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 Monday, Feb. 27:
TOP PLAY
The play: NBA, 76ers (-6) over Heat
The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)
The book: FanDuel
Time/TV: 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
Our take: The 76ers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, as they’ve won five of their last six games and nearly took the Celtics to overtime in their one loss during that span.
The Heat have been going in the opposite direction having lost four in a row, with their latest loss being an extremely disappointing one against the struggling Charlotte Hornets, so it’s hard to see them bouncing back tonight against the scorching 76ers.
There’s typically no value in taking an NBA home favorite, but six points seems very realistic for the 76ers to cover with the Heat still getting respect despite their recent struggles.
PELICANS BOUNCE BACK AT HOME
The play: NBA, Pelicans (-4) over Magic
The odds/bet: -110 ($11 to win $10)
The book: FanDuel
Time/TV: 8 p.m. (BSNO)
Our take: The Pelicans took it on the chin during their post-All-Star break road trip, but a return home to the Smoothie King Center might be the recipe they need to get back in the win column.
The Pels will be facing a young Magic team that competes hard most nights, but it’s clear which side needs this game more with the margin for error in the Western Conference playoff race getting thinner.
While the Magic won’t roll over, the Pels should come out fired up after Willie Green called them out for a lack of urgency and get back in the win column considering how well they’ve played at home.
HOW WE’VE FARED
Sunday’s best bets
- Carabao Cup final, Manchester United money line over Newcastle (WON $30)
- English Premier League, Chelsea money line over Tottenham (LOST $5)
- PGA Honda Classic, Min Woo Lee to finish top 20 (LOST $10)
Sunday’s profit/loss: +$15 (1-2)
Final total for the week: +$109.50 (7-6)
Total for February: +$22 (23-26)
Total for 2023: -$45.50 (48-60)
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, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
