Stephen Nover Premium Picks

The Kings are a huge success story this season with a 44-29 record, which translates to a .603 winning percentage.

Sacramento, however, has a losing record when its star point guard, De'Aaron Fox, doesn't play. Fox isn't likely to play here after suffering a hamstring injury in the Kings' 135-127 home win against the Suns last night.

The Jazz also played last night and were buried at home by the Bucks, 144-116. Because of the blowout, none of the Jazz players logged big minutes. The Kings, on the other hand, had three starters go big minutes in the win against the Suns.

Utah has proven resilient going 11-5-1 ATS following a loss. The Jazz also are 13-3 ATS when playing an opponent with a win percentage above .600.

Utah and Sacramento have met three times this season. The Kings won the first two games by a combined three points. The Jazz upset the Kings, 128-120, at home in the last meeting this past Monday. Utah won that game despite not having Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson. It's a plus if either of those two can play today with Markkanen being listed as questionable.

The Jazz have covered the past five times against Sacramento.

All hands on deck are needed to slow down the Oilers. The Golden Knights won't have that in this matchup missing All-Star goalie Logan Thompson and defenseman Alec Martinez.

Edmonton is the No. 1 scoring team in the NHL and a huge Over team. The Oilers have scored 4 or more goals in each of their last six games. They have produced 3 or more goals in 17 of their last 18 games. The Over has cashed in 71 percent of the Oilers' last 52 games.

The Golden Knights have been reliable in their scoring, too, ringing up at least three goals in 10 of their last 12 games. The Oilers have surrendered 3 or more goals in five of their last six games.

I don't trust either of these teams enough to believe they will produce seven goals in this game. An early start time does not help the offenses either.

The Red Wings are averaging two goals in their five games.

The Flyers have been hot. Their last five games have all gone Over. They have multiple injuries, though, and I don't see an up-tempo matchup.

The teams have met twice this season. Both games were easy Under winners. The Flyers defeated the Red Wings, 3-1, at home on March 5. The Flyers also nipped the Red Wings, 2-1, in Detroit on Jan. 21.

Florida Atlantic is on house money having never advanced this far. The Owls have a strong backcourt. But I'm going with Kansas State coming out of the Big 12 and having two star players, point guard Markquis Nowell and Keyonate Johnson. There might not have been a tougher conference in the country than the Big 12.

Nowell and Johnson give Kansas State the talent edge.

Nowell, averaging 17.2 points, 8.1 assists and 2.5 steals, has been the star of the tournament. He sparked the Wildcats past Michigan State and Kentucky.

Kansas State has covered 77 percent during their past 22 games against above .500 opponents going 17-5.