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Saturday’s Best Bets: Elite 8, NBA, NHL & UFC on ESPN (3/25)

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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.

Elite 8 Picks & Predictions

Elite 8 Same Game Parlay Picks

Today’s Best Bets

Here are today’s best NBA bets.

NBA Best Bets

NBA Same Game Parlay Picks

Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat

  • Leg 1: Spencer Dinwiddie Over 8.5 Assists (-130)
  • Leg 2: Mikal Bridges Over 3.5 Rebounds (-140)
  • Leg 3: Kevin Love Over 1.5 Threes (+102)

The Nets could use this win against the Heat. They’re losing ground in the East quickly, and Miami’s one of the reasons why.

Dinwiddie is starting to facilitate with the Nets now. He’s added at least 11 assists in six of his last seven games. Miami’s a good defense, but the Nets will still score enough and help Dinwiddie get Over 8.5 in assists.

Meanwhile, in March, Bridges has added 4.2 rebounds per game with the Nets. He’s hit at least four rebounds in 62% of games and just came down with six rebounds in 34 minutes against the Cavaliers. That sounds about what he’ll get against the Heat.

On the other hand, the Heat brought in some veteran presence with Love. Most of his shots are from downtown with the Heat. He added at least two threes in five straight games and has attempted at least six threes in four straight games. I’ll back Love to nail two threes at plus money.

Parlay Odds: +508

  • Jason Radowitz

Check out our other NBA Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

NBA Game Picks

Los Angeles Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Excuse my pessimism, but there’s not much to love about the Clippers right now. The absence of Paul George is obviously severe, but I think the public is underselling the extent to which his presence matters for this team. George is Los Angeles’ most critical player per Wins Above Replacement, and the Clippers starting five without him is uninspiring (to phrase it nicely).

Let’s circle in on Russell Westbrook, and Eric Gordon– neither player has any business starting for a contending team in the respective stages of their careers. They’re both highly obstructive defensive players, and perpetually rate negatively on the box-score plus/minus. Any minutes afforded to them is a hinderance to the Clippers chance at winning, and it’s dumbfounding that Head Coach Ty Lue has elected to afford them such significant playing time.

In argument, the Pelicans aren’t a great team right now either, but they certainly have the Clippers beat in terms of overall depth. Los Angeles will certainly have the best player on the court (Kawhi Leonard, beast), but the Pels may very well have players two through five available in their rotation, as arguments for McCollum, Ingram, Jones, Murphy III, and Jones Jr. are all valid. Lastly, the importance of this game for New Orleans’ playoff chances cannot be understated, and despite their lackluster play since January, the Pelicans have been quite formidable this month of March.

Bet: Pelicans +5 (-110)

  • Tommy Jurgens

Check out our other NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

First Basket Scorer

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Phoenix Suns

The most exciting matchup of the NBA slate takes place in Phoenix between the 76ers and Suns. The stars will be out and any of them could be candidates for a First Basket. Typically I love to go with Joel Embiid whenever Philadelphia is playing, but matchups actually have me leaning in another direction.

Tyrese Maxey has come on really strong this season as a legitimate second scorer for Philadelphia as Harden has transitioned to more of a point guard role. This plays into a matchup strength against Phoenix. The Suns have given up almost a quarter of their opponents’ first field goals to shooting guards. Maxey hasn’t cashed many First Baskets, but he has two first team baskets in the last 10 games for Philadelphia. With this knowledge, I like Maxey for First Basket.

If the Maxey play is a little bit too long, I have another play I like for this game as well, Devin Booker. Booker has been solid as a First Basket scorer for the Suns all season. He trails only Ayton in first field goals but has had three in the last 10 games, two of which cashed a First Basket prop. Like Phoenix, Philadelphia gives up the most first opponent field goals to shooting guards, over 25%.

Strong scorers on both sides make me confident one of these plays will hit. The basketball matchups make the plays even more attractive. I’ll play both and spread my chances on hitting in this game.

Pick: 0.25u on Tyrese Maxey (+650), 0.25u on Devin Booker (+460)

  • Jason Radowitz

Check out our other NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

NBA Prop Bets

Nikola Jokic UNDER 12.5 Rebounds (-135)

This is clearly the matchup of the night, as we have the two top teams in their respective conferences battling it out. Nobody has been better than the Bucks over the last couple of months, as they’ve gone 24-3 in their previous 27. On the other side, the Nuggets recently went on a four-game skid but have rebounded for back-to-back wins.

Two guys we will pay attention to are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. Both are MVP candidates, and the better performer tonight could get the advantage over the other for votes. Jokic has to worry about Giannis and Brook Lopez on the boards. With that disadvantage, he’ll go under 12.

  • John Supowitz

Check out our other NBA Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

NHL Best Bets

NHL Game Picks

Washington Capitals (+125) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-150) | O/U 6.5 (-105/-115)

The Penguins need a strong finish to the season because they could find themselves out of the playoff for the first time in 17 years. They have dropped five of their last six and hold just a one-point lead for that final Wild Card Spot. Casey DeSmith will likely get the start with Tristian Jarry day-to-day, but several players on the blue line could also be out with injuries.

On paper, the Capitals had an incredible roster coming into the season, but injuries to some important players made it tough to compete in this conference. They are just four points behind the Penguins, and a win could put them in an excellent place to make the playoffs.

The Capitals are playing better hockey at the moment, and the offense has been much better. The Penguins are already a below-average defense, and now they’ll be minus several players on that side. Pittsburgh isn’t so dominant at home where you feel they can overcome that. I’m taking the road dogs to get a crucial win.

Pick: Capitals ML (+125)

  • John Supowitz

Check out our other NHL Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

NHL Player Prop Bet Picks

Dylan Strome OVER 0.5 Points (-110)

Tonight is a crucial game for the Capitals because they are only four points behind the Penguins tonight, and a win would cut that in half and give them a chance.

Strome has been great on the top line for Washington and has six assists in his last five games. Pittsburgh could be short-handed due to injuries to several defensemen and their starting goalie. This could be a strong offensive showing for the Caps, with Strome coming away with at least a point.

  • John Supowitz

Check out our other NHL Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

NCAA Tournament Best Bets

This should be an awesome game, but with the quick turnaround, I don’t expect Gonzaga to be able to game plan for how dominant UConn can be every which way. As a simple trust factor, UConn far outweighs Gonzaga. First of all, did you see the UCLA game? The Bulldogs almost choked a 10-point lead in the final two minutes of the game. Gonzaga also ranks 259th in free throw percentage compared to UConn’s 38th. I expect this to be a blow-for-blow game with UConn pulling away late with the high number of good looks they will be able to get off each possession.

Score Prediction: UConn 80, Gonzaga 74

  • Ryan Coleman

Check out all of our March Madness Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

UFC on ESPN 43

Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen

A five-round fight, in my opinion, skews this fight in Vera’s favor as he wins a tight one and sends Sandman into uncharted territory deep in the fight. With some of the best cardio in the entire promotion, I expect Vera to be close or even lose the opening two rounds but rack up points late as he strikes Sandhagen from a distance and impresses the judges.

Best Bet: Marlon Vera (+145 via DraftKings)

Check out our other UFC Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

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 â€” to learn more.


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