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Thursday’s Best NFL, College Football, MLB & NHL Bets (10/19)

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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.

Today's Best Bets

Here are today's best bets.

NFL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints

This season, every single Saints' game has gone under 40 points. The defense is allowing just 16 points per game, which is sixth-best in the NFL. Although their success has come almost entirely against the worst offenses in football - the best they've played is the Green Bay Packers, who are ranked 13th in points per game - their numbers are still impressive.

But we like this under even more because of how bad the Saints' offense has been. They're averaging just 18.2 points per game, and they have scored 17 or fewer in four of their six games. 

The Jaguars have scored 23 or more points in three consecutive games, but they have gone against weak or beat-up defenses. Even if they get into the low 20s tonight, their defense is good enough to essentially shut down a really bad offense.

Bet: Under 40.0 (-110)

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College Football Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

UCF Knights @ #6 Oklahoma Sooners

The big difference here is that while UCF's offense has been great (27th in scoring 34.7 points per game), they haven't faced a defense like the Sooners yet. Oklahoma is allowing only 14 PPG (seventh in the country), and they're well-rested from the bye week.  

There are 170 FBS QBs that have had 50 dropbacks, and UCF QB Timmy McClain has the MOST time to throw of any QB (per PFF). I doubt Ethan Downs and the rest of the Sooners' line will give McClain that type of time to throw.  

UCF makes its living running the ball, but Oklahoma has a top-30 statistical defense against the run and a top-10 PFF-graded run Defense. The 156 yards against Texas was the most rushing yards Oklahoma has given up this year. UCF relies on the run game to make this offense operate, and with the Sooners getting two weeks to prep, I don't think it will work out for UCF like it has so far this season.  

Oklahoma is just slightly above average running the ball this season at 56th, but with UCF at 122nd on the defensive side, they will run the ball down their throat in this one. UCF hasn't played anyone even close to Oklahoma in talent yet this season, and after seeing Oklahoma prove it against Texas, I think this is a bigger mismatch than we are expecting. Give me the Oklahoma by a lot in this one!

Bet: Oklahoma -18.5 (-110)

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MLB Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers

The Astros picked up a much-needed win to avoid the 0-3 hole, but the Rangers could set up an elimination game with a victory. Andrew Heaney will get the start, and against the Astros, he's had mixed results. He has two starts where he went five scoreless innings and two where he allowed six earned in 9.2 total innings. Also, there are mixed results where the Rangers are 2-2 despite Heaney having a lot of run support.

Jose Uriqudy struggled in his first run as a starter this year, with a 5.20 ETA in six starts. He went IL and missed over three months, and in his return, he spent most of the time in the bullpen. He has some experience against Texas but hasn't seen them in 2023, and this is a different team than in previous years.

We're seeing the power come out with 21 runs in the last two games, and in Heaney's four starts, we have seen the total hit the over three times. This is a high run total, but I expect it to hit with this pitching matchup.

Pick: Over 9.5 (-114)

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NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Edmonton Oilers @ Philadelphia Flyers

Edmonton bounced back in a big way with a 6-1 victory over the Nashville Predators following two straight losses to the Vancouver Canucks. With that said, there are still a bunch of question marks regarding the Oilers.

First of all, can they get scoring help outside of the usual suspects? There are still 11 skaters on this roster without a single point through the first three games this season. At 5-on-5, Edmonton ranks four spots lower than Philadelphia in expected Goals For Per 60 minutes (xGF/60).

Meanwhile, the Oilers' blue line continues to be the team's Achilles' Heel, as they rank 23rd in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. That is well below the Flyers, who rank ninth in the league in the same category.

However, perhaps the Flyers' biggest advantage in this contest is in the net, as Carter Hart is expected to go against Jack Campbell. This year, Hart ranks higher in SV% and GAA. Yes, it's a small sample size, but Hart was also far better than Campbell in both of those statistics last year. Hart has also done a fine job against the Oilers in his career, going 3-3 with a .909 SV% and 3.02 GAA.

Are the Flyers a better team than Edmonton? No, but they are playing like it right now, and +180 is a number worth taking a shot on as they look to secure back-to-back wins on home ice.

Bet: Flyers ML (+180)

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