Free Sports Picks of the Day
Browse all available free picks, predictions and matchup analysis for current in-season sports below.
The selections here are complimentary plays posted daily from sports betting and handicapping experts.
These picks are a secondary addition to a handicapper’s stronger releases and best bets of the day.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Calvin King
[1%] Free Play on North Dakota State +3½ -110
Max Chase
1* Free Pick on Tennessee State +3½
Stephen Nover
An upper tier Western Conference team is much better than a slightly above average Eastern Conference team. That's what we have in this matchup with the Rockets taking on the Magic.
Houston is 36-21. The Rockets are the best rebounding team in the NBA, rank third defensively and are sixth in 3-point shooting. The Rockets are back healthy, too, as Amen Thompson is good to go after missing the Rockets' easy 128-97 home win against the Kings on Wednesday.
Orlando is 31-26. The Magic rank 12th defensively and are slightly below average in scoring and rebounding. They are not healthy either with second-leading scorer Franz Wagner out and top assists guy and elite defender Jalen Suggs questionable.
Houston did play last night, but none of its starters logged major minutes. Orlando is in a more precarious situational spot returning home from a four-game, six-day West Coast trip that concluded this past Tuesday night. The Magic are fat and happy off upset victories against the Lakers and Clippers.
Ricky Tran
Ricky's 1* play on SJ.
Key Angle: It's important to remember that Ricky never makes a bet on any game based on just one angle. In order to make the grade, all his premium picks must meet several important criteria. He doesn't share all his secrets within his analysis, instead he chooses to reveal only the angle that he feels is the most significant. Here in this game the recent history of these two teams is particularly significant.
- Calgary is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games.
- The Sharks are 3-1 in their last 4 home games.
- Calgary is 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
Verdict: The value is on the home favorite.
Ray Monohan
OVER 5.5
New Jersey and Pittsburgh meet and this is a good over spot. Pittsburgh continues to be one of the fastest teams in the NHL, averaging 3.41 gpg this season. They love to pepper the opposing net and they’ll produce a lot of quality looks against this Devils defense. Combine that with New Jersey’s ability to crash the net for rebounds offensively and we should see plenty of scoring chances both ways. Ray’s daily FREE plays are meant to be cheap bankroll plays. Money management is everything in this game, and these freebies are designed to keep you moving in the right direction. Tonight’s FREE selection is a strong lean on the OVER 5.5. The number makes sense, the spot is right, and it’s a play worth taking. You know what to do. Good luck — Razor Ray.
Thursday FREE NHL O/U Play
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William Burns
(#38) San Jose Sharks | ML |
Calgary comes back from the break with one of the worst records in away games in the NHL (8-17-2.) The Flames are playing better than I expected them to this year. But, it still hasn't been good enough. The home team has won in all three meetings so far between these sides and I believe that San Jose will continue that trend on Thursday.
Talking about the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini took Canada's defeat to the USA as hard as anyone did. It was a heartbreak for the whole country of Canada. But, for Macklin, I expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder for the rest of the year. He wants to prove himself even more and I expect brilliance on Thursday evening. Sharks win this one by multiple goals.
Burns' Prediction: 5-2 Sharks.
ProSportsPicks
PSP Data Driven 1* Canadien.
At Professionalsportspicks we see a future where those handicapping sports without advanced analytics and data-driven strategies will be left behind. Our data-driven picks use data integration, search and discovery, and knowledge management along with collaboration with our in-house handicappers. By isolating relevant trends, removing human bias, and targeting only lines with a positive expected value above a certain threshold, our data-driven picks promise to outperform any and all human competitors.
Our models suggest that the value is on the favorite. Montreal is 4-1 in its last 5 games. NY Islanders is 1-4 its last 5 games when playing on the road against Montreal.
Dan Kaiser
The Purdue Boilermakers have been dominant on their home court. Purdue has a nice, balanced offensive attack that Michigan State will look to counter with its athleticism, defensive consistency, rebounding, and elite guard play. I like MSU's chances to pull the upset, but will take the points aas this is the BIG 10 and good home teams usually win.
Play on MSU. This is a FREE PLAY!
Joe Duffy
When a line appears counterintuitive to the points per game margins to date, go with the message the oddsmakers are sending and bet on the seemingly contradictory team is 1032-735-32.
"Luck Factor" quantifies how much better or worse a team performs due to random, unpredictable events (like turnovers, lucky bounces, or missed kicks in football) versus consistent skill, using statistical models that compare expected outcomes (based on play-by-play data) to actual results, essentially showing if a team is "due" for positive or negative regression by filtering out controllable elements from their overall performance.
We take the luck factor gap based on real wins versus what advanced analytics says the wins they should have. If for example, one team has three more lucky wins than their record and their opponents has three fewer, the luck gap would be 6. New Orleans has a 5.4 Luck Gap, indicating they are undervalued
Another loaded card from Grandmaster Sports Handicapper Joe Duffy — and it’s built the same way it’s been built since 1988: precision, discipline, and long-term execution. Tonight’s card:
9 hoop winners led by a pair of famed Wise Guys!
• True power differential
• Situational leverage
• Market psychology
• Technical indicators
• Line value vs. projection
No filler. No chasing. Just high-probability positions backed by decades of documented success. If you’re serious about winning, this is the type of card you build your bankroll around. Let’s cash.
Rocky Atkinson
Rocketman Sports FREE CBB play Thursday 2-26-26
Northern Arizona @ Idaho (9:00 PM EST)
Play On: Idaho -10 1/2
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks travel to Idaho to take on the Vandals on Thursday night. Northern Arizona is 10-18 SU overall this year while Idaho comes in with a 15-13 SU overall record on the season. Northern Arizona is 1-11 SU on the road this year where they are scoring only 63.5 points per game. Northern Arizona is 4-12 SU last 16 games against conference opponents. Idaho is 8-3 SU at home this year where they are scoring 87.5 points per game. We'll recommend a small play on Idaho tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky
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Matt Sullivan
1* Bet on Kennesaw State +2½
Bobby Conn
1* Free Play on St. Thomas -3 -110
Doc's Sports
Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take Yale Bulldogs over Cornell Big Red (6p.m., Friday, February 27 ESPNU) The Bulldogs sit atop the standings in the one bid Ivy League and are closing to clinching a spot in the winner take all conference tournament taking place next month. Yale won the first meeting by 34 points, and I see another rout in this game on Friday night at Newman Arena. Cornell got blown out last time out at home against Harvard, the second-place team in the Ivy League and I see that happening again on Friday. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, UFC, and hockey. Sign-up now and let 54 years of handicapping experience work for you.
Cole Faxon
FREE PLAY on New Mexico State +7½
Jack Jones
Jack's Free Pick Thursday: Los Angeles Clippers +5.5
The Los Angeles Clippers will be highly motivated for a victory tonight when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have played three playoff contenders all to the wire coming out of the break, upsetting the Nuggets by 1, and losing their last two to the Lakers by 3 and Magic by 2.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been far from impressive in their three games coming out of the break. They beat the tanking Mavericks by 11 as 14.5-point home favorites, lost outright to the 76ers by 27 as 8.5-point home favorites and narrowly escaped with a 3-point win at Portland as 6.5-point favorites against a short-handed Blazers team.
I know Kawhi Leonard is questionable, but he usually plays when he is listed as questionable. This line will shrink once he's ruled in. The Clippers come in on three days' rest and have two more days off after this, so they should be very healthy and ready to roll.
The Clippers beat the Timberwolves 115-96 as 9-point road dogs on February 8th in their last meeting. Minnesota is 2-7 ATS in its last nine games overall and just seems to be going through the motions right now. The Clippers are fighting for their playoff lives. Bet the Clippers Thursday.
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Jimmy Boyd
1* Free Pick on North Dakota State +160
North Dakota State is the wrong underdog in this spot. The market is still pricing them based on early-season struggles that are now fixed.
The Bison have a massive physical advantage in the paint tonight. They currently rank near the top of the conference in offensive rebounding percentage.
St. Thomas lacks the interior size to keep NDSU off the glass for forty minutes. Second-chance points will be the deciding factor in this high-stakes conference matchup.
The Tommies rely too much on their three-point shooting to bail them out of bad possessions. NDSU is excellent at running shooters off the line and forcing teams into contested mid-range jumpers.
St. Thomas is in a classic letdown spot after an emotional win earlier this week. They are often overvalued by the public when playing on their home floor.
North Dakota State protects the ball better than almost anyone in the Summit League. They rarely gift opponents extra possessions through unforced turnovers or sloppy passing.
The Bison have covered in four of their last five games as road underdogs. Their slower pace disrupts teams that want to run and gun like the Tommies.
This is a major revenge spot for the Bison after a narrow loss earlier this season. Their defense is finally healthy and playing its most disciplined basketball of the year.
St. Thomas thrives on transition points, but NDSU refuses to let teams get out in the open court. The Bison will force this into a half-court grind where their strength becomes the primary edge.
The Bison are the more physical team and will win the battle at the free-throw line tonight. Grab the value on the road team to win this game outright.
Bet North Dakota State ML (+160).
I have 10 premium selections posted for today's action, including plays in MLB, NBA, NCAA-B, and the PGA. My approach remains focused on disciplined analysis and identifying the best value on the board. You can access all of my top-rated plays for today on the premium picks page.
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Jeff Alexander
1* NBA - Rockets/Magic FREE PICK on Magic +2.5
Dave Price
Dave's Thursday Free Play:
1* on Utah Tech -2.5
The Key: Utah Tech trails Utah Valley by 0.5 games in the loss column for the WAC title. The Trailblazers need to win out to win the conference and make their game with Utah Valley in the finale meaningful. They are doing their part going 7-1 SU & 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall to put themselves in this position. They are 10-2 at home this season and should handle their business tonight. They already beat Abilene Christian 76-70 on the road and 79-64 at home in their first two matchups this year. The Wildcats are 3-8 SU & 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games overall. All 3 wins came at home. They are 3-9 SU in true road games this year. Take Utah Tech.
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Info Plays
1* FREE INFO PLAY Wichita State vs Memphis over 146½ -110
John Martin
1 Unit FREE PLAY on Timberwolves/Clippers UNDER 226
The Clippers and Timberwolves just played prior to the All-Star Break in a 115-96 win by the Clippers and 211 combined points. The UNDER improved to 9-1 in the last 10 meetings with 221 or fewer combined points in all 10 meetings. The Clippers are an under team with how slow they play and how good they are defensively. They are also playing without a true point guard right now with Darius Garland still out. Give me the UNDER.
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Rob Vinciletti
Thursday card has the NHL 100% Back from the Break Total of the Year headlining along with a Top CBB Totals Play. Comp play below
The Thursday Comp play is on Western Kentucky -6 at 7:30 eastern. The Hilltoppers are in a nice 80% system here tonight that plays on conference home favorites of 2 or more that scored 78 or more in back to back road wins, allowed less than 80 last out, if they are playing with Road dog loss revenge against an opponent like New Mexico St that has less than 6 days rest and is off a win in their last game. Western Kentucky has won and covered the last 3 at home in the series. They have scored 80 or more in 4 straight and likely serve up some revenge here. Play on Western Kentucky. GL Rob V-
Matt Fargo
This is a play on the MEMPHIS TIGERS for our Thursday Free Play. Memphis had its opportunity to remain in the mix in the American Athletic Conference after a 7-3 start but the Tigers have lost their last four games and the only shot at an NCAA Tournament berth is to win the upcoming conference championship which is not out of the question. The Tigers still have an outside shot at a No. 4 seed although seven teams are within two games vying for that final spot that gives them a bye into the quarterfinals. Memphis has dropped all four of the recent games against the spread as well while playing to avenge a 15-point loss in Wichita a month ago. The Shockers have won three straight, five of six and eight of their last 10 games after a 2-3 start in the conference and one more win will guarantee one of the top for spots and that will likely happen in the next games against 1-14 UTSA. Wichita St. is 5-4 on the road overall but three of those wins were in overtime including two in the American where they are 4-3 away from home. Memphis is 11-1 in its last 12 games playing with revenge. Play (816) Memphis Tigers
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Jim Feist
Atlanta draws Washington at home, and the Wizards remain one of the league’s weakest road teams. The Hawks’ scoring depth and pace should overwhelm a Washington defense that has struggled all season. Atlanta is positioned to control this matchup from start to finish.
Jim's Free Play: 544. Atlanta Hawks -12 (4:40 PT / 7:40 ET)
Brandon Lee
Thursday's NBA Free Pick
PLAY ON: Bulls +4.5
Alex Smart
In the super featherweight division, where power meets precision, Emanuel Navarrete steps into the ring against Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez this Saturday, February 28, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, aiming to unify the WBO and IBF titles, a bout that pits a battle-tested veteran against a knockout machine, highlighting the raw excitement of Mexican boxing rivalries. Navarrete, with a record of 39-2-1 including 32 knockouts, has proven his mettle across multiple weight classes, capturing world titles in super bantamweight, featherweight, and now super featherweight, relying on his awkward style, high volume punching, and relentless pressure that often overwhelms opponents over the distance. At 31 years old, standing 5'7" with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox fighter from Mexico has faced top competition, including notable wins over Isaac Dogboe, Joet Gonzalez, and Oscar Valdez, where his durability shone through, absorbing punishment while outworking foes in grueling exchanges. His most recent outing, a no-contest against Charly Suarez in May 2025 due to an accidental headbutt, still showcased his ability to control the pace, even if it ended prematurely, reminding bettors of his edge in chaotic, high-action fights.
On the other side, Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez enters with a sparkling 29-1 record, boasting 27 knockouts for a staggering 93% stoppage rate, a statistic that underscores his devastating power, particularly in a division known for explosive finishes. The 28-year-old orthodox puncher from Los Mochis, Mexico, measures 5'6" with a 68-inch reach, using his compact frame to deliver thunderous hooks and uppercuts, as evidenced by his 19-fight winning streak, including a unanimous decision over Christopher Diaz in September 2025 to retain his IBF belt. Nunez claimed the vacant IBF title in May 2025 with a decision victory over Masanori Rikiishi in Japan, proving he can go the distance when needed, though his career has largely been defined by early stoppages against lesser opposition, raising questions about his performance against elite, volume-based fighters.
Betting trends in boxing title unification bouts favor the more experienced fighter, even as an underdog, with data showing that in the last decade, challengers with multi-division pedigrees have upset favorites in roughly 35% of such matchups, often capitalizing on stamina and tactical adjustments in later rounds. In super featherweight specifically, where the average fight sees a 65% knockout rate due to the blend of speed and power, underdogs like Navarrete thrive when opponents rely heavily on early finishes, as seen in recent trends where volume punchers have won 60% of decisions in competitive 130-pound clashes. Overall boxing wagering patterns indicate that moneyline favorites in title fights cash at about 70%, but when the line sits around -190 as it does for Nunez, sharp action often flows to the plus-money side, especially in all-Mexican affairs known for their unpredictability and high engagement levels.
Key angles here revolve around stylistic contrasts, with Navarrete's unorthodox approach and superior reach potentially neutralizing Nunez's power, forcing the fight into deeper waters where the veteran's 254 career rounds of experience dwarf Nunez's 126, creating opportunities for a grind-it-out victory. Bettors should note Nunez's lone loss came via decision in 2018, exposing vulnerabilities against durable opponents, while Navarrete's two defeats were narrow decisions early in his career, since overcome by his adaptation in big spots. This matchup screams value on the underdog, particularly given super featherweight's trend toward longer fights in unification scenarios, where over 9.5 rounds has hit in 55% of recent examples.
For the top pick, back Navarrete on the moneyline at +150, a solid spot leveraging his championship pedigree in what figures to be a frenetic, crowd-pleasing war, where his volume and heart could turn the tide against Nunez's one-punch threat. For those chasing higher returns, consider Navarrete by decision around +300, aligning with trends where experienced fighters outlast power punchers in 12-rounders, avoiding the knockout risk while capitalizing on judges' preference for activity. Always wager responsibly, focusing on these angles to maximize edge in a division ripe for upsets.
Sean Murphy
My selection is on USC Upstate plus the points over Radford at 7 pm et on Thursday.
We'll grab all the points we can get with underdog USC Upstate on Thursday as it looks to avenge an earlier 76-69 home loss against Radford. The Spartans own the inferior overall record in this matchup this season but have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. They dropped the first meeting by only seven points and turned in a dreadful shooting performance (26-for-66 from the field). I do think they're catching Radford at the right time here as the Highlanders have allowed five of their last six opponents to connect on 29 or more field goals. On the flip side, they've been held to 25 or fewer successful field goal attempts in three of their last four contests. Take USC Upstate (8*).
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