Best Bets for Today - Top Plays Across College Basketball, NHL and NBA for Wednesday December 17 2025

By: Kim Smith Published 12/17/2025, 03:00 AM ET

Wednesday’s slate brings a really nice mix: a tight NHL matchup in Sunrise where recent form matters more than season-long splits, an NBA spot where one team is clearly trending the wrong way, and a college hoops game that profiles as a classic “defence travels” play. After going through what you sent, these are the three bets that stand out most for Wednesday 12/17/25. To catch even more of our best bets make sure you check out our best bets page.

My Best Bets

Florida Panthers -142
Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5
Northern Iowa -4.5

Kings vs Panthers

This matchup comes down to form and availability, and right now Florida checks more boxes. The Panthers are 17–13–2 and have won four of their last five, including strong road wins in Dallas and Tampa Bay. They’re scoring 3.19 goals per game, drawing penalties, and leaning on Brad Marchand, who’s been red-hot with 19 goals and 35 points.

Los Angeles is usually a team you like backing on the road (10–3–5 away), but this is a different situation. Darcy Kuemper is on IR, and the Kings have dropped three straight, struggling to generate offence during that stretch. Florida, meanwhile, is far more comfortable playing at pace and has a clear special-teams edge, especially if this turns into a whistle-heavy game.

With Florida playing better hockey right now and Los Angeles missing key pieces, I’m backing the Panthers -142 at home to keep rolling. Check out the full Kings vs Panthers pick.

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Cavaliers vs Bulls

Chicago is in a brutal spot. The Bulls are 10–15, on a four-game home losing streak, and sitting at 2–8 over their last 10 while allowing 122.4 points per game. That defensive profile is a nightmare against a Cleveland team that can score in waves when Donovan Mitchell is rolling.

Cleveland isn’t perfect, but they’re still putting up 118.7 PPG, and Chicago’s inability to get consistent stops makes it very hard to trust them as a home dog. Even with Evan Mobley out, the Cavaliers’ guard play and shot creation should be enough to exploit a Bulls team that struggles to defend the perimeter and gives up too many second chances.

This feels like a game where Cleveland gradually pulls away rather than blows it open early, which still works just fine at this number. I’ll lay it with Cavaliers -5.5. Check out the full Cavaliers vs Bulls pick.

Northern Iowa vs UIC

This is one of those spots where efficiency and defence outweigh raw scoring averages. Northern Iowa is 8–2 and gives up just 58.0 points per game, one of the best defensive marks on this entire slate. They play slow, disciplined basketball, force teams into bad shots, and don’t beat themselves.

UIC, on the other hand, is 4–6, riding a four-game losing streak, and allowing nearly 75 points per game. While the Flames can score, they’ve struggled badly against organised defensive teams, and Northern Iowa is exactly that. UNI also has the rebounding and assist edge, which matters in a road conference game where possessions are precious.

With Northern Iowa’s defence setting the tone and UIC trending the wrong way, I’m backing Northern Iowa -4.5 to cover on the road. Check out the full Northern Iowa vs UIC pick.

My Best Bets for Wednesday 12/17/25 are locked in, and this card offers a clean blend of NHL, NBA, and college basketball value. If you’re looking to maximise these plays, make sure you grab the bet365 bonus code so you’re maximizing each position you play.

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