NFL TNF best bets, NCAAF picks and MLB predictions for Thursday

Good morning, Pickswise Nation. We’ve got Thursday Night Football in Kansas City, plus a massive Game 4 in the NLDS on Thursday, weeknight action in Week 7 in college Football to go along with more opening-week Games in NHL. It’s another big day in the world of Sports, so let‘s get straight to making your next bet better! 

About Last Night 

• The #1 seed in the National League is pushed to the brink after the Phillies bested the Braves 10-2 on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. In other action, the Astros moved on with a 3-2 win over the Twins and the #2 seed Los Angeles Dodgers were swept out of the playoffs by the #6 seed Arizona Diamondbacks. 
• NHL opening week rolled along on Wednesday with more exciting results, including a shootout in Toronto, where the Leafs rallied to knock off Montreal in overtime. Elsewhere, the Bruins bested the Blackhawks and the Avs cruised to a victory over the Kings. 

Today’s Slate 

• Thursday Night Football is here! Get our TNF betting guide to Broncos vs Chiefs tonight
• Check out our MLB predictions for today’s Braves vs Phillies Game 4. 
• Feast your eyes on these college football picks for tonight’s action, including West Virginia vs Houston. 
• You can also read our NHL picks for today’s 7-game slate

Best Bet of the Day  

NCAAF: West Virginia -2.5 over Houston Cougars (-115)

I think the single most important piece to understand about this game is that West Virginia is one of the most potent rushing attacks in the country, while Houston’s rush defense stinks. The Mountaineers rank 32nd in the country in rushing yards per game; Houston ranks barely inside the top 100 at stopping the run. That one difference by itself has me leaning hard toward the Mountaineers, and I expect the visiting team to control the ball, the clock and the game script in this one. Houston has been struggling in all phases of the game, and West Virginia should be able to take advantage. Check out our full West Virginia vs Houston predictions. 

Must-read 

• Don’t miss our Broncos vs Chiefs Same Game Parlay for TNF
• Our NFL expert has their best Broncos vs Chiefs player prop bets
• Our NFL Week 6 power rankings are out! Where does your team stand? 
• Go back to the futures with our expert’s NFL player awards odds and best bets
• Check out the early NFL Week 6 lines and odds 
• The NHL season is here and we have futures bets for division champions and the Stanley Cup 
• We also have some early NCAAF Week 7 best bets and all the odds 

Read all of our sports betting articles as they arrive throughout the morning and afternoon on the Analysis tab.

Stat of the Day 

Patrick Mahomes is undefeated against the Broncos in his career.

Quote of the Day 

“(My teammates) just kind of told me, and they looked at me, and they were like, ‘what are you going to do?'”

— Bryce Harper’s response to Orlando Arcia’s postgame comments following Game 2 was loud. Harper homered twice in the Phillies’ 10-2 victory over Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday.