The Richmond Spiders are second in the Atlantic 10 and will be at home tonight when they host the #7 ranked Davidson Wildcats. Richmond is a dangerous team, and especially at home, where they are 13-2, averaging 79.7 points per game and allowing an average of 65.7. Davidson brings a 4-8 road record into Robins Center, averaging 71.0 points per game on the road and allowing an average of 72.3. The Spiders have won 7 of their last 8 and in their last outing against the UMass Minutemen, their offense exploded blowing them out, 95-71. Richmond already beat the Wildcats in Davidson on January 14th, 70-64, and have the edge in points per game, field goal %, free throw %, defense, rebounding and turnovers. They will take care of business tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: RICHMOND SPIDERS M/L
Monday NHL Pick
Whenever you can get Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers as a dog, you have to consider them, and they will be one tonight when they visit Bridgestone Arena to face the Nashville Predators. The Oilers enter tonight’s game with a road record of 18-13-3 and have faced the Preds twice this year, winning both meetings. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, who leads the league in points, has been a Predator killer, notching 4 tallies in the first two contests. Nashville has won 3 of their last 4 games and are fighting for a playoff spot so this will not be a walk in the park for Edmonton but with Mike Smith expected between the pipes for the Oilers , who is 11-1-4 in his last 16 starts, they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: EDMONTON OILERS
Sunday NHL Pick
The Anaheim Ducks are riding a 2-game winning streak and they have accomplished it by beating two of the elite teams in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers. Tonight the competition will be less formidable when they host the New Jersey Devils at Honda Center. The Devils, who are 13-17-2 on the road, have lost 2 in a row, both in OT, and will be playing back-to-back games tonight after falling to the Los Angeles Kings last night, 2-1. Anaheim has had New Jersey’s number at the Pond, going 5-0 in the last 5 meetings, and they are 9-3 in the last 12 meetings with the Devils overall.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ANAHEIM DUCKS
Saturday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Iona Gaels will be on the road today for a matinée with the Niagara Purple Eagles. Niagara is coming off an impressive win over St. Peters on Thursday and have played well at home. The Purple Eagles are 8-3 at Gallagher Center, averaging 69.6 points per game and allowing an average of 67.7. Iona, who fell to Niagara in New Rochelle back on January 12th, 70-69, are 4-7 on the road, averaging 66.6 points per game and allowing an average of 70.8. Niagara will be getting 2.5 in this one and cover at home, going 8-3 ATS. They already proved they can beat the Gaels and will be getting points.
TODAY’S PICK: NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES +2.5
Friday NHL Pick
The New York Rangers have won 5 in a row and had better play flawless hockey tonight if they want to make it 6 because they will be at Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia Flyers. Philadelphia has ripped off 4 straight and they dominate at home, with a record of 22-5-4. Carter Hart is expected between the pipes for the Flyers and his numbers in Philly have been off the charts. He is 17-2-2, with a GAA of only 1.65, and a SV% of .941. New York will be playing back-to-back games, after downing the Habs last night, 5-2, so fatigue could be an issue. The Flyers are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings with the Rangers and put the screws to them, 5-1, in their last meeting on December 23rd.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Thursday NHL Pick
The Tampa Bay Lightning have hit a bump in the road, losing a rare 3 in a row, but I expect them to get back on track tonight because the Chicago Blackhawks come to town. Chicago is only 1-7 in their last 8 road games and just 2-9 in their last 11 overall. The Lightning, who are 20-8-2 at home, have won the last 8 meetings with the Blackhawks, and the last 4 against them at Amalie Arena. The Bolts superstar, Steven Stamkos, is questionable for tonight’s game with a lower body injury, but with or without him, they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Wednesday NHL Pick
The Buffalo Sabres are not dead in the water just yet. Buffalo has won 5 of their last 6 and are coming off of impressive victories over the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight they will be a big dog when they take their game to Pepsi Center for a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs are always tough at home, at 16-9-5, but are riddled with injuries and will be without one of their top producers, Mikko Rantanen. Buffalo was embarrassed at home by Colorado, 6-1, in their last meeting on February 4th and they have not forgotten that. The Sabres are worth a shot.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO SABERS