Thursday’s Best NFL, MLB, College Football & WNBA Bets (9/7)

by Kelly Kirby |
Sep 07, 2023

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

Lions vs. Chiefs

The defending Super Bowl champs are vulnerable. Not only is star defensive tackle Chris Jones holding out for a new contract, but Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed Tuesday that Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice earlier this week, putting his status for Thursdayâ€™s game in doubt.

While it's hard to bet against Patrick Mahomes, this is the most unproven set of wide receivers he's had during his time in Kansas City. With Kelce on the field, that wasn't as much of an issue. But now Mahomes will have to rely on Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Jones means as much to this Chiefs defense as Kelce does to the offense. His absence exposes a front seven that allowed 4.4 rushing yards per play and didn't have another pass rusher record more than six sacks.

That doesn't bode well against a Detroit offense that ranked seventh in DVOA a season ago. Could the Chiefs still pull off a win at home? Absolutely. Mahomes should still shred a Lions secondary that made marginal improvements during the offseason. But the Lions are a legit playoff contender, and with no Chris Jones to fluster Jared Goff in the pocket, I like them to keep this game within a field goal, if not win straight up.

Pick: Lions +5 (-110)

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MLB Best Bets

St. Louis Cardinals (+240) at Atlanta Braves (-298) | O/U 10.5 (-105/-115)

The Braves became the first team this season to lose a game when they had a -350 or better moneyline (previous teams were 5-0). The Braves will want to avoid the surprising sweep at the hands of the last-place Cardinals. Max Fried will try to stop the bleeding, and he's been stellar since returning from the IL in August, going 4-0 with a 2.86 ERA and opposing hitters having a .673 OPS.

Adam Wainwright's swan song could not be going any worse. The future Hall of Famer will have the worst ERA of his career and the fewest wins in a year with at least 15 starts. The big problem for him is the curveball that has been one of the best in the league for almost two decades has not been effective, and batters have a .453 slugging against the pitched compared to .353 last year.

The buck stops here, and the Braves will salvage the final game.

Pick: Braves -1.5 (-148)

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College Football Bets

Nebraska vs. #22 Colorado

I was completely wrong about Colorado taking time to gel and get it together under Deion Sanders. Luckily, it's a long season, and we can learn from our mistakes! I initially thought, 'Wow, these scripted drives Colorado has been working on look great! I bet they start to look like I thought in the second half.â€™ However, they never took their foot off the gas.

Nebraska looked strong on defense until the fourth quarter when Minnesota mounted a last-second comeback. Unfortunately for Nebraska, Jeff Sims doesn't look like the answer at QB. He took three sacks and threw three INTs.

I expect Colorado to be PACKED for their home opener. While they didn't seem to have a lot on defense, the offense looks like a well-oiled machine already. This feels like a trap game, and I understand that. Still, I trust the eye test here. Colorado passed with flying colors, and I believe they'll beat up on Nebraska this week!

Bet: Colorado -3 (-105)

-Scott Bogman

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WNBA Best Bets

Los Angeles Sparks vs. New York Liberty

The New York Liberty have won nine of their last ten games, including a one-point win over the Dallas Wings last time out. The Liberty have earned some massive wins and some nail-bitter wins. But they've been coming out on top in almost every game recently.

Meanwhile, the Liberty will face a Sparks team of just 16-22. But this Sparks team has won six of their last ten games. However, still. The Sparks are just 1-4 in their previous five matchups after losing to the Connecticut Sun, 90-76.

The Sparks have also been hit with the injury bug. Nneka Ogwumike is questionable with a knee injury. She's added 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season. Karlie Samuelson has an abdomen injury that could keep her out of tonight's game. Samuelson has averaged 7.7 points per contest.

However, Chiney Ogwumike, who averages 8.4 points per game, has already been ruled out with a foot injury.

The depth will be lacking for the Sparks on the road against a Liberty team that is 14-4 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Sparks are only 6-12 on the road. With all the injuries, the Sparks played just eight players in their loss to Connecticut. The starting lineup stepped up behind Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens. Those are the two to watch if the Ogwumike's are unavailable again.

But they don't have the star power that the Liberty have. Breanna Stewart scored 40 against the Wings on 14-for-25 from the field while adding ten rebounds for a double-double. She'll take over tonight's game, too.

Take the Liberty -12.5.

Bet: Liberty -12.5 (-110)

WNBA Best Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions

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