It should be a close game tonight between the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders and the New Orleans Privateers, when they face off in Conference Tournament play. These two Southland Conference foes met twice this year, with the Privateers winning both games. They took care of business on February 10th, winning 62-53 and 61-55 on January 13th. New Orleans will have the edge in Points per Game, Field Goal %, Defense, Turnovers, and Bench. The line is tight, with New Orleans laying 1.5, so this will be a money line bet on the Privateers. This game will be a 6 o’clock Eastern tip.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS M/L
Tuesday NHL Pick
The Minnesota Wild rarely lose at home, with an outstanding record of 23-5-5-1, and they will try to notch another one tonight when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes’ road record is 13-14-3-2 and they are just 3-7 in their last 10 games overall. Carolina has not fared well against Minnesota, going 2-7 in the last 9 meetings, and they are 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Xcel Energy Center. The home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two clubs. All points are in the Wild’s favor in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA WILD
Monday NHL Pick
The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost three in a row but should be able to right the ship tonight when they travel to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo’s home record is not good, at 9-18-4, and they are expected to have Chad Johnson between the pipes, who has been less than spectacular. Johnson is 6-10-3, with a GAA of 3.18, and a .896 SV%. Toronto on the road is 17-13-5 and they will have the edge tonight in Offense, Defense, Power Plays, Penalty Kills, Face Offs, Discipline, and Goaltending.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Sunday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The IPFW Mastodons, who are ranked #4 in the Summit League, will square off tonight in Conference Tournament play against the 5th ranked North Dakota State Bisons. The Bisons are 5-9 in conference play and have not been covering the number. They are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 against the Summit League. On the flip side, the Mastodons are 7-7 in conference play and have had the Bisons’ number. These teams have met twice this year, with IPFW winning: 84-72 on February 17th, and 92-88 on January 20th. The Mastodons are currently getting 1.5 points. I’ll take it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: IPFW MASTODONS +1.5
Saturday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Niagara Purple Eagles knocked off the Fairfield Stags on February 10th, 95-83, and tonight they will meet in conference tournament play at Times Union Center in Albany, New York. The Purple Eagles are ranked #3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and can light it up, averaging 84.1 points per game. Niagara is 12-6 in conference play and can cover the number. They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 at a neutral site, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games, and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 against the Metro. The Stags are ranked #5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and 10-9 in conference play. At a neutral site, they are just 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19, and for whatever reason, they have struggled on Saturdays, going 2-5 ATS in their last 7. Niagara took care of Fairfield a few weeks ago, so why not again tonight?
TONIGHT’S PICK: NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES -1
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Detroit Mercy Titans and the Green Bay Phoenix will square off in conference tournament play tonight at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Titans are 4-14 in conference play. Over their last 5 games, they are averaging 79.8 points per game and allowing an average of 86.4. The Phoenix are 7-11 in conference play. Over their last 5, they have averaged 84.4 points per game and allowed an average of 84.8. These two teams met in Detroit just last week, with Green Bay winning, 107-97, and they have covered 7 of the last 9 contests. Edge: Green Bay Phoenix. Green Bay is currently laying 2 and should cover, but with a money line of -130, forget the points.
TONIGHT’S PICK: GREEN BAY PHOENIX M/L
Thursday NHL Pick
The Chicago Blackhawks are not the force they once were and tonight they will be out west to face a very good San Jose Sharks team. Chicago’s away record is not good, at 12-14-5, and they have lost 6 in a row on the road. In addition to their road issues, they have struggled at SAP Center, going 3-8 in their last 11. The Sharks are solid at home, with a record of 18-9-3, and have won 4 of their last 5 games in San Jose. The Blackhawks did win last week, 3-1, but that was in Chicago and the Sharks did not have the newly-acquired Evander Kane, who is already paying dividends. The home team usually prevails between these two clubs and San Jose should keep the trend going.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN JOSE SHARKS