One day after the 2025-26 NBA season kicked off with a pair of contests, Wednesday’s schedule is loaded with a dozen games, including a matchup between two of last season’s top teams in the Eastern Conference at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland finished atop the East in 2024-25 with a 64-18 record but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games. The Knicks, who went 51-31 last campaign to finish third in the conference and were defeated by the Pacers in the conference finals, are beginning the Mike Brown era. A two-time NBA Coach of the Year who had two stints with the Cavaliers, Brown was hired in July to replace Tom Thibodeau, who was relieved of his head-coaching duties a month earlier.
Three games are on Wednesday’s NHL schedule, one of which has the Detroit Red Wings visiting KeyBank Center to face the Buffalo Sabres. Detroit (5-1-0), which occupies first place in the Atlantic Division, is coming off a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday that completed a 3-0-0 homestand and extended the team’s winning streak to five games. The Sabres (2-4-0) were denied a third consecutive victory Monday as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Montreal Canadiens on the road.
Meanwhile, Week 9 of the 2025 college football season continues with a pair of Conference USA matchups, including a showdown between Missouri State (3-3, 1-1) and New Mexico State (3-3, 1-2) at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces on the CBS Sports Network.
Cleveland is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest NBA betting odds for Cavaliers vs. Knicks. The Red Wings are -113 favorites versus the Sabres, and Missouri State is favored by 1.5 points in its contest against New Mexico State.
Below is a snapshot of what to watch and bet on for Wednesday, Oct. 22. All times Eastern
NBA best bets, where to watch
Cavaliers at Knicks
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: New York | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Cavaliers -3.5 (-111)
The Knicks had one of the best home records among Eastern Conference teams last season at 27-14 but were a disappointing 4-5 on their own court in the playoffs. Meanwhile, only the Boston Celtics (33-8) and Oklahoma City Thunder (32-8) had better road marks than Cleveland (30-11) in the entire league. The Cavaliers dominated New York in 2024-25, winning all four meetings by an average of 17 points. The SportsLine Projection Model sees the Cavs picking up where they left off, as they cover the spread in 53% of its simulations.
Spurs at Mavericks
Time: 9:30 p.m. | Location: Dallas | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine picks — Model: Mavericks -2.5 (-115) | Expert: Mavericks -148 (Tim Doyle)
Both teams finished under .500 last season, but the Mavericks performed fairly well at home, going 22-18 at American Airlines Center. Two of those victories came against the Spurs, whom they also defeated in the first of their two meetings at San Antonio before dropping a 126-116 decision there in their final matchup of the campaign. The Spurs will be without De’Aaron Fox, who is battling a hamstring injury, while Dallas’ Kyrie Irving still is recovering from a torn ACL and may not return until the calendar flips to 2026. Regardless, the SportsLine Projection Model likes the Mavericks to win outright, which it lists as an A-rated pick, and its simulations have them covering the spread 67% of the time. SportsLine expert Tim Doyle also believes Dallas will chalk up a victory as he feels Fox’s absence will be too much for San Antonio to overcome.
More NBA best bets
NHL best bets, where to watch
Red Wings at Sabres
Time: 7:30 p.m. | Location: Buffalo | TV: TNT | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Sabres -107
Since losing their season opener against Montreal, the Red Wings have reeled off five consecutive victories and have allowed fewer than three goals in each of the last four. Captain Dylan Larkin has begun 2025-26 with a six-game point streak, collecting five goals and six assists during the run. The Sabres followed a season-opening three-game losing streak with back-to-back wins before falling to the Canadiens last time out. Detroit won three of the four meetings between the clubs last campaign, including a 6-5 triumph in a shootout at Buffalo. The SportsLine Projection Model sees the Sabres ending the Red Wings’ winning streak, as they win in 60% of its simulations.
CFB best bets, where to watch
Missouri State at New Mexico State
Time: 9 p.m. | Location: Las Cruces, N.M. | TV: CBS Sports Network | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: New Mexico State +1.5 (-117)
Missouri State has alternated wins and losses over its first six games this season, its first in Conference USA. The Bears, who were members of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1985-2024, are coming off a 22-20 triumph over Middle Tennessee in which there were five lead changes. New Mexico State began the year with a pair of victories but has lost three of its last four contests, including a 30-27 setback at Liberty last time out. The Aggies overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to go ahead by seven in the fourth quarter before allowing the decisive touchdown with 36 seconds remaining. New Mexico State is looking to win its first four home games in a season for the first time since 2002, and the SportsLine Projection Model believes it will happen. It has the Aggies covering the spread in 70% of its simulations and says they win outright 68% of the time.
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