NBA, NHL best bets: Wemby, Nikky and the Duke

Well, it would appear we severely over-estimated this Buffalo Bills team. They continued to turn the ball over and laid an egg against Denver. Yikes.

We put that behind us and turn instead to the NBA and NHL as we look to get in a groove with two sports soon to be carrying our day-to-day.

Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama is must-watch basketball

This is just the type of matchup we want to turn on and enjoy. We've got two lanky centers who can score at the basket, shoot threes and block shots, and it's the first career matchup between the two. We're hoping this could develop into the next great head-to-head rivalry between bigs, and with the two Rookie of the Year front-runners squaring off, we'd like to wager on the presence of the other bringing out the best in each. For good measure, this game is on TNT, so it's a natural choice to build a bet around.

On the season, Holmgren is averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 threes made and 2.3 blocks per game. Wembanyama is averaging 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.7 threes made and 2.4 blocks per game.

Here's what we're thinking ...

• Holmgren 2+ threes (hit in five of 10 games)
• Holmgren 2+ blocks (hit in six of 10 games)
• Wembanyama 2+ threes (hit in seven of 10 games)
• Wembanyama 2+ blocks (hit in six of 10 games)

Altogether, you can SGP that on DraftKings at +500. Let's have some fun with it!

Two goal-scorers tonight in the NHL

Nikolaj Ehlers goal (+270 Caesars)

Ehlers has seen his shot attempts rise over the past few games, with 15 over his last two, both at home. Despite that uptick, he hasn't scored since the end of October. That could change here against a Devils team allowing the fifth-most goals per game.

Ehlers has scored twice in two of his last four games against New Jersey. This is a solid price based on recent volume and history vs. NJ.

Anthony Duclair goal (+280 FanDuel)

If you like revenge angles, look no further than San Jose's Anthony Duclair. Duclair spent the previous three seasons with Florida, including being a part of the team that made a run at the Stanley Cup Final last season.

Duclair signed with the Sharks this season, which makes tonight his first game against his former club. It comes at an opportune time, as Duclair has piled up 21 shot attempts over his last four games, scoring in two of his past three. He should be plenty motivated here to keep getting that puck on net.

In the news ...

Broncos beat Bills to shake up AFC playoff picture —Thanks to a 12th man on the field penalty, Denver kicker Wil Lutz had a second chance to win the game for the Broncos, and he delivered, giving the game to Denver 24-22 on 'MNF.' For the Bills, any blame on that penalty feels shortsighted. They turned the ball over four times and curiously benched their most explosive RB for a large chunk of the game. Now, Denver is 4-5 with a chance at a Wild Card run, and the Bills are 5-5, 10th in the AFC. If the season ended today (it doesn't), Pittsburgh (6-3), Cleveland (6-3) and Houston (5-4) would be the three wild-card teams, with Cincinnati (5-4) right behind them. Buffalo is now +200 to make the playoffs, with Houston (+105), Cincy (-135) and Pittsburgh (-110) all favored above them.

MLB announces Rookies of the Year — It seemed all but assured who the two rookies of the year would be, and now it's official, with Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson and Arizona's Corbin Carroll taking home the hardware. The two were unanimous winners, the first time that's happened since Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger in 2017. Books are more optimistic that Henderson and the Orioles can reclaim their 2023 success (+1500 to win the 2024 World Series) than they are that Arizona can make another run at a championship (+3800 to win it all).

Henrik Lundqvist headlines 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees — The 2023 NHL Hall of Fame class was formally inducted on Monday night, with legendary New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist headlining the class. Other honorees included Pierre Turgeon, Ken Hitchcock and Caroline Ouellette.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll, the guy who won $8K on a $20 NFL parlay. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.