Best NBA, NCAA Sports Betting Picks, Predictions for Friday November 8

The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off road losses to the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, a sudden reminder that JJ Redick’s first squad might not perform much different than the one that got Darvin Ham fired. The Lakers will face a team that is truly struggling in the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

New Big Ten mates Iowa and UCLA play for the first time since the 1985 season Rose Bowl—a contest many Hawkeyes’ fans remain irate about. Iowa standout Ronnie Harmon fumbled four times and dropped a possible touchdown in a 45-28 loss and his legacy at the school has never recovered.

On the college basketball front, Alabama rolled up 110 points in its opener. You could see a lower amount in Game 2 as Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson spent eight seasons working under Nate Oats.

Grab a chair; let’s dissect these three contests.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS AT LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Lakers star Anthony Davis has been superb, with averages of 32.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. But he missed the 131-114 loss to the Grizzlies due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The good news is he’s listed as probable to play against Philadelphia.

LeBron James had been the complimentary cog this season, but with Davis out, he exploded with 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting. It was the second 30-point outing of the season for James, who is averaging 24 points per game.

The 76ers are 1-6 and have been in disarray. Former MVP Joel Embiid has yet to play due to his troublesome left knee and now a suspension for unruly behavior against a reporter, and Paul George missed the first five games with a knee injury before averaging 16.5 over the last two.

More bad news occurred when All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (27.6 points per game) injured his right hamstring during Wednesday’s 110-98 loss to the Clippers and will reportedly miss multiple weeks. Maxey has been carrying the squad. Without him, the 76ers are going to get beaten soundly by the Lakers.

Lakers spread -8 points, -110 (DraftKings)

IOWA HAWKEYES AT UCLA BRUINS

Not that Harmon is reading, but let’s mention he put together back-to-back strong seasons for the Hawkeyes and later became one of the best third-down backs in the NFL due to his versatility. Of course, Iowa has a superb running back now in Kaleb Johnson, who ranks second nationally with 1,279 rushing yards — trailing only all-everything Ashton Jeanty of Boise State — and is tied for second with 19 rushing scores.

The Hawkeyes (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) have won three of their past four games, scoring 40 or more in each of the wins, and Brendan Sullivan will make his second straight start in place of Cade McNamara (concussion). Sullivan attempted just 10 throws, completing seven, in last week’s 42-10 clobbering of Wisconsin.

The Bruins (3-5, 2-4) lost their first four conference games before posting back-to-back road victories over Rutgers (35-32 score) and Nebraska (27-20). UCLA hadn’t scored more than 17 points all season before those wins.

The Bruins basically have no running game as T.J. Harden leads with 226 yards. Here’s your bar-bet factoid: Eric Ball (227 yards, four touchdowns) ran for more than that by himself in that Rose Bowl 38-plus years ago.

Iowa spread -6.5, -108 (DraftKings)

ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

The second-ranked Crimson Tide slaughtered UNC Asheville 110-54 in their season opener and should have another easy time on Friday against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves beat Akron 80-75 in overtime in their opener but are 23.5-point underdogs against Alabama.

But will the Crimson Tide surpass the 110-point mark again? Will Oats allow that? Hodgson was his assistant for four seasons at Buffalo and four at Alabama before landing the Arkansas State gig. This is his second season.

So jumping off the pedal is a possibility. Does Oats really want to badly whip his friend? The teams played last season, and the Crimson Tide prevailed 89-65.

The Red Wolves will have trouble stopping All-American guard Mark Sears (20 points in 24 minutes in the opener) and other Alabama players. Expect more points scored this time than last season’s 154.

Over 167.5 total points, -108 (DraftKings)