If you're looking for points, check out NBA or NHL tonight

Usually, we reserve Thursdays for football only, digging into the game and finding us our favorite angles. We still will discuss that game, but if there is ever a night that the NFL takes a backseat, it's this one. You see, the Steelers and Patriots are squaring off in a game with a historically low over/under, while we have two NBA in-season tournament semifinal games and 13 NHL contests.

We'll touch 'em all here to spread our Thursday net.

A mixed bag of Thursday plays

'Thursday Night Football'

This game should be ugly. It's Mitchell Trubisky vs. Bailey Zappe. Zappe led the Patriots to a strong zero points in his first start last week, and the New England offense has found just 13 total points across the last three games. Meanwhile, Trubisky has yet to lead Pittsburgh to more than 10 points in any of his appearances this season.

Both sides do have some defensive strengths, so add it all up, and you get this 30-point over/under. Rather than touch that, here's a far better way to play this game. You'll know the result immediately, so you can quickly turn this slop off and tune in to the NBA or NHL.

This is found by clicking into the game on DraftKings, going to 1st drive and then scrolling down to "Each Team 1st Drive."

Betting: Steelers punt on first drive, Patriots punt on first drive (+190 DraftKings)

NBA

This Pacers-Bucks game is expected to be an absolute shootout, with the total set at a whopping 256 points. We certainly can understand why. We've got two teams both ranked inside the top five of pace of play, two of the three best teams in offensive rating, and two of the worst defenses according to defensive rating.

That certainly all points to plenty of points. Rather than grab the over, let's follow what the books are telling us and pair a few of the more likely scorers in this one.

Tyrese Haliburton has 25+ points in six straight games and nine of his last 10, and he dropped 29 on Milwaukee in the first meeting this season. For good measure, no team grades out worse at slowing down PG scoring than the Bucks. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 30+ points in 11 of his last 15 games and earlier this season piled up 54 against this Pacers defense. In his past four meetings against Indiana, Giannis has scored 41, 25, 38 and 54. Oh, and the Pacers allow the second-most points to PFs this season.

Betting: Haliburton 25+ points, Antetokounmpo 30+ points (-107 FanDuel)

Betting: Haliburton 30+ points, Antetokounmpo 35+ points (+290 FD)

NHL

New Jersey and Seattle will be facing off on ESPN later tonight, and if you're looking for some action there, look no further than Jack Hughes.

Hughes is simply on fire for the Devils right now, piling up 6+ shots on goal in six straight games and notching a goal in four straight. Look for Hughes to keep it rolling against the Kraken.

Betting: Jack Hughes over 4.5 SOG (+115 BetMGM)

In the news ...

Yankees trade for Juan Soto — Rumors of a potential Juan Soto to New York deal were picking up steam during MLB's winter meetings, and now it's official. Just a little over a year after acquiring the superstar Soto, the San Diego Padres have shipped him out to the Yankees in exchange for five prospects, four of whom are pitchers, plus catcher Kyle Higashioka. Soto's lefty power now can benefit from that short right field at Yankee Stadium, and he'll pair with Aaron Judge to form one of the more lethal 1-2 power combos in baseball. New York is now +850 to win the 2024 World Series, behind only the Dodgers and Braves.

Patrick Kane set to make Red Wings debut tonight — After signing with Detroit last week, legendary forward Patrick Kane is set to make his Red Wings debut tonight against the Sharks. San Jose certainly is no defensive juggernaut, so it could be worth a sprinkle on Kane to get involved in his first game. He's currently +175 to score.

Iowa's Caitlin Clark becomes first male or female college basketball player to ever accomplish this feat — Caitlin Clark has been dominant since she stepped foot on Iowa's campus, and now the NCAA women's star has crossed the 3,000 points threshold, only the 15th player in NCAA history to do so. Even more impressive, Clark is now the first Division I player, male or female, to record 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists. Clark and No. 4 Iowa are +900 to win it all this year; they were runners-up last season.

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.