Today’s Best Free Sports Betting Picks and Predictions From Our Experts

Free Play on Rams -3½ -115

1* Free Play on Washington State +6

FREE PLAY on Rams/Bears over 48½

Ricky's 1* play on LAL.

Key Angle: It's important to remember that Ricky never makes a bet on any game based on just one angle. In order to make the grade, all his premium picks must meet several important criteria. He doesn't share all his secrets within his analysis, instead he chooses to reveal only the angle that he feels is the most significant. Here in this game the recent history of these two teams is particularly significant.

- The Lakers are 6-0 SU in the last six head to head meetings. 

- The Raptors are 9-11 without RJ Barrett this season. 

- Luka Doncic sat out last night's game, and should be good to go vs Toronto. 

Verdict: The value is on the home favorite.

1* Best Bet on Oilers -1½

No analysis provided.

1* Free Wiseguy Play on Rams/Bears over 48 -110

*All picks are based on situations, trends, statistics and injuries among many other factors*

Recommended Bet: Sporting San Jose +137

1* Free Play on Bears +4 -110

1* Free Pick on Rams/Bears over 48 -110

Free Play – Take OVER 48.5 #393-94 L.A. Rams vs Chicago (6:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, Jan. 18)

Let there be no mistaking, the total in the last divisional playoff game is almost exclusively about the cold temperatures, expected to be below 20 degrees at kickoff. The opening total fell like January Midwest temps, starting at 51 and dipping to 48.5. However, the majority of bettors are not backing the line movement, as you can see below. Why? It starts with two vulnerable secondaries, which are permitting a lot of yards and points, facing two quarterbacks who make plays, utilizing talented pass catchers. Winds of about 12 MPH are expected, yet each QB has a strong arm, which could mean more passes on the line with less air time. If the weather weren’t an issue, the total would likely be 52 or more. We’ll trust the QBs and leaky secondaries for an OVER.

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Jack's Free Pick Sunday: Pelicans/Rockets OVER 230

The Houston Rockets should be able to let their hair down today and hang a big number on the New Orleans Pelicans to break out of their recent offensive funk that has mostly come against very good defensive teams.  The Pelicans are not that.

New Orleans ranks 9th in pace and 28th in defensive rating to profile as an OVER team.  They have gone 3-1 OVER in their last four games overall.  They have finished with 229 or more combined points in five consecutive games, including 235 or more in four of them.  This is a low total for a game involving the Pelicans.

The first and only meeting between the Pelicans and Rockets this season was a shootout.  The Pelicans won 133-128 (OT), but it was tied 119-119 at the end of regulation for 238 combined points, which would easily top this 230-point total in the rematch.  The OVER is 5-1 in the last six meetings with 232 or more combined points in five of those six.  Bet the OVER in this game Sunday.

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1* NBA - Raptors/Lakers FREE PICK on Lakers +2

1* FREE INFO PLAY Deportes Tolima +219

1 Unit FREE PLAY on Toronto Raptors -1.5

The Lakers will be playing the second of a back-to-back tonight after a 132-116 loss in Portland last night.  That followed up a 135-117 home loss to Charlotte.  They have dropped to 1-5 SU & 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall and are battling injuries in a big way right now.  They are also a tired team playing their 5th game in 7 days tonight.  They were without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton last night and it's unclear whether the latter two will return.  I like the Raptors regardless.  Give me the Raptors.

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Rams vs Bears 
6:30 EST, Sunday, January 18 
Soldier Field, Chicago 
5-Unit bet on the OVER currently priced at 48.5 points

Live Betting Strategy: Consider betting 5 units preflop on the OVER and then add the remaining 2 units at 45.5 points. If you are expecting scoring volatility to be lower/slower, then consider betting 4 Units preflop, 2 units at 45.5 points and 1 unit at 42.5 points. The second quarter had the highest average scoring quarter (13.6 points) in the divisional round. So, if there is going to be a slower than usual quarter, the first quarter would be the one.

Here is a situational betting algorithm that has gone 18-9-1 OVER for 67% winning bets over the past 15 seasons, including the playoffs. The requirements are:

Bet the OVER with a team coming off a home win.

In that home win they trailed by 17 or more points at the half.

The following NFL betting algorithm has produced solid results with a 17-9 OVER record for 65.4% winning bets since 2010. The requirements are:

Bet the OVER with a home teams playing in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In their Wild Card game, the home team saw the OVER win the money and covered it by 7 or more points.

In addition, divisional round favorites that scored 30 or more points in their Wild Card win has seen the OVER compile a profitable 25-14 mark for 64% winning bets since 2002; 16-8 OVER for 70% winning bets when they scored 34 or more points.

The Rams went OVER their team total by 6 points. The OVER is 22-10 for 69% winning bets in the divisional round of the playoffs with a team coming off a game in which they went OVER their team total by 6 or more points.

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Sunday's NBA Free Pick on Nuggets -1

As the NFC Divisional Round unfolds on January 18, 2026, all eyes turn to Soldier Field in Chicago, where the Los Angeles Rams face off against the home-underdog Bears in a 6:30 PM ET kickoff. With temperatures dipping to around 20°F and snow in the forecast, this matchup promises a gritty, weather-influenced battle that could sway betting outcomes. The Rams enter as 3.5-point favorites with a total points line set at 48.5, reflecting their offensive prowess against a Bears squad that's shown flashes but struggled defensively throughout the season. League-wide trends in the 2026 NFL season highlight a favorable environment for underdogs, who have covered the spread in 52.7% of games, while favorites have managed only 47.3% success against the number. This dynamic plays into divisional playoff history, where road underdogs between +3.5 and +9.5 have posted a strong 29-17-1 record against the spread over the last 47 instances, a 63% clip that suggests value in backing teams like the Bears if the line moves further. However, home teams overall have hovered around a 49.8% cover rate this year, indicating no overwhelming edge for Chicago despite the familiar turf and elements.

Delving into team-specific angles, the Rams have been a bettor's delight in 2026, boasting one of the league's top against-the-spread records with consistent covers driven by their explosive offense. Los Angeles ranks first in points and yards per game, exploiting defenses with quarterback Matthew Stafford's league-leading passing yards and touchdowns, which has translated to an 11-7 mark to the over in their contests. This over trend aligns with broader NFL patterns, where high-scoring games have become more common in playoffs, as evidenced by bettors cashing overs in 30 of the last 56 divisional round totals that shifted early. On the flip side, the Bears' defense has been a liability, ranking near the bottom in yards per play allowed, which could prove costly against a Rams attack that's thrived even in adverse conditions. Chicago has shown resilience as home underdogs, but their 2026 season has seen them go under in several cold-weather spots, potentially capping the total if the snow slows down the passing game.

Key stats further tilt the scales toward Los Angeles. The Rams have won and covered in 12 games against the spread this year, the most in the NFL, underscoring their reliability as favorites in the -3.5 range. In contrast, playoff favorites coming off a bye, like the Rams here, have a middling 17-26-1 ATS record when laying seven or more points, but with this spread tighter, the historical drag is less pronounced. Weather angles add intrigue: Cold games under 30°F have leaned under league-wide at a 55% rate this season, yet the Rams' efficient ground game and quick-strike passing could buck that, especially against a Bears unit that's surrendered big plays. Bold historical precedents, such as divisional rounds producing unexpectedly high scores, suggest this could eclipse typical weather-dampened expectations.

Putting it all together, the sharp play here is laying the 3.5 points with the Rams. Their offensive dominance, combined with Chicago's defensive woes and the league's road-underdog success not fully countering Los Angeles' trends, points to a comfortable win.

Historical data refines this: NFL -3.5 favorites cover about 47.4% overall, but road teams like the Rams hit 49.2%, and their 66.7% ATS record this season suggests a higher pp . Playoff trends show -49% for road favorites, with weather potentially reducing opp edge.
. Ultimately, if your pp is  0.5238, the bet has edge.

Sunday NHL Free play. My selection is on St. Louis +1.5 goals over Edmonton at 8:05 pm et on Sunday.

The Blues are coming off back-to-back wins and they're well-rested with this being just their third game in the last week. Meanwhile, the Oilers travel back from Vancouver after trouncing the Canucks 6-0 last night. This will mark Edmonton's fifth game in the last seven nights, in four different cities. Of note, the Oilers are just 5-6 over their last 11 games and 2-5 in their last seven home contests when factoring in the -1.5 puck-line. The Blues road struggles have been well-documented but I look for them to get this three-game trip off to a positive start by keeping pace with the Oilers on Sunday. Take St. Louis +1.5 goals.

Pelicans vs Rockets NBA Free Pick

The Angle: The Houston Rockets are on an 8-2 run to the under, mainly due to a struggle to get buckets, but that should not be an issue here against a New Orleans Pelicans team that has conceded 122 points or more in two of its last three games and allowing 122.3 ppg (28th) on the season.

The Bet: OVER (2%). 

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR SUNDAY, 1/18:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Sunday is with the Houston Rockets minus the points versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Houston (24-15) has won two of their last three games after their 110-105 win against Minnesota as a 3.5-point favorite on Friday. The Rockets have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 home games with the Total set at 230 or higher. They have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games with the Total set at 230 or higher. New Orleans (10-34) has lost three of their last four games after their 127-119 loss at Indiana as a 4.5-point underdog on Friday. The Pelicans have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 road games against teams with a losing record. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 road games with the Total set at 230 or higher. Take Houston minus the points. Best of luck — Frank.

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PSP Data Driven 1* Under.

At Professionalsportspicks we see a future where those handicapping sports without advanced analytics and data-driven strategies will be left behind. Our data-driven picks use data integration, search and discovery, and knowledge management along with collaboration with our in-house handicappers. By isolating relevant trends, removing human bias, and targeting only lines with a positive expected value above a certain threshold, our data-driven picks promise to outperform any and all human competitors.

Our models suggest that the value is on the Under. The Under is 5-0 in Houston's last 5 games. The Under is 6-0 in Houston's last 6 games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference.

I’m usually reluctant to fade a team riding a win streak, especially when that confidence starts to snowball — and Sacramento has been rolling, winning and covering four straight. But this sets up as a strong momentum spot for Portland. The Blazers just knocked off the Lakers on Saturday and have quietly been a solid second-night, back-to-back team this season.

Sacramento has also struggled in this exact matchup profile, going just 3–6 ATS in their last nine and 2–6 straight up against bottom-10 scoring defenses. I lean Under here, but the stronger angle is backing the sharper spot and momentum side to steal a road win.

Take: Blazers +2.5 (sprinkle +130 ML)

Let's cash some tickets!