Thursday features a top-15 college basketball Big Ten battle when No. 8 Purdue hosts No. 13 Michigan State, along with 10 NBA games, perfect for claiming the latest DraftKings promo code, which gives new users $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins. Purdue has won seven straight at home against Michigan State, but rather than backing a side, the SportsLine Projection Model finds the best value in taking Over 142.5 total points scored in an 8 p.m. ET matchup as one of its Thursday NBA best bets at DraftKings. Michigan State has gone Over in six of its last seven games. 

The model is also backing the Houston Rockets to cover as 1.5-point favorites on the road against the Orlando Magic for Thursday NBA best bets. One of SportsLine's top experts has also locked in a college basketball pick on South Dakota State vs. Kansas City at 8 p.m. ET. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 19 on a sizzling 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Thursday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

  • Rockets (-1.5) vs. Magic (-115)
  • Michigan State vs. Purdue: Over 142.5 total points (-105)
  • South Dakota State (-11.5) vs. Kansas City (-110)

Combining the three picks into a Thursday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +596 (risk $100 to win $596, odds subject to change). Bet it at DraftKings here:

Rockets (-1.5) vs. Magic (-115)

The Rockets are coming off back-to-back wins by at least 20 points, defeating the Jazz and Kings and scoring at least 125 points in each contest. Although the Magic are a significantly tougher team than these two, Houston's offensive success could carry over on Thursday in Orlando. The Magic are 25-32 against the spread this season, and the Rockets are 36-21 overall entering a contest where they only need to win by two points to cover the number. Houston center Alperen Sengun had a triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists on Wednesday, and he'll be a matchup nightmare against for Orlando, which returns home after a cross-country flight and a 110-109 win over the Lakers on Tuesday. The model projects the Rockets to cover in 65% of simulations. Back the Rockets at DraftKings here:

Michigan State vs. Purdue: Over 142.5 total points (-105)

The Over has hit in six of the last seven Michigan State games and in three of the last four Purdue contests, including back-to-back games, entering Thursday. Five of Michigan State's last seven games have gone Over 142.5 total points as well, and all three of Purdue's recent Overs had at least 143 combined points scored. These are trends the model projects to continue on Thursday as these top-15 ranked teams go head-to-head, with the Over hitting in 77% of simulations. Back the Over at DraftKings here:

South Dakota State (-11.5) vs. Kansas City (-110)

"It's one thing to be 4-24 and on a 12-game losing streak as Kansas City is, but the truth is that they haven't covered in any of those 12 games," SportsLine expert Eric Cohen said. "KenPom ranks the Roos 355th, 11th-worst in the country, but it's hard to imagine that this sad team would beat anyone below them. At 13-16, South Dakota State isn't all that great, but they did beat UMKC by 28 in mid-January. Expect another 20+ point blowout as we'll continue to ride the trend of fading Kansas City." Back South Dakota at DraftKings here:

Want more NBA and college basketball picks on Thursday?

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