Tuesday’s Best Bets: NBA, College Basketball, NHL & Super Bowl LVII
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.
Get ready for the big game with our Super Bowl LVII Betting Guide >>
Today’s Best Bets
Here are today’s best NBA bets.
NBA Best Bets
NBA Game Picks
Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Atlanta Hawks could be in the trade market. They’re 27-27 on the season and don’t know if they’re contenders or pretenders. But with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray paired up, you’d like to think that the Hawks will only get better by the trade deadline.
The Pelicans are in the same boat. They’re patiently waiting for Zion Williamson to return. He’d be the best deadline acquisition possible for New Orleans.
This is why I wouldn’t hit the panic button if I were the Pelicans. I’d wait for Zion to make a run this season.
Brandon Ingram is finally settling in for the Pelicans. New Orleans has won two straight over the Lakers and Kings and scored at least 131 in both home games.
They’ll be home tonight against a Hawks team that allowed 128 to the Denver Nuggets last time. Atlanta’s been on a long road trip. It continues tonight.
Grab the Pelicans at -1.5 at home.
Bet: Pelicans -1.5 (-110)
- Jason Radowitz
Check out our other NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
First Basket Scorer
Nikola Jokic (+370 @FanDuel)
Tonight the tipoff could go either way. That means the team to score first will be the most consistent on defense and offense. The most consistent team is the Denver Nuggets. They are a well-rounded team that can do everything.
The reason for the consistency of the Nuggets is Nikola Jokic. He is the best all-around center in the NBA. That makes him one of the toughest players to defend. The Timberwolves are dealing with plenty of injuries. That gives Jokic more betting value tonight.
- Cameron Lynch
Check out our other NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
NBA Prop Bets
Russell Westbrook Over 6.5 assists (+122 FanDuel)
With LeBron James going for the points record, I think it’s an easy money maker to go with his teammates and their assist overs, especially at plus money.
Westbrook has consistently averaged 7.6 assists per game over the last two months, so it’s quite surprising that his total is 6.5 in a game like this. Even on the season, it’s at 7.5, so reaching seven assists is quite reasonable with his playtime. He’s reached at least seven in four of his last five games.
Besides the fact that LeBron is going for the record, the Lakers and Thunder are two of the three fastest-paced teams in the nation. There will be plenty of scoring opportunities in this game with the mere number of possessions to be had. I’m feeling solid about this one tonight.
- Ryan Coleman
Check out our other NBA Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
We round out the day with our top college basketball bets.
College Basketball Best Bets
College Basketball Game Picks
Auburn vs. Texas A&M Spread
While Auburn has covered both games it has played as underdogs, it still may be stewing about the non-foul call at the end of the Tennessee game, when the referees swallowed the whistle on a 3-point attempt when they were trailing 46-43. Texas A&M should have similar success defensively as the Volunteers had, as it ranks 57th or better in effective field goal percentage and turnover percentage forced (21.3%), while Auburn is outside the top 200 in both metrics offensively.
Texas A&M has a distinct advantage on the offensive glass (37.4% offensive rebounding percentage ranks 6th nationally), as the Tigers allow the 283rd-highest percentage of offensive rebounds (31.0%). In addition, the Aggies should be living at the free throw line, as they rank fifth nationally in free throws attempted per field goal attempt, while Auburn’s defense is 200th in the same category.
Texas A&M is 11-1 at home this year and has the SEC’s best cover rate. The Aggies are 14-9 ATS and have covered eight of 12 games as home favorites, and we expect them to do so again.
Bet: Texas A&M (-110 at DraftKings)
- Mike Spector
Check out our other College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
Check out our best NHL bets.
NHL Best Bets
NHL Game Picks
Colorado Avalanche vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The defending champion Colorado Avalanche won seven of their last eight games heading into the all-star break, and they’ll look to keep it rolling as they open up a three-game road trip tonight. They’ll make stops in Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay and finish by taking on the Panthers in Florida. Puck drop for tonight’s cross-conference showdown is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena.
I’m rolling with the Avs on the moneyline tonight. These two sides seem to be trending in opposite directions as the Penguins have lost six of their last nine games. That includes an embarrassing 6-4 home loss to the Sharks before heading into the break.
The issue over the last few games has been the defense and goaltending, where the Pens have allowed 15 goals in the previous three games. It’s expected that Casey DeSmith will get the nod between the pipes tonight, and he’s just 3-3-1 at home with a 4.33 GAA and .881 SV%. I’ll take this opportunity to fade Pittsburgh while they’re on the downswing. Give me the Avalanche to take the two points tonight.
Bet: Colorado Avalanche Moneyline (-110 via DraftKings)
- Trenton Pruitt
Check out our other NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
NHL Same Game Parlay
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators
- Leg 1: Golden Knights ML (+100)
- Leg 2: UNDER 5.5 Total Goals (+105)
- Leg 3: UNDER 1.5 Total First Period Goals (-105)
The Golden Knights would love to get back on track after disappointing the last few weeks.
The offense is hurting without Mark Stone. Chandler Stephenson, Jack Eichel, Reilly Smith, and pretty much the entire forward unit have not been able to step up since the loss of Stone.
Rookie Logan Thompson’s record does not look good, but he’s still playing well. He’s lost six of his last seven starts but has allowed more than three goals in just one.
The Predators are in playoff contention, but I don’t have confidence they can make the charge. Defensively, Juuse Saros is one of the top netminders in the league, but the blue line allows 34 shots a game. Then, on offense, besides Filip Forsberg, no one on this forward unit is a reliable playmaker.
It’s tough to trust either offense, as both have struggled to score points. This will be a battle between the two All-Star goalkeepers.
Parlay Odds: +700
- John Supowitz
Check out our other NHL Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions >>
Check out our best bets for Super Bowl LVII.
Super Bowl LVII Best Bets
Matthew Freedman’s Super Bowl LVII Bets
Harrison Butker Super Bowl MVP
- Odds: +35000
- Units: 0.25
- Notes: This bet is in coordination with my Mahomes MVP position. If Mahomes wins, I’ll profit 1.05 units (1.3 units won on Mahomes minus 0.25 units lost on Butker). If Butker somehow wins, I’ll profit 86.5 units (87.5 units won on Butker minus 1 unit lost on Mahomes. If neither wins, I’m out 1.25 units. In this game, both quarterbacks — Mahomes (ankle) and Jalen Hurts (shoulder) — are somewhat injured. And both defenses are good: The Eagles (70) and Chiefs (55) were Nos. 1-2 in most sacks this year.So I think the odds of this being a tight, low-scoring game are greater than most people imagine, and I also believe the Chiefs are being discounted by the market. If the Chiefs win, but Mahomes has a mediocre game because of injury and matchup, we could see Butker have multiple field goals — and since the spread (-1.5) is short we might see a game-winning field goal. I think the odds of Butker winning Super Bowl MVP are about 0.5% — but the implied odds at 350-1 are 0.28%, so I see some value here. Framed differently: This line is 250-1 at most books and as low as 200-1 at Caesars. I think PointsBet is way out of line with the market and the realistic odds. Butker is highly unlikely to win Super Bowl MVP. But if he does … I’ll be buying myself something nice. Like an autographed Butker jersey.
Check out Matthew Freedman’s Super Bowl LVII Betting Card >>
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.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts