Kentucky's guard Rob Dillingham (0) makes the basket against Vanderbilt's guard Tyrin Lawrence (0) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2024
Key Points
- Kentucky Wildcats pose significant liability for major sportsbooks like BetMGM and DraftKings.
- Despite overwhelming betting support, savvy bettors find value in Wildcats' championship odds.
- High-scoring offense makes Kentucky games attractive for over/under bets, but bettors cautioned to avoid knee-jerk reactions.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball winning its ninth national championship would be a dream come true for the team's fervent fan base. It also would be the worst nightmare for two of America's largest sportsbooks.
The Wildcats are the biggest liability for BetMGM and DraftKings. At BetMGM, UK leads the country in ticket percentage (the percent of total bets) at 11.6 and is second in handle percentage (the percent of total money) at 13.0, trailing only defending national champion UConn (14.6%), with both figures as of Monday. Kentucky is tops nationally in both categories at DraftKings, with 18% of tickets and 24% of the handle at the beginning of this week.
Not surprisingly, those numbers are even more pronounced in the Bluegrass State. More than 70% of bets made within Kentucky at BetMGM are on the Wildcats to win it all, accounting for 75% of the total money wagered. Those percentages are even higher at DraftKings: 75% of bets in Kentucky are on coach John Calipari's team to capture the 2024 NCAA Tournament title, which is 81% of the handle.
For more information on related topics, consider exploring: APRNEWS/STOCKS, APRNEWS/SPORTS, APRNEWS/POLITICS, APRNEWS/BUSINESS, APRNEWS/TECH.
Te puede interesar
Lo más visto
