YESTERDAY'S RECAP

Week 18 is off and running and we had two exciting games on Saturday night. The Bucs survive Carolina and now have to wait out the Saints-Falcons game. Seattle clinches with the No. 1 seed in the NFC by shutting down the red-hot 49ers offense. We split out Best Bets on Saturday and we are geared up for the final regular season Sunday. You can find all of our Week 18 free picks, consensus, best bets and teasers in today's newsletter.

Jay and Bobby came up short with their NBA Best Bets on Saturday and will look to rebound today. Jay enters the day on a 14-6 (70%) run, while Bobby is 22-11 (67%) over the last month. We have our free picks in all 8 games on tonight's schedule, including two Best Bets.

Check out our daily YouTube videos to get Jay Cooper and Bobby Babowski's Best Bets of the day including recaps of last night's picks. We are on an 11-3 (79%) run!
 

🔥 ULTIMATECAPPER'S HOT HANDICAPPERS 🔥

Jay had a rare losing day in College Basketball, but is still on a nice 35-18 (660%) run with his Best Bets. We have 3 Best Bets lined up for a busy Saturday.

Bobby and Jay came up short with their NHL Best Bets on Saturday and will look to begin another streak starting today. We have our free picks in all 5 games on today's schedule, including two Best Bets.

Remember, all of our picks are 100% FREE and available every morning on our website. Below, you will find our Best Bets for Sunday, January 4th, 2026 from our expert handicappers including some future bets at the bottom. Good luck to everyone today!
 

NFL Best Bets - Bobby Babowski | 47-36-4 (57%) Run
Panthers vs Bucs OVER 43.5 LOSS
Seahawks PK over 49ers WIN
Steelers +3.5 over Ravens
Chargers +12.5 over Broncos
Titans +12.5 over Jaguars

NFL Best Bets - Jay Cooper
Panthers +3 over Bucs WIN
49ers +1.5 over Seahawks LOSS
Bears -3 over Lions
Giants +4 over Cowboys
Eagles -4 over Commanders

NFL Best Bets - Reggie Garrett | 29-18-2 (62%) Run
Patriots -10.5 over Dolphins
Bills -6.5 over Jets
Bengals -7.5 over Browns
Cowboys -3.5 over Giants
Lions +3 over Bears

UltimateCapper CONSENSUS STAFF PLAYS WEEK 18:

The following picks are 100% consensus plays from our staff. These are plays when all three of us are on the same side of a game.

Bengals -7.5

2-TEAM, 6-POINT TEASERS FOR WEEK 18:
 

Bobby Babowski | 5-of-8 Winning Weeks
Seahawks +6/Steelers +9.5
 

Jay Cooper | 6-of-8 Winning Weeks
Eagles +2/49ers +7.5 (L)
 

Reggie Garrett | 7-of-9 Winning Weeks
Bills -0.5/Bengals -1.5

UltimateCapper Circa Millions Selections for Week 18:
 

UltimateCapper.com: Seahawks -1.5 (W) | Bears -3 | Steelers +3.5 | Eagles -4 | Chargers +13.5
 

Updated NFL Odds - courtesy of DonBest

CFB Best Bets - Bobby Babowski | 11-2-1 (85%) Run
Playoff picks coming soon

JAY'S BOWL/PLAYOFF FREE PICKS
13-6 (68%) Run

CFB Best Bets - Jay Cooper | 14-10 (58%) Run
Playoff picks coming soon

Updated CFB Odds - courtesy of DonBest

NBA Best Bets - Jay Cooper | 14-6 (70%) Run
Suns +9.5 over Thunder

Sunday's NBA Free Picks [All Games]
14-of-19 Winning Days!

NBA Best Bets - Bobby Babowski | 22-11 (67%) Run
Lakers -6 over Grizzlies

Updated NBA Odds - courtesy of DonBest

CBB Best Bets - Jay Cooper | 35-18 (66%) Run
New Mexico State +1 over Missouri State

CBB Best Bets - Bobby Babowski
Central Connecticut -8 over New Haven
Manhattan +6.5 over Merrimack

NHL Best Bets - Jay Cooper
Blackhawks +1.5 -125 over Golden Knights

Sunday's NHL Free Picks [All Games]

NHL Best Bets - Bobby Babowski
Hurricanes -118 over Devils

Updated NHL Odds - courtesy of DonBest

SUNDAY'S FREE HORSE PICKS

Aqueduct - 12:40 ET
Race 1: 3 Buntus Foclora
Race 2: 2 Kyle's Mom
Race 3: 8 Projectability
Race 4: 1 Prince Valiant
Race 5: 6 Autumn's Turn
Race 6: 8 Three Nines Fine
Race 7: 1 Metfardeh
Race 8: 6 Saint Solomon

Fair Grounds - 12:45 CT
Race 1: 2 Hudson's Day
Race 2: 7 Dr. Niko
Race 3: 7 Musical Band
Race 4: 6 Relevate
Race 5: 3 True Blue Sky
Race 6: 9 Kazoom
Race 7: 10 Zun Reyder
Race 8: 9 Braken Poppa

Gulfstream Park - 12:20 ET
Race 1: 5 Apache One Six
Race 2: 7 Pass Failed
Race 3: 1 Lucky Old Son
Race 4: 7 Mariette
Race 5: 5 Don't Do It Lucy
Race 6: 7 Uncle John
Race 7: 3 Miss Complicated
Race 8: 6 Xy Speed
Race 9: 7 Adios Now
Race 10: 7 Fraudster

Oaklawn Park - 12:00 CT
Race 1: 8 Wilburton
Race 2: 5 Saranac Lake
Race 3: 7 Touch of Magic
Race 4: 6 Gee No Hollander
Race 5: 2 Gun Party
Race 6: 11 Signdsealddeliverd
Race 7: 9 Secret Legend
Race 8: 1 Stellar Lily
Race 9: 4 Wakuda
Race 10: 8 Gowells Delight
Race 11: 2 Oy Gevald

Santa Anita Park - 12:00 PT
Race 1: 6 P Town Prancer
Race 2: 1 Gracies Gem
Race 3: 2 Jennys Wine Girl
Race 4: 7 Kamaina Cruiser
Race 5: 5 Rich Reward
Race 6: 2 Margarita Girl
Race 7: 8 Postmodern
Race 8: 9 Winds of Freedom
Race 9: 9 Fancy Facts

Tampa Bay Downs - 12:32 ET
Race 1: 6 Prancin Inthe Dark
Race 2: 7 Katie King
Race 3: 1 Khopesh
Race 4: 2 Motown Omi
Race 5: 10 Patient Fi
Race 6: 6 Polizon
Race 7: 7 Fidelightayut
Race 8: 5 Mishka
Race 9: 8 Extrasexybigdaddee
 

NFL Futures Bobby Babowski
Giants OVER 5.5 Wins (+110) 6/14/2025 LOSS

Steelers OVER 8.5 Wins (-115) 6/14/2025 WIN

Chargers OVER 9.5 Wins (-110) 6/14/2025 WIN

Browns OVER 5.5 Wins (+105) 6/14/2025 LOSS

Cowboys OVER 7.5 Wins (-150) 6/14/2025

Falcons OVER 8 Wins (-120) 6/14/2025

Seahawks UNDER 8 Wins (-125) 6/14/2025 LOSS
Patriots UNDER 8 Wins (-115) 6/14/2025 LOSS

NFL Futures Jay Cooper
Eagles +1.5 over Chiefs (Week 2) 6/24/2025 WIN
Cowboys +4.5 over Chiefs (Week 13) 6/24/2025 WIN

NHL Futures Jay Cooper
Stars +700 to win the Western Conference 12/26/2025
Wild +900 to win the Western Conference 12/26/2025