Media by Associated Press – Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher (37) and Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Thursday night has a full schedule of sports. The NFL schedule is winding down, so there is no game Thursday night. But what the slate does provide is a number of betting opportunities on college and professional games from around the country. Here’s a look at a parlay worth looking at for tonight’s action.
Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio State Buckeyes (-1.5)
Purdue found out what many teams do in their last Big Ten game. Life in the conference is hard. The No. 1 Boilermakers lost by one point to Rutgers, falling 65-64 to the Scarlet Knights. Purdue will now head to Columbus to face an energized Ohio State team. Last season, the Buckeyes nearly rallied from 20 points down to stun Purdue.
Zach Edey, a 7-foot-6 center, has been the star for the Boilermakers’ offense, putting up 21.7 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. Purdue has mostly leaned on its defense this season, as the Boilermakers are 22nd nationally in points allowed per game, giving up 60.5 percent per game.
Ohio State has a more balanced offense. The Buckeyes score 81 points per game and shoot 49.2 percent from the field. Brice Sensabaugh leads the team by averaging 15.9 points per game. Ohio State is 7-6 against the spread this season. The Buckeyes are 7-0 straight up at home, while Purdue is 2-0 on the road.
Ohio State should be able to protect its home court and cover the narrow spread against Purdue. The Buckeyes have covered their last three games against the spread. Seven of Ohio State’s last ten games have gone over the total.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights (-120)
After a surge in the middle of the season of seven-straight wins, Pittsburgh is regressing to the mean in an aggressive way. The Penguins have lost six of their past seven games and can’t seem to find their punch on offense. Regression was due to hit the Penguins, which have made the players every season since 2005.
Vegas has been playing good hockey as of late. The Golden Knights have won two straight games, including a 3-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup champions on Monday. Vegas is able to push the tempo on offense. The Golden Knights are in the top 10 in the league in goals per game, shots on goal, and power play percentage.
Vegas is also good on the draw, winning 52.9 percent of faceoffs. Pittsburgh has struggled defensively as of late. The Penguins are allowing opponents to get 33.8 shots on net per game, which is 29th in the league. Pittsburgh is also 84.3 percent on the penalty kill, which is second in the league.
The Penguins seem to be in a funk and in need of new energy but will have a difficult time finding that with a roster of aging stars.
Pick: Golden Knights ML (including overtime and shootout)/Ohio State -1.5 (+251)
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