The sports calendar is jam-packed lately, and today — Monday, March 9 — is no different. Sports fans will have plenty to watch as the NBA and NHL are both in full swing, college basketball is hitting the stretch run, and the World Baseball Classic intensifies in the late stages of pool play.
So, with so much sports content to consume, which bets should you be placing? That's where we come in. Here are today's best bets and parlay picks for Monday, March 9.
Today's Best Bets, Parlay Picks
World Baseball Classic Best Bet
The primetime matchup features the best single-game pitching staff top-to-bottom in the tournament, and the same staff you can expect to see in a potential semi-final against the Dominican Republic, as Paul Skenes (projected 2.66 FIP, 23.9% K-BB% per ATC) gets the start for the Americans and projects to go four dominant innings before handing the ball to some combination of Griffin Jax, Garrett Whitlock, Gabe Speier, and Mason Miller (2.46 FIP).
Mexico will start Manny Barreda, a 37-year-old who had three appearances for the Orioles in 2021 amid 11 minor-league seasons. He's spent the past few years pitching in independent ball, the Taiwanese CPBL, and the Mexican League. I expect that he'll face the USA batting order once before manager Benji Gil hands things over to a legitimate bullpen, which features three MLB closers (Andrés Muñoz, Robert Garcia, and Victor Vodnik), and is well rested after a six-inning mercy win over Brazil on Sunday.
My projected total is under market, due to the anticipated usage and quality of these bullpens. Take the Under to 11 (-110) pregame, and look to add more live at a better number once Barreda has exited (provided the game is still competitive).
— Sean Zerillo
NBA Best Bet
The Knicks look to bounce back against the Clippers tonight after a tough loss to the Lakers yesterday.
Mitchell Robinson played against the Lakers, so we shouldn't expect to see him today.
Whenever Robinson is out, Karl-Anthony Towns sees a spike in his rebounding.
With Mitch, Towns averages 11.1 rebounds per game — but without him, that number jumps all the way up to 14.3.
Tonight, he gets a matchup against the Clippers, who have Brook Lopez and Isaiah Jackson down low, but are obviously a bit thinner on the interior after trading away Ivica Zubac — and now Yanic Konan Niederhauser is out for the season.
This is more of a bet on Towns than against the Clippers — but the matchup works well here too.
— Joe Dellera
NHL Best Bet
If it ain’t broke …
We’re going to fade the Kings today because even though they’re a solid road team, they have lost three out of their past four road games.
And given how morbid this team has looked, I can see Columbus skating circles around it.
The Jackets hold a 17-8-5 record at Nationwide Arena and have captured points in eight straight games.
Given that both teams are playing at polar opposite levels right now, we’re going to ride the hot hand and back Columbus.
— Greg Liodice
College Basketball Best Bet
The Gaels present some serious matchup issues for Santa Clara.
Saint Mary's is relentless on the offensive glass, boasting a 37% offensive rebound rate. The Gaels went 1-1 against the Broncos, but snagged 14 and 21 offensive rebounds in those two games.
Virtually nobody outrebounds the Gaels. So, if Santa Clara thinks it can, it's thinking wrong because Saint Mary's is unreal on the boards.
— Sean Paul
