Fans at Fifth Third Arena will be treated to some entertaining basketball today when their Cincinnati Bearcats host the Memphis Tigers. Both teams match up well. Memphis is 14-5, fifth in the AAC, and 4-2 in conference play. Cincinnati is 14-6, second in the AAC, and 5-2 in conference play. The Bearcats have been dominant on their home court, where they are 10-2 and are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games. The Tigers have struggled on the road, where they are 2-4, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games, and a dismal 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games overall. You know Fifth Third Arena will be electric with Bearcat fans and in this situation laying the 2.5 is the way to go.
TODAY’S PICK: CINCINNATI BEARCATS -2½
Saturday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Saint Bonaventure Bonnies will be in Chicago today to face the Loyola IL Ramblers and should come out on top because, simply put, the Ramblers are not a very good basketball team. Loyola is dead last in the Atlantic 10 with a record of 6-12. They are winless in conference play, at 0-6, and are riding a 7-game losing streak. The Bonnies are fifth in the A10, 10-9 on the season, and 4-2 in conference play. The Bonnies have the edge in points per game, points allowed, 3-point field goals, free throws, rebounds, etc., etc., etc… Depending on where you shop, the line is -2 St. Bonaventure and they are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, but with a money line of only -140 why would you sweat the points?
TODAY’S PICK: ST. BONAVENTURE BONNIES M/L
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Marist Red Foxes will try to make it 4 wins in a row when they host the Saint Peter’s Peacocks tonight at McCann Arena, and they should do it. The Peacocks have lost 5 straight and are just 1-8 on the road, where they are averaging 53.7 points per game and allowing an average of 68.2. In Poughkeepsie, the Red Foxes are averaging 64.3 points per game and allowing 67.5. Marist is 7-1-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall and Saint Peter’s is 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MARIST RED FOXES -2½
Thursday NHL Pick
The Philadelphia Flyers have had the Chicago Blackhawks in their back pocket and that is who they will be hosting tonight. The Blackhawks are a mess. They are 12-26-4 overall and a dismal 3-11-2 on the road. You know things are not going well when their captain, Jonathan Toews, says it’s time for him to make a change. The Broad Street Bullies are 6-1 in their last 7 meetings with the Hawks overall and 17-1 in their last 18 against them at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won’t come cheap but are still worth considering.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Wednesday NHL Pick
The 28-13-1 Tampa Bay Lightning will go for their fifth straight win when they visit Rogers Arena and the 18-22-3 Vancouver Canucks. The Lightning have owned the Canucks. They are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings overall and 7-1 in their last 8 in Vancouver. The Bolts will be extra motivated tonight for their captain, Steven Stamkos, who is one goal shy of his 500th career tally.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Tuesday NHL Pick
The Florida Panthers knocked off the Buffalo Sabres yesterday, 4-1, in a matinée at KeyBank Center and tonight they will make the short trip to Scotiabank Arena for a meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have been outstanding on their home ice, with a record of 15-3-4, and they will be well-rested tonight, having not played since falling to the Bruins, 4-3, on Saturday. Florida is 10-14-1 on the road, will be playing back-to-back games, and on zero days’ rest, the Panthers are 0-4 in their last 4. Toronto has won 8 of the last 9 meetings with Florida at Scotiabank Arena and I expect that trend will continue tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Monday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons will host the Cleveland State Vikings tonight and it won’t be a walk in the park but the Mastodons should cover the 5.5. PFW is 7-2 in Fort Wayne and they can light up the scoreboard, especially on their home court. At Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, they are averaging 84.4 points per game and allowing 62.9. The Vikings are averaging 64.6 points per game on the road and allowing 64.4 Edge Mastodons. The Vikes do not cover. They are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 against a team with a winning record.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS -5½