#top pick

For years, the NBA and NHL have set the top of their draft orders through a lottery system. And Major League Baseball is about to do the same. The new MLB collective bargaining agreement struck ahead of the 2022 campaign called for a draft lottery beginning in 2023. The change was made to discourage tanking, as finishing with one of the worst…

The New York Yankees, led by right fielder Aaron Judge, face the Oakland Athletics in a regular season game on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 (6/28/22) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. Local fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirectTV Stream -- YES Network for fans in New York, NBC Sports California for fans in Oakland. Fans in…

Picks made Monday for fast track and on turf. 1. Bet on Bourbon - Horse likes to win and has drawn the rail and a field he can handle 8. Commercial Flash - Will be one closing at the end. Graham will have him in position 1. Higher Note: Good effort off extended layoff in last outing so there should be some improvement Monday. 7. She's Jersey Tough.…

The Brooklyn Nets lost their first game since the Kevin Durant injury on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, but they're looking to bounce back as home favorites against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. That may not be the easy task that it used to be, as the Thunder are in the playoff conversation in the Western Conference, sitting in…

Sunland Park Saturday features the LaSenora Stakes. Hannah's Highlife was installed as the morning line favorite, but appears to have some vulnerabilities. The small New Mexico track has is home to the Sunland Derby which has become a popular prep for some of the west coast's best horses looking to get to the Kentucky Derby. Post: 12:25 PM MT;…

Brighton welcomes Liverpool to the AMEX Stadium this weekend in what promises to be an exciting game of football, driven by a home side in a rich vein of goal-scoring form. The same can't be said for visitors Liverpool, who are struggling to make a mark this season and find themselves sixth in the table, 17 points off league leaders Arsenal. A…

One of the biggest surprises this season has been the Seattle Kraken. Seattle looked like an expansion team in its debut season, but there is no hotter team in the league right now. Seattle just blanked the NHL-leading Boston Bruins to improve to 7-0-0 in January. As a result, multiple Kraken players make the latest "Who's Hot" list. Former…

An enticing sequence of graded stakes make up a fascinating Pick 4 opportunity on Saturday's Churchill Downs slate. Post time for the first leg of the Pick 4 is 3:40 p.m. ET. My top pick is #2 Main Event (5-1), but I can't single the colt in a deep race. #6 Portfolio Company (9-2), Transylvania S. (G3) star #7 Sy Dog (7-2), and Shug McGaughey's #1…

A Grade 3 stakes winner last time in New York, Champions Dream headlines a strong pair of stablemates for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in Saturday's $125000 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Likely to be favored in the field of six, the son of Justify has won 2-of-3 starts for former trainer Danny Gargan. Debuting at Saratoga, he broke his maiden…

The Manchester Derby is one of the most ferocious rivalries in all of sports. Once considered a bygone conclusion in Man United's favour, these days, it's the blue side of Manchester that enjoys most of the spoils of success. But you know what they say, right? In derby games, form goes out the window. So, despite Manchester City chasing Arsenal in…

The Saturday card from Tampa Bay Downs features 3 stakes races. The Pasco, the Wayward Lass, and the Gasparilla stakes are all carded for the weekend. Post: 12:32 PM ET; $13.5k Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10 #10 SHOO SHINE (6-1) gets the top selection. He comes into the race in really good form. This one has races good enough to…

It's no surprise that after an abysmal first half, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the running for the highest odds to land the number 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. What if they actually land it? If the Blackhawks land the top pick in the draft, the list of'What ifs' and'Who to draft?' is longer than a hot summer day in the sweltering…

Trainer Bob Baffert holds a strong hand when he sends out the favored pair of Ganadora and Under the Stars in a field of six older females in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Ganadora is the more lightly raced of the duo, but will likely be the post-time choice. The $1 million yearling purchase pushed a strong pace before…

The Houston Rockets (10-30) visit the Sacramento Kings (21-18) on Wednesday night. Action tips off at 10:10 p.m. ET. Below we continue our NBA odds series with a Rockets-Kings prediction and pick. Houston has lost seven straight games and has cratered to last place in the West. The Rockets covered 45% of their games while 53% have gone under the…

Pakistan (PA-WU19) will be up against New Zealand (NZ-WU19) in the 16th game of the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup warm-ups at the Hammanskraal Mandela Oval, Pretoria, on Wednesday (January 11). Ahead of the game, here's all you need to know about the PA-WU19 vs NZ-WU19 Dream11 fantasy prediction. Pakistan won their previous warm-up game against…

With the calendar turning to 2023 and the NBA season approaching its midway point, here are our second-half predictions. If you'd been tasked with guessing the Lakers' two most likely problems heading into the season, it wouldn't have been surprising if you'd landed on the lack of perimeter shooting, and the fact that Anthony Davis was likely to…

The 2023 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place on June 28 and 29 in Nashville, Tennessee. While we still have a few months before the event, teams are starting to think about their future with the NHL Draft Lottery taking place at the end of the season. The NHL Draft Lottery is held at the end of the regular season with the 16 teams that did not…

Southern California's first points-paying Kentucky Derby prep of 2023 features only two runners eligible to collect those points. National Treasure is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $100000 Sham Stakes. Post time from Santa Anita is 6:30 p.m. EST, with FanDuel TV showing the one-mile trip for 3-year-olds. Bob Baffert trains National…

WHO: Memphis Grizzlies (1-0) vs. Orlando Magic (0-0) WHEN: 7:00 PM CT WHERE: FedEx Forum - Memphis, TN HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN: Bally Sports Southeast/92.9 FM ESPN Memphis INJURY REPORT: MEMPHIS: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Out, foot surgery recovery), Danny Green (Out, knee surgery recovery), Maybe Other Key Players (Out, it's preseason) Orlando: Jonathan…

The Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet in a Western Conference game in the beautiful state of Texas. As they try to re-enter the playoff picture, Minnesota enters the game with three straight victories. Houston, on the other hand, is currently last in the conference and has dropped six straight contests. After losing six of their…

With the new year kicking off and MMA events being put on during the first weekend of 2023. Let's think ahead about who are some of the best fighters to bet on and watch for this year. When you think about the sport of MMA, the organization that most likely comes to mind is the UFC. The UFC is truly where the best go up against the best, and it…

The Miami Dolphins need a win over the New York Jets to maintain a chance at a wild-card spot, but they've lost five straight and are down to their third-string quarterback. Here's our top pick for the Jets-Dolphins matchup based on the odds. The Dolphins (8-8) are still alive in the AFC playoff hunt despite losing five straight games. They need a…

The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up the AFC North in Week 17, but the Baltimore Ravens still have plenty to play for after the NFL announced new posteason scenarios. Here's our top pick for the Ravens-Bengals matchup based on the odds. Cincinnati was crowned the AFC North champion due to their winning percentage after the Bengals-Buffalo Bills game…

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series opened in late September, but the prep season doesn't get into full swing until the New Year. And the first qualifier of 2023 took place at Oaklawn Park on New Year's Day, the Smarty Jones. Twenty-six additional point races will be offered for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) over the next 3 1/2 months. Let's…

The Saturday card from Santa Anita Park features the California Cup Sprint. Giver Not a Taker was installed as the morning line favorite. Post: 12:00 PM PT; $150k Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6 #2 BIG CITY LIGHTS (8-5) gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one…

It was about this time, seven years ago, that the hockey world was agog about a Canadian teenager named Connor. That one, surname McDavid, had arrived at the World Junior Hockey Championship as the almost-certain first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, off a stellar junior career with gaudy point totals and a string of ridiculous…

During the NFL season, Stadium sports betting analyst Nate Jacobson will break down every single point spread using lines as of Thursday morning. Here are his thoughts on the Week 18 slate. podcast that drops every Tuesday and Thursday. Spotify and Apple for episodes and follow Stadium Bets on Twitter for more sports betting content. Titans at…

A game second in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes last month, Arctic Arrogance headlines a field of eight Kentucky Derby hopefuls entered in Saturday's $150000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. Trained by Linda Rice, who also has Valenzan Day in the race, this son of Frosted has not finished worse than second in four career starts. After breaking his maiden…

It was about this time, seven years ago, that the hockey world was agog about a Canadian teenager named Connor. That one, surname McDavid, had arrived at the World Junior Hockey Championship as the almost-certain first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, off a stellar junior career with gaudy point totals and a string of ridiculous…

The college football championship game is almost upon us, with the winners of the college football playoff semifinal games facing off in Los Angeles in January. We've compiled a guide on the national championship game, including predictions and tips to inspire your (hopefully) winning wagers. Bet on the winner of the college football championship…

We've seen some ridiculous scoring performances in the NBA lately, with Donovan Mitchell dropping 71 points on Monday and Luka Doncic posting a 60-point triple double in a comeback win over the New York Knicks last week. But the man who is going to be the all-time leader scoring in NBA history, LeBron James, is putting up eye-popping numbers at age…

Tuesday night marks the first game of 2023 on the NCAAB schedule between the Ole Miss Rebels (8-5) and Alabama Crimson Tide (11-2). These two schools look to prove that they can do much more than play football. Alabama just won the Sugar Bowl in football, and now their sights are set on continuing their magical basketball season. It is finally time…

After missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for a third consecutive season, the Sharks now look ahead to the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery in hopes of landing a top pick. The postseason drought marks the longest such stretch in San Jose's franchise history and the first time the Sharks have ever gone three straight years without a playoff appearance. With the…

It's been a long 2022 for the Flyers and their fans. The team has suffered through a lot of losses, been stricken by injuries to key players, dealt with a coaching change, and said goodbye to one of the franchise's greatest-ever players in Claude Giroux. How bad has it been? The Flyers have accumulated a putrid 24-51-12 record and earned just 60 of…

The Utah Jazz lose in heartbreaking fashion against the Sacramento Kings, with a final score of 125-126. After a back and forth slugfest in the fourth quarter, Utah's reoccurring struggle of rebounding late in games bites them once again. Multiple second-chance looks and loose ball plays resulted in Kevin Huerter's game-winning three pointer. Here…

The Charlotte Hornets are presently in a position that one year ago they didn't imagine they would be. Last season they were 19-17 heading into the New Year and were looking like one of the more promising young teams in the NBA. Flash forward to present day and they are sitting at 10-26 and near the absolute bottom of the Eastern Conference…

It was a common belief by analysts, oddsmakers, and fans that the OKC Thunder would be among the group known as'tankers' in 2022-23. That was a fair assumption given the prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. Two youngsters are considered franchise changers - - Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. Plus, there are a further six that analysts believe…

On a very short slate, we're looking at the player prop market through the three evening games. Among them, we like the red-hot Tim Anderson to keep cruising against Yankees starter Luis Gil. That and a look at JT Brubaker and Freddie Freeman. It's a bit of a quiet day on the diamond with just eight games on the MLB schedule, including just four in…

A field of eight, led by the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained pair of O'Connor and Skippylongstocking, are set to do battle in Saturday's Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park The morning line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile test, prep for next month's $3 million Pegasus World Cup, is O'Connor. A Group 1 winner in Chile, the import was impressive in his…

The spring dominance of Godolphin superstar Anamoe is expected to continue during the Sydney Autumn Carnival with TAB installing the Cox Plate hero as favourite in multiple Group 1 markets. With Group 1 racing done for the year, TAB opened all-in betting for a range of features in Sydney and Melbourne throughout early 2023 on Monday. Anamoe, the…

This article is part of our College Football Picks series. After just average seasons by both teams, Arkansas and Kansas will look to finish on a high note and take some momentum into next year. Both teams enter at 6-6, but their paths differed greatly. Kansas started the season 5-0 behind QB Jalon Daniels, but the Jayhawks struggled after Daniels…

Kentucky vs Iowa prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Saturday, December 31 Date: Saturday, December 31 Game Time: 12:00 ET Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN How To Watch: ABC Record: Kentucky (7-5), Iowa (7-5) - - Two teams with a bunch of players wearing Iowa and Kentucky uniforms will run onto the…

With 2023 just around the corner, many NBA teams are certainly thinking about how to finish the season strong. On the other hand, some franchises could become sellers as they are getting further and further from playoff contention. That is the case for the Detroit Pistons. With the NBA trade deadline approaching in under two months, it is time for…

There are a lot of Atlanta Falcons fans that are excited to see their home-state Georgia Bulldogs compete in another College Football Playoffs. They won it all last year and they are certainly the favorites to win their second-straight title. As many already know, the first-ranked Bulldogs will take on the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the…

Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today's featured game for NHL Predictions is…

Friday's Breeders' Cup card at Santa Anita offers six championship races, giving horseplayers plenty of opportunities to find wagering value. Large fields and competitive races can lead to long shots, and the Ladies' Classic (formerly known as the Distaff) has produced a few bombs over the years. Among the long shots that have won the…

RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) NBA Christmas Day unders have been a popular betting trend for quite some time, particularly NBA totals in the early game. Lo and behold, 76ers vs. Knicks odds and predictions Sunday on Christmas…

In his regular gambling blog, John Piassek presents his top picks for the upcoming weekend in horse racing, offering betting options at different budget levels. Piassek's Plays is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).…

We've hit the second checkpoint mark of the 2022-23 season. First, it was Thanksgiving. Now, it's Christmas. Next, it's the All-Star Break and then it's the trade deadline. So here are 15 thoughts about the Blackhawks going into the three-day holiday break: 1. The Blackhawks are 8-20-4 and have 20 points through 32 games. They're on pace to finish…