Memorial Day weekend betting guide

May 27, 2022

  • Betting Analysts

Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with parades, picnics and plenty of action from the wide world of sports. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to watch and what you can bet on to make this holiday weekend one to remember.

For early risers Saturday, the French Open will be in full swing all morning long. Then, in the afternoon, there’s the UEFA Champions League finale pitting Liverpool against Real Madrid, as well as some WNBA action on ABC. Our attention then shifts to the Big Apple for a big night, with the Rangers and Hurricanes duking it out in Game 6 of their NHL playoff series in Madison Square Garden, while over at Barclays Center, it will be Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero in a WBA lightweight bout.

Sunday morning, it’s more tennis from Roland Garros in Paris, as the French Open moves to fourth-round matches before a trio of auto racing’s most prestigious races run back-to-back-to-back. Have breakfast with Formula One and the Monaco Grand Prix, followed by brunch and the Indianapolis 500, and then an afternoon snack of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600.

For a nightcap, we’ve got some Sunday Night Baseball and some NBA playoffs drama. The Phillies visit the Mets in a NL East clash the Heat and Celtics series will indeed need a seventh game to decide who will face the Warriors in the Finals.

Got it? Good. Here’s what to watch and what to bet this weekend.

Saturday’s schedule

  • French Open: Third round, 5 a.m. ET on NBC

  • UEFA Champions League final, 3 p.m. ET on CBS

  • WNBA: Las Vegas Aces @ Chicago Sky, 3 p.m. ET on ABC

  • Stanley Cup playoffs: Carolina Hurricanes @ New York Rangers, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • WBA boxing: Davis vs. Romero, 11 p.m. ET on Showtime PPV

Sunday’s schedule

  • French Open: Fourth round, 5 a.m. ET on NBC

  • Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix, 8:55 a.m. ET on ESPN

  • IndyCar: Indianapolis 500, 11 a.m. ET on NBC

  • NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m. ET on Fox

  • Sunday NIght Baseball: Philles @ Mets, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2

  • NBA: Celtics @ Miami Game 7, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN


French Open third round
5 a.m. ET, Stade Roland Garros, Paris


Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic (+175); Carlos Alcaraz (+275); Rafael Nadal (+330); Stefanos Tsitsipas (+450)
Women’s favorites: Iga Swiatek (-250); Amanda Anisimova (+1000), Cori Gauff (+1200); Paula Badosa (+1400)

André Snellings: Tsitsipas has the fourth-best odds to win the tournament, but in many ways this is the best opportunity he’s ever had to win a major. Tsitsipas, still only 23 years old, has made at least the semifinals of a major five times in his career. Clay is his best surface, and in the past two years, he made the French Open semis in 2020, then the finals in 2021, when he had a two-set-to-love lead over Novak Djokovic before ultimately losing in five. This season, he already has a win on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters, and he made the semis and the final at the Madrid Open and Italian Open, respectively. Tsitsipas is also on the opposite side of the draw from the three favorites, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, meaning that he would only potentially have to go through one of them to win and he wouldn’t face any until the final at the earliest.

Men’s pick: Tsitsipas to win (+450)

Iga Swiatek is playing tennis on a level that no other woman in the world is currently approaching, and she’s playing on her best surface. She won the French Open in 2020, and has won 85% of her matches on clay in her career. She has won 30 matches in a row, the longest streak since Serena Williams won 34 straight in 2013. And she’s not just winning — she’s dominating. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, she has already won 15 sets this season with a bagel (6-0), only 10 behind Serena Williams’ 25 for the entire 2013 season for the most since 2000. If the -250 to win isn’t enough juice for you, there’s a very reasonable chance she runs the table without dropping a set.

Women’s pick: Swiatek to win (-250); Swiatek to win without dropping a set (+220)


Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League Final, 3 p.m. ET, Stade de France, Paris


To win the championship: Liverpool (-175), Real Madrid (+135)
90 minutes: Liverpool (+100), Tie (+270), Real Madrid (+255)
Over/under: 2.5 goals (-135/+105)

Paul Carr: Each of these teams has scored in all but one of its Champions League games this season, and both teams have scored in Real Madrid’s past five UCL matches. That wasn’t a fluke, as both teams had at least 1.1 expected goals in all five of those games.

Pick: Both teams to score (-145)


Las Vegas Aces @ Chicago Sky
3 p.m. ET, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, ABC


Line: Aces (-2.5)
Over/under 168.5.

Eric Moody: Through their first eight games of the season, the Aces have scored 746 points (93.3 points per game). It’s the most points by any team in WNBA history through eight games. Through six games of the season, the Sky have scored 504 points (84 PPG), which is tied for the third-most points through six games in franchise history. It will be a high-scoring game with Kahleah Copper back in the fold for the Sky.

Pick: Over 168.5 (-110)


Carolina Hurricanes @ New York Rangers
8 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden, New York, ESPN
Carolina leads 3-2


Line: Pick (-110)
Puck line: Hurricanes +1.5 (-280), Rangers -1.5 (+230)
Over/under: 5.5 (+125/-145)

Greg Wyshynski: The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Hurricanes — undefeated at home, only defeated on the road — has been well documented. I think there’s a chance they could buck the trend and end this series in six games, but I’m far more confident from a wagering perspective that Mika Zibanejad will top this shot total for the Rangers. New York will have the last line change, meaning he’ll escape Jordan Staal’s shutdown line in Game 6. He beat this total in the Rangers’ first two home games of the series and in five of six home games for the playoffs. Facing elimination, it’s hard to imagine he won’t take his chances.

Pick: Zibanejad over 2.5 shots (-135)


Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero
WBA lightweight `bout, 11 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York


Bout betting two-way: Davis (-800), Romero (+550)
Result: KO, TKO or DQ: Davis (-400), Romero (+1200)
Decision: Davis (-430), Romero (+1200); Draw (+2500)
Rounds: 6.5 Rounds (O +100, U -130)

Both of these exciting fighters carry tremendous knockout power, and with this being a rivalry fight, I do not expect this fight to go all 12 rounds, so I like Davis to win this fight by TKO. Davis is very calculated and his accuracy with his power is unbelievable, as seen in past fights. Romero has a very wild and unpredictable style that has caused problems for opponents in the past; however, against a fighter as skilled as Davis, that wild style will eventually cost him, as it leaves him open to get hit. If you give “Tank” Davis an opening, he will take it and more than likely leave you sleeping on the canvas.

Pick: Davis to win via TKO (-400)


French Open fourth round
5 a.m. ET, Stade Roland Garros, Paris


Men’s favorites: Novak Djokovic (+175); Carlos Alcaraz (+275); Rafael Nadal (+330); Stefanos Tsitsipas (+450)
Women’s favorites: Iga Swiatek (-250); Amanda Anisimova (+1000), Cori Gauff (+1200); Paula Badosa (+1400)

Check back Sunday for more picks.


Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix
8:55 a.m. ET, Monaco, ESPN


Race favorites: Charles Leclerc (-120), Max Verstappen (+175)
Podium finish: Leclerc (-275), Verstappen (-250), Carlos Sainz (+100), Sergio Pérez (+175), George Russell (+300), Lewis Hamilton (+300)
Play: Formula 1 Racing Pick’em

Mike Clay: The last time I made an F1 pick in this column, I told you to pick Verstappen at even money after pointing out that he’s won every single race he’s finished this season. Three weeks later, that streak remains alive. Including the sprint in Italy, Verstappen has won five of a possible seven races, and he was in contention for the win in the two in which he had to retire early with car issues. Verstappen also won this race last season, though he benefited from a prerace car issue that knocked out pole sitter LeClerc. LeClerc is the favorite at +105 this week, but landing Verstappen at solid plus money is an easy bet.

Pick: Verstappen to win (+175).

Ryan McGee: Yes, Mercedes is way off pace, but Monaco has a way of leveling the playing field. Also, Lewis Hamilton hasn’t forgotten how to drive and this place rewards experience. Then again, it also punishes it.

Pick: Hamilton to win (+300).


Indianapolis 500
11 a.m. ET, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NBC


Race favorites: Scott Dixon (+400), Alex Palou (+450)
More: Qualifying Grid

Ryan McGee: Scott Dixon is without question the greatest Indy Car driver of his generation and has a pretty good argument for best all time. But he has “only” one Indy 500 victory and that was 10 years ago this week. History tells me not to buy into all of the hype surrounding his ridiculously fast month, but it also feels foolish to pick against him.

Pick: Dixon to win (+400)


NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
6 p.m. ET, Charlotte Motor Speedway,


Race favorites: Kyle Larson (+450), Kyle Busch (+650), Chase Elliott (+750), Martin Truex Jr. (+900)
Winning manufacturer: Chevy (+110), Toyota (+160), Ford (+375)

Mike Clay: We’re going with somewhat of a long shot here, as Joey Logano has the 12th-longest odds to win. It doesn’t make a ton of sense considering Logano owns a 12.4 average finish at this track, which is fourth best among active drivers. That includes a win in 2015, and he also won the All-Star Race here in 2016. Speaking of the All-Star Race, the three Team Penske cars dominated last week’s event at Texas (also a 1.5-mile speedway), with Logano’s teammate Ryan Blaney earning the win (Logano finished fourth). Logano looks like the best value, but other intriguing plays include Tyler Reddick (+1400), Ryan Blaney (+1000), Martin Truex Jr. (+900) and Chase Elliott (+750).

Pick: Joey Logano to win (+1800)

Ryan McGee: In a season of parity, it feels like we have spent a lot of time this spring looking at the championship standings and asking, “Well, that guy is ranked really high. When is he actually going to win a race?” We did that with Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Now it feels like Truex’s turn, since 2014 he has finished outside the top 10 on the Charlotte oval only twice and he has also won this race twice. That’s pretty good.

Pick: Martin Truex Jr. (+900)


Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets
7 p.m. ET, Citi Field, New York, ESPN2


Line: Check back Sunday for odds and picks


Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat
Game 7, 8:30 p.m. ET, FTX Arena, Miami, ESPN


Line: Celtics (-2.5)
Moneyline: Celtics (-135), Heat (+115)
Over/Under: 198.0

Trend: The Celtics have lost 5 straight games with a chance to go to the Finals, dating back to 2012, tied for the 2nd-longest streak all-time. —ESPN Stats & Information

Anita Marks: The Heat surprised the world with an unbelievable performance in Game 6 – to win back home court and momentum heading into Game 7 on Sunday night. I don’t expect Jimmy Butler to have another 47 points performance, which was needed for the Heat to win by 8 points. Let’s marinate in that for a minute. I believe the Celtics underestimated an injury riddled Heat team on the road. Game 6 was a wakeup call and Bostons typically follows a loss with a win. Al Horford had an off night, going 1 for 6 from deep, Smart 1 for 9 from deep, Tatum had 7 turnovers, Brown had 4 turnovers, and I don’t expect to see that again. I am also playing the over here, where this total is WAY too low, considering the over has hit 4 of the 6 games. I respect the defense, but there is way too much firepower on this court.

Pick: Celtics -2.5