16 games played, by sport.
MLS The marquee game tonight is FC Cincinnati hosting D.C. United at TQL Stadium, with Cincinnati looking to keep their playoff positioning solid down the stretch. D.C. United has the weaker record and will need a statement result on the road to stay in the postseason conversation. Watch for Cincinnati to push hard for an early goal and avoid letting this one slip into a nil-nil stalemate against a desperate visiting side.
NBA The marquee matchup tonight is Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, with the Lakers favored by 6.5 and a monster 234.5 over-under promising buckets at both ends. Earlier, keep an eye on Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat, a near pick'em that could come down to who's splashing threes late. Don't sleep on Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors either, where the Raptors are double-digit favorites and could put on an absolute clinic if the Bulls can't buy a bucket early.
NCAA Football The marquee game Thursday night is undefeated James Madison traveling to App State, where the Dukes are laying 10.5 points and a push to 8-0 is on the line against a Mountaineers team that's dangerous at home. Keep an eye on Liberty at Kennesaw State too, since the Flames are favored by double digits on the road and a sloppy start could turn it into smashmouth, time-of-possession football if Kennesaw State's defense bails out an overmatched offense. East Carolina at Memphis rounds out the night, with the Tigers favored to cover easily unless East Carolina can avoid third-and-long situations and actually move the ball in the red zone.
NFL The marquee game is a Thursday night showdown at Soldier Field, where the New England Patriots visit the Chicago Bears with both clubs sitting at 4-2 and fighting for early playoff positioning. Chicago is favored by three points with the total set at 50.5, so watch whether the Bears can win time of possession and smashmouth their way through the line of scrimmage, or whether New England's defense bails them out on third-and-long. If the Bears can't move the ball consistently in the red zone, this one could lean toward the under even with a competitive spread.
NHL The marquee matchup is the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the Edmonton Oilers, pitting two of the league's hottest starts against each other with both clubs chasing an early-season statement win. Keep an eye on special teams in this one, since a strong power play or a shaky penalty kill could decide it, and don't be surprised if it takes a snipe from the slot or a stick save to seal things late. Elsewhere, Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues is worth a glance for anyone who likes an upset watch, with the stumbling Blues hosting a Golden Knights team that has barely lost all season.
WNBA The marquee game tonight is Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta Dream, a battle between two of the WNBA's best records as the Dream try to protect home court despite being underdogs on paper. Atlanta's getting 3.5 points at home, which tells you the Valkyries are the better team on paper, but betting against a team that's 30-14 in their own building is a good way to take an L. Watch for buckets in the paint early and see if either squad can find the ice-in-the-veins shooter to deliver a dagger late.