Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Tuesday, Oct. 25:
TOP PLAY
The play: NBA, Mavericks (-6) over Pelicans
The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Our take: The Pelicans might be favored in this one if not for multiple key injuries, but they’re so shorthanded to where we’re fading them as underdogs tonight against a seasoned Mavericks team.
The Pels will be without three of their five starters in Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones, and while their strong depth should be enough to keep them afloat early on, they simply lack the offensive firepower to hang with the Mavericks and star point guard Luka Doncic.
The absence of the defensive ace Jones might hurt the most, as guarding Doncic will likely prove to be an uphill battle that will result in the Pels losing by enough to make the spread a good value for the healthier Mavs.
THUNDER TO COVER
The play: NBA, Thunder (+9.5) over Clippers
The odds/bet: -110 ($11 to win $10)
The book: Caesars Sportsbook
Time/TV: 8 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
Our take: The Thunder have yet to win a game this season, but they’ve competed hard in all three of their losses having only lost by 10 points or less against a pair of projected playoff teams in the Nuggets and the Timberwolves.
While the Thunder will be without young stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, the Clippers will also be shorthanded with star forward Paul George ruled out, and their other star Kawhi Leonard has been on a minutes restriction coming off a torn ACL.
While it will be a challenge for the Thunder since the Clippers have a much deeper roster, they should be able to keep it close enough to cover since the Clippers offense takes a big hit without George.
HOW WE’VE FARED
- NFL total: Bears at Patriots under 40 points (LOST $33)
- NFL: Patriots (-8) over Bears (LOST $11.50)
Monday’s profit/loss: -$44.50 (0-2)
Total for the week: -$44.50 (0-2)
Total for October: +$301.70 (28-15)
Total for 2022: +$101 (273-298)
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, a $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
