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Rockets Look to Continue Dominance Over 76ers, NBA & College Basketball Best Bets for January 22
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the Houston Rockets aim to secure a third consecutive victory against the Philadelphia 76ers and extend their winning streak to four games when they clash at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Experts favor Houston, but a potential return of Joel Embiid coudl swing the momentum. This article breaks down the key matchups, betting lines, and expert picks across the NBA, NHL, and college basketball for January 22.
NBA: Rockets vs. 76ers – A Shifting Dynamic
The Philadelphia 76ers once held a commanding lead in their all-time series against the Houston Rockets, winning eight of nine meetings.However, the rockets dramatically turned the tables last season, sweeping the season series with a pair of overtime wins. Now, Houston (26-15) looks to continue its recent success against Philadelphia (23-19).
The Rockets are coming off a 111-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs,concluding a successful 4-1 homestand,though they’ve struggled on the road,losing their last four away games. A key factor in Houston’s resurgence has been the stellar play of Alperen Sengun.The 23-year-old Turkish center has consistently excelled against Philadelphia,recording 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 122-115 road win and following it up with 13 points and 11 boards in a 144-137 triumph at home. Sengun currently averages 21.5 points this season and is tied for sixth in the NBA in double-doubles, having recently registered his 20th of the campaign with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Spurs on Tuesday. He narrowly missed a triple-double in that contest, falling just one assist short.
The 76ers, meanwhile, are 1-3 on their six-game homestand after a 116-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. VG Edgecombe led Philadelphia with 25 points, while Adem Bona contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
NHL: Bruins Aim to Maintain Home Ice Advantage Against Golden Knights
The boston Bruins (24-10-4) host the Vegas Golden Knights (26-13-2) at TD garden on thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Boston has been nearly unbeatable at home this season, and the sportsline Model predicts they will continue their home success, winning in 56% of its simulations.SportsLine expert Matt Severance (8-1 on his last nine against-the-spread picks involving the Bruins) favors Boston to cover the spread, citing their dominant recent home performances.
College Basketball: Wisconsin Visits Penn State in Big Ten Clash
In college basketball, Wisconsin (13-5) travels to the Bryce Jordan Center in university park, Pa., to face Penn State (9-9) at 7 p.m. ET. The teams are trending in opposite directions, with the Badgers winning their last four contests and the Nittany Lions losing their past five. Despite penn State’s recent struggles, they have remained competitive against strong opponents, with four of their last seven losses coming against ranked teams by no more than eight points.
The SportsLine Projection Model gives Penn State a 57% chance of covering the spread, recognizing their competitive spirit. However, SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is backing Wisconsin to cover, citing their potential to avenge last season’s loss and Penn State’s defensive weaknesses.
Betting Lines & Expert Picks – January 22
Here’s a snapshot of the latest betting odds and expert picks:
- Rockets at 76ers: Rockets -2.5, SportsLine Model: Rockets -136, Expert: Joel embiid Over 25.5 points (-110, PropBetGuy)
- Heat at Trail Blazers: Trail Blazers -1.5,SportsLine Model: Trail Blazers -119
- Golden Knights at Bruins: Golden Knights -143,SportsLine Model: Bruins +119,Expert: Bruins +1 (-156,Matt Severance)
- Wisconsin at Penn State: Wisconsin -5.5, SportsLine Model: Penn State +5.5 (-111), Expert: Wisconsin -5.5 (-108, Jeff Hochman)
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