***wunderdog nhl/ncaab***
Game: North Carolina at Texas (2:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 154.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
A true early season heavyweight battle of NCAA titans takes place here with the young and talented Tar Heels squaring off against the Texas Longhorns. These games tend to always have a high total, yet often struggle to reach expectations as a chess match is usually more the instrument at work here. The Heels will certainly find the going tough vs. a Texas team that leads the country, allowing just 31.6% FG shooting. Both teams depend on the boards for extra put-backs to the offensive arsenal, but both are +12.9 off the glass - meaning fewer opportunities. This one promises points, but the true resolve here will be felt on the other end, so I like this one to go UNDER the total.
Game: Gonzaga at Duke (4:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 154 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Gonzaga isn't up to the standards of teams we have seen in the past, and the Blue Devils are a tick down as well. But both of these teams bring intense defense every night, which is the trademark of both coaches. While the Bulldogs have put up big offensive numbers, games vs. top teams have seen them at 75 points or less in all of them. Following the same pattern the Dukies scored 100 on three occasions and 96 points in another, but vs. CT, Arizona State and Wisconsin, they couldn't find their way out of the 60s. This may look and promise to be a high-scoring affair, but it comes up short of the billing, so UNDER is the play here.
Game: Northern Illinois at Illinois Chicago (4:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Northern Illinois +5.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
While the Illinois Chicago Flames have had their time in the spotlight this decade, this year the lights have dimmed. In eight outings on the hardwood, the Flames have managed a single two-point win vs. Div-1 competition - hardly what we saw from this team not so long ago. The Northern Illinois Huskies haven't been in the spotlight for quite some time, and this year are just 1-6 to start. The big difference however, is the most difficult schedule the Huskies have faced. They’ll have three Big-10 opponents, a top 25 caliber Northern Iowa team, and MVC Conference's Bradley. This one will be a step down for the Huskies, and often teams respond favorably under this situation. The road team has cashed the last four in this series and the Huskies have enough to make that five. I'll go with Northern Illinois here.
Game: La - Monroe at Denver (6:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on La - Monroe +12 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Pioneers are on the fast track opening at 7-2 with a 6-1 mark at home. They have been shooting lights-out at over 47% for their last three, but that puts them in a bad situation for this one as teams that have had three hot games shooting tend to fall off in the fourth. That opens the door for the Warhawks who traded baskets with a solid Northern Colorado team to sneak in under the inflated number, bringing LA Monroe to 5-1 ATS vs. home teams winning at .600 or better. The Pioneers are a disinterested 1-4 ATS in their last five at home vs. a team with a losing record which opens the door here for the Warhawks to once again sneak in under the number. I’m on LA Monroe here.
Game: Illinois State at Utah (6:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Illinois State +6 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Redbirds have taken a hit in their last two after winning their first seven. This is a good team with a stat-filling star in Osiris Eldridge who is capable of carrying a team, but he has support that goes eight deep on this team. The evidence is mounting that the Utes aren't up to the caliber of club we have seen in the recent past as losses to Weber State, Seattle and Idaho have exposed. The Utes’ top two scorers are killing them with shooting in the 30's and long-range misfires at 30% each. The Utes consequently, are overrated and are turning in the doughnut in their last four as a chalk of 6.5 or less. The Redbirds are cashing in 13 of their last 19 as a road dog and are a live dog here. I'll go with Illinois State.
Game: Drake at Iowa (6:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Iowa -5.5 (-110) (risk 5 to win 4.6)
The Hawkeyes will take some blows in conference play, but can certainly hold their own here vs. the Bulldogs. Drake has been holding a cupcake fest through 10 games, managing just a breakeven 5-5 mark. They will be challenged on the road here vs. an Iowa team that knows that they have to get wins in these games, so a no-show is out of the question. The Bulldogs have been the no-show vs. a losing team, misfiring to a 1-6-1 ATS mark in their last eight tries. The Hawkeyes are an impressive 13-5 ATS as home chalk up to 6.5 and get it done in this one. Iowa gets the nod.
Game: St. Bonaventure at Syracuse (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 153 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Syracuse has been perhaps the biggest surprise in NCAAB so far. The loss of Johny Flynn and Devendorf were supposed to leave the Cuse in the middle of the Big East pack, but freshmen and players in expanding roles are responding has the Cuse is flawless through 10 games. They are scoring 75 plus in each of them. That certainly has a way of juicing the total beyond what is reasonable here vs. a Bonnie's team that is a slow-down type team, already logging three opponents with scores of 47 or less! St. Bonaventure has played UNDER in 11 of their last 16 as a road dog, an indicator of the fact they won't allow a track meet when they are on the short side of talent in the game. The Cuse is 4-1 UNDER as chalk of 13+ makes this one look like it stays UNDER, so I'm going UNDER here.
Game: Old Dominion at Georgetown (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Old Dominion +9.5 (-110) (risk 5 to win 4.6)
This Talented Hoyas squad is perfect out of the gate sporting an 8-0 mark thus far. They are drawing a big number vs. a competent, always fundamentally sound Monarchs squad. The Hoyas are off of two big games that could leave them a bit uninterested here. The Monarchs’ close calls with Dayton, Richmond and Missouri, say that they have enough talent and resolve to hold their own here. The Hoyas have reached saturation level at home with the big name, but little in the way of results as their over-value has led to 1-7 ATS in their last eight at home. ODU has enough to stay inside an inflated Hoyas’ number, so I'll back Old Dominion in this one.
Game: Portland at Washington (10:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 150.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Lots of games featuring teams with offensive reputations playing down in class get saddled with big totals to topple, and here we go again. Portland goes to Minnesota in a 61-56 game and manages just 66 vs. West Virginia. These teams that are stepping up in class have to slow things down or they get blown out as evidenced by the Pilots 7-2 mark to the UNDER vs. the Pac-10. The Huskies are 4-1 as a favorite of 7-12.5 shows the same tendency. When these totals hit the 150 mark we have to look hard at the UNDER and that is the case here.
NHL
Game: Nashville at Calgary (4:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 5.5 -130 (risk 3 to win 2.3)
The Flames have been fanning on offense of late and will have to rely on solid "D" and net-minding here. The Flames are struggling to just 15 goals in the last eight, or fewer than two per contest, which means that they must turn up the "D" here at home. That is something which has been a given of late after a win as the Flames are going UNDER to an 11-1-1 after a win, and 18-7-1 on the low side overall in their last 26 games. Historic value is found on the UNDER as well, as the last 11 times these teams collided on the ice the UNDER scores the money in eight of them. I like this one to follow suit, so I will play UNDER the total.
Game: Florida at Carolina (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Carolina -140 (moneyline) (risk 5 to win 3.6)
It would have been unthinkable to back this Hurricanes team through the worst period of games in franchise history. They still don't look like a solid team, coming out on the wrong side in eight of their past 11, but a quick look shows that eight of those were played on the road. What they have been able to do is re-establish great play at home as they have been in the money in five of their last seven. Florida drubbed them last night by a 6-3 count, so they have extra incentive at home where they have been tough of late. The Panthers are a money-burning 20-47 with no days of rest while the Hurricanes are now 72-34 in their last 106 on home ice vs. a team with a losing road mark. The Hurricanes get revenge here.
Game: Minnesota at Ottawa (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Minnesota +100 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 3)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 5 -140 (risk 3 to win 2.1)
The Minnesota Wild is a completely different team since the first part of the season. After coming out on the wrong end of 14 of their first 21 games, the Wild has come together and have now come out on the right side of 10 of their last 13 games. The offense has led the way to the improvements as the Wild scored four goals or more just three times in those first 21 games. In their last 13 they have touched five goals on four separate occasions and are now averaging three per game over that same period. The Senators’ fortunes have reversed themselves as they have come out on the right side of just four of their last 11, allowing 38 goals in the process, or 3.5 per game. I like the hot Wild scoring in bunches to win this one, and play OVER as well.
Game: New Jersey at Atlanta (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on New Jersey -110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Thrashers have been a mediocre team all season, and the Devils bring their "A" game on the road, currently at 11-2-1 through 14 roadies. Aside from a three-game winless stretch, the Devils are showing 21 of 24 turning up on the right side of things. Getting them here at what amounts to be even money is a bargain for sure. They have been even more effective without rest as they have turned in a perfect score - eight straight without a loss! The Thrashers are having trouble skating with the big boys, turning in a 26-58-4 mark in their last 88 on the ice with teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. I’m on the Devils all the way here.
Game: Boston at Toronto (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Boston -110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Bruins have been sluggish over their last three games and hope to get nasty tonight in Toronto. The Leaf's have played crummy hockey all season at home, so this is a good spot for the Bruins to rebound here. With their stellar domination over the Northeast, they now stand at 26-6 in their last 32. The Leafs’ poor performance without rest now stands at 17-35 in their last 52 and that doesn't bode well here vs. a excellent team that is needing a win. The Bruins have completely dominated this Leafs team winning the last seven which includes a perfect march to Toronto where they are 4-0. I'll go with Boston here.
PAID AND CONFIRMED BY ME.... POINTS APRICIATED... LETS KILL EM TODAY!!!
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