The NFL and NBA will both be in action on Thursday, providing a great opportunity for new users to use the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets back if your first qualifying wager loses or $150 in bonus bets if your first $10 wager wins. Vikings vs. Chargers kick off the Week 8 NFL schedule on Thursday Night Football, and there will also be an NBA doubleheader, with Pacers vs. Thunder getting underway at 7:30 p.m. ET and Nuggets vs. Warriors starting at 10 p.m. ET.
Picks from all three of those games are among our NBA and NFL best bets at BetMGM Sportsbook today from the SportsLine Projection Model and our team of experts. Get the newest BetMGM bonus code and take advantage of one of the best sportsbook promos. Get started now:
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model is on a sizzling 43-28 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. It also entered the 2025-26 NBA season on a sizzling 160-118 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $4,000 and went 24-11 (69%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks last season. Anybody following its picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
Thursday’s NFL best bets at BetMGM
- Vikings +3.5 vs. Chargers (-118)
- Pacers +7.5 vs. Thunder (-110)
- Under 233.5 points in Warriors vs. Nuggets (-105)
Combining these three picks into a Thursday NBA and NFL parlay at BetMGM would result in a payout of +588 (risk $100 to win $588). Bet it at BetMGM here:
Vikings +3.5 vs. Chargers (-118)
“It’s going to be the Carson Wentz show for perhaps the final time, and while he’s coming off his worst game of 2025, I’m optimistic he performs well here. The Chargers defense has caught some breaks in matchups, watching Xavier Worthy go down immediately in Week 1, getting Jaxson Dart’s debut, etc,” CBS Sports Gambling and Fantasy editor R.J. White said. “Last week it all fell apart against a strong Colts offense, but it was the third straight game allowing 27+ points and at least three offensive TDs, with one coming against a broken Miami offense. I see the Vikings putting up points here and getting a backdoor cover if needed, and I don’t see the Chargers running away with the game with an unreliable rushing attack.” Back the Vikings at BetMGM Sportsbook now:
Pacers +7.5 vs. Thunder (-110)
“Rematch time from the Finals last June only now the Pacers don’t have Tyrese Haliburton, who went down in Game Seven with a ruptured Achilles and will miss this entire season,” SportsLine’s legendary handicapper Bruce Marshall said. “We don’t, however, expect Indiana to completely disappear, as the Andrew Nembhard-Bennedict Mathurin backcourt remains potent, F Pascal Siakam continues to perform at an All-Star level, and Rick Carlisle can rotate three bigs (Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman) in the post. As for OKC, it wears a big target this season, as Houston reminded in the double OT on opening night.” Back the Pacers at BetMGM Sportsbook now:
Want more NFL picks for this week?
You’ve seen some of the model’s Thursday best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for every NFL game on the schedule, all from the model that’s simulated every game 10,000 times.
Also at SportsLine:
You can also see World Series picks (which starts tomorrow) from legendary handicapper Bruce Marshall, who is 182-168-3 (+2940) over his last 353 MLB picks. See his best bets right here.
