Rocketmansports.net - Free Picks from Expert Hanidcappers

Become a Facebook Fan!

Follow Me on Twitter!

All Sports Archive
Date	Match Up	Rating	Score	Result	Profit	Lead Time	Analysis
04-22-19	Rockets -2.5 v. Jazz		91-107	Loss	-108	20 h 0 m	Show
It was a given the Jazz were going to produce their best effort in Game 3 at home after losing the first two games to the Rockets on the road by an average of 26 points. Utah did just that. The Jazz held the great James Harden to 3-of-20 shooting from the floor and the Rockets to 38.4 percent from the field. Yet the Rockets still won and covered beating the favored Jazz by three points. The oddsmaker is done making the Jazz a favorite again. The demoralized Jazz aren't going to be the first team in NBA playoff history to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win a series. Harden isn't going to have a shooting game like that again. The Rockets want to end this series fast to keep pace with the Warriors. The Jazz lack the confidence and morale to come back here to win a game. Utah needs Donovan Mitchell to shoot well to hang with Houston and that hasn't been happening. Mitchell has made just 32.8 percent of his shots from the floor.
04-22-19	Phillies v. Mets UNDER 8.5	Top	1-5	Win	100	20 h 53 m	Show
Jake Arrieta isn't back to his vintage 2015 Cy Young Award season. But he is pitching very well with a 2.25 ERA while going deep into games - throwing at least seven innings during each of his past three starts. He has a 2.33 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against the Mets. New York could be minus Robinson Cano, who suffered a wristy injury on Sunday when hit by a pitch. Steven Matz should be pumped after getting buried by the Phillies in his last start. Previous to that game, though, Matz was solid in his three outings giving up five runs in 16 1/3 innings with 19 strikeouts. The Mets have a rested Edwin Diaz in the bullpen. The Phillies' lineup is somewhat depleted by injuries with Jean Segura, Odubel Herrera and hot-hitting Scott Kingery all out. Citi Field is a pitcher's park and the weather forecast is for the wind to be blowing in at nine mph.
04-22-19	Predators v. Stars -125		1-2	Win	100	19 h 53 m	Show
Nashville isn't just losing to Dallas, but losing big. The Predators have been outscored 10-4 in the last two games and now must win on the road here to stay alive in the playoffs. I don't see it happening. The Stars have the second-best defense in the league, Ben Bishop is in the argument for best goalie and Dallas' top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov is hot. Dallas has scored five goals in each of its last two games taking advantage of Pekka Rinne, who is struggling in goal for Nashville. The price is right to ride the Stars.
04-22-19	Predators v. Stars OVER 5		1-2	Loss	-100	19 h 52 m	Show
Dallas has produced 10 goals in its last two games. The Stars are hot and Predators goalie Pekka Rinne is struggling. The Stars should get their goals again especially if the Predators are trailing late and need to pull their goalie for extra attackers. Nashville's top line of Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg is way overdue in the scoring column. These teams have a huge history of going Over when playing in Dallas with the Over going 9-1-1 the past 11 times.
04-21-19	Sharks v. Golden Knights OVER 6	Top	2-1	Loss	-114	19 h 59 m	Show
The oddsmaker is short on this total. The Sharks and Golden Knights are good for at least three goals apiece. San Jose has scored three or more goals in four of the five games in this playoff series. Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury hasn't been his usual sharp self down the stretch. He's surrendered at least three goals in four of the five games. Las Vegas has scored 11 goals in the two games played at T-Mobile Arena during the series. San Jose has permitted five or more goals in three of the five games in the series. Martin Jones is the shakiest goalie in the playoffs. The Sharks have two of the top offensive-minded defensemen in the NHL with Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. Las Vegas has two red-hot scoring lines with Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson and Mark Stone, Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty on the second line. The additions of Stone and Pacioretty have made the Golden Knights a more dangerous scoring team. These factors have helped the Over cash six of the last seven times the two teams have met. Both teams should have plenty of energy, too, as they have had two days in between games instead of the normal one.
04-21-19	Raptors v. Magic +5.5		107-85	Loss	-105	15 h 20 m	Show
I like the Magic in an underdog role especially going against foes with a winning record. Orlando is 16-5-1 ATS the past 22 times when taking on an above .500 opponent. I see the Magic giving it their best shot not wanting to go into Toronto down 3-1. The Magic lost 98-93 to the Raptors this past Friday. That was their first home playoff game in seven years. The Magic should be less tight now. Orlando needs Nikola Vucevic to step up. He got going in Game 3 after being kept in check the first two games of the series. Toronto is 2-6-1 ATS the past nine times against Orlando.
04-21-19	Raptors v. Magic UNDER 207		107-85	Win	100	15 h 19 m	Show
The evidence is crystal clear. These teams have played three games so far in their first-round playoff series and the Under has won each time. The combined average score in these three games is 196.3 points. The Raptors have forced 44 Orlando turnovers and held the Magic to 37.8 percent shooting from the floor. Orlando is going to be at its most intense for this matchup. The Magic ranked fifth defensively during the regular season. So a strong defensive battle should ensue helped by both teams favoring a slow tempo. The Under has cashed the past seven times the Raptors have played in Orlando.
04-21-19	Bruins v. Maple Leafs -113		4-2	Loss	-113	15 h 56 m	Show
The Maple Leafs have the coaching, momentum and now the playoff experience to come through with a playoff series-ending victory against the Bruins. Boston got past Toronto in seven games during the playoffs last season. The Maple Leafs are just as explosive, but now are more well-rounded and playoff tested. Mike Babcock is a tremendous coach. It's the Maple Leafs' time to take that next step. The Bruins have lost in eight of their last 11 visits to Toronto. They don't have the Maple Leafs' explosiveness and are reeling from their controversial Game 5 home loss.
04-21-19	Bruins v. Maple Leafs OVER 5.5		4-2	Win	100	15 h 56 m	Show
Toronto is improved defensively, but the Maple Leafs still win with their skating and explosiveness. I envision a more wide open game in this Game 6 now that the Maple Leafs are back in Toronto. Boston is going to have open things up after losing 2-1 at home in Game 5. The Bruins have the offensive talent and top line to do that. There could be plenty of late scoring, too, if the Bruins find themselves down a goal with their playoff lives at stake. The Over has cashed in six of the Bruins' last eight games.
04-20-19	Bucks v. Pistons OVER 216		119-103	Win	100	5 h 44 m	Show
The Pistons haven't been able to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 25 points during the first two games of this series. Milwaukee has scored 121 and 120 points, respectively, in the series. The Bucks are the No. 1 scoring team in the NBA. Detroit doesn't have the defense to stop them. The Over has cashed in eight of the Bucks' last 11 road contests. So the Pistons need to ratch up their offense, which they can do at home. Detroit is due to shoot much better than the 37.7 percent it is averaging from the field. It's a plus for the Pistons and the Over if Blake Griffin is able to play. He's questionable.
04-20-19	Jets v. Blues UNDER 5.5		2-3	Win	100	8 h 56 m	Show
The Blues win with defense. They know if they are going to clinch this first-round series they can't get into a wide open skating match with the Jets. The Jets defeated the Blues, 6-3, in Game 3 at St. Louis. That game, though, appears to be an outlier. If you discount that performance, the Jets are averaging 1.2 goals in regulation during the four other games in the series. Winnipeg has scored just once in its last nine power play attempts spanning the past three games. The Jets also could be without their fourth-leading goal scorer, Nikolaj Ehlers. He's questionable. The Blues are averaging only 2.3 goals in their last three games. St. Louis' calling card is its fifth-ranked defense and goalie Jordan Binnington.
04-20-19	Nuggets v. Spurs -3.5	Top	117-103	Loss	-109	17 h 3 m	Show
The Nuggets haven't won in San Antonio in more than seven years, losing 14 straight times to the Spurs on the road. I don't see that changing here in Game 4 of their playoff series. The Spurs should be up 3-0 instead of 2-1, but blew a 19-point lead midway through the third quarter in Game 2. They are the clear better team and they have a strong home-court history. Second-year guard Derrick White has stepped up big-time for San Antonio giving the Spurs three major weapons along with DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. The Spurs have those players going for them along with a huge gap in playoff experience. While the Nuggets are involved in their first postseason experience since 2013, the Spurs are in the playoffs for the 22nd straight season.
04-20-19	Blue Jays v. A's -135		10-1	Loss	-135	13 h 19 m	Show
I want the A's going for me in a bounce back spot. The Blue Jays knocked off Oakland, 5-1, Friday night. It was Toronto's first victory against the A's after losing all seven games to them last season. It also was a pitching matchup of Marcus Stroman versus Aaron Brooks, who shouldn't be in a big league rotation. Now the pitching matchup is righty Matt Shoemaker versus righthander Mike Fiers. Fiers is an ace when pitching in spacious Oakland Coliseum. He is 6-0 with a 2.38 ERA in his last 10 home starts. He hasn't been scored on in his last two home starts this season spanning 12 innings. Oakland is 8-1 (89 percent) in Fiers' last nine home starts. Toronto is 3-8 in its last 11 games against a righty starter.
04-20-19	Diamondbacks v. Cubs -130		6-0	Loss	-130	14 h 18 m	Show
Here comes the Cubs. Chicago has won four in a row and six of its last seven. They are worth riding playing their best ball now. The buy sign is on for Yu Darvish, too, after he fanned eight in 5 2/3 innings during his last start, a 7-2 victory against the Marlins. Arizona is averaging just 2.6 runs in its last three games. Zach Greinke isn't the elite pitcher of past seasons. Greinke is still above average - but not when he pitches at Wrigley Field. Greinke has never won at Wrigley in five career starts and has an 8.31 ERA when pitching there. The Cubs have won 30 of the past 44 times at home when facing a righty starter.
04-19-19	Celtics v. Pacers -3		104-96	Loss	-105	18 h 47 m	Show
The good news for Indiana is its No. 1 ranked defense has held Boston to an average of 91.5 points during the first two games of this series. The bad news is the Pacers are down 0-2 in the series because their shooting has been way off. The Pacers, though, are far from outclassed. They led the Celtics by seven points at halftime in Game 1. They were leading Boston with less than a minute left in Game 2 before somehow failing to cover a 7 1/2-point underdog spread in a 99-91 loss. Sure Indiana misses its top scorer, Victor Oladipo. But the Pacers are due to shoot much better than 38.8 pecent from the floor. Boston ranks eighth defensively. However, the Pacers have failed to connect on shots in which they had a good look at the basket. Myles Turner, Darren Collison and Thaddeus Young should step up. The Pacers have a strong history of dramatically playing much better at home. The Celtics won just one of their eight road playoff games last season.
04-19-19	Giants -101 v. Pirates	Top	1-4	Loss	-101	17 h 8 m	Show
The Giants have had good success at Pittsburgh winning seven of the last nine times there. The Giants also catch the Pirates playing at home for the first time in 12 days. So Pittsburgh's concentration and focus may be off. It's not just history and spot why I like the Giants. The price is very good in a starting pitching matchup of Madison Bumgarner versus Jordan Lyles. Bumgarner looked like the elite pitcher he is during his last start, a 5-2 home victory against the Rockies this past Saturday. Bumgarner struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. He has a 2.84 career ERA in seven starts against Pittsburgh. Lyles has made two good starts for the Pirates. But that's not enough to convince me he suddenly has become more than just a fifth starter-type/long reliever. The Pirates are his fourth different team in three seasons. Lyles had a 4.11 ERA with the Padres and Brewers last year. He has a 5.85 career ERA in 19 appearances versus the Giants, including seven starts.
04-19-19	Maple Leafs +131 v. Bruins		2-1	Win	131	6 h 39 m	Show
This has been a back-and-forth series with each team rebounding with a victory following a loss. I see this pattern continuing here. The Maple Leafs lost, 6-4, at home to the Bruins on Wednesday. The Leafs were done in by not stopping Boston's power play and making stupid mistakes, which they should avoid now. The Maple Leafs are the faster and more aggressive team. They have the confidence, too, of having won a game in Boston during the series. So at this plus price, I'm going to get involved with Toronto.
04-19-19	Raptors -4.5 v. Magic	Top	98-93	Win	100	16 h 19 m	Show
Nice job by the Magic in reaching the playoffs this season and upsetting the Raptors in Game 1. The clock struck midnight, though, for the Magic in Game 2 when they were buried, 111-82, by Toronto this past Tuesday. The Raptors are vastly superior. They could be among the four best teams in the NBA. The Magic can't hang against this type of focused opponent especially when their best player, Nikola Vucevic, can't produce. Vucevic has been held to an average of 8.5 points a game making just six-of-21 shots from the field.
04-18-19	Warriors v. Clippers UNDER 237	Top	132-105	Push	0	19 h 3 m	Show
Golden State has great scorers. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson helped the Warriors finish as the No. 2 scoring team in the NBA this season. But the Warriors also are good defensively. They ranked No. 3 in defensive field goal percentage. The Under has cashed in 19 of Golden State's last 26 games. Look for the Warriors to play concentrated, intense defense for 48 minutes after they squandered a 31-point third quarter lead in Game 2 in losing 135-131 at home to the Clippers. The Under has cashed a staggering 75 percent the past 33 times the Warriors have played after a loss. Making things even worse for the Warriors was losing center DeMarcus Cousins with a serious quad injury. His replacement, Andrew Bogut, played a season-high 17 minutes. The addition of Bogut at the expense of Cousins is huge for the Under. The Clippers aren't as good of a defensive club as the Warriors. But with the series now tied 1-1 and the scene shifting to LA, the Warriors know they are in for a battle. So expect both defenses to be at their peak.
04-18-19	Golden Knights v. Sharks OVER 6		2-5	Win	100	20 h 11 m	Show
Martin Jones has been terrible in goal. Yet the Sharks are going to stick with him. The Sharks haven't been able to stop the Golden Knights during the last three games - and I don't see that changing here. Las Vegas is averaging 5.3 goals in its last three games. San Jose was the second-highest scoring team in the NHL this season. The Sharks should be good for at least three goals playing back at home where they won, 5-3, in Game 2. The Over has cashed in three of the four games in this series and during the past four times the teams have met in San Jose. Joe Thornton is back from suspension, which is a plus for the Sharks. San Jose has scored at least three goals in seven of its past eight home games.
04-18-19	Nuggets v. Spurs -3.5		108-118	Win	100	18 h 31 m	Show
I don't see the Nuggets ending a 13-game losing streak at San Antonio and upsetting the Spurs. The Spurs have far more playoff experience. They have dominated the Nuggets for 6 1/2 of the eight quarters during the first two playoff games of this series, both of which were in Denver. The prideful Spurs should have gone 2-0 against the Nuggets, but blew Game 2 in the series after leading by 19 points nearly midway through the third quarter. Denver is 4-9 ATS the past 13 times following a victory.
04-18-19	76ers v. Nets UNDER 227.5		131-115	Loss	-101	17 h 32 m	Show
It's easy to envision a high scoring game here after the 76ers buried the Nets, 145-123, on Monday in Game 2. But there is one key factor to consider: Jared Dudley is expected to play for the Nets. He missed Monday's game because of a sore calf. Dudley played in Game 1 and the Nets upset the 76ers, 111-102, with that total going Under by 13 1/2 points. Dudley's defense on Ben Simmons was huge in that Game 1 win for the Nets as Simmons could manage just nine points. Simmons posted a triple/double in Game 2 without Dudley to hound and frustrate him. Prior to Monday's loss to Philadelphia, Brooklyn had given up an average of 97.3 points in its last three games. The Nets have gone Under in six of their last seven home games. The Nets are sure to have their defensive intensity going as this is their first home playoff game since 2015. It would be a huge added bonus for the Under if Joel Embiid can't go for the 76ers. Embiid is dealing with a sore knee.
04-17-19	Flames v. Avalanche OVER 6		2-3	Loss	-105	23 h 38 m	Show
Down 2-1 in the series, the Flames are going to be going all out here. That means attack and playing up-tempo. The Flames were the No. 3 scoring team in the league during the regular season averaging 3.5 goals a game. Yet they've been held to two goals during each of the past two games. Colorado is mediocre at best defensively. So I see the Flames holding up their end in making this Over work. Things are clicking offensively now for the Avalanche. They have produced nine goals in the last two games, firing 56 shots on net in Game 3. Their power play is back to being highly dangerous. The Over is 3-1-1 the last five times the teams have met.
04-17-19	Astros v. A's UNDER 9	Top	1-2	Win	100	18 h 50 m	Show
The Astros shut down the A's hot offense on Tuesday and I see them doing it again on Wednesday behind veteran Wade Miley and an elite bullpen. Miley is 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA in six career starts against Oakland. The A's have a strong bullpen, too, and are going with promising Frankie Montas, who just beat the Orioles, 10-3, this past Wednesday. Montas is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Much of the Astros' power is negated by Oakland Coliseum being such a strong pitcher's park.
04-17-19	Bruins +109 v. Maple Leafs		6-4	Win	109	20 h 39 m	Show
This series has the feel of a zig-zag type of scenario. The Bruins are down 2-1. Their top line of Patrice Bergerson, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand haven't played well in the series. These guys are too good, though, to stay down especially given their strong history versus the Maple Leafs. I see the Bruins doing what they have to do - forechecking and slowing down the Leafs by controling the puck while getting better play from their No. 1 line - to even the series. Boston has won five of its last seven road games and is 15-5 when playing on one day's rest. Keep in mind the Maple Leafs are without suspended Nazem Kadri.
04-17-19	Giants v. Nationals -129		6-9	Win	100	15 h 24 m	Show
Jeremy Hellickson is an underrated pitcher being on a Nationals starting rotation that features Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Hellickson has the lowest ERA of those three at 2.25. Washington is 4-0 in Hellickson's last four home starts. The Giants are not a good road club. They've dropped 21 of their last 29 away matchups. Jeff Samardzija gets the start for San Francisco. He's coming off a rare gem, a 1-0 home win against the Rockies this past Wednesday. Samardzija hasn't proven nearly so effective on the road and against the Nationals. He is 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in his last six starts versus Washington. San Francisco is 2-8 in Samardzija's last 10 starts. The Giants are 0-5 in his past five away starts.
04-17-19	Royals v. White Sox UNDER 9		4-3	Win	100	11 h 51 m	Show
Lucas Giolito has been a huge disappointment given his vast potential. But there is one team Giolito has been able to dominate - the Royals. He is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in seven career outings versus Kansas City. The Royals are batting .184 against him. Giolito no-hit the Royals for six innings during his last start against them on March 31. Royals starter Brad Keller is pitching well this season and is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in eight career appearances against the White Sox, including five starts. Keller is coming off a career-high 10 strikeouts in a victory against the Indians during his previous start.
04-16-19	Thunder v. Blazers OVER 221	Top	94-114	Loss	-110	20 h 36 m	Show
Portland couldn't stop Russell Westbrook or Paul George during the regular season. They couldn't stop them in Game 1 of this playoff series. Only George and Westbrook can stop themselves by having bad shooting games. That's what happened in Game 1 as Westbrook, George and star reserve guard Dennis Schroder combined to make just four of 26 shots from 3-point range. George made only 8-of-24 shots from the field in Oklahoma City's 104-99 loss on Sunday. Now we have a slightly lower total and a strong belief the Thunder will shoot much better than 39.8 percent from the field and do far better than make just 5-of-33 shots from beyond the arc. Oklahoma City averaged a seventh-best 114.5 points per game during the regular season. The Trail Blazers' defense took a hit after losing center Jusuf Nurkic for the season with a broken leg. George says he's 100 percent now after being bothered by a sore right shoulder that kept him from playing in the Thunder's final regular season game. Portland didn't shoot well either in Game 1 making only 41.9 percent of its field goals. The Trail Blazers are the sixth-highest scoring team in the league averaging 114.7 points a game. They ranked ninth in 3-point percentage yet missed 11 of 15 3-point shots during the final three quarters. CJ McCollum is getting less rusty after missing 10 games down the stretch with a knee injury. Enes Kanter has stepped up well for Nurkic. Kanter is a better offensive player than defensive player. Both teams are strong when it comes to offensive rebounding. The Over has cashed in 75 percent of Portland's last 21 home contests going 15-5-1.
04-16-19	Astros v. A's OVER 8.5		9-1	Win	100	21 h 51 m	Show
The Astros are averaging 6.1 runs in their last eight games. The A's are averaging 9.1 runs during their last five games. The Over has cashed in each of Oakland's last seven games. I don't see a pitching matchup of Collin McHugh against Marco Estrada slowing these hot offenses down. McHugh pitched well against the A's when he faced them 11 days ago. The A's should be better prepared for McHugh having just seen him such a short time ago. Khris Davis is leading the league in homers with 10. Estrada doesn't match up up well to the Astros being a flyball pitcher who misses few bats. Estrada pitched 9 2/3 innings against Houston last season when he was with Toronto. The Astros got to him for seven earned runs on 15 hits. The spacious Oakland Coliseum is a pitcher's park. But some of that is negated by the weather conditions, which call for the wind blowing out to right at 10 mph.
04-15-19	Clippers v. Warriors OVER 230.5		135-131	Win	100	13 h 32 m	Show
After all eight first-round playoff games went Under the total, I'm expected scoring to spike up in some of the Game 2's, including this one. The Warriors are the No. 2 scoring team in the NBA. No team shoots better from the floor than the Warriors. The Clippers ranked No. 5 in scoring. The tempo was there for an Over in Game 1. But the rust factor kicked in. The Clippers shot just 40.4 percent from the field. Their playoff inexperience from some of their youngsters showed. Expect a more efficient performance from LA. Golden State produced 121 points in Game 1. A big takeaway was the return to health of Stephen Curry, who was sizzling and scored 38 points. The Clippers are well below average defensively ranking 25th. The Warriors are fully healthy and capable of putting up a huge number versus this defense. The Over has cashed in nine of the last 12 games between the two teams.
04-15-19	Predators v. Stars OVER 5		3-2	Push	0	20 h 56 m	Show
Goals have been at a premium during the first two games of the series. There hasn't been more than five goals in either game. Now the series shifts to Nashville. The Predators fired 43 shots in Game 2. Their confidence is up after a road victory. Dallas has scored nine goals in its last two home games. The Over has won the past six times the Stars have hosted the Predators. I see this game being played more wide open that the previous two. It's not too much to ask each team to produce two goals.
04-14-19	Jets +145 v. Blues		6-3	Win	145	6 h 9 m	Show
I'm going to take this price with the Jets, who are in dire straits after losing the first two games of the series at home. Both losses, though, were by one goal. The Jets led in both games. Winnipeg was 22-18-1 on the road during the regular season. The Jets also have beaten the Blues seven of the past eight times in St. Louis.
04-14-19	Thunder +3.5 v. Blazers	Top	99-104	Loss	-109	5 h 2 m	Show
If you can't stop Russell Westbrook and Paul George you can't beat the Thunder. Portland couldn't stop either one. Westbrook averaged 29.5 points, 10 rebounds and 8.8 assists against the Trail Blazers this season while George averaged 38 points and 10.5 rebounds. The result was Oklahoma City going 4-0 versus Portland with an average victory margin of seven points. Now the Trail Blazers are without their best big man, injured Jusuf Nurkic, and their second-leading scorer, CJ McCollum, hasn't looked good since coming back late in the season after missing 10 games with a knee injury.
04-13-19	Avalanche v. Flames OVER 6		3-2	Loss	-100	22 h 3 m	Show
Calgary is the No. 3 scoring team in the NHL. The Flames are going to get their share of goals. They produced four goals in Game 1 of this series. The question is can the underdog Avalanche produce enough goals to get this game Over the total? I believe they can. Colorado was the 10th-highest scoring team in the league. The Avalanche also ranked seventh in power plays. They went 0-for-4 in power play opportunities in Game 1. Mike Smith, the Flames' 37-year-old goalie, had a spectacular game against the Avalanche. Smith isn't nearly as good as he played and is past his prime. The Avalanche have one of the most dangerous lines in hockey with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, who is back after missing the last few weeks of the regular season due to injury. He returned in Game 1, but was rusty. That rust should be off for this game.
04-13-19	Clippers v. Warriors UNDER 232	Top	104-121	Win	100	23 h 59 m	Show
Despite a lot of scorers, these two teams have been sneaky Under teams in spots like this. The Under has cashed in 16 of the Clippers' last 23 road games. The Under also has cashed in 16 of the Warriors' past 21 games, including nine of their last 11 home contests. Defense should be at a premium, too, now that the playoffs have begun. Each team wants to make a physical statement in this Game 1. The Clippers have a lot of inexperience in their starting lineup with two rookies and third-year center Ivica Zubac, who had played very little until this season. Stephen Curry should play, but he is dealing with a sore ankle. So the Warriors could be limiting his minutues.
04-13-19	Mets v. Braves -125		7-11	Win	100	17 h 16 m	Show
I don't see the Mets winning a third straight road game against the Braves. Not with a pitching matchup of Jason Vargas versus Sean Newcomb. Vargas has a 9.00 ERA and is merely a journeyman fifth-type starter/long reliever at this stage of his career. Newcomb has star potential. He's looked good so far with a 1.64 ERA and has a 1.82 lifetime ERA versus the Mets in six starts.
04-13-19	Nets v. 76ers UNDER 232		111-102	Win	100	21 h 27 m	Show
This total may be priced right based on numbers and statistics. However, there are key elements that point to an Under. The Nets are in the playoffs for the first time in four years. The 76ers are in a series where they are expected to win, so the pressure is on them. This should ensure a highly concentrated effort from both teams. Defensive intensity is ramped up during the playoffs. Also note this is a very early starting time being a day game. The 76ers have hadn't their starting lineup intact since Tuesday when they managed just 99 points against the Heat. All five of the 76ers' starters sat out the team's final regular season game against the Bulls this past Wednesday. So there could be a rust factor. It would hurt the 76ers more on offense if Joel Embiid can't play. He's questionable with a sore knee. The Nets could show tightness offensively lacking playoff experience. However, they have been playing outstanding defense holding the Heat to 94 points and Pacers to 96 points during their last two games.
04-13-19	Tigers +174 v. Twins		3-4	Loss	-100	12 h 6 m	Show
The Tigers are a surprising 8-5. Tyson Ross is coming off a well-pitched 3-1 victory against the Royals from Sunday and the Twins could be rusty having not played since Wednesday. So I'll take a shot at the underdog Tigers at this price. Michael Pineda will be making just his third start for Minnesota since the middle of the 2017 season. Pineda is working his way back into shape and he's not backed by a strong bullpen. The Tigers get back Jacoby Jones, their second-best outfielder. He had missed their first 12 games with a shoulder injury.
04-12-19	Blues v. Jets -110		4-3	Loss	-110	22 h 58 m	Show
The Jets have defeated the Blues 11 of the past 15 times and I expect them to even the series after losing 2-1 at home to St. Louis in Game 1 of this playoff series on Wednesday. The Blues have been riding hot rookie goalie Jordan Binnington. But that can only go so far. The Jets are the seventh-highest scoring team in the league. The Blues are a mediocre 15th in scoring. Only once in their last eight games have the Blues produced more than three goals in a game. The Jets' defense is better with the return of defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey. Winnipeg realizes the seriousness if it were to lose the first two games of this series at home. It certainly wouldn't shock me if the Blues win this series. But for this matchup I want the Jets going for me.
04-12-19	Indians v. Royals OVER 7.5		1-8	Win	100	10 h 12 m	Show
The key is weather conditions. The wind is blowing out at 10-to-15 miles per hour. Carlos Carrasco has yet to find his rhythm with a 7.71 ERA. The Royals' offense is better than perceived ranking 16th in runs. Royals starter Brad Killer is due for regression. He's backed by one of the worst bullpens in the league. The Royals are 9-1-1 to the Over in their last 11 games.
04-12-19	Blue Jackets v. Lightning -1.5	Top	5-1	Loss	-100	20 h 48 m	Show
Tampa Bay was the best team in hockey this season - and it wasn't even close. Perhaps things came too easy for the Lightning in their playoff opener against the Blue Jackets. Columbus has been hot, but there was no excuse except overconfidence for the Lightning blowing a 3-0 lead at home to the Blue Jackets in a 4-3 loss on Wednesday. It was a hard loss for the Lightning. It's a defeat the Lightning should learn from. I expect them to bring a great deal of intensity to this Game 2 matchup. I can't lay this big of juice especially in a Stanley Cup game. But I strongly believe Tampa Bay will win this game by multiple goals so I'm going with the Lightning on the puck line laying 1 1/2 goals and getting a plus price back. Tampa Bay has won by multiple goals in nine of its last 13 victories. The Lightning defense is stronger, too, with the return of Victor Hedman, who missed the last four games of the regular season.
04-11-19	Rockies v. Giants +107		0-1	Win	107	11 h 38 m	Show
Both teams are off to slow starts. Both teams have always had a strong home bias/weak road bias. So at this price point, I'm going to go with value and taking the home Giants. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija is an innings-eater type of starter. He catches a break as Colorado is minus three starters with Daniel Murphy, David Dahl and Ryan McMahon all out with injuries. I'm not a fan of Colorado stater Jon Gray, who hasn't lived up to being a No. 1 starter type. Gray has given up at least one homer in 14 straight games. He also has a 6.15 career ERA versus the Giants in six starts.
04-11-19	Maple Leafs v. Bruins OVER 6	Top	4-1	Loss	-105	17 h 57 m	Show
There is only one way for the Maple Leafs to beat the Bruins - offense. Toronto knows this. The Maple Leafs are the more explosive team and they should be on full attack. They have enough experience now and their offense has been enhanced even more with the addition of superstar John Tavares. The Bruins have one of the best lines in hockey with Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. Those three have enjoyed plenty of success against the Maple Leafs combining for 30 points in the Bruins' seven-game playoff series win last season. Marchand and Pastrnak had strong regular season games against Toronto, too, this season. Boston can take advantage of Toronto's lack of defense and discipline. Maple Leafs' goalie Frederik Andersen didn't play well against the Bruins either during last season's playoff series.
04-11-19	Maple Leafs +131 v. Bruins		4-1	Win	131	16 h 26 m	Show
The Stanley Cup playoffs opened Wednesday. One of the five matchups was in the pick range. But underdogs emerged victorious in three of the other four first-round, first-game matchups. Heavily favored Tampa Bay was one of those losers. That's a huge break for Boston. The Bruins could be vulnerable against revenge-minded Toronto here. The Maple Leafs nearly upset the Bruins in the playoffs last season losing in seven games. This time around the Maple Leafs are more experienced and have added superstar John Tavares. Toronto holds a speed and offensive edge. The pressure is on Boston, too.
04-10-19	Kings +4.5 v. Blazers		131-136	Loss	-110	7 h 10 m	Show
The Kings aren't making the playoffs. But a victory here gives them 40 wins. That's a big deal for Sacramento. Word is the Kings are going to play their regular rotation and go hard here. Portland, on the other hand, will be sitting out its two best players as All-Star guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are not expected to play. The Trail Blazers have the playoffs on their mind not this game.
04-10-19	Golden Knights v. Sharks OVER 6	Top	2-5	Win	100	20 h 0 m	Show
Las Vegas upgraded its offense with free agent signings and trades this season. The Golden Knights now have two powerful scoring lines to go with excellent depth. The Golden Knights also will be operating against San Jose's shaky goaltending. Martin Jones has an .896 save percentage and 3.28 GAA in 13 career games against Las Vegas. He could be the weakest starting goalie of any of the playoff teams. The Sharks are the No. 2 scoring team in the league. They have four players - Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane and Timo Meier - who all scored at least 30 goals. In addition, the Sharks have the top offensive defenseman in Brent Burns. Eric Karlsson, another superstar defenseman known for his offense, has returned from injury. The Over has cashed in seven of the past 10 meetings between the two teams.
04-10-19	Stars +150 v. Predators		3-2	Win	150	19 h 1 m	Show
This is a nice price to get a Stars team that has won seven of their last nine road games and is the superior defensive team. Dallas is the No. 2 defensive team in the NHL. Only one of the Stars' past 19 opponents was able to score more than three goals in a game against them. Goalie Ben Bishop enters the playoffs following a huge regular season where he set a personal single season record for shutouts and led the NHL in save percentage. The Predators have the league's worst power play.
04-10-19	Nationals v. Phillies OVER 9		15-1	Win	100	4 h 14 m	Show
The Nationals rank seventh in runs. The Phillies are the fourth-highest scoring team in the Majors. Washington has scored at least five runs in six of its last nine games. The Nationals are going against Nick Pivetta, who is a high strikeout pticher but gives up a lot of walks and baserunners. The Phillies' bullpen has been inconsistent. The Phillies go against Jeremy Hellickson, who is a fifth-starter type, rusty and has a bad current history against the Phillies. The Nationals' bullpen has been struggling, too.
04-10-19	Rays v. White Sox UNDER 8		9-1	Loss	-100	16 h 46 m	Show
Rays starter Tyler Glasnow is showing signs of reaching his great potential. He has a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings this season. White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez flashed his high ceiling during times last season. He's facing a Rays offense that has produced four or fewer runs in eight of their 12 games. Both pitchers are going to be tremendously aided by the weather conditions, which call for temperatures in the 30's and the wind blowing in at 10-to-14 miles per hour.
04-09-19	Braves v. Rockies -122		7-1	Loss	-122	11 h 25 m	Show
I see the Rockies getting back on track with a home victory. So does the oddsmaker as he has installed Colorado as a short favorite despite the Rockies' poor 3-8 record. Colorado always plays better at Coors Field. The Rockets are 24 games above .500 playing there during the previous two seasons. They have scored six runs in three of their four home games this season. The pitching matchup is Max Fried versus German Marquez. The Rockies have tremendous faith in Marquez signing him to a five-year, $43 million contract extension this past Saturday. Marquez finished 2018 strong going 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA with a 138-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Marquez has continued this excellent form giving up only one run in 13 innings this year with 14 strikeouts. He should be really pumped for this matchup being his first start since signing the big contract extension. Fried looked great against the Cubs last week, but remains unproven. Pitching at Coors is a different experience. Fried made one relief appearance at Coors last season. It did not go well. He gave up three runs, three walks and a homer in 2 2/3 innings. The Braves may be down to their third-string catcher, too. Brian McCann is on the DL and Tyler Flowers is day-to-day with a hand injury.
04-09-19	Raptors v. Wolves +7	Top	120-100	Loss	-105	18 h 17 m	Show
This is the Timberwolves' final home game of the season. So a strong effort should be forthcoming from them. Minnesota has been good at home going 25-15 SU, 22-18 ATS at Target Center. Toronto has a losing road point spread mark. This game also means nothing to the Raptors since they are locked into the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. It's the Raptors' final regular season game so obviously they would like to avoid any injury, which could mean sitting out a star such as Kyle Lowery and Kawhi Leonard. The Timberwolves are down to third-string point guard Tyus Jones. He's coming off a career-high in assists, though, and is bolstered by talented scorers, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Dario Saric Minnesota has covered the past four times against Toronto, too.
04-08-19	Texas Tech +1.5 v. Virginia	Top	77-85	Loss	-106	34 h 33 m	Show
Texas Tech plus 1 1/2 vs. Virginia Great, great job by Chris Beard and Texas Tech reaching the NCAA Tournament title game. Virginia is here, too. The pressure is all on the Cavaliers - and they usually don't respond well to it. The Cavaliers were the first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tourney history to lose to a 16th seed last year. They trailed Gardner-Webb at halftime in their opening NCAA Tourney game this year. Virginia is darn lucky to even survive having nipped Oregon by four points, slipped past Purdue in overtime and received a couple of official's gifts in edging Auburn by one on Saturday winning in highly controversial fashion. Virginia is 2-7 ATS in its last nine NCAA Tournament games. Texas Tech is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 games and 11-0 ATS the past 11 times going against a foe that has a winning record. The Cavaliers for the first time are going to face an opponent that can match them - if not exceed them - defensively. The Red Raiders held Michigan State to its lowest point total of the season, something I'm not sure Virginia could have done.
04-08-19	Texas Tech v. Virginia OVER 117.5	Top	77-85	Win	100	25 h 11 m	Show
I understand these are the two best defensive teams in the country and that obviously the intensity is going to be at its highest level. But the oddsmaker and early marketplace activity is overreacting to this driving this total to this number. It's the lowest of the season for Texas Tech and second-lowest for Virginia. Texas Tech has been a decent scoring team. The Red Raiders are averaging 76.3 points during their past 13 games. The Cavaliers have reached at least 63 points in all but two of their last 13 games. The overtime also is more of a possibility given the close point spread. So is excessive fouling at the end with this being the championship game.
04-08-19	Dodgers v. Cardinals +112		3-4	Win	112	17 h 24 m	Show
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu is a very good pitcher at Dodger Stadium. He's not so good away from home, though, with a 3.58 road ERA last season compared to 1.15 at home. The Dodgers are 0-4 in Ryu's last four starts versus the Cardinals. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas went 8-4 with a 2.17 ERA at Busch Stadium last year. The Cardinals are 7-1 in Mikolas' last eight home starts and 22-7 in his lifetime starts for 76 percent. Not only does the pitching matchup favor the Cardinals, but so does the situation. The Cardinals have been home while the Dodgers had to fly in during the early morning hours after playing in the Sunday night game against the Rockies in Colorado. The game stretched out nearly four hours.
04-07-19	Nuggets v. Blazers -3	Top	108-115	Win	100	18 h 23 m	Show
Portland has short revenge for a 119-110 road loss to the Nuggets on Friday. That victory just about locked up the No. 2 seed in the West for the Nuggets. It gives the Nuggets enough cushion that they feel comfortable sitting out their three best players against the Trail Blazers. Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap are all going to miss this game putting the Nuggets at a huge disadvantage. Those three led the Nuggets to their victory against the Trail Blazers two days earlier scoring a combined 70 points. The Nuggets are 3-8 ATS the past 11 times following a victory. Denver has been a mediocre road team all season with just a 20-19 away record. Portland is 30-9 at home and 12-3-1 ATS following a point spread loss. The Trail Blazers not only have short revenge motivation, but are going for playoff seeding still holding a chance at gaining the No. 3 seed. The Trail Blazers hold the No. 4 seed, one game ahead of the Jazz with Utah holding the tiebreaker. CJ McCollum is probable for the Trail Blazers. McCollum, the Trail Blazers' second-leading scorer, has missed the past 10 games with a knee injury. His presence should serve as added inspiration.
04-07-19	Nuggets v. Blazers UNDER 218		108-115	Loss	-105	18 h 20 m	Show
These teams have been playing good defense while playing at a slow pace. The Nuggets are the sixth-best defensive team in the NBA, while the Trail Blazers rank 13th. Portland has held four of its last six opponents to fewer than 100 points. Denver has gone Under the total in 21 of its last 28 games. Yet there were 229 points scored when the teams met this past Friday in Denver with the Nuggets winning, 119-110. Portland shot 48.8 percent from the floor and were 16-20 for 80 percent from the foul line. The Trail Blazers shoot 46.7 percent from the field on the season. The Nuggets hit 51.2 percent of their field goals and were 26 of 29 from the free throw line for 89.7 percent. Denver shoots 46.6 percent from the foul line on the season and 76 percent from the charity stripe. I don't expect the teams to match those shooting performances especially the Nuggets as they are going to be sitting out their three top scorers, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap. The three combined to go 25-for-42 from the floor for 60 percent in Friday's game.
04-07-19	Padres v. Cardinals OVER 8.5		1-4	Loss	-120	10 h 10 m	Show
It's time for the Cardinals to close the book on Adam Wainwright. He hasn't been good for three years and he's not going to regain his form at 37. Wainwright's ERA the past three seasons are 4.62, 5.11 and 4.46. He was roughed up in his first start this season. Wainwright is going against lefty Matt Strahm, who also had a rough opening start this year. Neither pitcher is going to be aided by the weather conditions, which call for wind to be blowing out at 12 mph. The Padres are a much better offensive club this season and they usually hit better away from Petco Park. The Over is 9-3-1 in their last 13 road games. The Cardinals have gone Over in 14 of their last 17 home games when facing a lefty starter.
04-06-19	Blackhawks v. Predators -1.5	Top	2-5	Win	120	17 h 11 m	Show
The Blackhawks didn't make the playoffs again, but they did finish the home portion of their disappointing season in style with a 6-1 victory against the Stars Friday night. Now, though, the Blackhawks travel to Nashville to face the Predators in the regular season finale with the Predators needing a victory to lock up the Central Division. I forsee a letdown and fatigue issues for the Blackhawks against the highly motivated Predators. This will be Chicago's fourth game in six days and second in two nights. The Blackhawks are 8-21 the past 29 times playing on zero rest and 3-8 when playing for the fourth time in six days. The Blackhawks also are fat and happy from their impressive victory against Dallas Friday. Nashville is 4-1 in its last five games. The Predators aren't going to screw around after pulling out a 3-2 win against the lowly Canucks at home on Thursday after falling behing 2-0. The Predators have defeated the Blackhawks four of the past five times at home and are 8-3 overall versus them during the last 11 meetings.
04-06-19	Sabres v. Red Wings -113		7-1	Loss	-113	6 h 43 m	Show
The Red Wings have shown life down the stretch winning six of their last seven. The Sabres have been dreadful since early in the season going 15-41 in their last 56 games. The Sabres did halt an eight-game losing streak with a home win against the Senators in their last game. Look for the Sabres to mail this one in.
04-06-19	Auburn v. Virginia -5	Top	62-63	Loss	-110	102 h 15 m	Show
Auburn is really going to miss Chuma Okeke. He's the Tigers' leading rebounder, top defender and third-leading scorer. The Tigers have gotten away with his absence by their long-range hot shooting. That's not going to work against Virginia. Not only do the Cavaliers give up the fewest points per game in the nation, but they rank in the top five in defensive field goal percentage, 3-point defense and defensive rebounding. The Cavaliers haven't played up to their capabilities in the NCAA Tournament so far. I see them finally bringing their "A" game to the table here. The Cavaliers have covered 75 percent of their 20 non-home games this season. I trust them in this spot against this one-dimensional opponent missing its best player.
04-06-19	Twins v. Phillies OVER 8		6-2	Push	0	10 h 10 m	Show
The Phillies are the No. 1 scoring team in the Majors averging 8.1 runs per game. They have scored at least eight runs in all but one of their six games. The Twins are averaging 6.2 runs during their last four games. The Over has cashed in 10 of Minnesota's past 14 road contests. A starting pitching matchup of Michael Pineda versus Jake Arrieta isn't going to cool of these hot offenses, especially in a great hitter's park and with each team lacking an estabished closer. Pineda is making just his second appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery. Prior to going four innings against the Indians last Sunday, Pineda hadn't pitched since July 5, 2017. Pineda isn't likely to pitch deep into the game even if he's on. That means the Twins' shaky bullpen has to pitch multiple innings. Arrieta is 33 and has been slipping the past couple of seasons. He's gone from an ace to a third-to-fourth type rotation starter.
04-05-19	Blazers v. Nuggets UNDER 216	Top	110-119	Loss	-109	20 h 28 m	Show
Unlike other NBA games at this time, this one holds playoffs ramifications. The Nuggets hold the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rockets and two games ahead of the Trail Blazers. The teams meet again in Portland on Sunday. So if the Trail Blazers manage a sweep they could be tied for the No. 2 playoff spot. So there should be a lot of intensity and defense in this game. Portland remains without two of its three best scorers with CJ McCollum (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (broken leg) out. The Trail Blazers are playing more half-court because of these injuries, slowing the tempo while looking to feed big men Enes Kanter and Zach Collins. Only five teams have played at a slower tempo than Portland during the past 10 games. The Trail Blazers have stepped up their defense holding four of their last five opponents to fewer than 100 points. The Nuggets have become a huge Under team because of their slow tempo ranking 29th in pace during the past 10 games. If you discount a 116-point game to Golden State, the Nuggets are giving up 97.8 points per game during their last five matchups. The Under has cashed 78 percent of the time during the Nuggets' last 27 games going 21-6.
04-05-19	Stars v. Blackhawks UNDER 6.5		1-6	Loss	-125	8 h 38 m	Show
It's tough to go Under in games involving the Blackhawks. But the Stars give up the second-fewest goals in the league. They have not given up more than three goals during their last 17 games. The Blackhawks have been playing better defense. They've held seven of their last 10 opponents to three goals or fewer. This is Chicago's final home game of the season. So a maximum effort should be forthcoming.
04-05-19	Knicks +17.5 v. Rockets		96-120	Loss	-109	9 h 11 m	Show
The Rockets just got through with road games against the Kings on Tuesday and Clippers on Wednesday. Houston won those games by 25 and 32 points, respectively. The Rockets have another easy home opponent on Sunday taking on the Suns. So this is a major flat spot for the Rockets. It would not shock in the least if they sat out starters, or greately reduced their minutes for this matchup.
04-05-19	Twins v. Phillies OVER 8		4-10	Win	100	6 h 27 m	Show
The Twins have gotten their bats going averaging seven runs per game during their last three games. Phillies starter Nick Pivetta is a great strikeout pitcher, but gives up a lot of runs. The Over has cashed the past four times he has started. The Phillies are No. 2 in the Majors in runs scored averaging 7.8 per game. They have scored eight or more runs in four of their five games. Twins starter Jake Odorizzi is up-and-down. He's coming off a good performance, but rarely is consistent. He had a 4.49 ERA with the Twins last season. The Over has cashed in nine of the Twins' last 13 road games. Friday Free Play Brewers minus $1.22 hosting Cubs Maybe the well runs dry here. But the Cubs are real fade material right now. One week into the baseball season, the Cubs are a disaster. It's not just their 1-5 record, but how they are losing games and the mindset of the team. The Cubs are pressing. Their defense has been terrbile. They've given up the second-most runs per game and their bullpen is one of the worst in baseball already blowing three saves. Chicago has the second-highest payroll in the league yet can't come up with a legitimate leadoff hitter. Ever since he nearly blew the World Series three seasons ago with his horriffic overmanaging, I've been off the Joe Maddon bandwagon. Now it's time to think about a new manager. The Cubs are soft. They best would be served by a firmer hand. Milwaukee is showing last season wasn't a fluke. The Brewers have the best record in the National League at 6-1. The Brewers have won 67 percent of their past 83 home games. The pitching matchup is southpaw Jose Quintana versus Brandon Woodruff. Quintana has been a major disappointment the past couple of years going from underrated with the White Sox to overrated with the Cubs. He does, though, have a strong history against the Brewers with a 6-2 record and 1.62 ERA in 11 caeer starts against them. That record, though, is reflected in the line. The Brewers are 6-1 the past seven times they have faced a lefty starter at home. Quintana's routine may be off, too. He hasn't made a start this season having pitched four innings of long relief against the Rangers this past Saturday. I prefer Woodruff and a superior Brewers bullpen that has a devastating multi-inning reliever in Josh Hader. He is unscored upon and has 10 strikeouts in five innings while posting four saves already. Hader had a mind-boggling 143 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings last year with a 2.43 ERA. The Brewers are rested having been idle Thursday. Their main rivalry is with the Cubs. They have defeated the Cubs eight the past 11 times, including going 4-1 the past five times at home. Christian Yelich gives the Brewers the best all-around everyday player on the field. Unlike the Cubs, everything is good with the Brewers right now. Maybe the Cubs finally show life. Until then, though, I'll go against them if the price is right.
04-04-19	Warriors v. Lakers +13.5		108-90	Loss	-110	21 h 27 m	Show
The Lakers have been playing better lately with no pressure and with LeBron James sitting out. LA is 4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS in its last five games. But I'm not kidding myself. If the Warriors want to bury the Lakers they can. I just don't see Golden State being motivated to do that. The Warriors pretty much locked up top seed in the West with their 116-102 home win against the Nuggets on Tuesday. Golden State is 4-11 ATS the past 15 times following a victory and has an easy finish to the regular season concluding against four of five lottery-bound teams. The Warriors host the Cavaliers on Friday so they likely aren't going to tax any of their stars. Steve Kerr also doesn't want to pile on, or embarrass, Lakers coach Luke Walton. Walton is a former assistant coach for the Warriors and Kerr. His job with the Lakers is in jeopardy. The Lakers have covered 10 of their past 14 home games when meeting a foe with a winning percentage greater than .600.
04-04-19	Jets +103 v. Avalanche	Top	2-3	Loss	-100	19 h 21 m	Show
The Jets are the better team and are in circle-the-wagons mode having lost four of their last five. That puts them in a tie with Nashville for the lead in the Central Division. The Jets held a closed door meeting after a 5-1 road loss to the Wild on Tuesday. I'm expecting a maximum effort from the Jets. Their defense has been upgraded with the recent return from injury of Dustin Byfuglien. The Avalanche, on the other hand, have come on to just about clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They have a four-point lead on the Coyotes with each team having two games remaining in the regular season. So a letdown could be in store for the Avalanche.
04-04-19	Reds v. Pirates OVER 7.5		0-2	Loss	-110	8 h 9 m	Show
A pair of fifth starter-types go here making this total too low. Reds pitcher Tyler Mahle had a 4.98 ERA last season. He is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates, who are swinging hot bats. Pittsburgh has scored 17 runs in its last four games. The Reds are not in a good offensive groove, but they are going against Jordan Lyles and a bad and overworked Pirates bullpen. Lyles has a 4.53 lifetime ERA against the Reds.
04-03-19	Flames v. Ducks +155		1-3	Win	155	14 h 14 m	Show
Kudos to the Calgary Flames in capturing the Western Conference regular-season title. The Flames have clinched home ice for the Western Conference playoffs. Right now the Flames' priority is getting ready for the playoffs. That means getting fully healthy and rested. Calgary sat out six regulars in its last game, a victory against the Kings. I don't see the Flames being able to get away with that against the Ducks - and the underdog price is worth taking a shot on Anaheim. The Ducks have had a disappointing season. But they have been respectable lately going 9-6 in their last 15 games. They shouldn't lack motivation after losing 6-1 at Calgary this past Friday. Anaheim has absolutely dominated Calgary at home, too, winning an astounding 31 times during the past 32 times there.
04-03-19	Astros -1.5 v. Rangers	Top	0-4	Loss	-109	11 h 4 m	Show
The Astros have dominated the Rangers at Globe Life Park winning 14 of the past 16 times (88%) there. I see this as a kill spot for the Astros so I'm laying 1 1/2 runs playing the run line in order to cut back on the heavy juice. The pitching matchup is Gerrit Cole versus lefty Mike Minor. Cole is an elite pitcher, who is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in five career outings versus the Rangers with four of those starts occurring last season. Minor is a borderline starter, who was hammered in his first start this year giving up six runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs. The Astros are 39-23 against southpaws since last season, including 2-0 this year.
04-03-19	Senators v. Rangers OVER 6		4-1	Loss	-113	7 h 25 m	Show
This should be a very loose game between non-playoff teams. Ottawa gives up the most goals in the league. The Senators also are going with backup goalie Anders Nilsson, who has allowed 12 goals in his last two starts. The Rangers have gone Over the total in four of their last five games.
04-03-19	Celtics -115 v. Heat		112-102	Win	100	9 h 25 m	Show
The teams just met two days ago at Boston and the Celtics won, 110-105. Boston, though, had built up a 23-point lead in the second half before letting things slip. The Celtics are the superior team and they should be more careful in this quick rematch. The Heat had trouble matching up against Al Horford, who had a triple-double. Horford is playing his finest ball of the season averaging 19.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists during his last five games. Gordon Hayward also is playing his best ball coming off the bench. Miami has been better on the road than at home. The Heat are 18-21 at American Airlines Arena, 16-22 ATS there. The Celtics have covered in eight of their last 11 visits to Miami.
04-02-19	Nuggets v. Warriors -8	Top	102-116	Win	100	22 h 31 m	Show
I give the Nuggets tremendous credit for their outstanding season. But they are not in Golden State's class. When the Warriors are motivated they can bury any team, including the Nuggets. The Warriors have proven that in the last two meetings defeating the Nuggets by an average of 24 points the past two times. Denver is not a good road team as evidenced by covering only 42 percent of its road games this season. The Warriors will be focused. They are hitting their stride after destroying the Hornets, 137-90, this past Sunday at home. Denver enters the matchup trying to fix its offense. The Nuggets are averaging fewer than 95 points a game during their past five games. Golden State ranks No. 2 in scoring at 117.7 points a game. The Warriors rank No. 1 in field goal percentage. The Nuggets aren't as good as the Warriors and the timing for this showdown matchup isn't good either for Denver.
04-02-19	Angels v. Mariners -117		1-2	Win	100	9 h 11 m	Show
This price is low enough to get involved with the Mariners. Seattle is off to a fast start with 6-1 record. The Mariners are swinging hot bats averaging 7.7 runs per game. The Angels own a 6-2 win against the A's. However, they have scored just six runs in their four other games. The pitching matchup pits journeyman Trevor Cahill against Marco Gonzales, who was 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA against the Angels last season. Seattle is 5-1 versus the Angles the past six times Gonzales has started against them. The Angels also have trouble playing in Seattle losing in six of their last seven visits.
04-02-19	Oilers v. Avalanche OVER 5.5		2-6	Win	100	11 h 59 m	Show
I see a loose game here with enough scoring to cash an Over. Edmonton is coming off a lackluster 3-1 loss to Las Vegas last night. That officially eliminated the Oilers from the playoffs. I envision the Oilers playing more loose here. Connor McDavid is having a monster season and can hurt the Avalanche. The Over is 4-0-1 the past five times the Oilers have played without rest. Colorado is off a tough 3-2 loss to the Blues in overtime last night. The Avalanche drop way down in defensive class after having just faced the Blues. They had scored three or more goals in seven of their last eight games before losing to the Blues. The Over is 4-0-1 between the two teams during their last five games in Colorado.
04-02-19	Bruins v. Blue Jackets OVER 5.5		6-2	Win	100	3 h 39 m	Show
The Bruins are averaging 4.4 goals in their last seven games, but are giving up an average of 4.2 goals in their last five games. The Over has cashed in seven of their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets have been on a good scoring binge, too, averaging 4.8 goals in their last five games. The Over has cashed in eight of the past nine meetings between the two teams, too.
04-02-19	Wichita State v. Lipscomb +1	Top	64-71	Win	100	16 h 16 m	Show
Lipscomb lacks the name recoginition of Wichita State. But the Bisons are the better team. The Bisons had 14 road victories, most in the nation. So they are well-tested away from home. They are 21-7-1 ATS during their past 29 nonconference games. The Bisons have plenty of experience from last season's NCAA Tournament team. They are 19-3 in their last 22 games and rank in the Top 10 in scoring, scoring margin and assists. I respect Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall. But the Shockers are going to have problems matching up against senior guard Garrison Mathews, who can light things up from the perimeter like he did against North Carolina State in the quarterfinals of this NIT tournament scoring 44 points. Matthews has averaged at least 20 points in each of the past three seasons.
04-01-19	Angels v. Mariners OVER 8.5	Top	3-6	Win	100	21 h 33 m	Show
The Mariners have gone Over the total in five of their six games this season. Seattle has a very underrated offense. The Mariners are averaging eight runs a game. However, the Mariners have a very unsettled bullpen with no reliable closer. Seattle is giving up 5.8 runs per game. The Mariners should keep their hot bats going against Chris Stratton, who had a 4.63 ERA with the Giants last season and wasn't very effective. The Angels should get their share of runs facing Felix Hernandez, who hasn't won since June 30 of last season. If Hernandez wasn't "King Felix" he wouldn't even be in a starting rotation. Too much wear and tear has reduced Hernandez to someone who shouldn't be in a big league starting rotation. He is 0-8 with a 6.34 ERA in his last 11 starts.
04-01-19	Flames v. Kings +128		7-2	Loss	-100	9 h 57 m	Show
The Kings have shown life winning four of their last six games. But the main handicap here is a fade on the Flames. Calgary just clinched the top seed in the Western Conference with a 5-3 road victory against the Sharks last night. So the Flames are in a huge letdown spot.
04-01-19	Jets -111 v. Blackhawks		4-3	Win	100	7 h 26 m	Show
It is sinking in to the Blackhawks that they are not going to make the playoffs having gone 2-5 in their last seven games. That's demoralizing. The Jets should be motivated hitting the road after three straight home losses. The Jets are the superior team and are 3-0 versus the Blackhawks this season.
04-01-19	Maple Leafs -102 v. Islanders		2-1	Win	100	18 h 28 m	Show
The Maple Leafs should be motivated for this matchup after the Islanders embarrased them and prideful John Tavares, 6-1, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 28. Backup Garret Sparks was in goal for Toronto in that game. Frederick Andersen is expected to start in net for the Maple Leafs in this rematch. Toronto catches the Islanders in a possible letdown spot. New York clinched a playoff spot for the first time in three season after beating the Sabres, 5-1, on Saturday.
04-01-19	Pistons v. Pacers -5.5		102-111	Win	100	8 h 2 m	Show
Situation, key injury and past history all point to the Pacers being the right side here. The Pacers are in stop-the-pain mode as they battle for playoff seeding having dropped seven of their last eight games. They suffered a tough two-point road loss to the Celtics on Friday, but then laid an egg at home against the Magic, losing 121-116 on Saturday. The Pacers surrendered 65 second-half points to the Magic. Indiana is the No. 1 ranked defense in the NBA. I see the Pacers playing with a great deal of intensity and tightening up their prideful defense. They draw the Pistons minus their most dangerous scorer, Blake Griffin, and coming off a highly-satisfying home comeback victory against the Trail Blazers on Saturday. Until that win against Portland, Detroit was 0-3 when they were minus Griffin. The Pistons are much worse on the road with a 14-24 record. The Pacers are much stronger at home with a 28-10 mark, 22-16 ATS. The Pacers have covered eight of the past 11 times at home when meeting an opponent with a sub .500 record on the road. The Pacers have dominated the Pistons, too, at home covering seven of the past eight times.
04-01-19	DePaul v. South Florida -114	Top	61-63	Win	100	16 h 27 m	Show
Note this is the College Basketball Invitational championship series. But it is the best two-of-three. South Florida needs to protect its home court. The Blue Devils will host South Florida on Wednesday. The Bulls are by far the better defensive team. DePaul is weak defensively and bad on the road. South Florida is ranked higher in Ken Pomeroy's ratings. The Bulls have surrendered just 57 points and 47 points, respectively, during their past two games in the tournament. South Florida is 17-5 at home. DePaul is 3-8 on the road and has failed to cover in its past four away matchups.
03-31-19	White Sox v. Royals UNDER 8.5	Top	6-3	Loss	-101	10 h 56 m	Show
Lucas Giolito has a lot of potential. That potential rarely surfaced last season, though, except when Giolito went against the Royals. He was 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA in six starts against Kansas City last season holding the Royals to a .199 batting averge. Jorge Lopez goes for the Royals. The White Sox have never seen him giving Lopez an edge. Neither team has a strong offense. The Under is 6-1-1 the past eight times the teams have met in Kansas City.
03-30-19	Texas Tech v. Gonzaga -4	Top	75-69	Loss	-109	19 h 13 m	Show
Sure Texas Tech has the capability of upsetting Gonzaga. The Red Raiders play tenacious defense and have a tremendous coach in Chris Beard. But Texas Tech would have to play its "A" game and Gonzaga would have to be off its game. I don't see that happening. Gonzaga has the deep tournament experience, a height advantage, leads the nation in scoring and has a very strong defense, too. Gonzaga ranks No. 1 in the country in scoring, field goal percentage, scoring margin and assist-to-turnover ratio. But the Bulldogs aren't just offense. They also ranked sixth in defensive efficiency, tied for sixth in defensive field goal percentage and were tied for 18th in defensive 3-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs are deeper than Texas Tech, too, with a 10-man rotation. The Red Raiders are going to have problems up front dealing with Gonzaga's star big men, Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke. Add it all up and Gonzaga has enough edges to cover this number.
03-30-19	Cavs +10 v. Clippers		108-132	Loss	-109	12 h 44 m	Show
The Clippers have to be feeling good about making the playoffs in the tough Western Conference. The Clippers still have incentive in a battle for playoff seeding. But this is a vulnerable spot for them. LA just returned home on Friday after a four-game, seven-day road swing that concluded on Thursday night against the Bucks. This is nearly a back-to-back situation for the Clippers due to this being an afternoon game. It's easy to forsee the Clippers being sluggish, not fully focused having been gone for a week and taking on a terrible opponent they just defeated eight days ago. The Clippers are likely to save some of their energy, too, since they host the Grizzlies on Sunday. The Cavaliers have taken advantage of often overinflated lines to go 8-4-1 ATS during their past 13 games. They have covered six of the last eight times against opponents with a winning record. Cleveland is sailing below-the-radar screen right now. Cleveland played the Clippers tough in their first matchup, losing 110-108. Kevin Love gives the Cavaliers a modicum of respectability and Collin Sexton could be the most underrated rookie in the league. Sexton has scored at least 20 points in 10 of his last 11 games.
03-29-19	Hornets v. Lakers +2.5		115-129	Win	100	13 h 54 m	Show
LeBron James. That's all you need to know as to why Lakers here. Even though the Lakers are out of the playoffs and enduring a highly disappointing season, James makes the Lakers dangerous at home against mediocre opponents. He didn't play in the Lakers' last game, a 115-100 road loss to the Jazz this past Wednesday. But James was in full force leading the Lakers to home victories against the Wizards and Kings in LA's two previous games. James should be fresh for this matchup since he was rested against the Jazz. That's extremely bad news for the Hornets. James has destroyed this team through the years. His lifetime record against the Hornets is 47-6. This includes a 128-100 Lakers victory over Charlotte on Dec. 15 when James had a triple-double. The Hornets certainly can not be trusted on the road where they have played much worse going 11-24.
03-29-19	Virginia Tech v. Duke -7	Top	73-75	Loss	-104	18 h 11 m	Show
Duke had its scare surviving Central Florida, 77-76, in its last game. The Blue Devils pulled that one out down three points with 14.4 seconds left. Expect a much better performance here from the Blue Devils. Duke is big-game, tournament experienced while Virginia Tech hasn't made the Sweet 16 since 1962. The Hokies are 2-6 ATS the past eight times meeting a foe with a winning record. The Blue Devils were missing Zion Williamson when they fell, 77-72, to Virginia Tech on the road during the second-to-last week of the regular season. Duke won't be flat here. The Hokies aren't beating the Blue Devils a second time this season.
03-28-19	Florida State v. Gonzaga UNDER 147.5	Top	58-72	Win	100	19 h 59 m	Show
Gonzaga always is one of the highest scoring teams in the country. That certainly was true this season. The Bulldogs led the nation in scoring at 88.6. But what also is true is the oddsmaker sets very high totals on Gonzaga games knowing the public roots for offense. That's a reason why the Under has won 11 of the last 16 times the Bulldogs have played in the NCAA Tournament. The flip side of this equation is Florida State is very strong defensively. The Seminoles hold foes to 67 points per game and rank 30th in defensive field goal percentage. Florida State held Gonzaga to 60 points when the teams met in the NCAA Tournament last season. The combined score added up to 135 points with the Seminoles scoring a 75-60 upset win. Gonzaga should play with super intensity in this rematch. The Bulldogs, though, didn't encounter too many elite defenses competing in the West Coast Conference. St. Mary's probably was the best. The Gaels held Gonzaga to an average of 58 points during the past two meetings. The Bulldogs are a very underrated defensive club. They ranked 31st defensively surrendering an average of 64.8 points a game. Forida State is not a good shooting team and well below average in 3-point shooting percentage ranking a dismal 221st. Note, too, the venue for this matchup. It's the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., where the Under has covered 73 percent of the time during the past 55 times when the total was 124 1/2 or higher.
03-28-19	Canadiens v. Blue Jackets UNDER 5.5		2-6	Loss	-104	9 h 20 m	Show
Sparked by a great comeback season from Carey Price, the Canadiens have given up two or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games. The Under has cashed in six of those eight games. Price is projected to be in net today. He has given up just 13 goals in his last eight games. Sergei Bobrovsky is projected to be in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky is in great form posting shutouts in his last two starts. These are two superstar goalies when they are right - and both are right. The intensity and defensive level should be extremely high here with the final wildcard playoff spot in the East at stake. This has been a strong Under series with the Under winning six of the last seven times.
03-28-19	Mets v. Nationals -125		2-0	Loss	-125	11 h 16 m	Show
The two best pitchers in the National League square off here - Jacob deGrom versus Max Scherzer. Between them they have won the last three National League Cy Young Awards. So why get involved backing the Nationals? They are the superior team with home field advantage. Washington has won 72 percent of its last 32 home games when Scherzer has started. Much of that is built into the line where the Nationals are favored. But what sways me completely over to the Nationals' side is the unique backstory to the Mets' travel arrangements. The Mets didn't orginally fly to D.C. from their Florida-based spring training, but to Syracuse, N.Y. to conduct practices there in cold weather to celebrate the town being where their new minor league Triple A affiliate is. This game goes at an an early start time and part of the Mets' travel itinerary involved being on a bus and low level hotel. Making matters worse is their team flight from Florida to Syracuse was delayed three hours. The team wasn't happy with this arrangement, particulary star pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who spoke out against it.
03-27-19	Colorado v. Texas -5.5	Top	55-68	Win	100	19 h 54 m	Show
Texas is home and the superior team. The Longhorns rank 30th, according to Kenpom ratings, while Colorado checks in at No. 63. The key question is how motivated are the Longhorns? They were tremendously disappointed not to make the NCAA Tournament. Colorado, on the other hand, has embraced the NIT with its young players having the attitude of using this tournament to gain valuable postseason experience for next year. Fewer than 1,600 fans showed up for Texas' first round home game in the NIT. Normally the Longhorns draw more than 10,000 fans for their home contests at the Erwin Center. The Longhorns doubled their attendance for their second NIT home game. Now with the Longhorns a win away from going to New York for the semifinals of the tournament, the fans and team are starting to get excited. If motivated, Texas should cover this number against Colorado. The Buffaloes are 5-8 in true road contests. Texas is 14-6 at home. Among the Longhorns' home wins were victories against Purdue, Oklahoma, Kansas, Baylor and Iowa State. All of those teams made the NCAA Tournament. The Big East was much better than the Pac-12 this season. Texas didn't make the Big Dance because it went 1-4 down the stretch, including losing to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament. Star guard Kerwin Roach was suspended for all those games. Roach is back and off his best game in more than a month scoring 21 points with eight rebounds and six assists in the Longhorns' 78-76 overtime victory in their second-round NIT game against Xavier. That's a very encouraging sign for Texas. And just another reason why I like the Longhorns to cover this number.
03-27-19	Pacers v. Thunder UNDER 215		99-107	Win	100	10 h 25 m	Show
These teams met fewer than two weeks ago at Indiana and the Pacers nipped the Thunder, 108-106, coming from 19 points down. So the Thunder have short revenge. But the Pacers have been idle since Sunday so they should bring a lot of energy - defensive energy that is. Indiana ranks No. 1 in the NBA in defense surrendering 103.9 points a game. The Under has cashed in six of Indiana's last seven road games. Oklahoma City has been playing strong defense, too, ranking in the top six in defensive efficiency during the past eight games. The Under has cashed in five of the Thunder's past seven home contests. This has become an Under series, too, with below the total cashing the past four times.
03-26-19	Rockets +4 v. Bucks	Top	94-108	Loss	-100	20 h 44 m	Show
You would have to go back to Feb. 21 to find the last time the Rockets lost by more than four points. That's a span of 17 games. Houston is 14-2 in its last 16 games. The Rockets' only two losses during this 16-game span occurred to the Warriors by two points and on the road to the Grizzlies by one point in overtime. The Bucks are shorthanded in the backcourt and close to cruise control leading the Raptors by four games for best record in the Eastern Conference. The Rockets have revenge for a 116-109 home loss to the Bucks from Jan. 9 and are playing for playoff seeding in the Western Conference. So this game is more important to them. In a matchup of superstars, primarily James Harden vers. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are missing a key underrated cog with Malcolm Brogdon out with a foot injury. He would have been the best defender against Harden. The Bucks also lost guard Tony Snell to an ankle injury in their win against the Cavaliers this past Sunday.
03-26-19	Sabres v. Senators OVER 6		0-4	Loss	-125	4 h 52 m	Show
The Sabres gave up three goals again in their last game, a 3-1 loss to the Devils on Monday. This marks the ninth time in their last 10 games the Sabres have yielded three or more goals. The Senators are giving up an average of five goals per agme during their last three games. They are far more about attacking than defense. Ottawa has scored four or more goals in three of its last four games. The Under has not won the past four times these teams have met.
03-26-19	Charleston Southern v. Hampton OVER 157		67-73	Loss	-109	16 h 43 m	Show
There is history between these teams. It came on Jan. 10 with Hampton beating Charleston Southern, 94-82. That's a combined 176 points. Now the teams meet again in the College Insider Tournament with the total opening 19 points shorter than the final score of the first game. Only 20 teams in the nation averaged more points than Hampton. The Pirates shoot 78.1 percent from the foul line. That ranks seventh in the nation. Yet the Pirates made just 11 of 19 free throws for 57.9 percent in their earlier victory versus Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers managed 82 points versus Hampton despite shooting 40.3 percent from the floor and connecting on only 9 of 33 shots from 3-point range. Hampton has scored at least 81 points in eight of its last 11 games. The Over is 14-6-1 in the Pirates' past 21 games.
03-25-19	Red Wings v. Sharks -1.5		3-2	Loss	-123	13 h 15 m	Show
San Jose has dropped five in a row. Yet the Sharks are a monster favorite against the Red Wings. The oddsmaker is anticipating a kill spot here for the Sharks and I agree. San Jose has shown signs lately of coming out of its funk. The Sharks are the No. 3 scoring team in the NHL. They should be able to produce a lot of goals versus the Red Wings, losers of 13 of their last 16 games and ranking 29th defensively. I'm also expecting a strong defensive effort from the Sharks. Detroit ranks 26th in scoring. The Red Wings, who are in rebuild mode, are coming off a shocking road upset of the Golden Knights from Saturday night. They probably can't be faulted for partying in Las Vegas following that improbable win. The Red Wings have fared poorly playing in San Jose losing 13 of the last 18 times.
03-25-19	Suns +14.5 v. Jazz		92-125	Loss	-103	13 h 1 m	Show
This isn't a kill spot for the Jazz. It's actually a flat spot for Utah. The Jazz haven't played at home in nine days. They've been on the road during their past four games and are coming off a 31-point road win against the Bulls from Saturday night. It's going to be easy for the Jazz to overlook the Suns, who have multiple injuries and haven't been competitive versus Utah this season. The Jazz just rolled past the Suns, 114-97, at Phoenix on March 13. The Jazz, however, are 2-4 ATS in their last six home games. The Suns have covered their past six road games and are 9-4 ATS during their last 13 overall games.
03-25-19	Longwood +15 v. DePaul	Top	89-97	Win	100	16 h 55 m	Show
If you're going to lay this big of a number in a tournament, you better play at least decent defense. DePaul doesn't. The Blue Demons give up 75.5 points a game, which ranks 276th. Only once in their last 20 games have the Blue Demons won by a margin this big. DePaul is 11-26-3 (29.7 percent) following a victory. Reaching the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational may not be a big deal for some teams, but it is for Longwood, a team from the Big South Conference. The Lancers opened the tournament rolling past Southern Mississippi, as 9 1/2-point home 'dogs. That was the 10th time in their last 11 tries the Lancers had covered in a non-conference matchup. DePaul is the home team here. Yet it should be noted that the Blue Demons won't be on their regular home court. It's being used to host a women's basketball tournament. So this game is being played at a much smaller gym that is the home of the DePaul women's volleyball team.
03-25-19	Sabres v. Devils OVER 5.5		1-3	Loss	-111	2 h 24 m	Show
Things should play loose here with both teams out of playoff contention. The Sabres are giving up an average of 4.6 goals during their last five games. Buffalo, though, is averaging three goals per game during its last four games. The Devils' defense hasn't been good lately either. New Jersey is yielding an average of 4.1 goals during its past eight games. The Devils' offense gets a boost, though, with the return of center Nico Hirchier, who is second on the team in points.