Wake and Rake: NIT Championship Attracting Heavy Professional Action

Today's sports betting frenzy is all about MLB Opening Day. For the first time since 1968, all 30 teams were scheduled to play (though Nationals-Reds has been postponed due to inclement weather). With the hype of a new season and games all day, MLB fans will be watching and betting.

14 Games, 1 Day: Your Ultimate Guide to Betting MLB Opening Day

Read now

But as I've mentioned in various Wake and Rake columns, professional bettors aren't concerned with the popularity of an event. Instead, wiseguys are only interested in the value that a specific betting line offers, no matter the sport.

With the sports world focusing on MLB Opening Day, sharp bettors are pivoting and making a big play on tonight's NIT Championship game between Penn State and Utah (7 p.m. ET).

Oddsmakers across the market opened tonight's Penn State-Utah total at 135 and public bettors have gravitated toward the over. While 71% of tickets like the over, the number has actually dropped down to 134.5 at Pinnacle and even to 134 at Bookmaker.eu.

Sports Insights' Bet Signals — which track sharp money across the live sports betting market — triggered one Reverse Line Move and one Steam Move at under 135, explaining why this line has moved in the opposite direction of the betting percentages.

In fact, the Steam Move was triggered at CRIS, a market-setting sportsbook that takes high-limit wagers from professional bettors, confirming that the under is a favorite wager of wiseguys in early Thursday betting.

Top Photo: Utah Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak waits on the sideline