Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp CBB Pick, Friday, Feb 19, 2016 8:00 PM EST
(887) DENVER VS (888) ORAL ROBERTS
Take: UNDER THE TOTAL
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Friday, February 19, 2016 is in the Summit League scheduled contest between Denver and the Oral Roberts. Denver heads out on the road on a 5-2 run under the total, including 20-8 under in Summit League play. Denver has lost two in a row and the Under is 35-17 in the Pioneers last 52 games following a straight up loss. Oral Roberts is home for Senior Night, so expect a great defensive effort, the final home game of the season. The two teams are jockeying for position in the Summit League standings. Oral Roberts is on a 5-1 run under the total, 4-0 under at home. Play Denver/Oral Roberts Under the total.
Jim Feist's Comp CBB Pick, Friday, Feb 19, 2016 8:00 PM EST
(887) DENVER VS (888) ORAL ROBERTS
Take: UNDER THE TOTAL
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Friday, February 19, 2016 is in the Summit League scheduled contest between Denver and the Oral Roberts. Denver heads out on the road on a 5-2 run under the total, including 20-8 under in Summit League play. Denver has lost two in a row and the Under is 35-17 in the Pioneers last 52 games following a straight up loss. Oral Roberts is home for Senior Night, so expect a great defensive effort, the final home game of the season. The two teams are jockeying for position in the Summit League standings. Oral Roberts is on a 5-1 run under the total, 4-0 under at home. Play Denver/Oral Roberts Under the total.
Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Friday
57 FLYERS @ 58 CANADIENS 7:35 PM
Take: 57 FLYERS +100
The focus of the topic today is Michel Therrien, the beleaguered head coach of the reeling Montreal Canadiens. This team started the season in spectacular fashion, winning nine in a row. But with superstar goaltender Carey Price sidelined, it’s been a steady downhill decline ever since and the Habs are now looking like a team that will be packing the equipment away on April 9, when the regular season ends.
There’s lots of hockey to still be played between now and then, and anything is possible. But in view of what has taken place this week, I have to think a sudden recovery for the Canadiens is unlikely.
Therrien has done a couple of things this week that are just a little nuts, and I wonder if he could be on the verge of losing the respect of his players.
First, following a very ugly 6-2 loss at Arizona on Monday, Therrien decided to send a message via the punishment route. He put the team through a very tough practice on Tuesday morning that opened with wind sprints followed by one-on-one length of the ice duels. I guess this was a motivational ploy. But to do so the morning after a game, and after traveling, and doing so in the Denver altitude…wow, that’s just not smart.
The Canadiens did actually perform well early in their Wednesday night clash with the Avalanche. But they couldn’t protect the lead, and then fell behind late in the third period when All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban lost his balance, got stripped of the puck in the offensive zone, Colorado got an odd-man break and Jerome Iginla easily scored what turned out to be the game winner.
Therrien then proceeded to lose it post-game. He flat out put the blame for the loss on Subban. That was after he benched both Subban and team captain Max Pacioretty for the final couple minutes of a 3-2 game.
I can understand the frustration for Therrien and all the players. They have to be hurting about the way this once very promising season has fallen apart. But the hard-core practice the morning after a bad game in that Colorado altitude was ill-advised. Benching the team captain and verbally lambasting the team’s best player after the next loss was even worse.
As it stands now, barring a spectacular turnaround, Therrien is almost surely gone after the season. Actually, I wonder why he’s still behind the bench now. Sure, the Price injury was absolutely huge. But it’s not the only reason this team has won a meager 18 games since that 9-0 start.
As for this evening, the Philadelphia Flyers are on the outside looking in as far as the playoff race goes. But they’re pushing hard to get to the post-season and the Flyers are clearly in better form than the Habs at this juncture. Maybe Montreal responds to the hard coaching in a positive way, but I’m looking at Therrien as a lame duck and I much prefer going the fade route when I think that’s the case. I’m on the Flyers to pick up the deuce on the road this time.
Bonus Play Friday
57 FLYERS @ 58 CANADIENS 7:35 PM
Take: 57 FLYERS +100
The focus of the topic today is Michel Therrien, the beleaguered head coach of the reeling Montreal Canadiens. This team started the season in spectacular fashion, winning nine in a row. But with superstar goaltender Carey Price sidelined, it’s been a steady downhill decline ever since and the Habs are now looking like a team that will be packing the equipment away on April 9, when the regular season ends.
There’s lots of hockey to still be played between now and then, and anything is possible. But in view of what has taken place this week, I have to think a sudden recovery for the Canadiens is unlikely.
Therrien has done a couple of things this week that are just a little nuts, and I wonder if he could be on the verge of losing the respect of his players.
First, following a very ugly 6-2 loss at Arizona on Monday, Therrien decided to send a message via the punishment route. He put the team through a very tough practice on Tuesday morning that opened with wind sprints followed by one-on-one length of the ice duels. I guess this was a motivational ploy. But to do so the morning after a game, and after traveling, and doing so in the Denver altitude…wow, that’s just not smart.
The Canadiens did actually perform well early in their Wednesday night clash with the Avalanche. But they couldn’t protect the lead, and then fell behind late in the third period when All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban lost his balance, got stripped of the puck in the offensive zone, Colorado got an odd-man break and Jerome Iginla easily scored what turned out to be the game winner.
Therrien then proceeded to lose it post-game. He flat out put the blame for the loss on Subban. That was after he benched both Subban and team captain Max Pacioretty for the final couple minutes of a 3-2 game.
I can understand the frustration for Therrien and all the players. They have to be hurting about the way this once very promising season has fallen apart. But the hard-core practice the morning after a bad game in that Colorado altitude was ill-advised. Benching the team captain and verbally lambasting the team’s best player after the next loss was even worse.
As it stands now, barring a spectacular turnaround, Therrien is almost surely gone after the season. Actually, I wonder why he’s still behind the bench now. Sure, the Price injury was absolutely huge. But it’s not the only reason this team has won a meager 18 games since that 9-0 start.
As for this evening, the Philadelphia Flyers are on the outside looking in as far as the playoff race goes. But they’re pushing hard to get to the post-season and the Flyers are clearly in better form than the Habs at this juncture. Maybe Montreal responds to the hard coaching in a positive way, but I’m looking at Therrien as a lame duck and I much prefer going the fade route when I think that’s the case. I’m on the Flyers to pick up the deuce on the road this time.
Sharp Bettor
Sharp Bettor's Free Pick for Friday, February 18, 2016, NBA.
Indiana is solid defensively, No. 8 in the NBA in points allowed, and No. 9 in field goal shooting defense. Oklahoma City is home and 13-5 under the total against the Eastern Conference. Oklahoma City No. 16 in the NBA in points allowed, and No. 6 in field goal shooting defense. And the Under is 6-2 in the Thunder's last 8 home games.
Play Indiana/Oklahoma City Under the total.
Sharp Bettor's Free Pick for Friday, February 18, 2016, NBA.
Indiana is solid defensively, No. 8 in the NBA in points allowed, and No. 9 in field goal shooting defense. Oklahoma City is home and 13-5 under the total against the Eastern Conference. Oklahoma City No. 16 in the NBA in points allowed, and No. 6 in field goal shooting defense. And the Under is 6-2 in the Thunder's last 8 home games.
Play Indiana/Oklahoma City Under the total.
Roz Wins
Roz's Friday, February 19, 2016, Free NHL Pick:
Last place Columbus is this big a favorite? Columbus is 21st in the NHL in goals scored, 24th on the power play and 28th in goals allowed. The Blue Jackets are 1-8 in their last 9 games playing on 2 days rest. Buffalo has a better defense and a power play ranked 12th. The road team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings, so grab the impoving dog.
Play Buffalo.
Roz's Friday, February 19, 2016, Free NHL Pick:
Last place Columbus is this big a favorite? Columbus is 21st in the NHL in goals scored, 24th on the power play and 28th in goals allowed. The Blue Jackets are 1-8 in their last 9 games playing on 2 days rest. Buffalo has a better defense and a power play ranked 12th. The road team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings, so grab the impoving dog.
Play Buffalo.
