MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

How Can Joel Embiid possibly top his 70-point performance in Philadelphia's 133-123 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday?

Well, he's had two days of rest since, and I think we'll see a hungry and super-focused Sixers side looking to avenge a 132-126 home loss to the Pacers back in November. The Pacers are 24-21 for the season, but they've dropped five of their last six games. 

76ers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games as a road favorite. 76ers are 25-12-1 ATS in their last 38 games following a straight up win. Pacers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog of 5.0-10.5.

4* PLAY ON THE 76ERS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* NHL PUCKLINE GAME OF THE MONTH

The Los Angeles Kings are 8-6 with a +18% ROI  against the puckline as favorites of -180 or longer. I think they'll come out hungry and ready to put a beating on Buffalo after losing in a shootout as close to a -400 favorite against San Jose on Monday.

5* PLAY ON THE KINGS -1.5. 

GAME OF THE YEAR ALERT - 5* CAVS/BUCKS MAX BET

The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off two lackluster wins against Detroit, but I think they'll come out fired up tonight as they look to avenge a 135-105 beatdown in Cleveland from a week ago. The Cavs have since recorded dominant wins in Atlanta and Orlando and they'll likely be running out of steam. 

All things considered, this is a fantastic spot to back the Bucks. 

5* PLAY ON THE BUCKS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* BIG 12 CBB GAME OF THE YEAR

The Houston Cougars are 16-2 SU on the season and I like them to win and cover as a short road favorite at BYU tonight. Brigham Young is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5 and Houston is coming off an ATS loss, and Houston is 39-15 ATS in its last 54 games following an ATS loss.

5* PLAY ON HOUSTON. 

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The New York Knicks are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. They are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games as a road favorite. The Nets are 4-16-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall and 7-18-3 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

4* PLAY ON THE KNICKS.

MIKE'S 4* NHL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a good spot to back the Florida Panthers to end a four-game losing streak. The Panthers outshot their opponent in each of those four home losses and I think a change of scenery as they hit the road will give them an additional spark. 

4* PLAY ON THE FLORIDA PANTHERS. 

MIKE'S GRIZZLIES/RAPTORS NBA TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Memphis Grizzlies scored only 96 points in a loss in Chicago on Saturday and they rank 29th in the NBA with their 107.8 points per game. The Toronto Raptors are also a below-average team offensively with their 114.7 ppg (18th). 

Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.Under is 18-5 in Grizzlies last 23 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

3* PLAY ON THE UNDER.

MIKE'S 4* CAVS/MAGIC NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on a roll as they head to Florida riding a seven-game winning streak through which they are 6-1 ATS. The Orlando Magic are coming off a 105-87 win over Miami but have otherwise looked rather flat in recent weeks. 

Cavaliers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5. 

4* PLAY ON THE CAVS. 

MIKE'S PACERS/SUNS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

This looks like a tough spot for the Indiana Pacers who will close out a six-game road trip with a visit to Phoenix. The Suns are on a roll and I don't think they'll have any trouble running over this exhausted Indiana team. 

3* PLAY ON THE SUNS. 

MIKE'S CHIEFS/BILLS NFL NO BRAINER

Both the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs had their struggles during the regular season, but they both looked solid in the Wild Card round. The Bills have heated up lately, winning each of their last six games, a winning streak that started with a 20-17 win at Arrowhead, but I like the Chiefs to cover the number and possibly also win outright here in the divisional round.

While Buffalo's defense has stepped up in recent weeks, I just think the Chiefs' D is on another level and as much as I respect Josh Allen, how can you go against Patrick Mahomes in a playoff game?

3* PLAY ON THE CHIEFS. 

MAX BET ALERT - 5* BUCS/LIONS NFL DIV ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR

I find it absolutely ridiculous that the Detroit Lions are asked to cover just under a touchdown against this Tampa Bay team that demolished the Eagles in the Wild Card round. The Lions meanwhile were outgained by almost 100 yards in their 24-23 win over the Rams. 

Sure, you're never as good as your best game and never as bad as your worst, but I am more than happy to take the points on the Bucs in this game.

5* PLAY ON THE BUCS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* EPL TOTAL OF THE MONTH

Sheffield United ranks dead last in the Premier League with only nine points and 15 goals scored after 20 games. Four of their last five games have gone under three goals, and here they'll host a West Ham team that is banged up and 3-0 to the under in its last three games. 

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MAX BET ALERT - 5* GB/SF DIV PLAYOFFS TOTAL OF THE YEAR

The Green Bay Packers put up 48 points against the Cowboys in Dallas in the Wild Card round, but they'll face a much tougher defense here against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Playoffs. The Niners have the third-best scoring defense in the NFL holding opponents to 17.5 points per game, and I think they'll be able to take an early lead and then start to bleed clock.  

I would lean to the 49ers to cover the spread as long as it's under 10, but I'm worried about the backdoor cover and feel that the under is a much better play. 

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S 4* JAZZ/ROCKETS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a good spot to back the Houston Rockets to end a three-game losing streak and get a cover after going 0-6 ATS in their last six games. The Utah Jazz had won six in a row before taking a 134-129 loss to OKC on Thursday, and I don't think they're hungry enough to bounce back with a win. 

4* PLAY ON THE ROCKETS. 

MAX BET ALERT - 5* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK

It feels like the public perception is that games involving either of these two teams go over the total 99% of the time, but the Phoenix Suns are only 22-18 to the over while the New Orleans Pelicans have a 21-21 over/under record. The Pels' play on the defensive end of the hardwood is underrated, and situational trends indicate that this game will go under the total. 

Under is 8-2 in Pelicans last 10 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game. Under is 7-2 in Suns last 9 games as a road underdog. Under is 6-1 in Suns last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MA$$ACRE

The New Jersey Devils are typically money on the road and I like them to come through with a big game tonight following losses to Boston and Montreal. Since the beginning of last season, the Devils are 26-11 SU with a +18.0% ROI as road favorites. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a potential letdown spot following an upset win as a +170 underdog against Vancouver. Since the start of last season, the Blue Jackets are 5-28 SU off a win as an underdog. 

3* PLAY ON THE THE DEVILS. 

MIKE'S LATE PACERS/KINGS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Sacramento Kings will be happy to be home from a five-game road trip. They closed out the trip with losses at Philly, Milwaukee, and Phoenix, but note that the Kings are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss. The Indiana Pacers are in a tough spot as this will be their third straight game on the road, and with visits to Portland and Phoenix next up on the schedule.

3* PLAY ON THE KINGS. 

MAX BET ALERT - 5* WESTERN CONF TOTAL OF THE MONTH

The Memphis Grizzlies are 24-16 to the under while the Minnesota Timberwolves are 20-19 to the over. However, the over/under is 5-10-1 in the Wolves games as home favorites.

The Grizzlies are severely banged up, and it's hurting them more offensively than defensively. 

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MA$$ACRE

The Dallas Stars have won the last seven meetings with the Philadelphia Flyers who are in a potential letdown spot following four consecutive wins. 

3* PLAY ON THE STARS. 

CBB MAX BET ALERT - MIKE'S 5* BIG TEN GAME OF THE YEAR

The Northwestern Wildcats are coming off a 71-63 loss as an underdog at Wisconsin. They are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss and 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite. This looks like an excellent spot to fade Maryland following the Terps upset win in Illinois on Sunday. 

5* PLAY ON NORTHWESTERN. 

MIKE'S MAVS/LAKERS NBA TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER

Both teams are somewhat banged up; Mavs superstar Luka Doncic is listed as questionable, and Lakers Lebron James also is listed as questionable while Anthony Davis is listed as probable.

If either of these three is out, the total will drop and I like the under in this game.

The Mavs won 127-125 with a total of 235.5 when these two teams battled it out in Dallas last month, but the previous four meetings had all gone under the total. 

Under is 6-1 in Mavericks last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 12-4 in Lakers last 16 home games.

3* PLAY ON THE UNDER.

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Houston Rockets are 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in their last five games. This looks like another tough spot for the Rockets as they close out a six-game road trip with a matchup against the Knicks in New York Wednesday night. The Knicks have been playing well lately and I expect them to bounce back with a strong outing here following a loss to Orlando on Monday. 

Knicks are 12-4-2 ATS in their last 18 games following a straight up loss. Knicks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS loss.

4* PLAY ON THE KNICKS. 

MAX BET ALERT - MIKE'S 5* NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

This looks like a great spot to back the Los Angeles Clippers to bounce back from a 109-105 loss in Minnesota. The Oklahoma City Thunder had won four in a row before heading to LA to face the Lakers late last night. I think they'll be gassed out here and I like the Clippers to run away with this one. 

Clippers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite. Clippers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.

5* PLAY ON THE CLIPPERS.

MAX BET ALERT - MIKE'S 5* CBB GAME OF THE WEEK

The St. John's Red Storm are 7-1 SU at home but only 2-2 on the road. They covered the spread in a 66-65 loss as a 6.5-point underdog at Creighton in their last game, but here they're not given as many points. 

The Seton Hall Pirates are 8-1 SU at home and they are 7-1 SU and 5-3 ATS in their last eight games overall. 

5* PLAY ON SETON HALL. 

MAX BET ALERT - MIKE'S 5* NHL GAME OF THE MONTH

The Los Angeles Kings have hit a rough patch and had lost eight straight games before a 5-2 win in Carolina last night. I think they'll have a tough time pulling off another victory on short rest against a Dallas team that's in good form. 

5* PLAY ON THE STARS. 

MIKE'S 5* NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND GAME OF THE YEAR MAX BET

The Philadelphia Eagles finished the regular season 11-6 SU but only 6-8-3 ATS while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 9-8 SU and 11-6 ATS.

I think the Eagles are overvalued by the betting market once again when they visit the Bucs in the Wild Card round on Monday. 

Buccaneers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite. Eagles are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.

5* PLAY ON THE BUCS.

MIKE'S HEAT/NETS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Brooklyn Nets have a huge rest advantage as they've had three days of rest since a 111-102 loss in Cleveland on Thursday while this is the second leg of a back-to-back set for the Heat. Additionally, this will be the third game in four nights for Miami who is due for a clunker after back-to-back wins. 

Heat are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest. Heat are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

3* PLAY ON THE NETS. 

MIKE'S 4* NHL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Nashville Predators are hot, Vegas ... not so much. The Golden Knights are dealing with a heap of injuries, but I think there's enough talent on this roster to beat a Nashville team that has overachieved of late. 

The Golden Knights are 15-5-2 at home on the season and they have won seven of the last 10 meetings with the Preds. The betting market got the odds for this matchup completely wrong IMO. 

4* PLAY ON THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS. 

MIKE'S 4* SPURS/HAWKS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Atlanta Hawks are only 9-29 ATS on the season, and I don't think they're in any position to lay this kind of number against a San Antonio Spurs team that has covered the spread in six straight games. 

Hawks are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 home games.Hawks are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite.

4* PLAY ON THE SPURS. 

MIKE'S RAMS/LIONS NFL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Detroit Lions and the LA Rams finished the regular season with some of the best ATS records in the NFL, but I think the Lions are overvalued as a home favorite in this Wild Card round matchup.

I don't think there is all that much separating these two teams, but at least the Rams have a decent amount of postseason experience on their team and we're getting points. Also, they closed out the regular season hot with seven wins in their last eight games. 

3* PLAY ON THE RAMS. 

MIKE'S 5* NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND TOTAL OF THE YEAR MAX BET

Sure, the Dallas Cowboys are averaging 37.4 points per game at AT&T Stadium and the Green Bay Packers have looked much better than expected with Jordan Love as the starting QB, but I think this total is way too high for a postseason game. 

Both teams have played quite well on the defensive side of the ball in recent games and the under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER.

MIKE'S LATE-NIGHT 4* NHL TOP PLAY

The Vegas Golden Knights have been far from at their best lately, but they're coming off an OT win over Boston and I like the price we get on Vegas here against a Calgary team in a potential flat spot following back-to-back wins. 

3* PLAY ON THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS. 

MIKE'S 4* DOLPHINS/CHIEFS NFL TOP PLAY

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a subpar season by their standards, but this is still an experienced team that I expect to start playing up to their potential again here in the playoffs.

There will be a hostile environment and cold weather at Arrowhead, not ideal for the Dolphins who are flying in from South Florida. 

Chiefs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 playoff home games. Chiefs are 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Dolphins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.

4* PLAY ON THE CHIEFS.

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

I expect a hyper-focused Boston Celtics team to take the court here following a 135-102 loss in Milwaukee. It was their second game of a back-to-back set, a situation the visiting Houston Rockets are in for this game following a tight win in Detroit last night.

Also, not only with the Rockets be playing on short rest, but also their fourth straight game on the road. 

Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog. Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.

4* PLAY ON THE CELTICS. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MA$$ACRE

The Seattle Kraken are riding an eight-game winning streak and I don't think a Columbus team with one of the worst records in the NHL is the team that will end it. 

3* PLAY ON THE KRAKEN. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* FLYERS/WILD NHL GAME OF THE WEEK

The Philadelphia Flyers are coming off a 3-2 shootout win over Montreal, but they're only 3-7 in their last 10 games.

The Minnesota Wild are 4-7 in their last 10, but only 1-6 in their last seven, but I expect a strong performance from the Wild here after being humiliated in a 7-2 loss in Dallas Wednesday night.

The Wild are a solid 9-3 as home favorites this season, and they'll be looking for revenge for a 6-2 loss in Philadelphia back in October. 

5* PLAY ON THE WILD. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* ROCKETS/PISTONS NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

The Houston Rockets are 0-5 SU and ATS on the road against teams from the East this season and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite of 5.0-10.5. 

I expect the Pistons to come out fired up after going 0-3 SU and ATS in their last three games, the last two home at Little Caesars Arena. 

5* PLAY ON THE PISTONS. 

MIKE'S 5* SUNS/LAKERS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a great spot to back the Phoenix Suns to bounce back from back-to-back losses while the Lakers lack the same urgency following back-to-back home wins over the LA Clippers and the Raptors. 

Lakers are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite. Lakers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

5* PLAY ON THE SUNS. 

MIKE'S 5* CBB BIG 10 GAME OF THE MONTH

The Maryland Terrapins will be looking to bounce back from losses to Purdue and Michigan. They were undefeated 8-0 until their 67-53 setback against the Boilermakers on Jan 2 and the Terrapins are 19-9 ATS in their last 28 games as a home favorite.

5* PLAY ON MARYLAND.

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a good spot to fade the Denver Nuggets following their 131-114 home win over Detroit. Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a road favorite.

The Utah Jazz have recovered from a slow start to the season, and they are 8-2 SU and ATS in their last 10 games. The Jazz are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.

4* PLAY ON THE JAZZ. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MONEYMAKER

This looks like a good spot to back the New York Islanders to bounce back from a 5-2 loss in Vegas. They've had two days of rest to recover while the Canucks will be playing on short rest following a 6-3 win against the Rangers in New York last night. 

3* PLAY ON THE ISLANDERS. 

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOTAL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

I expect the Minnesota Timberwolves to bounce back with a strong offensive outing following a 115-108 loss to Dallas. They've been held to fewer than 110 points in four of their last five games, but here they'll face an Orlando team that has struggled on the defensive end in recent games. 

4* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MONEYMACHINE

This looks like a good spot to fade the Kraken who are overvalued following six straight wins. They're still only 7-6-6 on the road, and I like the price we get on the Sabres to record their first ever win against Seattle.

3* PLAY ON THE SABRES. 

MIKE'S NHL MONEYLINE MA$$CRE

The Los Angeles Kings are a phenomenal 13-3-1 on the road this season. They're coming into this game undervalued by the betting market following five consecutive losses. The Lightning have a respectable 11-5-3 home record, but I think the price is right to back the Kings. 

3* PLAY ON THE KINGS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* SUNS/CLIPPERS NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK

The Los Angeles Clippers are 21-14 to the under on the season. They won 131-122 when they visited Phoenix on January 3, but I think this will be a lower-scoring affair here in the second meeting of the season. 

Under is 11-3 in Clippers last 14 games as a home favorite. Under is 7-1 in Suns last 8 games as a road underdog.

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER.

MIKE'S 5* CFB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MAX BET

The No. 1 and the No. 2 seed will clash in the College Football Playoff national championship game, and I like the underdog to cover the number as I don't think Michigan has much of an edge at all. If any team can open up this Wolverines defense it's Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr., and Michigan could find it difficult to come back if they fall behind. 

5* PLAY ON WASHINGTON. 

MIKE'S CELTICS/PACERS NBA TOTAL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Indiana Pacers are coming off a 118-101 loss to Boston on Saturday. They had scored 120 points or more in six straight games before that game, so they were due to lay an egg sooner or later. I think they'll bounce back with a strong offensive outing as they clash with the Celtics again Monday night. 

Over is 38-15 in Pacers last 53 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Over is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.

3* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MIKE'S 4* NHL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a good spot to back the Pittsburgh Penguins to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Buffalo and fade the Philadelphia Flyers following their 3-2 win over Calgary. The Flyers are 1-4 in their last five games while the Pens are 4-2 in their last six and 7-3 in their last 10. Philadelphia won two meetings back in December, so I think the Pens will be extra fired up for this one. 

4* PLAY ON THE PENGUINS. 

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Orlando Magic are 20-15 on the season, but they're only 4-6 in their last 10 games and 1-3 in their last four. For this game, they're down several key players, and I think they'll find it difficult to keep with an Atlanta team that is looking to bounce back from a humbling 150-116 loss in Indiana.

The Hawks have put up 130, 141 and 116 points in their last three games while the Magic have scored 115, 135 and 122 in their last three. I think the Hawks will prevail in a high-scoring affair.

4* PLAY ON THE ATLANTA HAWKS. 

HAWKS/MAGIC TOTAL - SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Orlando Magic are 20-15 on the season, but they're only 4-6 in their last 10 games and 1-3 in their last four. For this game, they're down several key players, and I think they'll find it difficult to keep with an Atlanta team that is looking to bounce back from a humbling 150-116 loss in Indiana.

The Hawks have put up 130, 141 and 116 points in their last three games while the Magic have scored 115, 135 and 122 in their last three. I think the Hawks will prevail in a high-scoring affair.

3* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* BEARS/PACKERS NFL TOTAL OF THE MONTH

The Chicago Bears are coming off a 37-17 win over Atlanta. They have scored 27 points or more in three of their last four games, the exception a 17-point outing against a Cleveland Browns team that boasts the best defense in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers have scored 33 points in back-to-back games and 20 points or more in each of their last seven games. 

Over is 12-2 in Packers last 14 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

5* PLAY ON THE OVER.

MIKE'S 4* RAMS/NINERS NFL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

Both teams have already qualified for postseason football, and they've both announced that they'll rest starters. This will add more variance, making the underdog even more attractive from a betting perspective and the Rams typically match up very well against the Niners. 

Additionally, while the Niners are coming off a 27-10 rout of Washington, note that the 49ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 14 points.

4* PLAY ON THE RAMS. 

MIKE'S JAGS/TITANS NFL BOOKIE BREAKER

Sure, the Jacksonville Jaguars need a win to make the postseason, but I expect a strong effort from the Tennessee Titans after getting humiliated in a 26-3 loss in Houston last week. They're now coming off three consecutive losses but I think they'll end the season on a good note. 

Titans are 7-3-2 ATS in their last 12 games as a home underdog. Jaguars are 5-12 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.

3* PLAY ON THE TITANS.

MIKE'S 4* TEXANS/COLTS NFL TOTAL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Indianapolis Colts are 11-5 to the over while the Houston Texans are 10-6 to the under. 

The Colts won 31-20 when they clashed with Houston back in September, but I think this will be a much lower-scoring affair as I expect both teams to be relatively conservative as they're playing for the AFC South title. 

Houston rookie QB CJ Stroud has been stealing most of the headlines from the rest of the team (and deservedly so), but the Texans defense has been sneaky good.

The Texans limited the Titans to three points last week; the under is 5-1 in Texans last 6 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game and 9-3 in Texans last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. 

4* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S WILD/BLUE JACKETS NHL MONEYMACHINE

The Minnesota Wild are only 6-10-2 on the road, but I expect them to be extremely fired up for this one and looking forward to a change of scenery following three home losses. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a potential flat spot following an upset win in a shootout in Philadelphia Thursday night. 

3* PLAY ON THE WILD. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* STEELERS/RAVENS NFL GAME OF THE MONTH

I love the Baltimore Ravens as an underdog against Pittsburgh this Saturday.

Sure, the Ravens have announced that they'll rest players as they are already locked in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but they're all professionals and John Harbaugh always coaches to win.

Harbaugh can't even stand the idea of losing a pre-season game, so why would he lay down here against a hated AFC North rival?

5* PLAY ON THE RAVENS. 

MIKE'S EARLY FLAMES/FLYERS NHL MONEYMAKER

The Calgary Flames are heading to Philadelphia on a three-game winning streak, the two most recent on the road in Minnesota and Nashville.

The Flames have won six of their last eight games, and I like the price we get on them here against a Flyers team coming off four consecutive losses.

3* PLAY ON THE FLAMES. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* KENTUCKY/FLORIDA SEC GAME OF THE YEAR

The No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats (10-2) have been dominating weaker opposition (and put a 96-70 beating on Illinois State in their last game), but here they'll run into a much tougher opponent in the Florida Gators (10-3). The Gators lost back-to-back games to close out November but have won six in a row since, including an impressive 106-101 win at Michigan.

Kentucky is a talented team, but I don't think they have what it takes to take down the Gators in Gainesville. 

Wildcats are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games as a road underdog of 0.5-6.5. Wildcats are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. 

5* PLAY ON FLORIDA. 

MIKE'S LATE NIGHT 4* GRIZZLIES/LAKERS NBA TOTAL TOP PLAY

The Memphis Grizzlies are 21-13 to the under on the season, but I think we'll see a relatively high-scoring game when they visit the LA Lakers Friday night. 

Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Over is 23-11 in Grizzlies last 34 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.

4* PLAY ON THE OVER.

MAX BET ALERT: 5* KNICKS/SIXERS NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a 110-97 win over the Bulls.

The Sixers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points and 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5. 

I think they'll have their way with a Knicks side that is in a potential flat spot following solid wins over Chicago and Minnesota. 

The Knicks are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS win and 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

5* PLAY ON THE 76ERS.

MIKE'S PANTHERS/KNIGHTS NHL MONEYMAKER

The Florida Panthers are riding a five-game winning streak while the Vegas Golden Knights are 1-5 in their last six games. The Panthers won 4-2 when they hosted Vegas on Dec 23 and would like nothing more than to beat Vegas again after losing the 2023 Stanley Cup Final to the Knights in five games. 

3* PLAY ON THE PANTHERS. 

MIKE'S LATE NIGHT NHL MONEYLINE MA$$ACRE

The Seattle Kraken are looking to make it six wins in a row while the slumping Ottawa Senators are only 3-7 in their last 10 games overall and 4-9 on the road for the season. Seattle has also had an additional day of rest compared to the Sens who took a 6-3 loss in Vancouver on Tuesday. 

3* PLAY ON THE KRAKEN. 

MIKE'S 4* BUCKS/SPURS NBA TOTAL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a pair of losses as favorites against Indiana. Since the start of last season, the Bucks are 18-4 to the over following back-to-back ATS losses. 

4* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MIKE'S SABRES/HABS MONEYMACHINE

This looks like a good spot to back the Buffalo Sabres to bounce back from a 5-1 loss in Ottawa on New Year's Eve. They are perfect 5-0 as favorites coming off a loss as an underdog. 

3* PLAY ON THE SABRES. 

MIKE'S RAPTORS/GRIZZLIES NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Memphis Grizzlies will be playing on short rest, but they barely had to break a sweat to dispose of the San Antonio Spurs last night. The Raptors are in a tough spot as they'll play their fourth road game in five games following a quick pitstop home in Toronto. 

Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5. Grizzlies are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.

3* play on the Memphis Grizzlies.

MAX BET ALERT: MIKE'S 5* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK

The Houston Rockets are 18-13 to the under on the season, but they've played at a much higher pace of late with each of their last three games going over 240 points.

The slumping Brooklyn Nets have had a hard time getting stops lately, and here they'll have tired legs following a 112-85 loss in New Orleans last night.

I think the Rockets will have no trouble running up the score, but I also like Brooklyn to put up its fair share of points against a Houston team that has allowed 120 points or more in six of its past nine games. 

Over is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 vs. a team with a losing straight up record. Over is 5-1 in Nets last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.

5* play on the over. 

MIKE'S 4* BUCKS/PACERS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

I like the Milwaukee Bucks to get quick revenge for a 122-113 home loss to Indiana on New Year's Day. The Bucks were in control of the game until the last quarter, and I expect them to put a beating on Indiana tonight. 

Bucks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games. Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.

4* PLAY ON THE BUCKS.

MIKE'S CBB BOOKIE BU$TER

The George Washington Revolutionaries are 11-2 SU but only 6-6 ATS on the season. The majority of their ATS losses have come as double-digit favorites though, and I don't think they'll have any trouble to cover this more modest number against a Fordham team that is 1-3 SU and ATS as underdogs. 

3* play on George Washington. 

MIKE'S LATE 4* NBA TOTAL TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Charlotte Hornets are winless through their last 11 games despite putting up a decent amount of points in most contests. They're one of the worst teams in the league on the defensive end allowing 121.1 points per game and here they'll face a Sacramento team that has scored 117 points or more in seven of their last 10 games. 

Over is 8-2 in Kings last 10 games as a favorite of 11.0 or greater. Over is 23-8 in Kings last 31 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

4* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MAX BET ALERT: MIKE'S 5* NHL TOTAL OF THE MONTH

The Philadelphia Flyers are coming off a 4-3 loss in Calgary, but they are 21-13-2 to the under on the season. The Edmonton Oilers have had no trouble finding the net in recent games, but I think they're in a potential flat spot here following a 7-2 win in Anaheim. 

5* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S 4* NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Brooklyn Nets are 2-8 SU and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games, and I think they're in for a tough start to 2024 as well as they're facing a New Orleans team that is rolling.  

Nets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games. Nets are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.

4* PLAY ON THE PELICANS.

MIKE'S 4* CBB TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The East Carolina Pirates took an 86-70 loss as a favorite against East Tennessee State on Dec 29, and I think they'll find it difficult to bounce back here against a superior FAU team that is looking to bounce back from an outright loss as a 17.5-point favorite. 

Owls are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. Owls are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games following three or more consecutive road games.

4* PLAY ON FAU.

MIKE'S 5* TEXAS/WASHINGTON CFB PLAYOFFS GAME OF THE YEAR

I like the Washington Huskies as an underdog against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals on New Year's Day. Both teams boast explosive offenses and are also similar in many other ways. I'm happy to take the points in a matchup between two evenly matched sides. 

5* PLAY ON WASHINGTON. 

MIKE'S 4* PISTONS/ROCKETS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

This looks like a good spot to fade the Detroit Pistons who picked up just their third win of the season in their last game while the Houston Rockets will be looking to end a three-game losing streak. All three games were played home at Toyota Center, but against tough opponents like Indiana, Phoenix and Philadelphia. 

The Rockets are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite. The Pistons are 10-21-2 ATS in their last 33 games following an ATS win and Pistons are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win.

4* PLAY ON THE HOUSTON ROCKETS.

MIKE'S PACERS/BUCKS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

The Milwaukee Bucks won 140-126 when they hosted Indiana on Dec 13, and I expect them to win big again when they face each other on New Year's Day. 

Bucks are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5. Pacers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.

3* PLAY ON THE BUCKS.

MAX BET ALERT: 5* PACKERS/VIKINGS NFL TOTAL OF THE WEEK

Both the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings are in the hunt for a wild card, and both teams have found their groove when on the ball. The Packers have scored 20 points or more in six straight games and the Vikes have proven to be surprisingly competitive with Nick Mullens under center. 

The over is 7-1 in Vikings last 8 games in December and 4-0 in Packers last 4 games in December.

5* PLAY ON THE OVER.

MIKE'S LATE 4* KINGS/GRIZZLIES NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Sacramento Kinga are 11-5 SU at home and 7-7 SU on the road. The Grizzlies are only 2-11 SU at home, and while they should be more competitive in general moving forward with Ja Morant back from suspension, I still like the Kings to win and cover as a short underdog in Memphis on New Year's Eve. Kings are 18-4 ATS in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Kings are 21-9 ATS in their last 30 road games.

4* PLAY ON THE KINGS.

MIKE'S EARLY JETS/WILD NHL MONEYMAKER

The Jets defeated the Wild 4-2 home at Canada Life Centre last night, but I think the Wild will avenge that loss here on New Year's Eve.

Both teams have strong home/away splits, but note that the Wild are perfect 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home and 9-3 SU in their last 12 games when hosting Winnipeg. 

3* PLAY ON THE WILD. 

MIKE'S RAIDERS/COLTS NFL BOOKIE BREAKER

The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off two strong outings against the Chargers and the Chiefs. They held the Chiefs to 14 points last week and they are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game. I think they'll give this overrated Colts team all kinds of trouble, especially with their run game. 

3* PLAY ON THE RAIDERS. 

MIKE'S RAMS/GIANTS NFL BOOKIE BU$TER

The Los Angeles Rams are 5-1 SU and ATS over their last six games but need to keep their foot on the gas to keep their hopes of postseason football alive. The Giants offense showed signs of life last week with Tyrod Taylor replacing Tommy DeVito under center, but I don't think they'll be able to keep with the Rams who have scored 28 points or more in each of their last five games. 

3* PLAY ON THE RAMS. 

MIKE'S OILERS/KINGS NHL MONEYMAKER

The Los Angeles Kings have had a great start to the season, but they got a reality check in a 3-2 loss in Vegas a couple of nights ago. The Edmonton Oilers meanwhile are in a potential flat spot following three consecutive road wins, the most recent a 5-0 route of the San Jose Sharks. 

3* PLAY ON THE KINGS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* LIONS/COWBOYS NFL GAME OF THE WEEK

This looks like a great spot to back the Dallas Cowboys to bounce back from back-to-back road losses at Buffalo and Miami. The Cowboys have been destroying teams home at AT&T Stadium and here they'll face a Detroit team that clinched the NFC North last week. 

The Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.

5* PLAY ON THE COWBOYS.

MIKE'S LATE LAKERS/WOLVES NBA NIGHTCAP

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled with consistency all season. They're coming off a 133-112 rout of Charlotte but are only 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win and 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games following an ATS win. The Minnesota Timberwolves did not cover the spread in their 118-110 win over Dallas on Thursday but they are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS loss.

3* PLAY ON THE WOLVES.

MAX BET ALERT: 5* NBA EASTERN CONF GAME OF THE MONTH

Both teams have been playing well lately, but the Cavs tend to do better against the spread as favorites than underdogs. While the Cavs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite, they're only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog and here they'll face a Bucks team that is 15-5-1 ATS in its last 21 games as a road favorite of 5.0-10.5.

5* PLAY ON THE BUCKS. 

MAX BET ALERT: 5* NHL GAME OF THE WEEK

The New Jersey Devils are always dangerous on the road and I think we're getting a great price on them here in Ottawa Friday night. The Senators are 1-4 SU as a home underdog this season while the Devils are 9-2 as a road favorite. 

5* PLAY ON THE DEVILS. 

MIKE'S 4* SPURS/BLAZERS NBA TOTAL PLAY OF THE DAY

The San Antonio Spurs are 20-9 to the over on the season, but I think the bookmakers are overestimating how many points we'll see when they visit Portland on Thursday night. Sure, both teams have struggled on the defensive end of the court all season, but they're also among the worst when it comes to scoring. The under is 5-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

4* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MAX BET ALERT: MIKE'S 5* CBB GAME OF THE WEEK

The Cal State Northridge Matadors are 9-3 SU and 9-1 ATS on the season. The bookmakers will adjust eventually, but I think they're undervalued once again here for this matchup against Cal Poly Mustangs. They defeated UCLA as a 17-point road underdog on Dec 19 and this Cal Poly is not nearly as good as the Bruins. 

5* PLAY ON CSU NORTHRIDGE. 

MIKE'S PACERS/BULLS TOTAL

The over/under is 3-7 in the last 10 meetings and I expect another relatively low-scoring affair when Chicago hosts the Pacers tonight. The under is 19-9 in Bulls last 28 vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 8-3 in Pacers last 11 games as a road favorite.

3* PLAY ON THE UNDER. 

MIKE'S MAVS/WOLVES TOTAL

The Dallas Mavericks will be playing on short rest following a 113-110 loss to Cleveland last night while Minnesota will be looking to bounce back from a 129-106 loss in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. I expect the Wolves to bounce back with a strong outing and they should be able to take advantage of tired Mavs legs. The over is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.

3* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MIKE'S KRAKEN/FLAMES NHL MONEYLINE

The Calgary Flames have won eight of nine meetings with the Kraken, and I like them to come through for us with a strong outing after taking a 5-3 loss to the Kings in their last game. Seattle is coming off a pair of wins and defeated Anaheim 3-2 in its last game, but note that the Kraken are 2-8 in their last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.

3* PLAY ON THE FLAMES. 

MAX BET ALERT: MIKE'S 5* NBA TOTAL OF THE WEEK

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be playing on short rest following a 129-106 win over Minnesota last night, and tired legs usually have a more negative impact defensively than offensively. The over is 8-3 in Thunder's last 11 games playing on 0 days rest and 7-1 in Knicks' last 8 games as a road underdog.

5* PLAY ON THE OVER. 

MIKE'S HURRICANES/PREDATORS NHL MONEYLINE

The Carolina Hurricanes will be looking to bounce back from one-goal losses to Pittsburgh and the Islanders. I think Nashville has overachieved so far this season while Carolina has underachieved, and we're getting a great price on the much better team. 

3* PLAY ON THE HURRICANES. 

MIKE'S BRUINS/SABRES NHL MONEYLINE

The Boston Bruins headed into the holiday break on a four-game losing streak. They're a lot better than recent results would suggest and I expect them to come out of the break fired up, and they match up well against Buffalo, a team they've defeated in eight of the last 10 meetings. 

3* PLAY ON THE BRUINS. 

MIKE'S 4* RAPTORS/WIZARDS NBA TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

The Toronto Raptors are only 2-8 SU and ATS in their last eight games, but they're coming into this game well-rested, unlike the Washington Wizards who will be playing on short rest following a 127-119 loss to Orlando last night.

Wizards are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog. Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

4* PLAY ON THE RAPTORS.

MIKE'S 4* DUKE'S MAYO BOWL CFB TOP PLAY OF THE DAY

I'm not sure how motivated the North Carolina Tar Heels will be to participate in Duke's Mayo Bowl. They had their sights set higher than this, and they've been hit hard by opt outs, including star quarterback Drake Maye. The West Virginia Mountaineers on the other hand couldn't be happier to be here and I think they'll get the win and cover.   

4* PLAY ON WEST VIRGINIA. 

MIKE'S LATE-NIGHT KINGS/BLAZERS NBA NIGHTCAP

This looks like a good spot to back the Kings to bounce back from a 110-98 loss to Minnesota. The Kings are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss and 23-9 ATS in their last 32 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

3* PLAY ON THE KINGS. 

MIKE'S 4* GUARANTEED RATE BOWL BOOKIE BREAKER

I like the UNLV Rebels to cover the spread against Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday.

UNLV has been undervalued by the oddsmakers and bettors all season, going 10-3 ATS while covering the spread by an average of 7.3 points.

The Rebels lost some momentum down the stretch but I have no doubt they'll show up again here in their first bowl appearance since the 2013 season. 

4* PLAY ON UNLV. 

MIKE'S GRIZZLIES/PELICANS NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

This looks like a good spot to back the Pelicans to avenge a 115-113 loss as an 8.5-point home favorite against Memphis last Tuesday.

The Pels are coming off a 106-104 loss to Houston, but they are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.

3* PLAY ON THE PELICANS. 

MAX BET ALERT: MIKE'S 5* PACERS/ROCKETS NBA GAME OF THE WEEK

These two teams are trending in opposite directions as Indiana has cooled off since a great start to the season while Houston has been heating up going 7-3 SU and ATS in their past 10 games.

The Rockets are 15-5-3 ATS in their last 23 home games and 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite while the Pacers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.

5* PLAY ON THE ROCKETS.

MIKE'S 4* RAVENS/NINERS NFL XMAS DAY TOP PLAY

The San Francisco 49ers have been steamrolling their opponents in recent games, but here they'll face a Baltimore team that has been almost equally hot. The Ravens are usually money as underdogs (19-5-3 ATS in their last 27 games as an underdog), and I think the Niners will find it difficult to get separation. 

4* PLAY ON THE RAVENS.