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2021 Masters Picks: Placings, groups and first-round leader

Check out Masters Tournament betting odds for placings, groups and first-round leader at Augusta National.

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The Masters Tournament begins Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. We continue poring over the odds and lines at BetMGM Sportsbook while searching for the best value bets. Below, we look at the odds and lines for 2021 Masters placings, groups and first-round leader and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.

Dustin Johnson is back to defend his 2020 title from the fall. He’s No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings while looking to be the first back-to-back Masters champ since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. Woods, the 2019 Masters champion, isn’t playing this year after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident in late February.

Augusta National is expected to play considerably tougher this week than it did in the fall when Johnson won by 5 strokes at a record of 20-under par.

2021 Masters picks: Placings

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:41 a.m. ET.

Top 5: Matt Kuchar (+1400)

Kuchar struggled upon the PGA Tour’s mid-June restart in 2020. He won the Asian Tour’s SMBC Singapore Open in January but had just one top-10 finish on American soil the rest of the year.

He recently resurfaced with a third-place finish at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and followed it up with a T-12 at last week’s Valero Texas Open. The nine-time PGA Tour champ has three career top-5 finishes at Augusta National with the most recent being a T-4 in 2017.

Top 10: Francesco Molinari (+900)

Molinari missed the cut at the fall Masters following a career-best T-5 finish in 2019. The former Open Championship winner is better suited for the firm and fast conditions expected this week, and he showed glimpses of his old form early this year with a T-8 at The American Express and a T-10 at the Farmers Insurance Open.

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Place a $1 bet on ANY golfer to win, WIN $100 (in free bets) if any golfer makes a birdie. Promotion available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

2021 Masters picks: Top player

Top European: Matt Fitzpatrick (+1200)

There are plenty of betting options available for Fitzpatrick, who enters Masters Week with a Tour-best 2.56 strokes gained on the average pro per round over his last 20 rounds.

The 12-1 payout for Top European is the most profitable bet for the Englishman (outside of the +4500 odds for him to win), but he can also be backed as Top English (+400) and Top GB and Ireland (+650).

Top left hander: Robert MacIntyre (+400)

There are only five lefties participating in the 2021 Masters with 2012 and 2014 champ Bubba Watson the clear favorite at +200. There’s value on the Scotsman off an impressive run at the WGC-Match Play.

He can also be backed for Top Debutant (+275) and Top Scot (-150).

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2021 Masters picks: First-round leader

Jon Rahm (+2000)

Rahm is seventh on the PGA Tour with a Round 1 scoring average of 69.00 through 10 events. That’s the same score with which he began each of his last two Masters appearances in the fall and in 2019.

Anecdotally, he and his wife, Kelley, welcomed a baby boy last weekend. It could be an added early boost for Golfweek’s top-ranked golfer.

Will Zalatoris (+5000)

Zalatoris is the favorite for the aforementioned Top Debutant group at +110. Golfweek’s ninth-ranked golfer already recorded two top-10 finishes in his rookie season on Tour. He’s in Thursday morning’s fifth group off the tee and will be hitting Augusta National in peak conditions.

Get some action on the 2021 Masters by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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Mavs at Rockets: Betting odds, point spread for Wednesday night

Despite how close the Rockets came to upsetting the Suns, Dallas is still a huge favorite (-11.5) for Wednesday’s game in Houston.

The rebuilding Rockets have been close to a statement victory in recent days, even taking Phoenix down to the final possession on Monday. Two nights later, Houston will have a new opportunity when another probable Western Conference playoff team visits Toyota Center.

Led by superstar guard Luka Doncic, Dallas will not make it easy. The Mavericks enter Wednesday’s game playing some of their best basketball of the 2020-21 season, with five straight victories by an average margin of 13.8 points per game. That includes an impressive 111-103 victory on Monday versus Utah, which has the NBA’s best overall record.

Though Houston shouldn’t be a tough matchup on paper, the Mavs have every incentive to avoid taking the Rockets lightly. At No. 7 in the West standings, Dallas is just two games back of Portland for the No. 6 spot — which is the final confirmed seed for the 2021 playoffs. Teams from No. 7 through No. 10 are subject to the new play-in tournament.

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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Rockets +11.5 (-110), Mavericks -11.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +475/Mavs -650
  • Over-under: 221.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: TBD

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Both teams have a lengthy injury report. John Wall (left knee effusion) is questionable to return after missing the last four games, while Avery Bradley is probable with right knee soreness. As expected, Danuel House Jr. (right ankle), David Nwaba (right wrist), Dante Exum (right calf) and Eric Gordon (right groin) remain sidelined by longer-term injuries.

As for the Mavs, big man Kristaps Porzingis (right wrist sprain) is questionable for Wednesday, as are Maxi Kleber (right lower leg soreness) and Trey Burke (left calf strain). Per head coach Rick Carlisle, Porzingis is trending toward playing in Houston. JJ Redick (right heel soreness), Willie Cauley-Stein (health and safety protocols), and Tyrell Terry (personal reasons) are all listed as out.

If the questionable players are available, Dallas is expected to start its regular lineup of Luka Doncic, Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kleber and Porzingis. Meanwhile, if Wall returns, Houston could start Wall, Kevin Porter Jr., Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate and Christian Wood.

Advice and prediction

Wednesday’s game is the third and final meeting between the Texas rivals this season. The Mavericks won the first meeting on Jan. 4 in Houston, but the Rockets returned the favor with a 25-point blowout at Dallas on Jan. 23. This final matchup was rescheduled from Feb. 19 due to the Texas winter storm, which caused widespread power outages.

As for today, the line (minus-11.5) isn’t reflecting Houston’s improved play in recent weeks. The Mavs are better and should win, but just like versus Phoenix, there’s value on the Rockets at such a large number.

Prediction: 120-113, Mavs

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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2021 Masters Picks: First-round and 72-hole matchups

Check out the best bets for the 2021 Masters Tournament’s first round and 72-hole matchups.

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The Masters Tournament begins Thursday morning with the first group of Michael Thompson and Hudson Swafford going off the first tee at 8 a.m. ET. BetMGM Sportsbook has odds and lines for both Round 1 3-ball and 72-hole head-to-head matchups. Below, we look at the odds and lines for the top 2021 Masters matchups and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.

The first-round matchups are assigned based on the groups for the first two rounds of the tournament, which were released Wednesday afternoon. Head-to-head matchups pair players of a similar world ranking, nationality or general intrigue.

Unlike in the first-ever fall Masters in mid-November, all 88 golfers in the field will hit their first shot off of the first tee. The customary format was altered in the fall to accommodate less daylight.

2021 Masters picks: Round 1 3-ball matchups

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. ET.

Michael Thompson (-125) vs. Hudson Swafford

Get some early action with the first pairing to hit Augusta National Golf Club in 2021 after the ceremonial opening tee shots. Thompson is 74th in the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings and tied for 25th at the 2013 Masters.

Swafford is 357th in the rankings and missed the cut in his lone appearance here (2017).

Xander Schauffele vs. Jon Rahm (+150) vs. Rory McIlroy

Rahm enters the week at No. 1 in the Golfweek world rankings and fresh off the birth of his and his wife’s baby last weekend. He also started with an opening round of 3-under par, 69 in each of the last two runnings of the Masters.

McIlroy and Schauffele both missed the cut at The Players Championship.

Jordan Spieth vs. Cameron Smith (+225) vs. Collin Morikawa

There’s great value on Smith with the highest odds of this three-man group. The Aussie’s price is inflated against two high-profile American golfers. Both Spieth and Morikawa are major winners, but Smith has the better recent results at Augusta National with a T-5 in 2018 and T-2 in 2020.

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Place a $1 bet on ANY golfer to win, WIN $100 (in free bets) if any golfer makes a birdie. Promotion available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! New customer offer, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

2021 Masters picks: 72-hole head-to-head matchups

Bryson DeChambeau (-125) vs. Jordan Spieth

The most intriguing 72-hole matchup pits a pair of golfers who share the second-best odds to win the tournament. Spieth is fresh off a victory at the Valero Texas Open, but DeChambeau recently won the Arnold Palmer Invitational against a stronger field and tied for third at The Players the next week.

DeChambeau is sixth in the Golfweek rankings while Spieth is 33rd.

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Dustin Johnson vs. Justin Thomas (-105)

Johnson and Thomas rank first and second, respectively, in the Official World Golf Ranking. While Johnson is the defending champ, his 2021 results have been largely unimpressive outside of a victory at the European Tour’s Saudi International in February.

Thomas has been in the better recent form with a victory against most of this week’s top competition at The Players. He’s worth backing as the more profitable play as Johnson attempts to be the first back-to-back Masters champ since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.

Get some action on the 2021 Masters by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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Lakers at Raptors: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bet for Tuesday’s Lakers-Raptors game.

The struggling Los Angeles Lakers visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Tampa, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on Spectrum SportsNet and TSN.

The Lakers are 3-6 since LeBron James’ injury, and both LeBron and Anthony Davis are out on Tuesday. Andre Drummond and Wes Matthews are listed as questionable, so you’ll want to monitor their status closer to game time. The Raptors are missing six players, including Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry and Rodney Hood.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Raptors -1
  • Money line: Raptors -110 / Lakers -110
  • Over-under: 208.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

Both teams here are dealing with significant injury issues, and the Lakers have been massively underperforming on the offensive end without their two superstars, scoring 101 points or fewer in five of their last six games. The Raptors have a middle-of-the-road defense, ranking 15th in the league in adjusted defensive rating, so there’s not much reason to expect LA to break out in Tampa. No VanVleet will hurt Tampa, but new arrival Gary Trent Jr. should be able to provide enough backcourt scoring for the Raptors. Take Toronto -1.

Prediction: Raptors 105, Lakers 98

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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Pelicans vs. Hawks: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

As the Pelicans (22-27) start to get healthy and able bodies, they have a chance to move into the playoffs in Atlanta (26-24).

As the Pelicans (22-27) start to get healthy and able bodies, they have a chance to move into the playoffs in Atlanta (26-24), and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

Lonzo Ball returned with a bang on Sunday and Isaiah Thomas will join the team in Atlanta as New Orleans starts to get healthy once again. The Pelicans will face a depleted Atlanta team as they look to pass the Warriors for the 10th seed in the play-in tournament.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Pelicans +3
  • Moneyline: Pelicans +125/ Hawks -150
  • Over-under: 228.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

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Advice and prediction

As has been the case for much of the last week, predicting the Pelicans game requires a bit of good fortune and a high amount of luck. If Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson play, getting New Orleans as underdogs is great.

If neither play, it’s a much different outlook. Both Ingram and Williamson both seem close to a return still, so taking Pelicans plus-3 could be worth the risk.

Prediction: Hawks 111, Pelicans 110

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Dustin Johnson’s odds and betting options for 2021 Masters

Here are Dustin Johnson’s odds and betting options for the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National.

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After winning his first career green jacket in the fall, Dustin Johnson returns to Augusta National Golf Club to defend his Masters title just five months later. Below, we look at the 2021 Masters odds for Dustin Johnson and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions to win.

Johnson slipped to No. 2 in the latest update of the Golfweek/Sagarin world rankings amid a relatively lackluster start to his 2021 schedule.

He won three times in his final 11 events of 2020 in addition to winning the season-long points race and the FedEx Cup. He won the Masters by five strokes at 20-under par in his final event of the calendar year.

His only win through six international events to start 2021 was at the European Tour’s Saudi International, and he has just one top-10 finish in five events on American soil.

Best bets for Dustin Johnson at the 2021 Masters

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 3:08 a.m. ET.

Tournament winner: +900

If you truly in believe in Johnson going back-to-back at Augusta National, betting him at 9-1 to win the tournament offers the highest payout. A $100 bet would return a profit of $900 with an implied win probability of 10 percent in the field of 88.

The biggest hurdle may be the fact no one has gone back-to-back as Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. Even with unimpressive recent results, Johnson leads the Tour with 2.51 total strokes gained on the field per round over 28 measured rounds on the 2020-21 season.

Top-10 finish: -115

A safer bet is to back Johnson for what would be his sixth straight top-10 finish at the Masters. It would take a $115 bet to fetch a profit of $100, but there are seemingly few safer bets on the board.

He tied for second in 2019 and has missed the cut just once in 10 career appearances. In addition, he tied for second at the 2020 PGA Championship and for sixth at the US Open.

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Top American: +600

The second-most profitable bet on Johnson is for him to finish as the top American, where a $100 bet would fetch a profit of $600 with an implied win probability of 14.29 percent.

Four of the top-five and 11 of the top-14 betting favorites are American. We get only a slightly reduced price on Johnson while leaving open the possibility of Jon Rahm (+1100), Rory McIlroy (+1800), Viktor Hovland (+3300) or any other long-shot international winner donning the green jacket.

Top former winner: +175

With Woods, the 2019 Masters champ, not participating this year, Johnson’s greatest competition in this pool is 2015 Masters winner and recent Valero Texas Open champ Jordan Spieth (+240). Spieth shares the second-best odds to win the tournament at +1100.

The only other real threats to Johnson are Patrick Reed (+550), Sergio Garcia (+900), Adam Scott (+1000) and Bubba Watson (+1200). Each of them is priced at +3000 or higher to win the Masters with implied win probabilities of 3.23 percent or lower.

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Tournament matchup vs. Justin Thomas: -135

Johnson’s 72-hole tournament matchup is against the reigning Players Championship winner and Golfweek’s ninth-ranked golfer.

Johnson finished better than Thomas in every Masters in which they both participated to date. Additionally, Johnson has averaged 2.23 strokes gained on the field per round at ANGC; Thomas averaged 1.94.

It would take a $135 bet on Johnson to return a profit of $100 if he finishes better than Thomas by the end of the fourth round.

Get some action on the 2021 Masters by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

2021 NCAA Tournament Championship: Time, how to watch, odds from BetMGM

A look at the tipoff time, odds and how to watch the 2021 NCAA Tournament National Championship Game between Gonzaga and Baylor.

The 2021 NCAA Tournament Championship Game between Gonzaga and Baylor is set for Monday night in Indianapolis as the two No. 1 seeds look for their first title in program history.

The Bears ran away from Houston on Saturday in the first half, building a 25-point lead that was never relinquished in a 78-59 win while the Bulldogs needed a last-second three-point shot from freshman Jalen Suggs to defeat UCLA in overtime.

Here’s tipoff time along with BetMGM odds and how to watch the title game on Monday night.

2021 NCAA Tournament National Championship Game

No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 1 Baylor

Date: April 5, 2021

Place: Indianapolis, Indiana

Tipoff: 9:20 p.m. ET

Channel: CBS

BetMGM odds:

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. 

  • Gonzaga -4.5

BetMGM odds on Most Outstanding Player:

  • Drew Timme -120
  • Jalen Suggs +115
  • Davion Mitchell +400
  • Jared Butler +800
  • Joel Ayayı +1600
  • Corey Kispert +2000
  • MaCio Teague +2000

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BetMGM: NCAA championship odds for tonight

Who do you have cutting down the nets tonight?

After Baylor cruised to victory over Houston and Gonzaga won an all-time thriller against UCLA, the men’s basketball national championship will be decided tonight in Indianapolis.

The two combined to go an absurd 58-2 before tonight’s game as Gonzaga is trying to become the first team to finish a season undefeated since Bob Knight led the Indiana Hoosiers to that accomplishment in 1975-76.

Who has the upper edge and do we have another classic awaiting us tonight after the epic battle Saturday?

Here are the latest national championship game odds courtesy of BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks:

The line:  Gonzaga -4.5
Total:  159.5
Moneylines:  Gonzaga -200, Baylor +165

Looking for some action on this game or others? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM in CO, IN, NJ, TN, and WV. New Customer Offer: Risk-free first bet up to $500! Terms and conditions apply. Visit BetMGM and bet now! 

Maybe one day we’ll see Notre Dame playing basketball on the first Monday night of April.

But I won’t be holding my breath.

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Suns at Rockets: Betting odds, point spread for Monday night

Phoenix hasn’t played since Friday and has the West’s No. 2 record, while Houston played last night and ranks second-worst in the NBA.

The Phoenix Suns have the Western Conference’s second-best record and haven’t played since Friday. The Houston Rockets have the second-worst mark in the West and are playing their second game in 24 hours. That’s the backdrop for Monday’s game at Toyota Center, in which Chris Paul and Devin Booker’s rested squad is looking to make it six straight wins.

The Suns (34-14) crushed the Thunder in their most recent outing, 140-103 (box score), while the Rockets (13-36) lost to the Pelicans on Sunday, 122-115 (recap). On paper, the matchup is tilted in Phoenix’s favor.

The Rockets won’t issue an official injury report until later Monday, since they played on Sunday. However, head coach Stephen Silas has already indicated that John Wall (left knee effusion) isn’t likely to return until at least Wednesday. Guards Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist), and Dante Exum (calf) remain sidelined by longer-term injuries.

Danuel House Jr. left Sunday’s game early with a sprained right ankle, which could compromise his playing status moving forward. Head coach Stephen Silas had no immediate update, postgame.

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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Rockets +14 (-110), Suns -14 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +650/Suns -1000
  • Over-under: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: Devin Booker 26.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Chris Paul 15.5 (-110 O, -125 U), DeAndre Ayton 14.5 (-120 O, -110 U), Mikal Bridges 12.5 (-110 O, -125 U), Jae Crowder 10.5 (-110 O, -120 U); Houston TBD

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Phoenix is expected to start its regular lineup of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and DeAndre Ayton. Meanwhile, with Wall and House likely sidelined, Houston could start Kevin Porter Jr., Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate, Kelly Olynyk, and Christian Wood. (That’s the grouping that Silas finished Sunday’s game versus New Orleans with.)

Advice and prediction

In their last 12 games, the Rockets have only lost two by more than 14 points, which is the current spread. Of those two outliers, one was barely above that mark (a 16-point loss in Boston). In most outings, Houston has remained competitive well into the fourth quarter. It is the second night of a back-to-back, but the Rockets are 2-0 in their most recent games in that spot (March 27 at Minnesota, March 22 versus Toronto).

Phoenix is the far superior team, overall, but it shouldn’t come as a shock if the Rockets play hard and cover the large number.

Prediction: 117-108, Suns

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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Danuel House Jr. left early with a sprained right ankle, which could compromise his playing status moving forward. Head coach Stephen Silas had no immediate update, postgame.

Knicks at Nets: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bets for Monday’s Knicks-Nets game.

The Brooklyn Nets play the New York Knicks on Monday, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on NBA TV.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Nets -4.5
  • Money line: Nets -200 / Knicks +165
  • Over-under: 216.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The Nets have not lost a game this season against this gritty Knicks team. A home loss will hurt more than a loss at Madison Square Garden so Brooklyn will take this game a little more personally. The rivalry itself will have the team more motivated than usual. When you throw in the potential return of James Harden and Kevin Durant, it’s looking real scary for New York. Take the Nets -4.5 and over 216.5.

Prediction: Nets 124, Knicks 106

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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