Best Sports Betting Picks Today: NBA, NFL, NHL Predictions for December 5th

The Houston Rockets have emerged as one of the top teams in the NBA, and they look on their way to ending a four-season playoff drought. 

And they didn’t even have to bring James Harden back to get here.

The Rockets visit the Golden State Warriors on the waterfront Thursday night, and Golden State isn’t equipped for this battle. You will see Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in street clothes.

Speaking of bad teams gone good, the Detroit Lions entertain the Green Bay Packers on the NFL Thursday stage after both teams won on Thanksgiving Day. 

Over on the ice, the Edmonton Oilers and visiting Columbus Blue Jackets look to find the net, something neither team did in their most recent game. 

HOUSTON ROCKETS AT GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Golden State got off to a stellar 12-3 start before the current skid that has dropped them into sixth place in the Western Conference. And being without Curry and Green isn’t a good thing against a Houston team not lacking in confidence.

Curry will be out for the second time in four games due to pain in both knees, while Green is out for the second straight game due to calf tightness. The Warriors need the good Buddy Hield (last 20-point game was Nov. 4) to appear, and he scored 27 when Golden State posted a 127-121 overtime win over the host Rockets on Nov. 2.

Houston opened a three-game road trip with a 120-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday after winning 10 of its previous 12 games. Either Jalen Green (season-high 41 vs. the 76ers on Nov. 27) or Fred VanVleet (season-high 38 vs. the Thunder on Sunday) will score at will in this one.

Alperen Sengun has five straight 20-point outings, and no Draymond means more opportunities. Expect the Rockets to live up to the label as road favorites.

Rockets -3.5 spread, -108 (DraftKings)

GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. DETROIT LIONS

Three of the top four records in the NFC belong to NFC North teams, so plenty is at stake when the Packers (9-3) face the NFC-best Lions (11-1). Detroit’s next victory will allow it to match the franchise record for victories in a season, first set by the Barry Sanders-led 1991 team and matched by last season’s squad. 

The Minnesota Vikings (10-2) are the other NFC team thriving so Green Bay’s division-winning hopes hang on this game, especially since the Packers lost the first outing against Detroit. Green Bay’s Jordan Love passed for 273 yards but couldn’t find the end zone while being intercepted once.

Detroit’s Jared Goff only passed for 145 yards and one score in that contest despite efficient 18-of-22 passing. That is one of five times Goff completed at least 80 percent of his passes this season, making it clear he could nail a sticker on a telephone pole from 40 yards away.

Goff has thrown multiple touchdown passes eight times this season. Feels like three scores are in order against the Packers.

Jared Goff to throw three TD passes, +340 (FanDuel)

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS AT EDMONTON OILERS

Both teams were playing well until getting blanked Tuesday—the Blue Jackets were 3-0 losers to the host Calgary Flames, and the visiting Oilers lost 1-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton had won three straight games before the loss, while Columbus won five of six before being stymied.

The Blue Jackets have scored five or more goals in each of their past six victories, but the offense was missing in Calgary with just 16 shots. The late Johnny Gaudreau was honored before the game—he played in Calgary prior to Columbus—and the Blue Jackets weren’t very spry once the game began.

The Oilers scored 14 goals in their winning streak before coming up empty in 28 shots against Vegas. Superstar Connor McDavid (31 points) couldn’t convert on four shots while leading scorer Leon Draisaitl (32 points) only attempted one.

Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlinkis has allowed seven goals over his last three games and Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has given up four over his last three turns. Expect a low-scoring game.

Under 6.5 goals, +110 (DraftKings)