In their first game after returning from the break, the New Jersey Devils fell at home to the Dallas Stars, 4-2, and I’m going to chalk that one up to rust. Today they will travel to Nashville to take on the Predators and should come away with a win. The Preds did win yesterday at home over the Colorado Avalanche, but they are still just 20-28-7 on the season and will be challenged today by the Devils. The 31-21-6 Devils have been good on the road with a record of 16-11-2 and cruised to an easy victory over the Preds in their last meeting in November. 5-2. Nashville has trouble scoring, averaging one of the league’s lowest goals per game, at 2.64, and will have trouble finding the back of the net against a New Jersey team that is ranked second in the league in goals allowed, at 2.5. The Devils have been in a pattern where they win one, lose one, so today they win.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Saturday NHL Pick
Finally, the NHL gets back to business and one of the matchups this afternoon will be the Washington Capitals visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington is the top dog in the Eastern Conference and has a legitimate shot of once again winning the Cup. They are second in the league in scoring, averaging 3.56 goals per game, and third in goals allowed, surrendering just 2.56 per game. The Caps had no players participating in the ridiculous 4 Nations tournament so they will be well healed and rested. They are also 19-7-2 on the road and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh back on January 18th. The Penguins look like a team that is tired and have their best days behind them. They limped into the break losing 2 of their last 3 and are 2-9 in their last 11 against the Eastern Conference. Also, Sid Crosby is a game time decision for Pittsburgh and if he doesn’t lace up, they don’t stand a chance.
TODAY’S PICK: WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Friday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons will have a score to settle when they host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies tonight at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The Mastodons and Golden Grizz last met on January 22nd and Oakland won, 76-72, but that was in Auburn Hills, not Fort Wayne. PFW is 11-1 as the home team and is one of the top scoring teams in the nation, averaging 82.3 points per game. Oakland will not be able to keep up with the Fort Wayne scoring machine. The Golden Grizzlies are averaging just 68.4 points per game and as the away team they are 4-9. Not only are the Mastodons the better team on the court tonight, they are due after losing their last two. Depending on where you shop, the line is around PFW -3.5 with a money line of -170.
TONIGHT’S PICK: PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS M/L
Thursday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles will be on their home court tonight in Hattiesburg to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and they should take care of business. Coastal Carolina is, if not the worst team in college hoops, definitely one of them. The Chanticleers have lost 12 straight, are dead last in the Sun Belt, and just 1-13 in conference play. Southern Miss isn’t setting any records, that’s for sure, but as the home team they are 9-2, 5-9 in conference play, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as the favorite. The line is currently Golden Eagles -6.5. Consider laying it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GOLDEN EAGLES -6½
Wednesday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The top seed in the Mountain West, the New Mexico Lobos, will be on the road tonight to face the #5 seed, the Boise State Broncos. The line is currently Boise -3.5 and the reason for this is New Mexico’s Mustapha Amzil and CJ Noland are a game-time decision, but I bet they play. The Lobos are 14-1 in conference play, riding an 8-game winning streak, and blew out the Broncos on January 17th, 84-65. The Broncos are 9-5 in conference play and are coming off a lackluster performance against the San Diego State Aztecs, losing 47-64. The Lobos are the best in the Mountain West and that’s a fact. They score more than the Broncos, give up less, and are getting 3.5. Forget about it.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW MEXICO LOBOS +3½
Tuesady Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The two bottom feeders in the SEC will meet tonight when the LSU Tigers host the South Carolina Gamecocks. SC has not won a game since December 30th and is just 1-7 as the away team with a dismal 0-12 in conference play. LSU is not winning a national championship, that’s for sure, but they are the better team on the court tonight. The Tigers are 10-4 as the home team and 2-10 in conference play. They snapped a 7-game losing streak in their last outing, knocking off Oklahoma 82-79 in Oklahoma and winning can be contagious. The Tigers are averaging 76.4 points per game and the Gamecocks are averaging 69.7. LSU also has the edge in steals, rebounds, blocks, and free throws. If the Tigers can’t beat the Gamecocks on their home court, some changes need to be made. The line is currently LSU -2.5 with a money line of only -145. Consider LSU on the money line.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS M/L
Monday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks have won 4 straight, and after they travel tonight to Commerce, Texas for a matchup with the East Texas A&M Lions, it should be 5. The Lions are dead last in the Southland conference with record of 3-23 and just 1-14 in conference play. They have also lost 4 in a row and 9 of their last 10. SFA is 13-13, 9th in the Southland, and 6-9 in conference play. The Lumberjacks have already beaten the Lions this year and have the edge in points scored, points allowed, free throws, rebounds, steals, and blocks. The line is currently SFA -4.5 with a money line of -185. Don’t get burned by the hook.
TONIGHT’S PICK: STEPHEN F. AUSTIN LUMBERJACKS M/L