NBA Playoff Betting Picks, NFL Draft Reaction & MLB Headlines - Ride the Line Ep.10

A new episode of the “Ride The Line” podcast is out now, and co-hosts Grant Mitchell and Tanner Kern poured over everything from Steph Curry’s 50-point explosion to sleeper teams in the NFL and why the MLB’s expansion to Mexico City may be untenable.

NBA Playoff Frenzy

Grant and Tanner kicked off the show by discussing the Philadelphia 76ers’ shocking Game One road win over the Boston Celtics without MVP and their best player, Joel Embiid, who is dealing with a knee injury. James Harden tied a playoff career-high with 45 points and nailed a clutch step-back three-pointer at the death to bookmark the win.

The co-hosts then jumped over to the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors series to talk about how the teams match up with one another. Despite Curry being the standout performer of these two teams thus far, both agreed that the Lakers are in a stronger position as the underdogs in the series and in Game One.

The pair also talked about the Phoenix Suns’ disappointing start to their series against the top-seed Denver Nuggets. But whereas Tanner was ready to call the series off, Grant held out and said that a series does not start until the home team loses.

NBA talk closed out with a brief recap and preview of the New York Knicks’ series against the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle are all banged up, which throws a wrench into betting picks and analysis moving forward.

NFL Draft Recap and Season Forecast

Grant and Tanner left the NBA playoffs to jump over to the NFL and revisit a couple of hot topics, such as the failed attempt to get Will Levis to the first-overall pick. Levis instead fell all the way to the Tennessee Titans with the second pick in the second round, though he could still see the field this season.

Bryce Young instead was taken first by the Carolina Panthers and, according to Grant, is in a solid position to succeed. The Panthers' offensive line was very productive last season, and with playmakers such as Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, Hayden Hurts, and Miles Sanders, Carolina at +330 to win the NFC South is not a bad bet, according to Grant.

Tanner led the talk for a team much further along in the franchise-building process, the Baltimore Ravens. Despite his reservations over attitude problems, he believes that Lamar Jackson and his new cast of weapons can create real headaches for the rest of the conference.

The co-hosts closed out football talk with their favorite sleeper teams for the 2023 season, which you’re going to have to hear for yourself in the show.

MLB in Mexico City? 

The show closed out with a trip to the diamond, and that diamond was in Mexico City. The MLB had its first-ever two-game series south of the border and produced sportsbook run totals of 15.5 and 19.5, the highest that either Grant or Tanner can remember seeing—but as exciting as that was, Tanner didn’t think it was viable to add an expansion team in Mexico City.

Injuries are also coming to define the 2023 baseball season. Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is experiencing tightness in his elbow, while New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has a hip problem. That opens the door for the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox to fight for a Wild Card spot, assuming the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays stay hot.