MLB Opening Day 2012: Betting Odds, Prop Bets, Preview

Yankees players Jeter Cano and Rodriguez celebrate after the Yankees defeated Tampa Bay Rays in their MLB American League baseball game in New York — The Yankees are one of the favorites to win the World Series this year. Reuters

MLB's Opening Day has officially passed, but many teams are scheduled to play their first regular season game on Thursday. Four teams have already played their first game of the season, but MLB is still hyping up Thursday as Opening Day.

With the third of three Opening Days set to begin shortly on Thursday, it gives fans a good opportunity to place some bets on World Series odds. The Phillies and Yankees are the two favorites to win it all this season, while defending champion St. Louis Cardinals has only the twelfth best odds to repeat, according to RJ Bell of Pregame.com.

Not only can fans bet on a World Series champion, but they can also bet on the amount of wins their favorite team will win. For instance one can bet on whether the Red Sox will win greater or fewer than 89.5 games this season.

Additionally there are prop bets where one can bet on the highest amount of home runs per player in 2012, the most wins by a pitcher, and whether Yankees closer will have over/under 34 saves this year.

Check out the full World Series odds, team win projections, and a collection of entertaining prop bets via Pregame.com.

WORLD SERIES ODDS:
($100 wins . . . )

Phillies	$500
Yankees	$600
Angels	$680
Tigers	$800
Rangers	$830
Red Sox	$1150
Marlins	$1850
Giants	$1850
Reds	$1900
Braves	$2050
Rays	$2150
Cardinals	$2450
Nationals	$2500
D'backs	$2650
Brewers	$3300
Rockies	$4250
Blue Jays	$4550
Dodgers	$5050
Indians	$7250
Cubs	$7550
Royals	$8000
White Sox	$8550
A's	$10500
Pirates	$12500
Padres	$12500
Twins	$12550
Mets	$20500
Mariners	$22500
Astros	$25000
Orioles	$32500

PROJECTED NUMBER OF WINS:

Yankees	93.5
Phillies	93
Angels	92.5
Tigers	92
Rangers	91.5
Red Sox	89.5
Rays	88
Giants	87.5
Reds	87.5
Braves	86.5
D'backs	86.5
Brewers	85.5
Cardinals	85
Marlins	84.5
Nationals	84
Blue Jays	82.5
Rockies	81.5
Dodgers	81
Royals	79
Indians	78.5
White Sox	75
Cubs	74
Padres	74
Pirates	73.5
Twins	73.5
Mariners	72
Mets	72
A's	71.5
Orioles	69.5
Astros	63