Friday’s sports schedule is brimming with excitement, featuring key matchups across Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and college football. This diverse slate offers sports bettors a prime chance to capitalize on the latest FanDuel promo code, which rewards new users with $300 in bonus bets if their first wager of $5 or more wins. Let’s delve into the highlights of the day’s action, including expert analysis and betting insights powered by SportsLine’s advanced projection model.
The centerpiece of Friday’s action is Game 1 of the 2025 World Series, set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers. This highly anticipated clash features two of the league’s most potent offenses. During the regular season, the Dodgers ranked second in the MLB with an average of 5.06 runs per game, while the Blue Jays were close behind in third place, averaging 5.02 runs per game. This offensive firepower has translated into high-scoring contests between the two teams; notably, the over on total runs has hit in five of Toronto’s last six games and in two of the three regular-season meetings against Los Angeles.
From a betting perspective, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Dodgers as -154 favorites on the money line, with the total runs over/under set at 7.5. SportsLine’s projection model, which simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, has found strong value in the over bet, with the total runs surpassing 7.5 in 64% of simulations. Additionally, the model projects that these teams will combine for an average of 9.4 runs, suggesting an exciting, offense-driven opener to the Fall Classic. Star players on both sides are expected to influence the outcome significantly—Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani has already hammered five home runs this postseason, while Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. boasts six home runs and 12 RBIs in playoff play.
NBA fans also have plenty to look forward to on Friday evening. The Atlanta Hawks, fresh off a tough 20-point loss to the Toronto Raptors in their season opener, will face the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET. The Magic carry momentum from a close 125-121 win over the Miami Heat and have a recent history of success against Atlanta, having beaten them in two of their last three meetings. FanDuel’s odds favor the Magic by 4.5 points on the spread. SportsLine’s model backs Orlando to cover this spread comfortably, projecting a 60% chance that the Magic will win by at least five points. The model’s confidence is bolstered by Orlando’s depth, as five Magic players scored in double digits during their last outing, and their solid performance as a home favorite last season, going 18-11 against the spread (ATS) in such situations.
Later in the evening at 8 p.m. ET, the San Antonio Spurs will visit the New Orleans Pelicans. The Spurs enter this matchup with positive momentum after a strong season opener, in which they scored 125 points on 57% shooting against the Dallas Mavericks. Victor Wembanyama was a standout performer, contributing 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are looking to bounce back after a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, a game in which they allowed Memphis to shoot 51% from the floor. Historically, New Orleans has struggled under similar circumstances, posting a 19-29-1 ATS record when playing with just one day off and a 24-35 ATS record following a loss last season. SportsLine’s model favors San Antonio to cover the 4-point spread on the road, with a 62% likelihood based on simulations.
For bettors interested in maximizing their potential returns, combining these three picks—over 7.5 total runs in the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays game, Orlando Magic to cover -4.5, and San Antonio Spurs to cover -4—into a three-leg parlay at FanDuel offers a lucrative payout of +605. This means a $100 wager could yield $605 in winnings, reflecting the confidence in these selections provided by the model’s rigorous simulations.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which underpins these betting insights, has a proven track record of success. Simulating each NBA game