Flyers on the puck line.

Slapshot.

Game 46.

4:35 pm pst.

Philadelphia is off to a 2-0 start this season and will have no problems staying undefeated tonight when facing Buffalo. This is an opponent they have manhandled, winning the last four meetings and seven of the last nine. Just one of those victories came by only one goal. The The Sabres had an issue last season with the power play. Well, it looks like history is repeating itself. Buffalo is 3-14 L17 at Philly. Philadelphia is 25-9 L34 at home. Take the Flyers on the puck line. Thank you.

Florida State.

Bookie Buster.

Game 875.

4:00 pm pst.

In what I expect to be a very tough matchup, I will side with the underdog Seminoles with the healthier squad and the more potent offense. FSU comes off two very strong performances (both wins and covers) over notables, NC State and UNC. While the Cardinals have talent, weaknesses were exposed on Saturday in their 78-72 loss and no cover at the hands of the Hurricanes. Pressure caused poor shooting for Louisville while they were badly outmuscled on the boards. Both up front and in the back court, Florida State has the personnel to run here. Big men, Gray and Koprivica (17.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG combined) will dominate down low while the trio of guards, Walker, Barbes (check statis), and Polite (37.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 8.1 APG combined) will control the tempo. The Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS L5 at home. The Seminoles are 9-4 ATS L13 following a SU win. Take Florida State. Thank you.

NO.

NFC GAME OF THE YEAR.

Game 308.

3:40 pm pst.

With no running game to speak of, Tampa Bay solely relies upon Tom Brady throwing the ball. Well, New Orleans owns a tough defense (21.1 PPG allowed) that ranks 5th vs. the pass. They have bested Brady and the Bucs both meetings this season SU and ATS and going back a bit, have won and covered five straight in this series. Drew Brees is 100% healthy and has the dangerous Alvin Kamara running the ball. Also, perhaps the most dangerous RB in the NFL coming out of the backfield as a receiver. Brees will hook up often with stellar wideouts, Harris and Thomas especially against the very vulnerable pass defense of the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is 1-4 ATS L5 in January and 1-4 ATS L5 as a road underdog. New Orleans is 7-1 ATS L8 vs. the NFC and 8-2 ATS L10 overall. Take the Saints. Thank you.

Virginia Tech.

ACC GOW.

Game 839.

3:00 pm pst.

The Hokies at 10-2 SU (8-4 ATS) are playing very good basketball. Particularly on the stop-end, where they are allowing just 65.1 PPG. They have taken the last eight meetings with Wake Forest, going 6-2 ATS. To make matters worse for the 3-4 Demon Deacons, the team has been hit by the injury/illness bug with five players sidelined, including two of their top-three scorers. The road team is 5-1 ATS L6 meetings in this series. Virginia Tech is 6-1 ATS L7 overall. Wake Forest is 2-5 ATS L7 as a ‘dog. Take the Hokies. Thank you.

Cleveland.

VIM.

Game 305.

12:05 pm pst.

KC deserves their praise. However, the oddsmakers have “inflated” their lines thus resulting in this team failing to cover their last eight outings. While Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense can score, the defense leaves a lot to be desired. Particularly against the run. Every decent ground attack has piled up yardage and points on Kansas City. Well, in comes the NFL’s 3rd ranked rushing unit. While RB’s, Chubb and Hunt, who have combined for over 2,000 yards rushing and 20 TD’s on the ground, keep the KC defense honest and allow Baker Mayfield, who has thrown just one INT in the last 10 games, to hook up with his arsenal of receivers. Kansas City is 0-4 ATS L4 at home and 0-4 ATS L4 vs. the AFC. Take Cleveland. Thank you.

Tulsa.

AAC GOW.

Game 822.

12:00 pm pst.

Due to safety protocols, Memphis has yet to play in the New Year, idle for 18 days. Tulsa has played a regular schedule this season and is starting to stride, winning six of the last seven SU and going 5-1 ATS during that span. That includes a December 21, 56-49 win and cover over Memphis. This is a healthy Golden Hurricane squad that possesses a frustrating defense (61.3 PPG allowed) The underdog is 5-0 ATS L5 meetings in this series. The Tigers are 0-6 ATS L6 overall. The Golden Hurricane are 20-7 ATS L27 as a home ‘dog. Take Tulsa. Thank you.

Baltimore.

SMP.

Game 303.

5:15 pm pst.

Giving Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s No.1 rushing attack points in the playoffs is a mistake. This is a team that enters this contest winning six in a row SU and seven straight ATS. The matchup favors the Ravens ground attack against the lax 17th ranked rush defense of the Bills. When the postseason inexperienced Josh Allen and the Buffalo squad has the ball, they must line up against the No.2 stop-unit in football. The Baltimore “D” has made a habit of shutting down offenses that usually account for 30 points per game. The Ravens are 7-0 ATS L7 playoff road games, 16-5 ATS L21 vs. the AFC, 9-3 ATS L12 in January, and 20-8 ATS L28 overall. Take Baltimore. Thank you.

Charlotte.

TRP.

Game 525.

4:35 pm pst.

Toronto is pointspread poison covering just three of their last 12 outings, including a no-cover against Charlotte two nights ago. That ATS win marked the third straight for the Hornets against the Raptors and the fifth in the last six meetings. Even if Gordon hayward (check status) is sidelined here, on both sides of the court, Charlotte matches up well with Toronto. The Hornets are 17-7 ATS L24 at the Raptors, 16-5-1 ATS L22 as an underdog, and 5-1 ATS L6 overall. The Raptors are 1-8 ATS L9 at home, 2-9 ATS L11 as a favorite, and 1-4 ATS L5 on one days rest. Take Charlotte. Thank you.

Carolina on the puck line.

PP.

Game 23.

4:05 pm pst.

The Hurricanes had a 43-14 advantage in shots on goals in Thursday’s, 3-0 win over the Red Wings. Going back to last season, Carolina has taken four in a row over Detroit by a combined, 17-5. There is no reason why today’s contest will have any different of an outcome. The Red Wings are 8-20 L28 at home and 10-42 L52 overall. Take the Hurricanes on the puck line. Thank you.

GB.

BCP.

Game 302.

1:35 pm pst.

There is no team in the NFL that is as “Jekyll & Hyde” as LA. While Green Bay has played the most consistent football in the league this season. Jared Goff will be under center here. That thumb injury may be a factor folks. The Rams won’t be able to keep pace offensively with the No.1 scoring offense in the NFL. FYI, the Packers defense have held their last six opponents to an average of 18.5 PPG. When Green Bay has the ball, the “Big 3” of Rodgers, Adams, and Jones will keep the Los Angeles “D” on the field, on their toes, and very busy. The favorite is 9-1 ATS L10 meetings in this series. The Rams are 0-6 ATS L6 vs. the Packers. The Packers are 7-2 ATS L9 in the month of January. Take Green Bay. Thank you.

UAB.

VIM.

Game 687.

1:00 pm pst.

In what just might be the biggest mismatch on the board today, UAB and their No.1 ranked defense (55.2 PPG allowed) will completely shut down the lackluster Charlotte offense. The Blazers just smashed the 49ers, 61-37 last night. Expect their quartet of double-digit scoring guards to light it up again here today. UAB is 6-0 ARS L6 vs. teams with a losing record, 6-2 ATS L8 on the road, and 10-4 ARS L14 as a favorite. Take the Blazers. Thank you.

Creighton.

BB.

Game 635.

11:00 am pst.

The 8th ranked Blue Jays have rattled off six straight victories while the disappointing Bulldogs are just 3-7 both SU and ATS this season. Don’t be concerned with the number here as Creighton, on both sides of the court outclass Butler. This is a team with five double-digit scorers and overall account for a whopping, 83.3 PPG. The Bulldogs don’t have the personnel to compete here. The favorite is 6-0 ATS L6 meetings in this series. Take Creighton. Thank you.

Siena.

VIM.

Game 867.

4:00 pm pst.

The Saints are off to a great start at 4-0 SU. They have dominated the Broncos, winning and covering seven of the last 10 meetings. Overall, Siena is on a 13-game SU win streak and on both sides of the ball, outclass their opponent here. This is squad with five double-digit scorers and two more players flirting with DD’s. They run with a quartet of guards as talented as any back court in the nation. Pickett, Camper, Carpenter, and King (54.5 PPG, 20.0 RPG, 13.4 APG combined) will take this game over. Siena is 5-2 ATS L7 overall. Rider is 2-6 ATS L8 overall. Take the Saints. Thank you.

VGK.

-1.5 Goals.

Slapshot play.

Game 72.

7:05 pm pst.

Losing three straight to Dallas to be ousted from the playoffs last season left a bad taste in the VGK mouth. Expect one of this season’s highest-touted teams to come out here and make a statement against an opponent they have easily handled, taking eight of the last 10 meetings. VGK are 15-5 L20 at home. Take the VGK. Thank you.

Utah State.

VIM.

Game 742.

6:00 pm pst.

These two teams match up well everywhere but on the boards. The Aggies possess a far better corps of rebounders on both the offensive and defensive glass. Moreover, Utah State has been money to us bettors, covering six straight contests while San Diego State has struggled. The home team is 6-2-1 ATS L9 meetings in this series. The Aztecs are 0-4 ATS L4 following a SU win. Take the Aggies. Thank you.

Charlotte.

TRP.

Game 569.

4:35 pm pst.

Charlotte has covered four of the last five meetings with Toronto. The Raptors are far cry from the team the were over recent seasons. At 2-8 SU and 3-7 ATS, this team is struggling and should no way be laying this type of lumber. Especially against the red-hot Hornets, which have won and covered four of their last five. Take Charlotte. Thank you.

Miami.

SMP.

Game 567.

4:05 pm pst.

Both teams are missing some key players. But in a quick turnaround from Tuesday’s tough overtime battle, this is way too many points for Philly to lay. Especially against a Miami team that has covered six of the last seven meetings and winning four of those seven SU. Take the Heat. Thank you.

Mississippi State.

BB.

Game 696.

6:00 pm pst.

Mississippi State is starting to stride playing solid basketball and winning eight of their last 10 SU. Texas A&M is not impressive at all dropping three of their last four both SU and ATS. On both sides of the court the Bulldogs outclass the Aggies, particularly on the glass. Mississippi State is very strong on both the offensive and defensive boards and that is where this matchup will get out of hand. The backcourt tandem of Molinar and Stewart JR. (37.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 5.8 APG combined) are just too much for the Texas A&M guards to contend with. The home team is 4-1 ATS L5 meetings in this series. The Aggies are 2-5 ATS L7 on the road and 2-5 ATS L7 overall. The Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS L7 at home and 15-7 ATS L221 home games vs. teams with a losing road record. Take Mississippi State. Thank you.

LA.

TRP.

Game 54.

5:05 pm pst.

LA has won and covered five straight over Houston, including Sunday’s, 120-102 thumping. A game in which DeMarcus Cousins was ejected for taking a swipe at LeBron James. Not a player to take things lightly, expect James and company to make a statement here. The Rockets are 2-6 ATS L8 at home, 7-19 ATS L26 on one days rest, and 3-9 ATS L12 overall. Take the Lakers. Thank you.

Virginia Tech.

VIM.

Game 624.

4:00 pm pst.

I’ve always been a fan of Coach “K” and the Duke Blue Devils program. But this season his young and inexperienced squad just isn’t putting up the numbers we are accustomed to seeing. Thus, resulting in a 1-6 ATS mark in 2021. On the other hand, V tech is rolling, sporting a 9-2 SU record and going 7-4 ATS. They own a frustrating defense that is allowing just 64.9 PPG. They are a bit banged up but they have the depth and the talent to win this game outright. The home team is 7-2 ATS L9 meetings in this series. The Blue Devils are 1-5 ATS L6 on the road. The Hokies are 4-1 ATS L5 at home. Take Virginia Tech. Thank you.

Alabama.

NCAAF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WINNER.

Game 500.

5:00 pm pst.

With the National Championship game upon us, for the first time in a long time there are no arguments, no debates, and no protests as to why other teams are more deserving to be here. The last two undefeated ranked teams in the nation square off in the matchup everyone was hoping for.

 I made the line here between -8 and -10 points depending on injury/illness. When it officially came out making Alabama a seven-point favorite, the public immediately bet it up to -8 and it is now floating between -7 and -8.  

 For many years the favorite won and covered in the Title game. Then the tide (no pun intended) flowed in the opposite direction with the underdogs not just covering but winning a few contests outright as well.

 For me personally, I am torn. When I was a kid in the early ‘70’s, my father, a respected horse player and sports bettor, turned on the tube one Saturday morning to watch a game he had wagered on. I took one look at Paul “Bear” Bryant on the sideline, arms folded with that stoic look on his face, and that patented houndstooth fedora and I immediately fell in love with Alabama football. But there are two places your heart doesn’t belong, in love and in sports betting.

 Growing up now, the handicapper in me instantly leaned on the underdog here with all those points. Especially after last week’s dismantling of a Trevor Lawrence-led Clemson team in the Sugar Bowl. Many out there felt (including me) that Ohio State did not belong in the CFP. Prior to last week’s CFP semifinal, I did not feel the Buckeyes would be so dominating on both sides of the ball. They showed how good they are by overcoming a seven-point deficit to then outscore the Tigers 42-14. However, there are no more cards up OSU’s sleeve, the cat is out of the bag now. ‘Bama has seen all they can do. And there are very few coaches as good at preparing a squad for a big game as Nick Saban. And a big no-no in betting is not judging a team solely from their last performance.

 Saban and Alabama does have their work cut out for them. Ohio State has a well-balanced offense and Justin Fields has taken his game to another level. This is a unit that ranks 42nd in passing, 5th in rushing, and 8th in scoring. Take note, that this “O” revolves around Fields and last week he got banged up a bit against Brent Venables “D”. He will play but those ribs might still be tender here and that may be a factor. Speaking of injuries, the Buckeyes injured list is so long it rivals a Bill Belichick Patriots list (check status). Something the Crimson Tide doesn’t have to worry about, being just about full strength.

 Head coach Ryan Day must be concerned with the vastly improved defense of Alabama. Outside of the shootout with Florida in the SEC Title game, Pete Golding’s stop-unit have held every opponent to 24 or less since early-October.

 On the opposite side of the ball, Mac Jones and the explosive Crimson Tide offensive juggernaut, which accounts for 49.7 PPG, the Buckeyes will not have the same success defensively as last week in getting their foe off the field. Bama’s big three, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith will control the clock and keep the OSU defense on the field and more importantly, their offense off of it. Mac Jones is smart and savvy and has the luxury being protected by one of the biggest and stoutest offensive lines in the nation.  

 Ryan Day is a sharp guy and his team is loaded with talent but they are not impervious to perhaps being in a letdown situation here either. That game last week vs. the Tigers was a matchup the Buckeyes were dreaming of since being ousted from last year’s CFP semifinal by Clemson. Maybe the wind just might be out of their sails a bit here.

 Ohio State is 1-4 ATS the last five following an ATS win and 1-4 ATS the last five vs. teams with a winning record. Alabama is 7-1 ATS the last eight following an ATS loss and 7-1 ATS the last eight vs. the Big Ten.

 Being that this line is around a hot number, listen to Smokey Robinson’s mama, and shop around and get the best number you can. Lay the points and roll with the Tide. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Colorado.

VIM.

Game 863.

3:00 pm pst.

While Colorado is playing solid basketball, Utah is on a three-game SU slide and a 2-5 ATS run. On both sides of the court, the Buffaloes outclass the Utes. Particularly on the stop-end where they allow a mere, 62.6 PPG (31st). Expect the frontcourt of Colorado to dominate in the paint here. The favorite is 5-1 ATS L6 meetings in this series. Utah is 3-9 ATS L12 as a home ‘dog. Take Colorado. Thank you.

Connecticut.

BB.

Game 868.

3:00 pm pst.

Even if James Bouknight (check status) is sidelined here, UConn still has enough depth and talent to take down the struggling DePaul team. The Huskies have dominated the Blue Demons, taking more than 10 consecutive meetings SU and covering eight of the last 10, including seven straight. DePaul has very little defense. Connecticut owns one of the best in the nation. The Huskies are 4-1 ATS L5 as a road favorite and 5-0 ATS l5 overall. Take Connecticut. Thank you.

LAL.

TRP.

GAME 511.

4:05 pm pst.

LA has easily won and covered the last four meetings in this series. Houston is still not at full strength with several starters sidelined. The Lakers are 4-1 ATS L5 at the Rockets. The Rockets are 3-8 ATS L11 overall. Take Los Angeles. Thank you.

Wichita State.

VIM.

Game 832.

1:30 pm pst.

Wichita State comes in here motivated following their first loss in a month. And they are money, covering four straight outings. Cincy is point spread poison covering just two of their nine outings this season. On both sides of the ball, the Shockers outclass the Bearcats. Cincinnati is 2-6 ATS L8 on the road, 5-14 ATS L19 as an underdog, and 15-36 ATS L51 overall. Take Wichita State. Thank you.

WFT.

SMP.

Game 146.

5:15 pm pst

Washington has come alive the latter half of the season, wining five of their final seven games both SU and ATS. Their defense has held every opponent since mid-November to 20 points or less. Tampa Bay with Tom Brady has become solely a passing offense abandoning the run the entire season. This is a problem today as the WFT secondary ranks No.2 in passing yards allowed and 4th overall in scoring. Washington is 4-0 ATS L4 following a SU win, 4-1 ATS L5 as an underdog, and 4-0 ATS L4 on Saturday. Take the WFT. Thank you.

Texas.

VIM.

Game 625.

10:00 am pst.

The Longhorns have taken five of the last six meetings in this series SU and enter this matchup rolling, sporting a 9-1 SU mark with victories over such notables as the Hoosiers, Tar Heels, Cowboys, and Jayhawks. Four of their five starters are averaging double-digits, particularly their backcourt trio of Coleman, Ramey, and Jones West Virginia has talent. But, their entire inside game revolves around forward, Culver. Texas has six solid big men to rotate on him and tire him out. The Longhorns are 6-1 ATS L7 on the road. The Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS L5 following a SU win. Take Texas. Thank you.