Betting Picks

There's very little magic in Orlando this season, where the Magic are a disappointing 13-18. The Milwaukee Bucks have already won once their this season, and will be seeking to make it two in a row and three of the last four when they visit on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors will look to continue their mastery over the Lakers, who they've beaten six straight.

Let the madness begin. The opening round of the NCAA Tournament gets underway Thursday, and with 16 games on tap, you won't lack for action. We'll get our first look at the smothering defense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the tournament wizardry of Michigan Wolverines coach John Beilein, whose team always seems to fly under the radar nationally, and the wonder kid that is Oklahoma guard Trae Young.

The opening round of the NCAA Tournament tips off Thursday and there's action in all four regions. Have you set your bracket, and which teams do you fear are most likely to break it? Which favorites will carry the day and who among the top seeds will move on to Saturday's second round? And which schools are lurking in the weeds, about to pull off a major upset?

Of three Kentucky Derby qualifying races to be run in Saturday, the (G2) Tampa Bay Derby sets up as the best betting race. With the scratch of two top contenders, the 1 1/16 mile run in the Tampa Bay dirt course has drawn a field of nine entries, all vying for a share of the $400,000 purse.

The Edmonton Oilers did something this season that only five visiting NHL teams have accomplished - they won a game in regulation at Minnesota's XL Energy Center. The Oilers, however, haven't been so lucky against the Wild on home ice. Minnesota has won eight in a row over the Oilers at Edmonton. The Oilers haven't beaten the Wild at home since a 4-1 verdict on Dec. 22, 2011.

The road to qualify for the 2018 Kentucky Derby will see a clash of titans this Saturday in California. Currently sitting in the top 10 on the Derby qualifying leaderboard, McKinzie and Bolt d’Oro will go head-to-head in the (G2) San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Race Track.

It's a huge weekend for 2018 Kentucky Derby qualifying, with three points races on the schedule for Saturday. In the $300,000 (G3) Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, three contenders currently in the top 15 on the leaderboard will be battling for the 50 points that would all-but-clinch a spot in the Derby.

At first, as is often the case when a major move is made, the Detroit Pistons saw a significant uptick in their performance after acquiring power forward Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers last month. They ended an eight-game losing streak and won five in a row. But since, they've slid back to their losing ways, and as they face the Toronto Raptors, have dropped six of seven.

One of hockey's oldest and most traditional rivalries is back on the ice again Saturday when the Montreal Canadiens travel to Boston to face the Bruins at TD Garden. Having just dismantled the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins there on Thursday to the tune of 8-4, now the Bruins get the chance to give the same treatment to the team that's won more Stanley Cups than any other franchise.