Ricky Dimon
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Conference Championship weekend in the NFL is here, but there is still one day to go before the festivities kick-off. No matter; in addition to looking ahead to the AFC and NFC showdowns, there is plenty of action across the sports world on Saturday.
Let’s not waste any time and get right to making your next bet better. Here is our latest installment of Wise n’ Shine!
About Last Night
NBA slate wraps up with Bucks blasting Knicks
The Bucks put a bow on Friday’s NBA schedule by beating the Knicks 123-108 in the late game on ESPN. Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 38 points and 13 rebounds. Milwaukee -9 was one of our 3-star best bets and it helped us go 7-4 on our ATS/ML NBA picks.
Avalanche of goals
The Avalanche winning and also going over the total are two of the most reliable bets in the NHL. Both hit on Friday night, much to our delight at Pickswise (we had Avs -1.5 and Over 6). Colorado beat Chicago 6-4, improving to 31-8-3 for the season.
Barty party at Melbourne Park
Ashleigh Barty (+275) was our pre-tournament pick to win the Australian Open and she came through for us by beating Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6(2) in the final. Be on the lookout for our men’s final picks later in the day.
Today’s Slate
Nets vs Warriors headlines NBA schedule
There are six games in the NBA on Saturday and the action concludes with Nets vs Warriors at 8:30 pm ET on ABC. The Celtics, Mavericks, 76ers, Heat, and Grizzlies are also taking the floor. Head over to our NBA picks page to see all of our previews and predictions.
Twenty top 25 teams in action
Saturdays are almost always for college basketball this time of year, and this one is no exception. A total of 20 teams ranked in the top 25 are lacing up their sneakers. An especially intriguing non-conference contest pits No. 12 Kentucky against No. 5 Kansas. Check out all of our CBB picks.
Ten games in the NHL
Starting at 12:30 pm ET (Ducks vs Senators) and going through a 10:00 pm ET puck drop between the Canucks and Flames, there are 10 games on the NHL slate. Saturday’s marquee matchup features the Golden Knights (25-16-3) and Lightning (29-10-5). You can find all of our picks on the NHL page.
Best Bet of the Day
NCAAB: South Carolina Gamecocks vs Texas A&M Aggies Under 133.5
8:30 pm ET, SEC Network
Both South Carolina and Texas A&M have a defensive identity and they have backed that up with their play. Scoring has been difficult lately for both teams; the Gamecocks have posted 64.2 ppg on 38.5% shooting in their last 5 games, while the Aggies averaged 65.8 ppg on 41.7% shooting over their last 5. Furthermore, both teams rank outside of the top 340 nationally in free-throw percentage. Scoring will not get any easier in this matchup, as South Carolina and Texas A&M both rank in the top 40 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. Neither team can be relied on for points on Saturday. Read our full game preview for South Carolina vs Texas A&M.
Must-watch
Don’t miss the conference championship episode of Pickswise Playbook with Ross Tucker, Chris Rose, and Jared Smith as they aim to pinpoint the best bets for both of this weekend’s games.
You can also check out our daily show Let’s Bet It! on our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/c/Pickswise every day starting at 10:00 am ET. Lauren Jbara, Alex Glaze, Mark Zinno, and Dan Servodidio are all part of Saturday’s episode. Included are the best bets for Sunday’s NFL games as well as college basketball and NHL discussion plus the Plays of the Day. Be sure to watch it!
Must-read
Our NFL conference championship coverage is hitting top gear now and we have added our NFL mega parlay, Jared Smith’s best bets and sportsbook insights, plus a same game parlay for Bengals vs Chiefs (+973 odds). You can find all of our conference championship articles in the NFL analysis section.
Additionally, find our extensive NFL, NBA, NHL, and college basketball analysis as it arrives throughout the day on the Analysis tab.
Stat of the Day
Kentucky has struggled on the road, averaging 10 points less than its overall season average in such situations. The Wildcats have covered just one spread in five true road games and they are 2-8 SU in their last 10 against AP Top 25 opponents.
Boost of the Day
Stephen Curry and James Harden to combine for 60+ points
Boosted to +265 with DraftKings Sportsbook
The biggest game of the day in the NBA is unquestionably Nets vs Warriors, and DraftKings Sportsbook is celebrating the festivities by bumping up the odds of Stephen Curry and James Harden combining for at least 60 points to +265.
Pickswise is the home of free sports picks, news, and best bets. Check out our expert NFL picks, NBA picks, NHL picks, and Soccer picks for the latest game picks.
