At 7:30pm ET, my selection is on Atlanta United vs Toronto FC Over the total. Both these teams often struggle to score. That's factored into the low O/U line. Both teams also struggle to keep the ball out of the net. Atlanta is especially bad on defense, conceding 37 goals in 20 matches. Atlanta and Toronto's head-to-head record shows an average of 3.12 goals per match across 17 encounters, with both teams scoring in 71% of those games, indicating a pattern of open, goal-heavy contests. Four of the past 6 h2h matches finished with at least 3 goals, all 6 producing at last 2. Those 6 matches averaged 3.3 goals. Given Atlanta's porous defense, Toronto could easily go over by itself. That won't be necessary though as Atlanta will also contribute. Play on the over. 

At 9:38pm Et, my July Total Of the Month is on Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Angels Under the total. These starters opposed each other in 2023. The final score was 3-1. Another pitcher's duel is expected. Anderson's last 3 starts have finished with 5, 4 and 5 runs. Nelson's last 3 starts have finished with 8, 6 and 5 runs. Anderson's last 3 starts versus Arizona all finished with 7 runs or less. Arizona's last series here (2023) resulted in all 3 games finishing with 8 runs or less. Play on the under.

At 10:30pm Et, my Golden Goal selection is on Colorado vs Los Angeles FC Under. LAFC has scored two goals or less in six of its last eight MLS matches, including a 1-0 loss to Vancouver in its last match. Colorado has scored just 24 goals in 21 MLS games this season, by far the lowest among playoff-positioned teams. The Rapids often rely on clean sheets to secure points. Eleven of their last 12 matches have finished with three or fewer combined goals. The last meeting finished with three goals and this one will also produce three or less. Play on the under.

At 10:00pm Et, my Western Conf. Total Of the Month is on the Dallas Wings vs Phoenix Mercury Under the total. These teams are playing each other for the second straight time. Dallas put up 98 points on its home floor. The Mercury will be determined to play better defense with tonight's rematch being played at Phoenix. They will need to as they only score 81 points in their last game here. Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said this: "I thought they got extremely comfortable. And when you allow a team to play comfortable, it's going to be a long night. We need to be tougher defensively, for sure." Play on the under. 

At 10:30pm ET, my MLS Haymaker is on Houston vs San Diego Under. Tonight's Houston Dynamo vs. San Diego FC MLS match is likely to be low-scoring due to both teams' defensive tendencies and inconsistent attacking outputs. Houston has struggled offensively, averaging 1.25 goals per game with an expected goals (xG) of 24.6, and its road games often see low-scoring outcomes, with five of its last seven away matches producing under 2.5 goals. San Diego, despite leading the Western Conference with 41 goals, has shown defensive solidity at home, conceding just 0.7 goals per game across 10 home matches, bolstered by goalkeeper C.J. dos Santos’ 70.6% save rate and seven clean sheets. Houston’s disciplined 4-2-3-1 formation, led by Artur, often stifles opponents’ attacks, and the Dynamo's recent 1-0 win over St. Louis City SC highlights their ability to keep games tight. That was the 4th straight match that Houston failed to score more than a goal. With San Diego missing some key attackers due to injuries,  a low-scoring, "cautious" match ending 1-0, 1-1 or 2-0 is probable. Play on the under. 

At 7:00pm ET, my selection is on the B.C. Lions and Montreal Alouettes Under the total. Montreal's defense leads the CFL in yards allowed per game (308.0) and turnovers forced (12), while ranking second in sacks (11), making it tough for BC's offense, which has averaged under 18 points per game during a three-game losing streak. BC's defense has been solid against the pass, ranking second in the league, which will challenge Montreal’s passing game, especially with backup quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson starting due to Davis Alexander’s injury. Montreal’s offense is potentially limited by key absences like Austin Mack and Lorenzo Burns and BC’s turnover-prone quarterback, Nathan Rourke is playing his first bame back from injury and facing a stout Alouettes front four. The last meeting produced only 30 combined points. All signs point to another low-scoring game. 

At 9:00pm ET, my Club World Cup Total Of The Year is on Chelsea vs Palmeiras Under. Friday's quarter-final, a rematch of the 2022 Final, is likely to be low-scoring due to both teams' strong defensive records and tactical approaches. Palmeiras has kept clean sheets in three of its four tournament matches, conceding only two goals. The Brazilians compact, defense-first style, often utilizing a low block, frustrates opponents, as seen in their goalless draw with Porto and 1-0 win over Botafogo. Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, favor a cautious, possession-based approach, averaging low shot counts in recent games. Five of the Blues' last eight combined tournament matches have produced fewer than three goals. The 2022 Final was 1-1 after regulation, Chelsea wining 2-1 in extra time. Fatigue from extra-time wins in the previous round, coupled with key absences for Palmeiras (Gómez, Piquerez, and Murilo) and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, will lead to another tight, low-scoring affair. Play on the under. 

AT 7:30pm ET, my selection is on Toronto FC vs New York City FC Over. New York City FC has had some trouble on the road but has consistently created scoring opportunities at home. City's last 3 home matches had scores of 4-0, 0-3 and 3-1. Toronto FC, despite sitting 13th, showed offensive spark in their recent 3-0 win over Portland Timbers, with players like Tyrese Spicer capable of exploiting defensive gaps. That marked the end of a lengthy run of home games. Toronto's last road game resulted in a 6-1 win, at Montreal. Both teams will score and at least the winner, will do so more than once. Play on the over.

At 7:00pm Et, my selection is on Guatemala vs USA Over the total. I expect todays' USA vs. Guatemala CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal to finish with at least three goals, probably more. The Americans has shown strong attacking form, averaging 2.3 goals per game at home this year and scoring eight goals in the group stage, including a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. Guatemala, while defensively solid, has been involved in high-scoring games, with three of its four matches featuring at least two goals, including a 3-2 win over Guadeloupe. Historical head-to-head data supports a high-scoring match with four of the last five meetings between these teams producing four or more goals. Additionally, Guatemala’s key attacker, Rubio Rubin, has been in scoring form, and the USA’s aggressive wing play, led by players like Diego Luna and Malik Tillman, will exploit Guatemala’s goalkeeper. Play on the over.

At 9:00pm ET, RD of 16 Total of the Year is on Monterrey vs Borussia Dortmund Over. Tonight's Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey match is likely to finish with AT LEAST three goals due to both teams' offensive firepower and potential defensive vulnerabilities. The Germans could exceed this number themselves but won't have to. Dortmund has been prolific, averaging 14 shots per game in its last three matches and producing over 2.5 goals in eight of its last ten, including a 4-3 thriller against Mamelodi Sundowns. Monterrey, meanwhile, showcased its scoring ability with a 4-0 rout of Urawa Red Diamonds, led by players like German Berterame and Nelson Deossa. Dortmund’s high-pressing style and Monterrey’s counterattacking threat will exploit occasional lapses, especially with the stakes of a quarter-final berth driving aggressive play. The number is low. Play on the over.

At 3:00pm ET, my selection is on Al Ain vs Wydad Casablanca Over the total. This afternoon's Al Ain vs. Wydad Casablanca match on June 26, 2025 is likely to produce at least three goals due to the defensive vulnerabilities and attacking potential of both teams, as well as the fact that this is a "meaningless" match. Both sides have already been eliminated from contending for the next round, which will lead to a more open, attacking game as they play for pride in this "dead rubber" match. Al Ain have conceded a staggering 11 goals it is two group stage matches against Juventus (0-5) and Manchester City (0-6), exposing significant defensive frailties. Wydad Casablanca, while slightly more resilient, conceded six goals across its losses to Manchester City (0-2) and Juventus (1-4). With both teams likely to adopt fluid, attacking approaches using their typical 5-4-1 formations, and given their defensive weaknesses, there’s a strong chance for both teams to find the net more than once. They'll combine for at least 3 goals, probably more. Play on the over. 

At 9:00pm ET, my selection is on Manchester City vs Al Ain Over the total. I played on the over in Al Ain's first match. The line was 2.5 and Al Ain conceded 5 goals. Though the line is higher, Manchester City vs. Al Ain is also likely to produce at least four goals, due to the significant disparity in attacking quality and defensive vulnerabilities. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, boast a potent offense led by players like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Jeremy Doku, who demonstrated their clinical edge with a 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca, despite not being at their peak. Al Ain, however, were exposed defensively in the 5-0 thrashing by Juventus, conceding four goals before halftime, highlighting its struggle against elite teams. City’s relentless pressing and possession-based style will exploit Al Ain’s disorganized backline, while Al Ain’s desperation to salvage pride might open up spaces for counter-attacks. With City’s attacking depth and Al Ain’s defensive frailties, a high-scoring affair is highly probable, potentially mirroring Juventus’s goal-fest. Play on the over. 

At 3:10pm ET, my NL Total Of The Month is on the Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Over. Saturday's game stayed below the total but Sunday's game is likely to be much higher scoring. Weather is going to be favorable at Coors Field, still known for its hitter-friendly condition. Brandon Pfaadt, with a 5.38 ERA (6.53 on the road!) and 1.39 WHIP, struggles with consistency and has never pitched at Coors, where his fly-ball tendencies could lead to extra-base hits in the thin Denver air. Antonio Senzatela, with a 6.72 ERA and 1.98 WHIP, has been ineffective this season, allowing nearly two baserunners per inning, which Arizona’s potent offense, led by Eugenio Suárez’s 25 homers and 67 RBIs, is well-equipped to exploit. Both bullpens rank in the bottom 5 of baseball, in terms of ERA and WHIP. Both teams rank high in slugging and recent games in this series have seen high run totals, like Friday’s 14-8 outcome. The pitching vulnerabilities and favorable hitting conditions points to a very high-scoring game. Play on the over.

At 1:40pm ET, my UFC Total Of the Month is on Daria Zhelezniakova vs Melissa Mullins Under. The bantamweight bout between Daria Zhelezniakova and Melissa Mullins is a rematch of a fight from November of 2022. It's unlikely to go the distance due to both fighters' aggressive styles and proven finishing abilities, as evidenced by their past performances and statistical tendencies. Zhelezniakova, with five knockouts in nine wins, and Mullins, with four knockouts in seven wins, both prioritize high-paced striking and early finishes. Recall that their previous encounter at Ares FC 9 ended in a first-round TKO via Mullins' ground-and-pound. Zhelezniakova’s forward pressure and powerful striking (3.29 significant strikes per minute) clash with Mullins’ ability to capitalize on ground control, where she excels at delivering punishing strikes, as seen in her TKO win over Klaudia Sygula. Another Mullins' KO/TKO won't surprise. Both fighters’ defensive weaknesses—Zhelezniakova’s grappling vulnerabilities and Mullins’ lack of head movement—make it likely that one will exploit the other’s flaws for a stoppage before the midpoint of the third round. Play on the under.

At 9:00pm ET, my Opening Rd. Total Of The Year is on Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors Under the total. I feel that these teams are likely to combine for fewer than four goals due to Boca's defensive resilience and Bayern's potential to control the game without overextending. Despite Bayern's 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City, Boca presents a sterner test, having conceded only two goals in a 2-2 draw against a good Benfica, with just 0.42 expected goals from open play. Boca's disciplined defending will obviously do a much better job of limiting Bayern's scoring opportunities compared to Auckland. Additionally, Boca's recent struggles in front of goal, scoring only four goals in its last five matches, are likely to continue. Boca will not contribute significantly to the scoreline, if at all. Bayern's solid defense, which kept a clean sheet against Auckland, further supports the likelihood of a lower-scoring affair. The total is generously high, in part to the opening games from both teams. I see this one playing out much differently and the high total providing tremendous value. Play on the under

At 9:00pm Et, my selection is on Al Ain vs Juventus Over. We're likely to see AT LEAST three goals due to a combination of offensive strengths and defensive vulnerabilities. Juventus could easily achieve this number by itself but shouldn't need to. Al Ain, led by prolific forwards like Kodjo Laba, who scored 20 goals in 21 UAE Pro League matches, and Soufiane Rahimi, a clinical finisher, have shown consistent scoring ability, netting 12 goals in their last seven games and at least two in three of their four previous Club World Cup matches. Meanwhile, Juventus, under Igor Tudor, boast a potent attack with players like Dusan Vlahovic, who scored 9 goals in 16 matches, and Randal Kolo Muani, contributing three goals in his last five games. Despite Juventus’ defensive solidity, (17 clean sheets in Serie A last season) Al Ain’s attacking threat could exploit occasional lapses, as seen in Juventus’ 3-2 win over Venezia. Conversely, Al Ain’s defense has been porous, conceding 22 goals in their last eight AFC Champions League games, making it likely for Juventus to capitalize. The lack of prior head-to-head familiarity and the attacking styles of both teams, with Juventus’ 3-4-2-1 and Al Ain’s 3-4-3 formations, suggest an open, transitional game conducive to goals. The number is low. Play on the over. 

At 7:05pm ET, my selection is on Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees. The Yankees are mired in an unexpected offensive slump, having been shut out in three consecutive games and scoring just five runs over their last six contests, a skid driven by a lack of timely hitting and a synchronized cold spell among their lineup. However, today’s matchup offers a prime opportunity to break out, as Angels' starter Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.53 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) has struggled, particularly in June with a 0-2 record, 7.94 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, and .383 opponents’ batting average across two starts. Meanwhile, the Angels’ offense (4.37 runs per game on the road) is poised to capitalize on Yankees starter Ryan Yarbrough’s recent struggles, having posted a WHIP above 2.00 with 13 hits and five walks allowed in 8.2 innings over his last two outings. Given both pitchers’ vulnerabilities and the offensive capabilities of both teams, this final score will reach "double-digits." Play on the over.

At 12:00pm ET, my selection is on Bayern Munich vs Auckland City. This is a big-time mismatch. I don't believe that Auckland City will score. So, the question becomes, will Bayern Munich score more than four? I believe the answer to that question is no. Kane and company will start and figure in the scoring early but the Germans may call off the dogs a little once they're up a couple. Auckland are likely to start goalkeeper Conor Tracey behind a defense consisting of Adam Bell, Nikko Boxall, Adam Mitchell and Nathan Lobo. The New Zealand club has a lot of pride and will be doing everything it can to avoid getting blown out. Auckland assistant coach Adrià Casals said this: "We know the task at hand is very difficult, but we want to just go out and make it as hard as possible for the opposition, and to just give the best performance we can...We represent like 95% of the world’s footballers. If we can stay true to who we are, if we can be brave, then we can make a lot of people proud of us and everything we represent as an amateur club from a small nation in the middle of nowhere.” Auckland keeps Bayern from running up the score and the final stays below the big number. Play on the under.

At 3:00pm Et, my WNBA Eastern Conference Total Of The Month is on New York Liberty vs Indiana Fever Over. The Indiana Fever came very close to defeating the New York Liberty in their first matchup this season. That 90-88 loss gives them confidence and motivation and they are determined to be the first team to hand the Liberty a loss. To achieve this, the Fever are going to need to score lot of points. The Liberty are the only WNBA team averaging over 90 per game, with a season average of 90.44 points. In contrast, the Fever average 81.6 points per game, but their scoring increases to 87.8 points per game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In their previous encounter this season, the O/U line was 174, with the final score totaling 178 points. The lower O/U total provides value in a game which I expected to exceed the 180-mark. Play on the over.

At 2:15pm ET, my #1 Total Of The Week is on Iraq vs Jordan over the total. With the pressure somewhat off, both teams are likely to score at least once. The winning team will get at least 2. Jordan just got 3 against Oman, 25-year-old Olwan bagging the hat-trick. He now has 18 goals in Jordan colours. With that win, Jordan has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Conversely, Iraq can't finish in the top 2 but has already advanced to Round 4. Iraq will badly want to score but keeping the ball out of its own net won't be easy. Iraq has conceded 11 goals in its last five matches. A high-scoring match, relatively to the low total, will be on display at Amman International Stadium, in the final game in Group B of the qualifiers. Play on the over.

At 9:00pm ET, my NHL Playoff Total Of The Year is on the Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Under the total. The first two games of this series were both played at Edmonton. The Oilers won 4-3 in Game 1, the Panthers responded with a 5-4 win in Game 2. Both contests went to Overtime. Now the series shifts to Florida's Amerant Bank Arena. This will lead to a lower-scoring game. Three of the Panthers' last 4 games here finished with 3 goals or less. Skinner has a better GAA on the road than at home and Bobrovsky has better numbers at home than on the road. Series tied and neither team wanting to give an inch, I believe that this will be the lowest scoring game of the Finals. Play on the under.

AT 10:00pm ET, my Slam Dunk selection is on Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury Over. This marks the third encounter between these two rivals this season, with both prior games finishing under the total. However, following break-out offensive performances by both teams in their most recent outings, I anticipate a higher-scoring contest this time. In my previous analysis for Phoenix's last game, where I also favored the over, I noted: "Phoenix faced Minnesota in two of its last three games. Against a non-undefeated opponent in their most recent matchup, the Mercury scored 85 points. In their last home game against a non-undefeated opponent, they scored 94." Phoenix delivered with 86 points, resulting in an 86-77 final that exceeded the low total. With another low total set for this game, I believe it will again prove too conservative. The Storm, coming off an 83-point performance in their last game, further supports the case for a higher-scoring outcome. Both teams top the 80 mark and the final score sails over the low total. Play on the Over. 

At 2:45pm ET, my Soccer Total Of the Week is on Netherlands vs Finland Under. When we think of the Dutch teams of old, we think of a wide-open, free-flowing attacking brand of football. The current team is capable of dominating defensively though and scoring will be extremely difficult for Finland today. The Dutch shut out Hungary (in the Nations League) and they will be aiming for another clean sheet today. Finland showed it can do the same with its 1-0 win at Malta on match day one. Finland should do a better job than Hungary at slowing down the Dutch. A 1-0 or 2-0 Netherlands victory seems likely though the Finns could potentially sneak one in for a 1-1 draw. Play on the under. 

AT 10:00pm ET, my WNBA Total Of The Month is on Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury Over. Both teams will be happy to face someone other than Minnesota or New York. Those two teams are undefeated, a combined 15-0, each of them are hard to score against. Golden State's last 3 games have come against either NY or Minnesota. Phoenix has played Minnesota in two if its last 3 games. When last matched up against an opponent which wasn't undefeated, the Mercury scored 85 points. In their last home game against an opponent which wasn't undefeated, the Mercury scored 94. Likewise, the Valkyries scored 82 the last time that they faced a team which wasn't either Minnesota or NY. The last time that the Mercury were laying points, the final score went over the total by more than 20. This is their chance to get the offense clicking again and we can expect another high-scoring affair. Play on the Over. 

At 8:30 ET, my NBA Playoff TOY is on the Under in Game 1 Of the Finals. Thursday's game features two potent offenses capable of scoring rapidly. That's factored into what is an exceptionally high projected total. Too high, in my opinion. Last season’s NBA Finals opener had a total that opened at approximately 214 and closed at 217.5. I had a big play on the under, and the game concluded with 196 points. The first quarter was high-scoring with 57 points, but defenses tightened, with no subsequent quarter exceeding 48 points. Although this year’s teams differ, I believe the current total is inflated. The Oklahoma City Thunder boast an elite defense, ranking second in the regular season for fewest points allowed per game and first in the playoffs for limiting opponents’ field goal percentage. The Thunder demonstrated this prowess by holding Minnesota to 94 points in the final game of their series, 88 points in the series opener, and Memphis to 80 points in their first playoff game. The Pacers, while not as defensively dominant, have held opponents to 111 points or fewer in six of their last eight games. Look for the defenses to be better than advertised and the final score to stay beneath the big total. Play on the under.

At 7:40pm Et, my #1 MLB Total Of the Week is on Detroit/Chicago over the total. Both teams played low-scoring games on the weekend but the bats will come back to life on Monday, at Rate Field. Neither of these starters inspires confidence. Flaherty is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA in 5 road starts. He's got a 4.74 ERA his past 7 starts overall. Cannon is 2-6 on the season and he's 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA his past 2 starts. Cannon is also 1-3 with a terrible 11.20 ERA in four starts vs. Detroit. Six of the past 9 head-to-head meetings, including 3 of the past 4, have finished with at least 9 runs. Play on the over.

At 6:00pm ET, my MLS Western Conf. Total Of the Year is Minnesota/Seattle under. In the Western Conference, Minnesota is third with 27 points. One point behind, the Sounders are tied for fourth with 26 points. Battling each other in the standings will add to the intensity of today's match. If we look at the standings, we find that these teams may be 3rd and 4th in the West but that there are six teams in the West which score more goals than they do. They'd rank 7th and 8th, in terms of goals scored. They're strong rankings are based one exceptional defense. Minnesota has conceded just 14 goals in 16 matches. Only 1st place Vancouver, which has allowed 12 goals in 15 matches, has allowed less. Seattle, which has conceded only 19 goals in 16 matches, ranks 4th. At home is where the Sounders really shine defensively. As a matter of fact, they have posted four clean sheets at Lumen Field in MLS this year. Goals will be very difficult to come by. Play on the under. 

At 7:15pm Et, my I.L Total Of the Month is on Boston Red Sox vs Atlanta Braves Under.I was impressed by the performances of both starting pitchers in their most recent outings. Grant Holmes held the Padres to just one run over seven innings, maintaining an impressive 1-0 record and a 1.86 ERA across his last three starts. Similarly, Lucas Giolito delivered seven scoreless innings for the Red Sox in a 2-1 victory against Baltimore, earning high praise from Boston fans. Given the current form of those starters, this number is generously high. With the Red Sox finishing under the total in four of their last five games, I anticipate another low-scoring contest. Play on the under. 

At 8:00pm ET, my NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Total Of The Year is on New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers. Following a lower-scoring Game 3, the over/under (O/U) line for Game 4 has adjusted downward, presenting favorable betting value. Historical trends support a strong offensive rebound for the Indiana Pacers after a loss. In the playoffs, their two previous defeats were followed by games where they scored 129 points, with both contests exceeding the total. Since mid-March, the Pacers have consistently delivered high-scoring performances post-loss, scoring 132, 162, 111, 126, 129, and 129 points in such games. Indiana’s strategy emphasizes pushing the tempo to generate efficient offense. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged areas for improvement, stating, “I didn’t do a good job getting downhill and making plays. I’ve got to do a better job there. ... Execution down the stretch, we definitely can be better, and that starts with me.” Expect Haliburton and the Pacers to drive a more aggressive, fast "pace" offensive approach, compelling the New York Knicks to respond in kind. This dynamic supports a high-scoring outcome. Play on the over. 

At 7:10pm Et, my NL Total of the Month is on Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets Over. The Mets have scored 5 runs in three straight games. They may get even more than that against struggling Landon Knack. The Dodger right-hander has a 6.17 ERA through 6 appearances (4 starts) this season. NY's Kodai Senga has impressive numbers but they haven't come against a lineup like this. They may not have shown it yesterday but the Dodgers are the best hitting team in baseball. As a team, they have a .264 average and .802 OPS. Their 81 home runs is the most in the NL, second only to NY in all of baseball. Three of Knack's 4 starts have finished with "double-digits" in runs scored. This one will also be high-scoring. Play on the over. 

At 11am ET, my EPL Total of the Week is on Arsenal vs Southampton Under. For different reasons, both these teams are already looking ahead to 2025-26. Arsenal finished in second place and has bigger games on deck. Southampton was dead last in the Premier League and is bound for the Championship. With only 33 goals conceded in 37 matches, Arsenal is the stingiest team in the Premier League. With only 25 goals scored in 37 matches, Southampton is the worst offensive team. Arsenal should keep a clean sheet but has no motivation to run up the score. A 1-0 or 2-0 final score is in the cards. Play on the under.

At 8:30 PM ET, my NBA Western Conference Playoff Total Of the Year is on OKC/Minnesota under the total. In the playoffs, the Thunder and Timberwolves rank as the top two defensive teams in the Western Conference, allowing an average of 102.27 and 102.83 points per game, respectively. The Thunder lead the playoffs in both defensive field goal percentage and defensive three-point percentage. The first two games of the series averaged a combined 211.5 points. As the series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3, I expect scoring to decrease. In Game 3 of the previous series, the Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors combined for only 199 points. Similarly, in Game 3 of the Thunder’s last series against Denver, the total points scored remained well below the projected total, despite the game going into overtime. Only 204 points were scored in regulation. Historical data further supports a lower-scoring game, with the under hitting in 4 of the last 5 matchups between these teams at Target Center and in 8 of the past 10 meetings here. Play on the under. 

At 1:00pm ET, my WNBA Early Riser is on New York Liberty vs Indiana Fever Under. The Liberty have been scoring a lot of points which is reflected in this high total. Indiana should be able to slow them down. After Indiana's last game, Fever coach Stephanie White made the following statement: "I felt like our defensive energy, physicality, and disruption was better. We made it more difficult for them, moving the ball around the perimeter. We executed better in our ball screen defense. I felt like we had each other's back a little bit more and we played through breakdowns." NY's last visit here had a total of 174 and finished with only 161. Play on the under.

At 8:00pm ET, my NHL Western Conference Total Of The Week is on the Edmonton Oilers vs Dallas Stars under. These teams do have some dangerous offensive weapons but this is a very high total for an NHL playoff game. Before losing Game 1 of this series, the Oilers' previous 2 games had scores of 1-0 and 3-0. Before winning Game 1 of this series, the Stars' previous 3 games had scores of 2-1, 4-0 and 3-1. Six of the Stars' last 8 games have finished with 6 or fewer goals. Scoring will be more difficult tonight. Play on the under. 

At 8:30 PM ET, my NBA Slam Dunk is on OKC/Minnesota under the total. Game 1 stayed comfortably below the total. We're in store for more elite defense in Game 2. Off their previous playoff losses, the Timberwolves allowed 104 and 93 points in their next game. Their second game of the first two series' had 179 and 210 points. Minnesota, which allows 101 ppg in the playoffs, will likely improve defensively but scoring against Oklahoma City is another matter. The Thunder are holding opposing teams to 40.71% field goals in the playoffs, #1 in that category. With the line up from its opening number, we're getting excellent value. Play on the under.

At 8:00pm ET, my Eastern Conference Total Of the Week is on the Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Over the total. This o|u line isn't all that much higher than yesterday's total closed at. These teams are nothing like yesterday's teams though. The Pacers look to run every chance they get but don't play nearly the level of defense that OKC or Minnesota does. The Pacers have scored 114 or more in 6 of their last 7 games. They're the underdogs in this game. So, if they score even 114 again, the Knicks are going to be expected to score more than that. Will they reach that mark? Considering that the last 2 meetings between the Knicks and Pacers produced 243 and 252 points, I absolutely believe so. NY scored 119 or more in 2 of its last 3 games, despite having to face Boston. Last year, when these teams faced each other in the playoffs, the series opener finished with 238 points. Three of the 4 at NY finished with at least 238. Play on the over. 

At 3:00pm ET, my selection is on Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion Under. This fixture holds greater significance for Brighton, as Liverpool has already secured the Premier League title. However, the Reds are determined to maintain their focus and avoid complacency. In their previous match, they relinquished a 2-0 lead, resulting in a 2-2 draw—a rare occurrence, marking only the third time in Premier League history that Liverpool failed to secure a home victory after leading by at least two goals at halftime. While Liverpool may tweak its lineup, the primary objective will be to address defensive lapses and prevent Brighton from scoring. Brighton has been defensively solid recently, conceding just two goals in its two league matches this month—a 2-0 win and a 1-1 draw. Another low-scoring outcome is anticipated for this afternoon’s encounter. Play on the under. 

At 1:00pm ET, my La Liga Total Of the Year is on Deportivo Alaves vs Real Valladolid Under. That didn't last long! Real Valladolid was promoted from the second tier just last year. Apparently it wasn't the right time. Real Valladolid finished with by far the worst record in La Liga this season and will be relegated back down. Alaves is fighting to avoid a similar fate. Alavés has demonstrated improvement in recent performances, particularly on the defensive side of the ball and in its ability to prevent goals. Its most recent visit to Estadio Jose Zorrilla resulted in a 2-0 final. Another clean sheet is in order, helping to keep the final score staying below the total. Play on the under.

My Ligue 1 total of the year is on AS Monaco and Lens Over. Its the end of the season. At first glance, already guaranteed of a top half spot and unable to finish better than eighth, Lens has nothing much to play for. A closer look shows that's not technically accurate. With the right circumstances, Lens could still nab a Conference League spot. It would need to better eighth-placed Brest's result (Brest plays Nice, the 4th best team) while also hoping that Paris Saint-Germain beat Reims in the Coupe de France final. Additionally, Lens would need Lyon to suffer a UEFA ban on account of its economic problems. Lyon getting banned is actually a real possibility. So, Lens should be motivated. The hosts will need to score at least a couple though to keep up with a Monaco team still in the hunt for 2nd place. Monaco, which has scored 63 goals in 33 matches, is likely to score more than once against a Lens team which has conceded 22 times in 16 home matches. Monaco's last 5 visits to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis have had scores of 3-2, 2-2, 3-0, 2-2 and 4-2. On the final day of the season, with both teams finding the back of the net more than once, this turns into another wild one. Play on the Over. 

At 2:30pm ET, my EPL Total Of the Week is on Tottenham vs Aston Villa Under. Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory in their latest match, generating just six shots, three of those in first-half stoppage time. Tottenham, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 defeat and faces challenges in finding the net. Villa’s defense and goal-keeping has been formidable, achieving consecutive clean sheets and allowing just three goals across their last eight Premier League matches, with five shutouts in that span. Expect Villa to maintain their defensive solidity with a third straight clean sheet, keeping the match total under the projected o/u line. Play on the under.

At 8:30pm Et, my NBA Slam Dunk is on Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets Over. 229.5 ... 230 .... 232 ... 228 ... 221.5. Those were the totals from the first 5 games. Look how much lower tonight's is. We will swoop in and grab the line value. The Thunder have demonstrated exceptional offensive prowess throughout the season and into the playoffs. OKC averaged over 120 points per game during the regular season and has maintained a formidable scoring output of 117.33 points per game in the postseason. Despite the Denver Nuggets' defensive efforts, they have mostly been unable to contain the Thunder's high-powered offense. However, the Nuggets remain resilient, continuing to compete aggressively. They aren't going to go down without a fight and will keep shooting and scoring right until the end. Play on the over.

At 7:00pm ET, my NHL Eastern Conference Total Of The Year is on Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Under. After the first 3 games of the series went over the total, things changed drastically in Game 4. The score was just 2-0. That brings us to a critical Game 5. I believe we can expect more of what we saw in Game 4; a low-scoring, tight-checking, great goaltending brand of hockey. Bobrovsky has found his groove and the Toronto big guns aren't scoring: Captain Auston Matthews has yet to score a goal this series. Mitch Marner has only one shot on goal in the past three games. John Tavares, who opened the playoffs with five points in the first three games, has just two points over the past six.  Filling in for Stolarz, Toronto goalie Woll has risen to the occasion. Goals will be hard to come by. Play on the under. 

At 8:00pm ET, my NHL Center Ice Report is on Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars Under. In the most recent matchup, the game total (5-2 Dallas) exceeded expectations. However, that was an outlier compared to historical trends. Notably, the previous ten meetings between these teams all finished below the projected total. The last game saw an unusually fast-paced start, with three first-period goals, including one within the opening few minutes, which undermined the under. A slower start tonight is likely to result in a lower final score. Expect improved performance from Winnipeg's goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, who will need to be sharp given the Jets' challenges scoring on the road. Play on the under.

Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Jessica Andrade Over 2.5 Rounds. Tonight's flyweight bout between Jasudavicius and Andrade has a strong likelihood of being decided by the judges. Jasudavicius, a Canadian fighter, is coming off a decision victory, with 10 of her last 12 fights going the distance. Notably, all three of her career losses and eight of her 13 wins have been by decision. Similarly, Andrade has competed in back-to-back fights that ended in decisions. Given Jasudavicius' track record, she is favored to win, but a finish against Andrade is improbable, making a decision victory the most likely outcome. Likewise, with Jasudavicius having never been stopped, if Andrade pulls off the upset, its likely going to be by decision. Play on the over.

At 3:30pm ET, my NBA Slam Club is on the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks Under. It's important to pay attention to what's happening in front of own eyes. These teams combined for only 181 points last game. The first game finished with 213 but only 200 of those points came in regulation. When asked about Boston's offensive struggles, Celtics' coach Mazzulla commented: "...obviously the Knicks are doing a good job defending us." NY coach Thibodeau is demanding similar defense from his players on each play. "But what we have to understand is what goes into winning Game 3. You have to earn it. It's not given to you. There's no guarantee because you're up in the series. There's no guarantee because you're at home. You have to earn it, and you have to earn it play after play." The venue may have changed but this will be another hard-fought defensive battle. Play on the under.

At 10:00pm ET, my selection is on Denver/OKC Under the total. The first two games of the series both exceeded the over/under line, with the series now tied as it shifts to Denver for a critical Game 3 on Friday. Expect heightened defensive intensity from both teams. Denver must address their first-half defensive lapses to avoid falling behind early, and strategic adjustments are likely forthcoming. Oklahoma City, however, can maintain their current defensive approach, which has proven effective. Their strategy of fouling Nikola Jokic and applying relentless pressure has disrupted his rhythm while forcing Denver's supporting players into low-percentage shots. Despite the over/under line increasing, the scoring is expected to decrease due to anticipated defensive adjustments. Recommendation: Play the under.

At 7:00pm Et, my Central Division Total of the Month is on Indiana/Cleveland under the total. The 2nd round has featured a number of upsets already. As a matter of fact, the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers all lost, each as a large favorite. Tonight, the higher seed will respond with a much better defensive performance. Of course, these are fast paced, high-scoring teams. That's been factored into the total, as this number is roughly 20 points higher than tonight's other game. The Cavaliers offense was much better this season than its been and that improvement was a big part of the reason for Cleveland's successful season. The defense was already among the best in the league (top 10) for the past few seasons. The defense was solid again this season. Adjustments made, they'll be more effective at slowing down Indiana.

At 8:00pm ET, my May NHL Total Of the Month is on Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues Under. Winnipeg now leads the series 3-2. A win tonight and the Jets move on to the next round. The goaltending hasn't been as sharp as might have been expected the past few games. These are high-level net-minders though. In an elimination game, they're going to give us great goal-tending. Scheifele, the Jets' #1 center is out. That's big. Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel expects this: “This is going to be a meat-and-potato kind of work zone-to-zone game. Get out of our zone, get through that neutral zone and then make them spend some time in their end of the rink. You know, not having Nic [Ehlers], not having ‘Scheif,’ kind of knocks out a couple of your top-six players. So this is straightforward, grind it out kind of work for, fight for every inch." Go with the Under.

At 7:30pm ET, my Eastern Conference Total Of The Week is on the New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons Under the total. Two of the first 3 games finished over the number but this series has since turned defensive. It's not quite the 1970s, 80s or 90s but it's still been hard-nosed physical, old-school basketball. As a matter of fact, the last game here at Little Caesar's Arena was a throwback type game, the Knicks winning 94-93. That's 3 of 5 games which have finished with fewer than 210 points. Make that 4 of 6 after tonight. Play on the under. 

At 3:00pm ET, my Europa League Total Of the Year is on Manchester United vs Ath Bilbao Under. The Red Devils can score goals against most teams but they will find it difficult to do so against Athletic Bilbao, the stingiest team (0.79 goals per match allowed) in La Liga. United's last match finished with a 1-1 score. Athletic's last match was a 1-0 final. On offense, Athletic will be without its leading scorer as Oihan Sancet has been ruled out for this match. A low-scoring tactical battle awaits us at San Mames. Play the under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the under between the Oilers and the Kings at 10:00 EST. The first four games of this series have all flown over the number. LA won the first two games before Edmonton bounced back and won the next two. All tied up and now heading back to LA in the best-of-three series, I finally expect these fatigued sides to play some defense tonight. The Edmonton power-kill went 3-for-3 in Sunday's 4-3 OT victory. Yes, these four games have been high-scoring, but previous to this playoff series from December 28th to April 21st, five games between these clubs had a posted total of 5.5. Their final three regular-season games all went under the number. Expect a slower overall pace in Game 5 to lead to a much tighter and lower-scoring combined outcome. This number is high, the play is on the under.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the over between the Clippers and the Nuggets at 10:00 EST. This series is now the best of three, and Denver has the home court advantage after the Nuggets won Game 4 by a score of 101-99. All four games have gone under the number so far in this series, but I'm finally expecting more of an offensive shootout here in Game 5. Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is on fire once again, he had 36 points and 21 rebounds in the Game 4 victory. The Clippers have been fantastic defensively throughout this series, but LA is filled with offensive talent as well. With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden looking to match the Nuggets' tempo and with an overall faster expected pace here in Game 5, I look for this total to fly well over this small number before the final seconds tick off the clock. This number is now too low, so the play is the over.

My NL WEST TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the over between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at 9:40 EST. These two teams have both been playing to several lower-scoring games of late, but I anticipate the opener of this series to fly well over this small number on Tuesday night. It's impossible to say anything negative about either starting pitcher, so I won't bother. Logan Webb (3-1, 1.98 ERA) gets the nod for the Giants, while the Padres counter with Nick Pivetta (4-1, 1.20.) San Diego is 17-11, but now third in the NL West after four straight losses, scoring just three runs in that span. The Padres have seen the total go under in five straight. Note that this is just a two-game series, though. San Francisco has won four of its last five and its seen the total go under in three straight. There's room for regression from each starter as well moving forward. Pivetta has been amazing early, but remember he came into the season 56-71 and with an ERA closer to 5.00. Also note that in five previous outings against the Giants he's just 1-1 with a poor 5.40 ERA. Webb is a better 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 career outings against the Padres. But the bottom line here is that is a great situational play in my opinion and that these starters are in the "wrong place" at the "wrong time." This number is low, so the play is on the over!

My EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Hurricanes and the Devils at 3:30 EST. Home ice advantage has so far proved crucial in this series. Carolina won Game 1 by a score of 4-1, and then Game 2 at home by a score of 3-1. The Devils finally answered back at home in Game 3 with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime victory. While the first three games of this series have all gone under the number, I'm finally anticipating a much faster-paced affair in Game 4, and will therefore be hammering the over in this one. These teams played a back-to-back on December 27th and 28th in the regular season. The Devils beat Carolina 4-2 on the 27th, and then Carolina responded with a 5-2 win on the 28th. I believe we'll see a similar offensive response here following the Game 3 loss. Keep your eyes on the Devils' Timo Meier, who has ten shots on 27 attempts through three games. Jacob Markstrom and Frederik Andersen have so far been the focal point of this series, but now everything points to these offenses taking "center stage" so to speak in Game 4. This number is low, the play is on the over.

My ROUND-TRIPPER play is on the "over" between the Rays and Padres at 8:40 EST. Tampa has won three straight after taking the opener of this interleague series by a score of 1-0 yesterday. Previous to that it took two of three at Arizona, winning the final two games of that series by scores of 7-6 and 7-4. The Padres come in revenge-minded and ready to snap their two-game slide, first losing 6-0 at the Tigers, before yesterday's 1-0 home loss. These offensse both look primed for a bounce-back performance on Saturday though facing these scheduled starters though, with Tampa handing the ball to Ryan Pepiot (1-3, 4.82 ERA), and the home side countering with Dylan Cease (1-1, 6.04.) Pepiot is off a loss to the Yanks, while Cease is off a no-decision to the Astros. I'm expecting these starters to "get the hook early," and for that to help in pushing this total over the number.

My ROUND ONE WESTERN CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers at 10:00 EST. The first two games of this series went under the number, but now all tied up and with the shift in venue for Game 3, I'm finally anticipating a much more wide-open and ultimately higher-scoring offensive battle once it's finished. Look for Denver Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 27.5 points and 10 rebounds, to have another big game here on the road. The Nuggets' defense hasn't looked great in either game and now back at home the healthy Clippers will be looking to push the pace. Kawhi Leonard appears fully recovered from his injury now and has rolled back the clock after his incredible Game 2 performance and he and James Harden will now look to take a 2-1 series lead. But with each side pushing the pace in this important game like I believe it will be, the over is the correct call as far as the total is concerned, and it becomes my ROUND ONE WESTERN CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE YEAR. 

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the over between the Jets and the Blues at 8:30 EST. The Blues are on the ropes and must play with desperation here to match Winnipeg if they have any hopes of getting back into this series. The Jets, though, have scored seven goals over the first two games, and I don't see their offense slowing down here. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele have led the way for Winnipeg by combining for four goals and five assists so far. St. Louis has only scored three goals over the first two games. Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas should have a much better game at home here though in my estimation. Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington though has struggled so far and he'll once again have his hands full with this aggressive Winnipeg offense. This number is low in my opinion, so the play is on the over.

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the under between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche at 9:30 EST. Colorado won Game 1 by a score of 5-1, while Dallas bounced back with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2. The first two games have been fairly high-scoring, but with the shift in venue, I'm also expecting a shift in pace, and so, because of that, I like the "under" in Game 3 as far as the total is concerned. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal in both games for Colorado. I had a play on the Stars in both Game's 1 and 2. I lost in Game 1, and won in Game 2. That victory snapped a eight-game slide for Dallas. It really was a "do or die" type of scenario for the Stars. Will they have a letdown here now in Game 3 after that emotional victory? The Stars are still without top-scorer Jason Robertson and I think that catches up to them again here in Game 3. Look for Game 3 to be a much tighter, and lower-scoring defensive battle. The play is on the under.

My TOTAL ROUND-TRIPPER is on the over between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros. Toronto is now 12-12 overall and 4-7 on the road, while Houston is 12-11 overall and 8-6 at home after the Astros have taken the first two games of this series by scores of 7-0 and 5-1. Toronto will be desperate to snap its four-game slide. Houston is playing better after winning four of its last five. It's now seen the total go "under" in four straight games. Both the Jays' Bowden Francis (2-2, 3.13 ERA) and the Astros' Ryan Gusto (2-1, 3.18) have exceeded expectations to this point. Regression does feel imminent here. The Jays' big bats have been kept quiet over the first two games of this series, but I believe the finale finally sets up to be a much more offensive affair. This number is low, so the play is on the over.

My EASTERN CONFERENCE NBA ROUND ONE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics at 7:00 EST. Game 1 stayed well below the posted number in the Celtics' 103-86 victory, but I'm anticipating a much faster-paced affair in Game 2 and because of that, I expect this total to easily eclipse this very low number. The Magic are big underdogs, but they won't be rolling over after the humbling setback. Boston is fantastic on both ends of the floor and can play an "up-tempo" style of game, or a slower-paced defensive one. Overall the Celtics average 117.7 PPG, which is ranked 8th, while allowing 108.5, which is ranked third. Orlando gets the job done on defense, as it only concedes 106.9 PPG, which is ranked No. 1 overall. The problem for the Magic this season was on the offensive end, where they averaged only 106.7 PPG, ranked 28th. It's hard to remember now, but the Magic actually hald a slim halftime lead in Sunday's Game 1. And so while Boston's offense will continue to "do its thing," I also now expect Orlando to overcome a terrible offensive night to post a much better result this time around. I'm not sure if the Magic can cover with the large spread in Game 2, but I do think they'll be better offensively. This number is low, the play is the over.

My WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between the Wild and Knights at 11:00 EST. Game 1 flew over the posted total in the Knights 4-2 victory, but I'm expecting a much tighter, and ultimately lower-scoring battle here in Game 2. Over bettors were in fact "lucky," as Las Vegas would hit the late "empty netter" to push the total over the posted number of 5.5. Minnesota struggled offensively this year, averaging 2.74 GPG. The Knights averaged 3.34, but goaltender Adin Hill, who stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced, should only get stronger now moving forward. I see Game 2 playing out much the same as Game 1 did, but even tighter and lower-scoring this time around. The play is on the under.

My EPL TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under between Liverpool and Leicester City. Leicester City will be relegated with an outright loss, while Liverpool has a chance with outside help to be crowned champion this weekend. Liverpool only has to win two of its final four games to clinch a second Premier League honor. If somehow Ipswich is able to upset Arsenal this weekend, AND Liverpool wins, then the Reds will in fact, become league Champions this weekend. Either way, I don't see Liverpool giving Leicester much of a chance offensively here. Liverpool will be especially wary here after the upset 3-2 loss at Fulham last weekend, but note that Liverpool hasn't lost back-to-back EPL road games since April 2023. Ruud van Nistelrooy's troops are on the ropes and I don't see them playing with much passion here. This number is high in my opinion, so the play is on the under.

My MLB ROUND-TRIPPER play is on the over between the Giants and the Angels at 9:35 EST. The opener of this three-game interleague series stayed well under the posted number in LA's 2-0 victory, but I'm finally expecting some offensive fireworks here on Saturday night as the Giants look to respond to the shutout loss as a favorite. The Angels have now seen the total go under in four straight after snapping their three-game skid yesterday. San Francisco had seen the total go over the number in eight straight games prior to yesterday's loss. But off back-to-back losses now, after going 2-2 in Philadelphia, San Francisco will be plenty motivated here now as well. Landen Roupp (1-1, 4.80 ERA) gets the nod for the visitors, while Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 4.20) counters for the home side. Roupp has an elevated 1.60 WHIP already as well, while Hendricks stands at 1.20. Regardless, I don't really trust either guy here and expect both to exit early. As a result, and taking into account these other situational factors, the over is for sure the correct call as far as the total is concerned in my opinion. 

My SLAP-SHOT play is on the under between the Calgary Flames and the LA Kings at 9:30 EST. Calgary is 2-0 in the season series and the Flames enter having won four of their last five, but they've officially been eliminated from Playoff contention and I expect a predictable letdown here in this meaningless game. The Kings are also super hot, having won four in a row and eight of their last nine, but they've already clinched their spot and will be resting most starters in preparation for their series with Edmonton. With each team "going through the motions" like I believe they will, the "under" becomes the correct call as far as the total is concerned in my opinion. 

My AL WEST TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the LA Angels and the Texas Rangers are 8:05 EST. While the first two games of this series have stayed well below the posted number, with Texas winning the first game 4-0 and the second by a score of 3-1, I'm finally expecting some offense in what appears to be a classic "slug-fest" in the finale, though. The visitors hand the ball to Jack Kochanowicz (1-1, 5.74 ERA), who was most recently shelled for six runs with zero strikeouts over just 4.2 innings in a loss to Houston last Friday. He struck out only 25 batters over 65.1 innings of work last year. He'll be opposed by Kumar Rocker (0-2, 7.94), who gave up four runs off five hits over 3.1 innings in a loss to Seattle last weekend. So far he only has six K's over 11.1 innings of work this year. Neither guy is missing many bats this year and while the first two games of this series have stayed well below the posted number, everything lines up for a high-scoring "over" here on Thursday with these two volatile starters going head-to-head in my opinion.

My AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between the Red Sox and Rays at 7:05 EST. This American League East divisional series has so far been a very high-scoring one, but everything finally points to much more of a "duel" and lower-scoring outcome here in the finale in my opinion, for a few different reasons. Boston is now 9-10 and 5-7 on the road, while Tampa is 8-9 and 8-6 at home following the Red Sox 7-4 win on Tuesday. The Rays won the opener by a score of 16-1. The starters in this game haven't been extremely sharp to open up 2025, but each enters hungry to reverse their fortunes. Sean Newcomb (0-2, 4.97 ERA) gets the call for the visitors, while the home side counters with Zack Littell (0-3, 6.88.) Littell is coming off a terrible start against the Angels, allowing seven runs over four innings. The one bright spot for Littell is that he owns a respectable 14:3 K:BB over 17 innings of work. Last year Littell posted a 2.90 ERA in front of the hometown crowd, and I believe he can return to form here against the Red Sox, who will look for Newcomb to recover from a disastrous outing as well, conceding six runs over four innings in a loss to the White Sox. Newcomb's time in the starting rotation is coming to an end shortly with reinforcements on the way, but he'll be looking to improve upon his 15:7 K:BB over 12.2 innings that he's worked as a starter so far. I say the conditions are finally correct for much more of a lower-scoring battle, after the first two games flew well over the posted number. This number is high, the play is the under.

My PLAY-IN TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic. The winner of this tie will clinch the No. 7 seed in the East, while hte loser will have one more opportunity to try and get a playoff berth with the No. 8 seed. The Magic faltered down the stretch of the regular season, mostly due to injuries to key contributors. Quin Snyder's team is just 4-6 in its last ten games, but they did close the regular-season with two straight wins. Orlando closed with five straight victories. One of those games was a 119-112 home win here over Atlanta just last week. I foresee a similar pace and final combined score here as well, and that's why I'm rolling with the over.

My ULTIMATE PITCHERS DUEL is on the under between the Giants and Phillies at 6:45 EST. The Philadelphia Phillies have lost four of their last five after yesterday's humbling 10-4 series-opening loss. Overall Philadelphia is now 9-7. San Francisco is 12-4 overall, including 8-2 on the road. The visitors hand the ball to Justin Verlander (0-0, 6.92 ERA) to start, and he most recently was rocked for six runs over six innings in a fortunate no-decision to the Reds on Wednesday. A date vs. the struggling Phillies is just what the doctor ordered for Verlander though, as Philadelphia was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position yesterday. The Phillies will be leaning heavily on starter Jesus Luzardo (2-0, 1.50) get stop the slide, as he's conceded just three runs over his first three starts spanning 18 innings of work. Luzardo has already faced the Dodgers and Braves as well. Look for the second game of this series to now be dominated by the men on the mound. This number is high, the play is the under.

My INTERLEAGUE TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the UNDER Mets/Twins at 8:40 EST. I'm expecting a bit of a "duel" here in the opener of this interleague contest. The Mets come to Minnesota sitting at 10-5, while the Twins are 5-11 to start. New York has the second-highest payroll in MLB, so anything less than a division title will be a letdown for the Mets. The visitors turn to CLay Holmes (1-1, 4.30 ERA), allowing four runs over six innings in a 10-5 win over the Marlins last time out. He also had ten strikeouts. Minnesota won't be panicking here after the slow start, as the AL Central is up for grabs. They're coming off a 5-1 win over the Tigers and hand the ball to ace Joe Ryan (1-1, 2.65 ERA), who dominated the Royals in his last start, going seven scoreless. Look for these two capable starting pitchers to be the focal point and main story line of this contest and because of that, I'm playing the under.

My EPL TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under between Fulham and Bournemouth at 3:00 EST. These teams are battling for three points at the Vitality Stadium in the final game of matchday 32 and in my opinion, everything points to this being a lower-scoring defensive battle. Off a 2-2 away draw at West Ham last weekend, I believe Bournemouth will double down defensively here at home this week. Fulham is also coming off a high-scoring affair, coming from behind to post a 3-2 home victory over Liverpool. With that victory, Marco Silva's team is now in eighth spot in the table, while Bournemouth is tenth. The reverse fixture saw these teams play to a higher-scoring 2-2 draw. While I believe we'll have another extremely competitive battle between these hungry sides, this time around the situation lends itself to being a much more defensive battle. Because of that, I'm on the under.

My TOTAL ROUND-TRIPPER is on the UNDER Rangers/Mariners at 4:10 EST. The first two games of this series have both flown over the posted number, but everything here finally points to more of a duel in the finale of this three-game AL West divisional series from Seattle. Seattle has won both games and is now 7-8. The Rangers fall to 9-6. While it will still be a crisp Spring day, weather conditions are expected to be perfect in the Pacific Northwest this afternoon, which is good news for starters Nathan Eovaldi and Logan Gilbert. Eovaldi is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA and 0.66 WHIP for the Rangers, while Gilbert is 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA and even small 0.62 WHIP. I'm expecting a "duel" here between these two guys and for the finale of this important early divisional battle and ultimately for the total to stay well under the number. 

My 8* ROUND-TRIPPER is on the OVER between the Blue Jays and Orioles at 4:05 EST. After going 3-1 at Boston, dropping the finale 4-3 on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays head to Baltimore No. 1 in the AL East at 8-6. These teams split a four-game series in Toronto at the start of the season. Three of those four contests flew well over the posted number, and I'm expecting another offensive affair here in the opener in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon. Last night's game was postponed due to weather, so they'll just be playing two games this weekend, and making the other one up in July. The home side goes with Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, 2.89 ERA), while the visitors counter with Bowden Francis (1-1, 3.18) to start this one. These were the scheduled Friday starters, so will the shift affect their schedule? I believe there are enough contributing factors that all point to this being a very offensive affair, and so the play is the over.

My AL West TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the UNDER Rangers/Mariners at 9:40 EST. It's the opening game of a three-game AL West Division series and with two really strong starting pitchers going head-to-head on Friday, I think we're definitely in store for a very low-scoring defensive battle in this one. Texas is off a 6-2 win at the Cubs to salvage that series, but overall the Rangers are No. 1 in the division at 9-4. Seattle is now 5-8 after taking two of three here from the Astros, including a 7-6 victory on Wednesday. The bottom line for me on this pick though is the starting pitching matchup. The visitors hand the ball to Jacob deGrom (0-0, 3.38 ERA), while the home side counters with Bryce Miller (0-2, 5.73.) DeGrom is 1-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five lifetime starts vs. the Mariners. Miller has struggled against the Rangers in the past, going 0-3 in five matchups vs. them. However, he's 11-7 with a 2.76 ERA and 0.977 WHIP at T-Mobile Park. I think Miller settles down here and matches his veteran counterpart inning for inning. While these teams have both been involved in several higher-scoring games of late, the opener in this one finally points to be a lower-scoring defensive under in my opinion.

My National League East TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under between the Phillies and the Braves at 7:15 EST. Philadelphia is 8-3 and Atlanta is 2-9. Atlanta took Game 1 of this series by a score of 7-5, before the Phillies bounced back in yesterday's 4-3 win. I'm expecting another tight, lower-scoring battle here on Thursday in the finale as well with two already "in form" starting hurlers squaring off. The Phillies hand the ball to Jesus Luzardo, while the home side counters with Spencer Schwellenbach. Luzardo is coming off a gem against the hard-hitting Dodgers, going six scoreless and I expect him to carry that momentum and confidence over here. Schwellenbach sent six-scoreless vs. the Padres, before then going eight scorless against the Marlins in his most recent outing, also striking out ten. Look for these two competent starters to take "center stage" tonight and battle into the latter innings, and for this total to stay under the number because of it.

My 8* CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the over between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers at 7:00 EST. These teams are also battling Tampa for top spot in the Atlantic. Toronto is 8-1-1 in its last ten, while Florida is 3-6-1. Florida will be particularly eager to bounce back here as well after three straight losses. William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson each scored twice and Auston Matthews had two points in Toronto's latest 5-0 win over the Blue Jackets. I think Toronto keeps that offensive momentum rolling here. Florida on the other hand is off a 2-1 loss to Detroit. Florida though still ranks first in the league in shots with 32 per game on average and I expect a big response here in this important contest. A great overall situational play on the over, as I'm anticipating each side to push the pace from start to finish.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the OVER between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers at 10:30 EST. While last night's game between these clubs fell under the posted number in the Clippers' 114-91 victory here, I expect the back-to-back rematch to be a much more wide-open and ultimately high-scoring affair. Dallas is dealing with several key injuries, but enters still averaging 114.6 points per game. Keep your eyes on Naji Marshall for Dallas, who had 22 points in a losing cause last night. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they're allowing 114.6 PPG this year. The Clippers are averaging 112.2 and allowing 108. Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and six boards in last night's win and everything points to another big night for the Clippers' star. Look for Dallas to shoot better tonight and for this total to comfortably go over the number. The play is the over.

My 10* ULTIMATE TOTAL is on the under between Florida and Auburn at 6:05 EST. We have a couple of No. 1 seeds going head-to-head here and the oddsmakers are expecting a competitive battle. I think it's too close to call a side, but the winner for sure in my estimation will be the team that plays better on the defensive end and because Of that, I'm expecting a lower-scoring outcome once it's all said and done. This is an all SEC conference showdown. Florida won the lone regular season battle 90-81, when Auburn was ranked No. 1 overall. One major issue for Auburn is having to deal with star player Johni Broome's injury. Auburn has improved defensively and will look to make Walter Clayton work hard for his offense. Auburn will play to its strength here (concedes 69.2 PPG), and be trying to slow the tempo of this one down throughout. While the first game this year between the teams went over the number, the rematch here in the Final Four points to much more of a defensive battle in my opinion. The play is the under.

My 8* TOTAL CENTER-ICE REPORT is on the over between the Wild and Islanders at 7:30 EST. Minnesota enters 41-28-7, while New York is 32-32-10. The Wild beat the Isles 6-2 at home in February, and I believe everything points to a similar final combined score here as well in what I anticipate will be a much faster-paced affair than most. Minnesota is off a 5-4 OT loss at the Rangers, so they're now in the fourth spot in the Central, seven points ahead of the Flames. New York though has lost six straight. While only scoring 16 goals over that span, note that the Islanders have conceded 27 over that stretch as well. Most recently they lost 4-1 to the Lightning despite outshooting Tampa 29-24. Now five points behind the final wild-card spot in the East, time has all but run out for New York at this point. However, with each side pushing the pace in this one like I believe it will, the over is what I'm rolling with in this one!

My 10* NIT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TOP TOTAL is on the under between Chattanooga and UC Irvine at 9:00 EST. The Mocs are 28-9 this year. Chattanooga has now won 16 of its last 17 games, with the only loss in that stretch being the Southern Conference Championship Game, an 80-77 overtime loss to Furman. While the Mocs have played to the over in seven of their last ten games, I'm finally expecting a more defensive affair here in the NIT Championship game. Overall Chattanooga averages 79.6 PPG, while allowing 72.6. Frank Champion is still out for the Mocs (their No. 1 threat), but three others still average double-digits in points. UC Irvine stands in the way though, as the Anteaters are 32-6 this season, and they've seen the O/U go 16-20-1 this season. UCI got by North Texas 69-67 in the semifinal round, and everything points to a similar pace and tempo here in the championship game in my opinion. UC Irvine averages 75.7 PPG, but excels defensively by conceding just 66.5. UC Irvine is bigger in the middle and it will be looking to run plenty of half-court offenses through its big men. When you add it all up, I say this O/U line is much too high. The play is the under.

My 8* TOTAL ROUND-TRIPPER is on the OVER between the Rockies and the Phillies at 1:00 EST. The first two games of this series have stayed well below the posted number, with Colorado losing the first game by a score of 6-1, and then yesterday by a score of 5-1. Philadelphia will have to be careful to not get caught looking ahead here, with a series here at home vs. the Dodgers starting tomorrow, followed by a series at Atlanta. The visitors hand the ball to Antonio Senzatela, who is already 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA this year. He owns an unremarkable 0-2 record with a pedestrian 4.40 ERA in six appearances vs. the Phillies in his career. The home side counters with Taijuan Walker, who makes his season debut here. Walker is 3-1 vs. the Rockies in eight appearances lifetime, but he took a big step back last year by finishing 3-7 with a 7.10 ERA. While the first two games fell well below the posted number, I say the conditions are now correct for more of an offensive affair, so the play is the over.

My 10* Western Conference TOTAL OF THE WEEK is on the under between the Spurs and the Nuggets at 9:00 EST. I had a play on the under in the Nuggets game last night, and while that play did lose, I am now definitely expecting a much more defensive battle here in Denver on Wednesday night. The Nuggets will be fatigued here in the second game of the back-to-back after falling 140-139 in overtime to the Wolves. With a tough game at Golden State up next, the home side will have to be careful to not get caught looking past their lowly opponent tonight. Denver won 122-111 in OT at San Antonio in early January, but the Spurs now enter this one off five-straight losses. The Spurs are trying to play spoiler as best they can to close out the year, but with a high-profile game at home vs. Cleveland, the visitors could also get caught looking ahead here as well. Either way, I believe there are enough factors all combining here and which point to this being a very defensive battle on Wednesday, so the play is the under.

My 10* NORTHWEST DIVISION TOTAL OF THE MONTH is on the under between the Wolves and the Nuggets at 10:00 EST. There are a few key reasons why I believe this will be a defensive battle, rather than a high-scoring shootout here in Denver on Tuesday night between these Western Conference opponents. The end of the regular-season is just around the corner and these two teams are wrapping up their four-game season series, with Minnesota having take the first three. Most recently the Wolves won 115-95 as 1.5-point road dogs on March 12th. Minnesota's defense has looked grat, most recently beating the Pistsons 123-104 in a heated affair. Denver is coming off a dominant defensive performance as well that leads me to believe it can carry that confidence over here, beating Utah by a score of 129-93. The T-Wolves are a bit short-handed offensively here as well, with Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo out with injury. All of these factors add up to produce a lower-scoring under in my opinion.

My 10* EASTERN-CONFERENCE NON-DIVISION TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between the Hawks and the Bucks at 7:00 EST. The Hawks are 35-38 and they're barely holding on to the seventh spot in the East, just a half-game up on Orlando. Atlanta is coming off a 122-112 road loss at Miami, allowing the Heat to shoot 54 perecent from the floor. The Hawks will have to be better defensively here obviously to pull off the upset. Trae Young was once again a stand-out for Atlanta in the setback, finishing with 29 points. The Bucks trail the Pistons by 1.5 games for fifth spot. Milwaukee enters off a game it should have won as well, falling 116-107 to the Knicks. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, but like their counterparts this evening, a better defensive effort will be needed here to not suffer another letdown. I believe a competitive battle will lead to a defensive affair. The play is on the under.

My 10* ELITE 8 TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between Tennessee and Houston at 2:20 EST. Tennessee is off the impressive 78-65 win over Kentucky and I expect it to carry that offensive momentum over here. After beating Gonzaga 81-76 in a high-scoring battle in the Round of 32, the Cougars then poured on their trade-mark defense to smother Purdue in a 62-60 win in the Sweet 16. The Vols game-plan here should be similar to what Gonzaga had. To push the pace and to try and get the Cougars out of their comfort zone and playing from behind. Zakai Zeigler had 18 points and 10 boards in the win for Tennessee last time out, and he'll be a handful for Houston tonight as well. This can still be a low-scoring outcome and eclipse this tiny number at the same time and that's absolutely what I'm expecting (I believe it will fall somewhere in the mid-140's once it's all said and done.) Either way, this one flies well over in my opinion.

My 10* SWEET 16 TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between Purdue and Houston at 10:00 EST. Houston is the No. 1 seed and it's looked good through the first two rounds, most recently getting by No. 8 seed Gonzaga. Now it faces No. 4 seed Purdue. The bottom line here is that if the Boilermakers have any shot at taking this game outright in my estimation, they're going to have to run their offense through their big man Trey Kaufman-Renn. Will that be enough to break down this tough Cougars' defense? Houston has talented offensive players as well, like LJ Cryer, who had 30 points in the win over Gonzaga. Pressure and fatigue also collectively weigh heavy at this point of the Tournament. I believe the conditions are absolutely correct for a very low-scoring defensive battle, rather than a "run-and-gun shootout." This number is high, the play is the under.

My 8* NON-CONFERENCE ULTIMATE TOTAL is on the "over" between the Clippers and Nets at 7:30 EST. Brooklyn will look to play with some pride here after five straight losses, most recently a 116-86 setback here to Toronto. The Nets will also be looking to atone for a humbling 126-67 loss at the Clippers back in January. LA is 41-31 and second in the Pacific. LA has won six of its last seven, including posting a 126-113 win at the Knicks last time out. Kawhi Leonard had 27 points in the victory and I expect LA to duplicate that offensive performance here. With each side pushing the pace like I believe it will, I'm expecting a very high-scoring affair this time around. This number is low, the play is the over.

My 10* NON-CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the "under" between the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic at 7:00 EST. Dallas is 35-38 after a 128-113 loss at New York. The Mavericks are dealing with several significant injuries at the moment and now sit a half-game out of the ninth spot. Dallas forward Naji Marshall was a bright spot in defeat against the Knicks with 38 points, but with the loss the Mavs drop to just 15-22 on the road this season. The Magic are moving in the opposite direction after three straight victories, now only a half game behind No. 7 Atlanta. Orlando is extremely adept on the defensive end this year, conceding just 106.1 points per game. Paolo Banchero had 32 points, seven boards and six assists in the win over the Hawks. Orlando lost 108-85 at Dallas back in November and clearly a lot has changed for each side since then. However, considering the circumstances each side finds itself in entering this contest and the situational factors I've listed above, while I do expect this to be a much more competitive game this time around, everything does point to a similar final combined score in my opinion. This number is high, so the play is the under.

My 10* NIT QUARTERFINAL TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between UAB and UCI at 9:00 EST. The 30-6 UC Irvine Anteaters will be looking to push the pace here at home in the Quarterfinal of the NIT vs. the 24-12 UAB Blazers. UAB is coming off an impressive 88-84 win over Santa Clara as a seven-point dog, getting 22 points and 11 boards from Yaxel Lendeborg. While the Blazers excel offensively by being ranked No. 41 in the nation by KenPom, they're pretty terrible on the defensive end though, ranked 241st. UC Irvine is coming off a 66-61 win over Jacksonville State. Previous to that it won 82-72 over Northern Colorado. Their offense is ranked 160th by KenPom, and their defense is ranked 20th. And so we have a classic clash of styles here. If you like UAB, then you should consider "sprinkling" a little on the moneyline, as the Blazers have looked great on the road here as an underdog in the NIT, winning both games outright. With the visitors pushing the pace, I'm expecting a faster-paced affair to lead to more points. The play is the over. 

My 10* CBI TOURNEY TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the under between Illinois State and Incarnate Word. The Incarnate Word Cardinals have gone 3-1 so far in the postseason. Both CBI games they've played have gone over the number, including in their most recent 87-71 victory over Jacksonville. The Illinois State Redbirds won their only CBI game over Presbyterian by a score of 78-70, and the total also eclipsed the posted number in that one. Chase Walker leads Illinois State with 14.9 points per game, while Davin Bailey had 23 points for Incarnate Word in the win over Jacksonville. But this is the Cardinals third game in three days and fatigue now become a major factor for each side. This is the highest total so far for Incarnate Word in this tournament and now it's a bit too high, considering how tired I believe it collectively comes into this one. This number is a bit high, so the play is the under.