Los Angeles Dodgers.

Game 909.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST.

A season ago, Los Angeles got the better of San Diego, taking 14 of 19 regular season matchups. However, when they met in October, the Padres sent them home packing for the season. The Dodgers dropped Game 1 of this series yesterday, 5-2. That followed a six-game win streak. L.A. is now just a half-game ahead of the Arizona in the West. And if there are not careful, can lose control of this division very quickly. They must win here today, my friends. Over their careers, starter Blake Snell has done better against the Dodgers lineup than counterpart, Dustin May has done against the Padres offense. But this season things are going very differently for these two pitchers. The Los Angeles right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA on the campaign. He comes off back-to-back victories. The San Diego left-hander is just 1-4 with a whopping ERA of 5.28 in 2023. The team has dropped five of the six turns this season. In each of his outings, he has allowed no less than two earned runs. One more item my friends, in five consecutive performances Snell has allowed at least one home run. This does not fare well as he must take the mound 60-feet away from the third-best home run hitting team in baseball. The Padres are just 2-5 their last seven home games played versus a team with a winning record. The Dodgers are 60-26 their last 86 games played following a loss, 48-22 their last 70 games played versus the NL West, and 70-27 their last 97 games played versus right-handed starters. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins.

Game 913.

3:10 PM PST/6:10 PM EST.

Very quietly, the Minnesota Twins have taken control of the American League Central with a four-game lead. This is a team that has a winning record, both at home and on the road. Something that is a rarity these days. The Cleveland Guardians sit in third place in the division, 4.5-games back. They have lost three straight outings, including Game 1 of the series yesterday, 2-0. A season ago, the Guardians had their way with the Twins, taking eight of the final nine matchups between these division rivals. However, 2023 is a very different campaign for them. Their offense, or should I say, lack of offense, ranks at or near the bottom in every major category. They rank 27th in scoring, 29th in batting average, 30th in OPS, and 30th in home runs. I am afraid things are going to go from bad to worse for the team as they go up against the Majors third-ranked pitching staff here. I mean their lineup has accounted for three runs or less in 12 of their last 16 outings. Sonny Gray and Logan Allen are schedule starters here. The Minnesota right-hander is off to an amazing start, going 4-0 with an anemic ERA of 0.77, which leads the Majors. He has made six starts this season, in which the team has won five of those 6 turns. And by the way, he has not allowed more than one earned run in any outing in 2023. The Cleveland left-hander is off to a good start as well, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. However, he has only made two starts. He hasn’t worked out the kinks yet. Playing at home would normally benefit a team. But the Guardians are a dismal 4-9 at Progressive Field this season. They are also 0-5 their last five games played during Game 2 of a series, 1-4 their last five games played versus right-handed starters, at 1-5 their last six games played overall. Take Minnesota. Thank you.

Denver Nuggets.

Game 531.

7:00 PM PST/10:00 PM EST.

Sports fans, I expect this game to be the most competitive yet in this series. We all know Denver is up 2-0 in this round as they have taken both games so far with at home with authority. They took Game 1 by 18-points and Game 2 by 10-points. We are also all well aware of the fact that they are a much better home team than they are a road team. The same could be said for Phoenix. And normally being down 2-0 in a series and going home for your first contest played in front of your fans, I would look to play that team. However, the Nuggets did cover the last two games played at the Footprint Center. But that’s not all, folks. The Suns will be without Chris Paul. While he hasn’t put up monstrous numbers this round, the point guard is a true veteran that has a ton, and I mean a ton of postseason experience. He has averaged a lot of minutes both during the regular and the postseason. They lose a true seasoned veteran with him on the bench here tonight. I think that will be a major factor in this matchup. Please remember Denver has covered five straight meetings in this rivalry, their last five games played on three or more days rest, 20 of their last 28 games played versus teams with a winning record, five of their last six games played following a straight up win, and six of their last eight games played overall. Meanwhile Phoenix has only covered one of their last five games played on three or more days rest, three of their last 10 games played following a straight up loss, one of their last five games played versus teams with a winning record, none of their last four Conference Semifinal games played, and only one of their last five games played overall. I have to take the points with the Nuggets. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Home Run Play.

Game 957.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Oh boy! The Dodgers have had this series circled since the schedule came out. During the 2022 regular season, Los Angeles went 14-5 against San Diego. They even took the NL West. However, when they met in October for the NLDS, they were sent home early to play golf instead of competing for the National League Pennant. Revenge is a dish best served, cold my friends. And the Dodgers are looking to serve up some revenge here today. They enter this series opener here, red-hot, winning six in a row and eight of their last 10 outings. Granted, the Padres have won seven of their last 10 as well. However, Los Angeles has accounted for six or more runs in seven of those eight victories over the last 10 contests. Their offense is absolutely exploding. Today’s pitching matchups are Kershaw and Darvish. The Dodgers left-hander is 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA on the campaign. And in his career, in 45 starts against San Diego, he is 23-9 with a 2.03 ERA. By the way, if you’re worried about him pitching on the road, don’t be, as Kershaw is 11-4 with a 1.87 ERA in 20 starts at Petco Park. The Padres right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in 2023. Against the Dodgers in his career, he is 3-5 with a 2.47 ERA in 10 starts. The team has lost three of his five turns this season. And he does come off a very poor performance, despite the team winning, allowing four earned runs in six innings pitched against San Francisco less than a week ago. Oh, by the way, San Diego is also 2-5 their last seven home games played versus teams with a winning record and 1-5 their last six games played following an off day. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.
Home Run Play.
Game 909.
11:10 AM, PST/2:10 PM EST.

Sports fans, normally I don’t go above $1.50 on any favorite in baseball. You guys know this and I try to adhere to it as much as possible. The overnights, I really liked the Orioles. This morning the line is it about $1.65 to $1.70. But my friends, a win is a win is a win. Yesterday, Baltimore was blinked for the first time in 2023. That’s right, with 30 games in the books, the O’s were shutout by the Royals, 6-0. This is a team that scores a ton of runs. They also have not dropped back-to-back games since an early April series with the Yankees. On the other hand, one of the worst teams in baseball is without question, Kansas City. At 8-23, overall, which does include a 2-13 record at home, the Royals are absolutely deplorable. Rodriquez and Lyles are schedule starters here today. The Baltimore right-hander has made five appearances this season, as the team has won his last four outings. He’s pretty durable and usually goes about five innings and hasn’t given up an earned run over his last two turns. The Royals right-hander has yet to win a decision this season going 0-5 with a 6.11 ERA. The team has lost all six of his outings on the campaign. He also comes off his worst performance of the season thus far, getting plowed for seven earned runs in just four innings a week ago. Then Orioles explosive lineup accounts for almost two runs more per game more than the Royals, while their pitching staff yields nearly a run less per game. They significantly outclass their opponent here in every single aspect of the game. They are also 7-2 their last nine games played on the road, 8-2 their last 10 games played versus the American League Central, 4-20 their last 62 games played following a loss, and 16-5 their last 21 games played overall. Take Baltimore. Thank you.

Los Angeles Angels.

Home Run Play.

Game 979.

4:45 PM, PST/7:45 PM EST.

My friends, the line is way off in this matchup. The Angels, which have won five of their last seven outings including yesterday’s Game 1 matchup with the Cardinals, are playing some very solid baseball. On the other hand, one of the biggest disappointments so far this season is the Cardinals, which are in the cellar of the NL Central, 10-games back in the division, tied for the poorest record in the NL. So why is this line so off? Because Ohtani comes off his worst performance of the season, while Mikolas comes off his best performance of the campaign. The Los Angeles right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA on the campaign. One thing for sure, he rarely has back-to-back “off“ outings. The team has won his last five turns, sports fans. And I expect him to be revved up and motivated here today. The Cardinals right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.97 ERA on the campaign. And prior to his last outing, in which he allowed zero earned runs, he was roughed up in just about every performance thus far. The Angels average nearly a run more per game on offense, while their pitching staff allows nearly a run less per game. Something I want you to take it to consideration folks is that the Cardinals have dropped seven of their last eight outings. In those seven defeats, they have averaged a mere, 2.0 runs per game. I expect Ohtani to come out here with something to prove against a lackluster lineup, while his offense gets him quite a bit of run support. Los Angeles is 4-1 their last five games played against right-handed starters, while St. Louis is just 1-7 their last eight games played versus the American League West. Oh, by the way, they are also 3-8 their last 11 games played at home and 7-27 their last 27 games played versus right-handed starters. Take the Angels. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.

Double Play.

Game 917.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

Playing in the most the competitive division in baseball with the Major Leagues top team, the Baltimore Orioles are getting too much ink. However, very quietly they are just 3.5-games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the division and overall possess the third best record in the Majors at 19-9. This does include a 10-5 away mark. They travel to Kauffman Stadium to face a team with the second-worst record in all of baseball, the Kansas City Royals. K.C. is just 7-22, which does include the poorest home record in the Majors, A deplorable, 1-12 when hosting. This is the first meeting between these two teams this season. But the Orioles enter today’s Game 1 matchup on the 1122 run, while the Royals are just 3-12 their last 15 outings. Both at the plate and on the mound, Baltimore is just simply far better. They average almost two runs a game more, while their pitching staff allows more than a run less. Just over the last nine outings, the explosive Baltimore lineup has accounted for five or more runs twice. Tyler Wells and Ryan Yarbrough are scheduled for today. The Baltimore right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA this season. The team has won four of his five turns and he has looked spectacular so far. The Kansas City left-hander is 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA on the campaign. Both as a starter and as a reliever, he has made quite a few appearances in 2023. However, the team has lost each of his last three appearances. The Orioles are 35-16 their last 51 games played in Game 1 of a series, 8-2 their last 10 games played following a win, 6-1 their last seven games played on the road, 6-1 their last seven games played versus left-handed starters, and 7-1 their last eight games played versus the AL Central. I can give you a ton of stats and trends about the Royals. But they are all ugly. Take Baltimore. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves on the money line.

Home Run Play.

Game 901.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Tuesday, April 2, 2023.

Sports fans, the Braves are proving that last season’s success was no fluke. With over a month of the regular season in the rearview, they lead the competitive, NL East by three-games, at 19-10. They aren’t just winning, they are winning with authority. No team in all of the Majors are a strong as Atlanta is on the road. They are an astounding, 12-3 when they travel this season. They visit LoanDepot Park to face the divisions second-place team, the Miami Marlins. The Marlins are a respectable 16-13, which does include a 10-6 record at home. These two rivals met a week ago in Atlanta, as the Braves took the series 3-1. Atlanta outscored Miami 28-13. Going back a little further, to say Atlanta has gotten the better of Miami would be an understatement. They have taken seven of the last 10 meetings and 62 of the last overall 88 matchups. Bryce Elder and Sandy Alcantara are schedule starters here. The Atlanta right-hander is off to a wonderful start, sporting a 2-0 record with a 2.17 ERA. The team has won four of his five turns in 2023. Over his career, the 23-year-old has made five starts against the Marlins, going 0-2 with a 3.54 ERA. But this season he is looking very different from previous campaigns. Speaking of looking differently this season, the Marlins, right-hander is off to a deplorable start, going 1-2 with a whopping ERA of 5.04. People expected a lot more of Alcantara, who is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. In 11 career starts against the Braves, he is 4-2 with a 2.48 ERA. But as I mentioned a moment ago, things are very different for him this season. As a matter of fact, the team has dropped four of his five turns in 2023.  Both at the plate and on the mound, Atlanta significantly outclasses Miami. They average nearly a run and a half more on offense, while their pitching staff allows nearly a full run less. The Braves are 4-1 their last five games played versus teams with a winning record, 4-1 their last five games played versus right-handed starters, 5-2 their last seven games played versus the NL East, and 36-15 their last 51 games played during Game 1 of a series. Take Atlanta. Thank you.

Over in the Phoenix Suns/Denver Nuggets matchup.

Games 513/514.

7:05 PM PST/10:05 PM EST.

Game 1 of this series went over the total to now make it five overs in the last seven meetings between these two Western Conference rivals. The first game saw Denver absolutely embarrass Phoenix, 125-107. Kevin Durant committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. The Suns also shot just 7-23 from downtown. I expect Phoenix to come in here a little bit stronger and motivated. The way both offenses are lighting up the scoreboard, you can expect a very high-scoring affair. The over came in eight of Phoenix’s his last nine outings and seven of Denver’s last nine contests. These two teams do not match up well with one another defensively. You can expect another high-scoring game as I mentioned earlier. The over is 4-1 the last five meetings in Denver, 10 of the Suns last 12 games played on the road, and five of the Nuggets last six games played versus teams with a winning record. Take the over. Thank you.

Cleveland Guardians.

Game 913.

10:35 AM PST/1:35 PM EST.

Cleveland took Game 1 of this series and lost a heartbreaker yesterday in Game 2 in extra innings. This is a team that has been very successful on the road, winning 19 of the last 27 games played as a guest. Logan Allen and Chris Sale are scheduled starters here. The Guardians left-hander owns a 1-0 record with a 1.50 ERA on the campaign, while the Red Sox left-hander is just 1-2 with a whopping ERA of 8.22 this season. Sale has not won since his second start back on April 6, going 0-2 in three decisions since. He is having problems with control and over his career in 31 appearances, which includes 20 starts against Cleveland, he is just 5-8 with a 4.76 ERA. The Red Sox are 1-5 the last six games played following a win.  Take Cleveland. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

Game 962.

6:10 PM, PST/9:10 PM EST.

The Dodgers, which have won six of their last 10 outings, are currently sitting one-game behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West. My friends, taking a backseat to any team in the division, does not sit well with Los Angeles. They enter today’s matchup following yesterday’s Game 1 win over St. Louis, 7-3. They have had their way in this NL rivalry. Going back to last season, they have taken three in a row and five of the last six meetings. Jordan Montgomery and Clayton Kershaw are scheduled here today. The Cardinals left-hander is 2-3 with a 3.81 record on the campaign. The team has lost his last three turns. On the other hand, the Dodgers left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA on the season. The team has won four of his five turns in 2023. In 20 career regular season starts against the St. Louis, Kershaw is a very respectable, 9-5 with a wonderful ERA of 2.97, striking out 134 batters in 124 1/3 innings pitch. In his only start against Los Angeles a season ago, Montgomery was shelled for 6 earned runs in just 4-0 innings pitched. He allowed a whopping three home runs in that short stint, my friends. L.A. currently ranks second in the Majors in home runs, hitting a whopping 47 round-trippers. It looks like it’s going to be another long day for the Cardinals pitching staff. They are just 1-5 the last six meetings in Los Angeles, 1-4 the last five overall games played on the road, 5-12 the last 17 games played versus teams with a winning record, and 1-4 the last five games played overall.  Take the Dodgers. Thank you.

Los Angeles Lakers.

Game 550.

7:30 PM PST/10:30 PM EST

Up 3-2, Los Angeles cannot afford to allow Memphis to tie this series up. Playing at the Crypto.com Arena certainly benefits the Lakers, as they have covered four consecutive meetings against the Grizzlies on their home court. What furthermore prompts me to side with them here in this game 6 matchup is the fact that they were absolutely humiliated in Game 5 on the road, 116-99. That was an embarrassing loss. And that’s something that does not sit well with King James and company. Whether you love him or love to hate him, LeBron James is one of the most successful postseason players in the history of the NBA. He wins when it counts. Memphis has won just one of their last six games played on the road, seven of their last 22 road games played versus teams with the winning home record, none of the last six games played following a straight up win, and just three of their last seven games played overall. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Game 926

5:10 PM, PST/8:10 PM EST.

With all respect to Los Angeles Angels, which does possess quite a bit of talent, in my opinion, they are one of the most inconsistent and erratic teams in baseball. Let’s face it, they’re sitting at 14-12 overall, which does include a 6-7 road record. They come off a series with the Oakland A’s in which they took the last three of a four game home stand. As a matter fact, this is the first time they are away from home since the 20th of the month. On the other hand, Milwaukee is a very good team. They are 16-9, which does include a respectable home record of 7-5. When it comes to Interleague play, statistics can be very deceiving as teams don’t face one another sometimes for several years. That is the case here. The last time these two teams met was April of 2019. So, folks the trends and streaks in this rivalry can be thrown out the window. Today’s schedule starters are Anderson and Miley. The Los Angeles last-hander, despite a 1-0 record, possesses a whopping ERA of 7.20. He has allowed 16 runs over his last three outings, in which he went a total of 13.3 innings pitched. By the way, the team has lost his last two turns. The Brewers left-hander is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA on the campaign. The team has won three of his four starts this season. He has allowed a total of five earned runs in 23 innings pitched, blanking two opponents. Over his career in eight starts versus the Angels, he is a very respectful 5-1 with a 3.30 ERA. Anderson in four lifetime starts against the Brewers is 2-2 with a 5.82 ERA. He has done very poorly at American Family Field, allowing 14 runs in 14 2/3 innings pitched, going 1-2 is 8.59 ERA. Los Angeles is just 2-5 their last seven games played on the road, 5-13 their last 18 Interleague games played, and 2-10 their last 12 road games played versus left-handed starters. On the other hand, Milwaukee is 4-0 their last four games played versus the American League West, 4-0 their last four games played at home versus teams with a winning record, 20-8 their last 28 Interleague games played, and 7-2 their last nine games played versus teams with a winning record. Take Milwaukee. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

GAME OF THE MONTH

Game 919.

4:10 PM PST for 7:10 PM EST.

Many people thought in the preseason that Tampa Bay and Chicago had a good shot at fighting it out for the American League Pennant down the road. However, a month into the campaign, Tampa Bay sits atop the American League East at 21-5, which by the way, is the best overall record in baseball, while Chicago dwells in fourth place in the Central at 7-19. The Rays, which have won seven of their last nine, travel to Guaranteed Rate Field to take on a White Sox squad riding an eight-game slide. Tampa Bay swept Chicago three games to none at home, less than a week ago. Both on the mound at the plate, they outclass their opponent here as they top the Majors in both Team ERA (2.83) and RPG (6.58). Eflin is certainly off to a much better start than Giolito. And over their careers, he has fared much better against today’s opponent than his counterpart. Chicago is just 1-4 their last five games played at home, 7-20 their last 27 games played versus the AL East, and 1-10 their last 11 games played against right-handed starters. Take Tampa Bay. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves.

Game 905.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

All of last season, even before it started, I preached that the Braves are the best team in the NL East. They battled it out with the Mets and edged them out because they took the season series 10-9. I’m here to tell you that once again this season, Atlanta is a much better team than New York. Let’s face it, they have the Mets number. They took four in a row and six of the last seven meetings in this rivalry. They enter this matchup scoring a bit more at the plate and allowing a bit less on the mound. Max Fried is certainly without question a much stronger, better, more consistent, and reliable pitcher than David Peterson. The Atlanta southpaw is 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA this season, while the New York left-hander is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA. The Braves have been nearly unstoppable on the road, winning eight of their last nine while taking five of their last seven versus the NL East, and 38 of their last 53 versus left-handed starters. Take Atlanta. Thank you.

Los Angeles Angels on the run line.

AL West Game of the Month.

Game 962.

1:07 PM PST/4:0 7 PM EST.

Without question, the Oakland A’s are the worst team in baseball. Just in the last week of April, at 5-20, this team is already 9.5-games back in the NL West, dwelling in the division cellar. Their offense ranks 27th in both runs scored and Team batting average, accounting for just 3.68 runs per game and hitting just .225. Their pitching staff is the poorest in the Majors, with a Team ERA of 7.97. They face a division rival in the Los Angeles Angels, which has had their number. LA has taken four of the six meetings between these two teams this season, including the last two matchups. The Angels, on the other hand, possess some pretty good stats. They rank fifth in baseball, accounting for over 5.24 runs per game. And their pitching staff is still in the top half, with a Team ERA of 3.98. Speaking of pitchers, JP Sears and Shohei Ohtani are scheduled here today. The A’s left-hander is 0-1 with a 4.98 ERA’s on the campaign. He has allowed at least two earned runs in every outing this season. The Angels right-hander is 3-0 with an anemic 0.64 ERA in five starts on the campaign. He has yet to give up more than three hits in a game. He will be facing Oakland for the 12th time over his career, which is the most he’s faced any Major League team. He has a 4-4 record against them in his career, with a 2.66 ERA. My friends, Oakland is struggling so badly, they have dropped eight of their last 10 games overall, and only twice in those last 10 outings, have they scored more than three runs. Their lineup is deplorable to say the least. And I doubt that they are going to have any success here against Ohtani. Let alone, against a bullpen that has certainly improving. THE A’s are just 1-5 their last six games played at the Angels, 1-4 their last five games played versus the AL West, 18-43 their last 61 games played versus right-handed starters, and 17-40 their last 57 games played on the road. By the way folks, each of the four victories Los Angeles has over Oakland, this season, not one has come by just one run. Take the Angels on the run line. Thank you.

Miami Heat.

Game 527.

6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

With another victory, Miami will send Milwaukee home for the season. Not many out there gave the Heat a chance in this series with the Bucks. After all, Milwaukee was the top seed. While the Heat are dealing with injuries, what has helped them is the way head coach Eric Spoelstra has rotated in players in their absence. It makes it very difficult for Milwaukee to prepare for any one starting lineup. You can expect the Greek Freak to come out here today and try to take this series on his shoulders. However, this will also benefit Miami, as Milwaukee’s offense will become more one-dimensional. No matter what, you can expect the Heat, which have covered seven of their last 10 overall meetings with the Bucks, to come out here and be extremely competitive. They do not want their opponent to gain any momentum. They have also covered five consecutive outings played on one days rest. Meanwhile, the Bucks have failed to cover five of their last six games played overall and four straight outings played on one days rest. Take Miami. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Home Run Play.

Game 908.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

Chicago took Game 1 of this series with a authority, blanking San Diego, 6-0. That victory brought the Cubs two .500 this season at Wrigley Field, at 7-7. Both at the plate and on the mound, the Cubs significantly outclass the Padres. They average over two runs per game more in scoring, while they’re pitching staff is yielding nearly one run per game less. Speaking of pitching, Michael Wacha and Drew Smyly are scheduled today. Despite a 2-1 record, the San Diego, right-hander has a whopping ERA of 7.08. He comes off two very bad outings, getting smoked for 12 earned runs in just 8.1 combined innings pitched. The Cubs left-hander is also 2-1. However, he possesses a 3.13 ERA. The team has won his last three starts, in which he has allowed a total of two earned runs in just under 18 innings pitched. If you recall, he was very close to a perfect game in his last outing. Normally, I would love to fade a pitcher on the following start. However, he’s looking to prove a point here. And he can against the team he has been successful against. In four career games, which includes two starts against the Padres, he is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA. In his past seven home starts, Smyly is 3-1 with an anemic ERA of 0.89. The Padres are just 1-5 their last six games played versus the NL Central and 0-4 their last four games played versus left-handed starters. Take Chicago. Thank you.

New York Knicks.

Game 529.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

A lot of people did not give the New York Knicks even a slim chance in this series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coming into the postseason, Cleveland possessed the NBA’s top-ranked scoring defense. However, the switch has been flipped in this match up with New York, as the Knicks have swarmed them with a stifling defense, allowing just 94.0-points per game. In the series opener, the New York proved that they can beat the Cleveland on their own court. My friends, New York has covered six of their last seven meetings with Cleveland going back to December. By the way, they’ve also won six of their last seven meetings straight up. They are a monster road team as far as us bettor‘s are concerned, going 37-16-1 ATS their last 54 games played on the road. They also seem to step up against good teams against the spread, covering 16 of their last 21 games played versus teams of the winning percentage above .600. Meanwhile, Cleveland has struggled, covering just one of their last five games played at home and one of their last six games played versus teams with a straight up winning record. Take the Knicks. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

HOME RUN PLAY.

Game 958.

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

We are just be about a month into the season. But make no mistake of it, his is an important game for the Chicago Cubs. A win here would bring them back to .500 at Wrigley field this season. It would also give them some well needed payback for getting swept four games to none the last time they met the San Diego Padres. Very quietly, Chicago possesses a top-three offense in several categories, including the most important, scoring. They rank third in the Majors, accounting for over 5.76 runs per game. Their pitching is also doing quite well. They possess a pitching staff ranking ninth with a Team ERA of 3.67. Speaking of pitching, Blake Snell and Justin Steele are scheduled here today. Snell is just 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA on the campaign, while Steele is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA this season. Both at the plate and on the mound, the Padres are outclassed today. They are accounting for a dismal 3.83 runs per game which ranks them 24th. Their Team Batting Average is almost the worst in baseball, ranking 28th at .216. Just over the last four games, in which they went 3-1, their pitching has allowed 22 combined runs. They are also 0-4 their last four games played following an off day, 1-4 their last five games played versus the NL Central, and 1-4 their last five games played during Game 1 of a series. Chicago is 6-1 their last seven games played following an off day, 5-1 their last six games played following a loss, and 12-3 their last 15 games played during Game 1 of the series. Take the Cubs. Thank you.

Texas Rangers.

BEST BET PLAY.

Game 973.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Add 14-8, the Rangers own one of the best records in baseball. They currently have a 2.5-game lead over the Astros in the AL West. However, they lost yesterday in Game 1 of this series to the Reds. Trust me when I tell you, that won’t would sit well with them. Especially coming against a team that prior to Monday’s opener was on a six-game losing streak. Cincinnati isn’t known to score too many runs. But did outlast Texas yesterday, 7-6. This is a team that both on the mound and that the plate is significantly outclassed here. The Rangers are crushing the ball. Their offense is absolutely exploding, ranking second in the Majors, accounting for over 6.59 runs per game. Their pitching is also top-10, ranking sixth, with a Team ERA of 3.46. Starting today are scheduled to be Perez and Weaver. The left-hander for Texas is off to a 3-1 start with a 3.38 ERA. The Cincinnati right-hander is 0–1 with a 6.00 ERA.  The team has won three of Perez’ four starts this season in which he is went a minimum of 5.0 innings in each. Texas is 4-1 their last five games played on the road, 4-0 their last four games played versus right-handed starters, and 4-0 their last four games played following a loss. Take the Rangers. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.

Double Play.

Game 908.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Both teams come in to his series on win streaks. But Tampa Bay is undefeated at home, donning a 13-0 mark at Tropicana Field. Owning both the top scoring lineup and the Majors best pitching staff, the Rays are just simply playing the best baseball in the game. Both starters are solid. So, this matchup will come down to the more consistent offense along with the stronger bullpen. And those both belong to Tampa Bay. The Rays are 13-3 their last 16 games played against right-handed starters, 39-13 their last 52 games played at home, and 19-7 their last 16 games played overall. Take Tampa Bay.

Thank you.

Denver Nuggets.

Game 507.

6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

I feel the line is a little low here, because the odds makers are looking to throw a trap at you folks. Don’t fall for it. Denver has dominated Minnesota, winning and covering all three games of the series thus far, taking the first meeting by 29-points, the second by 9-points, and the third by 9-points as well. Yes, they can afford to ease back a bit. But my friends, why would they? They finish the series off today, and they will have a huge edge over their next opponent, resting, healing, and preparing. The Timberwolves have only covered two of their last 10 games played at home, one of their last seven games played on one days rest, and one of their last five games played following a straight up loss. They are deeply overmatched and they are going to end their season today and start making plans to play golf. Take the Nuggets. Thank you.

Boston Celtics.

Game 505.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Knowing that their next opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers are already resting and preparing for the upcoming series, the Boston Celtics can not take their foot off the gas here. It is obvious that they are a better team than their opponent in this series. After taking Games 1 and 2, they were beat in the first road game played on Friday, 130-122. They don’t want to let Atlanta back into series, nor do they want to give up any edge whatsoever. There is no way the Hawks, which are seriously overmatched, can contend with the Celtics. Understand that Boston has dominated Atlanta prior to Friday’s loss, taking seven in a row, both straight up and against the spread. They want to finish the series off so they can get a little time to rest against Philadelphia. By the way, they’ve also covered five of their last six games played following a straight up loss. Take the Celtics. Thank you.

Sacramento Kings.

Game 503.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Taking Games 1 and 2 at home was big for Sacramento. But Game 3, which obviously was the first game being played at Golden State, they were not just embarrassed, they were downright humiliated, being downed 114-97. Perhaps the Warriors have gotten back on track. However, giving a team like the Kings this many points is a huge mistake made by the odds makers. Don’t let them trap you here, my friends. Sacramento is not just a healthy squad they also possess the top-scoring offense in the NBA. This is a team that matches up very well with their opponent here. This is way too many points to give a team that has covered 15 of their last 21 overall meetings with Golden State, 11 of their last 14 meetings played at Golden State, and 11 of their last 14 overall road games. Take the Kings. Thank you.

Philadelphia 76ers on the money line.

Game 563.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

The number is so low in this match up because Joel Embiid has been listed as out for Game 4. While he is one of the most dominant big men in the NBA, Philadelphia does not need him to beat Brooklyn. The Nets just don’t have the personnel to contend here. They have lost and failed to cover four consecutive outings, all against Philadelphia. They dropped the last game of the regular season back on April 9 at home, 134-105. And as you know, they’ve dropped all three matchups in this series. They are just not loaded up front to take advantage of Embiid’s absence here today. They will also get decimated once again trying to slow down the top-ranked three-point shooting offense in the NBA with their 21st ranked three-point “D”. Going back to November, the 76ers have taken seven consecutive meetings over the Nets, covering six of the seven. Take Philadelphia on the money line. Thank you.

Boston Celtics.

Vegas Insider Move.

Game 555.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Obviously, up to two games to none in the series, Boston has had their way with Atlanta. But their domination in this rivalry goes much further back. The Celtics have now taken seven consecutive meetings over the Hawks, both straight up and against the spread. Two of those games were played at the State Farm arena. Speaking of Atlanta, and their home court “advantage,“ they used to be one of the most bankable teams in the NBA when hosting. That’s not the case anymore folks. They have failed to cover four of their last five games played at home. But overall, this team has been quite inconsistent of late, winning just one of their last five outings, both straight up and against the spread. Overall, their defense has been absolutely deplorable, ranking 26th in the league, allowing 118.1 points per game. They just cannot stop, let alone slow down the Boston offense. The Celtics enter this contest running red-hot, winning seven of their last eight games, straight up. And also covering seven of those last eight games as well. You can expect the same outcome here tonight as they will once again dominate Atlanta. And get another win and cover. Take the Celtics. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Double Play release.

Game, 909

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

New York enters Game 1 of today’s series with San Francisco as they have started to stride, winning seven of their last nine outings. They are playing exceptionally well when they travel, winning five of their last six road games. Meanwhile, the Giants are struggling. This is a team at 6-11 overall on the campaign, dropping five of their last six overall, and own a dismal home record of 2-4. Today’s starters are scheduled to be Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. The Mets right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA on the campaign. The team has won all three of the games that he has appeared in this season. This will be his first ever appearance against the Giants. The San Francisco left-hander is off to a rocky start, having yet to earn a decision, at 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA on the campaign. He has only faced New York twice over his career, with a 3.55 ERA against them. New York is extremely successful when opening a series, winning 42 of the last 60 during Game 1 of a series. Meanwhile, San Francisco has failed to win any of the last four during Game 1 of a series, seven straight following a win, and four of their last five against right-handed starters. Take the Mets. Thank you

Philadelphia 76ers.

VI MOVE.

Game 547.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

There is no way around it. No matter how you cut it, the Brooklyn Nets just do not possess the personnel to compete with the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only do they not have the talent to run in this series, but they are being outcoached as well. Doc Rivers adjustments have been crucial to Philly’s success, taking an overwhelming lead two games to none. For our purposes, not only has the 76ers won four games in a row, they have also covered fourth straight overall outings. They have certainly had Brooklyn’s number. They have won all six meetings with them this season straight up, covering five of the six. It doesn’t matter if they are at home or on the road, they dominate Brooklyn. Oddsmakers continue to overvalue the Nets, particularly at home, where they have only covered three of their last seven games played. By the way, they’ve also failed to cover five straight Conference Quarterfinals games as well. The 76ers are just too strong, too deep, too well-coached, and have too much power in the paint. They will once again own the glass here and get another win and cover. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Texas Rangers.

Double Play.

Game 963.

11:10 AM PST/2:10 PM EST.

Texas has taken Games 1 and 2 of this series by a combined score of 16-2. Kansas City is on a five-game slide. The Rangers have dominated the Royals this season, taking four of five meetings. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Rangers are just too strong for the Royals. They have also won five of their last six road games, six of their last eight games versus right-handed starters, and four of their last five games played versus the AL Central. Kansas City has lost 11 of their last 12 games played at home, four of their last five games played versus left-handed starters, and 92 of their last 134 games played versus the AL West. Take the Rangers. Thank you.

Atlanta Braves.

Double Play release.

Game 907.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Once again, this season, the Atlanta Braves are showing that they are not just going to vie for the NL East title, but they will also compete for the National League Pennant as well. At 13-4, they currently possess the best overall record in the NL and the second-best overall record in baseball. They enter today’s Game 2 match up with the San Diego Padres the hottest team in the Majors, winning seven consecutive games. Obviously, this includes yesterday’s Game 1 victory, 2-0. That defeat was San Diego’s fifth over the last six outings. Both on the mound and at the plate, the Braves possess some of the best numbers in baseball. Statistically, offensively they average over 1.3 runs per game, while their pitching staff has a Team ERA of more a half a run less. They have dominated the Padres at Petco Park, taking nine of the last 11 meetings there. Strider and Snell are scheduled starters today. The Atlanta right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA, while the San Diego left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA this season. The Braves are money when they travel, winning seven straight games played on the road, while the Padres are just 1-5 the last six games played at home. Take Atlanta. Thank you.

New York Knicks.

Above The Rim Play.

Game 553.

4:30 PM PST for 7:30 PM EST.

I know a lot of people subscribe to the zigzag method of betting when the NBA postseason comes around. However, I just don’t see the Cavaliers coming out here and dominating the Knicks. New York came out in the series opener with authority, winning and covering, 101-97. That win and cover gave them four consecutive wins and covers against their Eastern Conference rival. A few things did not go their way in the first meeting, and yet they still prevailed. The way the Cavaliers defense has been playing, I just don’t see them stopping the motivated New York offense right now. Just since the last few days of March, they have allowed 120, 130, 105, 113, 94, 106, and 101-points in consecutive contests. New York has covered six of the last eight meetings played in Cleveland, while the Cavaliers have failed to cover four consecutive outings played at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Take the Knicks. Thank you.

Under in the Hawks/Celtics matchup.

Vegas Insider Move.

Games, 531/532.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Game 1 of this series resulted in an under. The way the Boston defense has been playing, they will once again come out and swarm the Atlanta offense. Now, I do feel the Hawks will have to make some sort of an adjustment here. But those adjustments will slow down the pace of this game, which once again, will aid in the results of this game going under the total. The under is 6-2 in Atlanta’s last eight versus teams with a winning record and 4-0 in Boston’s last four versus teams with a losing record. Take the under. Thank you.

Golden State Warriors on the money line.

Fast Break Play.

Game 523.

7:00 PM PST/10:00 PM EST.

A lot of things went wrong for Golden State in Game 1 of this series with Sacramento. And yet they still only lost by three points. The Warriors are one of the most experienced postseason teams in the NBA. They entered the playoffs winning five of their last six games straight up, and covering four of those games against the spread. They also know that if they go down two games to none, it will be very, very tough to dig themselves out of that hole. I look for this team to step up defensively and frustrate the Kings here tonight. I also look for Steph Curry to lead his team and take this game to on his shoulders. They are 4-1 ATS their last five games played following an ATS loss and 32-15 ATS their last 47 Conference Quarterfinals games played. Sacramento is just 1-4 ATS their last five games played after scoring 125 points in the previous game and 1-4 ATS their last five games played at home. Take the Warriors on the moneyline. Thank you.

Over in the Brooklyn Nets/Philadelphia 76ers matchup.

Slam Dunk Play.

Games 521/522.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

Game 1 of this series saw a combined score of 222 points as the over came in once again. Four of the last five meetings in this Eastern Conference rivalry have gone over the total. This matchup, we see two explosive offenses. I think we could all agree that both defenses do not match up well against today’s opponents. Coming into today’s matchup, Brooklyn has played to three overs in the last four outings while Philadelphia has played to four consecutive overs. The stats don’t just stop there as the over is 6-0 on the Nets last six games played following a straight up loss, four of their last five games played versus teams with a winning record, and five of their last seven games played on the road. For the 76ers, the over has come in four of their last five games played following a straight up win, five of their last seven home games played against teams with a winning road record, and four straight games played following their defense yielding 100 or more points in the previous game. Take the over. Thank you.

Miami Marlins

Double Play release.

Game 952.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Losers of three in a row, San Francisco is certainly slumping. Now they travel to LoanDepot Park to face Miami. The Giants have always had trouble away from home. And this season is no different, as they are just 3-5 as a guest. Their pitching has been absolutely deplorable. And today, Logan Webb gets the nod. The right-hander has made three appearances so far this season as the team has lost all three of those contests. He has allowed nine runs on 18 hits in just 17.0 innings pitched. Taking the mound at home is Jesus Luzardo. The left-hander sports a 2-0 record with a 1.93 ERA so far, as a team has won all three games in which he has appeared. In 18.7 innings pitched, he is allowed just four earned runs and fanned a whopping 20 batters. The Giants are just 1-4 their last five games played versus left-handed starters, 1-5 their last six games played during Game 1 of a series, and 10-26 their last 36 games played versus teams with a winning record. Take the Marlins. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays.
Interleague Game of the Week.
Game 969.
3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

There is no question that the Tampa Bay rays are playing the best baseball in the Majors. Following a 13-game win streak to begin campaign, they dropped Games 1 and 2 of the three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, they did take Game 2 yesterday with authoriyy, 8-1, to get back on the winning track. They face a Cincinnati Reds opponent today that is struggling. Granted, the Reds lineup has been putting up some runs.  But they are erratic at best, offensively. As far as their pitching goes, the rank 25th in the Majors with a Team ERA of 5.21. The Rays are doing it both with explosive hitting and outstanding pitching. They top both leagues in scoring and pitching as they account for over 7.12 runs per game and possess a Team ERA of just 2.54.  Hunter Greene takes the mound at home. The right-hander has yet to earn a decision, sporting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA. Jalen Beeks will take the mound on the road, making his fifth appearance of the season, including his second start as an opener. If you’re worried about him, don’t be. The team has won all four of the games that he has made an appearance. I know he hasn’t gone more than 2.0 innings pitched in any one outing. However, if they just put him in to give him some starting time and then yank him, they can rely on one of the best, or I should say the best pitching staff in baseball backing him up.  Tampa Bay is 5-0 their last five Interleague road games and 9-1 their last 10 games versus right-handed starters. Cincinnati is just 2-7 their last nine during Game 1 of a series and 3-8 their last 11 overall. Take the Rays. Thank you.

Minnesota Timberwolves.

RD 1 GOY.

Game 513.

7:30 PM PST.

Coming into the postseason healthier than your first-round opponent means a lot. There is no question the Timberwolves enter today’s Game 1 matchup with the Nuggets with a bit of a healthier edge. Not only that, but something else I put a lot of stock in going into the playoffs, is momentum. Minnesota has won four of the last five games straight up, covering all five of those outings. They also come in here a little fresher. Denver has not taken the floor since the ninth of the month. And has only won two of the last seven outings straight up. The Timberwolves have covered six of the last seven meetings overall. And going back a bit 24, of the last 31 matchups played in Denver. They have also covered five of the last six games played on the road. This is way too many points to give a very game team that comes in here healthier and riding some momentum. Take the Timberwolves. Thank you.

Golden State Warriors.

Game 507.

5:30 PM PST/8:30 PM EST.

Guys, in my opinion this is one of the best matchups we will see in this round of the playoffs. Both teams are very talented. Both teams have some veteran leadership. Both teams have some solid youth. And both teams also go pretty deep bench wise. Unlike several of the other matchups in this round, these two teams aren’t listing a million players on the injury reports. straight up, Golden State got the better of Sacramento this season, taking three or four meetings. They also enter this contest a little bit hotter, both straight up and against the spread. Personally, as I mentioned, I think it’s going to be a very competitive contest. But it’s hard to go against the team that has without question one of the most successful postseason players of this or any generation. And yes, I’m talking about Steph Curry. I really do like Golden State in the first game. The Warriors are 12-4 ATS the last 16 games played on three or more days rest and 32-14 ATS the last 46 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Kings are 1-6 ATS the last seven games played on three or more days rest and 0-4 ATS the last four games played at home. The Take the Warriors. Thank you.

Golden State Warriors/Sacramento Kings UNDER the total.

RD 1 TOTALS GAME OF THE YEAR.

Games 507/508.

5:30 PM PST/8:30 PM EST.

With two of the top scoring offenses in the NBA facing two of let’s just say “less than stellar defenses”, you can expect a lot of scoring. However, this is the highest total they have set in the four matchups between these two teams this season. As a matter of fact, this is one of the highest totals set in a playoff game, as far back as I can remember. If you do your math correctly, these two teams have to combine for approximately 60 points per quarter for this game to go over. That means everything must go right for this game to go over the total. As you know very rarely in the NBA does everything go right. And even more rarely, in a Game 1 of a playoff series does everything go right. The under is 7-2 overall the last nine meetings in the series and 4-0 the last four meetings in the series played in Sacramento. Take the under. Thank you.

New York Knicks.

Game 505.

3:00 PMN PST/6:00 PM EST.

Sports fans, it’s no secret that both of these squads have a laundry list of injuries. For New York, they have questionable‘s on Brunson and Keels. While, Randall and Washington are both out. For Cleveland, they have quite a few players questionable in Okoro, Windler, LeVert, Garland, and Mitchell. Now a couple of those names have no real significance. But several of those players certainly will have a bearing on the team having success in this series. Having said that, the Cavs come into this matchup possessing one of the best defenses in the NBA. However, the Knicks have won and covered both meetings in this rivalry this season. This does include a matchup just two weeks ago on the road at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. As you know, Cleveland tends to get overvalued when hosting, covering just two of the last seven at home. Their ugly, against the spread trends don’t stop there either folks: they’ve also only covered one of the last five games played on three or more days rest, one of the last five games played versus teams with a winning record, one of the last seven Conference Quarterfinals games, and just one of the last five overall games. New York may not do it very pretty, but they do, do it. What I’m talking about is covering: they have covered 37 of the last 52 games played on the road, four the last five games played against teams with a winning percentage above .600, and four the last five games played on three or more days rest. Oh, by the way, they have also covered five of the last six games played on the road against teams with a winning home record. I do feel this is way too many points to give New York. Take the Knicks plus the points here in Game 1. Thank you.

Baltimore Orioles.
Best Bet Play.
Game 963.
11:10 AM, PST/2:10 PM EST.

Very quietly, winners of two in a row, the Orioles have moved into a tie for third place in the most competitive division of baseball, the American League East. The offense has exploded. They currently rank fourth in the Majors in scoring, accounting for over 5.71 runs per game. They have a respectable batting average, they are stealing bases, and they are hitting the long ball as well. The one downfall for the team has been their pitching. However, today Kyle Gibson gets the nod. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.44 ERA on the campaign. And the team has won each one of his starts. Taking the hill at home is Michael Kopech. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA thus far. Meanwhile, over his career, the Baltimore pitcher, in 18 starts against the White Sox, owns a respectable 9-5 record with a 2.91 ERA. The White Sox starter, in three appearances, which includes one start against the O’s over his career is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Baltimore is 6-2 the last eight overall meetings with Chicago, 4-1 the last five games played at Guaranteed Rate Field, and 4-1 the last five games played versus teams with a winning percentage under .400. Chicago is just 1-4 the last five games played versus right-handed starters, 1-4 the last five games played at home, and 2-7 the last nine games played versus the American League East. Take the Orioles. Thank you.

Chicago Bulls.

Las Vegas Strip Move Play.

Game 569.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

It is impossible to overlook Chicago winning and covering all three meetings against Miami this season. They enter today’s match up winning and covering five of the last seven contests. For the most part, which is very rare for this season, particularly at this time of the campaign, they are relatively healthy. The Heat, on the other hand have lost and failed to cover two of the last three outings. And have several key players either banged up or out this evening. Momentum certainly plays a part in a matchup like this. And the Bulls certainly have momentum, winning 11 of the final 17 regular season games and continued to win to rally back from a 19-point third quarter deficit to beat the Raptors two days ago. They have covered eight of the last 11 meetings at the Kaseya Center, four all the last five games played on one days rest, and seven of the last nine games played on the road. Take the points with Chicago. Thank you.

Under in the Bulls/Raptors matchup.

Slam Dunk Play.

Games, 565/566.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

The Eastern Conference’s ninth and 10th seeded teams go at each other here this evening. Granted, Toronto took two of the three matchups with Chicago this season. But, all three meetings went under the total. Going back to last season, four straight contests between these two teams have gone under the total. While both offenses possess some less than stellar numbers, both defenses rank in the NBA’s top-10. This is going to be a slow-moving, physical, defensive-minded game. Take the under. Thank you.

Chicago Cubs.

Best Bet Play.

Game 928.

11:20 AM PST/2:20 PM EST.

These two teams are facing one another going in opposite directions right now. Chicago has taken both Games 1 and 2 of this series to extend their domination of Seattle to seven consecutive victories. The Mariners are in real trouble here, riding a three-game slide and having to face a Cubs opponent starting to surge winning five of the last six outings. The Cubs lineup has been impressive, topping the Majors in Team Batting Average and ranking third in scoring. Logan Gilbert and Marcus Stroman are set to start today. Yet to give up a run this season, Stroman owns a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. Going back to last season, he is 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in his last six starts. Gilbert has looked good, but sports a losing record at 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. The only thing worse than the Mariners offense, has been their pitching. Playing the Cubs has been fatal to this team, failing to win the last five games played in Wrigley and 10 of the last 11 overall meetings. They are also just 2-5 the last seven games played on the road, 2-6 the last eight games played versus right-handed starters, and 4-11 the last 15 games played overall. Take Chicago. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

NL WEST GAME OF THE WEEK.

Game 961.

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

The cure to rebound from a three-game slide for Los Angeles is playing San Francisco. The Dodgers took Game 1 of this series yesterday, 9-1 to extend their dominance in this Division rivalry, taking the last six consecutive meetings. Not only have they won six in a row and nine of the last 10 with the Giants, but the Dodgers, going back a bit, have taken 20 of the last 27 meetings. And that does include eight straight victories at Oracle Park. There’s no debate Los Angeles is a monster team. Both on the mound and at the plate, they are loaded with talent. They currently rank second in the Majors in scoring, averaging over 6.27 runs per game.  Believe it or not, they are doing it with the long ball, as they have crushed 21 home runs already. And surprisingly rank second in baseball in stolen bases, accumulating 20 steals. On the other hand, San Francisco is mediocre offensively, and subpar as far as their pitching goes.  They’ve also committed quite a few errors already in the field. Today’s starters are scheduled to be Dustin May and Alex Wood. May is off to a wonderful start this campaign, going 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA. The right-hander has pitched over 13.1 innings and has only allowed a single earned run on five hits. Over his career, he has done very well against the Giants in four appearances, which includes two starts, he is a very respectable 2-0 what is 0.79 ERA. The Giants left-hander did not get a decision in his first start less than a week ago. He only went three innings and allowed six hits and one earned run. In his last appearance against Los Angeles, he took a loss going 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs. That was August of last season. The Giants are 9-26 the last 35 games played versus teams with a winning record, which does include a 1-4 mark the last five games played at home versus winners. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Colorado Rockies.

Diamond Play.

Game 958.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST.

There is no question the Rockies lineup is starting to heat up, accounting for 25 runs over the last four contests. They took Game 1 of this series yesterday, 7-4. Although the Cardinals have done well overall in this rivalry, they have a tough time playing at Coors Field, where they are just 1-5 the last six meetings. As a matter fact, St. Louis, which happens to be a highly touted team in the NL once again this season, is struggling. They are just 3-7 overall on the campaign, which does include a 1-3 away record. Miles Mikolas and Kyle Freeland are scheduled starters today. The St. Louis right-hander is off to a rocky start, going 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in two outings this season. He has faced Colorado seven times over his career, which does include five starts, sporting a 1-1 record with a whopping ERA of 8.67. Four of those games, which does include three starts and both decisions have come on the road, where his ERA soars to 13.50 at Coors Field. The Colorado left-hander is off to a wonderful start this season, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He is averaging over six innings per start, showing incredible control. Don’t be fooled by his 0-3 career record (in five starts) against St. Louis, Freeland has not gotten the run support during those turns. However, the way the Cardinals are struggling and the fact that they aren’t playing competitive on the road, compels me to side with the home team here. St. Louis is just 1-5 the last seven games played on grass, 2-5 the last seven games played versus the NL West, and 1-6 the seven games played overall. Take Colorado. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Monday Money Maker.

Game 909.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

At 7-2, the Brewers possess the best record in the National League. With a combination of an explosive lineup and a stellar pitching staff, Milwaukee is surging. They rank sixth in the Majors, averaging over 5.33 runs per game. They also own the third ranked pitching staff, sporting a Team ERA of 2.59. Despite a solid lineup, Arizona is shaky at best. No question this is due to the 24th ranked pitching staff in baseball, with a Team ERA of 5.28. Left-hander, Miley and the right-hander, Gallen are scheduled starters today. Without question, the Brewers starter has looked stronger than the Diamondbacks hurler. Milwaukee has taken 18 of the last 25 meetings with Arizona, four of the last five outings versus the National League West, five straight contests versus right-handed starters, and five of the last seven games played on the road. Take the Brewers. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.

Best Bet Play

Game 966.

10:10 AM, PST/110 PM EST.

Pertaining to Tampa Bay yesterday, I made a statement saying, “You can’t argue with success, let alone perfection.” Well folks, the Rays are the only undefeated team left standing in the Majors, at 8-0. This is team that has outscored opponents 64-18 thus far. Not a single game in their eight contests has been decided by less than four runs. This includes games 1 and 2 of this series with the A’s. They have taken Oakland down by a combined score of 20-5. Going back to last season, they have won five consecutive matchups in this rivalry. And my friends, the lowest margin of victory in those five games was three runs. The Rays are doing it both on the mound and at the plate. They currently own the No. 1 pitching staff in baseball, possessing a Team ERA of 2.13. As a matter fact, they rank in the top-three in just about every major category. When batting, they also top the majors in scoring, averaging over 8.00 runs per game. Offensively, they rank in the top-four in just about major category. On the other hand, Oakland is struggling. They are tied for the worst record in the American League as well as dwelling in the West’s cellar at 2-6. Both on the mound and at the plate, their statistics are some of the worst in baseball. They rank 28th in pitching, with a whopping Team ERA of 7.00. They also rank 26th in scoring, averaging a dismal, 3.38 runs per game. Today, James Kaprielian and Drew Rasmussen are schedule starters. The Oakland right-hander was shelled on April 3 for five runs on seven hits in just five innings pitched. A season ago, he was just 5-9 with a 4.23 ERA in 26 starts. The Tampa Bay right-hander held Washington to just two hits over six shutout innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks, also back on April 3. In his only career start against Oakland, Rasmussen earned a victory approximately one year ago, giving up one run and on just one hit in five innings pitched. A season ago, in 28 games started, he was a very respectable, 11-7 with an anemic ERA of 2.84. The A’s are just 18-40 the last 58 games played on the road, 10-21 the last 31 games played versus right-handed starters, 7-19 the last 26 games played versus the American League East, and 1-6 the last seven games played overall. Take the Rays on the run line. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line.
Best Bet Play.
Game 918
1:10 PM, PST/4:10 PM EST.

You can’t argue with success, let alone perfection. The Tampa Bay Rays with another victory on Friday are off to the best start in franchise history, leading the Majors with the best overall record at 7-0. They took down the Oakland A’s yesterday, 9-5. That was the first matchup between these two American League rivals this season. But going back to last season, Tampa Bay has taken four consecutive meetings over Oakland. As a matter fact, they have crushed the A’s, as the Rays smallest margin of victory during those last four matchups came by three runs. Overall, in the 2023 campaign, the Tampa Bay has outscored opponents, 53-18. They have won each of the first seven games by at least four runs. My friends, they are tops in baseball in scoring, averaging 7.57 runs per game. Furthermore, they are scoring almost twice as many runs per game than their opponent today is scoring. That’s right, the A’s only account for 3.80 runs per game. To make things even tougher on the Oakland pitching staff, which by the way ranks 29th with a Team ERA of 6.33, is the fact Tampa Bay’s offense is in the top-four in every major category. On the mound, they are equally as strong, ranking third with a Team ERA of just 2.43. Scheduled starters today are Fujinami and Springs. The A’s right-hander allowed eight runs in his earlier start, getting the hook in the third inning. The Tampa Bay left-hander, who had a stellar campaign in 2022, going 9-5 to 2.46 ERA in 33 games, which includes 25 starts, kicked off this campaign with an outstanding performance, earning a victory over the Detroit Tigers, striking out 12 with just one walk over six scoreless and hitless innings on Sunday. Oakland is just 18-39 the last 57 games played on the road, 10-25 the last 35 games played versus left-handed, starters and 6-17 the last 23 games played versus the American League East. Take Tampa Bay on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line.

Diamond Play.

Game 957.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Los Angeles took Game 1 of this series yesterday by a score of 5-2, to give the team their fifth victory in the seven games they have played this season. At 5-2, they have taken over the top spot in the NL West. And once again, possess one of the best records in all of baseball. Yesterdays, victory gave Los Angeles their third consecutive win. The team is doing it both at the plate and on the mound. They rank fourth in the Majors averaging over 6.14 runs per game. They also rank second in baseball with a Team ERA of 2.14. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Arizona, despite a respectable 3-4 record, is putting up some of baseballs poorest statistics, both at the plate and on the mound. They rank 26th in scoring, averaging a dismal, 3.15 runs per game. They also rank 22nd in pitching, with a whopping Team ERA of 5.40. In a rematch of an April 1 meeting in which the Dodgers prevailed, 10-1, Clayton, Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner are scheduled to start here. The left-hander, Kershaw improved to a 21-11 lifetime record against the Diamondbacks, with a 2.67 ERA in 42 starts. The left-hander, Bumgarner, in 42 career appearances against the Dodgers, which includes 41 starts, is just 16-18 with an ERA of 3.03. He got lit up in the earlier start, allowing five runs in just 4.0 innings pitched. Los Angeles has taken 40 of the last 51 overall meetings in this series. And 21 of the last 28 matchups played in Arizona. They are also 35-16 the last 51 games played on the road, 46-17 the last 63 games played versus the NL West, and 52-22 the last 74 games played versus left-handed starters. On the other hand, Arizona is just 1-6 the last seven games played at home, 0-5 the last five games played versus left-handed starters, and 48-98 the last 146 games played versus the NL West. Take the Dodgers on the run line. Thank you.

Los Angeles Dodgers.

NL West Game of the Week.

Game 909.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST.

Once again, this season, the Dodgers are one of the favorites to win the World Series. Once again, this season obviously they are one of the favorites to take the National League Pennant. And once again this season, they are the favorite to win the National League West. At 4-2 thus far, Los Angeles sits atop the division with a one-game lead over Arizona. This is an ideal opportunity for the team to put a little distance between themselves and the rest of the division. This is a rematch of the first series of the 2023 campaign for both teams. A matchup in which the two rivals split out a four-game series. In all sincerity, the Diamondbacks play the Dodgers very tough. However, they enter this matchup struggling, both on the mound and at the plate. They rank 21st with a team ERA of 5.29. They also rank 25th, averaging just 3.17 runs per game. On the other end of the spectrum, Los Angeles began this season off exactly where they left off last season…and that is succeeding both on the mound and at the plate. They rank third with a team ERA of 2.17. They also rank third in runs scored, averaging 6.33 runs per game. While both starting pitchers here have had issues with today’s opposing lineups, there is no question that Dustin May look a lot stronger in his first appearance of the campaign, than did Merrill Kelly. The Dodgers have also dominated this rivalry, taking 20 of the last 27 meetings in Arizona and 41 of the last 53 overall meetings against Arizona. The Diamondbacks have lost five of the last six games played at home, seven consecutive games during Game 1 of a series, and four straight outings following an off day. Take the Dodgers. Thank you.

Tigers/Astros Over.

AL Total of the Week.

Games, 959/960.

11:10 AM PST/2:10 PM EST

Games 1 and 2 of this series have both gone over the total as these two teams had combined to score 24-runs. Going back to last season, Detroit has played to six overs in the last eight outings, while Houston enters today’s matchup playing to five consecutive overs. Rodriguez and Javier are scheduled starters. Neither fared very well in their earlier starts this season. With the way both teams are hitting the ball, and the way both pitchers seem to look in the short campaign thus far, you can expect another high-scoring affair here. The over is 19-6-2 in the Tigers last 27 road games and 5-0 in the Astros last five home games. Take the over. Thank you.

Milwaukee Brewers.

Diamond Play.

Game 956.

10:40 AM PST/1:40 PM EST.

The Mets have been blanked thus far in this series with the Brewers, losing the first two games by a combined score of 19-0. Milwaukee has now won four straight games to currently possess one of the best records in the National League. Their pitching has been solid. And their bats have come alive. As a matter of fact, during the current four-game win streak, they have outscored opponents by a combined 31-6. 2021 Cy Young Award winner, Corbin Burnes takes the hill today at home. Over the last two seasons, the right-hander is a very impressive 23-13. In five career games versus New York, which includes four starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA. Taking the mound on the road is David Peterson. The left-hander lost a heartbreaker in his first start of the campaign. However, he is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in two career appearances, which includes one start versus the Brewers. New York is just 1-8 the last nine games played versus teams with a winning record and 7-20 the last 27 games played at Milwaukee. The Brewers are 4-1 the last five games played at home and 13-6 the last 19 home games played versus teams with a winning record. Take Brewers. Thank you.

New York Yankees.

Grand Slam Play

Game 968.

10:05 AM, PST/1:05 PM EST.

Well folks, Philadelphia finally got off the schneid yesterday, beating New York, 4-1. It wasn’t so much the pitching was strong for the Phillies. It was just finally the Yankees did not produce offensively. I look for their explosive lineup to bounce back here today, folks. In the previous four outings, New York accounted for 24 combined runs as they went 3-1. With Gerrit Cole on the mound, I expect the ace to get a ton of run support and go deep into the game. Aaron Nola takes the hill on the road in the Bronx. He was shelled in his first outing. Philadelphia is just 1-6 the last seven road games, 1-7 the last eight Interleague games, and 4-9 the last 13 games versus the AL East. New York is 6-1 the last seven Interleague games versus right-handed starters, 14-4 the last 18 Interleague home games, and 12-5 the last seven games played versus the NL East. Take the Yankees. Thank you.

Tampa Bay Rays on the run line

Best Bet Play.

Game 969.

10:05 AM, PST/1:05 PM EST.

My friends, you can’t argue with success, let alone perfection. The Rays stand alone as the only undefeated team in baseball. Going 5-0 to kick off the campaign is big. They are doing it with a combination of stellar pitching and explosive hitting. As a matter of fact, they have outscored opponents 37-11. Of course, this includes winning both Games 1 and 2 of this series against the Nationals. There are high expectations for the Tampa Bay this season. Let’s face it, they play in the most competitive division in baseball. And they have the personnel to win the American League East. On the other hand, preseason predictions say the Washington should figure to be one of the poorest teams in the Majors this year. This is a team that has started the campaign just 1-4, once again they are having problems both at the plate and on the mound. There is no doubt that Shane McClanahan outshines counterpart Patrick Corbin. McClanahan will once again keep another line up at bay, while the Rays light up another starting pitcher. The statistics are bad for the Nationals. But here’s a few just for you to take note of; they are 0-5 the last five games played versus the AL East, 0-4 the last four games played against Interleague opponents, 14-41 the last 55 games played versus left-handed starters, 16-41 the last 57 games played at home, and 27-63 the last 90 games played overall. Take Tampa Bay on the runline. Thank you.

Minnesota Twins.

Interleague Game of the Week.

Game 921.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST

Minnesota is only one of two teams left in the Majors still undefeated. The Twins came out of the gate winning their first-four contests with authority. Their hitting has been good. Their pitching has been good. They took Game 1 of this series against Miami yesterday, 11-1. Once again, this season not much is expected of the Marlins. They are off to another rough start at 1-4 thus far. In their five contests thus far, their offense has accounted for a total of nine runs scored. New season, same story. They come into today’s matchup a favorite because they have Sandy Alcantara on the mound. This will be the right-handers second start of the campaign. He went 5.2 innings pitched in his first start with an ERA of 4.76. And did not get a decision. In his career, Alcantara has faced the Twins just once, taking a loss back in July 2019, getting routed for seven runs on 6 hits in just 4.2 innings pitched. He is a very solid and one of the most durable pitchers in the League. Taking the mound on the road today is Kenta Maeda. The right-hander will be making his first start since August 2021. If you recall, he missed last season due to Tommy John surgery. However, a few years back in 2020 shortened season, he was an astounding, 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA to finish second in voting for the American League Cy Young Award. In five career appearances (four starts) against the Marlins, he is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA. Even with a few players questionable or out here for Minnesota, I still see Maeda getting very solid run support from an offense that has been exploding. Going back several years, Minnesota has taken five of the last seven meetings against Miami. They have also won four consecutive Interleague games, five consecutive games against right-handed starters, and five consecutive games overall going back to last season. Meanwhile, the Marlins are just 16-35 the last 51 home games, 16-36 the last 52 games versus right-handed starters, and 16-39 the last 55 games played versus Interleague opponents. Take the Twins. Thank you

Houston Astros on the Run Line.

Home Run Play.

Game 966.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

Detroit heads to Minute Maid Park, winless, as the Tigers were swept 3-0 at the hands of Tampa Bay, being outscored, 23-3. They must face a Houston team which, despite splitting a four-game series with Chicago, has had their number. The Astros have taken 20 of the last 27 overall meetings against the Tigers. And this does include four consecutive meetings at home. Going back to last season, Detroit has now dropped six consecutive outings. Left-hander, Matthew Boyd will be making his first start September 2021. Hunter Brown is scheduled to make his third Major League start today. The right-hander made seven appearances, which includes two starts for the Astros a season ago. He was an astounding 2-0 with an anemic ERA of 0.89. On a team full of talent, Brown is creating quite a buzz. The Tigers are 0-6 the last six games played on the road. The Astros or 40-11 the last 51 games played versus left-handed starters, 46-18 the last 64 games played at home, and 38-13 the last 51 games played overall. Take Houston on the run line. Thank you.  

Houston Astros.

Diamond Play.

Game 908.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Astros are once again predicted to be one of the best teams in the Majors. Taking an Opening Day, 3-2 loss at home against the White Sox does not sit well with the squad. Houston knows that there was a very good chance that they will be seeing the Chicago down the road in the postseason. Granted, that’s a long day away and we are only on the second day of the regular season, but the Astros hate, and I mean hate losing to other top AL opponents. With one of the most explosive lineups in baseball, the they were held to just four hits on Thursday. I look for them to break out here offensively and exact a little revenge from yesterday’s defeat. Starting today for Chicago is Lance Lynn. The right-hander comes off an 8-7 campaign, with the ERA of 3.99. Now folks, I’ve always been a fan of Lynn. In my opinion he has always been a workhorse. And you knew that you’re going to get solid starts from him. However, he is not a kid anymore. And to be quite honest, the Astros are his kryptonite. He will be making his 15th career appearance, which includes 14 starts against Houston. He is winless, at 0-5 with a whopping ERA of 8.80 over his last five starts against the Astros. Christian Javier takes the hill at home. The right-hander, in 30 games last season, which does include 25 starts, went 11-9 with a very respectable ERA of 2.54. And his only career start against the White Sox, which took place last June, he only allowed one run on two hits in five innings to earn a win against them. Chicago is just 5-16 the last 21 meetings in Houston and 10-22 the last 32 overall meetings against Houston. The Astros are a whopping 38-13 the last 51 games played following a loss, 19-7 the last 26 games played versus right-handed starters, and 44-17 the last 61 games played at home. Take Houston. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Grand Slam Play.

Game 901.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

New York, which, despite a few injuries, is still predicted to be a National League elite squad this season. They took Game 1 of this series on Opening Day yesterday, 5-3. Going back to July of last season, the Mets have dominated the Marlins, taking seven of nine meetings. Moving up in the rotation, David Peterson takes the hill on the road for New York. The left-hander won a career high, seven-games a season ago, with a 3.83 ERA in 28 appearances, which included 19 starts. Over his career in five appearances, which does include force starts against Miami, he is a very respectable 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA. Once again, this season, the Marlins are predicted to be one of the poorest teams in the NL. Jesus Luzardo takes the mound at home. The left-hander was just 4-7 a year ago. And in his lifetime, he has faced New York in four starts, amassing a whopping ERA of 5.40. Granted, these are not the best starting pitchers. However, the Mets are significantly stronger both at the plate and in the bullpen. They are also 39-19 the last 58 games played versus the NL East, 5-2 the last seven games played versus left-handed starters, and 5-2 the last seven games played overall. Oh, by the way, they have also taken six of the last seven meetings at a LoanDepot Park. Take New York. Thank you.

New York Mets.

Home Run Play.

Game 969.

1:10 PM, PST/4:10 PM EST.

Once again, this season expectations are high for the New York Mets. Despite some preseason injuries, they are one of the favorites to win the National League pennant. They are touted to win 94.5-games and battle it out with the Atlanta Braves for the NL East crown. For the Miami Marlins, although they’ve made some additions to the club, it seems like it’s going to be another long and disappointing season. Sandy Alcantara takes the mound at home today. The right-hander comes off his best campaign since coming into the Majors in 2017. However, I still don’t see the team putting up too many runs. So, I doubt he’s going to get a ton of run support. Veteran, Max Scherzer takes the hill on the road. Once again, this season, he is touted to be a major part of his teams success. He also comes off a very good campaign. As division rivals, these two squads know each other very well. To say the Mets have dominated would be an understatement. Just over the last few months of the 2022 campaign, New York took seven of the final 10 meetings with Miami. This does include five of the last six matchups at the LoanDepot Park.  And while overall the Mets struggle a bit on the road, they are one of the best teams in baseball opening a series, winning 37 of the last 54 in Game 1 of a series. On the other hand, the Marlins are just 12-28 the last 40 games played at home, 10-26 the last 36 games played versus the National League East, 15-31 the last 46 games played versus right-handed starters, and 30-65 the last 95 games played during Game 1 of a series. Take New York. Thank you.

Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fast Break Play.

Game 547.

7:10 PM, PST/10:10 PM EST.

With all the brouhaha surrounding the anticipation of Kevin Durant finally back in the lineup, don’t be fooled by the smoke and mirrors. Minnesota is surging, winning four in a row straight up, and going 3-1 ATS. By the way, they’ve covered all three road games during that span. The Suns are safely above the postseason cut line. The Timberwolves are just on the border and can better themselves significantly by winning here tonight, and then again through the next several games. Minnesota has been money, covering the last four games played versus teams with a winning record, seven of the last nine games played on the road, and five of the last seven games played following a straight up win. Meanwhile, Phoenix has failed to cover four of the last five games played versus teams was a winning record and seven of the last nine games played overall. Take the T-Wolves. Thank you.

North Texas Mean Green on the moneyline.

No Limit Play.

Game 662

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

The general public has certainly jumped on Wisconsin here. As of this morning, approximately 65% of all wagers are coming in on the Badgers. I understand why folks. Wisconsin plays and in the stronger conference in the Big Ten. I mean come on, North Texas plays in the lowly, Conference USA. However, the Mean Green were 16-4 in conference play, while the Badgers were the bottom of the barrel in their conference, going 9-11 in the Big Ten. Overall, these two teams have good records. But you cannot deny the fact UNT has amassed a record of 29-7 straight up, covering 20 of 34 lines games. You can ignore the fact this team possesses the No. 1 defense in the nation, allowing just 55.4-points per game and a mere, 40.1% shooting from the floor. You also further cannot ignore the fact they rank third in college basketball on the defensive glass. I doubt Wiscy, which already has a lackluster offense, averaging a mere, 65.2-points per game, is going to put up any points or get too many second-chance opportunities. Yes, I understand North Texas doesn’t score too much either. However, you don’t have to when you’re holding opponents under 60-points per game. Now as of this morning, forward Abou Ousmane is listed as doubtful tonight for the Mean Green. He is a heck of a player, folks. And Wisconsin does have a strong front court. But…and there is always a but…but North Texas, certainly has the depth to rotate in other big men. The Mean Green have also been money, covering 14 of the last 20 games played on neutral sites, 10 of the last 13 games played versus teams with a winning record, 10 of the last 12 games played following a straight up win, and 11 of the last 14 games played overall. Meanwhile, the Badgers have only covered one of the last 12 games played following a straight up win and seven of the last 24 games played overall. Take North Texas on the money line. Thank you.

Chicago Bulls.

Las Vegas Strip Move Play.

Game 515.

7:40 PM PST/10:40 PM EST.

Following a very embarrassing loss for a playoff-bound team, I would normally look to jump back on the Clippers in a situation like this. Los Angeles comes off at 131-110 defeat at home against New Orleans two nights ago. However, this team is banged up. And there are certain angles here that prompt me to side with Chicago. With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the Bulls are just north of the postseason cut line. They need every win they can get right now. They are starting to run hot, winning seven of the last nine ball straight up and against the spread. They come in here off of back-to-back road wins and covers. As a matter fact, they won and covered five consecutive outings as a visitor. Chicago is looking for a little payback, as they took a home loss the last day of January to the Clippers 108-103. It looks like Paul George (check status) will not be ready again this evening. Los Angeles has struggled, to say the least, in his absence. In the first meeting, the forward put up 16-points and 10-rebounds. As I mentioned, they are struggling without him on the floor. I just don’t see the Clippers and their lack luster offense putting too many points up on the very nasty, very frustrating, seventh ranked defense of the Bulls. Chicago has covered four of the last five meetings in Los Angeles and five of the last seven overall games played versus Los Angeles. Take the Bulls. Thank you.

Miami Florida Hurricanes.

Tournament Top Rated Play.

Game 655.

2:05 PM PST/5:05 PM EST.

With all respect to the Longhorns, the Hurricanes match up well with them. They also come in here 100% healthy. Texas will not know until just prior to the game time if their top postseason scorer and rebounder, Dylan Disu (check status) will be playing here. Even if he plays, the forward will not be 100% as he is dealing with a foot injury. As I mentioned earlier, Miami matches a very well here. Offensively, they score a little more per game. They are also more accurate from downtown, the free throw line, and overall, on the floor. Let’s not forget that defensively, the Hurricanes are monsters on the boards. Arguably, one of the best backcourts in college basketball belongs to the Hurricanes with Wong and Miller. Throw into the mix that forward, Omier and guard, Pack have taken their games up a notch, and that spells doom for Texas. The Hurricanes have the speed, the height, the muscle, the intelligence, and the depth to not just contend here this matchup, but to win it. Giving this team four-points (at the time of posting this) is a huge mistake. They have covered six of the last seven games in NCAA Tournament, nine of the last 12 games played versus teams with a winning record, and four of the last five games played following an ATS win. Take the Hurricanes. Thank you.

Philadelphia 76ers.

Fast Break Play.

Game 555.

7:10 PM, PST/10:10 PM EST.

Both Philadelphia and Phoenix come off road losses last night. But there are a few differences coming into today’s match up. The 76ers are on a 9-2 straight up run, covering seven of those 11 outings. Meanwhile, Phoenix is on a 1-6 straight up slide, failing to cover all seven outings. With only a few weeks of games left in the regular season, Philly sits four-games back in the Eastern Conference, and can catch Boston, which is only 1.5-games ahead of them. And are certainly within reach of the four-game gap between the Conference’s top team, Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Phoenix is kind of clustered in the fifth seed in the West, tied with Golden State, just a half-game behind Los Angeles Clippers. And a few games separating Minnesota, Los Angeles, Lakers, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Dallas. James Harden missed last night’s contest. He is listed as questionable this evening (check status). However, Joel Embiid is putting up MVP-type numbers. Without Kevin Durant, who won’t be back until early April at least, and Deandre Ayton banged up (check status), I just don’t see the Suns competing here tonight. Philadelphia took the only meeting of the season back in early November at home, 100-88. There is no question that they are significantly stronger offensively. And defensively they have been frustrating opponents with a swarming stop-unit. Phoenix has already been struggling and I just don’t see them outscoring Embiid and the explosive 76ers lineup. Philadelphia has covered five of the last six games played on the road, nine of the last 12 games played on zero days rest, and five of the last seven games played overall. Phoenix has failed to cover five of the last six games played at home, four straight games played versus teams with a winning record, and five consecutive games played following a straight up loss. Take the 76ers. Thank you.

Texas Longhorns.

Tournament Top Rated Play.

Game 646.

6:45 PM PST/9:45 PM EST.

This is the matchup that being depleted will prove to be fatal for Xavier. The Musketeers are without a couple of key cogs in the wheel. Yes, I know they can score points. But let’s face it, they are going up against a team that scores just about as much as them. And an opponent that defensively can frustrate here immensely. Texas has the size, the speed, and the depth to take this game on their shoulders, control the tempo, and send Xavier home packing. The Longhorns also had better success playing out of their conference this season. They had early season wins over Gonzaga, Stanford and yes, even Creighton. They enter this matchup running red-hot, winning and covering every single postseason game thus far. I think both teams have very strong backcourts. But the difference in this matchup will be the Longhorns having the height and the muscle in the paint to dominate. Take Texas. Thank you.

Miami Hurricanes

No Limit Play.

Game 643.

4:15 PM, PST/7:15 PM EST.

My friends, Houston is a monster team. I’m not looking to take anything away from the Cougars. However, I think we can all agree, this team gets vastly overvalued by oddsmakers. Case in point, they have only covered five of the last 15 outings. This team possesses one of the best backwards in the nation. But for the first time in a long time, they do not have the best backcourt on the floor in a matchup. Wong and Miller are the driving force behind the Miami Hurricanes. Not only can the tandem score, they can rebound, they can steal, and let’s face it, they are amazingly unselfish, earning assists. I know Houston possesses one of the most frustrating defenses in college basketball. But Miami has a very complete offense and as I mentioned earlier, they are very unselfish. It is so hard to key on any one or two players on the floor. They are also vastly superior from the free throw line, which I believe will play a major factor in this game. One more thing folks. On a regular basis, playing in the ACC definitely benefits a team like Miami, which faces tougher opposition from day-to-day than does Houston in the AAC. By the way, the Cougars are just 1-6 ATS the last seven games played following an ATS win and 2-5 ATS the last seven games played versus teams with a winning record. The Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS the last six NCAA Tournament games played and 36-16-1 ATS the last 53 games played versus teams are the winning percentage of 1.600. Take Miami. Thank you.

Tennessee Volunteers.

Slam Dunk Play.

Game 636

6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST.

With all respect to the Owls, they just don’t face the same level of competition the Volunteers do on a regular basis. Yes, they have tallied a record of 33-3 this season. However, they just can’t contend with their opponent in this matchup. I understand they score 79.3-points per game. But they are going up against one of the toughest, stingiest, and most frustrating defenses in college basketball. Tennessee allows a mere 57.5-points per game, which ranks fourth in points allowed. They also rank first in the nation in field-goal percentage allowed and three-point percentage allowed. And the advantages don’t stop there either. They are excellent on the defensive boards as well. Not only that, but I offensively they will dominate inside and out in this matchup. They too can score points and rank 14th on the offensive glass. They will get a ton of second-chance opportunities. If you really wonder how good this team is defensively, just look at how they completely shut down the Duke, just five days ago. While both teams here possess solid back court talent. Upfront, there is no doubt that the Vols will dominate in the paint. They are bigger, stronger, and will be more physical here. Take Tennessee. Thank you.

U Conn Huskies.

Tournament Top Rated Play.

Game 640.

4:15 PM PST/7:15 PM EST.

My friends, Arkansas is in way over their head here. With all due respect, this team played their best basketball of the season a few days ago when they took down top-seeded, Kansas. Not only are they going to be in letdown mode. They’re actually going to come back down to Earth, plummeting from the penthouse to the ground floor very quickly. We all know that the Big East conference teams play a very physical game. Well folks, the Razorbacks faced one Big East squad this season, back in November and fell to the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, the Huskies covered both meetings with that same Blue Jays team this season, winning the first match up 69-60 and then falling just a bit short in the second matchup, 56-53. Meanwhile, Connecticut has done extremely well against the South Eastern Conference once again this season. They won their only two meetings against SEC representatives this season, taking down Alabama, which happens to be the SEC‘s No. 1 team, 82-67. They also decimated Florida 75-54. Granted the Razorbacks had no problem with the Gators in their sole matchup. But did lose and failed to cover two meetings with the Crimson Tide. The Huskies possess an overwhelming defense that just smothers you. I mean they play in a very competitive conference, and yet they only allow 54.8-points per game, and also happened to be a top-10 squad on the defensive glass. I mentioned earlier how physical the Big East teams play. Well, that is going to be a big disadvantage for the Razorbacks, which only hit 69% from the free-throw line. If you’re worried about UConn’s scoring ability, don’t be. Since the season began, they’ve been one of the best in the nation in scoring, averaging over 79.0-points per game. Let’s not forget they are also monsters on the offensive glass as well. When it comes to NCAA Tournament matchups, they have been money to anybody who wagers on them, covering 18 of the last 24 in that situation.  Take the Huskies. Thank you.

Kansas State Wildcats.

NO Limit Play.

Game 638.

3:30 PM PST/6:30 PM EST.

After taking down the Big East champ and No. 2 seed Marquette, 69-60 on Sunday, I feel Michigan State is in a huge let down situation here. We all know Tom Izzo‘s squads fall a little short when it comes to the Big Dance. We don’t have to rehash that issue. I do think the Spartans are very lucky to be here at this point. This is a team that’s just 5-3 straight up the last eight outings, going 4-4 ATS. They really don’t have the most explosive offense. They’re only real asset offensively, is their accuracy from beyond the arc. However, the Wildcats counter with the 13th ranked three-point shooting defense in college basketball. As a matter fact, they’ve played very good defense for most of the season. This is a team that plays in arguably the toughest conference in college basketball today, and yet only allows 68.7-points per game. They’re hotter entering this matchup, winning and covering six of the last eight outings. Kansas State has scorers, height, strength, speed, and depth. They are also 5-1 ATS the last six games played versus teams with a winning percentage of .600, 4-1 ATS the last five games played following a straight up win, and 16-5 ATS the last 21 games played versus teams with a winning record. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

UAB Blazers.

Slam Dunk Play.

Game 625.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Most of the action as of this post is coming in on Vanderbilt. However, the sharp money is by far coming in on UAB. And that is for a good reason, my friends. This entire season the Blazers have played very well. But over the last two months, this team has taken it up a notch. They finished the regular season on a 10-1 straight up run, covering six of those 11 games. So far this postseason, they have won and covered four of five contests. Look for the top-10 ranked hellacious offenses of UAB, which by the way, accounts for over 82.2-points per game to be a little too much for Vanderbilt to compete with. The Blazers will get as many second-chance opportunities as they need with the nations No. 2 offensive rebounding core dominating the 313th ranked defensive rebounding squad of the Commodores. By the way folks, UAB won and covered both meetings against SEC opponents this season. Take the Blazers. Thank you.

Oklahoma City Thunder.

First Break Play.

Game 581

7:40 PM PST/10:40 PM EST. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, wins are vital right now for the Thunder. They currently sit in the ninth seed in the Western Conference at 12.5-games back. However, they are tied with the Timberwolves and the Jazz. But only a few games, separate a cluster of teams in the Conference. As a matter of fact, they are just 2.5-games behind the Clippers. A win here and they can close that gap and possibly move up a seed. They have dominated the series, taking both meetings this season, straight up and against the spread. SGA, who leads the team in scoring at 31.4- points per game, returns to the court where his career started. And the team comes off a big win at home against Phoenix, which marked their seventh victory in the last nine outings, both straight up and against the spread. They happen to be the best team in the NBA on the road this season, covering 17 of 26 when they travel. They’ve also covered four of the last five games played on one day rest. Meanwhile, the Clippers have failed to cover four consecutive games played on one days rest and six of the last seven meetings in this rivalry. Take Oklahoma City. Thank you.

There is NO LIMIT to what you will profit off this big documented tournament winner.

Oregon Ducks

No Limit Play.

Game 616.

6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST.

Wisconsin has won back-to-back games for the first time in the New Year. But facing opponents like Bradley and Liberty are a far cry from facing Oregon. Let’s not forget the Badgers are point spread poison, only covering six of the last 23 games coming into today’s matchup. To make matters worse, as far as the point spread goes, when traveling, they have only covered two of the last 10 road games played. Meanwhile, the Ducks are running hot, winning six of the last seven games played straight up and three of the last four against the number. You know, Oregon has been dealing with injuries all season long and despite that, they have still played solid basketball. There is a huge mismatch here on the boards, where the Ducks will dominate at both ends of the court. They will have quite a few second-chance opportunities on offense, while taking away that same second-chance opportunities defensively on the Wiscy “O”. By the way, they have also covered four of the last five games played at the Matthew Knight Arena. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Cleveland Cavaliers on the moneyline.

Las Vegas Strip Move Play.

Game 575

4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST.

There really isn’t a lot of time left in the regular season. Currently, the Cavaliers own the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Nets sit behind them in the No. 6 spot. This is an ideal opportunity for Cleveland to further separate themselves from an Eastern Conference competitor. Now looking at the recent matchups, Brooklyn has dominated, winning seven of the last 10 straight up. They took the only meeting this season back at the end of December on the road, one 125-117. However, in that game, the Nets had Durant and Irving each contribute 32-points to lead the team in scoring. As you all know, they are no longer sporting Brooklyn uniforms. This is also a good spot for Cleveland to get a little payback for that home loss three months ago. They catch the Nets on a three-game slide, both straight up and against the spread. Brooklyn‘s offense is struggling to begin with, ranking 20th in the League in scoring and 29th on the offensive boards. Things will go from bad to worse here as they have to go up against the most frustrating defense in the NBA. Cleveland ranks No. 1 in points allowed and No. 2 in defensive rebounds. Take the Cavaliers. Thank you.

North Texas Mean Green

Slam Dunk Play

Game 613.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

North Texas is straining winning 13 of the last 15 outings straight up, and covering 11 of those 15. This is a healthy team which very quietly happens to possess the top ranked defense in college basketball. That’s right, they are ranked No. 1 in points allowed, yielding just 55.4-points per game. Not only that but they also rank 18th in field-goal percentage and 39th in three-point percentage. Oh yeah, they also happen to be the third best team in the nation on the defensive glass. Let’s face it folks, Oklahoma State‘s offense leaves a lot to be desired. This is a team that averages just under 70-points per game as most of their offensive numbers are downright deplorable. I just don’t see the Cowboys “O”, which has really struggled all season, putting up any points here today. I know the Mean Green offense isn’t anything to write home about either. But they run with a four- guard set, which are all averaging double-digits in this postseason and will control the tempo of this game. They’ve also been money to us bettors, covering nine of the last 11 games played following a straight up win and 26 of the last 35 games played on the road. Meanwhile Oklahoma State has only covered one of the last six games played at home and two of the last 10 games played overall. Take North Texas. Thank you.

Philadelphia 76ers

Slam Dunk Play.

Game 560.

4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST.

The red-hot 76ers are surging, winning eight straight contests, to bring the team within 2.5-games behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. They come into today’s game with confidence, having taken eight of the last nine meetings with the Chicago Bulls, both straight up and against the spread. The Bulls have covered just two of the last nine meetings in Philadelphia, only two of the last eight games played against teams with a winning record, and one of the last eight games played on the road. The 76ers have a covered 22 of the last 31 games played at home, four straight games played following a straight up win, and four of the last five games played on one days rest. Take Philadelphia. Thank you.

Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Second Round GOY.

Game 852.

6:40 PM PST/9:40 PM EST

With a victory today, it will mark Gonzaga‘s eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament reaching the Sweet 16. The first month of the season was a little shaky for the Bulldogs. They lost games against Texas, Purdue, and Baylor. Then something happened. They got back on track to turn the season around and between December 5 and March 17, only dropped two outings. I am well aware two of their losses came against Big 12 teams. But as I mentioned a moment ago, those took place in November and the first two days of December. They are playing on another level at this moment. They are playing like the Gonzaga team that we are used to seeing at this point. On the other hand, TCU has only won 5 of the last 12 outings straight up. And have only covered three of those 12 contests. Let’s face it, they eked by Arizona State in the last round with a 72-70 victory. It’s one thing to have a decent defense. And the Horned Frogs do have a decent defense. However, facing the number one scoring offense in the nation is a whole different monster. Even if they could slow down the Bulldogs, a bit, I just don’t see them competing offensively on the scoreboard here. They do not possess the personal upfront to even battle in the paint in this matchup. And if the game moves to the outside, well, we all know how good the Bulldogs are from downtown. The Horn Frogs have failed to cover six consecutive games played following a straight up win. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have covered five consecutive outings following an ATS loss. Take Gonzaga. Thank you.

Miami Hurricanes.

No Limit Play.

Game 839.

5:40 PM PST/8:40 PM EST

Indiana played good in the last round against a formidable Kent State opponent. But I think we can all agree. They may come in here a bit overconfident as the Golden Flashes are not on the same level as the hurricanes. Miami is a team that is once again at full strength, 100% healthy. And enters today’s match up striding, winning 10 of the last 12 games straight up. The Hoosiers are banged up and depleted. Even if they were at full strength, I don’t think they have the personnel to run in this matchup. The back court of Wong and Miller are one of the best tandem of guards in the nation. I see them controlling the pace and the tempo in this contest. I honestly believe the Hurricanes current edition is even stronger than last season’s Elite Eight squad. Giving them points. Here is a mistake. They have covered four of the last five NCAA Tournament games and seven of the last 10 games played versus teams with a winning record. Take Miami. Thank you.

UConn Huskies.

Slam Dunk Play.

Game 838.

3:10 PM, PST/6:10 PM EST.

It is impossible to ignore the statistic the Huskies have accumulated this season of being a perfect, 12-0 outside of conference play. By the way, they’ve covered 11 of those 12 nonconference contests. The Gaels are a good team. But this team lives and dies by their defense. Well folks, they go up against one of the most explosive and potent offenses in the nation. Connecticut averages over 79-points per game and ranks 12th in the nation on the offensive boards. That would be enough for me to put a lean on the Huskies here. However, defensively, they are one of the best in the nation in points allowed, field-goal percentage allowed, three-point percentage allowed and rank sixth in college basketball on the defensive boards. They will take away Saint Mary’s opportunities for any second-chance shots. The Gaels are good up front. However, they are no match for the frontcourt of Sanogo and Karaban. The tandem or forwards will dominate in the paint here and go uncontested. Saint Mary’s has failed to cover five of the last seven games played versus teams with a winning percentage above .600, five of the last six games played following a straight up win, and none of the last five games played following and ATS win. Connecticut has covered five of the last six games played versus teams are winning percentage above .600, 17 of the last 23 NCAA Tournament games, and six of the last seven games played overall. Take the Huskies. Thank you.

Marquette Golden Eagles on the money line.

Wiseguy Move.

Game 842.

2:15 PM, PST/5:15 PM EST.

I know Michigan State plays in the Big Ten. But in my opinion, they don’t belong here on the same court with Marquette. So having said that the carriage will turn into a pumpkin here today. The Golden Eagles are red-hot, winning 10 consecutive games straight up, and covering six of those 10 outings. Meanwhile, the Spartans are just 8-7 straight up the last 15 outings. Furthermore, they’ve only covered seven of those 15 contests. Offensively, very few teams in college basketball today can compete with the explosive Marquette squad, which averages over 81-points per game. They are one of the best from the floor, hitting 49.5% of their shots. I just don’t see the lackluster Michigan State offense keeping pace on the scoreboard here. Yes, they’re pretty good from beyond the arc. But once this game comes in from the perimeter, they fall way short. Trust me when I tell you, the Golden Eagles are smart and well-coached. They will force an inside matchup here. Meanwhile, Michigan State has failed to cover four consecutive games following a straight up win. On the other hand, Marquette has covered 15 of the last 22 games played overall. Take the Golden Eagles. Thank you.

Kentucky Wildcats on the moneyline.

Blue Chip Play.

Game 847.

11:40 AM PST/2:40 PM EST.

Kansas State certainly deserves to be here. However, I believe they are outgunned in today’s matchup. Kentucky enters this game winning six of the last eight games, both straight up and against the spread. They play a little bit more of a physical game. Although both teams match up well with one another, overall, the superstars on Kentucky, I feel can and will outperform the starters for Kansas State. Kentucky has covered five consecutive outings against teams winning percentage of .600. Take Kentucky on the money line. Thank you.

Pitt Panthers.

Early Wake Up Winner.

Game 845.

9:10 AM, PST/12:10 PM EST

To get this game up early I’m going to give you a condensed version of my analysis. Very simply, Pitt not only matches up well with Xavier here, but they enter today’s contest playing some great basketball. They have won each of the last two outings outright as an underdog against Mississippi State, and Iowa State. Meanwhile, the Musketeers have failed to cover four of the last five, which does include the last two outings. They are in a situation where the team will come in here overconfident following the five-point victory over Kennesaw State in the last round. Mind you, they were 12-point favorite in that matchup. As I mentioned, they will come in overconfident against a Panthers opponent, that scores just about as much as them and possesses a monster defense that will frustrate the Xavier offense.  Pitt has covered 23 of the last 30 games played overall. The Musketeers have covered just two of the last seven games played following a straight up win. Take the Panthers. Thank you.

Houston Cougars.

No Limit Play.

Game 808

4:10 PM, PST/7:10 PM EST.

With No. 1 seeds, Alabama and Purdue already ousted from the Big Dance, Houston will take no chances in this matchup. They know obviously, that Auburn is a good adversary. So, they will keep their foot on the gas from the tip-off to the buzzer. Say what you want about the Tigers, but this is a team that dropped nine of the last 14 outings. They possess a lackluster offense, which accounts for just 72.7-points per game on a mere, 43.9% shooting from the floor, and only hit 31.4% from downtown. They must go up against one of the nastiest and most-frustrating defenses in the nation here today. The Cougars rank second in many defensive categories. Especially the ones that count most, points allowed, field-goal percentage, and three-point percentage. But it doesn’t just stop there. They are also a top-10 defensive rebounding squad as well. So, I don’t see Auburn getting too many second-chance opportunities at all. Offensively, the Cougars are a powerhouse. They are loaded with talent. They have speed, height, strength, and savvy. I look for them to light up the scoreboard here with a very talented offense, and a deep bench. Furthermore, they’re not just great on the defensive glass. They are awesome on the office boards as well, ranking 19th in the nation. By the way, the Tigers have only covered seven of the last 28 games played following a straight up win. They have been absolute pointspread poison. I don’t see them competing on the scoreboard at all in this matchup, and I certainly don’t see them covering this game. Take the Cougars. Thank you.

Duke Blue Devils.

Top Play

Game 803.

11:40 AM PST/2:40 PM EST

This has been a strange tournament thus far. We have seen several No. 1 seeds go down. With Purdue out-of-the-way, Duke knows they have a very good shot of making it to the Final Four. They will take no chances in this matchup. Tennessee is a formidable opponent. However, this is a team that enters this matchup losing seven of the last 13 outings. Many thought they could be a No. 1 seed come the Tournament. However, as the season progressed, they started to show signs of fatigue and showed signs of cracking. The Blue Devils are surging. They enter today’s contest one of the hottest teams in college basketball, winning 10 consecutive outings straight up, covering seven of those 10, which includes five consecutive ATS covers. Duke, listing zero injuries are a healthy team and are significantly stronger on the boards in this game. They will get as many second-chance shots as they need, offensively. And defensively, they will take away the Volunteers opportunities for a second-chance shots. With a slew of players, 6’7” and taller, which does include four 7’-footers, Duke has too much height and physicality in the paint for Tennessee. The Volunteers have covered just one of the last eight NCAA Tournament games, one of the last six following a straight up win, and one of the last six against teams is a winning percentage above .600. On the other hand, the Blue Devils have covered four of the last five NCAA Tournament games, five consecutive neutral site games, and five consecutive games against teams are winning percentage above .600. Take Duke. Thank you.

Kent State Golden Flashes.

Blue Chip Play.

Game 771.

6:55 PM PST/9:55 PM EST.

Kent state is red-hot, winning six consecutive outings, which does include a perfect 3-0 mark in the recent MAC Tournament. This is a team that when asked to step up this season in nonconference play, hung in very tight with Houston, covering a 19-point spread, 49-44, and Gonzaga, covering a 16-point spread, 73-66. They are not easily intimidated. They can score. And they have a monster defense. Two areas in which Indiana falls short. The Hoosiers enter today’s matchup, splitting out the last eight games, straight up, only covering two of those eight outings. One of the best players in college basketball certainly wears an Indiana uniform in Trayce Jackson-Davis. However, one player cannot carry the team. Especially come Tournament time. He faces a very aggressive defense of the Golden flashes. They are big, strong, quick, and they can frustrate opponents. I actually feel the wrong team is favored here. But I will take the points with the underdog, which has covered four consecutive games played on neutral sites, 15 of the last 20 games played versus teams with a winning percentage of .600, and 36 of the last 51 games played overall. Indiana has only covered two of the last eight games played versus teams with a winning record, two of the last seven games played versus teams are winning percentage of a .600, and two of the last eight games played overall. Take Kent state. Thank you.

Arizona State Sun Devils.

NO LIMIT.

Game 797.

7:05 PM PST/10:05 PM EST.

Personally, I think the wrong team is favored here. This game should be at the very least a pick ‘em. Having said that, we all know Arizona State is known for defense. However, the offense really heated up in the First Four game against Nevada on Wednesday, accounting for 98-points. They have won three of the last four straight up, and five of the last eight against the spread. They face, in my opinion, are very overrated, TCU opponent here. This is a team that faded down the stretch, dropping six of the last 10 straight up, and only covering three of those 10 outings. Please understand the Sun Devils come off recent contests against the Bruins, two against the trojans, and two against the Wildcats. In all sincerity, they are stepping down in class here today. Giving them points is a mistake. The Horned Frogs have covered just three of the last 10 games played versus teams with a winning record. The Sun Devils have covered five of the last seven games played against teams with a winning record. Take Arizona State. Thank you.

Memphis Tigers on the money line

Wiseguy move.

Game 780.

6:20 PM PST/9:20 PM EST.

Florida Atlantic possesses an outstanding record of 31-3 this season. They have a talented back court of Davis and Martin. They also can score. And own a very solid defense. But the best tandem on the floor are Memphis’ Kendrick Davis and DeAndre Williams. The guard/forward duo accounted for 28.5-points per game, 11.3-rebounds per game, 8.5-assists per game, and 3.6-steals per game during the regular season. In the postseason, they took it up a notch accounting for over 54-points per game. The Tigers are a stellar squad. They just took down three solid opponents in the AAC Tournament, including the Cougars in the final. If you think that was an anomaly, on the last day of the season they lost a heartbreaker to that you seem Houston team 67-65. And a few weeks before that, suffered an eight-point lost to the No. 1 team in the nation at that time. This team can play basketball and they play against a much tougher level of opponent. Personally, I made this line closer to seven-points. This team is 4-0 ATS the last four games played following a straight up win, 5-1 ATS the last six games played on a neutral site, 4-1 ATS the last five games played versus teams with a winning percentage of .600, and 4-1 ATS the last five games played overall. Take the Tigers to roar here on the money line. Thank you.

Miami Florida Hurricanes on the moneyline.

Day 2 Round of 64 Top Play.

Game 770.

4:25 PM, PST/7:25 PM EST.

If you recall, last year’s NCAA Tournament saw the Miami Hurricanes, making it to the Elite Eight. This team is chock-full of talent, experience, and depth. Sports fans, this number is a little low here and that is because Miami’s forward, Norchad Omier is questionable. Reports are that his ankle is fine and he will suit up and be on the floor for this contest. Now always do your due diligence and check the status of a major player prior to game time. But I feel he’s going to play. Even if he does not, this team has way too much talent upfront, in the back court, and on the bench for Drake. The Bulldogs only stepped up in class a few times this season, getting smoked by the Spiders, 82-52 and the Billikens, 83-75. I know they ran through the Missouri Valley Tournament and took down the conference’s top-team, Bradley. I think we can all agree the Braves are a far cry away from the Hurricanes. Miami has faced and beaten much better opponents than their adversary here today. They also possess arguably one of the best back courts in the nation of Wong and Miller. I see the duo controlling the tempo and the pace of this game. The Hurricanes have covered 15 of the last 20 games played following an ATS loss, 11 of the last 15 games played following a straight up loss, and 35 of the last 51 games played against teams with the winning percentage above .600. Take Miami on the moneyline. Thank you.

Texas A&M AGGIES on the moneyline.

SLAM DUNK PLAY.

Game 754.

6:55 PM PST/9:55 PM EST.

I am well aware Penn State is running hot. I’m also well aware they have two potential draft picks on the roster. Yes, the Nittany Lions enter this matchup winning eight of the last 10 straight up and covering seven of those 10 against the spread. But Texas A&M is also running hot. They enter the Big Dance winning 19 of the last 23 contests. You may not realize this, but very quietly the Aggies finished just a game behind the Crimson Tide in the very competitive, SEC. Guard, Wade Taylor IV is one of the hottest scorers in college basketball right now. He has accounted for 21-points per game across his last 10 outings. The Aggies defense is relentless and on both sides of the court, they are monsters on the boards. And will dominate the glass. To be quite honest, I don’t know what the Selection Committee was thinking when they put this team at the number seven seed. Texas A&M has covered 20 of the last 28 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600 and 10 of the last 12 games played overall. Take the Aggies. Thank you.

Duke Blue Devils.

Round Of 64 Top Play.

Game 782

4:10 PM, PST/7:10 PM

With all respect to the Golden Eagles, they do not belong on the same court as the Blue Devils. I know this team had a nice Cinderella story a few years ago in the Tourney. I also know they were 18-0 in the Summit League and are riding a 17-game win streak. But folks, who did they beat? They started off the campaign with an eight-point loss to Saint Mary’s. A week later got devoured by Houston, 83-45. And another week after that, they took a 10-point defeat on the road at Utah State. So, my friends, they stepped up in class three times and got beat all three times this season. Duke is a monster team with a monster roster. They are no strangers to the NCAA Tournament. They have intelligence, height, muscle, speed, and depth. They enter this matchup winning nine consecutive games, straight up against a much higher level of opposition than their counterpart is accustomed to facing. It’s true, Oral Roberts does have a 7‘5“ player on their roster. And he’s a damn good player at that. However, Duke has four players on their roster 7 foot or taller. They also don’t choke. A couple of the big names on the Golden Eagles are known to have choked when it comes to bigger games. Facing the Blue Devils, in the first round of the Big Dance is the biggest game this team will ever see. You can expect Duke to dominated both ends of the court and particularly on both the offensive and defensive glass. Oral Roberts has failed to cover four consecutive games against teams with a winning record, 12 of the last 15 games played versus teams is a winning percentage above .600, and seven of the last nine games played overall. Take the Blue Devils. Thank you.

Kansas Jayhawks.

Wiseguy Move.

Game 758.

11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST.

My friends, I’m not a big fan of laying big wood in the first round of the Big Dance. But a win is a win is a win. Head coach Kenny Blakeney won a national championship with the last time Howard appeared in the NCAA tournament, 31 years ago. That was 1992 when Kansas hammered Howard in the first round, 100-67. The last time these two teams met was in December, 2011 when the Jayhawks shellacked the Bison, 89-34. Déjà vu all over again my friends. Howard was 11-3 in MEAC play and an overall 22-12 on the campaign. This is a very talented team. However, this is also a team that lost 95-63 in the first game of the season against Kentucky, 85-75 a few days later against George Washington, 95-69 even a few days after that against James Madison, and over the upcoming weeks, got downed by Wyoming 78-71, devoured by Bellarmine 96-73, shredded by Yale, 86-40, beaten by Hampton 74-65, and dismantled by VCU, 70-60. Every time they stepped up even a little bit in class, they were decimated. Kansas doesn’t have a problem, flexing their muscles, especially against lesser teams. Looking at their first few weeks of their nonconference schedule, they beat some opponents by over 30+ points my friends. And coming off an embarrassing loss in the Big 12 Championship against Texas, 76-56, you can expect Bill Self, who, by the way will be back on the sideline here, to have his team, primed, prepped, ready, and make a statement to the rest of the field. The Jayhawks need to get back in sync, following that dismantling at the hands of the Longhorns. They also need to get a big confidence-builder. And furthermore, they need to let the rest of the teams in the tournament. know that they are a team to be reckoned with. Howard had problems as I mentioned earlier coming out of the conference against teams are strong defenses. Not only can Kansas play defense, but they are one of the most complete teams in the nation. They have speed, strength, height, depth, and are well-coached. They are also 6-1 ATS the last seven games played following a double-digit loss played in Lawrence, Kansas. Take the Jayhawks. Thank you.

Arizona State Sun Devils on the moneyline.

Game 703.

6:10 PM PST/9:10PM EST.

There is no question Arizona State comes into this match up with more momentum. Nevada has lost and failed to cover the last three outings. These were against three opponents they should have beaten easily. This team is sliding. They go up against a Sun Devils squad that has suffered three losses in the last five outings coming into today’s contest. But those three defeats were against the likes of the Bruins, the Trojans, and the Wildcats. Nevada did not play well when leaving the conference. They had problems against several nonconference opponents this season. Meanwhile, following embarrassing first week of the season loss on the road at Texas Southern, Arizona State play pretty darn good out of conference, taking down such notables as Virginia Commonwealth, Michigan, SMU, and Creighton. The Wolfpack have failed to cover five of the last seven games played versus teams are winning percentage above .600. Take the Sun Devils. Thank you.

Boston Celtics.

Game 581.

5:10 PM PST/8:10 PM EST.

The Boston Celtics have relinquished the Eastern Conference’s top-spot to the Milwaukee Bucks. They now sit three-games behind them in second place in the Conference. Yes, even in the Atlantic Division, they have just a one-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. Teams are closing in on them. They have dropped five of the last seven games entering tonight’s matchup. They need to get back on track and they need to do it now. They face depleted Minnesota Timberwolves opponent here. Let’s face it, they’ve got a laundry list of players either banged up, questionable, or out. This is an ideal situation for the Celtics to earn a big victory and get back on the winning track. They took the only meeting with the Timberwolves this season back in December at home 121-109. I look for their explosive offense to absolutely dominate the lackluster Minnesota defense here. The Celtics have covered five of the last six games played at the Timberwolves and five of the last seven overall games played on the road. The Timberwolves have failed to cover six of the last eight games played following a straight up win and four consecutive games at home. Take Boston. Thank you.

Pitt Panthers.

Game 702.

6:10 PM PST/9:10 PM EST.

Many out there, including the Pitt Panthers themselves, didn’t think they would be playing in the First Four brackets. However, dropping four of the final seven games is the reason why. This is a very deep and talented squad with a very smart coach. Let’s not forget they play in a very good conference. As a matter fact, they finished tied for second place in conference play at 14-6, and with an overall record of 22-11. The first few weeks of the season were very difficult on the team as they were still trying to find their sea legs. Then they got into a groove and started winning. Moreover, they started taking down some very solid opposition. Please remember they play in one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball. And have they held their own. Offensively, they are a powerhouse. During the regular season, they were led by four double-digit scorers and a slew of solid rebounders. They have strength upfront, and quickness in the back court. Mississippi State is known for defense. They rank in the top-10 in the nation, in both points allowed and field-goal percentage allowed. However, (and there’s always a however), however, offensively, they are absolutely deplorable. There is no aspect of their offense that brings any hope to this team contending on the scoreboard with Pitt today. They have just one double-digit scorer in forward, Tolu Smith. He is only one of two solid, frontcourt, big men for this team. While they were loaded at the guard position, they just don’t have the talent up front to compete in this matchup. By the way, they have failed to cover four straight games. Not only that, but they have failed to cover five straight games played on neutral sites. Meanwhile, the Panthers have been money, covering 11 of the last 15 games played versus teams with a winning record and 21 of the last 28 games played overall. Take Pitt. Thank you.

Villanova Wildcats.

Game 677.

6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST.

Despite a slew of injuries to major contributors, Villanova won seven of the final 10 games. They enter the NIT pissed off as they felt they earned a spot in the Big Dance. Liberty earned a share of the Atlantic Sun regular season title and enter today’s contest the No. 2 seed. Statistically, the Flames possess better numbers, both offensively and defensively than does the Wildcats. But it really isn’t about your record. It’s about the record you achieved by beating certain teams. Liberty stepped up early in the season and lost to Alabama. A few weeks later, took a beating at the hands of Northwestern. So, you could say when it counted, the team folded like a cheap suit. Villanova certainly was a “Jekyll and Hyde” team this season. At times showed signs of greatness. At times fell flat. However, you cannot dispute the disparity between the talent and depth on these two squads. The Wildcats play in a very physical conference. They have big, strong, physical players. While, the Flames are certainly talented, they just don’t have the height or the muscle to contend in the paint here. They have also covered just one of the last seven games played versus teams with a winning record. Meanwhile, Villanova has covered four in a row following a straight up loss. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Toledo Rockets.

Game 685.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

The Michigan Wolverines are certainly a storied college basketball team. But if you really look back as many times as this team has been a top-tier team going into the Big Dance, they’ve only walked away with one national title. I’m not looking to take away anything from the Wolverines, folks. But let’s be honest, this teams falls way short when it comes to the postseason. Let’s fast forward to this campaign and their NIT chances. Michigan, which was ranked No. 22 in the preseason poll, and really had a disappointing campaign, finishing 17-15 overall and a dismal 11-9 in Big Ten play. They have lost three consecutive games, including their last as they were bounced out of the Big Ten tournament in the first game, falling to Rutgers, 62-50. You may think because they’re a Big Ten team, that they will roll over a MAC opponent. However, the Toledo Rockets finished the regular season, winning the MAC championship outright for the third year in a row. They possess a record of 27-7 overall, which includes a 16-2 mark in league play. They had a 17-game win streak going until the last outing, a tough loss to Kent. That defeat got them to where they are here in the NIT. This is a very good team that knows how to win. While they don’t step out of their conference often, when they do, they can compete. I really feel giving this team this many points is a huge mistake made by the odds makers. They have scorers and are loaded with rebounders. That will give them some second-chance opportunities offensively, and take away some of Michigan’s second-chance opportunities defensively. The Rockets have covered four in a row following a straight up loss, seven in a row following an ATS loss, four of the last five on the road versus teams with a winning home record, and six of the last seven overall. Take the Rockets. Thank you.

Indiana Pacers on the moneyline.

Game 545.

4:10 PM, PST/7:10 PM EST.

Yes, it seems like every single day there are more and more injuries and players being sidelined for load management in the NBA. Both teams here have a laundry list of players that are either questionable or out this evening. But there is no question Indiana is deeper with talent and has something to play for. In a quick turnaround from Saturday’s, 121-115 on this very same court, Indiana should have no problem disposing of Detroit once again. The Pacers can continue their postseason push here playing for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. The Pistons have not won a game since prior to Valentine’s Day. That’s right, they have lost 11 straight outings. Indiana has won and covered both meetings this season in this Eastern Conference rivalry. They have also covered four of the last five on the road and seven of the last nine overall. Take the Pacers. Thank you.

VCU Rams on the moneyline.

Game 654.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

VCU dominated the Atlantic 10 conference with a 15-3 record. They enter today’s matchup on-fire, winning eight straight contests and covering six of the last seven. Winning the Conference Tournament at the Barclays Center here today will leave the Selection Committee no doubt for the team when seeding for the Big Dance. At full strength, the Rams can and will take advantage of a depleted Flyers roster. They have covered 10 of the last 12 games played versus teams with a winning record and seven of the last nine games played on neutral sites. Take VCU on the moneyline. Thank you.

Texas A&M Aggies.

Game 655.

10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST.

Say what you want about the 4th ranked Alabama team, but when it comes to Texas A&M, the Aggies have had their number. The Crimson Tide has lost and failed to cover five consecutive meetings with the Aggies. This includes the only matchup this season, a little more than a week ago being defeated, 67-61. Texas A&M, since Christmas has been striding, going 19-3 straight up (this includes this post season). Their defense has stepped it up over recent months, and once again today will frustrate their opponent. They possess one of the only rebounding cores in this conference that could compete up front with Alabama. We can expect another physical matchup, which will certainly benefit Texas A&M, as they are significantly better from the free-throw line. The underdog has covered six of the last seven meetings in this rivalry. The Aggies have covered 20 of the last 27 games played versus teams with a winning percentage of .600, 26 of the last 35 games played following a straight up win, and 38 of the last 56 games played overall. Take Texas A&M. Thank you.