Scott Delaney
St. Louis is a win away from moving on to the next round, and that's basically enough for me to believe the Blues can win this game and eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks
I am not sure what has gotten into the Blackhawks lately, but they've been undisciplined and been playing like a team that is unaware what it takes to win in the postseason. It doesn't come close to looking like a team that just a couple years back won the Stanley Cup.
St. Louis has been poised, and has plenty of momentum behind it, after being bounced from the playoffs in the first round each of the previous three seasons. The Blues are playing some of their best postseason hockey since last advancing to the second round in 2012.
The Blues are well aware Chicago trailed Detroit 3-1 in the Western Conference semifinals in 2013, won Game 7 in overtime and went on to win the Stanley Cup. St. Louis isn't about to squander its lead after losing Game 5.
4* ST. LOUIS
Chris Jordan
The Rangers have now won seven of 10 and you're telling me I can catch nearly a buck and a half with one of the hottest teams in the American League? Yeah, I'm playing the road underdog with a lot of money to be won.
After last night's 5-0 loss to the White Sox, the Rangers are going to be looking for revenge, while attempting to stay atop the A.L. West along with Oakland. They were just alone in first a half-game ahead of Oakland, but they're now tied. Chicago has been good as well, but much better on the road than at home.
The White Sox are in for a shocker against a well-oiled machine that is seeing and hitting the ball well.
Take Texas tonight and look for that big dog price to come in.
4* RANGERS
Bob Balfe
Heat +2.5
The Hornets have a tough time winning playoff games as history has shown us. Today is a perfect spot to get on the board, but Miami has shot the ball 57% in the two playoff games and have not turned the ball over much. The Heat are settled in playing great basketball. Sometimes teams just get on a roll and don’t look back which I believe will be the case tonight. The shooting percentage is really a key in these types of spots. I don’t see Miami slowing down.
Tigers +105
Neither starter has found their stuff this year so I don’t expect either to go long in this one. The bullpens are night and day. Detroit’s bullpen is excellent and home while the Indians bullpen has been downright awful. When a line is pretty much at even money the bullpens play crucial roles in the way you wager.
OC Dooley
Rangers / White Sox Over 8
In a city that has been plagued with cold that has forced players to wear masks during primetime games I am taking advantage of this AFTERNOON affair where the weather is at least supposed to be decent. One of the keys to this selection has to do with the projected pitching matchup tomorrow where Mat Latos (SUB ONE ERA) goes against Derek Holland who for the first time in years is healthy at this stage of the campaign. Today’s matchup is not as imposing as Chicago’s Carlos Rodon lasted LESS THAN ONE INNING in his most recent appearance which is good news for a Texas offense that prior to yesterday has scored 24 runs in a four-game span. I want all of you to be aware that the opening OFFSHORE number for today’s total was 8-and-a-half runs (prior to dropping). Here is a 74-PERCENT SYSTEM (36-13 since 1997 with a posted total between 8’ and 10 runs and in the American League) which plays bad bad offenses like Chicago averaging less than 4.3 runs per game OVER the number against a team with a bad bullpen ERA of at least 5.00, after three consecutive games where they had 7-or-less hits
Dr. Bob
Opinion – UNDER (207½) – L.A. Clippers at PORTLAND
The Clippers have really stepped up their defense the last month (10-4-1 Under) and the first 2 games averaged only 196.5 total points. I expect the pace to go up a bit in game 3 but I project just 204 total points with current rotations for each team even with a faster pace than the first 2 games. I’ll lean Under 206 points or more.