Thursday’s NHL-centric Best Bets went 1-1, which isn’t great, but hey … it’s better than a shutout!
Speaking of a shutout, that’s what happened to the Boston Bruins in the second and third periods of their 3-2 loss vs. Ottawa. That blew up our NHL parlay and kept us from a 2-0 night. Really, losing to Ottawa at home?!? When leading 2-0 after one period? Wow, just wow. (You can tell we’re not salty about it at all.)
Give us a second. Let us take a deep breath and let it go. … OK, that’s better.
Let’s move things back in a positive direction with one MLB pick and one NBA prop for Friday’s Best Bets.
Best Bets Track Record
Thursday: 1-1
Year-To-Date: 53-50-1
Bostonian vs. The Book: 14-17-1
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 14-19
NBA Props: 18-8
NHL Props: 7-6
MLB Props: 1-0
MLB Moneyline: Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago White Sox
The bet: White Sox moneyline (vs. Rays)
The odds: -131
Where to bet: PointsBet USA
From: Spencer Limbach via Friday MLB Odds
If you are looking for the full breakdown on this game (and Reds-Dodgers), then head over to our Friday MLB Odds article.
Tampa’s Drew Rasmussen is a quality starting pitcher, but he usually doesn’t work deep into games. Case in point: Rasmussen only tossed four innings (64 pitches) Saturday against the Orioles.
That means the Rays will be leaning on their relievers, and that’s not necessarily a good thing when considering the bullpen’s heavy workload last series vs. Oakland. The Rays have used their relievers more than any other team this season, checking in at 40.2 innings pitched. Most of that was due to taxing games against the A’s.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Dylan Cease of the White Sox has legitimate All-Star caliber stuff. He’s capable of pinning down this Tampa lineup that couldn’t figure out Oakland’s subpar pitching staff over the last two games.
I’m in on the White Sox here. Give me the better lineup, better pitcher, and better (plus more rested) bullpen at home. Paying -131 for the White Sox seems mild when you put it all together.
Looking to tail this MLB pick? You can grab the White Sox moneyline at PointsBet USA.
NBA Prop: PG Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
The bet: Under 11.5 assists (at Cleveland)
The odds: -133
Where to bet: Unibet Sportsbook
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com
After a one-day hiatus of no NBA, the final two play-in games are on the docket tonight. BetPrep’s Prop of the Day comes from the Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup, pegging Hawks point guard Trae Young to go Under 11.5 assists.
Here’s the rationale for this BetPrep Best Bet:
- Young has recorded 12-plus assists in just 4 of his last 23 games against teams with a winning record.
- The Atlanta PG has recorded 12-plus assists in only 3 of his last 29 games against a top-10 defense (Cleveland fifth).
On top of that, Young has finished Under 11.5 assists in all four games against the Cavaliers this season.
You can find the NBA prop of Trae Young Under 11.5 assists at -133 juice at Unibet or BetRivers Sportsbook.
If this line moves to 10.5 assists, then the Under is still in play for the reasons listed above.