TOP RATED 10* NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Indiana Pacers have gone into a tailspin, losing four straight games and failing to cover the spread in each of their last five. They took a 107-90 beating by Minnesota on New Year's Eve, and might once again be playing without leading scorer Victor Oladipo (knee). I predict another blowout loss when they visit Central Division rival Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night. 

The Bucks were coming off back-to-back triumphs over Minnesota and OKC before falling to Toronto in OT on New Year's Day. It was still an impressive performance from this Bucks team which has covered the spread in three straight games. Bucks are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss. 

My selection is a 10* play on Milwaukee Bucks. 

TOP RATED 10* MIDWEEK MAJOR WAGER (NHL)

The Blackhawks closed out last year with five straight games away from Chicago, and they'll open 2018 on the road as well before playing eight of their next nine home in United Center. I think it's a major chance they'll look past the New York Rangers here Wednesday night. 

The Rangers are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Buffalo in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day. They've been extremely hard to beat home at Madison Square Garden lately, winning 13 of their last 16 home games. The Blackhawks meanwhile have managed only one victory over the last five games and have dropped seven of their last nine away from home. They're 2-10 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and we can note that netminder Corey Crawford is back on injured reserve for the second time this season.

My selection is a 10* play on New York Rangers. 

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. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Florida State Seminoles have been money against the spread all season (9-2 ATS), and I think they'll deliver the goods once again here as a small home favorite against the North Carolina Tar Heels Wednesday night. 

North Carolina shot just 39.7 percent from the field and needed a late rally to get past Wake Forest as a 14-point favorite its last time out. FSU meanwhile will be looking to get back to its winning ways after taking a 100-93 loss as an 11.5-point dog at Duke on Saturday, dropping 15 three-pointers in the process. Still an impressive result though as the Seminoles proved they can hang with one of the best teams in the Nation in that contest, and I trust them to get past NC here. 

My selection is an 8* play on FSU Seminoles. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Boston College Eagles had won five straight before coming up just one point short as 15.5-point underdog against ninth ranked Virginia on Saturday. They defeated Duke 89-84 in their ACC opener so there's no doubt that this Boston College team is a dangerous opponent. Here the Eagles will face a Clemson Tigers side that has won eight in a row and possibly due for a let down game. The Eagles are 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games vs. a team with a winning road record and I expect them to keep this a close contest until the very end. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston College Eagles. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Georgia Bulldogs lost by just five points as a 9.5-point underdog at Kentucky their last time out. They're 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a straight up loss and looking good to win and cover the spread here against the Ole Miss Rebels who grinded out a 74-69 victory over the Gamecocks at home in their SEC opener. They're however just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

My selection is an 8* play on Georgia Bulldogs. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Florida Panthers closed out 2017 with five straight victories (the last four at home), but I think they'll open the new year with a loss here at Minnesota. The Panthers are just 7-10-2 on the road this season and the Wild are among the strongest home teams in the NHL at 12-4-2. They've won seven of the last eight home at Xcel Energy Center and the Wild will no doubt be angry and ready to bounce back from a 3-0 loss at Nashville on Dec. 30. 

My selection is an 8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Montreal Canadiens will be eager to play in front of the home fans and desperate for a win after closing out 2017 with seven straight games on the road and four consecutive losses. The San Jose Sharks had a three-game winning streak come to an end when they were shut out in a 6-0 loss at Dallas on New Year's Eve. The Sharks are just 1-5 in their last six road games and the home team is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings with the Habs.

My selection is an 8* play on Montreal Canadiens. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The New York Knicks took a 119-107 loss at San Antonio on December 28 but bounced back with a triumph at New Orleans two days later to end a four-game skid. They're looking to exact revenge on the Spurs here at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, and I'm well happy to take the points on the home team in this contest.

The Knicks have a .500 record overall on the season, but they're 15-6 SU and ATS in front of the home fans and we can note that the Spurs have a losing SU record away from home while going 6-12 ATS.

My selection is a 10* play on NY Knicks. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Carolina Hurricanes had won four in a row before taking a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 30. They are not getting much respect here despite entering the new year with a 10-4-2 home record and clinching all five of their home games in December. They'll host a Capitals team coming off back-to-back victories home at Washington, but the Caps have dropped three straight on the road and they were held scoreless in the last two. Home team is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on Carolina Hurricanes. 

GAME OF THE YEAR (CFB) 

The No. 1 Clemson Tigers and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide will clash in a rematch of last year's National Championship game in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day. Clemson won last year's matchup, and I'm well happy to take the points on the top ranked team here. 

The Tigers have had an excellent season and showed their class once again when they routed Miami-Florida 38-3 as a 12.5-point favorite in the ACC title game on Dec. 2. Alabama meanwhile took a 26-14 loss as a 6-point favorite at Auburn on Nov. 25 their last time out, and the Tide gave up 408 yards of offense in the process. 

Bama features the No. 1 ranked defense in the nation, but the defensive performance against Auburn was poor and Clemson just dismantled a terrific Miami-Florida defense.

My CFB Game of the Year is a 10* play on Clemson Tigers.

TOP RATED 10* NBA NEW YEAR'S DAY DESTROYER

The Toronto Raptors had won 12 of 13 before taking back-to-back losses at Dallas and Oklahoma City last week. They came back by putting a 111-98 beating on Atlanta on Friday, and I think they'll bring down the hammer on Milwaukee Bucks here on New Year's Day. Note that the Raptors are a solid 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off back-to-back victories against Minnesota and Oklahoma City, but this is a tough spot on the road following the New Year celebrations. Note that the Bucks are just 1-8-3 ATS in their last 12 against Eastern Conference foes and 3-7-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win.

My selection is a 10* play on Toronto Raptors. 

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. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB)

The Georgia Bulldogs have already recorded three victories against 2017 NCAA tournament qualifiers, and I think they'll give the Kentucky Wildcats all they can handle on New Years Eve. Kentucky has a lot of talent and aims for its fourth consecutive regular-season SEC title, but the Wildcats are in a let down spot after mauling in-state rival Louisville 90-61 on Friday. Georgia meanwhile will be well rested with plenty of time off since its 84-66 rout of Temple on Dec. 22. 

My CBB Game of the Week is a 10* play on Georgia Bulldogs. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL)

The San Francisco 49ers will be looking to close out the season with a fifth consecutive victory. They've looked like a completely different team since installing Jimmy Garoppolo under center and scored 44 points on one of the top defenses in the league in Jacksonville last week. 

"Since Jimmy G. got here, things have been a lot different," 49ers running back Carlos Hyde said. "Things have been feeling really good around here. It's been a good vibe. That energy in the locker room right now is really good. Guys are teeing off that and ready to play." 

I expect the Niners to keep rolling here when they visit the LA Rams Sunday afternoon. 

The Rams have played well lately, coming off back-to-back triumphs at Seattle and Tennessee to make it four win their last five games. They've clinched the NFC West championship and at least one home playoff game already though, and coach Sean McVay is expected to sit most of his key players here to ensure their health for the postseason. Quarterback Jared Goff, star defensive lineman Aaron Donald and even MVP candidate running back Todd Gurley are all expected to get some rest. 

The Rams defeated the Niners 41-39 at San Francisco back in September. Expect revenge for the Niners today. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

NFL NO-BRAINER

The Baltimore Ravens would clinch the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals here in the regular-season finale Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. 

The Bengals won't make it to the postseason no matter what, but they're coming off an uplifting 26-17 victory against the Detroit Lions last week. Well worth noting that the Lions had everything to play for in that contest and were consequently eliminated from the playoffs with the defeat.

Cincinnati will be motivated to play spoiler once again here against its AFC North rivals. They traditionally have a tight rivalry and the underdog is 6-1 ATS the last seven head-to-head meetings. 

The Bengals have struggled to move the ball all season, but they're effective getting to quarterbacks and enter this contest tied for seventh in the NFL with 40 sacks. I think the Bengals' D will keep this a close game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Cincinnati Bengals. 

PANTHERS @ FALCONS NFC ANNIHILATOR

There's no doubt that the Atlanta Falcons need this game more than the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons can clinch the final NFC wild-card spot with a victory while the Panthers are already in the playoff field, though their seed is yet to be determined. Carolina coach Ron Rivera said starters will play in the game, though he didn't reveal to what extent.

Carolina needs a win and a Saints’ loss to clinch the division, but that's quite unlikely with New Orleans facing lowly Tampa Bay. There's a big chance Rivera will start sitting key players if the Saints jump out to a big lead. 

The Falcons are 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings at Atlanta. 

My selection is an 8* play on Atlanta Falcons. 

NFL MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Jacksonville Jaguars have already clinched the AFC South and third seed in the AFC. Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone has claimed he won't rest starters, but the motivation must be quite low among the players for this "meaningless" game, and the main focus must still be to stay healthy. The Tennessee Titans on the other hand are in do-or-die mode and will no doubt be fired up as they can clinch a wild-card berth with a victory (they would also would reach the postseason with losses by Buffalo and the Los Angeles Chargers). 

Motivation beats talent. 

My selection is an 8* play on Tennessee Titans.

EARLY TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The Vegas Golden Knights are almost unbeatable home at T-Mobile Arena, going 15-2-0 for the season. They've had two days rest as they enter this matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs riding a six-game winning streak, with the last two coming on the road. The Maple Leafs meanwhile will play their third game in four nights and fifth straight on the road. Toronto has a winning road record for the season but it has lost five of its last seven away from home.

My selection is a 10* play on Vegas Golden Knights. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Washington Wizards took down the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day, only to lose at the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. They're in a similar spot here coming off an impressive 121-103 triumph over Houston. The Wizards are only 1-5 ATS in its last six games following a straight up win and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a losing straight up record. 

Chicago has proven extremely hard to beat lately both straight up and against the spread. The Bulls enter this contest riding a three-game winning streak and they'll be looking to close out the year as winners of 11 of their last 13 games. They're 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall and the road team is 14-6 ATS in the last 20 meetings with the Wizards.

My selection is a 10* play on Chicago Bulls. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back losses, first a 99-92 setback at Golden State on Christmas Day followed by a 109-95 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. They'll no doubt head into this contest angry and hungry for a win. 

"Sometimes, when you're winning as much as you're winning, you have slippage," Cleveland guard Dwyane Wade told reporters. "We've had some slippage, and we've got to figure out a way to nip it in the bud before it becomes: 'We in a rut, and we've got to get ourselves back out of it.'" As a bonus we can note that today is LeBron James' 33rd birthday, and you better believe the team wants to celebrate him with a victory. 

I think the Cavs will bounce back against a Utah side that took a 126-101 loss at Golden State on Wednesday. The Jazz have now lost three in a row and 10 of their last 12. 

My selection is an 8* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

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. 

TAXSLAYER MONEYMAKER

I like the Louisville Cardinals here when they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Taxslayer Bowl Saturday afternoon. 

The Bulldogs are in a tough spot, playing under interim coach Greg Knox (running backs and special teams coach) as Dan Mullen accepted a six-year deal at Florida about a month ago. They'll also be without starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald who dislocated an ankle early in their regular-season finale 31-28 loss to Ole Miss on Thanksgiving. 

The Cardinals meanwhile can rely on star quarterback Lamar Jackson who's had fantastic season, recording 3,489 passing yards with a 25:6 TD to INT ratio while leading the Cardinals with 1,443 rushing yards with 17 rushing scores. Louisville closed out the season on a high note, winning four of its last five games and covering the spread in each victory. The Cardinals won each of of the last three and allowed an average of 233.3 yards and 16 points during the three-game winning streak. 

Mississippi State is solid on the defensive side of the ball, but it's gonna be tough to overcome the loss of Fitzgerald, particularly with Mullen gone. 

My selection is an 8* play on Louisville Cardinals. 

TOP RATED 10* CBB ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Wichita State Shockers (10-2) look like a solid road favorite at Connecticut Huskies (7-5) Saturday night. This will be their first American Athletic Conference game, and there's no doubt they'll be pumped up for it. "Obviously you want to make a good first impression," Shockers sophomore guard Landry Shamet told the Wichita Eagle about their nationally televised AAC debut. "But we’re approaching this like we would with any other good teams we’ve played. We just look at it like we have another good team we have to go try and beat."

The Huskies are 1-3 SU in their last four contests, 2-7 ATS overall on the season and 0-3 ATS home at XL Center. They're averaging 70.0 ppg and there's just no way they'll keep up with this Shockers team that averages 85.8 ppg.

My selection is a 10* play on Wichita State Shockers.

CBB 3-PACK

The Colorado Buffaloes and the Oregon State Beavers will open their Pac 12 action Friday night with an identical 8-4 record. 

The Colorado Buffaloes have dropped four of their last six following a 6-0 start to the season. They have however won four of the last five meetings with the Oregon State Beavers and I expect them to put up a good fight here at Gill Coliseum Friday night. Colorado has yet to win a true road game, but the Beavers are just 1-6 ATS at home on the season. 

My selection is an 8* play on Colorado Buffaloes. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Washington Huskies and the USC Trojans will clash in the Pac 12 opener for both teams Friday night. The Huskies have won eight of their last nine games and I think they'll give the Trojans all they can handle here. They're great at hustling their opponent and lead the Pac-12 and rank 15th nationally with 9.3 steals per game, which can be compared to the Trojans' 4.8 steals per game. 

USC is coming off three consecutive triumphs, but the last two haven’t been very impressive, just barely beating Middle Tennessee St. and a come-from-behind victory against New Mexico State on Christmas Day. 

This looks like too many points to cover for the home team.

My selection is an 8* play on Washington Huskies. 

LATE NIGHT NHL NO-BRAINER

The Calgary Flames took a 3-2 shootout loss at San Jose last night, and this looks like a tough spot to take on the Ducks in the Duck Pond on no rest. These teams met early in the season at Calgary where the Flames beat the Ducks 2-0. Anaheim has however completely owned the Flames on home ice for quite some time, winning 29 of its last 30 home games against them!

The Ducks took a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, but good news is the fact that former Selke Trophy winner Ryan Kesler made his return from injury. We can also note that the Ducks are 5-1 in their last six games following a home loss of three or more goals.

The Flames have scored two goals or fewer in six of their last seven games, going 2-3-2 in that stretch, and I don't think they'll keep up with the Ducks tonight. 

My selection is an 8* play on Anaheim Ducks. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BUCKET BREAKER

The Chicago Bulls are without a doubt one of the league's hottest teams as they into this Central Division matchup with the Indiana Pacers home at United Center Friday night. The Pacers have won each of the last three meetings, including a 98-96 victory at Indiana on Dec. 6, but Chicago is 9-2 since forward Nikola Mirotic returned from facial fractures one game after the loss in Indiana. 

The Pacers are coming off back-to-back losses, most recently a 98-94 home loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday. Leading scorer Victor Oladipo missed the contest due to a knee injury and he has already been ruled out for this one.

Bullsare 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall and the home team is 13-6 ATS in the last 19 meetings in this series. 

My selection is a 10* play on Chicago Bulls. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Baylor Bears (10-2) and the Texas Red Raiders (11-1) are both entering Big 12 play with impressive records. The Bears are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and I think taking the points on the visitors is the right play here. Texas Tech lost just once during non-conference play to a veteran Seton Hall team, but I'm still not convinced its defense will hold up here against the Bears. Note that Baylor has scored 99 points or more in three of its last five games. 

My selection is an 8* play on Baylor Bears. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL)

The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a 5-4 shootout victory over Columbus on Wednesday, but they will have four players sidelined here at Carolina Friday night. The Penguins were already without defenseman Kris Letang and got hit with injuries to right winger Bryan Rust, defenseman Chad Ruhwedel and goaltender Matt Murray in Wednesday's win.

The Pens have had a disappointing season, particularly on the road and they're just 4-10 in their last 14 road games, including 0-4 in their last four road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Carolina Hurricanes are a solid 9-4-2 home at PNC Arena on the season, winning each of their last five. 

The Pens and the Canes enter this contest tied in points, but Carolina has played two fewer games and so it sits one spot ahead of the seventh-place Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.

This is the first of four meetings this season, with the first three meetings coming within a four-week span. The Pens have owned the series in recent seasons winning seven straight matchups, but the Canes will smell blood here and I think they'll get the job done in front of the home fans in Raleigh.

My NHL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Carolina Hurricanes. 

BELK BOWL BOOKIE BASHER

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons aim to win bowl games in back-to-back years for the first time since 2007 and 2008 when they take on the Texas A&M Aggies here in the Belk Bowl. 

The Demon Deacons are coming off a 31-23 home loss as a 10.5-point favorite against Duke in their regular season finale on November 25, but had won back-to-back games prior to that. They're 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight games following a ATS loss and 8-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Texas A&M will play under interim coach Jeff Banks following the firing of Kevin Sumlin on Nov. 26. This is a very tough spot for the Aggies. Banks knows he won't lead the team next season with Jimbo Fisher set to take over, and the players will have to figure out however the temporary coach wants them to play. Texas A&M took a 45-21 loss at LSU in its regular season finale and was outgained by a massive 319 yards so there's not much positive going on in Texas A&M. 

Aggies are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game and 0-5 ATS in their last five against teams from the ACC.

My selection is a 10* play on Wake Forest Demon Deacons. 

NHL 3-PACK

The San Jose Sharks blanked the Kings 2-0 their last time out. The Calgary Flames have struggled to score lately and here it'll face one of the best defensive teams in the NHL with the Sharks ranking 2nd in the league in goals against.

The Flames are 9-4-1 on the road this season but only 1-4 in their last five road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Sharks have won five of their last six home in the Shark Tank and the home team is 4-1 in the last five meetings in this series. 

I expect the Sharks to take care of business here Thursday night. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Jose Sharks. 

NHL 3-PACK

The Chicago Blackhawks entered the Christmas break on a two-game losing streak, and I think they'll be determined to end the skid when they visit the Vancouver Canucks Thursday night. The Nucks have lost four straight and eight of their last nine (1-7-1), including five of their last six games here at Rogers Arena, so the home ice advantage is minuscule. As for a longer term trend, they're 6-25 in their last 31 home games!

Chicago will have to do without Corey Crawford for at least the next three days as he was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Anton Forsberg (1-4-3, 3.13 GAA) is expected to start the next three games and I expect the skaters to step up their game to help him out.

The Nucks have also been hit hard with injuries after losing Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat earlier this month for at least a month each. 

Blackhawks are 4-1 in the last five meetings.

My selection is an 8* play on Chicago Blackhawks.

TOP RATED 10* NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The New York Knicks can compete with just about anyone home at Madison Square Garden, but it's a completely different story on the road where the Knickerbockers are just 2-11 SU (4-9 ATS). They'll play on no rest here after falling 92-87 at Chicago last night, and the Knicks will be facing one of the absolute strongest home teams in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs going 16-2 SU (12-5-1 ATS) home at AT&T Center. 

The Spurs have had a days rest since beating Brooklyn 109-97 on Dec. 26 when Kawhi Leonard delivered 21 points in a season-high 26 minutes. He has played in just five games after suffering a quadriceps injury prior to the campaign and his return is a massive boost for San Antonio. 

The Spurs are 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight games playing on one days rest and 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

My selection is a 10* play on San Antonio Spurs. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL 

The Boston Bruins enter this contest on a five-game winning streak, but four of those were home at TD Garden and I think they're about to run into some serious trouble here at Washington Thursday night. 

The Caps will finally play home at Capital One Arena again following a four-game road trip. They'll be desperate for a win after losing the final three contests and note that Washington is still a perfect 6-0-0 at home this month. 

The Caps have won their last five games against the Bruins here at home and the last 11 games in the series overall. 

My selection is a 10* play on Washington Capitals. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a tough spot here, playing on no rest after a tight loss at Phoenix last night.

The LA Lakers have lost six of their last seven, but they've had a days rest since losing to Minnesota here at Staples Center on Christmas Day, and they're 7-1 ATS in their last eight playing on one days rest. The Grizzlies have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games and they're 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings and I'm confident this is a supreme situation to back the Lakers. 

My selection is a 10* play on LA Lakers. 

SOUTHERN MISS/FLORIDA STATE INDEPENDENCE BOWL BONANZA

I think the Southern Miss Golden Eagles look way underrated here in the Independence Bowl. Southern Miss closed out the regular season on a high note by beating Rice, Charlotte and Marshall. The Golden Eagles have been money against the spread all season going 8-4 ATS and here they'll take on an FSU team playing under an interim coach. 

The Florida State Seminoles will play this contest under Odell Haggins as Jimbo Fisher left FSU on Dec. 1 to become the head coach at Texas A&M and newly hired Willie Taggart not set to take over until next season. Haggins ran the team in FSU's regular season ending 42-10 triumph against ULM, but this should prove to be a much tougher matchup. 

Note that the Golden Eagles rank higher than the Seminoles in points scored per game, total yards allowed, and total yards per game. Southern Miss lost its only two games it played against Power 5 teams, to Kentucky by 7 and to Tennessee by 14, so it was still competitive. 

Ny selection is an 8* play on Southern Miss Golden Eagles. 

NBA 3-PACK

The LA Clippers had won two in a row before taking a 115-112 loss at Memphis their last time out. Clippers guard Austin Rivers is red hot and has set a career high in scoring in consecutive games with 36 in an upset win at Houston on Friday and then 38 in the loss to the Grizzlies. I think they'll get back in the winners circle when they host the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night.

Sacramento had also won two straight before recently falling 108-99 to San Antonio on Saturday. This will be tough mentally to play on the road the day after Christmas, and we can note that the Clippers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.

My selection is an 8* play on LA Clippers

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. 

CACTUS BOWL BOOKIE BREAKER

The UCLA Bruins fired Jim Mora at the end of November following a 28-23 loss to crosstown rival USC. Interim coach Jedd Fisch will lead the team here against Kansas State Wildcats before Chip Kelly takes over the next season. UCLA is just 4-8 ATS on the season, and the coaching carousel will not do the Bruins any favors here. 

UCLA has one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Josh Rosen, but the junior has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons and twice he was unable to finish a game this fall. That was the case when he left the game after getting sacked three times in the first half of a 30-27 win against California his last time out.

The Wildcats finished the regular season on a high note and seek a third straight win here. First they defeated Oklahoma State 45-40 as a 19.5-point underdog on Nov 18 followed by a 20-19 triumph against ISU the following week. Freshman QB Skylar Thompson is 25-for-34 passing in the past two games with four touchdown throws and no interceptions. 

UCLA is 6-0 at home and 0-6 everywhere else this season. 

My selection is an 8* play on Kansas State Wildcats. 

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. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Toronto Raptors will try to extend their winning streak to seven straight victories when they visit the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. The Mavs have lost two straight five of their last six, but I think they'll make a stand here. The motivation will be low for the visitors, on the road just after the Christmas celebrations facing a non-conference opponent that owns the worst record in the West. The Mavericks are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on two days rest. 

My selection is an 8* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Detroit Pistons won for the fourth time in five games when they held off the Knicks 104-101 at home Thursday. They're 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days rest and I think they'll get the better of the Indiana Pacers here at Little Caesars Arena Tuesday night. 

The Pacers are coming off a 123-119 overtime win over Brooklyn Saturday night as they had to dig themselves out of a big hole. That's been a common theme for the Pacers this season, and I'm not quite sure they have the grit and commitment necessary to do it again here after the Christmas festivities if they were to fall behind early.

The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in each of their last three games, and that's one of the reasons why they're not a bigger favorite here. My money is on the home team. 

My selection is an 8* play on Detroit Pistons 

PREMIER LEAGUE PUNISHER

Tottenham Hotspur look like a solid home favorite when they host Southampton on Boxing Day. The visitors have just one win through their last 10 games and they've scored just one goal in eight Premier League road games on the season. Tottenham meanwhile have won three of their last four league games and scored 11 goals during this period. They're unbeaten in their last 11 league games played on Boxing Day, winning eight of them. Southampton haven't kept a clean sheet in 10 Premier League games and I expect Spurs prolific offense to be too much to handle here. 

My selection is a 5* play on Tottenham. 

XMAS DAY NBA 3-PACK 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have finally found some kind of consistency, coming off four straight victories. I think they're about to run into trouble here though when they host a Houston Rockets team looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to first the Lakers, and most recently a 128-118 loss as a 10-point favorite against the Clippers. Note that the Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a double-digit loss at home and 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games.

The Thunder meanwhile are 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games and 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games overall. OKC is overrated because of the trio of Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. They do not have the depth to compete with a squad like the Rockets. 

My selection is an 8* play on Houston Rockets.  

XMAS DAY NBA 3-PACK 

The Boston Celtics have been inconsistent lately, but they're coming off a 117-92 triumph against the Bulls and I think they'll make it two in a row when hosting the Washington Wizards on Christmas Day. 

The Wizards took a 119-84 beating at Brooklyn on Friday before bouncing back at home against the injury-ravaged Orlando Magic. The Wizards are however 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

These two teams really don't like each other so motivation won't be an issue for either side, but the home cookin' is strong in this series and the Wizards are 0-9 ATS in the last nine meetings in Boston.

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics.  

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 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 Houston Texans. 

XMAS DAY NBA 3-PACK 

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.

My selection is an 8* play on Golden State Warriors. 

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 3-PACK - SIDES

Both the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys enter this game with an 8-6 record. They are in the exact same spot here where a loss combined with a victory by Atlanta would end their playoff chances.

The Seahawks thumped Philadelphia 24-10 to improve to 8-4 two weeks ago, but then came a tough loss at Jacksonville, 30-24, and a humbling one at home against the Rams, 42-7 last week. Note that underdogs coming off a loss of five TDs are on a 41-21-5 (66.1%) ATS run, and Seattle QB Russell Wilson is 13-5-1 ATS as an underdog in his career. 

The Cowboys will have running back Ezekiel Elliott is back from a six-game suspension, but he'll face a desperate and embarrassed Seattle D, and Dallas is often overrated by the books in this spot going 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

My selection is an 8* play on Seattle Seahawks.  

NFL 3-PACK - SIDES

The San Francisco 49ers are just 4-10 on the season, but their four wins have all come in the last five games. They look like a completely different team with Jimmy Garoppolo under center and the fourth-year veteran has won all three of his starts for the 49ers. The Jacksonville Jaguars have already clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 and hold a two-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South race. They could have the division title secured right already here if Tennessee loses to the Rams earlier in the day. The Jags absolutely destroyed the Texans in a 45-7 victory last week, setting up a let down spot here at San Francisco. 

My selection is an 8* play on San Francisco 49ers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NFL) 

The Carolina Panthers (10-4) are coming off impressive back-to-back triumphs against Minnesota and Green Bay to make it six wins through their last seven games. There's no time for rest though as they enter the week with the same record as the Saints at the top of the NFC South, but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker. 

Here they'll host a Tampa Bay Buccaneers that stood up well in Monday night's 24-21 loss to the Falcons, but this will be tough playing on short rest, facing a Carolina offense that is firing on all cylinders and averaged 32 points through its last five games. 

The Panthers have had plenty of success running the ball all season (4th in the NFL with an average of 135 rushing yards per game) and accumulated 151 rushing yards against Green Bay. The Bucs were just torched for 201 rushing yards by Atlanta. 

These two teams squared up in Week 8, a game the Panthers won 17-3 while holding Jameis Winston to only 210 passing yards with zero touchdowns against two interceptions.

Motivation beats class, but the Panthers have the advantage in both aspects in this matchup with the 4-10 Bucs just looking to play spoiler in their last two games of the season. 

My NFL Game of the Week is a 10* play on Carolina Panthers. 

AFC ANNIHILATOR

The Kansas City Chiefs could clinch a playoff berth with a win here against Miami while the Dolphins need to win out and cross their fingers for other results to go their way in order to make the postseason. 

I think the Chiefs will lock up the AFC West here with a blowout victory. They've heated up again at the right time and impressed in back-to-back victories against the Raiders and the Chargers, outgaining their opponent by 140 and 90 yards respectively. They've found their scoring tough after a slump and here they'll face a Dolphins team that has allowed an average of 24.4 ppg on the season. The Chiefs' RB Kareem Hunt accumulated 155 yards with a touchdown in last week's 30-13 win against the Chargers. Chiefs are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.

The Dolphins took a 24-16 loss at Buffalo last week to fall to 0-4 ATS in its last four road games and they're averaging a pathetic 14.1 ppg away form home on the season. 

My selection is an 8* play Kansas City Chiefs. 

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. 

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

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 New York Jets. 

NFL 3-PACK - SIDES

The Atlanta Falcons will clash with the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome Saturday afternoon in a massive matchup for both teams. While a victory by either side will not clinch the NFC South title outright, a loss would be devastating to either team's chances of winning the division and the right to host at least one playoff game.

The Falcons defeated the Saints 20-17 in Atlanta on Dec. 7, and I think they're spotted too many points to pass up on here when on the road. Atlanta has a solid 5-2 record on the road and coming off a 24-21 win at Tampa Bay on Monday. The Falcons are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game and 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

The Saints have split their last four games and covered the spread only once through their last five. They'll likely rely on Pro Bowl running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara to move the ball, but the Falcons D ranks a solid 9th in the NFL against the run allowing 106.6 rushing yards per game. 

Underdog is 7-1 ATS in their last eight meetings. Take the points. 

My selection is an 8* play on Atlanta Falcons. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back triumphs against Portland and Denver, but I think they're about to run into trouble at Phoenix Saturday night. The Sun are coming off a 97-95 win against Memphis and they've covered the spread in four of their last five games. 

The Wolves are two games clear at the top of the Southeast Division and probably just looking forward to get home for Christmas Eve before taking on the Lakers at LA the next day. The Suns are just 5-12 SU at home on the season but 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Timberwolves are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.

My selection is an 8* play on Phoenix Suns. 

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.

NBA 3-PACK

The LA Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-118 as a 12-point dog at Houston Friday night. They'll visit the Memphis Grizzlies here on no rest, and I like the home team as the shorthanded Clippers surely will struggle with their lack of depth. Both teams are banged up, but the Clippers are in an obvious let down spot while Memphis is in dire need of a win after losing three straight and eight of its last nine. 

The Grizzlies won 113-104 at LA back in November, and it will be tough for the Clippers to get revenge tonight. 

My selection is an 8* play on Memphis Grizzlies. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Chicago Bulls had literally been unbeatable since getting Nikola Mirotic back in the lineup prior to a setback at Cleveland their last time out. Losing 115-112 at Cleveland is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of though, and they're still a perfect 9-0 ATS through their last nine games. The Boston Celtics have completely fallen apart lately and coming off back-to-back losses to the Heat and the Knicks. They're 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games and in a look ahead spot with a date with the Wizards coming up on Christmas Day. Let's roll with the Bulls. 

My selection is an 8* play on Chicago Bulls. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Brooklyn Nets upset the Wizards at Washington Friday night, winning 119-84 at home. I think they'll struggle on the road at Indiana here though, as they'll be playing on no rest against a Pacers team that has had two full days off since beating the Hawks at Atlanta by double digits on Wednesday. Pacers are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 games playing on two days rest and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Nets are 0-5 ATS in the last five meetings and 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Indiana.

My selection is an 8* play on Indiana Pacers.

SOCCER 3-PACK

Man United took a shocking 2-1 loss against Bristol City in the EFL Cup midweek. I expect to see a quick response when they visit Leicester City on Saturday. 

Leicester's 3-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace last weekend ended their four-match winning streak and they followed that up with a loss after penalties to Man City in the EFL Cup midweek. 

Leicester have lost all five league fixtures this season against the teams that begin this round of matches in the top five of the table and this looks like a tough matchup with 2nd placed United. The Red Devils' manager Jose Mourinho has won five of his six league encounters with Leicester and United have won three on the road. 

My selection is an 8* play on Man Utd. 

SUPER EARLY TOP RATED 10* NHL - JETS @ ISLANDERS

The New York Islanders have suffered back-to-back losses to Detroit and Anaheim home at Barclay Center, but they're still an impressive 10-3-2 at home on the season. I think they'll give the home fans something to cheer for today.

The Islanders enter this contest ranked 2nd in the league in scoring at 3.51 gpg and even better 4.19 gpg at home. Winnipeg has struggled to score on the road all season long and it has dropped seven of its last eight on the road. 

The Islanders have won four of the last five head-to-head meetings. 

My selection is a 10* play on New York Islanders. 

TOP RATED 10* SUPER EARLY CBB BOOKIE BREAKER

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have won six in a row following a 1-4 start to the season. I think they'll give the visiting Tennessee Volunteers more than they can handle here Saturday afternoon. 

The Vols took a 78-73 loss against UNC on Dec 17 and won by only five points as a 16-point favorite against Furman three days later. They shot just 37.1 percent against Furman while Wake Forest is coming off a terrific 51% shooting performance against Coastal Carolina its last time out. The Demon Deacons have shot above 50 percent in each outing during the winning streak.

The Demon Deacons are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 home games and 10-1 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games. Wake Forest officials have made efforts to try to draw a big pre-holiday crowd, and I think the home court advantage will prove to be worth a lot here in this afternoon game. 

My selection is a 10* play on Wake Forest Demon Deacons. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (SOCCER)

West Ham United have turned a corner under new manager David Moyes and picked up seven points in their last three games, despite facing both Arsenal and Chelsea during that stretch. The Hammers have kept clean sheets in each of those three contests and here they'll host a Newcastle side in shambles, entering this game without a win in nine Premier League games (D1, L8). 

Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic remains out with a back injury and manager Rafael Benitez will assess several players with minor injuries.

West Ham have won their last two Premier League home games against Newcastle, and this looks like an excellent price on the Hammers to keep that run going. 

My EPL Game of the Week is a 10* play on West Ham United. 

SOCCER 3-PACK

This is probably the last chance for Real Madrid to save the domestic season, entering this game in 4th place, 11 points behind unbeaten league leaders Barcelona. Real Madrid can not afford not to win this game, and I think they'll come through in front of the home fans at Santiago Bernabéu. 

Real Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are both "100%" ready to play in El Clasico against Barcelona after fitness problems, says boss Zinedine Zidane. Ronaldo worked alone earlier this week, with a calf knock, but trained properly on Friday - while Bale is recovering from a calf problem

Real Madrid have won the last two Clasicos, both in this year's Spanish Super Cup (3-1 at Nou Camp and 2-0 at Bernabeu).

My selection is an 8* play on Real Madrid. 

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 (NBA)

The Houston Rockets had won 14 straight, more often than not in blowout fashion, prior to taking a 122-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. I have no doubt they'll get back to their winning ways with a big outing when they host the LA Clippers Friday night. 

The Clippers put an end to a three-game skid with a 108-95 home triumph against Phoenix on Wednesday, but they had averaged only 89 ppg through three consecutive losses on the road prior to that. The Clip Show are averaging only 99.5 ppg on the road for the season (compared to 103.5 ppg overall) while the Rockets are averaging an amazing 116 ppg home at Toyota Center. 

Houston's Chris Paul will this game against his former team due to injury, but the Clippers will be even worse for wear playing without three starters (Beverley, Gallinari, Griffin).  

My NBA Game of the Month is a 10* play on Houston Rockets. 

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. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL MONEYLINE MONEYMAKER

The St. Louis Blues have lost four of their last five games and scored only a total of four goals during that stretch. They took a 2-1 loss at Calgary last night and this will be their fourth game in six nights ( Blues are 2-5 in their last seven in the last game of a 4-in-6 situation). Here they'll face an Edmonton Oilers team on the rise, coming off solid triumphs against Minnesota and San Jose to make it three in its last four contests.

Edmonton has been dealing with injuries to its blueliners but Adam Larsson returned from an upper-body injury in Monday's win against the Sharks and Andrej Sekera is slated to make his season debut here against the Blues following knee surgery.

Edmonton had won four straight head-to-head meetings before dropping the first two encounters with St. Louis this season. This looks like a good spot to back the Oilers to get back on track in the series. 

My selection is a 10* play on Edmonton Oilers. 

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. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Boston Celtics coughed up a big lead for a second straight game when they fell 90-89 to Miami Wednesday night. They'll play on no rest here at New York the following night and are just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on back-to-back nights. 

The New York Knicks are 14-5 SU and ATS home at Madison Square Garden on the season and they expect to have star forward Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup after missing the last two games due to knee soreness. The Knicks will be well rested and looking to bounce back from a dreadful performance in Monday's 109-91 loss at Charlotte. They had won four straight prior to that setback and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.

My selection is a 10* play on NY Knicks. 

NHL NO-BRAINER

The New York Islanders are strong home at Barclays Center and enter this matchup with the Anaheim Ducks with a 10-3-1 home record for the season. They had won four straight encounters with the Ducks before taking a 3-2 loss at Anaheim back in October. I like them to get revenge tonight. Anaheim opened a six-game road swing with a 3-1 win at St. Louis, but it has lost three straight games since and this will be the Ducks third game in four nights. They're 5-16 in their last 21 games playing on one days rest and 0-7 in their last seven in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.

The Islanders will be looking to bounce back from a 6-3 home loss against Detroit, and they're 10-2 in their last 12 games following a loss of three or more goals.

My selection is an 8* play on NY Islanders.

TOP RATED 10* LATE NIGHTCRAWLER - KSU @ WSU

The Kansas State Wildcats have done just enough to win pretty much the whole season and they're 1-6 ATS through their last seven games. I think they're asked to cover way too many points again when they visit the Washington St. Cougars Wednesday night. 

The Cougars were coming off three ugly losses but defeated IUPUI their last time out. Washington State was 8-for-20 from behind the arc in that contest and ranks fifth nationally in made 3-pointers at 11.7 per game. The Cougars are never truly out of a game with shooting like that and Kansas State just gave up 11 3-pointers against SEMO.

The Wildcats are coming off three straight games home at Friel Court and they're just 6-14-2 ATS in their last 22 road games following three or more consecutive home games.

My selection is a 10* play on Washington State Cougars. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Golden State Warriors have lost only six games all season, and one of those setbacks came at Memphis on Oct. 21 when the Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 111-101.

I expect the Warriors to show up to avenge that defeat with a blowout victory here against the banged up Grizzlies who have lost 17 of their last 19 games. Golden State has some injuries as well and Steph Curry is expected to miss this game, but it has plenty of depth and Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have been able to carry the team of late. 

Grizzlies are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Warriors are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

My selection is an 8* play on Golden State Warriors. 

TOP RATED 10* NHL NO-LIMIT NIGHT PLAY

The St. Louis Blues opened their four-game road trip with a 4-0 loss at Winnipeg, the second time in their last four games they've been blanked. They've scored only a total of three goals through their last four contests and I think they're in for another tough matchup here at Calgary Wednesday night.

The Flames are coming off a solid 6-1 triumph and Vancouver Sunday night and they're 12-3 in their last 15 games playing on two days rest. Calgary is just 8-10 here at Scotiabank Saddledome, compared to going 9-7 on the road and it needs to start performing better in its own building. The Flames defeated the Blues 7-4 here on Nov. 13 and I'm counting on the them to do it again. 

My selection is a 10* play on Calgary Flames. 

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. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Boston Celtics almost blew a 19-point lead at Indiana on Monday but managed to score the winner in the dying seconds of the game. I don't think they'll make the same mistake again and instead roll from start to finish here when they host the Miami Heat Wednesday night.

Miami is coming off a 110-104 loss at Atlanta and has covered the spread in only three of its last four games. Miami center Hassan Whiteside (knee) did not travel with the team to Boston and guard Goran Dragic missed Monday's loss due to an elbow injury. 

The teams have split the first two meetings of the season with the Heat winning the last encounter 104-98 home at Miami, putting an end to the Celtics 17-game winning streak.

Boston will no doubt be looking for revenge tonight, and I expect the Celtics to show up for this game. 

My selection is an 8* play on Boston Celtics. 

NBA 3-PACK

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a 109-91 triumph against the Knicks, but they had lost three straight prior to that and six of their last eight. The Toronto Raptors meanwhile are coming off back-to-back blowout victories against Brooklyn and Sacramento and they've won nine of their last 10 contests. Toronto has averaged 114.3 ppg in its last three and has the ability to play lock down defense, further proved by the fact that it held Sacramento to just 30 points in the second half its last time out. Charlotte has struggled to put up points lately and is just 1-5 ATS in its last six home games home at Spectrum Center.

My selection is an 8* play on Toronto Raptors. 

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. 

LATE NIGHT NHL - LIGHTNING @ VEGAS

The Vegas Golden Knights have been tough to beat in their own building all season going 13-2-0 home at T-Mobile Arena. I think they're in for a tough matchup here though when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night.

The Lightning are top of the league with a 24-6-2 record, and they've not had any trouble to play on the road entering this game with an 11-4-1 record away from home. Tampa has taken the first three contests on its current four-game road trip that will conclude here in Vegas. The Lightning should have Andrei Vasilevskiy back in net after resting him in Saturday's 6-5 triumph at Colorado. Vasilevskiy is 5-0-0 record with a .944 save percentage so far this month. 

Vegas has done extremely well in front of the home fans, but Tampa Bay (currently on a seven game winning streak) is just on another level.

My selection is an 8* play on Tampa Bay Lightning. 

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 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 

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. 

GAME OF THE MONTH (NHL)

The Washington Capitals travel to Dallas riding a three-game winning streak and they've won seven of their last eight, but I'm confident they'll come up short here at American Airlines Center Tuesday night. 

The Stars concluded a promising four-game road trip with back-to-back losses and will be looking to help Ken Hitchcock earn his 800th career coaching win in front of the home fans tonight instead. Stars are 10-3 in their last 13 home games and they've had plenty of time to rest and recover since Saturday's OT loss at Philadelphia. 

The Stars have owned the Caps in recent seasons, winning 17 of the last 21 encounters. My money is on that trend to continue. 

My NHL Game of the Month is a 10* play on Dallas Stars. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BASKET BRAWLER

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on a roll, entering this game on a five-game winning streak and they've recorded an amazing 18 victories in the past 19 contests. They defeated the Wizards 106-99 at Washington behind 20 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds from Lebron James on Sunday, and the Cavs should have little trouble with another Eastern Conference foe in the Bucks here Tuesday night. 

Milwaukee is coming off three straight losses and it is only 1-4-2 ATS in its last seven home games. The Cavs are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings and already defeated the Bucks twice this season, winning 116-97 here at Bradley Center back in October. 

My selection is a 10* play on Cleveland Cavaliers. 

NHL NO-BRAINER

The Ottawa Senators are coming off back-to-back triumphs against the Rangers and the Habs, but they're still only 3-12 through their last 15 games. The Minnesota Wild had won four in a row before setbacks against the Oilers and the Blackhawks in their last two games. They took a 4-1 beating at Chicago on Sunday, but it's worth noting that the Wild are 6-1 in their last seven games following a loss of three or more goals and 13-8 after losing back-to-back games since the start of the 2016/2017 season. 

My selection is an 8* play on Minnesota Wild. 

CBB 3-PACK

The Clemson Tigers beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 62-60 on the road last season, and they're coming off an impressive 71-69 win as a 6.5-point dog against Florida. They're averaging 78.9 ppg on 50.2 percent shooting from the field. Their 59 percent clip on 2-point field goals ranks ninth in the country. 

The Gamecocks just barely got by Coastal Carolina their last time out, winning 80-78 as a 15-point favorite and they allowed their opponent to shoot 46 percent from the field.

My selection is an 8* play on Clemson Tigers.

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Creighton Bluejays are perfect 6-0 home at CenturyLink Center this season, and their only losses this campaign have come against Gonzaga and Baylor. I think they'll make light work of the UT Arlington Mavericks Monday night. 

Creighton beat UMES 87-36 as a 36.5-point favorite on Friday while UT Arlington recorded an 86-65 win at Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. Starting point guard Erick Neal is questionable for the Mavs tonight, which would be a huge blow as their two seniors – Kevin Hervey and Neal are running the offense. Creighton has a terrific offense, ranked 9th in the nation for scoring offense and 10th in field goal percentage. 

My selection is an 8* play on Creighton Bluejays.

TOP RATED 10* NHL POWER PLAY

The San Jose Sharks have earned at least a point in each of their last six games, but they're likely to have to do without their leading scorer Logan Couture (head) when they visit the Edmonton Oilers Monday night. The Oilers have alternated wins and losses through their last nine games, so statistically they should be due for a loss here coming off a 3-2 triumph at Minnesota on Saturday. They're however 4-1 in the last five meetings with the Sharks, and I think they'll start this three-game homestand with a victory. 

My selection is a 10* play on Edmonton Oilers. 

NBA ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Dallas Maverick have played competitive basketball lately despite winning only three of their last 10 games. They're 7-2-1 ATS during that span and just barely lost to the Spurs (98-96) on Saturday after coughing up an 11-point lead in the final four-plus minutes. Tonight they'll host a Phoenix Suns team that snapped a six-game losing skid with a come-from-behind 108-106 win as a 12-point dog at Minnesota on Saturday. Let down spot for the Suns here, and my money is on the Mavs. 

My selection is an 8* play on Dallas Mavericks. 

TOP RATED 10* MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MONEYMAKER

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been torn apart defensively in recent weeks, giving up a total of 84 points through three consecutive losses while going 0-3 ATS. Here they'll host an Atlanta Falcons team that has won four of its last five games (lone loss against Minnesota) to put itself in a position where it still controls its own playoff destiny. The math is simple; If the Falcons win out in their last three games they will claim the NFC South title. 

The Falcons defeated the Bucs 34-20 home in Atlanta on Nov. 26 in a matchup where Matt Ryan was 26-of-35 for 317 yards while receiver Julio Jones had 12 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay's defense has struggled on the pass rush all season and ranks 32nd in the NFL with 17 sacks.

Buccaneers are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. Favorite is 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings.

My selection is a 10* play on Atlanta Falcons. 

NBA HARDWOOD HAMMER

The Chicago Bulls have won five straight games since starting the season 3-20. The difference spells Nikola Mirotic, who missed the first 23 games recovering from facial fractures after a fight with teammate Bobby Portis during training camp. I think the Bulls are about to run into some serious trouble tonight though, hosting a Philadelphia 76ers team that desperately needs a win after losing five of its last six, the last two in overtime. The 76ers are in a good spot, playing on two days rest (8-2 ATS last 10) and they're 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

My selection is an 8* play on Philadelphia 76ers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA MONEYLINE MASSACRE

The Miami Heat have won four of their last five with road wins at Brooklyn, Memphis and Charlotte included. The Atlanta Hawks on the other hand have lost four in row after winning three times in seven games. The Hawks have the worst record in the NBA at 6-23 and the Heat are 7-0-1 ATS in the last eight meetings. 

Miami defeated the Clippers 90-85 on Saturday despite shooting only 37.8 percent from the field, and it has played very good defense of late, holding three of its last five opponents to fewer than 90 points. Atlanta has surrendered 110 or more points seven times in the past 10 games.

My selection is a 10* play on Miami Heat. 

DUCKS @ DEVILS BANKROLL BUILDER

The New Jersey Devils are 18-9-3 on the season, but they're still not getting much respect from the bookmakers. I think we're getting an excellent price on the Devils here when they host the Anaheim Ducks Monday night. 

Anaheim look to extend its point streak to eight contests, but this is a tough spot for the Ducks, playing their third road game in a row after splitting a pair of decisions at St. Louis and Washington. New Jersey on the other hand continues a six-game homestand that began Friday with a 5-2 triumph over Dallas, and they've won 12 of the last 16 matchups with the Ducks home at Prudential Center. 

My selection is an 8* play on New Jersey Devils.