The Vancouver Canucks are spiraling out of control, with just 3 wins in their last 15 games, and now they will host the red hot Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Good luck. Toronto is off to their best 24-game start in franchise history, at 18-4-2. They have won 4 straight and are coming off a 3-game sweep on the road against of a really good Edmonton Oilers team, outscoring them 13-1. The Leafs have won 5 straight against the Canucks, including 3 this year at Scotiabank Arena, winning all 3 with ease.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Wednesday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
It should be a good matchup tonight in Nacogdoches, Texas, when the 15-4 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks host their Southland rival, the 19-4 Abilene Christian Wildcats. Stephen F. is a perfect 10-0 at home and for good reason. They are averaging 89.1 points per game at the Coliseum while surrendering an average of 70.1. The Wildcats enter tonight’s matchup with a 4-4 road record, where they are averaging 69.4 points per game and surrendering an average of 68.1. Both teams are playing well, at 8-2 in their last 10, but revenge is a strong motivator and the Lumberjacks will have that tonight after getting blown out by the Wildcats in Abilene back on January 27th, 82-62.
TONIGHT’S PICK: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN LUMBERJACKS M/L
Tuesday NHL Pick
The Tampa Bay Lightning are playing at a level above all others and Dallas bore witness to that Saturday night when the Lightning blanked them 5-0 at Amalie Arena. Tonight they will meet again but the venue will switch to the Stars’ home ice, American Airlines Center. The Lightning are on a 4-game run, outscoring their opponents 15-3 during that span. Now if that’s not domination, what is? Dallas has struggled all year with a record of 6-6-2-2, are just 1-8 in their last 9, and will have their work cut out for them tonight. Tampa is not only hot, they have the #1 offense in the league as well as defense, and the Bolts are 5-1 in their last 6 in Dallas.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Monday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Richmond Spiders will be laying 14.5 tonight when they host the Saint Joseph’s Hawks and if they want to cover the number they will. The Hawks are just 3-14 on the season and have yet to win on the road, at 0-9. Their defense, if you can call it that, is surrendering an average of 83.1 points per game and the Hawks are just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games against a team with a winning home record. The Spiders are 12-6 on the season, 5-3 at home, and put the screws to the Hawks at St. Joe’s back on January 26th, 79-56, so why should tonight be any different?
TONIGHT’S PICK: RICHMOND SPIDERS -14.5
Sunday NHL Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings will meet again tonight at United Center in back-to-back games. Detroit got the better of Chicago yesterday but I expect the Blackhawks to even the score tonight. Chicago’s superstar, Patrick Kane, will be extra motivated. He needs just one more goal to reach 400 and that will put him in an elite class with Blackhawk legends Hull, Makita and Larmer. Detroit has been playing better of late but let’s not forget, they have mustered just 3 wins on the road this season and Chicago has owned them, winning 4 of the last 5 and 8 of the last 10.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Saturday NHL Pick
The Philadelphia Flyers are starting to get healthy and that could spell trouble for the Buffalo Sabres today when they host the Flyers at KeyBank Arena. Buffalo has been awful at home all year, with a record of 2-5-2-0, and the injuries are starting to pile up. Some key players are questionable for today’s matchup, including captain Jack Eichel and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres top goalie, Linus Ullmark, will miss a couple of weeks and is expected to be replaced with Carter Hutton, who is just 1-4-1 on the season with a 3.24 GAA and a 0.889 SV%. The Flyers have won 5 of the last 6 meetings and should hand the Sabres their fifth straight home loss. Consider the Bullies.
TODAY’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are #1 in the Big West and will make the short trip to Riverside tonight to face the UC Riverside Highlanders. The Gauchos are on an incredible 12-game run and I don’t see that ending tonight. UC Riverside is #4 in the Big West and have lost 2 of their last 3, with their latest loss coming against the lowly UC San Diego Tritons. The Gauchos have won the last two meetings with the Highlanders, score more points and give up less. Gauchos stay hot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS M/L