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Best Bets Today: Top Picks, Predictions from Friday's Sports Slate

Sportsbook Review

Last Updated: March 24, 2023 1:51 PM EDT • 2 min 53 sec read.

We've shopped the odds and lines at our best sportsbooks in search of today's best bets for Friday, March 24. Our top picks include offerings from March Madness, the NBA, and NHL.

It's an incredible time in the sports calendar, with March Madness getting down to the Elite Eight and playoff races in both the NBA and NHL.

Read on for today's best bets for Friday, March 24, based on the odds from our best sportsbooks.

Friday's best bets

  • College basketball: Houston -7.5 vs. Miami (-108 via WynnBet) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • NBA: Stephen Curry Over 26.5 points vs. 76ers (-120 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • NHL: Devils ML vs. Sabres (-170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Friday's college basketball best bet

Houston -7.5 vs. Miami (-108 via WynnBet) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This may seem like a big number to lay with a team facing the ACC regular season champion and one that ranks 27th in D-I experience. However, that is our respect for Houston, which no longer seems hampered by injuries, specifically guard Marcus Sasser. Sasser scored 22 points in 31 minutes against Auburn and had his best offensive rating (per KenPom) in any of his previous six games. 

Houston uncharacteristically allowed 41 points in the first half against the Tigers. It then showed why it ranks in the top four nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage defense, 2-point percentage allowed, and 3-point percentage allowed when holding Auburn to 23 second-half points. 

Check out our Houston vs. Miami prediction

This is a four-star play, as the undersized Hurricanes will have difficulty keeping Houston off the offensive glass (the Cougars rank fourth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 37.4%). Head coach Kelvin Sampson's team is 10-5 ATS in non-conference games this year, while Miami is a modest 2-2 ATS against ranked opponents.

We do not feel as comfortable laying eight points or more, so Wynn makes the most sense for Houston backers, as it is the only sportsbook offering the -7.5 at less than the standard -110 juice.

College basketball best bets made by Mike Spector.

Check out all of our top college basketball picks, as well as our 2023 March Madness odds and 2023 Wooden Award odds.

Friday's NBA best bet

Stephen Curry Over 26.5 points vs. 76ers (-120 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's Friday at 6:30 a.m. and I think one of the sportsbooks is still sleeping with its Curry points prop against the 76ers. FanDuel has this prop trading with a total of 27.5, while BetMGM has chosen to use 26.5. 

As Curry is projected to score 28.7 points against the Sixers, the difference between 26.5 and 27.5 makes a significant difference in our expected value, especially considering the juice at BetMGM is -120. DraftKings also has the total set at 26.5 but with a much higher juice of -135. 

According to our projections of Curry scoring 28.7 points, this prop can be priced at -135 to go over the total, which is ironically the same price as DraftKings. Just hit the button and you'll have a bet with a 5% positive expected value in your account before you even eat breakfast.

NBA best bets made by Jon Metler

Check out all of our NBA best bets, and our 2023 NBA Finals odds and 2023 NBA MVP odds.

Friday's NHL best bet

Devils ML vs. Sabres (-170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Devils aren’t getting the results they necessarily deserve recently. They massively outshot the Minnesota Wild in an overtime loss, outshot the Tampa Bay Lightning by 11 in a shootout loss, and played a tough game against the Florida Panthers.

New Jersey boasts the fourth-best xGF% at five-on-five in the last 10 games while the Sabres are down at the 14th-lowest.

The wind has come out of the Sabres’ sails. They’ve lost four straight and eight of their last nine games. Buffalo has fallen victim to the blowout, as well, with a minus-14 goal differential in its last three contests.

I like the Devils in this one on the moneyline and wouldn’t mind a small play on the puck line at -1.5 (+145 via DraftKings).

Devils vs. Sabres picks made by Ryan Gilbert

Check out all of our NHL best bets.

Check out our best betting sites:

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Sportsbook Review
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