Daily Sports Betting Preview 10/27/2020: WS MVP, UFC After Khabib, UEFA CL

• Clayton Kershaw leads the World Series MVP betting tables with +200 odds.
• Conor McGregor has -150 odds to be the next UFC Lightweight Champion.
• Atletico Madrid are -138 favorites over RB Salzburg in the Champions League.

LAS VEGAS - Welcome to today’s Daily Sports Betting Preview! Today’s edition examines a couple of prop bets and then the UEFA Champions League.

First, the Los Angeles Dodgers are up 3-2 in the World Series, prompting speculation and wagering on who the World Series MVP will be. Then, the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov sent shockwaves through the MMA world - will he fight again?

If not, who will claim the vacant title?

Finally, Atlético Madrid take on RB Salzburg in Champions League play in a matchup that starts at 4:00 p.m. EST.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

World Series MVP Betting

The Los Angeles Dodgers are up 3-2 in the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and that means that speculation abounds as to who the World Series MVP will be.

After all, Game 6 is an elimination game, which means that anyone who wants to bet on the World Series might need to get their bets in before it ends.

Let’s take a look at the odds for World Series MVP.

At the top of the odds boards is Clayton Kershaw, who was lights out in Game 1 and nearly as good in Game 5.

Kershaw might be a pick whose chances are bolstered by the narrative serendipity of an award like this - a former playoff choker who finally came through.

After Kershaw, the Dodgers’ main entrant is Corey Seager, who has been the best hitter on the Dodgers throughout the playoffs.

Seager is batting .471 with a 1.432 OPS in the World Series.

Since Kershaw is already done for the series, Seager has a shot to lock up the award with a good performance in Game 6 or a hypothetical Game 7.

After Seager, there is a pretty big drop off, as Mookie Betts and Randy Arozarena are next on the list.

Betts is the best player on the Dodgers, but he’s been a bit cold in the World Series, despite some brilliant plays.

He’s batting .292 with a .927 OPS and excellent defensive presence.

Arozarena is the best player on the Tampa Bay Rays, and he’s been red hot - but they’re not likely to win, and Arozarena’s chances to win the MVP are about the same as Tampa Bay’s chances to win the World Series.

If Tampa Bay pulls off the miracle, Arozarena (with his 1.121 OPS in the series) will likely win World Series MVP. If not, he’s not really a consideration.

MMA Prop Betting

Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje in Round 2 of their championship bout, and proceeded to announce his retirement.

Nurmagomedov lost his father to COVID-19 related complications earlier in the year and did not want to continue fighting without him.

Nurmagomedov’s retirement, at 29-0, leaves him as perhaps the best fighter of all time, with dominant wins over a roster of amazing fighters.

However, it also leaves the MMA world - and MMA bettors - in a state of flux, especially in the division that he dominated for so long.

There are dueling wagers on the sportsbooks due to this. The first is a wager on who Khabib’s next opponent will be, and the second is a wager on who the next lightweight champion will be.

MMA retirements are often temporary, which obviously has a lot of sports bettors considering Khabib coming back soon.

Let’s take a look at the odds for who his next opponent will be.

These are some very off the wall odds. Georges St. Pierre sits at the top, which is likely a nod to the fact that GSP is perhaps the major contender for being the GOAT - a title Khabib has a claim to.

The idea behind that fight would be that it would be big enough to lure Khabib and GSP out of retirement, and it would help to settle the GOAT debate.

After GSP is Conor McGregor, which presumably would be a fight that could lure Khabib out of retirement with the promise of enormous amounts of money.

This is similar, incidentally, to the odds on Mayweather and Pacquiao that show up in this bet - they probably won’t happen, but the idea is that everyone has a price.

Now, let’s take a look at the odds for who the next lightweight champion will be.

McGregor is a favorite here, which is odd, considering it’s been a long time since he fought a competitive match.

Since his loss to Khabib, he’s only taken on Cowboy Cerrone, and that fight ended almost immediately. He has the resume to justify a run with the title, but it’s been a while since he had to back that resume up in the ring.

Dustin Poirier seems to be the major contender here, one of the many contenders Khabib mauled in order to keep his belt.

Poirier is a great fighter, and a bout between him and Conor seems very possible.

UEFA Champions League Betting

The UEFA Champions League brings several compelling matches to the table today, but the matchup between Atlético Madrid and RB Salzburg might be the most unique.

Atlético Madrid, often regarded as the third wheel to Barcelona and Real Madrid, are a team that has consistently performed well over the last decade, making multiple Champions League Final appearances.

Under manager Diego Simeone, Atlético are a dominant force, able to beat anyone they come up against.

RB Salzburg, similarly, might be regarded as a bit of a third wheel to the dominant duo in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Salzburg are a team that is controversial in German football because of the way in which they bypassed the requirements for supporter ownership of clubs.

Effectively, they are an arm of a Red Bull marketing campaign, and that rubs people the wrong way. Despite this, their achievements, from a pure on-field perspective, are massive.

Atlético Madrid are favorites, and very much deserve to be so. They’ve improved their team this year, adding Luis Suarez, who started the season red hot.

RB Salzburg, meanwhile, took a loss up front as Timo Werner left for Chelsea, leaving the team without it’s leading goal scorer. Atlético pair a devastating attack with a stonewall defense, while RB Salzburg are still trying to find their identity without Werner.

These factors make Atlético deserving favorites on the moneyline, and perhaps well worth the wager.

Happy Betting!