GOLD SHEET
TORONTO over New Jersey
CLEVELAND over Chicago
NEW YORK over Atlanta
Arthur Ralph
Super Pick Arizona D'backs
900 Gold Key play Atlanta Braves
Free play San Diego Padres
Nick Parsons Friday Forum Pick
Play ON New Jersey Devils Money Line (-) vs New York Rangers
We had a premium play on the Devils on Wednesday and, although it didn't work out there is every reason to come back with it here as the Devils look to bounce back even up this series. Many of the same principles we touched on in Wednesday's write-up are in play here. Being a contrarian handicapper has served me well through the years and tonight is a prime example of where it should pay to go against the grain. Because the Rangers took seven of eight meetings between these clubs this season (as well as Game 1 o f this series), many are leaning toward New York here. However, the fact that the Devils took the final game of the season series, Sunday in New Jersey, has not only given them home ice for this playoff series, it's also given them some momentum! Now they will battle back hard in Game 2 to have a shot at regaining the home ice edge by then taking a game in New York. Even though the games between these clubs were very tight this season they still were all ending up in Devils losses, at least until Sunday. With that win this past weekend, the Devils got the "monkey off their back" and with Martin Brodeur between the pipes, they are certainly capable of a playoff push. The late season return of Patrick Elias, after missing nearly two weeks in March, was critical for the Devils. Elias helped the Devils to win four of their last five games to close out the regular season and he's also one of New Jersey's most experienced playoff performers. While Brodeur is consistently solid between the pipes for the Devils (both at home and on the road), Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers has numbers that show he's much more comfortable at Madison Square Garden than anywhere else. Lundqvist only won 13 of his 32 road starts this season and his GAA was more than a half goal higher on the road in comparison with at home. Certainly Lundqvist is still a solid netminder but, in a tight game, it doesn't take much to make a big difference in the final outcome. That said, the fact that Lundqvist is not quite so steady on the road could play a role in the games played in New Jersey throughout this series. Lundqvist just turned 26 about a month ago while Brodeur is going to be 36 in less than a month. You can see where the experience lies in this match-up. This is why, even though the Rangers do have a little more firepower on offense, the defensive-minded Devils are the play in Game 2 of this series as we fully expect them to bounce back after Wednesday's loss!
TEDDY COVERS Arena Football
Cleveland Gladiators -2.5 / 4 units
Cleveland has been a fairly easy team to handicap through the first six weeks of the season. The Gladiators have been strong at home, undefeated at ‘Q’ Arena. They’ve been strong against weaker opposition, averaging more than 60 points per game against sub .500 squads. The Gladiators haven’t been able to extend that level of success to quality foes, losing at New Orleans and at Dallas in their last two ballgames, prior to and directly after their bye week. But with a tremendous return game (Cleveland has been nothing short of spectacular when it comes to kick returns this season) and a quarterback (Raymond Philyaw ) in the midst of a stellar campaign, we can expect Cleveland to get right back on track against a lesser foe this week.
Colorado played their first good game of the season last week, at home, against a slumping Avengers team in the midst of a four game losing streak and playing without their starting quarterback. Other than that single performance, the Crush haven’t looked impressive against anybody, particularly on the road where they failed to score more than 40 points in a pair of ugly losses; their only two road games so far this season. The Crush won only three road games last year, unable to reach the key 50 point plateau in six of their eight road tilts. And with QB John Dutton continuing to struggle with key turnovers at inopportune times, posting a very modest 107 QB rating for the season, I wouldn’t expect this banged up Colorado squad to be able to trade touchdowns with the Gladiators for the full 60 minutes. Take Cleveland. Current Line: Cleveland -2.5, reduce wager size to .5 unit at -5.5 or higher.
Rocketman Sports
Phoenix @ Houston
Play On: 3* Phoenix -2 1/2
Suns are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a road favorite. Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest. Suns are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 vs. Western Conference. Suns are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite. Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games. Suns are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. Suns are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall. Suns are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5. Rockets are 17-35-1 ATS in their last 53 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Rockets are 10-25-1 ATS in their last 36 games as a home underdog. Rockets are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games as a home underdog of 0.5-4.5. Rockets are 7-20-1 ATS in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Suns are 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Houston. Suns are 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings. Favorite is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings. Road team is 20-8 ATS in the last 28 meetings. We'll play Phoenix for 3 units tonight!
WILL SYKES
3* WASHINGTON WIZARDS +5
ATS LOCK BB
6 NYY
4 Cubs
4 Brewers
National Sports Advisors
Tampa Over 8.5
Fast Eddie Sports
Rockies +135
Shark Handicapping
Reds -105
SportsAction 365
KC Over 8.5
The Parlay King
Wash -1.5 +180
Frank Patron
NY Mets -120
Doug Bartlett
Minnesota/Kansas City Over 8.5
Jennifer Barry
Milwaukee/New York Over 9
Chad Jordan
Atlanta Hawks -5.5
Silver Key
METS -115
Sports Book Edge
Cubs/Phillies Ov
Valley Sports
Sonics +18
Astros -190
Bob Akmens
Yankees/Red Sox Ov.9.5
Pure Lock
Bo.Celtics -14.5
R&R Totals
Angels/Mariners Ov.8
Rocketman
NBA
3* Atlanta
3* Minnesota
3* Milwaukee
3* Lakers
3* Phoenix
Trev Rogers
LA Dodgers -102
Cards vs. Giants OVER 7.5
Cubs -110
Sports Lock
New Jersey Nets vs Toronto Raptors
New Jersey is just 1-5 straight up in their last 6 games and only 2-4-1 against the spread in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto. Offensively on the road the Nets are averaging 94.3 points per game ranking 23rd overall. Defensively they are allowing their opponents on the road to score 102.3 points per game ranking 17th.
The Raptors are 15-8 straight up in their last 23 games at home and 5-1 straight up in their last 6 games when playing New Jersey at home. Toronto offensively at home this season is averaging 102.2 points per game ranking 11th overall in NBA play. Defensively they are allowing their opponents to score just 95.5 points per game ranking 10th overall.
Toronto not only has a great record against the Nets at home but they beat them in every category except rebounds. Toronto has a lot on the line as they are continually fighting for playoff positioning. The Nets are on a downward spiral and have been playing like they cant wait for the season to be over with. Toronto at home has been solid this year and tonight they will have their way with the Nets.
Lock = Toronto Raptors -9
Fat Jack Sports
Orlando -12
Billy Coleman
NBA:
5* Phoenix-3
3* Lakers-3.5
MLB:
4* San Diego
3* Detroit
Parlay King
NY Yankees +105
Cubs +105
Indiana +5
Kevin O'Neill
Grizzlies/Heat O 193.5
Suns/Rockets U 202.5
Hornets/Lakers U 212.5