Lipscomb (25-9) is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 and will face Iowa State (24-9) in Milwaukee.
Boxing’s Olympic future set to be secured after IOC recommendation
- President Bach backs sport’s inclusion for 2028 in LA
- Status had been in doubt with governing body suspended
Boxing’s fragile Olympic status is on the verge of being secured after years of uncertainty. On Monday the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said that his executive board had recommended that boxing should be included in the 2028 Games to be held in Los Angeles. It appears to be a formality that the IOC membership will ratify the decision in the coming days as Bach and his colleagues confirmed last month that that they now recognise World Boxing as the sport’s new international federation.
“After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in the position to take this decision,” Bach said at a press conference. “I’m very confident the [IOC] session will approve it, so that all boxers then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA2028 if their national federation is recognised by World Boxing.”
Continue reading...Caleb Love has seen plenty of Duke. And there’s the potential for 1 more NCAA meeting
Caleb Love already has seen plenty of Duke in a five-year college career, even after transferring across the country from North Carolina to Arizona. He might not be done, either.
Pacers vs. Timberwolves Predictions, odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 17
Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview
The Indiana Pacers (37-29) and Minnesota Timberwolves (40-29) are all set to square off from Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Pacers are riddled with injuries and may have a few key starters out for this game. They are up against a Timberwolves team who have won eight straight games.
The Pacers are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Timberwolves have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Pacers vs. Timberwolves live today
- Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
- Time: 8:00PM EST
- Site: Target Center
- City: Minneapolis, MN
- Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Pacers vs. Timberwolves
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Odds: Pacers (+235), Timberwolves (-288)
- Spread: Timberwolves -7.5
- Over/Under: 229 points
That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 113.38, and the Timberwolves 117.28.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Monday's Pacers vs. Timberwolves game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Timberwolves -7.5…
Thomas: “Taking a chance on the Pacers sitting their questionable starters. The Timberwolves could likely cover this number with both teams at full strength, but I like the possible advantage given the circumstances.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pacers & Timberwolves game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +7.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pacers vs. Timberwolves on Monday
- The Timberwolves have won 13 of their last 20 games
- 7 of the Timberwolves' last 9 home matchups against the Pacers have stayed under the Total
- The Pacers have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 road trips to teams with winning records
The Pacers have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 road trips to teams with winning records
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman recalls that time Cam Heyward knocked out his teeth
Cam Heyward knocked out Marcus Freeman's teeth during Ohio State-Michigan game.
Calipari, Self gearing up for another high-stakes matchup
Thursday's NCAA Tournament game isn't the first high-stakes matchup between John Calipari and Bill Self.
2025 NCAA tournament picks: Predictions, odds, lines, schedule for East region, searching for a Duke foil
There are some fun matchups in the first round of the East region.
76ers vs. Rockets Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 17
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers (23-44) and Houston Rockets (43-25) are all set to square off from Toyota Center in Houston.
The 76ers seem to be back to “Trusting the process,” with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey sidelined. They have lost seven of their last 10 games and have struggled against anyone not actively tanking.
The Rockets are surging. They have won six in a row and are second in the Western Conference.
The 76ers are currently 11-22 on the road with a point differential of -5, while the Rockets have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch 76ers vs. Rockets live today
- Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
- Time: 8:00PM EST
- Site: Toyota Center
- City: Houston, TX
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for 76ers vs. Rockets
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Odds: 76ers (+612), Rockets (-926)
- Spread: Rockets -14.5
- Over/Under: 222 points
That gives the 76ers an implied team point total of 109.98, and the Rockets 117.54.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Monday's 76ers vs. Rockets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Rockets -11.5 and Over 212.5 (+101)…
Thomas: “The Rockets are on a six-game winning streak. The over has hit in three of four games. The Sixers have not defended well but do put forth a lot of effort, even in their losses. This combo bet sits inside both lines, and I priced it fairly.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s 76ers & Rockets game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Houston Rockets on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +14.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of 76ers vs. Rockets on Monday
- The Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 matchups against teams with worse records
- The Total went under in 20 of the Rockets' 35 home games this season
- The Rockets have covered in 4 of their last 5 home gamesThe Rockets have won 10 of their last 12 home matchups against teams with worse records
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
UCLA and South Carolina headline AP Top 25 women’s poll and are top seeds in NCAA Tournament
UCLA remained No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25 on Monday one day after the Bruins earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. UCLA received 19 first place votes from the 32-member national media panel. UConn was third after winning the Big East Tournament championship over Creighton in the only game with ranked teams last week.
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers prepare to open MLB season vs. Cubs
TOKYO — The Major League Baseball season kicks off at the Tokyo Dome when Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs.
It’s the first of a two-game series and features five Japanese players. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki pitch for the Dodgers while the Cubs have outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga.
The two MLB teams have been in Tokyo for several days, playing exhibition games against two Japanese teams — the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.
All four exhibition games had a capacity crowd of roughly 42,000. A similar atmosphere is expected for the two MLB games.
“Everybody’s very aware of the series, that’s evident for sure, more than I feel like it would be America,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “More people are talking about it, absolutely. That’s a great feeling. The players love big events, that’s why we do this, that’s why we love to do it.”
Here are five things to know heading into the MLB opener:
All-Japanese pitching matchup
The first game will feature the first all-Japanese pitching matchup on opening day in MLB history. Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers against Imanaga of the Cubs.
Yamamoto is entering his second season with Los Angeles. He was 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA last season and was an important part of the team’s World Series championship, with a brilliant performance in a Game 2 win over the Yankees.
Imanaga was an All-Star last year in his first season with the Cubs. The lefty finished with a 15-3 record and a 2.91 ERA in 2024.
The Dodgers will start Sasaki in the second game.
Young Cubs
Third baseman Matt Shaw is expected to make his big league debut for the Cubs. Shaw is one of the team’s top prospects and did enough this spring to earn the starting nod.
Shaw was drafted with the No. 13 overall pick in 2020 after playing college baseball at Maryland. He hit .284 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs last season, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.
Other young Cubs include third-year outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hopes to take a big step forward after an encouraging second half of 2024. Rookie second baseman Gage Workman also could make his MLB debut in Tokyo.
Ailing Mookie
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in either game against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that’s lingered for the past week.
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts is starting to feel better but has lost nearly 15 pounds and is still trying to get rehydrated and gain strength. Roberts added that the eight-time All-Star might fly back to the United States before the team in an effort to rest and prepare for the domestic opener on March 27.
Miguel Rojas will start at shortstop in Betts’ place.
What time is the Tokyo Series?
Set your alarm if you’re planning to view the two Tokyo games in the United States. Both games being at 7:10 p.m. in Tokyo, which means it’ll be a 6:10 a.m. wake up call in the Eastern time zone.
Many Cubs and Dodgers fans will really need some coffee. Start time in Chicago is 5:10 a.m. while it’s 3:10 a.m. in Los Angeles. The game will air nationally on Fox.
Tokyo history
This marks the 25th anniversary of the first MLB regular season games played in Japan. The New York Mets and Cubs played a two-game set at the Tokyo Dome in 2000.
Since that series, MLB returned in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2019. The 2019 series featured the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners, who celebrated the final two games of Ichiro Suzuki’s career in his home country. Suzuki will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.
It’s the 10th time that MLB has played regular season games in a spot outside the 50 states. The locations include Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and last year’s series in South Korea.
NCAA Tournament – Xavier vs. Texas Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats
Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns Game Preview
Pistons vs. Pelicans Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 17
Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Pelicans Preview
The Detroit Pistons (37-31) and New Orleans Pelicans (18-50) are all set to square off from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The Pistons have cooled off recently, going .500 in their last 10 games. They are still comfortably in a playoff spot, with a five-game cushion between them and the seventh-seed Atlanta Hawks.
Pelicans are close to the bottom of the Western Conference. They have only won three of their last 10, and 18 on the season.
The Pistons are currently 19-15 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Pelicans have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Pistons vs. Pelicans live today
- Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
- Time: 8:00PM EST
- Site: Smoothie King Center
- City: New Orleans, LA
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Pistons vs. Pelicans
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Odds: Pistons (-244), Pelicans (+200)
- Spread: Pistons -6.5
- Over/Under: 233 points
That gives the Pistons an implied team point total of 118.81, and the Pelicans 115.42.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Monday's Pistons vs. Pelicans game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Tobias Harris over 5.5 rebounds…
Thomas: “Harris has been the man on glass in the last six games and the month of March. He’s averaging 8.5 boards per game in March and has grabbed at least six rebounds in every game. Given its consistency and the Pelican's poor field goal percentage (45.2%), this feels like a line that you must take.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pistons & Pelicans game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the New Orleans Pelicans on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New Orleans Pelicans at +6.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 233.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pistons vs. Pelicans on Monday
- The Pelicans have lost 7 of their last 9 games
- The Over is 19-15 in the Pelicans' home games this season
- The Pelicans have covered in 19 of their 34 home games this season
- The Pelicans have won 4 straight home games against the Pistons
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Michigan State basketball up to No. 7 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Find out where Michigan State basketball is ranked in this week's USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into the 2025 NCAA tournament.
Heat vs. Knicks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 17
It’s Monday, March 17, and the Miami Heat (29-38) and New York Knicks (42-24) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Heat are currently 13-21 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Knicks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. New York is 2-0 against Miami this season with a four-point OT win and nine-point victory.
Miami has lost seven straight games and eight of the past nine contests, while New York is 6-6 since the All-Star break and lost four of the previous six games. The Heat are coming off their second-worst loss of the season after losing to Memphis by 34 points on Saturday. Miami lost to Utah by 36 points earlier in the season and took Sacramento to 2 OT before losing by five the following game.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Heat vs. Knicks live today
- Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: Madison Square Garden
- City: New York, NY
- Network/Streaming: ESPN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Heat vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Odds: Heat (+261), Knicks (-325)
- Spread: Knicks -7.5
- Over/Under: 212 points
That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 104.96, and the Knicks 108.87.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Heat vs. Knicks game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Heat to cover the +7.5:
"New York is 2-0 against Miami this season (1-1 ATS) with wins by four and nine, but I have my doubts here. While Miami is amid a seven-game losing streak and while the Heat are 0-5 ATS over the past five games, I like this spot for Miami as New York is coming back from the West Coast and without Jalen Brunson. It's Miami at +7.5 or pass for me coming off their second-worst loss of the season (34 point loss to Memphis in the last game). I wouldn't be shocked if Miami wins (+260)."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Heat & Knicks game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Knicks on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +7.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 212.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. Knicks on Monday
- The Heat have lost 4 straight road games
- 8 of the Knicks' last 10 games (80%) have stayed under the Total
- The Knicks have failed to cover the Spread in their last 6 matchups versus Eastern Conference teams
- The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Eastern Conference teams
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Dodgers' Mookie Betts won’t play in 2 regular season games vs. Cubs in Tokyo because of illness
TOKYO — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that’s lingered.
Manager Dave Roberts said that Betts is starting to feel better but has lost nearly 15 pounds and is still trying to get rehydrated and gain strength. Roberts added that the eight-time All-Star might fly back to the United States before the team in an effort to rest and prepare for the domestic opener on March 27.
The Cubs and Dodgers open the Major League Baseball season at the Tokyo Dome.
“He’s not going to play in these two games,” Roberts said. “When you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft tissue injuries. We’re very mindful of that.”
Roberts said Miguel Rojas will start at shortstop in Betts’ place for the two games at the Tokyo Dome.
Betts started suffering from flu-like symptoms at the team’s spring training home in Arizona, the day before the team left for Japan. He still made the long plane trip, but hasn’t recovered as quickly as hoped.
Roberts said if the team had known the illness would linger this long, he wouldn’t have traveled. Betts tried to go through a workout, but quickly became tired.
Betts is making the full-time transition to shortstop this season after playing most of his career in right field and second base. The 2018 AL MVP hit .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs last season, helping the Dodgers win the World Series.