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This weekend’s NXT TakeOver: Portland WWE Network special is being positioned as a big step forward for the black-and-gold brand. It’s on a Sunday, like Raw & SmackDown PPV events, and it’s not tied to on of the so-called main roster’s big shows.
Internet sports books like Bet Online are treating it that way, and have posted odds each of the matches on the card for Feb. 16 at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
One thing that jumps out at you if you follow WWE betting... while a couple have clear favorites, several of these are much closer than you see days out from a PPV:
Adam Cole (c) vs Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT championship
Adam Cole -110
Tommaso Ciampa -110
Rhea Ripley (c) vs Bianca Belair for the NXT Women’s title
Rhea Ripley -850
Bianca Belair +150
Keith Lee (c) vs. Dominik Dijakovic for the North American championship
Keith Lee -1000
Dominik Dijakovic +550
The BroserWeights vs. Undisputed ERA (c) for the NXT Tag Team titles
Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne -150
Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish +110
Finn Bálor vs. Johnny Gargano
Finn Bálor -160
Johnny Gargano +120
Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox
Dakota Kai -200
Tegan Nox +150
These are money line bets. In a nutshell, the name with a negative number next to it is the favorite, and you have to wager that amount to win $100. The name with a positive number next to it is the underdog; you will win the posted amount for each $100 you wager.
For example, a correct $850 bet on Rhea Ripley wins $950. But if you correctly bet $100 on Bianca Belair in that match, you’ll get $250 back.
Anyway, the bookies only see two big favorites on the card, which should lead to a suspenseful night in Portland.
Yet another reason why TakeOver’s, as a rule, rule.