We've shopped the odds and lines at ourbest sportsbooksin search of today's best bets for Saturday, Feb. 25. We've got college basketball, NHL, NBA, and UFC action on tap for Saturday, and we also look ahead to this Sunday's NASCAR race and to the MLB season with some pitcher futures.
Let's look at some of our favorite bets for Saturday and beyond.
Read on for today's best bets for Saturday, Feb. 25, based on the odds from ourbest sportsbooks.
Saturday's best bets
- College basketball: Saint Mary’s-Gonzaga Over 140 (-110 via Caesars)⭐⭐⭐⭐
- NHL: Nathan MacKinnon Under 1.5 points (+108 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- NBA: Pacers ML vs. Magic (+135 via DraftKings)⭐⭐⭐
- MLB: Yu Darvish to lead MLB in wins (+5000 via BetMGM)
- NASCAR: Kyle Larson to win Pala Casino 400 (+650 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- UFC: Malott vs. Lainesse to end in Round 1 (+110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saturday's college basketball best bet
Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga Over 140 (-110)⭐⭐⭐⭐
These two teams combined for 148 points in an overtime thriller in their first meeting but just 122 points in regulation. Saint Mary’s masterfully controlled tempo for the first 40 minutes, limiting possessions and out-rebounding the Bulldogs by seven overall.
However, controlling tempo (the Gaels play at D-I’s 359th slowest adjusted tempo) is not as easy on the road, especially at a charged-up “Kennel.” In addition, their bottom-five adjusted tempo does not effectively slow most teams down, as the Gaels rank just 156th comparatively in average defensive possession length.
Gonzaga has been on fire offensively, averaging 94.8 points in its last eight non-Saint Mary’s games. And this becomes a more confident four-star play when recognizing that the Over is a combined 11-2 when these two teams have just one day off, as they do tonight, having last played on Thursday.
Over backers should head to Caesars, the only sportsbook with a total lower than the opening number of 140.5.
College basketball best bets made by Mike Spector.
Check out all of our top college basketball picks, as well as our 2023 March Madness odds and 2023 Wooden Award odds.
Saturday's NHL best bet
Nathan MacKinnon Under 1.5 points (+108 via FanDuel)⭐⭐⭐⭐
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is scorching hot with six consecutive multi-point outings of six goals and eight assists. However, plus-money odds for this Under caught my attention immediately.
Before the highlighted heater, MacKinnon recorded fewer than 2 points in 22 of 39 games, and last year he failed to hit the 2-point benchmark in 58 of 85 contests, including the playoffs.
Based on the +108 odds, the implied probability the superstar center hits the Under is just 48.1%. MacKinnon is projected for 1.34 points Saturday, and I'd price MacKinnon to register Under 1.5 points in the -175 range. That’s a huge gap.
Statistical correction looms, and as previously noted, I’m pegging this as a tough schedule spot against an underachieving team for the Avs. It’s also worth noting the next best odds for a player to go Under 1.5 points through DK is Oilers center Leon Draisaitl at -125.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
| +105 | +108🔥 | +105 | N/A | +105 |
While there isn’t a huge edge for this prop across ourbest sportsbooks, I'm more focused on them all listing a target-worthy price. Based on my line of -175, there's a positive expected value of 30% on the +108 odds through FanDuel.
Bet against any NHL player to post fewer than 2 points at plus-money odds. It doesn’t mean it’s a lock, obviously, but I’m happy to don the Fun Police badge.
NHL best bets made by Neil Parker.
Check out all of our top NHL picks, as well as our 2023 Stanley Cup odds.
Saturday's NBA best bet
Pacers ML vs. Magic (+135 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
Orlando has been spectacular ATS this season, going 33-26-1 overall, including 17-13 at home. The Magic, however, are just 2-4 as home favorites and 0-2 in their last two contests. Orlando is favored by 3 or 3.5 depending on which book you use, and based on that small spread, we’ll look to the Moneyline wager instead.
The Pacers have covered in each of their last two games, and the team is 32-29 ATS on the season. That includes a 12-16 mark on the road, but the Pacers are 2-1 straight-up against the Magic in three prior meetings.
Indiana is finally back at full strength, and the Pacers are one of the few teams in the Association with no players on the injury report. We’re taking them to bounce back after a heartbreaking OT loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
NBA best bets made by Zachary Hanshew.
Check out ourNBA Finals oddsandNBA MVP odds.
Saturday's MLB best bet
Yu Darvish to lead league in wins (+5000 via BetMGM)
Darvish won 16 times and started 30 games for a second consecutive season in 2022, so I’m viewing the +5000 odds as a nice addition to my betting portfolio for this market. The San Diego Padres have a star-studded lineup to provide run support, and Darvish has been incredibly durable since his injury-shortened 2018 campaign.
MLB win leaders best bets by Neil Parker.
Check out all of our MLB top picks.
Saturday's NASCAR best bet
Kyle Larson to win (+650 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kyle Larson has eight career Cup Series starts in Fontana. In those starts, he has two wins and two second-place finishes. In seven of the eight, he was the pilot of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Chevrolet, a step below his current Hendrick Motorsports ride.
Larson has also enjoyed success on the Michigan International Speedway, another two-mile track, logging three wins on the circuit.
The No. 5 car is the clear favorite this week across the books. However, there is still actual value in betting on him to win this week even at Caesars' price of +500. These odds have already dipped by at least 50 cents on some books, so the earlier you can lock him in, the better.
Pala Casino 400 NASCAR picks made by Rodrigo Villagomez.
Saturday's UFC best bet
Malott vs. Lainesse to end in Round 1 (+110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Malott has earned every one of his eight career victories in the opening stanza, and Lainesse boasts five first-round wins of his own in seven career stoppages, so these two likely won’t spend much time in the Octagon come fight night.
As demonstrated in last year’s demolishing of Mickey Gall, Malott packs a solid wallop in his mitts, and he can snatch necks with a swiftness, while Lainesse is a purebred striker who may get the firefight he wants. Whether Malott wraps things up with a club-and-sub or Lainesse leaves him counting the lights with a thunderous blitz, this battle of Canadians shouldn’t see a second round.
UFC best bets made by Themi Alexis.
Here are ourbest sportsbooks:
- FanDuel: Up to $3,000 Back in Bonus Bets | Read our FanDuel Review
- Caesars: Earn Up to a $1,250 Bet Credit | Read our Caesars Review
- DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets | Read our DraftKings Review
- PointsBet: Earn Five Second-Chance Bets Up to $50 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
- BetMGM: Get a Bonus Bet of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Online Sportsbooks | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
