Wednesday’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.
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Today’s Best Bets
Here are today’s best NBA bets.
NBA Best Bets
NBA Same Game Parlay Picks
Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat
- Leg 1: Tyler Herro Under 5.5 Assists (+110)
- Leg 2: Bam Adebayo Over 10.5 Rebounds (-105)
- Leg 3: Jimmy Butler Over 5.5 Assists (+115)
Going with the Miami trio at home against the Pacers is how I am starting my first parlay. It is more of a value play so I'll be throwing half a unit down here.
Herro's last two games have brought his assist prop higher than it should be. He's averaged 4.5 assists per game this season and 4.7 over the last two months. With the odds set at +110, I love the value for taking the under on his assists. His 6.5 assists under sits at -170 so I'm going with the lower number here.
On a similar note, Butler's assists total going over 5.5 at +115 is incredible value as well with the Pacers offering a big pace-up spot and their defense lacking. I expect there to be enough scoring tonight for Butler to be able to reach six assists.
Adebayo should easily reach 11 rebounds against Indiana's 29th-ranked rebounding rate. He's capable of reaching 11 boards, as he has done in two of his last three games. With the extra possessions, I trust him to be able to grab a few extra rebounds.
Parlay Odds: +700
- Ryan Coleman
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NBA Game Picks
76ers vs. Celtics
In what could very well end up being an Eastern Conference Championship preview, the third-seeded 76ers head north to take on the first-seeded Celtics. Having put up 137 points on the Spurs Friday, the 76ers’ offense came crashing down two days later, scoring just 97 points in a 97-108 loss to the Knicks.
The Celtics have followed a similar pattern, putting up 139 in the Nets last week just two days before scoring just 94 on the Suns in a 94-106 defeat. They did get back on track Monday, beating the Pistons on the road 111-99.
The 76ers, however, have a key trend on their side. In that Celtics’ last five games on just one day of rest, they are 0-5 ATS.
Bet: 76ers +4.5 (-110)
- Johnny Perun
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First Basket Scorer
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have played the Hornets three times this year. They’ve also won the tip in each of those three games.
Despite winning the tip in all three, the Wizards have only scored first in two games.
Still, Washington has won the tip in 66% of games this season, while the Hornets have only won the tip in 36% of games. The first shot has been taken 62% of the time for the Wizards, while the Hornets have only attempted the first shot in 42% of games.
Washington has the edge, especially after winning the tip in all three games against the Hornets earlier this year.
If Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma are both out for tonight’s game, Kristaps Porzingis has the clear advantage here. He’s attempted the first shot in 11 games and has nailed nine first baskets this season.
Bet: Kristaps Porzingis (+340)
- Jason Radowitz
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NBA Prop Bets
Keegan Murray Over 12.5 Points (+100 @DraftKings)
The Houston Rockets are struggling this season. They are a young team that is experiencing growing pains. That means teams will have plenty of scoring opportunities against them. Bettors can use that to their advantage.
One of the players that will benefit the most from this is Keegan Murray. He is slowly getting more comfortable playing at the NBA level. That includes his ability to score the basketball. He averages 12.1 points per game and is trending upward in his scoring.
- 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
Iowa State vs. West Virginia
Trends suggest West Virginia plays lower-scoring games against opponents that are more familiar to them. The Over has cashed in 10 of the Mountaineers’ 13 non-conference games this season, but they have an O/U record of 5-5 in their Big 12 games. Meanwhile, Iowa State is the most profitable Big 12 team to the Under (8-14 O/U record), and we expect that to be the trend that plays out in this game.
Neither offense should be able to establish much of a rhythm in this game, as both Iowa State and West Virginia rank in the top 46 nationally in turnover percentage forced. Iowa State leads the nation in that category, forcing turnovers on 26.9% of opponents’ possessions. In addition, the Cyclones play disciplined defense without fouling, as they allow the 332nd-fewest free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
West Virginia will have to knock down perimeter shots to be successful, as Iowa State ranks first in Haslametrics’ near-proximity (NPAR) category. That is a massive concern for a Mountaineers offense that gets just 27.9% of its points (273rd-fewest) from beyond the arc.
The Under is 10-3 in the Cyclones’ last 13 road games, and we expect another low-scoring game in this Big 12 battle.
Bet: Iowa State-West Virginia Under 135.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
- Mike Spector
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Check out our best NHL bets.
NHL Best Bets
NHL Game Picks
Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Rangers
The Canucks continue to spiral out of control as they've now lost nine of their last 12 games. They'll try to rebound tonight against a Rangers team that's come out victorious in six of their last nine games, including two straight wins. Puck drop is set for 8:00 ET from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
With Vancouver sending Bo Horvat to the Islanders, it's pretty apparent they've chosen to punt on the season. The centerman was their second-leading scorer (54 points), chasing only Elias Pettersson (59). It only makes sense that their offense, which has been their strength, will take a significant step in the wrong direction.
It won't get any easier tonight as the Canucks are set to take the sixth-ranked defense in the Rangers (2.52 GAA). They'll be running into reigning Vezina winner Igor Shesterkin as well. The Russian netminder is 21-8-7 this season with a 2.46 GAA and .918 SV%. I expect Shesterkin to shut down Vancouver on his home ice while the offense takes advantage of this lowly Canucks' defense (31st, 3.78 GAA). I'm locking in the Rangers on the puck line in this spot.
Bet: New York Rangers -1.5 (+105 via Caesars)
- Trenton Pruitt
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NHL Same Game Parlay
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
The Stars went into the All Star break losing three straight, but they were able to grab the shootout win on Monday against Anaheim. The offense has some great pieces, but Jason Robertson has been the only one who's been consistent lately. Roope Hintz missed some time with injury but has three points, including two goals, in the four games.
The Stars’ strength is through the defense, especially the goaltending. Jake Oettinger has been one of the top goalkeepers with a 27-7-0 record and 2.71 Wins Above Replacement.
The Wild have been streaky over the last few weeks, and now, with the surging Avalanche, they're tied for third in the Central. The team recently diverted from switching the goalies every other game, as Marc Andre Fleury has started the last four. The team has confirmed that Filip Gustavsson will be behind the net for this game.
The last matchup was tight until Dallas broke off three goals in the third. Overall, they looked better in that game, getting a ton of opportunities at the net and not giving the puck away. I love the Dallas top lines and their defense to grab a win.
Parlay Odds: +674
- John Supowitz
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Check out our best bets for Super Bowl LVII.
Super Bowl LVII Best Bets
Chiefs Same Game Parlay Picks
Leg 1: Patrick Mahomes 40+ Pass Attempts (-135)
If the Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl, it will be because of a big passing day from Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has at least 40 pass attempts in each of the Chiefs' last four one-score games, except the Divsional Round game vs. Jacksonville, where he missed time with an ankle injury. I expect the Chiefs to be playing close, or even from behind, on Sunday. This will be a recipe for a pass-heavy game plan against the Eagles.
While Philadelphia allowed the fewest passing yards per game to opposing QBs in the regular season (197.4 ypg), this is only partly due to their great pass defense. A significant part of the equation is that the Eagles played one of the easiest schedules in the league. Their pass defense may not be susceptible on paper, but there will be plenty of room for the Chiefs to attack the Eagles’ secondary and keep the ball in the air.
Leg 2: Travis Kelce Anytime TD (-120)
If you're going to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, odds are you won't be the only one with a Travis Kelce Anytime TD ticket. Kelce is routinely one of the most bet-on players in the NFL to get in the end zone, and I don't expect things to be any different on Sunday. Even still, there's plenty of value in Kelce's TD prop.
Kelce is, of course, Mahomes' favorite red zone target. He got 13 red zone targets over the final 10 weeks of the season and has already scored 3 TDs on an insane 21 catches in two playoff games. While Kelce's TD prop line usually carries a hefty price, it's sitting at a reasonable -120 ahead of the Super Bowl.
This is primarily because the Eagles have one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL against opposing TEs. They allowed just 3 TDs to opposing TEs, and none over their last 11 games, including the playoffs. Given the fact that Kelce is an atypical TE matchup for defenses, as well as his red-zone volume, I think he's a good bet to break that streak on Sunday.
Leg 3: Marquez Valdes-Scantling O44.5 Receiving Yards (+125)
When the Chiefs needed big plays last week, Marquez Valdes-Scantling came up big. He posted 116 yards on 6 catches against the Bengals, including a pivotal 29-yard catch late in the game. Scantling has run hot and cold this year, but he'll need to play a key role in the Chiefs’ passing game against the Eagles. Mecole Hardman is listed as doubtful for the game, while JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney are both listed as questionable. None of these three WRs practiced this week. This leaves Valdes-Scantling as the only healthy receiver that's normally in the Chiefs' top four on the depth chart.
This is a bet on Valdes-Scantling's talent – he made big plays last week – but also on his opportunity. If Mahomes does throw the ball 40 times on Sunday, Scantling should be able to pick up 6-8 targets, just as he did last week. On this sort of volume, 45 yards is a reasonable threshold for him to break.
Parlay Odds: +500 (1u to win 5u)
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