Betting the Sports Equinox: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL picks for Monday

The sports equinox is here! This is the rare time when four of the major American sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — all play games on same day. The equinox represents a unique chance to sports fans to experience multiple games across different sports, but it also offers an opportunity for bettors to take advantage of the excitement with some cross-sport parlays.

With all four sports in action Monday, here are our picks for each league.

Odds by ESPN BET

MLB: Juan Soto over 0.5 RBIs, Yankees (-1.5)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees, 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX

Todd Zola: The series shifts to the Bronx, where cooler temperatures could be a factor. No rain is in the forecast, but it will be in the low 50s, which favors pitching. Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt should be more accustomed to the conditions than Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. Neither hurler has taken the hill for well over a week. Even with the extra rest, it would be surprising if Schmidt or Buehler were to deliver more than five frames. The Yankees’ bullpen is better acclimated to warming up under these conditions, which is the tipping point. So much so, in fact that I’ll take the Yankees and the -1.5 Run Line (+140).

Batting on an RBI prop from a No. 2 hitter isn’t my favorite, but Juan Soto is in scoring position when he’s in the batter’s box and the payout is too good to fade, so I’m backing Soto to go over 0.5 RBIs. (+190).

NFL: Devin Singletary UNDER 29.5 rushing yards (+105)

New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+

Ben Solak: The Steelers’ defensive front is the most dominant in all of football — it has stars (Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith) and depth (Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi). The Giants’ front is one of the league’s shakiest, especially in the running game — and star left tackle Andrew Thomas will be out for this game and the rest of the season. I don’t expect to see much success for Singletary, nor do I expect to see much volume, as rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has pushed his way into the starting rotation.

NBA: Derrick White over 16.5 points (-125)

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

André Snellings: White has averaged 20.0 PPG through the first week of the season, knocking down 52.6% from the field and 43.5% from behind the arc. He made 10 3-pointers through the first two games and managed 17 points in his third game despite going 0-for-6 from behind the arc. White will face a Bucks squad Monday that has struggled defending the shooting guard position, giving up 30.5 PPG (27th in NBA) and 4.2 3PG (20th) to opposing two guards.

NHL: ‘What Happens in Vegas’ (SGP)

Ivan Barbashev Over 0.5 Goals
Jack Eichel Over 0.5 Assists
Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline (+598)

Calgary Flames vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Victoria Matiash: After surrendering two goals to the Seattle Kraken a week ago Saturday and three to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the Flames allowed four against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, then five to the Winnipeg Jets two days later.

This is a relatively alarming defensive pattern as Calgary visits the Golden Knights, who are a perfect 6-0-0 at home. With seven goals on the year, Barbashev has only failed to find the back of the net in consecutive games once. Toss in Eichel’s 12 assists in nine contests, and there’s good reason to feel optimistic about potential production from that top-line duo.