SPORTS WAGERS
Phoenix +1.25 over COLORADO
The Av’s have been living somewhat of a charmed life the past couple of games, as they’ve been falling behind and that will eventually come back and bite them. They were down 3-1 to the Thrashers with about 10 minutes to go on Wednesday and ended up scoring the tying goal late and winning it nine seconds into OT. They play hard and they never give up but neither do the Coyotes and should they fall behind here, its chances of coming back are not good. The Coyotes are one of the toughest teams in the league to beat. They just keep coming every shift and every player from the first line to the fourth knows his role and plays it to near perfection. They’ve now won eight of nine and that includes wins in Chicago, Nashville, Dallas and Minnesota. The Av’s are just 5-13 vs the Pacific and playing the Coyotes is about as difficult as it gets. Play: Phoenix +1.25 (Risking 2 units).
Atlanta +1.60 over MINNESOTA
Once again we find some very decent value on the Thrashers. They’ve played three games since the Kovalchuk trade and they could easily be 3-0 instead of 1-2. They lost to Washington 5-2 but that score is very misleading, as they were sharp that night but ran into a hot goaltender. The next game they played Florida, fell behind 2-0 and subsequently rallied for four straight goals to win it 4-2. Most recently, the Thrashers were in Colorado where they built a 3-1 lead in the third period before losing it in OT. This team is not getting enough credit but they remain very dangerous even with Kovalchuk. No matter how you break this one down, one has to give the Thrashers just as good a shot of winning as the hosts. The Wild are a team that struggles to score goals and in fact, have scored two or less in five of its last six. The only team they managed to score more than two against over that span was the Oilers. Laying big lumber with teams that are challenged offensively is very risky business. Play: Atlanta +1.60 (Risking 2 units).
PHILADELPHIA -½ -1.02 over Montreal
How the Habs keep winning games is a mystery in itself but the fact is they do and isn’t W’s and L’s what matters most? The Canadiens defy logic, as they’re weak on defense, they have very few offensive players and the guy that has logged the most minutes for them this season is a guy nobody has even heard of unless you’re a fan. Hell, even the biggest hockey fans that are reading this probably don’t know that Josh Gorges has logged the most minutes for the Canadiens this year. Montreal has won four of five and it’s not like they haven’t beaten anyone. Those four wins came over Vancouver, Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington and that, too, is incredibly remarkable. It’s one of the most unbelievable seasons that I’ve ever seen in any sport in the 36 years that I’ve been watching sports. They had Hal Gill on the power-play last game for Christ sake! The only explanation is that the opposition is taking them lightly and get caught doing so because in terms of talent, compared to the other teams in the league, the Habs might be dead last and that’s all there is to it. If Philly shows up tonight, the Habs have no shot and that’s a gamble I’m willing to take. You’ll have to excuse me now, as I must prepare for the big ice-dancing event taking place next week. Play: Philadelphia -½ -1.02 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
Phoenix +1.25 over COLORADO
The Av’s have been living somewhat of a charmed life the past couple of games, as they’ve been falling behind and that will eventually come back and bite them. They were down 3-1 to the Thrashers with about 10 minutes to go on Wednesday and ended up scoring the tying goal late and winning it nine seconds into OT. They play hard and they never give up but neither do the Coyotes and should they fall behind here, its chances of coming back are not good. The Coyotes are one of the toughest teams in the league to beat. They just keep coming every shift and every player from the first line to the fourth knows his role and plays it to near perfection. They’ve now won eight of nine and that includes wins in Chicago, Nashville, Dallas and Minnesota. The Av’s are just 5-13 vs the Pacific and playing the Coyotes is about as difficult as it gets. Play: Phoenix +1.25 (Risking 2 units).
Atlanta +1.60 over MINNESOTA
Once again we find some very decent value on the Thrashers. They’ve played three games since the Kovalchuk trade and they could easily be 3-0 instead of 1-2. They lost to Washington 5-2 but that score is very misleading, as they were sharp that night but ran into a hot goaltender. The next game they played Florida, fell behind 2-0 and subsequently rallied for four straight goals to win it 4-2. Most recently, the Thrashers were in Colorado where they built a 3-1 lead in the third period before losing it in OT. This team is not getting enough credit but they remain very dangerous even with Kovalchuk. No matter how you break this one down, one has to give the Thrashers just as good a shot of winning as the hosts. The Wild are a team that struggles to score goals and in fact, have scored two or less in five of its last six. The only team they managed to score more than two against over that span was the Oilers. Laying big lumber with teams that are challenged offensively is very risky business. Play: Atlanta +1.60 (Risking 2 units).
PHILADELPHIA -½ -1.02 over Montreal
How the Habs keep winning games is a mystery in itself but the fact is they do and isn’t W’s and L’s what matters most? The Canadiens defy logic, as they’re weak on defense, they have very few offensive players and the guy that has logged the most minutes for them this season is a guy nobody has even heard of unless you’re a fan. Hell, even the biggest hockey fans that are reading this probably don’t know that Josh Gorges has logged the most minutes for the Canadiens this year. Montreal has won four of five and it’s not like they haven’t beaten anyone. Those four wins came over Vancouver, Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington and that, too, is incredibly remarkable. It’s one of the most unbelievable seasons that I’ve ever seen in any sport in the 36 years that I’ve been watching sports. They had Hal Gill on the power-play last game for Christ sake! The only explanation is that the opposition is taking them lightly and get caught doing so because in terms of talent, compared to the other teams in the league, the Habs might be dead last and that’s all there is to it. If Philly shows up tonight, the Habs have no shot and that’s a gamble I’m willing to take. You’ll have to excuse me now, as I must prepare for the big ice-dancing event taking place next week. Play: Philadelphia -½ -1.02 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
BRANDON LANG
5 dime - MONTANA GRIZZLIES
FREE PICK - PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
Like what I am seeing from Montana tonight.
They come into this battle tonight winners of 4 in a row SU and ATS, and facing a team they thoroughly dominated the first time around.
Back on January 9th at home they were laying 8 1/2 and completely destroyed them 90-58 jumping out to a 13 point halftime lead and then outscoring them 49-30 in the 2nd half. $All told, they have won 7 of their last 8 SU and with this game a near pick'em, I am confident they can get the SU win and the cover right along with it.
As for Portland St, they have won and covered 3 in a row but all 3 wins were against the bottom 3 teams in the Big Sky.
I'm talking about 6-18 Eastern Washington, 9-16 Sacramento State and 6-17 Idaho State.
Now they step up and face one of the top 3 teams in this conference and a team they just don't match up with at all.
I will roll the dice with the Montana Grizzlies tonight.
5 dime - MONTANA GRIZZLIES
FREE PICK - PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
Like what I am seeing from Montana tonight.
They come into this battle tonight winners of 4 in a row SU and ATS, and facing a team they thoroughly dominated the first time around.
Back on January 9th at home they were laying 8 1/2 and completely destroyed them 90-58 jumping out to a 13 point halftime lead and then outscoring them 49-30 in the 2nd half. $All told, they have won 7 of their last 8 SU and with this game a near pick'em, I am confident they can get the SU win and the cover right along with it.
As for Portland St, they have won and covered 3 in a row but all 3 wins were against the bottom 3 teams in the Big Sky.
I'm talking about 6-18 Eastern Washington, 9-16 Sacramento State and 6-17 Idaho State.
Now they step up and face one of the top 3 teams in this conference and a team they just don't match up with at all.
I will roll the dice with the Montana Grizzlies tonight.
StBernadine Sports
Andrew Bucciarelli
Bonus Play
1* St. Louis Blues-140 over Toronto Maple Leafs
The Blues look to build on a significant victory as they face a Toronto Maple Leafs team trying to avoid a sixth straight road loss Friday night in its final game before the Olympic break. The Maple Leafs (19-30-11), owners of the worst record in the East, have lost five straight away from Toronto and are an NHL-worst 2-12-2 on the road since Dec. 5. This will be the Leafs' first game in St. Louis since a 2-1 win Feb. 6, 2007.
TAKE ST. LOUIS.
Andrew Bucciarelli
Bonus Play
1* St. Louis Blues-140 over Toronto Maple Leafs
The Blues look to build on a significant victory as they face a Toronto Maple Leafs team trying to avoid a sixth straight road loss Friday night in its final game before the Olympic break. The Maple Leafs (19-30-11), owners of the worst record in the East, have lost five straight away from Toronto and are an NHL-worst 2-12-2 on the road since Dec. 5. This will be the Leafs' first game in St. Louis since a 2-1 win Feb. 6, 2007.
TAKE ST. LOUIS.
Friday NCAAB Play GC
On Friday the Bonus Play is on Rider. Game 814 at 7:00 eastern. One must dig deep to predict the outcome of this game. These 2 played just 11 days ago with Rider winning at Fairfield 88-80. The Line on this game has actually gone from Rider as a 1 point favorite to -1 for Fairfield,due to the home loss revenge for Fairfield. The problem I see for Fairfield is they they do not play well with revenge as they are 0-3 at home with revenge and simply have a hard time stopping Rider. In the last 5 games between these 2 teams Rider has shot 50% or higher from the field. I don't feel I'm going out on a limb here tonight to suggest they will do so again. Fairfield rarely wins when they allow opponents to shoot such a high percentage from the field and are awful on the road vs winning teams. Stay at home with Rider tonight. On The Friday night card I have a 30-2 Power angle in the Back yard brawl in college hoops tonight on ESPN. Our team has several big angles that you just wont see any where else, and should get your weekend started off to a flying start. For the weekend pack I reduced the rate and You can also roll it to a Friday-Sunday or Saturday -Monday. Either way the pack will be plus unit guaranteed. For the Bonus Play take Rider tonight. BOL GC
On Friday the Bonus Play is on Rider. Game 814 at 7:00 eastern. One must dig deep to predict the outcome of this game. These 2 played just 11 days ago with Rider winning at Fairfield 88-80. The Line on this game has actually gone from Rider as a 1 point favorite to -1 for Fairfield,due to the home loss revenge for Fairfield. The problem I see for Fairfield is they they do not play well with revenge as they are 0-3 at home with revenge and simply have a hard time stopping Rider. In the last 5 games between these 2 teams Rider has shot 50% or higher from the field. I don't feel I'm going out on a limb here tonight to suggest they will do so again. Fairfield rarely wins when they allow opponents to shoot such a high percentage from the field and are awful on the road vs winning teams. Stay at home with Rider tonight. On The Friday night card I have a 30-2 Power angle in the Back yard brawl in college hoops tonight on ESPN. Our team has several big angles that you just wont see any where else, and should get your weekend started off to a flying start. For the weekend pack I reduced the rate and You can also roll it to a Friday-Sunday or Saturday -Monday. Either way the pack will be plus unit guaranteed. For the Bonus Play take Rider tonight. BOL GC
