Friday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Dayton-Duquesne, Flyers-Wild, Hornets-Spurs
Last night was not our night for the Winning Picks. We went 0-3, with the Penguins coming closest to getting us a win but they fell to the Canucks in overtime. The Celtics were embarrassed by the Bucks on the road, suffering their worst loss of the season. Arizona St led at halftime but did not cover against Washington. We move to 94-73-3.
With the news just breaking of Kalen Deboer becoming the next football coach of Alabama, I want to breakdown the gambling perspective of this hire. First off, Deboer is a great hire. He is 104–12 as a head coach and 37-9 in Division 1 (he coached his alma mater Sioux Falls to 3 NAIA National Championships).
However, when you look at the Crimson Tide schedule for 2024, that could have planned into why Nick Saban chose to retire from coaching. Alabama faces Wisconsin, Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma all on the road. That is harder than any road schedule the Crimson Tide had during Saban’s time in Tuscaloosa. Not to mention, the Tide host Georgia in their first SEC game at home after a bye week.
Deboer will have success at Alabama, I do not question that. But with all of the potential transfers out of the program and other staffing turnovers, this program may take a step back for 2024. There are gonna be plenty of opportunities to bet against the Crimson Tide for this coming season. I don’t even think they will back the expanded playoff. In 2025, however, they will be back in a big way.
Now time for the Winning Picks!
Dayton Flyers at Duquesne Dukes (-1) O/U 137.5 7:00 PM on ESPN2
It is not too often that the Duquesne Dukes are featured on the ESPN family of networks outside of ESPN+, but tonight is different. The Dukes face off against conference rival Dayton on ESPN2 at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Not only is this one of the biggest games in recent memory for Duquesne, but it is also a game they desperately need to win.
The Dukes have dropped their first two conference games after being projected to be one of the top teams in the A-10 this season. Myself and many other alumni believed this would be the year Duquesne finally cracks the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 50 years. If they want that dream to stay alive, they need to get back on track tonight.
And I believe they will. The Flyers are riding a 9-game win streak and have a 3-game winning streak over the Dukes, but things change tonight. In front of a sellout crowd, Duquesne gets it done and wins their first conference matchup.
Duquesne Covers -1, Dayton Flyers 63 Duquesne Dukes 65
Philadelphia Flyers at Minnesota Wild (-110) O/U 5.5 8:00 PM on ESPN+
Two teams looking for answers on the offensive end clash in Minnesota as the Wild host the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins were able to beat up on the Flyers earlier this week while the Wild didn’t fare much better against the former team from Minnesota, the Dallas Stars, dropping back-to-back games to them.
The Wild are currently dealing with a lot of injuries and can’t seem to find the back of the net. The same can be said for the Flyers. Each team ranks towards the bottom of the NHL in offensive projection this season.
That being said, despite the total being very low for this game, the under is the way to go in this game that is basically a pick ‘em. Look for a very boring game tonight, not a lot of goals, but it will be great for the Winning Picks!
Under 5.5 Covers, Philadelphia Flyers 2 Minnesota Wild 1
Charlotte Hornets at San Antonio Spurs (-1.5) O/U 236.5 8:00 PM
Teams that have combined for under 15 wins so far this season clash near the Alamo as the Spurs host the Charlotte Hornets. It hasn’t been a great year for either of these teams. Though I figured San Antonio would still struggle despite drafting a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama, the bigger surprise to me are the Hornets.
One of the reasons has been the absence of LaMelo Ball, but he is slated to return tonight. The Hornets really need all the help they can get. With the Spurs, they have been able to dominate most of the other bottom feeding teams in the NBA.
With that being said, even with Ball back, he will more than likely be on a minute’s restriction in his first game back. I expect Wembanyama to dominate as he battles against fellow Top 3 pick Brandon Miller. Victor and the Spurs come out on top tonight.
Spurs Covers -1.5, Charlotte Hornets 108 San Antonio Spurs 110
