Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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04-20-22 | Twins v. Royals OVER 8.5 | Top | 0-2 | Loss | -125 | 11 h 32 m | Show |
A.L. Central Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Kansas City at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday. We saw a relatively low-scoring game between these two teams to open this series last night as the Royals pulled out a 4-3 victory. With the 'under' having gone 3-1 in the Twins last four games and a perfect 4-0 in the Royals last four contests we're being afforded a reasonably low total to work with here - too low in my opinion. There's a reason the Padres were willing to cut Chris Paddack loose, shipping him to Minnesota at the start of the season. He struggled in his Twins debut, allowing three earned runs on six hits over just four innings against the Dodgers last week. I'm not convinced he'll fare any better here. Behind Paddack is a struggling Minnesota bullpen that has posted a collective 5.28 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 46 innings of work this season. It's a similar story for the Royals 'pen, as it has recorded a 4.69 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 38 1/3 innings pitched. That Kansas City bullpen could get put to work early in this one as starter Daniel Lynch has worked more than five innings just twice in his last eight starts going back to last season. Lynch labored through his first start this season, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, including three home runs, in five innings against the Cardinals. It's been a case of 'feast-or-famine' for both offenses in the early going this season but I expect both to feast on Wednesday. Take the over (10*). |
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04-20-22 | Braves v. Dodgers UNDER 8.5 | 1-5 | Win | 105 | 7 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Los Angeles at 3:10 pm et on Wednesday. We saw a low-scoring game between these two teams last night and I expect a similar story to unfold in Wednesday's series finale. Charlie Morton will take the ball for the Braves. He is coming off a poor outing against the Padres but I'm confident we'll see him bounce back here. Morton has posted a 29% hard-hit ball percentage - nearly 10% lower than the MLB average while his K, HR and BB rates have all been in line with his career averages through his first two starts, spanning 10 1/3 innings this season. Behind Morton is a Braves bullpen that has held up well in the early going this season, recording a 3.81 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with five saves converted and none blown. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 22-10 with the Braves playing on the road after losing two of their last three games going back to last season, resulting in an average total of 8.1 runs. The 'under' is also 31-19 with Atlanta playing on the road with the total set between 7.0 and 8.5 over the same stretch, leading to an average total of just 7.7 runs. The Dodgers will turn to Tony Gonsolin who is likely to only work a few innings here. Gonsolin always seems to be serviceable for the Dodgers and his first two outings this season have been no different as he has allowed just one earned run in seven innings. Of course, the Los Angeles relief corps has been terrific so far this season, posting a 2.00 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 45 collective innings of work. Take the under (6*). |
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04-19-22 | Senators v. Canucks UNDER 6.5 | 4-3 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 7 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday. We've gone to the well a number of times when it comes to Senators 'unders' this season and we'll do so again here. Both teams played last night. The Senators dropped a 4-2 decision in Seattle while the Canucks rolled to a 6-2 victory over Dallas to keep their playoff hopes alive. This is a game I look for Vancouver to 'manage' in a sense. Keep in mind, the Canucks will begin a stretch of five games in nine nights (in four different cities) to close out the regular season on Thursday night in Minnesota. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 19-10 with the Sens coming off a game in which they allowed 4+ goals this season, resulting in an average total of just 5.7 goals. The 'under' is also 13-5 with Ottawa playing on the road off consecutive losses this season, as is the case here, leading to an average total of 5.6 goals. While the Canucks come in off five consecutive 'over' results, their home games are still averaging just 5.8 total goals this season. You would have to go back five meetings between these two teams here in Vancouver to find the last time a game totalled more than six goals. Take the under (7*). |
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04-19-22 | Cardinals v. Marlins UNDER 8 | Top | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
N.L. Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between St. Louis and Miami at 6:40 pm et on Tuesday. Both of these teams are coming off relatively high-scoring games. In the case of the Marlins, they're fresh off three consecutive 'over' results. I expect a different story to unfold here, however. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright didn't pitch well last time out. We know he can still pitch though, noting that he tossed six shutout innings against the Pirates in his first outing this season. He posted a 3.05 ERA (his lowest season-long ERA since 2015) and a 1.06 WHIP last year. Jesus Luzardo had a scintillating Marlins debut last week, striking out 12 over five innings of one-run ball against the Angels. While he isn't likely to duplicate that effort here, I still expect him to pitch well against a Cardinals team that has hit a collective .235 on the road so far this season (limited sample size, I know). Going back to the end of last season, Luzardo has allowed just four earned runs while striking out 28 and walking just three in his last 14 1/3 innings of work. While he's certainly gone through some rough times on the mound in recent years, remember he finished top-eight in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting as a member of the A's just two years ago. Both bullpens have been solid in the early going this season with the Cards 'pen posting a 2.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and the Marlins relief corps recording a collective 3.34 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Both 'pens have worked 35 or less innings so far this season and both come off an off day on Monday so it should be all hands on deck here. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 14-4 with the Cardinals coming off a one-run loss going back to last season, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of just 6.3 runs. The 'under' is also 23-11 with the Marlins playing at home after winning two of their last three games over the same stretch, leading to an average total of 7.2 runs. Take the under (10*). |
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04-18-22 | Hurricanes v. Coyotes OVER 6 | Top | 5-3 | Win | 100 | 14 h 32 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Carolina and Arizona at 10:05 pm et on Monday. I'm not sure whether the Coyotes are actually 'tanking' or if the talent level simply isn't there to compete on a nightly basis (especially given their injury situation). Regardless, opponents are scoring against them at will and they're likely going to be in tough again on Monday as they host a Hurricanes squad looking to bounce back from consecutive losses. Note that Carolina's road games have been considerably higher-scoring than their home games this season, averaging 6.3 total goals per contest with the 'over' cashing at a 20-14-3 clip. In Canes road games with the total set at 6.0 or higher, we've seen an average total of 6.9 goals scored. Also note that the 'over' is 7-1 with the Coyotes playing at home after scoring two goals or less in consecutive games this season, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of 7.7 goals scored. Both teams are in tough between the pipes right now. Frederik Andersen had to leave the Canes last game due to a lower body injury. Antti Raanta has performed well at times this season but has seemingly hit the wall lately, posting an .873 save percentage over his last four games. Meanwhile, Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka has had to shoulder far too much of the load in his rookie season, making 44 starts. Over his last four games he has recorded a dismal .817 save percentage with the 'over' cashing at a 3-0-1 clip. Take the over (10*). |
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04-18-22 | Pirates v. Brewers UNDER 8.5 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 9 h 5 m | Show |
N.L. Central Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Pittsburgh and Milwaukee at 7:40 pm et on Monday. You would have to go back five games to find the last time the Pirates posted an 'under' result. I look for that to change on Monday, however, as the Buccos head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers. I would consider both of tonight's starters underrated in some sense. Zach Thompson was effective over four innings in his first start with the Pirates (he came over from Miami in the offseason). Thompson quietly posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 75 innings pitched with the Marlins last season. For his career he has posted a 34.5% hard-hit ball percentage, nearly 4.5% below the MLB average over that period. Behind Thompson is a Pirates bullpen that has been terrific in the early going this season, posting a collective 2.98 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 42 1/3 innings. Brewers starter Eric Lauer didn't have his best stuff in his season debut but still hung in there, allowing three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Orioles. I expect him to fare better in his first home start of the season, noting that he faced the Pirates once here last season, tossing five shutout innings. He owns a career 2.63 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in seven career starts against Pittsburgh. Like the Pirates, the Brewers have been solid out of the bullpen, recording a collective 3.02 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. As a team, the Brewers are still hitting just .212 and averaging 3.1 runs per game on the season. The Pirates, meanwhile, check in hitting .266 as a team while averaging 4.4 runs per game but figure to suffer some regression in this, just their second 'away' series. Take the under (10*). |
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04-18-22 | Roma v. Napoli OVER 2.5 | Top | 1-1 | Loss | -108 | 6 h 44 m | Show |
Serie A Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Napoli and Roma at 1 pm et on Monday. Napoli enters this match undefeated in the last four matches in this series having not allowed a single goal in the last three. So it's understandable that we're dealing with a reasonably low total in Monday's contest. However, both teams have seen plenty of goals in their recent matches. Napoli has seen six of its last seven contests go 'over' 2.5 goals. The same can be said for Roma in four of its last five matches. Given Napoli has seen both teams score in nine of its last 10 matches, I'm confident Roma can find at least a goal here. Note also that Roma has managed to find the back of the net first in four of its last five contests overall. As much as neither side will want to give an inch as they both sit in the coveted top-six in Serie A play, I'm anticipating some fireworks on Monday. Take the over (10*). |
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04-17-22 | Nets v. Celtics OVER 223.5 | Top | 114-115 | Win | 100 | 8 h 16 m | Show |
NBA First Half Total of the Year. My selection is on the first half 'over' between Brooklyn and Boston at 3:30 pm et on Sunday. I expect this series to get off to a high-scoring start on Sunday afternoon in Boston as the Nets and Celtics match up for the fifth time this season. We saw the Nets offense get in gear down the stretch, making good on 41+ field goals in eight of their last nine games. Over their last four contests they knocked down 41, 43, 52 and 45 field goals. You would have to go all the way back to March 3rd to find the last time they didn't score 110+ points in a game. An issue, however, has been their loose play defensively. In their last two games they allowed the Pacers and Cavs to get off 104 and 92 field goal attempts. Seven of their last nine opponents made good on 40+ field goals. The Celtics are certainly well-positioned to take advantage. They've knocked down 43+ field goals in five straight games, eclipsing the 50 field goal mark in two of those contests. While you could argue their last couple of games didn't really matter, the C's did yield 97 and 102 field goal attempts to the opposition and I expect to see the Nets force the issue early in this one. We'll play the first half only as I have noticed a trend in Celtics playoff games where the defense picks up and the pace slows as the game progresses. Early on, I look for both sides to find plenty of scoring success here. Take the first half over (10*). |
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04-16-22 | Cardinals v. Brewers OVER 8.5 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 56 m | Show |
First Five Innings Total of the Week. My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between St. Louis and Milwaukee at 7:10 pm et on Saturday. We've seen these two teams take turns beating up on each other in the first two games of this series with the Brewers taking the opener 5-1 before the Cardinals answered back with a 10-1 victory last night. Here, I look for both teams to show up offensively, particularly early in the game. We'll play the first five innings only as both bullpens have been solid in the early going this season and we'll look to avoid them here. The starters on the other hand were not good in their respective season debuts. Steven Matz made his first start as a Cardinal and proceeded to get smashed for nine hits and seven earned runs in just three innings against the Pirates. Adrian Houser couldn't make it through the fourth inning against the Orioles. Both starters will settle down a little bit here, but I'm not convinced they have any sort of advantage against the opposing hitters here. Expect early fireworks. Take the first five innings over (10*). |
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04-16-22 | Braves v. Padres OVER 8.5 | 5-2 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and San Diego at 4:05 pm et on Saturday. Both lineups are set up favorably against the starting pitchers in this, the third game of the series between the Braves and Padres on Saturday afternoon. While Braves starter Ian Anderson struggled in his season debut, giving up five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings, Padres starter Nick Martinez actually fared well, giving up just a single earned run over five frames. Both bullpens have been shaky at best with the Braves relief corps posting a 4.21 ERA and 1.16 WHIP and the Padres 'pen recording a 5.17 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. We know the talent level up and down both lineups and off last night's relatively low-scoring affair (seven total runs), I'm expecting a different story to unfold on Saturday. Take the over (6*). |
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04-16-22 | Wild v. Blues UNDER 6.5 | 5-6 | Loss | -115 | 7 h 12 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Minnesota and St. Louis at 3:05 pm et on Saturday. We've seen three straight meetings between these two teams go 'over' the total but I look for a different story to unfold on Saturday. Note that the 'under' is a perfect 5-0 with St. Louis playing at home off a win by 4+ goals this season with those contests totalling an average of just 4.2 goals. The Blues check in playing solid defensive hockey, having allowed two goals or less in five of their last six games. The Wild have given up three goals or less in five of their last seven contests and come in off back-to-back 'under' results. While they have scored a whopping 14 goals over their last three games, they'll be up against a Blues squad that allows only 2.6 goals per game on home ice this season. Take the under (6*). |
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04-16-22 | Jazz v. Mavs UNDER 209.5 | 99-93 | Win | 100 | 4 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and Dallas at 1 pm et on Saturday. I don't think Luka Doncic's absence can be over-exaggerated in this game. He obviously adds so much to the Mavs offense but is by no means a defensive stopper. Dallas' path to staying competitive in this game comes by slowing things down and ultimately limiting Utah's scoring opportunities, something it has proven to be able to do, particularly here at home this season. Note that the Mavs have yielded opponents just 38-of-85 shooting on average at home. Down the stretch we saw them allow fewer than 90 field goal attempts in eight of their last 10 games. However, without Luka you do have to wonder where their offense will come from. Note that Dallas only managed to get off 78, 76, 80, 79 and 85 FG attempts over its last five regular season games and that was with Luka in the lineup the majority of the time. The Jazz have been incredibly stingy defensively, holding eight of their last nine opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals. While their offense can be explosive at times, that certainly wasn't the case all season long, noting that they made good on 38 or fewer field goals in three of their last five games. In fact, they average just 86 FG attempts per game on the road this season with the 'under' going 22-18-1. The last meeting between these two teams on March 27th got to 214 total points but that was thanks only to the Mavs shooting the lights out. The pace of that game certainly didn't dictate an 'over' result with Utah attempting 89 field goals and Dallas getting off just 77. Take the under (6*). |
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04-15-22 | Hawks v. Cavs OVER 225 | 107-101 | Loss | -110 | 36 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Cleveland at 7:35 pm et on Friday. We missed with the 'over' in the Hawks rout of the Hornets two nights ago but it wasn't by much and here we're dealing with a considerably lower total as Atlanta heads to Cleveland to decide who moves onto the first round of the NBA Playoffs. I believe the total will prove too low. I'm not convinced that Wednesday's 'under' result had more to do with the Hawks superb defense than lousy shooting from the Hornets. Atlanta actually yielded 90 field goal attempts in that contest but Charlotte could make good on only 34 of them. That snapped a streak of five straight games in which the Hawks allowed 40+ made field goals - a streak I expect to pick right back up on Friday. The Cavs come in having knocked down 42, 40, 51 and 41 field goals over their last four games. On the flip side, they've allowed 43+ made field goals in three of their last four contests. The lone game in which they didn't give up 40+ we still saw a whopping 248 total points against Milwaukee. I like the fact that both teams have been forcing the issue offensively, with Atlanta hoisting up 92+ FG attempts in three of its last five games and Cleveland getting off 94 and 92 FG attempts in its last two contests. Three of four regular season meetings between these two teams totalled at least 238 points with both teams attempting 90+ field goals in their most recent matchup on March 31st. Take the over (8*). |
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04-15-22 | Rays v. White Sox UNDER 8 | Top | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 2 m | Show |
A.L. Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Tampa Bay and Chicago at 7:10 pm et on Friday. The White Sox could muster only one run in yesterday's wind-swept 5-1 loss against Seattle and that came only thanks to those blustery winds that led to a couple of Mariners' fielding gaffes. Here, I'm anticipating another relatively low-scoring affair as the Rays roll into the Windy City to face the White Sox on Friday. Both of tonight's starters were effective in their season debuts with Drew Rasmussen working four innings in a 5-3 Rays win over Baltimore and Dylan Cease tossing five frames in a 5-2 White Sox victory over Detroit. I expect more of the same here, perhaps with the two bullpens - which have both been solid in the early going - doing some heavy lifting. The Tampa Bay 'pen has posted a 3.76 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through a whopping 40 2/3 innings so far this season while the White Sox relief corps has recorded a 3.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 28 2/3 innings. On another rather unfriendly hitting night at Guaranteed Rate Field, I expect runs to come at a premium. Take the under (10*). |
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04-15-22 | A's v. Blue Jays OVER 9.5 | 1-4 | Loss | -103 | 10 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between Oakland and Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Friday. We'll back the 'over' in the first five innings only in this one as we look to avoid the two bullpens, which have been effective in the early going this season. We have a low-rate starting pitching matchup here with Daulton Jefferies making just his fourth big league start against back of the rotation veteran Ross Stripling. With the two offenses coming in hot I'm confident both can produce in the early going in this one. While it's still very early, I do think the betting markets were a little lower than they should have been on the A's coming out of the gate. Of course, consecutive losses to open the campaign only bolstered that notion. Since then, the A's have gone 4-1, scoring 6+ runs in three of those five contests. Meanwhile, the Jays are coming off a tough series in the Bronx, in unfriendly early season hitting conditions. They'll be more than happy to return to the hitter-friendly confines of the Rogers Centre, where they put up 20 runs in a three-game series against the Rangers last weekend. Take the first five innings over (6*). |
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04-15-22 | Nationals v. Pirates OVER 9 | 7-2 | Push | 0 | 7 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between Washington and Pittsburgh at 6:35 pm et on Friday. We won with this same play last night and I won't hesitate to go right back to the well on Friday. The Nats put up three first inning runs but could only muster one additional run the rest of the way in last night's 9-4 loss. The Pirates are hitting well right now having scored 15 runs over their last two games and they catch another favorable matchup against Nationals starter Erick Fedde on Friday. Of course, Washington is also well-positioned to do some damage against Buccos starter Mitch Keller, who is in line for a bounce-back season but certainly didn't show signs of any sort of turn-around in his season debut, allowing four earned runs over just four innings against the Cardinals. The Nats have hit .273 as a team and averaged 5.5 runs per game in their first four road games this season. Also note that the 'over' is now 27-11 when Washington plays on the road with the total set at 9.0 or 9.5 over the last 2+ seasons, as is the case here. By playing the first five innings only, we look to avoid a Pirates bullpen that has been lights out in the early going this season, posting a 2.96 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Take the first five innings over (4*). |
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04-15-22 | AS Monaco v. Rennes OVER 2.5 | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 7 h 50 m | Show |
Ligue 1 Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Stade Rennes and AS Monaco at 3 pm et on Friday. I'm not sure any Ligue 1 team has played as entertaining of a brand of football as Stade Rennes lately, perhaps not even mighty PSG. It enters Friday's showdown with Monaco having gone undefeated over its last five matches but also not recording a single clean sheet over its last six contests. We've seen goals and scoring opportunities aplenty over that stretch and I'm anticipating more of the same on Friday. Monaco comes in playing some of its best football, having reeled off three straight wins, scoring at least two goals in each contest. It sits just a point back of Nice for one of the coveted top-five spots in the Ligue 1 table. Here, we'll note that each of the last five matches between these two squads has totalled 'over' 2.5 goals. We've seen both teams score in each of the last 10 meetings in the series. You would have to go all the way back to March 6th, when it faced bottom-half Ligue 1 squad Angers, to find the last time Stade Rennes didn't concede a goal - seven matches back. Just three matches back Monaco held PSG off the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory, however, it has yielded goals against both Metz and Troyes over its last two contests. I simply like the form that both sides bring to the pitch on Friday and fully expect a 2-1 or better result. Take the over (10*). |
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04-15-22 | Twins v. Red Sox OVER 10 | 8-4 | Win | 100 | 6 h 41 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Boston at 2:10 pm et on Friday. The Red Sox offense was held down for the most part through the first four games this season but you can only hold them down for so long and the Tigers found that out over the last couple of games as Boston produced 14 runs in securing consecutive victories. Here, with favorable hitting conditions at Fenway Park, I'm expecting plenty of offense from both teams. The Twins could manage only two runs in a brief two-game Interleague series against the Dodgers earlier this week. Like the Red Sox, they have an explosive lineup and I'm confident we'll see them bounce back here. Note that the 'over' has gone 46-27 with Minnesota coming off four or five losses in its last six games going back to last season, resulting in an average total of 10.3 runs in that spot. Better still, the 'over' is 11-2 with the Twins playing on the road after scoring three runs or less in consecutive games over the same time frame, as is the case here, leading to an average total of 12.9 runs. There's nothing special about today's pitching matchup with Joe Ryan and Nick Pivetta getting their second turns in the rotation this season. Both struggled in their season debuts. We've also seen the Twins bullpen have a tough time, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through 27 1/3 innings this season. The Red Sox bullpen showed some warts in its most recent game after cruising early on. Take the over (6*). |
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04-14-22 | Red Wings v. Hurricanes UNDER 6.5 | Top | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 24 m | Show |
NHL Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Detroit and Carolina at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Wings aren't scoring with any consistency right now, having found the back of the net 2, 1, 2, 4, 2, 2, 5, 3, 4 and 1 goal over their last 10 games. In a game the Hurricanes will be looking to 'manage' before heading out on the road for two games in three nights beginning Saturday in Colorado, I look for goals to come at a premium. The Canes have actually seen the 'over' cash in each of their last two games after the 'under' had gone 3-1-1 over their previous five contests. They've been incredibly stingy here at home this season, allowing just 2.1 goals per game. Better still, they've given up just 1.4 goals per contest with an average total of only 4.9 goals when playing at home off two or more consecutive wins this season (14-game sample size), as is the case here. Detroit averages just 2.4 goals per game away from home this season with that number dropping to 2.1 when coming off a loss, which is the situation here. Additionally, the 'under' is 20-11 with Carolina playing at home after scoring 3+ goals in consecutive games over the last two seasons, resulting in an average total of only 5.3 goals. We're able to play this one at 6.5 thanks to the previous two meetings between these two teams this season reaching 8 and 7 goals. The 'under' has still cashed in 15 of the last 25 meetings in this series. Take the under (10*). |
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04-14-22 | Nationals v. Pirates OVER 9 | 4-9 | Win | 100 | 8 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on the first five innings 'over' between Washington and Pittsburgh at 6:35 pm et on Thursday. The Pirates bats are hot off a big day at the plate against the Cubs yesterday. They've scored 6+ runs in two of their last three games and I'm confident they can find continued success early in this one as they go up against Nationals starter Joan Adon, who will be making just his third big league start. Despite recording 12 strikeouts in just 9 2/3 innings, Adon has allowed 10 hits and seven walks, not to mention six earned runs along the way. Washington scored 18 runs and hit .280 as a team in its three-game series in Atlanta. The Nats might be catching Pirates starter J.T. Brubaker at the right time as he was mediocre at best in the Spring and struggled mightily in his first regular season start, yielding four earned runs on four hits and three walks over just four innings against the Cardinals. By playing the first five innings only we'll look to avoid a Pirates bullpen that has been terrific in the early going, posting a collective 3.57 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings of work. Take the first five innings over (6*). |
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04-13-22 | Hornets v. Hawks OVER 237 | Top | 103-132 | Loss | -110 | 59 h 26 m | Show |
Play-in Tournament Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Charlotte and Atlanta at 7 pm et on Wednesday. This is the highest posted total of the play-in round and it's that high for a reason. The Hornets enter this showdown arguably playing their best offensive basketball of the season, having scored 128, 133 and 124 points over their last three games. They've made good on 40+ field goals in an incredible 15 straight games. Over their last four contests they've knocked down 45, 48, 52 and 48 field goals. While I'm not projecting a break-neck pace to this game, I'm confident both sides can make good on their opportunities. Note that the Hornets have yielded their opponents 40+ made field goals in seven of their last eight games. Two of their last three foes managed to get off 94 or more field goal attempts. The Hawks are certainly capable of taking advantage, having knocked down 43, 43, 42 and 45 field goals over their last four games. In fact, they've made good on 42+ field goals in eight of their last nine contests. However, like the Hornets the Hawks have also been generous defensively, giving up 40+ made field goals in five straight and 20 of their last 21 games overall. The last meeting between these two teams totalled just 222 points back on March 16th and that's contributing to a lower posted total here than we saw on that night. The two teams combined to hit below their average in three-point field goals and free throws in that contest. I believe this game is being projected by oddsmakers to have a pace in the high-80's as far as FG attempts go. Even at that pace I believe the two teams can get 'over' the total but if it ticks up at all, I think we see this game sail well north of the number. Take the over (10*). |
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04-12-22 | Rockies v. Rangers OVER 10 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 9 m | Show |
Interleague Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Colorado and Texas at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. Somewhat surprisingly, the Rockies have seen just one of their first four games go 'over' the total this season. With that being said, after their first two contests reached just eight and five total runs, their last two have gotten to 13 and 10. Yesterday's series-opener here in Texas probably should have gone 'over' the total in extras were it not for a controversial call to end the game. Regardless, I'm anticipating a high-scoring affair on Tuesday. The Rockies brought tonight's starting pitcher, Chad Kuhl, over from Pittsburgh in the offseason. He wasn't great with the Pirates and certainly didn't look good in two Spring Training starts with the Rockies, allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs while recording a 4:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 5 1/3 innings. We know how explosive the Rangers offense can be as we've already seen them score 8+ runs in two of four games this season. The Rangers will hand the ball to veteran Martin Perez. He was relegated to bullpen duty after struggling as a starter with the Red Sox last season. He'll have his hands full in his first start back with the Rangers (where he started his career) as the Rockies check in hitting .307 as a team and averaging 7.5 runs per game in two previous games against left-handed starting pitching this season. With Perez an unlikely candidate to work deep into this game, that opens the door for a struggling Rangers bullpen that has posted a collective 4.74 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, having allowed four home runs in just 19 innings so far this season. Take the over (10*). |
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04-11-22 | Valencia v. Rayo Vallecano UNDER 2.25 | 1-1 | Win | 50 | 7 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Rayo Vallecano and Valencia at 3 pm et on Monday. Both of these squads continue to sit in the middle-third of the La Liga table although home side Rayo Vallecano is by no means out of the woods, sitting just five points ahead of Cadiz, which sits in the first relegation spot. It has gone winless over its last 10 matches and will likely need to turn this into a rather cagey affair to come away with anything positive, noting that Valencia has been incredibly stingy, not allowing a single goal over its last three contests. In fact, both sides enter this match having seen five of their last six contests stay 'under' 2.5 total goals. While Rayo Vallecano has gone 10 matches without posting a clean sheet, this is a matchup it can handle, noting that Valencia has found only 20 goals in 15 'away' matches in La Liga play this season. You would have to go back three meetings in this series to find the last time these two teams combined to score more than two goals. We're just four matches removed from the last 0-0 draw in the series. Take the under (6*). |
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04-10-22 | Spurs v. Mavs UNDER 224.5 | Top | 120-130 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 45 m | Show |
Southwest Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between San Antonio and Dallas at 9:40 pm et on Sunday. We won with the 'under' (by 25+ points) in the Spurs 100-94 loss to the Warriors last night. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as they wrap up the regular season in Dallas on Sunday. Note that we also won with the 'under' in the Mavs most recent game, despite the fact that they put up 128 points against the Blazers. Here, we'll note that the Spurs have been playing much better defense lately, holding nine of their last 10 opponents to 41 or fewer made field goals. While they haven't always been able to control their opponents' tempo, they did limit the Warriors to just 81 field goal attempts last night. The Mavs don't figure to push the pace all that much here. While they did put up a ridiculous number of points last time out, they actually attempted just 79 field goals. They've hoisted up 80 or fewer FG attempts in four straight games, getting off 90 or fewer attempts in an incredible 29 straight games. Of course that doesn't always assure us of a low-scoring result as Dallas is capable of shooting the lights out. However, here on the final night of the regular season, I'm not sure we'll see it. Defensively, the Mavs are locked-in right now, holding their last two opponents to 35 or fewer made field goals on 83 or less FG attempts. The Spurs, missing both Jakob Poeltl and DeJounte Murray - two of their best scoring options - have attempted fewer than 90 field goals in six straight games - a stark contrast to what we were seeing earlier in the season. Take the under (10*). |
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04-10-22 | Raptors v. Knicks UNDER 225.5 | 94-105 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and New York at 7:10 pm et on Sunday. The Raptors enter this game off consecutive 'over' results but I expect a different story to unfold on Sunday. Toronto has held four of its last five opponents to 81 or fewer field goal attempts and figures to have a good chance to keep that going against a Knicks squad that has gotten off 90 or fewer FG attempts in 15 of its last 16 games. New York has seen the 'under' cash in each of its last four contests and most recently limited the Wizards to just 69 FG attempts in a 114-92 win in Washington. Over their last three contests, the Knicks have yielded just 30, 41 and 35 made field goals. Brooklyn was the one opponent that knocked down 40+ field goals against them and that game still stayed well 'under' the total (we won with the 'under' in that game earlier this week). The Raptors are certainly rolling along offensively, but that's had a lot to do with getting off so many FG attempts. They've attempted 91+ field goals in three straight games - a pace I'm not sure we'll see them employ against a stingy Knicks defense here. The most recent meeting between these two teams did total 225 points but that game saw a whopping 48 made free throws, noting that the two teams average just 34 made free throws per game this season. Their two previous matchups both stayed well below the total we're working with here. Take the under (8*). |
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04-10-22 | Sabres v. Lightning UNDER 6.5 | 0-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Buffalo and Tampa Bay at 5:05 pm et on Sunday. Most are expecting the Lightning to go off offensively in this game as they look to snap their four-game losing streak against the lowly Sabres. There's no guarantee that will happen though as the Bolts have scored just six goals over their last three games combined and fewer than four goals in 10 of their last 15 contests. The Sabres have quietly been playing competitive hockey for weeks now. Their last loss by more than two goals came back on March 17th against Edmonton. We will note that this isn't a favorable spot for Buffalo, however, noting that it has averaged just 2.2 goals per game when seeking revenge for a loss by 2+ goals against an opponent over the last two seasons, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of only 5.8 goals (44-game sample size). Meanwhile, the Lightning have allowed just 2.2 goals per game when coming off a game in which they scored one goal or less, which is also the situation here, leading to an average total of 5.7 goals (35-game sample size). Take the under (8*). |
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04-10-22 | Padres v. Diamondbacks OVER 9 | 10-5 | Win | 100 | 7 h 0 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between San Diego and Arizona at 4:10 pm et on Sunday. We missed with the 'over' in this matchup last night as the Padres won by a 5-2 score, staying 'under' the total by a couple of runs. We're actually dealing with a lower posted total on Sunday (at the time of writing) and I believe it will prove too low. Blake Snell made just two Spring Training starts for San Diego. In one of those outings he struggled with his command, issuing four walks in just 1 1/3 innings. In the other he gave up five hits and three earned runs over four innings of work. The D'Backs bats have been quiet in this series so far but I do think the potential is there for them to bust out on Sunday. The Padres lineup is of course loaded and we saw flashes of that last night, particularly in the latter stages of the game. Caleb Smith gets the nod for Arizona, having labored through his only two full big league seasons, posting a 4.52 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 2019 with the Marlins and a 4.83 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with the Snakes last season. He recorded a 4.0% home run rate and a 12.6% walk rate last season, both well north of MLB averages. His 35.6% fly ball rate last season was also considerably higher than the MLB average and certainly doesn't suit him well pitching at hitter-friendly Chase Field. Take the over (6*). |
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04-09-22 | Avalanche v. Oilers UNDER 6.5 | 2-1 | Win | 104 | 14 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Colorado and Edmonton at 10:05 pm et on Saturday. While the Avalanche are known for their explosive offense and coming off consecutive 'over' results to open this road trip, scoring 11 goals in the process, it may surprise you to know that they haven't posted three consecutive 'over' results since March 5th to 8th. Prior to that you would have to go back to the first half of January to find the last time they reeled off three or more consecutive 'overs'. The Oilers have seen their last two games stay 'under' the total, allowing a grand total of just three goals in those two games. I don't think we'll see either team give an inch here as they try to keep their winning streaks intact (the Avs have won five straight and the Oilers have won six in a row). Note that the lone previous meeting between these two teams totalled just five goals with Colorado skating to a 3-2 win on home ice last month. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 31-18 with the Avs coming off a one-goal victory over the last three seasons, resulting in an average total of 5.6 goals while the Oilers have posted a long-term 12-24 o/u mark when coming off five or more consecutive wins, as is the case here. Take the under (6*). |
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04-09-22 | Warriors v. Spurs UNDER 221.5 | 100-94 | Win | 100 | 13 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Golden State and San Antonio at 8:40 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams are coming off 'over' results last time out. However, in the bigger picture, both have been trending to the 'under' in recent weeks. Few teams are as locked-in as the Warriors are defensively right now. They've held their last four opponents to 38, 38, 31 and 37 made field goals. In fact, they've held 11 of their last 15 opponents to 38 or fewer made field goals. They've also done a nice job of limiting their opponents' scoring opportunities, yielding just 81 and 83 field goal attempts over their last two games and fewer than 90 in seven of their last nine contests. We've actually seen the Spurs turn things around defensively as well, giving up 41 or fewer made field goals in four consecutive games. Opponents are still pushing the pace against them, but I'm not sure we'll see that from the Warriors here, noting that they'll be resting Klay Thompson and also have their regular season finale tomorrow in New Orleans so we can certainly expect some 'game management'. Offensively, you would have to go back six games to find the last time San Antonio got off 90+ FG attempts. While it has continued to shoot well, I question whether it will continue given how the Warriors have been playing, not to mention the fact the Spurs are without two of their top scoring options (among others) in DeJounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl. The last meeting between these two teams in March totalled 218 points and I would argue that game was played at a faster pace than we'll see tonight, with both teams performing similarly offensively to what we can expect here, lending itself to a lower-scoring affair. Take the under (8*). |
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04-09-22 | Padres v. Diamondbacks OVER 9.5 | 5-2 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 11 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between San Diego and Arizona at 8:10 pm et on Saturday. The bats have been quiet through the first two games of this series but I look for a different story to unfold on Saturday. Note that the 'over' is 21-7 with the D'Backs coming off consecutive 'under' results over the last season plus, resulting in an average total of 10.7 runs. Better still, the 'over' is a long-term 26-9 with Arizona playing at home off a shutout loss against a division opponent, as is the case here, leading to an average total of 11.5 runs in that spot. The Padres check in averaging 5.1 runs per game as a road favorite over the last 2+ seasons (69-game sample size). Unfortunately for the D'Backs, they've allowed an ugly 6.2 runs per game after scoring one run or less in their most recent game going back to last season (30-game sample size), which is also the case here. While Joe Musgrove and Zach Davies are serviceable, nothing about either starter really jumps off the page. Expect plenty of offense in this one. Take the over (6*). |
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04-08-22 | Astros v. Angels OVER 9.5 | Top | 13-6 | Win | 100 | 12 h 12 m | Show |
A.L. Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Friday. We saw a low-scoring result in the opener of this series last night but I look for a different story to unfold on Friday. Note that the 'over' has gone 23-10 with the Astros coming off a game in which they allowed one run or less going back to last season, as is the case here, with that spot producing an average total of 10.2 runs. The 'over' is also 17-7 in Houston's last 24 games as a road underdog, leading to an average total of 10.6 runs in that situation. There's nothing special about tonight's starting pitching matchup as the Astros send veteran Jake Odorizzi to the hill against Reid Detmers of the Angels. Odorizzi's strikeout rate was down while his home run rate was up last year compared to his previous two full seasons in 2018 and 2019 (he pitched only 13 2/3 innings in a Covid-shortened 2020 campaign). While Detmers has proven to be an excellent strikeout pitcher at the minor league level, he's yet to prove it in the bigs, posting an ERA north of seven in limited work (around 20 innings) last season. He did pitch well in one start against Houston last year, but I look for the Astros to fare better in their second look at the left-hander. Take the over (10*). |
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04-08-22 | Blazers v. Mavs UNDER 222 | Top | 78-128 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show |
Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Portland and Dallas at 8:40 pm et on Friday. You'd be hard-pressed to find a team playing worse offensive basketball than the Blazers as we head into the final weekend of the regular season. Missing so many key contributors following a pre-trade deadline fire sale and then a number of injuries, they're limping to the finish line. Note that Portland has scored 94 points or less in three straight games, struggling to just get shots off let alone knock them down, attempting only 84, 83 and a woeful 69 field goals over its last three contests. Not surprisingly, the 'under' has cashed in three straight and seven of the Blazers last nine games overall. On a positive note, they have held 10 of their last 13 opponents to 85 or fewer field goal attempts. They had allowed fewer than 40 made field goals in consecutive games prior to last night's 127-94 loss in New Orleans (the Pelicans knocked down 44-of-93 FG attempts in that game). The Mavs have of course been lights out offensively of late. The 'over' has cashed in each of their last six games even though the pace hasn't necessarily dictated such a streak. They've attempted 80 or fewer field goals in each of their last three contests. Dallas has made good on 40 or fewer field goals in seven of its last 11 games overall. On the flip side, the Mavs held the Pistons to just 35-of-82 shooting in their most recent contest and I believe that offers some foreshadowing as to what we're likely going to see against the down-trodden Blazers on Friday. This is a game the Mavs will undoubtedly be looking to 'manage' as nearly a 20-point favorite playing their sixth game in the last 11 nights (in five different cities). Take the under (10*). |
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04-08-22 | Mariners v. Twins OVER 8 | 2-1 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 14 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Seattle and Minnesota at 4:10 pm et on Friday. I like the upside potential of both of these offenses heading into the new season and while we do have a tricky Opening Day starting pitching matchup to deal with, I believe the posted total will prove too low on Friday afternoon. Robbie Ray comes over to the Mariners from the Blue Jays following an incredible 2021 campaign. While Ray posted terrific numbers last season a closer look does indicate at least some reason for concern. He's certainly in line for some regression after posting the second highest strikeout rate over the course of his entire career. When opposing hitters did make contact, they hit Ray hard, as he posted a 43.3% hard-hit ball percentage - nearly 5% higher than the MLB average. That's not to mention a 29.4% fly ball percentage - exactly 5% north of the MLB average. I'm high on the Twins offense and do expect them to get to Ray on Friday. Twins starter Joe Ryan saw only limited big league action last season. With that being said, he did record an ugly 43.1% fly ball percentage and 4% home run rate in 26 2/3 innings - both well north of the MLB averages. Here, we'll note that the 'over' has gone 31-17 with the Mariners playing on the road with a posted total between 7.0 and 8.5 runs going back to last season with that spot producing an average total of 9.6 runs. For their part, the Twins have posted a 37-21 o/u mark in all games where the total closed between 7.0 and 8.5 going back to the start of last season, good for an average total of 9.7 runs scored in that situation. Take the over (7*). |
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04-08-22 | Borussia Dortmund v. Stuttgart OVER 3 | 2-0 | Loss | -101 | 6 h 16 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund at 2:30 pm et on Friday. We've seen 15 consecutive matches between these two teams go 'over' 2.5 total goals and that would be the way I suggest playing this clash on Friday as well (even with the juice). Stuttgart has gone undefeated in its last four matches to improve its chances of avoiding relegation but it certainly isn't out of the woods yet. Concerning is the fact that it has yielded at least a goal in 11 consecutive matches and it figures to be tested here against a powerful Dortmund attack. Note that both teams have found the back of the net in each of Stuttgart's last nine matches overall and it has failed to hold Dortmund off the scoresheet in 15 straight meetings between the two squads. Dortmund will undoubtedly be looking to put Stuttgart on its back foot early in this one, noting that the former enters this match off a disappointing 4-1 loss to RB Leipzig last weekend. Dortmund has come away victorious in its last two meetings with Stuttgart but has certainly had its hands full in this series, allowing nine goals in the last four matchups in the series. Take the over (6*). |
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04-07-22 | Padres v. Diamondbacks OVER 9 | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
N.L. West Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between San Diego and Arizona at 9:40 pm et on Thursday. I really like the way this total sets up on Thursday night at Chase Field. The Padres lineup, even without Fernando Tatis Jr., is still absolutely loaded with run-scoring potential. Tonight they'll get the opportunity to tee off on veteran left-hander Madison Bumgarner. After a pair of shaky starts to open the Spring, MadBum settled down to toss five innings of shutout ball in his final outing. He of course was serviceable for the Snakes last season, logging 140+ innings while posting a respectable 1.18 WHIP. However, his line drive and fly ball percentages were well above the MLB average to go along with a career low 33% ground ball percentage. The Padres have favorable matchups against Bumgarner up and down their lineup in this one. Yu Darvish will counter for San Diego. His strikeout rate was down and walk rate and home run rate were both up last season. He pitched reasonably well in three Spring outings but now takes on what I consider to be a D'Backs lineup with lots of potential in a hitter-friendly park in Arizona to open the campaign. The Snakes have a number of hitters coming off impressive Spring showings and I look for some carry-over effect here. Finally, remember there are no more pitchers hitting to worry about in National League play this season. Take the over (10*). |
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04-07-22 | Magic v. Hornets OVER 227 | Top | 101-128 | Win | 100 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
NBA Southeast Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Orlando and Charlotte at 7:10 pm et on Thursday. The Magic have essentially thrown in the towel defensively, allowing 42+ made field goals in three of their last four games with 12 of their last 18 opponents getting off 90+ field goal attempts. However, as we saw two nights ago in an underdog role against the Cavs, they're still capable of rising up and playing the role of spoiler, scoring 120 points on 47-of-93 shooting despite missing a number of key contributors in that contest. Here, they'll travel to Charlotte to face a Hornets squad that has acted as a swinging door defensively, allowing 43, 40, 40, 53 and 48 made field goals over their last five games despite only one of those contests being played at a particularly fast pace (their last four opponents have all gotten off 87 or fewer FG attempts). Offensively, Charlotte continues to shine. It has knocked down 40+ field goals in 12 consecutive games, scoring 106 or more points in all 12 of those contests. You would have to go all the way back to February 5th to find the last time the Hornets were held to fewer than 100 points. But again, defense is an issue. Each of Charlotte's last 15 opponents have scored 100+ points. Remember, the Magic shot 45-of-87 from the field and scored 116 points in their most recent matchup here in Charlotte back in January. This is the highest posted total we've seen in this series this season but I believe it's warranted. Take the over (10*). |
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04-07-22 | Flyers v. Blue Jackets OVER 6.5 | 4-1 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Philadelphia and Columbus at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. Tuesday's 4-2 win in Philadelphia ended a stretch of seven straight games in which Columbus was held to three goals or less. Noting that the Flyers have been equally bad defensively on the road (allowing 3.6 goals per game this season) there's reason to believe the Blue Jackets can follow that performance up with another relatively high-scoring effort here. The Flyers have little reason to get up for most games as they're simply playing out the string at this point, but perhaps a quick revenge spot against the Blue Jackets gets their juices flowing here. Note that Philadelphia has actually shown some life on the road recently, scoring five goals in St. Louis, four in Nashville and four in New York (against the Rangers) in the last three weeks alone. Philadelphia checks in averaging 3.2 goals per game after losing four or five of their last six games over the last two seasons, as is the case here. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have allowed a whopping 4.4 goals per contest when playing at home off a win over a division opponent over the same time frame, which is also the situation here. The 'over' is a perfect 7-0 with Columbus coming off a division win this season, with that spot producing an average total of 7.7 goals. We've also seen the 'over' go 15-6 with the Jackets following an 'under' result this season, leading to an average total of 7.0 goals in that spot. Here, Columbus actually checks in off consecutive 'under' results. Note that it hasn't posted three straight 'unders' since October 16th-21st - the first week of the season. Philadelphia hasn't seen the 'under' cash in consecutive games since March 18th and 20th. Take the over (8*). |
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04-07-22 | Atalanta v. RB Leipzig OVER 2.5 | 1-1 | Loss | -101 | 6 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between RB Leipzig and Atalanta at 12:45 pm et on Thursday. While Atalanta doesn't necessarily bring the best offensive form into the first leg of this Europa League clash, I believe RB Leipzig is just vulnerable enough at the back and aggressive enough moving forward to allow the Italian side to find at least one goal in this contest - and that should be enough to carry this one 'over' the relatively low posted total. Leipzig of course enters this match undefeated in its last 10 contests across all competitions. I expect the German side to find continued success against an Atalanta side that is still missing its captain and anchor at the back in Rafael Toloi due to a groin injury. Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has been showing off his all-world scoring touch with consistency and will prove to be a handful once again on Thursday. If there is a weakness on this Leipzig side I do feel its at the back, particularly in goal where Peter Gulacsi has appeared to be fighting the ball at times. Were it not for Atalanta's recent offensive struggles we would be working with a higher total here. However, the Italian side has found much of its success away from home soil and particularly in Europa League action and I'm confident it can do enough to help this total along on Thursday. Take the over (8*). |
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04-06-22 | Nets v. Knicks UNDER 232 | Top | 110-98 | Win | 100 | 12 h 60 m | Show |
Atlantic Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Brooklyn and New York at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday. I really like the way this total sets up on Wednesday as the Nets play their second game in as many nights, making the short trip to Manhattan to face the Knights. Brooklyn rolled to a 118-105 win over lowly Houston last night. That marked the Nets third consecutive 'under' result and that's a trend I'm willing to bet on continuing here. Brooklyn has now held three straight and eight of its last 13 opponents to 40 or fewer made field goals. The Knicks don't figure to challenge that trend as they've made good on fewer than 40 field goals in nine of their last 14 contests. They did bust out in their last game, scoring 118 points on 45-of-93 shooting but that was against a Magic team that has quite simply folded the tent down the stretch, particularly at the defensive end of the floor. New York has tightened the screws defensively in recent weeks, holding seven of its last 10 opponents to 40 or fewer made field goals, with the 'under' cashing at a 6-4 clip over that stretch. While the Nets have scored 115+ points in four straight games, they're in a bit of a tougher spot here, noting this is the second of back-to-backs and considering the Knicks have yielded opponents 85 or fewer FG attempts in five of their last six contests and 90 or less attempts in nine consecutive games. Finally, I'll point out that none of the previous three meetings in this series this season have topped 222 total points. Take the under (10*). |
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04-06-22 | Lightning v. Capitals UNDER 6 | 3-4 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Tampa Bay and Washington at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. Both of these teams enter this game off consecutive losses with each team allowing a whopping 11 goals over those two contests. Needless to say, both sides will be looking to tighten things up on Wednesday night. It's not as if this has been a high-scoring series this season. The two previous meetings have produced a grand total of just eight goals including a 2-1 result in favor of the Lightning in the lone previous matchup here in Washington. While the Caps average 3.1 goals per game here on home ice this season, that average drops to 2.6 when coming off consecutive 'over' results (13-game sample size), as is the case here. As for the Lightning, they've averaged just 2.1 goals per game when coming off four or more consecutive 'over' results over the last three seasons (10-game sample size), which is also the situation they're in here. Additionally, the 'under' checks in 19-7 with the Bolts playing on the road after losing two of their last three contests, with an average total of just 5.0 goals in that spot. The Caps on the other hand have posted a long-term 35-58 o/u mark when coming off a loss by 4+ goals. Take the under (8*). |
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04-05-22 | Islanders v. Stars UNDER 5.5 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Dallas at 8:35 pm et on Tuesday. The Islanders and Stars have been two of my most preferred 'under' teams in the NHL in recent seasons. While I haven't gone to that well too many times this season, I do see fit to do so as the two teams match up in Dallas on Tuesday night. The Isles have scored 16 goals over their last four games, finding the back of the net 3+ times in all four contests. Note, however, that the 'under' is 14-5 with New York playing on the road after scoring three or more goals in three or more consecutive games over the last two seasons with that spot producing an average total of just 4.5 goals. In 40 road games when following up a division game over the last two seasons, as is the case here off Sunday's 4-3 win over the Devils, the Isles have averaged just 2.2 goals per game with the 'under' going 27-13 along the way. The Stars average 3.0 goals per game overall this season but that average drops to 2.5 with the 'under' cashing in 20 of 31 games when coming off four or five wins in their last six games this season, as is the case here. Here, Dallas will be going up against a red hot Isles goaltending tandem with Ilya Sorokin having posted a .944 save percentage over his last four starts (note that he remains questionable after missing the Isles last four games) and Semyon Varlamov recording a terrific .941 save percentage over his last four starts. Take the under (7*). |
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04-05-22 | Blazers v. Thunder UNDER 222.5 | Top | 94-98 | Win | 100 | 10 h 22 m | Show |
Northwest Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Portland and Oklahoma City at 8:10 pm et on Tuesday. These two teams just met last week and combined to score a whopping 265 points in a wild overtime affair in Portland. The two teams combined to knock down 98 field goals including 40 from beyond the arc in that contest. I'm not expecting a repeat performance from either side here. Both teams are simply playing out the string at this point, and have been for quite some time. They're also both dealing with a number of key injuries and absences. The Blazers have been as uneven as it gets offensively of late, not unexpected given the current state of their roster. They've been held to fewer than 40 made field goals in six of their last nine games. On a positive note they have limited the opposition to 84 or fewer field goal attempts in five of their last six games and 85 or less in seven of their last nine overall. Oklahoma City had been pushing the pace a bit when Shae-Gilgeous Alexander was healthy, however, he's now out for the remainder of the season and the Thunder have hoisted up 87 or fewer field goal attempts in five of their last six contests. There's reason to think they'll be interested in slowing things down here after successfully doing so in a stunning 117-96 win over the Suns as a 14-point underdog last time out - a game in which they allowed just 37-of-89 shooting. Four of the Thunder's last six opponents have knocked down 41 or fewer field goals. Prior to that high-scoring one-off between these two teams last week, the previous two meetings this season totalled just 179 and 189 points. Take the under (10*). |
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04-05-22 | Rangers v. Devils OVER 6 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 26 m | Show |
NHL Metropolitan Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between New York and New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday. This series has been a high-scoring one in recent years with 11 of the last 15 meetings going 'over' the total. With the Devils having seen eight of their last 10 contests sail 'over' the total and the Rangers struggling to keep the puck out of their own net lately, I believe we're in for another relatively high-scoring affair on Tuesday night in Newark. Of course, the Rangers will not only be looking to snap a two-game losing streak on Tuesday but they'll also be out for revenge after dropping a 7-4 decision here (in a game they led 2-0) back on March 22nd. Note that while the Rangers average 3.1 goals per game this season, that scoring average jumps to 3.9 when seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent as a road favorite (nine-game sample size). The Devils should afford the Blueshirts plenty of scoring opportunities, noting that New Jersey has allowed 6, 6, 6, 4, 3, 4, 2, 8, 7 and 4 goals over its last 10 games. Without question we've seen the Devils sacrifice defense for offense down the stretch, scoring three goals or more in eight of their last 10 contests and six or more twice over their last seven games. Going all the way back to February 28th, the Devils have fired 30+ shots on goal in nine straight games here at home. The Rangers have been a solid defensive team this season but that hasn't been the case lately. They check in having given up 25 goals over their last seven contests. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin has posted a disappointing .899 save percentage over his last four starts and has allowed 17 goals over his last five games between the pipes. Backup Alex Georgiev has of course struggled for much of the season, particularly on the road where he owns a .887 save percentage. Devils games have seen an average total of 6.8 goals this season but that average jumps to 7.4 when they come off eight or more losses in their last 10 games, as is the case here, with the 'over' cashing at an 11-4 clip in that situation. Take the over (10*). |
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04-04-22 | North Carolina v. Kansas UNDER 152.5 | 69-72 | Win | 100 | 12 h 58 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between North Carolina and Kansas at 9:20 pm et on Monday. We won with our big play on the 'over' in North Carolina's thrilling 81-77 win over Duke in the Final Four on Saturday. Kansas also saw its rout of Villanova sail 'over' the total. I believe both results are setting us up with an inflated total on Monday, keeping in mind both teams entered the Final Four on the heels of consecutive 'under' results. We can't anticipate Kansas to go off from three-point range again on Monday the way it did on Saturday. The Jayhawks made good on 13-of-24 attempts from beyond the arc in that contest but average just 6-of-18 from three-point range away from home this season. We also can't count on North Carolina to get to the free throw line 24 times the way it did against Duke (Kansas yields opponents just 17 free throw attempts per game this season). The Jayhawks have done a tremendous job defensively, allowing 23 or fewer made field goals in eight of their last nine games overall with the 'under' cashing in five of those nine games. It's worth noting that this is the highest posted total we've seen in any of Kansas' last 10 contests, by a considerable margin (the next highest was 145.5). While both teams are certainly capable of 'filling it up' the fact is neither has topped 29 made field goals in any of their last four games, respectively. In fact, the Tar Heels have knocked down 27 or fewer field goals in regulation time in four consecutive games. Kansas has made good on 29 field goals in consecutive games after being held to just 27 and 22 against Creighton and Providence. Take the under (8*). |
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04-04-22 | Maple Leafs v. Lightning UNDER 6.5 | Top | 6-2 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 10 m | Show |
Atlantic Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Tampa Bay at 7:35 pm et on Monday. The Lightning are coming off a rare home loss on Saturday night, falling by a 5-4 score in a shootout against Montreal. Tampa Bay has now seen the 'over' cash in three straight games and has scored 4+ goals in four consecutive games - its longest such streak of the season. Contrary to popular belief, that's not really the style the Lightning like to employ. While they can score with the best of them, they prefer to play a 'crash and bang' style of hockey to wear down the opposition. It's worth noting that they gave regular starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy the night off on Saturday. He's been rounding back into form lately, with the Bolts allowing just 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 1, 3 and 2 goals in his last eight starts (the 'under' went 6-2 in those eight contests). Here, we'll note that Tampa has seen the 'under' cash at a 7-1 clip when coming off three or more consecutive 'over' results this season, with that situation leading to an average total of just 4.9 goals. The Leafs are red hot offensively right now, scoring 5+ goals in each of their last four contests. They average an impressive 3.9 goals per game on the road this season but that number drops to 2.7 when coming off four consecutive games in which they scored 4+ goals. On the flip side, Tampa has allowed just 2.0 goals per game when playing at home off a loss over the last two seasons (22-game sample size). The Bolts took the most recent meeting between these two teams by a 5-3 score in Toronto and that's notable as the 'under' has gone 17-8 with the Leafs on the road seeking revenge for a loss where their opponent scored 4+ goals over the last two seasons with that spot producing an average total of only 5.5 goals. Toronto welcomed back goaltender Jack Campbell on Saturday in Philadelphia and after a shaky first period in which he allowed two goals on 11 shots, he stopped 20 of 21 shots on goal the rest of the way in a 6-3 Leafs victory. While the last meeting between these two teams was high-scoring as I mentioned, the 'under' has actually cashed in 24 of the last 38 matchups in the series. Interestingly, the two previous matchups this season saw closing totals of just 5.5 so we're dealing with a considerably higher total here. With the Leafs and Bolts currently tied for second place in the Atlantic Division, this game takes on added importance and I believe that lends itself to a lower-scoring affair. Take the under (10*). |
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04-02-22 | North Carolina v. Duke OVER 151 | Top | 81-77 | Win | 100 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
NCAA Tournament Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between North Carolina and Duke at 8:45 pm et on Saturday. This will be the third meeting between these rivals this season with the previous two both sailing 'over' the total we're working with on Saturday. Given the way both teams have played leading up to and in this tournament, barring one of both sides going ice cold shooting the ball, I see no other way to go but the 'over' again here in their much-anticipated Final Four showdown. We missed with the 'over' in the Tar Heels most recent game - a 69-49 rout of an overmatched St. Peter's squad last Sunday. The Peacocks actually got off 60 field goal attempts in that game but knocked down only 18 of them in the blowout loss. North Carolina has now yielded its opponents 73, 81 (OT game against Baylor), 62 and 60 FG attempts in four games in this tournament. Prior to its Elite Eight matchup, UNC had allowed 25+ made field goals in eight of its last nine games. On the flip side, the Tar Heels have made good on 25+ field goals in eight of their last nine games overall. While not all of their recent opponents have shot well, the Blue Devils have essentially been a 'swinging door' defensively, allowing 62+ field goal attempts in eight consecutive games. Seven of their last eight opponents have knocked down 26+ field goals with the 'over' going 6-1-1 over that stretch. Of course, from an offensive standpoint, few are doing it better than the Blue Devils right now as they've made good on 30, 32, 28 and 29 field goals in their first four games in this tournament. Duke has scored 78+ points in nine of its last 10 games overall. Its lone 'under' result over that stretch came in a game where its opening round opponents in this tourney, Cal-State Fullerton, shot a woeful 24-of-64 from the field. With UNC allowing 65 field goal attempts per game away from home this season, not to mention eight made threes per contest, I believe the door is open for Duke to set the pace on Saturday. Meanwhile, we haven't seen UNC's best offensively over the last couple of games but we know its capable of keeping up here, noting that it scored a whopping 95 points in a stunning victory in Coach K's final game at Cameron Indoor back on March 5th. Take the over (10*). |
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04-01-22 | Blazers v. Spurs OVER 231 | 111-130 | Win | 100 | 12 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Portland and San Antonio at 8:40 pm et on Friday. We missed with the 'over' in the Blazers most recent game - a 117-107 loss at home against New Orleans on Wednesday. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here, however, as they hit the road to face the Spurs. Note that these two teams just matched up on March 23rd in Portland as San Antonio rolled to a 133-96 win. That game managed to creep 'over' the total despite Portland shooting a woeful 36-of-94 from the field. I do expect some improvement from the revenge-minded Blazers here, noting that they've made good on 43, 37, 51 (OT-aided) and 39 field goals over their last four games. The problem for Portland is its non-existent defense. It has allowed its last five opponents to knock down 46, 43, 44, 48 and 40 field goals, giving up 115+ points in all five contests. The Spurs should certainly be able to take advantage. They've scored 107+ points in five straight games, making good on 47 and 42 field goals over their last two contests. My concern with the Spurs laying all of those points in this spot is that they've allowed opponents to get off 90+ field goal attempts in six straight games. With the Blazers finding a bit of confidence offensively over the last couple of games, I do think they can contribute enough to help this one 'over' the total. In the Spurs last five home games they've allowed the opposition to knock down 45, 52, 43, 48 and 44 field goals. Take the over (8*). |
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04-01-22 | Fresno State v. Coastal Carolina OVER 126.5 | 85-74 | Win | 100 | 34 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Fresno State and Coastal Carolina at 6 pm et on Friday. Both of these teams are coming off 'under' results in the semi-finals of this tournament but I expect a different story to unfold as they match up in Thursday's final. The pace was actually there for 'over' results in both semi-final contests. Fresno State did its part, knocking down 50% of its field goal attempts to put up 67 points but its opponent, Southern Utah, couldn't hit anything, making good on just 19-of-61 field goal attempts in a 19-point loss. Part of that obviously had to do with Fresno State's defense, but sometimes the shots simply aren't falling as well. The fact that Southern Utah was able to get off 66 attempts encourages me to play the 'over' here as I certainly don't expect Coastal Carolina to shoot as poorly. The Chanticleers check in having made good on 27, 21, 23, 28, 24, 22, 25, 33 and 28 field goals (you get the picture - consistency is what we're looking for) over their last nine games with the 'over' going 5-3-1 over that stretch. Coastal Carolina allowed South Alabama to get off 66 FG attempts in the semis. Five of the Chanticleers last seven opponents have hoisted up 58+ FG attempts with four of those teams scoring at least 68 points. Take the over (8*). |
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03-31-22 | Canadiens v. Hurricanes UNDER 6 | 0-4 | Win | 102 | 11 h 10 m | Show | |
NHL Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Carolina at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Canadiens allowed seven goals in Tuesday's loss in Florida but those type of defensive lapses haven't been nearly as commonplace since Martin St. Louis took over behind the bench. Here, I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair as the Habs continue their southeastern road swing in Carolina. The Canes have seen the 'over' cash in four straight games and are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Tampa two nights ago. Note that the two previous meetings in this series this season totalled just five and four goals. The Canadiens check in sporting a 3-9 o/u record when on the road seeking revenge for a loss by 2+ goals against an opponent this season, which is the case here, resulting in an average total of 5.3 goals. Meanwhile, the Canes have seen the 'under' cash in all five games when playing their third game in four nights at home this season, with an average total of just 3.6 goals in that spot. The 'under' is also 11-3 with the Canes playing at home after scoring 3+ goals in five consecutive games over the last two seasons, which is the case here, leading to an average total of just 4.9 goals. Take the under (10*). |
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03-30-22 | Pelicans v. Blazers OVER 228 | Top | 117-107 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
NBA Western Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Portland at 10:10 pm et on Wednesday. C.J. McCollum will make his return to Portland as a member of the Pelicans after being dealt from the Blazers prior to the trade deadline. While the Blazers are going nowhere this season, I do think they get up for this game and we see an up-tempo affair on Wednesday night. We know what we're going to get from New Orleans right now. The Pelicans have scored 102+ points in 20 consecutive games and have made good on 40+ field goals in 15 straight contests. The Blazers don't figure to do much to stand in their way here, noting they've allowed 40+ made field goals in eight of their last nine games. Albeit aided by overtime, they allowed 48-of-90 shooting and 134 points against an undermanned Thunder squad last time out. Despite a depleted roster, Portland has managed to push the pace a little more than it had been recently over its last couple of games, attempting 93 and 99 field goal attempts in regulation time in those two contests. The Blazers have generally been alternating good and bad offensive efforts lately, but again, I expect them to get up for this one, especially as they look to salvage something from this five-game homestand (they're 0-4 so far). While New Orleans has been limiting its opponents' tempo for the most part, it is also allowing the opposition to shoot for a lofty percentage. Note that four of the Pelicans last five opponents have made good on 40+ field goals. Take the over (10*). |
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03-29-22 | Senators v. Predators UNDER 6.5 | Top | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 12 h 30 m | Show |
NHL Non-Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Nashville at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. Both of these teams are coming off high-scoring games. The Senators have seen the 'over' cash in each of their last two contests while Nashville enters Tuesday's game riding a six-game 'over' streak. I'm expecting a different story to unfold on Tuesday, however, as Ottawa travels to Nashville. Note that the Sens average only 2.7 goals per game on the road this season, with the 'under' cashing at an 18-11-2 clip. The 'under' is an incredible 17-5 with the Sens coming off a game that totalled 7+ goals, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of just 5.0 goals. Meanwhile, the 'under' is 31-15 with the Predators playing at home off an 'over' result over the last three seasons, leading to an average total of just 5.3 goals in that spot. The 'under' is also a perfect 7-0 with the Preds playing at home after scoring 5+ goals in their previous game this season, resulting in an average total of only 3.9 goals. Take the under (10*). |
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03-29-22 | Lakers v. Mavs OVER 218 | 110-128 | Win | 100 | 11 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Dallas at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday. The Lakers will likely be without Lebron James for this game but I feel the total has been adjusted too low based on the way they've been playing lately. L.A. has actually settled into a bit of a groove offensively, having made good on 47, 48, 53, 50 and 42 field goals over its last five games with the low-water mark coming in a game where it got off just 80 field goal attempts against New Orleans last time out. On the flip side, the Lakers have also gone back to their awful ways defensively, giving up 44+ made field goals in five straight games with five of their last six opponents putting up 120+ points. The Mavs obviously play tough defense at home. I can see them lacking a bit of intensity here, however, as they look ahead to a trip to Cleveland tomorrow and perhaps underestimate the Lebron-less Lakers. While Los Angeles averages just 111.1 points per game on the road this season, that average bumps up to 116.9 points per game when coming off a road loss, as is the case here. Take the over (8*). |
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03-29-22 | St Bonaventure v. Xavier OVER 142 | Top | 77-84 | Win | 100 | 127 h 30 m | Show |
NIT Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between St. Bonaventure and Xavier at 10 pm et on Tuesday. We won with the 'over' in Xavier's most recent game - a 75-73 NIT quarter-final victory over Vanderbilt. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as the Musketeers take on St. Bonaventure in NIT semi-final action on Tuesday. Xavier continues to allow the opposition to get off plenty of scoring opportunities, yielding 60, 65, 64, 60, 64 and 59 field goal attempts over its last six games. St. Bonaventure figures to take advantage of those opportunities, noting that it has knocked down 30, 24, 29, 27 and 20 field goals over its last five games with the outlier being a defensive slugfest against one of the slowest-paced and defensively-elite teams in the country in Virginia last time out. The Bonnies have generally done a nice job of limiting their opponents opportunities, allowing fewer than 60 FG attempts in 12 straight games heading into this one. However, they'll have their hands full with Xavier. The Musketeers check in having made good on 35, 33, 24, 26 and 27 field goals over their last five contests, most recently thriving in the second half of their win over Vandy. You would have to go back six games to find the last time Xavier was held to fewer than 72 points. In a game where I expect the pace to tick up a bit, I'm confident both offenses can continue to thrive and this total will quite simply prove too low. Take the over (10*). |
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03-28-22 | Southern Utah v. Fresno State OVER 135.5 | Top | 48-67 | Loss | -110 | 25 h 30 m | Show |
The Basketball Classic Third Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Southern Utah and Fresno State at 10 pm et on Monday. Fresno State has looked like a different team in this tournament, making good on 28 and 27 field goals while scoring 80+ points in both games. Perhaps getting out of the defensive-minded Mountain West Conference was just what the doctor ordered. Here, the Bulldogs draw another vulnerable defensive opponent in Southern Utah. The Jaguars have consistently allowed between 23-28 made field goals per contest over the last month. On the flip side, Southern Utah has been scoring with the best of them, knocking down 27, 28, 25, 28, 32 and 29 field goals over its last six contests. Fresno State played lights out defensive basketball earlier in the season but that hasn't really been the case lately. The Bulldogs have yielded 26, 20, 26 and 23 made field goals over their last four games, despite a relatively slow pace. Here, we can anticipate the Jaguars forcing the issue a little more than Fresno's recent opponents, noting that they've averaged 27-for-61 shooting away from home this season. Take the over (10*). |
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03-27-22 | Hornets v. Nets OVER 240 | Top | 119-110 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 32 m | Show |
NBA Eastern Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Charlotte and Brooklyn at 7:40 pm et on Sunday. I don't expect to see much defense in this Eastern Conference matchup on Sunday night. The Hornets roll into this game having made good on 52, 49, 43, 44, 40, 42 and 41 field goals over their last seven games. You get the idea. They're scoring fairly consistently right now and won't back down from the challenge at hand in Brooklyn on Sunday, noting that they've already won on this floor this season. More recently these two teams met in Charlotte and they combined to score 253 points on March 8th. The Nets entered last night's game in Miami having knocked down 45+ field goals in all but one of their previous nine games. Counter to that, they've also yielded 92+ FG attempts to opponents in five of their last eight contests. Expect a track meet here. Take the over (10*). |
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03-27-22 | Wolves v. Celtics OVER 227.5 | 112-134 | Win | 100 | 22 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Boston at 6:10 pm et on Sunday. You'd be hard-pressed to find a hotter offensive team than the Celtics right now. They've made good on 46, 47, 44 and 50 field goals over their last four games, scoring 124+ points in each of those four contests. Keep in mind, the C's are just one game removed from allowing 123 points on 48-of-93 shooting against an undermanned Thunder squad so there's a path for the T'Wolves to stay competitive in an underdog role here. Minnesota has of course been playing well also and checks in having knocked down 52, 40, 47, 36, 42 and 43 field goals over its last six games. The outlier came on the road against Dallas and it's worth noting the Wolves still scored 108 points in that game. We can be quite confident that the Wolves will find their scoring opportunities here, noting that they've gotten off 90+ field goal attempts in five of their last six games and also reached that number in their first meeting with Boston this season. The Celtics have been scoring at will despite the fact that they've been held to 88 or fewer FG attempts in six straight games. They're likely to get into the 90's in that department here, noting that Minnesota has yielded 90+ FG attempts to opponents in four of its last six contests. Take the over (8*). |
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03-27-22 | St. Peter's v. North Carolina OVER 136.5 | 49-69 | Loss | -110 | 22 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between St. Peter's and North Carolina at 5:05 pm et on Sunday. We missed with the 'over' (barely) in St. Peter's upset win over Purdue on Friday. That game just about got to the posted total but ultimately fell just short, largely due to the pace simply not being there. Here, I expect a different story to unfold. North Carolina continues to push the pace at every opportunity, getting off 60+ field goal attempts in six of its last seven games. Of course, the Tar Heels continue to make the most of their scoring opportunities, knocking down 28+ field goals in six of their last eight contests. On the flip side, they're also affording their opponents plenty of scoring opportunities, allowing 73, 81 and 62 FG attempts through their first three tournament games. Their last four opponents have made good on 25, 26, 28 and 28 field goals with all four of those opponents scoring at least 63 points. While St. Peter's certainly isn't known for its offense, it has scored 64+ points in five of its last six contests. That's despite playing at a very slow pace. Defensively, the Peacocks are terrific, but we have seen Kentucky and Purdue at least find some success, and they'll undoubtedly have their hands full with a Tar Heels offense that is peaking at the right time. Take the over (9*). |
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03-26-22 | Arkansas v. Duke UNDER 147.5 | Top | 69-78 | Win | 100 | 13 h 37 m | Show |
NCAA Elite Eight Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Arkansas and Duke at 8:45 pm et on Saturday. Thursday's Arkansas-Gonzaga game wasn't a typical one for the Razorbacks. They average 60 field goal attempts per game away from home this season and had gotten off 57 or fewer in four straight games prior to that contest. Yet they ended up hoisting up 72 field goal attempts, making good only only 29 of them, in that stunning upset victory. On the flip side, they also allowed the Zags to get off 64 FG attempts - well north of the 57 FG attempts they yield on average away from home this season. It's not the way Hogs head coach Eric Musselman wants this game to play out on Saturday against the red hot Blue Devils, I'm sure of that. Duke has shot better than 51% in each of its first three games in this tournament. Interestingly, it has actually attempted 58 or fewer field goals in all three contests. I'm not expecting anything to come easy for the Blue Devils on offense here. Note that Arkansas has held six of its last seven opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals. With that being said, there is seemingly a 'ceiling' for the Arkansas offense. Even with 70+ FG attempts against Gonzaga it still managed to make good on just 29 field goals. Prior to that it had been held to 24 or fewer made field goals in six straight games. The Hogs have of course made their living at the free throw line this season but it is worth mentioning that the Blue Devils send opponents to the charity stripe just 12 times per game. With the Blue Devils coming off consecutive 'over' results (we cashed with the 'over' in both games), I believe this total will prove too high. Take the under (10*). |
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03-26-22 | Bucks v. Grizzlies OVER 232.5 | 102-127 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 16 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Milwaukee and Memphis at 8:10 pm et on Saturday. The lone previous meeting between these two teams this season totalled 240 points and while we're dealing with a higher posted total this time around, I believe it will still prove too low. We of course know that the Bucks can 'fill it up' on any given night, seemingly regardless who is in or out of the lineup. They've made good on 40+ field goals in 14 of their last 15 games overall, and more recently have knocked down 40, 47, 43, 50 and 42 field goals in their last five contests. They also haven't been doing anything to slow their opponents' pace, yielding 92+ field goal attempts in six straight games. As for the Grizzlies, they've hit 40+ field goals in 13 straight games, even with the likes of Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks in and out of the lineup (Morant remains sidelined while Brooks should be back on Saturday). They've been lights out offensively over their last few games, knocking down 46, 47 and 50 field goals over that stretch while scoring 122+ points in all three contests. Take the over (8*). |
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03-26-22 | Canucks v. Stars OVER 5.5 | 4-1 | Loss | -125 | 8 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Vancouver and Dallas at 7:05 pm et on Saturday. The Canucks check into Saturday's game in Dallas off three straight 'under' results. They're certainly capable of bouncing back offensively, noting that they average just shy of 3.0 goals per game on the road this season with the 'over' cashing at a 19-14-1 clip. They'll likely face Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger on Saturday. He's had a fine season but has actually struggled lately, posting a .907 save percentage over his last four starts with the 'over' cashing in three of those four contests. Of course, Dallas is rolling right now, having won three games in a row, scoring 12 goals along the way. The Stars have seen the 'over' cash in each of their last two games and they've proven to be a streaky team in that regard this season, noting that the 'over' is 19-9 with Dallas coming off an 'over' result this season, resulting in an average total of 6.8 goals. I mentioned that the Canucks average just under 3.0 goals per game on the road this season. That average bumps up to 3.7 goals per contest when Vancouver plays on the road off an overtime loss this season (six-game sample size). That situation has produced an average total of 6.4 goals. Take the over (8*). |
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03-25-22 | Iowa State v. Miami-FL OVER 131.5 | 56-70 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Iowa State and Miami at 9:55 pm et on Friday. The 'under' has cashed in both the first and second round for both of these teams in this tournament. In fact, the last 'over' result for Miami came in a game where we were on that side of the total in an 80-76 loss to Duke in the ACC tournament. I'll go back to the well here, noting that this is the lowest total we've seen in a game involving the Hurricanes in this tournament, by a considerable margin. Miami isn't likely to allow Iowa State to dictate the (slow) pace the way it did in its first two tournament games against LSU and Wisconsin. The Hurricanes have consistently been getting (and making) their shots for weeks now. They check in having knocked down 27+ field goals in 12 of their last 13 games. The lone outlier came in the opener of this tournament against USC - a contest that got off to an incredibly slow start before both teams heated up in the second half (we just missed with the 'over' in that game). On the flip side, Miami is certainly fortunate that Auburn wasn't able to hit anything in its second round matchup, as it did yield the Tigers a whopping 69 field goal attempts. The Canes can't count on the Cyclones shooting as poorly as they did in their first two tourney games (they made just 20 field goals in each contest - shooting sub-36% in both games). Note that entering this tournament, Iowa State had allowed 28, 25, 22, 26, 20, 21, 25, 20, 23, 26 and 28 made field goals over its last 11 games (I know you get the picture but sometimes seeing the numbers visually is better). None of those numbers are earth-shattering, but my point is, the Cyclones haven't been completely locking opponents down defensively. I am confident Iowa State can contribute enough offensively to help this total along, noting that Miami ranks 121st in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency this season, according to KenPom. The Canes check in having allowed opponents to make good on 26-of-56 field goal attempts per game including eight made threes per contest away from home this season. Take the over (8*). |
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03-25-22 | Rockets v. Blazers UNDER 234.5 | 125-106 | Win | 100 | 12 h 25 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Houston and Portland at 10:10 pm et on Friday. I understand the thinking that this will be a 'defense-optional' type of affair but I have little confidence in both offenses showing up and hanging a crooked number on the scoreboard. Houston 'unders' have been one of the best kept betting secrets in the NBA lately as each of its last four contests have stayed 'under' the total with only one of those games coming anywhere close to eclipsing the total. The Rockets have gotten off just 86, 77, 85, 79, 86, 85 and 82 field goal attempts over their last seven games. They've made good on fewer than 40 field goals in four of their last six games. Houston has topped out at 118 points over its last seven contests and even that might not be enough to topple the total on Friday. After a miserable stretch of non-existent defense we have seen the Rockets hold their last two opponents to just 85 and 86 FG attempts. It's not as if the Blazers have been able to consistently push the pace, not with their injury-depleted roster that was already cleaned out by way of trades prior to the deadline. They've made good on just 38, 37 and 36 field goals over their last three games. Pre-trade deadline acquisition Josh Hart gave them a bit of an offensive spark on a recent road trip but now he's sidelined due to injury as well. On a positive note, Portland has at least been limiting its opponents scoring opportunities (relatively-speaking, I know), yielding 80, 77, 84, 85 and 94 FG attempts over its last five contests. Its most recent game was the outlier as it allowed a whopping 133 points against San Antonio. Of course, the Rockets aren't the Spurs, and I expect a better defensive effort from the Blazers here. Take the under (8*). |
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03-25-22 | Mavs v. Wolves UNDER 227.5 | Top | 95-116 | Win | 100 | 11 h 40 m | Show |
NBA Western Conference Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Minnesota at 8:10 pm et on Friday. This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams this season and it's not as if they're getting any looser. Neither team has scored more than 114 points in any of the previous three matchups with those contests totalling 216, 216 and 218 total points. I would anticipate tonight's contest being played at a very similar pace to what we saw earlier this week when the Mavs prevailed by a 110-108 score in Dallas. That game saw the two teams combined to knock down 27 three-pointers (they average a combined 28 made threes per game this season) and 39 free throws (they average 34 made free throws combined this season). The Mavs continue to put the defensive clamps on the opposition, yielding fewer than 89 FG attempts in seven of their last nine games. The only two opponents that got off more than 89 attempts were Brooklyn and the same Minnesota squad they'll face tonight, with those two scoring just 111 and 108 points, respectively. Meanwhile, you would have to go all the way back to February 2nd to find the last time the Mavs hoisted up 90+ FG attempts in a game. The T'Wolves are actually a respectable defensive team here at home this season, holding the opposition to 38-of-87 shooting on average with the 'under' cashing at a 19-17-1 clip. They got lit up by a red hot Suns squad that couldn't miss last time out. Coming off consecutive losses I look for Minnesota to tighten things up here. Note that the last three times they've played at home following consecutive losses they've allowed just 103, 99 and 106 points. Take the under (10*). |
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03-25-22 | St. Peter's v. Purdue OVER 133 | Top | 67-64 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
NCAA Sweet 16 Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between St. Peter's and Purdue at 7:05 pm et on Friday. We've seen this total drop since opening as it seems bettors have little faith in St. Peter's to keep it rolling against Purdue. The Peacocks have certainly impressed through two tournament games, scoring 85 points in a win over Kentucky (aided by overtime - they scored 71 points in regulation time) and then 70 points in a double-digit victory over Murray State. Even though the game against Kentucky went to overtime, the Peacocks still made good on 27-of-54 field goal attempts in regulation time. Here, they're likely to be afforded a whole lot more scoring opportunities, noting that Purdue has yielded 61, 60, 59, 69, 61, 63 and 68 field goal attempts over its last seven games. The Boilermakers allow an average of 61 FG attempts per game away from home this season. Not only that, but the opposition has knocked down an average of nine three-pointers per game against the Boilers away from their home gym. My point is, there's going to be a path for the Peacocks to score a reasonable number of points and keep this game competitive - which lends itself to a relatively high-scoring affair. Of course, little needs to be said about the Purdue offense. The Boilers currently rank first in the nation in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom. While St. Peter's has been terrific defensively, coming from the MAAC it's no surprise that its slate of opponents ranks 185th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. This is a considerable step up in class, noting that the Peacocks allowed Kentucky to make good on 26-of-61 field goal attempts in the opening round of this tournament (again, aided by overtime). Earlier in the season, St. Peter's faced a couple of opponents in the same vein as Purdue, with those contests totalling 161 points against St. John's and 156 points against Providence - another team that's still dancing in this tournament. I mentioned that Purdue has yielded plenty of FG attempts on a game-by-game basis but it has also allowed 26+ made field goals in seven of its last nine games. Both teams have shown the ability to get to the free throw line with St. Peter's averaging 20 field goal attempts per game while also sending opponents to the line 22 times per contest. Purdue averages 22 trips to the charity stripe per game. Take the over (10*). |
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03-25-22 | Capitals v. Sabres OVER 6 | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 10 h 58 m | Show |
My selection is on the 'over' between Washington and Buffalo at 7:05 pm et on Friday. NOTE: Both teams threw us a bit of a curveball, announcing Ilya Samsonov (Capitals) and Dustin Tokarski (Sabres) as the starting goaltenders tonight. A matchup between the two backup goaltenders obviously isn't the worst thing for us with an 'over' ticket, even though I did like the way we were set up with Vanecek vs. Anderson as noted below. The Capitals have gone from being red hot to losing consecutive games, scoring exactly two goals in each of those losses. This is an ideal bounce-back spot on the road against Buffalo, however, noting that Washington has scored 30 goals in its last eight meetings in this series and averages 3.9 goals per game when playing on the road after losing two of its last three games over the last two seasons, as is the case here. There's a good chance we'll see Vitek Vanecek in goal for the Caps here and that's notable as he has struggled lately, allowing 19 goals in his last six games. Of course Buffalo has been a mess between the pipes for most of the season. Craig Anderson likely gets the nod in goal on Friday. The veteran has allowed 11 goals over his last three games. Interestingly, the Sabres have averaged 3.6 goals per game when coming off an overtime win over the last three seasons (10-game sample size), as is the case here. Buffalo has quietly improved its scoring average to 2.9 goals per game here on home ice this season after finding the back of the net 12 times over its last three home contests. The last meeting between these two teams totalled just five goals back in December. Keep in mind, we haven't seen consecutive meetings in this series total fewer than six goals since 2017-18. Take the over (10*). |
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03-24-22 | Houston v. Arizona OVER 145 | 72-60 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Arizona at 9:59 pm et on Thursday. This is the highest total in a game involving Houston since way back on December 11th when it faced Alabama - a game that totalled 165 points. I believe it's warranted. While Arizona's offense will get most of the hype leading into this matchup, it's worth noting that Houston has made good on 25+ field goals in 13 of its last 16 games, eclipsing the 30 field goal mark in six of those games. Here, the Cougars will likely be involved a much faster-paced game than they're used to, but I don't think we'll see them shy away from an up-tempo affair. Arizona has yielded 62, 69, 69 and 74 field goal attempts over its last four games and 60+ FG attempts in 21 of their last 25 contests overall. Of course, as I alluded to, the Wildcats are capable of hanging a crooked number on the scoreboard on any given night. They've racked up 26+ made field goals in eight straight games, reaching the 30 mark five times over that stretch. Yes, Houston is an elite defensive team. That being said, it hasn't faced many teams like Arizona this season. In fact, the Cougars rank 92nd in the country in terms of opponents' average adjusted offensive efficiency this season according to KenPom. Take the over (6*). |
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03-24-22 | Texas Tech v. Duke OVER 137 | 73-78 | Win | 100 | 10 h 12 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Texas Tech and Duke at 9:35 pm et on Thursday. We won with the 'over' in Duke's most recent game - an 85-76 win over Michigan State in the round of 32 last Sunday. That game got into the 160's despite about a four-minute stretch in the first half where neither the Blue Devils or Spartans could hit a shot. Few teams are playing at the same level as Duke offensively right now, maybe Gonzaga and Arizona would fit in that category. The Blue Devils have made good on 35, 32, 34, 32, 29, 24, 30 and 32 field goals in their last eight games. However, at the other end of the floor they've yielded 64+ field goal attempts in six straight games. I realize Texas Tech doesn't play at a fast pace - far from it, in fact. But I do think the Red Raiders will have plenty of opportunity to get loose offensively in this one. Note that Texas Tech has managed to knock down 28, 21, 27, 36 and 21 field goals in its last five games so some consistency to rely on there. With that being said, the Red Raiders shot just 21-of-59 last time out against Notre Dame. Keep in mind, they've averaged right around 27 made field goals per game after being held to 21 or fewer made field goals in their previous game this season (nine-game sample size). The question here really becomes whether the Duke offense can keep rolling against an elite Texas Tech defense. I'm confident it can, noting that while Texas Tech yields just 21-of-55 shooting away from home this season, it has given up eight made threes per contest, an area where the Blue Devils can thrive. Also consider we're dealing with a reasonably low total here - the lowest in a Duke game since it faced Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game - a contest that totalled 149 points. Take the over (8*). |
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03-24-22 | Cavs v. Raptors OVER 214.5 | 104-117 | Win | 100 | 9 h 48 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Cleveland and Toronto at 7:40 pm et on Thursday. Are the Cavaliers a bad defensive team? They certainly have been lately, allowing 43, 41, 46, 41 and 53 made field goals and 109+ points in each of their last five games. Things won't get any easier against a Raptors squad that returns home off a double-digit loss in Chicago two nights ago. While Toronto didn't have a great night shooting the ball against the Bulls, it continues to force the issue offensively, getting off 94, 102, 96. 83, 97, 93 and 91 field goal attempts over its last seven games. Defensively, the Raps have been a bit of a mixed bag lately. Here, they'll host a Cavs squad that has continued to thrive offensively, knocking down 44, 45 and 45 field goals over their last three games and scoring 113+ points in five consecutive games. While the last meeting between these two teams on March 6th was of the low-scoring variety (200 total points scored), just two matchups back the Cavs hung 144 points on the Raps, shooting a ridiculous 56-for-106 from the field in that victory. With Toronto having lost all three previous meetings in this series this season we can expect it to go all out on Thursday, I'm just not convinced it will be able to run away and hide, and that type of situation lends itself to a relatively high-scoring affair. Take the over (8*). |
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03-22-22 | Clippers v. Nuggets UNDER 223 | 115-127 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Denver at 10 pm et on Tuesday. We've missed with the 'under' in the Nuggets last two games but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here as they host the struggling Clippers on Tuesday. Note that Denver's most recent game just as easily could have stayed 'under' were it not for the red hot Celtics absolutely shooting the lights out. Remember, two games back the Nuggets game in Cleveland stayed 'under' the total for us in regulation time before flying 'over' thanks to overtime. The pace simply hasn't been there for a sustainable 'over' run when it comes to Denver. It has now held nine of its last 11 opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts in regulation time including each of its last four. Meanwhile, the Denver offense cooled off last game, knocking down just 35-of-87 FG attempts against the Celtics. Note that the Nuggets have gotten off 90 or fewer FG attempts in regulation time in 14 consecutive games. The Clippers meanwhile desperately need to tighten things up after three straight losses. I'm confident they'll do just that on Tuesday, noting that they've been idle since a blowout loss in Utah on Friday. L.A. has had a tough enough time just getting shots off let alone knocking them down lately, shooting 38-of-78 and 31-of-86 over its last two games. Note that the 'under' is 11-2 with the Clips playing on the road off a double-digit loss over the last two seasons, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of just 203.7 points. Take the under (8*). |
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03-22-22 | Vanderbilt v. Xavier OVER 143 | Top | 73-75 | Win | 100 | 27 h 34 m | Show |
NIT Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Vanderbilt and Xavier at 9 pm et on Tuesday. While the pace has certainly been there, Xavier has seen its first two NIT matchups stay 'under' the total. I look for that to change on Tuesday as they host Vanderbilt in quarter-final action. The Musketeers game against Florida on Sunday certainly looked on track to fly 'over' the total early but Florida settled into a scoring drought and never really recovered, ultimately making good on just 21-of-64 field goal attempts in a 72-56 Xavier win. Now we're being offered the lowest total we've seen in Xavier's three NIT games and I believe it will prove too low. The Musketeers have yielded 60+ FG attempts in five straight and nine of their last 11 games overall. The 'over' has cashed at a 7-4 clip over that stretch. We know Vandy is comfortable pushing the pace, noting that it has hoisted up 62+ FG attempts in four of its last five contests. In the only game where it didn't it still managed to score in the 80's against Alabama. On the flip side, the Commodores have yielded 67, 61, 60 and 56 FG attempts themselves over their last four games. Opponents have generally been 'filling it up' against them, knocking down 24, 30, 27 and 26 field goals over those four contests with the 'over' going a perfect 4-0 along the way. For its part, Xavier checks in having made good on 35, 33, 24 and 26 field goals over its last four games, scoring 72+ points in all four games. We don't need a track meet to cash this ticket but I do think we'll see a relatively high-scoring affair on Tuesday night. Take the over (10*). |
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03-21-22 | Predators v. Ducks UNDER 6 | Top | 6-3 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 25 m | Show |
NHL Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Nashville and Anaheim at 10:05 pm et on Monday. The Predators check in off consecutive 'over' results but I look for a different story to unfold as they head to Anaheim to face the Ducks on Monday. While Nashville averages 3.3 goals per game on the season, that number drops to 2.6 goals per game when it comes off a game in which it scored 5+ goals, as is the case here. The 'under' has gone 9-1 in that situation this season with an average total of just 4.4 goals. Better still, the 'under' is a perfect 9-0 when the Preds play on the road after scoring 6+ goals in their previous game over the last two seasons with that spot producing an average total of just 3.7 goals. We cashed with the 'under' in a similar situation last week as they followed up a 6-2 win in Minnesota with a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh. As for Anaheim, it has been held to three goals or less in seven straight games, losing each of its last six contests. That's notable as the Ducks have seen the 'under' go 43-21 the last 64 times they've come off 5+ consecutive losses, with an average total of just 5.2 goals in that situation. Take the under (10*). |
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03-21-22 | Celtics v. Thunder UNDER 216.5 | 132-123 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston and Oklahoma City at 8:10 pm et on Monday. We missed with the 'under' in the Celtics rout of the Nuggets last night but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Monday as they head to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. This is certainly a game I can envision the Celtics 'managing' as they wrap up a four-game in six-night road trip - one that has been highly-successful as they've won all three games so far. After shooting a blistering 56% and 57% over their last two games I do anticipate some regression from the C's here. Note that Boston is by no means pushing the pace, having gotten off 88, 81, 82 and 82 field goal attempts in its last four games. On the flip side, perhaps no team in the league is as locked-in defensively as Boston right now. It has limited each of its last six opponents to 36 or fewer made field goals. You would have to go back to March 3rd to find the last time an opponent got off 90+ field goal attempts. Oklahoma City scored just 85 points in last night's loss in Orlando, clearly looking like a team that's running out of gas missing a number of key contributors, and one that will now be playing its sixth game in the last nine nights (in four different cities) on Monday. The Thunder have to realize their only hope of staying remotely competitive in this game is by mucking things up and turning it into a slugfest, especially if Shae-Gilgeous Alexander is forced to miss a second straight game (he remains questionable at the time of writing). The first meeting between these two teams this season totalled 216 points, but that contest was played at a faster pace than I'm projecting tonight (OKC got off 96 FG attempts and the two teams combined to make good on 35 three-pointers - they average just 25 combined per game this season). Take the under (8*). |
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03-21-22 | USC Upstate v. South Alabama UNDER 142 | 79-83 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between USC Upstate and South Alabama at 8 pm et on Monday. USC Upstate enters this contest off consecutive 'over' results while South Alabama saw its opening round matchup stay 'under' the total. Here, I'm anticipating a lower-scoring affair than most. The visiting Spartans stunned heavily-favored Appalachian State to get to this game. In that contest, they knocked down 30-of-66 field goals - two numbers I don't expect them to approach against an incredibly stingy South Alabama squad on Monday. Note that the Jaguars have held opponents to an average of 21-of-56 shooting at home this season, including just six made three-pointers per game. On the flip side, South Alabama managed to put up 70 points in a narrow win over Southeast Louisiana in its tournament opener. Of course, it needed 61 field goal attempts to get there, making good on 28 of them. Note that the Jaguars don't generally look to push the pace. Prior to their last game, you would have to go all the way back to January 6th to find the last time they hoisted up more than 58 FG attempts in a game. Meanwhile, USC Upstate has held three of its last five opponents to 54 or fewer FG attempts. The only two opponents to top that mark over that stretch only managed to make good on 24 and 20 of those attempts. Take the under (8*). |
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03-21-22 | Lakers v. Cavs UNDER 227 | Top | 131-120 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 8 m | Show |
NBA Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and Cleveland at 7:10 pm et on Monday. The Cavs enter Monday's game on the heels of four consecutive 'over' results. I expect that streak to come to an end here, as they host the road-weary Lakers. We of course missed with the 'under' in the Cavs overtime win over the Nuggets on Friday. We obviously deserved a better fate in that contest as the score stayed 'under' the total in regulation time before eclipsing the number in OT. Cleveland has now held its last three opponents to just 79, 83 and 85 field goal attempts in regulation time. All three opponents happened to shoot considerably better than their season average but I'm not anticipating a similar story to unfold here as the Lakers play their third game in four nights away from home. L.A. actually managed to shoot the lights out on Friday in Toronto and Saturday in Washington. Prior to that, the Lakers had made good on fewer than 40 field goals in three straight games, scoring 111 points or less in all three of those contests. Cleveland isn't likely to push the pace too much in this one, noting that it has gotten off fewer than 90 field goals in regulation time in six consecutive games. The Cavs shot exceptionally well on Saturday night against Detroit (better than 50%) but again, we can expect some regression here as they play their third game in four nights and perhaps look to 'manage' proceedings a little bit here as they take the floor for the seventh time in the last 11 nights. The lone previous meeting between these two teams this season was played at a similar pace to what I'm projecting tonight, and that contest totalled just 214 points. Take the under (10*). |
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03-20-22 | Celtics v. Nuggets UNDER 222 | 124-104 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston and Denver at 8:10 pm et on Sunday. We suffered a bad beat with the 'under' in the Nuggets last game as overtime ended up pushing the final score 'over' the total in Cleveland. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here, however, as Denver returns home to host the Celtics on Sunday. I'm not sure any team is as locked-in defensively as the Celtics right now. They've held their last five opponents to 36, 35, 33, 32 and 33 made field goals, allowing no more than 86 field goal attempts in any of those contests. Not surprisingly, the 'under' has gone 4-1 over that stretch. Note also that Boston is by no means tearing up and down the floor on offense, getting off just 88, 81 and 82 FG attempts over its last three contests. Meanwhile, Denver checks in off consecutive 'over' results but the pace certainly hasn't been there to dictate that. Note that the Nuggets have held six of their last seven opponents to fewer than 90 FG attempts in regulation time. On the flip side, you would have to go all the way back to February 16th to find the last time they attempted more than 90 field goals in a game. They've gotten off no more than 87 FG attempts in eight of their last nine games. Note that the lone previous meeting between these two teams this season totalled just 210 points and that was a game that was played at a faster pace than I'm anticipating tonight (both teams attempted 90+ field goals in that February 11th game). Take the under (8*). |
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03-20-22 | Michigan State v. Duke OVER 142.5 | 76-85 | Win | 100 | 32 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Michigan State and Duke at 5:15 pm et on Sunday. Michigan State saw its NCAA Tournament opener sail 'over' the total while Duke had its six-game 'over' streak come to an end in its rout of Cal-State Fullerton. Here, I'm anticipating a relatively high-scoring second round affair between the Spartans and Blue Devils. Both offenses can absolutely 'fill it up' with Michigan State having made good on 27+ field goals in six of its last eight games and Duke knocking down 29+ field goals in six of its last seven contests. On the flip side, neither defense has really shown the ability or interest in slowing the pace, with MSU allowing 61, 64, 60, 57 and 59 field goal attempts over its last five games and Duke yielding 64+ FG attempts in each of its last five contests. The opportunities to run this score up should certainly be there on Sunday, noting that the Spartans allow an average of 59 FG attempts per game away from home with the Blue Devils yielding an average of 62 away from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The only thing keeping me from going to a higher rating is the fact that both teams are fairly disciplined and we're unlikely to see a parade to the free throw line at any point in this one. Take the over (9*). |
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03-20-22 | Grizzlies v. Rockets OVER 235 | Top | 122-98 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 48 m | Show |
NBA Division Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Memphis and Houston at 3:40 pm et on Sunday. Both of these teams are coming off 'under' results but I look for a different story to unfold when they match up on Sunday afternoon in Houston. The Grizzlies offense got bogged down in a 120-105 loss in Atlanta on Friday, getting off just 85 field goal attempts in the loss. Keep in mind, they had hoisted up 92+ field goal attempts in seven straight games prior to that, including 101 or more in each of their last four contests. Here, the Rockets are unlikely to contain the Grizzlies offense, noting that Houston has yielded 91+ FG attempts in six of its last seven games, allowing seven straight opponents to knock down 40+ field goals with six of those opponents making good on at least 44 field goals. On the flip side, we've seen the Rockets make good on exactly 39 field goals in two of their last three games but that's had more to do with slow pace than anything else. Here, they should be afforded the opportunity to get out and run against a Grizzlies defense that has permitted 90+ FG attempts in four straight games. The Rockets attempted just 82 field goals in their most recent meeting with Memphis back on March 6th, but still managed to score 123 points. Take the over (10*). |
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03-20-22 | Florida v. Xavier OVER 144 | 56-72 | Loss | -110 | 3 h 53 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Florida and Xavier at 1 pm et on Sunday. We missed with the 'over' in Xavier's NIT opener against Cleveland State. We probably deserved a better fate as the pace was certainly there to get that one 'over' the total. Xavier continues to push the pace at every opportunity, hoisting up 60+ field goal attempts in six of its last seven games. The Musketeers simply had an off night shooting the ball against Cleveland State, noting that they made good on just 24-of-62 FG attempts. Keep in mind, prior to that, Xavier had knocked down 33 and 35 field goals over its last two contests. Here, it will face a Florida squad that has allowed 29, 27, 30, 28, 24 and 29 field goals over its last six games. Not surprisingly, the 'over' has gone 5-1 over that stretch. Like Xavier, Florida continues to force the issue offensively, getting off 60+ FG attempts in four of its last five contests. The Gators have made good on 25+ field goals in six straight games. Xavier has certainly allowed the opposition to 'fill it up' lately, yielding 27+ made field goals in seven of its last eight games. Take the over (9*). |
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03-19-22 | New Orleans v. Portland OVER 153.5 | 73-94 | Win | 100 | 24 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Portland at 10 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams will be looking to get out and run in their Basketball Classic opener on Saturday night. New Orleans hoisted up 62+ field goals in four of their last five games heading into this tournament. The Privateers bowed out of the Southland Conference Tournament thanks to a brutal shooting performance against Southeast Louisiana. I certainly expect them to bounce back here, noting that they knocked down 28+ field goals in six of their last eight contests. Here, they'll be afforded plenty of scoring opportunities against a Portland squad that allowed 27, 24, 36, 23 and 31 made field goals over its last five games, showing no ability or interest in controlling their opponents tempo down the stretch. The Pilots have allowed 10 of their last 12 opponents to get off at least 58 field goal attempts. Offensively, we saw Portland round into form down the stretch, making good on 34, 29, 24, 35, 27 and 25 field goals over its last six contests. Here at home this season, the Pilots make an average of 27 field goals per game including eight from beyond the arc, while also getting to the free throw line 22 times per contest. New Orleans should offer little in the way of resistance, allowing 28, 30, 26, 31, 25 and 26 field goals over its last six games. Away from home this season, the Privateers have yielded 28-of-62 shooting on average, including eight made threes per game. Like Portland, New Orleans also lived at the free throw line for much of the season, particularly away from home where it averages 25 free throw attempts per game. Take the over (8*). |
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03-19-22 | Richmond v. Providence OVER 134 | Top | 51-79 | Loss | -110 | 30 h 13 m | Show |
NCAA Tournament Second Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Richmond and Providence at 6:10 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams saw their opening round games stay 'under' the total and as a result we're dealing with a reasonably low total here. Richmond has actually seen consecutive 'unders', even if the pace in yesterday's upset win over Iowa would have usually dictated an 'over' result. The Spiders were certainly fortunate to catch Iowa on an off day shooting-wise, perhaps suffering from a letdown following its Big Ten Tournament championship run. The Hawkeyes got off 66 field goal attempts against Richmond but could only knock down 24 of them. It was a similar story in the A-10 Tournament final as Davidson shot 19-of-51 against the Spiders. Here, I'm anticipating a better shooting performance from Providence. The Friars had a poor day shooting the basketball yesterday as well, not all that surprising as teams adjust to playing in new venues in the tournament's opening weekend. Providence did hoist up 61 FG attempts but made good on just 24 of them. Note that prior to that, the Friars had seen each of their last four games in which they attempted 60+ field goals go 'over' the total. Going back to February 15th, Providence has attempted 62, 60, 68, 59, 56, 54, 65 and 61 field goals so it has certainly been making an effort to push the tempo. Like the Spiders, the Friars benefited from yesterday's opponent - normally explosive South Dakota State - shooting a woeful 22-of-57 from the field. Providence has yielded plenty of scoring opportunities in recent games, allowing 79, 59, 57, 61, 57 and 57 FG attempts over its last six contests. It's certainly worth noting that yesterday's game against the Jackrabbits also featured just 21 free throw attempts. The Spiders and Friars combine to average 39 free throw attempts per game this season. Take the over (10*). |
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03-19-22 | Michigan v. Tennessee UNDER 136.5 | 76-68 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Michigan and Tennessee at 5:15 pm et on Saturday. Michigan enters this game off three consecutive 'over' results while Tennessee posted an 'over' result of its own in its tournament-opening blowout win over Longwood. Here, I expect a different story to unfold as the two power programs match up in round two. Tennessee should be able to frustrate the Michigan offense here, noting that the Vols have limited three of their last four opponents to 52 or fewer field goal attempts. Over that stretch they've given up just 19, 22, 16 and 20 made field goals. On the season, Tennessee yields just 22 made field goals per game away from home including only six made threes per contest. While Michigan ended up scoring 75 points in its tournament-opening win over Colorado State, it only got there thanks to shooting the lights out. The Wolverines actually only managed to get off 48 FG attempts in that contest. It was a similar story for the Vols, as they attempted 55 field goals against Longwood, making good on 33 of them. That certainly hasn't been the norm for Tennessee, however, noting that it has made good on 24 or fewer field goals in seven of its last 11 games overall. You would have to go back six games to find the last time the Vols attempted 60+ field goals, and even in that contest they only managed to knock down 27. Take the under (8*). |
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03-19-22 | Western Illinois v. UTEP OVER 144 | Top | 54-80 | Loss | -110 | 53 h 45 m | Show |
The Basketball Classic Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Western Illinois and UTEP at 3 pm et on Saturday. Both of these teams enter this tournament off 'under' results but I look for a different story to unfold when they match up on Saturday afternoon. Western Illinois is one of the fastest-paced teams in the country, particularly away from home where it averages a whopping 66 field goal attempts per game. That's a stark contrast to what UTEP is accustomed to facing. I also feel the Miners could be in for a bit of a 'shock to the system' here given WIU averages 10 more three-point attempts per game than UTEP has faced this season. While I do consider the Miners to be a quality defensive team, they weren't at their best down the stretch, allowing 23+ made field goals in each of their last seven games, despite playing at a reasonably slow pace (only one of their opponents over that stretch got off 60+ FG attempts and that game against Old Dominion went 'over' the total by double-digits). Of course, WIU is one of the weaker defensive teams in the nation. It checks in having allowed seven of its last 10 opponents to make good on 30+ field goals with the 'over' going 6-4 over that stretch. UTEP actually rounded into form offensively down the stretch, knocking down 25, 29, 22, 28 and 24 field goals over its last five contests. Again, that's more impressive when you consider the slow pace the Miners generally play at (they attempted more than 57 field goals just once over that five-game stretch). I'm not convinced the opening round of 'The Basketball Classic' is the time and place for a defensive slugfest. I'm anticipating plenty of offensive fireworks here. Take the over (10*). |
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03-19-22 | Blackhawks v. Wild OVER 6 | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -125 | 19 h 1 m | Show |
Central Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Chicago and Minnesota at 2:05 pm et on Saturday. The Blackhawks are coming off a low-scoring game against the Bruins last time out but I expect a different story to unfold as they head to Minnesota to face the division-rival Wild on Saturday afternoon. Note that the Wild took the most recent meeting between these two teams by a 5-0 score in Chicago back on February 2nd. That's notable as the Blackhawks have averaged 3.4 goals per game when playing on the road seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent in which they scored one goal or less over the last three seasons. Better still, they average 3.5 goals per game when playing on the road seeking revenge for three straight losses against an opponent over the last three seasons, as is the case here. Also of note, the 'over' is 26-14 with Chicago coming off a game in which four or fewer total goals were scored over the last three seasons, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of 6.7 goals. The Wild have seen the 'over' go 15-2 when coming off a home win this season, producing an average total of 7.8 goals in that situation. Both teams have had issues between the pipes lately. Blackhawks regular starter Marc-Andre Fleury has posted an .896 save percentage over his last four starts while the Wild haven't gotten much from Cam Talbot or Kaapo Kahkonen, with that duo posting .887 and .908 save percentages respectively over their last four games. Take the over (10*). |
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03-19-22 | North Carolina v. Baylor UNDER 149 | 93-86 | Loss | -105 | 3 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between North Carolina and Baylor at 12:10 pm et on Saturday. We won with the 'over' in North Carolina's first game of this tournament - a stunning rout of Marquette on Thursday. Here, I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'under' as the Tar Heels face a much tougher challenge in the form of the defending national champion Baylor Bears. Baylor has allowed 28 or fewer made field goals in nine straight games. The only opponent to reach that 28 mark was Iowa State and that game still totalled only 143 points. Note that Baylor checks in having held its last three opponents to just 59, 51 and 57 field goal attempts. North Carolina shot the lights out against Marquette, making good on 34-of-74 FG attempts. It went off from three-point range in particular but now goes up against a Bears squad that guards the perimeter fiercely, allowing only six made threes per contest away from home this season. The Bears knocked down 31-of-54 FG attempts in their NCAA Tournament opener against Norfolk State. Note that prior to that they had made good on 28 or fewer field goals in eight straight contests. For its part, North Carolina has allowed 27 or fewer made field goals in nine of its last 11 games overall and also sends opponents to the free throw line only 15 times per game away from home this season. Take the under (8*). |
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03-18-22 | Nuggets v. Cavs UNDER 223 | 116-119 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Denver and Cleveland at 7:40 pm et on Friday. The Nuggets saw their most recent game go 'over' the total in Washington two nights ago (we missed with the 'under' in that contest) while the Cavs have seen their last two games go 'over' the total, not to mention four of their last five overall. With that being said, we're dealing with a higher posted total here than we saw in the first meeting between these two teams back in late October - a game that totalled just 186 points in Denver. That game was played at a similar pace to what we can probably expect here and while I do look for both teams to shoot better than they did on that night, I'm not sure it will be enough to get this one 'over' the total as we certainly have plenty of wiggle room to work with. Note that the Nuggets have by no means been playing at a frenetic pace. They've gotten off 87 or fewer field goal attempts in seven of their last eight and 10 of their last 12 games overall. In the two outliers over that stretch they attempted just 90 field goals on both occasions. That's not to mention the fact that they've held five of their last six opponents to 88 or fewer FG attempts. They're just one game removed from holding a good 76ers offense to 36-of-84 shooting, on the road no less. Likewise, the Cavs haven't been playing at a pace that would dictate their recent run of 'over' results. They've gotten off 79, 86, 86 and 80 FG attempts over their last four games and have made good on fewer than 40 field goals in eight of their last 11 contests. I do think Cleveland is a better defensive team than it has shown lately, most recently allowing the aforementioned 76ers to shoot a blistering 41-of-79 from the field in a 118-114 loss two nights ago. Note that the Cavs have allowed an average of 38-of-87 shooting here at home this season, where the 'under' has gone 22-10-1. I'm not sure that either team will be interested in a track meet here, noting that the Nuggets are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play eight games in 13 nights (in four different cities) while the Cavs are in the front-half of a back-to-back in a stretch that sees them play six games in nine nights (including tomorrow's home game against Detroit). Take the under (9*). |
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03-18-22 | Miami-FL v. USC OVER 139.5 | 68-66 | Loss | -110 | 51 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and USC at 3:10 pm et on Friday. While it met its demise at the hands of Duke in the ACC Tournament semi-final round, there's no denying Miami heads into this tournament playing well, particularly at the offensive end of the floor. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find another team performing as efficiently offensively heading in. Going back to February 12th, the Canes have knocked down 28+ made field goals in nine consecutive games. Not surprisingly, the 'over' cashed in six of those nine contests. On the flip side, Miami has allowed four of its last five opponents to shoot 50% or better from the field. The Canes have shown no ability or interest in controlling their opponents' tempo and yielded 28+ made field goals in four of their last five contests. USC got bogged down a bit in the Pac-12 Tournament, seeing its two games stay 'under' the total. The Trojans have yielded 60+ FG attempts in eight of their last 10 games and unlike a lot of their opponents in the Pac-12, the Canes figure to take advantage here. USC wasn't able to get out and run as much as it would have liked to in its last few games but we know that it can, and Miami should afford it that opportunity here. Prior to a poor performance against a terrific UCLA defense, the Trojans had made good on 33, 26, 27, 25 and 25 field goals over their previous five contests. Take the over (9*). |
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03-18-22 | Delaware v. Villanova UNDER 133.5 | 60-80 | Loss | -105 | 49 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Delaware and Villanova at 2:45 pm et on Friday. Delaware heads into this tournament on a five-game 'under' streak while Villanova has posted three consecutive 'under' results. I expect that trend to continue here. The Blue Hens may have ran the table in the CAA Tournament but you could argue that they limp into the NCAA Tournament from an offensive standpoint. You would have to go back to February 24th to find the last time they knocked down more than 26 field goals in a game. That was an outlier game that totalled a whopping 195 points against Charleston. All told, Delaware made good on 24 or fewer field goals in six of its last eight games. While the Blue Hens offense has lagged with the games getting tougher, their defensive has thrived. They check in having allowed 23 or fewer field goals in seven of their last nine contests. In fact, they've yielded fewer than 60 field goal attempts in six of their last seven games. Given the way Villanova plays, this one could very well have an 'old school basketball' kind of feel. The Wildcats have allowed 24, 26, 25, 20, 27, 22 and 19 made field goals over their last seven games, giving up 66 points or less in five of those contests. While Villanova can be an effective, efficient offensive team, it hasn't been lately, making good on 21, 23, 30, 20, 23 and 19 field goals over its last six games. It got off 57 or fewer FG attempts in seven of its last eight contests. I'm not convinced that Delaware is the team to really allow the Wildcats to open things up, nor do I think 'Nova is all that interested in that type of affair here. Take the under (8*). |
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03-17-22 | Islanders v. Rangers UNDER 5.5 | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 32 m | Show |
Metropolitan Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between the Islanders and Rangers at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. Given the fact that these two teams have only met once previously this season it's easy to forget that this has been a low-scoring series recently with eight of the last nine meetings totalling five goals or less. I expect a similar story to unfold on Thursday. The 'over' has cashed in each of the Islanders last three games - matching their longest such streak of the season. On both previous occasions, their next contest stayed 'under' the total, reaching just three and four goals (both games involved a shutout result oddly enough). Note that the 'under' is 19-8 with the Isles coming off consecutive games that totalled 7+ goals this season, resulting in an average total of 4.6 goals in that situation. The 'under' is also 23-12 with the Isles playing on the road after scoring 3+ goals in consecutive games over the last two seasons, leading to an average total of 4.8 goals in that spot. The Rangers have scored 11 goals over their last two games - their highest scoring output over a two-game stretch this season. The 'under' is 20-11 with the Rangers coming off four or five wins over their last six games, leading to an average total of 5.4 goals. Better still, the 'under' is 9-2 with the Rangers coming off a home win in which they scored 4+ goals this season, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of 4.7 goals. Take the under (10*). |
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03-17-22 | Marquette v. North Carolina OVER 151.5 | Top | 63-95 | Win | 100 | 76 h 35 m | Show |
NCAA Tournament First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Marquette and North Carolina at 4:30 pm et on Thursday. Both of these teams lost out in their respective conference tournaments in games that stayed 'under' the total. In the case of North Carolina, it heads into the NCAA Tournament off consecutive 'under' results. I expect a different story to unfold as they meet up in the first round of the tournament on Thursday afternoon. Marquette has certainly endured an uneven season to this point but one thing we know is that the Golden Eagles can 'fill it up', having made good on 30, 35, 23, 32, 29 and 23 field goals over their last six games despite not all of those games being played at all that fast of a pace. Here, we are likely to see an up-tempo affair and I'm confident the Eagles can thrive in that type of environment. Of concern, however, is the fact that Marquette has been lit up for 28+ made field goals in four of its last five contests, with no ability whatsoever to dictate their opponents' tempo over that stretch, allowing Depaul and St. John's in particular to get off 67 and 70 field goal attempts, respectively. Put the Tar Heels into that sort of contest and they'll undoubtedly hang a crooked number on the scoreboard here. North Carolina went down swinging in the ACC Tournament, attempting 60 field goals but simply not hitting nearly enough in its loss to Virginia Tech. Note that the Tar Heels have knocked down 29, 29, 33, 25 and 22 field goals over their last five contests. Over that stretch they attempted fewer than 60 field goals only once, getting up to 65+ in that department on three occasions. Outside of a very limited (offensively) Virginia squad, UNC's opponents have had little trouble scoring, knocking down 27, 25, 31, 34, 18 and 25 field goals over its last six games. Four of the Tar Heels last five opponents scored 72+ points with the lone outlier being Virginia, as I mentioned. These two teams actually have a bit of recent history having met last February in a game that totalled 153 points. That game as played at a slower pace than I'm anticipating here and it's also worth noting that the two teams combined to make just 14 three-pointers (they average 17 per game combined this season) and the Tar Heels shot a miserable 25-of-60 from the field. We've seen an adjustment to the total (that game saw a closing total of 145.5) but I'm not convinced it will be enough. Take the over (10*). |
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03-16-22 | Notre Dame v. Rutgers OVER 131 | Top | 89-87 | Win | 100 | 60 h 0 m | Show |
NCAA First Four Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Notre Dame and Rutgers at 9:10 pm et on Wednesday. It might be easy to forget due to its early exit in the ACC Tournament but Notre Dame enters the NCAA Tournament riding a 7-0-1 'over' streak. Meanwhile, Rutgers was brought to an early demise in the Big Ten Tournament with an 'over' result against Iowa, snapping a four-game 'under' streak in the process. Notre Dame certainly 'filled it up' down the stretch, making good on 27+ field goals in six of its final eight games. Despite the pace not being there over the Irish's last two games, they still managed to knock down 27 field goals in each contest, putting up 78 and 80 points against Pitt and Virginia Tech. On the flip side, we've seen the Irish allow 36, 29, 26, 21, 28, 23 and 31 made field goals over their last seven games. The two outliers were 21 and 23 against two weak opponents in Georgia Tech and Pitt. Rutgers should pose a significantly tougher challenge here. The Scarlet Knights haven't posted eye-popping offensive numbers by any means, largely due to a relatively slow pace in most games. They still managed to make good on 27+ field goals in four of their last seven games and I do think this is a game where we see that pace pick up a bit (Notre Dame has yielded opponents 60+ field goal attempts in 10 of their last 12 games). Despite the slow tempo, Rutgers has allowed 26, 27, 23, 23, 18 and 26 made field goals over its last six games with the outlier coming in what amounted to a defensive slog against Penn State - an opponent that certainly attracts that type of contest. Neither team guards the perimeter all that well with Notre Dame allowing 8-of-20 shooting from three-point range away from home and Rutgers yielding 8-of-24 from beyond the arc away from Piscataway. Take the over (10*). |
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03-16-22 | Mavs v. Nets UNDER 221 | 113-111 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 2 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Brooklyn at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday. We won with the 'under' in the Mavs most recent game - a thrilling 95-92 win in Boston on Sunday afternoon. We also won with the Nets in last night's rout of the Magic in Orlando. Here, we'll stick with the 'under' as Dallas continues its five-game road trip in Brooklyn. The Mavs are absolutely locked-in defensively right now and come into this one off a much-needed couple of days off. Dallas has held each of its last four opponents to 88 or fewer field goal attempts, with the opposition making good on just 36, 36, 41 and 33 field goals over that stretch. In the one game that the opposition did eclipse 40 made field goals, Dallas still allowed just 100 points in a game that totalled only 213 points against Houston. Offensively, you would have to go all the way back to February 2nd to find the last time the Mavs attempted 90+ field goals in a game. Going back to February 27th, they've gotten off 78, 82, 85, 84, 88, 86, 88 and 74 FG attempts. You get the picture. They've also been inconsistent in knocking down those shots, hitting just 39, 27, 40 and 33 field goals over their last four contests. The Nets obviously lit up a bad Magic defense last night, as expected. That was on the road, where they have the services of Kyrie Irving, which of course isn't the case here at home. Brooklyn has gotten off fewer than 90 field goal attempts in seven of its last eight games. It has of course shot the lights out over its last five contests but will face a stiff challenge against the Mavs here. It's the defensive end of the floor where I've been most impressed by the Nets. They enter this game having yielded just 30, 39 and 36 made field goals over their last three games. The pace has certainly been up there over that stretch as they've allowed 93+ FG attempts in two of their last three games. I just don't see the Mavs pushing the tempo the way the Nets recent opponents have. Take the under (8*). |
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03-16-22 | Blue Jackets v. Senators UNDER 6.5 | Top | 4-1 | Win | 100 | 10 h 30 m | Show |
Eastern Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Columbus and Ottawa at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday. We missed with the Senators on Monday night. In retrospect, the 'over' probably should have been an auto-play with Gustavsson starting in goal for Ottawa. Nevertheless, I won't hesitate to switch gears and back the 'under' as the Sens stay at home to host the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Columbus is coming off a six-goal outburst against Vegas two nights ago but zooming out a little, it's clear that the Jackets have cooled off offensively following a terrific stretch in February. Over its last nine games, Columbus has averaged 2.9 goals per contest. Still, the 'over' has gone 5-1-1 in the Jackets last seven contests, which affords us a very generous total to work with on Wednesday. Speaking of 'over' results, the Sens have seen each of their last three games go 'over' the total. Here, we'll note that the 'under' has gone 16-4 with the Sens coming off a game that totalled seven goals or more this season, resulting in an average total of just 4.9 goals in that situation. The 'under' is a long-term 28-15 with the Sens playing at home with a total of 6.0 or higher over the last two seasons with an average total of just 5.6 goals scored in that spot. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have seen the 'under' cash at a 14-5 clip when playing on the road off consecutive wins over the last three seasons, leading to an average total of just 5.3 goals. We'll likely see Anton Forsberg back between the pipes for the Senators on Wednesday. The opposition has scored three goals or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts with the 'under' cashing in six of those games. Take the under (10*). |
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03-16-22 | Nuggets v. Wizards UNDER 229 | Top | 127-109 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 54 m | Show |
Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Denver and Washington at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday. The Wizards have seen the 'over' cash in seven straight games but I don't believe that's a sustainable trend. The pace they've been playing at certainly doesn't dictate such a streak. Note that Washington has had a tough enough time just getting shots off lately, attempting 87 or fewer field goals in each of its last eight games. Defensively, the Wizards have certainly been struggling, but are also coming off four straight road games. They're in a more favorable spot here, back home hosting a Nuggets squad playing its ninth game in the last 15 nights and fifth-in-eight, in four different cities no less. Like the Wizards, the Nuggets haven't exactly been forcing the issue offensively, getting off 84 or fewer field goal attempts in five straight games. You would have to go back to March 2nd to find the last time they attempted 90 field goals in a game and they scored just 107 points in Oklahoma City on that night. Aside from a loss against a Raptors squad that has been playing at a furious pace lately, the Nuggets have done a good job of controlling the tempo of their opposition, allowing 88 of fewer FG attempts in four of their last five games. They've yielded opponents just 87 FG attempts per game on the road this season. Note that the Wizards actually got off 90 FG attempts in the first meeting between these two teams this season but could only muster 107 points in a game that totalled just 220 points. We saw a closing total of 216 in that one, so we're being given a considerably higher total to work with here. I'm not convinced it's warranted. Take the under (10*). |
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03-15-22 | Cleveland State v. Xavier OVER 146.5 | Top | 68-72 | Loss | -110 | 34 h 28 m | Show |
NIT First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Cleveland State and Xavier at 9 pm et on Tuesday. I'm anticipating a track meet between Cleveland State and Xavier in NIT action on Tuesday. Cleveland State made an unceremonious early exit in the Horizon League Tournament thanks to a poor shooting effort against Wright State. The Vikings still managed to knock down 25 field goals and score 67 points in that setback. Note that they've made good on 30+ field goals in four of their last eight games with the low-water mark being 21 over that stretch in what turned out to be a lwo-scoring, defensive affair against Oakland. Here, I'm confident we'll see Xavier push the pace, noting that it has gotten off 60+ field goal attempts in five of its last six games, eclipsing the 70 FG mark three times over that stretch. The Musketeers haven't just been pushing the pace, they've been knocking down their shots as well, making good on 33+ field goals in three of their last five games. While Cleveland State has held six straight opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals, that's had more to do with pace than anything else. The Vikings have been nothing special defensively away from home, where they've yielded 26-of-56 shooting and eight made threes per game. Not only that but they've sent opponents to the free throw line 22 times per game away from home this season. Xavier is certainly vulnerable at the defensive end of the floor, allowing 34, 25, 33, 29, 28, 27 and 28 made field goals over its last seven contests. Even in the game where they only allowed 25 made FG's they still gave up 72 points in a loss to UConn. Take the over (10*). |
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03-15-22 | Penguins v. Predators UNDER 6 | 1-4 | Win | 100 | 13 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Pittsburgh and Nashville at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. Pittsburgh enters this game having seen the 'over' go 2-0-1 over its last three games while Nashville is fresh off consecutive high-scoring affairs over the weekend that totalled 11 and eight goals. Keep in mind, each of the Penguins last three games were played at home. Here on the road, they've posted a 13-15-1 o/u record this season with an average total of just 5.6 goals scored. Meanwhile, the Preds have seen the 'under' go a perfect 8-0 when playing at home after scoring six or more goals in their previous game over the last two seasons, resulting in an average total of just 3.5 goals. When playing at home following a win this season, the Preds have posted a 4-11 o/u mark with an average total of only 5.3 goals scored. Take the under (6*). |
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03-15-22 | Missouri State v. Oklahoma OVER 138.5 | 72-89 | Win | 100 | 32 h 51 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Missouri State and Oklahoma at 7 pm et on Tuesday. Missouri State is absolutely capable of 'filling it up', even against a Big 12 opponent in Oklahoma on Tuesday. It was an 'up' year for the Missouri Valley Conference as far as I'm concerned with no easy games to be had. The Bears thrived offensively, knocking down 26+ made field goals in each of their last seven games, including 29 or more in four of those contests. However, they did little to slow the opposition, a big reason for their early demise in the MVC Tournament. Missouri State checks in having allowed 33, 26, 24, 22 and 28 made field goals over its last five contests, with the two outliers coming against weaker Valpo and Evansville squads. Only one of the Bears last four opponents failed to get off 60+ field goal attempts. Not surprisingly, we've seen the 'over' cash in six of the Bears last seven games overall. Oklahoma got bogged down offensively in a couple of matchups against Texas Tech - one of the best defensive teams in the country - including in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. Between those two games, the Sooners did make good on 22, 27, 28 and 26 field goals, despite the fact that they got off 54 or fewer FG attempts in all four of those contests. Here, I'm expecting the Sooners to get involved in a more up-tempo affair with the Bears. I say that as we did see Oklahoma yield 58+ FG attempts in four of its last five games and it comes in having allowed six of its last nine opponents to make good on 25+ field goals. Take the over (8*). |
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03-14-22 | Real Madrid v. Mallorca OVER 2.5 | 3-0 | Win | 100 | 8 h 37 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Mallorca and Real Madrid at 4 pm et on Monday. We were involved in Mallorca's most recent match, cashing with Celta Vigo in a 4-3 thriller (thanks to a last minute penalty). Here, I'll switch gears and back the 'over' as Mallorca hosts Real Madrid, which is off a thrilling victory over Paris-Saint Germain in Champions League action last week. Mallorca is in tough right now, with limited options other than a struggling Sergio Rico at keeper due to injuries and suspensions. Not only that but Mallorca's back line of defense is struggling mightily and will now have to face a Real Madrid squad that is brimming with confidence after Karim Benzema's second half hat trick against PSG. Note that this will be Mallorca's first shot at Real Madrid at home since back in 2019, when it pulled off a 1-0 stunner. Since then, Real has had its way in two meetings in this series, winning 2-0 and 6-1 in the host role. Given its vulnerabilities at the back-end, I'm sure Mallorca is well aware that it will need to find a goal (or two) to have any chance at coming away with a much needed point at least in this match. Sitting just two points clear of relegation, gaining something productive from this match is critical for Mallorca. While Real Madrid could elect to sit back and play for a 1-0 or 2-0 victory here, I think we see a different story unfold. Note that five of the last seven matches between these two squads have produced 'over' 2.5 goals. Take the over (6*). |
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03-13-22 | Rockets v. Pelicans OVER 228 | 105-130 | Win | 100 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and New Orleans at 7:10 pm et on Sunday. Neither of these teams have played a lick of defense lately and I don't see that changing as they meet up on Sunday night in New Orleans. While the Pelicans have a number of key absences to deal with, most notably C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram, they still managed to score 120 points in a track meet that totalled 260+ against Charlotte two nights ago and I'm anticipating more of the same against the Rockets on Sunday. As I noted in my analysis of a play on the 'over' in the Rockets overtime win over the Lakers earlier this week, Houston has shown no ability or interest in slowing their opponents down, now having yielded 96, 92, 86, 97, 91, 101 and 88 field goal attempts over their last seven games, allowing 112 or more points in all seven contests. Meanwhile, we've seen the Rockets ramp up their own offensive production lately, knocking down 52 and 41 field goals over their last two games (I realize the first of those two performances was aided by overtime). They've scored 100+ points in seven straight games and are expected to get a boost with the return of Christian Wood on Sunday. The Pelicans were doing a nice job defensively after the All-Star break but that seems like an eternity ago now as they've been lit up for 47+ made field goals in three of their last four games. Fortunately their offense has continued to thrive, knocking down 41+ field goals in seven straight games. New Orleans has put up 100+ points in 12 straight games entering Sunday's contest. We've actually seen all three meetings between these two teams this season stay 'under' the total we're working with here. With that being said, the pace just wasn't there in those three contests but given current form I expect a different story to unfold here. Take the over (8*). |
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03-13-22 | Pacers v. Hawks OVER 236.5 | 128-131 | Win | 100 | 10 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Indiana and Atlanta at 7:10 pm et on Sunday. The Pacers are coming off an 'under' result last night while the Hawks have seen the 'under' cash in three straight games. I look for a different story to unfold on Sunday, however. Indiana allowed an undermanned Spurs squad to get off a whopping 102 field goal attempts in last night's 119-108 win. While the Pacers are in a back-to-back spot here, they'll play just two games in the next six nights afterwards so I don't expect them to attempt to 'manage' this game by any means. Note that Indiana has now allowed 91+ field goal attempts in eight of its last nine contests. Each of its last six opponents has poured in 42+ made field goals. Atlanta, meanwhile, comes in having made good on 42, 43 and 43 field goals over its last three games and has put up 110+ points in five consecutive games. There are concerns defensively, however, as the Hawks have allowed 52, 46, 43, 47 and 40 made field goals over their last five contests. They haven't consistently been able to control opponents' tempo, or perhaps haven't been all that interested in doing so. The Pacers are certainly pushing the pace (as usual), getting off 91+ field goal attempts in four of their last five games and making good on 44, 49 and 45 field goals over their last three contests. The most recent meeting between these two teams was played right around the pace we would anticipate on Sunday and it got to 245 total points back on February 8th. Atlanta poured in 52 field goals in that victory and the case could certainly be made for the Pacers being a worse defensive team now, or more disinterested anyway, than they were then. On the flip side, that game started a streak of 13 straight games in which Indiana put up 103+ points. Take the over (6*). |
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03-13-22 | Mavs v. Celtics UNDER 216.5 | 95-92 | Win | 100 | 8 h 43 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Boston at 3:30 pm et on Sunday. The 'under' has cashed in each of the Mavericks last three games and the pace has certainly been there to support that. Dallas has held each of its last three opponents to fewer than 90 field goal attempts, limiting two of those opponents to exactly 36 made field goals. On the flip side, you would have to go all the way back to February 2nd to find the last time Dallas attempted 90+ field goals in a game. It has made fewer than 40 field goals in two of its last three contests and is just one game removed from making good on only 27 field goals in a 77-point performance against the Knicks, at home no less. The Mavs have done a good job of controlling their opponents' tempo on the road this season, allowing just 39-of-86 shooting on average. The Celtics, meanwhile, saw their most recent game creep 'over' the total against Detroit. The 'over' checks in 3-1 in the Celtics last four games but the pace doesn't necessarily support that trend. Boston has held its last three opponents to 89, 84 and 83 field goal attempts with its last two opponents making good on just 36 and 35 field goals. While the C's do come in having hit 40+ field goals in each of their last four games, they've gotten off 89+ field goals in three of those four contests. Should the pace slow down here, as I expect it to against Dallas, it's likely they'll have a tougher time approaching that 40 made field goal mark. Note that the lone previous meeting between these two teams this season totalled just 211 points and saw a closing total of 210. We're being afforded a higher total this time around. I believe it will prove too high. Take the under (9*). |