Free Sports Picks from Top Betting Handicappers - Best Bets of the Day

Michigan is fat and happy following victories against arch-rival Michigan State and Nebraska, two top-10 teams, last week.

Now the Wolverines get to step way down in class facing Penn State. The lopsided point spread certainly reflects that.

Let us not forget, though, that Michigan was favored against Penn State in this point range a month ago and barely won, 74-72. Yes, that game was at Penn State. But keep in mind the Nittany Lions shot only 35 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3-point range yet lost by only a basket.

Penn State ranks 78th in field goal percentage making 47 percent of its shots from the floor. The Nittany Lions earned their first Big Ten win of the season, 77-75, against Minnesota as a short home underdog this past Sunday.

So I find this point spread to be too extreme in Michigan's favor. 

Thursday's CBB Free Pick

PLAY ON: Cincinnati -5.5 

Free Total Annihilator On Islanders vs Devils over 5½ -105

1* Best Bet on Islanders/Devils over 5½ +105

No analysis provided.

Free Pick on Sabres -120

OVER 6.5

Pittsburgh and Buffalo have value to the over. These two teams are two of the quickest in the NHL and they have shown they can score. Both teams average well over 3 gpg so far this season and because of their speed, they have struggled at times defensively. This is a great matchup to expect a lot of end to end action, with both teams putting a lot of shots on net. Back the over. Ray’s daily FREE plays are meant to be cheap bankroll plays. Money management is everything in this game, and these freebies are designed to keep you moving in the right direction. Tonight’s FREE selection is a strong lean on the OVER. The number makes sense, the spot is right, and it’s a play worth taking. You know what to do. Good luck — Razor Ray.

Thursday .75% FREE NHL O/U Play

3-2 WEDNESDAY! EN FUEGO! 105-68 61% +3135 L45 DAYS! The wins keep stacking. The board is live and today’s card is posted. A BIG 3× Play Card is up for THUR$DAY, and today’s DISCOUNTED Day Pass gets you full access. Razor is a Top-ranked handicapper across every network where his plays are sold, and he's locked in right now. Clients are cashing, the consistency is showing, and he's climbing the leaderboards. As always… “Pad that bankroll one day at a time.

The Ottawa Senators are 27-22- 7 overall and 13-12-3 on the road.  They are 4-1 over their last five. Ottawa is putting up 3.32 goals per game while allowing 3.27. The Senators have converted 43 power-play goals on a 23.2% power play conversion rate. They kill off 72.9% of their penalties. Philadelphia is 25-20-10 overall and is 13-9-6 at home. They have gone 1-4 over their last five. Philadelphia is putting up 2.93 goals per game while allowing 3.18. The Flyers’ power play is converting 15.6%. They are killing off 78.9% of their penalties. Ottawa is stronger on offense and the power play. 

Play on Ottawa. This is a FREE play.

This is a FREE PLAY on the Sabres.

I think Buffalo is worth a "second look" at this price at home in these team's final game before the Olympic Break.

The Penguins are 15-7-5 on the road, while the Sabres are 17-7-3 at home.

Buffalo, though, plays with the added incentive of revenge following a 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh back in November. 

Both teams are off OT losses, but look for "home ice" prove to be critical for the Sabres here in this revenge spot.

Consider BUFFALO.

Good luck, NP

As the NHL season pushes past the midway point in 2025-26, home-ice advantage continues to assert itself as a key factor in betting outcomes, with home teams securing victories in roughly 52% of games league-wide, a trend bolstered by the familiarity of arena conditions, crowd energy, and reduced travel fatigue. This edge is particularly pronounced in divisional clashes, where physicality and rivalry amplify the home team's performance, often leading to tighter defensive efforts and opportunistic scoring. The Buffalo Sabres, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at KeyBank Center, embody this dynamic, entering the matchup with a robust 17-7-3 home record that highlights their ability to control games on familiar ice, outscoring opponents by an average margin reflective of their 3.39 goals-for per game overall. Buffalo's home dominance isn't just about raw wins; they've shown resilience in high-event scenarios, going over the total in 11 of their last 16 contests, a pattern driven by an explosive offense led by Tage Thompson's league-pacing 29 goals and Rasmus Dahlin's 36 assists, which exploit mismatches against visiting defenses.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, brings a respectable 15-7-5 road mark into this Atlantic-Metropolitan crossover, but their away performances reveal vulnerabilities against teams with strong home metrics, especially when facing opponents who've revenged prior losses. The Penguins' aging core, including Sidney Crosby's consistent output of 27 goals and 32 assists, has fueled a 3.38 goals-per-game average, yet their road games often trend toward higher totals, with the over hitting in seven of their last 10 outings, suggesting defensive lapses that Buffalo's opportunistic attack can capitalize on. League-wide, underdogs like Pittsburgh in this spot, where road teams win only about 48% of the time, struggle when matched against favorites boasting superior shot suppression, as Buffalo does with 30.1 shots against per game compared to Pittsburgh's 27.3. Additionally, Pittsburgh's penalty minutes tally of 425 ranks among the higher in the league, opening doors for Buffalo's power play, which converts at 20.1%, to swing momentum in a game expected to feature early-period intensity given both teams' post-Christmas offensive surges, where they've tied for 4.05 goals per game.

Head-to-head history adds intrigue, with Pittsburgh holding a 6-4 edge in the last 10 meetings, including a 4-2 victory in their most recent clash on November 26, 2025, but Buffalo's home-ice revenging angle tilts the scales, as they've gone 35-28 when bouncing back from defeats against marginal winning teams like the Penguins (who sit at a 51-60% win clip). The Sabres' deeper forward lines, including Alex Tuch's 22 goals and 26 assists, provide matchup advantages over Pittsburgh's reliance on veteran stars, particularly in third periods where Buffalo has outscored foes 29 times this season. Considering NHL trends favoring home favorites in divisional-adjacent games—where such teams cover at a 56% rate, and Buffalo's 8-game winning streak against teams on losing streaks at night, the value lies in backing the Sabres on the moneyline to leverage their home strength and offensive firepower for a statement win

Get one week of all my selections ( NBA, NHL, CBB) for one week $99.00. 

1 Dimer on Magic -8½ -115

Nets vs Magic 
7 EST 
7-Unit bet on the Nets priced as a 10.5-point dog. 

If there are any trades involving these teams ahead of the trade deadline at 3 PM EST, simply void this opportunity.  

The following NBA betting algorithm has produced a 37-77 SU record and a 74-39-1 ATS mark good for 65.5% winning bets since 2015. The requirements are: Bet on road teams that have lost the last three meetings to the current foe. That road team is coming off a double-digit home loss. If our road team is priced as a double-digit underdog, they have gone 36-15-1 ATS for 71% winning bets and if our dog is playing with two days or more of rest, they have gone 9-1-1 ATS for 89% winning bets over the past 10 seasons. 

7-Unit bet OVER the total currently priced at 135.5 points. 

The following NCAA Basketball algorithm has produced a 62-37 OVER record good for 63% winning bets since 2019. The requirements are: Bet on road underdogs including pick-em. The road team has committed 11 or fewer turnovers in each of their last four games. The opponent is coming off a double-digit win in which they committed 8 or fewer turnovers. 

1* Free Play on Panthers +164

Ricky's 1* play on TB.

Key Angle: It's important to remember that Ricky never makes a bet on any game based on just one angle. In order to make the grade, all his premium picks must meet several important criteria. He doesn't share all his secrets within his analysis, instead he chooses to reveal only the angle that he feels is the most significant. Here in this game the recent history of these two teams is particularly significant.

- Tampa Bay is 18-2 SU in its last 20 games.

- Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.

- Tampa Bay is 9-0 SU in its last 9 games at home.

Verdict: The value is on the home favorite

Thursday NHL Free play. My selection is on Tampa Bay -1.5 goals over Florida at 7:35 pm et on Thursday.

The Lightning will aim to stay red hot heading into the Olympic break and they catch the Panthers in a terrific spot on Thursday as Florida needed a shootout to outlast the Bruins last night in Sunrise. The Bolts have been idle since Tuesday's overtime victory over Buffalo. They haven't played a road game since January 24th so they're home and comfortable and I expect them to have little difficulty disposing of the rival Panthers in this spot. Florida's shootout win last night only served to snap its four-game losing streak. It's certainly been a trying season for the weary Panthers on the heels of three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. This is a team that has played a ton of hockey over the last three years and it has showed. While Florida would love to string together another win here, I think it also has one eye on the Olympic break. Take Tampa Bay -1.5 goals.

1* FREE INFO PLAY Hawks -9½ -115

1* Free Sharp Play on Arkansas-Little Rock PK -110

Jack's Free Pick Thursday: Hornets/Rockets UNDER 217.5

The Houston Rockets are 16-3 UNDER in their last 19 games overall. They have gone for 218 or fewer combined points in 15 of those 19 games.

The Charlotte Hornets are 7-2 UNDER in their last nine games overall. They have gone for 217 or fewer combined points in five of those nine games.

This game will be played at a snail's pace with the Rockets ranking 27th in pace and the Hornets 25th in pace this season. The Rockets rank 5th in defensive rating this season. The Hornets rank 6th in defensive rating in their last 15 games. Bet the UNDER in this game Thursday.

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Free Play on Maryland +7½ -108

1* on Ohio State -7

FREE PLAY on Morehead State +9

1* Free Wiseguy Play on Spurs -7 -110

*All picks are based on situations, trends, statistics and injuries among many other factors*

1 Unit FREE PLAY on Dallas Mavericks +7

The San Antonio Spurs will be playing the second of a back-to-back after a 116-106 home win over the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder last night. They take on a pesky Dallas Mavericks team that is 4-5 SU but 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Mavericks have been competitive in 11 consecutive games and won't go down easily tonight. They are the much fresher team playing just their 2nd game in 5 days. Give me the Mavericks.

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#832 ASA PLAY ON Montana -6 over Eastern Washington, Thursday at 9 PM ET - Eastern Washington has been atrocious on the road this year with a 1-13 SU record. Their defense is bad to begin with (299th in defensive efficiency and 348th in eFG% allowed) but it drops off a cliff on the road. The Eagles allow 87 PPG on the road this season (23rd most in the country) on 1.20 PPP (17th worst). That’s bad news vs a Montana team that can really shoot the ball. The Grizzlies rank 25th nationally in eFG%, 34th in 3 point FG%, and they make 79% of their FT’s (9th in the nation). They are 4-0 at home in Big Sky play and the Griz have some extra motivation here coming off a bad loss @ Sacramento State on Saturday as a favorite AND they lost @ Eastern Washington in early January. In that 66-65 loss @ EWU, Montana made only 2 of 14 from beyond the arc (14%) and that’s from a team that hits 37% of their triples on the season. On top of that, EWU is terrible at defending the arc allowing opponents to make 37% which is 324th nationally. That was a big time outlier for both Montana’s offense and Eastern’s defense and the Eagles, who outscored the Griz by 21 points from beyond the arc in that game, still only won by 1 point. In fact, EWU led for only 22% of that game. Montana dominated the offensive boards in that game gathering 30% of their misses with Eastern Washington grabbing only 17% of their missed shots. That shouldn’t change here as the Grizzlies are the #1 offensive rebounding team in league play and EWU ranks last in that key stat. We expect Montana to shoot much better at home where they are averaging 82 PPG (scored only 65 in the first meeting). They are catching Eastern playing their 3rd straight road game after playing @ Northern Arizona last Thursday and @ Northern Colorado on Saturday. Let’s lay it.

1* Bet on Montana State -3½

Dave's Thursday Free Play:

1* on UAB -1.5

The Key: These are 2 teams headed in opposite directions. UAB is coming off a pair of impressive road wins at UTSA and at North Texas. Memphis is 1-3 SU & 1-3 ATS in its last 4 games overall with two blowout road losses to Tulsa by 17 and Wichita State by 15 as well as an upset home loss to Tulane as 9.5-point favorites. The Tigers are a banged up team right now with little depth. They have been atrocious on the road all season going 1-6 SU & 1-6 ATS in true road games. Take UAB.

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