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Golden Knights winning on ice, but losing proposition at the books

The Vegas Golden Knights are 29-19-4, they’re in the thick of another Pacific Division race and they certainly have hometown fans excited about another run to the postseason after a successful inaugural season.

But for sports bettors backing the second-year franchise, it’s been a losing proposition.

With the Golden Knights set to resume their season Friday night in Carolina, and our Betting spotlight on totals on deck, we examine how a $100 bettor is down $240 (based on closing numbers listed on the team’s page at Vegas Insider) after the team’s first 52 games.

Of the team’s 23 losses at the books, 15 of them were with Vegas laying a price. And eight of those games the Golden Knights were laying $1.50 or higher. In all, a $100 bettor lost $3,140 in the team’s losses thanks to several big prices.

The Golden Knights are 2-1 when laying between $1.85 and $2.00, but they’re also 5-1 when laying $2.05 or higher. The lone loss was when they laid their second-biggest price this season ($2.80) in a 3-2 overtime decision at the hands of Vancouver on Oct. 24.

The range Vegas cost most bettors plenty of juice was when it laid between $1.45 and $1.80, going 12-8. The 60 percent winning percentage in the standings means nothing when you’re a decent-sized favorite in hockey or baseball, and games are on the moneyline.

When the Golden Knights were laying between $1.45 and $1.60, they were 7-5, and when laying $1.65 and $1.80 they were 5-3. Altogether they made $100 bettors $1,200 with the 12 wins but lost those same $100 bettors $1,280 with the eight losses.

Vegas second-best option at the window was when it laid between $1.25 and $1.40, going 5-2 in those games and making $100 bettors $250 – five winners grossing $500 and two losers taking back $250.

And if you’re looking for a good sign to bet against Vegas, it’s been when oddsmakers install it as an underdog, with the Golden Knights going 1-8 with a plus-price. The lone win was in their second game of the season, when they were +100 in Minnesota and won in a shootout, 2-1. Since then, they’re 0-8 as the installed pup.

Vegas steps to the ice after its bye week at a pick’em with Carolina on Friday, each laying $1.10. The Golden Knights are 4-3 this season when laying between $1.05 and $1.20.

Totals

When it comes to the totals, the Golden Knights have gone Over in 22 games, stayed Under in 26 games and have landed on the total for a push on four occasions. There are only two favorable trends to look for with totals correlating to the price installed on Vegas, as the team is on a 6-3 Under run as an underdog, and 6-3-1 Under when laying between $1.60 and $1.95. If Vegas is favored anywhere between $1.05 and $1.55 it is 13-10-1 Under, and when laying $2.00 or higher, it is 4-3-2 Under.

The Golden Knights and Carolina have a total of 6 with the under favored at -115 on Friday night.

Note: This story doesn’t reflect betting Vegas on the puck line.