I've sat back while everyone has had their say, but when you drill down, this is simple . . .
With a 1* - 2* - 3* system, there will be times a Pro likes his very best picks more than some other 3*s.
The two choices in that case are: hide that fact from the community or convey that fact to the community.
By offering his MLB GOY, Dave was sharing the fact that he liked this baseball game better than any other this season. It makes sense that people would want to bet that game. I certainly did.
So many wanting this game was not some trick, but rather logical. Many like Essler. Many would want his best baseball game of the year.
At no point does Dave, or any other Pro, act like a game is a lock, inside information, or can't lose. In fact, Pregame spends massive time stressing how hard it is to win - and to bet less, not more.
If you think your such a better handicapper than Essler that you can judge his handicap, then you shouldn't care about his opinion anyway.
If you think that Dave didn't really like the game a lot, but acted like he did to fool people, then you shouldn't care about his opinion anyway.
Marketing done honorably is telling the truth in an exciting way . . . that is the standard in the wider business world, and that is the standard Pregame no doubt achieves.