Dan Santaromita

Chicago

Sports Betting Contributor at The Athletic

Staff Editor, Sports Betting at The Athletic

Sports betting @TheAthletic. Proud Mizzou grad

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Articles

2026 Stanley Cup odds: Oilers ahead of Panthers in opening odds

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

Opening championship odds are usually not all that creative, so it’s not a surprise to see the two finalists for the last two years open as the favorites for next year’s Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers just beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row, but it’s the Oilers that open as the favorite ahead of the Panthers to claim the Cup in 2026. The Oilers are +650 on BetMGM, with the Panthers next at +750.
OKC aims for first series lead

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

For much of this year's NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers have been the team making comebacks. In Friday's Game 4, it was the Oklahoma City Thunder that came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to get a win. With the series now tied 2-2 and returning to Oklahoma, the Thunder are massive favorites to win what has now become a best-of-3 series. How to watch Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5This game will also be available on ESPN+.
Aryna Sabalenka favored vs. Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz tight

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

The French Open couldn't have asked for much more in terms of the two matchups for the finals set to take place later this weekend. On the women's side, there will be a first-time champion, but it's World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against young American star Coco Gauff. The men's side features the two dominant forces in the sport in Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Oklahoma City among most lopsided favorites ever against Indiana

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

One city will soon win its first NBA championship, and the odds are saying it's far more likely to be Oklahoma City than Indianapolis. The Thunder are heavily favored to beat the Pacers in the NBA Finals, set to start on Thursday. On BetMGM, the Thunder are -700 to beat the Pacers in the finals.
Dodgers have staggering record as home favorites, just not this weekend against the Yankees

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

There are a lot of ways to say the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the best overall franchise in baseball for the last several years. The Dodgers have won two World Series in the past five years, have 12 straight playoff appearances and five 100-win campaigns in the last seven full seasons. The betting world has its own way of showcasing the Dodgers' incredible run (barring, ahem, several postseason disappointments).
Pacers at Knicks Game 5

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

In an Eastern Conference finals full of shocking comebacks, Game 4 almost featured another. Instead, Tyrese Haliburton put the finishing touches on what is being called one of the best performances in NBA postseason history, and now the Indiana Pacers are one win away from the NBA Finals. Will the Pacers close it out Thursday in Manhattan, or will the New York Knicks get their first home win of the series to send things back to Indianapolis?
Thunder at Timberwolves Game 4

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

Wait, what happened on Friday night? The Oklahoma City Thunder have been handing out beatdowns, not receiving them, throughout the playoffs. It looked like the Thunder were on track to cruise to the NBA title, but the Minnesota Timberwolves won Game 3 of the Western Conference finals by 42 points in a game that was practically over by the end of the first quarter and was certainly over by halftime. So what happens next in Game 4?
Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka (not Iga Swiatek) enter as favorites

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

A healthy Carlos Alcaraz could enter the French Open as the tournament favorite for the next several years, so it's no surprise to see him leading the way in the odds ahead of the start of the 2025 tournament. Alcaraz is nearly even money at +105 on BetMGM to win his second straight title at Roland Garros. Italian player Jannik Sinner is not far behind at +200. Those are the clear top two players in the sport, having combined to win the last five Grand Slams.
2025 Stanley Cup winner odds

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

It's been 32 years since a Canadian team last won the Stanley Cup, and it's possible that drought is coming to a close this year. The Edmonton Oilers are favored to win the Stanley Cup on BetMGM before the conference finals start on Tuesday. The Oilers are +240 to lift the Cup, just a tick ahead of the defending champion Florida Panthers at +250. Those two teams met in the Stanley Cup Final last year, and the odds are saying a rematch is realistic.
2025 NBA champion odds

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Dan Santaromita

The NBA playoffs have been filled with drama and surprises through two rounds. However, the odds are saying it would be a shock if the Oklahoma City Thunder did not win the title at this point. Oklahoma City is a strong -175 favorite to win it all on BetMGM. The Thunder were pushed to a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets in the second round, but the Nuggets were not at full strength with Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. playing through injuries.