KELSO
Added
50 Units Texas Tech -9
Larry Ness
CBB
8* St. Marys
8* Utah State
8* Arizona State
PPP
CBB
5% Loyola-Chicago -4.5
4% Boise St -10
3% Southern California +4.5
3% James Madison -9.5
3% St. Marys +2
3% Memphis Grizzlies +1
ASA
3* Timberwolves -2.5
3* Bucks Under 184
Carolina Sports
5* Marquette
4* Cal-Irvine
4* Cal- Santa Barbara
4* Cal Poly SLO
3* East Carolina
3* BYU
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
10* Colorado / Minnesota Under 5.5
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the "under":
The Wild have seen the total go "under" the number in 11 of 21 games this season, including in 4 of 8 on the road; last night they beat Nashville 5-2.
Over the last 2-seasons this team has seen the total go "under" the number in 20 of 34 after a win by 2-goals or more (which means that is susceptible to offensive letdowns); also in 12 of 21 after playing to 3 or more consecutive "overs" (the fact that the Wild have played to 4-consecutive "overs", only strengthens this trend for us tonight).
On the other side of the rink: Colorado has seen the total go "under" the number in just 6 of 21 to start the year, including in just 2 of 8 in front of the home town crowd; on the 25th it lost 3-2 in Edmonton.
There are 2 very significant "under" trends that this team has exhibited in this position over the last 2-seasons; in 15 of 25 after playing 3 consecutive road games and in 33 of 55 vs. division opponents.
Bottom line: Very important to note that in 8 of these teams last 10 vs. each other, regardless of the location, the total has in fact indeed also gone "under" the posted number.
Backup Peter Budaj is just 1-2-1 in 4-starts vs. Minnesota, but has a stellar 1.44 GAA; after losing back to back games, and especially in the closing moments in Edmonton, I'm expecting this rested team to come out and play with a concerted effort on the defensive side of the puck tonight.
Niklas Backstrom is 14-3-2 with a 2.10 GAA and two shutouts in his career vs. the Avs; keep in mind that the Wild hadn't reached the 5-goal mark since Oct 19th, before last night's victory; suffice to say I expect this team to be a bit slower out there this evening.
Overwhelming factors that all add up to a 10* DIVISIONAL "TOP TOTAL" on the UNDER!