PAGE_HEADER

My selection is on the 'over' 2 goals between Scotland and the Czech Republic at 9 am et on Monday.

These two teams are somewhat familiar with one another having met twice last fall in Nations League action with Scotland taking both matches by 2-1 and 1-0 scores. With both teams determined to take three points away from this game, knowing that England and Croatia are the favorites to take the top two spots in the group, I think we're in for an entertaining affair on Monday morning.

Note that the Czechs have conceded at least a goal in five straight matches entering this away contest in Glasgow. They're missing one of their better defenders in the middle of the pitch in Lukas Provod. We did see a hint of their offensive explosiveness last time out in a friendly match against Albania, however, as striker Patrik Schick paced the attack in a 3-1 victory. We can expect the sharp-shooter Schick to feature once again on Monday.

Scotland has just two clean sheets to its credit in eight matches going back to last November, with those coming against the likes of Faroe Islands and Luxembourg. The Scots' should bring an attacking mindset here and have the talent to break through against the Czechs with Che Adams in particular having scored in three of his last four matches overall, including the team's lone marker in last week's friendly against Luxembourg.

We've cashed with the 'over' in matches involving both of these squads during our current run on the pitch, including in Scotland's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands and Czech Republic's 3-1 victory over Albania. While I don't think we'll see the type of scoring heroics we did in yesterday's easy cash with the 'over' between the Netherlands and Ukraine, I don't believe a 2-1 result is outside the realm of possibility here given the importance of the three points hanging in the balance. Take the over 2 goals (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Los Angeles at 4:10 pm et on Sunday.

We keep seeing low posted totals in games starter by Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler and the 'over' has now gone 6-2 over his last eight outings. I look for that trend to continue on Sunday after these two teams took turns beating each other up over the last two nights.

Dane Dunning will take the ball for the Rangers. To say he's been terrible on the road would be an understatement. He has posted a 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with the 'over' cashing in four of his six outings away from home. With Dunning averaging just over four innings per start on the road, we should see plenty of a Texas bullpen that has had a tough time getting outs on the road this season, posting a collective 5.63 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. In 86 1/3 innings worked in day games, the Rangers have managed to record just three saves while blowing three other opportunities.

Walker Buehler is an outstanding pitcher, there's no reason to really knock him here. However, his 12 previous starts this season have resulted in 11, 1, 17, 5, 11, 11, 10, 4, 9, 13, 17 and 8 total runs, good for an average of 9.75 runs per contest. Buehler averages between six and seven innings per start here at home. While the Dodgers bullpen has been terrific for the most part this season, they have struggled a bit in day games, recording a collective 4.38 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with four blown saves compared to six converted. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the ‘over’ between Washington and Atlanta at 3:30 pm et on Sunday.

I’ll keep my analysis fairly brief as Sunday is a travel day. If you’ve followed my plays regularly you know that I’m fairly high on both of these teams right now, even with the Dream coming off consecutive lopsided losses at the hands of the defending champion Seattle Storm. Washington has gotten healthier and we’ve seen the duo of Myisha Hines-Allen and Ariel Atkins really take off. Atlanta is missing Chennedy Carter but the potential is there for the Dream offense to get going if Aari McDonald can round into form. With both teams eager to get rolling here and the Dream in particular looking to bounce back from consecutive subpar performances look for both to push the pace here. Take the over (10*).

NHL on NBC Playoff Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Tampa Bay at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

We cashed with the 'over' on three separate occasions during the Islanders series win over the Bruins last round. Here, I'll switch gears and back the 'under' as the Isles open their Stanley Cup semi-final series against the Lightning in Tampa. Note that the 'under' has gone 22-10-2 in all Islanders road games this season with those contests totaling an average of just 4.8 goals. The 'under' has gone 9-2 with the Isles coming off consecutive 'over' results this season, with that situation producing an average total of just 3.7 goals. The 'under' is also 12-2 with the Lightning coming off a shutout victory over the last three seasons, with those games totaling an average of only 4.7 goals. The Isles carried an attacking mindset against the Bruins, who were missing a key piece on defense in Brandon Carlo, and who had an injured goaltender in Tuukka Rask. Here, I think we'll see the Isles employ a different gameplan as they look to muck things up and slow down the explosive Lightning offense. While these two teams haven't met this season, six of their last nine matchups have stayed 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

NBA on ABC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Brooklyn and Milwaukee at 3:05 pm et on Sunday.

We've missed with the 'over' in the last couple of games in this series but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. The fact that the Nets are favored in this game is key. Note that the 'over' is 18-8 with Brooklyn checking in as a road favorite this season with those contests totaling an average of 239.8 points. Meanwhile the 'over' is 8-1 with the Bucks coming off a home win where they failed to cover the spread this season with those games reaching an average total of 248.6 points. Milwaukee has been a solid positive momentum play offensively this season, averaging a whopping 122.4 points per game when coming off a victory, as is the case here. While the Bucks were set on mucking things up and grinding out a Game 3 victory, here I look for the Nets to make the necessary adjustments and turn Sunday's game into a track meet. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between the Netherlands and Ukraine at 3 pm et on Sunday.

We followed both of these sides closely in international friendly action leading up to this tournament, cashing some plays along the way. Here, in the opener of a Euro tournament where both are expected to advance past the group stage, I'm expecting to see some scoring in what I envision as a potential 2-1 match.

Note that the Netherlands will be without keeper Jasper Cillessen due to a recent positive Covid test. It will also be without defender Virgil van Dijk after he suffered an ACL injury. I mentioned that the Dutch could be vulnerable in the back against Scotland in a recent international friendly (where we won with the 'over') and they indeed struggled, allowing a pair of goals in that draw.

I'm higher on the Ukraine than some in this tournament as I feel they have enough talent, particularly up front, to give the opposition plenty of headaches. However, there are question marks in the back-end, noting that Ukraine enters this tournament having managed just two clean sheets in its last nine matches. Of course, those did come in its last two matches, but those were against the likes of Northern Ireland and Cyprus - two fairly punchless attacks. Here, the Ukraine will face a much different challenge against a Dutch side brimming with talent and explosiveness.

The common line of thinking here is that both teams will play this opener cautiously with hopes of at least earning a point and solidifying their chances of advancement past the group stage. I think it goes the other way, however, with the two teams looking to get off and running on a positive note and make somewhat of a statement here on Sunday. Take the over (10*).

MLB Interleague Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between New York and Philadelphia at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

We saw a wild, high-scoring game between these two teams yesterday as the Phillies posted their third straight walk-off win by an 8-7 score in extra innings. I expect a different story to unfold on Sunday.

Domingo German will take the ball for the Yankees. He owns a 2.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in five road starts this season, where he's averaged six innings per start. He'll have the advantage of never facing the Phillies. Behind German is a Yankees bullpen that entered yesterday's action sporting a collective 3.20 ERA and 1.02 WHIP on the road this season, making good on nine save opportunities while blowing only two.

Aaron Nola will counter for Philadelphia. He's been terrific at home this season, recording a 3.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in six starts. He's been at his best in daytime starts, posting a 2.10 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. The Phillies bullpen has been in excellent form lately and has recorded a collective 3.93 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in day games this season. With Nola giving the Phillies over 6 1/3 innings per start in daytime outings this season, we may not need too much help from the Philadelphia 'pen here. Also note that in his lone previous start against the Yankees, Nola allowed just one earned run in six innings of work. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' 1.5 goals between Switzerland and Wales at 9 am et on Saturday.

I'll keep my analysis for this one short with kickoff quickly approaching. I simply feel there's a very good chance we see each side find the back of the net in this match and will play the alternate total over 1.5 goals for a positive start to our Saturday. Switzerland is coming off a 7-0 drubbing of Liechenstein and while it will certainly find the going much tougher against a fundamentally-sound Wales squad, I do expect it to break through, noting its actually been a number of years since the Swiss were last held off the scoresheet entirely. For Wales, it needs to hit the ground running if it is to have any chance of advancing from a very difficult Group A. The Welsh are coming off a 0-0 draw against Albania in a match where they looked quite disinterested, perhaps with an eye on the start of this tournament. Switzerland is by no means a defensive juggernaut, having conceded against the likes of the USA, Finland and Bulgaria in fixtures since the beginning of March. Take the over 1.5 goals (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas City and Oakland at 9:40 pm et on Friday.

We saw a relatively low-scoring game between these two teams last night with just seven total runs scored. I'm expecting a similar story to unfold on Friday night.

Brady Singer will take the ball for the Royals. His numbers certainly aren't great but he's been saddled with some bad luck as well. Note that Singer has posted a 34.3% hard-hit ball percentage this season - nearly 5% below the MLB average. He's also recorded a ground ball rate north of 50%. However, his BAbip is .345, contributing to his ugly ERA which is approaching five. Note that he will have the advantage of facing the A's for the first time on Friday. Also note that the A's average less than four runs per game here at home.

With Singer averaging less than five innings per start, we should see plenty of the Royals bullpen and that's not a bad thing as they've collectively posted a 3.51 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with just three blown saves compared to seven converted on the road this season.

Cole Irvin will counter for Oakland. While his 4.72 ERA at home leaves a lot to be desired he has posted a terrific 1.20 WHIP in his seven home starts. Note that he's been at his best at night, recording a 3.31 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. In fact, the 'under' has gone a perfect 6-0 in his six nighttime starts this season.

Behind Irvin is an A's bullpen that has under-achieved a bit but has still managed to post a respectable 3.83 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 112 2/3 innings logged at night. The A's relief corps has racked up nine converted saves with only one blown here at home this season. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Minnesota at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

This may look like an exorbitantly high total for a game not played at Coors Field but a deeper look indicates why and I'm confident we'll see these two teams find a way 'over' the lofty number.

Jose Urquidy will take the ball for Houston. The Twins will be getting their second look at him since last September after he held them to just one earned run over 4 1/3 ok innings last fall. Urquidy has had an up and down start to the season but has generally been subpar on the road, where he owns a 4.79 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 26 1/3 innings of work. He averages just 5 1/3 innings per start away from home which means we should see plenty of an Astros bullpen that got extended in Boston last night and owns a collective 4.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with eight blown saves (compared to only six converted) on the road this season.

Matt Shoemaker will inexplicably get another turn in the rotation for the Twins. He's been awful this season. In seven home starts he has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. For the season he's averaging just 4 2/3 innings per start which spells trouble as the Twins bullpen has been overworked over the last week or so, pitching a collective 31 2/3 innings over their last seven games. Note that the Minnesota 'pen has struggled at night this season, posting a collective 5.67 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with only four converted saves. Take the over (10*).

NBA on ESPN Playoff Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Philadelphia and Atlanta at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We barely escaped with a win with the 'under' in Game 2 of this series on Tuesday but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here.

The fact that the 76ers have shot better than 52% from the field in each of the first two games in this series is impressive, but not sustainable. In fact, Philadelphia checks in having shot better than 51% from the field in three straight games entering Friday's contest. Note that they haven't shot north of 50% in more than three consecutive games since the start of March and that five-game streak was the only time they pulled it off this season.

Philadelphia has been a considerably worse offensive team on the road compared to at home this season, where it averages 110.5 points per game on 46.8% shooting. The good news for the Sixers is that they've actually allowed fewer points on the road than at home, giving up only 107.8 points per game with the 'under' cashing at a 23-15 clip this season.

Likewise, Hawks home games have been lower scoring than their road games. They're an underrated defensive squad, particularly at home where they've allowed just 108.3 points per game on 44.7% shooting this season, with the 'under' going 21-16-1.

Note that the 'under' is 12-4 with the 76ers playing on the road as a favorite of six points or less this season with those games totaling an average of just 215 points. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Colorado and Cincinnati at 7:10 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'over' in Colorado's blowout loss in Miami last night and I'll come right back with the same play here as the Rockies continue their road trip in Cincinnati.

Kyle Freeland will make his fourth start of the season for the Rockies. He's struggled so far, recording a 6.23 ERA and 2.08 WHIP in 13 innings of work. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that he's yet to last more than five innings in a start, which opens the door for an extended night from the Rockies awful bullpen. Colorado's relief corps entered last night's game sporting a collective 4.66 ERA and 1.53 WHIP on the road this season.

Tyler Mahle will counter for the Reds. He pitched relatively well against the Rockies earlier this season but I expect them to do a little more damage here as they get their second look at the right-hander in less than a month. Mahle owns an ugly 7.23 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in four home starts this season, where he averages only 4 2/3 innings per start. That spells trouble given the Cincinnati bullpen has recorded a collective 7.17 ERA and 1.53 WHIP (prior to another poor performance yesterday) at home this season, with only two-of-five converted save opportunities. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between San Francisco and Washington at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

NOTE: Our play on the 'under' 3.5 runs first five innings in this same matchup was rained-out last night. Now with both teams playing just their second game in the last four days we have two rested bullpens and I'm comfortable playing the full-game 'under' rather than the first five innings only.

I like the way this one sets up as a low-scoring affair with the Giants sending pleasant surprise Anthony DeSclafani to the hill against Nationals ace Max Scherzer.

DeSclafani has come out of nowhere (Cincinnati actually) to go 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.11 WHIP out of the gates this season. He's been at his best on the road, where he has posted a 2.63 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in seven starts, with four of those staying 'under' the total. Best of all, he has recorded a sparkling 2.17 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in nine nighttime starts. While he has had mixed results in his career against the Nats', there's no decisive edge here as he hasn't faced them since 2019.

The Giants bullpen has been outstanding lately, recording a collective 1.27 ERA and 0.74 WHIP over their last seven games and as noted above, while previous extended having worked 35 1/3 innings over that seven-game stretch, as a result of last night's postponement they've now had two out of the last four days off.

Max Scherzer has been doing 'Max Scherzer things' for the Nats' so far this season, posting a 2.22 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through his first 12 outings, with the 'under' cashing in nine of those. Scherzer has not surprisingly been at his best at home where he has recorded a 1.98 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in 41 innings of work.

Washington's bullpen has been at its best here at home where it has posted a collective 3.59 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with only two blown save opportunities. Take the under (9*).

My selection is on the 'over' 2 goals between Italy and Turkey at 3 pm et on Friday.

NOTE: I'm recommending a play on the alternate total of 2 goals at a slightly steeper price (around -125 at the time of writing) as opposed to the standard 2.25 being offered at most books.

Most have this pegged as a conservative, low-scoring defensive battle between two sides that bring excellent form into Friday's Euro 2020 opener. I'll go the other way, however, as I believe a 2-1 final is the most likely outcome in this one.

Turkey has a history of rising to the occasion, particularly when it comes to goal-scoring, against some of the world's football elite. Most recent, we saw Turkey put up four goals in an impressive World Cup 2022 qualifying match against the Netherlands in March. The Turks also managed three goals against a solid Croatian side last November. Last October, they scored three goals in a draw against Germany. Going back even further, Turkey scored three goals and took four of a possible six points in two matches against mightly France in qualification for these Euros back in 2019.

Meanwhile, Italy brings outstanding form into this tournament, having scored 11 goals in its last two matches, albeit against lesser foes in San Marion and the Czech Republic. The Italians actually haven't conceded a goal since last October against the Netherlands but apart from a match against Poland last November (that match still reached two total goals in a 2-0 Italian victory) their schedule hasn't exactly been littered with international football powers.

With Switzerland and Wales rounding out Group A, I believe both sides will be confident 'going for it' in this tournament opener on Friday. Both countries should feel there are six points two be had in their other two matches, not easily mind you. Take the over (10*).

NHL West Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Colorado and Vegas at 9:05 pm et on Thursday.

Unlike last night, when I suggested the Islanders would come out with an attacking mindset with a chance to eliminate the Bruins on home ice, here I look for the Golden Knights to focus on staying fundamentally-sound defensively as they attempt to close out the Avalanche in Game 6. The Knights may be known for their offense but they've actually been very stout defensively here at home, where they allow just 2.1 goals per game this season. This will be the 14th meeting between these two teams this season with the 'under' having cashed at a 9-4 clip. Note that the 'under' has gone 21-11 with the Avs playing on the road revenging a loss against an opponent over the last two seasons. Better still, the 'under' is 9-2 with the Avs playing on the road off a one-goal loss over the last two seasons, 8-1 after they give up three goals or more in consecutive games this season and a perfect 6-0 after they've been held to two goals or less in consecutive contests this season. I don't see things suddenly opening up in this 'elimination game' on Thursday night. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Brooklyn and Milwaukee at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We missed with the 'over' in Game 2 between these two teams two nights ago as the lack of competitiveness from the Bucks once again led to a lower-scoring game than expected. It's become evident that Milwaukee isn't going to be able to slow down the Nets scoring machine, having now allowed 125, 114, 118, 115 and 125 points, with Brooklyn hardly breaking a sweat in the latter two performances, in five meetings this season. If the Bucks are going to get back in this series they're going to need to come up with a big offensive showing themselves on Thursday and I'm confident we'll see exactly that. Note that Milwaukee averages just shy of 121 points per game at home this season. It falls into an excellent situation here with the 'over' having gone 15-5 the last 20 times Milwaukee has been seeking revenge for a loss as a road favorite (the Bucks inexplicably closed as short favorites in Game 2 in Brooklyn). In that situation, the Bucks have averaged over 123 points per game with an average total of 239.8 points. Brooklyn has actually been a higher-scoring team on the road than at home this season, averaging 119.9 points per game with an average total of 237.1 points scored. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Colorado and Miami at 7:10 pm et on Thursday.

Both of these teams have been involved in a number of relatively low-scoring games recently. I expect a different story to unfold on Thursday, however. The Rockies will hand the ball to Chi Chi Gonzalez. He's been awful on the road this season, posting a 6.20 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in five starts, spanning 24 2/3 innings of work. Noting that he averages less than five innings per start away from home, we should see plenty of a Rockies bullpen that has posted a collective 4.66 ERA and 1.53 WHIP on the road this season. Colorado's 'pen has converted just 10 saves this season while blowing nine. Marlins ace Trevor Rogers will counter. He's been excellent this season, however, it's worth noting that two of his last three starts have totaled a whopping 15 runs. Note that Rogers actually only averages 5 2/3 innings per start, and slightly less than that here at home. He'll be facing a Rockies lineup that has been better against southpaw starters, hitting .270 as a team. Miami's bullpen has eight blown saves compared to only seven converted in night games this season and has posted a collective 5.26 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over its last seven contests. While I do like the Marlins to prevail in this one, I think it could be higher-scoring than most expect. Take the over (10*).

NBA Western Conference Second Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Denver and Phoenix at 9:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Game 1 of this game found its way 'over' the total which was not a surprising result by any means. I will be surprised if we don't see both teams tighten up defensively in Game 2 on Wednesday night, however. Note that the 'under' has gone 18-9 with the Nuggets coming off three straight games totaling 215 points or more this season with those contests totaling an average of 219.3 points. Also note that the Nuggets have allowed just 107.6 points per game when trailing in a playoff series over the last three seasons while the Suns have given up just 102.2 points per game when favoted by six points or less at home this season. The Suns have generally been at their best offensively with two or more days' rest between games in these playoffs - largely due to Chris Paul's nagging shoulder injury needing time to heal up between games. Here, we're back to a game on just one day of rest which I do think could diminish the Suns offense somewhat. Phoenix is absolutely locked in defensively right now holding the opposition to 46.7% shooting or worse in seven straight games. Meanwhile, the Nuggets know they need to toughen up defensively here after allowing opponents to shoot 50% or better in three of their last four games. The 'over' has cashed in three straight meetings in this series. Time for a reversal of that trend here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Indiana and Chicago at 8 pm et on Wednesday.

We haven't played many 'unders' in WNBA action this season but I will on Wednesday night as the reeling Fever head to Chicago to take on the Sky. Indiana has been a complete disaster this season, winning just once in 10 games - that coming earlier in the campaign against a struggling Mystics squad. The Fever have now shot worse than 40% from the field in four straight games and don't figure to bust out against an improving Sky defense that has held five of their last six opponents to 42.9% shooting or worse. While Indiana has struggled defensively, it's certainly worth noting that it has faced a brutal schedule lately, with its last four games coming on the road against Las Vegas (twice), Seattle and Los Angeles. It catches a bit of a scheduling break here as the Sky have yet to get things sorted this season with key players in and out of the lineup. Chicago is expected to welcome Candace Parker to the floor for the first time this season on Wednesday but how much she'll contribute in her first game back remains to be seen. Chicago has proven to be one of the league's weakest offensive teams so far this season, shooting 41.2% or worse from the field in all nine games to date. Take the under (10*).

NHL East Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Boston and New York at 7:35 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the 'over' in Game 5 of this series on Monday night - one of our easiest winning tickets of the entire playoffs. While my first instinct was to give a hard look at the 'under' in Game 6, I just can't get there given the state of the Bruins. Goaltender Tuukka Rask was of course lifted from Game 5 due to an undisclosed injury. Maybe he'll be able to go on Wednesday, but even if he can, he hasn't shown the ability to steal a game in these playoffs. Top defenseman Brandon Carlo is also sidelined, an absolute anchor defensively in the B's own end of the rink. The Islanders are a supremely confident squad right now and should keep an attacking mindset with a chance to eliminate the favored Bruins on home ice in Game 6, avoiding a Game 7 back in Boston. Remember, last round the Isles overwhelmed the Penguins, scoring five goals in a series-clinching Game 6 victory here at the Nassau Coliseum. The Isles know they can't stop the Bruins 'Perfection Line' with Pastrnak, Marchand and Bergeron generating a ton of scoring chances in this series, with a hand in the majority of the Bruins goals. Note that the Isles are averaging an impressive 3.5 goals per game on home ice this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins have averaged 4.0 goals per game when coming off two or more straight losses this season. Take the over (10*).

MLB National League Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Milwaukee and Cincinnati at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

We saw a somewhat surprising low-scoring contest between these two teams last night but I expect a different story to unfold on Wednesday. Veteran left-hander Brett Anderson will take the ball for the Brewers. He owns a 4.63 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in five nighttime starts this season and the Reds will be getting their fifth look at him since the start of last season. Note that he's allowed six home runs against them in those previous four starts. Anderson averages less than four innings per start on the road this season so we'll likely see plenty of a Brewers bullpen that while solid overall this season has really struggled against division opponents, posting a collective 5.01 ERA and 1.41 WHIP entering last night's contest. They got stretched out last night as Adrian Houser could give the Brew Crew just 5 1/3 innings in that 5-1 victory. Vladimir Gutierrez will get his third start of the season for the Reds. He's been fine through two starts but don't count on him to work deep into this ball game. Note that he's lasted just five innings in each of his previous two outings. That opens the door for a dreadful Reds bullpen that has recorded a collective 7.21 ERA and 1.48 WHIP here at home this season (entering last night's game), with just two converted save opportunities. The Brewers offense while subpar for much of the season, has come around a bit lately, averaging right around five runs per game over the last week. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Chicago at 8:10 pm et on Tuesday.

Both of these teams are better known for their offense but it's been their pitching that has really shone so far this season. Robbie Ray will take the ball for Toronto on Tuesday. He checks in sporting a 3.06 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over his last three starts. While he does own an ERA north of four on the road, the 'under' has still cashed in three of his five outings away from home. The White Sox have of course dominated left-handed starting pitching in recent years, however it's worth noting that they've scored a grand total of just nine runs in their last three games against southpaw starters. The 'under' is actually 10-7 when they face left-handed starters this season. Behind Ray is a Jays bullpen that has been terrific on the road this season, posting a collective 2.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, converting nine saves while blowing only two. Carlos Rodon will counter for Chicago. The left-hander has been outstanding this season, particularly here at home where he owns a 2.02 ERA and a minuscule 0.56 WHIP in four starts, spanning 26 2/3 innings. The 'under' has gone 4-2 in Rodon's six nighttime starts, when he has recorded a 1.23 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. Note that the Blue Jays haven't seen Rodon since the 2018 season and in two previous games against him scored just four earned runs in 13 1/3 innings. Behind Rodon is a White Sox bullpen that has posted a collective 3.46 ERA and 1.09 WHIP at home this season. Take the under (9*).

NBA Revenge Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Philadelphia at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday.

We missed with the 'under' in the opener of this series on Sunday but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Tuesday night. After taking two of three regular season meetings, the 76ers may have got caught taking the Hawks lightly in the series-opener. They got smacked in the mouth early in that game and didn't really recover until the fourth quarter when it was too little, too late. Here, I do expect to see the Sixers bounce back, particularly at the defensive end of the floor. Note that the last three times they allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50% from the field they responded by holding their next opponent to 90, 97 and 95 points, with none of those three contests eclipsing the total we're dealing with tonight. Meanwhile, thanks to a fourth quarter lapse, the Hawks allowed the Sixers to shoot better than 54% from the field in Game 1. Keep in mind, prior to that game they had held eight straight opponents to 44.7% shooting or worse. Note that the 'under' is 23-7 the last 30 times the Hawks have been leading a playoff series. The 'under' is also 35-17 with the 76ers playing at home following a game that totaled 235 points or more. Take the under (10*).

N.L. East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Philadelphia at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

I'm anticipating a relatively high-scoring affair as the Braves and Phillies renew their rivalry in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Drew Smyly will take the ball for Atlanta. To say he's been awful lately would be an understatement as he has posted a 7.47 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over his last three outings. Of course, that's about par for the course for Smyly in nighttime starts this season, when he has recorded a 7.05 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, with the 'over' cashing at a 5-1 clip in his six outings. Now he faces a Phillies lineup that will be getting a second look at him this season after they tagged him for five earned runs in five innings in a wild 7-6 Sunday night victory earlier this season. Behind Smyly is a Braves bullpen that has posted a collective 5.19 ERA and 1.60 WHIP on the road this season. Aaron Nola will counter for Philadelphia. He's been terrific at home this season but much of his success has been in the daytime. In eight night starts this season he has recorded a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. The biggest issue here is that the Braves will be seeing Nola for the third time this season. In their second look at him they chased him after he allowed five earned runs in four innings. Nola has failed to last more than five innings in three of his last five outings and that means we should see plenty of a Phillies bullpen that has recorded a 4.81 ERA and 1.35 WHIP at home this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Washington at 7 pm et on Tuesday.

We've cashed with the 'over' in each of Minnesota's last two games. In fact, we've won in three straight Lynx games, also hitting with them in their overtime victory over Connecticut three games back. Here, I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the 'over' as the oddsmakers continue to have a tough time adjusting these WNBA totals. The Lynx have scored 186 points over their last two games and figure to stay hot against a vulnerable Washington defense that has allowed six straight opponents to shoot better than 43% from the field, giving up 86 points or more in four of those contests. The good news for Washington is that its offense has come around, scoring over 80 points in three straight games. The Mystics might just have something in Myisha Hines-Allen, who has poured in 58 points in her last three games, while recording a double-double in all three contests. Ariel Atkins has also stepped up in the absence of Elena Delle-Donne, contributing at least 30 minutes in three straight games while scoring 67 points over that stretch (note that she is questionable to play on Tuesday due to a back injury). Meanwhile, the Lynx are getting production from all over the court right now. They had five players score in double-figures last time out as they dropped 100 points on the Dream. Kayla McBride continues to get better acclimated with the offense with each passing game and comes off a season-high 19 points last time out. Napheesa Collier has provided a big boost as well since returning to the lineup, averaging over 16 points per game to go along with four assists per game. Note that Minnesota has allowed north of 80 points in both previous road games this season, allowing the opposition to shoot 46.8% from the field. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Tampa Bay and Carolina at 6:35 pm et on Tuesday.

This will be the 13th meeting between these two teams this season and we've yet to see the 'over' cash in consecutive matchups. Off Saturday's wild, high-scoring 6-4 Lightning victory (we won with Tampa Bay in that game), we'll back the 'under' in Tuesday's elimination game in Carolina. Note that the 'under' is a perfect 5-0 the last seven times the Lightning have attempted to close out a series, with those contests averaging just 3.8 total goals. Meanwhile, the 'under' is a perfect 7-0 with the Canes playing at home after losing two of their last three games this season, with those games also averaging a total of just 3.8 goals. It's also worth noting that the 'under' has gone 12-5 with the Lightning coming off a home win by two goals or more this season and 25-11 with Carolina playing at home off a loss against a division opponent over the last two seasons. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Albania and Czech Republic at 2:15 pm et on Tuesday.

NOTE: We'll lay the chalk to ensure a victory should we see two goals in this match but I would still play this at 2.0 if that's the only option your book is offering. UPDATE: It appears this total continues to climb with the standard total now at 2.5 at most books as of 9:30 am et on Tuesday morning. If you can try to play the 'Asian total' at 2.0 with reasonable juice. While we have to pay a considerable tariff to play the 'over' at 1.5 in this international friendly match on Tuesday, I believe the price could be even higher. Of course, Albania is coming off a 0-0 draw against Wales on Saturday (we lost with the 'over' in that match). In a curious move, Albania chose to sit leading scorer Sokol Cikalleshi at the start of that match. Likewise, Wales played the bulk of the match with Gareth Bale on the sidelines. Here, we anticipate seeing both the Czechs and Albanians field close to their 'A' squads, as the Czechs in particular need to get on track off a 4-0 drubbing against Italy leading into its first match of the Euros. Note that the Czech's will need to hit the ground running if they are to have any hope of getting out of the group stage at the Euros as they reside in a tricky group that includes Croatia, England and Scotland. Czech Republic played the first half without striker Patrik Shick in that aforementioned match against the Italians. We also saw Shick make an unceremonious early exit due to a red card in a recent World Cup Qualifying match. Needless to say, he has plenty to prove here on Tuesday. We obviously don't need much offense to cash this ticket but I believe a 2-0 or 2-1 match is well within the realm of possibility. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Kansas City and Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Monday.

We saw a low-scoring game involving the Royals yesterday as they fell by a 2-1 score in the finale of a four-game set against the Twins. Prior to that the 'over' had gone 7-0-2 over their last nine contests. I expect a return to form here as they head to Anaheim to take on the Angeles. Jackson Kowar will make his highly-anticipated debut for Kansas City on Monday. Of course, in today's MLB it's unlikely we'll see the Royals stretch out one of their top prospects too much in his first big league start. That likely leaves plenty of work for a Kansas City bullpen that owns a collective 4.64 ERA and 1.49 WHIP at night this season. Keep in mind, the Angels have been a much better offensive team here at home, where they average nearly 5.5 runs per game this season. Dylan Bundy will counter for Los Angeles. The wheels have fallen off for Bundy following a strong start to the season and he's likely to struggle again here as the Royals get their second look at him this season. Bundy has posted an awful 7.94 ERA and 1.50 WHIP at home this season. He's been hit hard in four nighttime starts as well, recording a 6.75 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. With Bundy averaging just 4.5 innings per start here at home we should see plenty of the Angels bullpen that got lit up yesterday after entering the game sporting a collective 4.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with six blown saves compared to seven converted here at home this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Montreal at 8:05 pm et on Monday.

Last night's game between these two teams crept 'over' the total only thanks to a late empty net goal. Note that now we find the Habs in a situation where the 'under' has gone 7-1 this season when coming off a home win in which they scored four goals or more this season. The 'under' is also 31-14 the last 45 times the Jets have been on the road seeking revenge for a loss where their opponent scored five goals or more, as is the case here. We can certainly anticipate the Jets tightening things up here as they desperately try to stave off elimination and get the series back to Winnipeg for Game 5. Note that we've yet to see the Canadiens post consecutive 'over' results in these playoffs with the 'under' cashing at a 6-4 clip overall. Since head coach Dominique Ducharme took over for Claude Julien, we've seen the 'under' go 9-2 with the Habs coming off a home victory this season with those games totaling just 4.8 goals on average. Take the under (9*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Milwaukee and Brooklyn at 7:35 pm et on Monday.

The Bucks are going to have to perform much better offensively than they did in Game 1 if they want to have any shot at upsetting the Nets in this series. I expect them to put forth a stronger showing here in Game 2 and a more competitive game should lend itself to the 'over'. Note that Game 1 was headed well north of the lofty total before the Nets took their foot off the gas with a big lead in the fourth quarter. The first three quarters totaled 62, 62 and 58 points - good for a full-game pace of 242.7 points. The fourth quarter totaled only 40 points. Now we're seeing a considerable overreaction in the Game 2 total, partly due to Game 1 being lower-scoring than expected, but also due to James Harden being sidelined for the Nets. Brooklyn is certainly used to playing without its 'Big Three' fully intact, however, and I expect it to still thrive offensively in this one. If anything, Harden's absence should only make Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving more aggressive in their shot selection. Keep in mind, two of three regular season matchups between these two teams totaled north of 240 points. Expect a return to form here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Boston at 6:35 pm et on Monday.

The Islanders were able to do a reasonable job of holding down the Bruins 'perfection line' in two games on Long Island but I expect a different story to unfold on Monday in Boston. The Bruins have of course been a much higher-scoring team at home this season, where they average 3.4 goals per game. We saw that in the first two games in this series as they put eight goals in the Isles net. New York knows that it's not going to stop the B's top line here in Beantown - it needs to keep pace with an aggressive offensive effort the likes of which we saw back in Game 2. Interestingly, the B's have been a slightly weaker defensive team at home this season, where they allow 2.5 goals per contest. While the Isles average just 2.2 goals per game on the road this season, we've seen a much different story in these playoffs as they've put up 14 goals in five road contests. Take the over (9*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Minnesota at 7 pm et on Sunday.

We won with the 'over' in this matchup on Friday and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play in Sunday's rematch. I noted on Friday that Atlanta was waiting for highly-touted draft pick Aari McDonald to get going offensively and we finally saw it last time out as the shot 5-of-12 from the field and scored a career-high 15 points. Even with Chennedy Carter sidelined, the Dream still have plenty of scoring options and should find continued success offensively on Sunday. The Lynx got off to a slow start this season but have gotten back on track over their last couple of games and should certainly be encouraged by Friday's performance, in which Napheesa Collier poured in 26 points in just her third game back in the lineup. Kayla McBride also turned in one of her best performances of the young season, scoring 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. This has the makings of another relatively high-scoring affair. Take the over (10*).

NHL North Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Montreal at 6:05 pm et on Sunday.

While the first game in this series was high-scoring, both teams settled into a defensive affair in Friday's 1-0 Canadiens victory. I don't think either team believes it needs to score more than 2-3 goals to secure victories in this series and for Winnipeg this is obviously as close to a must-win without being exactly that as it gets. Carey Price is locked in right now and it seems that whenever the Jets go down a key scorer up front (ie. Nik Ehlers or Blake Wheeler during the regular season and now Mark Scheifele) its secondary options struggle to pick up the slack. The Jets were never really threatened in their own end in Game 2 apart from Tyler Toffoli's short-handed marker, which was a pretty bad goal for Connor Hellebuyck to allow in a critical situation down a game in this series. I do think Hellebuyck is capable of stealing a game for the Jets though, even if their offense fails to show up once again. With all of that being said, the days of 5.5's may be numbered in this series. I'm banking on another relatively low-scoring affair on Sunday in Montreal. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Dallas and Los Angeles at 3:35 pm et on Sunday.

This has turned into a low-scoring series over the last three games and I anticipate more of the same in Sunday's Game 7 matchup in Los Angeles. This is going to be a tough spot for Mavs superstar Luka Doncic as he comes off two straight 40+ minute performances and plays for the third time in five days while still dealing with that neck strain. Both teams have proven capable of tightening things up in crunch time, going back-and-forth over the last three games in this series. With the road team having dominated, this is obviously the Mavs turn to step up, but I do think they'll be met with a strong defensive effort from the Clips here. On the flip side, the Los Angeles offense led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George hasn't given us much reason to trust it here at Staples Center in this series. Luka gets all of the headlines but the Mavs can play some defense as well and will undoubtedly show up off of Friday's fourth quarter meltdown. Take the under (10*).

A.L. Central Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Detroit and Chicago at 2:10 pm et on Sunday.

I'll call for a high-scoring game at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday afternoon. The White Sox will be getting their second look at Tigers right-hander Jose Urena this season. He did last seven innings in a 5-2 victory against them back in late April but it's not as if he was dominant. Urena gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out only two over those seven frames. Note that he owns a 5.34 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in six daytime starts this season. Likewise, the Tigers 'pen has struggled in daytime appearances, recording a collective 4.90 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Worse still, the Detroit bullpen entered yesterday's action sporting a 6.46 ERA and 1.66 WHIP on the road this season. Dylan Cease will counter for Chicago. The Tigers will be seeing him for the fourth time since last August. Cease has posted an ERA near eight to go along with a 1.76 WHIP over his last three outings. He also owns a less than impressive 1.60 WHIP in four daytime starts this season. The White Sox bullpen has posted a collective 4.59 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in day games this season. Take the over (10*).

NBA Eastern Conference Second Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Atlanta and Philadelphia at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

Regardless whether Joel Embiid is able to suit up for the 76ers or not, I like the way the 'under' sets up in Game 1 in this Eastern Conference semi-final series on Sunday. The Hawks cruised past the Knicks in round one but should find the going much tougher against the 76ers in round two. Note that Philadelphia checks in 32-7 at home this season where it has held opponents to 45% shooting this season. The 76ers have been locked in defensively for quite some time, having allowed just two opponents to shoot better than 50% from the field going all the way back to April 26th. I'm not convinced the pace alone in this series is going to get many games up into the 220's. While the 'over' has cashed in each of the Sixers last three games, we haven't seen the 'over' cash in four straight games involving Philadelphia since way back in late February-early March when it posted a four-game 'over' streak. The Hawks, meanwhile, are a better defensive squad than most give them credit for. Trae Young and his sharp-shooting abilities grabs the headlines, but this team can play some 'D', as evidenced by the fact that it has held eight straight opponents to 44.7% shooting or worse entering this series. After allowing 126 and 127 points in consecutive losses to the Sixers here in Philadelphia in late April, you can be sure Nate McMillan's squad will be hyper-focused on keeping the Sixers offense in check here. I simply feel we're going to see a much different series than we saw between Philadelphia and Washington, which was high-scoring in nature. Note that the 'under' cashed in two of three regular season meetings between these two teams. The Hawks check in sporting a 26-44 o/u mark when revenging consecutive double-digit losses against an opponent, as is the case here. The 'under' is also 35-16 with the 76ers playing at home after a game that saw 235 points or more. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Cleveland and Baltimore at 4:05 pm et on Saturday.

This one sets up well as a low-scoring affair on Saturday afternoon at Camden Yards. Aaron Civale will take the ball for the Indians. He's been solid in six road starts this season, posting a 3.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Note that he'll have the advantage of facing the Orioles for the first time in his career on Saturday. Behind Civale is a bullpen that has recorded a collective 2.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP on the road this season converting 11 saves compared to just one blown save. IN day games, they've been even better, posting a 1.89 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. John Means will counter for Baltimore. Means of course threw a no-hitter in Seattle earlier this season. He owns a sparkling 1.60 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in six daytime starts this season. He has faced the Indians twice in his career, allowing just three earned runs in 10 innings, however they haven't got a look at him since the 2019 season. Behind Means is an Orioles bullpen that has been at its best in the daytime, recording a collective 3.69 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Albania and Wales at 12 noon et on Saturday.

I'll take a shot with the 'over' in this pre-Euro international friendly between Wales and Albania. Wales is coming off a poor showing against France earlier this week. Keep in mind, France sent its 'A' squad to the pitch in that match and Wales was forced down a man after defender Neco Williams was sent off due to a handball early on. Here, Wales will certainly be looking to rebound leading into a very tough group at the Euros beginning next week. I do think the Welsh can break through offensively against an Albania squad that has little experience at keeper. On the flip side, Williams' absence will be felt and I'm confident the Albanians can solve the Welsh form for at least a goal in this one. A 2-1 result is well within the realm of possibility in this one. Take the over (10*).

N.L. Central Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Cincinnati and St. Louis at 8:15 pm et on Friday.

This one sets up nicely as a high-scoring affair after last night's low-scoring 4-2 Reds victory in the series-opener. Luis Castillo will somewhat inexplicably get another turn in the Reds rotation despite his massive struggles this season. Castillo has posted an 8.73 ERA and 1.81 WHIP on the road this season lasting less than five innings per start. The Cards have already seen him twice this season, lighting him up to the tune of 12 earned runs on 14 hits in just 8 1/3 innings. Behind Castillo is a dreadful Reds bullpen that entered last night's game sporting a collective 8.28 ERA and 1.88 WHIP on the road this season. Kwang-Hyun Kim will counter for St. Louis. He's labored through his last three starts, posting a 5.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. He has actually pitched quite well at home, however, and those last three outings came on the road. But here's my concern; Kim averages just under 4 2/3 innings per start this season. The Cardinals bullpen has not been good, entering last night's game with a 6.21 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over their last seven contests. They own a 5.11 ERA and 1.52 WHIP at night this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Kansas City at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

This is one of the highest totals on Friday's MLB board but it's high for a reason (a number of reasons actually). Last night's series opener was of the high-scoring variety as the Royals prevailed by a 6-5 score. I'm anticipating more of the same here. Matt Shoemaker will get the nod for the visiting Twins. He's not set up well here as he faces the Royals for the third time this season, having had very little success against them, allowing 13 earned runs on 14 hits over just 7 2/3 innings. Shoemaker has pitched better on the road than he has at home this season but that's not really saying much. The 'over' has still gone a perfect 3-0 in his three road outings. Behind Shoemaker is a Twins bullpen that has posted a collective 5.79 ERA and 1.56 WHIP at night this season. On the road, Twins relievers have recorded a 5.16 ERA and 1.49 WHIP, converting just six of 10 save opportunities. Brad Keller will counter for Kansas City. He'll be facing the Twins for the third time this season as well. He hasn't struggled quite as badly as Shoemaker but has still been hit hard, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits over 9 1/3 innings. He's been dreadful in five home starts this season, recording an 8.10 ERA and 1.85 WHIP, with the 'over' cashing in three of those five outings. The Royals bullpen has pitched well lately but still owns a less than impressive 4.31 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while converting only seven of 12 save opportunities here at home this season. Take the over (9*).

WNBA Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Minnesota at 8 pm et on Friday.

Minnesota has yet to break 80 points in a game this season but I look for that streak to end on Friday night as the Lynx host the Atlanta Dream. It's really only a matter of time before this supremely-talented Lynx squad gets rolling offensively. Offseason acquisition Kayla McBride has yet to really emerge as the scoring threat she was in Las Vegas but it's coming. Note that she has still managed to score in double-figures in four of five games this season. Meanwhile, they welcomed back Napheesa Collier two games back and she's contributed 25 points to go along with eight assists since returning. Here, I expect the Lynx to take advantage of a below-average Dream defense. Atlanta checks in off three straight 'over' results even though the most recent was aided by overtime last Saturday in New York (we won with the Dream in that game). Atlanta's offense has slowly come around this season and while losing sharp-shooting guard Chennedy Carter to injury hurts, they are expected to welcome back big offseason acquisition Cheyenne Parker from Covid protocols on Friday. I also expect highly-touted draft pick Aari McDonald, who has struggled in the early stages of her WNBA career, to pick up some of the slack, likely receiving more playing time in Carter's absence. Note that three of the last five meetings in this series have gone 'over' the total, including the most recent matchup which reached 167 points on August 28th of last year. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Atlanta at 7:20 pm et on Friday.

This matchup obviously features plenty of big bats and I expect Friday's series-opener to play out accordingly in spite of the solid starting pitching matchup. Julio Urias will take the ball for the Dodgers. It's worth noting that while his overall numbers are terrific, he has posted a less than impressive 4.58 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over his last three starts. He has also recorded a 4.33 ERA in six nighttime starts. His road numbers are admittedly terrific, however, much of his success away from home came early in the season when he faced the Rockies, Mariners and Brewers - three light-hitting teams - in his first three road starts. It is worth pointing out that his last three road starts have totaled 20, 11 and 16 runs. The Braves did get a chance to see Urias for the first time last October in a start where he lasted just five innings. Behind Urias is a Dodgers bullpen that has posted a collective 4.80 ERA and 1.57 WHIP on the road this season, with an equal number of saves and blown saves (7). Meanwhile, Ian Anderson will start for Atlanta. Like Urias, his overall numbers are terrific. However, I am a a little concerned that he's facing the Dodgers for the third time since last October (he started twice in their playoff series last year). Note that Los Angeles gave him some trouble, collecting six hits and two earned runs to go along with seven walks, with Anderson working only seven innings total in those two starts. With Anderson averaging less than six innings per start this season we should see plenty of an Atlanta bullpen that entered yesterday's action having posted a collective 4.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with six blown saves compared to only four successfully converted at home this season. Note that Braves relievers have recorded a 4.68 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 132 2/3 innings logged at night this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Czech Republic and Italy at 2:45 pm et on Friday.

Let's go with the 'under' in this intriguing international friendly match on Friday. Italy already has one pre-Euro tune-up under its belt after cruising to a 7-0 rout of San Marino last week. The Azzurri have now confirmed their squad for the Euros and may not have that same killer instinct here in this tricky match against Czech Republic. In a difficult group that includes Switzerland and Turkey, Italy will be looking to solidify its form and tighten things up defensively in this warm-up match. Keep in mind, the Italians also have some injury issues leading into this one. Health is obviously of utmost concern with kickoff to the Euros just one week away. For the Czechs this will be their first pre-tournament friendly match after their contest against Euro-bound Scotland was delayed due to Covid protocols. They've managed just one goal in their last two matches, that coming off the foot of midfielder Lukas Provod in an impressive 1-1 draw against Belgium, who won't be available for Friday's match due to a knee injury. Both sides would likely be satisfied with a level result in this one. However, I do feel the Czechs face an uphill battle breaking through against a more seasoned and organized Italian squad so rather than grab the goal with the underdogs, I'll go with the 'under' instead. Take the under (9*).

NBA Elimination Game Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Phoenix and Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Thursday.

Game 5 managed to stay 'under' the total mostly due to its noncompetitive nature. The first quarter was actually fairly high-scoring but things got completely out of hand from there with Phoenix cruising to a 30-point victory. I'm certainly expecting a more competitive affair as the scene shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday night. Note that the 'over' has gone 11-1 with the Suns coming off a win by 20 points or more this season with those contests totaling an average of 237.4 points. The 'over' is also 24-11 with Phoenix coming off two or more straight wins this season with those games averaging 225.2 total points. While there are a number of trends pointing to the 'under' when it comes to the Lakers, the majority of those trends have resulted in average totals north of the relatively low number we're working with here tonight. Note that Lakers home games have totaled an average of 217.9 points this season. That includes a number of games where they were without both Lebron James and Anthony Davis. While Davis' status for Thursday's game remains in question, I would expect him to play. Even if he can't go, I still like the way this one sets up as a relatively high-scoring affair. Take the over (10*).

NHL Central Division Round Two Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Carolina and Tampa Bay at 8:05 pm et on Thursday.

If the Hurricanes are going to have any chance at getting back in this series they're going to need to break through against Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. With the scene shifting to Tampa for Game 3 on Thursday night, I expect them to do just that. Note that the last four times the Lightning have played after posting consecutive road victories, they've gone on to allow a whopping 6.0 goals per game with those contests totaling an average of 9.3 goals. We're talking about a small sample size, but the point is still worth making. Also note that the 'over' has gone 17-7 the last 24 times the Lightning have come off a one-goal victory over a division opponent, with those games totaling an average of 6.8 goals. Carolina's road games have been considerably higher-scoring than its home games this season, averaging a total of 6.0 goals. Lightning home games have averaged an identical 6.0 goals as well. I'll also point to the fact that the 'over' has gone 27-17 with the Canes playing on the road with a total of 5.5 under head coach Rod Brind'Amour, with those contests totaling an average of 6.1 goals. We've now seen four consecutive 'under' results in games between these two teams. I believe both have too much offensive firepower for that trend to continue much longer. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Vegas and Colorado at 10:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We missed badly with the 'under' in Game 1 of this series on Sunday as the Golden Knights inexplicably turned to Robin Lehner between the pipes and were absolutely dominated to the tune of a 7-1 loss. Here, I fully expect Vegas to punch back but I'm not convinced it will find a great deal of offensive success noting that the Avs have allowed just 1.9 goals per game on home ice this season. For their part, the Knights have given up only 2.3 goals per game on the road this season so Game 1 could certainly be considered an anomaly. Prior to that contest, Vegas had held Colorado to exactly two goals in three straight meetings. It's not as if this has been a particularly high-scoring series this season as the 'under' has actually gone 6-3. Note that the 'under' is 17-7 with the Knights playing on the road off consecutive 'over' results over the last three seasons with that situation producing an average total of just 5.0 goals. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Memphis and Utah at 9:35 pm et on Wednesday.

Let's try this again, shall we? After cashing the Jazz minus the points in Game 2 we went with the 'under' in both Games 3 and 4, coming up empty as both contests sailed 'over' the total. Here, with the scene shifting back to Utah, I'm looking for a lower-scoring affair. Note that the 'under' has gone 35-19 with the Grizzlies losing three of their last four games ATS over the last three seasons with those contests totaling an average of just 216.9 points. We've also seen the 'under' go 31-13 after the Grizzlies allow 120 points or more over the last two seasons, with that situation producing an average total of just 219.8 points. For the Jazz's part, they've seen the 'under' go 13-4 when playing at home off consecutive 'over' results over the last two seasons, as is the case here, leading to an average total of only 208.2 points with Utah allowing just 97.6 points in that spot. With this being an elimination game - the first in this series - we can expect things to finally tighten up a bit, keeping in mind, the series-opener over a week ago did stay 'under' the number we're working with tonight. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Colorado at 8:40 pm et on Wednesday.

Even extra innings couldn't get the final score even close to the total in last night's series-opener between these two teams at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Here, I don't expect the same problem. Jordan Lyles will take the ball for Texas. He has been downright awful in nighttime starts this season, posting a 6.55 ERA and 1.57 WHIP with the 'over' cashing at a 4-3 clip. Given he's averaging just a shade over five innings per start this season that spells trouble as the Rangers bullpen has been terrible on the road this season, entering last night's action sporting a collective 5.50 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Antonio Senzatela will counter for Colorado. He owns a 4.35 ERA and 1.30 WHIP at home this season and a 6.91 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in nighttime starts. Like Lyles, he has struggled to work deep into games meaning we should see plenty from a Rockies bullpen that has posted a 6.07 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with five blown saves at home this season (entering last night's contest). Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We saw a low-scoring game as the Blue Jays returned to Sahlen Field in Buffalo and delivered a 5-1 victory over the Marlins last night. Here, I look for a different story to unfold. The Marlins will hand the ball to Pablo Lopez. While he's been terrific at home this season, he's been awful on the road, posting a 5.13 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 26 1/3 innings of work. Of course, the Blue Jays are fully capable of teeing off on him here on Wednesday. Alek Manoah will counter for Toronto. He tossed six quality innings of shutout ball at Yankee Stadium in his big league debut last week. Perhaps we see a bit of a letdown off that adrenaline-fueled performance here, however. Note that behind Manoah is a Jays bullpen that entered last night's game having posted a collective 4.19 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over their last seven games. With the Marlins once again getting healthier I do think they're a strong candidate for a breakout offensive performance following a down stretch. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Arizona at 3:40 pm et on Wednesday.

We saw a relatively high-scoring affair between these two teams last night, albeit aided by extra innings, as the D'Backs prevailed by a 6-5 score. I'm anticipating more of the same on Wednesday as the Mets send David Peterson to the hill against D'Backs veteran Madison Bumgarner. Peterson has struggled on the road this season, posting a 5.55 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. To make matters worse, the D'Backs will be getting their second look at the left-hander after chasing him after just 1 2/3 innings in an eventual 5-4 win back on May 7th. With Peterson averaging less than five innings per start this season we're likely to see plenty of a Mets bullpen that just hasn't been the same on the road this season, posting a collective 4.78 ERA and 1.44 WHIP before giving up another two earned runs in 3 1/3 innings last night. Bumgarner got off to a fine start for the D'Backs this season but the wheels have come off lately as he has posted an 8.36 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over his last three outings. He owns a 5.66 ERA and 1.36 WHIP here at home this season and like Peterson, hasn't shown the ability to work deep into games, averaging just over five innings per start. The Arizona 'pen has recorded a collective 5.27 ERA and 1.52 WHIP at home this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' 2.5 goals between Scotland and the Netherlands at 2:45 pm et on Wednesday.

We know the Dutch can score. Here we find the Oranje coming off a three-match stretch of World Cup Qualifiers in which they went 2-1, notching 11 goals along the way. However, I do think they're somewhat vulnerable in the back with defending Virgil van Dijk (ligament injury) and goalkeeper Jasper Cillesen (Covid-19 protocols) sidelined. For Scotland, it will be looking to make a splash as it preps for its first major tournament in 20 years. While little is expected of them at the Euros, the Scots are not without starpower and come off a World Cup Qualifying stint that saw them find the back of the net seven times in three March matches. Here, we shouldn't need much from the Scottish side to get 'over' the very reasonable total. Take the over 2.5 goals (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Phoenix at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday.

The Suns have now posted consecutive 'under' results for the first time since March 26th and 28th but I expect that streak to end at two games with a relatively high-scoring affair on Tuesday night. The Lakers will likely be without Anthony Davis for this one, which certainly puts a damper on their offense. However, it also serves to open things up a bit for the Suns offense which is in line for a breakout performance after being held to 100 points or less in three of the first four games in this series and 109 points or less in all four contests. Keep in mind, the Suns average 115.7 points per game on an impressive 49.3% shooting here at home this season. It certainly looked like Chris Paul's shoulder was feeling much better in Game 4 on Sunday and while just one day between games is a bit of a concern, it's not as if he was overly taxed in Game 4, playing just 31 minutes. Note that the 'over' is 41-25 with the Suns coming off an 'under' result over the last two seasons with those contests totaling an average of 224.4 points. The 'over' is also 33-19 with the Suns coming off a win this season with that situation producing an average total of 224.1 points. Take the over (10*).

MLB Interleague Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and San Francisco at 9:45 pm et on Tuesday.

We saw a relatively low-scoring game between these two teams yesterday as the Giants pulled away late for a 6-1 victory. Of course that result would actually be enough to get Tuesday's game 'over' the very low posted total. I believe it will prove to be too low. Andrew Heaney gets the start for the Angels. We won with the 'over' in his most recent outing against the Rangers. He has posted an inflated 7.71 ERA and 1.79 WHIP over his last three starts and has seen the 'over' cash at an 8-1 clip in his nine starts to date this season. Given the fact that he averages just five innings per start we're likely to see plenty from the Angels bullpen in this one. They have posted a collective 4.72 ERA and 1.39 WHIP on the road this season (entering yesterday's action). They gave up another two earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in yesterday's loss. Left-hander Alex Wood will take the ball for the Giants. While he has been solid overall this season I will point out that the Angels are averaging 5.3 runs per game against southpaw starters this season with those games totaling an average of 11.2 runs. Wood's home numbers do jump off the page but just one reason for caution (and why my play on the Giants is of the 8* variety), three of his four home outings have come against the Marlins, Rockies and Rangers - three subpar offensive clubs, particularly on the road. We likely won't need much from the Angels offense to help this one 'over' the low total. Take the over (10*).

NBA Northwest Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Portland and Denver at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday.

We saw a relatively low-scoring game between these two teams on Sunday afternoon as the Nuggets simply couldn't get back up for Game 4 after staging an upset win in Game 3. Here, I look for a return to this series' high-scoring ways as the scene shifts back to Denver for Game 5. Note that the 'over' has gone 23-11 with the Blazers coming off an 'under' result this season with those games totaling an average of 235.8 points. We've also seen the 'over' go 17-6 with the Blazers playing on the road off a double-digit win over the last two seasons with that situation producing an average total of 235.1 points. On the flip side, the 'over' has gone 20-9 with the Nuggets coming off a double-digit loss over the last two seasons, good for an average total of 229.5 points. With Denver coming off a loss of any kind this season, the 'over' has gone 18-8 with an average total of 228.1 points scored. I look for both teams to come out aggressively in this pivotal Game 5 as they lean on their strengths with the Blazers averaging 116.9 points per game on the road and the Nuggets putting up 117.2 points per game here at home and noting that the 'over' has gone 7-4 in the last 11 meetings in Denver. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Kansas City at 8:10 pm et on Tuesday.

We won with the 'over' in this matchup last night and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here on Tuesday. William Crowe will get another turn in the rotation for the Buccos. He's been generally awful this season but particularly bad in three nighttime starts in which he has posted a 7.94 ERA and 2.12 WHIP. Crowe is averaging just over four innings per start which means we'll likely see plenty from a Pirates bullpen that has posted a collective 4.59 ERA and 1.40 WHIP on the road this season (entering last night's action). Brady Singer gets the start for the Royals and he hasn't been much better than Crowe. Singer has posted a 6.46 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over his last three starts and checks in sporting a 4.84 ERA and 1.57 WHIP at night. Like Crowe, he generally doesn't work deep into ball games, averaging fewer than five innings per start. The Royals bullpen has been fairly solid lately but still entered last night's action sporting a 4.61 ERA and 1.42 WHIP here at home this season and a 4.88 ERA and 1.56 WHIP at night. Take the over (10*).

A.L. Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Baltimore at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday.

We saw a low-scoring game between these two teams  yesterday as the Twins prevailed 3-2 in extra innings. I'm expecting a different story to unfold on Tuesday, however. Michael Pineda will get the call for the Twins. He was sharp against the Orioles in his most recent start last week and his overall numbers are solid this season. With that being said, he's certainly prone to giving up the long ball, having been tagged for nine home runs in eight starts this season, including seven in his last five starts. Now he pitches at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. His recent numbers against the O's are positive but he hasn't faced them here in Baltimore since 2016. In six career starts at Camden Yards he has been tagged for 20 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings. Working behind Pineda is a Twins bullpen that owns a collective 5.40 ERA and 1.53 WHIP (entering yesterday's action) on the road this season. Bruce Zimmermann remains in the Orioles rotation only because they have no better options right now. To say that he's struggled would be an understatement. He owns a 5.52 ERA and 1.84 WHIP here at home and like Pineda, has had a tough time keeping the ball in the park, allowing home runs in four straight and eight of nine career big league starts. Note that he'll be facing a Twins club that actually produces better on the road, where it averages north of five runs per game this season. With Zimmermann unlikely to work deep into this game that means we should see plenty from the O's down-trodden bullpen, which entered yesterday's game having posted an 8.31 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over its last seven games. Take the over (10*).

NBA Western Conference First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and Memphis at 9:35 pm et on Monday.

We've seen the 'over' cash in the first three meetings in this series but I look for a reversal of that trend on Monday night. After consecutive subpar defensive efforts, the Grizzlies need to step up at that end of the floor here in Game 4. They're certainly capable of doing so, having allowed 110.5 points per game on 45.6% shooting here at home this season, with the 'under' cashing at a 23-15 clip. Note that Memphis has allowed just 107.6 points per game when coming off a double-digit loss at home over the last two seasons, with the 'under' going 13-4 along the way. The 'under' is also 13-2 with the Grizzlies playing at home in just their second game in the last five days over the last two seasons, with those contests averaging a total of 216.7 points. Likewise, the Jazz have posted a 26-41 o/u record when playing their second game in the last five days over the last three seasons with those games totaling just 215.4 points on average. Donovan Mitchell's return has essentially turned the tide for the Jazz in this series. In what is basically a must-win game for the Grizzlies, look for them to do a better job of limiting his opportunities. Offensively, Memphis is in tough as it has now shot 45% or worse from the field in six of its last seven contests, perhaps showing a bit of a fatigue after going all-out down the stretch to earn a playoff spot. Note that the Grizzlies have scored over 110 points in four straight games entering Monday's contest, their longest such streak since April 14th to 19th. In their next game after that previous four-game streak they managed only 105 points and produced an 'under' result against the Clippers. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Pittsburgh and Kansas City at 8:10 pm et on Monday.

Chad Kuhl - one of the most hittable starters in all of baseball in early April - returns to the Pirates rotation following a stint on the I.L. and I look for him to struggle against a Royals club that lit him up last September. In that start in the latter stages of last season, Kuhl allowed a whopping nine earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings of work. Before hitting the injured list this season, Kuhl had posted a 6.32 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in four starts spanning 15 2/3 innings of work. While the Pirates bullpen has pitched well lately, most of that success came during a six-game homestand. The Buccos 'pen has posted a less than impressive 4.63 ERA on the road this season, not to mention a 4.59 ERA and 1.40 WHIP under the lights. Mike Minor will counter for Kansas City. The Pirates will be getting their second look at the left-hander this season after knocking him around for four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a wild 9-6 Royals victory back on April 28th. Note that Minor has been at his worst at home this season where he has recorded a 6.43 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with the 'over' cashing at a 4-1 clip in his five starts. Likewise, the Royals 'pen has struggled at home this season to the tune of a 4.61 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with four blown saves along the way. Take the over (10*).

NHL East Division Playoff Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Boston at 7:35 pm et on Monday.

We're only one game into this series but as good as a defensive team as they are, I think the chances of the Islanders slowing down the Bruins 'Perfection Line' of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak are slim to none. While David Pastrnak managed a hat trick in Game 1, he easily could have had a couple more goals as well. When the dust settled, the Bruins shook off some early rust and cruised to a 5-2 series-opening victory. New York generally carries a defensive mindset under head coach Barry Trotz but here I think it knows it will have to turn up the offensive volume in order to stay in this series. It's worth noting that the Isles have managed to score at least four goals against the Bruins on three different occasions this season. While they faced a different challenge in round one, they scored four goals in both games where they were coming off a loss, as is the case here. Note that the Isles have allowed 3.4 goals per game when revenging a road loss against an opponent this season with those contests totaling an average of 6.1 goals. The Bruins have been a terrific positive momentum play here at home, averaging 3.8 goals per game after winning two or more games in a row over the last three seasons, with those contests totaling an average of 6.1 goals. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Vegas and Colorado at 8:10 pm et on Sunday.

The 'over' cashed in the final three games of the Avs opening round demolition of the Blues and also hit in the Golden Knights Game 7 clincher against the Wild. Here, I'll go the contrarian route and call for a lower-scoring affair than most are expecting. Yes, both teams are loaded with offensive firepower but with that being said, the 'under' has actually cashed in three of their last five matchups here in Colorado and four of their last six meetings overall. While better known for their offense, the Avs have been terrific at keeping pucks out of their own net here at home this season, allowing just 1.9 goals per game. Likewise, the Knights have allowed just 2.2 goals per game away from home this season. Note that the Knights check in sporting an 11-22 o/u record when playing on the road revenging a loss against an opponent, as is the case here, over the last two seasons with those contests totaling an average of just 5.1 goals. The 'under' is also 22-10 with the Knights playing on the road off a game where seven or more goals were scored over the last two seasons, leading to an average total of just 5.1 goals as well. On the other side, the Avs have posted a 10-22 o/u record the last 32 times they've followed consecutive road wins by two goals or more with that situation producing an average total of only 4.7 goals. Finally, it's worth mentioning that the Avs average only 1.9 goals per game when playing at home in their fifth or less game in the last two weeks over the last three seasons. That situation has come up nine times previously. Take the under (9*).

NBA on ABC Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Phoenix and Los Angeles at 3:35 pm et on Sunday.

This has been a low-scoring series to this point with the 'under' cashing in two of three games. I expect a different story to unfold on Sunday afternoon, however, as the Suns look to punch back at the Lakers off consecutive losses. Note that while Phoenix is an excellent defensive team, it's road games have still averaged nearly 225 total points this season. Likewise, the Lakers rate as one of the league's best defensive squads, but games here at Staples Center have still reached an average total of nearly 219 points. Two regular season meetings between these two teams here totaled 218 and 233 points. The fact that there was two days off between Games 3 and 4 is key for the Suns as they need Chris Paul's shoulder to heal up as he's clearly been off in the last couple of games. He's obviously still not going to be at 100% but I do expect him to contribute more than he did in the last couple of games and it's certainly worth noting that despite his struggles, Game 3 still went 'over' the total and Game 4 fell short by just a handful of points. Note that the 'over' is 41-24 with the Suns coming off an 'under' result over the last two seasons with those contests totaling an average of 225 points. The 'over' is also 40-26 with the Suns playing consecutive road games over the last two seasons, producing an average total of 227.1 points. There are a number of trends pointing to the 'under' when it comes to the Lakers but in virtually all of those situations, the average total has gone 'over' the relatively low number we're working with today. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Atlanta at 1:05 pm et on Sunday.

The Knicks haven't had any answers for Hawks superstar Trae Young in this series and that's not likely to change overnight. However, New York can help its own cause by knocking down some shots and that's precisely what I expect to see happen on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. The tandem of Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett was phenomenal during the regular season but they've faded into the wallpaper in this series, most recently combining to shoot 4-for-24 from the field in Game 3. I expect both players to be much better on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks are an underrated defensive team but they've still given up just shy of 109 points per game at home this season. They've held the Knicks to 38.3% and 36.2% shooting over the last two games but that's by no means a sustainable trend. Note that the last time they held the opposition to under 40% shooting in consecutive games, their next game went 'over' the total (that was Game 1 of this series, which reached 212 total points). The only other time they held consecutive opponents under 40% shooting this season, their next game totaled a whopping 238 points at home against the lowly Pistons back on January 20th. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Seattle at 10:10 pm et on Saturday.

We missed the mark with the 'over' in this matchup last night as Jordan Lyles and Justus Sheffield surprisingly pitched well and the bullpens took care of the rest in a 3-2 Mariners victory. I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here, however. Mike Foltynewicz will take the ball for Texas on Saturday. The Mariners will be getting their second look at the veteran right-hander this season after collecting six hits and four earned runs against him in 6 2/3 innings in a 5-4 loss back on May 7th. He has struggled to the tune of a 6.31 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in five nighttime starts this season, averaging just a shade over five innings per start. That spells trouble with a Rangers bullpen that entered last night's game having posted a collective 5.76 ERA and 1.61 WHIP on the road this season likely to get extended work here. Justin Dunn counters for Seattle. He has been pitching reasonably well lately after an inconsistent start to the season. However, the Rangers did see him three times last season and should improve on their numbers against him here, noting that Dunn is in line for some regression here at home where he's managed to record a solid 3.45 ERA but a less than impressive 1.47 WHIP. Dunn is averaging only five innings per start this season so like the Rangers, the Mariners will likely be forced to employ their bullpen for a number of innings here, and that 'pen entered last night's game having posted a collective 6.00 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over their last seven games. Take the over (10*).

NBA First Round Revenge Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and Memphis at 9:35 pm et on Saturday.

We saw an incredibly high-scoring game between these two teams last time out as Utah prevailed by a 141-129 score (we won with the Jazz in that game). Now the scene shifts to Memphis for Game 3, where we've seen a much different style of basketball played this season. Memphis will certainly be looking to exact a little revenge here, and I expect it to do it at the defensive end of the floor. The 'under' has gone 23-14 in Grizzlies home games this season with an average total of 220 points. The Grizzlies actually average 3.6 points per game below their season scoring average here at home. We can expect both teams to play some defense on Saturday - something we just didn't see in Game 2 as both teams shot better than 54% from the field. Note that prior to that game, the Jazz had held six straight and nine of their last 10 opponents to 46.6% or worse shooting. Memphis had held eight of its last nine opponents to 44.7% or worse shooting. It's also easy to forget that Game 1 of this series totaled just 221 points. Yes, the Jazz welcomed back Donovan Mitchell in Game 2 and he contributed 25 points in 25 minutes but I'm not sure that his presence warrants the very large shift in the total from Game 1 (216.5) to Game 3 (224 at the time of writing). Note that the 'under' has gone an incredible 19-4 with the Grizzlies coming off a game that totaled 245 points or more over the last two seasons with those games totaling an average of 219.5 points. The 'under' is also 15-5 with the Grizzlies returning home off a double-digit road loss over the last three seasons, as is the case here, with those contests totaling just 209.4 points. Also note that a rested Jazz squad has generally been a good thing for 'under' bettors, with the 'under' going 41-25 the last 66 times Utah has played for just the second time in five days, as is the case here, with those games totaling 215.1 points on average over the last three seasons. Finally, I'll point out that four of the last five meetings between these two teams here in Memphis have gone 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Oakland at 4:05 pm et on Saturday.

We've already cashed a couple of daytime 'overs' here in Oakland this season and we'll go back to the well for another similar setup here. Alex Cobb will take the ball for the Angels. He's pitched well over his last two starts but both of those came at home. It's been a different story on the road where he has posted an 8.70 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in three starts this season. Of course, working behind Cobb is a horrible Angels bullpen that entered last night's game sporting a 6.66 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over their last seven contests. Frankie Montas will get the start for the A's. He's had an up and down start to the season. Here at home, though, it's been mostly down as Montas has recorded a 6.17 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 35 innings of work. The Angels will be getting their third look at Montas since the start of last season, chasing him before the end of the fifth inning in the two previous games. The A's bullpen has held up well so far in this series, but entered last night's action with a collective 4.67 ERA and 1.34 WHIP here at home this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' 2 goals between Swansea City and Brentford at 10 am et on Saturday.

We've seen two identical 1-1 scorelines between these two English rivals this season but with a spot in the Premier League hanging in the balance, I'm anticipating a higher-scoring affair on Saturday. the common line of thinking here is that we're in for a very tentative start with so much on the line at Wembley Stadium. I simply have more confidence in Brentford's ability to push the tempo and employ an attacking style than I do in Swansea's chances of playing a ball possession game and keeping this one nil-nil as long as possible. There's plenty of recent history between these two squads. This will be their 10th meeting since 2018, noting that all but one of those contests totaled at least two goals with six of them reaching three goals or more. While Swansea is known for its defending, it has conceded at least a goal in six of its last seven matches entering Saturday's contest. Brentford went through a bit of a scoring lull in the back half of April but has managed eight goals in four matches here in May, including a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Bournemouth last weekend to earn its spot in the Championship Final. It seems that the times we've seen Brentford get a little too tentative have been in the first leg of aggregate matches - including last July against Swansea, when it dropped a 1-0 decision before answering back with a 3-1 victory in the second leg. In this one-off with promotion to the Premier League on the line (it would be Brentford's first promotion in its long history), I expect to see the Bees go for broke, so to speak. Take the over (10*).

MLB Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Seattle at 10:10 pm et on Friday.

We saw a relatively low-scoring affair in the opener of this series last night as the Mariners cruised to a 5-0 victory. I expect a different story to unfold on Friday, however. Jordan Lyles will take the ball for Texas. The Mariners will be getting their fourth look at the veteran right-hander since last August and they've teed off on him so far, to the tune of 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings. While Lyles has pitched reasonably well over his last few starts he still checks in sporting an inflated 6.99 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in night starts this season, averaging less than five innings per start. That spells trouble considering the Rangers bullpen has been a mess, entering last night's action with a collective 5.72 ERA and 1.59 WHIP on the road this season. They proceeded to allow three earned runs on five hits over four innings in last night's game. Justus Sheffield will counter for Seattle. Like the Mariners with Lyles, the Rangers will be seeing Sheffield for the fourth time since last August. They've already faced him once this season, scoring five earned runs on 10 hits over five innings in a 10-2 victory on May 9th. Sheffield has really struggled lately, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over his last three starts with the 'over' cashing in all three of those. Like Lyles, he has also struggled at night, recording a 6.00 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 27 innings. Prior to last night's contest, the Mariners bullpen had posted a collective 6.03 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over their last seven games. Expect plenty of offense on the board tonight. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Minnesota and Vegas at 9:05 pm et on Friday.

We saw an opening total of 6.0 in Game 1 of this series and now that we've reached Game 7 we're looking at a total of 5.0 (at the time of writing). It's warranted in my opinion. Note that the 'under' has gone 7-1 with the Knights playing at home off a loss by three goals or more against a division opponent over the last two seasons. Vegas has allowed just 1.1 goals per game with those contests totaling an average of just 3.9 goals. The 'under' is also 19-8 with the Knights playing at home off a loss against a division opponent over the last two seasons with those games averaging a total of 5.1 goals. We've already seen three shutouts in the first six games of this series and I'm anticipating another low-scoring affair with everything on the line on Friday night. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Baltimore and Chicago at 8:10 pm et on Thursday.

I'm expecting plenty of offense as the Orioles and White Sox open their four-game series in Chicago on Thursday night. Bruce Zimmermann will inexplicably get another turn in the rotation for the O's. He's been awful this season and at his absolute worst on the road where he has posted a 6.87 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with the 'over' cashing in three of his four starts. The White Sox success at the plate against left-handed starting pitching has been well-documented. They're 10-3 against lefties this season, averaging a whopping 7.8 runs per game and hitting .292 as a team. With Zimmermann unlikely to work deep into this game (he averages less than five innings per start), that opens the door for a struggling Orioles bullpen that entered yesterday's action having posted a collective 9.52 ERA and 2.38 WHIP over their last seven games. Dylan Cease will counter for Chicago. He's coming off a rocky outing - albeit a tough one - on the road against the Yankees last Sunday. Cease has now failed to last six innings in any of his last three starts. He's averaging five innings per start this season. Behind him is a White Sox 'pen that has also struggled, posting a collective 4.34 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over their last seven games before giving up three more late runs in a 4-0 loss to the Cardinals yesterday. Chicago has five blown saves at home this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Milwaukee and Miami at 7:35 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'over' in Game 2 of this series (but missed with Miami) on Monday night but I won't hesitate to switch gears and back the 'under' as the scene shifts to South Beach for Thursday's Game 3 matchup. With two days off in between games and plenty of familiarity between these two squads (this will be their sixth meeting this season and 12th going back to the bubble in Orlando last year, I'm anticipating a relatively low-scoring affair here. The Heat are going to have to step up their game defensively because their offense just isn't there right now. Something doesn't seem right with Jimmy Butler as he's contributed just 27 points on 8-of-32 shooting in the first two games of this series. While he'll undoubtedly bounce back with a strong performance here on Thursday, I'm not sure it will be enough to spark a true offensive outburst from the Heat. It seems as if Miami has become overly reliant on the three-ball, with minimal success. Note that the Heat have proven to be a strong defensive team at home this season, allowing 108.6 points per game on 45.7% shooting. They've given up just 107.4 points per game when coming off a loss over the last three seasons, with those contests totaling an average of 217.5 points. While the 'over' has gone 22-10 the last 32 times the Heat have come off a double-digit loss, those games have averaged a total of 221.9 points - still well south of the total we're dealing with tonight. After consecutive games totaling 215 points or more, the Heat have seen an average final score totaling just 216.9 points over the last three seasons, with a considerable sample size of 30 games. The Bucks are certainly a high-flying offensive team, but as we saw in the opener of this series, they're not unstoppable. This is a virtual must-win for the Heat and I expect them to at the very least offer some resistance. Take the under (10*).

WNBA Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Dallas and Atlanta at 7 pm et on Thursday.

I'm anticipating a relatively high-scoring affair between the Wings and Dream on Thursday night. Dallas has suffered back-to-back losses since opening the season with a blowout win over the Sparks in Los Angeles. The Wings offense continues to perform at a reasonably high level, however, scoring 94, 97 and 81 points through three games. Arike Ogunbowale is an underappreciated star in the making, having scored 52 points over the last two games. Marina Mabrey has also stepped up over the last two games, pouring in 48 points. Here, the Wings should be able to get rolling once again versus a middle of the pack Atlanta defense. While the Dream check in eighth in offensive rating that's largely due to a slow start to the season. They're coming off back-to-back victories, scoring 83 and 90 points in the process. The return of Tiffany Hayes has sparked the charge and she's coming off a 26-point effort in a win over Chicago. I'm still waiting for the backcourt tandem of Chennedy Carter and rookie Aari McDonald to go off. McDonald is coming off her best performance of the young season having scored nine points in 17 minutes against Chicago. Dallas ranks in the bottom half of the WNBA in terms of defensive rating and I expect the Dream to take advantage and push the pace here. Take the over (10*).

MLB Revenge Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Boston at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday

The Braves got the better of the Red Sox in the opener of this series last night, notching their fourth straight victory and handing Boston its second loss in a row following a four-game winning streak. That was a low-scoring contest with just four total runs scored. I look for a different story to unfold on Wednesday, however. Drew Smyly will get the start for Atlanta. He has pitched reasonably well on the road this season, posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, but his three quality road outings have come against the Nationals (twice) and Brewers - two subpar offensive clubs. In his other road start he was lit up by the Blue Jays, allowing five earned runs in just four innings in a 13-5 loss. Note that Boston checks in 10-5 against left-handed starters this season. Behind Smyly is a Braves bullpen that entered last night's action having posted a collective 4.92 ERA and 1.61 WHIP on the road this season. Nick Pivetta will counter for Boston. He's been a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox, going 5-0 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He's been at his best here at Fenway Park where he owns a 3.17 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with the Sox winning four of his five starts. However, here he'll face a Braves team that should be quite familiar with him from his days with the N.L. East rival Phillies. Pivetta's last three starts against the Braves have resulted in 17, 11 and 10 total runs. Pivetta generally only works around five innings per start and while the Red Sox bullpen has been solid, it will face a tough challenge against a deep Braves lineup that is seeing the ball well right now. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Kansas City and Tampa Bay at 7:10 pm et on Wednesday.

We saw a very low-scoring contest between these two teams last night and I expect more of the same on Wednesday. Left-hander Mike Minor will get the start for Kansas City. He's been a different pitcher on the road compared to at home this season, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with the Royals winning all four of his road outings. Note that Minor will have the advantage of facing the Rays for the first time. They check in hitting just .200 as a team against southpaw starters this season. Behind Minor is a Royals bullpen that has really settled down lately, entering last night's action having posted a 3.05 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over their last seven games before tossing two scoreless frames in Monday's victory. Tyler Glasnow will counter for Tampa Bay. He's faced the Royals just once in his career, that start coming back in 2018. Glasnow has been lights out here at Tropicana Field this season, posting a 2.20 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 28 2/3 innings of work. He averages more than six innings per start so the Rays bullpen isn't as big of a concern but on that note, Tampa Bay relievers have been among the best in baseball this season, recording a collective 2.94 ERA and 1.11 WHIP at home this season, blowing just one save. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Washington and Philadelphia at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday.

The 76ers turned in a rather sleepy defensive performance in the opener of this series on Sunday - perhaps not all that surprising given it was an early start against a Wizards squad they've taken care of with relative ease this season. All told, they allowed the Wiz to shoot better than 55% from the field in the series-opener, something I look for the Sixers to make amends for on Wednesday night. On the flip side, Washington pretty much gave Philadelphia whatever it wanted offensively in that contest and ultimately paid the price in a losing effort. While the Wizards are thought of as a defensive doormat, they've actually proven capable of stepping up at times over the course of the season. Prior to Sunday's game, Washington had held four straight opponents to 46.4% or worse shooting. Even on Sunday, it did hold Philadelphia below 50% shooting. Note that the 'under' has gone 32-18 with the 76ers coming in well-rested playing four games or less in the last 10 days over the last three seasons, with those contests totaling an average of just 221.4 points. The 'under' is also 34-15 the last 49 times the 76ers have come off a game that totaled 235 points or more, as is the case here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Dallas and Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Tuesday.

The Mavs did an excellent job of holding down the Clippers in Game 1 of this series on Saturday as they secured a 113-103 victory, just staying a shade 'under' the total. I certainly expect the Clippers to respond with a much better shooting effort here on Tuesday after being held to 11-of-40 shooting from beyond the arc in Game 1. Note that the Clips have averaged 120.6 points per game when coming off a double-digit loss over the last two seasons with that situation producing an average total of 228.4 total points. We've also seen an average total of 229.3 points with the Clips at home revenging a loss where their opponent scored 110 points or more over the last two seasons. Note that these two teams squared off in last year's playoffs in the bubble in Orlando. In that series, which L.A. won 4-2, the Clips came up big offensively off a loss, scoring 130 and 154 points with those two contests totaling 252 and 265 points. Expect another high-scoring affair here. Take the over (10*).

NBA Pacific Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Los Angeles and Phoenix at 10:05 pm et on Tuesday.

We saw an incredibly low-scoring game (by today's NBA standards) in the opener of this series on Sunday as the Suns cruised to a 99-90 victory. I certainly expect to see the Lakers punch back on Tuesday night but Phoenix isn't going to roll over and has proven to be an incredibly efficient offensive team here at home this season, averaging 116.1 points per game on better than 49% shooting. Note that the 'over' has gone 23-11 with the Suns coming off two or more consecutive wins this season, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of 225.7 points. Better still, the 'over' is 13-4 with the Suns coming off four or more straight victories over the last two seasons with an average total of 232.8 points in that spot. As for the Lakers, they've seen the 'over' cash at a 49-26 clip the last 75 times they've played on the road off a loss against a division opponent. Look for an answer from Lebron and A.D. off an off day on Sunday but the Suns should do their part to help this one 'over' the total as well. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Tuesday.

I'm anticipating a high-scoring affair as the streaking Rangers head to Anaheim to face the Angels on Tuesday night. Left-hander Hyeon-Jong Yang will take the ball for the Rangers. He was terrific in his most recent start, allowing just three hits and two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees. Here, he'll face an Angels team that has performed well against left-handed starting pitching this season, averaging 5.3 runs per game on .268 hitting. Note that the 'over' has gone 9-3 in the Angels 12 games against southpaw starters. Yang hasn't shown the ability to work deep into ball games which opens the door for a Rangers bullpen that has posted a collective 5.67 ERA and 1.60 WHIP on the road this season. Texas will be getting its third look at Angels starter Andrew Heaney since the start of last season and it has enjoyed success against him, knocking the left-hander around for 11 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings. The Rangers are 12-5 against southpaw starters this season, averaging 4.4 runs per game on .254 hitting. Heaney has postd a 6.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in four home starts this season with the 'over' going a perfect 4-0. Note that Heaney is averaging less than five innings per start this season which means we're likely to see plenty of an Angels bullpen that has posted a 5.00 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, not to mention six blown saves, at home this season. Take the over (10*).

NHL Revenge Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Nashville and Carolina at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday.

This has turned out to be a very high-scoring series with three of the four games totaling seven goals or more. I expect things to tighten up considerably now that the series is all knotted at two games apiece, however. Note that the 'under' is a perfect 6-0 with the Hurricanes playing at home after losing two of their last three games this season with that situation producing an average total of just 3.7 goals. The 'under' is also 10-2 with the Hurricanes at home off a one-goal loss against a division opponent over the last three seasons, resulting in an average total of just 4.3 goals. For the Preds part, the 'under' has gone 11-3 when they play on the road after giving up three goals or more in three straight games over the last two seasons, with that spot producing an average total of just 4.9 goals. Despite the high-scoring nature of this playoff series, the 'under' remains 8-6 in the last 14 meetings in this series while five of the last seven matchups here in Raleigh have also gone 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and Milwaukee at 7:35 pm et on Monday.

We missed the mark with the 'over' in Game 1 of this series on Saturday as the two teams simply didn't knock down their shots in a rather sloppy contest. I'm expecting a sharper offensive effort from both squads here. Watching that game, it was truly incredible how many easy baskets were missed from the 4-6 foot range. When the dust settled, the Bucks shot 43.7% from the field while the Heat checked in at a dreadful 36.4%. Note that the 'over' has gone 18-7 with the Bucks coming off a home win this season with those contests totaling an average of 241.8 points. That's in addition to the fact that the 'over' is 11-3 with the Bucks coming off a straight-up victory but ATS loss, as is the case here, with that situation producing a whopping 244.6 total points on average. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Carolina and Nashville at 2:35 pm et on Sunday.

This series has featured a couple of high-scoring games already but I expect a different story to unfold on Sunday afternoon in a pivotal Game 4 contest. Note that the 'under' has gone 15-4 the last 19 times the Hurricanes have played on the road leading a playoff series with those games totaling an average of just 4.4 goals. The 'under' is also 11-2 with the Predators playing at home having allowed three goals or more in three straight games over the last two seasons with that situation producing an average total of 4.8 goals. On the flip side of that, the Preds have posted a 7-24 o/u mark when at home after scoring four goals or more in their last game over the last three seasons, with an average total of 4.9 goals. There's a lot on the line here as the Canes look to push the Preds to the brink of elmination heading back to Carolina while Nashville tries to even the series knowing it will need to still steal a game in Raleigh in order to win the series. Take the under (10*).

English Premier League Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Everton and Manchester City at 11 am et on Sunday.

We won with Everton in its 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton on Wednesday but missed with Man City in its last match - a stunning 3-2 loss against Brighton and Hove after it was handed a red card and forced to play a man down for the game's final 80+ minutes. Here, Man City has little to play for other than to try to get back on track prior to the Champions League Final against Chelsea next Saturday. We're not likely to see Man City's best lineup but it certainly has the depth to put forth a strong effort in its EPL home finale, regardless who it sends to the pitch on Sunday. While Everton still has much to play for as it tries to qualify for the Europa League - even if it is a longshot at this point. The Toffees need to take care of business and likely get all three points here and also receive some help. Their best chance likely comes by keeping this match level for as long as possible and hope for a late breakthrough with Man City shifting its focus to next Saturday. The problem for Everton is it has managed just four goals in its last six matches combined. It has scored more than a single goal just once in its last 14 matches - that coming against a poor Tottenham defense in a 2-2 draw on April 16th. Off a uncharacteristically high-scoring affair against Brighton, look for Man City to settle things down here and regain its positive form heading into the Champions League Final. Take the under (10*).

MLB A.L. East Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Tampa Bay and Toronto at 7:35 pm et on Saturday.

We saw a high-scoring contest between these two teams last night in Dunedin and I expect more of the same on Saturday. As expected, games played here in Dunedin have been generally high-scoring this season with the 'over' cashing at an 11-7 clip and an average total of nearly 11 runs. Shane McClanahan will take the ball for the Rays on Saturday. As opponents get more tape on the left-hander we're starting to see him struggle. Over his last two starts he has allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits over just 9 1/3 innings of work after he had given up only two earned runs in eight innings in his first two big league outings. The Jays are rolling along offensively right now having scored seven runs or more in four of their last five games. Robbie Ray will counter for Toronto. He's made great strides in terms of his command this season, issuing only two walks over his last five starts after handing out nine free passes in his first two outings. However, it seems to have come at the expense of his ability to keep the ball in the park. Ray has been lit up for 10 home runs in his last five starts, spanning 30 1/3 innings. The Rays have exploded offensively of late, scoring seven runs or more in six consecutive games. Take the over (10*).

NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Miami and Milwaukee at 2:05 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams just met last Saturday with Milwaukee cruising to a 122-108 victory. That game stayed 'under' the total but this time around we're dealing with a considerably lower number. I believe it will prove too low. The Bucks can pretty much put up 120 points per game here at home in their sleep. They check in ranked seventh in the league in floor percentage here at home and third in possessions per game. Milwaukee also ranks third in the NBA in total rebounding percentage here at home - a big advantage over a Heat squad that ranks 19th in rebound rate on the road - which should allow it to push the pace here. I do believe Miami can afford itself some extra scoring opportunities in transition here as well given it ranks seventh in the league in steals per defensive play on the road and Milwaukee sits in the bottom half of the league in turnovers per possession at home. The 'under' cashed in three of five games in last year's playoff series although I would take that with a grain of salt as those contests were played in unique circumstances in the bubble in Orlando. While the 'under' went 2-1 in three regular season meetings this year - all three games actually went 'over' the number we're dealing with at the time of writing. Take the over (10*).

MLB Interleague Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Seattle and San Diego at 10:10 pm et on Friday.

The Mariners offense is coming off a miserable series against the Tigers which included being no-hit for the second time this season. Perhaps a change of scenery will serve them well. They'll be getting their third look at Padres starter Chris Paddack since last August. The last time they faced him here in San Diego they touched him up for six earned runs over just five innings in an 8-3 victory. Note that the 'over' is 11-2 in Paddack's last 13 starts with the total set between 7.0 and 8.5 runs with those games totaling an average of 10.6 runs. Chris Flexen will take the ball for Seattle. The 'over' has cashed at a perfect 8-0 clip in his eight career road starts as an underdog with those contests reaching an average total of 13.0 runs. Both bullpens are solid, but with neither starter showing the ability to work deep into ball games (Flexen averages around 5 2/3 innings per start while Paddack lasts just 4 1/3 innings on average), there's a good chance they get over-extended in this one. Take the over (10*).

NBA Play-In Tournament Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Memphis and Golden State at 9:05 pm et on Friday.

We've seen the defense ramp up during the NBA Play-In Tournament and I expect that to continue on Friday night as the Grizzlies face the Warriors for the fourth time this season - this time with a playoff spot hanging in the balance. All three previous matchups have gone 'under' the total. In fact, eight of 10 meetings between these two teams over the last three season have gone 'under'. You would be hard-pressed to find two teams more locked in defensively right now. The Grizzlies have held six of their last seven opponents to 43.7% shooting or worse. On the flip side, however, Memphis has shot 44.4% or worse from the field itself in each of its last three contests. The Warriors have been even better than the Grizzlies defensively, holding 10 of their last 11 opponents to 46.5% shooting or worse. Memphis has seen the 'under' cash in seven of its last eight contests. Note that the 'under' is an incredible 13-1 with the Grizzlies playing on the road seeking revenge for a road loss by 10 points or more over the last three seasons, with those games totaling an average of 208.4 points. Meanwhile, the 'under' is a perfect 8-0 the last eight times the Warriors have come off a road loss by three points or less, as is the case here, with those contests reaching an average total of just 213.1 points. With everything to play for on Friday night, I'm expecting a tightly-contested, relatively low-scoring affair. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Detroit and Kansas City at 8:10 pm et on Friday.

First, it's certainly worth pointing out that these two bullpens have been lights out over the last week or so with Detroit's 'pen recording a collective 2.11 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over its last seven games and Kansas City's relief corps having posted a 0.78 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over that same stretch. Note also that the 'under' has gone 25-10 in Royals starter Mike Minor's last 35 starts with the total set between 8.5 and 10.0 runs, as is the case here, with those games totaling an average of just 7.6 runs. Tigers starter Jose Urena has struggled in his last two outings but both of those came at home. He's been a better pitcher on the road, recording a 2.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. The Royals still aren't hitting, averaging just 3.7 runs per game over their last seven contests. Meanwhile, the Tigers check in averaging a paltry 2.7 runs per game against left-handed starters this season. The 'under' has cashed at a 10-2 clip when the Tigers face southpaw starters this season with those games averaging just 7.0 total runs. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Boston and Philadelphia at 7:05 pm et on Friday.

The Red Sox are coming off a high-scoring come-from-behind victory over the Blue Jays last night while the Phillies were shut out by the Marlins and have now scored one run or less in four of their last seven games. Note that the 'under' has gone 25-11 in Phillies starter Aaron Nola's 36 career starts as a favorite priced at -150 or higher, as is the case here at the time of writing, with those games totaling an average of just 7.0 runs. Nola has faced the Red Sox three times previously, allowing just four earned runs in 22 innings of work with the 'under' cashing in all three of those games. Martin Perez is off to a somewhat surprising strong start for the Red Sox this season. He has recorded a 35.3% hard-hit ball percentage through 39 2/3 innings after turning in an incredible 29.7% hard-hit ball rate last year. Perez hasn't fared particularly well in three previous outings against the Phillies with an ERA north of four and a 1.30 WHIP, however, as I mentioned he's catching them at the right time here. Both bullpens have performed admirably of late, with the Red Sox relief corps entering last night's game sporting a 3.38 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over theirs last seven games and the Phillies 'pen having posted a sparkling 2.02 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over that same stretch. Take the under (9*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Atlanta and Indiana at 7 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'over' in the Dream's last game - an 85-77 loss to the Sky. Here, I'll go back to the well with the same play as Atlanta hits the road to face winless Indiana. Note that the 'over' has gone a perfect 6-0 with the Fever coming off a loss by 15 points or more over the last two seasons, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of 181.4 points. While the Dream did make positive strides offensively in their last game, scoring 77 points in a losing effort, there's still plenty of room for improvement. Chennedy Carter has been terrific but Atlanta is still waiting for highly-touted draft pick Aari McDonald to come alive. She's been held to a single point in her first two WNBA games but I do expect her to figure it out sooner rather than later. Note that Indiana checks in 10th in the WNBA in defensive rating this season, which should open up some opportunities for the Dream here. On the flip side, I expect Indiana to afford itself plenty of second chance looks here, ranking third in the league in rebounding percentage compared to the Dream's 11th. Last year's two meetings between these teams produced 170 and 192 points. Expect more of the same here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Indiana and Washington at 8:05 pm et on Thursday.

Most are expecting a track meet between these two teams on Thursday night and while that could very well turn out to be the case, I still believe the lofty total will prove too high. Keep in mind, the Wizards actually check into this one off four consecutive 'under' results. Scott Brooks actually has his team playing a bit of defense right now as they've held their last two opponents to worse than 40% shooting from the field. Going back further, six of their last seven opponents have shot 48.1% or worse from the field. Meanwhile, the Pacers check in having shot better than 50% in three straight games - their longest such streak of the season. The last time they accomplished that feat was back in late December and their next game cruised 'under' the total, reaching just 218 points. Lost in the Pacers tremendous offensive production has been their defensive play as they check in having held five of their last seven opponents to 45.7% or worse shooting. This has certainly been a high-scoring series with the 'over' cashing in all three previous meetings this season. However, just as we've seen with the 'under' cashing in three of four 'play-in' games so far, things tend to get a little tighter as the stakes get higher. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Seattle and Minnesota at 8 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'over' in Seattle's season-opening win over Las Vegas before cashing with the Aces in the rematch two nights ago. Here, I'll switch gears and back the 'under' as the Storm head to Minnesota to face the winless Lynx. Seattle has lit it up, scoring 177 points through two games but that was against an up-tempo Aces squad that was game for track meets. Here, I look for the Lynx to employ a different tempo against the Storm, noting that Minnesota checks in with the league's 12th-fastest pace going back to the preseason. The Lynx are clearly missing the services of Maya Moore, among others. They'll soon get Napheesa Collier back to boost their offense but not in time for Thursday's game. Kayla McBride, formerly a fan favorite with the Las Vegas Aces, was a nice offseason addition but she's better in a supporting role. She checks in having scored 33 points through two games. Natalie Achonwa is also expected to remain out on Thursday, leaving the Lynx with minimal scoring depth off the bench. While Seattle has thrived offensively so far this season, it will face a challenge against a Lynx squad looking to avoid an 0-3 start to the season. In Minnesota's lone previous home game it held a good Phoenix offense to 41% shooting overall and just 4-of-20 (20%) made threes. Note that two of the last three meetings between these two teams here in Minnesota have stayed 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

MLB A.L. West Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Oakland at 3:35 pm et on Thursday.

We've already seen 20 runs cross home plate in the first two games of this series and I expect more of the same on Thursday afternoon. Note that the Astros check in averaging 5.4 runs per game in day games this season and north of six runs per contest over the last week. Meanwhile, the A's average 5.0 runs per game in day contests and prior to getting shut down by Zack Greinke last night, they had plated six runs or more in three of their last four games. Here, the A's will get their third look at Astros starter Luis Garcia since last September. Garcia was solid in his first outing against the A's but in his next he didn't record a single out, issuing three walks before allowing a grand slam in the first inning. Note that Garcia owns a 4.61 ERA on the road this season where he averages fewer than five innings per start. That opens the door for an Astros bullpen that entered last night's action sporting a collective 5.30 ERA on the road this season. Cole Irvin has posted solid overall numbers for the A's this season but again, there's some familiarity here as the Astros will face him for the third time this season. They've already touched him up for 12 hits and eight earned runs in 9 2/3 innings of work. Note that the A's bullpen entered last night's game having recorded a collective 7.30 ERA against division opponents this season and a 4.59 ERA here at home. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between St. Louis and Colorado at 10:35 pm et on Wednesday.

We won with the 'under' in the opener of this series on Monday night and I'll go back to the well with the same play in Game 2 on Wednesday. Note that the 'under' has now cashed in six of the last nine meetings in this series here in Colorado. This one sets up well as another relatively low-scoring affair, noting that the Blues have posted an 0-8 o/u mark when on the road revenging a road loss against an opponent this season, which is obviously the case here following their Game 1 defeat, with those contests totaling an average of just 4.3 goals. The 'under' also checks in 16-6 after the Blues allow four goals or more in a game this season, with that situation producing an average total of 5.1 goals. For Colorado's part, it has seen the 'under' go 34-21 after scoring three goals or more in three consecutive games over the last three seasons. With Monday's 'under' result, the Avs have now seen the 'under' cash in five of their last six games overall. While they're known for their offense, they can play some defense as well, especially here at home where they give up just 1.9 goals per game this season. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Edmonton at 9:05 pm et on Wednesday.

The Jets aren't the same team they were earlier this season. They ended the season by losing nine of their final 12 games, struggling to find consistent offensive production after losing one of their top guns, Nik Ehlers, to a season-ending injury. While Winnipeg did score nine goals in its final two regular season games, neither contest had any meaning in the playoff race. Prior to that, the Jets had been held to three goals or less in 11 of their last 13 games and two goals or fewer in six of their last eight contests. The Oilers offense is top-heavy as we know with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl shouldering most of the scoring load. Having taken the last six meetings in this series, they'll certainly have Winnipeg's full attention on Wednesday. Note that the Jets have allowed just 2.0 goals per game when playing on the road revenging a loss against an opponent this season with those games totaling an average of only 5.3 goals. Note that we've seen just one of the last six meetings in this series total more than six goals with the Oilers allowing two goals or less in all six of those contests. Take the under (10*).

NHL Central Division First Round Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Nashville and Carolina at 8:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We saw a relatively high-scoring game to open this series on Monday night as the Hurricanes cruised to a 5-2 victory. The Predators know they don't have the offensive firepower to keep pace in that type of high-scoring environment, however. Keep in mind, they average just 2.6 goals per game on the road this season while the Hurricanes allow only 2.1 goals per game on home ice. We should see a better defensive effort from the Preds here as they've given up just 2.6 goals per game when coming off a loss by three goals or more this season. Meanwhile, the 'Canes have posted an 8-19 o/u record the last 27 times they've been leading a playoff series, with those contests totaling an average of just 4.5 goals. We've also seen the 'under' go an incredible 13-1 when Carolina plays at home after losing two of its last three games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, with those games totaling an average of only 4.4 goals. Finally, note that the 'under' is 4-2 in the last six meetings between these two teams here in Raleigh and 7-4 in their last 11 matchups overall. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between San Antonio and Memphis at 7:30 pm et on Wednesday.

The 'over' is a perfect 3-0 in this series this season but as is often the case, I don't think it's as simple as riding that trend to victory again here on Wednesday. These two teams obviously have a lot to play for here as the loser will be done for the season while the winner will advance to face the winner of the late game between the Warriors and Lakers. San Antonio limps into this contest having lost 10 of its last 12 games overall but I think legendary head coach Gregg Popovich will draw a strong defensive effort out of his down-trodden bunch here. Keep in mind, the Spurs have given up an average of just 106.6 points per game when revenging a loss against an opponent by 20 points or more over the last three seasons, as is the case here, with those games totaling an average of 218.7 points, well south of tonight's posted total. The Spurs might be catching the Grizzlies at the right time as Memphis' offense lagged a bit down the stretch, held to 111 points or less in nine of its final 13 games. For whatever reason, the Grizzlies were a weaker offensive team at home compared to on the road during the regular season, averaging just 110 points per game here in Memphis, with the 'under' cashing at a 22-14 clip. Note that the 'under' has gone 15-7 in Grizzlies games where the total has been set between 220 and 229.5 this season. The 'under' is also an incredible 12-1 the last 13 times the Grizzlies have been well-rested playing only their second game in the last five days, as is the case here, with those contests totaling an average of 217.1 points. Take the under (10*).

WNBA Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Chicago and Atlanta at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

Both of these teams turned in 'under' result in their season debuts with the Sky cruising to a 70-56 win over the Washington Mystics and the Dream falling by a 78-67 score against the Connecticut Sun. I look for a different story to unfold on Wednesday night in Atlanta, however. Note that the 'over' is still 16-3 in the Sky's last 19 road games with those contests averaging a total of 170.8 points. Better still, the 'over' has gone a perfect 7-0 the last seven times Chicago has played consecutive road contests with those games totaling an average of 171.4 points. Much will be made about who is missing for the Sky in this one as both Allie Quigley and Stefanie Dolson are expected to miss. Keep in mind, both of those usual key contributors struggled in their season-opener, scoring a combined 11 points on a miserable 3-of-17 shooting. Their absence should simply mean more shots for the likes of Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper, who poured in 19 points in Chicago's season-opening win, showing the potential to build off of last year's breakout campaign. Atlanta saw four of five starters scoring in double-figures in its season-opening loss to Connecticut. That was certainly a tough matchup, as is this one, but I do look for improvement from the Dream offensively after they turned the ball over 13 times against the Sun. Highly-touted 2021 draft pick Aari McDonald struggled in her WNBA regular season debut after looking good in limited preseason action, scoring just one point on 0-for-4 shooting against the Sun. Expect the backcourt duo of McDonald and Chennedy Carter to make some noise in this one. Going back to the preseason, it's worth noting that the Sky and Dream check in T3rd and 5th, respectively, in terms of pace rating. The most recent meeting between these two teams resulted in 186 total points last September. Take the over (10*).

National League Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Colorado and San Diego at 10:10 pm et on Tuesday.

We saw a one-sided game between these two teams to open this series last night, with just seven total runs scored - all coming from the Padres. While I look for San Diego to turn in another fine showing at the plate, I think Colorado can help us along in terms of getting 'over' the low total on Tuesday as well. These same two pitchers, Austin Gomber and Blake Snell, matched up last week in Colorado with the Rockies prevailing by a 3-2 score but I expect a different story to unfold here. Gomber has already logged a lot of innings in his first year with the Rockies and we've seen a strong home-road dichotomy play out. In four road outings, Gomber has posted an ugly 7.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, averaging just five innings per start. That opens the door for the Rockies dreadful bullpen to potentially be forced into extended duty on Tuesday, noting that unit entered last night's action sporting a collective 9.39 ERA over their last seven games. Gomber continues to struggle with his command having posted a walk rate north of 12% while also giving up a ton of fly balls, to the tune of a 30.9% fly ball rate - more than 7% higher than the MLB average. Blake Snell has had his own issues with command, also recording an inflated walk rate - a staggering 15.2%! Snell has been terrific here at home, posting a 2.29 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, but averaging less than five innings per start. It's certainly worth noting that the Rockies have gone 6-4 against left-handed starting pitching (compared to 9-23 against righties). Colorado is hitting .282 against southpaw starters this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between St. Louis and Colorado at 10:05 pm et on Monday.

I don't expect the Blues to have an easy time keeping pace with the high-flying Avalanche offense in this series and they're well aware of that fact after losing five of eight regular season meetings, including three of four games played here in Denver. I do look for St. Louis to make a concerted effort to muck things up and knock the Avs off stride here in Monday's series-opener but it may come at the expense of their own offensive production. Note that five of the last eight meetings between these two teams here in Colorado have gone 'under' the total. The Avs wrapped up the regular season scoring 11 goals in consecutive victories over the lowly Kings, who were simply playing out the string. Things are obviously going to be a little tougher here. I will note that St. Louis did take the final two regular season matchups between these two including a 4-1 victory on April 26th (we won with the 'under' in that game), which sets us up well here as the Avs have posted a perfect 6-0 'under' record when revenging a loss by two goals or more this season with those contests totaling an average of just 4.0 goals. The Blues check in sporting a 7-19 o/u record when coming off consecutive home wins by two goals or more, as is the case here, with that spot producing an average total of 4.9 goals. Take the under (10*).

MLB American League Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Cleveland and Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Monday.

There are a number of factors that lead me to believe we're in for a high-scoring affair in Anaheim on Monday night. The Indians will certainly be eager to bring an end to their three-game skid and get back on track at the plate. This looks like an ideal spot to do just that against a poor Angels pitching staff. Patrick Sandoval will get the start for Los Angeles on Monday - his first of the season after being used as a long reliever. Sandoval has yet to figure it out at the big league level, posting a career 5.40 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. In 7 1/3 innings of relief duty this season he has recorded a 55.0% hard-hit ball percentage and a 92.4 mph exit velocity off opposing bats - both considerably north of the MLB average. He's struggled to keep the ball in the park throughout his career, posting an ugly 5.3% home run rate, which is 1.8% higher than the MLB average. Rookie Sam Hentges will counter for Cleveland. He was never able to perform particularly well at the minor league level and now his struggles have carried over to the big leagues as well. Opponents are hitting .316 off of Hentges in 13 2/3 innings this season and he's posted a 32.6% fly ball rate and 6.4% home run rate. He was bailed out time and time again by the Cubs in his last start but I don't think he'll be so fortunate here. Both teams possess struggling bullpens. The Indians got off to a great start in that department this season but have taken a negative turn lately. Meanwhile, the Angels 'pen has been awful from the drop here in 2021. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Los Angeles and New Orleans at 9:10 pm et on Sunday.

The Lakers turned in an energetic performance yesterday in Indiana, welcoming back both Lebron James and Anthony Davis and pouring in 122 points in a seven-point victory over the Pacers. We missed with the 'under' in that contest but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here on Sunday. The Pelicans season essentially ended when they lost Zion Williamson to injury and they check into this one having lost three games in a row, also having shot 46.9% or worse from the field in seven consecutive games. In addition to Zion's absence, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball have missed time as well and are unlikely to play in Sunday's regular season finale. Off consecutive subpar defensive efforts against the Rockets and Pacers, I look for the Lakers to make a concerted effort to clamp down on the Pelicans offense here. Keep in mind, the 'under' is 22-12 with the Lakers on the road this season, where they've held opponents to 45.9% shooting. Take the under (10*).