When at home the Chicago Cubs record looks like this…win, win, win, win, win, win, win. To be precise, the Cubs have won their last seven games, all in the friendly confines of cozy Wrigley Field. The Cubs winning streak started by sweeping the Dodgers in three games followed by a four game series sweep of the Rockies ending on Sunday (June 1). After seven straight wins pundits are calling the Cubs out as the best team in baseball. While predicting the Cubs as “best in baseball” might be a bit pre-mature; futures odds predict the Chicago Cubs will be the 2008 NL Central Division winner.
According to oddsmakers at online sports wagering giant Sportsbook.com , the Chicago Cubs are 2-7 favorites to win the National League Central Division. Oddsmakers expect some challenge for the division crown to come from the St. Louis Cardinals installed at 7-2 odds.
The next two weeks might give us a better indication of how good these Cubbies are as they play the next 13 of 16 games on the road. And if past history is any indication, the Cubs will not fare as well. At 36-21 overall, the Cubs are only 10-13 on the road. Six of the 12 road games will be in inter-league series at Toronto and Tampa Bay, two clubs who are mashing right now.
If the Cubs can continue their hot streak and carry it into next month’s All-Star Game then they might stand a good chance. One thing is for sure, the oddsmakers seem to like them.
In Sportsbook.com futures betting , the odds show the Cubs as 9-5 favorites to win the 2008 NL pennant. The Arizona Diamondbacks, at 7-2 odds to win the NL crown, and Cubs are the wagering favorites to be playing in the NLCS.
The Cubs were recently installed at 9-2 odds to win the World Series second best to the Boston Red Sox at 7-2. The Cubs World Series odds are only slightly better than the Arizona Diamondbacks at 5-1.
