The Angels may have coasted to a comfortable victory in the AL West but astute
MLB betting fans also were able to find winning plays for the other three teams
in the division last year.
Interestingly, while Los Angeles led the division straight up, the Angels had
an ROI (Return on Investment) of -1.6 percent against the rest of the
division’s teams, meaning that if you bet on LA in each of its 57 games versus
Seattle, Oakland and Texas, you wound up a loser.
NFL bettors know they can rely on earning a profit if they wager on a straight
up winning team all year against the line but, as backers of Texas are eager to
point out, there are no such guarantees in baseball. In fact, although the
Rangers finished last in the AL West, Texas had an ROI of +3.6 percent against
the rest of the division.
Seattle boosters had plenty of ways to fatten their bankrolls just betting the
Mariners in every game they played, which yielded a profit off 9.8 percent.
Seattle also had an ROI of +12.7 percent at home and +12.2 percent in night
games.
Oakland was less fruitful territory for baseball betting fans but the A’s did
come through with an ROI of +16.4 percent when cast in the role of an underdog
of +200 or more last year. The Athletics also had a ROI of +6.4 percent against
teams from the AL East last season.
Hopefully, last year’s wagering numbers will unveil some clues to help develop
a baseball betting strategy for this season in the American League West
Division
:
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (2007 Finish: 94-71, Won AL West)
Future Book Odds for 2008:
World Series: 12/1,
Pennant: 7/1,
Division: 2/5
By the Numbers:
Favorite: 75-48,
Underdog: 19-23
Home: 54-28,
Away: 40-43
Day: 29-23,
Night: 65-48
Vs. Left: 19-21,
Vs. Right: 75-50
One-Run Games: 25-19
Sportsbook MLB Betting Buster: The Angels had an ROI of -11.6 percent
against teams from the American League’s Central Division last season, meaning
that a bet on Los Angeles in each of those 43 games would have cost the bettor
dearly.
Sports Betting Angle: Los Angeles had an ROI of +7.6 percent in home
games last year.
SEATTLE MARINERS (2007 Finish: 88-74)
Future Book Odds for 2008:
World Series: 20/1,
Pennant: 10/1,
Division: 2/1
By the Numbers:
Favorite: 47-28,
Underdog: 41-46
Home: 49-32,
Away: 40-43
Day: 23-23,
Night: 65-51
Vs. Left: 28-13,
Vs. Right: 60-61
One-Run Games: 27-20
Sportsbook MLB Betting Buster: The Mariners posted an ROI of +33.9
percent against left-handed starting pitching last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Seattle backers reaped an ROI of +10.7 percent
when they played the M’s as a favorite last year.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (2007 Finish: 76-88)
Future Book Odds for 2008:
World Series: 70/1,
Pennant: 35/1,
Division: 10/1
By the Numbers:
Favorite: 44-45,
Underdog: 32-41
Home: 40-41,
Away: 36-45
Day: 27-32,
Night: 49-54
Vs. Left: 24-22,
Vs. Right: 52-64
One-Run Games: 25-24
Sportsbook MLB Betting Buster: The A’s were dismal in their own
division, posting an ROI of -18.2 percent in the games versus the Angels,
Mariners and Rangers last year.
Sports Betting Angle: Oakland had an ROI of -12.2 percent when facing
right-handed starting pitching last season.
TEXAS RANGERS (2007 Finish: 75-87)
Future Book Odds for 2008:
World Series: 80/1,
Pennant: 40/1,
Division: 10/1
By the Numbers:
Favorite: 27-17,
Underdog: 48-70
Home: 47-34,
Away: 28-53
Day: 21-22,
Night: 54-65
Vs. Left: 22-25,
Vs. Right: 53-62
One-Run Games: 26-18
Sportsbook MLB Betting Buster: Rangers backers enjoyed a surprisingly
strong ROI of +11.5 percent when the team was in the role of favorite last
year.
Sports Betting Angle: Texas had an ROI of +17.3 percent in the 11 games
in which the team was an underdog of +200 (bet $100 to win $200) or more last
season.
RELATED ARTICLES
MLB Betting: Inside The AL East
MLB Betting: Inside The AL Central
