Monday 4/19/21 free thread for handicapping and expert predictions for NBA, MLB & NHL games.
Matt Severance
MEMPHIS @ DENVER | 04/19 | 9:00 PM EDT
DENVER -200
ANALYSIS: Memphis already has ruled out double-double machine Jonas Valanciunas (concussion protocol) for this game and could also be sans Dillon Brooks (thigh), Brandon Clarke (hip), De'Anthony Melton (leg) and Justise Winslow (thigh). Thus, I think we are safe taking Denver this early even though the Nugs are of course without Jamal Murray (and Monte Morris) -- although, I also took the Nets at -200 on Sunday vs. the Heat and got scorched when Kevin Durant left in the first quarter with an injury and Brooklyn lost. Those are the risks we take.
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Toby Maxtone-Smith - Vegasinsider Soccer Handicapper
England Premier League
Leeds United vs Liverpool
TV: NBCSN - Time: 3:00pm
Best Bet - Under 3.5 goals [-165] - - BIG PLAY
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Kevin Rogers
San Diego Padres -140
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Pickswise Sports
MLB Best Bet - St Louis Cardinals -120
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The Sports Geek
MLB
Red Sox +110
Cardinals -120
Cardinals -1.5 runs [+145]
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H&H Sports
MLB
Double Dime - Boston Red Sox +110
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Ben Burns
10* over-5.5-flo-clb
9* nashville-138
8* calgary-200
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MLB-Martingale
Boston Red Sox - Chicago White Sox
Boston @ 2.10 / 2 units
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The Prez
5 - Calgary Flames in regulation
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Mike Barner
SAN ANTONIO @ INDIANA | 04/19 | 8:00 PM EDT
SAN ANTONIO -1
ANALYSIS: These two teams both have been better on the road than at home this season. The Pacers are just 9-16 at home, compared to 17-14 on the road. Meanwhile, the Spurs are 15-10 as visitors and just 12-18 on their own court. Add in the fact Indiana will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set, and I think San Antonio pulls out the win on Monday.
CLEVELAND @ DETROIT | 04/19 | 7:00 PM EDT
CLEVELAND -2.5
ANALYSIS: The Pistons are in full tank mode right now. For Monday's game, they already have ruled out Jerami Grant (quadriceps), Mason Plumlee (rest), Wayne Ellington (rest), Cory Joseph (illness), Sekou Doumbouya (concussion) and Dennis Smith Jr. (knee). The only key rotation player who is expected to be out for the Cavaliers is Larry Nance Jr. (personal), so I’ll take them to cover this modest line.
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Matt Severance
SAN FRANCISCO @ PHILADELPHIA | 04/19 | 7:05 PM EDT
PHILADELPHIA +1.5
ANALYSIS: Per usual, the Phillies have been terrific at home, while the Giants are 4-5 away and had to travel up from Miami on Sunday. I'm going to play it safe and take the Phillies on the runline at -170 simply as I don't 100 percent trust starter Chase Anderson. He has allowed only five hits in his first two starts, but he has lasted just nine innings. The Giants' Kevin Gausman (0-0, 3.20) was good his first two outings but not last time vs. the Reds. San Francisco could again be without injured star catcher Buster Posey.
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Larry Hartstein
FEATURED PICK
L.A. DODGERS @ SEATTLE | 04/19 | 10:10 PM EDT
L.A. DODGERS -1.5
ANALYSIS: Eleven of the Dodgers' 13 wins have come by two or more runs. I like getting the Dodgers off a loss facing a Seattle team they've dominated (10-2 past 12 meetings). Dustin May has 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings, a 1.74 ERA, and he should have a long outing after only throwing 4.1 innings last time out vs. Colorado. Play the Dodgers on the run line at -125.
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John Bollman
ST. LOUIS @ WASHINGTON | 04/19 | 7:05 PM EDT
WASHINGTON +101
ANALYSIS: Jack Flaherty and Joe Ross faced the opposing team when these teams matched up last week. Flaherty threw five innings allowing one run, while Ross did not allow a run in six innings. Flaherty struggles on the road and Ross has looked like the Nationals ace so far in his two starts this season, which include a six-inning shutout of the Dodgers. The Nats should be upset they’re just 2-2 on this homestand so far and I like the value in them at home with plus money.
SAN JOSE @ VEGAS | 04/19 | 10:00 PM EDT
VEGAS -235
ANALYSIS: These teams are headed in exact opposite directions as Vegas has won six games in a row while the Sharks have lost five straight games. The Knights have won all five of their meetings this season and they have won eight of the last nine meetings overall. The line is lower than expected or a Vegas home game because Robin Lehner is expected to start and they played last night. However, this is the Sharks third game in four nights and Vegas plays well on the second night of a back to back going 5-1 this season.
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The Sports Geek
MLB (Adding)
Dodgers -1.5 runs [-120]
NBA
Warriors +9.5
Nuggets -7.5
Bulls +6.5
Pacers +1.5
Pistons +3.5
NHL
Arizona +140
Chicago +130
Soccer
Liverpool -145
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Pickswise Sports
NBA 3* Best Bets
Cavaliers -145 (Moneyline)
Thunder/Wizards Over 230.5
NHL 3* Best Bets
San Jose/Vegas Over 6
Minnesota -146
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Michael Crosson
Vegasinsider NBA
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers
TV; ESPN - Time; 10:00pm
Best Bet - Utah Jazz -7
NBA Player Prop Best Bet: Dennis Schroder over 23.5 points & assist [-115]
** Note - Michael dropped yesterday's prop play as Kevin Durant left game in 1st quarter and never came back..
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Tim Wilkinson - Vegasinsider
NBA
Warriors/76ers Under 225.5 (-110)
NHL
Tampa Bay/Carolina Over 5.5 (+105) - BIG PLAY
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Joe Williams
Vegasinsider NBA
Golden State Warriors vs Philadelphia 76ers
TV: ESPN - Time: 7:30pm
Best Bet - Philadelphia 76ers -8.5
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Matt Blunt - Vegasinsider
NHL Big Plays 14-4 Last 18..
NHL
Tampa Bay Lightning -115
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INSIDER SPORTS REPORT
Premier Picks® For 04/19/21
4* Philadelphia (Anderson) -105 over San Francisco (Gausman)
Range: +115 to -125
3* St. Louis (Flaherty)/Washington (Ross) UNDER 8
Range: 8.5 to 7.5
3* Cleveland +1.5 over Detroit (NBA)
Range: +3.5 to -1
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Larry Ness
10* bucks-2.5
10* over-8.5-sf-philly
9* wash+108
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Ben Burns
10* over-5.5-flo-clb
9* nashville-138
8* calgary-200
ADDED
10* over-211.5-det-clev
10* over-6.5-sd-milw
9* wash+1.5-153 mlb
8* nuggets-ml-183
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Matt Severance
L.A. DODGERS @ SEATTLE | 04/19 | 10:10 PM EDT
SEATTLE +1.5
ANALYSIS: I am going to have to play contrarian here to my three cohorts who picked the Dodgers on the runline. This almost feels like a trap game for L.A. off a very heated weekend series at blood rival San Diego. Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May is a stud and L.A. probably wins, but I'll take the much better than expected Mariners getting +1.5 as a +105 underdog at home. Seattle also could see the season debut of 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis off injury.
CAROLINA @ TAMPA BAY | 04/19 | 7:00 PM EDT
TAMPA BAY -120
ANALYSIS: The Lightning are not the powerhouse they were early in the season, especially without the injured Steven Stamkos, but getting them just -120 at home with Vezina favorite Andrei Vasilevskiy in net is something I can't pass up -- even as good as Carolina is. The Canes are just 1-11 in their past 12 in Tampa.
MONTREAL @ EDMONTON | 04/19 | 9:00 PM EDT
EDMONTON -128
ANALYSIS: It's Montreal's first road game since April 7 and only its second this month. The team is 3-9 in its past 12 away. No. 1 netminder Carey Price played Saturday for the first time since April 5 due to injury and wasn't particularly sharp in a home upset loss to Ottawa. Yes, the Habs are 4-1 vs. the Oilers this season and have held Edmonton superstars and the league's top two scorers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, to just a combined four assists in the season series, but that just means they are due. The Oilers are on a seven-game home winning streak.
OTTAWA @ CALGARY | 04/19 | 9:00 PM EDT
CALGARY -215
ANALYSIS: I tend to avoid betting against Ottawa at home as big underdogs as the Sens often pull upsets there, but on the road they are generally safe to go against with a 6-16-0 record (even though they won in Montreal on Saturday) -- shocked they haven't even gotten an OT loss away yet. The Flames are healthy and well-rested as they haven't played since last Friday. This starts a four-game homestand and Calgary needs to win them all as it chases a playoff berth. The home team is 8-2 in the past 10 in the series.
COLUMBUS @ FLORIDA | 04/19 | 7:00 PM EDT
FLORIDA -220
ANALYSIS: I'm a bit surprised this number isn't bigger as the Blue Jackets have essentially quit on the season, losing five straight and 12 of 14 and with several top players having already been traded or on the injured list. Florida, meanwhile, is playing for a division title and is an excellent 14-4-3 at home. Florida has at least 30 shots on goal in all six games this year against the Blue Jackets, and the Panthers won five of them.
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Jim Feist
NBA
3* #511 Phoenix +2.5
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Dave Essler
3* GOW
Royals -120
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Vince Akins Spotsbook Breakers
NBA ATS Big Plays 20-7 Last 27...
NBA
Grizzlies +8 (BIG PLAY)
Spurs -115 (Moneyline)
Rockets/Heat Over 218
Wizards/Thunder Under 232
MLB
Rays +105
Dodgers -192
Dodgers/Mariners Over 8.5
Cardinals/Nationals Under 8
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Jack Winningham
St Louis Cardinals
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IC
3 Preds -130...NHL (11-0 Run)
3 Cards -115 MLB
3 Bulls +6...NBA
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Scott Spreitzer
Calgary -210 (3U)
Sixers -9 (4U)
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Zack Cimini
ST. LOUIS @ WASHINGTON | 04/19 | 7:05 PM EDT
WASHINGTON -102
ANALYSIS: The Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals will meet for their second series this season. Last week, Jack Flaherty limited the Nationals to just three hits, but needed 96 pitches to get through five innings. Look for the Nationals to take advantage this time around as Flaherty has not put together three straight strong outings since August 2018. Play the Nationals.
L.A. DODGERS @ SEATTLE | 04/19 | 10:10 PM EDT
L.A. DODGERS -1.5
ANALYSIS: On Monday, the Dodgers travel to Seattle off a Sunday 5-2 loss against the Padres. They’ll face lefty Justus Sheffield, who in his lone home start was hit hard and allowed eight hits to the Chicago White Sox. Expect the Dodgers to get to a Mariners bullpen that has not been put in a spot of a multi-run deficit since April 8. Take the Dodgers on the run line.
SAN ANTONIO @ INDIANA | 04/19 | 8:00 PM EDT
INDIANA +1.5
ANALYSIS: Over the weekend, the San Antonio Spurs had one of the biggest upsets based on point-spread movement. A 3.5-point line move against the Spurs was incorrect, as they trounced the Phoenix Suns. This has created value Monday for the Pacers, who defeated the Spurs 139-133 earlier this month. Take the Pacers to sweep the season series.
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John Bollman
COLUMBUS @ FLORIDA | 04/19 | 7:00 PM EDT
FLORIDA -215
ANALYSIS: The Panthers are playing well right now and just took three points in Tampa before heading home for this matchup. The Panthers are 5-1 against the Blue Jackets right now including 2-0 at home with two 4-1 wins. The Blue Jackets are 7-14-2 on the road and they have lost five straight games while the Panthers are 14-4-3 at home and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. The only thing I would be worried about is the Panthers first game home after a long road trip, but they should beat the Blue Jackets at home.
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Kyle Akins
MILWAUKEE @ SAN DIEGO | 04/19 | 10:10 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO -145
ANALYSIS: The Padres were in a dog fight of a series against the Dodgers this weekend and have another four-game against them looming. In the meantime, look for this team to be focused on banking a couple of wins. San Diego sends Joe Musgrove to the hill. He has been pounding the strike zone in his three starts so far on the season with a 2.27 strike-to-ball ratio. The Brewers are 0-6 SU since October 2019 when their opponent’s starter has a strike-per-ball ratio greater than 2.0 on the season.
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Stats Analytics Sports
NBA
2* Rockets/Heat Under 218.5
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KEVIN DOLAN
ALL BASKETBALL PLAYS
NBA PLAY ONE
Game: (509) Oklahoma City Thunder at (510) Washington Wizards
Date/Time: Apr 19 2021 8:10 PM EDT
Betting Line Provider: Consensus Line
Play Rating: 2%
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder +10.5 (-110)
We're taking the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight plus the points to keep things close in Washington.
PLAY: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER +10.5
*Line good to +9.5, +9 (1%)
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