David Chan
Montreal Canadiens @ Atlanta Thrashers
PICK: Montreal Canadiens
I bet value where I see it and believe the Habs will lay a beating on the Thrashers this evening.
Montreal plays with "triple revenge" here losing 4-3 most recently in front of the home town crowd on January 2nd to Atlanta; the Thrashers are 4-0-1 in their last five vs. the Habs overall, and 6-0-2 in their last eight overall in the series in front of the home town crowd.
Our sources have confirmed that Carey Price will get the start in net tonight for Montreal; he'll look to build off his teams 4-3 victory over Carolina on Saturday, a game which he sat out due to flu like symptoms.
Ondrej Pavelec has been instrumental in the Thrashers recent domination of the Canadiens; however our sources have also confirmed Chris Mason will be getting the start in net tonight instead of the wily Czech.
Good line value here on a motivated side that plays with revenge; you may want to consider a second look at the MONTREAL CANADIENS tonight!
Nick “The BookieKiller” Parsons
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Vancouver Canucks
PICK: Vancouver Canucks
I'm laying the juice on Vancouver here as I expect it to continue its domination of Columbus with another resounding victory in front of the home town crowd:
Columbus is coming off a brutal game in which it gave up three late third period goals to the Predators in an eventual 3-2 loss; “It was unfortunate,” Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel said.
Columbus has played better on the road of late and will surely benefit from the acquisitions of Scottie Upshall and Rostislav Klesla; it remains four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot though.
On the other side of the ice the well rested Canucks are 9-4 (+2.2 units) this season when playing with two-days of rest.
Vancouver has not looked like the best team in the league, alternating wins and losses over its last 10-games; most recently a 3-1 loss to the streaking Bruins on Saturday; “You don’t want to look at the win loss record, but we’ve been playing alright, we just need to get a little bit more consistent as a team and we’ll be back on the winning track here pretty soon,” said star goaltender Roberto Luongo.
Bottom line: Vancouver enjoys one of the leagues biggest "home ice advantages", and with two whole days off to focus on the task at hand, consider laying the chalk for what should prove to be a lop-sided rout!
Sam Martin
New York Knicks at Orlando Magic
Prediction: New York Knicks
Both the Knicks and Magic are in bad motivational spots here tonight with New York in a letdown after their big upset win in Miami their last time out, and Orlando looking forward to playing the Heat next. But we think there is good line value with the road team here, and seven points is way too many to be laying against a New York team that has been playing pretty good after the huge roster changes. Orlando should win this game outright, but it won't be in a blowout!
SPORTS WAGERS
Columbus +189 over VANCOUVER
The Canucks are a damn good team and they can beat anyone at anytime and surely they can win here too. So, too, can the Jackets however, and at this price, Columbus is very worthy of a bet. The Jackets are playing terrific hockey while the Canucks are not. Vancouver is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Bruins, which is nothing to hang your head over. However, they have not won two in a row since the beginning of February and prior to the loss to the Bruins they were very lucky to beat the Blues. The Jackets have picked up points in 11 of their last 15 games and had only three regulation losses over that stretch. They're scoring goals these days and right now it’s rare to see them being held under three in a game. They made a couple of moves at the deadline, adding Craig Rivet off of waivers and trading for Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto and they’re really primed to make a run at the playoffs, as their right in the thick of it and they have games in hand on everyone. Jackets are playing too good to ignore this tag. Play: Columbus +189 (Risking 2 units).
Nashville -½ +114 over EDMONTON
Make no mistake, the Oilers are going to be a serious factor in a couple of years, much the same way the Blackhawks went from rags to riches in about a two-year span. That being said, they’ve had a long year with a lot of losses and that takes its toll. Edmonton is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Bruins but that’s a very flattering score, as they were outshot 40-17. Let’s also not forget that the Oilers went into Nashville on Feb 11, just three weeks ago and beat the Preds 4-0. That’s one of the most misleading scores of the year. Nashville completely dominated that game and you can expect more of the same here. The Preds are too disciplined and too hungry to lose this critical game. They need points as desperately as anyone and they’ll be very ready for this one. The Preds begin an absolutely crucial four-game trip beginning here and after this one will go on to play in Vancouver, Calgary and San Jose and points in those three cities are going to be tough to come by. Again, this one is so crucial and one could argue it’s the Preds most important game of the season thus far, as they’re tied with Dallas and Minnesota for that final playoff spot. Play: Nashville -½ +114 (Risking 2 units).
Dallas +151 over PHOENIX
There are a lot of OT games this time of year and frankly, we’re not interested in deciding our fate in a skills contest so it’s for that reason we’re likely to play most of these games in regulation until the season ends. Regulation wins also offer up better prices. The Coyotes have lost three in a row after that eight-game winning streak and in those three losses they allowed 17 goals against. Now they’ll return home from a five-game trip with a fragile goaltender and that can’t be a favorable situation. Phoenix had an awful week and did not look very good in any of those three losses. The Stars, meanwhile, have woken up after a very ugly stretch that saw them lose 11 of 13 games before back-to-back wins over Detroit and Nashville. Despite that ugly stretch, the Stars are right in the thick of things and the addition of Alex Goligoski has really helped them. This game is really a toss-up, as the Stars Kari Lehtonen seems to be back on his game and the Coyotes are in an unfavorable spot, that being returning home from a tough road trip and being in a funk of their own. Throw in this tag and therein lies the value. Play: Dallas +151 (Risking 2 units).
SPORTS WAGERS
Baylor +124 over Oklahoma St.
The Bears were in it, then they fell out of it and after a win over the 17th ranked Aggies on the weekend they’re right back in the discussion. This intruder is right on the bubble and a loss here and they’re in big trouble. However, a win here coupled with a home win over Texas in the final game of the season and the Baylor Bears will punch their ticket to the dance. The Bears played a tremendous defensive game against the Aggies and that’s a sign of a determined squad. A letdown here is a bit of a concern but the Cowboys are about as beatable a Big-12 team as there is. OSU has nothing to play for, other than knowing they can prevent the Bears from going to the dance. However, the Cowboys have Oklahoma on deck to close out the regular season and that’s their biggest rival. Furthermore, OSU has dropped nine of its last 12 games, they suspended PG Ray Penn last week, which leaves them in bigger trouble than they already were at that position. The Cowboys are a nothing team and one really has to believe that the Bears chances of winning this game are at least as good and probably better than the Cowboys chances. Truly, all the value is on the Bears here, as they desperately try to punch their ticket but a loss here and it’s over. Play: Baylor +124 (Risking 2 units).
Illinois +9½ over PURDUE
The Boilermakers are the hottest team in America but there’s a price to pay when wagering on a team that’s getting this much recognition and that price is spotting 9½-points to the Illini. Purdue is home and cooled out. In other words, they’re in the dance, they’re well seeded and they’re coming off a huge push that has seen them beat Ohio St., Michigan St. and Wisconsin in three of the last six weeks. Purdue is coming off a convincing slaughtering over the Spartans on the road and that’s a tough place to win, let alone win by 20. That has their stock soaring but after a stretch of very important and intense games a letdown or a coming back down to earth is almost inevitable. Illinois is another bubble team. Should they win here and have a good showing in the conference tournament, it’s going to be tough for the selection committee to exclude them. Without doubt, the Illini has played one of the toughest road schedules in the country. It’s last three road opponents, including Purdue here are a combined 22-2 on their home court in Big Ten play, and 45-3 overall at home this season. The Boilermakers could certainly suffer a letdown here, as their shooters have been too hot for too long and as we saw with Texas yesterday, this is a “trouble” spot for the home side. Play: Illinois +9½ (Risking 2.12 units to win 2).
EZWINNERS
New York Knicks +7
New York seems to rise to the occasion against the best teams in the league this season as they are 6-2-1 against the spread as an underdog of seven points or more and they are facing an Orlando team that is only 14-12 against the spread when they have been in the role of a favorite of seven or more points this season. The addition of Carmelo Anthony is huge for the Knicks and he loves to play against the Magic. The four-time All-Star averages 28.1 points versus Orlando, the most against any team in the NBA other than his current club. New York is also 20-7-1 against the spread in their last twenty eight games as a road underdog. Take the points.
JR O'Donnell
Montreal -115
Jr O is backing the Montreal Habs -115 tonight, laying $$$$ in the road is usually a tough go here boys, but picking your spots in the late season pucks is a great prop in the right spot!! The 33-23-7 Habs need to put up a Win tonight and they play well behind net minder backup former second rounder Alex Auld who checks in @ 5-2 so far with a 2.61 GAA. Montreal has won two of three.The 26-26-22 Atlanta Thrashers are a weak club boys.... How a'bout 2-6-2 the last 10 games. The Thrashers have C Mason in net & a lofty 3.54 GAA. The Sharp play tonight is the {Road Favorite Montreal -115} .Thrashers are 2-8 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record & Thrashers are 1-4 in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Stan Lisowski
Wyoming
Could be a good spot to back a bad team based on the setup, where the Aztecs are off of probably their biggest loss of the season which douses a lot of their post season aspirations. The home team in the series is 8-2 outright, while Wyoming is 10-2 against the spread at home this year and have won all 4 spots that they have been installed as a home dog in.
Matt Rivers
New York Knicks +7.5
Reasoning: Why not? No I don't believe that the addition of Carmelo Anthony is going to make this team complete and vie for a championship just yet but after the great win in Miami and with a day off to rest up I'll grab a touchdown or so with the new look Knicks.
If nothing else 'Melo, Amare Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups and the rest of these current New Yorkers are fun as heck to watch and root for. That doesn't mean they'll cover tonight or any game for that matter but the vibe is pretty darn good right now and I'm not afraid of the Magic at this point with all of their inconsistencies. Dwight Howard is a beast and a guy that is not going to be completely stopped by anybody but Stoudemire will compete down low and it just wouldn't completely shock me if Mike D'Antoni's boys can ride the momentum from South Beach all the way here into the Magic Kingdom. Plus besides Howard Orlando is lacking in the size department in a big-time way.
Stan Van Gundy's team has been very mediocre at times this season and then very good at times this season. I'm not completely sure whether Mr. Jekyll or Hyde will show up tonight but the Knicks are quite a talented team, at least offensively, and I'll take my chances on them at this pretty large number.
Telly
1 of 2 free plays tonight
Wyoming +11.5
Larry Ness
Penn St. +6.5
Ohio St is back at No. 1 in both polls after Duke's loss to Va Tech on Saturday night. The Buckeyes have not cruised in Big 10 play this year, despite the team's 14-2 record. In fact, seven of the team's Big 10 games have been decided by five points or less. However, a win here clinches at least a share of the regular season title for the Buckeyes. History is on Ohio State's side, as the Buckeyes have won their last 14 meetings with Penn St. That being said, Ohio St has lost its last two road games (at Wisconsin and Purdue) while Penn St owns wins over three ranked teams at home this season at the Bryce Jordan Center (beat Michigan St, Illinois and Wisconsin). The win over the Badgers is significant, as it ended a 12-game losing streak to Wisconsin. Penn St is hoping it can similarly end its long losing streak to the Buckeyes here, as well. Ohio State's "super-frosh," the 6-8 Jared Sullinger (17.4-9.8) is in a "mini-slump," scoring 12 or fewer points in three of his last four games. Just maybe, the Nittany Lions can break through. Why not? They gave the Buckeyes a 40-minute battle in their 69-66 defeat at Columbus back on Jan 15 and Senior Night will be a big deal for guard Talor Battle (20.5-4.4-3.1), first Big 10 player to reach 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists, plus the 6-8 F Jeff Brooks (13.6-6.6). Battle is just 60 points shy of breaking Penn State's all-time scoring record and needs just six rebounds to become the third Division I player to amass 2,000 points, 600 rebounds and 500 assists in his career, joining two ACC players, Duke's Danny Ferry and Maryland's Greivis Vasquez. Penn St is almost surely NIT-bound, so one could argue that this is the most important game left on its schedule, unless the team were to get back to the NIT Final 4. I'm getting ahead of myself. Take the points tonight with Penn St.