers plus 13.5 against the Knicks, citing Indiana's recent competitiveness in the series and what he described as a growing rivalry between the teams. Essler also added a bonus bet on Kennesaw State plus 3.5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Friday Griffin Warner opened the latest episode of What I Bet On from Dallas, running through a Friday card that featured soccer across Spain, Italy, France and Germany, along with an early look at college basketball. He noted that the show entered the night on a two game best bet winning streak after cashing Iowa under on March 5 and Northwestern plus five against Indiana on March 11, and said the goal was to make it three in a row. In Spain, Warner broke down Deportivo Alaves as a home underdog against Villarreal and said his strongest interest was the under two and a half goals, pointing to Alaves ability to dictate tempo and turn games physical. In Italy, he discussed Torino against Parma and leaned toward a low scoring match as well, saying he preferred waiting to see Parma rise to a larger underdog price while also liking the under with the extra quarter goal. In France, he focused on Auxerre as a road underdog at Metz and said he expected a competitive match, with interest in Auxerre plus one and a half if the market moved there by kickoff. In Germany, he highlighted Borussia Monchengladbach against St. Pauli and said the under two and a quarter goals stood out most because he did not trust St. Pauli to score. Warner also promoted Pregame s Madness 2026 contest, describing it as a free college basketball competition that runs through the national title game on April 6, with prizes for the top 10 finishers based on net profit. Turning to college basketball, he opened with George Washington against Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 and said the number showed respect for George Washington, especially with the lower seeded team already having played on the neutral court. He then looked at Ohio State against Michigan and argued that 13 points was too large, citing Ohio State s game under its belt and the possibility of a respectable close loss carrying value. In the SEC, he evaluated Kentucky against Florida and said 10 and a half points felt too high for a neutral court rivalry game, even while acknowledging Florida s strength inside. He also pointed to Wisconsin against Illinois as another game where the underdog deserved attention, saying eight points was a significant number for a Wisconsin team that had already played on site and recently beaten Purdue on the road. Warner closed by promoting the code dance20 for 20 percent off at Pregame through March 23 and made Wisconsin plus eight his best bet, saying he expected the number to fall and viewed the matchup as a close game, with an added suggestion to split the wager between the first half and the full game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji talks betting for Thursday. Munaf Manji opened Thursday's Cash That Ticket podcast with a recap of a dramatic win on the Knicks, who fell behind Utah by 15 after one quarter before roaring back to cover as 13.5 point favorites. New York outscored the Jazz 108 to 76 over the final three quarters and won 134 to 117, giving Manji a best bet winner. Uncle Dave was less fortunate, as Montana led at halftime but could not hold on late. Through the week, the pair stood at 3 and 1 on best bets. Manji also ran through Wednesday's other NBA results, including Orlando's 128 to 122 win over Cleveland, Denver's 129 to 93 blowout of Houston, and the Clippers' 153 to 128 victory over Minnesota behind 45 points from Kawhi Leonard. Turning to Thursday's card, Manji focused first on Denver at San Antonio. Despite the Nuggets playing the second leg of a back to back, he noted their starters logged modest minutes in the win over Houston, which should help on the quick turnaround. Even so, he leaned Spurs minus 5.5, provided Victor Wembanyama suits up, citing San Antonio's recent form on both ends of the floor. Over the last 10 games, he said the Spurs ranked fourth in offensive efficiency, fifth in defensive rating, and owned the league's second best net rating. He also liked the Spurs team total over 122.5. In Boston at Oklahoma City, Manji saw value with the Celtics plus 6.5. He pointed to Boston's consistency, strong road record, and defensive profile, while also noting that Oklahoma City had been just 10 and 11 against the spread in non conference games. He expected Boston to have enough defensive options to make life difficult for Shai Gilgeous Alexander and keep the game tight. Still, he stopped short of making it an official best bet because Jayson Tatum and Derrick White were listed as questionable. In Milwaukee at Miami, Manji liked the over 234.5 and made it his best bet. His reasoning centered on Miami's pace and Milwaukee's defensive struggles. He noted that the Heat have played fast all season and ranked second in pace over the last 10 games while sitting third in offensive efficiency over that span. The Bucks, meanwhile, had slipped badly on defense, ranking among the league's worst recent units and allowing 129 or more points in three of their last four games. He said that trend made both the full game over and the Heat team total attractive looks. Uncle Dave's best bet for Thursday came from college basketball, with Houston minus 10 against BYU. Manji added that he also liked the Cougars team total over, pointing to the rest advantage and Houston's typical strength in March under Kelvin Sampson. He closed by highlighting Pregame's March Badness 2026 contest, a free college basketball contest running through the national title game, and reminded listeners about a 20 percent discount code for Pregame subscriptions. His final card featured Spurs minus 5.5 and Spurs team total over 122.5 as leans, Celtics plus 6.5 as a conditional look, Houston minus 10 as Uncle Dave's best bet, and Bucks Heat over 234.5 as his official play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest preview and card for this week's golf action at TPC Sawgrass. Follow Will Doctor for more golf content on X @Drmedia59 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Cash That Ticket opened Tuesday's show with a full sports slate, from conference tournament college basketball to MLB win totals, NBA matchups and early NFL free agency. Munaf Manji and Dave Essler quickly moved into the NBA, starting with Boston at San Antonio, where both leaned toward the Spurs in what Munaf called a strong measuring stick game. He also preferred the under, pointing to both teams ranking among the league's best in defensive rating and Boston's season long tendency to play at the slowest pace in the NBA. Essler agreed San Antonio's form and motivation made the favorite appealing, especially if Boston were short handed. The second featured game was Minnesota at the Lakers. Essler liked the under and said the Lakers can still bring a strong defensive effort without LeBron James, while also noting Austin Reaves becomes more aggressive in that setup. Munaf took the Timberwolves side, arguing the Lakers had benefitted from a softer stretch and adding that Anthony Edwards looked live for a big scoring night, with his preferred prop range around 29.5 to 30.5 points. From there the show shifted to baseball and continued its season win total series. On Baltimore, both hosts landed on under 85.5 wins. Essler said the lineup should still score, especially with Pete Alonso added to the middle of the order, but he remained unconvinced the Orioles solved their larger pitching problems. Munaf agreed, saying the offense was good enough on paper but the rotation still lacked the frontline reliability needed in a difficult AL East. Detroit brought a different conclusion. Both hosts backed the Tigers over 85.5 wins, largely because of a rotation headed by Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Essler said Detroit may have the best pitching staff in the American League on paper and believed the club could push toward 90 wins or more if it stayed healthy. Munaf echoed that view, pointing to the bullpen, managerial stability under A.J. Hinch and the possibility that either Jack Flaherty or Casey Mize could emerge in a big way behind the front end of the staff. The conversation then turned to a listener question about five players who could hit 30 home runs this season. Essler said the obvious names were easy enough to find and suggested looking for value with less obvious sluggers. Munaf highlighted Kyle Tucker at minus 120 and Jose Ramirez at plus 110, citing lineup context, durability and prior production. Essler later called Hunter Goodman of the Rockies his favorite value play at even money after a 31 homer full season. They also discussed Mike Trout as a high upside but health dependent option. For best bets, Essler went to college basketball and took Detroit plus 4.5 against Wright State, citing momentum, matchup history and possible fatigue on the other side after a high tempo game. Munaf stayed in the NBA and made Suns Bucks over 217.5 his top play, saying the number looked light given Milwaukee's recent defensive issues and the offensive talent expected to be on the floor. The show closed with another reminder about Pregame's current promotion, where ten dollars buys fifty bulk dollars under the site's special discounts section, with the credit available immediately and not expiring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji talks betting for Friday. Munaf Manji wrapped the week on Catch That Ticket with a solo Friday episode focused on recapping Thursday's results and breaking down a short NBA card for March 6, 2026. The show finished 1 and 1 on official plays from the previous night. Uncle Dave's Arkansas State ticket fell short in an outright loss to Georgia Southern, while Manji cashed with Pistons Spurs under 228.5, surviving a tense finish that included several missed free throws in the closing minutes. Manji called it a fortunate result after a rough Wednesday card and said he hoped to build on that momentum heading into the weekend. The first game on his radar was Dallas at Boston, with the Celtics installed as a heavy favorite. He highlighted Cooper Flagg's return for Dallas after a nine game absence, noting the rookie logged 26 minutes and scored 18 points in Thursday's one point loss to Orlando. On the Boston side, Manji focused on the expected return of Jayson Tatum, who was listed as questionable but widely anticipated to play. He said the Celtics had managed a strong season without Tatum and argued that even a limited return over the final stretch could be a major boost, though he also cautioned that reintegrating Tatum might briefly disrupt Boston's offensive rhythm. Rather than laying the full game number, Manji said Dallas could be the better first half look, with Boston more appealing in the second half if fatigue set in for the Mavericks on the back to back. Manji's second featured matchup was New York at Denver. He backed the Knicks, citing their recent improvement after the All Star break and especially their rise on the defensive end. He acknowledged being wrong about New York earlier in the season and said the healthier lineup had changed the team's profile. He also pointed to Denver's uneven home form against the spread and the possibility of tired legs after the Nuggets leaned heavily on Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun in Thursday's win over the Lakers. While waiting on the injury report, Manji said New York had the profile to win the game outright. He also touched on the rest of the board, including Portland at Houston, New Orleans at Phoenix, the Clippers at San Antonio, and Indiana at the Lakers. On Pacers Lakers, he leaned toward Indiana plus 9.5, citing the back to back spot for Los Angeles, the possibility of rest or reduced workloads, and his general distrust of the Lakers in that setup. Late in the episode, Manji addressed growing excitement around Charlotte futures in the Eastern Conference. He praised the Hornets for surpassing expectations, credited head coach Charles Lee and the organization's recent drafting, and said the franchise finally appeared to be building a real foundation. Still, he warned that talk of Charlotte winning the East was premature, especially given the lack of deep playoff experience on the roster. He said he planned to revisit that topic with Uncle Dave on Monday. Manji also promoted a Pregame offer that gives 50 bulk dollars for a 10 dollar purchase, describing it as a rare chance for listeners to sample daily, weekend or longer subscriptions at a significant discount. His best bet for Friday was Jayson Tatum over 6.5 combined rebounds and assists. Manji said he expected Tatum to play around 20 to 22 minutes and believed the Celtics star would ease back in by facilitating and rebounding rather than forcing offense. With Dallas allowing assists at a high rate, he projected a path for Tatum to clear the number even in a limited return. He closed by saying the weekend sports calendar was packed and that he and Uncle Dave would return Monday to break it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Cash That Ticket returned Thursday, March 5, 2026, with Munaf Manji and Dave Esler recapping a Best Bet win on Arkansas over Texas and pivoting to Thursday night picks across the NBA, plus two MLB win totals. Manji said his prior play, 76ers Jazz over 237.5, missed badly, while Esler noted Arkansas delivered without stress. In the NBA, they opened Pistons at Spurs, with San Antonio favored by 3.5 and a 228.5 total, and both teams largely healthy. With the clubs meeting recently in Detroit, Esler framed the matchup as a Pistons revenge spot and questioned whether the Spurs were becoming overvalued, leaning Detroit plus the points and the under, expecting a tighter, playoff type game. Manji agreed on the under and said Detroit's season long defensive profile supported another lower scoring result, while suggesting a better Pistons number could appear closer to tip. Esler also highlighted Jalen Duren points and rebounds over 29.5, and Manji backed it with Duren's production in recent Spurs matchups. Next was Lakers at Nuggets, with Denver favored by 5.5 and a 240.5 total. Manji cited a clean Lakers report aside from Maxi Kleber questionable and noted Denver's report included Cam Johnson questionable, Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson out, and Aaron Gordon not expected back yet. Esler said the rising total was the most notable market feature and leaned Lakers plus the points, including a first half look, along with the over. Manji also leaned Lakers and the over, pointing to Denver's recent defensive issues and shaky home cover results. The show then promoted a pregame.com special, described as $10 for $50 in bulk dollars, limited to one per person. On MLB win totals, Esler and Manji both leaned under 83.5 on the Rangers, citing injury concerns and rotation uncertainty, and both leaned under 84.5 on the Brewers, citing rotation questions and a step back expectation. For Best Bets, Esler played Arkansas State minus 7 or 7.5 over Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Tournament, while Manji made Pistons Spurs under 228.5 his Best Bet, and both closed with caution on conference tournament betting volatility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Thursday. On the latest episode of What I Bet on the Pregame.com podcast network, Griffin Warner previewed Thursday soccer and college basketball, then closed with a promo code and a best bet. In the Premier League, he discussed Tottenham hosting Crystal Palace, with Tottenham listed as quarter goal favorites and the market showing strong support for Palace. He noted the total had dropped from two and three quarters to two and a half, said Tottenham have struggled to score, and called his strongest lean the under, while adding Palace was the side he liked but the price felt cheap. He then moved to the Coupe de France, outlining Lyon as quarter goal underdogs at home to Lens, with Lens shifting to a quarter goal road favorite and a total of two and three quarters. Warner said his key concern was how Lens travel, and he expressed interest in backing Lyon as a home underdog, pending lineups. In college basketball, he highlighted early conference tournament action, including Drake catching four and a half against Southern Illinois in Arch Madness, where he expected Drake support and took interest in the points. He also referenced a wide range of Thursday games and numbers, but centered his best bet on Michigan at Iowa. Warner said he expects Iowa to slow the pace and played under 146 and a half, adding he would prefer a first half under if it becomes available and is less than half the full total. He also shared a Pregame.com discount code, Free Throw 20, for 20 percent off through March 8. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest preview and card for the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Joburg Open Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Munaf Manji and Dave Essler opened the Cash That Ticket Podcast on the Straight Outta Vegas AM feed by recapping a strong recent run of picks and turning quickly to a two-game NBA handicap, followed by two MLB win totals and best bets. They reviewed Tuesday results, noting the Spurs cashed an under despite scoring 131 in a 131 91 win over Philadelphia, helped by a low-scoring late stretch. They also highlighted Cleveland's 113 109 home win over Detroit and a missed play with Toronto against New York, as the Knicks won 111 95. From there, the focus shifted to Wednesday's featured matchup, Oklahoma City at New York on ESPN, with the Knicks taking 4.5 points at home and a total of 222.5. Manji cited workload details from Tuesday, including 37 minutes for Jalen Brunson, while noting Oklahoma City sat Shai Gilgeous Alexander and expected him to play at Madison Square Garden. Essler emphasized the back to back dynamics and market movement toward the Thunder, but leaned to the under, pointing to New York trends and the likelihood that fatigue shows more in the second half. Manji acknowledged Oklahoma City's struggles on the second leg of back to backs and took the points with New York, adding an interest in Karl Anthony Towns rebounding, with his rebounds at 12.5 and points plus rebounds at 29.5. The second NBA game was Charlotte at Boston, with the Celtics laying 6.5 and a total of 213.5. Manji noted Boston's clean injury report aside from Jayson Tatum, while Charlotte entered off a 27 point win over Dallas with limited heavy minutes, led by Miles Bridges at 31 and Kon Knueppel at 32. Essler praised Boston's recent blowout form, referenced concerns about rookies hitting a “rookie wall,” and said the low total made him prefer Boston and consider a Charlotte team total under. Manji countered with Charlotte's strong back to back record against the number and an under trend in those spots, while also pointing to improved defensive performance, but still aligned with Boston minus 6.5 and the game under, noting Boston did not play the next day and should deliver a full effort. After promoting a pregame.com coupon code, FASTBREAK20, they moved to MLB win totals. Kansas City's number was 81.5 after an 82 80 season, and both discussed the Royals' upside around Bobby Witt Jr. while weighing rotation questions and the importance of production from the bottom of the order. Essler said he liked Kansas City over the total, while Manji agreed the roster looked capable of clearing the number and noted division games would be pivotal. They then covered San Diego, with a win total of 83.5 after a 90 win season, and agreed the number looked low relative to recent results, especially given bullpen strength. Despite Essler's stated dislike of the Padres, he took the over, and Manji also backed over 83.5, citing their recent 90 plus win seasons and the potential to add pitching later. Before best bets, they noted Jurickson Profar had been suspended 162 games for a second positive test for banned substances. Essler's best bet was Arkansas to cover against Texas, citing pace, matchup edges, and coaching, while Manji supported the play and added his own best bet on Philadelphia's team total over 123.5 against Utah, also playing the full game over 237.5, expecting a higher scoring effort after the prior night's blowout loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talks betting for Wednesday Griffin Warner's episode 19 of What I Bet, dated March 4, 2026, covered European soccer and a large Wednesday college basketball slate, ending with a best bet and a Pregame.com promo code. In England, he previewed Aston Villa versus Chelsea as a pick'em with Chelsea juiced and a 2.75 total shaded slightly to the over, saying Villa's defensive home profile makes them attractive when priced as an underdog and that he was waiting for a move to a quarter-goal dog before likely backing them. For Brighton versus Arsenal, he cited Brighton as three-quarter-goal home underdogs with Arsenal carrying the juice, and a 2.5 total priced heavily to the under, adding that he would need plus one to consider Brighton and that he generally leans under 2.5 in Arsenal matches. Fulham versus West Ham was listed with Fulham a half-goal favorite and the away side taking the juice, with a 2.75 total near even but slightly toward the under; he leaned West Ham and also leaned under while noting he would prefer a three. Manchester City versus Nottingham Forest had City as one-and-a-quarter goal favorites and a total of three heavily juiced to the under, and Warner raised concerns about Forest's managerial changes and a rest disadvantage after Europa League action. Newcastle versus Manchester United was described as essentially a pick'em that had moved toward United, with a total of three heavily juiced to the over; he questioned United as a road favorite at St. James' Park and said he was waiting for Newcastle to reach a quarter-goal underdog, expecting to play that and likely the pick'em as well. In Spain's Copa del Rey second leg, he noted Real Sociedad hosting Athletic Club Bilbao with a 1-0 aggregate edge, describing the two-leg format and listing Sociedad as quarter-goal favorites with a 2.25 total slightly to the over, while he found under 2.25 interesting. In Italy's Coppa Italia, he discussed Lazio as quarter-goal home underdogs to Atalanta in a first leg with a 2.25 total juiced heavily to the under, leaning to a conservative game state, Lazio plus a quarter, and the under, while also citing advance prices of Lazio plus 2.31 and Atalanta minus 3.15 to advance. In France's Coupe de France, he covered Lorient versus Nice and Marseille versus Toulouse, noting Toulouse interest if the line reached a full goal. He then ran through college basketball including Creighton at Butler, Minnesota at Indiana, Texas at Arkansas, Providence versus Marquette, Duquesne at Rhode Island, California at Georgia Tech, Ohio State at Penn State, Villanova at DePaul, Purdue at Northwestern, and Baylor at Houston, while repeatedly stressing the importance of checking venues for tournament games. He gave the promo code FREETHROW20 for 20% off at Pregame.com through March 8, and closed with his best bet: SMU minus one-and-a-half at home to Miami, Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday Cash That Ticket returned on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with host Munaf Manji and Dave Essler setting the stage for a busy March across college basketball, the NBA, and the coming MLB season. Essler said the bracket reveal begins his busiest stretch of the year, noting that real betting work cannot start until matchups and point spreads are posted, when early value often appears in both large favorites and totals. Manji recapped a late-February stumble after a strong month, citing a Celtics first-half cash but also a missed Kim Johnson PRA that lingered through overtime, which Essler said also flipped his under wager in the same game. The duo turned the page and opened the NBA card with Detroit at Cleveland, where Cleveland was catching 2.5 with a 228.5 total and Donovan Mitchell ruled out. Essler liked Cleveland as a home underdog in a revenge spot after an overtime meeting in Detroit, arguing the market was leaning heavily to the Pistons and may be pushing too far on Mitchell's absence. Manji agreed on Cleveland plus the points and added a prop angle, pointing to Jared Allen's recent production and projecting Allen's points and rebounds to clear 25.5. Next came New York at Toronto, with the Raptors catching 2.5 at home and a 221.5 total. Essler again sided with the home dog, noting New York was on the front end of a back-to-back with Oklahoma City visiting the next night and highlighting Toronto's revenge after a lopsided loss in the same building about a month earlier. Manji backed Toronto as well, referenced New York's results in similar scheduling spots, and also leaned to the under, citing pace and matchup profile. The final NBA discussion centered on San Antonio at Philadelphia, with the Spurs laying 7.5 on the road and a 234.5 total, while the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George. Essler acknowledged the discomfort of backing a large road favorite but leaned Spurs, while also targeting a Vijay Edgecombe PRA over, and Manji focused on the total, citing San Antonio's defensive response after losses and calling the under his preferred play. The episode then shifted to MLB win totals, beginning with San Francisco at 80.5 wins after an 81-81 season. Essler pointed to the addition of Willy Adames, viewed departures as manageable, emphasized defense in a large home park, and said the question remained pitching depth beyond Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, but still endorsed the over as the Giants looked improved. Manji cited a strengthened top of the lineup, agreed the club could reach 500 or better, and joined the over. Cincinnati's number sat around 82.5 after an 83-79 season, and Essler leaned under, saying too much had to go right, including starter health and sustained performance, while Manji also leaned under pre-season and suggested monitoring the club early before committing later. For best bets, Essler played BYU-Cincinnati under 152.5, citing BYU missing Richie Saunders and Cincinnati's preference for a slower game, while Manji locked in Spurs-Sixers under 234.5. The show closed with appreciation for listeners who had asked about a missed episode and a promise to keep the daily cadence when schedules allow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday. Munaf Manji and Dave Essler closed out the February schedule on the Cash That Ticket podcast with another winning recap, noting a 2-0 night on Thursday and a combined 19-5 run in best bets for the month, including a perfect 7-0 week to that point. They revisited Manji's Pelicans team total over 123.5 and Essler's Derrick Jones Jr. points prop over 10.5, highlighting lineup news that helped the play and Jones Jr. leading the Clippers with 18 points. The Friday NBA discussion opened with Cleveland at Detroit, a short slate night, where both hosts leaned toward taking the points with the Cavaliers despite Donovan Mitchell being ruled out. Essler cited market movement toward Cleveland and suggested expectations that James Harden and Dennis Schroeder would play, while noting Cleveland's interior defense could blunt Detroit's paint scoring and force more jump shooting. Manji agreed, emphasizing Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen as rim protection anchors, calling the number a stretch for Detroit, and adding an under lean at 227.5 alongside Cleveland plus the points. The second featured matchup was Denver at Oklahoma City, with the Thunder favored by 8.5 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returning after missing time. Essler acknowledged the “OKC tax” but sided with Denver's value as a road underdog, referencing recent outright wins and competitive results in similar spots, and leaned under, arguing Oklahoma City's defense should hold even if offensive timing was imperfect. Manji also took the points, describing division familiarity and motivation, and pointed to Nikola Jokic rebound and assist related props as potential angles, especially if Jamal Murray were unavailable. The episode then shifted to MLB win totals, starting with Cleveland's 79.5. Essler praised the Guardians' manager and prior overachievement on a low payroll, but argued the roster could regress, questioning the rotation depth behind Gavin Williams and the lineup's run production, and leaning under as other AL Central teams improved. Manji echoed concerns, saying Cleveland's offense has often lagged, that last season's division outcome owed partly to Detroit's stumble, and that the win total could be tight but tilted under. They followed with Arizona's 79.5, where Essler leaned under again, citing pitching uncertainty without Corbin Burns until midseason, concerns about bullpen reliability, and skepticism that additions like Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana would be enough, especially with age and recent production trends. Manji countered with an over, arguing a change of scenery could help Arenado, that the lineup had recognizable depth, and that Arizona could stay competitive long enough to benefit from Burns returning and possible in-season pitching upgrades. The show delivered a promo code for pregame.com, FastBreak20, for 20 percent off through March 8, and discussed the value of longer-term packages over daily buying given natural variance. For best bets, Essler went with Cameron Johnson over 18.5 PRA in the Denver-OKC game, citing elevated minutes and potential opportunity depending on Murray's status, while Manji backed Boston Celtics first half minus 10.5 versus Brooklyn, citing Boston's bounce-back profile after losses and Brooklyn's back-to-back road situation. They wrapped by reiterating disciplined bankroll management and their focus on providing serious, vetted information even in a free format. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Wednesday. Munaf Manji returned with a solo edition of Catch That Ticket on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, keeping the focus strictly on the NBA while Uncle Dave enjoyed a day off on the golf course. The pod opened with momentum, as the duo improved to 4 and 0 on best bets for the week following a 2 and 0 sweep the previous night. Uncle Dave cashed Missouri plus 3.5 in an outright win over Tennessee, while Manji delivered with Paolo Banchero over on points, rebounds, and assists as Banchero poured in 36 points in Orlando's 110 to 109 victory over the Lakers. Manji briefly addressed listener feedback, thanking supporters for positive reviews while emphasizing that the core mission remains consistent, beating the books and putting money in listeners' pockets. Tuesday's NBA recap highlighted Cleveland's 109 to 94 win over the Knicks in a game that stayed under the total, Toronto's home loss to Oklahoma City despite key Thunder absences, Boston's 97 to 81 win over Phoenix without Jaylen Brown, and Orlando's road victory in Los Angeles. Looking ahead to Wednesday's slate, Manji broke down several back to back scenarios. Oklahoma City travels to Detroit after playing in Toronto, and the Thunder have struggled on the second leg of back to backs with a 1 and 8 record against the spread. Detroit, one of the league's top defensive teams with a 108.3 season long defensive rating and strong recent form, is positioned as a measuring stick opponent. With both teams ranking in the top five defensively over the last 10 games and playing at below average pace, Manji leaned under 219.5 in that matchup, while also favoring the Pistons minus 7.5. In Toronto, the Spurs visit the Raptors, who are also on a back to back. San Antonio enters healthy and playing balanced basketball, benefiting from multiple contributors alongside Wemby. With Toronto trending under in these spots and covering just 40 percent on the second leg of back to backs, Manji backed Spurs minus 7.5 and also targeted a Raptors team total under 110.5. In Houston, the Rockets host the Kings as heavy 13.5 point favorites. Sacramento snapped a 16 game losing streak but continues to struggle defensively, ranking near the bottom of the league. Houston has shown offensive efficiency against weaker defenses, and despite playing at a slow pace, has capitalized in favorable matchups. Rather than lay the large spread, Manji preferred the Rockets team total over 118.5. The marquee matchup features Boston in Denver, with the Nuggets laying 3.5 and a total of 229.5. Boston has been strong on back to backs, going 6 and 3 against the number and 7 and 2 to the under. Both teams rank first and second in offensive rating season long, yet play at slow pace, with Boston dead last in pace and Denver below league average. Manji projected a half court game and favored the under 229.5 while also leaning Nuggets minus 3.5 in a bounce back spot. He also noted Boston's resilience without Jayson Tatum, highlighting their depth and efficiency, and suggested the Celtics remain a team to monitor in futures markets. Manji closed by promoting discounted college basketball packages at pregame.com using promo code EAST25 and confirmed his best bet for the night as Rockets team total over 118.5, aiming to extend the podcast's winning streak to five straight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Doctor gives the sharpest picks and preview for the action at PGA National. Will Doctor sets the stage for the Cognizant Classic at PGA National by dissecting the odds board and targeting value in a wide open field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Coming off a 2 0 best bet performance, Munaf Manji opened the February 24 2026 episode with confidence, noting the show would again focus on NBA breakdowns and MLB win totals. Dave Essler said when they win their best bets they have been smoking them and that their NBA analysis had been on point. The previous wins included a first half under in the Houston Cougars and Kansas game that cashed easily and a Victor Wembanyama rebounds and assists prop over 13 and a half, which cleared comfortably as Wembanyama finished with 17 rebounds and four assists for 21 combined. Turning to Tuesday's slate, the Knicks visited Cleveland with the Cavaliers laying four and a half and a total of 232 and a half. New York was without Miles McBride and Cleveland without Max Strus, with the Cavs trailing the Knicks by one game in the standings. Essler noted Cleveland was 19 and 11 at home against teams over 500 but the Knicks were 20 and five on the road against teams over 500, showing they elevate versus quality opponents. He called the total big for a Knicks game and emphasized that defense travels, leaning toward New York. Manji added that the Knicks ranked 11th in defensive rating and Cleveland 12th, while both were top five in offensive rating, and targeted Donovan Mitchell over 27 and a half points after games of 31 and 34 points against New York on 25 shot attempts each time. Oklahoma City traveled to Toronto as slight underdogs with a total of 216 and a half but were without Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Jalen Williams and AJ Mitchell, with Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren questionable. Essler pointed to Oklahoma City's upcoming game in Detroit and said points would be at a premium, preferring the under and mentioning Isaiah Joe over 14 and a half points if roles expanded. Manji supported the under by noting the Thunder ranked first in defensive rating and Toronto sixth, with both teams playing at modest pace and projecting a low scoring game. In Los Angeles, the Magic faced the Lakers after the Lakers scored just 89 points in a 22 point loss to Boston. Orlando was without Franz Wagner and monitoring Jalen Suggs. Essler highlighted that the Lakers ranked 27th in defensive shooting percentage allowed and leaned to Paolo Banchero over 35 and a half points rebounds and assists given the expected usage boost. Manji agreed, noting Banchero was averaging 36 minutes per game in February and had at least six assists in three straight games, including eight in each of his last two. The discussion shifted to MLB futures with the Minnesota Twins listed at 73 and a half wins after finishing 70 and 92 with a minus 95 run differential. Concerns centered on rotation depth behind Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober and overall roster stability, leading Essler to lean under. The Oakland Athletics were set at 75 and a half wins after a 76 win season, and Essler expressed optimism based on their lineup depth and divisional outlook, backing the over. Manji agreed the division presented opportunity. For best bets, Essler selected Missouri plus three and a half at home against Tennessee, citing the Volunteers' turnover issues and Missouri's interior defense, while Manji officially backed Paolo Banchero over 35 and a half PRA to continue the week's momentum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griffin Warner talk betting for Tuesday. Griffin Warner returned to break down a packed Tuesday card featuring Champions League second leg matchups and a deep slate of college basketball, while also unveiling a significant promotional offer. The European focus begins with Atletico Madrid hosting Club Bruges after a dramatic 3 3 draw in Belgium. Atletico, now one and a quarter goal favorites at home, surrendered both a 2 0 and 3 2 lead in the first leg. Bruges, who covered plus one and a half previously, showed resilience with several quality attacking moments and a late equalizer. With aggregate scoring determining advancement and extra time looming if tied, Warner prefers holding Bruges plus one and a quarter, anticipating a potentially conservative Atletico approach if they secure a lead. The to advance price heavily favors Atletico, yet Warner does not dismiss Bruges entirely. Inter Milan face a steeper challenge, trailing 3 1 on aggregate to Norwegian side Butuglimpt. Inter are two goal favorites in Milan and minus 1.30 to advance despite the deficit. Road goals no longer matter, increasing the likelihood of extra time if Inter win by two. Warner expects Butuglimpt to defend but remain opportunistic on counters, suggesting plus two and the under three and three quarters could offer value in a controlled match where Inter must press but may struggle to run away. Bayer Leverkusen return home with a 2 0 advantage over Olympiakos after scoring twice in quick succession in Athens. Leverkusen are three quarter goal favorites, yet Warner sees intrigue in Olympiakos if forced to attack. The total sits at three shaded under, but given both sides' scoring tendencies he leans toward over three at plus money, even though Leverkusen are overwhelming favorites to advance. Newcastle's tie appears effectively decided after a dominant first leg against an Azerbaijani opponent, with the English side laying two and a half goals. Warner notes lineup dependent volatility and suggests monitoring numbers shortly before kickoff. Shifting to college basketball, Washington laying five at Rutgers raises red flags due to travel and Rutgers' home setting. Dayton catching five at home against St. Louis stands out given the Flyers' environment despite SLU's strong resume. Notre Dame plus seventeen against top ranked Duke is described as a hold your nose spot, while Georgetown as a short home favorite versus Marquette fits Warner's preferred range for laying points. He questions Virginia's rating against NC State, highlights Cincinnati plus six at Texas Tech after a key injury to JT Toppin, and evaluates West Virginia at Oklahoma State in a Big 12 bubble battle. Oklahoma plus two at home against Auburn becomes the featured play, with Warner expressing skepticism toward short road favorites in critical bubble scenarios. Additional notes include intrigue with Florida State as a home underdog to Miami, Arizona State catching points at TCU, and Nevada at pickem hosting New Mexico. The promotional code West25 offers 25 percent off any purchase at Pregame.com through March 2, including season long access packages, marking the largest discount he has provided on the platform. The official best bet closes the show with Oklahoma plus two on the home floor in Norman against Auburn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk NBA betting for Monday and much more. Cash That Ticket returned on February 23 2026 with Munaf Manji and Dave Essler breaking down a tight NBA card and continuing their Major League Baseball win total series. Manji noted a strong February run despite a narrow loss on a Jalen Johnson points rebounds and assists prop that fell short at 43 and a half even after a 16 rebound and 11 assist effort, underscoring the fine margins that define the market. The featured NBA matchup saw the San Antonio Spurs visit the Detroit Pistons with Detroit laying one and a half and a total of 232 and a half. Essler pushed back on early market enthusiasm for both San Antonio and the over, pointing to both clubs ranking inside the top eight in defensive points allowed and suggesting an inflated number driven by recent overs. He backed the under, emphasizing that Detroit is not an uptempo or defenseless team and viewing the total as an overreaction. Manji agreed on the under while leaning slightly toward the home side in what he framed as a playoff style test for both contenders. In Sacramento at Memphis, with the Kings mired in a 16 game losing streak and both rosters depleted by injuries, Essler made a contrarian case for Sacramento plus the points, citing recent covers and limited faith in a short handed Grizzlies team. Manji preferred the over at 233 and a half given what he described as historically poor defense from both sides, while Essler added Keegan Murray over one and a half three pointers as a prop angle. The final NBA game featured Utah at Houston with the Rockets favored by 13 and a half. Essler highlighted Utah recent competitiveness in first halves and Houston struggles to generate consistent offense, recommending a first half under with flexibility to adjust in game depending on second half pace. Manji, acknowledging Houston issues closing games and a modest scoring profile since the start of 2026, indicated a likely second half Rockets position if Utah stayed within range early. Shifting to baseball, the hosts examined the St Louis Cardinals at 69 and a half wins after trading Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan and finishing 78 and 84 with a minus 65 run differential last season. Essler favored the under, citing a youth movement, a rotation led by Matthew Liberatore and Dustin May, and long divisional odds that reflect limited expectations. Manji echoed concerns about rotation depth and projected the Cardinals to take a step back despite a strong home record last year. The Los Angeles Angels, posted at 70 and a half wins after a 72 and 90 campaign and a minus 164 run differential, drew similar skepticism. Essler pointed to Mike Trout durability questions, an aging pitching staff, and steep divisional odds compared to rivals, concluding too many variables must break perfectly for an over. Manji agreed, referencing recent under tickets on the Angels and continued uncertainty in the rotation. For best bets, Essler selected the first half under 65 in Houston versus Kansas in college basketball, citing defensive intensity and slow tempo, while Manji returned to the NBA with Victor Wembanyama over 13 and a half rebounds and assists against Detroit, banking on increased minutes and steady rebounding production in a competitive setting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday. Munaf Manji and Dave Essler head into Friday's card riding momentum after a 2 0 best bet performance, highlighted by South Florida's decisive 21 point win over Memphis and Orlando's explosive turnaround against Sacramento in which the Magic outscored the Kings 113 to 66 over the final three quarters while drilling 27 three pointers. With confidence high, attention shifts to a pair of late NBA matchups beginning with the Clippers visiting the Lakers. Despite the Lakers laying seven and a half points with Luka Doncic set to return, both hosts expressed caution about paying a perceived Lakers premium. The teams rank among the slowest paced in the league, and prior meetings have produced mixed total results. The Clippers enter on the second night of a back to back after poor three point shooting in their previous outing, a factor Essler expects to correct. Manji echoed the sentiment, noting the minimal travel and supporting the Clippers plus the points while also leaning under the total of 225 and a half given pace and recent trends. The nightcap features Denver in Portland with the total climbing above 240. Essler backed the Trail Blazers, citing Denver's road struggles in February, heavy minutes in their prior game, and Portland's continued push for playoff positioning. Manji preferred a split approach, targeting Denver early while playing the full game over based on tempo and recent back to back trends. Player props remain central to both analysts' strategy. Essler's best bet targets Deni Avdija over 34 and a half points rebounds and assists, pointing to his recent production and the likelihood of elevated scoring in a high total environment. Manji counters with Jalen Johnson over 43 and a half PRA in Atlanta's matchup with Miami, emphasizing the fast pace shared by both teams and Johnson's consistent minutes and prior success against the Heat. The discussion also continued their MLB season win total preview. Both agreed on the White Sox over 66 and a half wins, noting last year's modest negative run differential, bullpen reinforcements, and realistic path to incremental improvement in a competitive but manageable division. The Miami Marlins generated debate. Essler favored the over 72 and a half, citing strong front line pitching and promising young talent, while Manji leaned under due to divisional strength and the possibility of midseason trades should the club stumble early. As the NBA resumes full stride and baseball season approaches, the duo remains focused on disciplined value, careful market observation, and selective aggression in both sides and props. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk NBA betting for Thursday and much more. The NBA resumes Thursday following the All Star break with several compelling matchups, while early MLB futures are beginning to take shape as analysts look ahead to the 2026 season. In Detroit's visit to Madison Square Garden, the Knicks are listed as four and a half point favorites against a Pistons team missing Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to suspensions stemming from a recent altercation. New York enters largely healthy, with only minor injury concerns, and the absence of Detroit's primary interior defenders shifts attention to Karl Anthony Towns. Towns has historically produced strong numbers against the Pistons and is positioned for a significant role, particularly on the glass and as a scorer. Detroit's recent defensive identity and slower pace suggest caution on the full game total, though a Pistons team total under and Towns points and rebounds over were highlighted as attractive angles. In San Antonio, the Spurs are favored by seven and a half over Phoenix, despite early market indicators showing notable support for the Suns. Phoenix has been one of the league's best teams against the number this season and has exceeded preseason expectations, largely due to improved defense. While San Antonio had been on an extended under run before clearing five straight prior to the break, the reset following All Star weekend raises the possibility of a slower tempo. The under, including a potential first half under, stands out more than the side, with Phoenix's ability to compete on the road keeping the spread within reach. The marquee matchup features Boston traveling to Golden State with the Celtics laying five and a half. The total has dropped sharply, reflecting injury concerns for the Warriors, including Steph Curry's absence pending further evaluation. Boston's recent offensive volume, combined with its defensive consistency, creates intrigue around the Celtics team total over, particularly given Golden State's recent defensive struggles. While revenge narratives from past postseason meetings linger, the primary focus rests on market movement and value relative to the opening numbers. Beyond the NBA slate, attention has shifted to MLB win totals, beginning with teams projected near the bottom of the standings. The Colorado Rockies enter with a win total of 53 and a half after a historically poor 43 and 119 season that featured a minus 424 run differential. Modest pitching additions provide some optimism for incremental improvement, though concerns remain about scoring consistency and bullpen reliability. The debate centers on whether even a ten game improvement is realistic within a competitive division, with opinions split between a slight over based on regression toward prior performance and skepticism rooted in roster limitations. The Washington Nationals, posted at 65 and a half wins, present a similar evaluation challenge. After finishing 66 and 96 with a minus 212 run differential, Washington continues a youth movement highlighted by promising position players but hampered by pitching uncertainty and bullpen depth issues. Competing in a division with multiple contenders complicates the path to meaningful gains, and an early season schedule featuring several strong opponents could suppress initial results. While offensive upside exists, inconsistency and pitching volatility make the under the more cautious position entering the season. As both leagues move forward, disciplined market evaluation and situational awareness remain central themes for bettors navigating the transition from midseason NBA adjustments to long term MLB futures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices