Odds and Bets: Edmonton Elks look to avoid making ugly history

Today’s Sports Betting Picks – Thursday, July 13, 2023

Scottish Open: Run with Rory

Rory McIlroy hits the links at The Renaissance Club for the Scottish Open with one eye looking ahead to next week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. The four-time major champ hasn’t had much past success at the Scottish Open (missed cut, T34), but this weekend is an opportunity to fine-tune his game before next week’s major.

McIlroy opened the year with a win at The CJ Cup in South Carolina and he comes into this weekend hot. He has five straight top-10 finishes, including a runner-up performance at the U.S. Open last month. The Northern Irishman is coming off a T7 performance at the Travelers Championship. Look for McIlroy to be in contention all weekend.

Scottish Open best bet: Rory McIlroy top-10 finish

Tiger-Cats at Elks: Streaking gone wrong

The Elks have opened the 2023 CFL season with five straight losses, but it’s another losing streak people are focussed on as Edmonton has lost 19 straight home games at Commonwealth Stadium dating back to Oct. 12, 2019. To put that in perspective, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker was the No. 1 movie at the box office the last time the Elks won a home game.

There’s reason for hope, however, in Edmonton. The Elks nearly upset Saskatchewan on the road last time out, losing to the Riders by just one point. They’re also up against a Hamilton team that is just 1-3 on the season, including 0-2 on the road. The Ti-Cats were as high as 2.5-point favourites at one point, but that number has shrunk to -1.0 as of Thursday. Just under 50 per cent of bettors are actually backing Edmonton to win at home for the first time since before the COVID pandemic.

CFL best bet: Edmonton wins and ends two embarrassing losing streaks

Diamondbacks at Blue Jays: Going, going, gone for Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Home Run Derby victory made history during the All-Star break. Guerrero and his father Vlad Sr. are the only father-son duo in MLB history to each win the Home Run Derby. Vlad Sr. did it in 2007 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels when he son was just eight-years-old.

So can the now 24-year-old Vladdy Jr. keep that Home Run Derby momentum going? Absolutely. In fact, his hitting was already trending upward before the All-Star break. Guerrero has three home runs in his last nine games at Rogers Centre and with a confidence boost from the Home Run Derby, bank on him having a strong second half of the season.

MLB best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit a home run