The 11-6 Richmond Spiders will take their game North tonight to take on the 13-4 Dayton Flyers. Richmond is 4-2 on the road, 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games as an underdog, and 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Flyers. The Flyers are tough at home but are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games against a team with a winning record. I’ll take the points here and go with the Spiders.
Tonight’s pick:
Richmond Spiders +12.5
The Sacramento Kings are playing the finale of a 7-game home stand and have been able to muster just 1 win in the first 6 games. After tonight, the Kings will be embarking on an 8-game road trip so a win at the Golden 1 Center would send them packing on a positive note. Turnovers have been the issue for Sac, giving it up 43 times in their last 2 games, and that is not good. Indiana struggles on the road, owning a record of 5-14, and they are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings with the Kings. Sacramento averages 105.4 points per game at home and allows an average of 107.1. On the flip side, the Pacers put up an average of 103.9 on the road and allow an average of 110.6. If Sacramento keeps the turnovers to a minimum, they should get this one. The line is Sac -1.5, with a money line of just -125, so why sweat the hook?
Tonight’s pick:
Sacramento Kings – M/L
The New York Rangers will look to end their 2-game skid tonight when they host the Dallas Stars at MSG. Dallas will be playing back-to-back games tonight after getting roughed by Buffalo yesterday in a 4-1 loss. The Stars are 6-12-4 on the road, just 1-8 in their last 9 road games against a team with a winning record, and 2-5 in their last 7 meetings with New York. The Rangers are 13-8-1 at MSG and have the edge in offense, defense, power play, penalty kills, face offs, discipline and goaltending. The Rangers’ offense should get a boost tonight with the expected return of Mika Zibanejad, who in his 19 games before his injury, recorded 5 goals with 10 assists. I like the Rangers’ chances in this one.
Tonight’s pick:
New York Rangers
The Washington Capitals have won 9 straight and tonight they will be playing back-to-back games when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on their home ice, PPG Paints Arena. The Capitals have not fared well at PPG, going 0-5 in their last 5 visits there and the home team between these clubs is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings.
Tonight’s pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to get one step closer to their 9th Super Bowl appearance but they will have to get past the Kansas City Chiefs at an always hostile Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers are riding an 8-game winning streak and are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games, 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 divisional playoff games. The Chiefs have struggled in post-season play, going 1-7 ATS in their last 8 playoff games, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home playoff games. When these two teams met on October 2nd, Roethlisberger threw for 5 touchdown passes and Le’Veon Bell rushed for 144 yards on 18 carries in a 43-14 rout at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger has been down this road before, with 18 post-season starts under his belt, as opposed to Alex Smith with just 5. Big Ben and the Steelers are always a good bet in post-season play.
Tonight’s pick:
Pittsburgh Steelers +1.5
The next blog will be posted on Sunday, January 15th. Good luck with your picks.
The Eastern Washington Eagles, who are 10-6 on the season, will travel to Holt Arena tonight to take on the 3-12 Idaho State Bengals. The Eagles are ranked 167th in offensive field goal percentage and are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Idaho State. The Bengals are ranked 285th in offensive field goal percentage and are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Eagles have the edge in points per game, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, defense, rebounding, turnovers and bench. I’m going to side with the Eagles on the money line in this one.
Tonight’s pick:
Eastern Washington Eagles M/L
