NXTbets Expert Pick Roundup: Weekend of March 14th

The NXTbets Expert Pick Roundup is locked in for the weekend of March 14th, covering high-stakes action across motorsports, bull riding, surf, and more. From the season opener of F1 in Australia to the world’s top surfers taking on Supertubos to the World of Outlaws double-header, we’ve scouted the best betting value across a packed schedule. Whether you’re eyeing longshot upsets or confident favorites, our expert picks break down where the smart money is this weekend.

Formula 1: Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix

When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne, Australia
Where to Watch: F1 TV Pro and ESPN
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off with the Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, marking the beginning of another record-breaking 24-race calendar. Following McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship and Max Verstappen’s fourth Drivers’ title in 2024, the new season promises even more competitive racing as teams maximize current regulations before the 2026 overhaul.

Key storylines include Verstappen’s quest for a fifth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship despite potential challenges for Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari, and McLaren’s bid to defend their Constructors’ crown with the potent driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The tighter field is expected to produce more crashes and red flags, with driver talent and strategy playing crucial roles in determining success.

Key Times (AEST):

Thursday, March 14:

• Practice 1: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Practice 2: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday, March 15:

• Practice 3: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 16:

• Race: 3:00 p.m.

Expert Pick: 2025 F1 Australia Grand Prix

Lando Norris enters Albert Park as the clear favourite to take the season opener. The Briton delivered his best campaign in F1 last season, finishing runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship behind Max Verstappen. Lando impressed in testing, racing to the fastest time on day 1 in Bahrain which transitioned to two strong practice rounds in FP1 and FP2 where he finished 1st and 3rd respectively. Norris picked up four race wins in 2024, including the season finale in Abu Dhabi. 

World Surf League: MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

When: March 15-25, 2025
Where: Praia de Supertubos, Peniche, Portugal
Where to Watch: Live on WorldSurfLeague.com and ESPN+
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal marks the third stop on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. After competing in the controlled environment of Abu Dhabi’s wave pool, surfers now face the dynamic Atlantic conditions of Portugal’s renowned Supertubos beach break, famous for its powerful, hollow waves.

Current CT rankings leaders Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) will wear the Yellow Leader’s Jerseys at this event. Simmers secured her position by defeating Australia’s Molly Picklum in the Abu Dhabi final, while Ferreira claimed his tenth CT victory against Indonesia’s Rio Waida. The competition will feature wildcards Yolanda Hopkins (POR), Frederico Morais (POR), and Gatien Delahaye (FRA), adding local expertise to the international field.

With crucial points at stake for the Mid-season Cut, expect intense competition as the world’s top surfers tackle the challenging conditions at Supertubos.

Competition Window: March 15-25, 2025 (Event runs on best days within this period)

Expert Pick: 2025 Men’s WSL MEO Rip Curl Pro

Italo Ferreira last won in Portugal in 2019, before backing it up with a third place return in 2022. His ability to win in these swells, coupled with consistent performances early in the season, make him our expert pick. Italo is priced at +600 for the win in Portugal,  with a potential payday of $140 on a $20 bet.

Expert Pick: Women’s WSL MEO Rip Curl Pro

Caitlin Simmers continues to impress us in 2025 after her win in Abu Dhabi. She is in scintillating form and arrives at a venue where she has won once in only two starts. Sportsbooks have Simmers at +344, with an approximate return of $88.80 on a $20 bet.

PBR Unleash The Beast: Kubota PBR Louisville

When: March 14-15, 2025
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
Where to Watch: Live on PBR RidePass and the PBR YouTube Channel
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The PBR Unleash The Beast tour heads to Louisville, Kentucky, following an action-packed weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Dalton Kasel secured a perfect 3-for-3 performance to win the event and vault to No. 2 in the UTB standings. The victory has altered the landscape of the 2025 world title race, putting Kasel in prime position to challenge for his first championship.

Another major storyline from Little Rock was 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco becoming just the 10th rider in PBR history to record 400 rides on the premier series, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. As the competition intensifies heading into Louisville, fans can expect more milestone moments and world-class bull riding action.

Key Times (ET):

Friday, March 14:

• Event Start: 7:45 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Event Start: 6:45 p.m.

Expert Pick

Brady Fielder has our confidence leading into the Kentucky rodeo. The series leader has returned three top fives on the trot, including two podium places to extend his lead at the top. The Aussie is carrying +900 odds, despite his dominance this season. This has the potential to return $200 on a $20 wager.

MotoGP: Argentina Grand Prix

When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina
Where to Watch: MotoGP VideoPass
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

After Marc Marquez’s stunning victory in his factory Ducati debut at the Thailand Grand Prix, all eyes are on the six-time champion as the series heads to Argentina. Marquez showcased his strategic brilliance in Thailand, purposefully sitting behind his brother Alex for most of the race before making a decisive move in the final laps to secure a comfortable win.

The Argentina GP offers an opportunity for Marquez to solidify his early-season momentum, while Francesco Bagnaia will be eager to bounce back after settling for third in Thailand. With Franco Morbidelli, Ai Ogura, and Marco Bezzecchi also showing strong form, the battle for supremacy at Termas de Río Hondo promises to be intense.

Key Times (ET):

Friday, March 14:

• Free Practice 1: 9:45 a.m.
• Practice: 2:00 a.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Free Practice 2: 9:10 a.m.
• Qualifying 1: 9:50 a.m.
• Qualifying 2: 10:15 a.m.
• Sprint Race: 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 16:

• Warm Up: 9:40 a.m.
• Grand Prix: 2:00 p.m.

Expert Pick

Championship leader Marc Marquez is an easy pick for the Gran Premio YPF Energia de Argentina MotoGP. The Spaniard dominates the honors roll at this track, with most poles, wins and the all-time lap record. “The Ant of Cervera” has won this race three times and he is chasing history to cement his place in Spanish MotoGP history. Marquez carries short odds at -275, potentially paying $27.27 on a $20 wager.

World of Outlaws: Tennessee Tipoff & Cowtown Classic

When: March 14-15, 2025
Where: Smoky Mountain Speedway, Maryville, TN & Kennedale Speedway Park, Kennedale, TX
Where to Watch: Live on DIRTVision
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The World of Outlaws presents a double-header week with both Late Model and Sprint Car action. The Late Models take center stage at the Tennessee Tipoff at Smoky Mountain Speedway, while the Sprint Cars return to Kennedale Speedway Park for the Cowtown Classic after a thrilling debut in 2024.

Tennessee Tipoff (Late Models) – Key Times (ET):

Friday, March 14:

• Pit Gates Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Grandstands Open: 4:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps Begin: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Pit Gates Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Grandstands Open: 4:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps Begin: 6:30 p.m.

Cowtown Classic (Sprint Cars) – Key Times (CT):

Friday, March 14:

• Gates Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Grandstand Gates Open: 5:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps/Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Gates Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Grandstand Gates Open: 5:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps/Qualifying: 6:30 p.m.

Expert Pick: Tennessee Tipoff

Garrett Alberson stands out as our expert pick for the trip to Tennessee. The two-time winner this season carries long odds for a man who has finished inside the top five in three of his five races. Garrett is priced at +1207 for the Smoky Mountain Speedway showdown, potentially paying $261.40 on a $20 wager.

Expert Pick: Cowtown Classic

David Gravel makes our expert pick easy this week as he is in command of the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars series. His worst result this year is a fourth in race two at DIRTcar Nationals and he’s won three out of the last four WoO races. Gravel is priced at +261 in the pre-event odds, paying $72.20 on a $20 wager.

High Limit Racing: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

When: March 13 & 15, 2025
Where: The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV
Where to Watch: Live on FloRacing
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

High Limit Racing brings its high-stakes action to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For the first time in six years, a national sprint car series returns to The Dirt Track at LVMS during NASCAR weekend.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch NASCAR champion Kyle Larson compete against sprint car stars like Rico Abreu, Kasey Kahne, and Brad Sweet. With the series expanding to 60 races coast-to-coast in 2025, these Las Vegas events mark the opening of what promises to be an exciting season.

Key Times (PT):

Thursday, March 13:

• Pits Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps: 5:30 p.m.
• Racing Starts: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Pits Open: 2:00 p.m.
• Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.
• Hot Laps: 5:30 p.m.
• Racing Starts: 6:30 p.m.

Expert Pick

When a dirt racer in the caliber of Kyle Larson is on the start sheet, you don’t bet against him. That’s why the veteran is our expert pick for the season opener in Las Vegas, priced at +173 to get the job done. Sportsbooks are paying approximately $54.60 on a $20 wager.

Jai Alai Battlecourt

When: March 14, 2025
Where: Magic City Fronton, Miami, FL
Where to Watch: Live on ESPN3, FUBO, and YouTube
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The Jai Alai Battlecourt Winter 2025 season continues with an exciting matchup this weekend. This Friday, the Renegades go up against the Chargers with general admission available at Magic City Fronton.

In the current standings, the Fireballs are in the lead with 5 points with the Devils and Renegades being tied with 4.5 points, second on the table, making every match crucial as teams jockey for playoff positioning. The Chargers sit just behind the leaders with 4.0 points, while the Cyclones (3.0) and Warriors (2.5) are still in contention but need wins to improve their standing.

Key Times (ET):

Friday, March 14:

• Renegades vs. Chargers: 7:00 p.m. (General Admission)

Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)

When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Various Venues
Where to Watch: Check Broadcast Listings on MASL.tv
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The MASL season continues with seven exciting matches this week as teams battle for playoff positioning. The Chihuahua Savage, San Diego Sockers, and Kansas City Comets have already clinched playoff berths, but the race for the remaining positions remains highly competitive.

With Baltimore, Empire Strykers, Milwaukee Wave, and Utica City FC all in strong contention, and teams like Tacoma Stars and St. Louis Ambush still in the hunt, every match takes on added significance. This week’s schedule features critical matchups that could determine who advances to the postseason and final seeding arrangements.

Key Games (ET):

Friday, March 14:

• Milwaukee Wave vs. Kansas City Comets: 8:05 p.m.
• San Diego Sockers vs. Chihuahua Savage: 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• Utica City FC vs. Baltimore Blast: 6:00 p.m.
• Texas Outlaws vs. Dallas Sidekicks: 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 16:

• St. Louis Ambush vs. Baltimore Blast: 3:00 p.m.
• Harrisburg Heat vs. Utica City FC: 3:05 p.m.

Disc Golf Pro Tour: Waco Annual Charity Open

When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Waco, TX
Where to Watch: Live on Disc Golf Network
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks

The Disc Golf Pro Tour continues with the Prodigy presents Waco Annual Charity Open, featuring the world’s top professionals competing across three rounds of intense competition. Both the Men’s Pro Open (MPO) and Women’s Pro Open (FPO) divisions will be in action, with comprehensive coverage available on Disc Golf Network.

Known for its challenging combination of wooded and open fairways, the Waco course tests all aspects of players’ games, from precise technical shots to long-distance power throws. With early-season momentum at stake, expect fierce competition as the sport’s elite battle for crucial tour points and prize money.

Key Times (CT):

Friday, March 14:

• FPO Round 1: 10:00 a.m.
• MPO Round 1: 3:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 15:

• FPO Round 2: 10:00 a.m.
• MPO Round 2: 3:15 p.m.

Sunday, March 16:

• FPO Round 3: 10:00 a.m.
• MPO Round 3: 3:15 p.m.

That’s a wrap for this week’s NXTbets Expert Pick Roundup, delivering sharp betting insights across adrenaline-fueled events worldwide. With everything from dirt tracks to ocean waves in play, our expert selections highlight the best odds for maximizing returns. As always, remember to bet smart.