Best Sports Betting Picks Today: College Basketball, NBA Predictions for December 4th

We would like to find a rematch of Karl-Anthony Towns and Franz Wagner on the Wednesday schedule after the NBA bigs put on a show in a competitive back and forth that ended in a Knicks’ win despite Wagner’s game-best 30 points. 

There are plenty of buckets on the menu, and Wagner and Orlando are road favorites at Philadelphia.

We’ll look elsewhere for a few appealing midweek picks. 

Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET

The line moved a bit from the open, and the Pacers are an even better value at -2, which was the line at sunrise Wednesday. Well, there’s a reason for that. Multiple reasons even. 

The Pacers are 2-10 away from home and winless outside of Indy since a 134-127 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 4. Indiana isn’t just losing these games. They trailed Toronto by 17 early in the first half after an 18-2 run opened things up.

Our optimism isn’t borne of a matchup secret we unearthed against Brooklyn. More precisely, it’s the players the Nets won’t have that kick the door open for the Pacers to win—and score in bunches—a rare road date. 

Leading scorer Cam Thomas is out with a strained left hamstring and the Nets aren’t likely to have additional key pieces, including Cam Johnson (ankle) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), two other starters.

Tyrese Haliburton’s confounding up-and-down offense should be pointing way up Wednesday after he scored 30 at Toronto, and Pascal Siakam thrives here with the Nets missing their best wing defenders. 

Let’s roll this three-legger all backing the Pacers. 

Indiana Pacers -2;  Pascal Siakam Over 30.5 Pts + Reb + Ast; Tyrese Haliburton Over 31.5 Pts + Reb + Ast. (+494 at FanDuel)

No. 10 Alabama at No. 20 North Carolina, 7:15 p.m. ET

Turnovers tripped up the Crimson Tide from a more prominent ranking, and North Carolina is looking for an identity just one month into the season.

A marquee matchup and national spotlight game in Chapel Hill should be the showcase the Tar Heels need to turn the corner. At home, a favorite of less than two points (-1.5), we’re riding with North Carolina in the SEC/ACC Challenge. 

This is a rematch of last spring’s NCAA West Region semifinal, with Alabama capturing that Sweet 16 matchup on the way to the Final Four. 

North Carolina (4-3) had a subpar showing at the Maui Invitational and finished with a 1-2 record. Alabama (6-2) has been tested regularly, with wins over ranked teams such as Illinois and Houston, but lost 83-81 to Oregon in Las Vegas.

The high-paced game could easily challenge the over-under of 175.5. But without trusting either team to take care of the ball consistently, we’ll avoid and target the Tar Heels home win. 

North Carolina -1.5 (-115 at FanDuel)

No. 2 Auburn at No. 9 Duke, 9:15 p.m. ET

Duke is young and growing, with talent at every position and an edge it lacked in recent seasons. 

Auburn is experienced and takes on the personality of a locked-in underdog when doubted. Ask Houston, or any team at the Maui Invitational.

What the Tigers don’t have is a win over Duke. Auburn is 0-3 all-time in the matchup. 

With two sharpshooting teams and a pair of strong defensive teams inside, we’re going to eschew the final result and focus on the high-energy, attack-mode start we expect on both sides. 

Over 69.5 points first half; Kon Knueppel Over 19.5 Points + Asst + Reb (+203 at FanDuel)