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27 Mar

Play for prizes, create your own NCAA Tournament game now

The 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket is set for both the men’s and women’s versions, so fans are filling out their March Madness brackets and joining March Madness pools. While rooting for your team to cut down the nets might be the primary reason to follow the madness, cheering on your NCAA Tournament bracket picks adds another layer of excitement. Top overall seed UConn is trying to become the first repeat winner in the men’s bracket since Florida in 2006-07, while South Carolina is trying to cap off a perfect season in the women’s bracket. Picking the correct champion is the starting point of winning any NCAA Tournament pool.

Another key to coming out on top in NCAA Tournament challenges is identifying early-round upsets and March Madness Cinderella teams who could win multiple games. Upsets are generally less common in the women’s bracket, but there are still underrated teams that could help you beat your friends and family in March Madness bracket games. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2024 March Madness pool.

If you’re looking for a NCAA Tournament bracket game home, CBS Sports is a great option get set up. You can play Bracket Games on the CBS Sports App for free and you could win big prizes.* Sign up right here.

There are CBS Sports NCAA Bracket Challenges for the men’s and women’s tournaments and there’s a trip to each respective 2025 Final Four on the line in both challenges. It’s easy to qualify for those epic trips. For the Men’s Challenge, simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your men’s bracket after it is revealed on Sunday, March 17 at 6 p.m. ET, and the winner of the trip to the 2025 Final Four will be chosen from among the entrants.

Anyone who enters both the Men’s CBS Sports Bracket Challenge and Women’s CBS Sports Bracket Challenge will also be entered for a chance to win a brand new Nissan Rogue. The men’s bracket deadline is scheduled for March 21 at noon ET, while the women’s bracket deadline is on March 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

To be eligible, simply follow the steps above to join the Men’s Challenge and then join the Women’s Challenge here. All you have to do to be eligible to win the Nissan Rogue is join both, even if your brackets get completely busted.

2024 NCAA Tournament Men’s teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2024 NCAA Men’s Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2024 NCAA Tournament approaches:

North Carolina Tar Heels: The Tar Heels rank second in all-time NCAA Tournament wins (131) and win percentage (.728), making 21 trips to the Final Four. They have won six national titles, with their latest championship coming in 2017. Head coach Hubert Davis was named the ACC Coach of the Year, while RJ Davis was the ACC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring with 21.4 points per game.

Oregon Ducks: The winners of the final ever Pac 12 Tournament, Oregon enters the 2024 NCAA Tournament at 23-11. This will be the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021 for the Ducks and eighth tournament bid since Dana Altman took over the program in 2010-11. Senior big N’Faly Dante went a perfect 12-for-12 from the field in a win over Colorado last Saturday and finished with 25 points and nine rebounds. Dante led the Ducks in scoring average (16.2 points per game) and rebounding (8.8 rebounds per game) this season and he’ll be a handful inside for any team that draws the Ducks in the Big Dance. Join the CBS Sports 2024 NCAA Men’s Bracket Game here.

2024 NCAA Tournament Women’s teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2024 NCAA Women’s Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2024 NCAA Tournament approaches:

Iowa Hawkeyes: The Hawkeyes earned their first No. 1 seed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament bracket since 1992 after finishing 29-4 and winning the Big Ten Tournament. They are led by star Caitlin Clark, who has already broken multiple records and is just 56 points shy of setting the record for most points in a single season. She is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, and Iowa is riding a six-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament.

USC Trojans: USC finished second behind Stanford in the Pac-12 regular-season standings with a 13-5 record in conference play, but it got its revenge with a 74-61 win over Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament title game. The Trojans also picked up wins over Arizona and UCLA during the conference tournament, giving them a five-game winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament. They have already won five games against top-10 teams this season, establishing themselves as legitimate contenders to cut down the nets. Join the 2024 Women’s Bracket Game here.

How to enter 2024 NCAA Men’s & Women’s Bracket Games
Ready to set up your 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket pools? Join the 2024 NCAA Bracket Games right here for a shot at a trip to the 2025 Final Four. Don’t forget to enter the Women’s Bracket Games as well for a chance to win a new Nissan Rogue.

*No purchase necessary. See rules for details.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks, Feb. 22 best bets from proven computer model

The Boston Celtics (43-12) will try to extend their six-game winning streak when they face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. Boston’s most recent outing was a 136-86 blowout win over the Nets last Wednesday, and the Celtics are six games ahead of Cleveland for first place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago lost two of its final three games before the All-Star break, including a 108-105 setback at Cleveland last Wednesday. The Bulls are in ninth place in the conference, sitting four games behind eighth-place Orlando.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at the United Center. The Celtics are favored by 8.5 points in the latest Bulls vs. Celtics odds, while the over/under is 225.5 points per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Celtics vs. Bulls picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Boston vs. Chicago. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Bulls vs. Celtics spread: Bulls +8.5
Bulls vs. Celtics over/under: 225.5 points
Bulls vs. Celtics money line: Bulls: +274, Celtics: -342
Bulls vs. Celtics picks: See picks here
Why the Bulls can cover
Chicago will be excited for a chance to play against the top team in the Eastern Conference at home, especially since it has not played at the United Center since Feb. 6. The Bulls beat the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves as 5.5 underdogs in that outing, powered by 33 points apiece from DeMar DeRozan and Coby White. They trailed by 23 points in that game before rallying for an impressive victory.

Veteran Andre Drummond had 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, while Nikola Vucevic added 24 points. The Bulls picked up wins at Memphis and Atlanta during their four-game road trip, and every game matters with their current playoff positioning. They have covered the spread in four of their last five games, while the Celtics have only covered twice in their last 10 contests.

Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has won eight straight games against Eastern Conference opponents and has won six consecutive games overall. The Celtics closed the first half of the season with a 136-86 win over Brooklyn last Wednesday, giving Joe Mazzulla his 100th win as the head coach. Point guard Payton Pritchard, who is only averaging 8.1 points per game, poured in 28 points in the win over the Nets.

All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 56 points in the East’s win over the West in the All-Star Game, adding to their momentum. The Celtics have five players averaging double digits, led by Tatum (27.1 points per game) and Brown (22.0). Chicago has not been over the .500 mark this season and has only covered the spread three times in its last 11 games against Atlantic Division opponents. See which team to pick here.

How to make Bulls vs. Celtics picks
The model has simulated Celtics vs. Bulls 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks for Feb. 22 from proven model

We’ve got another exciting Central Division matchup on Thursday’s NBA schedule as the Indiana Pacers will host the Detroit Pistons. Indiana is 31-25 overall and 17-11 at home, while Detroit is 8-46 overall and 4-23 on the road. The Pacers have won the two previous matchups this season after the teams split four meetings last season. The Pistons are 27-27 versus the spread in the 2023-24 NBA season, while the Pacers are 29-25-3 versus the number.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Pacers are favored by 11.5 points in the latest Pistons vs. Pacers odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 246.5 points. Before entering any Pacers vs. Pistons picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Detroit vs. Indiana. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pistons vs. Pacers:

Pacers vs. Pistons spread: Pacers -11.5
Pacers vs. Pistons over/under: 246.5 points
Pacers vs. Pistons money line: Pacers: -705, Pistons: +497
Pacers vs. Pistons picks: See picks at SportsLine
What you need to know about the Pacers
The oddsmakers set the bar high, but the Pacers and the Toronto Raptors didn’t disappoint and broke past the 245.5 point over/under last Wednesday. Indiana skirted past the Raptors 127-125. Indiana’s success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Tyrese Haliburton led the charge by shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc and dropping a double-double on 21 points and 12 assists. The team also got some help courtesy of Pascal Siakam, who scored 23 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds.

Indiana’s offense has slowed a bit since a hot start to the season, but it still leads the NBA in points per game and field goal percentage while ranking second in offensive rating. Siakam is shooting a blistering 57.1% from the floor since being traded from Toronto, and he’s filling up the box score with averages of 21.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists with the Pacers. Indiana has seven players on its current roster averaging in double-figures, but one of those in Aaron Nesmith (12.6 ppg) is out on Thursday with an ankle injury. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Pistons
Meanwhile, the Pistons’ recent rough patch got a bit rougher last Wednesday after their third straight loss. They took a hard 116-100 fall against the Phoenix Suns. The Pistons have struggled against the Suns recently, as their match last Wednesday was their seventh consecutive lost matchup. New acquisition Simone Fontecchio led Detroit with 18 points in the defeat.

Detroit made lots of transactions before the trade deadline, but a couple of constants have been Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. The former leads the team with 21.9 points and 7.5 assists, while Duren is fifth in the NBA with 12 rebounds per game, to go along with 14 points per night. Detroit owns a sparkling 12-4 ATS record over its last 16 games. See which team to pick here.

Key Betting Info
Some of the betting trends to consider are:

The Pistons are 9-4 against the spread in their last 13 games when the spread was between +10 to +13.
The Pacers are 27-17-3 against the spread in their last 47 games after a day off.
The Pistons are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games vs teams that win 45-55 percent of games.
How to make Pacers vs. Pistons picks
The model has simulated Pistons vs. Pacers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks, Feb. 22 best bets from proven computer model

The New Orleans Pelicans (33-22) will aim for their fourth straight victory when they host the Houston Rockets (24-30) on Thursday night. New Orleans won seven of its final eight games before the All-Star break, including a 133-126 win against Washington last Wednesday. Houston has lost five of its last six games, falling to Memphis on the road its last time out. The Pelicans picked up a 110-99 win against the Rockets when these teams met at the end of January.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans are favored by 7 points in the latest Pelicans vs. Rockets odds, while the over/under is 229 points via SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Rockets vs. Pelicans picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Houston-New Orleans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Pelicans vs. Rockets spread: Pelicans -7
Pelicans vs. Rockets over/under: 229 points
Pelicans vs. Rockets money line: Pelicans: -281, Rockets: +230
Pelicans vs. Rockets picks: See picks here
Why the Pelicans can cover
New Orleans is in excellent form right now, having won seven of its last eight games to move into sixth place in the Western Conference. The Pelicans picked up road wins against the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies during that stretch before beating Washington at home last Wednesday. Zion Williamson scored a team-high 36 points on 15 of 21 shooting, while CJ McCollum had 26 points.

They started their current hot streak with a 110-99 win at Houston on Jan. 31, which also started Houston’s current rough patch. Jonas Valanciunas had 25 points and 14 rebounds in that game, while Brandon Ingram also posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. New Orleans has covered the spread in five of its last six home games against Houston.

Why the Rockets can cover
Houston lost to New Orleans in the most recent meeting, but it won two matchups against the Pelicans earlier this season. The Rockets were 3-point home favorites in their 104-101 win in November and were 7.5-point road underdogs in their 106-104 win in December. They are only 3.5 games back of the final play-in tournament spot, so motivation should not be an issue in this game.

The All-Star break was well timed for Houston, as it gave third-leading scorer Fred VanVleet time to recover from an adductor strain. He is averaging 16.5 points per game, and he is going to be back on the court after missing five games. Cam Whitmore, who is also in double figures with 11.9 points per game, is going to return from a three-game injury absence of his own. See which team to pick here.

How to make Pelicans vs. Rockets picks
The model has simulated Rockets vs. Pelicans 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks for Feb. 22 from proven model

The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Los Angeles Clippers in a Western Conference clash on Thursday’s NBA schedule. Oklahoma City is 37-17 overall and 21-6 at home, while Los Angeles is 36-17 overall and 16-11 on the road. The teams have split their two matchups this season, with the home team winning each time. OKC is 33-20-1 against the spread in the 2023-24 NBA season, while Los Angeles is 29-24 versus the line.

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Thunder are favored by 1 point in the latest Clippers vs. Thunder odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 235.5 points. Before entering any Thunder vs. Clippers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Oklahoma City. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Clippers vs. Thunder:

Thunder vs. Clippers spread: Thunder -1
Thunder vs. Clippers over/under: 235.5 points
Thunder vs. Clippers money line: Thunder: -115, Clippers: -105
Thunder vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
What you need to know about the Thunder
The Orlando Magic typically have all the answers at home, but last Tuesday the Thunder proved too difficult a challenge. They beat the Magic by the very same score they won with last week: 127-113. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Thunder. OKC’s success was spearheaded by the efforts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 32 points to go along with five assists and two steals, while Jalen Williams dropped 33 points.

OKC is arguably the best-shooting team in the NBA, leading the league in free throw percentage while ranking second in both field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. It also brings it defensively, leading the league with 6.7 blocks per game and ranking third with 8.1 steals per night. The Thunder have the second-best cover percentage in the NBA, but they are just 3-6 ATS over their last nine games. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Clippers
Meanwhile, Los Angeles didn’t have too much breathing room in its matchup against the Golden State Warriors last Wednesday, but it still walked away with a 130-125 win. The Clippers were down 59-44 with 1:21 left in the second quarter but they still came back for the handy five-point victory. Among those leading the charge was James Harden, who scored 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Norman Powell had 21 points off the bench.

Kawhi Leonard did not play in that game, but L.A. has no injuries to report for Thursday’s contest. In his 12th NBA season, Leonard is shooting career-bests from the field (52.7%), from the 3-point line (45.3%) and from the free throw line (89.1%). Los Angeles owns a 27-8 straight-up record this season when it has Leonard, Harden and Paul George in the starting lineup, and when Russell Westbrook is not in the starting lineup. See which team to pick here.

Key Betting Info
Gilgeous-Alexander will likely loom large in the final result, win or lose. For the season, he has averaged 31.1 points, 2.2 steals, and 6.5 assists.

Some of the betting trends to consider are:

The Clippers are 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 games when the spread was between +1 to +3.5.
The Thunder are 15-7 against the spread in their last 22 games when favored at home.
The Clippers are 3-6 against the spread in their last 9 games as the road underdog.
How to make Thunder vs. Clippers picks
The model has simulated Clippers vs. Thunder 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

24 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 20 predictions from proven model

The New York Knicks (25-17) will wrap up their four-game homestand when they host the Toronto Raptors (16-26) on Saturday night. New York opened the homestand with a loss to Orlando, but it bounced back with wins over the Rockets and Wizards. Toronto has lost five of its last six games, falling to Chicago in a 116-110 final on Thursday. The Knicks are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors are in 12th.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. New York is favored by 7.5 points in the latest Knicks vs. Raptors odds, while the over/under is 228 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Raptors vs. Knicks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Toronto vs. New York. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Knicks vs. Raptors spread: Knicks -7.5
Knicks vs. Raptors over/under: 228 points
Knicks vs. Raptors money line: Knicks -306, Raptors +245
Knicks vs. Raptors picks: See picks here
Why the Knicks can cover
New York is off to an excellent start in January, winning eight of its last 10 games to move into fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks edged the Wizards in a 113-109 final on Thursday, as Jalen Brunson poured in 41 points and dished out eight assists. Center Isaiah Hartenstein dominated the glass with 17 rebounds, while power forward Julius Randle finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Knicks began their current run when they activated OG Anunoby following a trade with the Raptors at the end of December. He is averaging 15.0 points per game, shooting 51.9% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range. His defensive presence has also allowed the Knicks to hold opponents to 101 points per game over the last 10 games after allowing 113.9 points over their first 32 games.

Why the Raptors can cover
The Anunoby trade has also paid early returns for Toronto, which acquired RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick. Barrett and Quickley were both part of New York’s team that snapped a seven-year playoff drought in 2021 and helped the Knicks reach the second round last year for the second time this century. Quickley is averaging 18.0 points per game in Toronto’s starting lineup, shooting 45.2% from 3-point range.

Barrett is averaging 20.2 points per game and has upped his shooting percentage by more than 12 percent since joining the Raptors. He had 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a 121-97 win over Miami on Wednesday, while shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-high 28 points on 10 of 13 shooting. The Raptors have won 14 of the last 20 meetings between these teams. See which team to pick here.

How to make Knicks vs. Raptors picks
The model has simulated Raptors vs. Knicks 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

21 Jan

2023 USFL Championship picks, best bets by proven expert

One of the USFL’s best defenses will face one of the league’s best offenses in an intriguing 2023 USFL Championship matchup on Saturday night. The Pittsburgh Maulers used their elite defense to punch a surprising ticket to the title game, but they will now be tasked with slowing down the Birmingham Stallions high-powered attack. Birmingham is the defending champion, while Pittsburgh is trying to go from worst to first this season.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Birmingham as the 7.5-point favorite, while the over/under is 46 in the latest Stallions vs. Maulers odds. Before making any Maulers vs. Stallions picks or USFL Championship predictions, see what SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has to say.

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. He is a former running back for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and knows the game from a player’s perspective. Hunt’s dedication to analysis of all levels of college and professional football helped him start the USFL season 24-18 last year and he went 25-18 on his XFL spread picks this season.

Now, Hunt has set his sights on Stallions vs. Maulers. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Here are several USFL betting lines for Maulers vs. Stallions:

Stallions vs. Maulers spread: Stallions -7.5
Stallions vs. Maulers over/under: 46 points
Stallions vs. Maulers money line: Stallions -300, Maulers +240
Stallions vs. Maulers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Stallions can cover
Pittsburgh is relying on its defense and turnover rate to win the title, but that is not going to be a winning formula against an experienced championship team. Birmingham has been excellent at ball security throughout the season, and its offense can rack up points in a hurry. The Stallions made a statement when they cruised past New Orleans in the semifinals, racing out to a 40-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Alex McGough completed 21 of 31 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 84 yards and an additional score. The Stallions averaged 8.2 yards per carry and 9.9 yards per pass attempt, dominating the Breakers in every aspect of the game. They have the experience and championship mentality to win Saturday’s title showdown against a less experienced opponent. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Maulers can cover
Birmingham was ultimately able to escape with a victory when these teams met in the regular season, but it was one of their most challenging games. The Maulers took a 20-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter after quarterback Troy Williams scored on a 34-yard rushing touchdown. They also held McGough to a 58.6% completion rate and forced a pair of interceptions.

Pittsburgh limited McGough to 48 rushing yards, while Williams completed 63.6% of his passes for 217 yards and rushed for another 63 yards. The Maulers ranked second in the regular season in points allowed per game (17.2) and led the league in turnover margin (+8). Their defense will make it difficult for Birmingham to win this game by at least a touchdown. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Stallions vs. Maulers picks
Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.

14 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 6 predictions from proven computer model

The Indiana Pacers (20-14) will try to extend their six-game winning streak when they face the Boston Celtics (27-7) on Saturday night. Indiana extended its hot streak with a 150-116 win over Atlanta on Friday, setting a team record with 50 assists. Boston had its six-game winning streak snapped in a loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but it bounced back with a 126-97 win over Utah on Friday. The Celtics are in first place in the Eastern Conference, while Indiana is in fourth place.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Celtics are favored by 6 points in the latest Pacers vs. Celtics odds, while the over/under is set at 247.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Celtics vs. Pacers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Boston-Indiana. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Celtics vs. Pacers spread: Celtics -6
Celtics vs. Pacers over/under: 247.5 points
Celtics vs. Pacers money line: Celtics -226, Pacers +184
Celtics vs. Pacers picks: See picks here
Why the Pacers can cover
Indiana is one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, having won six consecutive games to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pacers set a franchise record with 50 assists in a 150-116 win over Atlanta on Friday, as Tyrese Haliburton accounted for 18 of those dimes. Center Myles Turner led the team with 27 points, while Bennedict Mathurin added 18 points.

Bruce Brown missed five games due to a bone bruise in his right knee, but he scored 17 points against Atlanta in just his second game back on the court. Indiana beat Boston by 10 points in the most recent meeting between these teams, knocking down 19 of 40 attempts from 3-point range. Haliburton scored a team-high 26 pints in that Dec. 4 matchup, which was part of the NBA’s in-season tournament.

Why the Celtics can cover
Boston is coming off an impressive showing of its own, cruising to a 126-97 win over Utah on Friday. The Celtics held a 36-point lead in the second quarter, allowing them to rest their starters for most of the second half. They tied a franchise record by scoring at least 120 points for the ninth consecutive game, matching the 1959-60 Celtics team.

The Celtics have won 12 of their last 14 games and will be motivated to maintain their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. Jayson Tatum poured in 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 155-104 win over Indiana on Nov. 1, as the Celtics knocked down 20 of 35 3-point attempts. Boston has covered the spread in eight of its last 12 games, and it has won 15 of the last 20 meetings between these teams. See which team to pick here.

How to make Pacers vs. Celtics picks
The model has simulated Celtics vs. Pacers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

14 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 6 predictions from proven computer model

The Philadelphia 76ers (23-11) and Utah Jazz (16-20) will both be hoping to move on from lopsided losses when they square off on Saturday night. Philadelphia is coming off a 128-92 loss to New York on Friday night, falling four games behind Boston atop the Atlantic Division standings. Utah had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 126-97 loss at Boston on Friday to open a three-game road trip. The Jazz are in fourth place in the Northwest Division, trailing Denver by 8.5 games for third place.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is favored by 11.5 points in the latest 76ers vs. Jazz odds, while the over/under is 237.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Jazz vs. 76ers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Utah-Philadelphia. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

76ers vs. Jazz spread: 76ers -11.5
76ers vs. Jazz over/under: 237.5 points
76ers vs. Jazz money line: 76ers -737, Jazz +522
76ers vs. Jazz picks: See picks here
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia has done an excellent job of bouncing back from losses this season, as it has not suffered consecutive losses since Dec. 1. The 76ers cruised to a 110-97 win over Chicago on Tuesday, covering the 10.5-point spread prior to their loss against New York on Friday. Star center Joel Embiid has finished with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in 15 consecutive games, giving him a chance to become the first player to hit that mark in 16 straight games since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972.

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points and nine assists on Friday night, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 points in the loss. Utah is on the second leg of back-to-back road games after getting blown out by Boston on Friday night. The Jazz shot just 36.2% from the floor and committed 18 turnovers in the loss, falling to 5-15 on the road this season.

Why the Jazz can cover
Utah is coming off a rough performance, but it has been playing much better of late. The Jazz beat the Heat, Mavericks and Pistons by a combined 51 points, tying a franchise record with 154 points in an overtime victory over Detroit on Wednesday. John Collins had 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Celtics on Friday, posting his tenth double-double of the season.

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 17 points, while Collin Sexton added 13 points. Philadelphia shot just 40.7% from the field in its loss to New York on Friday, including a 6 of 23 mark from 3-point range. Embiid has been dealing with an ankle injury that he appeared to tweak on Friday, while Tobias Harris sat out during the fourth quarter with left ankle soreness.

How to make 76ers vs. Jazz picks
The model has simulated Jazz vs. 76ers 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

14 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 6 predictions from proven computer model

The Houston Rockets (17-16) will wrap up a seven-game homestand when they face the Milwaukee Bucks (25-10) on Saturday night. Houston won back-to-back games over Detroit and Brooklyn before losing to Minnesota in a 122-95 blowout on Friday. Milwaukee snapped its two-game losing streak with a 125-121 win at San Antonio on Thursday. The Bucks are in second place in the Eastern Conference standings and are 4.5 games ahead of Indiana for first place in the Central Division.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Toyota Center. Milwaukee is favored by 7 points in the latest Rockets vs. Bucks odds, while the over/under is set at 237.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Bucks vs. Rockets picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Milwaukee-Houston. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Rockets vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -7
Rockets vs. Bucks over/under: 237.5 points
Rockets vs. Bucks money line: Rockets +215, Bucks -263
Rockets vs. Bucks picks: See picks here
Why the Rockets can cover
Houston lost six of its final eight games in December, but it bounced back with wins over Detroit and Brooklyn earlier this week. The Rockets cruised to a 136-113 win over the Pistons, who were playing their first game since snapping a 28-game losing skid. Center Alperen Sengun led Houston with 26 points and nine assists, upping his season averages to 21.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

The Rockets added a 112-101 win over Brooklyn on Wednesday, covering the 5-point spread. Sengun poured in a game-high 30 points, while point guard Fred VanVleet posted a double-double with 21 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Houston has covered the spread in four of its last five home games against Milwaukee, which has only covered three times in its last nine games.

Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee bounced back from a pair of losses to Indiana with a 125-121 win at San Antonio on Thursday, as Giannis Antetokounmpo won a showdown with Victor Wembanyama. Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, shooting 19 of 28 from the floor. Veteran point guard Damian Lillard added 25 points, 10 assists and four rebounds.

The Rockets committed 15 turnovers and finished minus-14 on the glass in their blowout loss to Minnesota on Friday. Milwaukee has already won one game between these teams this season, notching a 128-119 victory on Dec. 17. The Bucks have won five consecutive games against teams from the Western Conference, while Houston has only covered the spread once in its last seven games against Central Division opponents. See which team to pick here.

How to make Rockets vs. Bucks picks
The model has simulated Bucks vs. Rockets 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.