By now the shock of the Nolan Arenado trade has waned.
The Colorado Rockies have played 26 games without the now St. Louis Cardinals star third baseman.
In those games, the Rockies went 14-14.
Not bad.
Not great.
When it comes to season predictions, you can’t take much from spring training. It may give you some indicators on certain aspects of a team, but it’s not a great harbinger for the regular season.
Needless to say, the expectations aren’t that high at Coors Field for the 2021 season.
As for the key question this season, how bad will it get, that’s been discussed when pitchers and catchers reported. So there’s no need to revisit that here.
Instead, with a long season ahead, let’s look at the various ways fans can bet on the Rockies this year.
Colorado’s season starts on Thursday against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.
Rockies 2021 odds
Before we get into the avenues you can take to wager on Colorado, you probably need an idea of the betting odds.
In terms of World Series betting, only the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates have worse odds (+15,000) at DraftKings.
The Rockies are tied with the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners at +10,000 at the sportsbook.
Over at FanDuel Sportsbook for Colorado, the Rockies are tied with the Pirates and Rangers at +15,000.
If you think Colorado will shock the world (it won’t), this is where a few bucks could turn into a major payoff. That’s not the best investment given there’s literally no shot the Rockies win the World Series this year.
As for the winner of the National League, at DraftKings Colorado is tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks at +8,000. Only the Pirates are worse +10,000.
The same song but only a different verse for the NL West odds. The Rockies are tied with Arizona at +5,000.
Opening Day promo
With Opening Day here, DraftKings is running a no-brainer promo for first-time users.
Bet $1, win $100.
The offer is good April 1 through April 30 on all MLB games.
Following registration, place a bet of at least $1 on any team to win (moneyline) for any MLB game during that promotional period.
If your team records a hit, you will be issued a $100 bonus once your original $1+ bet settles.
How to bet the Rockies in 2021
So how can you do MLB betting on a team that won’t be any good?
In terms of futures betting, perhaps the best way is regular season wins.
All of the sportsbooks have this market up, so if you think Colorado will top the total, you can wager on it.
DraftKings has the Rockies at over/under 63.5 regular season wins at -112.
Perhaps the best way to bet on the team this season is through live betting in Colorado.
This type of wagering can also make the game(s) more entertaining.
When you go this route, it’s just about that game.
It’s not about how the Rockies will do down the road.
How to live bet on the Rockies
When it comes to live betting, you bet as the game is happening.
At the end of each inning, the sportsbooks release new moneyline, point spreads, and props (also known as proposition bets).
Keep in mind, the in-play odds come and go quickly, so you have to act before they disappear.
This is where knowledge of the Rockies can play a huge benefit. Or if you just have a gut feeling and you want to test your luck. As you watch the game and a trend starts to develop or shortstop Trevor Story gets hot, you can test that hunch and place a live bet.
Here’s an example of a possible live betting market: Will Story hit a home run in his next at bat?
If you’ve never done live betting before, give it a try when Colorado’s season starts to see if you like it.
The benefit is the game is nowhere near as fast as the NHL. So you have time to not feel rushed.
Heck, even if you’re one of the fans in the stands, you could do it at Coors Field on the app of your choice.
For a team set to struggle, live betting the Rockies could add the excitement the season may lack. And if you have Comcast, you can actually watch the baseball season. Unlike the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets on Altitude TV and their ongoing dispute with the cable TV provider.
That makes live betting a lot more difficult. Unless you want to try live betting while listening to the radio. That might be quiet the experiement.
As always when it comes to sports betting, have a limit in mind. The same is true with live betting.
Bettors up
Colorado is in for a long season.
The trade of Arenado all but assured that.
Yet despite how bad it’ll get, there are still ways to enjoy the Rockies season with some added sports betting entertainment.
Bettors up.
