02-28-16 |
Xavier -1.5 v. Seton Hall |
Top |
81-90 |
Loss |
-106 |
10 h 57 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Xavier Musketeers.
The #5 ranked Musketeers have won four straight, and nine of their last 10. They are 25-3 overall, and they are coming off a massive win over the Big East leaders Villanova. They face a Seton Hall team that also has an impressive resume, with a 12-3 home record, and a 10-5 record in the Big East. Not a single one of those victories came against an opponent like Xavier though, and the Pirates three losses at home are more than Xavier's two on the road. The Musketeers are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games, and they are more points and shooting for a higher percentage on the road than Seton Hall is at home. Xavier is hitting 76.3 percent from the free throw line on the road, while the Pirates have hit just 64 percent at home. This is the kind of game that could easily be decided at the free throw line, and if that's the case the edge goes to the visitors.
Take XAV.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-27-16 |
Nets v. Jazz UNDER 195 |
Top |
98-96 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 37 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on BKN@UTAH to go UNDER the total.
After averaging 113 points while winning two of three games, the Jazz managed just 78 points in a home loss to the Spurs Thursday. They host the lowly Brooklyn Nets tonight, and I expect a low scoring affair against a Nets team that averages just 97 points per game. Brooklyn has lost three straight versus the Jazz, scoring an average of just 82 points in those games. Two of those games went under the total, and the other was a 108-86 Utah win, which still didn't see enough points to reach tonight's total.
Utah is far better defensively at home, and they are particularly tough when coming off a double digit home loss. They've gone under in eight straight when coming off such a one-sided defeat. The Jazz have gone under the total in 22 of their last 32 versus the Eastern Conference, and nine of their last 12 versus teams with a winning percentage less than .400.
Take UNDER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-27-16 |
Norwich City v. Leicester -186 |
Top |
0-1 |
Win
|
100 |
104 h 60 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on Leicester. The Foxes held off Arsenal until the dying minutes in a 2-1 loss at the Emirates in their most recent Premier League game. I had Leicester +1.5 in that game, cashing in another winner. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The time for doubting Leicester has long passed. Many expected them to fade after a hot start, but with only 13 games remaining, the Foxes are five points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table. Arsenal is tied on points with Spurs, but Tottenham has the edge in goal differential. Jamie Vardy leads the Premier League in scoring with 18 goals, and he's found the net three times in his last three matches" Vardy did find the net in that game, opening the scoring for the Foxes. Leicester needs to bag full points here to stay ahead in the title race, and I expect them to do just that against an inferior Norwich team with suspect defending. Take Leicester. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-24-16 |
Villanova v. Xavier -1 |
Top |
83-90 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 30 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Xavier Musketeers. Xavier is 24-3 overall, and one of those three losses came on the road at Villanova. They get a chance to execute a little revenge here at home tonight, and they looked pretty good in a win at Georgetown over the weekend. The Hoyas were one of just three teams to beat Xavier this year, and the Musketeers punished them in the rematch winning 88-70. The loss at Villanova was particularly tough, with Edmond Sumner getting carted off on a stretcher in the opening minutes. The Freshman guard is back, and firing on all cylinders, scoring 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the win at Georgetown. Villanova has won seven straight, but has only covered the spread in three of it's last seven. The Wildcats have been cruising through the weaker teams in the Big East, but this is by far their toughest test to date. The Musketeers are 13-1 overall at home, scoring 83.2 points and shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc in those games. The Wildcats stats on the road are nowhere near what they are at home, and they face a Musketeers team that is 16-6 ATS in their last 22 home games versus teams with a winning road record. Take XAV. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-22-16 |
Virginia v. Miami (Fla) |
Top |
61-64 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 11 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Miami Hurricanes.
The Virginia Cavs are getting plenty of respect from bookmakers, as they aren't getting much of a spread on the road at Miami Monday. The Cavs have played well of late, and most people think they are the better team here. That might be true at a neutral site, but I expect the Canes to prove to be the better team on their home floor. Miami is 13-1 at home, and tied with Virginia in second place in the ACC with a 10-4 record within the conference.
While the Cavs have some impressive road wins (at Louisville and Pittsburgh), they lost their last road game at Duke, and are just 4-5 away from home on the season. Miami has won all it's home games against ACC teams, including impressive wins over Duke and Notre Dame by a combined 20 points. The Canes are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games, and they have won three of their last four home games against Virginia. The one loss came in overtime last season.
The Cavs are one of the top defensive teams in the country, but Miami can play defense as well. In fact, the Canes are allowing fewer points per game at home (62.9) that the Cavs are on the road (63.2). Miami also scores an average of 76.8 points on 48.2 percent shooting at home, more than 10 points better than the Cavs score on the road.
Take MIA.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-20-16 |
St. Mary's +6.5 v. Gonzaga |
Top |
63-58 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 52 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the St. Mary's Gaels. Gonzaga sits in first place in the West Coast Conference, one game ahead of St. Mary's with a 13-2 conference record. Both teams have 21 wins overall, but the Gaels have two fewer losses. This Gonzaga team has continued to beat up on weak opposition in the conference, but when they've faced tougher opponents they've failed miserably. That was on full display last Saturday when they lost 69-60 at SMU. They've lost to BYU, UCLA, Arizona, Texas A&M and at St. Mary's earlier this year. The Gaels lead the nation in field goal percentage (.509), and they are ranked 5th in three-point percentage (.421). They shot 50 percent from the field in the win over Gonzaga earlier this year, and I think they'll keep this game close tonight. The Bulldogs are just 4-9-1 ATS in their last 15 games against teams with a winning record, and they are asked to cover a big number in tonight's game. The Gaels have covered the spread in six of their last eight against teams above .500. They've also won five of eight straight up on the road. Take SMC. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-19-16 |
Celtics v. Jazz |
Top |
93-111 |
Win
|
100 |
22 h 56 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Utah Jazz. Utah went into the All Star break hot, winning seven of eight. They struggled in a loss at Washington in their first game back, but I expect them to shake off the rust at home tonight hosting the Celtics. The Jazz have been very good at home, boasting a 17-10 record, which is even more impressive when you consider that they were without Rudy Gobert for an extended stretch. Gobert is back, and making his presence felt. He's recorded four straight double-doubles, and has totaled 49 rebounds in those games. The Jazz have covered the spread in seven straight at home versus teams with a winning record, while the Celtics are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games against teams with a winning record. The home team is 7-3-2 in the last 12 meetings in this series, and still the Jazz aren't asked to cover any points at home tonight. I think the bookmakers aren't giving Utah enough credit on their home floor. Take UTAH. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-19-16 |
Flyers v. Canadiens UNDER 5.5 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 53 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on PHI@MTL to go UNDER the total. The Habs came up empty on their three game road trip, losing all three games. They did win three straight at home previously, and Ben Scrivens looked pretty good between the pipes in those games. Scrivens stopped 25-of-28 shots in a 3-2 loss at Colorado on Wednesday, but conceded the game winner with just two minutes left in the game. He's 3-1 with a 1.96 GAA at home since his call up, and he should get the call again tonight. They host the Flyers, who have lost their last three visits to Montreal. Philly is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, averaging just 2.4 goals per game, ranking 24th. There's plenty at stake for both these teams, who are each desperate to get back into the playoff race. We should see a low scoring battle here at the Bell Center. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-19-16 |
Flyers v. Canadiens -115 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 53 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs came up empty on their three game road trip, losing all three games. They did win three straight at home previously, and Ben Scrivens looked pretty good between the pipes in those games. Scrivens stopped 25-of-28 shots in a 3-2 loss at Colorado on Wednesday, but conceded the game winner with just two minutes left in the game. He's 3-1 with a 1.96 GAA at home since his call up, and he should get the call again tonight. They host the Flyers, who have lost their last three visits to Montreal. Philly is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, averaging just 2.4 goals per game, ranking 24th. There's plenty at stake for both these teams, who are each desperate to get back into the playoff race. The home team has been a good bet in this series though, winning 21 of the last 28. The Flyers struggles on the road go way back, as they are 20-45 in their last 65 road games. Take MTL. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-19-16 |
Pistons v. Wizards -110 |
Top |
86-98 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 13 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Washington Wizards. The Wizards have under achieved all season long, but they may be showing signs of turning things around. They won two of four before the All Star break, and then beat a very good Utah team at home in their first game back last night. They host the Detroit Pistons tonight, and Detroit has really struggled on the road. The Pistons are 11-17 overall on the road, and they've lost three of their last four at Washington. They went into the All Star break in poor form, failing to cover in five of their last six. The Wizards have covered in four of their last five, and are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 versus the NBA Central Division. Playing on back-to-back night's is normally considered to be a disadvantage, but in this case at home without any travel, I think it's far better than coming off a long layoff, as is the case for the visitors tonight. Take WAS. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-18-16 |
Maryland v. Minnesota +10.5 |
Top |
63-68 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 51 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
After losing 14 straight overall, you might think that his Minnesota team would throw in the towel. Not this team! Not this coach!
The Gophers and head coach Richard Pitino continue to play hard, and they appear to be determined to get that elusive first conference win. Tonight's home game against Maryland will be as good a chance as any for them to do just that. The Terps are 22-4 overall, but they haven't been a good bet as a double digit favorite.
Maryland has failed to cover in four straight versus teams with a winning percentage of less that .400. They have won three of their last five road games, but not one of those games were decided by double digits.
Diamond Stone is Maryland's second leading scorer, and he will be serving a suspension for an incident versus Wisconsin last week. The Gophers lost by just four points against Iowa on Sunday, and seven of their last eight losses have come by eight points or less.
Take MIN.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-18-16 |
Hurricanes v. Senators -110 |
Top |
2-4 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 26 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Ottawa Senators.
The Senators appear to be gearing up for a playoff run, and they added some depth on the blue line by acquiring Dion Phaneuif in a trade with the Leafs last week. Phaneuf is a former captain in Toronto and Calgary. He has three assists in four games so far for Ottawa. The home team has won 21 of the last 28 meetings in this series, and that trend seems likely to continue tonight.
The Senators are 13-6 in their last 19 home games versus a team with a losing road record. They've been getting strong goaltending from Craig Anderson, who is 3-2-0 with a 1.59 GAA and .952 save percentage over his last five starts. He's registered a 2.17 GAA in 23 home starts compared to a 3.46 mark in 23 on the road.
Take OTT.
GL.
Jesse Schule
|
02-18-16 |
Jazz v. Wizards UNDER 199 |
Top |
89-103 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 40 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on UTAH@WAS to go UNDER the total.
The Jazz won seven of eight heading into the All Star break, and they allowed opponents to average just 91 points per game during that span. The Jazz are one of the league's top defensive teams, while the Wizards are one of the worst. That being said, they haven't had much trouble playing defense in recent meetings with Utah. Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total, and six of Utah's last seven trips to Washington have gone under the total.
The Jazz have played most of the season shorthanded, without center Rudy Gobert and the 23 year old has 37 rebounds and seven blocks in his last three games. Derrick Favors has also missed time, but he's scored 29 points in a 100-96 loss to New Orleans in the final game before the break.
Take UNDER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-17-16 |
Oklahoma v. Texas Tech +5 |
Top |
63-65 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 37 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The Oklahoma Sooners reign at the top of the polls has come to an end, but they are still one of the best teams in the country. That doesn't mean they have been a good bet, especially as a road favorite. Oklahoma has failed to cover in four of it's last five road games, and 15 of it's last 20 BIG12 games. The Red Raiders have won three of their last four, with big wins over Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Baylor.
This is a big revenge spot for the Red Raiders, who suffered their worst defeat of the season at Oklahoma last month. These teams have a history of playing hard fought battles here in Lubbock, and last year the Sooners won in overtime by a score of 79-75. Buddy Hield has cooled off, hitting just 12-of-33 shot attempts in the Sooners last two games. He scored just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting in the Sooners last visit to Texas Tech.
Take TTU.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-17-16 |
Syracuse +8 v. Louisville |
Top |
58-72 |
Loss |
-110 |
18 h 20 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Syracuse Orange.
The Louisville Cardinals are one of the top teams in the ACC, but they will NOT be playing in this year's tournament. While they boast an impressive record, they haven't been a great bet, failing to cover in 10 of their last 14 overall. They've lost back to back games at Duke and Notre Dame, and I think they are asked to cover way too many points at home to Syracuse tonight.
Here is what I said about Louisville before they played Clemson on January 10: "I think this young Louisville team is overrated. They come in ranked #16 in the polls with a record of 13-2, but they've lost two of their three road games, and they are 0-2 versus Top 25 teams."
They went on to beat Clemson, but failed to cover. The Cardinals will be a missing key big man Anas Mahmoud who is out for the season with an ankle injury. Clemson has covered the spread in four straight on the road, and they should be able to stay close here at Louisville.
Take SYR.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-15-16 |
Wild v. Canucks +109 |
Top |
5-2 |
Loss |
-100 |
22 h 17 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will host Minnesota tonight, and we should see a desperate brand of hockey here with two teams fighting to stay in the playoff race. Vancouver, Minnesota and Arizona are all tied with 56 points, five points back of the eighth and final playoff spot which is currently held by Nashville. The Wild have completely imploded losing 13 of their last 14 overall. They cut ties with head coach Mike Yeo after Saturday's loss to Boston. Minnesota has named John Torchetti as the interim coach. I don't like his chances of turning things around, as the cold hard reality is that this Minnesota team is short on talent, and has been since it entered the league. The Wild were on the verge of disaster last year, but were rescued by a heroic performance from journeyman goaltender Devan Dubnyk. While the 29 year old has been a below average goaltender since entering the league, he looked like a Vezina candidate in the second half of last season. He's 0-4 with a 4.07 GAA in his last four starts, and for the most part, he's been unable to recapture the magic he had during last year's stretch run. Ryan Miller has been solid for the Canucks, posting a 1.80 GAA over his last five starts. Vancouver has won 12 of it's last 15 home games versus the Wild, and that trend seems likely to continue here tonight. Take VAN. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-15-16 |
Canadiens +100 v. Coyotes |
Top |
2-6 |
Loss |
-100 |
21 h 16 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs showed signs of life by winning three straight at home, but they went out on the road and lost 6-4 at Buffalo on Friday. Ben Scrivens was between the pipes for all three of those wins, but he was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots in the loss to Buffalo. The Coyotes have lost six of their last seven, and Louis Domingue has really struggled during that span, going 1-4-1, and he surrendered a whopping 21 goals in six starts. Montreal has dominated this series, winning six of their last seven at Arizona, and going 12-3-2 in the last 17 overall. The Coyotes have only averaged 1.85 goals per game while going 3-8-1 in their last 13 overall, and I don't think they deserve to be a favorite tonight.
Take MTL.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-15-16 |
Penguins +115 v. Panthers |
Top |
1-2 |
Loss |
-100 |
20 h 47 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Florida Panthers were the hottest team in the NHL around New Years as they recorded 12 consecutive wins between Dec. 15 - Jan. 10. They've struggled of late though with just one win in their last five games and they were shut out in a 5-0 home loss against Nashville Saturday. They've lost three straight at home and this should be another tough matchup as the Pittsburgh Penguins are 4-0-1 in their last five head-to-head meetings. Marc-Andre Fleury is 10-1-1 with a 1.71 GAA in his last 12 starts in the series while the Panthers Roberto Luongo is 1-2-4 with a 2.92 GAA in his past seven versus Pittsburgh. The Pens are 7-2-0 in their last nine contests overall and will come in well rested since the last time they played was a 2-1 shootout win at Carolina Friday. The Panthers on the other hand will play their third game in four nights as they hosted the Blues Friday and the Preds the following day. Sidney Crosby has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last two games, but he has three goals and seven assists in the last five versus Florida and this looks like a good opportunity to back him and the Penguins to continue their dominance of the Panthers. Take PIT. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-14-16 |
Avalanche v. Sabres OVER 5 |
Top |
1-4 |
Push |
0 |
2 h 58 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on COL@BUF to go OVER the total.
The Sabres are coming off a 6-4 home win over the Habs on Friday, but they haven't played well at home overall this year. They've won a dozen games on the road, two more than they have at home in Buffalo. They host the Avs in a matinee this Sunday, and Colorado has won five straight at Buffalo. These teams have seen the total go over in seven of the last eight meetings, and four straight here in Buffalo. Special teams may be key, as both teams possess an above average power play, and a below average penalty killing unit. Goaltending is not a strength for Buffalo, with Chad Johnson who surrendered four goals against the Habs, and Robin Lehner who has surrendered 11 goals in three straight losses. The Sabres have seen just one of their last eight home games fail to reach the total.
Take OVER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-13-16 |
Jets v. Oilers -110 |
Top |
2-1 |
Loss |
-110 |
19 h 27 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers are coming off a 5-2 home win over Toronto, and they are now 15-10 at home. Here is what I said prior to their last game: "The Oilers have lost three straight, but all three of those losses came on the road. Their last home game was a 5-1 win over Columbus, and Connor McDavid scored a goal and a pair of assists in that game. The rookie phenom has seven points in five games since returning from injury, and he should be in for a big night against the lowly Maple Leafs."
Sure enough, McDavid delivered with two goals and three assists in the win over the Leafs. The Oilers host the Jets tonight, and they appear to be firing on all cylinders. Home ice has been key in this series, with the home team prevailing in five of the last six meetings. The Oilers are 12-5 in their last 17 home games.
Take EDM.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-13-16 |
Louisville v. Notre Dame -1 |
Top |
66-71 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 1 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Notre Dame Irish.
Notre Dame comes into tonight's home game against Louisville as winners of three of it's last four. It's last home game was an upset win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Irish have also beaten Duke on the road, and they are 11-5-1 in their last 17 versus the ACC. They are 12-1 at home, and they've covered the spread in four of their last five at South Bend. The Cardinals have not been a good bet on the road, failing to cover in six straight. The Irish are scoring over 80 points per game at home, and they are shooting 76.2 percent from the field at South Bend. Louisville is struggling at the free throw line this season, and the Cardinals have trouble scoring at the best of times.
Take ND.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-13-16 |
Texas A&M v. LSU -1 |
Top |
71-76 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 3 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the LSU Tigers. The Tigers are hot, coming into Saturday's home game against Texas A&M as winners of four of their last five at home. The one loss came by just two points to #1 ranked Oklahoma in a non-conference game (SEC/BIG12 Challenge). The Aggies are coming off three straight losses, and they have struggled on the road with a record of just 3-4. Home court has been a big deal in this series, with the home team covering in eight of the last 10. LSU is 12-2 overall at home, while the Aggies have only covered once in their last seven on the road. Ben Simmons gets better with every game, and the Freshman will be looking to execute a little revenge after having one of his worst games in a loss at Texas A&M earlier in the year. Despite their struggles away from home, and the fact that they've failed to cover in five straight SEC games, the Aggies aren't getting any sort of a cushion here in today's game.
Take LSU.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-12-16 |
Canadiens -135 v. Sabres |
Top |
4-6 |
Loss |
-135 |
18 h 54 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs are trying to get back into position for a playoff run, and after losing 10-of-13 they now look to extend a three game win streak in Buffalo Friday. Improved goaltending has been one of the keys to Montreal's recent success, with Ben Scrivens stepping up, going 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA in his last three starts. The Sabres have lost four straight, and tonight's game is the second of a back to back after getting hammered 5-1 in Philly last night. Home ice hasn't been any sort of advantage for the Sabres, as their 12 wins on the road are three more than they have at home. Buffalo is a woeful 9-16-1 on home ice this season. They haven't had much recent success at home versus the Habs either, losing five of their last six home games in this series. Buffalo has conceded a whopping 21 goals during it's four game losing skid.
Take MTL.
GL,
Jesse Schule.
|
02-12-16 |
Dayton -1.5 v. Rhode Island |
Top |
68-66 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 47 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* pay on the Dayton Flyers.
The Flyers are sitting in the top spot in the A-10 with a conference record of 10-1. They will be just a slight favorite on the road tonight, facing a Rams team that has a 6-5 record within the conference. Perhaps this line is a little lower than one might expect, and that's likely influenced by the fact that Dayton hasn't won at Rhode Island since 2005. The Rams also have a respectable home record of 11-3. They did come up short in a home loss to St. Joes though, and all of their home wins within the conference so far have come against teams with a losing record. They've also lost three straight in this series versus Dayton, and the last two were blowouts.
Dayton is 5-1 on the road, and the Flyers come in riding an eight game win streak. It's not as though they don't have anything to play for, as a loss here would open the door for VCU and St. Joe's who are tied for second, each with a 9-2 record. The Rams have lost two of their last three, and starting forward Kuran Iverson has missed all three games with a concussion. He's averaging over 10 points per game, and if he can't go tonight it would be a big blow for the home team. The Flyers are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games versus a team with a winning home record.
Take DAY.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-12-16 |
Roma -103 v. Carpi FC 1909 |
Top |
3-1 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 23 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on AS Roma. Roma have a big Champions League clash against Real Madrid coming up next week, but first they'll have to overcome Carpi in the Serie A Friday. They won the reverse fixture 5-1 back in September, and they're coming into this game filled with confidence after three consecutive victories over which they've outscored opponents 7-2. The sacking of Rudi Garcia has had desired effect as Roma have recuperated from a somewhat disappointing season up until Luciano Spaletti took over the managerial responsibilites at the club. They're currently sitting fifth in the Serie A, 12 points back of league-leading Napoli and only two points back of a qualification spot to next season's Champions League. They can not afford to throw away points against the lower ranked sides in the league. Carpi are definitely in that category with just 19 points in 24 games and currently in the relegation zone. Midfielder Raffaele Bianco will miss the game due to suspension, and they have several injuries as well while Roma are healthier than ever and will have Radja Nainggolan back from suspension. Take ROMA. GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-11-16 |
Maple Leafs v. Oilers -130 |
Top |
2-5 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 18 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.
There aren't many teams in the NHL with fewer wins than the Oilers, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of those teams. The Leafs are in Edmonton tonight, coming off a 4-3 loss to Calgary on Tuesday. The Oilers have lost three straight, but all three of those losses came on the road. Their last home game was a 5-1 win over Columbus, and Connor McDavid scored a goal and a pair of assists in that game. The rookie phenom has seven points in five games since returning from injury, and he should be in for a big night against the lowly Maple Leafs. The Leafs have been outscored 10-4 in back to back losses, and they rank among the leagues worth in goals against. Toronto has long since thrown in the towel as far as this season goes, but they took another step towards rebuilding when they traded veteran defenseman and team Captain Dion Phaneuf just hours before the loss to Calgary.
Take EDM.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-10-16 |
Jazz v. Pelicans OVER 195 |
Top |
96-100 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 22 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on UTAH@NO to go OVER the total.
I took a bit of a bad beat least night when the Jazz tied the game with a buzzer beater and went on to win in overtime in Dallas. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Utah Jazz come into Dallas riding a six game win streak, but five of those six wins came at home. The exception was a 98-89 win at Phoenix on Saturday. The Jazz are dominant on defense, ranking second in the NBA allowing just 95.9 points per game. They aren’t nearly as successful on the road though, where they have an 8-15 record. Even Saturday’s win over the Suns saw a total of 187 points, enough to go over the number here tonight. The Jazz are a woeful 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games, and they’ve allowed 99.7 points per game in their last seven on the road."
The Pelicans on the other hand have played quite well at home lately, and the total has gone over in each of their last four home games against the Jazz. Seven of the last nine meetings between these teams have gone over, and the Pelicans have gone over in 20 of their last 28 home games.
Take OVER.
GL,
Jesse Schule.
|
02-09-16 |
Jazz v. Mavs -125 |
Top |
121-119 |
Loss |
-125 |
13 h 14 m |
Show
|
This is a 10* play on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Utah Jazz come into Dallas riding a six game win streak, but five of those six wins came at home. The exception was a 98-89 win at Phoenix on Saturday. The Jazz are dominant on defense, ranking second in the NBA allowing just 95.9 points per game. They aren't nearly as successful on the road though, where they have an 8-15 record. Even Saturday's win over the Suns saw a total of 187 points, enough to go over the number here tonight.
The bookmakers may have over adjusted here, as this line has dropped from 190 all the way down to 183. The Mavericks have won six straight home games against Utah, scoring 100+ points in five of those games. The Jazz are a woeful 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games, and they've allowed 99.7 points per game in their last seven on the road. The Mavericks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games versus a team with a losing road record.
Take Dallas.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-09-16 |
Toledo v. Buffalo -2 |
Top |
71-69 |
Loss |
-110 |
14 h 10 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bulls.
The Bulls have won four straight, and six of their last seven overall. They have won eight of 10 at home, and they have the second best record in the MAC. They host Toledo Tuesday, and the Rockets have lost three of their last five. One of those losses came at home to Buffalo, with the Bulls jumping out to a 10-point lead in the first half, and hanging on to win 73-68. The Bulls have won four of their last five home meetings versus Toledo, and they have covered the spread in five of the last six overall meetings between the two teams. Buffalo has superior depth, and their bench outscored Toledo's bench 28-17 in the last meeting. The Bulls should also have an advantage on the boards, averaging 36.3 rebounds per game at home.
Take BUF.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-08-16 |
Louisville v. Duke -4 |
Top |
65-72 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 46 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Duke Blue Devils.
Defending champions Duke have lost a few key home games already in conference play, and because of that they are just a short favorite at home to Louisville tonight. Duke is coming off a couple wins in a row, beating Georgia Tech and N.C. State by a combined 17 points. The Cardinal are just 3-3 on the road, and they might not have their leading scorer healthy tonight. Damion Lee missed the last game with a knee injury, but he could return here against Duke. Given that Louisville will be serving a self imposed post-season ban, there really is no reason for players to push it if they are anything less than 100%.
Duke has won seven straight at home versus ranked opponents, and Duke is 179-12 (.937) at home since the 2004-5 season, second only to Kansas in winning percentage at home. The come in shooting the ball well from beyond the arc, going 25-of-51 from three-point range in their last two games. They have shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc at home this season, and score over 90 points per game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Cardinals are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.
Take DUKE.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-07-16 |
Panthers v. Broncos UNDER 45.5 |
Top |
10-24 |
Win
|
100 |
211 h 3 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the UNDER in Super Bowl 50. They say that defense wins championships, and that might be good news for Broncos fans. On the other hand, the Panthers defense is pretty impressive in it's own right. The Broncos own the leagues' top ranked defense, allowing just 18.5 points per game. Carolina isn't far off, allowing just 19.3 points per game. The Super Bowl will be played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers played eight games at Levi's Stadium this year, and not a single one of those saw more than 45 points scored. In fact all but one of their home games saw less than 40 points scored. The Broncos completely shut down New England's high octane offense in the AFC Championship game, picking off Tom Brady twice in a 20-28 victory. A week earlier they held the Steelers in check in a 23-16 victory. Denver has failed to reach the total in five of it's last six playoff games. Take UNDER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-07-16 |
Panthers v. Broncos +5 |
Top |
10-24 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 19 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos. They say that defense wins championships, and that might be good news for Broncos fans. On the other hand, the Panthers defense is pretty impressive in it's own right. The Broncos own the leagues' top ranked defense, allowing just 18.5 points per game. Carolina isn't far off, allowing just 19.3 points per game. The Super Bowl will be played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers played eight games at Levi's Stadium this year, and not a single one of those saw more than 45 points scored. In fact all but one of their home games saw less than 40 points scored. The Broncos completely shut down New England's high octane offense in the AFC Championship game, picking off Tom Brady twice in a 20-28 victory. A week earlier they held the Steelers in check in a 23-16 victory.
The Panthers come in as the favorite, but I think this game has the potential to be a lot closer than most people think. ESPN says that 53 of 70 staffers are picking Carolina, and eight of 10 Sports Illustrated writers have picked the Panthers. One of the common themes among the pundits is that Carolina has a huge advantage in quarterback play with MVP Cam Newton facing a 39 year old Peyton Manning.
When you look at the "tale of the tape", Newton's statistics are impressive, and Manning's are downright ugly. We've seen a different Peyton Manning in these playoffs though, and it looked like vintage "Sheriff" on the opening drive against the Patriots. Most importantly, he's done a good job protecting the football, with no INTs in Denver's two playoff wins. This isn't his first rodeo, he's been to the Super Bowl three times previously, winning with Indianapolis in 2006.
Denver doesn't need Manning to be great, and the Broncos will likely have a conservative approach, hoping their defense will keep them in the game. The Panthers have looked vulnerable when trying to protect a lead. They've blown big leads against the Seahawks, Colts and Giants.
I'm giving the Broncos a "puncher's chance" here in Super Bowl 50, and I'll take the points.
Take DEN.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-06-16 |
Pelicans v. Cavs OVER 209.5 |
Top |
84-99 |
Loss |
-105 |
20 h 54 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on NO@CLE to go over the total.
The Cavs have lost back to back games to Boston and Charlotte, and they host New Orleans on Saturday night. The Pelicans are coming off three straight losses, and they are are a significant underdog tonight. New Orleans failed to reach the total in their last game, but each of their previous nine games had gone over. Cleveland’s first game in the Tyronn Lue era was nothing short of a disaster, losing by double digits at home to the Bulls. After the game Lue questioned his team’s conditioning: “I think we have to play faster,” Lue told the team’s official website. “I think we have to utilize Kyrie and LeBron’s one-on-one ability in transition to open the floor more and run in more drags. We just haven’t been accustomed to playing that way …” They went on to score 110+ points in five straight games, and I think they'll have no problem scoring on an inferior opponent tonight.
Take OVER.
GL
Jesse Schule
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02-06-16 |
Iowa State v. Oklahoma State +5 |
Top |
64-59 |
Push |
0 |
12 h 20 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The Cyclones have lost back to back games, but still they are a road favorite at Oklahoma State here today. The Cowboys may not have a lot of wins on their resume in conference play, but they have certainly been competitive. While they have lost five of seven in conference play, three of those five losses came in games decided by five points or less. These teams have met four times since 2013, and all four of those games were decided by less than five points. Two of those four games required overtime to decide a winner. The Cyclones come in short-handed, with reigning BIG12 player of the year Jameel McKay suspended indefinitely: "I don't feel like I'm getting as high as I would normally," McKay said. "With what's going on with me, you've just got to kind of block it out and remember that it'll get better. ... It's not 100 percent. But it's getting better."
Take OKST.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-05-16 |
Grizzlies v. Knicks UNDER 197 |
Top |
91-85 |
Win
|
100 |
16 h 34 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on MEM@NYK to go UNDER the total.
The Knicks are coming off a loss at Detroit last night, and they really got off to a horrible start, scoring just 36 first half points. They've now lost seven of their last eight overall, and they failed to score 100 points in five of those games. They will play their second game in as many nights at home against Memphis, and the Grizzlies are coming in as winners of eight of their last nine overall.
Memphis is scoring just 97.7 points per game this season, ranking 25th in the NBA. They are ranked 6th defensively though, surrendering just 99 points per game. The Grizzlies have won four straight against the Knicks, and seven of the last eight. Five of those eight games went over the total, but the number for tonight's game is far higher than it was in any of those previous eight. The Grizzlies have covered the spread in six straight against Eastern Conference teams, and they've failed to reach the total in nine straight when coming off three or more days of rest. Take UNDER.
GL, Jesse Schule
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02-05-16 |
76ers v. Wizards UNDER 215 |
Top |
94-106 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 4 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on PHI@WAS to go UNDER the total. The Philadelphia 76ers have dropped four of their last five and the Washington Wizards have managed only one win over their last six. Odds are we'll see a low-scoring encounter when the two struggling teams match up at Verizon Center Friday night. Five of the last seven meetings in Washington have gone under the total and the 76ers were held to 87.0 points through four meetings overall last season. They've struggled on the ball all season and managed just 86 points in a home loss to the Hawks Wednesday. The Wizards are off a real high-scoring affair as they fell 134-121 to the Warriors two days ago. The under is interestingly enough 8-1-1 in their last 10 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game though and 10-4 in their last 14 at home. John Wall scored a season-high 41 points against Golden State, but Philly managed to contain him pretty well last season holding the point guard to only 15.0 points per game. Take UNDER. GL, Jesse Schule
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02-05-16 |
Iona -175 v. Canisius |
Top |
84-66 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 29 m |
Show
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This is an 8* play on the Iona Gaels. Iona comes into tonight's game at Canisius off a road win at St. Peters, and the Gaels have won nine of 12 in conference play. They are just one game back of the Monmouth Hawks, who sit in first place in the MAAC. Canisius is coming off a double digit loss at Rider, and it got crushed in it's last home game. The Griffins lost by 21 points at home to Sienna, and they have failed to cover in seven of their last 10 at home. Canisius will have it's hands full trying to defend the Gaels star senior A.J. English. The senior scored 19 points at Canisius last season, but he comes into tonight's game averaging 22.3 points per game. Take IONA. GL, Jesse Schuel
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02-04-16 |
Knicks v. Pistons UNDER 202.5 |
Top |
105-111 |
Loss |
-105 |
9 h 3 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on NYK@DET to go UNDER the total.
The Knicks head into Detroit coming off back to back losses, and they've won just one of their last seven overall. During that span they've failed to score 100 points in five of the seven games. Both these teams rank better on the defensive side of the ball than they do on offense, and I think tonight's total looks a little inflated. Four of the last five meetings between these two teams has gone over, but the total in each of those games was significantly lower than tonight's number. The total has gone under in six of New York's last eight trips to Detroit. The Knicks have failed to reach the total in each of their last four games, and they shot just 37.8 percent from the field in a 97-89 loss to Boston their last time out.
Take UNDER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-03-16 |
Nuggets v. Jazz UNDER 195.5 |
Top |
81-85 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 5 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on DEN@UTAH to go UNDER the total.
The Nuggets have been quite competitive recently, winning six of their last 12 overall. During that span they've only suffered one double digit loss, and they've covered the spread in five of their last six road games. They haven't had a lot of success against the Jazz in recent seasons, losing four of the last five in this series, with the total going under in four of five as well. Denver is getting a bigger cushion in tonight's game than in any of those previous five, and they could be catching Utah at a good time.
The Jazz have won three straight, and could be due for a let down after knocking off Chicago by a score of 105-96. Utah owns the league's 4th best defense, holding opponents to just 96.7 points per game. They rank among the worst in the NBA in scoring though, averaging just 97.9 points per game. Six of the last seven meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total, and I expect a tight, low scoring affair here tonight.
Take UNDER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-03-16 |
Sabres v. Canadiens -145 |
Top |
4-2 |
Loss |
-145 |
8 h 1 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Montreal Canadiens. The Buffalo Sabres ended a three-game skid with a 3-2 win at Ottawa on Jan. 26, but they had no opportunity to ride that momentum due to the All Star break. They're likely to be back to their losing ways at Montreal Monday night. The Habs have admittedly been abysmal in recent weeks with just two wins in 2016. They lost 4-2 at Philadelphia last night and will come in desperate for a win here against an Atlantic Division rival. Montreal won 7-2 at Buffalo back in October and it has claimed seven of the last 10 meetings in the series. Defensive woes have been the reason to Montreal's recent struggles, but it should not have much to fear here against a Sabres team that has averaged only 1.93 goals in its last 15 games. Ryan O'Reilly leads the team with 17 goals but has left each of the last nine without a tally. Montreal has the third most power play chances in the league at 3.5 per game and has started to convert on the chances with goals on the man advantage in three consecutive contests. Take MTL. GL, Jesse Schule
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02-03-16 |
Arkansas +9 v. Florida |
Top |
83-87 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 1 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Florida Gators have won four of their last five, but I think they are asked to cover a few too many points at home to SEC rivals Arkansas tonight. The Razorbacks are coming off back to back wins over Texas Tech and Texas A&M. They did lose their last two road games, but by a combined margin of just five points at LSU and Georgia. They've covered the spread in six of their last eight overall, and three of their last four versus Florida. Arkansas scores a ton of points, averaging 81.6 per game. They are a better free throw shooting team that Florida, hitting 71.1 percent from the line. The last two meetings between these teams went right down to the wire, with Florida winning both games by a combined three points. The underdog has covered in four straight in this series, and the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five.
Take ARK.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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02-02-16 |
Sharks v. Ducks -130 |
Top |
2-3 |
Win
|
100 |
19 h 16 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks had a tough first half of the season, but went into the All Star break winning six of seven. They host the Sharks at the Duck Pond tonight, and San Jose has also been hot, winning eight of their last 10. Home ice has been huge in this series though, as the home team is 15-4 in the last 19 meetings. The Sharks have lost seven of their last 10 at Anaheim, and they are 1-5 in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Corey Perry scored the winning goal in the NHL All Star game, and he's in the zone right now, with 10 goals during Anaheim's 10-3-2 stretch over it's last 15 games. The Ducks are 8-2 in their last 10 versus conference rivals, and 23-8 in their last 31 home games versus a team with a winning record. The Ducks have locked down on defense, allowing just 1.8 goals per game in their last 13, and killing 43 of their last 45 penalties.
Take ANA.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-02-16 |
Buffalo v. Northern Illinois -3 |
Top |
90-78 |
Loss |
-118 |
14 h 33 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on the Northern Illinois Huskies.
The Huskies will put their perfect home record to the test once again tonight when they host MAC rivals Buffalo. The Bulls have really struggled on the road, losing seven of 10 this season. The Huskies are one of the better three-point shooting teams in the MAC, hitting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. They are also dominant on the boards, averaging 37.7 rebounds per game at home. The Huskies are 17-6-3 ATS in their last 26 home games, and they've covered the spread in six of their last seven versus teams with a winning record. They are 26-10-4 ATS in their last 40 versus conference rivals. They also have a dominant defense, holding opponents to just 64.3 points on 39.3 percent shooting at home. They only gave up 49 points in a 58-49 win over Toledo in their last home game.
Take NIU.
GL, Jesse Schule
|
02-02-16 |
Heat v. Rockets OVER 204 |
Top |
102-115 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 17 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on MIA@HOU to go OVER the total.
The Heat have won four straight, and they've averaged over 100 points per game during that span. They will have their work cut out for them when they visit Houston tonight, facing a hungry Rockets team that has lost three straight. The Rockets score plenty of points, but they are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, allowing opponents to score an average of 106.6 points per game. They have a history of of playing well against Miami, especially at home. Houston is 5-2 ATS in it's last seven versus the Heat, and it's covered the spread in six of it's last eight at home versus Miami. Dwight Howard won't have to contend with Hassan Whiteside, as Miami's leading rebounder is sidelined by a back injury. Miami has a losing record on the road, and is 7-17 ATS in it's last 24 road games versus a team with a winning home record. They've gone over the total in four of their last five visits to Houston
Take OVER.
GL,
Jesse Schule
|
02-02-16 |
Liverpool v. Leicester +164 |
Top |
0-2 |
Win
|
164 |
6 h 9 m |
Show
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This is a 10* play on Leicester City.
The Premier League leaders will host Liverpool on Tuesday, and despite the fact that they sit 13 points clear of Liverpool in the table, the bookmakers still aren't giving Leicester much respect. They've only lost once in their last 10 matches, conceding just six goals during that span. The Reds allowed Norwich to find the back of the net four times in their last game, but managed to escape with a 5-4 victory. Liverpool's defending was shocking at times, which should not come as a surprise when you consider they rank near the bottom of the Premiership in goals allowed this season. They might have trouble stopping the league's second highest scoring team, who also have the league's leading scorer in Jamie Vardy. If Liverpool plays anything like it did against Norwich, this game could be over quickly.
Tale Leicester.
GL,
Jesse Schule
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