Skip to main content

We've shopped the odds and lines at our best sportsbooks in search of today's best bets for Wednesday, Feb. 8. Our top picks include offerings from the upcoming Super Bowl 57, Wednesday's college basketball, NHL, and NBA action, and a look ahead to this week's PGA Tour event.

Let's kick off the week with a look at some of our favorite bets for Wednesday night and beyond.

Read on for today's best bets for Wednesday, Feb. 8, based on the odds from our best sportsbooks.

Wednesday's best bets

  • NFL: Patrick Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP (+135 via BetMGM)
  • College basketball: Alabama -8.5 (-120 via FanDuel) vs. Florida ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • NHL: Vancouver Canucks +1.5 (-120 via DraftKings) vs. New York Rangers ⭐⭐⭐
  • NBA: Sacramento Kings-Houston Rockets Over 239 (-110 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐
  • PGA Tour: Patrick Cantlay to win WM Phoenix Open (+2100 via FanDuel)

Wednesday's NFL best bet

Patrick Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP (+135 via BetMGM)

Most books are aligned on the Super Bowl MVP odds for Mahomes, with DraftKings offering a slightly less rewarding price of +120. This could be good value on the 2020 Super Bowl MVP, as he'll move ahead of Hurts if the Chiefs become favored on the game lines.

Mahomes also has the narrative working in his favor, as he suffered a high-ankle sprain during the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He still made the game-winning play on a scramble in a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Championship Game. If Mahomes has more mobility this Sunday, the Eagles could be in trouble.

A bet on one quarterback in this market makes sense, especially if you believe that team will win the game. I think the Chiefs will ultimately prevail on Sunday, and Mahomes will be a big reason why. That's why my single-bullet wager on this market will be on No. 15, especially at BetMGM where we are getting a +135 offering. This could be a legacy-defining weekend for Mahomes.

Super Bowl MVP picks made by Shane Jackson.

Check out our best Super Bowl betting sites and 2024 Super Bowl odds. Also, check out our Super Bowl odds and Super Bowl MVP odds.

Wednesday's college basketball best bet

Alabama -8.5 vs. Florida (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Florida is ending what has easily been the most challenging part of its schedule, with this road game against Alabama following two road games against Kansas State and Kentucky, with a home game against Tennessee sandwiched in between. Thus, it would not be surprising if the Gators were out of gas for this game, especially against a Crimson Tide team that has won 11 of 12.

Alabama has won its last six home games by an average of 28 points, five of which were against conference opponents. The Crimson Tide should smother the Gators defensively, as Alabama ranks second nationally in effective field-goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage allowed (26.1%), and 2-point percentage allowed (42.5%). Meanwhile, Florida ranks 195th or worse in each category offensively.

Alabama has the second-best cover percentage (13-9-1 against the spread, 59.1%) in the SEC and is an even better 8-2 ATS in 10 SEC games. Backing them to cover at FanDuel is worth the slight extra juice, as it is the only sportsbook offering a line of -8.5.

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.

Wednesday's NHL best bet

Canucks +1.5 vs. Rangers (-120 via DraftKings) 

It's has been a rough season for the Canucks, but they appear to be capitalizing on the good old new coach bump.

In the admittedly small sample under Tocchet, the Canucks have controlled 57.4% of five-on-five score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals, which ranks fifth league-wide.

While it's premature to suggest that the Canucks are set for a dramatic turnaround, if they can get their recent gains to stick, they can at least be more competitive. Despite a 10-13-3 road record, the Canucks have covered a 1.5-goal spread in 15 of their past 20 away games.

Even though the Rangers have been climbing in the standings, they have been a relatively mediocre possession team, relying a lot on the finishing ability of Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad. The two centers have combined for 18 goals in 13 games since the beginning of January.

If we're seeing actual structural improvement to the Canucks’ game under Tocchet, they should be able to give the Rangers a test, so the puck line play makes sense.

That said, this is only a three-star selection due to uncertainty over Vancouver’s goaltending. Collin Delia has been the better option, but if Spencer Martin gets the start, the Canucks are not quite as appealing. Martin has a .856 save percentage in his past 16 appearances.

Canucks-Rangers picks made by Scott Cullen.

Check out all of our NHL best bets.

Wednesday's NBA best bet

Kings-Rockets Over 239 (-110 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐

The Kings and their NBA-leading offense typically sport lofty point totals. Tonight is no different with the Kings facing the Rockets, a team that gives up plenty of points to opponents. 

These teams hit the Over in all three prior meetings this season, and both teams have hit the Over in their last two games overall. The Rockets have played in four games at home with a point total of at least 240 and hit the Over in two of them. Sacramento is 4-3 in home games with a point total of at least 240. The Kings have been favored by at least eight points in five games this season, and they hit the Over in all of them. This isn’t a tremendous total to hit, so we can safely bet the Over here.

NBA best bets made by Zachary Hanshew.

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

Wednesday's PGA Tour best bet

Patrick Cantlay (+2100 via FanDuel)

Cantlay debuted at the WM Phoenix Open last year and went to a playoff with Scheffler. His statistical performance for the week was in line with that of much of his career: not elite in a specific area, but well-rounded across the board, and he got hot with the putter.

For the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, Cantlay leads all qualified golfers in par-4 birdie-or-better percentage and bogey avoidance, and he's second in overall birdie-or-better percentage.

I would play Cantlay down to the +1800 that's available elsewhere but the +2100 via FanDuel is a nice gift to kick off our Super Bowl week.

WM Phoenix Open picks made by Esten McLaren.

Super Bowl prop bets

Prop bet enthusiasts have much to choose from in Super Bowl 57; here's a look at some of the more popular Super Bowl prop bets among the best sportsbooks:

Super Bowl 57 roundup: Party material

Check out our best betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)

* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages