The Skoop 8/17/25
Lynx Continue to Roar Without MV-Phee
The Minnesota Lynx were expected to fade without MVP favorite Napheesa Collier, but they’ve flipped the script. Minnesota’s depth and defensive grit have made them the WNBA’s most reliable team — and sportsbooks have noticed. The Lynx have surged to the top of the futures board, now priced as the clear favorites to win it all. What was once a two- or three-team race has tilted heavily in their favor, proving this squad doesn’t need a single superstar to dominate.
Circa and DraftKings Win in Missouri
Missouri sports betting is set to launch December 1 with two operators holding all the cards: DraftKings and Circa Sports. Both secured untethered mobile licenses, meaning they can go statewide without a casino partner. DraftKings will blitz the market with promos and bonus bets, looking to sweep up casual players. Circa, on the other hand, will lean into its reputation for sharp, low-hold lines and high betting limits — a haven for serious bettors. With such different approaches, Missouri’s market starts as a two-horse race, but one where players may get the best of both worlds: bonuses on one side, value on the other.
Vegas NFL Betting Contests Heat Up — Circa & Westgate Rolling Full Speed
Las Vegas is once again the center of the football betting universe, with Circa and Westgate setting the stage for massive NFL contests. Circa is offering two of the biggest guarantees in the country: $6 million in prizes for its Circa Million VII and a jaw-dropping $15 million winner-take-all pool for its Survivor contest, both with a $1,000 entry. On top of that, Circa is introducing a new high-roller event at $100,000 per entry, targeting elite bettors willing to take their shot at a seven-figure prize.
Not to be outdone, Westgate’s iconic SuperContest is back with its 100% payback structure, weekly challenges, and a decades-long reputation as the most prestigious handicapping test in football. And because both contests require in-person registration, Vegas’ network of proxies is once again booming—handling entries for thousands of out-of-state players who want a piece of the action without having to be in town every week.
Brewers Surge as Odds Heat Up
The Milwaukee Brewers are the hottest team in baseball, riding a double-digit win streak and now sitting atop the MLB standings. Oddsmakers have taken notice, moving Milwaukee to +400 to win the National League and +800 to capture the World Series. Once considered a dark horse, the Brewers’ balanced lineup and steady pitching have vaulted them into the top tier of futures boards. If their surge continues, those numbers may not last long — and bettors locking in now could be getting value before October arrives.
MSTR Faces a Big Week
For the past five years, MicroStrategy has been one of the only equities to consistently outperform Bitcoin, rewarding investors with amplified upside. Lately, though, the stock has trailed BTC’s latest rally as short sellers test its premium. This week will help answer the key question: can Michael Saylor’s flagship return to its usual overperformance, or will bearish pressure keep MSTR more tethered to Bitcoin’s base moves?
