The Toronto Raptors are playing at the top of their game, winning 9 out of their last 10 games and are coming off two decisive home victories over the Sacramento Kings and the Brooklyn Nets. Tonight they will pay a visit to the Spectrum Center to tangle with the Charlotte Hornets. The Raptors are 20-8 on the season, and when away from Air Canada Centre, they are averaging 107.3 points per game and holding teams to an average of 102.5. The Hornets, who have a record of 11-19, average 105.8 points per game at home, and allow an average of 104.3. Charlotte has not been covering the number, going 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall, and are 1-5 ATS in their last last 6 home games. These two teams met on 11/29, with Toronto cruising to an easy 126-113 victory. The line is Toronto -2.5, with a money line of only -140. The numbers indicate Toronto should cover the 2.5 but the money line is only -140. Why sweat the hook?
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO RAPTORS M/L
Tuesday Men’s College Basketball Pick
The Canisius Golden Griffins will play a non-conference game tonight at home in Buffalo against the Elon Phoenix. I like the home team in this one. The Golden Griffins are 2-1 at Koessler Athletic Center, where they average 80.7 points per game, and hold teams to an average of 72.3. On the flip side, Elon is 1-4 on the road, where they average 65.4 points per game, and hold teams to an average of 77.8. The Phoenix are just 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games. The Griffs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games and will be laying 2 in tonight’s contest. Do the Griffins cover the number tonight? Probably, but this is a money line game for sure at just -135.
TONIGHT’S PICK CANISIUS GOLDEN GRIFFINS M/L
Monday NHL Pick
The Pittsburgh Penguins snapped their 3-game skid on Saturday by knocking off the bottom feeding Arizona Coyotes, 4-2. Pittsburgh will try to make it two in a row before heading back home for a Thursday contest with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Payback will be on the Pen’s minds, after suffering a home defeat to the Avalanche just a week ago, 2-1. Pittsburgh is 5-1 in their last 6 visits to Colorado and the road team between these two clubs is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. The Avalanche is 15-45 in their last 60 games on one day’s rest and 1-4 in their last 5 at Pepsi Center.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Sunday NFL Pick
The Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs since the last century. If they want to break that trend, they cannot afford to lose today at home against the Miami Dolphins and they know it. Tyrod Taylor will be at the helm today for Buffalo, after sitting last week with a knee injury. The Bills are 5-2 at New Era Field, where they are averaging 19.6 points per game and allowing an average of 20.9. Miami will be playing on short rest after knocking off the Patriots at home on Monday, but remember, Gronk did not play for New England and without him, Brady is lost. The Dolphins are 2-4 on the road, where they are averaging 13.8 points per game and allowing an average of 29. Game time temperature in Buffalo will be around 25 degrees which will suit the Bills and their rowdy fans just fine. Buffalo needs to feed Shady, limit their turnovers, and they should get this win. The Bills are laying 3 but why sweat the points? Take them on the money line.
TODAY’S PICK: BUFFALO BILLS M/L
Saturday Men’s College Basketball Pick
The 8-2 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels will travel to Stockton tonight to face the Pacific Tigers. The Rebels will be a road favorite, laying 7.5. UNLV should be able to cover this number. The Rebels are averaging 91.5 points per game and are holding teams to an average of 72.9. UNLV is ranked 10th in Offensive Field Goal Percentage and will have the edge in Points Per Game, Field Goal%, Defense and Rebounding. The Rebels cover, going 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall. About the Tigers: Pacific is 5-6, averaging 75.6 points per game, and allowing an average of 73. The Tigers are ranked 157th in Offensive Field Goal Percentage and are just 3-13 ATS in their last 16 home games.
TONIGHT’S PICK: UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS -7.5
Friday NHL Pick
Two of the original six teams will meet tonight at Little Caesers Arena when the Detroit Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is apparent that the Leafs miss their leading scorer, Auston Matthews, after losing 2 in a row and being shut out last night, 2-0, by the Minnesota Wild. Detroit is on a losing streak also, dropping their last 3 games, and their home record is less than desirable at 5-6-6. Auston Matthews is still questionable for tonight’s contest, but with or without him, the Leafs should prevail. Toronto is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings with the Red Wings, 4-1 in their last 5 visits to Detroit, and the Red Wings are 1-8 in their last 9 home games. The Leafs should get back on track tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Thursday NHL Pick
The best team in hockey, the 26-6-1-1 Tampa Bay Lightning, will take their 5-game winning streak into the desert tonight to face the worst team in hockey, the Arizona Coyotes. During their 5 game run, the Lightning have outscored their opponents, 23-9, and that can be attributed to the play of top producers, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Arizona is going in the opposite direction. The Coyotes have lost 4 in a row, are just 7-21-4-1 on the season, and 3-8-1-0 at home. Tampa Bay however, better be careful and not take this game for granted. The Desert Dogs won both meetings with the Lightning last year and have beaten two of the NHL’s top teams this year at Gila River Arena, the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings. If the Lightning stay focused, they should be headed to Colorado with a 6-game winning streak.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING