NHL 5-PACK

The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four, but I think they'll head into the All Star break off a win after taking on the Coyotes at Arizona Thursday night. 

The Coyotes had dropped five straight prior to back-to-back triumphs over the Blues and the Islanders, their first winning streak since November. I would not count on the Yotes to make it three in a row ... 

Columbus took a 6-3 beating at Western Conference-leading Vegas its last time out and is 8-0 in its last eight games following a loss of three or more goals. We can also note that the Blue Jackets are 5-0 in the last five encounters with Arizona.

Under is 7-2 in Blue Jackets last nine overall and 25-10 in Coyotes last 35 overall. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 5-PACK

The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off a 3-1 loss at Pittsburgh and they've lost 10 of 13 after a division game this season. They have lost four of their last five overall and scored only a total of nine goals during that stretch. Here they'll a Montreal side that snapped Colorado's 10-game winning streak with an impressive 4-1 victory on Tuesday. The Habs are 7-1 in the last eight encounters at Bell Centre and netminder Carey Price is 14-7-2 with three shutouts against the Hurricanes.

Under is 6-2 in Hurricanes last eight road games. Under is 10-4 in Canadiens last 14 overall. Under is 6-1-5 in the last 12 meetings overall and 19-6-2 in the last 27 meetings in Montreal.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Phoenix Suns will be seeking to revenge a 120-97 home loss to the Pacers on Jan. 14. They're catching Indiana at a good time here at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Wednesday night with the Pacers just back from a five-game road trip which they concluded with a 94-86 win at San Antonio. Let down spot here, and we can note that the Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record and 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings at Indiana.

Under is 6-0 in Pacers last six overall and 6-1 in Suns last seven overall. Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* CARABAO CUP CA$H COW

The first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final tie ended in a 0-0 draw, and I think we'll see another cagey affair when London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea clash at the Emirates Stadium Wednesday night. 

Arsenal have lost their superstar Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. They got Henrikh Mkhitaryan (plus cash) in exchange, but he's cup tied for this contest and both Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud are out injured, making Arsenal a little light in the offensive area. 

Chelsea boast a rock solid defense and has conceded only 16 goals in 24 Premier League games on the season. They'll surely sit back and hope to score on the counter, but Arsenal can't afford to get too offensive as a goal conceded would be devastating due to the away goal rule. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

LATE NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Boston Celtics will be looking to end a three-game skid when they visit the streaking LA Lakers Tuesday night. They've scored 95 points or fewer in four of their last six games and under is 5-2 in Celtics last seven overall.

The Lakers are coming off back-to-back triumphs over Indiana and New York and have won six of their last eight overall. They've particularly impressed on the defensive end of the court and had held three straight opponents at home under 90 points prior to Sunday's 127-107 win over the Knicks. We can note that under is 10-2 in Lakers last 12 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and 5-2 in their last seven overall.

Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings and the Celtics won the last encounter 107-96 back in November. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans have won four of their last five games overall, but the Pelicans are just 1-4 ATS in their last five at home while the Bulls are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games (winning six of the last 10 straight up).

Chicago opened a three-game road trip with a 113-97 triumph at Atlanta Saturday night and I think it'll keep this a close game in a relatively low-scoring affair. We can note that the Bulls are 12-3-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings in New Orleans.

The Pelicans have scored scored at least 111 points in each of their wins during a 5-2 stretch but the books have over-adjusted and set the total too high for this contest IMO. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The slumping Detroit Pistons enter Sunday on a four-game losing streak, and I think they're about to run into more trouble here when hosting the Nets. 

Brooklyn snapped a three-game skid with a 101-95 triumph over Miami its last time out. The Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win, 4-0 ATS in their last four road games overall and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. They'll be seeking revenge for a 114-80 loss to the Pistons home in Brooklyn on Jan 10. and are a solid 19-11 ATS in revenge spots this season. 

Under is 25-8-1 in Pistons last 34 games following a straight up loss and 17-8 in Nets last 25 overall. Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Detroit.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Burnley and Manchester United played a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago. I think we'll see plenty of goals again when the teams clash on Turf Moor this Saturday.

Burnley have lost four of their last six games and conceded a total of 12 goals during that stretch. Man United will no doubt be throwing everything they got forward in their bid to catch Man City at the top of the table, not only for points but also goal differential. Manchester United's road games have seen an average of 2.9 gpg, and I think we'll see at least three goals in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Wisconsin Badgers are desperate for a win after three straight setbacks. This looks like a great spot to end the skid though as they host the Illinois Fighting Illini who enter this contest on a four-game losing streak.

Wisconsin has held four straight opponents to 64 points or fewer before giving up 78 at Purdue its last time out, but Illinois has yet to win on the road and is averaging only 70.3 ppg away from home compared to a 78.1 ppg average overall. Illinois is 0-6 in Big Ten action and has lost 11 straight meetings with the Badgers. 

Under is 24-7 in Fighting Illini last 31 overall. Under is 4-0-1 in Badgers last five overall. Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 3-PACK

The St. Louis Blues snapped a three-game skid with a 2-1 OT triumph at Toronto two nights ago. I think they'll build on that momentum and defeat the Ottawa Senators in a high-scoring contest here Thursday night.

The Sens have won three of their last four with each game going over the total. They've conceded 19 goals during that span though and the Blues have had plenty of success here at Canadian Tire Centre in recent years, including a 6-0 victory on their last visit. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA 5-PACK

The Golden State really did a number on the Chicago Bulls with 143-94 romp at home in the first encounter this season on November 24, 2017. This is a clear let down spot for Golden State though, coming off a 118-108 win at Cleveland on Monday night and with the Houston Rockets on deck. We can also note that the Warriors are just 4-10-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Chicago.

The Bulls connected on 16 3-point field goals in Monday's 119-111 triumph over Miami and aim for a fourth consecutive victory. Guard Zach LaVine is limited to 20 minutes  per game since his return from knee surgery but is still averaging 16 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds. He poured in 18 points in 20 minutes against the Heat. The Bulls are a solid 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up win and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games playing on one days rest.

Over is 7-2 in Warriors last nine overall and 6-0 in Bulls last six home games.

Let down spot for the Warriors, and I'm well happy to take the points on the home team in this matchup as I think they'll cover the spread in a high-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA 5-PACK

The New York Knicks are coming off a 119-104 win at Brooklyn, but they had dropped three straight prior to that and six of their last eight games. They're still just 5-15 SU on the road for the season and here they'll visit a Memphis team which has won six straight meetings at home. The Grizzlies have picked up nine of their 14 wins for the season here at FedExForum and defeated the Lakers 123-114 their last time out. Memphis recorded 24 assists and had its second-best scoring total in that win. The Knicks have been involved in several high-scoring contests lately with six of their last seven going over the total. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* VEGAS @ NASHVILLE TOTAL 

The Vegas Golden Knights will visit the Nashville Predators Tuesday night, and I think we'll see plenty of action on the scoreboard. 

Nashville has had a full week off and over is 5-2-1 in its last eight games playing on three or more days rest while Vegas took a 3-2 OT loss against Edmonton on Saturday, and over is 9-2-2 in Golden Knights last 13 games playing on two days rest. 

The Golden Knights won the last meeting 3-0 home in Vegas earlier this month, but the lone encounter here at Bridgestone Arena back in December saw a total of seven goals. The Preds are averaging a healthy 3.47 gpg in front of the home town crowd and Vegas is giving up 3.30 gpg on the road. 

My selection is a 10* play on Over. 

CBB 3-PACK

The LSU Tigers had won back-to-back games as road underdogs at Texas A&M and Arkansas prior to taking a 74-66 beating by Alabama here at Pete Maravich Assembly Center their last time out. They were due for a let down game, but still a very disappointing result and I think they'll come out fully focused and ready to rock here against the Georgia Bulldogs who have lost back-to-back games, scoring only 56 and 57 points in the defeats. Georgia is averaging only 63.2 ppg away from home and the Bulldogs are 2-6 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record. 

Under is 5-0 in Georgia's last five overall. Under is 5-0 in Tigers last five overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 5-PACK

The LA Lakers are aiming for a fifth consecutive win when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. They've played solid D lately holding two of their last three opponents under 86 points, but I think they'll come up short in a low-scoring contest here against a Grizzlies side that is even stronger than them on the defensive end. 

We can note that Memphis has beaten the Lakers six straight times at home. The last time the Lakers won at Memphis was December 2013 and they're just 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Memphis took an 87-78 loss at Denver its last time out but defeated New Orleans 105-102 its last game in front of the home town crowd. 

Under is 15-6 in Grizzlies last 21 home games. Under is 4-1 in Lakers last five overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 112-80 home rout of Denver on Saturday while the Atlanta Hawks took a 110-105 loss against Brooklyn here at Philips Arena Friday night their last time out. The Hawks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up loss and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. I think they'll give Spurs all they can handle here as San Antonio is only 8-14-1 on the road this season.  

We can also note that under is 21-5 in Spurs last 26 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game and 6-1 in Hawks last seven when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

SAINTS @ VIKINGS TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings defense allowed just a total of 17 points through the last three games of the season. They rank near the top of the NFL in several defensive categories including the second-ranked rush and pass defense. 

Minnesota held New Orleans to just 19 points in Week 1 of the season, and I expect another low-scoring encounter here in the NFC Divisional playoff round. New Orleans has held opponents to a respectable 20.4 points per game (10th in the league) and the Vikes are far from an offensive powerhouse. 

Under is 7-1-1 in Vikings last nine playoff games and 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Swansea enter this matchup dead last in the Premier League with only 13 goals scored through 22 games. Newcastle have had a poor first half of the season as well, but they've won three of their last five and conceded just two goals through their last four games. I expect the visitors to "park the bus" in order to try and escape with a 0-0 draw, leading to a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 3-PACK

The red hot Calgary Flames are aiming for a sixth consecutive win when they visit the Florida Panthers Friday night. They've played a tough schedule and are coming off a 5-1 win at Tampa Bay last night, but note that the Flames are 5-2 in their last seven games playing on no rest and 5-0 in their last five in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation. Under is 7-2 in Flames last nine road games and although they're expected to go with backup David Rittich in the crease, note that he has posted a solid 2.04 GAA through five games on the season. 

The Florida Panthers closed out a four-game road trip (and snapped a three-game slide) with a 7-4 triumph at St. Louis on Tuesday. They had however averaged just 2.17 gpg over their previous 12 games. 

The Flames have won the last three meetings, including a 4-2 triumph at Florida last February. I think they'll win a low-scoring contest tonight. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER - CELTICS/SIXERS

The Boston Celtics will battle with the Philadelphia 76ers in O2 Arena at London, England on Thursday. I like Boston to come out ahead in a low-scoring contest. 

The Celtics are riding a six-game winning streak and defeated Brooklyn 87-85 their last time out, but did not cover the spread and we can note that they're 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS loss. The Celtics boast the best scoring defense in the NBA with an average of 97.6 points allowed and defensive field-goal percentage (.429). Philadelphia is also coming off a solid defensive performance when it defeated Detroit 114-78 its last time out.  

Boston has already beaten the Sixers twice this season, 102-92 on Oct. 20 and 108-97 on Nov. 30. Don't expect many points here with both teams shooting against an unfamiliar rim. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

NHL POWER PLAY TOTAL

The Chicago Blackhawkws are coming off an 8-2 win at Ottawa Tuesday night while the Minnesota Wild took a 3-2 OT loss against Calgary. Over is 5-2 in Wild's last seven overall and 4-1-1 in their last six games following OT on the previous day. Over 6-1 in Blackhawks last seven overall and 13-4-3 in Blackhawks last 20 in the third game of a 3-in-4 days situation.

Chicago is averaging 3.53 gpg home at United Center while Minnesota is giving up 3.64 gpg on the road. 

Blackhawks are 15-6 in their last 21 after scoring five goals or more in their previous game while the Wild are 3-15 in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

My money is on Chicago to prevail in a high-scoring affair.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Memphis Grizzles need a win after back-to-back losses against the Clippers and the Wizards. They're 4-1 ATS in their last five games and will enter this contest well rested, last playing on January 5. The Pelicans on the other hand will play on only one days rest following a 112-109 triumph over Detroit home in New Orleans. They're 1-4 ATS in their last five games and 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings with Memphis. We can also note that Pelicans' star big man Anthony Davis left Monday's win over Detroit with an ankle injury and is considered doubtful, and Memphis center Marc Gasol should dominate the game with Davis out. 

Under is 14-6 in Grizzlies last 20 home games and 11-2 in their last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game (they gave up 102 against Washington their last time out). Under is 4-0 in Pelicans last four road games and 6-2 in Pelicans last eight road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400. Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings in Memphis.

I expect Memphis to prevail in a low-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Oklahoma City Thunder are back home from a three-game road trip, but it's just a brief stop before hitting the road for another two games. They took a 114-100 beating at Phoenix their last time out and I think points will come fast and easy for both teams here when they host the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night. 

Portland is coming off a 111-110 triumph over San Antonio and three of its last four games have gone over the total. The Blazers will be without point guard Damian Lillard but OKC will be without defensive stopper Andre Roberson for the fourth consecutive game with left patellar tendinitis.

The Trail Blazers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games and 10-4 ATS as an underdog this season. The Thunder are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games and 11-24 ATS as a favorite on the season.

My selection is an 8* play on Over.  

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL) - MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* BEST BET

The Colorado Avalanche enter this contest on a four-game winning streak. They're scoring 3.50 goals per game home at Pepsi Center on the season, and here they'll host a Wild side that has scored 11 goals during a two-game winning streak and 19 through its last five games. 

Minnesota is giving up plenty of goals on the road (3.48 gpg) and over is 11-5-2 in Wild last 18 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. 

The Avs are coming off a 2-0 triumph over Columbus and over is 17-5 in Colorado's last 22 after scoring two goals or fewer in its previous game.

My NHL Game of the Week is a 10* play on MIN @ COL Over. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Phoenix Suns recorded a 104-103 home win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, but I think they'll struggle here playing on no rest in high altitude in Denver. The Nuggets will be looking to open the new year with a victory after closing out 2017 with back-to-back defeats to Philadelphia and Minnesota. The Nuggets will be well rested and they're 35-15-2 ATS in their last 52 games playing on three or more days rest. We can also note that they've covered the spread in six straight meetings with the Suns. Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings and I expect Denver to prevail in a high-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Detroit Pistons have played three straight "unders" and held the Spurs to just 79 points on 36.9 percent shooting their last time out. I think the posted total for Wednesday's matchup with the Miami Heat looks a bit light though, and I think we'll see a relatively high-scoring contest. The Heat have won eight of 12 after a 117-111 win at Orlando on Saturday, and both teams will come into this contest well rested and ready to drive up the tempo. 

The Pistons on the last meeting 112-103 back in November and over is 4-1 in the last five encounters.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

MIKE'S NEW YEAR'S DAY PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Manchester United are coming off three straight draws, the most recent a 0-0 result against Southampton only two days ago. They lost striker Romelu Lukaku to a head injury in that game, and goals won't come easy here with Zlatan Ibrahimovic also ruled out for a month with a knee problem. 

Everton manager Sam Allardyce have done a great job with the team defensively since taking, conceding only four goals in nine (league and cup) games. The Toffees are not scoring a ton either though, and they've been shut out in two of their last three games. Former Man Utd striker Wayne Rooney leads Everton with 10 league goals, but surely the Red Devils' defenders will make a point of keeping him scoreless. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

LATE NIGHT NHL NO-BRAINER

I think the crowd will be massively disappointed if it's expecting fireworks here at the Saddledome on New Years Eve.

The Calgary Flames are coming off a 2-1 loss at Anaheim, and they've been involved in several low-scoring affairs lately with seven of their last eight going under the total. They'll host a Chicago Blackhawks team which has seen the under/over go 6-2-1 in its last nine overall and 10-2-1 in its last 13 against a team with a losing record. 

To wrap it up; note that under is 12-3-1 in the last 16 head-to-head meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Miami Heat will be looking to bounce back from an embarrassing 111-87 home home defeat against Brooklyn last night. They shot just 33.7 percent from the field and I think they'll struggle with their shooting again here in this rivalry matchup with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando is coming off a 102-89 victory over Detroit but had scored 100+ points in only two of its last seven games prior to that. Under is 5-0 in Magic's last five home games and we can note that Miami has a winning road record despite scoring only 99.6 ppg away from home.

Under is 5-0 in Magic's last five home games, 7-0 in Heat's last seven games playing on no rest and 9-3 in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

Both teams are coming off high-scoring contests, with the Knicks taking a 119-107 loss at San Antonio on Thursday and the Pels taking a 128-120 beating by Dallas Friday night. 

Over is 10-1 in Pelicans last 11 home games and 12-2 in their last 14 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. Over is 7-2 in Knicks last nine road games and 6-2 in their last eight after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL TOTAL POWER PLAY 

The Florida Panthers are coming off four straight victories, allowing a total of only six goals during that stretch. Under is 6-2 in Panthers last eight overall and here they'll host a sputtering Canadiens team that has lost three straight contests while scoring just one goal in each game. This will be the Habs third game in four nights and under is 11-3-1 in their last 15 in the third game of a 3-in-4 days situation.

Under is 4-1-4 in the last nine meetings at BB&T Center. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

3-PACK OF NBA TOTALS

Both teams have been involved in several low-scoring contests lately, but the Phoenix Suns are coming off a 115-106 loss to Minnesota while the Memphis Grizzlies took a 115-112 loss to the Clippers their last time out. Note that Phoenix expects to have its star guard Devin Booker back in the lineup after missing the last nine games due to a groin injury which should give its offense a further boost.

The Suns are just 5-13 home at Talking Stick Resort Arena while conceding 113.0 ppg. Over is 9-2-1 in Grizzlies last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record and over is 10-4 in Suns last 14 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

3-PACK OF NBA TOTALS

The Denver Nuggets will host the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. Under is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings at Pepsi Center, and I think we'll see another low-scoring encounter. 

Denver is coming off an impressive 96-81 triumph over the Warriors and held their opponent to 3-of-27 from the 3-point line. Utah meanwhile made just 6-of-26 long-range attempts in Saturday's 103-89 loss to Oklahoma City.

We can also note that the Jazz are a pathetic 3-13 on the road this season and under is 8-1 in Nuggets last nine home games vs. a team with a losing road record. The Jazz have lost four of their last five and scored 100 points or fewer in each defeat. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

3-PACK OF NBA TOTALS

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the top defensive teams in the league, and they usually have little trouble with the Nets offense home at AT&T Center. They've won 14 straight encounters as the home team with under going 7-2-1 in the last 10.

Spurs have played most of the season without star small forward Kawhi Leonard, one of the best defensive players in the league. This will be his fifth game since coming back from a quadriceps injury while Brooklyn will have to do without D'Angelo Russell for at least three more weeks due to November knee surgery. 

Under is 9-2 in Nets last 11 overall and I think the bookmakers have set the total way too low once again. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

STEELERS @ TEXANS NO-BRAINER

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already locked up the AFC North title, and it would take a small miracle for them to get home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs after last week's loss to New England. They also lost  Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown to a calf injury for the remainder of the regular season, and I think the main focus here will be to get out of the game as healthy as possible. 

The Houston Texans placed quarterback Tom Savage on season-ending injured reserve Saturday and with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson out since long the Texans will once again have to go with third-stringer T.J. Yates under center. He was a woeful 12-of-31 for 128 yards in last week's 45-7 loss at Jacksonville. 

Houston has failed to scored more than 16 points in each of its last four games and under is 7-2 in Texans last nine games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Under is 22-6 in Steelers last 28 road games.

I think Pittsburgh will win the game outright, but the Texans to cover in a low-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Golden State Warriors were held to a season-low 81 points and 3-for-27 3-point shooting by Denver in a home loss Saturday night. They had won 11 straight prior to that setback, and I think they'll show up here for this marquee matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

This will be the third consecutive year those teams battle it out on Christmas Day, with the home team winning both times. Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in the series overall. 

The Cavs failed to cover the spread in a 115-112 home win against Chicago their last time out and only 1-5 ATS in their last six games.

I really like the fact that we get the Warriors off a loss here. They'll be looking to make things right in front of the home fans.

Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last seven road games. Under is 4-1 in Warriors last five home games. Under is 7-2-2 in the last 11 meetings in at Oracle Arena, and I don't expect a ton of points today either.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL TOTALS 3-PACK

The New England Patriots can wrap up a first-round bye and maintain the inside track for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC with a win here against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bills do not lack motivation either though as they seek to secure their first postseason berth since 1999. 

The Pats defeated the Bills 23-3 at Buffalo on Dec. 3, and I think we'll see another low-scoring affair here at Foxboro on Saturday. The Bills are averaging only 17.2 ppg on the road this season and the under is 9-2 in Bills last 11 games on fieldturf. Under is 8-2 in Patriots last 10 games overall as they've managed to sort out a defense that gave up a ton of points at the beginning of the season. Furthermore, Buffalo will most likely to to hand the ball to running back LeSean McCoy as often as possible, which will eat time off the clock.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL TOTALS 3-PACK

The LA Chargers need to go perfect through the last two weeks in order to make the playoffs after a loss in Kansas City last week. 

This will not be an easy matchup though as they'll face a New York Jets team that has been surprisingly competent at home compared to its woeful play on the road. The Jets are 4-3 home at MetLife Stadium, and the three losses have all been by eight points or less, and they came against the Patriots (11-3), Falcons (9-5) and Panthers (10-4). I don't expect much from the Jets offense though as they have to do without QB Josh McCown who is out for the season after suffering a broken left hand two weeks ago in Denver.

The Chargers are 3-4 on the road with five of the seven games going under the total. They'll be looking to improve the play on the defensive side of the ball after being torched for 397 total yards in last week's 30-13 loss to the Chiefs. We can note that under is 12-2 in Chargers last 14 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.

I think the Jets will keep this close in a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL NO-BRAINER - VIKINGS @ PACKERS

The Minnesota Vikings have already clinched the division title, but they now have their eyes on the first-round bye and possibly earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Green Bay Packers were officially eliminated from playoff contention last week when they lost 31-24 at Carolina. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is back on injured reserve, and the Packers won't find it easy here against a fantastic Minnesota D that ranks second in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense. We'll see Brett Hundley replacing Rodgers under center for Green Bay, and he has thrown zero touchdowns vs. five interceptions in four starts home at Lambeau Field this season. 

Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings and I predict another low-scoring encounter on a freezing cold Lambeau Saturday night. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under.

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY (TOTAL)

The Calgary Flames are coming off a 2-1 victory over St. Louis. They've been involved in several low-scoring games lately with over/under 4-1 in their last five games. Under is 5-1 in Flames last six after scoring two goals or fewer in their previous game and they have given up only 13 regulation goals over the past eight contests overall. 

Tonight the Flames will host a Montreal Canadiens team that put a 7-5 beating on the Canucks in Vancouver three days ago, but such offensive outbursts have been few and far between for the Habs. They had scored only a total of eight goals through their last five games prior to that and under is 8-1-1 in Canadiens last 10 when their opponent allows two goals or fewer in their previous game.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (CBB)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are coming off a 101-71 triumph against IUPUI, the third time this season they've scored 100 points in a game. Over is 7-0 in Gonzaga's last seven overall and I expect another high-scoring contest when it visits the San Diego State Aztecs Thursday night.

The Bulldogs are no doubt looking forward to the stay in San Diego with the temperatures getting down into the single-digits this weekend in Spokane; "I'm excited to get out of the cold for a little while and see the sun," forward Johnathan Williams told the Spokane Spokesman-Review. I think there's a chance they'll take this trip too much as a vacation translating into a lack of intensity on defense. 

Offensively you never have to worry about the Bulldogs, and San Diego State has allowed 65.6 ppg home at Viejas Arena while Gonzaga is averaging 97.0 ppg on the road. 

My CBB Game of the Month is a 10* play on Over. 

THURSDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

The Memphis Grizzlies took a 97-84 beating at Golden State while the Phoenix Suns lost 108-95 at LA Clippers last night. Both teams are coming off a woeful night of shooting (Phoenix 36.1 percent, Memphis a season-low 33.3 percent) but we should see a correction tonight. 

Phoenix has lost five straight in the desert and it is just 4-12 at home on the season, and the biggest reason is a subpar defense allowing 114.0 ppg on average. Over is 9-1-1 in Grizzlies last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

Memphis won the last meeting 130-112, and this total looks more than a couple of points off to me. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

CBB BANKROLL BUILDER - TOTAL

The North Carolina Tar Heels recorded a 78-73 win at 20th ranked Tennessee on Sunday after closing the game on an 11-3 run. I would not be surprised to see them come out sluggish and not do more than necessary to win here against Wofford which has won four in a row.The Tar Heels can however always rely on their solid D which has held opponents to 39.8 percent shooting from the floor on the season, so points will surely not come easy for the Terriers.

"(We’re) getting our guys to realize that the game might not be pretty, you might not hit shots but the one thing you can do is defend, get offensive rebounds, get defensive rebounds," Joel Berry II told reporters after the win against the Vols. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

EARLY CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Bradley Braves have been involved in relatively low-scoring contests this season, and the under is 8-1 in their 11 games (two games with no line). Their last contest, against Little Rock, had the total set at just 124 points and went over the total, with Bradly scoring 86 points. Bradley has now put up a total of 170 points in its last two games combined. 

I think the oddsmakers have set the total way too low here considering that the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks have averaged 80.5 ppg on offense home at Show Me Center while giving up 82.0 ppg. Over is 7-1 in Redhawks last eight home games.

Bradley won 84-78 in the last encounter, back in November last year.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' guard Josh Okogie missed the first eight games of the season due to a suspension and a finger injury but scored 19 points in 28 minutes in a 79-54 home victory over Florida A&M on Sunday. The Yellow Jackets are averaging only 65.6 ppg, but they should do better from here on with Okogie back on the floor. The Georgia Bulldogs had scored 70+ points through four straight victories before taking a 72-62 loss at Massachusetts their last time out. Over is 7-1 in Bulldogs last eight home games. 

I think the total is set way too low here, and I expect the Yellow Jackets to put up plenty of points and hang in there until the end. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

EARLY NFL TOTAL

The Philadelphia Eagles have averaged 31.1 points per game, but now they'll have to find a way to find then endzone without injured quarterback Carson Wentz whom they lost to a season-ending torn ACL last week. They still have a solid defense which should be able to contain this lowly Giants side. 

The New York Giants have averaged just 15.3 ppg and at 2-11 they're just looking for the season to end. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 games home at MetLife Stadium.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL 3-PACK

The Cleveland Browns have turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball when playing home at FirstEnergy Stadium all season long, allowing only 21.2 ppg in front of the home fans compared to 25.8 ppg overall. They've also scored only 12.7 ppg at home though and under is 10-2 in Browns last 12 home games. 

Here they'll host a Baltimore Ravens team that features a stingy defense. The Browns' quarterback DeShone Kizer is completing only 53.9 percent of his passes and has thrown only nine touchdown passes against 17 picks. Under is 5-2-1 in Ravens last eight vs. a team with a losing record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY (TOTAL)

The Los Angeles Kings have been lights out lately, but they saw their eight-game winning streak come to a halt with a 5-1 setback in New Jersey on Tuesday. Under is 3-0-1 in Kings last four after allowing five goals or more in their previous game and 3-0-2 in their last five following a loss of three or more goals. I expect the Kings to put prioritize defense in this game. The New York Rangers have scored a total of just three goals through their last two games. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

EARLY NFL TOTAL BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, and I think points will come at a premium for both sides. 

The Cowboys are averaging 23.8 ppg on the season, but their offense has not been the same with running back Ezekiel Elliott suspended. The New York Giants are scoring just 15.8 ppg and motivation must be low enter the week with a lowly 2-10 record. We can also note that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will serve as the interim head coach for New York the rest of the season after the team fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday.

Under is 7-1 in Cowboys last eight games in December and 16-6 in their last 22 road games. Under is 4-1 in Giants last five games in December and 7-2 in their last nine home games.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA BASKETBALL BONANZA TOTAL

The New York Knicks host the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. Both teams have struggled to score buckets lately, but I think the bookmakers have set the total way too low for this matchup. 

The Knicks took a 115-97 loss at Indiana on Monday, playing without their top two scorers in Kristaps Porzingis (ankle, illness) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg). Porzingis is being listed as probable for this matchup, and having him on the floor would no doubt give the Knicks offense a boost. It's worth noting that the Knicks are averaging a healthy 107.9 ppg home at MSG on the season. 

The Grizzlies snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 95-92 victory over Minnesota on Monday, their first win since firing coach David Fizdale. Expect them to be looking to build on that W.  

Over is 5-2 in the last seven encounters at MSG and 13-6 in the last 19 overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOTAL

Real Madrid have already secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League while Dortmund are battling for 3rd place in the group and a Europa League spot. Dortmund have a ton of injuries though with Durm, Rode, Reus, Liszczek, Philipp, Castro, Götze and Toljan all set to miss this game. Real Madrid are likely to rest their superstars with this game meaning next to nothing for them, and I expect an uninspired performance from both teams leading to few goals. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

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Over/under is 2-14-3 in the Ducks' first game of a back-to-back set dating back to the start of the 2016/2017 season. This trend alone makes this worth a wager. 

My selection is an 8* play on ANA @ LV Under.

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOTAL MASSACRE

The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals for an all AFC North showdown Monday night. Five of the last seven meetings have gone under the total, and that's a trend likely to continue tonight. 

The Steelers have scored a combined 71 points (while giving up 45) through their last two games, but they were both home at Pittsburgh, and they're usually involved in much lower scoring contests on the road. Note that under is 22-5 in Steelers' last 27 road games and 13-4-1 in their last 18 vs. AFC North opponents.

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a 30-16 beatdown of the Browns, but tearing apart Cleveland's abysmal D and the Steelers' are two completely different things. Note that Cincinnati is averaging just 16.6 ppg at home (while giving up 17.6 ppg) and under is 12-4 in Bengals' last 16 vs. AFC North opponents.

My selection is a 10* play on PIT @ CIN Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

I expect both teams to pile up the points when the 8-3 New Orleans Saints host the 8-3 Carolina Panthers in an important battle for first place in the NFC South Sunday afternoon. 

The Panthers are riding a four-game win streak and they've scored a total of 80 points in the last two games alone. Over is 9-3 in Panthers last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and the Saints fit the bill entering this contest with a 4-1 home record. They've averaged 31.2 pgg home in the Superdome and the Saints will be eager to bounce back from a 26-20 loss at the Rams last Sunday after winning eight straight games prior to that setback. Over is 4-0 in Saints last four games following a straight up loss and 13-5-1 in their last 19 home games.

Carolina’s defense has allowed plenty of passing yards in recent games and the Saints QB Drew Brees has averaged 313 passing yards with 12 touchdowns against three interceptions in his last four encounters with the Panthers.

The Saints won the last meeting 34-13 at Carolina back in Week 3 and five of the last six meetings have gone over the total. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on CAR @ NO Over. 

EARLY NFL - TOTAL AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE

The New York Jets took a 35-27 beating by Carolina last week, but I think they'll be able to keep the score down when they host the Kansas City Chiefs here the following week. 

The Chiefs are in a tailspin, coming off three straight setbacks (scoring a total of 36 points in the process) and they've won just one of their last six games. The Chiefs mustered only 236 yards of offense in last week's 16-10 home loss against Buffalo, and under is 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record and 13-3 in Chiefs last 16 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on KC @ NYJ Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER) - MIKE'S MAN U @ ARSENAL BEST BET

Manchester United are coming off a 4-2 win at Watford, but the visitors manager Jose Mourinho is likely to take a more cautious approach when his Man U side visits Arsenal on Saturday. 

So far this season Manchester United have visited Liverpool (0-0) and Chelsea (1-0 loss) of the top teams, both low-scoring affairs, and that's pretty always much been Mourinho's approach when visiting top sides, to just lock down defensively, go for the 0-0 draw and take the point. 

We can also note that Man U's striker Romelu Lukaku is struggling to find the net with just one goal in his last 11 games after finding the net 11 times in his first 10 appearances for the club. The Gunners are solid at home and have conceded just four goals at the Emirates on the season, three of which came in the 4-3 opening day win over Leicester City.

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Man U @ Arsenal Under 2.5 goals 

FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Seven of the Chicago Bulls eight games home at United Center this season have gone under the total, but I think the books have set the number way too low when they host the Sacramento Kings Friday night. Note that the Bulls will be playing on no rest after taking a 111-110 loss at Denver last night, so fatigue and tired legs on defense might become an issue for the home team. Four of the Kings' last five games have gone over the total and over is 6-1 in Kings last seven against teams from the East.

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

LATE NIGHT NBA NIGHTCRAWLER TOTAL

The total for this game is set way too low IMO. The Sacramento Kings recorded a major upset Monday night with a 110-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors - their first victory in Oakland since March 2013. That must have cost a lot of energy, something that will hurt them on defense tonight. The Milwaukee Bucks have dropped three of their last four games following a 121-108 loss at Utah on Saturday, so they'll no doubt be pumped up for this one. Note that Milwaukee is scoring an average of 106.1 ppg on the road (102.4 ppg at home) while allowing 109.7 ppg (105.6 ppg at home).

Over is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings overall and 6-0 in the last six meetings at Sacramento.

My selection is a 10* play on Over.

TUESDAY PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Man United are going through a tough part of the schedule with a ton of games in short period of time. They looked sluggish in their 1-0 win over Brighton over the weekend, and I predict another low-scoring contest when they visit Watford on Tuesday. United have struggled to impose themselves in the final third in recent games away from home, scoring just once in their last three PL road games. Watford have recorded successive league wins for the first time this season, keeping clean sheets in both games while Jose Mourinho's United have conceded just six goals so far this season. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER TOTAL

The San Antonio Spurs will open the week with a matchup with Southwest Division rival Dallas Mavericks, and I think we'll see a low-scoring contest.

The Spurs have played excellent defense while winning three of their last four games, conceding an average of just 90.6 points in the wins. The Dallas Mavericks have also won three of their last four and allowed an average of just 84.7 points per game in the wins and an average of 87.5 points in regulation during the 3-1 stretch.

Both teams are playing at slow pace with the Mavs ranking 24th in the league in pace and the Spurs dead last. Under is 5-1 in both the Mavs and the Spurs last six overall and under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER) MIKE'S TOP RATED EPL MAJOR WAGER

Liverpool's performance at Seville in the Champions League earlier this week should be enough to to motivate this pick alone. They held a 3-0 lead after the first half but gave up three goals in the second half to go home with just a draw. Liverpool have plenty of offensively talented players, but they really struggle at the back. Chelsea are coming off back-to-back 4-0 victories, the most recent at Qarabag in the Champions League mid-week. They won comfortably despite resting Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Andreas Christensen and Gary Cahill, and manager Antonio Conte also had the luxury to haul Edin Hazard, Marcos Alonso and N'Golo Kante off early. I think we'll see two sides going for the win, resulting in a wide open and high-scoring contest.

My EPL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Over. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BANKROLL BUILDER

Sevilla host Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, and I would be very surprised if we won't see at least four goals in this contest.

Liverpool enter this game on a four-game winning streak, scoring a total of 13 goals in the process. Their defending often leaves a lot to be desired though, and Sevilla no doubt have the weapons to hurt them. Each of Sevilla's last seven games have seen three goals or more and we saw a 2-2 draw when they took on Liverpool at Anfield about two months ago.

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

LATE NIGHT NHL TOTAL

The LA Kings are a big home favorite when they host the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night, but they've dropped three of their last four games as they've struggled to find the net. They're however still one of the best defensive units in the NHL, conceding just 2.41 goals per game this season, and netminder Jonathan Quick has a stellar 1.61 GAA and .939 SV% in 32 career matchups with the Canucks. 

Vancouver has also lost three of its last four games and mustered just one goal through its last two. Under is 15-5-3 in Canucks last 23 vs. a team with a winning record.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA LATE SHOW - WOLVES @ WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, and I think we'll see a high-scoring affair. 

The Warriors have averaged a healthy 119.25 ppg through their last four contests, and that despite putting up just 97 on 36.8 percent shooting against Miami their last time out. I really expect the Warriors to shoot much better tonight, and we can note that the Timberwolves enter the game on a four-game winning streak during which they've averaged 114.4 ppg. 

Over is 10-2 in Warriors last 12 vs. Western Conference and 11-3 in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Over is 5-1 in Timberwolves last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

My selection is a 10* play on Over.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEADOFF WINNER

These two teams met in Germany two weeks ago, a contest RB Leipzig claimed in an entertaining game that finished 3-2. Porto have scored nine and conceded one in three domestic games since, and I think we'll see plenty of goals here.

These are the two sides battling for second place in Group G behind Besiktas, and a draw would no neither team any good.

Leipzig are coming off a 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich, but I don't see them getting shut out in back-to-back games and this is a team with plenty of offensive talent. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* CHAMPIONS LEAGUE UNDERTAKER - TOTAL BOOKIE BURIAL

Manchester United host Benfica in Champions League on Tuesday. They're coming off a 1-0 victory against Tottenham and have allowed just two goals through their last six games. They've kept clean sheets in 11 of their 15 games so far this season in all competitions. Man U won 1-0 at Benfica two weeks ago and are sitting top of Group A with a perfect nine points after three games. Their style of play may not be pretty, but it's effective. I think Man U manager Jose Mourinho would be happy with a draw here, and I wouldn’t completely rule out a 0-0 end result. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

LATE NIGHT WARRIORS/CLIPPERS TWISTED TOTAL

Two teams that fell victim to the Pistons their last time out will clash at Staples Center Monday night. The Warriors took a 115-107 loss at home last night while the Clippers fell 95-87 against the Detroit team at home Saturday night. 

The Clippers are playing excellent D allowing just 92.4 ppg and they rank in the bottom 3rd of the NBA for pace with 99.4 possessions per game. The Warriors are 5th for pace with 103.9 possessions per game, but I like the under here with the Golden State on the second night of a back-to-back set and unlikely to push the tempo too high. 

Under is 10-3 in Warriors last 13 games following a straight up loss. Under is 4-0 in Clippers last four games following a straight up loss.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* WORLD SERIES GAME 5 BOOKIE BREAKER

The Houston Astros and the LA Dodgers headed into Game 4 of the World Series tied at 1-1 before the visitors exploded with five runs at the top of the 9th last to earn a 6-2 victory. 

I think runs will be few and far between tonight when Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 2.96 ERA) pitches opposite Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 3.00 ERA). 

Kershaw allowed just three hits and one run (a homer by Bregman) while striking out 11 over seven innings in the Dodgers' 3-1 victory in Game 1. Keuchel took the loss in that contest after conceding three runs in 6 2/3 frames, but he should do better here at Minute Maid Park. 

Without a doubt two of the best pitchers in the game and under is 6-1-1 in Dodgers last eight playoff road games and 4-1-1 in Astros last six playoff home games.

Under is 6-1-1 in the last eight head-to-head meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a disappointing 107-86 loss against the Knicks, but I think they'll show up here when they host the Denver Nuggets Sunday night. Note that Brooklyn is 7-1 ATS last eight following an ATS loss and 11-3 ATS last 14 following a straight up loss. The Nuggets will be looking to book consecutive wins for the first time this season after picking up a 105-100 win at Atlanta on Friday. The way they've struggled with consistency does not bode well though, particularly when playing on the road.

Brooklyn is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at home while Denver is 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS on the road. The Nets are 6-1 SU and ATS against Denver in their last seven meetings.

We can also note that Brooklyn plays at the fastest pace in the league, and I think the home team will set the tempo here and make this a high-scoring affair. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Purely a stat driven play. EPL games involving Watford this season have witnessed 32 goals at 3.55 a game while games involving Stoke have seen a total of 30 goals at 3.33 per game.

Over/Under 2.5 goals 6-3 for both teams on the season.

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

TOP RATED 10* MLB BIG HITTER

We lost with under 7.5 runs in Game 2 of this series, despite heading into the 9th inning with a 3-2 Dodgers lead. I'm however not afraid to back the under again here Friday night in the first of three matchups at Minute Maid Park. 

The Dodgers' Yu Darvish (2-0, 1.59 ERA) has been excellent in the postseason and he has posted a 2.16 ERA in six career outings against Houston. 

The Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0, 2.08 ERA) was mediocre at best during the regular season, but he's been much better here in the playoffs. We can also note that he posted a 3.04 ERA home at Minute Maid Park during the regular season (compared to a 5.14 ERA on the road). 

Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Houston and 5-1 in the last six meetings overall. We have a great umpire angle as well with under 8-2-1 in Gerry Davis' last 11 games behind home plate in games involving the Astros. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

NHL POWER PLAY

The Detroit Red Wings have lost five straight and scored just a total of nine goals during that stretch. They'll no doubt have their work cut out for them here at Amalie Arena Thursday night, facing a Tampa Bay team that has allowed just a pair of goals through its last three games. Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy has posted a 2.22 GAA on the season and he's 4-0 with a 1.82 GAA in his career against the Red Wings. 

The Lightning are second in the league at 4.10 goals per game while the Red Wings are in the bottom third at 2.6 goals per game. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard has a solid career GAA of 2.21 in 12 career games against the Lightning though, and I think he'll do his part to keep this a low-scoring game.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* MLB GAME OF THE WEEK

The LA Dodgers took command of the World Series with a 3-1 victory last night, and I think we'll see another low-scoring affair here in Game 2 of the series. 

Justin Verlander (4-0, 1.46 ERA) has been absolutely outstanding for the Astros since coming over from Detroit. He took on the Dodgers back in August while still in a Tigers uniform and was terrific, conceding only one run in eight innings.

The Dodgers turn to Rich Hill (0-0, 3.00 ERA) who has allowed just three runs on six hits in nine innings of work here in the postseason. He has solid career numbers against the Astros, posting a 3-1 record behind a 2.68 ERA. He'll also be backed up by an absolutely phenomenal bullpen. 

Each of the last four meetings between the Astros and the Dodgers have gone under the total. 

My MLB Game of the Week is on HOU/LAD Under. 

TOP RATED 10* EFL CUP TUESDAY TOTAL

We lost with an under featuring Manchester United vs. Huddersfield over the weekend, but I'm backing the under again here when Man United clash with Swansea in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. Swansea are struggling to score and their top striker Wilfried Bony is doubtful for this midweek cup tie having been out with a hamstring injury. Man U will no doubt give a bunch of fringe players a run-around here with a tough matchup against Tottenham on deck this weekend. I bet manager Jose Mourinho wants to see a good defensive display though after giving up two goals last weekend, and I think we'll see a 1-0 away win or a 1-1 draw. 

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

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The Buffalo Bills defense ranks first in the NFL, allowing just 14.8 points a game. They struggle on the offensive side of the ball though with QB Tyrod Taylor struggling and the receiving corps hampered by injuries. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston will get the start here despite suffering a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder on a sack in last week's loss at Arizona. I'm not sure how well a banged up Winston will perform here against this outstanding Buffalo D, particularly with the Bills coming off a bye week and plenty of time to prepare for this contest. 

Under is 4-1 in Buffalo's five games this season, and while Tampa Bay took a 38-33 loss at Arizona last week we can note that under is 4-1 in Buccaneers last five games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

MLB ALCS GAME 7 BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL

We'll see Charlie Morton vs. CC Sabathia here in the deciding Game 7 of the ALCS. I think runs will come at a premium in this contest. 

Sabathia (1-0, 2.30 ERA) just tossed six shutout innings against the Astros in Game 3 of this series, and he's 10-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 13 turns following a Yankees loss, which is the situation here after a 7-1 loss to Houston last night. 

The Astros' Morton (0-1, 10.13 ERA) was lit up in his head-to-head showdown with Sabathia in Game 3, allowing seven runs and six hits through 3 2/3 innings. That was in the Bronx though, and we can note that Morton was 10-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 16 turns home at Minute Maid Park during the regular season.

I like the umpire angle as well with under 5-1 in Chad Fairchild's last six games behind home plate.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER) MIKE'S TOP RATED 10* EPL MAJOR WAGER

I think we'll see a low-scoring game when Manchester United visit Huddersfield on Saturday. 

Huddersfield have a 5-9 goal differential through their first eight games in the Premier League, so even though the visitors is the second highest scoring side in the EPL this season it could be difficult to breach the home defense here. 

We can also note that Man Utd have kept nine clean sheets in their last 10 EPL matches and could become the first team to keep eight clean sheets in their first nine games of a season.

The tough schedule is already starting to catch up with Man United, and they looked kind of sluggish in their 1-0 win at Benfica in the Champions League earlier this week. I think Jose Mourinho would be happy with another 1-0 victory here. 

My Soccer Game of the Week is a 10* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA SUPER LATE BATTLE OF LA

The Clippers and the Lakers will clash in the first "Battle of LA" right in their first game of the season. Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings and I think we'll see a lower score than the posted total would suggest tonight as well. 

The Clippers have had a lot of turnover in their roster from last season and I would not be surprised if it will take some time for them all to click offensively. They should be solid off the ball though with defensive specialist Patrick Beverley replacing the departed Chris Paul at point guard. 

The Lakers meanwhile have reportedly put a lot of effort into improving the league's third-worst scoring defense in 2016-17.  

"Our guys have really committed and bought in to becoming a better defensive team," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. "It's still going to take time, obviously. But as long as they keep working the way they do and want to continue to get better the way they do, then we'll be a very solid defensive team. I'm thrilled with the strides they're making."

My selection is a 10* play on Under.

NBA 3-Pack

The Houston Rockets stunned the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors with a 122-121 victory on Tuesday. Here they'll take on the Sacramento Kings the very next night, and I predict another high-scoring affair.

Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings overall and 5-1 in the last six meetings at Sacramento.

I don't think playing on back-to-back nights is as easy as it sounds right in the beginning of the season, and I'm sure the Kings can take advantage of some tired Houston legs on offense.

Scoring is rarely a problem for the Rockets as long as they're hitting the three-ball, and the Kings do not have the perimeter defense to stop them. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB) TOP RATED 10* MAJOR WAGER 

The Chicago Cubs' bats have been ice cold so far in this series, scoring just a total four runs through the first three games. I think the posted total is set way too high here in Game 4 of the series. 

Alex Wood will take the ball for the Dodgers. He will make his first start here in the playoffs but posted a 16-3 record behind a 2.72 ERA during the regular season. Wood has held the Cubs to one earned run through 8 2/3 innings of work this year and he's 7-1 with a stellar 2.24 ERA in 13 road starts. 

The Cubs turn to Jake Arrieta who is 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA in five career regular-season starts against the Dodgers. He conceded no earned runs in four innings against Washington in the NLDS and was 5-2 with a 2.90 ERA through 10 home starts during the regular season. 

Under is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings at Wrigley.

My MLB Game of the Week is on Dodgers/Cubs Under. 

ROCKETS/WARRIORS TNT NIGHTCRAWLER

We're seeing an bloated total (as per usual between these two teams) when the Golden State Warriors host the Houston Rockets Tuesday night. It's however worth noting that the under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings, and I think this one will stay under the total as well. 

The Rockets have been among the highest scoring teams in the NBA through the last couple of seasons, and now they've added nine-time All-Star Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers to the mix. It might take same time for Paul to blend in with the rest of the team though, and how will James Harden feel about Paul coming in as the primary ball-handler?

The Warriors are the reigning champions, and not only thanks to their amazing offense. This is a team that can play D as well, and we can note that Golden State managed to shut down Harden quite effectively last season. Harden was harassed into 23-for-73 shooting (31.5%), including 5-for-34 (14.7%) on 3-pointer, while totaling more turnovers (26) than shots made (23) in four matchups.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings at Quicken Loans Arena, but I think we'll see a low-scoring affair when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics for the opener of the 2017/2018 NBA season Tuesday night. 

There will be no love lost between those two teams who battled in the Eastern Conference Finals last year and were involved in the biggest trade of the off-season, which saw Cleveland send Kyrie Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. 

We can also note that LeBron James' status for the opener is unclear. James sprained his ankle in practice on Sept. 27 and sat out the Cavaliers' first three exhibition games. He finally made his debut last week against Chicago but may have aggravated his ankle while making a spin move in the loss. He was held out of Friday's preseason finale in Orlando to rest the ankle.

Expect a matchup with playoff-like intensity, particularly on defense. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

TOP RATED 10* NFL NO BRAINER

This looks like a terrific spot to back the under in Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon. The Falcons took a 23-17 home loss against Buffalo prior to their bye week, and I have no doubt that their elite defense will be fresh and ready to shut down the Dolphins here. 

There's no telling how Miami's offense will do in this contest as offensive line coach Chris Foerster resigned Monday, a day after a video surfaced of him snorting a white substance while apparently working for an NFL team. I'm pretty sure it won't have a positive impact though, and let's keep in mind that this is an offense that has averaged NFL worst for both points and yards through the first five weeks ... The Dolphins do have a 2-2 record though, thanks to a defensive unit that's allowed only 309.5 ypg and 16.8 ppg.  

Under is 11-3-2 in Falcons last 16 games in Week 6. Under is 5-0 in Dolphins last five games overall.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER (TOTAL)

Southampton will host Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, and this has all the signs of a low-scoring affair. Note that Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last nine home matches in the Premier League. There have been under 2.5 goals scored in seven of Southampton's last eight home league games and they've tallied just five while conceding seven in seven games overall this season. Newcastle have scored seven while conceding six in seven league games on the season, and they're coming off a confidence boosting 1-1 draw against Liverpool. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL BANKROLL BUILDER TOTAL

Both the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning are off to a fast start this season. Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings at Amalie Arena and I think we'll see another high-scoring affair when they clash Saturday night. 

The Lightning have scored a total of 18 goals through their first four games, but also conceded 15. They've impressed offensively as a team with Captain Steven Stamkos sitting on just one tally, and I expect the Lightning to keep trying to outscore their opponents as the defense is what it is (not very good). 

The Blues have scored 17 and conceded 14 through five games. They had won four straight games prior to a 5-2 loss at Florida on Thursday. Note that over is 4-1-1 in the Blues' last six after allowing five goals or more in their previous game. They've allowed 33 shots of more in each of their five games on the season, so Tampa Bay should get plenty of chances to score.

I'm assuming we'll see Jake Allen vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, and neither goalie has good numbers against tonight's opponent.  

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) MIKE'S EAGLES/PANTHERS T.N.F. BEST BET

Two red hot teams will clash at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday Night Football. I think we'll see an entertaining shootout between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers, and the keys are the quarterbacks. 

The Eagles have scored a total of 60 points through their last two games, wins at Chargers and at home against Arizona. 

QB Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone in last week's 34-7 drubbing of Arizona and he finished the game completing 21-of-30 passes for 304 yards with four TDs and one pick. Wentz has already thrown 10 TDs through the first five weeks, a big improvement from last season which he finished with 16 TDs and 14 picks. Philly has some defensive issues though and rank 22nd in the NFL with 346 yards per game allowed. 

The Panthers defeated the Patriots 33-30 in Week 4 and followed that up with a 27-24 win at Detroit last week. QB Cam Newton threw for a combined 671 yards and six touchdowns in those two games and now there's no longer any doubt that MVP Cam is back to 100% from his off-season shoulder surgery. 

Carolina's defense held Detroit to just 242 yards last week, but note that over is 13-3 in Eagles last 16 road games and 6-2 in their last eight Thursday night games.

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Eagles/Panthers Over. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a red hot start in the NHL with back-to-back 2-1 victories on the road. Their last game was a 2-1 win against this very same Coyotes team in Arizona in the first game of this home-and-home set. Here they'll make their Vegas debut, and I think we'll see another low-scoring contest involving the Vegas Knights. Note that under is 38-8-5 in the Coyotes last 51 when their opponent allows two goals or less in their previous game and Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has a 6-4-1 record with a 1.98 GAA in previous meetings with the Yotes.

Arizona is not a good team, but it doesn't give up a lot of goals. O/U was 30-42-10 through its 82 games last season and offseason acquisition Antti Raanta has been excellent in net.

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NFL 3-Pack

The Arizona Cardinals struggled to move the ball in last week's 18-15 OT win against the 49ers, but they played well on defense giving up just five field goals and no touchdowns. Under is 3-1 in Arizona's four games on the season and 6-2 in the Cardinals' last eight games in October.

Arizona doesn't have much offense and clearly miss RB David Johnson who isn't expected to be back until Christmas. QB Carson Palmer has thrown as many picks as touchdown passes (5) and he's been sacked 17 times through the first four weeks of the season. 

The Philadelphia Eagles pounded the Chargers on the ground in last week's 26-24 victory in LA, with LeGarrette Blount accumulating 136 yards on 16 carries. Arizona's D is not easy to beat though giving up just 302.8 ypg, and I think this will be a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

LATE NIGHT NLDS ARI/LAD TOTAL

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for the opener of this National League Division Series Friday night. The D'Backs have scored plenty of runs all season and defeated the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in Wednesday's NL wild-card game. I think we'll see enough runs cross the plate to push the score over the posted total. 

The Dodgers hand the ball to Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA) who is an elite pitcher, but he has had some troubles in the postseason, posting a career mark of 4-7 with a 4.55 ERA in 18 appearances (14 starts). Over is 4-0 in the Diamondbacks last four games vs. a left-handed starter and 26-9-1 in their last 36 games following an off day.

Arizona hands the ball to Taijuan Walker (9-9, 3.49 ERA) who is getting the start as the D'Backs had to use both Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray in the Wild Card game. Walker will make his first postseason appearance, and we've seen better pitchers than him buckle under the pressure. We can also note that Walker was far from sharp through his last three starts of the season, surrendering a total of 12 runs (eight earned) on 16 hits and seven walks in just 13 2/3 innings of work.  

Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings, and the over looks like value to me in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NHL 3-Pack

The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between the Philadelphia Flyers and the San Jose Sharks, and I predict another low-scoring affair here on Wednesday. 

The Sharks' netminder Martin Jones finished last season with a 2.40 GAA and a .912 save percentage and he has a 2.27 GAA through four seasons in the NHL. The Flyers Brian Elliott posted a 2.55 GAA with a .910 save percentage with Calgary last season. I still like him to keep the Sharks at bay here in the first game of the season. We can also note that under was 8-1 in San Jose's nine games last October. 

It's hard to say where the teams stand here in the first game of the season, but I think low-scoring games are likely. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 3-Pack

Under is 33-16-4 in the last 53 meetings at Edmonton, and this should be another low-scoring encounter between the two division rivals. Edmonton's netminder Cam Talbot posted a 2.32 GAA and a .922 save percentage last season while the Flames are likely to go with newly acquired Mike Smith who has posted a .911 save percentage over the last three seasons, despite regularly facing more shots than most other goalies. The Flames should be able to give him more protection than he got at Arizona, and we can note that Smith posted a 2.25 GAA in four meetings with Edmonton last season. 

It's hard to say where the teams stand here in the first game of the season, but I think low-scoring games are likely.  

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

NHL 3-Pack

The St. Louis Blues will open the season with a visit at the reigning Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins. Under is 5-1-3 in the last nine meetings at Pittsburgh and 11-4-4 in the last 19 meetings overall. 

The Blues goalie Jake Allen posted a 2.42 GAA and a .915 save percentage last year while Pittsburgh's Matt Murray compiled a 2.41 GAA and a .923 save percentage during the regular season last year. First game of the season, and I think both teams will come out sluggish resulting in a low-scoring contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

SUPERETTAN AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE

Gefle are fighting to avoid relegation from Superettan (the Swedish second tied), entering this game fourth from the bottom. The form is good though, having won four of their last five games and scoring 11 goals in the process. Helsingborg meanwhile are trying to catch Trelleborg for the playoff spot and potential promotion to Allsvenskan, and they've been involved in several high-scoring contests lately despite coming off a 0-0 draw.

Helsingborg's 12 games on the road this season have seen an average of 3.1 goals per game while Gelfe's 12 home games have seen an average of 3.2 gpg. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

TOP RATED 10* SUNDAY BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL

The Kansas City won't make it to the postseason, but they have the opportunity to close out the season with a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks after two low-scoring victories (2-1, 4-3). I think runs will come at a premium once again here on Sunday. 

The D'Backs hand the ball to Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.86 ERA). The left-hander is 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 road starts this season and he was 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five September outings. Under is 6-2 in Royals last eight home games vs. a left-handed starter.

KC turns to Jason Vargas (18-10, 3.94 ERA) who has surrendered just five earned runs covering 22 1/3 frames through his last four starts. Vargas' ERA home at Kauffman Stadium is almost a run lower than his ERA on the road, and under is 14-6 in the left-hander's last 20 home starts. Under is 5-2 in Diamondbacks last 7 interleague games when facing a souhtpaw starter.

My selection is a 10* play on Under. 

NFL DAYTIME DESTROYER TOTAL

The LA Rams are the highest scoring team through the first three weeks of the season, averaging 35.7 points per game. The Dallas Cowboys offense came alive in the second half of Monday's 28-17 win at Arizona as RB Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 80 yards on 22 carries, and he has now has accumulated 192 rushing yards in three games played. The Rams' D has allowed an average of 139 rushing yards per game, they gave up 39 points to the lowly 49ers last week. Each of the Rams' three games this season have gone over the total, and I think we'll see another shootout Sunday afternoon. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

NFL LIONS/VIKINGS TOTAL

The Minnesota Vikings will be without QB Sam Bradford, but backup Case Keenum threw for a career-high 369 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 34-17 win over Tampa Bay. Minnesota has a dangerous ground game as well led by the league’s No. 2 rusher, rookie Dalvin Cook who has accumulated 288 yards on the season. Detroit's pass defense ranks just 22nd in the league, and the team's 21.0 ppg allowed would no doubt be much higher if not for forcing a total of eight turnovers. 

The Lions have an efficient QB in Matthew Stafford who has thrown for 678 yards with seven touchdown passes and only one interception through the first three weeks of the season. The Vikings have struggled against the pass this season and I like Detroit to put up a decent amount of points on the board.

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

MLB 3-Pack

The Miami Marlins have won four straight games home at Marlins Park following Thursday's dominant 7-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves. I like the Fish to pick up another victory in a high-scoring contest Friday night. 

Luiz Gohara (1-3, 4.63 ERA) will take the ball for the visitors for his mere fourth career start. The 21 year old rookie fanned nine through seven innings of one-run ball against Philadelphia on Sept. 24, but I don't think anyone can argue the fact that the Marlins have much better bats than the Phillies. The Fish have averaged 6.90 runs per game in their last 10 contests and hand the ball to Dan Straily (10-9, 4.08 ERA). The right-hander was lit up in his first three starts of the month but has bounced back strong and surrendered just a pair of runs covering 11 innings in his last two outings. I reckon the Marlins will do enough damage at the plate to bail out Straily even if he has an off-game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over.

LATE NIGHT MLB BOOKIE BREAKER TOTAL

The over is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings and 15-7 in the last 22 meetings at Kauffman Stadium. Both starting pitchers have struggled all season long and I think we'll see plenty of runs here. 

The Royals hand the ball to Jason Hammel (8-13, 5.32 ERA) who has been lit up to the tune of 19 runs (18 earned) on 29 hits in just 12 2/3 frames through his last three starts combined. Hammel is 3-2 with a 6.27 ERA in 13 career appearances (10 starts) against Detroit. Over is 6-1-1 in the Tigers last eight games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Tigers turn to Jordan Zimmermann (8-13, 6.19 ERA) who has good career numbers against KC, but he is 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA in his first two September starts, allowing eight runs on 17 hits over nine innings. Zimmermann has battled back problems all season and over is 25-12-2 in his last 39 starts overall (14-3 last 17 starts against American League Central opponents).

KC is expected to sit some players after being officially eliminated from playoff contention last night, but I still think the teams will combine enough runs to push this game over the posted total with ease. 

My selection is an 8* play on Over. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOTAL WEDNESDAY

Both teams won their first game of the group stage, and I think we'll see two sides focused on not losing here. Man United are a big favorite (as they should be), but this is a long travel for the visitors and they might not have the legs or will to push the tempo here. CSKA have played great defense lately with three clean sheets through their last five games, and goals should come at a premium in this contest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Under. 

MLB 3-Pack

Both the Texas Ranges and the Houston Astros trot out their respective ace, and I think runs will come at a premium at Globe Life Park Tuesday night. 

The Astros' left-hander Dallas Keuchel (13-5, 2.96 ERA) has allowed just three runs with 11 strikeouts in six innings of work through his last two starts. He has held the Rangers to seven runs in 18 2/3 innings on the season. 

The Rangers turn to a left-hander of their own in Cole Hamels (11-4, 3.80 ERA) who is undefeated 7-0 behind a 3.50 ERA in 10 home starts this season. Hamels has allowed just three runs in 15 1/3 innings of work in his last two starts combined, and he held the Astros scoreless through seven innings of work earlier this season. 

Under is 6-2 in Astros last eight overall. Under is 4-1 in Rangers last five overall.

My selection is an 8* play on Under.