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
Saturday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Syracuse Orange win at home and that is where they will be today when they host the Boston College Eagles. Syracuse is 9-1 at the Carrier Dome and BC has yet to win on the road, at 0-4. Not only did the Orange beat the Eagles in their last meeting on December 12th in Boston, they annihilated them, 101-63. Lay the points and take the Q.
TODAY’S PICK: SYRACUSE ORANGE -11
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The 11-4 Akron Zips will be a road favorite tonight when they face the Miami-Ohio RedHawks. The Zips are #2 in the Mac and are hot, winning 7 of their last 8 and have been a covering machine. Akron is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 as a favorite and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 overall. The RedHawks are ranked #6 in the Mac, at 8-7. They have lost 2 straight and 3 of their last 4. Akron is averaging more points per game than Miami-Ohio and surrendering less. Consider the Zips.
TONIGHT’S PICK: AKRON ZIPS -4
Thursday NHL Pick
The Montreal Canadiens had their way with the Edmonton Oilers in their first two meetings of the season, winning easily, outscoring Edmonton by a combined total of 8-2, and that was in Edmonton. Tonight the venue will be at Rogers Centre and Montreal is expected to have Jake Allen between the pipes. Allen’s numbers are impressive. He is 4-1-0 with a nasty GAA of only 1.81 and a 0.94 SV%. The Oilers have won 5 of their last 6 but 4 of those wins were against Ottawa and everybody beats them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MONTREAL CANADIENS