The Chicago Cubs start their season off with interleague play when they travel to the west coast to take on Garrett Richards and the LA Angels. Chicago has the reigning NL Cy Young winner on the bump tonight, Jake Arrieta, and the Cubs are 4-1 in his last 5 interleague starts. Chicago was a force last year and now they added Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist to the roster. Scary!
Tonight’s pick:
Chicago Cubs
Opening Day is finally here. Let’s start the season off right with a win and take Liriano and the Pirates over the visiting Wainwright and the Cardinals. Wainwright has had trouble at PNC Park. He’s 0-4 in his last 4 in Pittsburgh. The lefty Liriano shines at home. He’s 11-0 in his last 11 home starts. Let’s take McCutcheon and company today.
Today’s pick:
Pittsburgh Pirates
I have been riding Syracuse throughout this tournament and I’m not going to abandon them now. This is not the team the Tar Heels beat February 29th, 75-70. Boheim did his magic and got this team here when no one gave them a chance. These kids are playing with confidence and if the Q plays their A game on defense, which averages 65.8 against on a neutral site, they can cover the 9.5 and maybe even win it!
Tonight’s pick:
Syracuse Orange +9.5
The Morehead State Eagles and the Nevada Wolf Pack meet in Reno tonight to decide who wins the CBI Championship. Despite having 21 turnovers on Wednesday night, the Wolf Pack prevailed 77-68. The Pack are 15-3 at home and are averaging 74.1 points per game and allowing an average of 68.9 at home. The Eagles are 8-10 on the road and are averaging 70.1 points per game and allowing an average of 71.0 on the road. If Nevada can limit their turnovers, they should win this game. The line has dropped to -3.5 Wolf Pack, so I’m siding with Nevada money line -160.
Tonight’s pick:
Nevada Wolf Pack -160 M/L
The New York Rangers and the newly acquired Eric Staal travel to Carolina to take on his former team, the Hurricanes. The Rangers have been dominating the Hurricanes, winning 9 in a row. With a 10th win tonight, they can clinch a playoff berth. Lundqvist is between the pipes tonight for New York. His record has been spectacular against Carolina, going 23-9-1. I like the Rangers tonight.
Today’s pick:
New York Rangers
Oakland Golden Grizzlies and the Old Dominion Monarchs square off tonight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The Monarchs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Horizon league, and are only 5-11 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games. On a neutral site, Old Dominion is averaging 65.7 points per game. Their opponent, the Golden Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games and are averaging 85.2 points per game on a neutral site. Oakland has the edge in points per game, field goals, free throws, rebounding and bench. With that being said, I’m taking the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, -1.5.
Today’s pick:
Oakland -1.5
The Florida Panthers are on a quest to clinch back-to-back Atlantic division titles and they’ll get one step closer tonight when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have trouble with the Panthers, going 1-7 in their last 8 meetings overall, and 1-4 in their last 5 in Florida. Toronto is playing back-to-back games tonight so I see Florida coasting to a win.
Today’s pick:
Florida Panthers
