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Tides’ Takes: Free NBA, MLB & NHL Betting Picks For Today (4/18/22)

Timothy Buell Mon 4/18 8:50am PT
Image Credit: Imagn

ScoresAndOdds analyst Timothy Buell gives free expert advice and betting picks Monday’s MLB, NHL and NBA slates. Use our Caesars welcome offer to get $1100 first-bet insurance today!

Happy Monday everyone! Welcome to this new article for ScoresAndOdds, where we will offer betting picks and advice for multiple sports that are happening on a given day.

The MLB season is here! We’ll focus on MLB odds and props, while continuing to analyze both NHL and NBA odds and props. We will also be throwing in some traditional parlays and some same game parlays as we see fit.  

We have three NBA games, nine MLB games and six NHL games to choose from this evening.  Let’s get started with the betting picks! 

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

NBA Player Prop –– Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell is the Jazz prominent shot taker and play maker.  He shot the ball 29 times making only 10 of those shots and easily went over this total. Despite the incredibly slow pace that the Mavericks play at this game should be competitive and Mitchell should get all the minutes he can handle. 

In my opinion Mitchell is a ball hog and doesn’t pass enough which ends up hurting his team especially down the stretch of close games. But that only makes me want to bet his over points total even more.  Mitchell will try and take over this game and as inefficient as that may look I think there is value in taking this over in points. 

NBA Player Prop –– Fred VanVleet

I am projecting Scottie Barnes as out for this game.  Now, even if he does play I don’t expect FVV to get into foul trouble like he did last game and the game was a blowout which again, I don’t expect that to happen in Game 2. FVV played 36 minutes in Game 1.  Now that sure does sound like a lot but that’s a good four minutes under his projection for that game and if Scottie Barnes doesn’t play I’d say FVV is a lock for over 40 minutes. 

If you watch the Raptors play it’s almost always FVV or Scottie Barnes who bring the ball up the court and start to run the offense.  If Barnes sits I would predict a sizable up tick in assist opportunities for FVV.  I really like the plus money that this line offers and I think this bet is a winner in the long term. 

Free MLB Betting Picks For Today

Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago Cubs

Very similar to the Cleveland game except this game will have a wind chill in the 20’s. Even with winds blowing out at Wrigley Field I don’t have any confidence in the bats today. Shane McClanahan and Kyle Hendricks are both above average pitchers. McClanahan has shown really solid strikeout upside so far this year, with 15 total K’s in 18 inning pitched. 

Hendricks isn’t a flashy pitcher by any means but he is still well above average and when BABIP goes his way he eats up innings and doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact. Anytime I can get two pitchers with this talent level and wind chills in the 20’s in Chicago it gives me a lot of confidence putting my money on the under. Wrigley Field gets exposed when the weather is warm with strong winds blowing out. But due to the dense air of this cold, I am not at all concerned about the wind. 

Free NHL Betting Picks For Today

NHL Player Prop –– Valeri Nichushkin

A lot of moneyline and total wagers at this time of the year have lost a lot of value in my opinion due to teams not having a lot to play for and calling up players from the minors.  There are some hidden gems though in the player prop market and my favorite is the over points prop on Nichushkin.  He gets the promotion to the top line and gets to skate with MacKinnon and Rantanen at even strength and on the power play. This is as good it gets in terms of point opportunities that one skater can get in all of the NHL.  Normally I wouldn’t want to lay -150 to put up a goal or assist but today I consider this a value. 

NHL Player Prop –– Brady Tkachuk

The Senators are currently playing 11 forwards and 7 defenseman and that has allowed their top six forwards to log heavy minutes. Tkachuk is still playing minutes around or just over the twenty minute mark. Now I understand that the Kraken do a fairly good job of preventing shots but I think the Senators are playing really good hockey and have shown they are trying to gain momentum for next season. Tkachuk is a high rate shooter and the minutes are secure against an inferior team. The juice is also quite reasonable for this caliber of player and matchup

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