Each day, one of our experts at Bet.NOLA.com will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks in Louisiana are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
A reminder for those who haven’t signed up yet: New users can get a risk-free bet at Caesars Sportsbook, meaning that if your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet for the same amount up to $1,250. New users also get 1,000 Caesars Rewards points to redeem for hotel or casino credit.
Here are our best bets for Monday, June 12:
TOP PLAY
The play: NBA Finals, Miami Heat (+9) over Denver Nuggets
The odds/bet: +126 ($23.81 to win $30)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Our take: The Miami Heat are facing elimination tonight in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and they’re underdogs by a significant margin after the Denver Nuggets handed them a pair of double-digit defeats at home.
While this Heat team might simply be overmatched to the point where they won’t be able to keep up with Nikola Jokic and company, they’ve consistently exceeded expectations throughout their postseason run to where we feel like they’ll be able to keep the contest close.
The Heat are also expected to see Tyler Herro return in a limited capacity, but he could provide enough of a spark to throw the Nuggets off, so we’ll take our chances with the nine-point spread.
ANGELS-RANGERS OVER
The play: MLB, Angels at Rangers OVER 9.5 runs
The odds/bet: -120 ($12 to win $10)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 7:05 p.m. (BSSW)
Our take: The Rangers possess one of the scariest lineups in MLB, especially at home, and they get a juicy matchup against struggling Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson.
While it will be tough for the Rangers lineup to hit the over by themselves even if they make life rough on Anderson as expected, the Angels are capable of scoring plenty as well and shouldn’t have much trouble against Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning.
Dunning’s been trending in the wrong direction as of late, so we’ll take the over since the bullpens can also be scored upon if the starting pitchers exceed expectations.
HOW WE’VE FARED
MLB, Houston Astros over Cleveland Guardians (LOST $23.80)
MLS, St. Louis City over LA Galaxy (LOST $10)
PGA Canadian Open: Tyrell Hatton to finish in top 10 (WON $13)
Sunday's profit/loss: -$20.80 (1-2)
Final total for the week: -$115.70 (4-10)
Total for June: -$140.40 (8-14)
Total for 2023: -$474.10 (129-147)
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).