Skip to Main Content

Previews & Best Bets

Today's Top Free Expert Picks

This page may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and sign up, make a deposit, place a wager, or make a trade, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
  • expert headshot
    Matt Severance
    Severance Pays
    CLE +4
    -110
    Spread
    Picked: Oct 8 @ 9:33am

    Analysis

    I mean it's preseason but why are the Cavs getting 4 at home when they are playing all their guys? So are the Celtics, but they also have to weave in some new additions like Paul George and Mitchell Robinson while starting life without Jaylen Brown. When the scrubs come in, we get a look at Cleveland second-round rookie Meleek Thomas, who led the NBA Summer League in scoring (27.3 PPG).
  • expert headshot
    Matt Severance
    +137
    (50%)
    4-4-1 in Last 9 NHL Picks
    Under 6.5
    -137
    Over/Under
    Picked: Oct 8 @ 11:55am

    Analysis

    Our only book with 6.5 and as you can see it may flip to 5.5 soon. Both No. 1 goalies are set to play and both have been very good: Karel Vejmelka (2.02 GAA) for Utah and Jeremy Swayman (2.30 GAA) for Boston. The Bruins have had just one game in four top this number and that in OT. The Mammoth also have had just one in four top 6.5 goals. They might be without excellent offensive blueliner Mikhail Sergachev (1G, 5A -- second on team with six points) after he left Tuesday's game injured. Per usual, I think only a 3-3 regulation tie gets us.
  • expert headshot
    Matt Severance
    #1
    +280
    (67%)
    4-2 in Last 6 NHL ML Picks
    OTT
    -170
    Money Line
    Picked: Oct 8 @ 12:16pm

    Analysis

    I like a fair amount of NHL tonight. Always prefer teams in their home opener and the Sens finally play theirs. No. 1 goalie Linus Ullmark has been confirmed off a minor issue and he has been lights out at 2-0 with a 1.20 GAA and .949 SV. The Flyers are winless in four and starting backup Joseph Woll, who has allowed three goals in both outings. Philadelphia has been outshot an by an incredible 82 shots on goal. That's second-worst in league history through four games. I wouldn't play 60-minute line but would -1.
  • expert headshot
    Micah Roberts
    +294
    (80%)
    4-1 in Last 5 NCAAF O/U Picks
    Over 57.5
    -110
    Over/Under
    Picked: Oct 5 @ 8:50pm

    Analysis

    The South Alabama Jaguars travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to play the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who are a 1.5-point favorite Thursday night. The area that got me excited for this game is a total sitting at 57.5. South Alabama averages a 35-31 score as they're 3-2 straight up and ATS. Last week they beat Louisiana Monroe 52–35. They've gone over the total in four of their five games. Arkansas State may barely win the game, but this game will definitely go over despite the last five meetings staying under.
  • expert headshot
    Matt Severance
    #1
    +280
    (67%)
    4-2 in Last 6 NHL ML Picks
    NYI
    -167
    Money Line
    Picked: Oct 7 @ 3:14pm

    Analysis

    This feels a good 25 cents low for Thursday so I'll grab it now with No. 1 Ilya Sorokin already confirmed in net for the Islanders. The Russian has been spectacular in allowing just two goals on 63 shots so far. The Hawks won't be very good with Connor Bedard and he's still out. And so is another top-six forward in Teuvo Teravainen (2A). Chicago is 0-3 away, outscored 15-5, and this is a one-game trip that players hate. You are probably fine with the 60-minute line to bring this down or -1. I'm going to up the wager to 1.5 units at this number.

Betting Spotlight

See More

More Headlines

247 Sports
247sports-marshall-manning.jpg

Meet Marshall Manning: Expectations on the rise for son of Hall of Famer 

Checking in on the Sunshine State: Big decisions at Florida, UCF, USF 

Texas A&M's No. 1 class is safe despite disappointing start to season 

SportsLine
nico-collins-cj-stroud-houston-texans-imagn.jpg

NFL score predictions, Week 5 best bets, expert picks

Week 6 college football picks from 10,000 simulations

2026-27 Fantasy basketball rankings, sleepers, busts

Betting

getty-kylian-mbappe-vinicius-junior-real-madrid-january.jpg

DraftKings Sportsbook review and promo code 2026

Kalshi promo code: CBSSPORTS for $25 in bonuses (September 2026)

Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS: Deposit $10, get a $50 trading bonus

Fantasy

ab2.png

Week 5 Fantasy rankings: Jalen Hurts among Dave Richard's sits

Week 5 PPR Cheat Sheet: Justin Herbert faces tough start/sit call

Week 5 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: Matthew Stafford lights up Bills shootout

NFL

astros.jpg

Best Kalshi promo code CBSSPORTS55: Get $55 bonus for Bucs-Cowboys TNF

The hidden role behind CeeDee Lamb's huge season

DraftKings promo code: Get $150 bonus bets for Cowboys-Buccaneers, TNF

College Football

cfp.jpg

Multiple CFP contenders probed for revenue-sharing and NIL violations

SEC exploring new eligibility policy for intra-conference transfers

LSU vs. Kentucky prediction, spread, live stream

Golf

rahm.jpg

Jon Rahm will not participate in LIV Golf 2.0, future uncertain

Furyk promises changes are coming for 'underdog' U.S. at Ryder Cup

High stakes, external pressure bring out best in Tom Kim, Adrian Meronk

Soccer

ashley-sanchez-1.jpg

Ashley Sanchez back in USWNT picture off back of record-setting season

Meet Santiago Castaneda: Could he be next USMNT gem?

Don Garber envisions MLS becoming one of the top leagues in the world

NBA

lebron-james-imagn.png

LeBron at center? What the numbers say as Sixers deal with depth issue

Ranking every NBA team's offense entering the 2026-27 season

Mike Breen apologizes after LeBron refutes claim about Embiid

NCAA Basketball

secpredix.jpg

SEC preseason picks: Florida holds off Texas, Arkansas

Mississippi Valley State player detained by ICE over visa issue

Dana Altman's retirement: The timing is strange, the decision is not

NCAAW Basketball

sylvia-fowles-statue-lsu.png

LSU to honor basketball legend Sylvia Fowles with statue on campus

Baylor lands Ukrainian center who left LSU after Mulkey signed Russian

Ukrainian Koval confirms she left LSU after team added Russian recruit

MLB

2026-mlb-bracket.png

MLB playoff bracket, schedule, scores: Dodgers, Rays, Brewers advance

MLB CBA negotiations timeline: Where things stand

Picking MVPs for NLDS and ALDS: Chourio makes his hits count
Around the Web Promoted by Taboola