2012 Pre Spring MLB World Series Odds: While most of the sports betting world is focused on this week’s “BIG GAME” – the Major League Baseball season is quietly approaching. We are only one week away from the beginning of Spring Training in Arizona and Florida. It’s amazing how quickly the season rolls around. Seems like we just got done with the World Series. Looking ahead to the season, we must take note of the futures betting lines now posted at Bodava.lv and other off shore and Las Vegas sports books.
Like last year, the Philadelphia Phillies are favorites at 6-to-1 MLB Odds to win the 2012 World Series. While the Phillies are favored, their winning odds are not as strong as last year when they opened as 4-to-1 favorites. Reining champions Saint Louis Cardinals have a few holes to fill since winning the 2011 World Series so their odds of repeating are not so great at 18-to-1. Their odds now are not much different than when they opened last season as 15-to-1 longshots. And we all know what happened there.
Oddsmakers at Bodava sports book really like the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees in the American League, listing each club at 13-to-2 odds to win the 2012 World Series. The pressure is definitely on in Anaheim with the signing of baseball’s best player Albert Pujols to a 10-year $230-million free agent contract.
Other contenders looks like a list of usual suspects. The Detroit Tigers, who last week signed Prince Fielder off the free agent list, are expected to repeat in the AL Central Division and are listed at 9-to-1 odds to win the world championship. Also at 9-to-1 are reigning AL champions Texas Rangers. The Boston Red Sox will be in the AL hunt for sure at 11-to-1.
The Florida Marlins have made strides in the offseason to improve and their odds show it at 15-to-1. The San Francisco Giants are looking good in the NL West at 16-to-1, followed by the Cardinals, previously mentioned at 18-to-1, Tampa Bay at 20-to-1, Atlanta Braves at 22-to-1, and at 25-to-1 are Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. The Washington Nationals will be improved at 28-to-1 while the Milwaukee Brewers (30-to-1), without Brian Braun and Fielder will probably take a step back while retooling. The Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning the Spring at 35-to-1.
