The venue cannot be any better today for outdoor hockey when the Vegas Golden Knights clash with the Colorado Avalanche in beautiful Lake Tahoe. These two teams will be facing each other for the 4th time in a 7-day span, with the Golden Knights taking 2 of the first 3. Vegas is expected to have Marc-André Fleury between the pipes and it doesn’t get any better than that. Colorado is used to playing in high altitude but Vegas sits at 2,000 feet so I don’t see that being an issue. Consider the team from Nevada.
TODAY’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Month: February 2021
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Buffalo Bulls are hot, winning 3 straight and outscoring their opponents 252-176 during that span. Tonight the Bulls will host the Toledo Rockets who are no push over, but the Bulls have won 5 straight against Toledo and blew out Ball State 78-58 to start the ball rolling, a team the Rockets fell to back on February 6th, 67-81. Buff is hot, ride them ’til they’re not.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO BULLS M/L
Thursday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Bradley Braves will have revenge on their minds when they host the Illinois State Redbirds tonight in Peoria. The Redbirds got the better of the Braves on January 20th, winning 71-56, but that was on Redbirds turf. The Braves are 7-4 at home where they are averaging 77.0 points per game and allowing an average of 63.1, while the Redbirds are just 2-9 on the road where they are averaging 63.5 points per game and allowing 76.4. Bradley should have no problem with an Illinois State team that has eked out just one win in their last 8.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BRADLEY BRAVES M/L
Wednesday NHL Pick
The North leading Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a bit of a funk but I expect them to get back to what they do best, and that is win, when they host the Ottawa Senators, who are just 3-7-0-0 on the road. The Leafs lost a close one to the Habs on Saturday and then lost focus, blowing a 5-1 lead on Monday against the lowly Ottawa Senators. Sheldon Keefe will have his team ready and that won’t happen again tonight. Toronto is #2 in the league in scoring and will be facing a Senators’ D that is #31 in the league. This could be a blowout. Consider the puck line.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 PUCK LINE
Tuesday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Akron Zips are laying a lot of points today when they host the Northern Illinois Huskies but can they cover the 16? Yes, they can. The Zips are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games and 8-1 ATS in their last 9 overall. The pathetic Huskies are a dismal 1-7 ATS on the road and 3-13 ATS in their last 16 overall.
TODAY’S PICK: AKRON ZIPS -16
Monday NHL Pick
After being outplayed on Thursday night by the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, losing 5-2, the Tampa Bay Lightning woke up and poured it on Saturday, blowing out Florida, 6-1, and showing why they are the best in the business. Tonight the rivalry continues but moves to Amalie Arena where the Lighting are still unbeaten at 6-0-0-0. Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected between the pipes for Tampa and he has been on his A-game as usual, with a 1.92 GAA and 0.933 SV%. Florida is no slouch on the road at 3-0-0-1 and are in a 4-way battle for the second spot in the central but are up against the #1 offense in the league and the #1 defense. It is unclear if Tampa’s superstar Steven Stamkos will return to the ice tonight but if he does, bonus Bolts.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Sunday NHL Pick
The Colorado Avalanche are an elite team but have not played since February 2nd due to Covid protocol, so could rust and rhythm be an issue for them tonight when they play the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena? Absolutely. Vegas is tough at home with a record of 7-1-0-1. They have won 4 of their last 5 and will be playing back-to-back games but that doesn’t bother them. They are 6-1 in their last 7 on zero days’ rest.
TONIGHT’S PICK: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS