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Thursday’s Best Bets: NBA, NHL & College Basketball (3/9)

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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 Picks

Charlotte Hornets vs. Detroit Pistons

  • Leg 1: Gordon Hayward Under 5.5 assists (-113)
  • Leg 2: James Wiseman Under 8.5 rebounds (-102)
  • Leg 3: Isaiah Livers Under 9.5 points (+100)

While you have overs in the Golden State-Memphis game, expect some unders in the Hornets-Pistons game. The sportsbook notoriously sets opponents’ lines against the Pistons too high. Hayward averages 3.8 assists per game, his prop should not be set at 5.5.

On the other side, sometimes you have to trust the numbers too. Wiseman is projected at 7.3 rebounds by the BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet, so snagging his under at near even odds is some solid value in my book.

Isaiah Livers is also someone who shouldn't be set at 9.5 points, considering he's only gone over that total once in the last four games. Detroit's 27th-ranked offense is not anything to be scared of, and Livers is not someone who I expect to pop off. At +100, this is a steal of a prop.  

Parlay Odds: +663

  • Ryan Coleman

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NBA Game Picks

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors’ road woes are glaring, and it remains surprising to see them favored in this spot. Golden State is an abysmal 9-23 ATS and 7-25 SU when playing away from home, and their Pts/Poss differential plummets from 6th to 25th with the change in venue. The main issue for the Warriors has been on the defensive end, as their Net Defensive Rating on the road is better than only Houston and San Antonio. The inexplicable drop in defensive efficiency is a key reason to like Memphis here, as they should be able to make up for G Ja Morant’s absence via the Warriors own deficiencies.

Additionally, the Grizz are among the best home teams in the NBA. Their 26-5 record at home trails only Denver, and their 19-11-1 record ATS is tremendous. Any hesitations in backing Memphis with them without Morant and with C Steven Adams remaining sidelined are reasonable, but the team’s depth is being undervalued here, and they have the personnel capable of giving Golden State fits on the defensive end. It’s been a rough stretch of games for Memphis (to say the least), but they should be able to regain their rhythm on their home floor. Bet the Grizz to cover the short spread.

Bet: Grizzlies +2 (-110)

  • Tommy Jurgens

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First Basket Scorer

Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers and Rockets will play for the second time this season. In the first one, the Pacers won the tip and scored first. That was back on November 18. Things have changed since then.

The Rockets and Pacers have both won just 32 percent tipoffs this year. However, the Rockets have earned 51 percent of first baskets while the Pacers have made just 38 percent. Houston is more consistent in starting a game despite not getting the first shot much.

Alperen Sengun has seven first baskets to lead the Rockets. He’s sitting at +500 and has terrific value to score first tonight.

Bet: Alperen Sengun (+500) 

  • Jason Radowitz

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NBA Prop Bets

Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets

The Rockets are having a rough season. They are 15-50 and the 25th-ranked defense in the NBA. In their last five games, they have given up an average of 116.8 points to opposing teams. That means there will be plenty of opportunities for the Pacers to score tonight.

The player who can take the most advantage of the Rocket’s defense is Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton is coming off a 40-point game against the 76ers. The Sixers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Haliburton should have no problem scoring against the Rockets tonight. 

Tyrese Haliburton – Over 22.5 Points (-118)

  • Cameron Lynch

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College Basketball Best Bets

College Basketball Game Picks

TCU vs. Kansas State

Kansas State’s Jerome Tang deserves plenty of Coach of the Year votes, taking a team that was projected to finish dead-last in the Big 12 to 23 wins and an 11-7 league record. However, the worrisome thing about the Wildcats entering postseason play is its inability to consistently win away from Bramlage Coliseum, as their only road win since January 14th was against an Oklahoma State team that tied for the second-fewest home wins in the conference. Thus, while each team won by double digits on its home floor in the two regular-season meetings between these teams, we trust the Horned Frogs more at a neutral site.

TCU has won three of five games since getting leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. back healthy. The most impressive victory in that span was a two-point home victory over Texas when Miles was held to one point on 0-of-8 shooting. We expect the Horned Frogs to feast on a Kansas State defense that allows the highest percentage of offensive rebounds in Big 12 play (31.5%) and ranks in the bottom half of the league in 2-point shooting percentage allowed (51.3%). In contrast, TCU ranks fifth and first in those categories, respectively.

TCU has won three of its last four games that have been decided by four or fewer points, while Kansas State has lost its previous two such games. Thus, we are siding with Jamie Dixon’s squad in what should be a high-level basketball game.

Bet: TCU -2 (-115 at DraftKings)

  • Mike Spector

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Check out our best NHL bets.

NHL Best Bets

NHL Game Picks

Dallas Stars (-143) @ Buffalo Sabres (+118) | O/U 6.5 (-113/-108)

To kick off Thursday’s slate, the Atlantic Division’s Buffalo Sabres host the Central Division’s Dallas Stars. Simply put, Dallas is better than Buffalo in almost every aspect of this game.

At 5-on-5, the Stars rank higher than the Sabres in both expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). Although, perhaps the biggest mismatch in this contest is in net as goaltender Jake Oettinger is slated to get the start for Dallas.

Through 48 appearances in the crease this season, Oettinger is 26-9-10 with a .921 save percentage (SV%) and 2.36 goals against average (GAA). His underlying metrics are just as phenomenal, ranking 10th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.

Across the ice, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is slated to start between the pipes for Buffalo. While the young netminder puts together some promising performances, his game is still raw and he has to deal with the terrible blue line in front of him.

Through 27 starts this season, Luukkonen possesses a .893 SV5 and 3.61 GAA. Among starting goaltenders, he ranks 28th in GSAx/60 at 5-on-5. With the more efficient offense, defense, and goaltender, back Dallas to take care of business on the road in this matchup.

Best Bet: Stars ML (-143)

  • Tony Sartori

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NHL Same Game Parlay

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals

  • Leg 1: Devils ML (-145)
  • Leg 2: UNDER 6.5 Total Goals (-110)
  • Leg 3: UNDER 1.5 Total First Period Goals (+110)

The Devils come into this game, winning seven of their last 11 as they try to keep pace for first in the Metro. The top line has been incredible, with Nico Hischier having six goals in his previous ten games and Dawson Mercer having ten.

Being a two-way team will help them through this tough Eastern Conference. Vitek Vanecek has been outstanding between the pipes, going 27-7-3 and allowing 2.55 goals per game.

The Capitals aren’t mathematically out of the playoffs, but I don't see them making the push to get in.

They haven't been a bad team but dealing with injuries all season saw them dip out of contention.

Darcy Kuemper and Vanecek will be an exciting goaltending matchup, and Washington is giving up fewer shots than New Jersey. This will be a tight game, but I like the Devils coming away with a win.

Parlay Odds: +577

  • John Supowitz

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NHL Player Prop Bets

Brent Burns OVER 0.5 Assists vs. Philadelphia Flyers (-110)

The Hurricanes have been on fire over the last few weeks. They are 15-3-1, and 11 wins are by multiple goals.

Sebastian Aho is only one averaging a point per game, but this is one of the deeper rosters in the league, with 15 players having 20 or more points.

You can define them as a two-way team as they allow only 26.0 shots per game, with Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen allowing the second-fewest goals this season.

They're hosting the Flyers tonight, and although the defense is good, the offense has not. Brent Burns is a great two-way defenseman and leads the team with 38 assists. He's averaging over an assist in his last ten games.

  • John Supowitz

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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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