Sports Betting Weekend: Cavs on the Verge

One win away from advancing to the NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night.

Game 5 was a total blowout, as Cleveland steamrolled Toronto 116-78 as an 11-point favorite at home. The home team has won and covered in every game of this series so far, with Game 6 at the Air Canada Centre on Friday.

The Western Conference Finals could conclude Thursday night if the Oklahoma City Thunder can win Game 5 of the playoff series. The Thunder lead the Golden State Warriors 3-1 in the best-of-seven set and they’re also 3-1 against the spread. If the Warriors survive, Game 6 would be played in Oklahoma City on Saturday.

On the MLB schedule this weekend the series to watch include the Los Angeles Dodgers at the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox at the Kansas City Royals.

Earlier this season the Mets and Dodgers split a four-game series in Los Angeles with the underdog winning three of four. For totals bettors the last six matchups between these two sides has the UNDER at 5-1. The Mets are also 3-1 in their last four home games against the Dodgers and 5-2 in their last seven home games overall.

The White Sox's lead in the American League Central has been dwindling and heading into their four-game series with the Royals they’re only two games up on Kansas City. Earlier this month the Royals took two of three in Chicago. The Royals are 4-1 in their last five against the White Sox, but only 3-7 in their last 10 homes games against them.

As well, this is a busy weekend for racing bettors with NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar on tap.

Sunday’s NASCAR stop is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson are all listed at +550 at online sportsbook Bovada. Carl Edwards won this race last year, but is a +900 underdog to repeat.

The Formula 1 stop this weekend is the Monaco Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg has won at Monaco the last three years, but he’s a +200 underdog to win again at Bovada. Lewis Hamilton is the favorite at +160.

The Indianapolis 500 puts open wheel racing on the map this weekend with Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud the co-favorites at +650. Pole sitter James Hinchcliffe is a +1000 underdog.