Spencer Closs

Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.

UFC 324 fight card and betting odds: Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for interim lightweight championship

UFC 324 odds

The first UFC card of the new year is headlined by two title fights.

The pre-fight narrative: With Ilia Topuria out of action for the foreseeable future, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will lock horns for the interim lightweight championship. Before that, Amanda Nunes makes her return to the cage to challenge Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event.

Check out the UFC 324 fight card and latest betting odds for the Jan. 24, 2026, event in Las Vegas.

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UFC 324 fight card and odds

FighterOddsWeight classOddsFighter
Justin Gaethje (4)+185Lightweight-235Paddy Pimblett (5)
Kayla Harrison (C)-245Bantamweight (W)+190Amanda Nunes
Sean O’Malley (3)-205Bantamweight+163Song Yadong (5)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (5)-305Heavyweight+240Derrick Lewis (8)
Arnold Allen (6)+188Featherweight-240Jean Silva (10)

UFC 324 odds as of 1:55 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2026.

Full UFC 324 betting markets

UFC 324 main event: Gaethje vs. Pimblett

This isn’t a true title fight, but still super exciting nonetheless.

These are two of the most explosive fighters in the UFC, so fans should expect a banger to close out the night.

Pimblett had a meteoric rise in the promotion, winning seven fights in a row en route to this title opportunity. He ended five of those bouts before the final bell.

The Englishman is a smothering grappler who is always looking for a finish when in a dominant position.

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Gaethje is also very violent, but he does most of his work at the kickboxing range. Only three of his 11 UFC fights have gone the distance.

He takes a ton of damage each fight, but he strives in the line of fire. Gaethje absorbs 7.18 significant strikes per minute compared to dishing out 6.59.

This has all the makings of a high-action bout that could be an early contender for fight of the year.

UFC 324 fight card: Harrison vs. Nunes

  • Harrison won the bantamweight title after just three fights in the UFC. What’s her reward? She gets to welcome back the GOAT of women’s MMA for her first title defence. The champ is a legit Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and she’s finished 14 of 19 wins by either submission or ground and pound.
  • Nunes hasn’t fought since 2023 and is deservedly the underdog in her first fight back. If she wants to reclaim UFC gold, she’ll need to keep this fight on the feet, where she has a significant advantage. If Harrison gets her to the mat with ease, it’s hard to see Nunes having any success.

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O’Malley vs. Yadong UFC 324

  • O’Malley, the former bantamweight champ, looks to rebuild his momentum after back-to-back losses to Merab Dvalishvili. He will need to get past Yadong, who’s entering his prime at 28 years old and holds an 11-3-1 UFC record.
  • Dvalishvili is expected to get an immediate rematch with new champ Petr Yan, but the winner of this fight should be next in line. Before losing two straight, O’Malley was on a six-fight win streak.

Cortes-Acosta vs. Lewis UFC 324

  • Cortes-Acosta has a case for fighter of the year in the heavyweight division, as he surged up the rankings. He went 4-1 to reach an overall record of 16-2. He fought twice in the month of November, winning each bout by knockout. He has all the momentum ahead of this fight.
  • Lewis is nearing the end of his career, but he’s still dangerous. He’s on a two-fight win streak, most recently knocking out prospect Tallison Teixeira in a fight where he was also a sizeable underdog. Lewis holds the record for most UFC knockouts with 16 in his 30-fight career.

UFC 324 fight card: Allen vs. Silva

  • Allen started his UFC career by winning 10 straight fights to reach the pinnacle of the featherweight division. He then ran into two of the best (Max Holloway, Mosvar Evloev) and lost both bouts. The good news is he got back into the win column in 2025, beating Giga Chikadze by dominant decision.
  • Silva was one of the most hyped prospects in the UFC, winning his first five fights by finish. He then ran into Diego Lopes and got outclassed for two rounds before being knocked out by a spinning elbow.
  • Allen may not be a championship-calibre fighter, but he’s a legit staple in the top five of this division. A win for Silva could propel him to the next title shot in a loaded featherweight division.

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Grizzlies vs. Lakers SGP predictions Jan. 4: Bet on Luka Doncic, Lakers to defend home court

Grizzlies vs. Lakers SGP

The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers run it back in L.A. to start the New Year.

The pregame narrative: These two played on Jan. 2 and the Lakers came away witn the 127-121 win. In the rematch, I expect the Lakers to be even more dominant behind a strong effort from Luka Doncic.

Check out my Grizzlies vs. Lakers SGP predictions for Jan. 4, featuring prop bets on Doncic and Santi Aldama.

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Grizzlies vs. Lakers SGP

Parlay: Doncic over 33.5 points | Aldama 6+ rebounds | Lakers -5.5 (+310)

Doncic over 33.5 points (-152): In the game a couple of days ago, Doncic scored 34 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field.

It was a below-average night in terms of volume. The NBA’s scoring leader averages more than 20 shot attempts per game, so an uptick in volume here would give him every chance to go over this total again.

That’s mainly because the Grizzlies allow the most points in the league to opposing point guards (28.66).

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In his first game against Memphis back near the start of the season, Doncic scored 44 points on 27 shots.

Hitting 17 free throws helped him cash this wager on Friday, but he should’nt need so many trips to the line this time.

Look for Doncic to cook the Grizzlies for the third time this season on Sunday.

NBA SGP legs

Aldama 6+ rebounds (-250): With Zach Edey sidelined, Aldama has become very important down low for Memphis.

He remains in a bench role, but the current starter is Christian Koloko, who plays 19.2 minutes per night and averages 3.3 rebounds.

Koloko hardly takes away opportunities from Aldama, who’s averaging 32.7 minutes over the past 10 games.

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During that span, he’s 8-2 against this wager and averaging 7.2 rebounds.

Aldama played 29 minutes against the Lakers on Friday and hauled in seven rebounds.

As long as it’s not a blowout, Aldama should play the same amount if not more this time around.

Lakers -5.5 (-110): I simply do not trust the Grizzlies with how loaded their injury report is.

Many rotation players are out, and Ja Morant is questionable for tonight’s game.

He played on Friday and the Lakers still covered this spread. If he’s out for this game, this line would almost certainly move in L.A.’s favour.

The Lakers are 21-11 this season and LeBron James is getting better as the season goes on. He scored 31 points against Memphis last time out.

Austin Reaves remains out, but LeBron, Luka and the Lakers’ cast of role players are more than enough to dominate a shorthanded Memphis squad.

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Grizzlies vs. Lakers predictions made at 11:43 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2026.

Bucks vs. Kings SGP predictions Jan. 4: Back Milwaukee to win behind monster game from Giannis

Bucks vs. Kings SGP

The Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings take part in what I feel should be a one-sided matchup.

The pregame narrative: Giannis Antetokounmpo is probable for tonight’s contest. If he plays, the Bucks have a good shot at beating what should be a fatigued Kings squad.

Check out my Bucks vs. Kings SGP predictions for Jan. 4, featuring prop bets on Giannis and Ryan Rollins.

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Bucks vs. Kings SGP

Parlay: Giannis 30+ points | Rollins 2+ threes | Bucks -6.5 (+380)

Giannis 30+ points (-115): Giannis’s status is important, but being listed as probable is enough for me to build an SGP around him in this matchup.

The Kings lack paint defence, and I don’t have to sell his ability to take advantage of that.

-> Back Giannis and bet on the NBA tonight!

They allow the second-most points in the paint per game (55.6) and the fourth-most points to power forwards per game (24.57).

So if I can get the best power forward in the NBA to score around his season average at a playable price, I’ll take it, even if he’s on a minutes restriction.

Giannis has scored 30+ points in back-to-back games while playing less than 30 minutes.

Embed: #122571

NBA SGP legs

Rollins 2+ threes (-265): This is supposed to be the safest leg of the parlay based on the odds, and I think that will hold.

Rollins is a sniper, hitting 2.5 threes per game at a 42.2% clip.

The Bucks’ starting point guard is coming off a 29-point performance over the Charlotte Hornets, playing 36 minutes in the win.

-> Build your own SGP at NorthStar Bets

He hit 6-of-7 threes, which put him at eight straight games with at least two made 3s. During that time, he made 3.3 threes per game at a 53.1% clip.

Rollins is white-hot right now, playing against the team with the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA (121.4). This pick feels like a no-brainer.

Bucks -6.5 (-110): This is an all-Bucks SGP, concluding with a prediction that Milwaukee wins this game handily.

The Bucks obviously look way better when Giannis is playing but this leg is mainly a fade of the Kings.

  • They are 8-27 overall while dealing with injuries for Domantas Sabonis (out) and Zach LaVine (GTD). LaVine hasn’t played since Dec. 14, so even if he’s available, he should be on a restriction.
  • Plus, Sacramento has played a lot over the past eight days. This will be the team’s fifth game in that span.

Things aren’t looking up for the Kings, at least anytime soon, and chances are they’re sellers at the deadline.

The Bucks are 12-9 with Giannis in the lineup and can still make a run at the postseason if he can stay healthy.

There’s too much to like on the side of Milwaukee.

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Bucks vs. Kings predictions made at 11:43 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2026.

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Ravens vs. Steelers Week 18 TD picks: Expect Derrick Henry to build on recent success

Ravens vs. Steelers TD picks

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers clash on Sunday Night Football to decide the winner of the AFC North.

The pregame narrative: Week 18 is headlined by a ‘win and in’ matchup between division rivals. The Ravens are sitting as 4-point favourites, and superstar running back Derrick Henry should have another big performance to help his team make the playoffs.

Check out my Ravens vs. Steelers TD picks for Jan. 4, featuring Pat Freiermuth.

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Ravens vs. Steelers TD picks

Best Bet: Henry anytime TD (-132)

Many football fans would say Henry had a down year, but he’s quietly been among the best running backs in the NFL down the stretch.

Take a look at his stats from the past four games:

  • 90 carries
  • 538 yards
  • 6 TDs

Four of those scores came in Week 17, but either way, it’s been a dominant run for Henry.

On the season, he now has 1,469 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and 16 TDs. Not quite a down year after all.

-> Bet on Derrick Henry to find the end zone on Sunday Night Football

When the Ravens played the Steelers in Week 14, Henry didn’t score, but he did record 94 yards on 25 carries.

Inside the red zone, Henry is still a battering ram. He has 63 carries inside the 20-yard line, equating to 10 TDs.

Coming off 200+ yards and four TDs in Week 17, Henry should continue to be leaned on in this win-or-go-home game, especially near the goal line.

Key stat: Henry is 9-7 against this wager this season.

Embed: #122568

SNF over/under prediction

Freiermuth anytime TD (+320): D.K. Metcalf is serving the final game of his suspension, so Aaron Rodgers will need to look elsewhere in the passing game.

That brings me to Freiermuth. He fell out of favour in Pittsburgh this season, but this is a chance for the big tight end to make an impact when it matters most.

In last week’s loss to the Cleveland Browns, he led the team with 63 receiving yards. It was a bad game script for all Steelers’ pass catchers as Rodgers threw for 168 yards and the team scored a measly six points.

-> Don’t miss out — Bet on Sunday Night Football!

This Sunday, Pittsburgh gets to play a much weaker defence.

  • The Browns allow the second-fewest passing yards per game (163.8)
  • The Ravens allow the fourth-most passing yards per game (245.2).

That is an area the Steelers will need to exploit to win this matchup. And Freiermuth has what it takes to step up as a top option. He has 11 touchdowns since the start of last season.

Ravens vs. Steelers TD picks made at 9:40 a.m. ET Jan. 4, 2026.

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EPL picks and predictions Jan. 1: Expect goals in Brentford vs. Tottenham, Man City to win on New Year’s Day

EPL predictions

Thursday kicks off a new calendar year, but the Premier League is far from over, with Manchester City eyeing another second-half comeback for the EPL title.

The Matchday narrative: The current leader is Arsenal, but City continues to race up the standings. On New Year’s Day, the Citizens can get within a game’s reach of the Gunners with a win over Sunderland.

Check out my top EPL predictions and best picks for the upcoming soccer fixtures on Jan. 1, featuring a pick on Brentford vs. Tottenham.

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EPL predictions: New Year’s Day

Best bet: Manchester City halftime/fulltime (-106)

Man City started the season slowly, but it’s won six straight games in pursuit of Arsenal atop the EPL standings.

That includes beating Sunderland, 3-0, in a match that City was leading 2-0 at halftime.

For those who aren’t aware, this bet cashes if the side is up at halftime and then wins the game.

And the good news is City’s offence gets going early, and that leads to a lot of goals before half.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on Sunderland vs. Manchester City

Despite having one fewer fixture played than most teams, the Citizens have 43 goals. Six more than Arsenal and 10 more than any other team.

As hot as the side is right now, I had to find a way to get behind Man City in a way that made sense still. This fits the bill.

Key stat: During the six-game heater, Man City cashed this bet five times.

-> See all betting odds for the EPL on New Year’s Day

EPL picks: Brentford vs. Tottenham

Over 2.5 goals (-112): Both of these offences are good enough to contribute to the over in this match.

  • Tottenham has scored at least one goal in 15 of 18 EPL matches, with 27 overall tallies.
  • Brentford has even more goals with 28, and scored six goals in its last two games.

-> Wager on European soccer matches at NorthStar Bets

Tottenham hosted this matchup a few weeks back and won the contest 2-0. With Brentford at home for the rematch, I’m confident the offence can produce more.

Neither team is particularly strong on defence, either. They have combined to allow 49 goals this season.

EPL predictions made at 1:35 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025.

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Best NBA prop picks Dec. 31: Bet on Giannis Antetokounmpo to go off on New Year’s Eve

NBA prop picks Dec. 31

There’s NBA action all day on New Year’s Eve, and I have prop picks to share from three different games.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: In the final game on Wednesday, look for Antetokounmpo to have a monster performance against the Washington Wizards. Earlier on, Derik Queen has the right matchup to do damage.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 31, featuring a prediction on Stephon Castle.

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NBA prop picks Dec. 31

Best bet: Antetokounmpo over 27.5 points (-118)

The ‘Greek Freak’ missed most of December recovering from injury. Since he returned just after Christmas, he’s been on a minute restriction, but this number is achievable even in limited minutes.

Despite playing around 25 minutes in both games, Giannis is 1-1 against this line, finishing with 24+ points in each. He still has an incredibly high offensive floor.

On top of that, the total for this game is 246.5 points, the highest of any matchup today.

-> Bet on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo!

There should be a lot of points scored, and the Wizards have no one to match Giannis in the paint.

Washington allows the fourth most points per game to power forwards (24.73). It also allows opponents to shoot 59.1% inside 10 feet.

That is where Giannis does most of his work, and he should take advantage of the Wizards’ poor rim defence.

Key stat: Antetokounmpo has gone over this total in five of his past seven games against the Wizards, averaging 33.0 points.

Best NBA picks

Queen over 12.5 points (-120): Another team that struggles to guard the paint is the Chicago Bulls.

And Queen can expose that on Wednesday.

  • Chicago concedes the third most points to centres (24.92), per Fantasy Pros.
  • Overall, the Bulls have the seventh-worst defensive rating in the NBA (119.3).

-> Full betting markets for Wednesday’s NBA slate

Queen has been solid as a rookie, scoring 13.3 points while making 22 starts for the New Orleans Pelicans.

He’s been even better over the last 10 games, upping his scoring average to 16.2 points while going 7-3 against this wager.

This has all the makings of a smash spot for Queen.

NBA player prop predictions

Castle over 6.5 assists (-137): The first thing to note is that Castle is questionable for tonight’s game.

If he plays, this is a great wager. If he doesn’t, it simply voids, and there’s no harm done.

Castle is having a tremendous second season as a passer, recording 7.0 assists per game.

-> Bet on tonight’s Knicks vs. Spurs matchup!

He’s been extremely consistent in that department. Castle has cashed this wager in six of the past seven games.

When Victor Wembanyama is also in the lineup, it makes it easy for Castle to rack up assists. He’s 12-4 against this wager in his last 16 games with Wemby active.

NBA prop picks made at 2:45 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2025.

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EPL picks and predictions Jan. 1: Expect goals in Brentford vs. Tottenham, Man City to win on New Year’s Day

EPL predictions

Thursday kicks off a new calendar year, but the Premier League is far from over, with Manchester City eyeing another second-half comeback for the EPL title.

The Matchday narrative: The current leader is Arsenal, but City continues to race up the standings. On New Year’s Day, the Citizens can get within a game’s reach of the Gunners with a win over Sunderland.

Check out my top EPL predictions and best picks for the upcoming soccer fixtures on Jan. 1, featuring a pick on Brentford vs. Tottenham.

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EPL predictions: New Year’s Day

Best bet: Manchester City halftime/fulltime (-107)

Man City started the season slowly, but it’s won six straight games in pursuit of Arsenal atop the EPL standings.

That includes beating Sunderland, 3-0, in a match that City was leading 2-0 at halftime.

For those who aren’t aware, this bet cashes if the side is up at halftime and then wins the game.

And the good news is City’s offence gets going early, and that leads to a lot of goals before half.

-> Don’t miss out — bet on Sunderland vs. Manchester City

Despite having one fewer fixture played than most teams, the Citizens have 43 goals. Six more than Arsenal and 10 more than any other team.

As hot as the side is right now, I had to find a way to get behind Man City in a way that made sense still. This fits the bill.

Key stat: During the six-game heater, Man City cashed this bet five times.

-> See all betting odds for the EPL on New Year’s Day

EPL picks: Brentford vs. Tottenham

Over 2.5 goals (-115): Both of these offences are good enough to contribute to the over in this match.

  • Tottenham has scored at least one goal in 15 of 18 EPL matches, with 27 overall tallies.
  • Brentford has even more goals with 28, and scored six goals in its last two games.

-> Wager on European soccer matches at NorthStar Bets

Tottenham hosted this matchup a few weeks back and won the contest 2-0. With Brentford at home for the rematch, I’m confident the offence can produce more.

Neither team is particularly strong on defence, either. They have combined to allow 49 goals this season.

EPL predictions made at 1:35 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025.

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Trail Blazers vs. Thunder SGP predictions Dec. 31: Expect Jalen Williams to showout as a passer

Trail Blazers vs. Thunder predictions

The Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder take part in the late-night slate on New Year’s Eve.

The pregame narrative: The Thunder are 6-4 in their last 10, but three of those losses came against the same team. OKC is still dominant and should be in for a double-digit win over the visiting Trail Blazers.

Check out my Trail Blazers vs. Thunder SGP predictions for Dec. 31, featuring prop bets on Deni Avdija and Jalen Williams.

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Trail Blazers vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Thunder -11.5 | Avdija under 24.5 points | Williams over 5.5 assists (+325)

Thunder -11.5 (-200): Taking the Thunder to cover a lofty spread still feels safe … against most teams.

They are 0-3 against the San Antonio Spurs, but the 14-19 Blazers are far from the championship-hopeful Spurs.

-> Bet on NBA futures at NorthStar Bets

Against every other team, the Thunder are 28-2 and 17-13 ATS. They are frequently given the task of covering spreads in the mid-teens, so buying a few points here on the alternate line is a nice way to start the SGP.

When OKC hosted Portland earlier this season, it ended in a 122-95 Thunder win.

Plus, the Thunder are healthy and have covered this spread in seven of their last eight victories.

Embed: #122498

NBA SGP legs

Avdija under 24.5 points (-115): Avdija has had a mixed bag of results in his three games against the Thunder this season.

  • He’s gone over this mark in two games and under in one, but he’s shot below 43% in every game and under 30% twice.
  • The reason he was able to go over was due to his free throws. He took 23 free throws in one game and 16 in another.

-> Fade Avdija vs. OKC

He has shot 16-plus free throws one other time this season.

When he scored 11 in the game played in Oklahoma City, he only took three free throws.

Considering OKC is a below-average team in terms of free throws allowed, it’s hard to imagine Avidja gets fouled enough again to go over this line.

The Thunder have the best defensive rating in the NBA (105.0).

Williams over 5.5 assists (-137): Williams has played 14 games since returning from injury, and he’s made an immediate impact as a playmaker.

He’s averaging over 5.0 assists for the second straight year. And that number could rise quickly with how he’s been playing.

Williams has finished with six or more assists in four straight games.

His overall floor as a playmaker is quite high, too. The versatile forward has five-plus assists in 11 of the 14 games he’s played this year.

Trail Blazers vs. Thunder predictions made at 12:25 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025.

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Best NBA prop picks Dec. 31: Bet on Giannis Antetokounmpo to go off on New Year’s Eve

NBA prop picks Dec. 31

There’s NBA action all day on New Year’s Eve, and I have prop picks to share from three different games.

Tonight’s NBA props narrative: In the final game on Wednesday, look for Antetokounmpo to have a monster performance against the Washington Wizards. Earlier on, Derik Queen has the right matchup to do damage.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Dec. 31, featuring a prediction on Stephon Castle.

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NBA prop picks Dec. 31

Best bet: Antetokounmpo over 27.5 points (-118)

The ‘Greek Freak’ missed most of December recovering from injury. Since he returned just after Christmas, he’s been on a minute restriction, but this number is achievable even in limited minutes.

Despite playing around 25 minutes in both games, Giannis is 1-1 against this line, finishing with 24+ points in each. He still has an incredibly high offensive floor.

On top of that, the total for this game is 246.5 points, the highest of any matchup today.

-> Bet on Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo!

There should be a lot of points scored, and the Wizards have no one to match Giannis in the paint.

Washington allows the fourth most points per game to power forwards (24.73). It also allows opponents to shoot 59.1% inside 10 feet.

That is where Giannis does most of his work, and he should take advantage of the Wizards’ poor rim defence.

Key stat: Antetokounmpo has gone over this total in five of his past seven games against the Wizards, averaging 33.0 points.

Embed: #122493

Best NBA picks

Queen over 13.5 points (-108): Another team that struggles to guard the paint is the Chicago Bulls.

And Queen can expose that on Wednesday.

  • Chicago concedes the third most points to centres (24.92), per Fantasy Pros.
  • Overall, the Bulls have the seventh-worst defensive rating in the NBA (119.3).

-> Full betting markets for Wednesday’s NBA slate

Queen has been solid as a rookie, scoring 13.3 points while making 22 starts for the New Orleans Pelicans.

He’s been even better over the last 10 games, upping his scoring average to 16.2 points while going 7-3 against this wager.

This has all the makings of a smash spot for Queen.

NBA player prop predictions

Castle over 6.5 assists (-134): The first thing to note is that Castle is questionable for tonight’s game.

If he plays, this is a great wager. If he doesn’t, it simply voids, and there’s no harm done.

Castle is having a tremendous second season as a passer, recording 7.0 assists per game.

-> Bet on tonight’s Knicks vs. Spurs matchup!

He’s been extremely consistent in that department. Castle has cashed this wager in six of the past seven games.

When Victor Wembanyama is also in the lineup, it makes it easy for Castle to rack up assists. He’s 12-4 against this wager in his last 16 games with Wemby active.

NBA prop picks made at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2025.

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NFL Week 18 odds, betting lines and playoff scenarios: AFC North, NFC South divisions still up for grabs

NFL Week 18 odds

It’s time for the final week of the 2025 NFL season.

The latest: A few of the divisions are set in stone, but there is plenty of potential drama in Week 18. The biggest game of the weekend is between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. The winner will claim the top spot in the AFC North, and the loser misses the postseason.

Check out the latest NFL Week 18 odds, the full schedule and playoff scenarios ahead of the final week of the regular season.

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NFL Week 18 odds: Betting notes and playoff scenarios

  • Note: There’s no Thursday or Monday nighter in Week 18. The NFL is rolling out a huge doubleheader on Saturday before a busy Sunday slate that includes Baltimore at Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football.
  • The Ravens have a chance to make the playoffs after a big Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and now this is simply a scenario where the winner gets in, and the loser goes home.
  • The Carolina Panthers can clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2017 if they upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. Carolina beat Tampa Bay, 23-20, in Week 16. The Bucs enter Week 17 amid a four-game losing streak and need a win plus an Atlanta Falcons loss to advance.
  • Saturday’s NFL action ends with an NFC West showdown to determine the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Seattle Seahawks visit the San Francisco 49ers, with the winner earning a first-round bye. The loser of the game, however, will slot in as the fifth or sixth seed in the NFC.
  • The Denver Broncos control their destiny as the AFC’s top seed. But a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers would invite some chaos. The New England Patriots would secure first with a win over the Miami Dolphins. But if they also lose, the Jacksonville Jaguars could claim first with a win.
  • Both the Jaguars and Houston Texans are in, though the division winner is undetermined. Houston has won eight straight, but the Jags continue to hold the lead with a seven-game winning streak of their own. They can lock up the AFC South with a win over the 3-12 Tennessee Titans.

-> See the latest betting odds for Week 18

NFL Week 18 schedule: Saturday, Jan. 3

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Opening line: Buccaneers -3

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Opening line: 49ers -1

NFL Week 18 games: Sunday, Jan. 4

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Bengals -7

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Cowboys -5.5

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Vikings -6.5

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Texans -10.5

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Falcons -2.5

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Opening line: Jaguars -10.5

-> Bet on the Week 18 slate now!

Week 18: 4:25 p.m. slate

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Rams -9.5

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Bears -2.5

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line:

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Broncos -7.5

Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Patriots -9.5

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Bills -10.5

Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Eagles -7.5

Sunday Night Football

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Opening line: Ravens -3.5

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