Halfway via the 2025 NFL season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed to be in command of the NFC South. With 4 video games remaining, they’re in peril of lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2019.

Tampa Bay (7-6), which received six of its first eight contests to construct a two-game division lead over Carolina, has misplaced 4 of 5 and finds itself in a dogfight with the Panthers (7-6) for first place. The Buccaneers, who face Carolina twice over the ultimate three weeks of the marketing campaign and at the moment personal the tiebreaker between the golf equipment, look to keep up the higher hand within the battle once they open Week 15 towards the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday Evening Soccer at Raymond James Stadium.

The Buccaneers are coming off a shocking 24-20 dwelling loss to the New Orleans Saints during which Baker Mayfield accomplished lower than half of his go makes an attempt (14-of-30) for less than 122 yards. Atlanta has misplaced seven of its final eight video games, together with a 37-9 drubbing by the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, however is hoping to avenge a 23-20 dwelling setback towards Tampa Bay within the season opener.

4 video games are on Thursday’s NBA schedule, together with a matchup between the Portland Path Blazers (9-15) and New Orleans Pelicans (3-22) at 8 p.m. ET on the Smoothie King Middle. Portland is wrapping up a five-game street journey throughout which it misplaced three of the primary 4 contests, whereas New Orleans is seeking to halt a seven-game shedding streak.

The NHL has 13 contests on its slate, one among which has the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Crimson Wings (17-11-3) visiting Rogers Place for a gathering with the Edmonton Oilers (13-11-6) at 9 p.m. ET. Detroit is 3-0-1 on its six-game street journey, whereas Edmonton has gone 2-1-1 on its five-game homestand.

Thursday’s 13-game school basketball schedule includes a conflict between Iowa (8-1) and fourth-ranked Iowa State (9-0) at 8 p.m. ET on the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Ia. The Hawkeyes’ lone loss got here of their solely true street recreation of the season they usually now go to a Cyclones squad that’s 4-0 at dwelling.

The Buccaneers are 5.5-point favorites towards the Falcons within the newest consensus NFL odds. In the meantime, the Path Blazers are 4.5-point favorites towards the Pelicans, the Oilers are -180 favorites on the cash line versus the Crimson Wings and Iowa State is a ten.5-point favourite towards Iowa.

Beneath is a snapshot of what to look at and guess for Thursday, Dec. 11. All instances Japanese

NFL greatest bets, the place to look at

Falcons at Buccaneers

Time: 8:15 p.m. | Location: Tampa, Fla. | TV: Prime Video | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)

SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Over 44 (-112) | Knowledgeable: Falcons +4.5 (-105, R.J. White)

Each groups are within the backside half of the NFL in scoring, with the Buccaneers averaging 23 factors and the Falcons producing 19.4 per recreation. However 5 of Atlanta’s final six video games have gone Over the projected complete for Thursday’s showdown and Tampa Bay was concerned in shootouts with the New England Patriots (51 complete factors) and Buffalo Payments (76) throughout its present funk. The Buccaneers’ offense may obtain a spark as wideout Mike Evans could return from the damaged collarbone that has sidelined him for six video games, and fellow receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) would possibly make his season debut. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin is leaning towards the Over, which hits in 51% of its simulations, and SportsLine NFL skilled R.J. White (+1321 on his final 265 NFL picks) likes the Falcons to cowl the unfold as solely two of the Bucs’ seven wins this season had been by greater than three factors.

NBA greatest bets, the place to look at

Path Blazers at Pelicans

Time: 8 p.m. | Location: New Orleans | TV: League Go | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)

SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Underneath 241 (-112) | Knowledgeable: Path Blazers -179 (Tim Doyle)

Portland is in the midst of the pack within the league with a median of 117.4 factors and is coming off a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies during which it was held underneath triple digits (96) for simply the second time this season. New Orleans had a uncommon offensive surge final outing, scoring 132 factors in Monday’s setback towards the San Antonio Spurs, however has produced 113 per recreation in 2025-26. The Path Blazers and Pelicans mixed for 242 factors of their first assembly this marketing campaign, however the SportsLine Projection Mannequin would not see this matchup reaching that complete as its simulations say the Underneath hits greater than 66% of the time. SportsLine basketball skilled Tim Doyle (+318 on his final 5 NBA picks) believes Portland will put up its fifth victory in 17 video games because it has had three days off since its 23-point loss at Memphis.

NHL greatest bets, the place to look at

Crimson Wings at Oilers

Time: 9 p.m. | Location: Edmonton | TV: ESPN+ | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)

SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Oilers -180 | Knowledgeable: Oilers -1 (-123, Matt Severance)

The Crimson Wings have posted three consecutive victories and earned factors in six straight contests (4-0-2). They’re coming off a 4-3 conquer the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday, however they’ve performed on back-to-back nights 4 instances to date this season and misplaced the second recreation on three events – together with each instances when every of the consecutive contests had been on the street. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin thinks that pattern will proceed as Edmonton wins in 64% of its simulations, and SportsLine skilled Matt Severance is backing the Oilers to cowl the unfold as he feels enjoying for the second time in two nights once more will likely be an excessive amount of for Detroit.

CBB greatest bets, the place to look at

Iowa at Iowa State

Time: 8 p.m. | Location: Ames, Iowa | TV: FS1 | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)

SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Iowa +10.5 (-110) | Knowledgeable: Underneath 143.5 (-110, Bruce Marshall)

Positive, Iowa State has recorded eight of its 9 victories this season by 16 or extra factors and is coming off a 23-point conquer then-No. 1 Purdue. And sure, Iowa’s solely loss this marketing campaign was a 19-point setback towards the one ranked group (then-No. 7 Michigan State) it has confronted to date in 2025-26. However the Hawkeyes are second within the Large Ten with a median of 62.6 factors allowed and are limiting opponents to 43.6% capturing. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin believes the Hawkeyes can do sufficient defensively towards the Cyclones, as its simulations have them overlaying the unfold 60% of the time. SportsLine skilled Bruce Marshall (+185 on his final six school basketball picks) additionally thinks Iowa can decelerate Iowa State and is backing the Underneath.