FrontPageBets' most interesting sporting events to watch this weekend

A Super surprising NFL season is behind us. Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are champions, paying dividends on coach Sean McVay’s big bet to offer a king’s ransom to acquire the veteran quarterback from the Detroit Lions. The Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow went from the basement to the brink of a title in just one season.

In sports, you can move from also-ran to top of the heap in a flash.

As the calendar swings toward spring, there are no shortage of storylines to play out, favorites to fizzle and upsets to create havoc.

March Madness awaits. Call this February Frenzy.

Here are five of the most interesting events that FrontPageBets will be keeping an eye on this weekend from a sports betting perspective (all odds DraftKings):

SATURDAY

College basketball: Illinois at Michigan State, noon, ESPN

What to watch: Tom Izzo’s No. 19 Spartans stumbled badly in a 62-58 loss at Penn State on Tuesday night. For the first time in 27 seasons, Izzo did not allow his players to meet the media postgame. No. 12 Illinois beat MSU in Champaign 56-55 on Jan. 25 with stars Kofi Cockburn and Andre Curbelo out of action. The Spartans blew a chance to tie with less than a second left at the free-throw line. Malik Hall couldn’t convert. The Illini (18-7, 11-4) fell out of first place in the Big Ten with a 70-59 loss at Rutgers on Wednesday. The Spartans (18-7, 9-5) desperately need this one at Breslin Center to climb back into the conference race.

The pick: Michigan State 62, Illinois 61  

College basketball: Texas Tech vs. Texas, 12:30 p.m., ABC

What to watch: This one is as much about NCAA Tournament seeding as it is about the Big 12 title chase. The 11^th-ranked Red Raiders (19-6, 8-4) are likely on the three line right now, the No. 20 Longhorns (19-7, 8-5) at a four seed. Texas Tech handled Texas 77-64 on Feb. 1 in Lubbock in former coach Chris Beard’s return as leader of enemy Texas. Emotions ran high in the stands and on the court and will again in Austin. Expect Beard’s former assistant Mark Adams to again get the better of his old boss, in a tighter game this time.  

The pick: Texas Tech 72, Texas 69

SUNDAY

Auto racing: Daytona 500, 2:30 p.m., NBC

What to watch: Favorite Denny Hamlin (+850) will be seeking to become the third driver to win four times at Daytona, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough. Kyle Larson (+1100), coming off the Cup Series championship, is looking to break through at the Great American Race. He and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates have failed to win at Daytona in the past eight tries. Hendrick’s Chase Elliott (+1000) and Alex Bowman (+1800) may also be factors.   

The pick: Kyle Larson, top 3 (+240)  

Golf: Genesis Invitational 3-6:30 p.m., CBS

What to watch: You don’t see fields much more stacked than the group assembled this week at Riviera. All of the top 10 players in the world will tee it up and 13 of the top 15. Who will be most at ease in this Southern California ball-striker’s paradise? How about the guy who dates Wayne Gretzky’s daughter, Paulina? Dustin Johnson (+1600) has won here in 2017 and been second twice. Always in the hunt at the Genesis, D.J. should hold off Jon Rahm (+800), Patrick Cantlay (+1000) and Collin Morikawa (+1600) for the win.

The pick: Dustin Johnson

Pro basketball: NBA All-Star Game, 8 p.m., TNT

What to watch: The hoops fiesta where defense goes to die is on tap in Cleveland, LeBron James’ stars pitted against Kevin Durant’s squad. KD will be sidelined, replaced by Jayson Tatum. Tatum will be joined in Team Durant's starting lineup by Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, Andrew Wiggins and Trae Young. James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Jokic start for Team LeBron.

The pick: First-timer Morant (+900) as Most Valuable Player

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