Doug Upstone
Minnesota at Buffalo
Play: Buffalo
Buffalo seeks it's first victory of the season when they host the Wild Monday night. It has been a very slow start for the Sabres, being outscored by ten goals. To their credit, they have had a tough schedule and has shown they can be competitive against good teams in the last week losing tough ones to Tampa Bay and Chicago. Take the home underdog tonight as they erase that nasty goose egg from their record.
Red Dog Sports
Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins
Play: Detroit Red Wings
Detroit has won 4 of the last 5 meetings. Boston did win an earlier meeting this year. This game starts at 1pm. Boston and Detroit met yesterday in baseball and they meet again today in hockey. Boston was able to win two games yesterday with fantastic finishes (Red Sox and Patriots). Can the Red Wings pull off an upset in Beantown on the ice?
Bruce Marshall
Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres
Pick: Minnesota Wild
There's no reason to play the "they're due" angle with Buffalo until the Sabres prove they can at least compete. Which they haven't done lately, winless in their first six games of the new season. The specifics are pretty frightening...a league-low six goals and outshot in every game, including a 40-29 margin in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Chicago. The Sabres, the only team yet to reach two points though no club has played more games, have scored more than a goal just once in six games. Minnesota held Dallas to 19 shots Saturday in a 5-1 road win, outshooting its eighth straight regular-season foe. The scoring chances aren't likely to come much easier against the Wild), who have allowed two goals in their last eight periods. They've faced fewer than 20 shots in three of their five games and are limiting opponents to a league-low 21.4 per game.
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Indianapolis vs San DiegoFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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This Monday Night Football contest between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers has a chance to be a real shootout. Ever since the Colts acquired Trent Richardson from the Browns, they have scored 98 points in three games as Andrew Luck’s passer rating has been climbing steadily. And that is without Trent doing much as just his presence has forced defenses to respect the run. Luck and his teammates can now do some damage here vs. a Chargers’ team that ranks 28th in total defense and 27th in passing defense while generously allowing 8.1 yards per pass attempt. The Chargers are averaging 29.0 points per game at home and a big reason has been the revival of Philip Rivers, who ranks third in the NFL with a 110.6 passer rating. The ‘over’ is 36-16-2 in the Chargers’ last 54 games after they rushed less than 90 yards in their previous game.
Bob Balfe
St. Louis Cardinals -120
The Dodgers could have never dreamed for the pitching they received in Game 1 and in Game 2. They still lost those games. Money can buy you great pitchers, but they can't buy knowing how to win. Simply put this Cardinals team knows how to win the close one and are a better postseason team. If St. Louis wins tonight I expect them to sweep earning their spot in the World Series. Take the Cardinals.
Dave Price
Cardinals/Dodgers Over 6½
The first two games of this series finished easily under the number, but let's not forget that the Dodgers finished over the total in each of their four NLDS games and the Cardinals finished over the total in four of their five NLDS contests. The over is 15-7 in the Cardinals' last 22 playoff games and 7-2 in the Dodgers' last nine playoff games. The over is 12-4-1 in the Cardinals' last 17 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower and 5-1 in the Dodgers' last six games with the total set at 6.5 or lower. The over is 5-1 in the Cardinals' last six road games, 6-1 in their last seven road playoff games and 7-0 in their last seven League Championship Series road games. The over is 3-0-1 in Wainwright's last four starts overall, 8-1 in his last nine starts with the total set at 6.5 or lower and 9-4 in his last 13 road starts. The over is 4-1-1 in Ryu's last six starts with the total set at 6.5 or lower. Take the over.
Joe Gavazzi
LA Dodgers +105
Cards won each of the first two games on their strong home field by 1R against LA's best, Greinke and Kershaw. But the Dodgers still have those two aces to throw once again and this matchup with Ryu pitching from a mound where in 14 starts he had a 2.23 ERA. As I wrote in the previous two games, when not in the middle of their 42-8 mid-season blitz, the Dodgers have gone 54-65 including 23-23 entering this game and 4-7 of late. They could be without as many as three of their best bats with Kemp (out) and Ramirez and Ethier both ailing. The Cards have been far more consistent down the stretch as they enter today on runs of 33-15 and 21-7. But most of that success has been at home where they are 24-4 of late, and off a loss where they are 46-21 for the season. Since both the Dodger aces lost on the road, it's really not a stretch to believe Wainwright could do the same as, despite being in good current form, he did post a somewhat mediocre 3.36 ERA on the road. Opinion only on the Dodgers in game 3.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
SAN DIEGO +1.5 over Indianapolis: San Diego has played well this year at home and they are 21-3 ATS since 1992 vs the AFC South. The Bolts also are catching the Colts in a bad spot as Indianapolis is off the big win vs the Seattle and they have a very emotional game with the Broncos on deck. Despite the win over Seattle, the Colts were still outgained, by 106 yards in the game, while San Diego outgained the Raiders by 128 yards, despite their 10 point loss. San Diego just needs to clean up a few mistakes and they will be fine in McCoys first year. They also must win this game or the San Diego fan bass may grumble a bit. The Dog is 7-0 ATS the last 7 in the series, while San Diego is over that span. Big game for the Chargers and a bad spot for the Colts should have them leaving the west coast with a loss here.
2 UNIT PLAY
San Diego/ Indy Over 50: Should be a fun one tonight. The Bolts will put up points, but they will also give up points, especially to a very solid Indy offense. Both teams should put the ball in the air plenty and that should lead to clock stoppages. I expect this one in the mid 50's
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
LA DODGERS +105 over St Louis: Going with the Dodgers in this one. This was an excellent team at home this year and with their backs to the wall I expect them to have a good showing. The last team to rebound from an 0-2 deficit in the NLCS was the 1985 Cardinals, who accomplished it against the Dodgers, so I look for LA to come out and give themselves a chance of matching that feat by taking this one. They do noit want to fall behind 3-0. Wainright is great in the post season, but not so great vs the Dodgers, with a 4-4 career mark. Look for LA to take this one, behind a strong outing from Ryu.
Chris Jordan
My free play for tonight is on the Over in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Call me crazy, but two of the better hitting teams in the league are coming to sunny Southern California, both hitting sub-.200 and you're telling me we're going to see this paltry display continue? I don't think so.
The Dodgers have no choice but to get their offense going, if they want to claw their way back into this series. Sure, a stellar pitching performance by whomever is on the slab the next two nights is imperative, but they need to hit the ball. They need to manufacture runs. They need to stroke bombs.
As good as both Adam Wainwright and Hyun-Jin Ryu have been for the Cardinals and Dodgers, respectively, make note the Redbirds have gone over in his last three starts, while Ryu has a 4.50 ERA in his last three trips to the bump. Knowing the Cards have been giving Wainwright plenty of run support, and with Ryu somewhat struggling, even more reason to think coming home is just what Los Angeles' lineup needed.
Play this one high tonight, as these two will get closer to double digits.
4♦ Cardinals/Dodgers OVER
Jeff Benton
Your Monday freebie is to play the percentages and take the Under in the Cards-Dodgers game.
Not much offense to speak of in either dugout right now, as both games played in the Gateway City played Under the total, as the teams have now played Unders in 5 of their last 6 meetings dating back to the regular season, and 6 of the 9 meetings overall this year between the Cardinals and Dodgers have landed Under the total.
The pitching matchup also suggests a tough night at the plate for the hitters, as Adam Wainwright has allowed a grand total of two runs in his 16 postseason innings coming into this start, and sports a 0.84 ERA for this last 3 starts this season.
Hyun-Jin Ryu struggled in his lone playoff start against Atlanta 8 days ago, but his 7-4 home mark with a 2.41 ERA for the year at Dodgers Stadium suggests he can get back on track tonight and keep his team in this contest.
Going to play the Under here in Game Three of the N.L.C.S.
2♦ ST. LOUIS-L.A. DODGERS UNDER
Scott Delaney
For my free winner, I'm going to the ice, as I like a total in the NHL. I told you I didn't like anything else, so why would I force something on you for free. The next best thing after my 40 Dime AFC Total of the Month is on the Edmonton Oilers/Washington Capitals Over 5.5 goals.
What we have here on the young season is a pair of teams who have struggled and rank near the bottom of the league in goals-allowed. Washington is ranked 27th in allowing 4.00 goals per game, while the Oilers are dead last in 30th place in allowing 5.00 goals per game.
Both of these teams are looking to snap out of losing streaks, too, as Washington has dropped three in a row, while Edmonton is looking to avoid a three-game losing streak. And because they've both been losing big, I would suspect they'll each attack one another aggressively.
You can expect to see Oilers forward Taylor Hall extend his point streak to four, as he has a goal and three assists over the past three games and could bulk that total against the Caps with ease. For Washington, it's hard not to like Alex Ovechkin, who leads the Capitals with five goals and seven points in five games this season.
This one goes high tonight.
4♦ Oilers/Capitals OVER
Brad Wilton
Monday's free play winner will be the Under in the Cardinals-Dodgers game.
Two games played, and a grand total of 6 runs have been scored between the teams, as St. Louis took Game One, 3-2 as that game held low, and then they took Game Two by a 1-0 count, with that game holding well under the total.
The Under in this series this year is now on a 5-1 run the last 6 meetings, and an overall run of 6-3 for the year.
The Cardinals have their "ace" Adam Wainwright on the mound, and Wainwright has allowed a grand total of 2 runs this postseason, as he shutdown the Pirates in the division series over his 16 innings pitched.
In fact, Wainwright has allowed one run or less in 5 of his last 7 starts on the year, and with Hanley Ramirez dealing with a rib injury and Yasiel Puig simply not hitting, look for Wainwright to post some more goose eggs up on the scoreboard at Chavez Ravine tonight.
Los Angeles will counter with Hyun-Jin Ryu who had a shaky postseason debut in his start last week against the Braves, but he is still 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA at Dodgers Stadium for the year.
Take the Cards and Dodgers to hold Under the total.
3♦ ST. LOUIS-L.A. DODGERS UNDER
NHL Predictions
Oilers / Capitals Over 5.5
The Edmonton Oilers have gotten off to a frustrating start to the season, well so have the Capitals actually. My pick tonight features two teams that have been on the losing end more often than not early on in 2013. The Oilers are coming off a disastrous defeat after allowing the Leafs to tie it up with seconds remaining, and then going on to losing it in overtime. Scoring goals this year haven't been the Oilers problems, but Devan Dubnyk and company have had plenty avoiding goals. Dubnyk now has a record of 0-3-1 on the year with a GAA of 5.43! Watching him last season there were signs that he isn't going to be a long-term option for the Oilers, but a short-term fix. That was certainly on display Saturday evening, as the Toronto Maple Leafs lit him up for six goals. The Oilers do however have several offensive minded play makers in their lineup, defense forget about it, but offensively they can do some damage. The Oilers may opt to go with Jason LaBarera, who may provide a little bit of relief, but still, the Oilers are allowing five goals per game no matter who is in net. This is a perfect opportunity for the Capitals to get their offense in check against a team that has no idea how to keep it out. I like some goals to be scored in this one to make for the most entertaining game of Monday.
Harry Bondi
Indianapolis / San Diego Over 50
Both of these teams can really move the ball and score. Indy has scored on everybody and San Diego is averaging over 400 yards a game on offense and has played over the total in four of its first five games this season. The league has also instructed referees in National TV games to be less aggressive in calling fouls and let the teams play and it has showed as five of the six Monday night games have gone over the posted total. more of the same tonight. Go OVER the total in tonight's Monday Night game.