As a sports fan, there are few feelings better than when your preseason predictions come true. Things get even better if you can turn that accurate prediction into money through sports betting. With the MLB season coming to an end and the World Series starting later this week, one BetMGM bettor has a chance to cash out big.
The Astros and the Phillies will square off in the World Series
You can bet on which teams you think will meet in the championship throughout the season in any sport. You can bet on which of those teams will win for even better odds. It’s a long shot, but it’s a market where you can put a few dollars in and have a stake in the season as well as a potentially lucrative payout.
At the start of the baseball season in April, one BetMGM bettor wagered $50 that the Houston Astros would defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. The odds on the bet were 2,500-to-1. The winnings would be $125,000 each.
The Astros have always been considered one of the favorites to win both the AL West and the World Series. Houston was a 10-to-1 favorite to win the World Series in April. These were the third best odds in baseball, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros had +475 odds to win the AL Pennant, trailing only Toronto.
OCTOBER 23rd, NEW YORK, NY: On Sunday, October 23, 2022, members of the Houston Astros celebrate with teammates on the field after the Astros defeated the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Image courtesy of Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images.)
As the MLB playoffs enter the final round, the Houston Astros are the favorites to win the World Series.
The Phillies would not have made the playoffs last year, but with the new playoff system in place this year, their 87 wins were enough to earn the National League’s sixth and final playoff seed. For the final spot, they finished one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. Philadelphia went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card round before defeating the 101-win Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. They defeated the San Diego Padres in five games in the NLCS.
After a rough start, the Phillies did well to make the playoffs. Philadelphia was seven games under.500 on June 3rd when manager Joe Girardi was fired. Rob Thomson took over and finished the season with a record of 65-46. This season, the Phillies portion of this bet did not look good at times. They got hot at the right time, though, and it’s baseball. They’re right here.
The Astros are the World Series favorites
While the bettor must be pleased with their 2,500-to-1 wager, the job isn’t finished yet. They still need the Astros to win the World Series in order to cash in on the wager. The oddsmakers enjoy their chances.
The Houston Astros are currently -185 favorites to win the World Series at BetMGM. The Phillies are a +150 underdog in this game.
However, Philadelphia has been the betting underdog in all three series victories. They’re used to playing the underdog. There’s an uncanny resemblance to the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles, who won four playoff games as a favorite to win the Super Bowl.
The Astros are only the third team in history to win the World Series without losing a single playoff game. The only other teams to accomplish this were the Colorado Rockies in 2007 and the Kansas City Royals in 2014. Both teams were eliminated from the World Series.
Of course, when the bettor’s 2,500-to-1 odds are combined with the fact that they are now a significant favorite to win their bet, the bettor has the option to hedge their bet. They are currently betting $50 to win $125,000.
If the bettor can get their hands on $50,000 in the next few weeks, they can bet it on Philadelphia to win the World Series. They will profit $75,000 regardless of what happens. Of course, most people do not have easy access to money like that. Maybe they believe in the Astros and will just let it ride. In either case, they’re in a good position to profit handsomely from a $50 investment.
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