In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

There were plenty of predictions to go around yesterday across the NCAA and NHL, with our model focusing in on two of those predictions in our Featured Matchups. Those predictions went 1-1 overall, and you can see how each of the models performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 7-3

Over/Under Predictions: 6-4

Spread Predictions: 5-5

Featured Matchup: 0-1

Money Line Predictions: 1-2

Over/Under Predictions: 2-1

Puck Line Predictions: 2-1

Featured Matchup: 1-0

There is one NFL game scheduled to take place today, which features the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams. Our model’s predictions for tonight’s matchup are below.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams

Model Predicts- Rams ML, UNDER 46, Saints +4

The New Orleans Saints will hit the road for the first time this month, making the journey to Los Angeles, California to take on the Rams.

The Saints enter tonight’s matchup needing a victory, as they find themselves on the outside on the playoff bubble with a 7-7 record. Meanwhile, the Rams are currently the final team in playoff position in the NFC, but also own a 7-7 record and are in desperate need of a win.

This game has plenty of playoff implications, and our model forecasts it to be a tightly contested match. Let’s dive into why that is.

New Orleans Saints

• On two-game win streak

  • Beat Giants and Panthers. +40 point differential in that time

• Offense is rather average, but still finding ways to score

  • Rank in bottom half of NFL in EPA/play and success rate

  • 26.7 points per game across last three weeks

• Defense has been elite for most of season

  • Rank 3rd in opponent EPA/play and success rate

  • Allow 5.0 yards per play for season. Down to 4.3 in last three games

Los Angeles Rams

• Have caught fire since bye week

  • 4-1 in last five games. +43 point differential in that span

• Offense getting job done in multiple ways

  • Stafford- 64% completion %, 13 TDs and 2 INTs in last five games

  • Kyren Williams- 114 rush yards or more in three of last four games

• Defense still has some question marks

  • Rank 19th in EPA/play, allowing 5.4 yards per play over last three games

What’s the Play?

Matt Stafford and Kyren Williams catching fire has the Rams offense looking close to unstoppable, but we agree with our model that the Saints can keep this game close.

The Saints offense is mediocre at just about everything, but they have a chance to find success tonight due to their pass-heavy nature. New Orleans has thrown the ball on 57% of plays this season and ranks 15th in dropback success rate, showing there is some consistency in the passing game. That will likely be how the Saints attack the Rams defense, a group that is surrendering 11.6 yards per completion and 256 pass yards per game over the last three games.

A lot is at stake in this game, and New Orleans is capable of exposing one of the Rams’ biggest weaknesses while also slowing down Stafford with its elite defense. We’ll grab the Saints on the spread as an underdog.

The Play: Saints +4 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Los Angeles Rams- 7-7 overall this season, 4-1 in last five games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• New Orleans Saints- Under is 10-4 overall this season, 5-2 as the away team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• New Orleans Saints- 1-1 against the spread (ATS) as an underdog this season

✈️ Jets activate Rodgers from IR, but won’t play this season. Aaron Rodgers, not yet fully recovered from an achilles tear, won't play for the New York Jets this season despite being activated from the injured reserve list. The Jets had until Wednesday to make this move, keeping open the possibility of adding Rodgers to their active squad due to roster flexibility. Despite considering a return if the Jets were in playoff contention, Rodgers, who sees this season as a setback, eyes playing for at least two more years in the NFL.

💪 Chris Olave set to return for TNF. Chris Olave, the leading receiver for the New Orleans Saints this season, is set to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Having missed the previous game due to an ankle injury, Olave participated in limited capacity during Tuesday's practice, with his Wednesday involvement yet to be disclosed. With 918 receiving yards and 72 receptions, Olave has been pivotal for the Saints, surpassing other team members who haven't gone beyond 570 receiving yards.

Eight NBA games are scheduled to take place. Our model’s predictions for all eight matchups can be found below.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Model Predicts- Pelicans ML, OVER 228, Pelicans +1

The New Orleans Pelicans will begin a short one-game road trip on Thursday, stopping in Cleveland, Ohio to take on the Cavaliers.

The Pelicans are fresh off a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, largely due to Ja Morant’s return to the court. However, the Pelicans still have plenty of momentum on their side, winning seven of their last ten games. Cleveland is in a similar spot, entering tonight in the midst of a three-game win streak.

New Orleans completely collapsed against Memphis earlier this week, a bad sign coming into this matchup. However, our model believes the Pelicans can get the job done on the road in a bounce back spot. Let’s take a look at why that is.

New Orleans Pelicans

• Complete collapse against Memphis on Tuesday

  • Went into halftime up 19. Outscored 74-53 in second half

  • Still played well- shot 47% overall and 44% from three

• 4-1 record in last five games shows this team still has momentum

  • Rank 3rd in Net Rating (+14.5) in that time

  • +73 point differential

• Key players listed on injury report

  • Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Jonas Valanciunas all questionable with illness

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Enter tonight on three-game win streak

  • Beat Hawks, Rockets, and Jazz

  • Rank 7th in Net Rating (+7.5) in that stretch

• Offense has been elite, but defense is struggling

  • Offensive Rating in last 3 games- 129.6

  • Defensive Rating in last 3 games- 122.1

  • Opponents shooting 48.3% overall and 40.4% from three

• Injuries hurting already lacking depth

  • Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are out. Donovan Mitchell questionable

  • Rank 22nd in bench points per game

What’s the Play?

Cleveland has played very good basketball even with it stars sidelined, but we agree with our model that New Orleans can win this game.

This is the second game of a back-to-back for the Cavaliers, a situation the team has not thrived in this season. Cleveland is 2-3 overall in these scenarios, averaging just 103.8 points per game across those five contests. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are 4-3 with the rest advantage this season, and despite a recent second half collapse against the Grizzlies, have been one of the best teams in basketball over the last two or so weeks.

We would wait to see the status of New Orleans’ sick players before taking this prediction, but we’ll be backing the Pelicans money line if some of those guys suit up.

The Play: Pelicans ML (-105)

Money Line Trends 💰

• New Orleans Pelicans- 16-12 overall this season, 4-3 with rest advantage

• Oklahoma City Thunder- 17-8 overall this season, 9-4 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Los Angeles Clippers- Under is 16-10-1 this season, second-highest win % in NBA

• Portland Trail Blazers- Under is 14-12 this season, 7-5 as the home team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• New Orleans Pelicans- 16-11-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, 9-4-1 ATS as an underdog

↔️ Cavaliers, Rubio discussing parting ways. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Ricky Rubio are reportedly discussing parting ways, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Although not close to an agreement, both sides prefer a trade, with Rubio having taken time away from the team to prioritize his mental health. Cleveland aims to free up a roster spot due to multiple injuries, including long-term absences for Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.

🤕 Simmons sidelined until January with pinched nerve. Ben Simmons will remain sidelined until January due to a pinched nerve in his lower back. Despite the injury, the Brooklyn Nets are reporting ongoing improvement in his back strength during individual court sessions over the past two weeks. Having played only six games this season, Simmons received an epidural injection as part of his planned rehabilitation, missing a total of 20 games due to back issues in the past two seasons.

After a slow three-game slate yesterday, the NHL has given us 12 games to bet on today. Our model’s predictions for all 12 matchups can be found below.

There is no NHL Featured Matchup today.

Money Line Trends 💰

• Minnesota Wild- 13-13-4 overall this season, 7-3-0 in last 10 games

• Arizona Coyotes- 16-13-2 overall this season, 3-0 in last 3 games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Columbus Blue Jackets- Over is 20-13 this season with average total of 6.85

• Dallas Stars- Over is 19-11 this season with average total of 6.73

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• Vancouver Canucks- Puck line is 24-9 this season

🐻 Capitals to sign UFA Ethan Bear. The Washington Capitals are set to sign defenseman Ethan Bear, who became a free agent after the Vancouver Canucks didn't extend him a qualifying offer this offseason. Bear, recovering from shoulder surgery, joined the Capitals for training but became available after Vancouver acquired him and Lane Pederson from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick in October 2022. Bear, 26, contributed three goals and 16 points in 61 games last season.