What a wild weekend that was. If you were not aware, I was in the Draft Kings Sports Betting Championship this past weekend. There were some issues making wagers and everyone was refunded the entry fee no matter where you finished. Perhaps I should have known there was going to be an issue when five minutes after the contest opened at 6 PM Friday night; my $1.1K wager on the Cavs +5.5 was rejected. I tried again, same result. I wanted a few minutes and it finally went through. I had wondered if others had similar issues. It turns out they did.
Wagers not going through was going to cause a major issue. I had mapped out a plan of games to wager on at specific times. I wanted to have the most information before choosing my bet size of the next game. Some of the windows available were small between games and any type of issues or rejected bets would make things extremely difficult.
I wonder what truly went wrong. To mention what they did to set it up might help explain some things. DK created a separate sportsbook account for all entrants using a brand new log in. That account was to be used exclusively for the contest. You would think they could turn off all bet limits and such for just those accounts, but apparently that is not correct. I had a bet rejected Sunday morning as well, but after a few tries, it did go through.
While I had a plan in place and a target amount for each day, once the “free roll” was announced I began firing more parlays and trying to acquire more money quickly. I correctly assumed the amount needed to win or place in the top five would be over $100k, from the $5k starting stack. Actually, you only needed over $100K to finish in the top three.
Admittedly, college football is my weakest of the three sports allowed for wagering, with the others being NBA and NFL. I went 2-0 picking NBA games against the spread, but lost an NBA parlay as well. I finished 1-2 on college football games and also lost a parlay. I ended up having a bad NFL Sunday, which did not help anything. I decided I was going to play for first and the $1 million prize. I could have easily played conservatively and perhaps finished in the money, but that was never an option for me. Knowing I needed over $100k to get there you can imagine some of the crazy bets I was throwing out there.
Overall, it was a fun, but stressful experience that I would participate in again. I think once they figure out how to make all the accounts equal it could be something that is awesome. If I could recommend anything to them, it would be to make it a two-week contest. Start it Thursday night and have it run through the following NFL Sunday. An eleven-day odyssey of betting, strategy and bankroll management. This would give you an entire NFL weekend and almost all of the following week’s games except Sunday and Monday night. Make the live portion Friday-Sunday of the final weekend. Those that are out of it can just relax and enjoy the games, those still in contention can compete live. Spreading it out would allow more games, more wagers, less issues with timing of wagers because there would be even more options. (*I was informed that non-legal sports betting states would have people stay in NJ or another legalized state for 11 days with this idea. Seems not fun.)
Until the games start, let’s have some fun and build the pile!
NFL
Computer Model Plays
Platinum
Premium
Regular Plays
CHI +6
Football Odds Boost You Should Consider Betting
Fan Duel
$10 Same Game Parlay. If it loses, you are refunded in site credit. Always, take the risk free stuff.
Steelers to win by 1-13 Points +160
I do not like rooting for a bet, but not by too much unless it is a middle opportunity. Pass.
Harris or DJ first TD +260
This combined are never as good. Harris is +370 and DJ is +600. I would rather just play them separately. Pass for me.
Draft Kings
50% Profit Boost MNF Game One Wager
I am not sure what to use it on yet, but I will use it.
25% Profit boost one SGP
If you are going to play one, make sure you use this.
Steelers to record 4+ sacks +145
The only sack props I can find are on the game total of 5.5 with the over paying +110. If you think the Steelers get ahead and the Bears have to throw, go for it. I will just remind you the Steelers average 2.7 sacks per game. Pass for me.
Mooney to score a TD +400
Mooney is +330 on other sites. It is a boost, but yeah, pass for me. The game is a very low total.
Harris to record 2+ TD’s +450
Harris is +370 to score 2+ TD’s on other sites, but again the total is so low in this game. Pass for me.
Barstool Sportsbook
Reminder, never bet with barstool (Their employee boosts) and do not bet timed boosts for a quarter or half and needing to score.
Steelers to lead after every quarter +190
I do not bet timed boosts.
Fox Bet
Harris to score a 1st half TD +200
Pass on timed boosts.
This game has a total of 40 points, so all these boosts that require a lot of yards, points, or TD’s on this site are a pass for me.
NFL
College Football
Let’s Get Weird
NFL Computer Model
Overall 64-71 47.40%
Platinum 4-8 33.33%
Premium 19-13 59.37%
Recommended Plays (Platinum + Premium) 23-21 52.27%
Our Plays
NFL
Overall 16-12 57.14%
NFL Odds Boosts 10-25 -1215
NFL Teasers and Parlays 1-1 +027
College Football
Overall 7-1 87.5%
College Odds Boosts 2-0 +200 Combined
Overall 23-11 67.64%
Odds Boosts 12-26 -1215
Teasers and Parlays 1-2 -073
NBA
NBA Model Plays
NYK -1
BRK +1
MEM -6 (Highest Rated in the model)
NOP +9
MIA -1.5
GSW -3.5
PHO -2.5
CHA +2.5
*If two games or more reach a certain level, we will label them highest rated in model. The record at bottom will be updated to note we may have more than one top play per day from the computer model.
Basketball Odds Boosts You Should Consider Betting
DK was set to roll out this Sixers ML boost to earn a free bet, but then Embiid enters the protocols. Sure, you can fire on the Sixers ML this week and earn a free bet, but they may be without Embiid and Harris the entire time. Awful timing for this option.
25% Profit Boost on any one SGP (DK)
Remember these are insanely profitable for the books and they will keep making offers like this for you to use and try.
LaMelo and Carmelo to combine for 35+ points +100 (DK)
LaMelo’s point prop is set to 19.5.
Carmelo’s is not listed due to AD being listed as questionable. He is averaging 16.5 PPG and would have increased opportunity with AD being out.
I kind of like this even if AD plays. Without a prop number to compare it to, we are kind of flying blind. However, if AD is ruled out, the number may be high enough that this boost is very good. I am going to take my chances that they can both get there, no matter who sits. I am in.
BRK/CHI to combine for 230+ points +380 (DK)
The total here is 216. The alternate total of over 229.5 pays +320 on FD. This is a boost, so if you really like it you can fire away. I am passing.
CHI/DEN/GSW to all win +600 (Fox)
Look, the Nuggets are home dogs and just lost another starter to injury. Easy Pass. This should pay +497 though, so there is that. I am out.
MIA/GSW/PHO to all win +440 (Barstool)
This should pay +391. I like two of these teams tonight in GSW and Miami. I am very skeptical of the Suns on the road, but reluctantly, I am going to play this. It is a boost and the computer likes every leg, which helps me get my head around this wager. I am in.
KD and DDR 25+ Points each +260 (Barstool)
KD point prop is set to 28.5.
DDR point prop is set to 23.5 and the under is juiced.
If you parlay them to both score 25+ it should pay +196. This is a nice boost as well from Barstool. DDR has been on fire recently and I like this. I am in.
NBA
MIA -1.5
GSW -3.5
MEM -6
Let’s Get Weird
PIT/MEM/DAL ML Parlay +151 (DK)
NBA Record 2021-2022
NBA Record 6-7 46.15%
Hoops Parlay Record 0-1 -100
Hoops Odds Boosts 2-6 -325
Hoops Player Props 0-1 -100
NBA Model Highest Rated 10-9 52.63%
NBA Model 65-60 52%
Win The Weekends 