Tigers Emerge as Unexpected Betting Favorites in Postseason

After a series of upsets in the wild-card round, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees commenced their postseason journey as top contenders for the World Series title. Various sportsbooks present differing views, with some affirming the Dodgers and others the Yankees as favorites. The Dodgers stand as approximately -135 favorites against their divisional opponents, while the Yankees are favored at -210 against their competitors.

However, the spotlight has unexpectedly shifted to the Detroit Tigers, who have evolved from long-shot status to becoming a significant liability for sportsbooks. Initially available at 500-1 odds to secure the World Series title in early September, the Tigers are now positioned at around 10-1, with increased interest from bettors, particularly in Michigan. Notable sportsbooks including DraftKings and BetMGM reported that bets on the Tigers accounted for over 50% of all World Series wagers made in Michigan since September 1, a figure vastly exceeding bets on other teams in the playoffs.

Caesars Sportsbook highlighted this wagering trend by disclosing a $200 bet placed on the Tigers at 500-1 odds by a Michigan resident in August. Eric Biggio, lead baseball trader for Caesars, reinforced this observation. Beyond Michigan, the Tigers are drawing substantial betting support as noted by Halvor Egeland from BetMGM, who remarked that the Tigers have surged past the Royals and Padres in terms of betting liabilities.

The upside surprises from the wild-card round saw the elimination of three preseason favorites for the World Series, including teams such as the Astros and Orioles. Consequently, underdog teams such as the Tigers, Guardians, and Kansas City Royals have advanced, setting up intriguing matchups for the divisional rounds.

The Dodgers, favored at +350 to win it all as of Friday afternoon, and the Yankees, close behind at +370, remain strong contenders. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies pose a credible threat, priced at +450 as they compete against the Mets in a best-of-five series. The Padres, aspiring to overturn the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS), are placed at +650, while the Royals and Guardians are set at +850.

DraftKings considers the Tigers and Mets as the more unlikely candidates, each pegged at +950 to clinch the World Series. The Yankees, having overcome substantial competition from teams like the Astros and Orioles in the American League, vastly improved their betting odds. The Dodgers also benefited as the Braves were ousted, although they still face challenges with the Phillies and Padres remaining formidable adversaries.