Monday May 20 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions

The day back at work after a golf major is always a tough one, especially if you didn’t have some cash on Xander Schauffele, who claimed his first major title after 12 previous top-10 finishes in the most prestigious four events on tour. X started the PGA as the third favorite at Valhalla at around +1400 on most books. 

Let’s get the week off to a solid start with the most exciting game in hockey, a little Serie A action in Italy, and we’ll see if the Guardians can stay hot against the struggling Mets.

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks, Game 7

As we were teased in the other three series that all ended in six games, the only game seven in the NHL’s conference semifinals this year will feature the two remaining Canadian sides trying to end the country’s 30-plus-year Stanley Cup drought. 

No pressure, gents. 

Edmonton got three assists from superstar Conor McDavid and held Vancouver to just 18 shots on goal in a 5-1 game-six rout that stopped the run of games decided by one goal in this series at five. 

Thus, the series returns to Vancouver for game seven. 

Home teams have won the deciding game in 58 percent of the 191 NHL game sevens through the 2023 season. That’s a ton less than the 75 percent success rate for home teams in NBA game sevens. The bookies seem to think Edmonton’s momentum and overall talent level will be enough to see them advance, with Draft Kings listing the visitors as hefty –142 favorites. 

I’m not sure the value is there at that number for a team who lost all four meetings with the Canucks during the regular season, being outscored 24-7 in those games. 

So, I’ll go a little exotic in this one, taking the Oilers to pull off a come-from-behind win, with the Canucks scoring early in front of a raucous home crowd, but Edmonton with their studs and playoff experience over the last few years coming through in the end. 

Edmonton Oilers to win from behind (+275) at DraftKings. 

Italy Serie A – Juventus at Bologna

Juventus’ miserable time in Serie A started late February, winning only two league contests in their last 15 and scoring multiple goals just four times over that span. 

The legendary club has gone four years without a title, their longest drought since the late 80s/early 90s, and I don’t think their players will be super motivated away from home with only third place vs. fourth place on the line tonight and a Champions League spot already secured. 

Bologna have been defensively stout at home of late, allowing only five goals over their last 14 games at Stadio Renata Dall’Ara, and the previous meeting between these two sides this season back on the second day of the campaign finished 1-1. Also, only 3 of the last 12 meetings between these sides have featured more than 2 total goals. 

Juve did pull out an Italian Cup title this past midweek but then fired their coach two days later for ripping his jacket off late in the victory and receiving a red card for sarcastically applauding the referee. 

With all of that said, I fancy Bologna to pull this one out to nil at home. 

Single-game parlay (+280) at DraftKings, Bologna money line and Juventus under 0.5 goals. 

New York Mets at Cleveland Guardians

The Mets head to Ohio after losing two of three to the lowly Marlins in Miami. 

Things looked up for New York only briefly when they took a road series from the Dodgers a month ago. But they’ve dropped 16 of 25 games since then to fall a dozen games back in the NL East. 

The expected starter for the Guardians – journeyman Ben Lively – has been solid at home so far in 2024 with his 1.49 ERA and 0.992 WHIP at Progressive Field. 

The Guardians have won six of seven and draw Tylor Megill, who makes his first start in seven weeks coming off the 15-day IL (shoulder). 

Guardians moneyline (-125) at DraftKings