Monday’s Best NBA, NHL & College Basketball Bets (3/25)
No matter your sport of choice, there's always sports betting action to be had. We'll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are our best bets across each major sport in action today.
Today's Best Bets
NBA Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Brooklyn Nets @ Toronto Raptors
We expect to get Nic Claxton of the Nets facing Kelly Olynyk of the Toronto Raptors for the tip. While the Raptors scored the First Basket in 62% of games this season, when Olynyk participated in the tip, they've only won the tip in 33% of his 12 opening tips.
Meanwhile, Claxton has added 62% tip wins in 61 opening tips this season. Tonight, the Nets are likely to get the ball first and take the first shot.
The Raptors have allowed 22% of first baskets to be scored by shooting guards and 30% from centers. We'll look at those two positions closely on the Nets for the First basket. That would give us Cam Thomas or Claxton to score first.
Claxton has added the First Basket in 26% of games for the Nets this season. He's also added the team's first score in 36% of games this year. In 61 games, Claxton has 16 First Baskets. Therefore, let's take Claxton at +550.
Bet: Nic Claxton First-Basket Scorer (+550)
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NHL Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Vegas Golden Knights @ St. Louis Blues
The Blues are far behind in the Central, so the Wild Card is their best way to the playoffs. This matchup is important because they sit just four points away from the Golden Knights. They've been playing very well recently, going 6-1-0 in their last seven. They'll likely go with Jordan Binnington between the pipes in this important matchup, and he's been good with 2.97 goals allowed per game and a .912 save percentage in his last six.
As mentioned, the champs are hanging onto the second Wild Card and are three points up on the Blues. A higher place in the Pacific is still in play for them, as they are only three points behind the Kings for third. This team hopes to find a way into the playoffs and get their full roster healthy, with Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo injured and Adin Hill leaving Saturday's game against Columbus.
Vegas plays so much better at home, but they haven't had nearly as much success on the road. St. Louis holds an impressive record at home, and without Vegas' full roster, the Blues should come away with a win.
Bet: Blues Moneyline (+124)
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College Basketball Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
#6 Clemson Tigers vs. #2 Arizona Wildcats (Thursday)
Clemson didn't get the memo apparently. Their victory over the 3-seed Baylor Bears on Sunday prevented the West region from going full chalk in the Sweet 16. Although they were underdogs, Clemson outplayed Baylor and has proven they belong with the other three teams in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Arizona breezed through their first two opponents en route to Los Angeles. The Wildcats will have the crowd advantage, but will that be enough?
Although they hit some speed bumps in the ACC, Clemson had some really impressive wins during the non-conference slate. The Tigers took care of Alabama, South Carolina and TCU with ease. The defense fell apart a bit in January as they dropped five of seven on the way to what would be an 11-9 ACC record. They lost by just one point at Duke and won at North Carolina, but inexplicably, they dropped games like the Boston College matchup in the ACC tournament. They're three-point reliant, and they’re vulnerable when they aren't hitting. Their three-point luck has been key so far in this tournament.
Arizona has had a really strong defense this season. They've kept teams away from the free throw line and forced opponents to 48.2% eFG%. On the offensive side, they've also been an exceptional three-point shooting team. The 37.3% clip they produce is top 20 in the country. This Wildcat team will force Clemson to outshoot them and I don't think the Tigers are capable. Clemson needed an atrocious shooting game from both New Mexico and Baylor to get here. They won't get that from Arizona, and it will be what eventually does them in.
Bet: Arizona -7.5 (-110)
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