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This is a 10* play on OKC@UTAH to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz return home with the series tied 1-1 after a 102-95 win in Game 2 in Oklahoma City. Utah boasts the NBA's #1 defense, holding opponents under 100 points per game. Both of these teams have played well defensively in this series, and I expect that trend to continue here in Game 3. Recent meetings between these teams have trended under, as they have failed to reach the total in five of the last six overall. The Thunder have gone under in five straight on the road, and eight straight at Utah. These trends go back a lot further, the under is 22-8 in the last 30 meetings. The total for tonight's game is higher than it was in nine of the previous 10 head to head meetings.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is an 8* play on NAS@COL to go OVER the total.

I bet on the Predators in both the first two games of this series, and one of the things I talked about was how well Nashville plays on home ice. The Preds aren't quite as dominant away from home, and given how competitive this series has been so far, I think there's value backing Colorado as a home dog in Game 3. The Avs actually have one of the best home record in the Western Conference, going 28-11-2 at the Pepsi Center. Jonathan Bernier was rock solid at home, posting a record of 13-4 with a 2.34 GAA. The Avs also boast top special teams units, with the league's #4 ranked penalty kill and 8th ranked power play. Nathan McKinnon finished second in the NHL in points (per game) with 97 points in 74 games. He did the majority of the damage at home, scoring 27 goals and adding 40 assists in 39 games. Colorado should give the Predators all they can handle here in Game 3. These teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in five straight and eight of the last 10. The over is 6-1-1 in Nashville's last eight visits to Denver.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Kings.

I had the Kings on the puckling in Game 2, and here is what I said prior to the opening face off: "The Las Vegas Golden Knights just barely hung on to win Game 1 by a score of 1-0. The Pacific Division champs owned the best record in the NHL for the majority of the season, but they really faded down the stretch. They lost seven of their final 13 games, and six of their last 10 wins came in games decided by a single goal. Three of the last four meetings between the Kings and the Knights have been decided by one goal. While losing Drew Doughty for Game 2 of this series is a serious blow for the visitors, I think the bookmakers have overcompensated with the adjustment to the line. I don't think it's going to be easy for Vegas to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this series." Despite a valiant effort, LA comes home down 0-2 facing a must win game here in Game 3. The Kings have won four of their last five home games, and they have proven in the best to be a tough team to finish off.

Take LAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SA@NO to go Under the total.

It's not unusual to see teams step up their defensive intensity at this time of year. The Spurs are the league's best defensive team, and they are coming off a 98-85 win over Sacramento. The Pelicans aren't known for their defense, but they have improved here at the end of the regular season. They rank 29th in the NBA, allowing over 110 points per game overall this season. They've allowed less than that in six of their last seven overall however. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings. The under is 10-4-1 in Pelicans last 15 versus teams with a winning straight up record, while the Spurs have gone under in four of their last five at New Orleans.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 9* play on ARI@SF to go OVER the total.

We saw a pitcher's duel in San Francisco yesterday, with the Dodgers winning 2-1 in extra-innings. The previous three games at AT&T Park all went over the total, and I expect to see plenty of runs in San Francisco tonight.

Zack Godley will toe the slab for the D'Backs, and he's been hammered in previous meetings versus the Giants. He's 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in four appearances versus San Francisco over the last three seasons. The Giants lineup is batting .429 against the right-hander.

The Giants hand the ball to Derek Holland, who hasn't looked sharp so far this season. Holland allowed five runs on three hits and three walks over five innings in a 5-0 loss to LA in his season debut. He was 2-5 with an 8.93 ERA in his final nine starts of last season.

The Over is 8-2 in Diamondbacks last 10 games versus a left-handed starter.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado Rockies.

The Braves took Game 1 of this series by a score of 8-3, but I like the Rockies to bounce back here in Game 2.

Chad Bettis will toe the rubber for the Rockies, and he was sharp in his first start this season. He allowed a pair of runs on five hits over five innings in a win over the Padres. He's 13-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 30 starts at Coors Field since 2015.

The Braves hand the ball to Sean Newcomb, who was roughed up in his first start this season. He was torched for six runs on five hits and four walks over just 4 1/3 innings in a home loss to Washington. The 24 year old faced Colorado twice last season, allowing seven runs on a dozen hits over 10 2/3 innings without earning a decision.

Nolan Arenado was 2-for-4 yesterday, and he's 3-for-6 with a home run lifetime versus Newcomb.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Manchester City.

It's not a matter of if Manchester City will win the Premier League, it's only a matter of when. It would really be something special if they could clinch the league here in Saturday's Manchester Derby, hosting Manchester United. The Red Devils have had a good run, winning six of their last eight matches. The majority of those wins came against inferior opposition, and they can expect a much tougher test here at the Etihad. City is badly in need of a positive result, coming off a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League tie. That was at Anfield, and they are a much more dangerous team at the Etihad. The Citizens are 14-0-1 with a +41 goal differential at home, while the Red Devils are 8-3-4 with a +9 goal differential away. City has totaled 51 goals in 15 home games, more than double what United has totaled in away matches.

Take CITY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers.

Johnny Gaudreau leads Calgary in points, and Sean Monahan leads the team in goals. Monahan is out for the season due to injury, and Johnny Hockey flew home last Sunday to attend to a personal matter. This leaves the Flames severely shorthanded here in the "Battle of Alberta". This is the most meaningful game these teams will play for the remainder of the season, and Edmonton also has a revenge factor to think about. After winning seven straight in this rivalry, the Oilers lost at Calgary by a score of 1-0 in the last meeting. The Flames come into tonight's game as losers of seven straight, and I don't like their chances of slowing down the NHL's leading scorer. Connor McDavid has been on a roll, with seven goals and six assists in his last five games.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF@LAD to go Under the total.

After getting shutout through Games 1 and 2 of this home series versus San Francisco, the Dodgers remain heavy favorites in Game 3 Saturday. We see a pretty high total for this game considering we've only seen two runs scored in this series so far.

Derek Holland will toe the slab for San Francisco, and the 31 year old is trying to get his career back on track. He was once considered an ace when he was with the Rangers earlier in his career. While he doesn't come in with a ton of outstanding numbers, he has the skill set to take advantage of a struggling Dodgers offense in a pitcher's park.

LA will hand the ball to Kenta Maeda, who loves pitching at Dodgers Stadium. The 29 year old was 8-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 11 stats in LA last season. He looked sharp this spring, so there is no reason to expect anything different from Maeda here this season.

These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven straight at Dodgers Stadium, and 13 of the last 17 meetings overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers finished first in the Cactus League this spring, and they won on Opening Day in San Diego. They are just a small favorite in Game 2.

Jhoulys Chacin will toe the slab for the visitors tonight, and he had been dominant at PETCO Park in his career. Chacin was 9-3 with a 1.79 ERA in 16 starts in San Diego last season. He has also been dominant pitching against the Padres, with a record of 6-2 and a 3.07 ERA in 14 appearances.

The Friars hand the ball to rookie Joey Lucchesi, who is filling in for Dinelson Lamet. While the kid has good numbers in the minor leagues, this is a tough spot to put him in on such short notice.

San Diego ranked dead last in the major leagues in runs scored in the 2017 season.

Take MIL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on COL@ARI to go UNDER the total.

The D'Backs open the season at home against NL West rivals Colorado, and I expect to see a pitcher's duel on Opening Day.

Patrick Corbin will toe the slab for the home team, and he's pitched well in Arizona in his career. The southpaw was 9-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 17 home starts last year. He was also 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA in four starts against the Rockies.

Colorado will hand the ball to ace John Gray, who is coming off a stellar 2017 season. Gray was 10-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 20 starts last season, and he was 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks. He was particularly sharp at Chase Field, going 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA.

The Rockies have failed to reach the total in 11 of their last 14 overall, and the u nder is 11-5-2 in the last 18 meetings between these teams.

Take UNDER.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on MIA@IND to go Under the total.

The Pacers are just a game and a half back of the first place Cavs in the Central Division, and they come into tonight's home game versus Miami as winners of 12 of their last 17. During that span they've allowed fewer points than any team in the league, and they now rank in the top 10 in the league in opponent's scoring average this season. Miami ranks 4th overall in the NBA allowing just 103 points per game. All three meetings between these teams went over, but all those games were played before the All Star break when Indiana was struggling defensively. Prior to this season, they have gone under in six of seven games dating back to November of 2015. The Pacers have gone under in nine of their last 10 overall, and they have failed to reach the total in seven straight home teams. I expect another low scoring battle here in Indianapolis Sunday.

Take UNDER.

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TTU vs VILL to go Over the total.

The Villanova Wildcats are the highest scoring team in the country, averaging a whopping 87 points per game. They have scored an average of 86 points in their three NCAA Tournament games, and they have scored more than 80 points in eight of their last 10 overall. The Red Raiders have made it this far because of their solid play defensively, but they were fortunate to have played a banged up Purdue team in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats are a sizable favorite here, but the total for this game is far lower than it has been in any of Villanova's last 10 games. The Wildcats have gone over in seven of their last 10 overall, while Texas Tech has gone over in seven of their last nine. Villanova has gone over in five of it's last seven NCAA Tournament games. One reason why the Wildcats play so many high scoring games is their incredibly high percentage with free throw shooting. They were 23-of-27 (85 percent) from the line against West Virginia in the Sweet 16.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas Jayhawks.

If you ask people what strategy they employ when betting on the NCAA Tournament, you will probably hear the majoroty of them talking about taking the underdogs. Shocking upsets are the most common theme at this time of year, and we saw some of that Thursday. Buffalo eliminated Arizona, and Virginia Tech and Miami both were ousted as first round favorites. Chances are, the talk in the office around the water cooler will focus mostly on these games. The reality is that seven teams were favored by double digits Thursday, and all seven of them won. Five of those seven favorites covered. In Friday's games, #1 overall Virginia went down, and so did #4 seed Wichita State. Once again though, the story you won't read about is that six of the eight teams favored by double digits won, and four of those covered. So double digit favorites went 13-2 straight up, and 9-6 ATS in the first round of the tournament. In my pre tournament research, I had learned that 1-4 seeds have covered roughly 60 percent of the time in the early rounds in recent seasons. So I can't say that I am surprised by the fact that double digit favorites are hitting at a 60 percent clip so far. Such anomalies are rare in sports betting, as the bookmakers are quick to make adjustments in order to correct such trends. It seems clear that the shock factor of upsets such as UMBC over Virginia have a serious psychological effect on sports bettors. The betting public is convinced that backing underdogs in the NCAA Tournament is a winning strategy. This consensus opinion among fans likely prevents the bookmakers from making what are normally routine adjustments. Now I bet on a few dogs myself in the first round, including UNC Greensboro and Charleston, who both came very close to winning outright. That being said, I think the real value at this time of the year is on undervalued favorites, and that's exactly what I think we have here with Clemson versus Kansas (in Omaha). The Jayhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last five against ACC teams, while the Tigers have failed to cover in four straight against the BIG12. Kansas has also covered in seven of it's last 10 NCAA Tournament games.

Take KU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.

The Ramblers will face the Nevada Wolfpack in the Sweet 16, and Nevada is listed as the favorite. I find it hard to be too impressed by Nevada's first two games of the tournament. They were down by double digits in the second half against Texas, and they trailed Cincinnati by 20 halfway through the second half in their last game. The Ramblers could have suffered a let down after upsetting Miami in the first round, but instead they knocked off #3 seed Tennessee. Nevada came limping into the tournament, losing twice to San Diego State in less than a week. They have been able to come from behind in each of their last two games, but if they fall behind here I don't think they'll be able to do it a third consecutive time. The Ramblers are 4-1 ATS in their last five non conference games, and they have covered the spread in four straight neutral site games.

Take L-LIL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Louisville Cardinals.

Only eight teams remain in the NIT Tournament, and one of the Quarter Final matchups will see Louisville hosting Mississippi State. Home teams are 17-3 straight up in the tournament so far, and 10 of those 17 wins for the home team came by a double digit margin. Louisville crushed a very good Middle Tennessee team by a score of 84-68 at home in it's second round match. I bet on the under in last night's game between Oklahoma State and Stanford, and in the analysis I referenced some data published by SB Nation regarding the NIT rule changes. Here is what I said: "According to SB Nation, in the first nine games of the tournament, eight of nine road teams shot below their season average from three-point range. One of those games was Oklahoma State hosting Florida Gulf Coast, and the Cowboys held the Eagles to just 68 points." That trend certainly didn't hold true for the Bulldogs in their second round matchup versus Baylor, as they hit 13-of-22 three-point attempts, including the winner at the buzzer. I seriously doubt Mississippi State can continue to hit 60 percent of their three-point shots, especially against a tough Louisville defense. The Bulldogs lost eight of 11 road games this season, and they scored an average of just 69.4 points in those games.

Take LOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Florida State Seminoles.

Both these teams won 20 games this season, but the Seminoles played in the ACC, facing the likes of Virginia, Duke and North Carolina. They also faced Miami twice, Clemson Twice, and Louisville three times. Missouri comes into the tournament as losers of four of their last six, and they will really miss their second leading scorer Jordan Barnett. The Senior Forward will be serving a suspension after he was arrested for a DWI last weekend. Michael Porter Jr. will play for just the third time this season, but he looked a little out of sorts in his first game back. He scored 12 points of 5-of-17 shooting in 23 minutes in a 62-60 loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are going to need a huge game from the freshman in the absence of Barnett, and I think that's simply too much to ask of a kid that missed the entire season with a back injury. The Tigers have failed to cover in four straight NCAA Tournament games, and they are just 1-5 ATS in their last six non conference games.

Take FSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on SYR@TCU to go UNDER the total.

The Orange allowed just 56 points in their First Four matchup versus Arizona State in Dayton Ohio I bet on the under in that game, and one of the reasons I gave in my analysis was the history of low scoring games at the particular venue. Here is what I said prior to the game against Arizona State: I am expecting Arizona to struggle against this elite Orange defense, and the venue may contribute to that. "Four teams played in Dayton Ohio in First Four games last night, and three of those four teams shot well below 40 percent from the field. The only exception being UCLA, and they only scored 58 points." I am not sure we should expect any more scoring here against a far better defensive team in TCU. I had a look at the venue, and it turns out I was riding the under here in the Horizon League Tournament. Here is what I had to say prior to the Horizona League Final: "Four teams played in the Horizon League Tournament Semi Finals at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit last night, and not one of those teams scored 60 total points. In fact two of those teams (Cleveland State and Oakland) failed to score as many as 45 points."

Take UNDER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the College of Charleston.

Auburn was eliminated from the SEC Tournament when they lost by a whopping 18 points to Alabama. They have really struggled since losing senior forward Anfernee McLemore, who went down in an 84-75 loss to South Carolina. Including that game, they've lost four of their last six. Charleston comes in as winner of nine of their last 10 overall, with the only loss during that span coming in overtime. Auburn has failed to cover in four straight, and I don't think they should be asked to cover double digits here against a Charleston team that won 26 games this season. The Cougars are the CAA champs, and you might remember that last year's CAA champs UNC Wilmington lost by just four points in their first round NCAA Tournament game against Virginia. I think the Tigers will have a fight on their hands.

Take COFC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Bearcats rank 2nd nationally in opponents scoring average just behind Virginia. They have allowed just 57.2 points per game this season, but in two games against Houston they gave up 70 in a home win, and 67 in a road loss. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in seven of the last eight meetings. Tonight's total has been bet down to 127.5, far lower than it was in the previous six head to head meetings. The Bearcats also have a history of owning the Cougars, winning eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Houston has emerged as a sexy dark horse, and many people are picking them as their "Cinderella" for the dance. As impressive as their run has been, they trailed for the majority of the final five minutes in last night's game against Wichita State. They managed to pull out the victory over the Shockers, but it remains to be seen if they can do the same against an even better Cincinnati team. The Cougars opened as a four point underdog versus the Shockers, and now they are getting just a half point more against the conference champs. I'll take the favorite with the short line.

Take CINCI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LAK.

I bet on both the Sharks and the Kings on Thursday night. The Sharks played St. Louis, and here is what I said about the Blues before that game: "the Blues have lost eight of their last nine overall. The fact that the Blues traded away one of their top forwards at the trade deadline says a lot about their playoff ambitions, or lack thereof." Here is what I had to say about the Kings prior to their win over the Capitals: "The Kings are tied with Colorado with 77 points, but LA holds the final Wild Card spot in the West. Every game from here on out will be like a playoff game for LA, and they have a tough assignment tonight against the Washington Capitals. The Caps are a long way from home though, and they don't have the same sense of urgency. Washington is a point out of first place in the Metropolitan Division, and they are coming off a 4-0 loss at Anaheim on Tuesday. Goaltending has been an issue for Washington lately, with starter Braden Holtby losing four of his last five starts, giving up 16 goals in those games. He was pulled after giving up three goals on 16 shots in 25 minutes in the loss to Anaheim on Tuesday. The Kings might be catching the Caps at a good time." These are two teams trending in opposite directions, and I'll take the Kings in a must win game.

Take LAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on GS@POR to go UNDER the total.

The Warriors rallied to beat the Spurs 110-107 at home last night, winning their seventh consecutive game. They play on the road in their second game in as many nights at Portland tonight, and Steph Curry is expected to be sidelined with an ankle injury. The total for this game looks a bit inflated, considering that five of their last six overall have seen less than a combined 225 points. Portland ranks 5th in the NBA in scoring defense, and the Blazers have won eight straight. They have allowed opponents to average just under 99 points per game during that winning streak. Curry has missed 15 games this season, and 12 of those games saw the total fall short of 225 combined points. The Warriors have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 road games, while Portland has gone under in eight of their last 10 when playing on two day's rest.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Richmond Spiders.

I bet on Richmond last night, and they won by double digits in their first round matchup versus Duquesne. Here is what I said prior to the game: "Richmond had a brutal season in the A-10, but I believe this is a team that is far better than the numbers show. The Spiders showed some promise at the end of the season, winning back to back games in blowout fashion. They beat UMASS by a score of 90-65, shooting over 57 percent from the field and going 8-of-18 from beyond the arc. Three days later they went on the road and beat George Mason by a score of 93-79, shooting over 62 percent from the field and going 10-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Dukes have struggled, and they come into the tournament as loser of seven of their last eight overall. They don't score a lot of points, averaging just over 70 points per game in their last five. Richmond has won nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams, and I'll ride them while their hot." They have a tough matchup against a St. Bonaventure team that finished 14-4 in the A-10. They lost the last meeting at St. Bonnie's by nine points, but they won outright in four of the previous five head to head meetings. They have covered the spread in five of the last six meetings. The Spiders were just 9-9 in the A-10, but lost only twice by double digits in those 18 games. I'll take the points here in a neutral site game that should be close.

Take RICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ANA@NAS to go UNDER the total.

Two of the hottest teams in the NHL will meet in the Music City tonight, and I am expecting a tight game showcasing two of the top goaltenders in the league. Pekka Rinne has won his last five starts, posting a pair of shutouts in those games. He's 21-4-2 at home this season, and he's 2-0 with a 2.41 GAA against the Ducks. John Gibson has been even more impressive over his last five starts, allowing a total of just seven goals while winning all five games. He also has a pair of shutouts during that span. These teams have combined to score five goals or less in eight of the last nine meetings at Nashville, and the under is 9-3 in the Ducks last 12 overall. Anaheim has failed to reach the total in five straight road games, and seven of it's last eight when playing on one day's rest.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on LAC@DEN to go UNDER the total.

Both the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers have been involved in a lot of high scoring games lately. Because of that, the total for tonight's game in Denver is far higher that it was in any of the previous 10 meetings between the two teams. They failed to reach the total in eight of those 10 games, and given the magnitude of tonight's game, we might see both teams play a little harder on defense. Denver is currently holding on to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, just one game up on the ninth place Clippers. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six meetings in Denver, and the under is 35-16 in the last 51 meetings overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on OKLA@BAY to go UNDER the total.

The Baylor Bears play their final home game against Oklahoma tonight, and Baylor has won five of it's last seven overall. The Sooners are coming off a home win over Texas, but they had lost six in a row before that. Oklahoma really struggles on the road, with a record of just 2-8. They only average 78.6 points per game on the road, roughly 10 points below their season average. Trae Young is surrounded by plenty of hype, but he's failed to perform in big games on the road. He scored just 11 points in a loss at Kansas in his last road game, and prior to that he totaled 19 points in a loss at Texas Tech. Baylor is one of the best defensive teams in the BIG12, allowing opponents to average just 66.4 points at home. The Sooners have failed to cover in eight straight road games, and eight of their last nine overall. Baylor is 5-2 ATS in it's last seven home games, and five of those games went under the total.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild are sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference, but they are only four points up on the ninth place Calgary Flames. They host the St. Louis Blues tonight, and after losing six straight, the Blues have dropped out of a playoff spot. St. Louis sent Paul Stastny to Winnipeg at the trade deadline, a move that isn't going to help them make a run for the playoffs. The Blues have only scored six goals in their last six games, and they face a red hot Minnesota netminder tonight. Devan Dubnyk is 16-3 with a 2.16 GAA on home ice this season. The Wild are 21-5-5 overall at home, and they have been one of the league's top home teams ever since acquiring Dubnyk in 2015. I like Minnesota at a reasonable price as the home favorite against a struggling opponent.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on HOU@UTAH to go OVER the total.

The Rockets won 119-114 at Denver last night, and they bring a 12 game win streak into Utah tonight. Playing on back to back nights is a tough spot for Houston, as the Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 when playing the second game of a back to back. It hasn't prevented them from going over the total in four of their last five when playing on back to back nights. They have a history of playing high scoring games against the defensive minded Jazz, going over in six straight, and eight of the last nine head to head meetings. They've gone over in four of their last five at Utah. Given that history, I believe tonight's total is artificially low.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TEX@KU to go OVER the total.

The Kansas Jayhawks are on a roll, coming into their final home game against Texas as winners of four straight. They have scored an average of 84.5 points during this win streak, and they average almost 88 points per game at home. They have won eight straight against Texas, and the Longhorns come into tonight's game shorthanded. Mohamed Bamba is questionable with a foot injury, while Eric Davis is serving a suspension. The total for tonight's game is far lower than it had been in each of the Wildcats previous four home games versus Texas. They went under in all four of those games, but scored enough points to go over tonight's number in three of those four. The Jayhawks are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 home games versus teams with a losing road record. They have also gone over in four of their last five against teams with a losing road record.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Portland Blazers.

The Phoenix Suns are dead in the water. They have lost eight in a row and 13 of their last 14 overall. Last night's home game against the Clippers was another double digit defeat, and they play the second game of back to back against Portland tonight. The Blazers are only a game and a half out of first place in the Northwest, and they bring a winning road record into Arizona (16-15). They have won six straight versus the Suns, with two of those wins coming in Phoenix. Both of those games were decided by nine or more points. The Blazers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven visits to Arizona, and they are asked to cover just a half a dozen points here tonight. Portland has been good at beating up on weak teams, covering in four straight against teams with a winning percentage of less than .400. The Suns have failed to cover in seven of their last eight home games against teams with a winning record. The Blazers won by 19 at Utah, and they should have their way with an even weaker Phoenix team tonight.

Take POR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Richmond Spiders.

Richmond will play a home game tonight against an undermanned St. Joe's squad, and this looks like a helluva bet as a pickem. Both these teams are 7-8 in the A-10, but Richmond has had the better of recent meetings. The Spiders are 4-2 in the last six head to head meetings, and they have won three of the last four in this series. St. Joe's is just 2-9 on the road, and the Hawks are coming off a home loss to George Mason. They trailed by 11 points at halftime in that game, and a second half rally came up short. They really missed James Demery, who is second on the team in scoring averaging over 17 points per game. He's listed as questionable with an ankle injury for tonight's game. Richmond has lost four straight, but three of those were road games, and two of those losses came against the top 2 teams in the conference. I like the Spiders to get back on track here against this banged up Hawks team.

Take RICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Leafs are coming off a five game home stand, winning all five of those games. They come into Pittsburgh as winners of nine of their last 10 overall. The Penguins are also on a roll. They've won three straight and 10 in a row at home. The defending Stanley Cup champs have been the league's best home team over the last several seasons, and their 22 home wins this season are the most in the NHL. This game might have a bit of a revenge angle, as one of the Penguins few home losses this season came against Toronto back in December. The Leafs have lost eight of their last 11 visits to Steel Town though, and they face a red hot goaltender here tonight. Matt Murray is 14-4-1 at home this season, and he's 5-0-1 in his last six starts overall. He stopped 35 of 36 shots in a 4-1 win over Toronto the last time he faced them. The Penguins are 56-18 in their last 74 home games, and I think they are catching Toronto at a good time. This looks like a classic let down spot for the Leafs.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool vs Porto to go Over the total.

Only Manchester City has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Liverpool. The Reds have scored nine goals in their last four matches. While they score more than their share, they also have conceded more than their share (31 goals in 27 matches). Porto sits at the top of the Portuguese Liga standings, and only Benfica has score more goals. Porto has scored a whopping seven goals in it's last two matches. Both teams have plenty of firepower, and I expect the first leg of this Champions League tie to be a high scoring affair.

Take Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10*  play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Edmonton Oilers have to be resigned to the fact that this has been a lost season. They have failed to live up to expectations, and there is plenty of work to do if they hope to get back to where they were in 2016-2017. They lost by a score of 5-2 at LA on Wednesday, and they face another California team battling for a playoff spot in Anaheim tonight. The Ducks are two points back of Minnesota in the Wild Card race, which isn't bad considering all the injuries they have dealt with this season. Ryan Getzlaf has only played in 31 of Anaheim's 55 games, but he has 34 points during that span. He's totaled a goal and two assists in his last two games. The Ducks are 11-4 in their last 15 home games against Edmonton, and the Oilers have dropped five of their last seven road games. The Ducks have won six of their last seven at "The Pond".

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The NHL's newest expansion team has enjoyed unprecedented success, but they still have a lot of proving to do down the stretch. The Knights lost 5-2 at Minnesota on Friday, and this will be their fifth straight road game. The Penguins are always one of the league's best home teams, and that hasn't changed this season. They are 19-7-1 in Steel Town, and no team in the league has more home wins. They are also the best in the NHL on special teams, with the league's #1 ranked power play and the #5 ranked penalty killing unit. Former Penguins goaltender Marc Andre Fleury will try no to let his emotions get the best of him in his first game back in Pittsburgh. "You always want to win, but I don't want to block everything out either," Fleury said. "It's going to be a special moment for me, playing the first game back here. I want remember it and remember my time here." There might be addition distractions, such as a tribute video or other emotional moments. Sidney Crosby is looking to tally his 400th career goal, and he comes in with eight points in his last five games. I like the Pens to take care of business on home ice.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Super Bowl to go OVER the total.

While neither of the Conference Championship games saw a combined total of as many as 48 points, both those games were played outdoors in adverse weather conditions in the dead of winter. The Super Bowl will be played indoors, where we last saw the Saints and Vikings tally a combined 53 points in the divisional round of the playoffs. Rather than each team coming in a week removed from their previous game, both teams get a full two weeks to rest, practice and draw up a game plan. The Patriots game plan in their epic come from behind win over the Jags, was to force Blake Bortles to beat them. While they did a pretty good job of containing Leonard Fournette (76 yards on 24 carries), Bortles had one if his best games all year, throwing for 291 yards and a TD on 23-of-36 passing. The Eagles let Nick Foles air it out early and often in their win over the Vikings. Foles threw for 352 yards and three TDs on 26-of-33 passing. He had a lot of success with big plays, and it makes sense for Philly to have the same approach here against the Pats. These two teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in four of the last five head to head meetings. The Patriots have gone over the total in eight of their last 10 post season games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Capitals.

The Caps are one of the best in the NHL on home ice, with a record of 19-7-1. They are coming off a tough loss at Pittsburgh, but they will try to bounce back in a matinee game on Super Bowl Sunday versus the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The NHL's newest expansion team has enjoyed unprecedented success, but they still have a lot of proving to do down the stretch. The Knights lost 5-2 at Minnesota on Friday, and this will be their fourth straight road game. Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's leading scorer, and he's totaled five goals in his last five games. The Caps are 17-7-1 all time on Super Bowl Sunday, and I like their chances of extending that streak with a home victory this afternoon.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Toronto Raptors.

The Eastern Conference appears to be a two horse race, and the Raptors are just 1.5 games back of Boston. They come into tonight's game at Washington as winners of three of their last four, and they have one of the better road records in the league. The Wizards haven't missed a beat since losing John Wall to a knee injury. They won on the road at Atlanta, and they won a close game at home versus Oklahoma City. Tonight's game will be their third straight game without Wall, and I think they are going to struggle against one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference. Since 2015, the Raptors have won all four of their games at Washington, covering the spread in three of those games. The Wizards have failed to cover in five of their last six home games, and they are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 overall. I like Toronto to take advantage of an undermanned Wizards team here in such a key game.

Take TOR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Earlier this season I bet on the Yellow Jackets in a home win over Northwestern. Here is what I had to say before that game: "How good is Georgia Tech at home? Well they've won 18 of their last 22 home games. That's even more impressive than it sounds, when you consider their tough conference schedule. Last year they had home wins over champions North Carolina (ranked #9), Florida State (ranked #6) and Notre Dame (ranked #14). They host Northwestern tonight, and the Wildcats have already lost twice, dropping out of the Top 25.  Senior center Ben Lammers leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring averaging 17 points per game, and freshman guard Jose Alvarado is second on the team averaging 14.3 PPG on 58.8 shooting. The Yellow Jackets have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 home games, and they are 5-2 ATS in their last seven non-conference games." They host the Syracuse Orange tonight, and once again they are underdog. The unranked Orange have lost three of four road games in conference play. They are 2-3 overall on the road, with both wins coming against bottom feeders. They won 60-55 at Pittsburgh, and they rallied late to force overtime at Georgetown, winning by a score of 86-79. The Orange lost by a score of 71-65 at Georgia Tech last year, and they are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games.

Take GT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYI.

The Isles come out of the All Star break looking like playoff contenders. They trail New Jersey and Philly by just one point for the final Wild Card spot in the East. A home game against the lowly Florida Panthers appears to be a prime opportunity to close the gap, and they need to take full advantage of it. Their last game was a road win at Las Vegas, beating the top team in the NHL by a score of 2-1. The Isles can certainly put the puck in the net, ranking second in the NHL in scoring averaging 3.4 goals per game. Florida comes in as losers of three straight, and seven of their last nine overall. They have lost seven of their last eight road games against teams with a winning record, and they are 10-25 in their last 35 road games. With both their top two goaltenders battling injury, 28 year old third string netminder Harri Sateri has lost three straight starts, surrendering a whopping 14 goals in those games. He appears to be first on the depth chart with James Reimer and Roberto Luongo listed as out until early to mid February.

Take NYI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Badgers have had a tough season, and they come into tonight's home game as losers of five of their last six overall. All five of those losses came on the road though, and they won their last home game by a whopping 25 points versus Illinois. They have only played three home games versus BIG10 teams, winning two of three by a combined 35 points. They host the Nebraska Cornhuskers tonight, and Nebraska has lost three of it's last four on the road. While they did win at Rutgers, they lost at Penn State, Ohio State and were blown out by Purdue. The Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games, and the home team is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine head to head meetings between these two teams. The Badgers play lock down defense at home, holding opponents to fewer than 65 points per game. These teams played earlier this month at Nebraska, and it was a close game, with the Cornhuskers winning by just four points. I like the Badgers chances of returning the favor here tonight.

Take WISC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BUF@VAN to go OVER the total.

The Sabres and the Canucks are two of the league's bottom feeders, but both teams are playing well coming into tonight's game at Rogers Arena. The Canucks are coming off a 6-2 home win over the Kings, while the Sabres won back to back games in an Alberta sweep in Edmonton and Calgary. The Canucks have won four straight in this series, and three of those four games went over the total. The over is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings between the two teams, and Vancouver has gone over in seven of it's last nine home games. Both these teams rank near the bottom of the league in goals against, and neither team has been great killing penalties. The Canucks 6th ranked power play may be able to do some damage against the Sabres 24th ranked penalty kill. Four of the Sabres last five visits to Vancouver have gone over the total, and another high scoring game seems likely tonight.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder look similar in some ways. They are both sitting in fifth place in their respective conferences, and the Thunder have 27 wins, just one more than Washington. The big difference between the two teams is that while Washington is playing in the kiddie pool (Eastern Conference), the Thunder are keeping their heads above water in the deep end (Western Conference). Oklahoma City has won 14 straight games when all their starters play, and they are all healthy for tonight's game. The Wizards have lost three of their last four, and they scored just 75 points in a loss at Dallas on Monday. John Wall and Bradley Beal will represent Washington in the All Star Game, while Paule George is one of the biggest snubs. This just ads fuel to the fire, and more motivation for Russ and Paul to prove they are the better duo. Washington has a losing record on the road, and they have failed to cover in four of their last five visits to Oklahoma City. They are also 2-6 ATS in their last eight versus teams from the Western Conference.

Take OKC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks are currently not in a playoff spot, but a win tonight would bring them within a point of sixth place San Jose. The Sharks are coming off a 2-1 home win over Pittsburgh, but they play their second game of a back to back, and third game in four nights here in Anaheim. The Ducks lost to Calgary two weeks ago, and here is what I said prior to that game: "Anaheim is one of the top teams in the league on defense, ranking 7th in goals against. The Ducks also boast a Top 10 penalty killing unit. The Ducks played half of the season without their leader Ryan Getzlaf, but he's back and he's totaled seven points in the last four games. Anaheim is 11-5-2 in the 18 games that Getzlaf has played this season." They have won three of four overall since, and they have won four straight at home. The Ducks have won seven of the last 10 in this series, and they are 9-4 in their last 13 at home in this series. Getzlaf has 26 points in 23 games played, and the Ducks are now 14-6-2 when he is in the lineup.

Take ANA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on IND@SA to go UNDER the total.

The Indiana Pacers are really struggling, coming off back to back losses at LA and Portland. They shot just 2-for-25 from beyond the arc on Friday, and they were 9-for-51 in the two games combined. They play at San Antonio tonight, and this is no place to try to break out of an offensive slump. The Spurs rank #1 in the league in opponent's scoring average, and they are 19-2 at home. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six head to head meetings, and they have each failed to reach the total in their last five overall. The Spurs are coming off an ugly 86-83 loss at Toronto, and here is what  their veteran PG had to say: "We couldn't score," said Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who didn't play in the second half at Toronto. "We did a good job defensively. We just couldn't make a basket. You just have to keep pushing, keep being aggressive. And stop thinking too much. Myself, I was thinking too much tonight. You have to fight through it." The Pacers have gone under in seven straight versus Western Conference teams, while the Spurs have failed to reach the total in five of their last six versus the East.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on L-IL@VALPO to go UNDER the total.

Loyola Chicago is one of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, with a 5-2 conference record and a 15-4 overall record. They are particularly good defensively, allowing opponents to average just 64.1 points per game (23rd nationally). They have gone over in each of their last two games, but hadn't reached the total in any of their previous eight overall. They will visit Valparaiso today, and the Crusaders are coming off a 64-57 loss to Missouri State. Here is what I had to say prior to their loss to the Bears: "The Missouri State Bears beat Valparaiso by a score of 67-50 just a few weeks ago. Despite the fact that the two teams combined to score just 117 points, the total for tonight's game is far higher than it was in the previous contest. In fact it's higher than it has been in any of the previous five head to head meetings. The Bears have held opponents to just 61.8 points per game on 37.2 percent shooting at home, while the Crusaders have averaged fewer than 68 points per game on the road. Valparaiso has failed to reach the total in 10 of it's last 14 overall, while the Bears have gone under in six of their last seven overall. Tonight's number is higher than it was in any of Missouri State's last seven games. The under is 6-2 in the Bears last eight home games. It sure looks like the bookmakers have come with an inflated total for this game." The Crusaders have held opponents to just 66 points per game at home this season, and they have failed to reach the total in 11 of their last 15 overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Edmonton Oilers. 

The Oilers came into this season as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, yet here we are just days away from the All Star break, and they are only one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference standings. The Canucks got off to a great start, but reality has started to set in. This is a team that is still in the early stages of a rebuild, and that is evidenced by the fact that they lost 13 of their last 17 overall. The Oilers have won three of the last four in this series, and they have won their last two home games against the Canucks by a combined score of 7-2. The home team is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between the two teams. The playoffs are unlikely for either of these teams, but the Oilers are more likely to go on a second half run than Vancouver. Bo Horvat is set to return to action, but not until tomorrow in Winnipeg.

Take EDM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Duquesne Dukes.  Needless to say, I was a little surprised that the Dukes didn't play better on the road at Saint Louis in their last game. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "The Dukes are 4-1 in the Atlantic 10 so far. The Dukes rank 25th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 64.2 points per game. The Dukes have won five of the last seven meetings between the two schools, and the most recent meeting was a 72-71 win for the Bilikens in last year's conference tournament. Reggie Agbeko, Mike Crawford and Elliot Welmer combined to score 48 of the Bilikens 72 points in that game. Agbeko and Crawford have played out their eligibility, while Welmer is sidelined with a foot injury. Mike Lewis led the Dukes with 22 points, and he comes into tonight's game off back to back 20+ point performances. The Dukes are 4-1 ATS in their last five games versus the Atlantic 10, and I think the bookmakers have the wrong team favored here as they are getting points against the cellar dwellers of the conference." They are back at home tonight, hosting George Mason. The Patriots are coming off a double digit loss to George Washington, and they are 2-4 on the road. They have scored just 68.7 points per game on the road, and they may struggle to hit that number tonight against a Dukes team that allows opponents to average just 63.2 points per game at home. The Dukes won their last home game against George Mason by a score of 62-53, and a similar result is expected here tonight. The Patriots are 0-4 ATS in their last four versus Duquesne.  Take DUQ.  GL,  

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado Avalanche.

The San Jose Sharks are 3-3 in their last six overall, and two of their three wins came in overtime against the last place Arizona Coyotes. They wrap up this road trip tonight in Colorado against an Avs team that might be the hottest in the league. The Avs have won seven straight, and they are 12-3-1 in their last 16 overall. An injury to starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov has opened the door for veteran backup Jonathan Bernier to steal the show. The 29 year old is 5-0 with a 1.33 GAA since the injury to Varlamov. Colorado ranks 5th in the NHL in scoring, and they boast a Top 10 power play unit, and the league's third best penalty kill. The Sharks have lost six straight on the road against teams with a winning home record, and the home team is 26-9 in the last 35 meetings in this series. The way the Avs are playing, I think it's a steal getting them as a home underdog in this spot.

Take COL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI@BOS to go UNDER the total.

The Sixers and the Celtics played in London a week ago, and Boston won that game by a score of 114-103. It was a relatively high scoring game, especially for Boston, the NBA's #1 ranked team in scoring defense. These teams had played twice before the game in London, and both those games went under. Both teams have injury concerns, with the Sixers losing J.J. Redick to a broken leg, and the Celtics potentially could be without Kyrie Irving. Boston's leading scorer missed practice because of a sore shoulder, and his status is still in question. He missed three games previously this season, and all three of those games saw the total fall short of 200 points. Redick scored 22 points in the loss in London, and he is second on the team in scoring averaging over 17 points per game. The last time he sat out, Philly lost by a score of 102-86 at Toronto. I expect similar score here at The Garden tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

The New Orleans Saints hung on to beat the banged up Carolina Panthers last weekend, but they head out on the road to play at Minnesota this Sunday. The Vikings have the advantage of an additional week off to rest and prepare for the Saints. Drew Brees did all the heavy lifting last week, throwing for 376 yards with two TDs and an INT on 23-of-33 passing. The running game failed to gain any traction, and the Panthers held New Orleans to just 41 yards on 22 attempts. Things have changed since the Vikings beat the Saints by a score of 29-19 in Week 1, but the Vikings defense hasn't slipped up at all. Minnesota has held four of it's last five opponents to 10 points or less, and the Vikes rank first overall in total defense. A lot of people will talk about the quarterback matchup between Case Keenum and Drew Brees, and the knee jerk reaction is to say that the Saints have a huge advantage. Keenum hasn't played like a backup quarterback stepping in to be a game manager, he has a higher QBR than Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. The Vikings are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 home games versus a team with a winning road record, and I think their defense will make enough plays to get past the Saints here at home.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Liverpool vs MNC to go OVER the total.

The two highest scoring teams in the Premier League will meet at Anfield on Sunday, and both Liverpool and Man City are undefeated in their last five matches. Both teams are coming off four wins and a draw, and they have both filled the net during that time. City has scored a whopping nine goals in it's last three matches, and 14 goals in it's last six matches. The Reds have scored 14 goals in their last five matches, and nine goals in their last three home matches. As good as Liverpool is at scoring goals, defending isn't a strength for the Reds. They have conceded 25 goals in 22 matches, and five of those came in a 5-0 loss to City in December.  Neither team has posted a clean sheet in it's last three league matches, and I expect both teams to score here at Anfield. This should be a high scoring game, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends in a 2-2 draw.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Eastern Washington Eagles.

Eastern Washington finished second in the Big Sky last season, and they were 15-1 at home. Their only home loss came to the Montana Grizzlies, and wouldn't you know that I had a bet on them. Here is what I had to say prior to that game: "Eastern Washington is 7-0 at home so far, and they've won four straight home games against conference rivals Montana State. The Eagles have won seven of the last nine meetings in this series, going 7-1-1 ATS in those games. Last year the Bobcats lost by a whopping 24 points at Cheney. The Eagles are averaging 86 points per game on better than 46 percent shooting at home this season, while the Bobcats are scoring just 75 points on 37.4 percent shooting on the road. After finishing first in the Big Sky two years ago, the Eagles had an off year last season. They still won 10-of-12 home games, and they are now 30-4 at home over the last three seasons. The Bobcats are 0-5 on the road this season, and it doesn't seem very likely that they'll get a positive result here in Cheney." The Eagles host Idaho tonight, and the Vandals were 6-9 on the road last season, and they are 3-3 on the road so far this year. Idaho has lost four straight visits to Cheney, failing to cover in three of those four games.

Take EWU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Wild.

The Calgary Flames come in as winners of three straight, but their last game wasn't pretty. They blew a 2-0 lead in the third period of Saturday's game against the Ducks, but were lucky to score the game winner in the final minute. All three wins came at home, and they have lost three of their last four on the road. The Wild are 11-1-1 at home since November 14, and this Minnesota team has one of the best home records in the NHL over the last several seasons. Star goaltender Devan Dubnyk has gotten much of the credit for their success in the past, but backup Alex Stalock has been stealing the show lately. The 30 year old veteran is 4-2 with a 1.74 GAA in six appearances on home ice. This will be his third start against Calgary this season, and he was 2-0 with a 1.72 GAA in the previous two meetings. The Flames have lost five of their last seven at Minnesota, and they have lost 17 of their last 25 against teams with a winning record.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 9* play on the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners are an underdog in the Sugar Bowl, and I think the bookmakers have this game all wrong. Baker Mayfield is by far the best quarterback in the country, and he's led the Sooners to wins at Ohio State, Oklahoma State and twice against TCU. There is some talk that the Sooners defense is a weakness, but this appears to be a favorable matchup against a one-dimensional Georgia Team. The Sooners rank 107th nationally against the pass, but they are far better (53rd) against the run. They held TCU to just 83 yards rushing in the BIG12 Championship Game, and they allowed 167 yards and a TD on 34 carries in their win at Ohio State. The Bulldogs have a freshman at quarterback, and there will be a ton of pressure on Jake Fromm here in this game. The Georgia defense hasn't faced an elite quarterback all year, playing in a top heavy SEC that only has a handful of decent teams. The SEC has had a poor showing in the bowl games far, losing three of four. I like Oklahoma to roll in the Rose Bowl.

Take OKLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers have lost just once this season, in their opening game at an Air Force base in Germany against Texas A&M. They bring a 12 game winning streak into Manhattan, and they have won seven of their last eight versus the Wildcats. Kansas State was competitive in the BIG12 last year, but finished with a losing record against BIG12 teams (8-10). They have been a solid bet as a home underdog, but they aren't getting a huge spread here in a game that is close to a pickem. The Wildcats have actually failed to cover in five straight home games, and seven of their last nine overall. The Mountaineers should have a huge advantage on the boards, averaging 38 rebounds per game while the Cats average just 30. They are also far better at the free throw line, hitting 78 percent of their free throws on the road, while the Wildcats have hit less than 70 percent at home. The Mountaineers won six of 10 road games last season, and this looks like a very winnable game for a superior West Virginia team.

Take WVU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on East Tennessee State.

The Buccaneers are an underdog at Mercer here this afternoon, but I think this is a case of the wrong team favored. East Tennessee State is 9-4 overall, with two of those losses coming on the road versus ranked teams. Their most recent defeat came at Xavier by a score of 68-66. Mercer on the other hand is 7-6 overall, but only one of those wins came against a team with a winning record (Liberty). Two of their wins have come against divsion II schools, and history tells us that they have struggled in recent meetings with the Buccaneers. They have lost six straight to East Tennessee, and they have failed to cover the spread in the last eight meetings. Last year they lost at home to the Bucs 67-58. I did quite well betting against Mercer in similar situations last year, noting that I felt this team is still overrated several years removed from their historic upset win in the NCAA Tournament versus Duke.

Take ESU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on ISU@MEM to go OVER the total.

The Memphis Tigers ranked 2nd in the country in scoring during the regular season, averaging over 47 points per game. Skeptics might say they played a soft schedule, but I would point out that they scored over 100 combined points in their two games against Top 25 teams. They beat UCLA by a score of 48-45, and lost to UCF in overtime by a score of 62-55. Riley Ferguson threw for a combined 868 yards with 10 TDs and just one INT in those games. They will play Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl, and the Cyclones were surprisingly competitive in the BIG12 this season. Their fortunes took a turn for the better when they made a change at quarterback in Week 5 against Oklahoma. Senior Kyle Kempt led them to a 38-31 upset win over Oklahoma, and he finished the season with 1,473 yards, 13 TDs and just 3 INTs while playing in just six full games. While Memphis was impressive on offense, the Tigers ranked 103rd nationally in scoring defense, and they face a Power 5 team that can score with the best of them. We should expect a lot of big plays, a lot of broken tackles, and the points should pile up quick in the Liberty Bowl.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, coming into Friday's home games against Indiana as winners of nine of their last 11. I have bet on them several times during that span, and here is what I had to say prior to their win over the Knicks: "The Bulls won 115-106 at Milwaukee last night, and it was their eight win in their last 10 games. They have averaged over 111 points per game in those wins. Nikola Mirotic is a big reason for the turnaround in Chicago, and he scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Milwaukee last night." The Pacers have lost back-to-back games, and leading scorer Victor Oladipo has been suffering from a knee injury during that span. He scored just 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a 107-83 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, and he didn't play in Wednesday's home loss to Dallas. The Pacers aren't expecting him to play here in Chicago. The Bulls have covered the spread in six straight home games, and they are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are still in first place overall (as of Dec 19). The Cavs are hot on their heels, and both teams will be in action on Christmas Day. These games are a showcase for the stars, and players like Kyrie and LeBron can make a statement to the rest of the league with a strong performance on the big stage. Both delivered last Christmas in a 109-108 win over Golden State. Lebron scored 31, but Kyrie had 25 points, 10 assists, seven steals and six rebounds. It was Irving that drained the game winning three-point shot with three seconds on the clock. I expect another big game from Kyrie here at home against the Wizards.

Take BOS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on CHI@BOS to go UNDER the total.

The Bulls had been the league's worst team just a few weeks ago, but they come into Boston Saturday as winners of seven of their last eight. The one loss came by just three points on the road at Cleveland.  I bet on the over in that game, but I am expecting tonight's game to be much lower scoring. Seven of the Bulls last eight games have seen at least 200 points, with the only exception being a 108-85 win over the Celtics. Boston is coming off back to back losses to the Heat and the Knicks, and the Celtics have struggled offensively during a rough stretch. They still rank 2nd in the NBA on defense, allowing opponents to average just over 98 points per game. These two teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five head to head meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in all five of those games. The under is 38-18 in the Bulls last 56 games playing on a days rest. The Celtics have gone under in eight of their last 11 when facing a team with a losing record.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule