Nelly
Northwestern + over Minnesota
On Thursday these teams had opposite results then either likely deserved as Northwestern led Purdue the entire game until surrendering the lead in the final minute. Minnesota was thoroughly out-played at Wisconsin until a furious rally in the final few minutes forced overtime where the Gophers scored an improbably victory. This will be just the fourth true road game for Minnesota all season and all three road wins have been very narrow, requiring comebacks and good fortune. This will be the second road game in four days and the third in the past four games for Minnesota which should be a challenge for a young team with limited Big Ten experience. Northwestern is now 0-4 in conference play but the Wildcats could easily be 2-2 or better with only the loss at Wisconsin being a bad loss. Northwestern is 7-2 S/U at home this season including a win over Florida State and this should be the best Wildcats team in several years despite the poor Big Ten record so far. Northwestern is allowing just 53 points per game at home this season and Minnesota is just 3-7 ATS in the last ten meetings of this series. This looks like a tough spot for Minnesota even though the team has proved many wrong already this year.
Yankee Capper
3 Units - Pittsburgh Penguins -110
3 Units - Eagles/Cardinals Under 47
3 Units - Purdue -13
3DAILY WINNERS
2* Pittsburgh
Opinion – Over 47 in NFC title game.
Edmonton - ML
3Daily Winners
Iowa vs. Purdue
Play: Iowa +13
PLAY ON underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points, like Iowa, who are good shooting team (45-47.5 percent) against an excellent defensive team like Purdue who holds opposing teams to under 40 percent shooting. What helps set this system up is the underdog must be good ball handling team (14.5 or less turnovers per game) vs. an average pressure defense (14.5-17.5 turnovers PG) with each team having played 15 or more games on the season. We used this system earlier and it was correct and now has 24-4 ATS record since 2004.
WHO2BETON
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers won both regular season meetings vs. the Baltimore Ravens, but the first one was by three points in overtime here in Pittsburgh, and the second one was by four points on a controversial Steelers touchdown in the closing seconds.
We will gladly grab the Ravens here at this generous price in what figures to be a low scoring affair. After all, that second last-second loss to Pittsburgh is the only loss by the Ravens in their last eight games, and they are 4-0 straight up on the road during this stretch including the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Baltimore is known for their defense, and rightfully so, but Pittsburgh has very similar numbers defensively, so this game will come down to which offense is better able to solve what the opposing defense is doing. Well, we feel that the Ravens are underrated in this area, as they 24.5 points per game on the road and quarterback Joey Flacco is not playing like a rookie, protecting the ball extremely well.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh offense is averaging 24.3 points at home, and they do not figure to reach that figure against this defense. Sure, they busted out for 35 points last week, but the San Diego defense has been vulnerable all year, so Pittsburgh may have a false sense of confidence entering this battle.
Perhaps most telling here is the fact that the Ravens have allowed 10 points or less in three straight games and they have allowed 13 points or less in seven of their last eight contests. With numbers like that, we feel compelled to take nearly a touchdown in this spot.
Pick: Ravens +6
Jimmy The Moose
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche
Prediction: Calgary Flames
The Flames played and lost last night but they'll bounce back tonight in Colorado. The Flames have won 9 of their last 11 games overall. Calgary is 4-1 in their last 5 road games. In their last 8 games vs. a team from the Northwest Division the Flames are 8-0. Calgary has won 7 of their last 9 vs. a team from the Western Conference. Colorado has lost 6 of their last 8 vs. a team from the Western Conference. The Avalanche are 3-8 in their last 11 as a home dog. Colorado has lost the last 4 meetings between the clubs. Play on the Calgary Flames -.
Ben Burns
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks
Prediction: Vancouver Canucks
Enough is enough! The Canucks desperately need a home victory and this should be a perfect opportunity to get one. They got their superstar goalie (Roberto Luongo) back and now he's got a game under his belt. The Blue Jackets, who are just 7-15 on the road, have already beaten the Canucks twice this season but both those games came at Columbus. The Canucks lost their last game by a score of 4-1. That's worth noting as we find them at 7-2 the last nine times that they were coming off a game in which they scored one goal or less. Looking back further and we find the Canucks at a profitable 30-16 (+14.6) the last 46 times that they were coming off a game in which they scored one goal or less. During the same stretch, they've also gone 24-11 when playing with two or more day's rest in between games. Consider laying the price with the desperate and revenge-minded favorite.
Lee Kostroski
Flames @ Colorado Avalanche
PICK: Calgary Flames
The Flames had won nine of their last ten games and were at home against the Coyotes last night. What happened? They looked right past Phoenix and they paid for it! The Coyotes got the upset win at Calgary last night and it leaves the Flames very hungry for tonight’s game at Colorado. Defeating the Avalanche hasn’t been a problem for the Flames this season. Calgary is a perfect 4-0 against the Avs and, again, before last night’s game they had been red hot overall winning nine of their last ten games! While the Flames are a stellar 11-2-1 their last 14 games, the Avalanche have dropped three in a row and six of their last nine. In seven of their last nine games they’ve managed just two goals or less! During this poor stretch the special teams play has doomed Colorado. While the Avs are converting on only 10% of their power play opportunities, opponents have been able to convert nearly 30% of their power play opportunities over their last nine games! Goalie Andrew Raycroft has lost each of his last two starts for the Avs while Peter Budaj, expected to start tonight, is winless in his last four games. The Flames have won all four meetings with the Avalanche and have scored 13 goals in those games. Also, in their last three games with Colorado, Calgary has given up just one goal. Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff is 7-1-1 with a 1.57 GAA in his last nine starts against Colorado. Look for another dominating win for the Flames as they bounce back from last night’s disappointing loss and push the Avs deeper into their slump!