The Christmas Day NFL schedule and NBA schedule are absolutely loaded in 2023 with two big-time divisional rivalries and the top two seed in each conference going head-to-head in the NFL, while several of the biggest NBA franchises will be in action. The NBA begins with Knicks vs. Bucks at noon ET and features five games, while the NFL will run a tripleheader that starts with Chiefs vs. Raiders at 1 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. But which games should you be targeting for Christmas Day parlays featuring the NFL and NBA?
The latest NFL odds via the SportsLine consensus list the 49ers as 6-point favorites over the Ravens in the marquee matchup of the day on the gridiron at 8:15 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Celtics are 3-point road favorites against the Lakers according to the latest NBA odds with that game tipping off at 5 p.m. ET. Before considering any 2023 Christmas Day picks or parlays on the NFL or NBA, you need to see what SportsLine's advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA and NFL game 10,000 times, has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 9 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a stunning 101-52 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000.
The model is also up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season on an incredible 178-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 32-21 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of last season.
Now, the model has set its sights on the Christmas Day schedule and locked in its best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. If you parlay these picks, you could be looking at a payout of more than 24-1.
Top NBA and NFL Christmas Day picks
One leg of the five-way parlay that the model recommends is the Philadelphia 76ers (+3) to cover against the Heat in an 8 p.m. ET start on Monday. These franchises know each other well, having met in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals (Heat 4-2) in addition to playing three times last season and four times in 2021-22.
It's a matchup that has favored the road team recently, with the visiting side winning and covering the spread in each of the last four head-to-head meetings. The 76ers have also been the more profitable squad against the spread by a considerable margin this season, going 18-8 against the number while the Heat are only 11-16.
Joel Embiid (ankle) has been ruled out for the Sixers, but that has also moved the line 4.5 points, giving Philadelphia some room to work with. Tyrese Maxey is playing extremely well right now, scoring 29 or more points in this last three games. SportsLine's model sees this game coming down to the final possession, making the underdog 76ers the better value play against the spread. See who else to back right here.
How to make Christmas Day parlays
SportsLine's model has also identified four other confident picks that need to be in your Christmas Day parlays, including a play for Ravens vs. 49ers that hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model's best bets here.
What are the model's top Christmas Day NFL and NBA picks, and which other matchups should you target for your Christmas Day parlays? Visit SportsLine now to see the NBA and NFL best bets for Christmas Day, all from the model that has dominated its top-rated picks over the past several seasons, and find out.
