Alf Musketa
Chicago at Denver
Play: Denver
Rarely do we see the kind of consistency with an NBA team that we can hang our hat on and comfortably bet with confidence. The Denver Nuggets are currently that team. They have won seven games in a row, 13 of their last 15 games, 20 of their last 26 games, they are 21-3 straight up at home and they have covered six of their last seven games against the spread. Also noteworthy is that this run and gun team is on an 11-2-1 streak to the over. And yes, any handicapper can certainly make a case for a Nuggets/Over parlay in each game they play.
In come the Chicago Bulls to the Pepsi Center who have won nine of their last 13 games, but injuries are killing this team of late. Tonight they expect to have center Joakim Noah back in the line-up, but will still be without guards Kirk Hinrich and Marco Belinelli. Even with Noah returning they will not be 100% and star power forward Carlos Boozer is playing through a hamstring injury.
Chicago’s only chance to compete in this game is to slow down the tempo. They must try to defuse the Nuggets’ fast break and contest their outside three's. Chicago did not do that in their last game allowing Indiana to score 111 points, which was the Pacers’ second highest output of the season. Even if the Bulls are keeping the game close, teams struggle in the Mile High City thin air especially in the fourth quarter as we witnessed with the Nuggets last time out as they outscored Milwaukee 33-18 late in that game.
This is Denver's final home game of a six-game home stand before traveling to the frigid temperatures and a four-game East Coast road trip, therefore we expect a top notch effort here and a cover against a team that is banged up and not playing their best. The line on this match opened Denver -5 and is presently -5.5 at most shops. We agree with the move and see it closing at -6.
NHLPredictions
St Louis Blues Team Total Over 2.5
This can be bet at all major betting sites. For example, at 5Dimes if you click on straight bet, NHL, you will see beside the game totals you can bet on team totals. At Pinnacle under NHL hockey you will need to select NHL OT Included Team Totals. Or at Bookmaker under hockey you can select team totals as well.
The St Louis Blues are 6-3 on the season and 3-1 at home. They are hosting the 4-4-1 Red Wings who are just 1-2-1 on the road this year. St Louis has scored just under 4 goals per game at home this season and are averaging 3.44 goals per game overall. The Red Wings are 24th in the league giving up 3.11 goals against per game, and that number gets higher on the road (closer to 4 goals against per game away from home). These two teams have met twice this season, and the Blues scored more than 2.5 goals in each of those games - a 6-0 home win and a 5-3 loss in Detroit. St Louis has only scored fewer than 3 goals twice this year in 9 games, and in both of those games they had over 30 shots. I will take St Louis OVER 2.5 goals today.
Pittsburgh Penguins -.5 -114
This can also be bet on at all major sportsbooks. At 5dimes you will see it under straight bet and NHL hockey where it says (1st 60 minutes) Penguins -0.5. At Pinnacle you will click "NHL regulation time" and then select Pittsburgh -0.5. And at bookmaker it will be under "NHL 3 way lines". What the -0.5 means is that it is showing that the Penguins must cover the 0.5 spread in regulation time. If they are tied at the end of regulation the bet is graded a loss. Pittsburgh must win the game in regulation.
Early in the season the Washington Capitals look like one of the Eastern Conference's worst teams with a 2-7-1 record. They've lost two straight games (home games vs Toronto and Pittsburgh) and have lost 4 of their last 5 games. They are 0-3-1 on the road this year. Pittsburgh has started to come around with their 7-3 record, although they are just 1-2 at home. The Penguins have won 4 straight games and 5 of 6. In their last 4 wins Pittsburgh has scored 18 goals (over 4 goals per game). These two teams met on Super Bowl Sunday with Pittsburgh winning 6-3 in Washington. The Penguins have won 3 of their last 4 meetings. After opening the season 0-2 at home, the Penguins looked dominant in a 5-1 home win vs New Jersey where they out shot the Devils 30-16. I expect Pittsburgh to come out and get another big home win tonight, and I will take them do so in regulation at a better price.
Philadelphia Flyers -144
I've learned the hard way betting against Philadelphia at home this season. The Flyers are just 4-6 on the year, but they are 3-1 at home. Florida enters this game 3-5-1 on the season and just 1-3-1 on the road. Florida is coming off of a 3-2 overtime loss in Winnipeg, while the Flyers are coming off two straight home wins vs Carolina and Tampa Bay. These two teams already met this year in Florida with the Flyers winning 7-1 for their only road win of the year. Florida is giving up 3.67 goals against per game which has them tied for 2nd last in the NHL. Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is winning games for Philadelphia right now with his 2.24 GAA and .923 SV%. Take note that the Flyers are 50-21 in their last 71 vs a team with a winning % below .400. The Flyers have won 6 of their last 7 meetings with Florida and I think that trend continues tonight. Take Philly.
New Jersey Devils -123 & Over 5.5
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a solid 6-3 on the season, but they are just 1-2 on the road. The Devils are 5-1-3 on the season and 3-0-1 at home. Tampa Bay comes into New Jersey off two straight losses against the Rangers and Flyers. The Devils have won two straight against the Islanders and Rangers. Take note that these two teams met 4 times last year with the Devils winning 3 of the 4 meetings. The totals of those 4 meetings last season were 10, 7, 9, and 6 - all going OVER the total. Take note that the OVER is 45-22-1 in the Lightning's last 68 games overall, and 11-4 in their last 15 road games. The Devils are 20-6 in these two teams last 26 meetings overall, and a solid 9-2 in their last 11 meetings in New Jersey. The Devils were 24-13-4 last season at home, and have started off playing very solid on home ice again this season. Note that Tampa Bay was 13-22-6 on the road last year. I like the Devils to continue rolling with another home win tonight, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this one get OVER the set 5.5 total.
Charlie Sports
Marquette at South Florida
Play: South Florida
The (15-5) Marquette Golden Eagles of the Big East Conference will take on the (10-11) South Florida Bulls also on the Big East in 2013 NCAA Basketball action. Marquette is 18-8 Against The Spread their last 26 vs. The Big East. South Florida is 9-3 ATS their last 12 Basketball games played on Wednesday's. The Golden Eagles have beaten South Florida the last 5 meetings between the teams. South Florida gets the home cover.
Harry Bondi
LA LAKERS (+2) over Boston
The Lakers suffered a brutal injury to Pau Gasol on Tuesday, but we've seen so many teams over the years play well in the first game after the loss of a key player, because everyone else tends to step up their game, and we have a hunch that's what will happen tonight. The Celtics certainly have done that since Rajon Rondo was lost for the season, going 5-0 since the All Star guard was injured. But the loss of Rondo will eventually catch up to this aging team and tonight is the night. The road team and the underdog are both 5-0 ATS in this series and we also catch the Celtics on the second leg of a road-home back-to-back night situation. Lakers get the outright win.
Nelly
Arizona State - over California
California enters Thursday's game with Arizona State having won back-to-back games including a huge win over Oregon on Saturday. The Bears have not been the same team on the road however, going 2-3 in Pac-12 games and the wins came narrowly against Washington State and Utah. Arizona State has gone 6-3 in conference games including solid wins over Colorado and UCLA at home. The Sun Devils enter this game off a hard fought loss at Washington over the weekend that snapped a three-game winning streak. Arizona State only has two home losses all season, falling against highly ranked Arizona and a surprising loss to DePaul in the non-conference season but this is a team that also beat the Arkansas team that just beat Florida early in the season. Arizona State is 11-6 ATS on the year as this has been a much better team than most expected this year and this is a team that has improved since the start of the season. California has been the opposite, going 7-12 ATS and while the Bears have strong efficiency numbers and rank higher than expected in most ratings indexes, they simply are not winning the games they should win and have rarely pulled away from opponents, with four of five Pac-12 wins coming by eight or fewer points. California is just 3-4 S/U in road games this season and the Sun Devils have been impressive on defense, holding foes to less than 40 percent shooting on the season.
Rocketman
Buffalo @ Ottawa
Play: Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Tuesday night. Buffalo is 5-1 SU at Ottawa the past 3 years. Buffalo is 6-1 last 7 games when their opponent allows two goals or less in their previous game. Buffalo is 5-1 last 6 road games against a team with a home winning percentage of .600 or better. Ottawa is 4-9 last 13 home games against a team with a losing road record. Ottawa is 7-16 last 23 games after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Ottawa is 1-4 last 5 games against the Northeast Division. Buffalo has won 7 of the past 10 meetings overall in this series including 6-1 last 7 in Ottawa. The Road team is 12-4 last 16 meetings in this series. We'll recommend a small play on Buffalo tonight!