Free Sports Picks of the Day

Ricky's 1* play on Under.

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.

- The Under is 4-1 in Detroit's last 5 games against an opponent in the Western Conference.

- The Under is 8-2 in Houston's last 10 games played in January.

- The Under is 10-2 in Houston's last 12 games.

Verdict: Points should be hard to come by in this game.

1* Free Play on Blues +150

1* Free Sharp Play on Raptors -4 -115

1* Free Pick on North Texas -10

North Texas is a brick wall at home and remains one of the toughest outs in the American Athletic Conference. They rank near the top of the country in defensive efficiency and force every opponent to play at a snail's pace.

East Carolina is not built to win a grind-out game in a hostile environment like the Super Pit. The Pirates struggle with half-court execution and rely on transition points that simply won't be there today.

North Texas is elite at taking away the three-point line. They rank in the top 25 nationally in opponent three-point percentage and force teams into contested mid-range jumpers.

The Pirates depend on high-volume scoring from their backcourt, but the Mean Green have the perimeter length to lock them down. North Texas also dominates the defensive glass and limits teams to one shot per possession.

They rarely give up second-chance opportunities, which is the only way a team like East Carolina stays competitive in a road spot like this. The Mean Green are well-rested and haven't had to leave Denton all week.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are dealing with a quick turnaround and the fatigue of travel. That tired energy usually shows up in the second half when legs get heavy and jump shots start hitting the front of the rim.

North Texas has been a covering machine at home against teams with a losing road record. They are a disciplined group that doesn't beat themselves with sloppy turnovers or cheap fouls.

They will eventually wear the Pirates down and stretch this lead out at the free-throw line late. The defensive gap between these two programs is the biggest factor on the board today.

Expect the Mean Green to keep the Pirates under 60 points and dictate every aspect of the tempo. When a team can't find easy buckets, they can't cover a double-digit spread on the road.

I like the North Texas -10 (-110)

I’m taking the Over here because Colorado’s offense can push the pace on its own, and Philadelphia has shown defensive lapses against high-powered teams. With the Avalanche averaging nearly four goals per game, this matchup sets up for a higher-scoring outcome.

Play on the OVER. This is a FREE play!

Ohio State +15.5

The Buckeyes and Wolverines renew their rivalry and we’re on Ohio State. The Buckeyes come in winners of back to back games and three of their last four as they have found a solid offensive rhythm. They put up nearly 84 ppg and they’ll come out with purpose against Michigan. The Wolverines have won 3 straight, but all of which have fell short of this number they’re laying against the Bucks. Back Ohio State. 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 BUCKEYES ATS. The number makes sense, the spot is right, and it’s a play worth taking. You know what to do. Good luck — Razor Ray

Friday .75% FREE CBB ATS Play

2-1 THUR$DAY! EN FUEGO! 80-4863% +2851 L30 DAYS! The wins keep stacking. The board is live and today’s card is posted. A BIG 3× Play Card is up for TGIF, and today’s DISCOUNTED Day Pass gets you full access. Razor is a Top-ranked handicapper across every network where his plays are sold, and he's locked in right now. Clients are cashing, the consistency is showing, and he's climbing the leaderboards. As always… “Pad that bankroll one day at a time.

PSP Data Driven 1* Under.

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 Under. The Under is 7-3 in Phoenix's last 10 games.The Under is 8-4 in Atlanta's last 12 games.

The 27-17 Suns have established themselves as a legitimate top-five seed in the Western Conference. They have achieved this largely by beating and covering against bad teams, going 16-3 ATS as a favorite for 84 percent! This includes going 7-1 ATS as road chalk.

Phoenix is playing well and is rested. The Suns have won three in a row and last played three days ago. Motivation should be there for them, too. The Hawks came from 22 points down to defeat the Suns, 124-122, in their previous matchup on Nov. 17 at Phoenix.

The Hawks are 1-4 in their last five games, adjusting to life in the post Trae Young era. Atlanta is four games below .500 on the season and only 7-13 at home.

The Hawks rank 25th defensively. If you go by the past 10 games, the Suns are No. 3 defensively and fifth on the season. 

1* Free Pick on Rangers +105

1* FREE INFO PLAY Akron vs Ohio over 159 -110

This is a play on the CHARLOTTE 49ERS for our Friday Free Play. This game was originally scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 so this move is a huge advantage for Charlotte as the 49ers as they go to a primetime Friday game which will provide a great environment. Charlotte is coming off a win on Sunday to improve to 4-2 in the American and it has a big rest advantage here compared to Tulane and the 49ers do not have to worry about getting out of town to beat the weather. The 49ers are 7-4 at home with those four losses against teams ranked between No. 34 and No. 145, all better than tonight’s opposition. We saw two changes on Thursday where times were moved up to the afternoon and it severely affected Louisiana and UL Monroe as the road teams did not adjust and were both blown out. Tulane is coming off a game on Wednesday in Boca Raton against Florida Atlantic which resulted in its third straight loss and the Green Wave are now 3-3 in the conference. The loss to the Owls was actually just their first road loss of the season as they are 3-1 but the three wins were against teams ranked No. 334, No. 298 and No. 350. Play (848) Charlotte 49ers

NBA 31-14-1 Run continues Friday. CBB 149-135-2 Run. THREE Winners tonight. 241-214-10 NFL Run. Championship Games Posted. CFB finished on a 29-14 Run after the Miami Winner Monday. Get that All Sports Subscription and get every premium play!

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take Under in Ohio State Buckeyes @ Michigan Wolverines (8p.m., Friday, January 23 FOX) The Wolverines are one of the top teams in the country and Ohio State is a bubble NCAA Tournament team. The under has hit 4 of the last 7 meetings (1 push) and I feel it will collect on Friday. Ohio State needs to slow down Michigan to have any chance to win this game and I see that happening. Michigan has scored less than 78 points in 6 of the last 7 games. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Card featuring Conference Championship selections as well as basketball and hockey winners. Sign-up now and let 54 years of handicapping experience work for you.

Friday's CBB Free Pick

PLAY ON: Ohio State +15

In the fast-paced world of NHL betting, tonight's matchup between the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center stands out as a prime opportunity for value hunters focusing on totals. With the league experiencing a slight lean toward overs this season—51.9% of games hitting the over through late January, the broader context reveals a nuanced picture where defensive play has tightened in certain scenarios, particularly in cross-conference clashes like this one. Goal scoring across the NHL has averaged around 6.2 goals per game in January 2026, but trends show a dip in high-scoring affairs when teams with middling offenses face off against opponents emphasizing structure, leading to unders cashing at a 48.1% clip overall. This dynamic plays into the strengths of bets like the under, especially when road teams with recent over tendencies collide with home squads clamping down defensively.

Diving into team-specific angles, the Rangers enter this contest with a 21-24-6 record, struggling on the road where they've allowed an average of 3.12 goals against per game, ranking 22nd league-wide. Their defense, anchored by Adam Fox, who leads all Rangers blueliners with 28 points but has seen the unit surrender 159 goals in 51 games, has shown flashes of resilience, going under in six of their last 10 away tilts when facing Pacific Division foes. However, New York's offense has been inconsistent, averaging just 2.67 goals per game, and they've hit the over in six of their last seven overall due to leaky play, though that streak includes matchups against higher-scoring Eastern Conference rivals. On the flip side, the Sharks boast a 25-21-3 mark, bolstered by a home defense that's held opponents to low outputs in seven of their last 10 at the SAP Center, contributing to unders in four of their past five games. San Jose's blueline, featuring Dmitry Orlov with 23 points and a focus on shot-blocking (111 blocks for Jake Walman alone last season's trend carrying over), allows 3.51 goals per game but has improved in January, limiting chances and forcing unders in three straight. Their offense clicks at 3.08 goals per outing, but against Metropolitan Division teams, they've averaged under 6.0 combined goals in recent history, emphasizing a grind-it-out style that favors low-event hockey.

From a betting angle, this game's total of 6.5 aligns with the combined scoring average of these squads at 5.8 goals per game, while their defensive allowances sit at 6.6, creating a razor-thin margin where recent trends tip the scales toward caution. The Rangers' road woes, 1-7 straight up in their last eight, often lead to conservative play, reducing shot volume and high-danger opportunities, a pattern seen in 60% of their underdog spots this season where they've covered the puck line but kept scores tight. Meanwhile, the Sharks as home favorites have gone 7-3 on the moneyline in similar setups, but their games trend under when the total is set at 6.5 or higher, hitting at a 52.9% rate as underdogs earlier in the year that translates to disciplined defense now. Factoring in goaltending, New York's .890 save percentage facing San Jose's .885, expect a battle of attrition rather than a shootout, with both teams' recent defensive improvements (Rangers blocking 45 shots via Fox alone, Sharks emphasizing neutral-zone traps) pointing to limited rebounds and secondary scoring.

All signs converge on the under 6.5 goals offering strong value at +110 or better , as the interplay of league-wide scoring moderation in January, the Rangers' road conservatism, and the Sharks' home lockdown create an ideal setup for a sub-7-goal final. This isn't about chasing overs from New York's recent run but capitalizing on matchup-specific angles where stats and trends align for a lower-scoring affair.

Friday NBA Free play. My selection is on Oklahoma City minus the points over Indiana at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

I think the Pacers are going to have a really difficult time trying to keep up with the Thunder on Friday night. Indiana is playing some of its worst basketball of the season right now and that's saying something considering they're off to a 10-35 start. The Pacers have been held to 40 or fewer made field goals in five of their last six games and now face a Thunder squad that is rested and absolutely locked in defensively. Oklahoma City has held five straight and 10 of its last 12 opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals. That's despite three of its last eight opponents hoisting up 104 or more field goal attempts. On the flip side, the Thunder have shaken out of a recent lull to connect on 50 and 49 field goals over their last two games. I don't think they'll take their foot off the gas one bit on Friday as they open a three-game homestand. Take Oklahoma City.

Nuggets vs Bucks NBA Free Pick

The Trend(s): The Denver Nuggets are 9-5 against the spread as underdogs (6-1 as road underdogs!) and 5-3 against the spread on the second leg of a back-to-back and  The Milwaukee Bucks are 7-12 against the spread as favorites.  

The Bet: NUGGETS (2%). 

Mike is a on a RED HOT 14-4 (78%) NHL RUN & an AMAZING 24-12 (67%) NBA TOTALS RUN! For Friday, he has a 3-Game NHL High Roller Report, a Rockets/Pistons NBA BE$T PLAY of the Day and a Serie A soccer winner. Grab a 3-day pass and get all Mike's picks for Friday/Saturday/Sunday!

1% GOLD RUSH on Aryna Sabalenka/Victoria Mboko: over 20

1* Bet on Louisiana Tech +1½

3* on Louisiana Tech