Weekend Hot Takes: Brace yourself for an epic Pro Bowl beatdown

Is it getting hot in here or is it just our takes? BetAmerica columnists Ashley Anderson,  Jeremy Balan, Ryan Murphy and Thomas Tassone share their sizzling picks for this weekend’s sports action. Handle with caution!

NFL: The AFC will crush the NFC in the Pro Bowl

Ashley: The Pro Bowl may be just an exhibition game with the NFL’s best athletes who aren’t in the Super Bowl, but this year’s competition carries an interesting storyline. Baltimore had a record-tying 12 players named to the AFC Pro Bowl team and their coach, John Harbaugh, will head the AFC’s squad on Sunday. With Lamar Jackson—the top vote-getter from fans—at the helm, Harbaugh’s group will put on a spectacular show and crush the Pete Carroll-led NFC representatives by at least two scores on Sunday.

NCAAB: Brown will bulldoze Yale

Jeremy: These two teams met exactly a week ago at Yale, and the Bulldogs handled Brown, 70-56. So why will things change this time around in Providence? Brown is a different team at home, where they are 6-1 and defeated in-state rival Rhode Island (by 10, as an eight-point underdog), which is tied for second place in the tough Atlantic 10. Brown also likely won’t have another dreadful three-point shooting performance against Yale. Brown shot 3-for-21 from behind the arc last time out, and they average 31.7% on the season.

NBA: Memphis will manhandle Detroit

Ryan: I'm astonished that Detroit is favored by 1.5 points tonight against Memphis. Sure, they're playing in the cozy confines of Little Caesars Arena, but Dwane Casey's squad is missing Blake Griffin and Luke Kennard. Andre Drummond is also a game time decision after suffering a lip laceration. For those of you keeping track at home, that's 48.6 points absent from a team that ranks 19th in points per game to begin with. I'm personally putting a double sawbuck down on Memphis, who recently won seven straight and are among the healthiest teams in the league. Rookie of the Year favorite Ja Morant is averaging 17.6 points and 8.4 assists in the month of January and should have a HUGE night as he slices and dices his way through Detroit's decimated frontline.

NCAAB: North Carolina will bounce back

Thomas: Yes I know, this is by far the worst season of North Carolina basketball since Roy Williams took over in 2003, but I think they’ll turn things around and earn their first win of 2020 on Saturday afternoon. Without superstar PG Cole Anthony Carolina have looked abysmal, losing nine of their last 11 including a double OT loss to Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. However, I think a home game versus a Miami team that’s lost three straight is exactly what Williams needs to get his team back on track. Look for Carolina to win this game and spark a late season turnaround as ACC conference play heats up.