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TLDR; NFL Free Agency Edition
Tonight's NBA Finals preview, meme of the day + more!
Kate Magdziuk
March 14, 2023
Happy Tuesday, sports fan!
We’ve got lots to digest today in the sports world. Let’s dive in.
Is today’s game of the day a 2022-23 NBA Finals Preview???
Betting meme of the day + lesson of the day 🌈
Enter the Gaming Society NCAAW Bracket Challenge for a chance to win $100,000! 👀
TLDR; NFL free agency edition
TLDR; means “Too long, didn’t read” for you non-Reddit fans out there. Synonym: Give me what I need to know in as few words as possible.
So, here’s the TLDR on NFL free agency:
The Bears are gettin’ busy!
They traded the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for two first-round picks, two second-round picks and WR DJ Moore (who’s probably worth a first-round pick on his own). Claps for the Bears! 👏 Acquiring this haul of draft picks could go a long way as they look to rebuild.
Their willingness to trade back and the handful of signings they’ve made in free agency are signaling a new point in time in the Justin Fields era. This is an era where the team is actually signaling that they believe in their young quarterback to make a third-year leap.
In addition to what they’ve gained for their offense in WR D.J. Moore, they’ve also signed plenty of defensive playmakers to help on the other side of the ball (like former Bills LB Tremaine Edmunds — one of the hottest defensive names on the market this free agency cycle!)
The Raiders are attempting to build the Patriots Version 2.0
Follow along with me on this journey. Josh McDaniels, head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, was previously the offensive coordinator for the Patriots.
So far in free agency, the Raiders have signed two former Patriots: QB Jimmy Garoppolo and WR Jakobi Meyers, who joined former Patriot RB Brandon Bolden (signed last year).
Live look at Bill Belichick, btw
Everyone’s favorite underdog team is actually… kinda really good
At least, they probably will be in 2023. They almost were in 2022. That underdog = the Detroit Lions.
On offense, they already had underrated QB Jared Goff, RB D’Andre Swift, and WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams…
Last year, they drafted a defensive stud in Aidan Hutchinson.
Now in free agency, they’ve beefed up their defense with cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. These guys are solid assets and surely won’t be the last piece of the puzzle given that we’ve got a strong cornerback class in this year’s NFL draft.
Offense? Check. Defense? Check. NFC North title? Fingers crossed! his team already had the heart to make a postseason run last year. Now it’s starting to feel like they might just have the roster depth to do it too.
2 futures I’d bet on based on NFL Free Agency so far…
Odds: +370 (Bet $100 to win $370 profit)
Yep, I said it! Sorry, #BillsMafia. The Dolphins have been one of the biggest low-key winners of free agency and they’re building something special. So, why do they have the third-longest odds (AKA — lower probability) to win their division?
They signed Jets QB Mike White as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup (this is good!).
They acquired 3x All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to pair with 1x All-Pro CB Xavien Howard — a huge boost to their defense. Last year, they traded to acquire LB Bradley Chubb from the Broncos — another move that should signal a threat to all opponents that this defense is a legitimate threat.
They re-signed veteran RBs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. — both of whom have been solid in their work with the team in 2022. Who needs star running backs when you’ve got WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, anyway?
Odds: +145 (Bet $100 to win $145 profit)
I already gave you the scoop on the Lions. Now, here’s the scoop on some of the other teams in the NFC North:
The Vikings have parted ways with WR Adam Thielen. They’ve also got several players hitting free agency, and rumors continue to swirl that they might trade star RB Dalvin Cook. Ick.
The Packers are trading Aaron Rodgers, and when they do, it’s the Jordan Love show. Do we really think he’ll win the NFC North in his first season as a starter throwing to the likes of Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson? Pass.
I gave you a few reasons to be excited about the Bears, but none of them have me bubbling in confidence that they’ll surpass the momentum that the Lions are building.
Dear Reader (Taylor Swift reference implied),
In case you need a reminder on what the odds all mean:
A number that follows a (-) tells you how much money you’d need to bet to win $100 in profit.
A number that follows a (+) tells you how much profit you’d win if you bet $100!
Stay up to date with the rest of the biggest news through NFL Free Agency ⤵️
🏀 NBA Game of the Day 🏀
Who: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns
When: Tuesday, March 14 at 10 p.m. ET
How to watch: NBA TV or live stream here
Giannis Antetoukounmpo returned from his wrist injury in STYLE Monday night, dropping 46 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists on the Kings (who we’ve previously declared our love for). A scuffle even broke out in the final 20 seconds of the game, leading to ejections for Bucks center Brook Lopez and Kings forward Trey Lyles… because the Kings felt some type of way about Giannis dribbling. 😭
This man is feelin’ himself, and I’m all-in on seeing how this plays out against a Western Conference darling.
Futures bet of the day
Think tonight’s Bucks-Suns matchup is a preview of the NBA Finals matchup? Vegas doesn’t think it’s unlikely either.
FanDuel Sportsbook allows you to bet on which two teams you think will face each other in the 22-23 NBA Finals… and Bucks vs. Suns is listed with the second-lowest odds… meaning oddsmakers see this as a relatively likely possibility!
Betting Academy tip 🎓 Picking which teams will make the NBA Finals is called a futures bet — aka, a bet on an outcome in the future! Predicting the future is difficult, of course, so generally, odds will be higher on these types of bets — meaning your potential profit (if you’re correct) can be higher!
🌈 Meme of the Day🌈
What’s hedging? 🫣 The Betting Academy is in session!
Hedging is the “take backsie” of sports betting. Imagine you placed a $100 bet on the Suns to win tonight’s game… and with a quarter left, the Bucks are gaining momentum with a 10-point lead. You’re sweating! What should you do? You can’t just cancel your bet and pretend it never happened!
You can, however, offset your losses by hedging — AKA, placing a second wager on the opposite outcome of which you’ve already wagered. In our example above, you’d “hedge” your bet on the Suns with a bet on the Bucks to win. So, no matter what happens, you still have a winning bet slip. It’s a way to reduce your risk once things go sideways — as they often do in sports betting.
For more on the basics of sports betting, including terms to know, check out The Betting Academy!
🏀 Make your NCAAW March Madness predictions! 🏀
The NCAA women's basketball tournament is finally here! After the first-ever Selection Sunday in the women's game, 68 teams are ready to compete and 66 of them are hoping one of the others will beat the so-far undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks. Best wishes, Norfolk State.
If you haven't filled out a bracket yet, make sure to compete in Gaming Society's bracket challenge for a chance to win $100,000 and signed Chelsea Gray merch.
