The NCAA Tournament takes center stage as college basketball news dominates headlines. The first round is underway and the second half takes place today. But NCAA basketball is not the only sport worth watching or betting on. A few others take place between now and Saturday and parlaying one from each league can create a lucrative payout.
Best Bets To Parlay This Weekend
March Madness: Drake Bulldogs (+130) vs Miami (Florida) Hurricanes (-150)
- Total: Over 146 (-110), Under 146(-110)
- Day/Time: Friday, March 17, 7:25 p.m. ET
- Stream: TBS
In what should be a tough and grueling contest, back the slight underdogs to win in this one. Drake plays a tough style of defense that converts turnovers to points while Miami is more of a ball-control-heavy style of offense. With the Madness in session, Drake’s style is more suited for this type of atmosphere. They’re the right college basketball pick here.
Pick: Drake Bulldogs +2 1/2 (-110)
The Drake Bulldogs must really want to go dancing. pic.twitter.com/dk7MnghXz8
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 5, 2023
XFL: D.C. Defenders (-130) vs St. Louis Battlehawks (+110)
- Total: Over 42½ (-110), Under 42½ (-110)
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m. ET
- Stream: ESPN+, FX
The Defenders are the last unbeaten team in the XFL for a reason. D.C. has scored the second-most points and given up the third-fewest. It’s also already beaten St. Louis as it looks to sweep in this rematch. The Battlehawks come on strong in the second half but are not quite as versatile as D.C. Bet online on the Defenders to go 5-0.
Pick: D.C. Defenders -130
NBA: Celtics (-190) vs Trail Blazers (+163)
- Total: TBD
- Day/Time: Friday, March 17, 10 p.m. ET
- Stream: RTNW
The Celtics should take out the Blazers in their own arena. Boston is 5-2 in its last seven games versus Portland and has won three straight at Moda Center. Portland gives up the fifth-most points as a home team while Boston is a top-10 offense as a visitor. Lock it up for the Celtics in the sportsbook as they prove too much for the defensively-challenged Blazers.
Pick: Boston Celtics -190
UFC 286: Gaethje (+180) vs Fiziev (-230)
- Total: Over 1½ (-180), Under 1½ (+150)
- Weight Class (Rounds): Lightweight, 155 lbs. (3 Rounds)
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 18, 6:25 p.m. ET
- Stream: Pay-per-view
Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev are two of the UFC’s premier knockout artists. But there is too much at stake for them to be brawling. When they meet, it could be more of a drawn-out chess match with a decision as an outcome. The UFC lines are thus juiced for this to go over the 1½-round mark, which it should. It’s one of the best bets on the event to put into this parlay.
Pick: Over 1½ (-175)
NHL: Hurricanes (Ev) vs Maple Leafs (-120)
- Total: Over 6 (-120), Under 6 (Ev)
- Day/Time: Friday, March 17, 7 p.m. ET
- Stream: NHL Network
A battle of the NHL’s Stanley Cup contenders favors Toronto. The Maple Leafs have won three straight versus Carolina and three of its last four when play hosti to the Hurricanes. Carolina lost one of its best players in Andrei Svechnikov, which will further hamper its ability to finish on scoring chances. That’s something Toronto does much better than Carolina hence why they’re winning.
Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs -125
Parlay: D.C. Defenders, Drake Bulldogs +2, Gaethje-Fiziev Over, Celtics, and Maple Leafs (+1193)
