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<p>Looking to win big? The Hurricanes and Devils face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Devils are hosting the game at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Devils are favored by -1.5 against the Hurricanes in a Metropolitan division matchup.</p><h3>CAROLINA HURRICANES VS NEW JERSEY DEVILS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: New Jersey Devils -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Prudential Center at 7:00 ET on Friday, December 27th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS:</h3><ul><li>Based on our analysis, we foresee the Devils winning the game with a predicted score of 4-2.</li><li>Take the Devils on the moneyline</li><li>The Devils should also cover at -1.5</li></ul><h3>Does Carolina Stand a Chance on the Road?</h3><p>Carolina improved to 21-12-1 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.</p> <p>Carolina scored first, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. The Hurricanes tied it up in the second and added two more goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.</p><p>Dmitry Orlov led the Hurricanes’ offense with two goals on three shots in their 4-2 win over the Capitals. Martin Necas added his sixth goal of the season and picked up two assists, bringing his total to 12 on the year. Andrei Svechnikov capped the scoring with his sixth goal, an empty-netter with 9 seconds left in the game.</p> <p>Carolina took 45 shots on goal but went scoreless on the power play. The Hurricanes scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added their final goal in the third period.</p><p>After allowing two late goals in the first period, Carolina's defense bounced back, shutting out the Capitals in the second and third periods. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, while the Hurricanes' defense recorded 7 takeaways and 10 hits.</p><h3>Can New Jersey Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?</h3><p>The Devils fell to 23-11-3 after a 3-0 road loss to the Flames. As -1.5 goal favorites, New Jersey failed to cover the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but both teams combined for just 3.</p> 

<p>All of the game’s scoring happened in the third period. The Devils were shut out and struggled offensively, managing only 22 shots on goal. They also had 19 giveaways in the game.</p><p>In their latest game, the Devils were shut out, managing 22 shots on goal but failing to find the back of the net. This marked the first time this season they were held scoreless. New Jersey also recorded 19 giveaways in the game.</p> <p>After a scoreless first and second period, the Devils couldn't convert in the third either. They ended the game with no goals, including on their power play opportunities.</p><p>Defensively, the Devils held strong through two periods, but they gave up three goals in the third, including an empty-netter. Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 22 hits.</p>

Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

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<p>Planning on watching today's Capitals and Blackhawks game? Catch the action at United Center in Chicago, IL, as the Blackhawks hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on NBCS. The Capitals are favored in this non-conference showdown. The game's over/under is currently at 6 goals.</p><h3>WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at United Center at 7:00 ET on Sunday, December 10th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS:</h3><ul><li>Even though they are considered 1.5-goal underdogs, our projection points to a 4-3 win for the Blackhawks.</li><li>We like the Blackhawks on the moneyline (+127)</li><li>The Blackhawks are also our pick on the spread at +1.5</li></ul><h3>Is It the Capitals Game to Lose on the Road?</h3><p>This season, the Capitals have a mark of 13-9-3. When going on the road, Washington has a record of 5-4-1 record, while they are 8-4-2 at their home arena. In the Eastern Metropolitan division, they are currently 4th, and in the Eastern conference, they come into the game sitting 9th.</p><p>In terms of the puck line, Washington are 10-14. When playing on the road against the puck line, they are 4-6, while their overall home performance is 6-8. For the season, the average number of goals per game in matchups featuring Washington is 5.4. The season's average over/under line is currently at 6.2. The Capitals come in with an over/under record of 8-16-0.</p><p>Through their last three road contests, the Capitals offense has averaged 2 goals per game while allowing an average of 4. Washington posted an overall record of 1-2 while going 0-3 ATS.</p><p>In terms of their offensive performance, the Capitals are averaging 2.4 goals per game this season, putting them in the 32nd spot in the NHL. When it comes to shots on goal per game, they are ranked 32nd in the league. Coming into the game, the Capitals have 4-3 record when they have more shots on goal than their opponent. When they have fewer shots on goal, they are 9-5.</p><p>Washington's current leading scorer is Dylan Strome. This season, he has 10 goals, which puts him 53rd in the NHL. Along with his scoring, he has come up with 3 assists so far.</p><p>In terms of defense, the Blackhawks head into the game ranked 7th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 33 shots per game against Chicago. So far, they are 17th in shutouts, achieving 1 shutouts.</p><p>Heading into this matchup vs. Chicago, goalie Darcy Kuemper has started 13 games in this season. His current record is 5-6, and his save percentage stands at 88.7%.</p><h3>Is an Upset Waiting to Happen at Home?</h3><p>This season, the Blackhawks currently hold an overall record of 9-16-1. When playing on the road, Chicago has a 4-10-0 record, while they are 5-6-1 at home. This record has them sitting 8th in the Western Central division and 15th in the Western conference.</p><p>When it came to the puck line, Chicago heads in with a 13-13 record. On the road, their mark is 6-8 and their overall home performance is 7-5 vs. the puck line. For the season, Chicago's games have finished with an average of 5.9 goals per game. Their average over/under line for the season is 6.4. Overall, the Blackhawks have an over/under record of 10-15-1.</p><p>Across the Blackhawks last three home games, the team averaged 1 goals per game while allowing 4. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 0-3, while going 0-3 straight-up.</p><p>On the offensive side, the Blackhawks are scoring an 2.4 goals per game this season, ranking 30th in the NHL. When it came to shots on target per game, they are 30th in the league. Chicago's offense is currently ranked 29th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 26th in the league.</p><p>Chicago will be looking for a good game from Connor Bedard who leads the team in scoring with 11 goals, ranking 39th in the NHL. In addition to his goal scoring, Bedard has 10 assists this season.</p><p>Chicago defense takes on the Capitals ranked 7th in goals allowed. On average, opponents are averaging 33 shots per game against Chicago. They alsso are 17th in shutouts, with 1 shutouts.</p><p>Goalie Arvid Söderblom gets the start and has made 11 starts this season. His record at this point is 2-8, and his save percentage is 88.5%.</p>

Washington Capitals vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/10/23

The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the four biggest professional sports in the United States, and it’s usually fourth in terms of popularity. That doesn’t mean that this sport doesn’t have a massive following though, and it’s a sport that leads to some great betting options.

The NHL was founded all the way back in 1917, and the league has seen plenty of growth since that first year. There were only six teams when the league first began playing, but that number has now grown all the way up to 32.

25 of the teams are from the United States while there are also seven teams from Canada. The NHL season typically runs from October through April, with the NHL Stanley Cup Finals taking place during the month of June.

NHL teams play 82 regular season games, and that leads to plenty of NHL betting opportunities. Here is a look at some of the best NHL sportsbooks as well as how to bet on NHL.
<h2 id="h-where-to-bet-on-the-nhl" class="wp-block-heading">WHERE TO BET ON THE NHL</h2>
Knowing where to bet on the NHL is going to be extremely important if you are planning on betting on this league. With that in mind, here are six of the best NHL sportsbooks that you can find.

Best NHL Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Colorado Avalanche vs Utah Hockey Club Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Chicago Blackhawks vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24

Dallas Stars vs Utah Hockey Club Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24

The Golden State Warriors were a mess on opening night, losing by 26 points to the Brooklyn Nets. Will they make a better account of themselves on Christmas Day, or will the Milwaukee Bucks be allowed to get some redemption for their own opening game loss?
<h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS at MILWAUKEE BUCKS, 2:35 PM ET (Friday)</strong></span></h3>
<h4><strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betanysports">BetAnySports</a> NBA Betting Line: Bucks -10,Total 232</strong></h4>
You can imagine that the pressure is on in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo, a winner of back-to-back MVP awards, signed a $220 million contract extension but has not brought his team to the NBA Finals as of yet. So there was indeed a sense of urgency before re-convening.

The new general manager is Jon Horst, and he executed a trade for Jrue Holiday, who averaged 19.1 points for New Orleans and provided a defensive upgrade, even over All-Defensive team member Eric Bledsoe. Holiday is considered by many of his peers to be the premier defender at the guard position, and he can indeed defend both backcourt positions.

Where the Bucks went awry was in their handling of free agency negotiations with Bogdan Bogdanovic, where they were found to have begun free agent negotiations before they were authorized to, and lost the player, plus a second-round draft pick, as a result.

Holiday is paying dividends. He had 25 points in Wednesday's opener, a 122-121 loss to Boston which probably demonstrates more how formidable the Celtics are than how much of a decline the Bucks may be having. Giannis once again had the numbers - 35 points and 13 rebounds - but he missed a free throw at the end that could have extended things.

If you are familiar with Mike Budenholzer's approach, you know that he emphasizes defense, and his team has finished #1 in the NBA in Defensive Rating each of the last two seasons. They are happy to let opponents shoot threes as much as they want, but they are going to deny drives to the hoop and second-shot opportunities as much as they can.

And we'll be honest - coming off a loss, they are the last team the Warriors want to see right now. One good thing about Golden State's 125-99 defeat at Brooklyn, we suppose, is that the starters got a lot of rest, as the blowout - evident after a 40-point first quarter by the Nets - created almost immediate garbage time.

Sure, Steph Curry is awesome, but he was just head of a very bad shooting pack, as the starters hit only 32% of their shots. Newcomers Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre were 7-of-30 between them. There was some encouragement to be found in the play of rookie center James Wiseman, who had 19 points and six rebounds. Whether Golden State makes the center spot a focus of the offense - something it hasn't done in recent years - remains to be seen.

It should be noted, of course, that Wiggins and Oubre have come from NBA destinations where they were not required to be key contributors to winning programs. And the effect of the absence of Klay Thompson is obvious. Draymond Green missed the opener with a foot injury; he's listed as questionable here and if he plays, we would expect a difference.

HOW much different is another matter. Remember that Curry is coming off a season marred by injury, and he was 7-of-21 in Brooklyn. A team with a real defensive concept, like Milwaukee, could create some havoc against a team that is still struggling to play together on offense. And Wiseman will run into Brook Lopez, who made the All-Defensive squad last year.

Until Golden State shows us they're much improved over last year, we'll lay the points.

Merry Christmas!

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NBA Betting -- Can Warriors Help But Look Better vs. Bucks?

College football is one of the most popular betting options in the United States, and it’s also a sport that is enjoyed by many as well. College football begins in the early part of September, and a national champion is crowned in January every single year.

When it comes to college football, there are three different divisions that are played. It’s the teams that play at the highest level that attracts the most attention, and that’s also where you see most of the betting options.

There are just four teams that make it to the College Football Playoff each year, but that number is going to be expanding soon. There are other major bowl games that take place throughout the year, and those teams are chosen based on how they perform during the regular season.

This article will not only give you the best college football betting sites &amp; sportsbooks, but it will also give you tips so you know how to bet on college football.
<h2 id="h-where-to-bet-college-football" class="wp-block-heading">WHERE TO BET COLLEGE FOOTBALL</h2>
Knowing how to bet on college football is going to be an important step, but you also need to know where you should be wagering. Choosing the right sportsbook is going to be a huge part in sports betting, especially during the college football season.

Here are six of the best college football sportsbooks to use the next time that you are wanting to wager on the sport.

Best College Football Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College Football

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Oregon Ducks Betting Pick & Prediction College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential

Texas Longhorns vs Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Pick & Prediction College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Georgia Bulldogs Betting Pick & Prediction College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Boise State Broncos Betting Pick & Prediction College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

Buffalo Bulls vs Liberty Flames Betting Pick & Prediction Bahamas Bowl

Louisville Cardinals vs Washington Huskies Betting Pick & Prediction Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Baylor Bears vs LSU Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction Kinder's Texas Bowl

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Michigan Wolverines Betting Pick & Prediction ReliaQuest Bowl

South Carolina Gamecocks vs Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Pick & Prediction Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Missouri Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction TransPerfect Music City Bowl

<p>At 8:03 PM ET, the Padres and Dodgers will square off in an NL West matchup. This one is taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers are the betting favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -141. The Padres have a record of 93-69, while the Dodgers are 98-64 and Los Angeles is currently on a five-game winning streak.</p>

<p>FS1 will be televising Sunday's game, and the over/under line is at 8.5 runs. Jack Flaherty is starting for the Dodgers, while the Padres are going with Yu Darvish. San Diego is +120 on the money line, and the Dodgers are in first place in the NL West.</p><h3>LOS ANGELES DODGERS VS SAN DIEGO PADRES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers Moneyline -141</p><p>This game will be played at Dodger Stadium at 8:03 ET on Sunday, October 6th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE PADRES VS DODGERS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Dodgers winning by a score of 5 to 4</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Padres to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 9 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Even though the Dodgers were the slight favorites on the road, they still picked up a 7-5 win over the Padres in the most recent game of this series. Los Angeles had a huge 2nd inning, scoring three runs, and added four more in the 4th. As for the Padres, they scored two runs in the 1st and added their final three in the 4th.</p>

<p>Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the start for the Dodgers, going just three innings while giving up five runs and striking out one. Ryan Brasier got the win out of the bullpen, and Blake Treinen got the save. Adrian Morejon took the loss for San Diego, giving up five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of work.</p>

<p>Shohei Ohtani hit the game's only home run while going 2/5 with three RBIs. Gavin Lux, Tommy Edman, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez each had two hits and drove in a run for the Dodgers' offense.</p><h3>Padres Records & Stats</h3><p>Facing a must-win game two against the Dodgers, the Padres are on the road, looking to even the series. San Diego finished the regular season with a 93-69 record, going 48-33 on the road and 45-36 at home. They’ve lost their last two games as road underdogs and as underdogs overall.</p> <p>San Diego’s run line record for the season is 85-80, with a 51-31 mark on the road. They’ve dropped their last two games against the run line as favorites. The over has hit in two straight Padres games, and their over/under record is 84-77. Today’s line of 8.5 runs is higher than most of their games this season, with 62.3% of their matchups having lower totals.</p><p>Yu Darvish gets the start for the Padres today as he faces the Dodgers on the road. He has made 16 starts this season and has a record of 7-3 with an ERA of 3.31. Darvish's WHIP for the season is currently 1.06. In his 16 appearances, he has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Darvish most recently faced the Diamondbacks, where he picked up the win, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up three earned runs. Before that outing, he had not allowed an earned run in three straight starts.</p><p>San Diego comes into the game as the league's top hitting team, batting a collective .263. They are also one of the top home run hitting teams in the league, and their 4.7 runs per game is 8th in the MLB. The Padres are also the league's top team in terms of fewest strikeouts per game.</p>

<p>Manny Machado has been a big run producer for the Padres this season, as his 105 RBIs are 7th best in the league. He also leads the team with 29 homers. The Padres have a few other power threats in their lineup, as Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill are both tied for 2nd on the team with 24 homers. Luis Arraez has been a good contact hitter for the Padres, batting .314 for the season.</p><h3>Dodgers Records & Stats</h3><p>Heading into game two of their series against the Padres, the Dodgers hold a 1-0 lead and are looking to extend their five-game winning streak. Los Angeles finished the regular season with a 98-64 record, going 52-29 at home and 46-35 on the road. As home favorites, they posted a 51-29 mark this year.</p> 

<p>During the regular season, the Dodgers went 82-81 against the run line, with a +0.9 average run margin at home and +1.1 on the road. They’ve covered the run line in their last two home games. The over/under line for today’s game is set at 8.5 runs, while Los Angeles has an over/under record of 91-68 this season.</p><p>Right-hander Jack Flaherty gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces off against the Padres. He has made 28 starts this year and has a record of 13-7 with an ERA of 3.17. Flaherty's WHIP for the season is currently 1.07. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. One of those wins came at home, where he is 5-4 with a 3.54 ERA compared to 8-3 with a 3.27 ERA on the road.</p><p>Shohei Ohtani has been on a tear for the Dodgers of late, going 15/30 in his last seven games with two homers and 10 RBIs. This has helped him move into the team lead in batting average (.310) and RBIs (130). Ohtani's 54 homers are 2nd in the league and are the best mark on the Dodgers. Teoscar Hernandez has also been swinging a hot bat, going 10/28 in his last seven games, including two home runs and eight RBIs.</p>

<p>As a team, the Dodgers have been the best offense in the league this season, leading the league in OPS and slugging percentage. They are also 2nd in team batting average and have the league's top isolated power mark. Overall, they are averaging 5.2 runs per game and have been even better on the road, averaging 5.4 runs per contest.</p>

San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/6/24

<p>At 10:00 ET, the Portland Trail Blazers (-131) will host the Utah Jazz (+111) in a Northwest Division matchup. The Trail Blazers are favored by 1.5 points and the over/under line is set at 228.5.</p>

<p>Portland (9-20) has lost two straight and is 13th in the Western Conference. Utah (7-21) is 14th in the West and 5th in the Northwest Division.</p><h3>UTAH JAZZ VS PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Portland Trail Blazers -1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Moda Center at 10:00 ET on Thursday, December 26th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 159-137 in favor of the Trail Blazers.</li><li>Our projections have Anfernee Simons finishing with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Trail Blazers finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.2% and knocking down 15 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can the Jazz Grab a Win in Portland?</h3><p>The Jazz fell to 7-21 on the season after a 124-113 loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. Utah entered the game as +14 point underdogs but managed to keep the game closer than expected. The total points of 237.5 exceeded the pre-game line of 232.5.</p> <p>Utah stayed competitive throughout, trailing 29-27 after the 1st quarter and 31-29 after the 2nd. Cleveland pulled away in the 3rd, outscoring the Jazz 39-32, and both teams scored 25 points in the 4th.</p><p>In their 124-113 loss to the Cavaliers, the Jazz connected on 19 threes, shooting 43.2% from beyond the arc. However, their overall field goal percentage was just 41.3%.</p> <p>Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 27 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 26, hitting 6 threes. Collin Sexton contributed 24 points, scoring 8 in the 4th quarter.</p><p>The Jazz struggled defensively in the 3rd quarter, giving up 39 points, which contributed to their 124-113 loss to the Cavaliers. Overall, Utah allowed Cleveland to shoot 47% from the field.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Cavaliers hit 20 threes at a 43% clip. The Jazz sent Cleveland to the line 23 times, where they made 18 free throws. Utah finished with 33 defensive rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and recorded 6 steals and 5 blocks.</p><h3>Can the Trail Blazers Grab a Win at Home?</h3><p>Portland fell to 9-20 on the season after a 132-108 road loss to the Mavericks on Monday. The Blazers entered the game as +13 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 240 points exceeded the O/U line of 230.5 by 9.5 points.</p> <p>Portland started strong, leading 31-28 after the 1st quarter, but were outscored 34-22 in the 2nd and 40-23 in the 3rd. They entered the 4th quarter down 102-76 and edged Dallas 32-30 in the final period.</p><p>In their 132-108 loss to the Mavericks, the Trail Blazers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 8 threes at a 27.6% clip. Overall, they shot 46.2% from the field.</p> <p>Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 19 points, while Deandre Ayton added 16, 10 of which came in the 2nd quarter. Jabari Walker scored all 13 of his points in the 4th quarter.</p><p>The Trail Blazers struggled defensively against the Mavericks, giving up 132 points on 53% shooting. Portland allowed 28 points in the 1st quarter, 34 in the 2nd, and 40 in the 3rd before holding Dallas to 30 points in the 4th.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Mavericks hit 12 threes at a 33% clip. Dallas also went to the line 34 times, making 24 free throws. Portland gave up 13 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 1 block.</p>

Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/26/24

<p>The Hornets (-172) will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they take on the Wizards (+146) in a Southeast Division matchup. The over/under line for the game is 227.5 points.</p>

<p>This game will be played at the Capital One Arena in Washington and is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 ET. The Hornets are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-22, while the Wizards are 15th in the East and have dropped two straight.</p><h3>CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS WASHINGTON WIZARDS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Charlotte Hornets -4</p><p>This game will be played at Capital One Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, December 26th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 135-126 in favor of the Hornets.</li><li>Our projections have LaMelo Ball finishing with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Hornets finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.5% and knocking down 15 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can the Hornets Pull Out the Win as Road Favorites?</h3><p>The Hornets fell to 7-22 on the season after a 114-101 home loss to the Rockets on Monday. Charlotte, who entered the game as +6 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game came in at 215, falling short of the 221-point over/under line.</p> <p>Houston took control early, going on a 14-0 run to extend their lead from 14-10 to 28-14. The Rockets dominated the 1st and 2nd quarters, outscoring the Hornets 62-31. Charlotte showed some fight in the 2nd half, winning the 3rd and 4th quarters 70-52, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.</p><p>The Hornets struggled offensively in their 114-101 loss to the Rockets, shooting just 41.6% from the field and hitting only 10 threes at a 27.8% clip. Miles Bridges led the way with 24 points and 8 rebounds, while LaMelo Ball added 23 points and connected on 5 threes at 45.5% efficiency.</p> <p>Bridges scored 15 of his points in the 4th quarter, while Ball added 13 in the 3rd. Moussa Diabaté was perfect from the field, finishing with 14 points, including 6 in the final period.</p><p>Despite a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter, where they allowed just 22 points, the Hornets couldn’t overcome their earlier struggles, giving up 31 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters, and 30 in the 3rd, leading to a 114-101 loss to the Rockets. Charlotte held Houston to 43% shooting from the field.</p> <p>The Hornets did a solid job defending the perimeter, as the Rockets hit 13 threes on 31% shooting. Houston also went 15/19 from the free-throw line. Charlotte finished with 8 steals and 6 blocks but allowed 21 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Can the Wizards Hold Strong at Home?</h3><p>The Wizards fell to 4-23 on the season after a 123-105 loss to the Thunder on Monday. Washington entered the game as +18 point underdogs, and the final score resulted in a push. The total points for the game were 228, just over the pre-game line of 226.5.</p> <p>Washington started strong, leading 32-29 after the 1st quarter. However, a 15-0 run by the Thunder in the 2nd quarter shifted momentum. The Wizards kept it close, entering the 4th quarter down 91-87, but were outscored 32-18 in the final period.</p><p>In their 123-105 loss to the Thunder, the Wizards shot just 39.6% from the field, but connected on 16 threes at a 37.2% rate. Jordan Poole led the way with 31 points, hitting 5 threes at 41.7% efficiency.</p> <p>Bub Carrington added 14 points, knocking down 4 threes at 50% from deep. Poole scored 16 of his points in the 2nd quarter, while Jonas Valančiūnas added 8 of his 12 points in the opening period.</p><p>Defensively, the Wizards struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 38 points, which contributed to their 123-105 loss to the Thunder. Despite the loss, they did manage to hold Oklahoma City to just 10 made threes on 26% shooting from beyond the arc.</p> <p>Washington sent the Thunder to the line 22 times, where they hit 19 free throws. The Wizards finished with 38 defensive rebounds but allowed 19 offensive boards. They also recorded 7 steals and 8 blocks in the game.</p>

Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards Betting Pick & Prediction 12/26/24

<p>At 7:30 ET, the 9th ranked Chicago Bulls (13-17) will travel to Atlanta to take on the 7th ranked Hawks (15-15). The Hawks are favored by 6.5 points and the over/under line is set at 243.</p>

<p>CHSN will broadcast the game from State Farm Arena.</p><h3>CHICAGO BULLS VS ATLANTA HAWKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Chicago Bulls +6.5</p><p>This game will be played at State Farm Arena at 7:30 ET on Thursday, December 26th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE CHICAGO BULLS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 139-122 in favor of the Bulls.</li><li>Our projections have Zach LaVine finishing with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Bulls finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.0% and knocking down 19 threes.</li></ul><h3>Are the Bulls Ready for a Win at Atlanta?</h3><p>Chicago’s season record dropped to 13-17 after a 112-91 loss to the Bucks on Monday. The Bulls, who were -2.5 point favorites at home, failed to cover the spread. The total score of 203 points fell well short of the 225.5-point O/U line.</p> <p>Milwaukee took control early with a 12-0 run, stretching the score from 11-10 to 23-10. Chicago’s best quarter was the 2nd, where they edged the Bucks 28-26, but they couldn’t close the gap after trailing 92-72 going into the 4th.</p><p>In their 112-91 loss to the Bucks, the Bulls struggled offensively, shooting just 40% from the field and hitting only 10 threes at a 20.8% clip. Nikola Vucevic led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 8 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters.</p> <p>Zach LaVine and Jalen Smith each added 14 points, with LaVine scoring 9 in the 3rd quarter. Smith contributed 10 of his points in the 2nd period, while Patrick Williams finished with 13 points, scoring 5 in both the 3rd and 4th quarters.</p><p>Defensively, the Bulls struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up 33 points in each, as they allowed the Bucks to score 112 points in the game. Chicago did manage to tighten things up in the 4th quarter, holding Milwaukee to 20 points.</p> <p>The Bulls had trouble defending the three, with the Bucks hitting 18 threes at a 41% clip. Chicago sent Milwaukee to the line 17 times, where they made 14 free throws. The Bulls finished with 37 defensive rebounds, giving up 7 offensive boards, while adding 9 steals.</p><h3>Can the Hawks Offense Score Enough at Home?</h3><p>With a 117-104 win over the Timberwolves on Monday, the Hawks evened their season record at 15-15. Atlanta, +3 point underdogs heading into the game, covered the spread with a +13 point victory. The total score of 221 points came in just under the O/U line of 223.5.</p> <p>Atlanta started strong, going on a 12-0 run early and leading 35-19 after the 1st quarter. However, the Timberwolves responded by outscoring the Hawks 36-17 in the 2nd quarter. After an even 3rd quarter (30-30), Atlanta clamped down in the 4th, holding the Timberwolves to 19 points while scoring 35 of their own to seal the win.</p><p>In their win over the Timberwolves, the Hawks shot 53.4% from the field and hit 18 threes at a 50% clip. Trae Young led the way with 29 points and 7 assists, while Garrison Mathews added 25 points, knocking down 7 threes at 87.5% shooting.</p> <p>Young scored 12 of his points in the 1st quarter and added 9 more in the 4th. Mathews also came up big in the final period, scoring 10 points, while De'Andre Hunter added 9 of his 19 points in the 3rd quarter.</p><p>The Hawks' defense came up big in the 1st and 4th quarters, allowing just 19 points in each, to help secure a 117-104 win over the Timberwolves. Despite a rough 2nd quarter, where they gave up 36 points, Atlanta held Minnesota to 42% shooting overall.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Hawks limited the Timberwolves to 14 made threes on 32% shooting. They also sent Minnesota to the line just 13 times, where they made 12. Defensively, Atlanta recorded 15 steals and 6 blocks.</p>

Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/26/24

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<p>At 4:10 PM ET, the Diamondbacks and Padres face off in an NL West matchup. This one is taking place at PETCO Park in San Diego, and the Padres are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -160 compared to the Diamondbacks at +137. The over/under line is at 8 runs.</p>

<p>Arizona will be looking for a win to get them above .500, as they are 44-45, while the Padres are 49-44. Ryne Nelson will start for the Diamondbacks, and he is facing off against Dylan Cease for the Padres.</p><h3>SAN DIEGO PADRES VS ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: San Diego Padres Moneyline -160</p><p>This game will be played at PETCO Park at 4:10 ET on Sunday, July 7th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE DIAMONDBACKS VS PADRES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Padres winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Diamondbacks to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>It was a low-scoring game in the most recent game of this Diamondbacks vs Padres series. Arizona went into the matchup as +111 underdogs and squeaked out a 7-5 win. Both teams scored one run in the first inning, and the Padres could only muster one more run until they broke out for two in the 8th. As for the Diamondbacks, they scored the game's go-ahead run in the 5th and tacked on three insurance runs in the 10th.</p>

<p>Brandon Pfaadt got the start for the Diamondbacks, going just 4 1/3 innings while giving up one run and striking out six. Ryan Thompson got the win out of the bullpen, and Humberto Castellanos got the save. Matt Waldron put together a good outing for the Padres, giving up three earned runs in six innings of work.</p>

<p>At the plate, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was the difference for the Diamondbacks, as he homered, scored three times, and drove in three runs. Christian Walker and Kevin Newman each had two hits and two RBIs. For the Padres, Ha-Seong Kim went 3/5 with two doubles.</p><h3>Diamondbacks Records & Stats</h3><p>Arizona is 44-45 overall this season, and they are 10.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Currently, they trail the Padres by 3.0 games for the second spot in the NL West. The Diamondbacks are 18-14 against other teams in the NL West this year.</p>

<p>The Diamondbacks have won two straight series and have an overall series record of 12-13-2 this year. As the road underdog, Arizona is 18-18 this season, and they are 22-24 overall on the road. They have been just above .500 at home, going 22-21.</p><p>When the Diamondbacks win, they win big, with an average run margin of 4.3 runs per game. When they lose, they lose big, with an average run margin of -4.2 runs per game. Their run line record is 44-45, and they are 25-21 on the road.</p><p>The Arizona Diamondbacks are on the road against the San Diego Padres today, and the over/under line is set at 8 runs. The Diamondbacks have been involved in high-scoring games this season, with a combined run average of 9.8 runs per game. Their over/under record is 46-41, and they have gone over the line in seven of the nine games where the line was set at 8 runs. The over has hit in five straight games for Arizona.</p><p>Ryne Nelson is looking to build off his last outing, where he came out of the bullpen and turned in a solid performance. Against the Dodgers on July 2nd, he went five innings, giving up just one earned run. He finished with a no-decision in the outing. Looking back at his starts, Nelson had won two straight before the outing vs. the Padres. His record for the season is 5-6, and he has an ERA of 5.42. Opposing batters are hitting .312 off Nelson this season. So far, he has made four quality starts and is averaging 6.04 strikeouts per nine innings.</p><p>Arizona comes into the game as one of the league's top-scoring offenses, averaging 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .254, which is the 6th best mark in the league. Arizona has a pair of power hitters in Christian Walker and Ketel Marte, with Walker leading the team with 22 homers and Marte right behind him at 17. Walker has been especially hot of late, going 15/30 in his last seven games with five homers and 13 RBIs.</p>

<p>Not only do the Diamondbacks have a couple of hot hitters right now, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. comes into the game with a five-game hitting streak. As a team, the Diamondbacks are 7th in the league in scoring and are also among the league leaders in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.</p><h3>Padres Records & Stats</h3><p>San Diego is 49-44 overall and 7.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres are 15-16 in divisional matchups this year. So far, they have been good on the road at 24-21 compared to 25-23 at home. The Padres have been playing well lately, going 7-3 over their last ten games.</p>

<p>As the favorite, the Padres are 28-26 this season and 21-18 as the underdog. They have won four straight series overall and two straight series on the road. Their overall series record is 17-10-2 this year.</p><p>When the Padres win, they win big, with an average run margin of 3.7 runs per game. However, when they lose, they lose big, with an average run margin of -3.4 runs per game. Their overall run line record is 49-44, with a run line record of 31-14 on the road. They are 18-30 vs. the run line at home.</p><p>San Diego's over/under record has been solid in 2019, with the over hitting in 50 of their 92 games. The over has hit in 41.9% of their games, with the average line being set at 8 runs. Their games have averaged 9.0 runs per game, and they have gone over the line in 7 of 16 games when the line has been set at 8 runs. The over has hit in their last two games.</p><p>Dylan Cease will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Rangers, as he gets the start for the Padres today. In that July 2nd outing, Cease gave up six earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings of work. He ended up taking the loss in the game. Before that, Cease had pitched well, picking up the win vs. the Nationals on June 26th. In that outing, he went seven innings and didn't give up a run. Cease's ERA for the season is 4.24, along with a record of 7-7. Opponents are batting .215 off Cease this season.</p><p>San Diego comes into today's game as one of the league's top offensive teams, averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 11th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 4.6 runs per game. The Padres are one of the league's top home run hitting teams, and they also have the league's 2nd best team batting average at .264.</p>

<p>Jurickson Profar has been a big part of the Padres offense this season, as he is batting .314 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs. He is also on a four-game hitting streak and has two homers in his last five games. Profar's 58 RBIs are the most in the league. Fernando Tatis Jr. has also been a big power threat for the Padres, as he is 13th in the league with 14 homers.</p>

Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres Betting Pick & Prediction 7/7/24

I have a fascination with sports betting systems, but for all kinds of different reasons. One exercise I like doing with my Twitter followers is proposing a hypothesis, like “NHL playoff games are typically closer than they are in the regular season, and the margins between teams are small in general,” then testing it with something like “if you bet every +1.5 (underdog puck-line) for the NHL playoffs, what would happen?“

Those who have followed me down that path are down quite a bit this year (a little over 10 units at last check), after winning much more last year, but that isn’t really the point, because the whole purpose of an exercise like this is to conduct an experiment, not to make millions of dollars as quickly as possible. I view these things as experiments, and while I hope they are profitable, I am totally cognizant of the fact they may not be, ever.

In your life as a gambler, you will encounter many who take a different approach to betting systems, who try to tell you that you can’t lose, and you should be wary of all the things they may try to sell you.

For example, the Martingale. You may have never heard that word before, but I guarantee you’ve tried something like this. It’s basically a system of increasing your bets off of a loss on any 50/50 proposition, usually doubling your bet, with the idea that at SOME point, the coin has to land heads, or the roulette ball has to land on black, or whatever. So if you keep losing, you double your bet, and double your bet, trying to get your original bet back along with a tiny profit.

This may seem like a great idea, because of COURSE it will come up heads at some point. But in reality, you have no idea how long that will take, and you risk a losing streak that will absolutely cripple you. The real problem is that you are basically tempting fate every single time you undertake an action like this. In a casino game, you are actually doing much worse than tempting fate, because the bets aren’t even 50/50. The house edge means the longer you play, the more you’ll lose, and you’re getting the worst of it on EVERY single spin. This is a type of bet you should actually avoid at all times, but people play table games because they’re fun, and if it’s fun for you, great. But don’t ever dare assume you are getting the best of it because of a system. It’s negative expected value every time the wheel spins, no matter how much money is out there, or how many times you’ve doubled. The amount you bet can’t create expected value magically.

In sports, you’ll see people try the Martingale in different forms. “I’m going to bet on the Yankees every day, and keep doubling, because at some point, they will win. I mean…they’re the Yankees, right?” The thing about this strategy, what makes it so alluring, is that a lot of the time, you will get your small profit, and you’ll think you’ve stumbled onto the holy grail. A friend of mine did this with the Cubs last year. I mean they’re the Cubs, they’re going to win like 100 games, right? They lost 6 in a row, and by the 7th game he was risking over 5-thousand dollars to get his initial 100 dollars back. Do you have any idea what a terrible proposition that is? Also, at some point you’re going to run into a losing streak that causes you to make a bet too big for any sportsbook to take. Remember, the streak that bankrupts you is lurking constantly when you choose to play blindly this way.

You’ll also see, more subtly, a form of the Martingale take place with losing touts all the time. How many times has a tout you’ve followed had a bad month, and then, surprisingly, here’s their 10-star max bomb the next weekend? What interesting timing. It’s almost like they’re trying to double their bet to get out of the losing streak they’re in. These things are all called something different on the surface, but those titles are masks, and they are easy to spot when you know what you’re looking for.

Other systems aren’t based around doubling, but their difficulty lies in how rigorous they are to follow. Think about how many times you’ve heard someone say they bet a game because of a reverse line move (where tickets are coming in heavily on one side and yet the line moves towards the other team). Sites like DonBest and BetLabs allow you to monitor such activity, and I think the term “reverse line move” or “RLM” has actually become more a part of the vernacular of folks who even bet casually. The problem is, those “systems” involving playing every reverse line move require you to essentially be at your computer 24/7/365 in case one happens, and most of them are NOT long-term profitable anyway, even if it seems like they should be. If anything has been proven by the emergence of BetLabs, it’s actually that most “indicators” are nothing but noise, and absolutely not information you should act on exclusively. Systems involving public action, bet %, # of steam moves, etc. all require you to basically give up all of your interests outside of staring at an odds screen, because they may happen at any time, and again, most of them don’t produce any tangible value. Some of the bets may be +EV, but how would you even know? You’re not the one doing the work. Again, you’re flying blind.

The most important thing to remember about all those systems, is actually not that they are faulty, or they don’t guarantee success, or even that they have nothing to offer (some actually indicate very valuable theories about how people bet and how line value is created. The important thing to remember is that if you want to be good at this, spending ALL of your time robotically following what others are doing, or what a system tells you to do, does exactly ZERO to make you smarter or make you better. For those of us who are intellectually curious, this is the most mundane and least desirable part about anything like that. Are you getting better at handicapping by waiting for reverse line moves all day? Are you improving your ability to power rate teams when you double your bet on every Cubs loss? If your goal is to get better, your time is so valuable, and betting systems sap you of the thing you should value most.

The Gambler’s Toolbox: Beware the System

<p>Looking to win big? The Runnin' Bulldogs and Eagles face off at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The Eagles are hosting the game at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, SC. The over/under for this Big South conference contest is set at 150 points, with Winthrop being favored by -4.5 at home against Gardner-Webb.</p><h3>GARDNER-WEBB RUNNIN' BULLDOGS VS WINTHROP EAGLES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Winthrop Eagles -4.5</p><p>This game will be played at Winthrop Coliseum at 2:00 ET on Saturday, March 2nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE WINTHROP EAGLES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Eagles.</li><li>Not only will Winthrop pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 150 points, and we like the under with a projected 144 points.</li></ul><h3>Will Gardner-Webb Pull Through as the Underdog Road Team?</h3><p>Heading into their matchup with Winthrop, Gardner-Webb has a 15-15 overall record, including a 10-5 mark in Big South play. They have won their last two games, and over their last 10 contests, they have gone 5-5.</p>

<p>On the road this season, the Runnin' Bulldogs have a record of 6-10, and they are currently on a three-game win streak away from home. For the season, they have been outscored by an average of 3.8 points per game on the road.</p><p>As the underdog this season, Gardner-Webb has a solid ATS mark of 9-5. On the road, the Runnin' Bulldogs have an even better ATS record of 10-6. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, Gardner-Webb has gone 6-4 vs. the spread.</p><p>This season, the over/under record for Gardner-Webb games is 18-9, and today's over/under line of 150 is higher than the average over/under line in their games (144.4). This year, 14 of their games have finished with more points than today's over/under line of 150. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1.</p><p>In their most recent game, the Runnin' Bulldogs' offense tallied 72 points, consistent with their ongoing season average of 74.3 points per game. In terms of offense, the Runnin' Bulldogs have a season-long field goal percentage of 43%, putting them 248th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 139th in percentage and 170th in three-pointers made.</p><p>At present, the Runnin' Bulldogs' defense is nationally ranked 215th, allowing 73.6 points per game. Gardner-Webb's three-point defense is currently 55th in the country at 6.0 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 43.1% of their shots vs. Gardner-Webb.</p><h3>Does Winthrop Stand a Chance at Home?</h3><p>Winthrop is 8-4 at home this season, and they have gone 13-4 when favored. They come into this game with a 17-13 overall record, and they are 8-7 in Big South play.</p>

<p>Over their last ten home games, the Eagles have gone 7-3, and they are 2-1 in their last three games at home. They are coming off a win over USC Upstate, 83-74.</p><p>As the favorite, Winthrop has gone just 7-10 against the spread this season. Their home ATS record is just 4-8, and over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Eagles are just 4-6 vs. the spread.</p><p>This season, the over/under record for Winthrop games is 15-12 and today's line of 150 is higher than the average OU line in their games (145.9). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total in those games is 162 points.</p><p>Coming off a good offensive performance, Winthrop's offense scored 83 points against USC Upstate. Their field goal percentage for the game was 49.1%, and they went 25/35 from the free-throw line. The team's scoring leader is Kelton Talford, who holds an average of 14.3 as they head into today's matchup. Additionally, K.J. Doucet is averaging 12.9 points per game this season.</p><p>The Eagles' defense is presently ranked 165th nationally, allowing an average of 71.8 points per contest. Winthrop's three-point defense is currently 146th in the country at 7.2 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 40.8% of their shots vs. Winthrop.</p>

Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs vs Winthrop Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 3/2/24