Jordan Horrobin

Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.

Best NBA prop picks Jan. 4: Bet on Dillon Brooks, Naz Reid to get buckets

NBA prop picks Jan. 4

Bam Adebayo and Naz Reid have some Grade-A matchups that are worth targeting in Sunday’s NBA prop market.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: Adebayo faces the banged-up New Orleans Pelicans, who could be without Derik Queen and Trey Murphy. As for Reid, he’s facing an opponent that gives up a lot of opportunities on the perimeter.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 4, featuring a prediction on Dillon Brooks.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 4

Best bet: Reid over 2.5 threes (-118)

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ most effective 3-point shooter since the start of December isn’t Anthony Edwards. It’s not Donte DiVincenzo, either.

It’s Reid, who is shooting 37.3% from outside — the highest clip among T-wolves averaging at least 2.0 attempted 3s per game.

  • Reid comes off the bench for Minnesota, but that doesn’t really take a bite out of his shot volume. On the season, he’s averaging 6.6 attempted 3s (second-most among all NBA centres).
  • From Dec. 1 onward, Reid has been particularly active from deep. He’s averaging 2.9 makes on 7.9 attempts in that span.

-> Bet on prop markets for Timberwolves vs. Wizards (ft. Naz Reid)!

Tonight’s matchup against the Washington Wizards is a great one for Reid to continue firing away.

Washington allows the fourth-most 3s — makes and attempts — per game this season.

Last year, Reid shot 10-for-20 from deep against the Wizards in three matchups and went 2-1 vs. this prop.

Key stat: Reid is 10-6 vs. this 3s prop in his past 16 games.

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Best NBA picks

Adebayo over 30.5 points/rebounds/assists (114): Adebayo has had more than his share of poor shooting performances recently, but he’s in a get-right spot tonight against the Pelicans.

  • New Orleans allows the sixth-most points, the fifth-most rebounds and the second-most assists to opposing centres (per Fantasy Pros).
  • Last season, Adebayo had 39 and 42 PRA, respectively, in his two matchups vs. the Pelicans.

-> Full betting markets for Sunday’s NBA slate

Over his past seven games, Adebayo is shooting a miserable 38.8%. For a guy with a 53.2% career field goal percentage, that’s almost hard to do.

The Pelicans are a Grade-A matchup all the way around, so even if the scoring sags a bit, there are other ways he can stuff the stat sheet.

But I think now is the right time for the bruising centre to regain his scoring touch, too.

NBA player prop predictions

Brooks over 18.5 points (-124): Brooks and the Suns will face the defending champion Thunder for the third time this season, and it’s obviously a brutal matchup for any score.

After all, OKC ranks first in defensive rating (104.1), opponent points (107.1/game) and opponent field goal percentage (43.1%).

With that said, you should expect a below-average scoring output from Brooks tonight … but that’s already accounted for with this line.

  • In 28 games this season, Brooks is averaging 21.4 PPG.
  • He has 18+ points in 22 of 28 games.
  • Brooks is 12-7 vs. this line since Nov. 21, and he finished with exactly 18 points in four of the outliers.

-> Don’t miss out — bet now on tonight’s NBA prop markets!

The Mississauga, Ontario native scored 16 and 19 points, respectively, in his two prior matchups against the champs. In the 16-point effort, he only played 26 minutes in a 49-point blowout loss (Brooks averages over 30 minutes per night).

I don’t expect Brooks to soar past this number, but as long as the Suns don’t get laughed out of their own building, he’ll have a solid shot at the over.

NBA prop picks made at 9:50 a.m. ET on Jan. 4, 2026.

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Seahawks vs. 49ers Week 18 prop picks: McCaffrey, Smith-Njigba should both make noise in air-tight Offensive Player of the Year battle

Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks

The NFC West crown — and the conference’s No. 1 seed — will be earned on Saturday night when the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks.

The pregame narrative: On an individual level, the Offensive Player of the Year will almost certainly be decided in this game, too. Look for OPOY frontrunners Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Christian McCaffrey to both pad their resumes in a massive matchup.

Check out my Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks for Jan. 3.

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Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks

Best Bet: McCaffrey over 42.5 receiving yards (-118)

The Seahawks have a nasty pass defence, which might give bettors some pause on this prop.

Seattle ranks second in net yards per attempt, as well as fifth in dropback success rate and EPA per dropback (according to RBSDM.com).

What that means to me, though, is that guys like Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are bound to struggle. And the check-down work that McCaffrey is accustomed to should still be there.

Look back to the Week 1 matchup between these teams, when the Niners only had two receivers clear 35 yards. One was McCaffrey, who caught nine of 10 targets for 73.

-> Bet on McCaffrey vs. the Seahawks

That kickstarted a remarkable receiving season for the two-time OPOY winner.

  • McCaffrey is averaging 6.0 receptions and 55.6 yards per game. He has 40+ yards in 13 of 16 games.
  • At 122 targets, CMC is 22 targets clear of all other NFL running backs (with Bijan Robinson sitting in second).
  • San Francisco has leaned harder on McCaffrey than anyone would’ve expected this season, which has resulted in him pacing the NFL in total touches (399).

In an extremely important season finale, he should be heavily involved again.

For folks on milestone watch, McCaffrey is four receptions from 100 for the year and 110 yards away from 1,000. It’s unlikely he makes good on the latter milestone, but his floor in terms of touches is exceedingly high.

Key stat: Seattle has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs (37.6).

NFL Saturday night prop bet

Smith-Njigba over 99.5 receiving yards (-118): Like McCaffrey, Smith-Njigba balled out when these divisional foes met at the start of the year.

The 23-year-old wideout turned 13 targets into nine catches for 124 yards. Entering Seattle’s bye in Week 8, JSN was on a 1,989-yard pace.

-> Don’t miss out — Bet on Seahawks vs. 49ers with the NFC’s top seed on the line!

He hasn’t quite kept that up, but a 100-yard game would put him over 1,800 for the season and likely secure the NFL receiving crown.

Through 16 games, Smith-Njigba is 9-7 vs. this prop … but he finished with more than 90 yards in four of the seven outliers.

He has at least nine targets in six of his past seven games, and he ranks in the 97th percentile this season in air yards per game (106.5, according to RotoWire).

Bank on Seattle giving its top weapon opportunities to shine.

Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks made at 4 p.m. ET 01/02/2026.

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Seahawks vs. 49ers Week 18 prop picks: McCaffrey, Smith-Njigba should both make noise in air-tight Offensive Player of the Year battle

Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks

The NFC West crown — and the conference’s No. 1 seed — will be earned on Saturday night when the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks.

The pregame narrative: On an individual level, the Offensive Player of the Year will almost certainly be decided in this game, too. Look for OPOY frontrunners Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Christian McCaffrey to both pad their resumes in a massive matchup.

Check out my Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks for Jan. 3.

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Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks

Best Bet: McCaffrey over 39.5 receiving yards (-113)

The Seahawks have a nasty pass defence, which might give bettors some pause on this prop.

Seattle ranks second in net yards per attempt, as well as fifth in dropback success rate and EPA per dropback (according to RBSDM.com).

What that means to me, though, is that guys like Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are bound to struggle. And the check-down work that McCaffrey is accustomed to should still be there.

Look back to the Week 1 matchup between these teams, when the Niners only had two receivers clear 35 yards. One was McCaffrey, who caught nine of 10 targets for 73.

-> Bet on McCaffrey vs. the Seahawks

That kickstarted a remarkable receiving season for the two-time OPOY winner.

  • McCaffrey is averaging 6.0 receptions and 55.6 yards per game. He has 40+ yards in 13 of 16 games.
  • At 122 targets, CMC is 22 targets clear of all other NFL running backs (with Bijan Robinson sitting in second).
  • San Francisco has leaned harder on McCaffrey than anyone would’ve expected this season, which has resulted in him pacing the NFL in total touches (399).

In an extremely important season finale, he should be heavily involved again.

For folks on milestone watch, McCaffrey is four receptions from 100 for the year and 110 yards away from 1,000. It’s unlikely he makes good on the latter milestone, but his floor in terms of touches is exceedingly high.

Key stat: Seattle has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards per game to opposing running backs (37.6).

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NFL Saturday night prop bet

Smith-Njigba 100+ receiving yards (+100): Like McCaffrey, Smith-Njigba balled out when these divisional foes met at the start of the year.

The 23-year-old wideout turned 13 targets into nine catches for 124 yards. Entering Seattle’s bye in Week 8, JSN was on a 1,989-yard pace.

-> Don’t miss out — Bet on Seahawks vs. 49ers with the NFC’s top seed on the line!

He hasn’t quite kept that up, but a 100-yard game would put him over 1,800 for the season and likely secure the NFL receiving crown.

Through 16 games, Smith-Njigba is 9-7 vs. this prop … but he finished with more than 90 yards in four of the seven outliers.

He has at least nine targets in six of his past seven games, and he ranks in the 97th percentile this season in air yards per game (106.5, according to RotoWire).

Bank on Seattle giving its top weapon opportunities to shine.

Seahawks vs. 49ers prop picks made at 2 p.m. ET 01/02/2026.

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Thunder vs. Warriors SGP predictions Jan. 2: OKC should win on the road, with Holmgren and Curry putting on a show

Thunder vs. Warriors predictions

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors begin the 2026 portion of their respective seasons on Friday night at Chase Center.

The pregame narrative: OKC shrugged off a 2-4 slump with three straight dominant wins to close out the calendar year. Now the Thunder are nearly double-digit road favourites against the Warriors tonight.

Check out my Thunder vs. Warriors SGP predictions for Jan. 2, featuring prop bets on Steph Curry and Chet Holmgren.

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Thunder vs. Warriors SGP

Parlay: Holmgren 30+ PRA | Curry 4+ threes | Thunder -4.5 (+300)

Holmgren 30+ points/rebounds/assists (-112): Golden State is a favourable matchup for opposing centres, and that’s a good place to start.

Here’s where the Warriors rank vs. centres this season, according to Fantasy Pros

  • 14th in points/game
  • 26th in rebounds/game
  • 26th in assists/game

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Excluding one injury-shortened matchup against Golden State last fall — in which Holmgren exited in the first quarter with a hip injury — he has dominated in this matchup.

Holmgren is 4-0 vs. this PRA prop in four full games vs. the Warriors, averaging 25.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Also, the Thunder will play without Isaiah Hartenstein tonight, which should create more opportunities for Holmgren.

The former No. 2 overall pick is 4-1 vs. this PRA prop in his past five games without Hartenstein.

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NBA SGP legs

Curry 4+ threes (-265): The juice on this prop looks crazy at first, but it starts to make sense when you look at what Curry is still accomplishing in his age-37 season:

  • NBA-highs in 3s per game (4.8) and 3-point attempts per game (12.1).
  • Has 4+ threes in 18 of 25 games (72.0%).

-> Bet on Steph Curry vs. OKC

Curry has averaged at least 4.4 made 3s in six straight seasons. The greatest shooter ever isn’t slowing down just yet.

He’s also 9-1 vs. this 3s milestone in his past 10 games against OKC.

The Thunder allow the fourth-highest opponent 3PT% (37.4), so Curry’s continued success really isn’t a surprise.

Thunder -4.5 (-230): I’m cutting tonight’s spread in half, which should put the Thunder in a great spot to cash.

OKC is merely 17-17-0 ATS on the season, but the team is typically asked to cover much larger spreads than this. The Thunder have laid 10-plus points in 19 of their past 21 games.

A few recent losses to the San Antonio Spurs won’t muddy my opinion of the defending champs. The Thunder still have the best net rating in the NBA (+14.2), and they own a +11.9 average point differential in 15 road games.

Thunder vs. Warriors predictions made at 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2026.

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Best NBA prop picks Jan. 2: Trey Murphy, Anthony Black have plus matchups on Friday night

NBA prop picks Jan. 2

Trey Murphy headlines Friday night’s NBA prop picks as he looks to cash in on a Grade-A matchup.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: For a second consecutive year, Murphy is averaging north of 20.0 points per game for the New Orleans Pelicans. Tonight’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers should have excellent scoring potential.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 2, featuring predictions on Anthony Black and Cedric Coward.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 2

Best bet: Murphy over 20.5 points (-104)

A pair of fast-paced, defensively inept squads meet up tonight in New Orleans, where the Pelicans host the Trail Blazers.

With a projected total of 244.5 points, this matchup has the second-highest over/under in the NBA’s 10-game slate. It’s an excellent matchup for Murphy to thrive in.

  • The Pelicans play at the ninth-fastest pace and allow the third-most points.
  • The Blazers play at the fifth-fastest pace and allow the sixth-most points.

-> Bet on prop markets for Blazers vs. Pelicans (ft. Trey Murphy)!

Murphy is sitting at 20.5 PPG this season. In a game that should feature plenty of possessions and minimal defence, I expect him to outperform his average.

The small forward is 16-17 vs. this prop, but he has at least 19 points in two-thirds of his games. So he’s often at or around this mark.

Portland allows the ninth-most points to opposing small forwards, per Fantasy Pros, and Murphy has thrived in this matchup recently. He’s 2-0 vs. this prop when facing the Blazers this year.

Key stat: Since February 2024, Murphy is 4-1 vs. this prop when facing Portland (averaging 24.2 PPG in those matchups).

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Best NBA picks

Coward over 23.5 points/rebounds/assists (127): As you might expect from a rookie still finding his footing, Coward has been rather inconsistent this year for the Memphis Grizzlies.

But the ceiling is high for the 11th-overall pick out of Washington State, as demonstrated in his most recent game (vs. 76ers): 28 points, 16 rebounds, four assists.

Coward has fallen under this PRA prop more often than not, but some trends are working in his favour:

  • 23.4 PRA in 19 games since joining the starting lineup.
  • 24.7 PRA in 21 games without Zach Edey, who has been ruled out again tonight with an ankle injury.

-> Full betting markets for Friday’s NBA slate

Better yet, Coward has averaged 26.9 PRA over his past eight games — all as a starter, and all without Edey.

The rookie is worth a play tonight against the Lakers, who rank 25th in defensive rating. Back on Halloween, Coward came off the bench against the Lakers and put up 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

NBA player prop predictions

Black over 16.5 points (-120): Black has already cashed this bet twice against the Chicago Bulls this season, and he came off the bench in both of those games:

  • Oct. 25: 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting (6-for-6 from the free throw line)
  • Dec. 1: 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting (2-for-5 from 3-point range)

-> Don’t miss out — bet now on tonight’s NBA prop markets!

In 10 games since joining Orlando’s starting rotation, Black is averaging 20.9 points on 16.4 shot attempts. He’s 7-3 vs. this line.

The Bulls allow the fourth-most points in the NBA and have failed to contain Black so far. Why would I expect that to be different tonight?

NBA prop picks made at 9:50 a.m. ET on Jan. 2, 2025.

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Best NBA prop picks Dec. 30: Back Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham to finish the year on a high note

NBA prop picks Dec. 30

Four NBA games are coming up on Tuesday night, and I’ve got prop bets from three of them.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: In the late window, Cade Cunningham looks to put on a show against the Los Angeles Lakers. Earlier on, Jaylen Brown has an opportunity to ride an epic scoring binge right into 2026.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 30, featuring a prediction on Nique Clifford.

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NBA prop picks Dec. 30

Best bet: Brown over 31.5 points (-118)

Brown has been the NBA’s best scorer this month, and he’s completely deserving of this line.

  • In nine December games, Brown is averaging 32.7 points while shooting 54.4% from the floor (43.2% from 3-point range).
  • Though he isn’t putting up a ton of shot volume from beyond the arc, Brown raises his scoring floor with free throws. This month, his average of 9.0 free throw attempts is fourth in the NBA.
  • On the season, Brown is averaging the most 2-point attempts in the league (15.9/game).

It’s not a surprise that Brown has shouldered more of the offensive load for the Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum out this season. But there was no guarantee that it would turn out this well.

In Year 10, Brown is posting career-high marks in points (29.7/game), field goal percentage (50.6%), free throws made (5.8/game) and free throw percentage (77.9%).

-> Bet on Celtics star Jaylen Brown!

Tonight, Brown and the Celtics face the worst scoring defence in the league, which belongs to the Utah Jazz. Utah allows 127.1 PPG.

When he last faced the Jazz, back in early November, Brown went 0-for-9 from deep … but he still managed to rack up 36 points.

Key stat: Brown has 30+ points in 12 of his past 13 games and is averaging 32.5 PPG in that span.

Best NBA picks

Clifford over 7.5 points (120): Clifford has been on the right side of the Sacramento Kings’ war of attrition lately, and he’s done enough to earn my trust on this line.

Sacramento is still missing two of its top-three scorers (Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine), and its fourth-leading scorer, Keegan Murray, is questionable.

Clifford, who balled out at Colorado State but wasn’t immediately effective in his rookie season, is starting to come around. With some key players out, he has now played 20+ minutes in six straight games.

In that six-game span, here’s how he fared:

  • 9.8 PPG
  • 5-1 vs. this prop
  • 43.1 FG%
  • 30.4 3PT%

-> Full betting markets for Tuesday’s NBA slate

Those shooting numbers aren’t great, but they’re a step up from where he’d been in his first 22 games: 37.8 FG%, 27.5 3PT%.

Clifford will face a Los Angeles Clippers squad that allows the eighth-most points to opposing shooting guards, per Fantasy Pros.

NBA player prop predictions

Cunningham over 9.5 assists (-125): While Brown is the hottest scorer in the NBA right now, Cunningham is the league’s most active passer.

  • Over his past 10 games, Cunningham is averaging an NBA-high 19.2 potential assists (i.e., passes that lead directly to a shot). Those have converted to 10.5 assists per game.
  • On the season, Cunningham is averaging 9.6 APG (second in the NBA). He is 15-14 vs. this prop.

-> Bet on Cade Cunningham in tonight’s Pistons vs. Lakers matchup!

Cunningham has 49 assists through four games on Detroit’s West Coast swing. Now, he’ll have a Los Angeles Lakers squad that allows the eighth-most assists to opposing point guards.

Last year, Cunningham went 2-0 vs. this prop when facing the Lakers.

NBA prop picks made at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 30, 2025.

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Alabama vs. Indiana Rose Bowl SGP predictions: Look for Omar Cooper to score in +460 parlay for College Football Playoff quarterfinal

Alabama vs. Indiana predictions

The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers face the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl.

The pregame narrative: Indiana isn’t the Cinderella story many deemed it to be last year, evidenced by its standing as a 7-point favourite in the “Granddaddy of Them All.” The unbeaten Hoosiers are led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has 33 TD passes in 13 games.

Check out my Alabama vs. Indiana predictions in this +460 same-game parlay, featuring Omar Cooper and Germie Bernard.

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Alabama vs. Indiana predictions

Parlay: Indiana -2.5 | Cooper anytime TD | Bernard 40+ rec. yards (+460)

Indiana -2.5 (-225): It’s easy to criticize Indiana’s strength of schedule in comparison to most SEC schools — Alabama included — but the Hoosiers handled their business all season.

And in three legitimately difficult matchups, the Hoosiers covered this number each time:

  • Sept. 27 at Iowa: 20-15 win (9-point favourites)
  • Oct. 11 at Oregon: 30-20 win (7-point underdogs)
  • Dec. 6 vs. Ohio State, neutral site: 13-10 win (3-point underdogs)

Beating then-No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten championship stamped Indiana’s status as a legit contender. It’s a far more well-rounded team than Alabama, and that should make all the difference.

The Crimson Tide have had a dreadful run game all year, ranking 131st in success rate … out of 136 NCAA Division I programs, per Game On Paper.

Bama put up 27 offensive points on the road against a strong Oklahoma defence in the first round of the College Football Playoff, which is impressive. But the team only had 28 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Indiana racked up five sacks against Ohio State in the conference title game. If the Hoosiers can pin their ears back, it’ll be a long day for Alabama.

The Hoosiers’ +31.5 average point differential is the second-best in the country.

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-> Check out NorthStar Bets’ College Football Playoff prop markets

Crimson Tide vs. Hoosiers SGP picks

Cooper anytime TD (+155): Cooper exited in the first quarter of the Big Ten title game with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

But after more than three weeks of rest, he’s reportedly expected to be fully available at the Rose Bowl.

That’s great news for the Hoosiers, given that Cooper paces the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (804) this season.

Mendoza is down to link up with Cooper anywhere on the field, but they tend to find each other in the scoring area. Before Cooper’s injury-shortened game, he’d scored a touchdown in four straight.

-> Bet on Omar Cooper vs. No. 9 Alabama

On the season, Cooper has cashed this prop in nine of 13 games.

In terms of success rate, Alabama’s defence ranks better against the run (23rd) than against the pass (t-36th). Indiana should remain pass-happy near the goal line.

Bernard 40+ receiving yards (-225): I’m sure Alabama will try to establish the run, but I don’t expect that to go well. And when the Tide drop back, Bernard is often the first read for QB Ty Simpson.

  • Bernard has 60 catches for 802 yards this season, which works out to 61.7 yards/game.
  • The senior wideout has 20+ yards in 13 of 13 games. He is 10-3 vs. this yardage milestone.

-> Don’t miss out — Bet on the CFP quarterfinals!

Oklahoma did a nice job slowing Bernard down in the first round of the CFP, holding him to three targets. But to his credit, he caught all three and tallied 40 yards.

Before that matchup, Bernard averaged 11.0 targets over a five-game stretch. He’ll need to be a factor if Alabama is going to advance.

Alabama vs. Indiana predictions made at 1:52 p.m. ET on Dec. 30, 2025.

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Pistons vs. Lakers SGP predictions Dec. 30: LeBron should star on his birthday, but look for Detroit to win as a road favourite

Pistons vs. Lakers predictions

LeBron James turned 41 years young on Tuesday, and I had to include the birthday celebrant in my Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers predictions.

The pregame narrative: LeBron has been on a scoring binge recently after a slow start to the year. With a pair of key absences on the Lakers’ side, look for the King to fill the net.

Check out my Pistons vs. Lakers SGP predictions for Dec. 30, featuring a prop bet on Duncan Robinson.

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Pistons vs. Lakers predictions

Parlay: Pistons ML | LeBron 20+ points | Robinson 3+ threes (+310)

Pistons ML (-137): The Pistons just lost by 13 points to the lowly Los Angeles Clippers two nights ago, but I’m willing to look past that. After all, the Lakers lost by 15 to the very same Clippers back on Dec. 20.

-> Bet on NBA futures at NorthStar Bets

What I like about Detroit tonight is that the team has been far better than L.A. in December.

Over 12 games this month, the Pistons are 8-4 with the fifth-best net rating in the NBA (+6.4).

The Lakers, meanwhile, are 5-6 this month with a -6.7 net rating (26th in the NBA).

Detroit won outright as an underdog in both matchups against L.A. last season. Tonight, the Lakers are missing a pair of starters, Austin Reaves (26.6 PPG) and Rui Hachimura (44.5 3PT%).

Embed: #122480

NBA SGP legs

LeBron 20+ points (-245): North of 40, LeBron still has it.

His 23rd NBA season got off to a rocky start, as LeBron missed L.A.’s first 14 games due to injury. In his first six games back, he averaged a modest 14.0 PPG and snapped his record 1,297-game streak of scoring at least 10 points.

But since then, LeBron has reminded everyone that he still has the upper hand on Father Time.

  • Over his past eight games, LeBron is averaging 25.4 PPG.
  • He has 18+ points in eight straight, going 6-2 vs. this milestone in that span.

-> Back LeBron tonight in L.A.

The recent scoring surge is probably a combination of Reaves’ absence and LeBron finally being fully ramped up. The King is a very strong pick to hit this points target tonight.

In his past 10 games without Reaves, dating back to December 2024, LeBron is averaging 27.0 PPG.

Robinson 3+ threes (-157): The Pistons brought Robinson in to be their go-to shooter from beyond the arc, and that’s exactly what he’s been.

The former Michigan Wolverine is shooting 38.7% from deep on 7.4 attempts per game. That equates to an average of 2.9 made 3s.

Robinson is 21-9 vs. this prop and has cashed it in four of his past five games.

I expect more of the same tonight against the Lakers, who allow the second-highest opponent 3PT% (38.1).

Pistons vs. Lakers predictions made at 12:05 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2025.

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Best NBA prop picks Dec. 30: Back Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham to finish the year on a high note

NBA prop picks Dec. 30

Four NBA games are coming up on Tuesday night, and I’ve got prop bets from three of them.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: In the late window, Cade Cunningham looks to put on a show against the Los Angeles Lakers. Earlier on, Jaylen Brown has an opportunity to ride an epic scoring binge right into 2026.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 30, featuring a prediction on Nique Clifford.

-> Join NorthStar Bets & start betting on the NBA!

NBA prop picks Dec. 30

Best bet: Brown over 31.5 points (-118)

Brown has been the NBA’s best scorer this month, and he’s completely deserving of this line.

  • In nine December games, Brown is averaging 32.7 points while shooting 54.4% from the floor (43.2% from 3-point range).
  • Though he isn’t putting up a ton of shot volume from beyond the arc, Brown raises his scoring floor with free throws. This month, his average of 9.0 free throw attempts is fourth in the NBA.
  • On the season, Brown is averaging the most 2-point attempts in the league (15.9/game).

It’s not a surprise that Brown has shouldered more of the offensive load for the Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum out this season. But there was no guarantee that it would turn out this well.

In Year 10, Brown is posting career-high marks in points (29.7/game), field goal percentage (50.6%), free throws made (5.8/game) and free throw percentage (77.9%).

-> Bet on Celtics star Jaylen Brown!

Tonight, Brown and the Celtics face the worst scoring defence in the league, which belongs to the Utah Jazz. Utah allows 127.1 PPG.

When he last faced the Jazz, back in early November, Brown went 0-for-9 from deep … but he still managed to rack up 36 points.

Key stat: Brown has 30+ points in 12 of his past 13 games and is averaging 32.5 PPG in that span.

Embed: #122474

Best NBA picks

Clifford over 7.5 points (132): Clifford has been on the right side of the Sacramento Kings’ war of attrition lately, and he’s done enough to earn my trust on this line.

Sacramento is still missing two of its top-three scorers (Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine), and its fourth-leading scorer, Keegan Murray, is questionable.

Clifford, who balled out at Colorado State but wasn’t immediately effective in his rookie season, is starting to come around. With some key players out, he has now played 20+ minutes in six straight games.

In that six-game span, here’s how he fared:

  • 9.8 PPG
  • 5-1 vs. this prop
  • 43.1 FG%
  • 30.4 3PT%

-> Full betting markets for Tuesday’s NBA slate

Those shooting numbers aren’t great, but they’re a step up from where he’d been in his first 22 games: 37.8 FG%, 27.5 3PT%.

Clifford will face a Los Angeles Clippers squad that allows the eighth-most points to opposing shooting guards, per Fantasy Pros.

NBA player prop predictions

Cunningham 10+ assists (-113): While Brown is the hottest scorer in the NBA right now, Cunningham is the league’s most active passer.

  • Over his past 10 games, Cunningham is averaging an NBA-high 19.2 potential assists (i.e., passes that lead directly to a shot). Those have converted to 10.5 assists per game.
  • On the season, Cunningham is averaging 9.6 APG (second in the NBA). He is 15-14 vs. this prop.

-> Bet on Cade Cunningham in tonight’s Pistons vs. Lakers matchup!

Cunningham has 49 assists through four games on Detroit’s West Coast swing. Now, he’ll have a Los Angeles Lakers squad that allows the eighth-most assists to opposing point guards.

Last year, Cunningham went 2-0 vs. this prop when facing the Lakers.

NBA prop picks made at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 30, 2025.

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College Football Playoff quarterfinal picks and predictions: NCAAF best bets on Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl and more

College Football Playoff picks

As the calendar flips from 2025 to ’26, we’ve got four College Football Playoff matchups to look forward to.

The pregame narrative: The Miami (FL) Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes kick things off with the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, giving way to a Jan. 1 tripleheader to begin 2026. Watch out for the underdog Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl as they rematch the Georgia Bulldogs.

Check out my best College Football Playoff picks for the Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day games, featuring prop predictions on Jake Retzlaff and Malachi Toney.

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College Football Playoff picks

Best bet: Miami/Ohio State under 42 points (-150)

I have a ton of respect for the Buckeyes’ defence, which boasts four players who could go in the first round of next year’s NFL draft.

  • Defensively, Ohio State ranks in the top five in NCAA Division I in yards per dropback, EPA per rush and rushing success rate, according to Game On Paper.
  • The Buckeyes have allowed 8.2 PPG, which is the best mark in the country. Not a single opponent has scored 17+ points.

Miami was on the road in the first round of the CFP, clawing out a 10-3 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M. Quarterback Carson Beck was atrocious, throwing for just 103 yards on 20 attempts.

-> Go to full Miami vs. Ohio State Cotton Bowl markets

The Cotton Bowl will feature two stellar defences, as the Hurricanes certainly hold their own in that regard.

Led by Rueben Bain Jr., a surefire first-round pick coming off the edge, Miami ranks fourth in opponent PPG (13.0) and 14th in yards per play.

The Hurricanes forced three turnovers in their first playoff game while holding Texas A&M to 2.5 yards per rush.

Ohio State struggled to muster up offence in a 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game, and I expect a similar defensive battle at Jerry World in Texas.

Key stat: Unders are 4-1 in Ohio State’s past five games overall, and they’re 4-1 in Miami’s five games away from home this season.

Orange Bowl prediction

Oregon/Texas Tech under 53 points (-138): For teams with alumni like Marcus Mariota, LaMichael James, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, it might feel wrong to bet the under.

But I have more faith in the defences than the offences. And it’s as simple as that.

  • Texas Tech and Oregon rank seventh and 16th, respectively, in defensive success rate. In offensive success rate, they rank 86th and 22nd, respectively.
  • Both teams are allowing fewer than 17.0 PPG this season.
  • Both teams rank in the top five in yards allowed per play.

Oregon’s Dante Moore could be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft if he chooses to come out. And TTU’s Behren Morton led the Big 12 in passer rating this season. So there’s strong offensive talent on both sides, too.

-> Bet now on No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech

But the Ducks have finished well below this total in back-to-back games away from home. I think that’ll happen again.

On the Red Raiders’ side, unders are 7-3 in their past 10.

College football prop picks

Williams under 27.5 receiving yards (-118): After a superb freshman season, it seemed like the sky would be Williams’ limit in 2025.

It hasn’t panned out that way, though.

Williams has just four receiving TDs and 48.9 receiving yards per game this season. That’s half as many touchdowns and nearly 20.0 yards/game fewer than last year.

Williams’ 48.9 YPG is still well above this prop’s line, but he’s trending in the wrong direction.

  • He only has four total catches in his past four games, averaging 15.8 yards in that span.
  • Williams failed to garner a target in the Iron Bowl, and he was held to just one catch for five yards in Alabama’s first-round matchup against Oklahoma.

In the Crimson Tide’s first-round CFP win on Dec. 19, five receivers finished with more yards than Williams.

SEC passing leader Ty Simpson knows how to air it out, but he’s rarely looking for Williams these days.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on the upcoming College Football Playoff action!

Sugar Bowl prediction: ATS best bet

Ole Miss +7 (-143): Back in October, the Ole Miss Rebels carried a two-score lead — on the road — into the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia put up 17 unanswered points from there to win by eight, but again, it did so from the comfort of home.

In a rematch on a neutral field, I like the Rebels’ chances of at least keeping this close.

  • Since its loss to Georgia, Ole Miss is 4-1-1 ATS (and the ATS loss was a 49-0 victory as a -50 favourite vs. The Citadel).
  • In their first game in the post-Lane Kiffin era, the Rebs earned a convincing 31-point victory in the first round of the CFP (as -16.5 favourites vs. Tulane).

Georgia is just 1-3 ATS in its past four games when favoured by four or more points. It’s difficult to win — and cover — against the same team twice in less than three months.

College Football Playoff picks made at 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2025.

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