Jordan Horrobin, Author at The Boost

49ers vs. Seahawks divisional round SGP predictions: Bet on Seattle to win, Jaxon Smith-Njigba to excel at home

A pair of talented NFC West foes will meet for a third time on Saturday night with a conference championship berth on the line.

The pregame narrative: The Seattle Seahawks are 7-point favourites against the San Francisco 49ers, who won as underdogs in Philadelphia last weekend. This is a grudge match, given that the Seahawks and Niners split their season series, 1-1.

Check out my 49ers vs. Seahawks picks, featuring prop bets on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Christian McCaffrey.

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49ers vs. Seahawks picks

SGP: Seahawks -3.5 | Smith-Njigba 100+ rec. yards | McCaffrey 40+ rec. yards (+350)

Seahawks -3.5 (-210): The Seahawks and Niners both won and covered as road favourites in their head-to-head matchups this season. Now, Seattle is at home as the biggest favourite of the divisional round.

And it makes sense, given how things have played out in the past couple of weeks.

With the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line in Week 18, Seattle went into San Francisco and clawed out a 13-3 victory. The Seahawks dominated, with more than twice as many first downs and total yards as the Niners.

The Seahawks are rested, coming off a bye, while the 49ers are playing on a short week after travelling cross-country from the eastern time zone.

-> Bet on the NFL divisional round!

Both teams are in a groove, generally speaking, but Seattle has key situational advantages (rest and home field).

I’ve sliced the standard spread in half, and that’s a number I expect the Seahawks — who had an NFL-best +191 point differential in the regular season — to cover.

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49ers vs. Seahawks prop prediction

Smith-Njigba 100+ receiving yards (+108): A lot of teams have thrown successfully against the 49ers this season, and that should continue in this game. Good luck to whoever draws the short straw of lining up across from JSN.

The NFL’s receiving yards leader (1,793) should cook, as he did in both matchups against San Francisco this season.

Smith-Njigba posted 208 yards on 15 catches (21 targets) across two games vs. the Niners.

All told, JSN averaged 105.5 yards per game this season. He went 9-8 vs. this yardage milestone.

-> Go to full 49ers vs. Seahawks player prop markets

According to RBSDM.com, the Niners’ defence ranks 25th in the NFL in dropback success rate and EPA per dropback. They also allowed the eighth-most receiving yards per game this season.

Seattle is expected to be calm, clear, and above-freezing on Saturday night. Without any problematic weather, I expect Smith-Njigba to go off.

SGP prediction: Expect high volume for CMC

McCaffrey 40+ receiving yards (-205): After slowing down a bit as a receiver in the closing weeks of the regular season, McCaffrey was back to his usual, high-volume self in the wild-card round.

The Offensive Player of the Year candidate caught six of eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles.

He was far less effective in the run game, turning 15 carries into just 48 yards (3.2 YPC).

-> Bet on full player prop markets for 49ers vs. Seahawks

Given that CMC only averaged 27.8 receiving yards from Weeks 13-18, it was nice to see an uptick in production with the Niners’ season on the line. And with George Kittle (Achilles) out, I expect more of the same.

In six games without Kittle this season, McCaffrey is 6-0 vs. this yardage milestone. He averaged 6.8 catches and 68.7 yards on 9.3 targets in those games.

When he played in Seattle in Week 1, CMC caught nine passes for 73 yards.

49ers vs. Seahawks picks made at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2025.

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Hornets vs. Lakers SGP predictions Jan. 15: Ride with Knueppel, Doncic in +320 parlay

In Thursday’s NBA nightcap, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Charlotte Hornets.

The pregame narrative: Doncic (33.4 PPG) is on track for his second scoring title in three seasons, but that’s not the only way he’s helping the Lakers remain competitive in the Western Conference. The Slovenian point guard is among the league’s top playmakers, too.

Check out my Hornets vs. Lakers SGP predictions for Jan. 15, featuring Doncic and Kon Knueppel.

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Hornets vs. Lakers SGP

Parlay: Doncic over 8.5 assists | Knueppel 25+ PRA | Lakers +2.5 (+320)

Doncic over 8.5 assists (-134): Despite leading the NBA in scoring, Doncic is also among the league’s elite when it comes to racking up assists. Everybody eats when he’s on the court.

Doncic is averaging 8.8 assists and is 15-16 vs. this line. But he also finished with exactly eight assists in six of the unders.

He has eight or more assists in eight straight games, going 5-3 vs. this prop in that span.

Doncic finished with seven assists when he faced the Hornets back in November, splitting his passing duties with backcourt sidekick Austin Reaves.

But Reaves (calf) has been out since Dec. 28 and will miss tonight’s game.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on Doncic against the Hornets now!

I like Doncic’s chances of picking up the slack as a playmaker, which he tends to do when Reaves is hurt. In 14 games without Reaves, Doncic is averaging 9.2 assists — with at least eight assists in 11 of 14.

The Hornets allow the fourth-most assists per game, so expect Doncic to create plenty of quality looks for his teammates.

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NBA SGP legs

Knueppel 25+ points/rebounds/assists (-155): Much like The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, I can’t quit Kon Kneuppel.

The sharpshooting rookie out of Duke is having a stellar season, which includes averaging 19.1 PPG while shooting 42.5% from deep.

Knueppel deserves more shots, but he’s often capped by the ball-dominant tendencies of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller. Still, this is a line that Knueppel is going to clear on most nights.

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On the season, the 20-year-old is averaging 27.8 PRA. He is 9-6 vs. this PRA milestone in his past 15 games.

The Lakers might be the right team to let Knueppel loose against. In his first matchup against them, he went for 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Lakers +2.5 (-275): Los Angeles is a 5-point favourite tonight, but I’m able to tease this line all the way across the zero while building out an SGP with odds longer than +300. Not half bad.

The Lakers are 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS as home favourites this year. On Tuesday, while laying 1.5 points against the visiting Atlanta Hawks, L.A. authored a dominant, 25-point victory.

The Hornets are 6-12 SU as road dogs.

I debated just taking the Lakers on the moneyline, which beefs up this SGP to a +350 price tag. But the Hornets have been relatively frisky on the road so far in January, with underdog wins over the Thunder and Bulls, along with a one-point loss against the Bucks.

A 2.5-point cushion isn’t much, but it might help against a Charlotte team that is better than its 14-26 record.

Hornets vs. Lakers SGP predictions made at 12:05 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2026.

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Best NBA prop picks Jan. 15: Bet on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score in bunches vs. Rockets

The NBA’s reigning MVP is back in action tonight, and I’ve got my eye on him in the prop market.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets a ton of buckets on a nightly basis, and it doesn’t seem to matter who’s guarding the opposing hoop. His points prop tonight is set below his season average, and I say he clears it against the Houston Rockets.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 15, featuring Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 15

Best bet: Holiday over 23.5 points/rebounds/assists (-120)

Holiday is working his way back to full strength for the Portland Trail Blazers, and he couldn’t be doing so at a better time.

Coinciding with Holiday’s resurgence — after a 27-game layoff due to a calf injury — is the fact that Deni Avdija will miss his second consecutive game tonight with a back issue.

Avdija was everything for the Blazers in Holiday’s absence, averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists without the veteran point guard.

Will Holiday be able to replicate that production sans-Avdija? No chance, but this PRA line isn’t asking for nearly that much.

Before his injury, Holiday averaged 16.7 points, 8.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds (30.3 PRA). Once he’s fully back up to speed, we won’t see a PRA line this low.

Holiday is getting there, though he’s still on a minutes restriction. Tonight will be his third game back, but we’ve already seen a nice progression from Games 1-2:

Jan. 11: 8 points (2-of-7 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 14 PRA

Jan. 13: 12 points (4-of-12 shooting), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 23 PRA

-> Bet on Blazers guard Jrue Holiday vs. Hawks!

Holiday played 16:17 in his first game back, and then 20:53 in the second game. He was averaging 33.3 minutes pre-injury, so he should see another uptick tonight.

Key stat: Holiday will face the Atlanta Hawks, who played at the second-fastest pace in the NBA. As a result, they allow the fifth-most assists and rebounds, along with the sixth-most points in the league.

Best NBA picks

Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 points (-118): Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the best scorer in the world right now. But he’s undoubtedly the most consistent.

SGA has scored 20+ points in 111 straight games, which is the second-longest streak of all time behind Wilt Chamberlain (1961-63). I’m looking for more than that out of the Hamilton, Ontario native tonight, but it gives a basic illustration of his elite consistency.

The reigning MVP and scoring champ sits at 31.9 PPG this season, leading the NBA in made field goals (10.9/game). He’s also second in the league in made free throws (8.2/game).

He has 30+ points in 28 of 39 games (71.8%).

-> Full betting markets for Thursday’s NBA slate

Houston is a tough team to score against, but Gilgeous-Alexander is even tougher to defend.

He dropped 35 on the Rockets back in October and is 7-2 vs. this prop when facing Houston since the start of the 2023-24 season.

NBA player prop predictions

White 4+ threes (-106): White went berserk the last time he faced the Miami Heat, and that has my attention.

Last month, White posted 9-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc against Miami in a 33-point effort. The matchup is right for him to thrive again from deep.

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

Miami allows the fourth-most attempted 3s per game (40.3), so White should have the opportunity to fire away.

Since the start of December, White is averaging 3.7 makes on 10.8 attempts from 3-point range. You need solid shot volume to hit a milestone like this, and I expect he’ll get that against Miami.

NBA prop picks made at 10:45 a.m. ET on Jan. 15, 2026.

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Best NBA prop picks Jan. 15: Bet on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score in bunches vs. Rockets

The NBA’s reigning MVP is back in action tonight, and I’ve got my eye on him in the prop market.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets a ton of buckets on a nightly basis, and it doesn’t seem to matter who’s guarding the opposing hoop. His points prop tonight is set below his season average, and I say he clears it against the Houston Rockets.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 15, featuring Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 15

Best bet: Holiday over 22.5 points/rebounds/assists (-120)

Holiday is working his way back to full strength for the Portland Trail Blazers, and he couldn’t be doing so at a better time.

Coinciding with Holiday’s resurgence — after a 27-game layoff due to a calf injury — is the fact that Deni Avdija will miss his second consecutive game tonight with a back issue.

Avdija was everything for the Blazers in Holiday’s absence, averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists without the veteran point guard.

Will Holiday be able to replicate that production sans-Avdija? No chance, but this PRA line isn’t asking for nearly that much.

Before his injury, Holiday averaged 16.7 points, 8.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds (30.3 PRA). Once he’s fully back up to speed, we won’t see a PRA line this low.

Holiday is getting there, though he’s still on a minutes restriction. Tonight will be his third game back, but we’ve already seen a nice progression from Games 1-2:

Jan. 11: 8 points (2-of-7 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 14 PRA

Jan. 13: 12 points (4-of-12 shooting), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 23 PRA

-> Bet on Blazers guard Jrue Holiday vs. Hawks!

Holiday played 16:17 in his first game back, and then 20:53 in the second game. He was averaging 33.3 minutes pre-injury, so he should see another uptick tonight.

Key stat: Holiday will face the Atlanta Hawks, who played at the second-fastest pace in the NBA. As a result, they allow the fifth-most assists and rebounds, along with the sixth-most points in the league.

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Best NBA picks

Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 points (-112): Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the best scorer in the world right now. But he’s undoubtedly the most consistent.

SGA has scored 20+ points in 111 straight games, which is the second-longest streak of all time behind Wilt Chamberlain (1961-63). I’m looking for more than that out of the Hamilton, Ontario native tonight, but it gives a basic illustration of his elite consistency.

The reigning MVP and scoring champ sits at 31.9 PPG this season, leading the NBA in made field goals (10.9/game). He’s also second in the league in made free throws (8.2/game).

He has 30+ points in 28 of 39 games (71.8%).

-> Full betting markets for Thursday’s NBA slate

Houston is a tough team to score against, but Gilgeous-Alexander is even tougher to defend.

He dropped 35 on the Rockets back in October and is 7-2 vs. this prop when facing Houston since the start of the 2023-24 season.

NBA player prop predictions

White 4+ threes (+110): I’m taking a plus-money swing on White, who went berserk the last time he faced the Miami Heat.

Last month, White posted 9-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc against Miami in a 33-point effort. The matchup is right for him to thrive again from deep.

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

Miami allows the fourth-most attempted 3s per game (40.3), so White should have the opportunity to fire away.

Since the start of December, White is averaging 3.7 makes on 10.8 attempts from 3-point range. You need solid shot volume to hit a milestone like this, and I expect he’ll get that against Miami.

NBA prop picks made at 9:55 a.m. ET on Jan. 15, 2026.

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NFL divisional prop bets: Bet on tight ends Jake Tonges, Colston Loveland to shine

I’ve got one player prop from each of the four NFL divisional playoff matchups kicking off over the weekend.

NFL wild-card prop bets narrative: Out of the gate on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills should look to get the ball into the reliable hands of Khalil Shakir. Later on, Jake Tonges is a name to know as the San Francisco 49ers look to replace the irreplaceable George Kittle.

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Check out my top NFL divisional prop bets, featuring Sunday predictions on Drake Maye and Colston Loveland.

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NFL divisional prop bets

Best bet: Maye over 35.5 rush yards (-118)

Maye’s mobility was on display in the wild-card round, as he rushed for a season-high 66 yards on 10 carries.

Keep in mind that three of those “rushes” were kneeldowns that cost him a yard apiece. So in terms of meaningful plays, he actually turned seven carries into 69 yards … essentially twice what I’m asking for with this pick.

I thought about backing Maye over 6.5 rush attempts, which includes the potential upside of kneeldowns for the New England Patriots (-3), but this yardage total feels like the right play based on the matchup.

During the regular season, the Houston Texans allowed the fewest rush attempts to quarterbacks (3.1/game). But they also allowed the most yards per rush (6.4).

-> Bet on player props for Texans vs. Patriots here!

Houston has two elite pass-rushers in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. They were two of just 10 NFL players with at least 12.0 sacks this season.

Maye should feel some heat in this game, and the Texans’ pass defence (No. 1 in EPA per dropback, No. 4 in net yards per attempt) likely won’t give him much to throw to downfield.

A handful of effective scrambles will get New England’s talented QB1 across this line.

Key stat: Since Week 15, Maye is averaging 6.2 yards/rush and 39.4 yards/game.

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Best NFL picks

Shakir 6+ catches (+100): Josh Allen took a beating last week and should be under siege again with the ferocious Denver Broncos defence bearing down.

Denver led the NFL this season in sacks per game (4.0) and QB knockdown rate (13.5%).

To counteract that pressure, Allen will likely want to get the ball out quickly. His most reliable outlet is Shakir, who’s coming off a stellar game (12 targets, 12 catches, 82 yards).

Shakir’s catch rate (75.8%) ranks in the 91st percentile, per RotoWire.

That has a lot to do with his average depth of target (3.9 yards), which ranks in the second percentile. Shakir sees a lot of high-percentage looks close to the line of scrimmage.

In last year’s wild-card playoff matchup against Denver, Shakir caught all six of his targets for 61 yards. He has now cashed this bet in five straight playoff games.

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Loveland over 4.5 catches (-134): Did you know that Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards this year?

He got off to a slow start, as many rookies do, but the tight end out of the University of Michigan really turned it on down the stretch.

First nine games: 33 targets, 24 catches, 329 yards, 2 TDs

Last eight games: 64 targets, 42 catches, 521 yards, 4 TDs

Loveland has 10+ targets and 90+ yards in three straight games. Chicago should continue feeding him.

Also, the Rams allowed an average of 5.4 receptions per game to opposing tight ends this season.

-> Back Colston Loveland vs. Rams

NFL player prop prediction

Tonges over 36.5 receiving yards (-118): Kittle’s season-ending Achilles injury is crushing for the 49ers, obviously. And Tonges isn’t a one-for-one replacement, but I expect him to be productive.

Kittle got hurt in the middle of San Francisco’s Week 1 game against Seattle, forcing Tonges into action. He caught all three of his targets in that game, including one that resulted in the game-winning touchdown.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on the NFL divisional slate!

Tonges has played six full games without Kittle this season. Here’s how that went:

6.7 targets/game
4.8 catches/game
44.8 yards/game
4-2 vs. this prop

The Seahawks allowed the sixth-most yards to opposing tight ends this year, and Tonges will have a TE1-sized opportunity that makes this prop perfectly attainable.

NFL divisional prop bets made at 3:53 p.m. ET on Jan. 14, 2026.

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Miami vs. Indiana college football national championship betting preview: NCAAF odds, key players and CFP trends

College football national championship preview

The College Football Playoff national championship is set, and it’s a matchup no one could’ve seen coming — right down to the fact that one team is playing in its home stadium.

Home-field advantage or not, the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes are two-score underdogs in South Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium against the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti’s IU crew has looked like a runaway freight train for most of the season.

Before Monday night’s kickoff, check out our college football national championship preview for Miami vs. Indiana on Jan. 19, 2026.

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College football national championship preview

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Certain fan bases, including those of Notre Dame and BYU, would argue that Miami shouldn’t be here.

The Hurricanes went 10-2 in the regular season, including 6-2 in the ACC, which put them in a five-way tie for second in the conference. They were one of the odd teams out, leaving their postseason fate in the hands of the CFP selection committee.

Despite Miami sitting idly by during championship weekend, the program leapfrogged Notre Dame (idle) and BYU (lost in the Big 12 championship) to get into the playoff as the lone ACC representative.

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

It was … an interesting move. But after three CFP wins, including a true road win at Texas A&M and a two-score victory over the defending national champions, who can really complain now?

There was no such controversy surrounding Indiana, the Big Ten champ that has been bulldozing its competition.

The Hoosiers are unbeaten, boasting an average victory margin of 31.5 points.

As of two years ago, Indiana had never accrued 10+ wins in 125 years of college football. Now the Hoosiers are on the doorstep of being the first FBS school to win 16 games in a season. What a world.

College football betting notes: How the Hurricanes got here

Record: 13-2 (6-2 ACC)
Key wins: vs. Notre Dame, at Florida State, at Texas A&M (CFP), vs. Ohio State (CFP), vs. Ole Miss (CFP)

Miami’s exact path to the playoff had some human intervention, but the team has proven it was built for the moment.

Transfer quarterback Carson Beck, who was a backup for two national titles at Georgia, led the ACC in completion rate this year and has a 14:2 TD-to-INT ratio over his past six games.

Defensively, the Hurricanes have a pair of edge rushers who are NFL-bound in the spring. The unit ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in scoring (14.0 PPG), which is due in part to the team’s ability to pin its ears back in passing situations.

Miami ranks No. 7 in opponent third-down success rate (34.7%), per Game On Paper.

-> Bet now on No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Indiana

CFP preview: How the Hoosiers got here

Record: 15-0 (9-0 Big Ten)
Key wins: vs. Illinois, at Iowa, vs. Ohio State, vs. Alabama (CFP), vs. Oregon (CFP)

I’m not going to reach to criticize this Indiana team, which ranks No. 2 in scoring on both sides of the ball.

In the preseason, Indiana had longer championship odds than Ohio State, Oregon and Alabama. But the Hoosiers went a combined 4-0 with a +82 point differential against those schools.

To know how Indiana got here, you have to go back to the James Madison Dukes’ 11-1 season in 2023. That team was coached by Cignetti, and he brought a ton of his best players to Bloomington.

In his debut season at Indiana, Cignetti led the team to an 11-2 record and a CFP appearance.

He retained several JMU transfers and brought in other players from the portal — players who suddenly saw Indiana as much more than a has-been basketball school.

College football national championship preview: Key players

Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana): Speaking of IU transfers, the program hit the jackpot with Mendoza. The Heisman trophy winner is almost a lock to go No. 1 overall in this year’s NFL draft.

Though his interviews often sound AI-generated, Mendoza’s robotic tendencies as a quarterback are a plus. He’s absurdly efficient, pacing D-I passers in yards per attempt (9.5), TDs (41) and passer rating.

Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana): Sarratt’s best season from a yardage standpoint came at Cignetti’s JMU in 2023, but he’s carried the clutch gene over to Indiana.

The wideout has the most receiving TDs in the country (15), converting nearly a quarter of his receptions into scores. He’s a nightmare to stop in the red zone.

-> Full CFP national championship prop markets

Malachi Toney (WR, Miami): Pound for pound, no one in college football is as exciting as the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Toney. And he’s only a freshman.

Toney had five-plus catches in each of his final six games, along with 15 total rush attempts in that span. Miami wants to get the ball in the hands of its speedy playmaker, and Indiana will have to be on its toes.

Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami): Bain is likely on his way to being a top-10 NFL draftee in April thanks to the chaos he causes on the defensive line.

The ACC Defensive Player of the Year was quiet in the CFP semis, but he did a ton of damage over three games vs. ranked opponents before that: 13 tackles (nine solo) and 5.5 sacks. As an outside rusher, it only takes one or two key plays to make a huge difference.

Hurricanes vs. Hoosiers betting trends

Both Miami and Indiana are 10-5-0 ATS this season.

Indiana’s +13.6 average ATS point differential leads D-I.

Miami is 3-0 SU as an underdog.

Overs are 9-6 on the season for Indiana. The CFP title game has a projected total of 47.5 points, and the Hoosiers have cleared that in seven of their past 10 matchups.

Toney has a touchdown in four of his past five games.

Sarratt has a touchdown in nine straight full games (i.e., excluding the Nov. 1 game at Maryland when he got hurt).

Mendoza has been ultra-efficient without huge yardage volume. Over his past eight games, he has a 20:4 TD-to-INT ratio and a 72.5% completion rate … but he’s averaging just 199.3 yards in that span.

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NFL divisional prop bets: Bet on tight ends Jake Tonges, Colston Loveland to shine

I’ve got one player prop from each of the four NFL divisional playoff matchups kicking off over the weekend.

NFL wild-card prop bets narrative: Out of the gate on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills should look to get the ball into the reliable hands of Khalil Shakir. Later on, Jake Tonges is a name to know as the San Francisco 49ers look to replace the irreplaceable George Kittle.

Check out my top NFL divisional prop bets, featuring Sunday predictions on Drake Maye and Colston Loveland.

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NFL divisional prop bets

Best bet: Maye over 35.5 rush yards (-110)

Maye’s mobility was on display in the wild-card round, as he rushed for a season-high 66 yards on 10 carries.

Keep in mind that three of those “rushes” were kneeldowns that cost him a yard apiece. So in terms of meaningful plays, he actually turned seven carries into 69 yards … essentially twice what I’m asking for with this pick.

I thought about backing Maye over 6.5 rush attempts, which includes the potential upside of kneeldowns for the New England Patriots (-3), but this yardage total feels like the right play based on the matchup.

During the regular season, the Houston Texans allowed the fewest rush attempts to quarterbacks (3.1/game). But they also allowed the most yards per rush (6.4).

-> Bet on player props for Texans vs. Patriots here!

Houston has two elite pass-rushers in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. They were two of just 10 NFL players with at least 12.0 sacks this season.

Maye should feel some heat in this game, and the Texans’ pass defence (No. 1 in EPA per dropback, No. 4 in net yards per attempt) likely won’t give him much to throw to downfield.

A handful of effective scrambles will get New England’s talented QB1 across this line.

Key stat: Since Week 15, Maye is averaging 6.2 yards/rush and 39.4 yards/game.

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Best NFL picks

Shakir 6+ catches (+115): Josh Allen took a beating last week and should be under siege again with the ferocious Denver Broncos defence bearing down.

Denver led the NFL this season in sacks per game (4.0) and QB knockdown rate (13.5%).

To counteract that pressure, Allen will likely want to get the ball out quickly. His most reliable outlet is Shakir, who’s coming off a stellar game (12 targets, 12 catches, 82 yards).

Shakir’s catch rate (75.8%) ranks in the 91st percentile, per RotoWire.

That has a lot to do with his average depth of target (3.9 yards), which ranks in the second percentile. Shakir sees a lot of high-percentage looks close to the line of scrimmage.

In last year’s wild-card playoff matchup against Denver, Shakir caught all six of his targets for 61 yards. He has now cashed this bet in five straight playoff games.

Loveland over 4.5 catches (-120): Did you know that Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards this year?

He got off to a slow start, as many rookies do, but the tight end out of the University of Michigan really turned it on down the stretch.

First nine games: 33 targets, 24 catches, 329 yards, 2 TDs

Last eight games: 64 targets, 42 catches, 521 yards, 4 TDs

Loveland has 10+ targets and 90+ yards in three straight games. Chicago should continue feeding him.

Also, the Rams allowed an average of 5.4 receptions per game to opposing tight ends this season.

-> Back Colston Loveland vs. Rams

NFL player prop prediction

Tonges over 35.5 receiving yards (-115): Kittle’s season-ending Achilles injury is crushing for the 49ers, obviously. And Tonges isn’t a one-for-one replacement, but I expect him to be productive.

Kittle got hurt in the middle of San Francisco’s Week 1 game against Seattle, forcing Tonges into action. He caught all three of his targets in that game, including one that resulted in the game-winning touchdown.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on the NFL divisional slate!

Tonges has played six full games without Kittle this season. Here’s how that went:

6.7 targets/game
4.8 catches/game
44.8 yards/game
4-2 vs. this prop

The Seahawks allowed the sixth-most yards to opposing tight ends this year, and Tonges will have a TE1-sized opportunity that makes this prop perfectly attainable.

NFL divisional prop bets made at 11:53 a.m. ET on Jan. 14, 2026.

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Best NBA prop picks Jan. 14: Bet on Markkanen, Flagg to produce on Wednesday night

Lauri Markkanen faces one of his former teams on Wednesday night, and I think his points prop is a smash play.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: Markkanen and the Utah Jazz are on the road against the Chicago Bulls in a game that should turn into a track meet. Look for the power forward to produce in what continues to be a career year.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 14, featuring Cooper Flagg and Bub Carrington.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 14

Best bet: Markkanen over 26.5 points (-107)

I don’t understand why this line sits where it does, but I’ll gladly jump on the over at a nice price.

Markkanen is averaging 27.9 points this season, and he’ll be in a high-paced scoring environment tonight that should allow him to push for an above-average total.

The Bulls host Markkanen’s Jazz for a matchup with the highest over/under on the night’s seven-game slate (243 points). Both squads play at a top-five pace and have a bottom-five defensive rating.

When these teams last met in November, they combined for 254 points in regulation. The final score was 150-147 for Utah in double overtime.

Oh, and Markkanen dropped 47 points in that barn-burner.

-> Bet on Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen vs. Bulls!

To sum it up, Markkanen is in a matchup tonight that should produce a mountain of points based on the teams’ tendencies, defensive shortcomings, and recent precedent.

And he can cash this bet without even reaching his season scoring average. So yeah, I’m all over that.

Since the start of December, Markkanen has cashed this bet in 10 of 14 games while posting 50.7/38.3/85.6 shooting splits.

Key stat: Markkanen is 4-1 vs. this scoring prop in his past five games against the Bulls (dating back to the 2022-23 season, when he joined the Jazz).

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Best NBA picks

Flagg 6+ assists (+143): You can get Flagg over 4.5 assists at -148, which is fine, but I’m cutting out the juice and aiming a bit higher tonight.

Ryan Nembhard, the Dallas Mavericks’ assist leader, has come off the bench in four of his past five games. That has left Flagg with a greater opportunity to facilitate in the starting rotation.

In those four recent games with Nembhard playing as a reserve, Flagg has 25 total assists and is 3-1 vs. this milestone prop.

-> Full betting markets for Wednesday’s NBA slate

Flagg will face the Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets, and I think he can do his part as a passer. The Nuggets allow the eighth-most assists per game in the NBA.

When Flagg last faced the Nuggets on Dec. 23, he finished with nine assists — his second-highest total of the season.

NBA player prop predictions

Carrington over 1.5 threes (-129): Here’s an odd stat: Carrington has a better shooting percentage from 3-point range (42.1%) than he has overall (40.5%).

I’d like to see a bit more 3-point volume from the second-year player, but at a line this low, he’s worth a play on Wednesday night.

Carrington is averaging 2.0 made 3s on 4.7 attempts this season.

Since Nov. 22, Carrington is 17-6 vs. this prop while averaging 5.9 attempts.

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CJ McCollum used to be the Wizards’ most active 3-point shooter, but he plays for the Atlanta Hawks now. That should open things up a bit for guys like Carrington.

In three games since McCollum left, Carrington is 9-for-21 from deep (42.9%).

NBA prop picks made at 9:45 a.m. ET on Jan. 14, 2026.

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NFL divisional round matchups, schedule and betting odds: Bills are slight road favourites vs. top-seeded Broncos

The top-seeded Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos will both be in action on Saturday as part of a four-pack of NFL divisional round games.

The latest: Seattle comes off its bye to face the thinning San Francisco 49ers for a third time. Denver, meanwhile, looks like it could be laying a point or two against the Buffalo Bills. The Broncos enjoyed an 8-1 record at Mile High this season.

Check out the NFL divisional schedule and our odds for the second-round matchups on Jan. 17-18, 2026.

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NFL divisional schedule and odds

Bills favoured in Denver

Buffalo Bills (-120) vs. Denver Broncos (+100)

Date: Saturday, Jan. 17
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Spread: Bills -1 (-112)

The Broncos opened as very modest underdogs, which is an exceedingly rare spot for a team coming off a bye. According to The Action Network, Denver would be just the fourth underdog in the playoffs coming off a bye, and each of the previous three teams won straight up.

If Broncos close as underdogs, it would be just 4th time in the last 40 years a team off bye in Divisional Round isn't listed as a favorite ⤵️

• 2017-18: Eagles (+2.5) vs. ATL (PHI won)
• 2011-12: 49ers (+3.5) vs. NO (SF won)
• 1996-97: Panthers (+3.5) vs. DAL (CAR won) https://t.co/43gBoMq1SZ
— Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) January 12, 2026

Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen took a beating against the Jaguars’ physical defence. He went to the medical tent early on for a head injury assessment and later appeared to injure his knee on a touchdown run.

He’ll play as long as Hell doesn’t freeze over, but this matchup is a daunting one. Denver leads the NFL in sacks (4.0/game) and QB knockdown rate (13.5%).

Unders have gone 4-2 in Buffalo’s past six road games, and the under cashed in Buffalo’s 31-7 win over Denver in the wild-card round last year.

-> See player prop markets for the second round of the NFL playoffs

San Francisco 49ers (+300) vs. Seattle Seahawks (-400)

Date: Saturday, Jan. 17
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Spread: Seahawks -7.5 (-1120

Interestingly, both Seattle and San Francisco won and covered as road favourites against each other during the regular season. Both of those spreads were inside of 4 points, though, so this -7.5 line stands out.

George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will be out for six-plus months. That’s a devastating blow for the 49ers, who will hope to see wideout Ricky Pearsall back in action. Pearsall has missed three of San Francisco’s past four games.

Saturday’s game has a projected total of 45.5 points. Both regular-season matchups between the Seahawks and Niners hit the under, with just 46 combined points being scored.

-> At NorthStar Bets: Full betting markets for the NFL playoffs

Sunday’s NFL divisional round matchups

Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots

Date: Sunday, Jan. 18
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Spread: New England -3.5 (-106)

New England’s defence was superb in their 16-3 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers, holding L.A. to a measly 3.5 yards per play. The Chargers also went a combined 2-for-13 on third and fourth down while taking six sacks.

Houston’s No. 1 defence was even better against Pittsburgh. The Steelers had just 175 total yards and went 2-for-13 on third down with a pick-six and a fumble-six.

C.J. Stroud got bailed out by that unit, after throwing an interception and losing two fumbles in an ugly game.

Though the Pats’ offence had some bumps in the road, they unlocked something with Drake Maye as a runner. He scampered for a season-high 66 yards on 10 carries while also throwing for 268 yards and one TD.

New England is now 8-3-1 ATS as a favourite. Houston has won 10 straight and is 4-3 ATS as an underdog.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on the NFL divisional round now!

Los Angeles Rams (-200) vs. Chicago Bears (+165)

Date: Sunday, Jan. 18
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Spread: Rams -3.5 (-112)

Well, the Bears did it again, erasing a fourth-quarter deficit for a seventh time this season to keep their season alive. Twice in the past month, they’ve overcome double-digit margins in the fourth against the Packers.

If you’re buying into Chicago’s highly unlikely surge, you can do so while banking some points on Sunday. The Bears, who have a 7-1-1 ATS record in their past eight, are home underdogs against a Rams team that has looked a bit shaky on the road.

Los Angeles needed a last-minute touchdown to push past the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round — despite laying 10.5 points. In their past five road games, the Rams are 2-3 ATS and SU.

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Best NBA prop picks Jan. 12: Michael Porter Jr. should shine for Nets, fade Miles Bridges vs. Clippers

It’s been a banner year for Michael Porter Jr., who draws my attention in the NBA prop market for Monday night.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: Porter was given the keys to the Brooklyn Nets’ offence after being traded there this offseason, and he’s been excellent all year. His points prop is at a very playable line tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Jan. 12, featuring Payton Pritchard and Miles Bridges.

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NBA prop picks Jan. 12

Best bet: Porter over 26.5 points (-118)

If the Nets truly want to embrace a tank this season, they’ll probably want to get rid of Porter.

The ex-Nugget is doing his part and then some for the 11-win Nets, posting career-high averages in points (25.9), rebounds (7.4) and assists (3.4).

It’s really been an across-the-board improvement for Porter. He’s averaging about six more field goal attempts, three-and-a-half more 3s and two-and-a-half more free throws than during his Denver tenure.

-> Bet on MPJ tonight in Nets vs. Mavericks!

The 27-year-old rested last night, which is typical for him to do on one end of a back-to-back. He should be good to go on Monday, and this number looks like a smash to me.

In 13 games since Dec. 1, Porter is averaging 27.8 PPG. He’s 10-3 vs. this points prop in that span.

From December onward, Porter has been dominant beyond the arc, shooting 43.3% on a hearty 10.3 attempts per game.

MPJ’s Nets are visiting the Mavericks, who are missing a ton of size with Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively out. P.J. Washington is doubtful, too.

On Dec. 12, Porter went 6-for-10 from deep in Dallas as part of a 34-point performance.

Key stat: Porter has gone over 25.5 points in five of his past six games.

Best NBA picks

Pritchard under 6.5 assists (-118): I’m struggling to understand why this line is so high, but I’ll gladly take the under at a reasonable price.

Pritchard is averaging 5.2 assists, and this under is 29-9 on the season.

He hit the under in both matchups vs. the Indiana Pacers last month, posting exactly five assists apiece in those games.

-> Full betting markets for Monday’s NBA slate

The Pacers are arguably the worst team in the NBA this season, but they haven’t been total pushovers on defence. Indiana ranks 20th in defensive rating and is allowing the seventh-fewest assists per game.

With Jaylen Brown listed as doubtful for the Boston Celtics, I’d expect Pritchard to be tasked with a heightened role as a scorer, not as a facilitator.

NBA player prop predictions

Bridges under 18.5 points (-112): The Charlotte Hornets have four players who average between 19.0 and 20.0 points, and sometimes it’s difficult to predict who’s going to get buckets on any given night.

Bridges looks like a reasonable fade candidate tonight in Los Angeles, where he’ll face a Clippers squad that allows the third-fewest points to opposing power forwards (per Fantasy Pros).

Yes, Bridges did sneak over this line with a 19-point effort when he faced the Clips at home in November, but that came with an uncharacteristically high volume of free throws. He shot 9-for-10 at the line.

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

Since the start of December, Bridges has averaged just 3.1 free throw attempts per game. This under is 11-7 in that span, with Bridges putting up 16.8 PPG.

NBA prop picks made at 2:15 p.m. ET on Jan. 12, 2026.

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