Back and (Hopefully) Better than Ever

We’re baaaack.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We took a little hiatus to enjoy some time with family and to put a halt to my losing ways.

I’m hoping the ghost of Kadarius Toney is no longer haunting me and we can enjoy a smooth transition into the new year.

Let’s ride (cautiously).

Record Tracker 📈

Mitch’s Favorites: 27-36 (-5.7 units) ❄️

Ani’s Favorites: 29-29 (+6.1 units) 🎅🏼

All Other Picks: 43-46 (+1.8 units) 🎄

Overall: 99-11 (+2.2 units) 🎉

Mitch’s Favorite Picks 🔒

Tobias Harris, over 20.5 PTS (-106 / FanDuel) — 1 unit

Sixers @ Magic, 7 PM EST

Sixers star Joel Embiid is slated to miss his second straight game tonight. On Christmas Day, Harris scored 27 points with Embiid out, and in two games against the Magic last year without Embiid, Harris scored 23 and 25 points.

Without Embiid, the Sixers will rely on Tyrese Maxey and Harris to be the primary offensive options. The Magic are a solid defensive unit, but they’ve allowed several power forwards to go over this mark in the past few weeks.

West Virginia, -5.5 (-115 / FanDuel) — 1.5 units

West Virginia vs. North Carolina, Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 5:30 PM EST

North Carolina comes into this game without Drake Maye, Tez Walker, Corey Gaynor, and Cedric Gray.

That’s arguably the best quarterback in college football, his go-to wide receiver, the team’s starting center and its best defensive player… all opting out of this bowl game to focus on the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Tar Heels will also be without three other defensive starters, hampering a unit that has been gashed over the last month of the season (115 points allowed over the last three games).

West Virginia will also be missing their starting center and one of their go-to running backs in CJ Donaldson Jr. But they still have Jahiem White, who’s rushed for just six fewer yards than Donaldson this year on 74 fewer carries. They’ll be fine.

North Carolina majorly under-performed this year, while West Virginia was a surprise team for most, winning four of its last five games after starting the season 4-3. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mountaineers come out fired up to put one final stamp on a promising season against a team that may have already mailed it in.

Ani’s Favorite Picks 🔒

Cam Thomas, over 26.5 PTS (-105 / FanDuel) — 2 units

Bucks @ Nets, 7:30 PM EST

The Nets are on the second leg of a back to back and have a lot of their starters resting in this contest. Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith are all already ruled out tonight.

Thomas will most likely take 25-30 FG attempts tonight, so I think this line is too low, even at 26.5. The Bucks also struggle to defend opposing point guards, which was on full display when Jalen Brunson scored 38 points against the Bucks on Christmas.

Earlier this season, Thomas scored 45 against the Bucks, and I expect him to have another big night.

De’Anthony Melton, over 2.5 3PM (+125 / FanDuel) — 1 unit

Sixers @ Magic, 7 PM EST

Melton hasn’t made three threes in a game since December 1, but the volume has been there. When the Sixers are without Joel Embiid, Melton’s usage on offense skyrockets. He has attempted nine, ten and 12 threes in the three games that Embiid has not played this season.

There will be plenty of opportunities for Melton tonight against the Magic who just conceded 52 points combined to both Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole last night, so they are vulnerable defensively against guards.

Other Plays We Like

Jakob Poeltl, double-double (+220 / FanDuel) — 0.5 units

Raptors @ Wizards, 7 PM EST

Mikal Bridgers, over 22.5 PTS (-106 / FanDuel) — 0.75 units

Bucks @ Nets, 7:30 PM EST