Monday 12/23/19 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for NFL, NCAAF & NBA games.
Matt Zylbert
W.G.Ramirez
#481 GB Packers
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Paul Leiner
NFL, CBB & NBA Picks 12/23
100* Packers +5
100* Canisius +6.5
100* Hawks +1
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Cole Faxon
Dec 23 '19, 2:30 PM in 3h
NCAA-F | Marshall vs Central Florida
Play on: UNDER 60½ -110
FREE PLAY on Marshall/Central Florida under 60½ -110
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Red Dog Sports
Dec 23 '19, 2:45 PM in 4h
Soccer | Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers
Play on: Blackburn Rovers -118 at Pinnacle
Blackburn -118
The free soccer play takes place in England on Monday.
Blackburn is 4-0-1 in its last 5 and won its last 4 at home. Wigan is last of the 24 teams at 4-12-6 (-15 goals).
Wigan 1
Blackburn 2
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Hunter Price
Dec 23 '19, 6:00 PM in 7h
NCAA-B | Canisius vs Siena
Play on: Siena -5½ -110 at sportsbook
1* Free Pick on Siena -5½ -110
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Mike Williams
Dec 23 '19, 7:00 PM in 8h
NCAA-B | Houston vs Georgia Tech
Play on: Georgia Tech +8 -109 at GTBets
1* on Georgia Tech +8 -109
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Kenny Walker
Dec 23 '19, 7:05 PM in 8h
NHL | Panthers vs Lightning
Play on: Lightning -180 at sportsbook
Free Pick on Lightning
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Bobby Conn
Dec 23 '19, 7:05 PM in 8h
NHL | Blue Jackets vs Islanders
Play on: Blue Jackets +155 at sportsbook
1* Free Play on Blue Jackets +155
The Islanders (23-8-3, 49 points) are one spot from the top of the Metropolitan while the Blue Jackets (16-14-6, 38 points) are one spot from the bottom. Tonight, they’ll face off in New York.
Columbus is one of the hotter teams in hockey as they enter tonight’s game on a four-game winning streak. The Blue Jackets lost a pair of games before that winning streak, but even those defeats came in overtime. Most recently, Columbus beat New Jersey by a score of 5-1.
On average, the Blue Jackets are scoring 2.64 goals per game (25th) while allowing 2.86 goals per game (13th).
Joonas Korpisalo is allowing 2.56 goals per game with a .910 save percentage this season. Korpisalo has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his last seven games.
New York has lost two of their last three games, and they needed overtime and a shootout in their last two victories. After allowing eight goals in a loss to Nashville, the Islanders fell to Anaheim by shootout in a 6-5 contest. The first time the Islanders met the Blue Jackets, New York needed overtime to win.
On average, the Islanders are scoring 2.94 goals per game (19th) while allowing 2.56 goals per game (4th).
Thomas Greiss is allowing 2.39 goals per game and owns a .924 save percentage.
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Ray Monohan
Dec 23 '19, 7:05 PM in 8h
NBA | Bulls vs Magic
Play on: Magic -4 -115 at BMaker
Magic -4.5
Monday night we get an Eastern conference matchup between the Chicago Bulls 12-19 (17-14 ATS) and the Orlando Magic 12-17 (11-16-2 ATS). The Magic appear to be headed in the wrong direction of late losers of 6 of their last 7. On the other side of this one the Bulls look to push their win streak to a three-game streak after outlasting Washington in OT last game out.
Out injured on Monday are Otto Porter Jr. for the Bulls, and Al-Farouq Aminu for the Magic. The last time these two teams played Markkannen's free throws was what got the Bulls a win, I'm predicting it to go the other way, as the Magic won't miss 15+ free throws in this one.
Last game out the Magic struggled shooting, but they did fare quite well vs. the Blazers in the turnover battle, and rebounding. I'm not sure the Bulls will have an answer for Vucevic and his 10RPG or Gordon in this one, and when you throw in Fournier (19PPG, 3.2APG, 42% from 3, and a nice 47% FG%. The Magic just match up nicely vs. Chicago.
Some trends to note. Orlando are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Eastern conference. The Bulls are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 Monday games, and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win.
This could end up being the type of game where we're not sure who will take command until half-way thru the 4th quarter. So buckle up. I'm on the Magic -4. The home crowd (the ones that show up)...will help the Magic play with a little more energy this evening.
Play on the Magic -4.
Good Luck, Razor Ray.
Monday 5* FREE NBA ATS Play
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Totals Guru
Dec 23 '19, 7:05 PM in 8h
NBA | Wizards vs Knicks
Play on: UNDER 230½ -105
Free Total Annihilator On Wizards vs Knicks under 230½ -105
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Brandon Lee
Dec 23 '19, 7:35 PM in 9h
NBA | Jazz vs Heat
Play on: Heat -4 -108 at Pinnacle
10* FREE NBA PICK (Heat -4)
I'll take my chances here with Miami covering the 4-point spread at home against the Jazz. I just feel this is too good a price to pass up with the Heat. Miami is 12-1 SU and 10-2 ATS on their home floor this season.
Utah does come in having won 5 straight, but are just 1-2-2 ATS in this stretch and the 5 wins have come against the likes of the Timberwolves, Warriors, Magic, Hawks and Hornets. Jazz are also going to be without starting point guard Mike Conley and could have a hard time getting up for this game with it being the final game of a 3-game road trip. Real easy for them to just kind of go through the motions.
Utah has a losing road record on the season and are just 1-5 ATS last 6 road games vs a team with a winning home record. Heat are 13-4 ATS last 17 games as a favorite and 7-2 ATS last 9 at home against a team with a losing road record. Give me Miami -4!
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Steve Janus
Dec 23 '19, 8:05 PM in 9h
NBA | Spurs vs Grizzlies
Play on: Spurs -1 -106 at Pinnacle
1* Free Sharp Play on Spurs -1 -106
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Pro Computer Gambler
Dec 23 '19, 8:15 PM in 9h
NFL | Packers vs Vikings
Play on: Vikings -4 -109 at Pinnacle
NFL SYSTEM OF THE WEEK: Since 1989, the team with the lessor team record is 192-113-11 ATS (63.0%) in regular season, post week 15. No totals below 35. -- Without a doubt, both the best trend and best System of the week by strict metrics. Also a very simple and straightforward trend which, when combined with excellent results, is nothing but $$$
This one is active on the Buccs, Bears, Chargers, Bengals, Jets, Titans and Vikings this week
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Rob Vinciletti
Dec 23 '19, 10:00 PM in 11h
NCAA-B | San Francisco vs Fresno State
Play on: San Francisco +1 -110 at YouWager
The NCAAB Comp Play is on San Francisco at 10:30 eastern. The Dons are a solid 9-3 on the year and have a huge RPI Scale edge at 83 compared to 275 for Fresno. They have played a tougher schedule and have covered 7 of 10 vs .400 Or less teams winning all of their games vs teams ranked 125 or worse. The Bulldogs have no bite failing to cover 4 of 5 vs winning teams and 3 of 4 on Mondays. All of their wins are vs teams ranked 200 or worse. The road team has covered 5 of 7 in this series. Play on San Francisco. For the NCAAB Free play. Take San Francisco. Rob V- GC Sports
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Jimmy Boyd
Dec 23 '19, 10:05 PM in 11h
NBA | Rockets vs Kings
Play on: Kings +6 -115 at Bovada
1* NBA - Free Pick on Sacramento Kings +6
This is a great spot and price to back the Kings as a decently priced home dog against the Rockets. Houston comes in off a 139-125 win at Phoenix on Saturday. While they did manage to cover as a 9-point favorite, the Rockets are still just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Houston has also struggled to cover off a big win, as they are just 1-4 ATS last 5 when coming off a win by more than 10 points. Rockets could also have a hard time not looking ahead to their game on Christmas Day. Kings have dropped 3 straight, but all 3 of those came on the road.
Sacramento will be highly motivated here to get back on track with a win over the Rockets and are 9-3 ATS last 12 off a SU loss. Kings are also 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games when listed as an underdog and 9-1 ATS last 10 vs a team with a winning record. They are also 22-8 ATS last 30 when coming in having lost 3 of 4 and 14-4 ATS last 18 off 2 or more consecutive road losses.
On top of all that, road underdogs off 2 or more consecutive road losses in the month of December are a dominant 74-39 (66%) ATS over the last 5 seasons. Take Sacramento.
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Stephen DeAngelo
Nice outright 3♦ NFL complimentary winner yesterday as the Cardinals stunned the Seahawks in Seattle. For Monday’s freebie, we’ll take the generous points with Marshall against Central Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa.
There’s no question that Central Florida is the more talented of these two squads, particularly on offense. The Black Knights average 43 points and 536.6 yards per game. Not only do those figures rank No. 4 and No. 6 in the nation, respectively, they dwarf Marshall’s averages of 25.8 points and 397 yards per contest.
However, after cashing in each of its first three games of the season—two of which were against Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic—UCF was a complete money-burner, going 2-7 ATS. During that seven-game span, the Black Knights posted just three wins of more than 17 points (which is what they’ll need to cover this number): They beat UConn 56-21 (as a 43-point favorite!), Temple 63-21 (as an 11-point chalk) and South Florida 34-7 (as a 24-point choice).
Meanwhile, after dropping three of its first five games, Marshall rallied to go 6-1 down the stretch, posting four double-digit wins Admittedly, the Thundering Herd were terrible against the number also, covering in just four of 12 games. But they were favored in nine of those contests; in three games as an underdog, Marshall won once and cashed twice (including a 14-7 loss at Boise State as a 14-point dog).
Then there’s this incredible stat: In 13 bowl games in school history, Marshall is 12-1 SU and ATS. That’s not a typo: The Herd are 12-for-13 in bowl games, both on the field and at the window. That includes a 3-0 SU and ATS mark in this Gasparilla Bowl, the most recent being last year’s 38-20 rout of South Florida as a three-point favorite. Conversely, UCF is 1-3 SU and ATS in its last four postseason contests, and underdogs have brought home the money in seven of the Black Knights’ last 10 bowl outings.
2* MARSHALL
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Mitchell Newman
Minnesota opened as the -4 1/2 point favorites. It was announced on Thursday that a key piece of their offense - that would be RB Dalvin Cook - is likely to miss this contest and yet the line has gone up to -5 1/2 points on the host Vikings!?!?!?!?
I have a very STRONG feeling that this line is a flat-out T-R-A-P!!!
Kirk Cousins is now 0-8 both straight up and against the spread after Minnesota +3 lost 37-30 under the Monday night lights on the 2nd of this month to the Seahawks in Seattle.
Again, why has this line gone up instead of down on Minny!?!?!?!?
Let me just tell you that the folks out there in Nevada ain't stupid.
I look at a line like this and I immediately feel that the linesmakers know something about this Green Bay team that you and I don't know, especially since the Packers are 11-3 with one of the wins coming back on Week Two at home over Minnesota 21-16. That win by Green Bay did stop a 3-0-1 Minnesota straight up run in the rivalry and it has the Pack just this win tonight - or next week at Detroit - away from clinching the NFC North Title.
I think the most glaring issue I see with backing Green Bay is their offense just has not looked "right" as we head into the playoff season. The Packers have mustered 21 and 20 points since their 31 point "explosion" at the putrid New York Giants to start the month of December. How will that offense fare against this Minnesota defense that created 7 turnovers last time out in a 39-10 rout of the L.A. Chargers? The game before the Minny "D" limited a bad Detroit team to a meaningless late TD in a 20-7 home win and cover.
Speaking of home, Minnesota has protected their "Viking Ship" to a tune of 6-0 straight up this year with a 4-2 spread mark. The non-covers have come when they were favored by double-digits. Including the postseason, Minnesota stands at 18-7-2 against the spread as the home favorite since US Bank Stadium opened in the 2016 season. That mark includes a 2-0 ledger against tonight's opponent.
Kirk Cousins has quietly put together a pretty damn good season this year, so mark me down for that career Monday night record to see its first win and cover go down on the stat sheet after this game has concluded.
Vikings by 7.
2* MINNESOTA
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Bob Valentino
Monday night comp play on Miami as the home favorite to cool off the visiting Utah Jazz.
Utah is rolling right now, as they hit this Monday nighter having won 5 in a row. This will be the last of 3 in a row on the road before they head home and enjoy Christmas, but I don't think they are heading back to Salt Lake City with a win in their sneakers.
Miami has gone 12-1 at home this season, and are fresh off a 15-point home win and cover over the Knicks their last time out. That cover brought their home spread mark to 11-2 for the first 13 games, and this is reasonable number for them to cover.
Utah is 0-3 against the spread when listed as an underdog from +3 to +7 points thus far this season, and are on an 0-4 spread slide when facing teams with a winning record this season.
This will be the first meeting of the year between the teams and it is Miami that has won 4 of the past 5 series meetings with covers in 3 of the 5 meetings.
Jazz have been playing much better hoops of late, but with this being their third roadie over the past 5 days and with the Christmas holiday on their minds, I look for the Heat at home to do what they have been doing all season on their home floor and that is notch the straight up win and the against the spread cover.
Go ahead and lay the small juice with Miami.
4* MIAMI
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