In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

There were plenty of predictions to go around yesterday across the NBA and NHL, with our model focusing in on two of those predictions in our Featured Matchups. Those predictions went 0-2 overall, and you can see how each of the models performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 7-2

Over/Under Predictions: 4-5

Spread Predictions: 5-4

Featured Matchup: 0-1

Money Line Predictions: 4-1

Over/Under Predictions: 2-3

Puck Line Predictions: 4-1

Featured Matchup: 0-1

There is one NFL game scheduled to take place today, and it is a brutal one featuring the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders. Our model’s predictions for tonight’s matchup are below.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Model Predicts- Raiders ML, OVER 34.5, Chargers +3

The Los Angeles Chargers will make the short journey to Las Vegas, Nevada in Week 15 to take on the Raiders on Thursday Night Football.

Los Angeles enters tonight’s matchup off a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos,. The loss pushes L.A.’s record to a poor 5-8 for the season, essentially ending the Chargers’ playoff hopes. Coincidentally, Las Vegas is in the same exact spot, owning a 5-8 record following a shutout loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.

It feels like every Thursday night matchup gets worse when compared to the week prior, and tonight is certainly no exception. However, our model has still found a bet on tonight’s game, so let’s take a look at what that is.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Suffered loss to Broncos last week

  • Lost 24-7. 283 yards of offense, 0-12 on third down

• Justin Herbert out for season

  • Had surgery of fractured finger

  • Replaced by Easton Stick- 13/24, 179 yards last week

• Defense seeing some improvement

  • Holding opponents to 4.8 yards per play over last three games. Down from 5.6 for season

  • Opponents scoring TD on 50% of red zone drive

Las Vegas Raiders

• Worst game of season last week

  • Scored zero points in 3-0 loss to Vikings. 202 yards of offense

• Lots of question marks on offense

  • QB Aidan O’Connell could be benched

  • Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams questionable

• Defense is solid at home

  • Top-10 against the pass- 197.1 pass yards allowed per game

  • Surrender just 15.0 points per game- 3rd in NFL

What’s the Play?

This might seem like the most square play possible, but we are going to roll with the under here.

Both offenses are in shambles. Los Angeles will be without Herbert and Keenan Allen this week, and Vegas could be without two key skill position players in Adams and Jacobs, all while potentially having a revolving door at the quarterback position.

Las Vegas possesses a capable defense that should have no problems holding Easton Stick in check without his top pass catcher, and O’Connell isn’t likely to take many risks without his top options and the potential of being benched lurking on his shoulders. There’s a chance that turnovers lead to some short fields for both squads, but that is a risk we will take.

The Play: Under 34.5 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Las Vegas Raiders- 5-8 overall this season, 4-3 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Los Angeles Chargers- Under is 10-3 this season, 5-1 as the away team

• Las Vegas Raiders- Under is 10-3 this season, 6-1 as the home team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Los Angeles Chargers- 5-8 against the spread (ATS) this season, 0-4 ATS as an underdog

🤕 Allen out for TNF against Raiders. Keenan Allen, leading the NFL in receptions, is sidelined due to a heel injury for the Chargers' upcoming game against the Raiders. Despite his record-breaking performance last Sunday, where he set the Chargers' reception record and became the fastest player to reach 900 catches, his absence poses a challenge for Easton Stick, making his first NFL start following Justin Herbert's season-ending injury. With Allen out, returning player Joshua Palmer and newcomers Quentin Johnston and Alex Erickson are anticipated to take on more playing time.

🏆 Los Angeles to host 2027 Super Bowl. NFL owners decided to grant Los Angeles and SoFi Stadium the 2027 Super Bowl, marking the stadium's second hosting since its 2020 opening. This decision follows the success of Super Bowl LVI, with Commissioner Roger Goodell expressing excitement for the city's ability to host and create even more memorable experiences for the upcoming event. Miami's Hard Rock Stadium and Tennessee's future venue were potential contenders for the 2027 Super Bowl hosting rights.

The NBA has given us seven games to bet on today. Our mode'l’s predictions for every matchup are below.

There is no NBA Featured Matchup Today.

Money Line Trends 💰

• Minnesota Timberwolves- 17-5 overall this season, 7-4 as the away team

• Los Angeles Clippers- 13-10 overall this season, 5-0 in last five games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Portland Trail Blazers- Under is 12-10 this season. 5-3 as the home team

• Los Angeles Clippers- Under is 15-7-1 this season, 9-2-1- as the home team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Oklahoma City Thunder- 15-6-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, 6-2-1 ATS as an underdog

• Brooklyn Nets- 17-5-1 ATS this season, highest win % in NBA

😤 Antetokounmpo sparks heated exchange after record night. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-best 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 140-126, setting a new franchise record. Despite his remarkable performance, a postgame misunderstanding occurred when Antetokounmpo sought the game ball, which the Pacers had taken to commemorate rookie Oscar Tshiebwe's first NBA point, leading to a heated exchange and an altercation between team personnel in the hallway. Antetokounmpo expressed uncertainty about receiving the correct game ball, reminiscent of a previous incident where he didn't receive the game ball from the 2022 NBA Finals.

After just five games on Wednesday, the NHL has given us eight games to bet on today. Our model’s predictions for all eight matchups are below.

Carolina Hurricanes @ Detroit Red Wings

Model Predicts- Hurricanes ML, OVER 6.5, Red Wings +1.5

The Carolina Hurricanes will wrap up a six-game road trip on Thursday night, with the final stop coming in Detroit, Michigan to take on the Red Wings.

Carolina’s road trip has been far from kind to the Hurricanes, posting a 1-4 record through the first five games. Carolina now sits at 15-12-1 for the season, while Detroit enters tonight with a 15-9-4 record after winning six of its last ten games.

The Hurricanes snapped a concerning four-game losing streak with a win over the Senators on Tuesday, and our model believes the Canes can sustain that momentum tonight. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Carolina Hurricanes

• Brutal road trip so far

  • Losses to Jets, Oilers, Flames, and Canucks. Win over Senators

  • -5 goal differential in that time

• Offense is due to see turnaround

  • GF/60 in 5-on-5 in last five games is 1.73, but xGF/60 in same situations is 2.82

  • 12.88 High-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (HDCF/60) in 5-on-5 in last five games

• Expected goalie- Antti Raanta

  • .895 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 78th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) with -7.3

Detroit Red Wings

• Always seem to find back of net

  • Rank 2nd in GF/60 in 5-on-5

  • Have scored five goals or more in four of six games in December

• Plenty of defensive concerns

  • Rank in bottom half of NHL in xGA/60 in 5-on-5

  • Surrender 31.4 shots on goal per game. Bottom ten power play defense

• Expected goalie- Ville Husso

  • .904 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 73rd in GSAx (-7.2)

What’s the Play?

Carolina’s offense hasn’t looked pretty, but we agree with our model that this is a good spot to back the over.

One thing Carolina does very well is generate pressure on opposing goaltenders, as evidenced by ranking first in shots on goal per game. That hasn’t translated to goals often during this rough patch, but as previously mentioned, the Canes’ offense is due for some positive regression, which we saw begin to take place on Tuesday night.

Detroit has been firing on all cylinders offensively as well, and is a great candidate to sneak some goals past a struggling Raanta. We’ll buy low on Carolina here and keep riding the hot hand with Detroit, as both are likely to score enough goals to get this total to seven.

The Play: Over 6.5 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Philadelphia Flyers- 15-10-3 overall this season, 6-6-1 as the home team

• Minnesota Wild- 10-12-4 overall this season, 5-2 in last seven games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Detroit Red Wings- Over is 15-11-2 this season with average total of 7.07

• Chicago Blackhawks- Under is 15-10-3 this season with average total of 5.86

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• Detroit Red Wings- Puck line is 18-10 this season

😬 Blues fire head coach Craig Berube. St. Louis Blues' GM Doug Armstrong made the tough call to dismiss coach Craig Berube after the team's string of losses and inconsistent performances. Despite Berube's success in leading the team to a Stanley Cup victory, Armstrong felt change was essential, citing the team's decline in standings and lack of consistency. Interim coach Drew Bannister is in place, and Armstrong aims to find a replacement emphasizing competitiveness and accountability, while former NHLer Brad Richards joins to aid the struggling power play.

🤕 Jets’ Connor out 6-8 weeks. Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor faces a six-to-eight-week absence due to a knee injury from a hit by Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Strome, as reported by team reporter Sara Orlesky. Placed on injured reserve, Connor missed Tuesday's game after leaving Sunday's match following the collision. Despite Strome receiving a major penalty and game misconduct, he wasn't suspended for the hit that sidelined Connor, a key player ranking high in NHL goals and points for the Jets.