Sports Betting

Thursday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Wake Forest-Pitt, Sharks-Penguins, Duquesne-Dayton

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2024

It wasn’t the best night for the Winning Picks, finishing 0-3. The under could not hit in Saint Louis/Duquesne as the Dukes advanced to face Dayton. The under could also not hit in Capitals/Oilers as Edmonton hit the over on their own. The Lakers were down by the Kings, being swept by Sacramento for the first time since 2015/2016. We are still 1 win away from 200 as we move to 199-149-3 on the year.

We have an action packed day of conference championship games today. After Villanova survived a scare against DePaul, look for them to put their own scare into Marquette at MSG tonight. USC could also put another fright into Arizona after the Trojans knocked them off in LA last weekend.

As for favorites tonight, expect both Houston and Baylor to roll today in their matchups in the Big 12. I don’t expect Jamie Dixon’s TCU squad to put up much fight today in Kansas City. Though Cincinnati beat Kansas yesterday (I would fade the Jayhawks no matter their matchup in the tournament), the Bears should beat the Bearcats by double digits.

Now time for the Winning Picks!

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-2.5) vs Pittsburgh Panthers O/U 144.5 2:30 PM on ESPN2

Is this the biggest game for the Pitt basketball program in over a decade? I would say it is. Some of the bracketologists believe a loss eliminates either team from the Big Dance and a win doesn’t still put either team in. I get the loss part, but a win in my opinion puts either Wake Forest or Pitt in the field.

Wake Forest has had crazy splits at home and on the road this season. This is a neutral site but it is more or less a road game in that regard. Even the Demon Deacons played yesterday, I believe Pitt still is riding their momentum they’ve had for the past 2 months. I like the Panthers to win and cover today. A win over Wake Forest gets them in the field, don’t believe the talking bracket heads.

Pitt Covers +2.5, Wake Forest Demon Deacons 71 Pittsburgh Panthers 73

San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins (-300) O/U 6.5 7:00 PM on SportsNet Pittsburgh

Under no circumstances should the Pittsburgh Penguins be a -300 favorite against any team, even if it is the San Jose Sharks. But that will be the case tonight at PPG Paints Arena. As it stands, the Penguins are looking more forward to playing golf than finishing this regular season. The fire is gone.

Back in November when these teams faced, the Pens hit double digit goals in a 10-2 road win. Through 7 games in March, the Penguins have only scored 11 total goals. Even though they should have more scoring chances with the Sharks, I still like the under to cover in what should hopefully be a Pens win.

Under 6.5 Covers, San Jose Sharks 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3

Duquesne Dukes vs Dayton Flyers (-6.5) O/U 136.5 7:30 PM on the USA Network

Duquesne is rolling headed into their A-10 Tournament matchup with Dayton tonight and a Dukes win could spell doom for their crosstown rival Pitt. If the Flyers are knocked off by the Dukes, they will more than likely still get an at-large bid to the tournament, which would take a spot away from the Panthers.

But, at least for Pitt, Duquesne has not had much success against Dayton as of late. The Dukes have only beaten the Flyers once in the last 14 meetings, and that was back in 2021. I don’t expect the second win to happen today in the Barclays Center, as Dayton wins and covers against Duquesne.

Dayton Covers -6.5, Duquesne Dukes 67 Dayton Flyers 76