CAPITALS VS ISLANDERS MONEYLINE MASSACRE TOP PLAY

I backed the Washington Capitals and lost in Game 3 of this series.

Now I'm shamelessly switching sides to back the NY Islanders to complete the sweep and move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

While I thought that Caps would show some grit and pride, it has just not happened. They've been outshot and outplayed in just about every game and are 0-3 down despite the Isles going only 1/14 on the power play.

The Caps meanwhile have scored only two even-strength goals in the series, and I don't see any other outcome than another Islanders win. 

10* play on New York Islanders. 

MAJOR WAGER ALERT - TUESDAY MLB TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-9 on Monday. I think runs will come fast and easy for both teams again here in Game 2 of the series. 

Mariners' left-hander Marco Gonzales (2-2, 3.97 ERA) gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings at Texas last time out. I don't like his chances of slowing down a Dodgers team that has averaged 8.2 runs per game through a six-game winning streak. 

The Mariners have struggled to score runs this season but yesterday's outing was promising. Here they get a look at Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who has yet to allow a run this season, but that's over a small sample of 8 2/3 frames. 

Over is 9-2-1 in Mariners last 12 road games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

10* play on OVER 9.5. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-9 on Monday. I think runs will come fast and easy for both teams again here in Game 2 of the series. 

Mariners' left-hander Marco Gonzales (2-2, 3.97 ERA) gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings at Texas last time out. I don't like his chances of slowing down a Dodgers team that has averaged 8.2 runs per game through a six-game winning streak. 

The Mariners have struggled to score runs this season but yesterday's outing was promising. Here they get a look at Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who has yet to allow a run this season, but that's over a small sample of 8 2/3 frames. 

Over is 9-2-1 in Mariners last 12 road games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.

Additionally, just like yesterday, I expect the Dodgers to score the majority of the runs and I like them to cover the runline. 

8* play on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5. 

TUESDAY NIGHT MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Oakland Athletics look primed to bounce back from a 4-3 loss to Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. They had won four on the bounce leading up to that contest, and tonight's starter Frankie Montas (2-1, 1.57 ERA) has had a terrific start to the year. Last time out, Montas held Houston to two hits through seven scoreless innings of a 3-1 Oakland win. 

Arizona has won five straight games, but the team is 1-3 in Luke Weaver's four starts on the season. Weaver (0-3, 11.85 ERA) has been knocked around in just about every start and he has served up seven home runs over just 13 2/3 innings of work! 

8* play on Oakland. 

LATE MARINERS VS DODGERS NIGHTCAP

The Seattle Mariners have dropped six in a row while the LA Dodgers are heading into the new week riding a five-game winning streak. They have covered the runline in all but one of those wins, and I think we'll see an easy Dodgers win tonight. 

Mariners rookie right-hander Justin Dunn (1-1, 4.85 ERA) is coming off the best outing of his young career, but it's a big difference between holding the Rangers to two runs over six innings and taking on this LA team. Also, note his worrying 8-10 K/BB ratio over 13 innings. 

The Dodgers counter with right-hander Ross Stripling (3-1, 3.97 ERA) who'll be poised to bounce back from a subpar outing in a loss to San Diego. The team had won Stripling's previous three starts on the season and he owns a solid 20-6 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings of work. 

8* play on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5. 

LATE NIGHT MAVS VS CLIPPERS BANKROLL BUILDER

The Dallas Mavericks are a very capable team when holding the ball, but they're one of the worst defensive teams in the playoffs. The LA Clippers have elite scorers as well and they're more organized on the defensive end. 

Two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard led the Raptors to the title last season while Dallas' stars are young and lack (postseason) experience. 

Mavericks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog. Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite.

8* play on Los Angeles Clippers -6. 

MONDAY NIGHT MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The Minnesota Twins are a sizable favorite here in the opener of a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals. They are a big favorite for good reasons though, and I expect the Twins to run away with this one fast and easy. 

Twins righty Matt Wisler (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will make his first "start" of the season. He probably won't eat a lot of innings though as this most likely will be a bullpen game for the Twins. Their bullpen has proven itself more than capable of shutting down opponents in the first third of the season, boasting a 3.43 ERA which ranks seventh in baseball.

More importantly though, I don't see the Twins having any trouble putting up runs on the board against KC starter Kris Bubic (0-2, 5.40 ERA). The rookie left-hander will make just his fourth MLB start, and last time out he gave up two homers and was tagged with five runs on seven hits in five innings at Cincinnati. 

8* play on Minnesota Twins. 

76ERS VS CELTICS NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

I like the third-seeded Boston Celtics to open this best-of-seven series against the No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers with a commanding win. 

The Sixers will have to do without All-Star guard Ben Simmons will miss the playoffs following knee surgery, and who knows for how long Joel Embiid can stay healthy. 

Philadelphia went 3-1 SU and ATS against the Celtics during the regular season, but that was with a healthy Simmons. I think the Celtics are underrated. While they may not have an absolute superstar, their roster depth is impressive to say the least. 

Additionally, while Boston is listed as a home team, this obviously plays more like an away game for both teams and Celtics own a far superior road record compared to the Sixers this season. 

8* play on Boston Celtics. 

NETS VS RAPTORS NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

We have seen plenty of high-scoring games in the Orlando bubble, but the Toronto Raptors' games have consistently been an exception to the rule. 

The Raptors had played seven straight unders prior to a 125-121 win over Philadelphia in their last regular-season game, and I expect the final score of this contest to stay under the posted total. 

The Raptors own the No. 1 scoring defense in the NBA allowing only 106.5 ppg, and scoring won't come easy for a Brooklyn team without several of its key pieces. 

10* play on UNDER 222. 

FLYERS VS HABS SUNDAY NIGHT NHL POWER PLAY

The Philadelphia Flyers might have felt a little bit too comfortable after defeating the Montreal Canadiens in the opener of this best-of-seven playoffs series. You better believe they'll be wide awake more focused for this contest after taking a 5-0 beating in Game 2. The Flyers were undefeated in the bubble prior to that loss, and I fully expect the better team to bounce back and retake the series lead.

8* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

BREWERS VS CUBS BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Milwaukee Brewers have won two on the bounce after dropping the opener of this four-game series with the Chicago Cubs. I do however like the Cubs to come back and tie the series with a win Sunday afternoon. 

The Cubs hand the ball to veteran left-hander Jon Lester (2-0, 1.06 ERA) who is off to a splendid start to the season, and he owns a 2.97 ERA in 11 career stars Milwaukee.

The Brewers turn to right-hander Josh Lindblom (1-0, 5.68 ERA) who surrendered four runs on seven hits in four innings against the Minnesota Twins last time out. This will be his first career start against the Cubs, and his two bullpen appearances against them are not of much relevance. 

The Cubs are 10-2 as a favorite this season and 3-1 off a loss. Milwaukee on the other hand is just 2-6 off a win. 

10* play on Chicago Cubs. 

STARS VS FLAMES NHL DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Dallas Stars trail the Calgary Flames 2-1 in this Stanley Cup playoff opening-round series following a 2-0 loss on Friday. They were controlling the game and outshot the Flames 35-23, but simply couldn't find the net despite four chances to play with a man advantage. This is a huge game as another loss would put the Stars in a big hole, and I expect the better team to come through with a win today. 

8* play on Dallas Stars. 

MLB 3-PACK

The Houston Astros are riding a four-game winning streak and had covered the runline in three straight before coming up just short in Saturday's 2-1 win over Seattle. I predict a bigger Astros win today when their top 10 offense get to hit off Justins Sheffield (1-2, 5.27 ERA) who has been roughed up in two of three starts on the season. As for Houston righty Lance McCullers Jr. (2-1, 6.10 ERA), while he's been inconsistent, not that Houston has won three of his four starts. Additionally, he's coming off a really sharp outing when he held San Francisco to one hit over seven scoreless innings of a 6-4 win. 

8* play on Houston Astros -1.5. 

MLB 3-PACK - TOTAL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Cleveland Indians are 16-5 to the under on the season. I predict that Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Tigers will be another relatively low-scoring affair. 

Cleveland right-hander Adam Plutko (1-1, 2.45 ERA) is off to a hot start to the year and Michael Fulmer showed some promise last time out when he tossed three scoreless innings against the White Sox. Fulmer owns a 6.62 ERA in eight career starts against the Indians, but we shouldn't see all that much of his as he's on a pitch count while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Detroit's bullpen is top 10 in baseball with a 3.51 ERA, and Cleveland's is top five with a 2.88 ERA.

10* play on UNDER 9.5. 

SUPER EARLY CAPS VS ISLANDERS NHL BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Washington Capitals just might be the most motivated and desperate team on Sunday's slate of games from the NHL playoffs. They're 2-0 down in the series despite scoring the opening goal in each of the first two games, but the Caps should have enough experience on their roster to let if affect their morale in a negative way. The Islanders on the other hand are in a potential flat spot as they must feel pretty good about themselves and maybe just a bit too comfortable. Look for Washington to respond and edge its way back into the series with a win early Sunday afternoon. 

10* play on Washington Capitals. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB) - TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER ALERT

The Houston Astros have come alive with wins in three of their last four games. They've scored boatloads of runs during that stretch, and here they get a chance to tee off versus Nick Margevicius (0-0, 3.24 ERA), who has done the majority of his appearances this season as a reliever. Cristian Javier (1-1, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for Houston. He was roughed up by Oakland last time out, but had back-to-back solid starts under his belt prior to that. Javier's 16-4 K/BB ratio over 15 2/3 innings is impressive, and I think he'll do enough versus this inconsistent Seattle side. 

10* play on Houston Astros -1.5. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL) - TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER TOTAL

The first two games of this series have stayed under the posted total, and I see no reason why that shouldn't be the case again here in Game 3. Playing on back-to-back days could help slow down the tempo even further 

Under is 4-0 in Avalanche last 4 games playing on 0 days rest and 16-5 in their last 21 games as a favorite. Under is 5-0 in Coyotes last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.

10* play on UNDER 5.5. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA) - TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER 

The Memphis Grizzlies are just 2-6 in Orlando and only barely made the play-in tournament with a 119-106 win over Milwaukee in the last regular-season game.

They'll face a red hot Portland side that has won six of eight, and while Memphis defeated Portland in the first round of games in the bubble back on July 31, I don't think it'll stand much of a chance here.

The Blazers are firing on all cylinders, and the Grizzlies do not have any player that can match the output of Damian Lillard who has been absolutely outstanding in recent games.  

Trail Blazers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite. Grizzlies are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.  

10* play on Portland Trail Blazers -5.5. 

LATE NIGHT STARS VS FLAMES MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Dallas Stars tied up this best-of-seven opening-round set at 1-1 with a win Thursday night. This sets up a great spot to back the Flames to regroup and retake the lead tonight. 

"It's great to be able to play tomorrow and put this one behind us," captain Mark Giordano said. "Listen, it was 4-4 with a minute left. I thought a lot of guys deserve a lot of credit for getting us back into that game late, but it didn't go our way at the end." 

Calgary was certainly in the game and rallied back from deficits multiple times yesterday. It will be tough for Dallas to be the sharper team two games in a row, particularly playing with no rest on to back-to-back nights.

8* play on Calgary Flames. 

ISLANDERS VS CAPITALS FRIDAY NIGHT BOOKIE BA$HER

The Washington Capitals won only one of two games in the round-robin tournament and came out flat in a 4-2 loss in the opener of this first-round playoffs series with the NY Islanders. 

The Isles have been playing playoff hockey since the beginning of the month and defeated Florida in five games to make it through the qualifying round, but I like Washington here in Game 2 of this series. 

The Caps should be more up to speed now and need to show more urgency after going a game down. Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom was injured early in Game 1 and has been ruled out for this contest. Let's see his teammates rally around him and put up a much better effort tonight.

8* play on Washington Capitals. 

FRIDAY NIGHT BRAVES @ MARLINS MLB BANKROLL BUILDER

I like the Atlanta Braves here in the opener of a three-game series with the Miami Marlins. 

The Braves are coming off three straight losses and they've had a day off to prepare and focus while Miami snapped a three-game skid of its own with a 14-11 extra-inning win over Toronto on Thursday. Their bullpen was heavily used which will put extra pressure on tonight's starter Pablo Lopez (1-1, 1.80 ERA) who while solid, has pitched only five innings in both his starts this season. 

As for Atlanta starter Kyle Wright (0-2, 6.75 ERA), I'm not deterred by his weak numbers. Also, he's backed up by one of the best bullpens in baseball (5th, 3.22 ERA) and the Braves rank 5th in the major leagues for runs scored at 5.51 runs per game. 

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

HABS VS FLYERS NHL DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Philadelphia Flyers won the opener of this best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series 2-1, and I think they'll take a 2-0 lead with another win today. 

They have a solid edge on both ends of the ice and goaltender Carter Hart, who made 27 saves in Wednesday's victory, is a tough nut to crack for a Montreal offense that ranks only 19th in the league with 2.9 goals per game. 

The Habs spent a lot of energy to beat Pittsburgh in the qualifying round, and might even have issues to recharge mentally after that series upset. 

8* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

FLAMES VS STARS NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE 

I like the Dallas Stars to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to the Calgary Flames in the opening game of this best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoffs opening round series. The Stars are so much better than they've shown in recent games, and I really expect them to click into gear here, coming into the matchup a game down. There is a good reason why the Stars are the higher seed, and I expect them to show it here. 

8* play on Dallas Stars. 

HURRICANES VS BRUINS NHL BOOKIE BLA$TER

The Boston Bruins won the opener of this first-round playoffs series 4-3 in double OT on Wednesday. They were no doubt the better team and controlled the better part of the game, but I like the Carolina Hurricanes to bounce back and tie the series with a win tonight. 

Note that the Canes were coming off a seven-day layoff while the Bruins were playing on three days rest, so I'm not surprised that the Bruins were the hotter team yesterday. Now Carolina should be up to speed again, and that combined with the motivation/desperation of being a game down in the series I think the price warrants a wager on the Hurricanes in this one. 

8* play on Carolina Hurricanes. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (MLB) - TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER TOTAL

The Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies failed came one run short of pushing the score over the posted total yesterday, but I think they'll get the job done in Thursday's finale of this three-game set. 

Baltimore righty Tom Eshelman (0-0, 3.68 ERA) was not at his very best when he allowed two runs on five hits with two Ks in four innings against the Nats last time out. He has pitched only 7 1/3 through his two starts on the season, and when Eshelman is done he'll hand over the ball to a bullpen that ranks 19th in the league with a 4.41 ERA. 

Still, Baltimore's relievers have been sharper than the Phillies who wank dead last across the major leagues with a 10.19 ERA! Philadelphia starter Jake Arrieta (1-1, 2.45 ERA) has had a solid start to the year, but the Orioles have shown they can get to just about any pitcher this year. 

Last but not least, note Baltimore's .307 batting average and .386 on-base percentage in day games this season, both the best marks in baseball.  

10* play on OVER. 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON NBA BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY TESTS 7-3 RUN

The red hot Phoenix Suns have won seven straight games in the Orlando bubble. They need an eighth straight and a loss for either Portland and Memphis to earn a spot in the play-in game. Memphis plays before Phoenix while Portland plays the last game, so even if Memphis wins its game, Phoenix will still have every reason in the world to win this one and hope that the Blazers lose later. The Mavs on the other hand are locked into the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs and I would not be surprised if they give their key pieces the night off here to stay healthy and fresh for the postseason. 

10* play on Phoenix Suns. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Montreal Canadiens deserve a lot of credit for beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in four games in the qualifying round. That being said, I think they'll come up short here in Game 1 of this first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Philly earned the top seed in the East after winning all three games in the round-robin tournament. An impressive feature considering the opponents was Boston, Washington, and Tampa Bay. The Flyers gave up one goal in each game, and this should be too big of a step up in competition for the Habs who caught Pittsburgh off guard. 

8* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

ORIOLES @ PHILLIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT MLB TOTAL

The Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies opened this series with a 19-run affair. I think we'll see another slugfest here in Game 2 Wednesday night. Baltimore left-hander Wade LeBlanc (1-0, 6.91 ERA) has been lit up in two of his first three starts. Last time out he gave up six runs on seven hits in an 8-7 Orioles loss to Miami. 

As for Phillies righty Zach Eflin (0-0, 0.00 ERA), he has made only one start, on August 7, in which he tossed four scoreless innings against the Yankees. Eflin figures to have less success here against a Baltimore team that has been swinging hot bats lately, and LeBlanc is sure to be busy as the Phillies rank 2nd in baseball for runs scored.

8* play on OVER. 

YOTES VS AVS WEDNESDAY NIGHT NHL TOTAL TOP PLAY

The Colorado Avalanche played two low-scoring games against Dallas and St. Louis before taking a 4-3 OT loss to Vegas in their last game in the round-robin tournament. While they are one of the highest-scoring teams in the league I think this will play out like the first two games. The Arizona Coyotes are certainly a defense-first kind of team, and both sides will be wary of giving up the first goal. 

The Coyotes own the 3rd best scoring defense in the NHL with only 2.6 goals allowed per game while Colorado ranks 6th with 2.7 gpg allowed.

10* play on UNDER. 

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MLB BOOKIE BLA$TER TOP PLAY

*Pick and write up made prior to the ending of Tuesday's matchup

I like the value we get on the Oakland Athletics with Chris Bassitt (1-0, 1.08 ERA) on the mound. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed no more than one run in his previous three starts on the season with Oakland winning each game. That includes four shutout innings in a 3-0 win against the Halos in his season debut. 

The Angels hand the ball to Griffin Canning (0-2, 3.14 ERA) who took the loss in that contest after giving up three runs on four hits through 4 2/3 frames. With 10 walks allowed through 14 innings on the season, it would be an understatement to say that Canning has struggled with his command. Last time out, he gave up four runs on three hits and six walks in 3 2/3 innings against Texas. 

10* play on Oakland Athletics. 

SUPER EARLY WHITE SOX VS TIGERS DAYTIME DESTROYER

The Detroit Tigers saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with an 8-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. I don't see them bouncing back with Matthew Boyd (0-1, 9.20 ERA) on the mound. Boyd has been just about as poor as the numbers suggest. Last time out he was tagged with seven runs on eights hits in 4 2/3 innings against Pittsburgh while White Sox's Dylan Cease (2-1, 4.05 ERA) is coming off five scoreless innings against Cleveland. Cease made three starts against the Tigers last season, and he won each start behind a 3.38 ERA.

8* play on Chicago White Sox. 

SUPER EARLY CANES VS BRUINS NHL TOTAL

This game was supposed to be played yesterday but was postponed due to Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning's five-overtime marathon here at Scotiabank Arena. The early start won't be beneficial for the offenses as it might take the players a period or so to wake up, and I expect to see a sleepy, low-scoring affair.

Under is 5-2 in Hurricanes last 7 overall and 4-0 in Bruins last 4 overall (6-0 in Bruins last 6 playoff games as a favorite).

The Bruins have won six straight meetings, and in addition to the under I also like Boston to win.

8* play on UNDER.

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

This game was supposed to be played yesterday but was postponed due to Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning's five-overtime marathon here at Scotiabank Arena. The early start won't be beneficial for the offenses as it might take the players a period or so to wake up, and I expect to see a sleepy, low-scoring affair.

Under is 5-2 in Hurricanes last 7 overall and 4-0 in Bruins last 4 overall (6-0 in Bruins last 6 playoff games as a favorite).

The Bruins have won six straight meetings, and in addition to the under I also like Boston to win.

8* play on Boston Bruins.

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Cleveland's Adam Plutko (1-0, 2.57) will make his second start (third appearance) of the season. In his previous start, he held the White Sox to two runs through six innings. Cubs' lefty Jon Lester (1-0, 0.82 ERA) has two solid starts under his belt with only one run conceded on four hits through 11 innings of work. Cleveland is 14-3 to the under on the season. Both teams had Monday off and the under is 13-3 in Cubs last 16 games following an off day.

8* play on UNDER. 

TUESDAY NIGHT MLB RUNLINE RIPPER TOP PLAY

I think we are getting terrific value on the Atlanta Braves (11-7) on the runline as an underdog when they visit the New York Yankees (10-6) Tuesday night. 

The Bronx Bombers are not playing good baseball at the moment, coming off back-to-back losses and dropping four of their last five. Tonight they'll hand the ball to left-hander Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 5.59 ERA) who gave up five runs in four innings of a 5-4 loss to the Phillies last time out. 

Atlanta starter Touki Toussaint (0-0, 6.08 ERA) is coming off a couple of solid outings since getting lit up in his season debut. Last time out he struck out nine through 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball against Toronto. 

The Braves are 11-5 in their last 16 games vs. a left-handed starter and I think they'll get to Montgomery. 

8* play on Atlanta Braves. 

BLAZERS VS MAVS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Portland Trail Blazers will be playing their third game in four nights. As they're battling for one of the two play-in game spots they have no other option than to go all-in every night though, and I think they'll have enough gas left in the tank to beat Dallas.

The Mavs are coming off a 136-132 OT win over Milwaukee, but they have dropped three of five in the Orlando bubble and while Dallas has a chance of the No. 5 seed in the West, in reality, it wouldn't change much.

At this point in the season motivation means almost everything, and that gives Portland the edge in this contest.

10* play on Portland Trail Blazers. 

FLAMES VS STARS NHL POWER PLAY

The Dallas Stars have won seven of the last nine head-to-head matchups with the Calgary Flames. I predict more success for the Stars here in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Calgary is getting a bit too much respect for beating up on the Jets in four games in the qualifying round. Winnipeg was shorthanded and while the Stars went only 1-2 in round-robin play, the playoff format is more suitable to defensively strong teams like them (2nd in the NHL for goals allowed). 

Sure Calgary has more momentum, but it also had to put in more effort through its four qualifying games than Dallas in its three round-robin games. I expect the Stars to come alive and show their class. 

8* play on Dallas Stars. 

CELTICS VS GRIZZLIES NBA BANKROLL BUILDER

The Memphis Grizzlies have won just one of six games in the Orlando bubble. They are not at risk of losing out of the No. 8 seed and might lose out on a play-in game spot altogether with Portland, Phoenix and San Antonio threatening behind. Boston has the No. 3 seed in the East locked up, and after winning three straight games I would not be the least surprised if the Celtics come out flat in this one. 

8* play on Memphis Grizzlies. 

PADRES @ DODGERS MONDAY NIGHT MLB TOTAL

The under is 7-2 in the last nine head-to-head meetings at Dodgers Stadium and I think this will be another low-scoring affair.

Padres' righty Garrett Richards (0-1, 4.60 ERA) owns a 2.55 ERA in seven career outings (five starts) against the Dodgers while Dodgers' righty right-hander Dustin May (1-0, 2.63 ERA) owns a 3.32 ERA in previous meetings with San Diego. 

The Dodgers are coming off a 6-2 win over San Francisco and the under is 9-3-2 in their last 14 after scoring five runs or more in their previous game. The under is 24-9-1 in Padres last 34 games as a road underdog.

8* play on UNDER. 

ATHLETICS @ ANGELS MONDAY NIGHT BANKROLL BUILDER

The Los Angeles Angels have lost 11 of their first 16 games and head into the new week on a three-game losing streak. The A's on the other hand are 12-4 on the season and they're arguably the hottest team in baseball coming off nine straight wins. 

Tonight the A's hand the ball to Sean Manaea (0-2, 8.03 ERA) who has not been quite as bad as the numbers would suggest. Additionally, he'll be opposed by Julio Teheran (0-1, 6.75 ERA) who has had far from an ideal start to the year himself. 

Athletics are 12-4 in their last 16 road games and 10-2 in the last 12 meetings with the Halos.

8* play on Oakland. 

MONDAY NIGHT BALLPARK BLOWOUT TOP PLAY

The Colorado Rockies fell to 11-4 on the season after taking 5-3 loss to the Mariners on Sunday. They have bounced back to win the next game after the previous setbacks and I like them to do it again here against an Arizona team that is just 6-10 on the season. 

D'Backs lefty Robbie Ray (1-2, 9.45 ERA) has had an abysmal start to the season. Last time out he gave up six runs in just five innings. He served up three home runs in that contest has allowed six homers on the season. Last year, he posted a 4.38 ERA in three starts covering 12 1/3 frames here at Coors Field. C

Colorado counters with Jon Gray (0-1, 3.31 ERA) who's had a decent start to the year despite getting roughed up by the Giants in his most recent start. Last season, Gray was 6-2 with a 3.46 ERA here at Coors Field and he posted a 3.31 ERA in three starts against Arizona. 

The Rockies are 7-0 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter and the Diamondbacks are 2-10 in their last 12 games as a road underdog.

10* play on Colorado Rockies. 

MONDAY AFTERNOON NBA BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Phoenix Suns are the only undefeated team in the NBA bubble with five straight wins. They almost certainly have to win their remaining three contests to have any shot of making a play-in game, and I think they'll keep rolling here when taking on Oklahoma City Monday night. 

The Thunder are in a dogfight with Houston and Utah for the 4-6 seeds in the West, but note that they have traded wins and losses through their five games in the bubble. With OKC coming off a 121-103 win over Washington on Sunday, I think they'll come out flat here playing on no rest. 

10* play on Phoenix Suns. 

BLUE JACKETS VS MAPLE LEAFS NHL POWER PLAY

With only four minutes to go in Friday's matchup, the Columbus Blue Jackets were cruising to a 3-0 triumph which would have clinched the series. An unprecedented Leafs comeback saw them tie the game and score the winner in overtime to force this deciding Game 5. This is a tough spot for the stunned Columbus players who must've thought they had booked their ticket to the next round already. I expect Toronto to take advantage of the momentum and come through with another win.  

8* play on Toronto Maple Leafs. 

ROCKETS VS KINGS SUNDAY NIGHT NBA TOP PLAY

The Sacramento Kings have dropped four of five games in the bubble and their chances of making the playoffs are now slim to none. They've been atrocious on the defensive end which will spell trouble against a Houston team that ranks second in the league for points per game. 

The Rockets are 3-1 in the bubble and still have plenty of motivation to keep racking up wins as they are jostling for the 3-6 seeds in the West. Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon have been ruled out, but Harden shouldn't need much help to put the Kings away. 

10* play on Houston Rockets. 

INDIANS VS WHITE SOX - NIGHT NIGHT BASEBALL BEST BET

The Cleveland Indians are 14-2 to the under on the season and I think runs will come a premium for both sides once again in this matchup with the Chicago White Sox. 

White Sox righty Lucas Giolito (1-1, 5.17 ERA) has recovered nicely since getting knocked around in his season debut. In his two most recent starts, Giolito has allowed only two runs on eight hits with 15 Ks through 12 innings of work. Cleveland counters with Shane Bieber (3-0, 0.83 ERA) who has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball.  

10* play on UNDER. 

ASTROS @ ATHLETICS MLB BOOKIE BLA$TER

The Houston Astros are coming off four straight losses and have only scored three runs through the first two games of this series. Runs won't be easy to come by here in the finale of this three-game series either, facing Oakland left-hander Jesus Luzardo (0-0, 2.31 ERA) who tossed five scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Texas in his season debut. 

Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.42 ERA) will take the ball for Houston for his third start of the season. Through the previous two, he has allowed only a pair of runs on six hits with 10 Ks through 11 2/3 frames. 

Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 games as an underdog. Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.

8* play on UNDER. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MLB NO BRAINER

I think the San Diego Padres look like a great home favorite in this matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday afternoon. Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 7.04 ERA) has had a really poor start with the D'Backs while Padres' Dinelson Lamet (1-0, 1.72 ERA) has been as solid as one could ask for. Add Arizona's issues to score runs (3.53 rpg) while San Diego is near the top of the major leagues for runs scored with 5.21 runs per game and we have a complete mismatch.

8* play on San Diego Padres. 

MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Colorado Rockies are 11-3 on the season while the Seattle Mariners are 5-11. The Rockies won Saturday's contest 5-0 and I like them to complete the sweep of this three-game series Sunday afternoon. 

Colorado right-hander German Marquez (2-1, 1.89 ERA) has opened the season with three solid starts, allowing only four runs on 12 hits with 23 Ks over 19 innings of work. Seattle right-hander Justus Sheffield (0-2, 9.39 ERA) on the other hand has been roughed up for four runs in each of his first two starts, covering only three and 4 2/3 innings respectively. I do not see any reason why we shouldn't back the road chalk in this one. 

8* play on Colorado Rockies. 

ASTROS @ ATHLETICS SIDE

The Houston Astros are coming off four straight losses and have only scored three runs through the first two games of this series. Runs won't be easy to come by here in the finale of this three-game series either, facing Oakland left-hander Jesus Luzardo (0-0, 2.31 ERA) who tossed five scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Texas in his season debut. 

Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.42 ERA) will take the ball for Houston for his third start of the season. Through the previous two, he has allowed only a pair of runs on six hits with 10 Ks through 11 2/3 frames. 

Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 games as an underdog. Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.

Additionally, I like the price we get on Oakland.  

8* play on Oakland. 

MLB SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Detroit Tigers are 7-5 on the season and have scored 28 runs while winning the first two games of this three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are averaging 5.66 runs per game and I think they'll hit today's Pirates starter Steven Brault (0-0, 7.20 ERA) hard as well while Detroit righty Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 2.45 ERA) has been hard to hit. 

8* play on Detroit Tigers. 

SATURDAY NIGHT BALLPARK BLOWOUT TOP PLAY

The Washington Nationals musted only four hits when they took an 11-0 beating by the hands of the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The defending World Series champions have had a disappointing start to the year, but I think they'll bounce back with a big win in Saturday's matchup with the O's. 

Tom Eshelman (0-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the ball for Baltimore. This will be his first start after tossing 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in a 4-0 loss to Miami on August 5. Last season, Eshelman posted a 6.50 ERA through 10 appearances (four starts) covering 36 innings of work. 

The Nats counter with Austin Voth (0-1, 3.60 ERA) for his second start of the season after giving up three runs (two earned) in five innings against Toronto in his season debut. Last season, Voth posted a solid 3.30 RA through nine outings (eight starts) with 44 Ks through 43 2/3 frames. That includes six innings of one-run ball in an 8-1 Nationals victory over Baltimore. 

While Voth is far from an ace, this is just a good spot to back the Nats to bring their bats to get the job done following Friday's beatdown. 

10* play on Washington Nationals. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL) - MAJOR WAGER TOP PLAY ALERT

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche are both heading into the weekend perfect 2-0-0 in the Edmonton bubble. They will consequently square off for the top seed in the Conference on Saturday, and I like the Avs to be the team to come through. 

While Vegas can match up with Colorado on the offensive end, the Avs have a pretty significant edge defensively. Note that the Knights have allowed a total of seven goals in their games against St. Louis and Dallas and netminder Marc-Andre Fleury went 0-2 with a 7.13 GAA against Colorado during the regular season. Colorado has allowed only one goal in the bubble and shut out the Stars last time out. 

Last but not least, this will be the third meeting of the season, with Colorado winning the first two 6-1 and 7-3.

10* play on Colorado Avalanche. 

SUPER EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON MLB TOTAL

The Cleveland Indians are 12-2 to the under on the season. They're scoring just 3.36 runs per game and shut out in Friday's 2-0 loss to the White Sox. 

Today they'll come up against Chicago right-hander Matt Foster who has pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings as a reliever this season. He's not expected to go 

Zach Plesac (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will take the ball for the Tribe for his third start on the year. The 25-year-old right-hander has recorded 17 Ks and held opponents to three runs on seven hits and a walk through 15 innings of work. 

I don't see either team coming up with a ton of runs here and I expect this contest to stay well under the posted total. 

8* play on UNDER 9. 

SUPER EARLY CLIPPERS VS BLAZERS BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing well in the bubble, winning three of four outright while compiling a 3-0-1 ATS record.

The Blazers are still on the outside looking in on postseason play in 2020 and must keep pushing the pedal to the metal as long as they can. 

As for the LA Clippers, they have alternated wins and losses through their first four games in Orlando. With a playoff spot already locked up, this is not surprising considering the Clippers situation. They don't want to push their key pieces too much, risking fatigue/injuries but also want to see enough effort to keep the momentum for the playoffs. 

Last time out they put a 126-11 beating on Dallas. The Clippers are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points and I would not be surprised if they came out a bit flat in this one.

10* play on Portland +4.5. 

LATE NIGHT CANUCKS VS WILD NHL MONEYMAKER

The Minnesota Wild have their backs against the wall as they face elimination after taking a 3-0 loss to the Canucks Thursday night. They went 0-for-7 on the power play, and I expect more focus on the special teams in this one. They lost as a favorite yesterday, but note that they're still a solid 6-2 in their last eight games as a favorite.

8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

LATE NIGHT ROCKIES @ MARINERS BOOKIE BLA$TER

The Colorado Rockies sit top of the NL West with a 9-3 record, but I think they'll take a loss here at Seattle Friday night. 

The Mariners hand the ball to Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.66 ERA). Last time out, Kikuchi fanned nine through six scoreless innings of three-hit ball against Oakland and he'll be facing the Rockies for the first time of his career.

Antonio Senzatela (2-0, 2.45 ERA) will take the ball for Colorado for his third start of the season. He has faced the Mariners twice throughout the years, going 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA allowing 10 runs through 11 frames. 

The Mariners have dropped five of their last six as runs have been hard to come by. I think they'll bring their bats in this one and hit Senzatela hard again. 

8* play on Seattle Mariners. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NBA) - TOP RATED MAJOR WAGER ATS

The Memphis Grizzlies are slumping at the worst possible time and have yet to win a game in the NBA bubble. With four games to play, they are now only ½ game ahead of Portland for the No. 8 seed in the West and will face three title contenders from the East on deck following this contest. 

The demoralized Grizzlies can't like their chances of making the postseason, and I think their slump will continue here against a hot Oklahoma City Thunder team beat the LA Lakers last time out. 

While OKC is already guaranteed to make the playoffs, it is still battling Utah and Houston for the 4th seed in the West. They have won two of three in Orlando (could easily be 3-0) and I'm more than happy to take the better team with positive momentum to cover the small spread as a favorite. 

Thunder are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points. Grizzlies are 0-4 ATS in their four games in the bubble.

10* play on Oklahoma City Thunder. 

SUPER EARLY JAZZ VS SPURS NBA BANKROLL BUILDER

Reports suggest that Utah's Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O'Neale and Rudy Gobert will not be available for Friday's game against the Spurs. They'll play a San Antonio team that more or less has to win out to have any chance of making the playoffs. I like the motivated Spurs to beat Utah's backups. 

8* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

SUPER EARLY ISLANDERS VS PANTHERS BOOKIE BA$HER

The Florida Panthers faced elimination in Wednesday's Qualifying Round matchup with the NY Islanders but managed to stay alive with a 3-2 victory. I think they'll come through again and extend the series to a deciding Game 5. 

The Panthers went 2-for-5 with a man advantage on Wednesday and they have converted on 21.2% of their power play opportunities on the season, which can be compared to the Islanders 17.4% conversion rate. 

Do not underestimate the desperation from a team down in the series, and the loss last time out might very well have flustered the Isles. 

8* play on Florida Panthers. 

LATE NIGHT ROCKETS VS LAKERS BOOKIE BLA$TER

The Los Angeles Lakers will be playing on no rest after taking a 105-86 loss to the OKC Thunder on Wednesday. Both Lebron James and Anthony Davis logged about 30 minutes each, and with the top seed in the West already clinched I would not be surprised to see the Lakers manage their key players' minutes and rest several regulars in this one. 

The Rockets are coming off a loss to Portland and I expect them to be eager to bounce back fast and hard.

8* play on Houston Rockets.

BLAZERS VS NUGGETS THURSDAY NIGHT HARDWOOD HAMMER

This looks like a potential flat spot for the shorthanded Denver Nuggets who will be playing on back-to-back nights and coming off a pair of victories. 

The Portland Trail Blazers have had a day off since a meriting 110-102 win over Houston and the team is 2-1 SU (2-0-1 ATS) in the NBA bubble. The Blazers are still very much in desperation mode as they try to hunt down the slumping Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the west. 

The Nuggets are likely to be without the services of Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, and Will Barton for a fourth straight game and their bench must be running out of steam.  

8* play on Portland -3. 

NHL MAJOR WAGER ALERT - KNIGHTS VS BLUES BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Vegas Golden Knights are 16-5-1 under head coach Peter  DeBoer, including a white hot 12-2-0 over their last 14. They opened the Western Conference Round-Robin with a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Dallas and a win here would see them tied for points with the Colorado Avalanche at the top of the standings. 

The Blues on the other hand took a demoralizing last-second loss to the Avs in their Round-Robin opener, and I think they'll struggle to bring the intensity needed to compete with the Knights. 

10* play on Vegas Golden Knights. 

CLIPPERS VS MAVS BASKET BRAWLER

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks have dropped two of three in the bubble. 

Neither side has all that much to play for during the remaining of the regular season and staying healthy is the No. 1 priority. This comes down to which team wants it the most looking to build some momentum for the playoffs. 

I expect the Clippers to show more purpose coming off a loss to the Suns while Dallas is coming off a 114-110 comeback victory over the Sacramento Kings. 

Additionally, Dallas' defense is just atrocious at times while LA's D is truly elite. The Mavs rely heavily on making their shots, but the team is in big trouble if they're having a bad day on the offensive end. 

Clippers are 21-6 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up loss. Mavericks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.

8* play on Los Angeles Clippers. 

THURSDAY NIGHT MLB TOTAL - REDS @ INDIANS

The Cleveland Indians are 12-1 to the under on the season and the first three games of this four-game home-and-home series have produced a total of only 11 runs. The Tribe's Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.75 ERA) is a very capable pitcher, as is scheduled Cincinnati starter Luis Castillo (0-1, 4.50 ERA). Cleveland has the second-worst OBS against right-handed pitching and I expect this to be another low-scoring affair involving the Indians. 

8* play on UNDER 7.5. 

CAPITALS VS FLYERS TOTAL BOOKIE BA$HER

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals have plenty of offensive firepower at their disposal, but they're both also capable of locking it down defensively. 

Philadelphia opened its Eastern Conference round-robin action with a 4-1 win over Boston while Washington is coming off a 3-2 SO loss to Tampa Bay. 

The Caps had to do without top scorer John Carlson due to an undisclosed injury, and his situation remains uncertain for this game. 

Neither team managed to light it up last time out, and I think this will be a tight and relatively low-scoring affair. 

8* play on UNDER 6. 

RANGERS VS ATHLETICS RUNLINE - SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Oakland Athletics have scored a total of 22 runs through their last three games. I don't see them having any trouble scoring off Mike Minor (0-2, 5.91 ERA) who was tagged with 16 runs through 16 innings of work against Oakland last season.

When Minor has had enough, he'll hand over the ball to the worst bullpen in the American League (6.75 ERA). 

As for the A's starter, right-hander Mike Fiers (0-0, 5.40 ERA) made four starts against Texas last season and allowed 11 runs on 16 hits through 20 2/3 innings of work. 

Over is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 overall and 9-2 in their last 11 games as an underdog.

The A's bats are red hot, and I think they're going to put up the majority of the runs in this game and enough to cover the runline. 

8* play on Oakland -1.5. 

SUPER EARLY TWINS @ PIRATES BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Pittsburgh Pirates are going nowhere slow as they enter the finale of this three-game series with a 2-10 record. I think they'll continue to mail it in here against a white hot Minnesota Twins team that has compiled the exact opposite record of 10-2. 

Twins' righty Kenta Maeda (2-0, 1.64 ERA) has had a terrific start with the Twins, recording 12 strikeouts with just five hits and two runs allowed over 11 innings of work. The Pirates counter with JT Brubaker (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for his first start of the season, in place of Mitch Keller who is on the injured list. It's tough to know where we have Brubaker as a starter. He has tossed five scoreless innings as a reliever on the season, but I don't see him slowing down the Twins' hot bats. 

Pittsburgh has scored more than three runs only once during its current seven-game skid, and I expect the Twins to win this one comfortably. 

10* play on Minnesota Twins -1.5. 

DODGERS @ PADRES BANKROLL BUILDER - LATE 9:10 PM ET START

I think we're getting good value on the San Diego Padres to win as an underdog home at Petco Park tonight. Sure, Dodgers' right-hander Ross Stripling (2-0, 2.92 ERA) has good stuff, but Padres' Garrett Richards (0-0, 3.38 ERA) ain't easy to get hits off either. On the season, Richards has 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings and he is 1-0 with a 1.78 ERA and 30 Ks over 30 1/3 career innings against the Dodgers. Against the Padres, Stripling is 4-5 with a 3.57 ERA. I think the dog will bark in this one. 

8* play on San Diego Padres. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MLB BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Chicago Cubs are winners of five on the bounce and eight of their last nine. They have covered the runline in the majority of those triumphs, and I like them to put a big beating on the Kansas City Royals tonight. 

Royals' right-hander Kris Bubic (0-1, 4.50 ERA) has just major league start under his belt when he gave up three runs (two earned) in four innings of a loss to the White Sox on August 1. He'll be opposed by Cubs' lefty Yu Darvish (1-1, 2.70 ERA) who knocked out seven through six scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Pittsburgh last time out. In five career starts against the Royals, Darvish is 2-1 with a 2.34 ERA. 

The Cubs are top 10 in the major leagues with their 5.20 runs per game while Royals are in the bottom third with 3.64 rpg. I'm counting on the red hot Cubs obliterate the Royals in this one.  

10* play on Chicago Cubs -1.5. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT MLB UNDERDOG UPSET

The Toronto Blue Jays must have forgotten to bring their bats in yesterday's 10-1 loss to Atlanta. 

I look for the Jays to make up for it and come through with a win tonight instead with Hyun Jin Ryu on the mound. Ryu (0-1, 8.00 ERA) owns a 2.73 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta. He's had an underwhelming start to the year and must be desperate a good outing to prove his new team that he's so much better than he's displayed so far. 

As for Atlanta, it hands the ball to Sean Newcomb (0-0, 8.22 ERA) who has had a rocky start as well. Newcomb has only pitched 2 2/3 innings as a reliever against the Jays, and I think they'll get to him after yesterday's pathetic performance at the plate.

8* play on Toronto Blue Jays. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL) - TOP RATED MONEYLINE MAJOR WAGER

The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a 2-1 win over St. Louis while Dallas took a 5-3 loss to Vegas in its first game of the Western Conference round-robin. The Stars may have gotten the better of Colorado all four times during the regular season, but I like Colorado in tonight's matchup. 

The Avs are averaging 3.37 goals per game and their offense is right up there with the best in the league while Dallas is averaging a paltry 2.58 goals per game. Now, the Stars do of course have a clear defensive edge, but I think both teams will play relatively relaxed and let the offense dominate the game. 

Avalanche are 8-2 in their last 10 playoff games as a favorite and 11-3 in their last 14 games following a win. The Stars are in a tailspin with seven straight losses (dating back to pre-covid).

10* play on Colorado Avalanche. 

NUGGETS VS SPURS NBA BOOKIE BLA$TER TOP PLAY

The San Antonio Spurs are making a serious push for the playoffs and had won back-to-back games in the NBA bubble prior to a 132-130 loss to the 76ers last time out. This Spurs team is scrappier than most people thought, and I think they'll give the Denver Nuggets all they can handle in this matchup. 

Denver is banged up and pretty much just looking to get out of the regular season as healthy as possible. The Nuggets did bounce back to defeat OKC in OT last time out after losing their first game in the bubble to Miami, but I just don't see them caring much about this contest, particularly considering how shorthanded they are. Note that Will Barton and Gary Harris have both already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game, while Jamal Murray is questionable. 

Look for a healthier and more motivated Spurs team to at the very least cover the spread and possibly win outright. 

10* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

EARLY GRIZZLIES VS JAZZ NBA DAYTIME DESTROYER

Both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz are winless SU and ATS in the bubble. I like the Jazz to be the team to end their skid here Wednesday afternoon.

Utah is coming off an encouraging performance against the Lakers, where they kept pace with them for most of the game. The Grizzlies on the other hand have not shown nearly the urgency you expect from a team currently outside the playoff spots in their back-to-back losses to San Antonio and New Orleans.

I expect Utah's talent and superior defense to get the job done.

8* play on Utah Jazz -5.

CELTICS VS HEAT NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Boston Celtics have already been involved in two shootouts in the NBA Bubble, first when they took a 119-112 loss to Milwaukee and then when defeating Portland 128-114 last time out. 

I expect to see them involved in another high-scoring contest as they take on the Miami Heat Tuesday night. The Celtics have a lot of scoring depth, and Miami is more than capable of heating up from behind the arc like it did in its 125-115 win over Denver the other night when it shot 45 percent from 3-point land. 

Over is 8-2 in Celtics last 10 games as a favorite. Over is 10-4 in Heat last 14 overall.

8* play on OVER 222.5. 

BLUE JACKETS VS MAPLE LEAFS NHL POWER PLAY

The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed the opener of this best-of-five Eastern Conference qualifying series with a 2-0 win on Sunday. 

Toronto is the No. 8 seed while Columbus the No. 9 seed which suggests a small gap in talent, and I strongly disagree that the Leafs should be this big of a favorite in this one. 

While Toronto is the better offensive team, the Jackets have an edge on the defensive end and I think they'll be able to punish a Toronto team that is likely to push things too much,  playing from behind and all that.  

Blue Jackets are 9-3 in their last 12 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game and 6-2 in their last 8 playoff games as an underdog. Maple Leafs are 1-6 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.

8* play on Columbus Blue Jackets. 

SUNS VS CLIPPERS TUESDAY AFTERNOON BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Phoenix Suns are one of the few teams still undefeated in the NBA bubble following impressive wins over Washington and Dallas. They are still a long-shot to make the playoffs, but they've certainly not given up. 

The LA Clippers are looking to defend their No. 2 seed in the West with Nuggets, Rockets and Thunder, but I think the motivational advantage goes to Phoenix. 

All that being said, I have my eyes on the total in this one. Both teams rank inside the top-10 for pace of play and in the top half for offensive efficiency. Additionally, the Clippers have been red hot from behind the arc and Phoenix is also capable of lighting it up from deep. 

10* play on OVER 230. 

SUPER EARLY PIRATES @ TWINS - BREAKFAST BANKROLL BUILDER

The Minnesota Twins finished a run short of covering the runline in a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. Tough game as they put themselves in a situation where they had to battle back from a four-run deficit, but I think they'll come through with a more decisive win today. 

Pittsburgh righty Joe Musgrove (0-2, 4.76 ERA) has allowed three runs through 5 2/3 frames in each of his first two starts in 2020. He has already served up a total of four homers, which could turn into a big issue here against a Twins team that ranks third in the league with 16 home runs on the season. 

Jose Berrios (0-2, 7.00 ERA) will take the ball for the Twins for his second start. He pitched five innings of two-run ball Thursday in a loss to the Indians and I have no doubt he'll be able to shut down a Pirates team that averages only 3.33 runs per game. 

10* play on Minnesota Twins -1.5. 

HABS @ PENGUINS NHL POWER PLAY

The Montreal Canadiens won the opener of this best-of-five series 3-2 in OT. I like the Pittsburgh Penguins to bounce back and tie up the series tonight. 

The Pens have a tendency of bouncing back big after defeats and taking a loss to the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference qualifying round can't sit right with them. Note that the Penguins outshot Montreal 41-35 in the opener and they went only 1-for-7 on the power play. 

The first game was an anomaly. The Pens make things right tonight. 

8* play on Pittsburgh Penguins. 

MAJOR WAGER ALERT - MONDAY NIGHT MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

I love the Atlanta Braves in this Monday night matchup with the NY Mets. 

Sure, Mets' right-hander Jacob deGrom (0-0, 1.64 ERA) is one of the best pitchers in the major leagues, but Mets' bullpen and ranks near the bottom of the leagues with its 6.69 ERA. 

Braves' righty Mike Soroka (0-0, 1.59 ERA) is also a terrific pitcher, and Atlanta is averaging 5.83 runs per game which can be compared to the Mets' 3.89 runs per game.  

This is the series finale of a four-game set of which Atlanta has won the first three. While I do like their chances of winning this one outright, I think we're getting an insurance run at a cheap price. 

10* play on Atlanta Braves +1.5. 

MONDAY NIGHT NBA BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The New Orleans Pelicans have had a day of rest and contemplation since taking a 126-103 beating by the Clippers in their first match in the NBA Bubble on Saturday. 

I like them to come back with a vengeance, facing a Memphis team that will be playing on no rest after scrapping with the Spurs on Sunday. 

While Memphis has a strong ATS record on no days rest, playing on no rest without being up to speed this early following the long hiatus is a tough ask. 

I'm happy to take the fresher legs in this contest. 

10* play on New Orleans Pelicans. 

NUGGETS VS THUNDER NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

NUGGETS VS THUNDER NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

A shorthanded Denver Nuggets team took a 125-105 loss to Miami in their first game in the NBA bubble. 

They were without three starters as Will Barton, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray all missed that contest. Barton and Harris are out for this one while Murray is questionable. 

I think the banged up Nuggets will come up short again, this time against the Thunder who looked sharp in their 110-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. 

8* play on Oklahoma City Thunder. 

SUPER EARLY RANGERS VS. HURRICANES BANKROLL BUILDER

The New York Rangers won all four regular season meetings with the Carolina Hurricanes, but the Canes stepped up when it really mattered and claimed Game 1 of this best-of-five series. 

Can the Rangers make the necessary adjustments to come back and tie up the series today? I don't think so. 

Rangers' rookie netminder Igor Shesterkin was held out in Game 1 and might miss this contest as well. While the Rangers have a veteran backup in Henrik Lundqvist, it's still a blow to their already shaky defense. 

The Hurricanes are 18-5 in their last 23 playoff games as a favorite and I'm backing the favorite to take a 2-0 lead in the series. 

8* play on Carolina Hurricanes. 

RED SOX @ YANKEES SUNDAY NIGHT MLB MAIN EVENT

The New York Yankees got the job done on the runline as our MLB Game of the Week on Saturday.

I'm happy to back them to win by at least two balls again in this contest with James Paxton (0-1, 27.00 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander had an ugly season opener where he was tagged with three runs on five hits in just one inning of a 9-2 loss to Washington. I expect a big rebound game here as he is  5-1 with a 2.88 ERA in eight career starts against Boston. 

Austin Brice (0-0, 7.71 ERA) will take the mound for the Red Sox. The 28-year-old right-hander has made four appearances out of the bullpen and is expected to go only a few innings in this one and then hand over the ball to a Red Sox bullpen that has posted a 4.04 ERA on the season.

8* play on New York Yankees -1.5. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA) - KINGS @ MAGIC MAJOR WAGER TOP PLAY

Here we have a nice motivational advantage for the Sacramento Kings who are near desperation mode after opening the two-week seeding restart with a 129-120 loss to the Spurs. 

The Kings in a dogfight for the No.8 seed in the West, and with so many teams involved they can't afford to drop many games to at the very least position themselves for a play-in game. 

The Orlando Magic are in a much better situation in the East, sitting seventh and with a 6.5 game gap down to No. 9 Washington. Additionally, they are in a potential flat spot following a 128-118 win over Brooklyn. 

Kings are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog and 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings with Orlando.

10* play on Sacramento Kings. 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MLB MONEYLINE MASSACRE

Expected the LA Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw on the mound to be a much bigger favorite than this, so I'm well happy to back them at this price. Kershaw (2019: 16-5, 2.44 ERA) is set for his season debut, but we have no reason to believe he's not still one of the best pitchers in baseball. 

As for the D'Backs, they turn to Merrill Kelly (1-0, 1.17 ERA) who was solid in his season opener but note his 4.42 ERA as a 30-year-old rookie in 2019.

Arizona has averaged only 3.12 runs per game, and that against softer pitchers than Kershaw. Dodgers win this one easily. 

8* play on LA Dodgers. 

FLYERS @ BRUINS NHL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Boston Bruins preparations for the restart could have been better with several players missing practices due to Covid-19 quarantines, among them David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase. Meanwhile, there have been no such reports from the Flyers camp. Boston deserves to be a favorite home at TD Garden, but all things considered, I think the value on Philly in this particular matchup. 

8* play on Philadelphia Flyers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER) - TOP RATED SERIE A MAJOR WAGER

Genoa will be fighting for their Serie A life here while Verona are sitting pretty in the middle of the table, entering the last round of play with nothing more than pride to play for. 

Genoa are in 17th place, just above the relegation zone, only one point ahead of 18th-place Lecce who have a home game against Parma. I do not think Genoa can count on Lecce dropping points, so I expect them to do everything in their power to get the win here. 

Of Genoa's mere nine wins on the season, six of them have been earned home at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. 

10* play on Genoa. 

SUPER EARLY RAYS @ ORIOLES RUNLINE RIPPER

The Baltimore Orioles came into the season with little to no expectations, but they've quietly accumulated a 4-3 record following back-to-back wins over the Rays. I think they'll complete the sweep of the three-game series Sunday.  

Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the ball for Tampa Bay while Tommy Milone (0-1, 12.00 ERA) will take the ball for Baltimore. While Milone was knocked around in his season opener, expect a better performance here against a Rays team that has struggled at the plate lately. As for Chirinos 0.00 ERA, it is through just one inning and here he'll face a Baltimore team that has scored 11 runs so far in the series. 

The Rays have dropped four in a row, and I expect their struggles to continue for at least another game. 

8* play on Baltimore Orioles +1.5. 

KBO MONEYLINE MASSACRE

8* play on Doosan Bears. 

SATURDAY NIGHT MLB NO BRAINER

The Los Angeles Dodgers should be well up for this one after dropping Friday's contest 5-3. 

Tonight they get to tee off versus right-hander Luke Weaver (0-1, 16.20 ERA) who was tagged with six runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss at San Diego in his season debut. The Dodgers counter with Julio Urias (0-0, 1.80 ERA) who held the Giants to one run through five innings in his season opener. 

Arizona is averaging a pathetic 3.12 runs per game (28th), and I think backing the Dodgers off a loss is a no brainer. 

8* play on Los Angeles Dodgers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (MLB) - RED SOX @ YANKEES MAJOR WAGER TOP PLAY

The New York Yankees have as expected been one of the best teams in baseball and enter this contest with a 5-1 record.

For this one, they'll hand the ball to former ace Masahiro Tanaka (2019: 11-9, 4.45 ERA) for his season debut and I think he should be able to shut down a Red Sox side that has averaged only 3.4 runs per game since putting up 13 in its season opener.

The Red Sox hand the ball to Zach Godley (2019: 3-5, 6.39 ERA) who struggled through most of last season. Godley is coming off four scoreless innings of relief versus the New York Mets, but this stacked Yankee lineup is a completely different animal than the Mets. 

The Yankees won the series opener 5-1 and I think they'll win this one by at least two runs as well. 

10* play on the NY Yankees -1.5

PELICANS VS CLIPPERS SATURDAY NIGHT NBA TOTAL

Every single game on Friday's NBA card went over the total as shooters look more relaxed and there is no crowd to hype up a strong defensive effort. 

Whether this is a trend that will continue throughout the regular season remains to be seen, but I expect this matchup between the Pelicans and the Clippers to go over the total. 

Additionally, with both teams in action for the first time recently, we might see some stiff legs which usually reflects in poor defensive efforts. 

Note that Over is 9-4 in the Pelicans last 13 games as an underdog and 4-1 in their last five head-to-head meetings with the Clippers. 

8* play on OVER. 

BLACKHAWKS VS OILERS SATURDAY AFTERNOON NHL MONEYMAKER

I like the Chicago Blackhawks here in this Game 1 of the Stanley Cup qualifiers best-of-five series. The break is likely to have benefitted the Chicago Blackhawks veterans old legs more than the Edmonton Oilers' young guns who probably didn't need a break.

Additionally, we can note that Chicago has won two of three head-to-head meetings on the season. 

8* play on Chicago Blackhawks. 

SUPER EARLY HEAT VS NUGGETS BOOKIE BREAKER TOP PLAY

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Heat 109-89 back in November. While that might as well have been a lifetime ago, I still think they have an edge here in the two teams' first game back since the Covid-19 pandemic put the NBA season on hold. 

Admittedly, the Heat have an advantage on the perimeter but the Nuggets should dominate the interior. Backing a team relying on its sharpshooting following an extended hiatus is a risky business, and I'm counting on the Nuggets to grind down their opponent with their size and squad depth in this one. 

10* play on Denver Nuggets. 

SUPER EARLY RANGERS @ HURRICANES BREAKFAST BANKROLL BUILDER

I like the price we get on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of their best-of-five Qualifying Series round against the New York Rangers. 

The Rangers went 4-0 vs. the Hurricanes in the regular season, but while they have proven themselves capable of scoring goals, they struggle big time on the defensive end of the ice conceding 3.14 gpg on the season. 

In a matchup like this where you don't know where the teams stand following the long hiatus, I'm going with the better blueliners and stronger defensive fundamentals. 

Rangers are 2-5 in their last 7 postseason games as an underdog. Hurricanes are 17-5 in their last 22 postseason games as a favorite.

8* play on Carolina Hurricanes. 

KBO MONEYLINE

8* play on NC Dinos. 

KBO MONEYLINE

8* play on KIA Tigers. 

KINGS VS SPURS FRIDAY NIGHT NBA TOP PLAY

This looks like a good spot to back the Sacramento Kings who sit 3.5 games out of the No. 8 seed in the West, 1.5 games ahead of the Spurs.

San Antonio will have to do without power forward LaMarcus Aldridge down the stretch as he has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery, and I would not be surprised to see the Spurs tanking. 

Spurs have been one of the worst teams in the NBA so far with a 25-37-1 ATS record. I'm happy to roll with the Kings in this one. 

10* play on Sacramento Kings. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB UNDERDOG DELIGHT

I like the price we get on the New York Mets to bounce back from a pair of losses to Boston. 

The Mets hand the ball to Rick Porcello (0-1, 27.00 ERA) who can't possibly be nearly as bad as he was in his season debut when he was knocked around for seven runs (six earned) in two innings of a 14-1 loss to this very same Atlanta team on Sunday.

Just like tonight, he was then opposed by left-hander Sean Newcomb (0-0, 2.70 ERA) who lasted only 3 1/3 frames over which he threw 82 pitches. 

Big revenge game for Porcello and the Mets, and I think they'll get it done. 

8* play on New York Mets. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MLB RUNLINE RIPPER

The New York Yankees are coming off a pair of dominant wins over Baltimore and I think they'll keep rolling here in the opener of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox. 

Boston right-hander Ryan Weber (0-1, 14.73 ERA) was lit up for six runs through 3 2/3 innings of work in his season debut. The Yankees counter with left-hander Jordan Montgomery (2019: 0-0, 6.75 ERA) who will make his first start of the season. Injuries have limited Montgomery over the last couple of seasons, but he looked sharp in summer camp and Boston has averaged just 3.8 runs per game since putting up 13 in their season opener. 

8* play on New York Yankees -1.5.