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

Sportsbook Review

Last Updated: March 31, 2023 12:07 PM EDT • 2 min 59 sec read.

We've shopped the odds and lines at our best sportsbooks in search of today's best bets for Friday, March 31. Our top picks include offerings from MLB, the NBA, and college basketball.

A busy weekend lies ahead with the Final four for both the men's and women's college basketball tournaments teed up. And there's also MLB and NBA action to sift through.

Read on for today's best bets for Friday, March 31, based on the odds from our best sportsbooks.

Friday's best bets

  • College basketball: Caitlin Clark Over 8.5 assists (-128 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
  • NBA: Knicks-Cavaliers Under 222 (-110 via FanDuel Sportsbook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • MLB: Pete Alonso Over 0.5 RBIs vs. Marlins (+165 via DraftKings Sportsbook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Friday's college basketball best bet

Caitlin Clark Over 8.5 assists (-128 via FanDuel)

DraftKings has actually set Clark’s assist prop at 9.5, priced at -110 on each side at the time of this writing.

Clark, who was named the AP Player of the Year on Thursday, leads the nation with an average of 8.6 assists per contest. She has tallied a dozen assists in three of the four NCAA Tourney games thus far, clearing this mark in five of the last six contests.

Clark’s wizardry as a passer is on full display in transition, which is how the Hawkeyes will need to score against a strong Gamecocks defense. But don’t be surprised if South Carolina tries to force the ball out of Clark’s hands more, leading to more assist opportunities for a player with such a high usage rating.

Caitlin Clark prop picks made by Shane Jackson

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

Also check out our Iowa-South Carolina pick, LSU-Virginia pick, Miami-UConn pick, and Florida Atlantic-San Diego State pick.

Friday's MLB best bet

Alonso Over 0.5 RBIs vs. Marlins (+165 via DraftKings)

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso tied Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge for most RBIs in baseball last season (131), and he also set a franchise record. Alonso also figures to benefit from the lack of shifts as the season wears on, as he was shifted against 40% of the time last year, the most of any exclusively right-handed batters in the Mets lineup last season.

Alonso is just 2-for-11 in his career against Luzardo, but one of those hits was a home run. In addition, he should have men on base to drive in, as table-setters like Brandon Nimmo have a .667 wOBA against the Marlins southpaw.

The value for this wager is incredible at DraftKings compared to other sportsbooks, as FanDuel is at +110 while Caesars offers +156.

Friday's MLB best bets made by Mike Spector

Check out our 2023 World Series odds, 2023 home run leader odds, and 2023 hits leader odds.

Friday's NBA best bet

Knicks-Cavaliers Under 222 (-110 via FanDuel)

New York has averaged a respectable 115.4 points per game this season (13th in the NBA) and 114 on the road (12th). Those numbers have come with Randle in the lineup, and his absence will be his first of the season. Randle leads the team in points (25.1) and rebounds (10) and ranks second in assists (4.1). Without their primary scoring option and key facilitator, scoring might be difficult.

As if New York’s offense wasn’t facing enough of a challenge, Cleveland is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Association in points allowed at 106.7, with Miami next at 109.8. The Cavs are even better at home, allowing a league-low 104.3 points per game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, nearly five points fewer than second-place New Orleans (109.1).

Surely the Knicks will be able to catch a break without Cleveland center Jarrett Allen available, right? The Cavs sport a 111.7 defensive rating with Allen in the lineup compared to a 110.6 rating when he’s out. The defense allows fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the sidelines. 

While Cleveland’s defense improves without Allen, the offense suffers. The Cavs scored 113.1 points per game with Allen available compared to just 107.6 when he’s out. This matchup is set up perfectly to hit the Under.

Knicks-Cavaliers pick made by Zachary Hanshew

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

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Sportsbook Review
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