Friday's sports slate features five notable matchups across the NBA and college football, with betting odds and expert picks highlighted for each game. The New York Knicks visit the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA Cup group play rematch, while the Los Angeles Lakers face the Golden State Warriors in a late-night showdown. In college football, Tulane travels to Charlotte, Baylor meets UCF in Orlando, and Kent State takes on Sacramento State.
Knicks at 76ers
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | Location: Philadelphia | TV: Prime Video. The Knicks (2-3) are 1.5-point favorites over the 76ers (4-1) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. SportsLine's projection model gives New York a 62% chance to cover the spread, grading Knicks -1.5 as a 'B' play. Expert David Bearman leans toward the Under 114.5 total points at -115, noting the Knicks have only three double-figure scorers and will miss Jose Alvarado (ankle), while Philadelphia boasts the league's third-best defense and has held four of five opponents under their implied total.
Lakers at Warriors
Time: 10 p.m. ET | Location: San Francisco | TV: Prime Video. The Lakers are 2.5-point favorites. The model assigns a 58% cover probability and a 'C' grade to Lakers -2.5. Prop betting expert Doug "Prop Bet Guy" Kralstein favors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Over 21.5 combined points and assists at -118, citing his increased usage rate as Golden State lets him run the offense, freeing Stephen Curry to play off-ball. Lendeborg has posted at least 24 combined points and assists in each of his last four games and sits second in Rookie of the Year odds at +280.
Tulane at Charlotte
Time: 7 p.m. ET | Location: Charlotte | TV: ESPN2 | Stream: Fubo. Tulane is an 8.5-point favorite. The model gives the Green Wave a 68% chance to cover, grading Tulane -8.5 as a strong 'A' play. Expert Tom Fornelli prefers Charlotte +10.5, noting the 49ers (1-6) snapped a 15-game losing streak two weeks ago behind quarterback Conner Harrell's 281-yard, two-touchdown performance, and now host a Tulane defense ranked 122nd nationally (416.3 yards allowed per game).
Baylor at UCF
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | Location: Orlando, Fla. | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo. The model projects a 63.1% chance the teams combine for 49 or more points, assigning an 'A' grade to Over 48.5. UCF (4-3) has been explosive at home, averaging 44.3 points per game (15th nationally). Baylor (4-3) fired coach Dave Aranda after a blocked field goal cost them a win at Kansas, and now face a high-powered Knights offense.
Kent State at Sacramento State
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | Location: Sacramento | TV: ESPN2 | Stream: Fubo. Sacramento State is a 7.5-point home underdog. The model gives the Hornets a 67% cover probability, grading Sacramento State +7.5 as a 'B' play. Expert Mike Tierney also likes Sacramento State +10, pointing out Kent State (3-5) has been blown out in all four road games this season, losing by a combined 183-12, including a 38-7 defeat at Western Michigan.
