Monday 3/27/17 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

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Monday, March 27

Orlando won three of its last four games; they’re 3-6 vs spread in last nine road games. Three of their last four road games stayed under. Toronto won its last five games; they’re 4-2 vs spread in last six home games. Under is 13-6 in their last 19 games. Raptors won seven of last ten games with Orlando; six of last eight series games stayed under the total. Magic lost three of last four visits to Toronto (3-1 vs spread).

Detroit lost six of its last seven games; they’re 0-7 vs spread in last seven road games. Seven of their last nine games stayed under total. Knicks lost their last five games but covered four of last six; they’re 4-2 vs spread in last six home games. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Home side won last six Detroit-New York games; Pistons lost last three visits to New York (0-3 vs spread). Three of last four series games stayed under.

Cleveland is 5-7 in its last 12 games, 4-6 vs spread in last ten road games. Their last four games all went over the total. San Antonio won its last four games; they’re 3-7 vs spread in last ten home games. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Spurs won eight of last ten games with Cleveland; six of last eight series games went over total. Cavaliers lost four of last five visits to the Alamo (3-2 vs spread).

Oklahoma City won six of last eight games; they’re 3-7 vs spread in last ten road games. Over is 5-2 in their last seven road games. Mavericks lost five of last eight games; they’re 1-4 vs spread in last five home games. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Thunder won eight of last ten games with Dallas; they won four of last five games in this arena. Four of last five series games went over total.

Pelicans won four of their last five games; they’re 7-5 vs spread in last 12 road games. last three New Orleans games stayed under total. Jazz lost four of last five games; they’re 4-9 vs spread in last 13 home games- their last three games went over total. Utah won its last three games with the Pelicans, by 12-32-5 points; over is 7-3 in last ten series games. Teams split last four series games played here.

Grizzlies lost their last three games; they’re 4-6 vs spread in last ten road games. Five of their last six games stayed under total. Sacramento beat the Clippers in Staples last night, ending its 4-game skid; Kings are 2-5-1 vs spread in last eight home games. Under is 5-3 in their last eight games. Memphis won six of last seven games with the Kings; they won/covered three of last four visits to Sacramento. Under is 7-2 in last nine series games.
 
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Monday, March 27

Monday’s NBA Game of the Day: Cavaliers at Spurs

Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 41 points as the Spurs survived an overtime affair at Cleveland earlier in the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs (-5, 211.5)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in danger of falling out of first place in the Eastern Conference and they won't have an easy time stopping the bleeding against a team in hot pursuit of the top spot in the West when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. The Cavaliers' latest defensive debacle came in a 127-115 home loss to Washington on Saturday and resulted in a tie for first in the East with Boston, with a visit to the Celtics on the horizon.

"I'm not confident," Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue told reporters when asked if there was time to repair a defense that has given up an average of 117.2 points during a 2-3 spell. "But we've got to." The Spurs have had no such issues, holding opponents under the century mark three times during a four-game winning streak - the latest a 106-98 triumph over the New York Knicks at home Saturday. Kawhi Leonard's 29 points led the way for San Antonio, which has a potentially pivotal matchup with the first-place Golden State Warriors - who entered Sunday with a two-game lead - on Wednesday. Leonard scored a career-high 41 points as the Spurs survived an overtime affair at Cleveland earlier in the season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FSN Ohio (Cleveland)

LINE HISTORY: The Spurs opened as 4.5-point home favorites over the visiting Cavaliers and that spread was bumped slightly by the books to -5 on Monday morning. The total hit the board at 212.5 and was dropped to 211.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "Cleveland's road struggles are pretty well documented and the Cavaliers have really struggled on the road when playing solid teams as they are just 1-9 as underdogs. But a loss here knocks them out of first place in the Eastern Conference so something has to give. This is a game that needs to be waited on to bet with both teams always a threat to rest players but if everyone goes, the value is on Cleveland getting a pretty sizeable number." - Matt Fargo.

INJURY REPORT:

Cavaliers - No injuries to report.

Spurs - PG D. Murray (Mid April, groin).

POWER RANKINGS: Cavaliers (-6.5) - Spurs (-11.6) + home court (-3) = Spurs -8.1

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (47-25 SU, 32-37-3 ATS, 41-30-1 O/U): LeBron James was able to play Saturday despite a scratched cornea, ditching protective goggles early in the contest and finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. He is averaging 27 points while shooting 58 percent in four games since resting in a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers, while running mate Kyrie Irving has scored at least 20 points in a career-high 22 straight games. Reserve guard Iman Shumpert was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to knee soreness, although he was able to go through warmups and could be available Monday.

ABOUT THE SPURS (56-16 SU, 37-34-1 ATS, 38-32-2 O/U): An eight-point win at home against the struggling Knicks - who nearly erased all of an early 20-point deficit - was not what San Antonio had in mind as it gears up for back-to-back games against conference leaders. "We had too many defensive breakdowns," center Pau Gasol - who had 19 points and 10 rebounds - told reporters. "They were getting in the paint too easily, which forced us to get bodies off other bodies. They got too many easy looks and they made the run." Guard Danny Green was out of the lineup to rest and rookie Dejounte Murray (groin) sat out his eighth consecutive contest.

TRENDS:

* Cavaliers are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Spurs are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 13-3-1 in Cavaliers last 17 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 12-3-1 in Spurs last 16 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in San Antonio.

CONSENSUS: Early consensus returns are showing 64 percent of the public supporting the home favorite San Antonio Spurs and 57 percent of the totals wagers on the Over.
 
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Long Sheet

Monday, March 27

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NASHVILLE (38-25-0-11, 87 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (35-27-0-12, 82 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 86-84 ATS (-24.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 19-33 ATS (-15.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 9-14 ATS (-10.0 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
NASHVILLE is 9-18 ATS (-13.7 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
NASHVILLE is 1-6 ATS (-6.8 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak this season.
NASHVILLE is 15-17 ATS (-11.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 21-6 ATS (+13.2 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 80-119 ATS (-55.0 Units) in home games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 3-1 (+2.3 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 3-1-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+4.4 Units)

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FLORIDA (33-30-0-11, 77 pts.) at BUFFALO (31-32-0-12, 74 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 33-41 ATS (-12.2 Units) in all games this season.
FLORIDA is 169-204 ATS (-82.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.
BUFFALO is 13-6 ATS (+20.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
BUFFALO is 275-244 ATS (+22.3 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.
BUFFALO is 4-13 ATS (+19.8 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 8-3 (+3.4 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
FLORIDA is 8-3-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.3 Units)

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DETROIT (30-32-0-12, 72 pts.) at CAROLINA (33-27-0-13, 79 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 427-319 ATS (-127.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
CAROLINA is 23-18 ATS (+41.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
DETROIT is 6-3 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games when playing on back-to-back days this season.
DETROIT is 118-80 ATS (+21.7 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
CAROLINA is 42-54 ATS (-31.7 Units) in home games after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1996.
CAROLINA is 5-10 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
CAROLINA is 5-11 ATS (-8.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 5-2 (+2.0 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 5-2-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

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CHICAGO (48-21-0-6, 102 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (36-29-0-9, 81 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 151-164 ATS (-81.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 213-220 ATS (+515.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
CHICAGO is 48-27 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all games this season.
CHICAGO is 25-11 ATS (+9.0 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHICAGO is 42-17 ATS (+15.8 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 9-3 ATS (+5.9 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent this season.
CHICAGO is 55-26 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 9-14 ATS (-7.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
TAMPA BAY is 10-16 ATS (-11.3 Units) in non-conference games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 6-5-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
9 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+7.5 Units)

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ARIZONA (27-39-0-9, 63 pts.) at ST LOUIS (40-28-0-6, 86 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 27-67 ATS (+128.3 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 8-36 ATS (+77.0 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 13-51 ATS (+111.2 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 5-28 ATS (+63.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 19-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 7-0 (+7.0 Units) against the spread versus ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 7-0-0 straight up against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.8 Units)

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COLORADO (20-51-0-3, 43 pts.) at CALGARY (42-29-0-4, 88 pts.) - 3/27/2017, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 20-54 ATS (+101.9 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 8-30 ATS (+60.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
CALGARY is 42-33 ATS (+111.2 Units) in all games this season.
COLORADO is 23-23 ATS (+56.1 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 185-215 ATS (+466.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 5-3 (+1.9 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 5-3-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)
 
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Monday, March 27

Trend Report

7:00 PM
DETROIT vs. CAROLINA
Detroit is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games when playing Carolina
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Carolina's last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit
Carolina is 6-16-1 SU in its last 23 games ,when playing Detroit

8:00 PM
FLORIDA vs. BUFFALO
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida's last 6 games on the road
Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Buffalo is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games
Buffalo is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games when playing Florida

8:00 PM
NASHVILLE vs. NY ISLANDERS
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Nashville's last 12 games on the road
Nashville is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the NY Islanders last 9 games at home
NY Islanders are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Nashville

8:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. TAMPA BAY
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Chicago's last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Chicago
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago

9:00 PM
ARIZONA vs. ST. LOUIS
Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Arizona is 6-15 SU in its last 21 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing at home against Arizona
St. Louis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Arizona

10:00 PM
COLORADO vs. CALGARY
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Colorado is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Calgary is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 6 games at home
 
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NHL betting cheat sheet and odds: Goals a-plenty in Beantown?

Look for offensive fireworks Thursday night as the Boston Bruins look to solidify an Eastern Conference playoff berth with a home game against the Dallas Stars.

Monte Andrews' NHL cheat sheet breaks down the best NHL betting notes so you can handicap the week like a pro, including the offensively charged Boston Bruins who will host the Dallas Stars on Thursday in a traditionally high-scoring matchup.

Wounded Shark Ahead

The San Jose Sharks looked like Pacific Division champions two weeks ago - now, they're scrambling to avoid becoming a Western Conference wild-card team. The reeling Sharks carry a six-game losing streak into Tuesday's pivotal home showdown with the New York Rangers, who themselves have slipped into wild-card territory with their recent struggles. Goal-scoring has been a major issue for San Jose, which has scored just seven times during its skid while giving up a whopping 23 goals over that span. The Sharks are an incredible 8-20-9 O/U in 37 home games this season.

Goals A-Plenty in Beantown?

Look for offensive fireworks Thursday night as the Boston Bruins look to solidify an Eastern Conference playoff berth with a home game against the Dallas Stars. The Bruins enter the week as the owner of the second wild-card spot in the conference, three points clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning and just a single point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third place in the Atlantic. Boston and Dallas have let their offenses run wild in their previous four meetings, averaging a combined 8.8 goals while playing to the Over in each game. They've also combined for six or more goals in eight of their last 11 encounters.

Leafs Look to Clip Wings

One of the NHL's oldest rivalries has been a one-sided affair of late, and the Toronto Maple Leafs would love to keep it that way as they visit the Detroit Red Wings in an Original Six showdown on Saturday night. The Leafs continue their unexpected charge toward an East playoff spot, and have the upper hand in their recent history against Detroit with wins in four of the past five meetings - including three in a row coming into this one. Toronto, which is averaging four goals per game during the streak, hasn't won four straight games against the Red Wings since 1989.

Injury Updates

* The Dallas Stars will be without winger Patrick Sharp for the remainder of the season following surgery to repair a hip injury. It was a miserable season for Sharp, who finishes with just eight goals and 10 assists to go along with a minus-22 rating in 48 games, in which the Stars went 18-24-6 SU and 31-17-0 O/U.

* The Florida Panthers are reportedly set to welcome netminder Roberto Luongo back to action sometime this week; the veteran puck-stopper has been out since March 2 with a lower-body injury. The Panthers have struggled with Luongo on the sidelines, going just 4-7 SU while allowing four or more goals four times in his absence.

Player Notes

* Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid is doing his best to eliminate any drama related to the NHL scoring race. The 20-year-old is currently riding a seven-game point streak during which he has notched three goals and 10 assists to open up a six-point lead in the Art Ross competition. Edmonton is 6-1 SU during the streak, scoring 33 goals over that span.

* Two netminders are in the running for a goals-against average below 2.00: Blue Jackets star Sergei Bobrovsky leads the NHL with a 1.99 GAA, while Washington's Braden Holtby is close behind at 2.01. The two netminders will likely face off Sunday evening in Columbus; the Capitals own a 2-1 edge in the season series.

* Look for Tampa Bay winger Nikita Kucherov to get plenty of player-of-the-month votes, as his sizzling March has played a major role in the Lightning remaining competitive for a playoff berth. Kucherov enters the week with 12 goals and eight assists in 13 games this month, leading Tampa Bay to a terrific 8-4-1 SU mark so far in March.

Stanley Cup Futures

* Sports Interaction has four teams well ahead of the pack in Stanley Cup futures odds. The Washington Capitals continue to lead the way as a +500 favorite to hoist the Stanley Cup in June, with the Chicago Blackhawks close behind at +550 for the best odds in the West. Pittsburgh is third at +600 while Minnesota rounds out the top four at +700.

* Looking for a solid dark horse candidate? Look no further than the Anaheim Ducks, who have surged into top spot in the Pacific Division on the strength of a four-game winning streak but are still listed at +2,000 - third in the division behind San Jose (+1,600) and Edmonton (+1,800). Anaheim embarks on a four-game Canadian west coast road trip this week.

* The Bruins are the longest of longshots at this point (+4,500), but could make for an intriguing play if they can hang onto a playoff spot. And to that end, the schedule should work in their favor, as they'll play six of their final seven regular-season games at home. However, three of their final four games come against league elites Chicago, Ottawa and Washington.

Over/Under Trends

* The once-high-flying Pacific Division has been a veritable trove of Under plays this season. Not only does it house a Sharks team that has recorded just 19 Overs all season, but only two of the seven teams have recorded 30 or more Overs on the year; by comparison, every team in the Central Division has reached the 30-Over plateau entering this week.

* The Ottawa Senators have played plenty of tight, low-scoring hockey of late, rewarding Under bettors with a 1-6-1 O/U stretch they extended Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to host Montreal - its third defeat at the hands of the Canadiens in an eight-day span. Ottawa is just 28-43-3 O/U for the season, including a 12-26-1 home mark.
 
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Rob Vinciletti

Cavaliers vs. Spurs
Play: Spurs -4½

This could be a potential championship series with the Spurs taking on the Cavs. The Spurs have won 17 of 21 here vs Cleveland and are 5-1 ats vs teams with a .600 or higher win percentage and they have covered 18 of 24 vs teams who score 105 or more points per game. The Cavs are only a half game up for the overall top spot in the East and have not played much defense allowing over 120 points in 3 of their last 4 games. The Cavs are 1-8 ats off a double digit home loss and have failed to cover 5 of 6 vs South West division teams.
 
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Wunderdog

Nashville @ New York
Pick: Nashville -114

Nashville is on a roll, ranked seventh in the NHL in goals scored, #11 on the power play, and off Saturday's 7-2 rout of San Jose. The Predators are 6-1-2 in their last nine games to all but clinch a postseason spot. They head to a struggling New York Islanders squad that has dropped four in a row after a 2-1 home loss to Boston. They had just 19 shots in the loss to the Bruins, with only 10 coming at even strength. The Islanders went 0-for-6 on the power play Saturday and are 2-for-19 over their last seven games. And the defense has struggled all season at #26 in goals allowed.
 
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SPORTS WAGERS

N.Y. ISLANDERS +102 over Nashville

OT included. The Predators are red-hot with three wins in a row and six wins in their last seven games. Nashville has outscored its last three opponents by a combined score of 13-4, capped off by Saturday’s resounding 7-2 victory over the Sharks. With a 10-point lead on the Kings, the Predators are going to the playoffs again this year and now it’s only a matter of battling for position. Finishing third in the Central ahead of the red-hot St. Louis Blues, who lost for just the second time in 10 games when they fell to Calgary on Saturday, would likely allow Nashville to face the reeling Minnesota Wild (2-7-1 in the last 10 games) in the first round of the playoffs instead of the Central-leading Chicago Blackhawks or any of the four teams battling for the Pacific Division title but does it really matter? Likely not when the possibilities are Anaheim, Chicago, St. Louis, San Jose or Minnesota. After all but securing a playoff spot with an important three-game sweep in its recent home stand, which included victories over Calgary and San Jose in the last two, Nashville surely can relax a bit knowing its work is pretty much done.

The Islanders fell out of a tie for the second Wild Card in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night when they lost to the visiting Boston Bruins 2-1. However, the Isles were not outplayed by the B’s and simply ran into a hot backup goaltender. The Islanders are still 9-3-3 in their last 15 games at Barclays Center. This season's streak of 11 straight home games with a point was their longest single-season streak since 1982. During the streak, the Islanders out-scored opponents 44-27. New York has earned 20 points at the Barclays Center since Doug Weight took over as head coach on Jan. 17, the most of any team in the NHL over that time. It gets better too. Dating back to last season, the Islanders are 21-3-3 (9-3-1 this season) when playing a Western Conference opponent at Barclays Center. When teams’ travel here, they are almost always going to Madison Square Gardens next or they just came from MSG. Perhaps playing at the Barclay’s Center is anti-climactic and the Isles are able to take advantage of it. Whatever the case, the Isles are dominating at home but they are not priced like it one bit. That sets up this underlay nicely.

BUFFALO +108 over Florida

OT included. The question here is which one of these teams is more likely to suffer a letdown after they both had convincing wins on Saturday. Toronto went into Buffalo on Saturday but their playoff express went off the rails for a night with a 5-2 Sabres victory. The Leafs were 7-1-1 in their previous nine games and held a three-point lead for third place in the Atlantic Division but they couldn't match the Sabres' intensity. The arena was packed with Maple Leafs fans. There was a roar when the Leafs took the ice for warmups, an eruption when they entered to start play and "O Canada" was sang at levels you never hear in the building. All the noise was to embarrassing levels and Buffalo responded with one of its best games of the year. The propensity for a letdown is certainly present but what about the Panthers?

Florida is coming off a resounding 7-0 victory over Chicago back in Sunrise on Saturday night. You see pictures of players holding up pucks for the cameras with big smiles on their faces. It was a night to remember to be sure for a franchise that doesn’t get to celebrate often. Now the Panthers have to play in Buffalo for a meaningless game before playing in Toronto tomorrow night and in Montreal on Thursday. Those upcoming two games will be in electric atmospheres in two hockey hotbeds and thus, it’s extremely likely that this “sandwich” game will not bring the best out of the Panthers. This is a big trouble spot for the visitor but besides that, who the f**k are the Panthers to be favored on the road?

Back to the Sabres and the possibility of them being flat. For sure it’s possible but Buffalo has so many good parts working right now. The return of Kyle Okposo to the lineup instantly gave the Sabres a boost of energy that is not likely to regress after one game back. Buffalo’s power-play is ranked #1 in the entire league, which is another area in which the Sabres can dominate. The Sabres are more balanced, they're at home and they do not have anything on deck that could take away from their focus in this one. Give the Sabres an edge in goal too. Lastly. Jamomir Jagr has been an inspiration to the Panthers all year. Florida players cannot put forth half-assed efforts when a 45-year-old legend is going all out every shift. Jagr went down with a lower-body ailment in Saturday’s 7-0 triumph over Chicago and it appears as though he’ll be sitting here so his inspiring presence will not be present. If we have this one wrong, so be it but Florida cannot be favored here and therefore Buffalo must be played.
 
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DAVE COKIN

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OVER 79.5 WINS

One of my 2016 O/U plays was Under on the Angels. That one was basically never in doubt, as the Halos had a rough time throughout and finished with a mediocre 74-88 ledger. I’m expecting considerable improvement in 2017.

First off, it’s hard to fathom the team having as much bad luck as they did in 2016. This was a Murphy’s Law campaign on several levels. Aside from another sensational performance by Mike Trout, there was very little to cheer about in Angels country.

Here are some reasons for Halos faithful to be optimistic in 2017. I’ll start with the added quality depth, which over the course of the arduous MLB season, is a factor that should never be overlooked. I like the additions of Luis Valbuena in the infield and Ben Revere in the outfield. Being able to plug in guys of that caliber is a nice luxury.

The everyday outfield has been upgraded with Cameron Maybin joining Trout and Kole Calhoun. Health is always an issue with Maybin, but I can see him flourishing in left field. Calhoun is solid in right, and Trout is Trout. Not much more needs to be said about the best player in the game.

The infield looks okay to me. CJ Cron and Valbuena will perhaps evolve into a first base platoon, but Valbuena down for a bit with a hamstring, Cron will be the everyday guy. Danny Espinosa will be at second base, and while his bat is always going to be a question, his glove isn’t. Andrelton Simmons might well be the best shortstop I’ve ever seen. Simmons will never be a great hitter but he’s a huge asset with his incredible defense. Yunel Escobar has never really lived to what many thought he might be, and he’s not exactly Brook Robinson at the hot corner, but he should be okay with Jefry Marte in reserve.

My biggest worry on this team is being the plate. The Angels are going too have to make do with a pair of backup catchers. The hope is that the Maldonado-Perez combo does a good job handling the pitching staff, which would alleviate the legit concerns about each player’s lack of offense.

Albert Pujols is probably never going to hit .300 again. But don’t bet against the veteran being very productive as the DH.

As for the pitching, I think this could turn out to be somewhat of a plus for the Halos. There are no Cy Young contenders on this staff. But Matt Shoemaker, Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs, Ricky Nolasco and Jesse Chavez are not the worst quintet of all time, either. Shoemaker is likely the most reliable of the bunch, Richards has the most upside if healthy. Skaggs is a lefty I’m still somewhat high on, though his durability is absolutely a question. Nolasco and Chavez as a #4-5 combo is acceptable.

I am bullish on the bullpen to some extent. Cam Bedrosian is looking like he’s arriving as a late running stud. I don’t think there should be any debate whatsoever as to who closes for this team. Huston Street is far better served as a setup man if and when he is healthy enough to pitch again. Yusmeiro Petit is a plus in the bullpen. He might have to start on occasion, but he’s much better as a reliever. The rest of the relievers are not stars but manager Mike Scioscia is still very adept at maneuvering his bullpen.

I don’t see the Angels as contenders to make the playoffs, but I like their chances of climbing back on the right side of the .500 plateau. Clearly, they have to avoid a rerun of the injury luck that reared its head last year. I’m projecting the Angels to win roughly 82 games, and that’s enough of a differential from the posted number to go with the Over.
 
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Jack Jones

Pelicans vs. Jazz
Play: Jazz -7

Rudy Gobert voiced his frustration following a 95-108 loss to the Clippers on Saturday. It was the Jazz' fourth loss in five games and a poor stretch for a team that is fighting for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. I expect them to respond in a big way at home tonight.

Now the Jazz will be up against the Pelicans, who are in a very tough spot here. They will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 days after winning 115-90 in Denver last night. They had lost 107-117 to the Rockets the game prior. They won't have much left in the tank tonight, while this will be only the 2nd game in 5 days for the Jazz.

Utah is 24-12 at home this season, while New Orleans is just 12-24 on the road. The Pelicans are 6-21 ATS in thier last 27 road games off a win by 10 points or more as an underdog. New Orleans is 3-12 ATS in road games revenging a road loss vs opponent over the last two seasons. The Pelicans are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games playing on 0 days rest. Utah is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games following a loss by more than 10 points.
 
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Doc's Sports

Cavaliers vs. Spurs
Play:: Cavaliers +5

It’s not often you get a relatively healthy Cavs team as this big of an underdog but we like them tonight to cover this big number in San Antonio. The Cavs have covered in three of the last four meetings, and the game they didn’t cover, the last one, they lost in overtime in a game they easily could have won. Cleveland has been up and down lately and they had a pretty rough recent road trip. Their first game back at home didn’t go much better with a loss to the Wizards. But that makes this game all the more important with the playoffs approaching and with the need for some positive momentum. The Cavs don’t normally take the regular season that seriously but we expect their best effort tonight.
 
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John Martin

Pistons vs. Knicks
Play: Knicks +2½

The Detroit Pistons are broken right now. They are just 1-6 SU & 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall with their only win coming at home against the Suns. They have lost their last two games by 22 at Chicago and by 28 at Orlando. It appears that they have packed it in. The Knicks have at least been competitive of late, going 4-2 ATS in their last six games overall. They haven't quit and will certainly be looking to take down the Pistons tonight. Detroit is 11-25 on the road this season, while New York is a respectable 16-18 at home. Detroit is 4-17 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season. The Pistons are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.
 
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Brandon Lee

Pistons vs. Knicks
Play: Pistons -2½

As bad as the Knicks have been playing, Detroit shouldn't be a road favorite here given they have lost 3 straight, are 1-6 in their last 7 and 11-25 on the road this season. I believe the fact that the oddsmakers have listed the Pistons as the favorite, makes them the smart play here, especially given the public jumping on New York as a short home dog. The big thing to keep in mind here is that Detroit is the only team with something to play for, as they are only 1-game back of the Heat for the final playoff spot in the east. Let's also not overlook these two teams just played recently on March 11th and the Pistons won in blowout fashion 112-92. Knicks have trailed by double-digits at the break in each of their last 2 games and are a mere 4-16 ATS in the last 3 seasons after trailing by 10 or more points at the half in back-to-back games.
 
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Dave Price

Cavaliers vs. Spurs
Play:: Cavaliers +5

It's not often that you'll get the opportunity to back the defending champion Cavaliers as 5-point underdogs. I think the value is there to pull the trigger on them today against the Spurs. Cleveland is trying to hold on to the No. 1 seed in the East as it leads Boston by mere percentage points. And Lebron James and company will want revenge from a 115-118 (OT) loss to the Spurs earlier this season. The Spurs' last three wins over the Cavs have all come by 4 points or less. San Antonio is 5-14 ATS after 4 or more consecutive wins this season. The Spurs are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win. The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
 
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Black Widow

Pistons vs. Knicks
Play: Pistons -2½

Bets against any team (New York) off a road cover where they lost straight up as an underdog against an pponent off an upset loss of 10 points or more as a road favorite are 43-14 ATS since 1996. This is the first game back home following a 4-game West Coast trip for the Knicks, which is always a tough spot for an East Coast team. The Knicks have lost five straight and eight of their last nine. The Pistons are struggling too, but they still have a a lot to play for as they are only one game back of the Miami Heat for the No. 8 seed.
 
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RJ Robbins

New Orleans vs. Utah
Play: New Orleans +7

The Pelicans are auditioning their version on 'TWIN' Towers for 2018 early. They are a very nice 9-3 ATS in 12 March games. They are 4-1 both SU & ATS their last last 5 games while the Jazz are 1-4 SU and 0-4 ATS their last 5 games. Utah has defeated New Orleans twice this season and 1-0-1 ATS. We will grab the points!
 
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Big Al

Nashville @ New York
Pick: New York

The Eastern Conference of the NHL is decidedly stronger than the West this season. And these two teams are a perfect example of that. Nashville has the better overall record, and although the Predators sport a winning record within their own conference at 25-21, they fare much worse when going up against teams from the East (13-18). Conversely, the Islanders have an overall record of just 35-39, but against Western teams, they are 14-12, while logging a losing record at 21-27 against clubs from their own conference. So with their post-season chances hanging on by a thread with just eight games to go, the Islanders only have two more chances to prove their dominance over the West and both of those are against the Predators, beginning with tonight at home (they visit Nashville next Tuesday). So not only can the Isles improve their post-season position tonight, but they can also play the role of spoiler as the Preds are also vying for playoff honors - albeit in a better position than New York right now. The Preds are 1-4 in the last five meetings in New York and the home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
 
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Bruce Marshall

Magic at Raptors
Pick: Under

Double-revenge game for Toronto, which is chasing Boston for the Atlantic Division title and still hasn't salted away the homecourt edge in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors have played much-improved defense since the All-Star break, holding foes to 97.6 ppg in the 13 games since, compared with 104.3 ppg prior to that. But minus Kyle Lowry, the offense has been held to 102 or fewer in 9 of the last 11 games, and Raps on 13-6 "under" run.
 
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Frank Sawyer

Pelicans vs. Jazz
Play: Jazz -6

Take the Utah Jazz minus the points versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Utah (44-29) has lost four of their last five games with their 108-95 loss in Los Angeles to the Clippers on Saturday. The Jazz have covered the point spread just once in their last five games — but they have covered the point spread in 63 of their last 90 games after failing to cover the point spread in four of their last five games. Utah has also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a double-digit loss. New Orleans (31-42) has won four of their last five games after their 115-90 win at Denver last night. The Pelicans are then 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games when playing without a day of rest. New Orleans is also just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. The Jazz are banged up — but they have clinched their part in the Western Conference playoffs. They need to get back to their winning ways with this being a great opportunity.
 

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