Odds are against 2011 Astros

Spring Training is now in full swing. So is futures betting in Las Vegas. Odds makers have established the Astros as a 40 to 1 dark horse to win the National League and a 75 to 1 longshot to win the World Series. Neither of those propositions warrants a trip to Nevada. However, the over/under for Astros wins is set at 71.5 which seems a tad low to me.

If I were a betting man I would take the over action here. The Astros would have to lose 90 games for that wager to be a loser. Houston finished with 76 wins and 86 losses last year. This season’s team should be able to at least match that mark. The youngsters have a little experience under their belts and finished strong in 2010. Ed Wade added a couple of veteran bats to the lineup, acquiring Bill Hall and Clint Barmes in the off-season. Cleanup man Carlos Lee is poised for a bounce-back season and the pitching staff should be above average.

If you’re thinking about taking a vacation this month, I would recommend Arizona or Florida. Attending spring games is a blast. Players are much more accessible than they are in the regular season. The facilities are cozy and most are very modern. If the bright lights and nightlife of Vegas are more your style click here to see a list of all baseball futures propositions. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau likes to tell us “Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” A truer statement might be ”whatever money comes to Vegas stays in Vegas.” So place your bets carefully.