Each week, TheLines looks ahead to what’s on tap in the sports betting world. Another busy stretch is ahead, with key NFL and college football games, as well as a pivotal few days regarding NBA rosters for this coming season. Here is what we’ll be monitoring this week.
Cardinals at Seahawks – Thursday
Seattle () is now 1-2 against division opponents after falling in Week 10 to the Los Angeles Rams. That said, the Seahawks are a perfect 4-0 at home this season. The Cardinals (), meanwhile, are coming off one of the most thrilling wins in team history and in recent NFL memory. DeAndre Hopkins hauled in a game-winning Hail Mary over three Buffalo Bills in what is sure to be an iconic photo for Arizona moving forward. The Cardinals took the first game between these two this season, but now get a Seahawks team that is desperate for a win. Arizona leads the NFC West for the first time all season (based on tie-breakers) and Seattle is technically third. This Thursday Night Football game has massive playoff implications.
NBA Draft, free agency opens
The true start to NBA free agency comes this Friday, two days after the NBA Draft. Big news hit this past weekend as Lakers star Anthony Davis announced he could decline his player option and become a free agent. He’s still expected to re-sign with the Lakers, albeit on a new contract. Los Angeles was further in the rumor mill with reports that they are trading for Thunder guard Dennis Schroder. Other big names like James Harden and Russell Westbrook have appeared in trade rumors, which could shape the landscape of free agent signings.
ALSO READ: LaMelo Ball pulling away as favorite to be No. 1 overall pick in NBA Draft
No. 9 Indiana at No. 3 Ohio State – Saturday
The Buckeyes () were idle this past week after their game against Maryland was canceled. The Hoosiers (), on the other hand, beat Michigan State and are off to their best start in program history (4-0). Their position at nine in the AP Poll is their highest since 1967, where they were awarded a Rose Bowl berth. Indiana hasn’t seen a team at the level of Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are favored by around 20.5 points at most books – extremely steep for a top-10 showdown. It’s the first meeting between these two as ranked opponents since 1994 and their first-ever top-10 showdown.
UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez – Saturday
After being mostly quiet over the past month, the UFC is back with this flyweight title bout on Saturday. Deiveson Figueiredo (Brazil) is favored in this one as he’s between -320 (FanDuel Sportsbook) and -315 (DraftKings Sportsbook). Figueiredo carries a 19-1 record, 50% knockout rate, and 32% submission rate. His last fight was a first-round victory by submission over Joseph Benavidez. Alex Perez also won his last bout in the first round by TKO. He has a 24-5 record, record 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and leads Figueiredo in takedown defense, 87%-58%.
Titans at Ravens – Sunday
Did someone say, “Revenge Game?” No doubt, Baltimore () has had this game circled all season long. The Titans () bounced the 14-2 Ravens from last year’s playoffs in the Divisional Round– holding MVP Lamar Jackson and crew to 12 points despite 508 total yards from the QB. Facing the harshest part of their of their schedule, Tennessee is 2-2 since losing left tackle Taylor Lewan to injury and is struggling to find an offensive rhythm. The Ravens are also failing to meet expectations as they are fresh off a loss to the below .500 Patriots. Both teams are clawing for division leads, so this game is going to mean a lot for both sides.
