Thursday’s Best Bets: NBA, College Basketball & Super Bowl LVII (2/2)
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 all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.
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Today’s Best Bets
Here are today’s best NBA bets.
NBA Best Bets
NBA Same Game Parlay
Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls
- Leg 1: P.J. Washington Over 4.5 Rebounds (+105)
- Leg 2: Zach LaVine Over 25.5 Points (+100)
- Leg 3: Ayo Dosunmu 10+ Points (+100)
Finally, I’m riding a Bulls bounce-back game after dropping three of their last four. Charlotte’s 26th-ranked defense will have trouble stopping the Bulls, and I think LaVine and Dosunmu offer the best value in my opinion.
Charlotte offers a pace-up spot for Chicago and Dosunmu has scored at least 10 points in two of his last three games. Both points’ total props should be higher considering the home positive matchup.
Washington’s rebound prop is simply too low as well. He’s gone over five rebounds in each of his last two games and I don’t expect him to stop tonight. Life is too short to bet the under, right?
Parlay Odds: +700
- Ryan Coleman
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NBA Game Picks
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks
The wrong team’s favored here, and that’s all there is to it. The Knicks have been a team of runs, constantly flip-flopping between stretches of prosperity and futility. They’re currently enduring the latter, as New York has dropped six of their last eight games– chiefly as a result of their abysmal fourth-quarter Net Rating. With that said, the Heat may not profile as a team capable of taking advantage of the Knicks in this aspect. It’s been the Knicks’ defense that has haunted them at the end of games, and Miami rates 25th in the NBA in Points per Possession.
Furthermore, the Knicks have been the better team, on the whole, this season. New York rates 9th in Adjusted Net Rating to Miami’s 16th and have only been passed by the Heat in the Eastern Conference by virtue of a favorable recent schedule: Over their past 10 games, the Heat beat the Bucks without Giannis twice, the hampered Pelicans twice, and the Celtics absent Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford.
Don’t let Miami’s recent success fool you. The Knicks have been the better team on the year and deserve to be favored at home.
Bet: Knicks +2 (-110)
- Tommy Jurgens
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First Basket Scorer
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Pelicans have won the tip 46% of the time compared to the Mavericks, who have won the tip just 37% of the time this season. As a result, the Pelicans have scored the first basket in 54% of games, while the Mavericks have scored the first basket in only 35% of games.
These two teams have played twice before. They traded tips, but most recently, Jonas Valanciunas earned the first basket after winning the opening tip over Dwight Powell.
He’ll likely go up against Powell again tonight and should be able to earn the tip for the Pelicans again. Valanciunas has 13 of New Orleans’ 29 first baskets this season. He’s also attempted 12 first shots, more than any player on the Pelicans.
Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum have often been absent from the lineup this season. But Valanciunas is still the go-to guy early on, even with those two starting.
Bet: Jonas Valanciunas (+380)
- Jason Radowitz
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NBA Prop Bets
LeBron James Over 28.5 Points (-125 DraftKings)
Tom Brady’s retirement has proven that Father Time always wins. There are a couple of players who make us wonder if they will be the ones to last forever. One of those players is Lebron James. He seems to only get better with age.
Since Lebron turned 38 years old, he averages 36 points per game. Tonight he plays against an Indiana team that has struggled since Tyrese Haliburton got hurt. They are 1-4 in their last five games. That means there will be plenty of scoring opportunities for Lebron James.
- Cameron Lynch
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We round out the day with our top college basketball bets.
College Basketball Best Bets
College Basketball Game Picks
Michigan vs. Northwestern Spread
Big Ten schedules are always challenging to navigate, as some disgruntled coaches have already voiced their opinions. But the condensed schedules are even tougher to deal with after experiencing a COVID-19 pause as Northwestern had. The Wildcats are now playing their fourth game in eight days, while Michigan has a decisive scheduling advantage, having last played on Sunday.
Northwestern looked entirely out of gas against Iowa on Tuesday. Northwestern was tied with the Hawkeyes 39-39 at the half and trailed 57-56 with ten minutes to go, but Iowa ended on a 29-14 run.
Michigan already owns a seven-point home win against the Wildcats (Northwestern’s last game before the COVID-19 pause). The Wolverines found success despite 18 turnovers, mainly because of their 41-29 rebounding edge in the first meeting. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard would be wise to take advantage of a short Northwestern bench that ranks 299th in bench minutes.
The Wolverines have not covered any of their last four road games, but we expect them to end that streak tonight given their massive scheduling edge.
Bet: Michigan +3.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
- Mike Spector
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Check out our best early bets for Super Bowl LVII.
NFL Best Bets
Super Bowl LVII Player Prop Bets
Travis Kelce Over 77.5 Receiving Yards (-115 via MGM)
There’s no one more consistent than Travis Kelce. Kelce was injured and still caught seven balls for 78 yards against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game.
In the playoffs, Kelce has caught 21 of 25 balls thrown his way. He’s also earned 176 yards and 8.4 yards per catch in the playoffs.
The Chiefs’ receiving core has been banged up lately. Even he’s been banged up. But he’s clearly fine and capable of adding another huge game against the Eagles in the Super Bowl. The volume will be there for Kelce to earn 78 receiving yards.
MGM is currently at 77.5 receiving yards, while the rest of the sportsbooks are sitting at 78.5. There’s clear value on the Over 77.5.
- Jason Radowitz
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Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section — including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners — or head to more advanced strategies — like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread — to learn more.
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