50* Powerhouse Play on Blues -120

The Blues (18-6-6, 42 points) continue to dominate the Central division. Tonight, they’ll try to extend that lead when they host the Maple Leafs (13-13-4, 30 points) in St. Louis.

Toronto is just 6-9-0 on the road, and has lost each of their last two away games. Overall, the Maple Leafs are losers of three of their last four. Toronto allowed six goals in two of those three losses. The Maple Leafs have only scored two goals or fewer in each of their last three games.

On average, the Maple Leafs are scoring 3.13 goals per game (11th) while allowing 3.30 goals per game (26th).

Auston Matthews leads this Toronto team from the center position. Matthews has racked up 16 goals and 15 assists for a team-high 31 points.

Before a 3-0 defeat to Pittsburgh in their last game, St. Louis ripped off four straight wins. The Blues scored three goals or more in all four of those victories, and scored four goals or more in three of them. St. Louis also held their opponents to three total goals in their three most recent wins.

On average, the Blues are scoring 3.00 goals per game (T-14th) while allowing 2.50 goals per game (5th).

With 11 goals and 17 assists, left winger David Perron leads St. Louis with 28 points.

50* Powerhouse Play on Sabres +135

Two teams nearly level on points will face off today when the Sabres (13-11-5, 31 points) head into Vancouver for a showdown with the Canucks (14-11-4, 32 points).

The Sabres are pulling it together after a rough stretch of games. Buffalo has now won two of their last four, and could easily be just one game removed from a four-game winning streak if a pair of overtime games had gone their way. The Sabres recently scored seven goals against New Jersey.

On average, the Sabres are scoring 3.00 goals per game (T-14th) while allowing 2.97 goals per game (T-15th).

Linus Ullmark has picked up his game in goal for Buffalo. Thus far, Ullmark is allowing 2.94 goals per game with a .914 save percentage to earn seven wins. Center Jack Eichel leads the team with 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points.

The Canucks are in danger of slipping into another rough patch after losing three of their last five. In one of those losses, Vancouver allowed eight goals to Pittsburgh. The Canucks have scored two goals or fewer in three of their last six games.

On average, the Canucks are scoring 3.24 goals per game (8th) while allowing 2.93 goals per game (14th).

Elias Pettersson is the leading man for Vancouver with 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Suns/Rockets under241½ -109

If the Suns (10-11) can manage to upset the Rockets (14-7) in Houston, they’ll earn themselves a .500 record. The over/under is set at 241.5 points.

Phoenix has recently won two of its last three games. Although their most recent contest was settled in overtime, the Suns defeated the Pelicans by a score of 139-132 for 271 total points. However, Phoenix hasn’t scored more than 114 points in three of their last four contests.

On average, the Suns are scoring 115.6 points while allowing 114.1 points per game.

Guard Devin Booker leads the Suns in scoring with 25 points per game, and he’s coming off one of his best performances of the season. Against New Orleans, Booker dropped 44 points to help his team to victory.

Scoring points is almost never a probably for Houston, especially at home where they’re 8-2 on the year. Only a two-point loss to San Antonio is keeping the Rockets from winning four straight. Houston has failed to score more than 119 points in two of their last four games.

On average, the Rockets are scoring 120.8 points while allowing 115.2 points per game.

James Harden just doesn’t stop scoring. Thus far, his 38.7 points per game lead the NBA. However, Harden was held to just 23 points against Toronto two days ago.

1* Free Play on Devils +200

With a significant chunk of the season now behind us, the Predators (12-10-5, 29 points) and Devils (9-14-5, 23 points) have both been poor. Tonight, they’ll take the ice to face one another in Nashville.

New Jersey has lost four games in a row, but two of those defeats came by a single goals (one by shootout). Prior to those losses, the Devils took down Montreal by a score of 6-4. That win over the Canadiens came on the road, where New Jersey has earned five of their nine wins.

On average, the Devils are scoring 2.46 goals per game (30th) while allowing 3.54 goals per game (30th).

Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has earned eight of New Jersey’s wins from between the pipes. On the season, Blackwood is allowing 3.05 goals per game with an .899 save percentage.

Nashville has lost two in a row and three of their last four games. Although two of those losses came in overtime, the Predators allowed at least three goals in each one. Nashville has also failed to score more than three goals in any of their last five contests.

On average, the Predators are scoring 3.26 goals per game (7th) while allowing 3.19 goals per game (22nd).

Center Calle Jarnkrok leads Nashville in scoring with just 10 goals, two of which came on the power play.

50* Powerhouse Play on Marquette +1½ -110

A late college basketball tip off will feature two good teams when the Marquette Golden Eagles (6-2) go on the road to face the Kansas State Wildcats (5-2).

Marquette has won four of their last five games, with their lone loss over that period coming against #5 Maryland. The Golden Eagles scored 73 points or more in three of those four victories, and they put up 101 in a win over USC. Most recently, Marquette defeated Jacksonville by a score of 75-56.

On average, the Golden Eagles are scoring 74 points while allowing 66.1 points per game.

Guard Markus Howard is hitting 44.3% of his three-point attempts on the way to a team-high 26 points per game. In the Jacksonville game, Sacar Anim led the way with 19 points.

Kansas State has only dropped two games, but those defeats came in back-to-back fashion against Pittsburgh and Bradley just before a win over Florida A&M in their most recent contest. Kansas State has only scored 62 points or fewer in three of their last four games.

On average, the Wildcats are scoring 65.3 points while allowing 58.4 points per game.

Beyond Xavier Sneed and Cartier Diarra, no Kansas State player is scoring more than 8.4 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on George Washington +2 -109

Through nine games played, the Delaware Blue Hens (9-0) are undefeated. Today, they’ll attempt to make it 10 out of 10 with a contest against the George Washington Colonials (4-5).

Although Delaware hasn’t dropped a game, they haven’t played the toughest of competition. The Blue Hens only managed narrow victories over the likes of Oakland and Southern Illinois. Most recently, Delaware defeated Columbia by a score of 84-76.

On average, the Blue Hens are scoring 77.1 points while allowing 63 points per game.

Only four Delaware players are scoring more than seven points per game, and only five Blue Hens are scoring more than just 2.9 points per game.

After kicking off the season with only a single win out of five games, George Washington has been victorious in three out of their last four. The Colonials held their opponent to 63 points in two of those three wins. Most recently, George Washington defeated Boston University by a point.

On average, the Colonials are scoring 67.1 points while allowing 68.1 points per game.

George Washington employs a host of offensive talent. Thus far, five Colonials are scoring 10.2 points or more. Guard Armel Potter is tops on the team with 14 points per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Siena -6½ -109

Through eight games, the Cal Poly Mustangs (1-7) have only one win. The Siena Saints (2-4) haven’t been much better. Tonight, these two teams will go head to head.

Siena has lost three in a row, but Yale needed three overtimes to earn their victory and the Saints fell to Harvard by only three points. Prior to those losses, Siena took on St. Bonaventure and won by a score of 78-65. Siena has held their opponents to 65 points or fewer in two of their last four games.

On average, the Saints are scoring 74 points and allowing 76.2 points per game.

Four Siena Saints are scoring 14 points per game or more. Three of those four players are averaging at least 16 points per game. Elijah Burns leads the way with 16.3 points per contest while hitting 44.4% of his shots from beyond the arc and 58.6% of his shots from the field.

In addition to losing all but one game this year, Cal Poly is currently on a five-game losing streak. The Mustangs allowed 79 points or more in each one of those defeats. Cal Poly has allowed 74 points or more in every loss they’ve suffered this season.

On average, the Mustangs are scoring 67.1 points while allowing 76.3 points per game.

Cal Poly doesn’t have a single player averaging more than Junior Ballard’s 12.4 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on St Bonaventure -2½ -110

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies (4-4) will aim to defend their home court this afternoon when they host the Hofstra Pride (6-3).

Hofstra enters today’s contest as winners of two straight after losing to San Diego by a score of 79-69. The biggest issue facing the Pride is how open they can be on defense. Out of their nine games played, Hofstra has allowed 74 points or more on five occasions.

On average, the Pride are scoring 82 points while allowing 72 points per game.

After the five Hofstra players who are scoring at least 10 points a game, there’s a sharp drop off in offensive production. The sixth man on the Pride is averaging just five points per contest.

St. Bonaventure has recovered from a difficult start to the season with three wins out of their last three. After a tight, defensive victory over Mercer, the Bonnies used 70 and 71-point performances to win their next two. St. Bonaventure has allowed 64 points or fewer in four straight contests.

On average, the Bonnies are scoring 63.9 points while allowing 64.4 points per game.

Leading the Bonnies on offense is guard Kyle Lofton, who’s averaging 13.3 points and 5.3 assists per game. Dominick Welch has added another 12.3 points a game.

50* Powerhouse Play on UC-Santa Barbara +6 -109

A contest between the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos (5-3) and Texas-Arlington Mavericks (4-5) will take place in the middle of the afternoon today.

Santa Barbara is just 1-2 on the road, but they’re currently riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak. Along the way, the Gauchos have shown they can win in a number of ways. In addition to holding opponents to 62 points or fewer in three games, Santa Barbara has put up 81 points or more in four games.

On average, the Gauchos are scoring 74 points while allowing 69.5 points per game.

Santa Barbara can call on four players for points at any time. Leading the pack is forward Amadou Sow, who’s averaging 15 points per game while shooting 52.9% from the field. Three of those top four scorers are shooting 50% or better from the field.

UT Arlington has earned a losing record by dropping five of their last seven games. The Mavericks allowed 72 points or more in three of those defeats. Most recently, UT Arlington fell to North Texas by a score of 77-66.

On average, the Mavericks are scoring 69.8 points while allowing 66.4 points per game.

Only two Arlington players are averaging double-digit points per game, and only three Mavericks are scoring more than 7.2 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Pacific +1 -110

This college basketball season has offered two very different beginnings for the Pacific Tigers (8-3) and the Long Beach State 49ers (3-6). These two teams will go head to head today.

It took Boise State three overtimes to take down Pacific on November 23rd. If that result had gone the Tigers’ way, they would now be winners of seven in a row. Instead, Pacific is currently riding a three-game winning streak in which they held every opponent to 59 points or fewer.

On average, the Tigers are scoring 69.7 points while allowing 58.7 points per game.

While Pacific’s general formula for winning revolves around a strong defensive effort, they have two solid scorers. Jahlil Tripp is scoring 12.5 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the field, and Justin Moore is hitting 50% of his threes on his way to 10.7 points per game.

Long Beach State hasn’t yet strung together two straight wins. Most recently, the 49ers have lost two in a row and three out of their last four. In each of those three losses, Long Beach State allowed 88 points or more.

On average, the 49ers are scoring 71.1 points while allowing 79.1 points per game.

Chance Hunter is Long Beach State’s best scoring threat by averaging 15.8 points per game. However, only one of the 49ers’ top four scorers are shooting better than 30.8% from three.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Avalanche +135

Both the Avalanche (18-8-2, 38 points) and Bruins (20-3-6, 46 points) are in the upper tier of NHL teams. Tonight, they’ll go head to head in Boston.

Colorado has earned its second-place positioning in the Central by producing an away record of 10-5-1. Three of those road wins have come during the five-game winning streak the Avalanche are currently on. Colorado has scored at least three goals in each of its past five games.

On average, the Avalanche are scoring 3.68 goals per game (1st) while allowing 2.79 goals per game (11th).

Center Nathan MacKinnon has racked up a team-high 44 points on 18 goals and 26 assists, all of which lead this Colorado team.

While Colorado’s winning streak is ongoing, Boston’s winning streak was just ended by Chicago in a 4-3 contest. Before that defeat, the Bruins had won eight in a row. Each of Boston’s last four losses have come in overtime or by shootout.

On average, the Bruins are scoring 3.59 goals per game (4th) while allowing 2.24 goals per game (1st).

Left winger Brandon Marchand is tops on this Boston squad with 44 points by way of 18 goals and 26 assists.

50* Powerhouse Play on Appalachian State -6 -110

Both the UL-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (10-2) and the Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-1) are 7-1 in conference play. When they play Saturday afternoon, the winner takes the Sun Belt crown.

Lafayette has only two losses on the season, but one of these defeats came at the hands of their opponents in the conference championship game. That October game was a defensive contest in which the Ragin Cajuns fell by a score of 17-7.

On average, the Ragin Cajuns are scoring 39 points per game on 500 yards of offense while allowing 18 points per game on 369 yards.

Although quarterback Levi Lewis has thrown for 2,450, 20 touchdowns, and three picks, he hasn’t been able to rack up more than 188 yards in eight games this year.

Apart from a loss to Georgia Southern, Appalachian State has rolled through their schedule. That includes a 10-point win over Saturday’s opposition. Most recently, the Mountaineers have held Texas State and Troy to 13 points each while scoring 35 and 48 points of their own.

On average, the Mountaineers are scoring 39 points per game on 437 yards of offense while allowing 19 points per game on 321 yards.

While completing nearly 64% of his passes, quarterback Zac Thomas has thrown for 2,427 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on UL-Lafayette/Appalachian State over57 -110

The Sun Belt Conference champion will be crowned Saturday afternoon when the UL-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (10-2) take on the #21 Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-1). The over/under is set at 57 points.

Lafayette earned a trip to the conference championship game with a run of six straight wins to close the regular season. In each of their 10 wins, the Ragin Cajuns scored at least 31 points. Lafayette also put up 45 points or more in four of their 10 victories.

On average, the Ragin Cajuns are scoring 39 points per game on 500 yards of offense while allowing 18 points per game on 369 yards.

The most dangerous part of the Ragin Cajuns offense is their stable of running backs. Elijah Mitchell has rushed for 1,007 yards and 14 touchdowns, Raymond Calais has rushed for 818 yards and six touchdowns, and Trey Ragas has rushed for 777 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If not for a three-point loss to Georgia Southern, Appalachian State would be undefeated. Since their lone loss of the season, the Mountaineers have won four in a row. Appalachian State has scored 42 points or more in half their games this year.

On average, the Mountaineers are scoring 39 points per game on 437 yards of offense while allowing 19 points per game on 321 yards.

In contrast to Lafayette, the Mountaineers rely on Darrynton Evans for the majority of their run game. On the year, Evans has rushed for 1,250 yards and 16 touchdowns.