We did it. We made it through the NBA regular season, finally. I've made no secret about how desperate I was for it to end so we could get to the playoffs and watch teams actually try to win, and that was on my mind a little as I watched the season come to an end on Sunday.I mean, what an absolute farce the final day of the season was. The same farce we've seen for the last few weeks, as there seemed to be more teams and fan bases interested in losing games than there were in winning. I can't help but think of the recent uproar in Europe over soccer teams trying to form a super league that enraged fans because it would lower the stakes for all involved, and meanwhile, in the United States, we've conditioned fans to root for their teams to lose. CBS Sports HQ Newsletter Your Ultimate Guide to Every Day in Sports We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge. I agree to Bogdan Bogdanovic Jersey receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Everybody is constantly looking for reasons why some sports Vince Carter Jersey are suffering and what needs to be done to solve it. Have we considered the po sibility that it might be the rooting for lo ses that's done it? Rooting for defeat seems to be a natural first step to overall apathy toward the team, and once that sets in, maybe that has an impact on a fan's interest?It's a thought to chew on, but not until after you've finished reading these stories. . . . .And now for tonight's picks, which we are all rooting for to win. The Hot Ticket The Pick: Mets (+135): So this is not a blind principle play even though it's an NL East matchup. That said, I feel it's important to remind you that underdogs in NL East divisional games are 20-19 on the season, with a return of roughly 7.5 units! So it certainly doesn't hurt the Mets in this spot, but I'm primarily on this because it's slightly disrespectful of the Mets.Like, you can make the argument that New York's 18-16 record and first-place standing in the division is misleading considering the team has a run differential of -10. The problem with that argument is that the Braves are 19-21 with a run differential of -15. These are two teams who have arrived in similar situations through different methods.The Mets have great pitching but can't hit. The Braves smack the ball all over the park but can't pitch. In matchups like this, I'm more inclined to go with the better pitching team, especially when there's a slight chance that the hitting Charlie Brown Jersey team could be without its best hitter (Ronald Acua) tonight. Key Trend: Underdogs are 20-19 in NL East divisional matchups this season.The Advanced Computer Model isn't a fan of either side of the money line, but it's got a good feeling about the total. The Picks MLB The Pick: Under 8 (-110) --Tonight's weather forecast at Wrigley Field is the one any pitcher wakes up hoping to see. Winds will be coming in from right field steadily, and temperatures will be in the upper-50s. That all helps make Wrigley into a pitcher's paradise -- and Wrigley is already one of the friendliest pitcher parks at night, regardle s of the wind.If there's any reason to be concerned, it's that doesn't mi s many bats, and both of tonight's starters tend to give up more fly balls than ground balls. Still, neither Lester nor Chicago's have given up an exce sive amount of heavy contact. Key Trend: The under is 18-7-1 in the Cubs last 26 games as a home favorite.The Pick: Indians (+133) --I'm not sure what the oddsmakers are looking at in this one. Cleveland enters this game as something of a surprise in 2021. It's 21-17 and in second place in the AL Central, thanks to excellent pitching. Atlanta Hawks T-Shirts The Angels are only 17-22 with a run differential of -47, yet they're pretty heavily favored against Cleveland tonight. You'd think or were on the mound for Los Angeles, but they aren't.Instead, it's , who hasn't started a game this season but has an ERA of 6.14 after three appearances out of the bullpen. In 83.1 career innings, Sandoval has an ERA of 5.40.Cleveland starter is only 24 and has only 13.2 MLB innings under his belt, but he's been impre sive in those innings. If nothing else, I'm betting on Hentges being solid because it seems like every starter Cleveland brings up whom you've never heard of before is pretty good. Key Trend: The Indians are 6-2 in their last eight as an underdog.The Advanced Computer Model as well as two of our SportsLine experts absolutely . The DFS RundownTop Three Starters , , , Value Starter , BravesTop Three Hitters , Yankees , , DodgersValue Hitter , Padres NBA Playoff FuturesThe Pick: Philadelphia 76ers to win the East (+300 Moses Malone Jersey ) and the Finals (+750) --The NBA regular season is over, and while we still have the play-in games before the final playoff field is settled, now seems like a good time to get some futures in. Like most of you, I am anticipating that once the playoffs begin, all those aches and pains the Brooklyn Nets have been feeling during the regular season will mysteriously disappear. Then, once fully healthy, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will form a death star that will be difficult to stop.But -- but! -- the Sixers do have homecourt in the East, and they have been one of the better teams in the NBA. They also have a player in Joel Embiid who can take over a game or a series, and I have a hard time imagining it's anybody but the Sixers and Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals. That provides a lot of value on the Sixers, as these odds underestimate this team's chances a bit.