The launch of sports betting in Maryland is finally upon us!
With legalized betting launching this Wednesday, Maryland sports bettors should have no shortage to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season.
As you gear up for Gobble Day and begin exploring all your new betting options at Maryland online sportsbooks, here are five selections to consider wagering on.
1) Thanksgiving NFL matchups
Thanksgiving Day is no ordinary slate of Thursday Night Football betting. It’s evolved into a full day of NFL action in recent years. And in 2022, the three-game Turkey Day schedule is arguably better than ever.
This year’s action kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday when the Detroit Lions (4-6) host the Buffalo Bills (7-3). Detroit is riding a 3-game win streak, but current NFL odds list the Bills as a 9-point favorite at most sportsbooks.
Next, two NFC East rivals meet up when the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) host the New York Giants (7-3) at 4:30 p.m. Dallas already logged a 23-16 win over the Giants this season in Week 3. The Cowboys now find themselves as 9-point favorites at most sportsbooks.
Thursday’s slate closes with the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) hosting the New England Patriots (6-4) at 8:20 p.m. New England is coming off a hard-fought win against the Jets, while the Vikings were just throttled by the Cowboys at home. Minnesota is ranging from a 2.5-point to 3-point favorite at home for this contest.
2) Ravens at Jaguars this Sunday
If Thursday’s slate didn’t quite pique your interest, perhaps something closer to home will.
Maryland’s own Baltimore Ravens (7-3) hit the road for Week 12 of the NFL season. They will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Baltimore is riding a 4-game win streak coming into Sunday’s contest against the Jags, who have lost six of their last seven matchups.
Oddsmakers are listing the Ravens as a road favorite. Most Maryland sportsbooks see Baltimore as a 4-point favorite against Jacksonville.
The Ravens currently hold a 1-game lead in the AFC North on the Cincinnati Bengals. They are also a game out of the top record in the AFC. That’s held by Kansas City at 8-2.
3) College football Week 13
The NFL hasn’t entered do-or-die mode quite yet, but the 2022 NCAAF season has, making college football betting more popular than ever.
Week 13 marks the end of regular season, with a number of teams playing key games in regard to conference championships and a potential playoff bid.
Collegiate games kick off this Thursday and continue through Saturday.
Locally, the focus centers around Maryland (6-5) as the Terrapins wrap up their regular season on Saturday at Noon by playing host to Rutgers (4-7).
Maryland football odds situate the Terps as a 14-point home favorite at sportsbooks.
Other big college football games taking place this weekend include:
- No. 21 Tulane at No. 25 Cincinnati, Friday Noon
- No. 24 N.C. State at No. 13 North Carolina, Friday 3:30 p.m.
- No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Saturday Noon
- No. 12 Oregon at No. 23 Oregon State, Saturday 3:30 p.m.
- No. 18 Notre Dame at No. 7 USC, Saturday 7:30 p.m.
4) World Cup 2022 matchups
It’s not often you get a chance to bet on the World Cup in November, so now’s your opportunity to take advantage.
Matches started this past Sunday and run through Dec. 18.
The United States made its 2022 World Cup Qatar debut on Monday, playing Wales to a 1-1 draw as part of Group B. Up next for the Americans is a Friday matchup against England at 2 p.m. England, the group’s clear favorite, picked up a 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.
Oddsmakers list England as a -185 favorite for Friday’s match, while Team USA sits as a +500 longshot. A draw is listed at +310.
Currently, England is a -700 to win Group B, whereas the United States is listed at +800.
5) College basketball betting
The holiday weekend wouldn’t be complete without a little college basketball betting action thrown into the mix.
No. 23 Maryland takes to the court Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. when it hosts Coppin State. The Terrapins are 5-0 on the young season and welcome in a Coppin State team that is 3-3.
Terps basketball odds for Friday’s game aren’t yet available, so be sure to check back here closer to game day.
In the meantime, you can find odds for the two college tournaments taking place this weekend.
The Battle 4 Atlantis gets started on Wednesday from the Bahamas. It includes a field of No. 3 Kansas, No. 22 Tennessee, Dayton, Wisconsin, USC, BYU, Butler and North Carolina State.
Then on Thursday, the Phil Knight Invitational gets underway from Oregon. The field for this tournament includes No. 1 North Carolina, No. 18 Alabama, No. 12 Michigan State, Villanova, No. 20 UConn, Oregon, Iowa State and Portland.
Futures odds for outright tournament winner are available, as are odds for each individual matchup as the tournament progresses.
