Monday 12/31/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for NCAAFB, NFL & NBA games.
Cole Faxon
Dec 31 '18, 12:00 PM in 1h
NCAA-F | Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati
Play on: Cincinnati -6 -109
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Bobby Conn
Dec 31 '18, 12:00 PM in 1h
NCAA-F | Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati
Play on: Cincinnati -6½ -110
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Mike Williams
Dec 31 '18, 12:00 PM in 1h
NCAA-F | Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati
Play on: Virginia Tech +7 -115
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Steve Janus
Dec 31 '18, 12:00 PM in 1h
NCAA-F | Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati
Play on: Virginia Tech +7 -115
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Sal Michaels
Dec 31 '18, 2:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-F | Pittsburgh vs Stanford
Play on: Pittsburgh +5 -110
Hunter Price
Dec 31 '18, 3:00 PM in 4h
NCAA-F | Michigan State vs Oregon
Play on: Michigan State +2 -109
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Kenny Walker
Dec 31 '18, 3:00 PM in 4h
NCAA-F | Michigan State vs Oregon
Play on: Oregon -1½ -109
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Dustin Hawkins
Dec 31 '18, 3:00 PM in 4h
NCAA-F | Michigan State vs Oregon
Play on: Michigan State +2½ -104
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Mark Wilson
Dec 31 '18, 3:00 PM in 4h
NCAA-F | Michigan State vs Oregon
Play on: Oregon -2½ -110
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Info Plays
Dec 31 '18, 3:45 PM in 5h
NCAA-F | Missouri vs Oklahoma State
Play on: Missouri -8 -105
Jimmy Boyd
Dec 31 '18, 6:05 PM in 7h
NHL | Flyers vs Hurricanes
Play on: Hurricanes -124
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Mike Lundin
Dec 31 '18, 6:05 PM in 7h
NBA | Magic vs Hornets
Play on: Hornets -7 -110 at pinnacle
#NBA FREE PICK FROM MIKE LUNDIN
The Orlando Magic snapped an 0-4 SU and ATS losing streak with an emphatic 116-87 win over Toronto Friday night and followed that up with a second straight triumph over Detroit last night.
Extremely tough spot for the Magic here though as they'll play on no rest and their third game in four nights, facing a Charlotte side looking to bounce back from a loss at Washington on Saturday.
The Hornets have covered the spread in only two of their last nine games but put a 120-88 beating on Orlando back in October and they're 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings. They should also be very motivated to put on a show here and close out the year with an exciting performance in front of their home fans.
Free pick on Charlotte Hornets.
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John Anthony Sports
Monday's Free Selection: Montana Grizzlies - 9 1/2
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Kenny Towers
FREE PLAY FOR MONDAY - GOLDEN ST/PHOENIX UNDER 227
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High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Monday: Northern Colorado Bears - 2 1/2
Vegas Steam Line
Your free winner for Monday: CREIGHTON (CBB) +1 over Providence
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Teyas Sports
FREE PICK 12/31 MARSHALL UNDER 136
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The Last Call
Early Monday's Free Play: Virginia Cavaliers - 19 1/2
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Arthur Ralph
FREE play MONDAY CFB Northwestern + 7
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: Orlando +7' NBA
Hawkeye Sports
Monday's Free Pick: Anaheim Ducks + 145
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Jack Brayman
My free winner for Monday is on the Providence Friars against the Creighton Blue Jays, laying the cheap number in this Big East battle.
With near identical numbers, there is one glaring stat that stands out to me as these two open conference play.
While the Jays may lead the conference with 85.2 points per game, they also allow the second-most points in the Big East, giving up 74.4. Providence, on the other hand, has the fourth-best scoring defense in the league, giving up just 67.5 points per game. That number shrinks at home, where the Friars are giving up just 62.6 points per contest.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are giving up a whopping 88.5 points per contest in true road games. That won't bode well against a Providence team that is 8-2 at home versus Creighton. The Friars have posted a 15-8 mark all-time against Creighton, including a 9-4 record since the Jays joined the league for the 2013-14 season.
Junior forward Alpha Diallo will lead our offensive charge, as he's recorded a team-best four double-doubles this season, and has registered six games with 20 or more points. With a challenge against the offensive Jays, I expect Diallo to put up another 20-point effort. He leads the Friars in scoring (17.4 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg).
I've also been impressed by Isaiah Jackson, who has been productive off the bench for Providence, in 10 of the team's 13 games this season. The redshirt senior has scored in double figures in seven of the team's 13 games and ranks fourth on the squad in scoring (10.1 ppg). Jackson is second of the team in 3-point shooting at 44.2 percent (19-of-43).
Low number to lay with a stringent defense, at home on New Year's Eve, in front of what should be a raucous crowd - lay it with Providence.
4* PROVIDENCE
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Tommy Brunson
Monday comp play is to take the dozen or so points the oddsmakers are giving the Atlanta Hawks as they play at Indiana this afternoon.
This is the third meeting of the season between the teams, and while the Pacers have won once at home and once at Atlanta, Indy's margin of victory has been 8 points both times.
The Hawks were able to cover the meeting at Indiana, as they were catching +11 1/2 points that night, and I think they will be able to cover today's game, as Atlanta is currently riding a 5-2 straight up roll that has seen them win outright in their last pair of games.
The Pacers are on a 4-0 run both straight up and against the spread, and they have also punched their ticket in 8 of their last 10 games both straight up and against the spread.
Indy is not going to lose this game, but with this being a holiday night, look for the Pacers to be just distracted enough to prevent them from covering this big number against a Hawks team that is easily playing their best basketball of the season.
Hawks the call.
3* ATLANTA
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Chris Jordan
My free play for tonight is on ice, as I like the underdog Pittsburgh Penguins, catching money from the Minnesota Wild.
It's ridiculous for me to think the Penguins are an underdog in this game, when they're playing some of their best hockey of the season, and are on the brink of overtaking Columbus in the Metropolitan Division, and creeping up on division-leading Washington.
The Penguins have won a season-high five-straight games, and seven of their last eight contests entering tonight. The Pens have also won three straight road games. And part of that win streak included a 2-1 win at defending Stanley Cup champion Washington before a 2-1 home win over these same Wild on Dec. 20.
Bryan Rust scored both goals against Minnesota, off assists from Jake Guentzel. On both tallies, the Pens took advantage of Minnesota turnovers behind its own net.
Now the Penguins roll into the Twin Cities with one of the best special teams unit right now. Pittsburgh has gone 6 for 7 on the power play in its past two games. And over its past 21 games, Pittsburgh is 47 for 52 (90.4 percent) on the penalty kill. The Penguins have been perfect on the penalty kill for five consecutive games, going 14 for 14 in that span.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be skating in his 900th NHL game tonight against the Wild, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL's best player score a goal, or two. Crosby enters this game red hot, having tallied multiple points in three-straight games (1 goal, 7 assists). Stretching back even further, Crosby has at least one point in seven of his past eight games (2 goals, 12 assists).
Take the Penguins, who are 10-3-1 in December, and continue to roll tonight.
3* PENGUINS
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Golden Dragon
FREE WINNER for Monday
Indiana -11' NBA