Before the NBA playoffs started, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to be the team to beat.  However, when they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first game of their first-round series – scoring only 93 points – things started to change. It’s in the NBA that we’ll start today, having a look at the betting odds and trends for Aug 19, 2020.

Sports Betting Trends & Odds Aug 19, 2020

Now, per William Hill’s NBA odds, the LA Clippers have moved to the top, improving from +325 to +220 to win the title, as of Wednesday.  The Lakers, on the other hand, dropped from +200 to +350.  This is the first time all year that the Clippers have been favored to win it all on William Hill.

Following behind the Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks have slid a little in the betting odds, with you now getting +340 on Aug 19.  They were sitting on +300 as the Eastern Conference leaders, but losing to the Orlando Magic in Game 1 didn’t do anything for its odds.  The Toronto Raptors, looking to defend their championship from last year, have improved from +1000 to +800 and are now fourth favorites to win this year after taking both Game 1 and 2 against the Brooklyn Nets.  They’ll face off in Game 3 Friday.

Slice It Up With The PGA And UFC

There’s some action to look forward to this weekend with the PGA Tour, as well.  The Northern Trust is on tap, and bettors have been all too happy to grab a piece.  They have collectively decided who will win, buying more action on Bryson Dechambeau than anyone else.  Overall, he’s getting 11% of the total amount wagered, followed by Tony Finau with 7%.

Says William Hill US Director of Trading Nick Bogdanovich, “DeChambeau is leading in tickets and money.  TPC Boston favors power, and DeChambeau has won there before.  Any time a course isn’t super narrow fairways with high rough, I think it always favors golfers who hit it far.”

For those who want to get in on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) action, Frankie Edgar and Pedro Munhoz will battle it out at UFC Fight Night this Saturday.  The bantamweight fight is a great opportunity for Munhoz to prove he’s a champ.  Edgar (23-8-1) has more experience and more wins than Munhoz (18-4-1), but has dropped three of his last four bouts – two by knockout in the first round.  This is part of the reason why William Hill betting oddsmakers are leaning toward a Munhoz victory, giving him odds on Aug 19 of -240 against Edgar’s +200.

After a too-long break from major sports action, it’s great to have a lot of options back on the table.  William Hill is offering a number of opportunities to sweeten the pot and help sports bettors make up for lost time.  With the NFL about to kick off in three weeks, there’s even more excitement coming.