Friday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Lakers-Spurs, Bruins-Islanders, UConn-Gonzaga
What a Thursday night rebound we had! After going 0-3 Wednesday night we were able to completely turn it around into a 3-0 tonight! The Raiders obliterated the Chargers in one of the easiest covers you will ever have betting the NFL. The Clippers were also able to cover against the Warriors while the total went over in the Lightning/Oilers game. We are now 45-38-2 on the year.
Since tomorrow will be dominated by college football and NFL betting, I wanted to give out a potential play in UFC 296 that takes place tomorrow night. The fight that I am looking at is one of the main card fights between veteran Tony Ferguson and upstart Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett.
Since starting in the UFC, Dana White has marketed the young fighter as the Connor McGregor of England. In his first four fights, Paddy the Baddy has been given lambs to slaughter, facing guys that are expected to lose to him. His left fight, however, went to decision and some think the other fighter should’ve won.
As of now, Pimblett is a -310 favorite in this fight. Ferguson is +250 and for good reason. The former champion has lost his last 6 fights. This will be a three-round fight. I think Ferguson has a decent shot at winning this fight. In all honesty, I think this fight can go the distance as well, which is +130. But if it does go the distance, expect Paddy to win.
Now time for the winning picks!
Los Angeles Lakers (-7.5) at San Antonio Spurs O/U 234 7:30 PM on ESPN
Despite the effort of star rookie Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have completely bottomed out this year. An 18-game losing streak is inexcusable, especially for a Hall of Fame and multiple time NBA Championship winning coach like Gregg Popovich.
This will be the second straight game against the Lakers tonight in San Antonio. In the first game, LeBron James rested, and the Lake Show won by 3 thanks to 37 points from Anthony Davis. Now that the game is on ESPN, LeBron will be active tonight vs the Spurs. And the spread has adjusted from the last meeting.
Without LeBron, the Lakers were -3.5 and did not cover in their first matchup with the Spurs. Now with LeBron, the spread is -7.5. It’s crazy that a 38-year-old aging superstar is worth 4 points to the sports books, but we are talking about one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Still, I think this is too many points with how desperate the Spurs are. Hold your nose and take the Spurs to cover.
Spurs Cover +7.5, Los Angeles Lakers 130 San Antonio Spurs 125
Boston Bruins (-130) at New York Islanders O/U 5.5 7:30 PM on ESPN+
The Bruins head to Long Island to face off against the suddenly red-hot New York Islanders. The Islanders are winners of 4 straight heading into their matchup tonight against the defending President’s Cup winner.
As with last year, the Bruins remain as the top team in the Eastern Conference, leading the New York Rangers by 1 point. This game tonight will be a grind it out sort of game, I believe that favors the home team the Islanders.
Take the Islanders to continue their winning ways and pull the upset over the Bruins.
Islanders Money Line wins +110, Boston Bruins 1 New York Islanders 2
UConn Huskies (-4) vs Gonzaga Bulldogs O/U 153 10:00 PM on ESPN2
This game will be a neutral site, but you could technically label it essentially label it a home game for Gonzaga as this game will take place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, which isn’t very far from the Bulldogs campus.
This arena doesn’t see much in terms of college basketball outside of an occasional game by Seattle University. It mainly serves the Seattle Storm and Seattle Kraken for hockey. One thing that I always like to target in certain neutral site games is the Under, and that is what I like here.
This over/under is way too high for this game. If this game was played on campus at the Kennel, I probably wouldn’t play it. But with this game in Seattle, this game goes Under.
Under 153 Covers, UConn Huskies 73 Gonzaga Bulldogs 70
