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KBO Picks & Odds (July 1): NC Dinos Receive Shortest Single-Game Odds of the Season

Jordan Horrobin

by Jordan Horrobin in News

Updated Mar 5, 2021 · 9:39 AM PST

An NC Dinos hitter swinging the bat
Photo by 노무진, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
  • With Koo Chang-Mo on the mound, the first-place NC Dinos are overwhelming moneyline favorites against the Lotte Giants on Wednesday
  • Doosan’s struggling offense has led to four losses in its past five
  • For a few of the best bets — and all the July 1st KBO odds — check out the article below

So far in the 2020 KBO season, the NC Dinos and Lotte Giants have only matched up once. That happened on Tuesday and, if you’re wondering, the Giants won.

Yet entering Game 2 of their series on Wednesday, Lotte finds itself as such a longshot that it’s almost comical. Sure, the Dinos have the league’s best record and run differential. But they just lost to Lotte on June 30th.

Is it even worth betting on the Dinos, given how low the reward is on their odds? We’ll dive into that in a moment.

First, here’s a look at the entire slate of KBO games for Wednesday, July 1st. All games start at 5:30 am ET (2:30 am PT).

KBO Odds: Wednesday, July 1st

Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Hanwha Eagles +200 +1.5 (+105) Over 9.5 (-110) 5:30 a.m.
KIA Tigers -260 -1.5 (-135) Under 9.5 (-120)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
LG Twins -130 -1.5 (+145) Over 10 (-105) 5:30 a.m.
KT Wiz Suwon +100 +1.5 (-175) Under 10 (-125)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Samsung Lions -135 -1.5 (+125) Over 9 (-105) 5:30 a.m.
SK Wyverns +105 +1.5 (-155) Under 9 (-125)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Kiwoom Heroes -145 -1.5 (+120) Over 10 (-105) 5:30 a.m.
Doosan Bears +115 +1.5 (-150) Under 10 (-125)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Lotte Giants +250 +1.5 (+160) Over 9.5 (-120) 5:30 a.m.
NC Dinos -325 -1.5 (-200) Under 9.5 (-110)

Odds as of June 30.

The Best On The Bump

You want to know why the NC Dinos are such overwhelming favorites against the Lotte Giants? The answer is 23-year-old lefty Koo Chang-Mo.

Already in his fifth KBO season, Chang-Mo (6-0, 1.37 ERA) has blossomed into the league’s best pitcher and is setting the entire KBO ablaze.

His last start was admittedly his worst (five runs allowed in four innings). But prior to that, he’d yielded no more than one earned run in any of his eight starts.

Oh, and if you’re at all worried about his most recent outing, take solace in the fact that NC’s offense has a league-best .849 OPS. He is likely to have run support — even though he rarely needs it.

The payoff on this wager would be minuscule, but how could you not take the Dinos? With Chang-Mo on the mound, they are as close to a sure thing as it gets (note: they are still not a sure thing).

Pick: NC Dinos (-325)

Bet on Bears to Turn It Around

The Doosan Bears have one of the league’s best offenses. You just wouldn’t know it lately.

They are top-three in the KBO in total hits, OPS, total bases, on-base percentage, doubles, and runs. But on their current skid of four losses in five games, they’ve averaged only 7.2 hits and 3.4 runs per game — well below their normal standards.

Doosan faces Kiwoom on Wednesday, and the Heroes are throwing a pretty mediocre pitcher in Han Hyun-hee (3-2, 4.38 ERA).

That should make bettors perk up at the 1.5-run cushion Doosan is receiving on the runline. If the offense can find its way, the team will be in good shape to win.

Pick: Doosan Bears +1.5 (-150)

Take the Under … and the Tigers

Any game involving the low-scoring Hanwha Eagles is at least worth a peak at the under. In this case, Hanwha is facing the KIA Tigers, whose past four games have averaged just six total runs.

With a pretty typical 9.5-run total for this matchup, bettors should seek value in taking the under.

While you’re at it, take KIA on the moneyline. They lost their past two games, but only by three runs. And they took two of three against Hanwha earlier this season.

Pick: KIA Tigers (-265); Under 9.5 runs (-125)

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