NFL Draft is big night for sports gambling, and mock drafts helped set the lines – The Athletic

Mock drafts are the offseason catnip of the NFL offseason: churned out by the hundreds, if not thousands to feed the insatiable hunger for any football news, with plenty of disclaimers for the writers not to take them too seriously. And most observers dont.

But with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shortly to start the draft from his basement in Bronxville, N.Y., there is one industry that not only does not scoff at the mocks, but needs them: sports gambling, which is seeing a record volume bet on the draft.

If somebody sees a Mel Kiper mock that says X, Y or Z, then thats gonna probably move betting action, said Dustin Gouker, an analyst for PlayUSA Network and LegalSportsReport.com. I think the oddsmakers know that thats going to result in maybe not sharp moves, but certainly casual bettors who are following along seeing a Mel Kiper draft that says, This persons gonna be drafted here. Thats going to...

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NFL Draft is big night for sports gambling, and mock drafts helped set the lines - The Athletic