Best Sports Betting Picks Today: NBA, NHL, College Basketball Predictions January 6th

The Miami Heat are beginning a six-game road trip out west on Monday night, and the best part of the excursion is that Jimmy Butler isn’t with the club. Who needs an incorrigible guy like that around when you have that many flights and hotels involved over an 11-day span?

The Heat suspended Butler on Friday for seven games for “conduct detrimental to the team” and are attempting to trade him. Good luck making his attitude sound good during trade talks with interested suitors.

On the ice, the Colorado Avalanche had a six-game winning streak snapped Saturday and will look to start a new one when they host the Florida Panthers. There is one college basketball game featuring a ranked team—No. 14 Houston hosting TCU.

We will examine Miami’s game in Sacramento as well as the NHL contest and college basketball game.

MIAMI HEAT AT SACRAMENTO KINGS

Butler has been angry with the Heat and once again expressed his displeasure after scoring nine points in 27 minutes during a 128-115 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. His plus/minus was a team-worst negative 27, so most of Indiana’s damage was done with Butler on the floor.

Things were worse Saturday without Butler as the lowly Utah Jazz steamrolled host Miami 136-100. Perhaps the Heat are ready to give a solid effort now that they are away from South Florida.

Sacramento faced its own tension recently when coach Mike Brown was fired five games into what became a six-game skid. But suddenly, with Doug Christie serving as interim coach, the Kings have rattled off four straight victories, including Sunday’s 129-99 whipping of the host Golden State Warriors.

Sacramento never trailed and led by 24 points at halftime despite star guard De’Aaron Fox (bruised glute) sitting out. Malik Monk stepped into the lineup and made five 3-pointers while enjoying a superb all-around game with 26 points, 12 assists and four steals.

Kings -3 spread, -112 (DraftKings)

FLORIDA PANTHERS AT COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Avalanche scored 28 goals during their string of six straight wins before struggling on the attack in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Mikko Rantanen scored the lone goal, and that’s no surprise, as he extended his points streak to 13 games (eight goals, 14 assists).

Rantanen is tied for second in the NHL with 23 goals and ranks third with 57 points. Teammate Nathan MacKinnon has a league-high 65 points and has 15 points over the past seven games but has found the back of the net just once during the stretch.

The Panthers notched a 3-2 shootout win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday after dropping three of their previous four games. Matthew Tkachuk scored one of the goals after going six games without one.

Leading goal scorer Sam Reinhart (22) had a shootout goal but hasn’t tallied in regulation over the past five games and seven of the last eight. Keeping Reinhart quiet would increase Colorado’s chances of winning.

Avalanche moneyline, -125 (DraftKings)

TCU HORNED FROGS AT HOUSTON COUGARS

Winning on Houston’s home floor is one of the toughest things in college basketball. The Cougars are 8-0 at home this season and own the longest active homecourt winning streak at 30. 

TCU is 0-2 on the road and will need a monumental effort to end the streak.

But the Horned Frogs will try after edging visiting Kansas State 63-62 on Saturday. TCU could have extra confidence after closing that game with a 7-0 run and getting the game-winning layup by Noah Reynolds with 12.8 seconds left. Reynolds averages a team-best 11.3 points per game.

Houston has won six consecutive games and is coming off an 86-55 thrashing of visiting BYU. The Cougars have won their home games by an average of 35.4 points, including victories of 57, 46, 36 (twice) and 31. Congrats to Troy for losing by just 20.

Houston made 16 of 34 3-pointers against BYU, with Emanuel Sharp and Terrance Arceneaux each making four. Leading scorer L.J. Cryer (14.6) had just nine points but is a good bet to bounce back. He’s made 27 of 57 3-pointers (47.4 percent) over the past seven games.

L.J. Cryer to score 18-plus points, +105 (DraftKings)