Hello everyone, this is Chris Bengel here. Welcome to one of the most fun sports betting weeks on the calendar. The last six months of NFL action comes down to just one more game on Sunday before the offseason really begins 😞

Caesars Sportsbook and others make it fun for fans to get involved in just about any angle of Super Bowl action. You can bet on everything from the length of the national anthem to the color of Gatorade the winning coach will have dumped on him. Oh yeah, you can also bet on the game itself.

Speaking of the game itself, this one is definitely hard to get a barometer. As of this writing, the Los Angeles Rams are the 4.5-point favorites — and rightly so. However, if there’s one thing the betting public has learned throughout this postseason, it’s to never count out Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. I’m still arguing, but I’m leaning more towards the Bengals and I might even like them to pull off the upset.

Before we get to the “Big Game” we have some hardwood and ice action which I love tonight. Let’s dive into the choices!

All Eastern times and odds via Caesars Sportsbook


🔥 The hot ticket

Getty Images

🏀Rockets at Pelicans, 8 p.m. | Television: NBA.TV

Latest odds:

Less than 224.5

The choice: less than 225.0 points (-110): While the Super Bowl has the most people talking, bettors can’t forget the NBA’s trade deadline and its importance over the next three days. On Tuesday, the Pelicans made a trade to acquire star guard CJ McCollum from the Trail Blazers.

To make this move a reality, the Pelicans had to part ways with guards Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. With these talented guards changing teams, it will leave the Pelicans without two of their top five scorers. and they won’t have McCollum’s services until later this week. Since the Pelicans will be shorthanded, I love the pennies there.

Throughout the 2021-22 season, the Pelicans are averaging 105.8 points per game, which is good for 26th in the league. Also, the under bets are 6-2 in the Pelicans’ last eight home games against a team with a road winning percentage below .400. With a 15-38 record, the Rockets have the worst mark in the Western Conference and third worst in the NBA. The Rockets are also averaging just 108.3 points per game (No. 18 in the league) and the Pelicans should definitely score their fair share of points. However, with New Orleans without two former members of their backcourt, I don’t see these teams reaching that big enough total.

Key trend: Under bets are 5-0-1 in the Pelicans’ last six games


💰 Choices

Getty Images

🏀NBA

Clippers at Grizzlies, 8 p.m. | Television: NBA.TV

Latest odds:

Los Angeles Clippers +8.5

Pick: Mowers +8.0 (-110): This may not seem like the best place to side with the Clippers after getting a rough ride from the Bucks on Sunday. However, the Clippers have had the mentality to bounce back from big losses lately. The Clippers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game. On Sunday, the Clippers gave up 137 points to the Bucks and ended up falling, 137-113.

The Grizzlies are one of the most prolific offenses in the NBA averaging 112.7 points per game (No. 5 in the NBA). However, the Clippers are also one of the best defensive units as they only give up 107.4 points per game. The Clippers are also holding their opponents to a 33.5% shooting clip from three, which is the league’s third-best rating. Granted, the road hasn’t been easy without Kawhi Leonard and now Paul George in the roster this season, but the Clippers are a resilient group that I’m confident will bounce back there.

Key trend: Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a road underdog

🏒 NHL

Penguins at Bruins, 7 p.m. I TV: ESPN+

Latest odds:

Pittsburgh Penguins +110

The Pick: Penguins (+110) — The Penguins are coming back from the All-Star break amid one of their biggest meltdowns of the 2021-22 season. This is a group that has lost four straight games before the All-Star break, including three of those losses in overtime or shootout. Still, I like the Penguins bouncing there.

Even amid their four-game losing streak, the Penguins are still 7-2 in their last nine games against Eastern Conference opponents. The Penguins have one of the most dangerous offenses around right now, averaging 3.3 goals per game – good for eighth in the NHL.

Now, it should be noted that Pittsburgh will be without star forward Evgeni Malkin, who was placed on COVID-19 protocol on Monday. While it’s not great to be without Malkin, the star center missed the first three months of the season due to offseason knee surgery. They’ve been without Malkin before and excelled, so I expect the Penguins to be in a position to pick up the win as road underdogs at this location. It also doesn’t hurt that the Penguins are facing a Bruins team that has lost four of its last six games.

Key trend: Penguins are 9-2 in their last 11 road games