In today’s newsletter…
1. Leading Off: Our Super Bowl betting guide is live
2. Game of the Day: Suns vs. Pistons Round 2 (without Booker again)
3. Scouting Report: Matchups against the two worst NBA teams at preventing rebounds
4. By the Numbers: MCBB + Australian Open men’s semis
5. Overtime: Giannis finally admits he’s ready to leave Milwaukee
1. Leading Off
The expert betting insights and analysis you’ve come to rely on from Sportmoney are back for the Big Game. Our Super Bowl guide has best bets and player props to watch, along with the research, trends, and stats you’re used to seeing every day in the newsletter. We’re giving loyal subscribers like you 33% off, so you can get our full guide today for just $10.
Chris Farley is taking the lead on our Super Bowl picks this year. He’s a professional bettor and two-time NFL Circa contest winner ($267k in prizes) who has won over 100 units in the NFL over the past four seasons. You might remember Chris as a regular writer for Sportmoney over the past two years, and he served as an analyst on VSiN and BetUS, as well as head of the betting department at The 33rdTeam.
We’ll have Super Bowl coverage in the newsletter leading up to the game on February 8th, but the Sportmoney guide is the only place where you can find our specific bets and props to watch. And at just $10, it’s a steal.
— Abe Rakov
P.S. Don’t wait: Chris highlights some lines and odds that are definitely going to move in the next couple of days. So get our Super Bowl guide today by clicking here.
Sportmoney's Super Bowl LX Betting Guide
Our most comprehensive guide ever with bets, props, trends and more from a two-time NFL Circa contest winner ($276k in prizes)
2. Game of the Day
Pistons Have Padded Lead in the East, Suns Are Slowly Climbing Out of Play-In Range
Jalen Duren | David Reginek-Imagn Images
Detroit has won 9 of 11 games and extended its lead in the Eastern Conference to six games. And the Pistons are doing it without their star guard up to his usual standard, as Cade Cunningham only led his team in scoring in two of the past six games he’s played since returning from injury. He’s averaged 17.5 points per game during that stretch, nearly eight points below his season average.
The Suns are a half-game out of a non-play-in spot after winning 7 of 11 and are just one game behind the Rockets for the No. 4 seed. Devin Booker has missed the past two contests and will be out again tonight, but Dillon Brooks scored 26 points in both matchups in Booker’s absence after combining for just 17 in the two before.
The Pistons won 108-105 when these teams played in Detroit two weeks ago, and Booker wasn’t available for that one either. Grayson Allen led Phoenix with 33 points after shooting 7-20 from three-point range. Nobody scored 20+ for Detroit, but six players finished in double-figures.
Pistons (34-11, 15-6 Away) vs. Suns (28-19, 15-6 Home)
9pm
The Odds
Spread: DET (-4, -110), PHX (+4, -110)
88% of the money and 67% of the bets are with DET
ATS | DET (road): 10-11, PHX (home): 15-6
Moneyline: DET -180, PHX +152
Total (214.5): Over -110, Under -110
DET: 19-26, PHX: 19-28
Head-to-Head
Pistons | Suns | |
|---|---|---|
Streak | W2 | W1 |
Last 10 | 8-2 | 6-4 |
Points/Game | 117.2 | 114.0 |
Opp Points/Game | 110.0 | 111.6 |
Rebounds/Game | 45.9 | 43.2 |
Opp Rebounds/Game | 41.3 | 43.5 |
Assists/Game | 26.6 | 24.9 |
Players to Watch
DET Cade Cunningham | Points: 23.5 (25.3 - 22, 29, 12, 16, 16), Reb: 5.5 (5.7 - 3, 5, 1, 3, 3), Ast: 9.5 (9.8 - 11, 11, 8, 14, 5)
DET Jalen Duren | Points: 16.5 (17.7 - 14, 18, 18, 20, 18), Reb: 10.5 (10.6 - 8, 6, 7, 15, 9)
PHX Dillon Brooks | Points: 21.5 (20.5 - 26, 26, 11, 6, 27), Reb: 3.5 (3.5 - 3, 5, 6, 5, 5), Ast: 2.5 (1.7 - 3, 2, 0, 1, 0)
PHX Grayson Allen | Points: 17.5 (16.4 - 18, 18, 16, 16, 14), Reb: 3.5 (3.0 - 3, 6, 3, 5, 3), Ast: 3.5 (3.8 - 6, 3, 3, 6, 8)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Scouting Report
Vucevic Has Good Rebounding Matchup, Portis Stepped Up With Giannis Out
Nikola Vucevic | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Bulls C Nikola Vucevic (vs. Heat)
Vucevic had his best scoring night in two weeks yesterday with 25 points on 10-17 shooting. He added nine rebounds after grabbing 11 the game before. Only one team in the NBA gives up more rebounds than Miami, so Vucevic should have opportunities today. This is the first game of three in a row between the teams due to this contest being postponed from January 8th because of a wet floor at Chicago’s United Center.
Points: 17.5 (16.8 - 25, 19, 16, 10, 19), Reb: 8.5 (9.1 - 9, 11, 7, 8, 8), Ast: 3.5 (3.8 - 4, 5, 6, 3, 4)
MIA - L1 (5-5 L10) | Points Allowed: 118.0 (23rd), Reb Allowed: 47.4 (29th), Ast Allowed: 27.1 (19th)
Bucks F Bobby Portis (at Wizards)
With Giannis Antetokounmpo out again, Milwaukee has to figure out how to make up 28 points and 10 rebounds per game. Portis did his part in the first contest without his star teammate, scoring 17 points and adding 12 rebounds against the 76ers on Tuesday. The Bucks gave up 139 points in that game and lost by 17 but now get what could be the worst defensive team in the NBA in the Wizards. Points should be available for both sides, which is another reason why Portis’s number is inflated.
Points: 16.5 (13.2 - 17, 11, 15, 19, 13), Reb: 10.5 (6.6 - 12, 9, 6, 3, 6), Ast: 2.5 (1.6 - 8, 0, 9, 1, 3)
WAS - W1 (1-9 L10) | Points Allowed: 122.8 (29th), Reb Allowed: 47.8 (30th), Ast Allowed: 28.5 (28th)
No. 8 Iowa State F Milan Momcilovic (vs. Colorado)
Colorado gives up 78 points per game, which is 290th in men’s college basketball, and has lost five straight. A visit from an in-form Momcilovic and No. 8 Iowa state isn’t what the Buffaloes need. The junior has scored 18+ in five of seven games, including 29, 20, 34 in his past three — shooting over 50% from the field in each contest.
Points: 20.5 (18.8 - 29, 20, 34, 11, 18)
COL - L5 (3-7 L10) | Points Allowed: 78.0 (290th), Reb Allowed: 33.7 (127th), Ast Allowed: 13.4 (181st)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
4. By the Numbers
Bettors Think 76ers Spread is Too Big, Split on Bucks vs. Wizards
Nick Nurse | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
NBA
Kings (12-36, 3-20 Away) vs. 76ers (25-21, 13-13 Home)
SAC (+12, -115), PHI (-12, -105): 64% of the money and 60% of the bets are with SAC
ATS | SAC (road): 8-15, PHI (home): 12-14
Total (230.5) | SAC: 23-25 (110.5 ppg), PHI: 23-23 (116.6 ppg)
Bucks (18-27, 9-15 Away) vs. Wizards (11-34, 7-15 Home)
MIL (-2.5, -108), WAS (+2.5, -112): 56% of the money is with WAS but 52% of the bets are with MIL
ATS | MIL (road): 11-13, WAS (home): 10-12
Total (222.5) | MIL: 18-27 (112.1 ppg), WAS: 22-23 (112.3 ppg)
Nets (12-33, 6-16 Away) vs. Nuggets (31-16, 12-9 Home)
BKN (+7.5, -115), DEN (-7.5, -105): 67% of the money and 61% of the bets are with DEN
ATS | BKN (road): 10-11-1, DEN (home): 11-10
Total (210.5) | BKN: 18-27 (107.8 ppg), DEN: 28-19 (120.4 ppg)
MCBB
Washington (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten) vs. No. 9 Illinois (17-3, 8-1 Big Ten)
UW (+12.5, -110), ILL (-12.5, -110): 75% of the money and 74% of the bets are with ILL
ATS | UW (road): 4-3, ILL (home): 7-4
Total (152.5) | UW: 7-13 (79.0 ppg), ILL: 8-12 (85.5 ppg)
Florida Atlantic (14-7, 6-2 American) vs. Memphis (9-10, 4-3 American)
FAU (+2.5, -110), MEM (-2.5, -110): The money is 50/50 but 54% of the bets are with FAU
ATS | FAU (road): 4-3, MEM (home): 7-3
Total (151.5) | FAU: 10-9 (82.7 ppg), MEM: 8-11 (73.2 ppg)
NHL
Kings (22-16-13, 14-6-6 Away) vs. Sabres (30-17-5, 16-6-3 Home)
LA (+1.5, -230), BUF (-1.5, +184): 96% of the money is with BUF but 54% of the bets are with LA
ATS | LA (road): 13-13, BUF (home): 15-10
Moneyline | LA +106, BUF -128: 87% of the money and 79% of the bets are with BUF
Total (5.5) | LA: 23-28 (2.61 gpg), BUF: 26-26 (3.38 gpg)
Predators (24-23-5, 10-11-3 Away) vs. Devils (27-24-2, 12-10-2 Home)
NSH (+1.5, -205), NJ (-1.5, +164): 85% of the money is with NJ but 75% of the bets are with NSH
ATS | NSH (road): 13-10, NJ (home): 6-18
Moneyline | NSH +118, NJ -142: 58% of the money is with NSH but 69% of the bets are with NJ
Total (5.5) | NSH: 27-25 (2.82 gpg), NJ: 23-30 (2.60 gpg)
Islanders (29-19-5, 14-10-3 Away) vs. Rangers (22-26-6, 6-13-4 Home)
NYI (-1.5, +180), NYR (+1.5, -230): 93% of the money is with NYI but the bets are 50/50
ATS | NYI (road): 17-10, NYR (home): 7-16
Moneyline | NYI -137, NYR +114: 94% of the money and 73% of the bets are with NYI
Total (6.5) | NYI: 24-28 (2.81 gpg), NYR: 24-29 (2.66 gpg)
Australian Open
No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 3 Alexander Zverev
Head-to-Head (Series tied 6-6) | 2025 Masters 1000 Cincinnati SF: Alcaraz 6-4-6-3; 2024 Nitto ATP Finals RR: Zverev 7-6(5), 6-4; 2024 French Open F: Alcaraz 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2; 2024 Masters 1000 Indian Wells QF: Alcaraz 6-3, 6-1; 2024 Australian Open QF: Zverev 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4
Alcaraz Tournament Results: No. 6 de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1; No. 19 Paul 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5; No. 32 Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1; Hanfmann 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2; Walton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2
Zverev Tournament Results: No. 25 Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3); No. 18 Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4; No. 26 Norrie 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Diallo 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
The Bets | Moneyline: Alcaraz -690, Zverev +480; Zverev to Win 1+ Set: Yes -145, No +116; Game Handicap: Alcaraz (-5.5, -120), Zverev (-5.5, -110); Total Games: 36.5 (Over -118, Under -112); Total Sets: 3.5 (Over -144, Under +108)
No. 4 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner
Head-to-Head (Sinner leads 6-4) | 2025 Wimbledon SF: Sinner 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; 2025 French Open SF: Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3), 2024 Masters 1000 Shanghai F: Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3; 2024 Australian Open SF: Sinner 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3
Sinner Tournament Results: No. 8 Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; No. 22 Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2); Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2; Gaston 6-2, 6-1 (ret)
Djokovic Tournament Results: No. 5 Musetti 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 (ret); No. 16 Mensik (w/o); van de Zandschulp 6-7, 6-4, 7-6(4); Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; P. Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
The Bets | Moneyline: Djokovic +890, Sinner -1700; Djokovic to Win 1+ Set: Yes +114, No -152; Game Handicap: Djokovic (+7.5, -110), Sinner (-7.5, -120); Total Games: 31.5 (Over -120, Under -110); Total Sets: 3.5 (Over +118, Under -158)
5. Overtime
In the News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo “is ready for a new home ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.” The Bucks are getting better offers and are starting to consider moving their superstar and starting over. Antetokounmpo is out with a calf injury through the deadline and has played in just 30 of Milwaukee’s 45 games this season. He’s averaging 29 minutes per game, the fewest since his rookie campaign, but is still putting in 28 points per night.
Only one Hall of Fame voter has publicly admitted to voting against Bill Belichick: the Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian. He explained his position as a logistics issue, as he only had three votes and the clock was ticking on other nominees. “But the so-called ‘cheating stuff’ is not at all the only possible explanation. Because it certainly didn’t ultimately influence my vote. In fact, I didn’t vote against Belichick or Kraft. I voted for the three senior candidates: Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood,” Gregorian wrote in the Star.
The Jets reportedly reached out to Jon Gruden about joining Aaron Glenn’s staff, but the former Buccaneers and Raiders head coach turned down New York. Gruden hasn’t coached since being fired by Las Vegas in 2021, but the previous time he was let go he waited 10 years to get back into coaching. He created the Fired Football Coaches Association during that break and has joined Barstool Sports this time.
Another coordinator from a team whose head coach was fired earned a promotion, though this time it isn’t with the same franchise. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is headed to Cleveland to be the Browns next head coach. Monken had served as a coordinator for the team, though, as he ran the offense in 2019. Cleveland’s current defensive coordinator and former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was also in the running.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum is currently rehabbing the Achilles tendon he tore during last season’s Eastern Conference finals, and rumors have been all over the place about when he will return. A few weeks ago, reports started bubbling up that Tatum would come back early, but according to Prime Video’s Chris Haynes, he’s “re-evaluating his situation and is now considering sitting out the entire 2025-26 season.”
What to Watch (times ET)
3pm: Aston Villa vs. RB Salzburg [Europa League Soccer] on CBSSN
7pm: Bucks vs. Wizards on Prime Video (or Colorado vs. No. 8 Iowa State [MCBB] on FS1)
8pm: Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis [MCBB] on ESPN2
9pm: Washington vs. No. 9 Illinois [MCBB] on FS1
9:30pm: Thunder vs. Timberwolves on Prime Video
10:30pm: Australian Open Men’s Semifinals on ESPN
Sportmoney's Super Bowl LX Betting Guide
Our most comprehensive guide ever with bets, props, trends and more from a two-time NFL Circa contest winner ($276k in prizes)
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