After an arduous season, the time has come to crown the world’s best bull rider, as the PBR: UTB World Finals take center stage on Saturday and Sunday. Formula 1 continues its tour of Europe with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, while the WSL closes out its festival down under with the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. There is plenty more in store beyond the track and waves, so let’s take a look at the NXTbets expert pick round: weekend of May 16th.
When: May 16 –May 18, 2025 Where: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Imola, Italy Where to Watch: Live on ESPN and F1 TV Pro Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Formula 1 journeys back to the infamous Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari this weekend for the seventh Grand Prix on the calendar. Max Verstappen is hunting his fourth consecutive victory on this asphalt, but Oscar Piastri is the in-form driver with three wins on the trot.
Lando Norris has podiumed on his last three visits to the Emilia-Romagna region, finishing runner-up last year to Verstappen. Lando has finished inside the top five in every Sunday race this season, only missing the podium in Saudi Arabia. Mercedes’ top dog, George Russell, is a favorable bet for a podium finish at +212, with a potential return of $62.40 for a $20 stake.
Aston Martin has received little attention in the betting this season, but Italy gives Lance Stroll a chance to shine. The Canadian lines up at +436 for a top 10 finish, a feat he’s achieved on his last three trips to Imola.
Key Times (CEST):
Saturday, May 17: Practice #3: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 18: Race: 3:00 p.m.
Expert Pick
With three consecutive wins behind him and four in five races, it’s tough to bet against Oscar Piastri, and we aren’t. The Australian is our expert pick for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at 143, paying a potential $48.60 for a $20 stake.
PBR: UTB World Finals
When: May 17 – May 18, 2025 Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas Where to Watch: Live on RidePass, PBR YouTube channel, CBS Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
The gate drops on the 2025 PBR UTB season, as the World Finals UTB Championship takes shape in Arlington this weekend. Dalton Kasel is heavily favored to take the Golden Buckle after five triumphs in the regular season. Australian, Brady Fielder, is the Texan’s nearest challenger, 238 points off the pace.
The rider with the most points in the overall standings will be crowned World Champion on Sunday afternoon, even if they didn’t win the individual finals event. It’s going to be a challenge to close the gap on Kasel, but stranger things have happened. Legendary bull rider Jose Vitor Leme starts fresh off his win in the Eliminations, but finds himself 623 points short of “Mr. 90 Points” in the overall standings.
Key Times (CT):
Saturday, May 17: 7:45 p.m. Sunday, May 18: 1:45 p.m.
Expert Pick
Five podiums and four wins in his last eight starts make Dalton Kasel the rider to catch in the World Finals. The Austin Gamblers star carries short odds at -800, which is hard to argue with, given his recent form. Kasel is priced at -800 to win the Championship, returning $22.50 for a $20 stake.
Margaret River offers the final opportunity to WSL Championship Tour surfers to dip inside the mid-season cut line. Only 22 men and 10 ladies will proceed to the second half of the season. George Pittar, Liam O’Brien, Jackson Bunch, Brisa Hennessey, and Lakey Peterson are all in jeopardy of ending their year prematurely.
The news is more positive for Jack Robinson and Gabriela Bryan, who are back in Western Australia to defend their titles. Both surfers have already won an event this season, but Bryan holds the yellow jersey heading up to the mid-season cut line. Robinson has made this event his own in the last three years, taking top honors on two occasions.
South African Matthew McGillivray and Aussie Bronte Macaulay paddle out as long shots, but both of them have a knack for finding the semi-final in Margaret River. Macaulay has three to her name in the last four seasons, while McGillivray has reached two.
Key Times (AWST):
First Call: 7:00 a.m. (May 17)
Expert Pick – Men’s
Jack Robinson starts as our expert pick in Margaret River after winning twice here in his last three appearances. The local is priced at +534 in the pre-event odds, returning approximately $126.80 on a $20 bet.
Expert Pick – Women’s
Gabriela Bryan earns our backing as the expert pick for the women’s division at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. The Hawaiian starts at +295 with a potential payout of $79.00 for a $20 stake.
When: May 15 – May 18, 2025 Where: Route 66 Raceway, Elwood, IL Where to Watch: Live on NHRA.TV, FS1 Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
NHRA competitors descend on Elwood this weekend for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Pro Stock cars take a break from the drag strip this weekend, allowing Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycles to shine. Action gets underway on Thursday, May 15th, but Sunday is all business, as we look to crown a new Champion in the respective categories.
Antron Brown starts as the favorite in the Top Fuel class after taking the checkered flag on his last visit. However, Shawn Langdon is the in-form driver after entering Victory Lane twice, including in the last event. Over in the Funny Car category, Austin Prock is in a league of his own, taking top honors in his last two appearances.
Pro Stock Motorcycles ride onto the track for the third time this season, with Gaige Herrera the overwhelming favorite at -146. Herrera is searching for a hat trick of Route 66 NHRA Nationals titles, but he lost in the last race to Matt Smith.
Key Times (CT):
Sunday, May 18:
Round 1 Eliminations Top Fuel and Funny Car: 10:30 a.m. Pro Stock Motorcycle: 11:30 a.m.
Round 2 Eliminations Top Fuel and Funny Car: 12:30 p.m. Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1:00 p.m.
Semi-Finals Top Fuel and Funny Car: 2:10 p.m. Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2:25 p.m.
Finals Pro Stock Motorcycle: 3:25 p.m. Top Fuel and Funny Car: 3:30 p.m.
Expert Pick – Top Fuel
Two-time winner in 2025, Shawn Langdon, is the man to beat in this edition of the TF Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Langdon leads the series by 60 points and has entered three finals this year. His odds are favorable for a top driver at +694, offering a potential payout of $134.40 on a $20 wager.
Expert Pick – Funny Car
Defending Funny Car Series Champion Austin Prock earns our confidence for the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. He enters with two wins and a runner-up under the hood and is favorably priced at +302, with a possible payout of $80.40 on a $20 wager.
Expert Pick – Pro Stock Motorcycles
Matt Smith might have gotten the better of Gaige Herrera in Concord, but we still believe in the series leader. Herrera is looking for his third consecutive triumph in this event, which is why his odds are short at -146. A $20 stake has the potential to payout $33.70 if the weekend goes according to plan for the defending champ.
HLR: Ransomville Speedway
When: Friday, May 16, 2025 Where: Ransomville Speedway, Ransomville, NY Where to Watch: Live on FloSports Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Rico Abreu is firing on all cylinders as the High Rollers line up at the Ransomville Speedway. The Californian is on a run of three wins in four starts, making him the winningest driver in the Championship. Abreu is a favorable pick for the showdown at Ransomville Speedway at +443, potentially paying out $108.60 on a $20 bet.
Series leader Brad Sweet starts on Friday night as the deserved favorite, who has barely put a foot wrong this campaign. The HLR co-founder has notched up nine podiums, including two wins. Tyler Courtney remains a consistent operator, crossing the line inside of the top five in 63.6% of his encounters.
Key Times (ET): Pits Open: 4:00 p.m. Hot Laps: 5:45 p.m. Racing Starts: 7:30 p.m.
Expert Pick
Brad Sweet earns our expert pick nomination for the trip to Ransomville after notching up nine podiums in 11 races this season. The series leader lines up on the grid at +215, offering a potential payout of $63.00 on a $20 bet.
USAC: Midget National Championship Belleville Short Track
When: May 16–17, 2025 Where: Belleville Short Track, Belleville, KS Where to Watch: Live on FloRacing Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Round three action in the 2025 USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship takes to the dirt in Kansas on Friday and Saturday. Justin Grant captures the headlines in the pre-event fanfare after securing a win in each USAC discipline in April. He also leads the series after taking the Feature on day two at Kokomo Speedway.
Cannon McIntosh receives the trust of punters, taking the favorite tag up to the start line in Belleville. He enters with a finishing average of 3.0 after two races, finishing his two appearances inside the top five. Jacob Denney showed early promise when he won the season-opener, but he struggled on the second day in Indiana, ending in 12th.
Key Times (CT):
Friday, May 16: Pit Gates Open: 3:00 p.m. Grandstand Gates Open: 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps: 6:30 p.m.
Expert Pick
The experience, class, and form of Justin Grant are hard to overlook heading into Belleville, which is why he earns our expert pick nomination. He lines up at +296 to enter Victory Lane, offering a potential payout of $79.20 for a $20 stake.
Discs take flight in Washington from Friday, May 16th, until Sunday, May 18th, in the seventh tournament in the 2025 DGPT Championship. Gannon Buhr and Holyn Handley are the competitors to beat this week after strong starts to the year. Buhr tees off with five consecutive top fives to his name and a triumph at the KCWO, and tops the MPO DGPT World Standings.
Holyn Handley has opened up a commanding lead in the FPO category, posting a top-five five in every tournament. The Texan came out on top in the TOATX and KCWO tournaments and has also finished second on two occasions in 2025.
Key Times (PT):
Friday, May 16: FPO: 9:30 a.m. MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17: FPO: 9:30 a.m. MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 18: FPO: 9:30 a.m. MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Expert Pick – MPO
Gannon Buhr is on autopilot as he tees off in Washington, leading the World Standings by 100.17 points in 2025. His odds are short at +180, but it’s justified with three top-three finishes in his last four outings. A $20 wager offers an approximate return of $56.00.
Expert Pick – FPO
Holyn Handley starts as our expert pick after walking away from four events inside the top two this season. The DGPT World Standings leader tees off at +191, with a potential payout of $58.20 on a $20 bet.
This weekend offers a diverse lineup of events, from the thrilling jumps of Supercross in Indianapolis to the high-speed action of NHRA Gatornationals. MotoAmerica returns with the Daytona 200, while World of Outlaws presents back-to-back races. Additionally, Power Slap 12, PBR in Little Rock, Jai Alai Battlecourt matchups, and MASL fixtures add to the excitement. …
As October kicks off, we’re diving into a week of high-octane racing, intense bull riding, and thrilling jai alai matches. With critical rounds in motorsports and the PBR Team Series heating up, there’s no shortage of exciting action. Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the slate for the week and where to place your bets. …
As we roll deeper into October, buckle up for another action-packed week across multiple sports, from drag racing to bare-knuckle fighting, street skateboarding, and jai alai. Here’s a breakdown of the key events and how to watch live—plus where you can place your bets. BKFC: Spain Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) makes its Spain debut, …
Formula 1 returns to the track for the seventh race on the calendar, while the bucking chute closes on the 2025 PBR UTB season. The World Surf League continues its tour down under, and World of Outlaws late models and sprint cars take to the dirt over the weekend of May 16th. Here are your …
NXTbets Expert Pick Roundup: Weekend of May 16th
Table of Contents
After an arduous season, the time has come to crown the world’s best bull rider, as the PBR: UTB World Finals take center stage on Saturday and Sunday. Formula 1 continues its tour of Europe with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, while the WSL closes out its festival down under with the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. There is plenty more in store beyond the track and waves, so let’s take a look at the NXTbets expert pick round: weekend of May 16th.
Our Expert's Parlay
Make Your Picks Here
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Formula 1: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
When: May 16 –May 18, 2025
Where: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Imola, Italy
Where to Watch: Live on ESPN and F1 TV Pro
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Formula 1 journeys back to the infamous Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari this weekend for the seventh Grand Prix on the calendar. Max Verstappen is hunting his fourth consecutive victory on this asphalt, but Oscar Piastri is the in-form driver with three wins on the trot.
Lando Norris has podiumed on his last three visits to the Emilia-Romagna region, finishing runner-up last year to Verstappen. Lando has finished inside the top five in every Sunday race this season, only missing the podium in Saudi Arabia. Mercedes’ top dog, George Russell, is a favorable bet for a podium finish at +212, with a potential return of $62.40 for a $20 stake.
Aston Martin has received little attention in the betting this season, but Italy gives Lance Stroll a chance to shine. The Canadian lines up at +436 for a top 10 finish, a feat he’s achieved on his last three trips to Imola.
Key Times (CEST):
Saturday, May 17:
Practice #3: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 18:
Race: 3:00 p.m.
Expert Pick
With three consecutive wins behind him and four in five races, it’s tough to bet against Oscar Piastri, and we aren’t. The Australian is our expert pick for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at 143, paying a potential $48.60 for a $20 stake.
PBR: UTB World Finals
When: May 17 – May 18, 2025
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Where to Watch: Live on RidePass, PBR YouTube channel, CBS
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
The gate drops on the 2025 PBR UTB season, as the World Finals UTB Championship takes shape in Arlington this weekend. Dalton Kasel is heavily favored to take the Golden Buckle after five triumphs in the regular season. Australian, Brady Fielder, is the Texan’s nearest challenger, 238 points off the pace.
The rider with the most points in the overall standings will be crowned World Champion on Sunday afternoon, even if they didn’t win the individual finals event. It’s going to be a challenge to close the gap on Kasel, but stranger things have happened. Legendary bull rider Jose Vitor Leme starts fresh off his win in the Eliminations, but finds himself 623 points short of “Mr. 90 Points” in the overall standings.
Key Times (CT):
Saturday, May 17: 7:45 p.m.
Sunday, May 18: 1:45 p.m.
Expert Pick
Five podiums and four wins in his last eight starts make Dalton Kasel the rider to catch in the World Finals. The Austin Gamblers star carries short odds at -800, which is hard to argue with, given his recent form. Kasel is priced at -800 to win the Championship, returning $22.50 for a $20 stake.
WSL: Western Australia Margaret River Pro
When: May 17 – 27, 2025
Where: Margaret River, Western Australia
Where to Watch: Live on World Surf League
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Margaret River offers the final opportunity to WSL Championship Tour surfers to dip inside the mid-season cut line. Only 22 men and 10 ladies will proceed to the second half of the season. George Pittar, Liam O’Brien, Jackson Bunch, Brisa Hennessey, and Lakey Peterson are all in jeopardy of ending their year prematurely.
The news is more positive for Jack Robinson and Gabriela Bryan, who are back in Western Australia to defend their titles. Both surfers have already won an event this season, but Bryan holds the yellow jersey heading up to the mid-season cut line. Robinson has made this event his own in the last three years, taking top honors on two occasions.
South African Matthew McGillivray and Aussie Bronte Macaulay paddle out as long shots, but both of them have a knack for finding the semi-final in Margaret River. Macaulay has three to her name in the last four seasons, while McGillivray has reached two.
Key Times (AWST):
First Call: 7:00 a.m. (May 17)
Expert Pick – Men’s
Jack Robinson starts as our expert pick in Margaret River after winning twice here in his last three appearances. The local is priced at +534 in the pre-event odds, returning approximately $126.80 on a $20 bet.
Expert Pick – Women’s
Gabriela Bryan earns our backing as the expert pick for the women’s division at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. The Hawaiian starts at +295 with a potential payout of $79.00 for a $20 stake.
NHRA:Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals
When: May 15 – May 18, 2025
Where: Route 66 Raceway, Elwood, IL
Where to Watch: Live on NHRA.TV, FS1
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
NHRA competitors descend on Elwood this weekend for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Pro Stock cars take a break from the drag strip this weekend, allowing Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycles to shine. Action gets underway on Thursday, May 15th, but Sunday is all business, as we look to crown a new Champion in the respective categories.
Antron Brown starts as the favorite in the Top Fuel class after taking the checkered flag on his last visit. However, Shawn Langdon is the in-form driver after entering Victory Lane twice, including in the last event. Over in the Funny Car category, Austin Prock is in a league of his own, taking top honors in his last two appearances.
Pro Stock Motorcycles ride onto the track for the third time this season, with Gaige Herrera the overwhelming favorite at -146. Herrera is searching for a hat trick of Route 66 NHRA Nationals titles, but he lost in the last race to Matt Smith.
Key Times (CT):
Sunday, May 18:
Round 1 Eliminations
Top Fuel and Funny Car: 10:30 a.m.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 11:30 a.m.
Round 2 Eliminations
Top Fuel and Funny Car: 12:30 p.m.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1:00 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Top Fuel and Funny Car: 2:10 p.m.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2:25 p.m.
Finals
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 3:25 p.m.
Top Fuel and Funny Car: 3:30 p.m.
Expert Pick – Top Fuel
Two-time winner in 2025, Shawn Langdon, is the man to beat in this edition of the TF Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Langdon leads the series by 60 points and has entered three finals this year. His odds are favorable for a top driver at +694, offering a potential payout of $134.40 on a $20 wager.
Expert Pick – Funny Car
Defending Funny Car Series Champion Austin Prock earns our confidence for the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. He enters with two wins and a runner-up under the hood and is favorably priced at +302, with a possible payout of $80.40 on a $20 wager.
Expert Pick – Pro Stock Motorcycles
Matt Smith might have gotten the better of Gaige Herrera in Concord, but we still believe in the series leader. Herrera is looking for his third consecutive triumph in this event, which is why his odds are short at -146. A $20 stake has the potential to payout $33.70 if the weekend goes according to plan for the defending champ.
HLR: Ransomville Speedway
When: Friday, May 16, 2025
Where: Ransomville Speedway, Ransomville, NY
Where to Watch: Live on FloSports
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Rico Abreu is firing on all cylinders as the High Rollers line up at the Ransomville Speedway. The Californian is on a run of three wins in four starts, making him the winningest driver in the Championship. Abreu is a favorable pick for the showdown at Ransomville Speedway at +443, potentially paying out $108.60 on a $20 bet.
Series leader Brad Sweet starts on Friday night as the deserved favorite, who has barely put a foot wrong this campaign. The HLR co-founder has notched up nine podiums, including two wins. Tyler Courtney remains a consistent operator, crossing the line inside of the top five in 63.6% of his encounters.
Key Times (ET):
Pits Open: 4:00 p.m.
Hot Laps: 5:45 p.m.
Racing Starts: 7:30 p.m.
Expert Pick
Brad Sweet earns our expert pick nomination for the trip to Ransomville after notching up nine podiums in 11 races this season. The series leader lines up on the grid at +215, offering a potential payout of $63.00 on a $20 bet.
USAC: Midget National Championship Belleville Short Track
When: May 16–17, 2025
Where: Belleville Short Track, Belleville, KS
Where to Watch: Live on FloRacing
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Round three action in the 2025 USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship takes to the dirt in Kansas on Friday and Saturday. Justin Grant captures the headlines in the pre-event fanfare after securing a win in each USAC discipline in April. He also leads the series after taking the Feature on day two at Kokomo Speedway.
Cannon McIntosh receives the trust of punters, taking the favorite tag up to the start line in Belleville. He enters with a finishing average of 3.0 after two races, finishing his two appearances inside the top five. Jacob Denney showed early promise when he won the season-opener, but he struggled on the second day in Indiana, ending in 12th.
Key Times (CT):
Friday, May 16:
Pit Gates Open: 3:00 p.m.
Grandstand Gates Open: 5:30 p.m.
Hot Laps: 6:30 p.m.
Expert Pick
The experience, class, and form of Justin Grant are hard to overlook heading into Belleville, which is why he earns our expert pick nomination. He lines up at +296 to enter Victory Lane, offering a potential payout of $79.20 for a $20 stake.
DGPT: Discraft’s Cascade Challenge
When: May 16 – May 18, 2025
Where: Shelton Springs, Shelton, WA
Where to Watch: Live on Disc Golf Network
Where to Bet: With our Partnered Sportsbooks
Discs take flight in Washington from Friday, May 16th, until Sunday, May 18th, in the seventh tournament in the 2025 DGPT Championship. Gannon Buhr and Holyn Handley are the competitors to beat this week after strong starts to the year. Buhr tees off with five consecutive top fives to his name and a triumph at the KCWO, and tops the MPO DGPT World Standings.
Holyn Handley has opened up a commanding lead in the FPO category, posting a top-five five in every tournament. The Texan came out on top in the TOATX and KCWO tournaments and has also finished second on two occasions in 2025.
Key Times (PT):
Friday, May 16:
FPO: 9:30 a.m.
MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17:
FPO: 9:30 a.m.
MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 18:
FPO: 9:30 a.m.
MPO: 3:00 p.m.
Expert Pick – MPO
Gannon Buhr is on autopilot as he tees off in Washington, leading the World Standings by 100.17 points in 2025. His odds are short at +180, but it’s justified with three top-three finishes in his last four outings. A $20 wager offers an approximate return of $56.00.
Expert Pick – FPO
Holyn Handley starts as our expert pick after walking away from four events inside the top two this season. The DGPT World Standings leader tees off at +191, with a potential payout of $58.20 on a $20 bet.
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Offer Score
Related Posts
Weekend of March 7th Upcoming Betting Events & How to Watch Live
This weekend offers a diverse lineup of events, from the thrilling jumps of Supercross in Indianapolis to the high-speed action of NHRA Gatornationals. MotoAmerica returns with the Daytona 200, while World of Outlaws presents back-to-back races. Additionally, Power Slap 12, PBR in Little Rock, Jai Alai Battlecourt matchups, and MASL fixtures add to the excitement. …
Weekend of October 4th Upcoming Betting Events & How To Watch Live
As October kicks off, we’re diving into a week of high-octane racing, intense bull riding, and thrilling jai alai matches. With critical rounds in motorsports and the PBR Team Series heating up, there’s no shortage of exciting action. Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the slate for the week and where to place your bets. …
Weekend of October 11th Upcoming Betting Events & How To Watch Live
As we roll deeper into October, buckle up for another action-packed week across multiple sports, from drag racing to bare-knuckle fighting, street skateboarding, and jai alai. Here’s a breakdown of the key events and how to watch live—plus where you can place your bets. BKFC: Spain Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) makes its Spain debut, …
Weekend of May 16th Upcoming Betting Events & How to Watch Live
Formula 1 returns to the track for the seventh race on the calendar, while the bucking chute closes on the 2025 PBR UTB season. The World Surf League continues its tour down under, and World of Outlaws late models and sprint cars take to the dirt over the weekend of May 16th. Here are your …