Nationals, Loyola-Chicago Top Saturday’s Most Popular Public Bets

With both Final Four matchups and a full slate of baseball games, bettors have plenty to get excited about on Saturday. Using our bet and dollar percentage data, let's take a look at three games that the public is hammering today.

In the second-most lopsided betting matchup on today's baseball slate, the Nats have attracted 76% of bettors for this afternoon's game in Cincy. Despite that, they've actually fallen from -185 down to -157 thanks to 52% of dollars landing on the Reds.

Why the public loves Washington: They've got plenty of big names in their lineup, including the one on the mound today, Stephen Strasburg. And the Reds are, well, the Reds.

Loyola Chicago-Michigan Over 130

6:05 p.m. ET

The spread bets in both of tonight's Final Four matchups are close to 50-50, but bettors have unsurprisingly taken a liking to both overs. This one has attracted more action, though, as 70% of bettors see this game going over 130. Seventy-one percent of the money is also on this over, which has helped it rise two points from its opening number.

Why the public loves the over: What fun is there in rooting for an under? Plus, this total is 25 points less than the late game's, so the public deems it a more reasonable bet.

Chicago Cubs (-210) vs. Miami Marlins

7:10 p.m. ET

In the most lopsided game of tonight, 77% of bettors are behind the Cubs. Like the Nats, the Cubbies have fallen from their opening number (-230), thanks to 81% of dollars on Miami.

Why the public loves Chicago: The pitching matchup — Yu Darvish vs. Odrisamer Despaigne — would be enough to convince any square bettor to take Chicago, but the Cubs are also a popular bet because they lost last night. After that 2-1 defeat in 17 innings, the public is certainly thinking that the Chicago bats are "due" today.

Photo: Kris Bryant.
Photo credit: Steve Mitchell — USA TODAY Sports.