Free Picks for Saturday, April 15th, 2017 from some of the nations best and worst handicappers
Bruce Marshall
Jazz / Clippers Over 200.5
The Clippers are roaring into the postseason on the heels of seven straight wins. They also roar into the playoffs scoring better than 118 ppg in that stretch and both of the last two meetings vs. Utah have cruised "over" as well. Meanwhile the Jazz have scored 100 or more in 9 of their last 12 games, and there is enough firepower both ways to push this one beyond 200 at Staples Center.
Stephen Nover
Ottawa -105
The price is right to back the home Senators, in a do-or-die match. Ottawa is in serious trouble if losing this game and going to Boston for Game 3 down 0-2 in the series. Only 12.7 percent of teams down 0-2 have come back to win a Stanley Cup series, according to research compiled by HockeyReference.com.
The Bruins nipped the Senators in the opening game, 2-1, on a late goal despite getting outshot by Ottawa. The Senators throughly out-played the Bruins in the second period holding them to zero shots on goal while firing off 12.
The Bruins are banged-up both offensively and defensively. Boston is likely to be without Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo and Colin Miller on defense while also missing forward David Krejci. Krejci played in every regular-season game, scoring a career-high 23 goals. He would be replaced by Ryan Spooner, who failed to score a goal during his last 15 games and didn't play well during the first game of this series.
Meanwhile, the Senators could get back defenseman Marc Method, who has been out since March 23 due to a finger injury.
Until the Senators lost to the Bruins in Game 1, they had won five in a row at home versus Boston.
John Martin
Milwaukee at Toronto
Play: Toronto -7
The Toronto Raptors are the biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference in my opinion. The trade for Serge Ibaka makes them a better team than they were when they took the Cavs to the six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. And now Kyle Lowry just returned from his wrist injury, and the Raptors are hitting on all cylinders. They have gone 12-2 in their last 14 games overall heading into the playoffs. The Bucks are just happy that their run after the All-Star Break got them in the playoffs. They have very little playoff experience and will be overmatched by the Raptors in this series, starting with Game 1 tonight. The Raptors are 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Bucks.
Scott Spreitzer
Cardinals vs. Yankees
Play: Yankees -111
St. Louis is off to a 3-7 start after Friday's 4-3 loss at New York and the Cardinals have scored only four runs in 81 at-bats against left-handers this season and now face a revived CC Sabathia. The veteran lefty has allowed only two earned runs and nine hits in 11 innings his first two starts and the Yankees won both games. New York has won five straight overall and it is 4-0 at home. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 3-7 and Carlos Martinez heads to the mound after getting getting pounded his last start against Cincinnati by giving up five earned runs and six hits in five innings in an 8-0 loss. The Cards have given up 35 runs their last five games and the Yanks have scored 30 runs their last five contests. New York has won 19 of Sabathia's last 26 interleague starts and St. Louis has lost five of Martinez's last six interleague starts.
Jim Feist
Predators vs. Blackhawks
Play: Under 5
Chicago can play any style, but Nasvhille will focus on defense in Game 2 again on the road behind veteran goalie Pekka Rinne. Nashville is on a 7-1-1 run under the total. Chicago is outstanding on defense, #11 in goals allowed, on a 4-1-2 run under the total.
Marc Lawrence
Angels vs. Royals
Play: Royals -105
Edges - Royals: Karns 1.26 WHIP this spring with 30K’s and 6 BB’s… Angels: Shoemaker: 0-5 career team starts vs Kansas City… With Karns 7-4 in his last eleven overall home team starts, and the Royals 11-6 the last 17 overall games in this series, we recommend a 1* play on Kansas City.
Jack Jones
Grizzlies vs. Spurs
Play: Under 190½
There may not be a first round matchup where two teams are more familiar with each other than the Spurs and Grizzlies. They have had numerous battles in the playoffs over the years, including last season. Familiarity favors defense, and I expect this Game 1 to be very low-scoring.
The UNDER is 7-2 in the last nine meetings between San Antonio and Memphis. They have combined for 188 or fewer points in seven of those nine meetings. They have averaged just 182.4 combined points per game at the end of regulation in those nine games, which is roughly 8 points less than tonight's posted total of 190.5.
Memphis is 17-4 UNDER vs. excellent 3-point shooting teams who make 39% of their attempts or better over the last three seasons. The UNDER is 7-1 in Grizzlies last eight road games. The UNDER is 4-0 in the last four meetings in San Antonio.
3G-Sports
Tampa Bay vs. Boston
Play: Boston -194
With improved fielding skills and an above average throwing arm, Boston Mitch Moreland can get even better. He isn't that overly skilled with his bat - but is certainly not a liability. Boston at home have been outstanding. Tampa Bay's pitching away from the plate recently, and Odorizzi's pitch doesn't always start off the plate. The fastball can slowly tail back over the plate into a hitter's wheelhouse. Their relievers have struggled with doing anything worth mentioning - Xavier Cedeno hasn't showed enough progress to give them the extra push they need early. TB is not a good team offensively and the RedSox left 13 runners on base last night. Look for Boston to plate more run here on Saturday and get the win at home over TB.
Don Best Consensus
Pirates at Cubs
Pick: Cubs
Pirates starter Glasnow allowed 5ER and only lasted 1.2 innings in his first start Monday against the Reds. The Cubs are 8-2 in Arrietas last 10 starts vs the Pirates. Pittsburgh are 1-7 their last eight road games.
MMA Profitcy
Renato Moicano vs J Stephens
Pick: J Stephens
Jeremy Stephens is a veteran of the UFC of over 20 fights. Fighting in big fights is second nature for him. He has fought the who's who of this sport including Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Frankie Edgar, and Renato Barao. Miocene is a good prospect, but has faced much less tougher competition than Stephens. I expect this fight to be a very exciting fight, as virtually every one of Stephens fights is. I think the experience of Stephens will eventually catch up with Moicano, and Stephens will get his hand raised in KC (which happens to be only a 3 hour drive from his hometown)
Jimmy Boyd
Pacers vs. Cavaliers
Play: Pacers +8½
As bad as Cleveland has played over the 2nd half of the season, the public perception is that they are just waiting to flip a switch and will be a completely different team starting today. While I agree that the Cavs have been holding back their effort, I don't think it's going to be as easy as most think to play at the level expected. I think it could take a few games or some kind adversity before they flip that switch for good.
Cleveland is certainly capable of covering this big number, but I think there's a better chance they struggle to turn this into a blowout for the cover. The Pacers were in playoff mode weeks ago, as they were fighting just to make the playoffs. They finished the year winning 5 straight and I loved the addition of Lance Stephenson. He brings a constant intensity, which is what this team was lacking. Given how the Cavs have been playing and Indiana's current form, I wouldn't be shocked if the Pacers won this out and have sprinkled a little extra on the money line for the bigger payout, but the points is the play here.
Chip Chirimbes
Milwaukee at Cincinnati
Play: Milwaukee +103
Milwaukee has won four straight games including the first two against the Reds in this four-game set. Cincinnati will start Brandon Finnegan (1-0, 1.00 ERA) who was dominate in his first start against Philadelphia striking out nine while allowing just one hit over seven scoreless innings. None of that will matter today as the Brewers just up and win this one.
Tony George
Milwaukee at Toronto
Play: Toronto -7
Cannot ignore the backcourt, experience in post season taking the Cavs to 6 games last year, a 12-2 run headed into the playoffs and the backcourt here is solid. Raptors may be the second best team in the East, I think they roll the Bucks today Gents.
Dustin Hawkins
Detroit vs. Cleveland
Play: Cleveland -150
Any team (Cleveland) -a team that had a good record last season (54% to 62%) playing a marginal winning team (51% to 54%) like the Indians are (56-30 over the last 5 seasons.) (65.1%).The Indians are 27-11 against the money line after having lost 5 or 6 of their last 7 games over the last 3 seasons.