Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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03-11-18 | Pacers v. Celtics OVER 208.5 | Top | 99-97 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Game #813 Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers @ 7:35 ET - The over is 10-3 in Boston's last 13 games versus teams that are averaging 106 points or more per game. The over is 6-2 this season when the Celtics are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. The Pacers have stayed under the total in 6 straight games and Indiana's most recent game with Boston was also an easy under. However, their 4 prior meetings with the Celtics all went over the total. Look for Boston, the home team, to dictate the tempo here and 7 of their last 8 games have gone over the total. The Pacers have averaged 105.3 points per game in their last 7 road games. Red hot Boston has won 6 of their last 7 games. The Celtics have averaged 116.9 points per game in their last 8 games. They have allowed an average of 113.5 points per game their last 4 home games and we're getting good value here with the low total on this one. 10* OVER the total in Boston |
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03-11-18 | Islanders v. Flames OVER 6.5 | Top | 5-2 | Win | 104 | 9 h 34 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #3 Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Calgary Flames vs New York Islanders @ 7:05 ET - The Flames have their provincial rival, Edmonton, on deck so their defensive intensity may not be at its best for this non-conference match-up. That said, I am looking for plenty of goals in this one. The Islanders, coincidentally, are off of a 2-1 loss to the Oilers but that low-scoring defeat was an unusual one. The Isles had given up an average of nearly 4 goals per game in their 7 prior losses and their losing streak is now 8 games! The Flames are off of a low-scoring win but the over was 13-6-1 in their 20 prior games. Mike Smith is listed as probable for tonight's game but could be rusty as he hasn't started a game in a full month. Calgary finally was getting good goaltending from David Rittich and now here comes Smith. The over is 12-4 this season when the Islanders are playing with 2 days of rest between games. This total is a big one (at 6.5 goals) but don't let the big number fool you as 7 or more is very likely in this one. 10* OVER the total in Calgary |
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03-11-18 | Houston +4.5 v. Cincinnati | Top | 55-56 | Win | 100 | 7 h 12 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #827 Sunday 10* Top Play Houston Cougars (+) vs Cincinnati Bearcats @ 3:30 ET - Of course it goes without saying that the Wichita State team that Houston beat yesterday is certainly a much stronger team than the Memphis team that Cincinnati knocked off. The key to the value here is that the Bearcats expended a lot of energy in the 2nd half to beat the Tigers after a dismal first half effort that was truly inexcusable. For Cincinnati to have a first half like that in a semi-final game truly says a lot about whether or not the Bearcats can be trusted and the answer right now is a no. After back to back non-covering wins for Cincy, they are now 3-5 ATS in their last 8 games and, though they have revenge here they were held to 39% in their last meeting with the Cougars and they have not been shooting well recently either. After yesterday's performance, the Bearcats have been held to 41% from the field in their last 3 games combined. Houston has been at the other end of the spectrum. After scoring 77 against Wichita State yesterday, the Cougars have scored 77 points or more in 6 of their last 7 games. Houston is on a 7-2 ATS run and they've shot 40% or better from three point land in both meetings with the Bearcats this season. The Cougars are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games against teams with a winning record and I'll grab the points here as they are 4-2 ATS (and SU!) this season as an underdog. Upset potential certainly looms here! 10* HOUSTON |
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03-09-18 | Flames v. Senators OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -108 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
Total Dominator - Rickenbach NHL Game #3 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Ottawa Senators vs Calgary Flames @ 7:35 ET - With last night's 4-3 home loss Ottawa has now scored 3 goals or more in 7 straight home games. The Senators have averaged 4 goals a game during this stretch of games on home ice. As for Calgary, they exploded for 5 goals in the first two periods at Buffalo Wednesday before settling in for a 5-1 win. The over is now 7-1 in the Flames last 8 road games. With this being a non-conference match-up that also generally leads to less defensive intensity and more open ice for plenty of scoring opportunities. 4 of the last 5 meetings between these clubs has gone over the total and I expect another high-scoring one here. 10* OVER the total in Ottawa |
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03-09-18 | Providence v. Xavier -7.5 | Top | 75-72 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #858 Friday 10* Top Play Xavier Musketeers (-) vs Providence Friars @ 6:30 ET - The Friars are off of a hard-fought OT win over Creighton while Xavier blew right past St John's. That sets up the Musketeers well for pushing the pace and blowing right past Providence here. Xavier now on a 15-5 ATS run in neutral court games. 4 of the last 5 wins for the red hot Musketeers have come by a double digit margin. 10 of Providence's 12 losses this season have been by 9 points or more so, when they lose, they tend to lose big and of course I am not expecting a Friars upset here. In other words, this one has blowout written all over it. Providence is 0-4 ATS in a neutral court game with a posted total between 150 and 154.5 points. Each of the last 5 meetings between these teams has been decided by 9 or more points and I expect another one here. 10* XAVIER |
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03-08-18 | 76ers +1 v. Heat | Top | 99-108 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Game #653 Thursday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (+) @ Miami Heat @ 7:35 ET - The Sixers are available at +1 in some spots as of early gameday morning but the bottom line is that this game is roughly a pick'em so I am going to talk about some SU stats here. The fact is that the 76ers are playing this game with revenge for a loss in Miami that should never have happened and they know it. Though all the games had been close this season, Philly let that one get away and they know it never should have happened. Had they not blown the big lead Sixers would be 3-0 against the Heat this season. Close games or not, the 76ers have had the upper hand through most of the playing time between these two teams this season and it is not "old news" either as all of their meetings were in February. With that said, the Sixers are offering great line value here because their loss at Miami is one of only 3 losses they've had in their last 13 games. As for the Heat, their numbers have been nowhere close to that as they've won only 5 of their last 15 games! Sixers 9-3 SU and ATS versus Southeast Division teams this season. Miami is 1-9 SU last 10 versus teams that average 106 points or more per game. Combined stat of 18-4 SU favoring the 76ers here! I'll take it! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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03-08-18 | Jets v. Devils OVER 5.5 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -118 | 8 h 26 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #55 Thursday 10* Top Play OVER the total in New Jersey Devils vs Winnipeg Jets @ 7:05 ET - Even though the Jets Mark Scheifele may not play tonight, Winnipeg is loaded with scoring options and has some really hot lines that are firing on all cylinders at the moment. That said, there is great line value here as this total is available at 5.5 in a number of spots and it may stay there thanks to the Scheifele injury. One of the keys for the Devils to make a late season push was to make some acquisitions to infuse some speed and scoring options into the offense. It is already starting to pay dividends. New Jersey is off of a huge 6-4 win over Montreal and the Devils have averaged 35.3 shots on goal in their last 4 home games. As for the Jets, they've scored an average of 4.4 goals per game in their last 10 games and they'll take advantage of a New Jersey back-end that has surrendered at least 3 markers in 4 straight games! Both of the last two meetings between these teams has totaled 7 goals and I expect this one will get at least that as well. The over is 12-3 this season when the Devils are off of a win by a margin of 2 goals or more. The over is 5-1 this season when the Jets are off of a shutout win. Also, the over is a long-term 12-3 when Winnipeg enters a game on a wining streak of 3 or more games. 10* OVER the total in New Jersey |
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03-08-18 | San Diego State -3.5 v. Fresno State | Top | 64-52 | Win | 100 | 9 h 49 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #719 Thursday 10* Top Play San Diego State Aztecs (-) vs Fresno State Bulldogs @ Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV @ 5:30 ET - Not only is San Diego State playing this game with double revenge from the regular season, they also hold a huge edge because of a key injury for Fresno State. The Bulldogs recently lost senior guard Jaron Hopkins to injury. In the game he got hurt he had only played 12 minutes and Fresno State lost that game by double digits. In the games since, the Bulldogs scored only 54 points against Air Force and then they lost at New Mexico in OT. When Hopkins was rolling the Bulldogs were rolling - 5 straight wins and he averaged 17.6 points per game. Included in that stretch was a huge 20-point performance from him in the most recent win versus San Diego State. I look for his absence to make a huge difference in this rematch. The Aztecs come in red hot on a 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS run and that continues here as Fresno State remains winless ATS since the Hopkins injury. 10* SAN DIEGO STATE |
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03-07-18 | Raptors v. Pistons +5.5 | Top | 121-119 | Win | 100 | 11 h 34 m | Show |
ESPN Smash Pass - Rickenbach NBA Game #568 Wednesday 10* Top Play Detroit Pistons (+) vs Toronto Raptors @ 8:05 ET - This is a very nice set up for the home dog to get the outright win which means certainly I love having the generous points being offered here. Toronto is in a back to back spot and off of a game they had no business covering last night. I know this all too well as I had Atlanta +13 last night. The Hawks were ahead OUTRIGHT at the end of each of the three quarters and then the fourth quarter so virtual insanity take place over the final 6+ minutes when Atlanta went from 3 down to losing by 16. In the books it looks like a blowout but of course it was anything but and is helping to give nice value here. When the Raptors are not in a back to back this season they have gone 41-13 SU. However, in the 2nd game of a B2B this season they are just 5-4 SU. You can see the huge variance there and the Pistons are seeking revenge for getting blown out by 29 at Toronto last week. Detroit is also hungry because they just ran into a buzzsaw in Cleveland when they faced the Cavaliers right after the Cavs had allowed 126 points in their prior game. Though the Pistons recent numbers don't look that great they have been on the road a lot. Now they're back home where they've won 7 of their last 10 games. Also, prior to the blowout defeat at Toronto, 3 of the 4 prior meetings between these teams had been decided by 5 or less points. Pistons payback here. 10* DETROIT |
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03-07-18 | Flames v. Sabres OVER 5.5 | Top | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 10 h 43 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #1 Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Buffalo Sabres vs Calgary Flames @ 7:35 ET - The Sabres continue to be a different team when on home ice. Buffalo scores much better at home than on the road and is off of a 5-3 win versus Toronto Monday. That marked the 5th time in their last 7 home games that the Sabres have scored 4 or more goals. Wednesday they host a Flames team that will be fired up after a 4-3 OT loss at Pittsburgh Monday. With goalie Mike Smith still out there continues to be some inconsistency between the pipes with Jon Gillies and David Rittich both struggling in their last couple starts each. When Calgary enters a game on a losing streak of 3 or more games the over has gone 21-7 and that includes a superb 8-1 this season! For the Sabres, the over is 10-5 in their last 15 home games. These trends continue here on Wednesday. 10* OVER the total in Buffalo |
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03-07-18 | Colorado State v. Utah State OVER 146 | Top | 65-76 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 43 m | Show |
Afternoon Contrarian - Rickenbach CBB Game #593 Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Utah State Aggies vs Colorado State Rams @ 4:30 ET - The very first total that popped up on this (Monday) was a 150 and it has been dropping ever since. That is part of the reason I am calling this a contrarian play because the markets have moved this one down but I am going with the over. Even though Rams guard J.D. Paige is suspended, people often forget to look at more than just offensive stats when factoring in a player's absence. Coming into this season Colorado State felt that Paige and Prentiss Nixon combined to give the Rams one of the top defensive pairings in the backcourt in the MWC. Of course it has been a disappointing campaign for the Rams and defense has not been their strong suit! The absence of Paige only exasperates the defensive shortcomings in the backcourt. CSU has allowed 93.3 points per game their last 4 games - all losses. However, they've also had the Aggies number and always tend to play them tough. They scored 84 at Utah State in January and the Rams enter this game having truly had just one bad game on the offensive end in their last 6 games. They struggled badly at home against Boise State. In their other 5 games since early February, Colorado State averaged 80 points per game! Utah State has averaged 73 points per game on the season and has guards Koby McEwen and Sam Merrill both listed as probable for this game. Those are the Aggies two leading scorers and will give the Rams backcourt a lot of match-up trouble. The over is 7-2 in Aggies tournament games and the over is 15-5 in Colorado State's games as an underdog this season. 10* OVER the total in Utah State |
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03-06-18 | Hurricanes v. Wild OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-6 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #61 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Minnesota Wild vs Carolina Hurricanes @ 8:05 ET - Non-conference match-ups do have a tendency to lean toward being higher-scoring. This is particularly true later in the season when teams don't have to worry about losing points to their opponent because they are in another conference. The point is that, as an example, the Hurricanes need more defensive intensity against recent divisional foes like the Flyers and Devils (allowed just 1 goal in each game) than they do against Western Conference foes like the Jets (lost 3-2 Sunday). The last two meetings between Minnesota and Carolina have each totaled at least 8 goals. The Hurricanes come into this game having allowed at least 3 goals in 8 of their last 10 games. The Wild, before holding the Red Wings to just 1 goal Sunday, had allowed an average of 3.4 goals per game in their 9 prior games. 6 of the 9 games totaled at least 6 goals and the 3 that didn't each totaled 5 goals. That said, I really like the value here with the 5.5 in this non-conference match-up. The Canes have averaged scoring 4 goals per game in their last 4 versus Western Conference teams. The Wild have averaged scoring 4.3 goals per game in their last 4 games versus teams from the Eastern Conference. 10* OVER the total in Minnesota |
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03-06-18 | Wake Forest +5 v. Syracuse | Top | 64-73 | Loss | -106 | 10 h 34 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #521 Tuesday 10* Top Play Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+) vs Syracuse Orange @ 7 ET - This line has gone from a -3 to a -5 on Syracuse as the markets feel the odds makers have made some type of egregious error by having the 19-12 Orange as only a 3 point favorite over an 11-19 Demon Deacons team. It's never that easy guys and the odds makers knew what they were doing with this one. Wake Forest plays Syracuse tough. The Demon Deacons are only 1-2 in the last 3 meetings but all 3 games were close ones and the Orange have really struggled to knock down shots this season. Syracuse is averaging 67.6 points per game on just 41.9% shooting this season. The Demon Deacons are hitting 38.2% of their threes this season while the Orange are hitting only 32.3% from three point land. While it is true that, on the season, Syracuse has the better numbers on defense than Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons finished up the season strong and allowed an average of just 39% from the field in their last 3 games. The Orange defense really struggled more as the season went on and, prior to allowing just 40% in their regular season finale, Syracuse had allowed 44% or more from the field in 6 of their previous 8 games. Look for the Orange to drop to 1-5 ATS on the season in games against teams with a losing record. 10* WAKE FOREST |
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03-05-18 | Maple Leafs v. Sabres OVER 5.5 | Top | 3-5 | Win | 100 | 10 h 32 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #3 Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Buffalo Sabres vs Toronto Maple Leafs @ 7:35 ET - The Maple Leafs will be very hungry as they enter this game on a 3-game losing streak. However, they've struggled to keep the puck out of their own net as they've allowed 3.6 goals per game their last 5 games. That will hold significance here because the Sabres do tend to score better at home than on the road and this trend has been particularly strong of late. Buffalo has averaged 3.4 goals per game in their last 7 home games. The Sabres last two home games snuck under the total but they had been on a perfect 5-0 run to the over. Also, Buffalo's match-ups with Toronto have gone over the total in 3 of their last 4 meetings and this is their first of this season so I expect plenty of electricity in the building as these nearby divisional rivals square off for the first time in 11 months. The over is 8-3 in the Maple Leafs last 11 games and with both teams trending over of late (Sabres have been when at home like they are for tonight), I will gladly back the high side of this one while the markets have pushed the juice value in a good direction for me. This was a 5.5ov and is now a 5.5un with the early money coming in on the short side. Even more value for us and another contrarian play for me. 10* OVER the total in Buffalo |
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03-05-18 | Pistons v. Cavs OVER 218.5 | Top | 90-112 | Loss | -101 | 10 h 29 m | Show |
Divisional Total of the Year - Rickenbach NBA Game #701 Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons @ 7:05 ET - The Cavaliers are banged up in the frontcourt and won't be able to prevent Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond and other Pistons from plenty of scoring in the paint. On the other end of the court Cleveland will exploit Detroit's perimeter defense. The Pistons have had one good game defensively (held Milwaukee to 87 points) in their last 6 games. In the other 5 games Detroit gave up hot shooting from the outside and allowed an average of 113.4 points per game. Overall, the Pistons have allowed 105 points or more in 9 of their last 11 games. Of course the Cavs issues on defense have been well-documented this season and they're allowing 110 points per game on the season. In their last 7 home games, Cleveland has allowed 119.3 points per game. The Cavaliers lost at Detroit in late January and the over is 19-9 this season when Cleveland is playing with revenge this season. Also, when off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more, the Cavs are a long-term 33-16 to the over. The Pistons game at Miami stayed under the total by a bucket but, prior to that, the over was 4-1 in Detroit's last 5 road games and the lone under was by a half point. Look for another wild one between these two divisional foes as they go over for the 4th time in the last 5 meetings! 10* OVER the total in Cleveland |
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03-05-18 | Bowling Green +7.5 v. Central Michigan | Top | 77-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show |
Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB Game #715 Monday 10* Top Play Bowling Green Falcons (+) @ Central Michigan Chippewas @ 7:05 ET - I had my eyes on Bowling Green for their first round game in the MAC Tournament since they got blasted on their home floor by Buffalo in their regular season finale. Of course the Bulls are in a class of their own this season as they dominated the MAC East but the fact is that anytime a team gives up 100 on their home floor, especially in their final game of the season, you know they're going to be geared up for a bounce back performance in their next game. The fact that this game is on the road means extra line value for the home shading factored in plus the fact that odds makers had to over-adjust some after the Falcons got blasted. Bowling Green did lose at home to Central Michigan in their regular season match-up but the Falcons led the Chippewas at the half in that game. Also, Central Michigan just had to play on Saturday due to a shooting on campus that moved their game from Friday to Saturday and from on-campus to another location 30 miles away. While they did win that game the Chips are now on short rest and have gone just 2-4 ATS the last 6 times they've played with 1 day of rest or less between games. Central Michigan is also 2-4 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points and all 4 of those losses have been outright upset defeats! Another one wouldn't surprise here but I am grabbing the generous points with the Falcons. They are 5-0 SU and ATS this season when playing with home loss revenge. 10* BOWLING GREEN |
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03-03-18 | North Carolina v. Duke OVER 161.5 | Top | 64-74 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach CBB Game #613 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels @ 8:15 ET - Blue Devils games have stayed under the total in 5 straight but much of that has had to do with who they played. Now they face their biggest rival, North Carolina, and things are always a lot tougher on the Duke defense when it is the Tar Heels they are facing. UNC has averaged 85 points per game in it last 3 games versus the Blue Devils. Duke's offense also seems to go into overdrive mode when facing the Tar Heels as well. The Blue Devils have averaged 84.5 points per game in their last 4 meetings with North Carolina. You can see why I am expecting this one to end up with at least 170 and yet we're dealing with a total down closer to the 160 range which is why this is a top play for me. The over is 7-2 in the Tar Heels last 9 games. UNC has averaged 87 points per game during this 9 game stretch. The over is 4-1 this season when North Carolina is off of a loss in ACC action. Look for the over to improve to 10-5 this season when the Blue Devils face a team that is averaging 77 points or more per game. 10* OVER the total in Duke |
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03-03-18 | Nuggets v. Cavs -4.5 | Top | 126-117 | Loss | -109 | 10 h 14 m | Show |
Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Game #504 Saturday 10* Top Play Cleveland Cavaliers (-) vs Denver Nuggets @ 7:35 ET - The Cavaliers have done so poorly ATS this season (particularly at home) that you know a turnaround is coming and we're also getting line value as a result. This line was around a half-dozen points but has already dropped to a 4.5 as of early gameday morning and this is offering great line value on a Cleveland team that will be hungry. After losing at home to the 76ers Thursday night, the Cavs need a bounce back game and they're catching Denver at the perfect time to take advantage. The Nuggets are off of a win at Memphis last night so Denver is in a back to back spot here. Also, speaking of ATS struggles, the Nuggets have failed to cover 4 in a row but this is not the spot to rectify the situation. Denver is 6-11 ATS this season in games with a posted total of 220 or more. Cleveland is 17-7 SU in home games with a posted total of 220 or more and 39-21 SU long-term when off of an upset loss as a favorite. With those solid SU stats and the fact that this line is down to a 4.5 I feel very comfortable about an ATS win here as the Cavs are fired up to get back on track! 10* CLEVELAND |
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03-03-18 | Islanders v. Penguins OVER 6.5 | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -103 | 7 h 5 m | Show |
Afternoon Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #7 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Islanders @ 5:05 ET - The Islanders are going to start Christopher Robinson between the pipes and this is a bad spot for the rookie netminder. The Penguins are angry off of an 8-4 loss at Boston and, of course, the defensemen in front of Robinson aren't exactly having a stellar season. In fact, that is a big part of the reason the Isles have allowed 4 goals per game during their 5-game losing streak. The only hope for the Islanders here is to have a huge game offensively and the Penguins could be ripe for the picking here with goalie Matt Murray still out. Of course that is why my play here is the over. The Islanders have plenty of firepower offensively and the Penguins continue to give up a lot of goals. Pittsburgh has allowed 17 goals during their 3 game losing streak. The strength for the Pens, of course, is their offense. The Penguins have average 4.4 goals per game their last 15 games which is a big reason the over is on an 11-4 run. More of the same expected here! The Islanders are 16-4 to the over this season when off of a loss by a margin of 2 goals or more. The Penguins are 19-9 to the over this season after scoring 4 or more goals in their prior game. Also, the Pens are 6-2 to the over when they enter a game on a losing streak of 3 or more games. 10* OVER the total in Pittsburgh |
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03-03-18 | Notre Dame v. Virginia -9 | Top | 57-62 | Loss | -106 | 8 h 0 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NCAAB Game #564 Saturday 10* Top Play Virginia Cavaliers (-) vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ 4 ET - Here is what people are talking about: Virginia is off of a miraculous last second win at Louisville. Notre Dame has Bonzie Colson back. Here what people are not talking about: The Cavaliers were knocked out of the ACC Tournament last spring by the Fighting Irish. It was the first time that Notre Dame had beaten the Cavaliers since joining the ACC. Also, Colson was good but not great in his first game back and that was against a very bad Pittsburgh team. So here is the takeaway: there is tremendous line value here with the Cavaliers in their home finale. They have revenge on their minds after what happened in the ACC Tourney last year. To put that game in proper perspective, the Cavaliers haven't allowed that many points (71) this entire season. The Cavs defense is going to bring their "A game" here. The Irish are smart enough to know this not a game to push Colson too hard in. They need him for the upcoming tournament games not for this one final regular season games. For the Cavaliers they are a very hard-working team and they want to send the seniors off the right way in their final home game. They'll be able to dominate defensively and the Cavaliers offensive production this season is much better than last year. Of course this is a big reason they're now the #1 ranked team in the nation and they're not getting the respect they should here. I'll gladly step in and take advantage. Notre Dame is just 4-8 ATS their last 12 games. The Cavaliers win at Louisville was a non-covering win and the Cavs haven't had 2 straight ATS losses this entire season. In other words, an ATS win for the home team as they avenge last season's loss. 10* VIRGINIA |
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03-02-18 | Mavs -118 v. Bulls | Top | 100-108 | Loss | -118 | 11 h 9 m | Show |
Game of the Week - Rickenbach NBA Game #807 Friday 10* Top Play Dallas Mavericks (-) @ Chicago Bulls @ 8:05 ET - Dallas lost at home to Chicago in early January despite 14 more field goal attempts. The difference in the game was 14 more free throw attempts for the Bulls which is surprising given that the free throw line disparity usually favors the home team. That said, revenge is on the minds of the Mavericks here and that win remains the only win that the Bulls have against a Southwest Division opponent this season. Chicago is 0-5 SU in their other 5 games against this division and the Bulls are 2-21 SU in their other 23 games against Western Conference opponents this season. Dallas, other than that early January loss, has gone 4-2 SU against Central Division opponents this season. The Mavs are also 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games! The Bulls are on a horrible 2-12 ATS run overall and they've lost 13 of their last 15 SU. That is why I see great value here with this line right around a pick'em and I suggest playing the money line if you can't get the Mavericks at a pick'em or as a dog. It looks like the Mavs may stay the fave in this one but we'll see how the markets react here today. Either way, Dallas is the play and I expect a solid road win for the Mavericks! The Mavs have been playing much more competitive basketball than the Bulls of late and the revenge angle adds to the power of this situation. 10* DALLAS |
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03-02-18 | Red Wings v. Jets OVER 5.5 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 10 h 28 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #57 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Detroit Red Wings vs Winnipeg Jets @ 8:05 ET - The Red Wings haven't given up many goals of late but that has had a lot to do with who they played. They face a much tougher situation now as they visit Winnipeg. The Jets have averaged scoring an insane 4.9 goals per game their last 7 games! It is not a complete fluke either as Winnipeg has been incredible at home this season where they've averaged 3.9 goals per game this season. That means we're getting incredible line value here with this line available as low as a 5.5 in some spots as of early morning. The Red Wings are off of a tough low-scoring loss at St Louis but previously had averaged 3.6 goals per game in their 5 prior road games. The past two seasons in March games, only 10 of Detroit's 30 games have stayed under the total! As for Winnipeg, they are 9-3 to the over this season when playing with two days of rest between games. Also, the over is 8-2 in the Jets last 10 games overall. More of the same here. 10* OVER the total in Detroit |
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03-02-18 | Missouri State v. Southern Illinois +3 | Top | 63-67 | Win | 100 | 9 h 38 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #860 Friday 10* Top Play Southern Illinois Salukis (+) vs Missouri State Bears @ 7 ET - Missouri State hung on for the win versus Valparaiso despite the Bears allowing 79 points on 45.5% from the field including 52.6% from three point land. Their luck runs out here as the Bears defense has been garbage for 3 straight games and, keep in mind, they had lost 4 straight games before getting past the Crusaders yesterday. Now they face a Salukis team that is ticked off of after a sub-par ending to the regular season. Southern Illinois is the healthier team and they are the more rested team here. Also, there is no shame in the fact that they lost to Loyola (top team in MVC) two games ago and then they definitely just threw in the towel in the season finale on the road. That said, lets not forget that before these two losses, the Salukis had won 8 of their last 9 games! Missouri State is on a 2-9 ATS run against teams with a winning record. They also are 1-6 ATS when playing with road loss revenge. Also, after scoring 80 points or more in a game, the Bears are 4-12 ATS the past 3 seasons. Look for the Salukis to improve to 4-1 ATS when playing with 5 or 6 days of rest between games. 10* SOUTHERN ILLINOIS |
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03-01-18 | Valparaiso +3 v. Missouri State | Top | 79-83 | Loss | -104 | 12 h 58 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #565 Thursday 10* Top Play Valparaiso Crusaders (+) vs Missouri State Bears @ 9:30 ET - The whole world is jumping on the Bears here. That is a Missouri State team that has lost 8 of its 10 games since Reggie Scurry has been out. Also, the Bears could be without another player that is part of their regular playing rotation as guard Ronnie Rousseau is questionable with an illness. Another key here is that it is hard to beat a team 3 times in one season. The Bears have knocked off the Crusaders in each of the first two meetings in the regular season and you can bet that Valparaiso loves the fact that they are getting this opportunity at revenge in the conference tourney. The Crusaders have picked up some momentum with 3 wins in their final 5 games of the regular season and are definitely playing their top basketball of the season right now. One of those two losses came to the MVC top team too as it was a loss at Loyola-Chicago. Valparaiso actually was down only 3 points on the road against the Ramblers with less than 4 and 1/2 minutes to go in that game. A valiant effort and the Crusaders will have no trouble with a similar effort in a "win or go home" game against the Bears. Simply put, a wounded and bad Missouri State team is getting too much respect here. The Crusaders are 3-1 SU and ATS when playing with road loss revenge this season and the Bears are 1-9 ATS when off of a loss in conference action. 10* VALPARAISO |
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03-01-18 | 76ers +3.5 v. Cavs | Top | 108-97 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Game #503 Thursday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (+) @ Cleveland Cavaliers @ 8:05 ET - The 76ers are off a tough loss at Miami Tuesday and they know they had no business losing the game. The way the 4th quarter played out late was absolutely unacceptable and they'll come out with plenty of fire here at Cleveland. Keep in mind the Sixers are off of back to back losses but had previously won 7 straight games. The Cavaliers have a long winning streak (SU) against Philadelphia and the 76ers are tired of hearing about it. The Sixers now have the horses to compete with LeBron James and Company and the Cavs haven't exactly lit the world on fire in home games this season. In fact, the Cavaliers are 6-23 ATS in home games this season and 10-35 ATS as a favorite. Philly is 9-2 ATS in road games with a posted total of 220 points or more. Also, in the 2nd half of a season, when the 76ers face a team that scores an average of 106 points or more per game, the Sixers have gone 22-5 ATS their last 27. More of the same here and an outright upset would not surprise but if they lose I expect it to again be on a final shot and that means value with the points! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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03-01-18 | Penguins v. Bruins OVER 6 | Top | 4-8 | Win | 105 | 9 h 46 m | Show |
NBC Sports Network Rout - Rickenbach NHL Thursday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins @ 7:05 ET - The Penguins are looking to bounce back after back to back losses but they also are currently without the services of #1 goalie Matt Murray. That is why I am looking at the over in this one. The Bruins have allowed 11 goals in their last 3 games and I expect the hungry Pens to pressure Boston early and often. However, with Pittsburgh having an unsettled goalie situation, that also means that the Penguins can't be trusted to keep the Bruins from lighting the lamp early and often. Boston has won 4 of their last 5 home games and they've averaged scoring 4 goals per game in those 4 wins. The Penguins have been road warriors of late as they've scored an average of 4.6 goals per game in their last 5 games away from home. In fact, Pittsburgh had scored 4 goals or more in 10 of their last 13 games prior to the 3-2 loss to the Devils Tuesday. The over was 10-3 in those 13 games and I expect that over hot streak to resume here. The over is 7-3 in the Bruins last 10 games. More of the same here. 10* OVER the total in Boston |
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02-28-18 | Flames +115 v. Avalanche | Top | 2-5 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 5 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #57 Wednesday 10* Top Play Calgary Flames Money Line (+) @ Colorado Avalanche @ 9:35 ET - The Flames held the Stars to just 2 goals last night but the problem was they didn't score despite outshooting Dallas 38 to 26. It happens and it is frustrating but you can certainly expect a bounce back tonight. In fact, Calgary had won 9 of their 13 prior road games and they've been one of the top road teams in the league this season. The Flames also have won 11 of 16 this season when they are off of a loss by a multiple-goal margin. The Avalanche are off of win but they had previously lost 10 of their last 15 games as they've truly been in a slump the last 5 weeks. That is why this game is priced the way it is so though it may look enticing to take the Avs on home ice at such a small price, look for the "road warrior" Flames to bounce back big here and take out their frustrations in Colorado! The Avalanche are seeking to avenge a loss to Calgary in their most recent meeting but they actually have lost 75 of 130 when playing with revenge. In fact, the Flames have beaten them 5 straight times and this is a key game in the playoff race. 10* CALGARY |
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02-28-18 | Pelicans +5 v. Spurs | Top | 121-116 | Win | 100 | 12 h 28 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NBA Game #713 Wednesday 10* Top Play New Orleans Pelicans (+) @ San Antonio Spurs @ 8:35 ET - The Spurs are off of an upset win at Cleveland over LeBron James and the Cavaliers. That makes this the perfect spot to fade San Antonio as the Spurs had lost 4 straight and 6 of 7 prior to that win. Also, the Spurs are only 2-8 ATS in divisional games this season. Though they have revenge on their side here against the Pelicans, San Antonio is 5-11 SU when playing with revenge this season. New Orleans has won 2 of the last 3 meetings between these teams and the Pelicans enter this game on a 6-game winning streak! Look for the road dog to stay hot on Wednesday! 10* NEW ORLEANS |
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02-28-18 | Temple v. Connecticut OVER 139.5 | Top | 66-72 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 35 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #737 Wednesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Connecticut Huskies vs Temple Owls @ 7 ET - Temple is off of a big revenging win versus Central Florida on Sunday. The Owls had wanted that game badly as they got embarrassed by the Golden Knights earlier this season. That said, Temple gave a very strong effort on the defensive end in the win over UCF this past weekend. Couple that with the fact that the Owls already pummeled the Huskies when they faced them in Philly last month and I feel you have a great set-up here for a letdown effort on defense in this one from the Owls. Temple's offense should stay hot as they've shot better than 48% from the field in 3 of their last 4 games overall and also in each of their last 3 road games. However, don't be surprised if they take this one "off" in terms of the defensive effort tonight after that big win versus UCF. Speaking of taking time "off" on the defensive end, Connecticut has now allowed an average of 81.6 points per game in their last 5 games and the Huskies have gone 6 straight games without an under. The over is 8-1 in UConn's last 9 games and they just don't get the job done on the defensive end. However, the Huskies have shot 47% or better from the field in 4 of their last 6 games and that is why I am expecting a shootout with the Owls in this one. The over is 7-2 this season when the Huskies are off of a loss in conference action and the over is 4-1 this season when UConn is playing with road loss revenge. The over is 5-2 this season when Temple is off of a win in conference action. 10* OVER the total in Connecticut |
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02-27-18 | Flames +135 v. Stars | Top | 0-2 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #13 Tuesday 10* Top Play Calgary Flames Money Line (+) @ Dallas Stars @ 8:35 ET - The Flames are without #1 goalie Mike Smith but actually have been getting fantastic goaltending in his absence and are off of back to back wins by a combined score of 10-3. They also owe the Stars some payback as they've lost both games with Dallas this season and the last one was a 6-4 loss in Texas. The Flames haven't forgotten that and they are riding the momentum here of two straight wins and two days off between games. By the way, Calgary has won 7 of 9 this season when they enter a game with 2 days of rest between games. The Stars are off of a loss but expecting a bounce back here could be asking a lot. Dallas is scuffling a bit and has lost 4 of its last 6 games! The Flames have scored 3 goals or more in 11 of their last 13 games. Dallas scored 3 goals in their home loss to Winnipeg Saturday but previously was held to 2 goals or less in 5 straight games. With the Stars scoring a total of just 9 goals in their last 6 games while the Flames have scored 10 goals just in their last 2 games alone (plus also have been bolstered by the addition of veteran Chris Stewart) I look for the road dog to maintain their momentum here. 10* CALGARY |
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02-27-18 | Wizards v. Bucks -3 | Top | 107-104 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 44 m | Show |
Early TNT Annihilation - Rickenbach NBA Game #508 Tuesday 10* Top Play Milwaukee Bucks (-) vs Washington Wizards @ 8:05 ET - The Bucks are off of a tight home loss to New Orleans and that certainly holds significance here because Milwaukee hasn't lost back to back games in 5 weeks. The Bucks were on a 9-3 SU run prior to the loss to the Pelicans. Milwaukee is catching the Wizards at the right time to get right back on track. Washington is off of a big home win versus the 76ers but the Wizards had previously lost 3 of their 6 prior games. Washington is a long-term 40-63 SU when they are an underdog and this is a very small number to lay on the Bucks at home. Milwaukee is a long-term 65-33 SU when they are a favorite. The Bucks are 8-2 ATS this season when off of an upset loss as a favorite and they are also 10-4 SU and ATS when they are off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. The icing on the cake for motivating the home team here is that the Wizards have won their last two visits here. Payback time. 10* MILWAUKEE |
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02-27-18 | Florida v. Alabama -2 | Top | 73-52 | Loss | -107 | 10 h 31 m | Show |
Game of the Month - Rickenbach CBB Game #526 Tuesday 10* Top Play Alabama Crimson Tide (-) vs Florida Gators @ 7 ET - Florida, of course, has the long-term reputation in basketball while Alabama is all about football. However, it is no mistake that the Crimson Tide are favored here. This basketball program has come a long way under coach Avery Johnson and, on Senior Night, I look for a huge game from Alabama here. They've suffered 3 straight losses but 2 of those were on the road. Off of a rare home loss in their most recent game, look for the Crimson Tide to bounce back huge here. Alabama is still 12-3 SU at home this season and, with this line having fallen to just a -2 this morning, any SU win is likely to equate to an ATS win for the Tide as well. Alabama is 49-28 SU long-term when they enter a game on an ATS losing streak of 3 or more games. Also, in home games with a posted total between 135 and 139.5 points, the Crimson Tide are a long-term 26-11 SU. They are the better defensive team in this match-up and also shoot better than the Gators. So why are people backing Florida here? Long-term reputation and the revenge angle since the Gators lost to the Tide earlier this season. However, the reason not to buy into all that is that prior to a tight win versus Auburn in their most recent game, Florida had lost 5 of their last 7 games and had just 1 ATS win in those 7 games! The Gators are 0-4 SU and ATS this season in games with a posted total in the 130s. 10* ALABAMA |
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02-26-18 | Warriors v. Knicks +12 | Top | 125-111 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
Game of the Month NBA Game #710 Monday 10* Top Play New York Knicks (+) vs Golden State Warriors @ 7:35 ET - The Warriors are off of a huge win versus Oklahoma City so this one sets up perfectly. Yes, I know that the Knicks have an unimpressive record and in the midst of a 1-9 SU run but this chance to host star-studded Golden State only comes around once a year. New York will absolutely be "up" for this game while the Warriors are still relishing in the after-effects of having enjoyed a big win over Kevin Durant's former team. That's because Russell Westbrook and Company had become a bit of a nemesis for the Warriors in recent meetings so GS could absolutely be a little flat for this game. Plus this will be their first game after traveling all the way from coast to coast and they just faced the Thunder on Saturday. Golden State is known for a "ho-hum approach" to a game like this as they've gone just 1-7 ATS versus Atlantic Division teams this season and 7-19 ATS the last 3 seasons combined. Also, after a game in which they allowed 90 points or less this season, the Warriors have gone 1-3 ATS. The Knicks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against teams that allow 106 points or more per game on the season. New York has gone 6-1 ATS against teams from the Pacific Division this season. The Knicks also are a perfect 4-0 ATS this season in games with posted total of 220 points or more. The Warriors likely find a way to gut out a win here but the "amped up" home dog keeps this one within a single digit margin. 10* NEW YORK |
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02-26-18 | Flyers -125 v. Canadiens | Top | 1-0 | Win | 100 | 10 h 53 m | Show |
NBC Sports Network Rout - Rickenbach NHL Game #55 Monday 10* Philadelphia Flyers Money Line (-) @ Montreal Canadiens @ 7:35 ET - The Flyers have won 9 of their last 10 games and have their sights set on the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Canadiens have lost 7 of their last 8 games and have their sights set on next season already! The fact is that Montreal has had an extremely disappointing season after entering the new campaign with plenty of promise. Making matters even worse for the Habs entering this one is the fact that goalie Carey Price is now out with a concussion. As for the Flyers, they've also dealt with goalie injury issues but that is why they acquired Petr Mrazek from the Red Wings and he has been solid in his first two games between the pipes for Philly. The Flyers have won 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a losing record while Montreal has lost 8 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning record. Two teams going opposite directions right now and I am well aware of the fact that the home team has dominated this series in recent seasons but that is helping to keep this line lower than it should be. I am happy to back the road fave Flyers and lay the small price as they are simply "in a zone" right now and believe they can win every game when they set foot on the ice. Montreal is certainly nowhere close to that type of feeling right now and the Canadiens are a very fragile team right now. 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-26-18 | Marquette v. Georgetown OVER 159.5 | Top | 90-86 | Win | 100 | 9 h 13 m | Show |
Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB Game #721 Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Georgetown Hoyas vs Marquette Golden Eagles @ 7 ET - Georgetown's game miraculously stayed under the total Saturday. The fact the game "died late" and stayed just under the total is helping to lead to exceptional value here. Yes, on the surface, this total looks book but Marquette's only concern is offense and their numbers on defense are awful. As for the Hoyas, they've been playing some of their best basketball of the season on the offensive end in recent games. Georgetown has shot 44% or better from 3-point land in 3 straight games. Also, the Hoyas had shot 48% or better from the field in 3 straight games before falling short of that due to a late collapse versus Providence Saturday. Over the past 5 weeks the Georgetown offense has been performing at a high overall level and the over was 7-1 in their 8 games prior to the tight loss to the Friars. Marquette is allowing 78 points per game this season but they're known for their offensive production. Prior to a rare poor effort at DePaul on Saturday, the Golden Eagles had averaged 85 points per game in their 4 prior games. All of those games went over the total and Marquette was 6-1 to the over in their 7 games prior to the loss to the Blue Demons. The over is 7-2 this season when the Golden Eagles are on the road and also the over is on a 7-2 run when they are playing with 1 day of rest or less between games. The over is 4-1 when the Hoyas are a home dog of 3 points or less. 10* OVER the total in Georgetown |
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02-25-18 | 76ers +2.5 v. Wizards | Top | 94-109 | Loss | -107 | 10 h 19 m | Show |
ESPN Smash Pass - Rickenbach NBA Game #809 Sunday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (+) @ Washington Wizards @ 8:05 ET - The 76ers are in a back to back spot here but they are so hot it doesn't matter. They led Orlando by about 20 in yesterday's game before the Magic closed the gap late. The Sixers hung on for the cover but truly coasted at the end and the final score doesn't do justice to the domination that Philly had in that game. They've won 7 straight and have covered 5 of those 7 games and I am happy to take a hot 76ers team plus get a few points here at Washington. The Wizards are off of a home loss but actually have lost 2 straight home games and now and their defense has allowed 49.5% in their two games since the All Star break. As for the Sixers, their D has allowed 45.5% or less in NINE straight games! Washington is 13-24 ATS as a favorite and the Wizards are also just 10-18 ATS at home this season. Philadelphia is 10-5 SU and ATS when off of a win by a double digit margin and also 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS against Southeast Division opponents this season. More of the same here! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-25-18 | Oilers +155 v. Ducks | Top | 6-5 | Win | 155 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #7 Sunday 10* Top Play Edmonton Oilers Money Line (+) @ Anaheim Ducks @ 8:05 ET - Both teams are in a back to back but while the Oilers were already in the Anaheim area (faced Kings in LA yesterday), the Ducks were actually in another state as they faced the Coyotes in Arizona. Certainly not a big travel difference but truly if there is any edge here it belongs to the Oilers. Edmonton will certainly be the hungrier team. The Ducks knocked the Oilers out of the post-season last May and Edmonton got some measure of revenge with a home win early this season but they then lost on the road at Anaheim two weeks ago. Southern California is where the Oilers season painfully ended last spring and also where they lost again two weeks ago. You can bet Edmonton wants this game badly and I like their chances to get it! The Ducks have averaged scoring just 1.9 goals per game their last 7 games. The Oilers have won 3 of their last 4 games thanks to offensive production equating to 3.3 goals per game. Anaheim goalie John Gibson just went on the IR and Ryan Miller was between the pipes yesterday at Arizona. That means a Ducks short-handed goalie situation is very tenuous here and 3rd string Reto Berra is likely to get the call between the pipes for Anaheim. The Oilers have won 11 of 18 divisional games this season and I love the big payback price offered on them here as the Ducks are in a bad spot goalie-wise and also not scoring many goals. 10* EDMONTON |
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02-25-18 | Minnesota v. Purdue OVER 150.5 | Top | 60-84 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 56 m | Show |
Afternoon Annihilation - Rickenbach CBB Game #827 Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Purdue Boilermakers vs Minnesota Golden Gophers @ 4 ET - Purdue simply wants to win and move forward to the Big Ten tournament. They have no reason to play excessively well on defense. The Boilermakers already blasted the Golden Gophers at Minnesota earlier this season to get revenge for last season's home loss to Minnesota. Now the emphasis for Purdue is to get ready for the Big Ten tournament and I expect this game to be played with plenty of "open floor" as a result and it will feature very little resistance on the defensive end. The Boilermakers had already begun to play this way as they've allowed 50% shooting in each of their past two games and both went over the total. The Golden Gophers defense has them ranking as one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and now they're likely to have the Boilermakers Vince Edwards to contend with as well. He is expected back from his ankle injury and I expect him to be a catalyst for the offense as well. Minnesota is off of a rare win in conference action and they are on an 11-6 run to the over when off of a Big Ten win in recent seasons. Also, the Boilermakers are a long-term 5-1 to the over in a home game with a posted total between 150 and 154.5 points. 10* OVER the total in Purdue |
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02-23-18 | Celtics v. Pistons +2 | Top | 110-98 | Loss | -103 | 10 h 40 m | Show |
Early Smash Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #802 Friday 10* Detroit Pistons (+) vs Boston Celtics @ 7:05 ET - Both these teams were struggling prior to the All Star Break but what was very disconcerting about the Celtics performances was a lack of defense. Boston allowed 50% or more from the field in 3 of their 5 games prior to the break. The Pistons, on the other hand, held 4 of their final 6 opponents prior to the break to just 44% or less from the field. Detroit has also gone 9 straight games without allowing an opponent to hit better than 48.7% from the field. On the other end of the floor, the Celtics have been held under 100 points in 4 of their last 6 games. Conversely, the Pistons have won 6 of their last 9 games and have averaged 109.2 points per game during this stretch. Only 1 time in their last 11 games has Detroit been held below 103 points! Look for Boston to drop to 1-4 SU and ATS on the season when they are off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. As for the Pistons, they are 16-9 ATS this season as an underdog and I also expect them to improve to 4-1 SU and ATS when they enter a game with 3 or more days of rest between games. The hungry home dog (revenge from home loss in most recent meeting - in December) gets their payback here. 10* DETROIT |
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02-23-18 | Wild v. Rangers OVER 5.5 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -125 | 9 h 16 m | Show |
Early Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #1 Friday 10* OVER the total in New York Rangers vs Minnesota Wild @ 7:05 ET - Both teams are in a back to back spot here so we could see some tired legs on defense. That's particularly bad news for the Rangers as they are likely to again have 3 rookie defensemen as part of their rotation for tonight's game just like they did last night versus the Habs. New York's issues have led to a lot of open looks for opposing teams and they've taken advantage. That's a big part of the reason that Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has lost four straight regulation games and is 2-8-1 with a 4.24 GAA and a .881 save percentage in his last 11 games. The veteran netminder is truly in one of the worst funks of his career and he'll be tested early and often by the Wild here. The key to the value here is that Minnesota will have goalie Devan Dubnyk between the pipes and he has not been nearly as strong on the road as he has been at home. That is part of the reason the over is 11-5 in Dubnyk's road starts. Also note that the over is 16-8 in Lundqvist's home starts this season. The Rangers, when on a losing streak of 3 or more games, are 13-2 to the over including 8-1 to the over this season! The Wild, in February games are a long-term 24-8 to the over. Also, Minnesota is 14-7 to the over in road games with a posted total of 5.5 goals this season. There are still some 5.5 totals out there early this AM and I recommend grabbing one now if you can but even at 6 goals this is still at top play for me. 10* OVER the total in New York Rangers |
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02-23-18 | Dayton v. Rhode Island OVER 143.5 | Top | 56-81 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 12 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #833 Friday 10* OVER the total in Rhode Island Rams vs Dayton Flyers @ 7 ET - The Flyers are off of a low-scoring slugfest with St Louis - typical of old-school Billikens basketball. However, look for things to now return to normal for Dayton and they were on a 6-0 run to the over before that defensive-minded battle. The Flyers are a long-term 56-33 to the over when they are off of a game where they were held to 60 points or less. Dayton is also on an incredible 18-2 run to the over in February games. The Rams are trying to lock up the Atlantic Ten regular season title but, of course, the Flyers would love to prevent that. For Dayton to get the upset, they're going to have to rely on their offense because their defense is certainly not their strong suit. As for Rhode Island, they have beaten sub-.500 teams by running them right out of the gym this season. The Rams are a long-term 16-5 to the over when facing teams that have a losing record and that includes 5-0 to the over this season! Also, when off of a game where they allowed 80 points or more, Rhode Island is 4-1 to the over. As a home favorite of 12.5 to 15 points, the Rams are a long-term 16-5 to the over. RI has scored 72 points or more in 16 of their last 17 games. The Flyers are averaging 75 points per game in their last 6 road games. You can see why I am expecting plenty of points here and I'll gladly take advantage of the downward line move on this total. 10* OVER the total in Rhode Island |
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02-22-18 | Blue Jackets v. Flyers -110 | Top | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 8 h 53 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #56 Thursday 10* Top Play Philadelphia Flyers Money Line (-) vs Columbus Blue Jackets @ 7:05 ET - The Blue Jackets are off of a win but they were outshot 31 to 19 in the victory. That certainly holds significance here because this match-up is a classic case of hot versus not. Columbus, prior to that win, had lost 8 of their last 10 games and certainly the Jackets were not that impressive in the victory. As for the Flyers, they continue to find a way to win games and that resiliency is unlikely to go away in what is their final home game of February. Indeed, look for Philadelphia to leave it all on the ice tonight and give a strong effort as they wrap up the home portion of their February schedule. The red hot Flyers have won 7 of their last 8 games and long-term have won 23 of their last 34. Look for Philly to take advantage of a Blue Jackets team that is undergoing their typical late season fade. Columbus, in the 2nd half of a season, when facing a team with a winning record has lost 32 of their last 45 games! The Flyers have won 39 of 63 home games with a posted total of 5.5 goals. Philly, on the season, has the much better power play than Columbus. As for the penalty kill, though both teams have struggled this season, the Flyers have done a much better job of staying out of the box of late! The result, another home win here is in the forecast at a great price as Petr Mrazek makes his debut between the pipes for Philly after they acquired him from Detroit. 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-22-18 | Connecticut v. Cincinnati OVER 130 | Top | 52-77 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 15 m | Show |
AAC Game of the Year - Rickenbach CBB Game #563 Thursday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Cincinnati Bearcats vs Connecticut Huskies @ 7 ET - The Bearcats are off of back to back losses and in need of a big win. I feel that is giving us superb value with the over in this match-up because, the fact is, Cincinnati will not take their foot off of the gas in this one no matter what the score is. With that said, a blowout win is likely here and that should equate to a game that easily eclipses the total. The Bearcats have allowed 71.5 points per game game and 50% shooting from the field in their last two games. They did shutdown the Huskies the last time they faced them but, since then, Connecticut's confidence on the offensive end has increased as they're shooting a combined 49% from the field in their 4 games since then. The Huskies defense has been shredded for 82.7 points per game in their last 3 games and those lapses on the defensive end will continue to cost them here because the Cats are looking to run up the score. The over is 6-1 in Connecticut's last 7 games. The over is 4-1 this season in Bearcats games against teams with a losing record. Also, in home games with a posted total between 130 and 134.5 points, Cincinnati has gone 9-5 to the over long-term. The over is 3-0 in the last 3 meetings between these teams where the Bearcats were the host or were facing the Huskies on a neutral floor. Connecticut is 4-1 to the over in road games with a posted total between 130 and 134.5 points and also 8-3 to the over when off of a game where they allowed 80 points or more. 10* OVER the total in Cincinnati |
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02-21-18 | Senators v. Blackhawks OVER 6 | Top | 2-3 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 59 m | Show |
Early Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #1 Wednesday 10* OVER the total in Chicago Blackhawks vs Ottawa Senators @ 8:05 ET - The Blackhawks are still without top goalie Corey Crawford and have lost 9 of their last 10 games. Chicago has allowed an average of 4 goals per game in those 9 defeats. As for Ottawa, this is the first game of a back to back and Mike Condon is expected to get the start tonight as Craig Anderson (the Senators top goalie) is likely to get the start versus division rival Tampa Bay tomorrow. That holds significance here as the Sens have lost 9 of Condon's 11 road starts this season and he has an unimpressive .898 save percentage away from home. The Senators have lost his last two road starts by a combined score of 10-4. In fact, Ottawa has allowed an average of 4 goals per games in their last 9 games. Based on the way both of these clubs have been giving up goals in bunches, you can see why the over is the way to go even though it is a 6 that is posted on this game. The over is 6-1 in the Sens last 7 games. The Blackhawks had recorded just 3 unders in their last 9 games prior to the low-scoring loss to the Kings Monday. The over is 13-8 this season when Ottawa is off of a non-conference game. The over is 20-8 in Chicago's February games. Also, in the 2nd half of a season, when facing a team with a losing record the Blackhawks have gone 25-9 to the over. More of the same here. 10* OVER the total in Chicago |
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02-21-18 | Georgia +3 v. South Carolina | Top | 57-66 | Loss | -108 | 9 h 44 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #705 Wednesday 10* Georgia Bulldogs (+) @ South Carolina Gamecocks @ 6:30 ET - The first lines that popped up on this game had South Carolina as nearly a pick'em on their home floor. Keep in mind, this is even though the Gamecocks are 39-11 SU in home games the past 2+ seasons and the Bulldogs are 12-23 SU in road games the past 2+ seasons. Wow...must be a gift from the odds makers, right? It is never that easy folks and yet sure enough the markets have jumped all over South Carolina here and Georgia is now available at as high as a +3.5 and I'll gladly go contrarian and grab the dog here. I love to fade the line moves in situations like this and the Bulldogs are playing with home loss revenge here as they lost despite holding the Gamecocks to just 27% from the field last month at Georgia. The Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS (including 2-0 this season) when playing with home loss revenge. Georgia enters this game with plenty of confidence as they are off of back to back wins and have played very well on both ends of the floor in those victories. The Gamecocks are off of a big upset win as a sizable underdog but previously had lost 6 straight games. In those 6 games South Carolina averaged only 62 points per game. The Bulldogs are the better shooting team on the season and also have the better defense in terms of field goal percentage allowed. The Gamecocks are 1-3 SU and ATS this season when off of a win in SEC action. Also, South Carolina is a long-term 13-27 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less. Bulldogs payback time. 10* GEORGIA |
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02-20-18 | Blue Jackets -110 v. Devils | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 8 h 44 m | Show |
Early Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #57 Tuesday 10* Columbus Blue Jackets Money Line (+) @ New Jersey Devils @ 7:05 ET - The Blue Jackets are hungry after 3 straight losses. The Devils might get caught feeling a little too good about themselves as they are on home ice and riding a 4-game winning streak. Though it is true that New Jersey is seeking revenge here, the fact is that the Blue Jackets have dominated this series of late with 5 wins in the last 6 meetings. By the way, the last 7 meetings have all been decided by a multiple goal margin with an average decision by 3.1 goals! In other words, don't be surprised if Columbus wins this one in another blowout just like their last 5 victories over the Devils. Keith Kincaid is expected to be in goal for the Devils and he has a save percentage of only .891 at home this season. The Blue Jackets will have Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes and he is coming off a poor start but had been red hot in his 3 prior starts. Columbus has won 13 of 19 this season when off of a loss by a multiple goal margin in their prior game. The Devils have lost 18 of 30 home games with a posted total of 5.5 goals. Also, New Jersey has lost 11 of 18 (including 5 of 8 this season) when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 or more games. The road team will prove to be the hungrier hockey club in this one and the Blue Jackets should win in a road rout. 10* COLUMBUS |
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02-20-18 | Creighton +5.5 v. Butler | Top | 70-93 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
Early Annihilation Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #509 Tuesday 10* Creighton Bluejays (+) @ Butler Bulldogs @ 7 ET - Even though this is a revenge game for Butler (lost at Creighton last month), there is a history of success for the Bluejays in their meetings with the Bulldogs. Creighton has won and covered 3 straight in this series and the Bluejays are 7-2 ATS in their 9 meetings with the Bulldogs. I also like the fact that Creighton is off of a loss here as they are 7-0 SU this season when off of a loss. You read that right, the Bluejays have not lost back to back games this entire season. As for Butler, they are off of a win which adds to the line value here because, prior to that win, the Bulldogs had lost 3 straight ATS and SU! Butler allowed 56% shooting from the field in those 3 games as their defense has struggled. As for Creighton, they had played solid defense (particularly defending the perimeter and 3 point shots) prior to their home loss to Marquette. Creighton is on a 21-4 SU run (including 7-1 SU this season) when off of a game where they allowed 80 points or more. The Bulldogs won't be able to keep up here. Butler is 3-7 SU and ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a winning record plus 2-6 SU and ATS in their last 8 games against teams that average 77 points or more per game. The Bluejays come into this angry and improve to 8-0 SU this season when off of a loss but I'll grab the generous points in case they fall just short. 10* CREIGHTON |
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02-19-18 | Maryland v. Northwestern +1 | Top | 71-64 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 30 m | Show |
Situational Slaughter Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #706 Monday 10* Northwestern Wildcats (+) vs Maryland Terrapins @ 7 ET - The Wildcats led by as many as 27 points in the first half versus Michigan State Saturday. Northwestern was still up by 22 points at the half. The Cats ended up losing the game. After scoring just 11 points in the 2nd half against the Spartans Saturday, there is no doubt the Wildcats are going to give a huge effort here! Even though Bryant McIntosh missed the game versus Michigan State, Anthony Gaines did a great job in his absence. McIntosh could be back here but whether he is or not should not prove to be a factor against the Terrapins given the way Gaines played. This line is roughly a pick'em and Maryland is 0-10 SU this season when they are not favored. Also, the Terrapins are 1-5 SU when off of a win in Big Ten action and also just 1-8 SU in road games this season! The Wildcats are on a 39-12 SU run in home games including 11-4 SU this season. Also, the Cats are 4-2 SU and ATS this season when revenging a road loss. Off of a loss at Maryland earlier this season, payback is on order for the very angry home team here as the Wildcats look to redeem themselves after giving top-ranked Michigan State a run for their money but then letting it slip away. 10* NORTHWESTERN |
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02-19-18 | Bruins -110 v. Flames | Top | 2-1 | Win | 100 | 6 h 60 m | Show |
Afternoon Annihilation Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #5 Monday 10* Boston Bruins Money Line (-) @ Calgary Flames @ 4:05 ET - Both teams off of bad losses and, even though the Flames have revenge here, the Bruins are the much more likely club to bounce back for multiple reasons. For one thing, Boston has their top two goalies available in Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin. As for the Flames, their top goalie Mike Smith is dealing with an injury and, if he plays today, may not be 100%. Another distraction for Calgary is that they have a trip to Vegas on deck. Now of course Vegas is Vegas and that means the players are looking forward to going there but adding to the intrigue for the Flames is the fact that the Golden Knights are at the top of their division, the Pacific Division. That said, it is a big game on deck for Calgary. So, while Boston is simply in the middle of a non-conference road trip out west, the Flames have a divisional road trip on deck. The Bruins have won 14 of 20 road games with a posted total of 5.5 goals this season. The Flames have a losing record in home games on the season! Boston has won 9 of 13 this season when they are off of a game where they allowed 4 goals or more. Calgary has lost 28 of 42 games the past 2+ seasons when they are facing a team with a winning record and the Flames are past the midway point of the season. The Bruins have been one of the hottest teams in the league and they bounce back here. 10* BOSTON |
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02-18-18 | Devils +149 v. Hurricanes | Top | 3-2 | Win | 149 | 7 h 18 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #55 Sunday 10* New Jersey Devils Money Line (+) @ Carolina Hurricanes @ 5:05 ET - Most will be looking at the Hurricanes here since they are on home ice and playing with revenge and because the Devils are in a back to back spot. However, New Jersey beat Tampa Bay yesterday even though they played poorly and allowed far too many scoring chances. Still it was their 3rd straight and they'll shore those things (allowing too many shots to the Lightning) in today's match-up with the Canes. Keep in mind, for each of these teams it is their 3rd game in 4 days so the rest situation isn't too much different here for these clubs. Also, the big key is that the Devils used Eddie Lack between the pipes yesterday. They saved Keith Kinkaid for this game and he has dominated the Hurricanes throughout his career. He did it again in Thursday's home win and there is no reason to believe that he won't do it again here and stone the Canes in Carolina. New Jersey has won 3 straight and 6 of 10. The Hurricanes have lost 2 straight and 5 of 8. The Devils have scored 3 goals or more in 8 of 10. The Canes have been held to 2 goals or less in 7 of 10. NJ has won 5 of 6 this season when they are on an over streak of 3 or more games. Carolina has lost 11 of 17 divisional games this season and also has lost 20 of 32 when facing a team with a winning record. 10* NEW JERSEY |
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02-18-18 | Houston v. Temple +2 | Top | 80-59 | Loss | -106 | 6 h 45 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #856 Sunday 10* Temple Owls (+) vs Houston Cougars @ 4 ET - Everyone just watched Houston knock off Cincinnati in a big win Thursday so they'll be the popular choice here. The line has already moved the way of the Cougars in this one as the markets are pushing that way early on gameday. The fact is that the Owls are very quietly playing solid basketball and are flying under the radar right now. This is the perfect spot to back Temple (off of a tight loss at Wichita State) and to fade Houston after their upset win at home versus the Bearcats. The Cougars are only 3-4 SU in their last 7 true road games and the Owls are 4-0 SU in their last 4 home games. Prior to that, Temple's two most recent home losses came by just 2 and 3 points respectively and both of those teams were quality opponents. The Owls can play with anyone with the way their playing right now and they are catching Houston at the right time for a mild upset win at home. Temple has covered 6 straight games and is playing as well as they have all season long. The Owls are shooting the ball very well and will also rally around the home crowd here. Houston is a long-term 5-9 ATS as a road fave of 3 points or less. Also, the Cougars are 3-6 ATS this season when they are off of a win in conference action. Temple is 6-1 SU and ATS after a game in which they scored 80 points or more. The Owls are 11-3 ATS this season off of a conference game. They are "all in" on this one and primed for the upset! 10* TEMPLE |
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02-17-18 | North Carolina v. Louisville -1 | Top | 93-76 | Loss | -107 | 14 h 32 m | Show |
Game of the Week - Rickenbach CBB Game #634 Saturday 10* Top Play Louisville Cardinals (-) vs North Carolina Tar Heels @ 8:15 ET - After missing two games, Cardinals forward (and leading scorer) Deng Adel is expected back for this one. That should help key a Louisville signature win which is much needed at this time of year as teams need to impress the tournament committee. The fact that the Tar Heels are a ranked team and have won 4 straight games and yet are installed as a dog should tell you a lot here. It is no mistake...the odds makers know what they're doing...and the home team is the play in this one. Louisville will prove to be the hungrier team. Also, the home team has dominated this series as 6 of the last 10 games were not neutral floor games. In those 6 games, the home team won every game. North Carolina is 0-7 SU and ATS the last 7 times they've been an underdog. While the Tar Heels have won 4 straight games, their defense has been sketchy at times with sub-par efforts versus NC State and Duke included in that winning streak. The Cardinals have won back to back games heading into this one and they really put the clamps down on defense in those two games. That return to solid D was much needed and resembled how the Cards were playing earlier this season when they were on top of their game. Couple this resurgence with Deng's return and the fact that Louisville is playing their biggest game of the season and you have a great set up here. The Cardinals are on a 9-3 ATS run and are 6-1 ATS this season when off of a win in conference action and are 48-5 SU at home the last 3 seasons. 10* LOUISVILLE |
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02-17-18 | Oilers v. Coyotes OVER 5.5 | Top | 0-1 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 42 m | Show |
Afternoon Annihilation Top Play - Rickenbach NHL 10* Top Play OVER the total in Arizona Coyotes vs Edmonton Oilers @ 4:05 ET - The Oilers need a big bounce-back win but their goal-tending continues to fail them. Edmonton, after seemingly turning the corner last month, has reverted to poor form. The Oilers have allowed 4.3 goals per game in their last 9 games. That stretch of sub-par netminding has led to 7 Edmonton losses in their last 9 games. Look for the Coyotes to take advantage. Arizona is playing some of their best hockey of the season in the offensive zone and this has led to scoring an average of 4 goals per game in their last 5 games. Though their goal-tending has been better in their last 3 games, the Coyotes have still allowed an average of 3 goals per game in their last 8 games. That said, Arizona could have trouble stopping a hungry Oilers team that has lit the lamp early and often in recent match-ups with the Coyotes. Edmonton has averaged 3.6 goals per game in winning 5 straight versus Arizona. Also, the Oilers enter this game having averaged 3.7 goals per game in their 7 games prior to the ugly 4-1 loss at Vegas Thursday. Big response from Oilers here but they'll struggle to keep the puck out of their own net. Over is 6-2 in Edmonton's last 8 games and the Coyotes are 6-1 to the over in their last 7 games. 10* OVER the total in Arizona |
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02-17-18 | Missouri +1 v. LSU | Top | 63-64 | Push | 0 | 7 h 21 m | Show |
Daytime Dominator Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #513 Saturday 10* Missouri Tigers (+) @ LSU Tigers @ 2 ET - Missouri is red hot right now, playing solid defense, and they have revenge here. LSU of course has the home court edge here but their defense has been missing in most all of their recent games and the odds makers have this one priced this way for a reason! As you can see it looks inviting to just take LSU at home in a game that opened up at a -1 but the fact is that Missouri's mediocre road record is poised to add another W today. Even though LSU is 10-4 at home this season they come into this game having lost 7 of their last 10 games. Also, in 6 of their last 8 games, LSU has allowed their opponent to hit at least 51% from the field. Missouri's defense, on the other hand, has been rock solid as they've held 4 of their last 5 opponents to 69 points or less and 40% or less from the field. Missouri is 4-0 SU this month and on a long-term 16-5 ATS run in February games. This team is playing with a ton of confidence right now and the fact they lost at home to LSU last season and have lost all 3 visits to LSU is what strengthens this play as there is plenty of motivation. As for the home team here, they are on a 6-14 SU run in February games and also are 2-6 SU and ATS their last 8 games against teams with a winning record. 10* MISSOURI |
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02-16-18 | Avalanche v. Jets OVER 5.5 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
Divisional Dominator Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #55 Friday 10* OVER the total in Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche @ 8:05 ET - The Avalanche are still a little banged up but their confidence has been bolstered by coming up with back to back wins and this included scoring 5 goals in their most recent road win. Also, further improving the Avs spirits is the fact that Blake Comeau could return tonight and Nathan MacKinnon might be back for Sunday's games. Look for Colorado to put plenty of pressure on the Jets netminder in this one. Winnipeg has allowed 3.5 goals per game in their last 4 games and Connor Hellebuyck is likely to continue to allow some to slip through tonight. However, the reason the play here is the over rather than the Avs is because the Jets are a very dangerous team at home. Winnipeg is averaging 3.7 goals per game at home this season and the return of No. 1 center Mark Scheifele has given the team a huge boost. His presence up front makes all the difference in the world with this team and Colorado has allowed an average of 3.8 goals per game in their last 8 road games. The over is 4-2 in the Avs last 6 road games. Also, the Avalanche are 22-13 to the over this season when playing with revenge. As for the Jets, they are 7-2 to the over this season when playing with 2 days of rest between games. 10* OVER the total in Winnipeg |
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02-16-18 | Bowling Green +14 v. Buffalo | Top | 82-95 | Win | 100 | 12 h 9 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #827 Friday 10* Bowling Green Falcons (+) @ Buffalo Bulls @ 7 ET - Perfect spot for a huge upset but, at the very least, the Falcons should at least keep this one in single digits. Buffalo only lost 2 games in conference action this season. One was at Northern Illinois but they had beat the Huskies in the 1st meeting. The other defeat was at Kent State and then the Bulls badly wanted revenge in the next meeting. They got it and that was Buffalo's most recent game as they are off of a huge revenging win versus the Golden Flashes. Look for that to leave the Bulls a little flat in this one. The fact is that Buffalo has owned this series recently with Bowling Green so they may not be as focused on the Falcons as you would otherwise think. That is going to allow a quality BG team to give the Bulls a run for their money in this one. Before Buffalo's strong effort on defense versus Kent State, they had allowed 85 points per game on 46% shooting from the field. As for the Falcons, before allowing 81 points in a high-scoring win versus Western Michigan, they had held their last 4 opponents to 58.5 points per game on 38.5% shooting! The Falcons are playing their best basketball of the season and are fully focused on this game and on a 5-0 ATS run. The Bulls are off of a big revenging win and could be in for a letdown here. That said, the big points should prove to be more than enough in this one! Buffalo is 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games. The Falcons are 5-1 ATS this season when off of a win in MAC action. 10* BOWLING GREEN |
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02-15-18 | Nuggets +3 v. Bucks | Top | 134-123 | Win | 100 | 12 h 2 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #501 Thursday 10* Denver Nuggets (+) @ Milwaukee Bucks @ 8:05 ET - The Bucks are 19-9 SU at home this season while the Nuggets are 8-19 SU on the road this season. Why then is Milwaukee such a small home favorite here? Precisely! As usual there is more than meets the eye at first glance here. The key in this match-up is that the Bucks defense has improved but in recent games but their offense has not impressed of late. As a result, simply put, Milwaukee won't be able to keep up with this high-powered Denver team in this one. The Bucks have averaged only 98 points per game in their last 7 games. By comparison, the Nuggets have averaged 115.1 points per game in their last 8 games. Yes, Milwaukee has the better defense in comparison with Denver but the Nuggets certainly aren't going to be "sleeping' on D with this being their final game before the All Star break. The Nuggets are on a 15-8 ATS run against Central Division opponents. The Bucks have covered just 10 of their 28 home games this season! 10* DENVER |
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02-15-18 | Capitals +125 v. Wild | Top | 5-2 | Win | 125 | 10 h 19 m | Show |
Game of the Week - Rickenbach NHL Game #11 Thursday 10* Top Play Washington Capitals Money Line (+) @ Minnesota Wild @ 8:05 ET - Bruce Boudreau is the coach of the Wild and his head coaching career began with the Capitals. However, more recently he was with the Ducks and Minnesota does have a game on deck with Anaheim. Whether or not the Wild are already peeking ahead to a Western Conference match-up or not, the fact is that Minnesota has struggled in recent meetings with Boudreau's former team. The Capitals swept the Wild last season and already won the first meeting this season. Washington enters this game having lost back to back games so they'll be ready to go. We are into the 5th month of the season already and only twice this entire season have the Caps lost 3 straight games. In other words, expect the bounce back here! As for Minny, they are are off of back to back wins but have only managed to win 3 or more consecutive games twice this season! In fact there have been 10 times this season that the Wild started a winning streak with consecutive wins, two of those extended to 4 wins in a row. The other EIGHT all ended as a 2-game winnings streak. The odds are in favor of the Capitals here and they have won 24 of 36 when they enter a game on an "over streak" of 3 or more games. The Wild have lost 5 of 7 this season when they enter a game having played each of their 3 prior games at home. More of the same here! 10* WASHINGTON |
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02-15-18 | Cincinnati v. Houston +3.5 | Top | 62-67 | Win | 105 | 10 h 60 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #510 Thursday 10* Top Play Houston Cougars (+) vs Cincinnati Bearcats @ 7 ET - Everyone will want the small road fave here that is undefeated in conference games this season. Hence the title of Contrarian Crusher on this one. Houston is being overlooked by most in this match-up because Cincinnati is so highly ranked and because the Bearcats are 12-0 SU in AAC action. The key to the value here on the Cougars is that many have forgotten they led the Cats by 18 on the road in their first match-up this season. Yes, that big lead did get away from the Cougars and they ended up losing the game by double digits. However, that is unlikely to happen at home. In other words, don't be surprised if Houston again gets a sizable lead but, the difference this time is that they'll hold onto it! This is why I see great value with grabbing the points here. Cincinnati is only 9-15 ATS in games against teams that average 77 points or more. Also, the Bearcats are off of a big win at SMU and they have a showdown with Wichita State on deck. The Cougars have quietly gone 12-0 at home this season and are "flying under the radar" which makes them a very dangerous home dog here. Houston is also 10-4 ATS (and 11-3 SU!) when playing with road loss revenge. Having gone 6-2 ATS in lined home games this season and coming into this game having allowed just 49.8 points per game in their last 4 games, the Cougars are going to be extremely tough as they eye their 20th win of the season and a big upset. 10* HOUSTON |
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02-14-18 | Heat +7.5 v. 76ers | Top | 102-104 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #703 Wednesday 10* Miami Heat (+) @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:05 ET - The Heat are in a back to back spot here but have actually gone 4-1 ATS the last 5 times they've played the 2nd game of a back to back. Also, with last night's cover at Toronto, Miami is 5-1 ATS their last 6 games against teams with a winning record. Even though they've endured a bit of a slump recently, so many of their losses have been very tight. That is why the Heat getting significant points here is certainly a solid line value. Miami is only 12-10 SU their last 22 games but the average margin of those 10 defeats was 4.9 points. NONE of the 10 losses came by double digits. In other words, getting big points here is indeed a solid value. I know Philadelphia has been hot but this is the final game before the All-Star break for both of these teams and the Heat want it just as bad. In fact, having lost at Philly (by 6) less than two weeks ago strengthens their resolve here. The Sixers are having a great season but they are 0-3 SU and ATS this season when they enter a game on a streak of 3 or more unders. Also, the long-term numbers in that situation are 6-11 ATS and 2-15 SU! Also, when Philadelphia enters a game having played each of their 3 prior games at home, they are 2-4 ATS this season and 4-21 SU the last 3 seasons combined. This one has upset written all over it and certainly there is value with grabbing the points which is what I am recommending for a top play here. 10* MIAMI |
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02-14-18 | Mississippi State v. Vanderbilt -110 | Top | 80-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 21 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #734 Wednesday 10* Vanderbilt Commodores (-) vs Mississippi State Bulldogs @ 7 ET - The Bulldogs are 18-7 this season and the Commodores are 9-16 this season. On the surface, that makes this look like a no-brainer to pick Mississippi State. Of course that's why the early line move has seen Vanderbilt go from a 2-point favorite to a pick'em as of Wednesday morning. There are a number of keys to the value here with the home team. The Commodores are horrible on the road but are a respectable 9-5 at home. That includes 3 straight wins for Vandy on their home floor and they'll make the most of what is just their 4th home game in the past 30 days. The Commodores are off of a ridiculous game where they shot just 25% from the field at Arkansas. Prior to this 54-point effort, Vanderbilt had scored 81 points in 4 straight games and had delivered a 5-1 ATS stretch at the betting window. As for Mississippi State, they have covered 5 straight games but they are off of a tough OT loss at Missouri and they have rival Ole Miss on deck! Simply put, it is virtually impossible for the Bulldogs not to be looking ahead to their big home game versus the Rebels Saturday. The Bulldogs are only 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in road games this season and also 0-3 ATS in games with a posted total in the 140s this season. Mississippi State is also 2-5 ATS when off of a game where they scored 80 points or more. The Commodores are 8-4 SU after a game in which they were held to 60 points or less and also 6-2 SU in home games with a posted total between 140 and 144.5 points. 10* VANDERBILT |
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02-13-18 | Blues v. Predators OVER 5.5 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 116 | 8 h 58 m | Show |
Divisional Dominator Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #19 Tuesday 10* OVER the total in Nashville Predators vs St Louis Blues @ 8:05 ET - The Blues are still seeking revenge for a 4-2 series loss to the Predators last spring. Their first two chances came at home and they lost both games by a combined score of only 4 to 1. In other words, playing tight low-scoring match-ups hasn't paid off at all for the Blues. Now, on the road, I expect an entirely different type of game to be played. St Louis needs to open it up and try something different to get past a Preds team that is quickly becoming a nemesis. As for Nashville's style of play, they love to open up things at home where they are averaging scoring 3.5 goals per game. The Predators are very dangerous at home and, overall, they come into this game red hot in the offensive zone as they've averaged scoring 3.8 goals per game in their last 6 games. Overall, the Blues are currently in a 4-game stretch that has seen plenty of goals scored. The over is 3-1 during this stretch with an average of 6.8 total games per game during this run. When playing with home loss revenge, St Louis has had just 18 unders in the last 50 - a 36% under rate. When playing with 2 days of rest between games, the Predators have had just 19 unders in the last 51 - a 37% under rate. 10* OVER the total in Nashville |
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02-13-18 | Heat v. Raptors OVER 206 | Top | 112-115 | Win | 100 | 9 h 21 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #501 Tuesday 10* OVER the total in Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat @ 7:05 ET - These teams met early last month and the low-scoring battle resulted in a 5th straight under in this series. Also, the Raptors enter this game having played solid defense recently. Their most recent game went over the total but the 3 prior stayed under. However, I am going contrarian here because I am anticipating a very high-scoring match-up. The Heat, prior to a low-scoring win over the Bucks, had gone over the total in 3 straight games. That was part of a 4-game stretch where Miami allowed 108.5 points per game. Couple this sub-par stretch on the defensive end with the fact that the Raptors put up a ton of points at home and you have the recipe for a shootout here. The Heat offense will respond after shooting just 36.4% in their most recent game. Miami had previously averaged 105.7 points per game in their 3 prior games. The over is 11-5 (including 3-1 this season) when the Heat are off of a game where they allowed 85 points or less. As for Toronto, the over is 32-20 (including 13-8 this season) when they are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. Also, the Raptors are 21-13 to the over (including 5-2 this season) when they are playing with home loss revenge. 10* OVER the total in Toronto |
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02-13-18 | Boston College -6 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 81-58 | Win | 100 | 9 h 56 m | Show |
Early Blowout Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #519 Tuesday 10* Boston College Eagles (-) @ Pittsburgh Panthers @ 7 ET - When you are laying close to a half-dozen points on the road you better have the decided edge and it also helps to have a motivational edge. In this specific case we can certainly "check the box" on both of those important factors. The Panthers are having a horrific season that honestly can't end soon enough! Pittsburgh is on a 13-game losing streak! The Panthers aren't just losing either, they're getting blasted! Pitt's 13 losses have included 11 defeats coming by a dozen points or more! Here is the problem though...will the Eagles be motivated? Of course they will! They lost at home to the Panthers last January by double digits! That game was tied at the half but Boston College had half as many field goal attempts even though they were the home team in that one. In other words, payback is in order here. The Eagles are 5-0 SU as a favorite this season so, even though they've had some SU losses of late they've been playing a very tough schedule and now will take full advantage of facing a weaker foe. As for the Panthers, they are 5-13 ATS in games with a posted total in the 130s. Also, Pittsburgh is 1-5 ATS when they enter a game on an ATS losing streak of 3 or more games! 10* BOSTON COLLEGE |
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02-12-18 | Knicks v. 76ers -11.5 | Top | 92-108 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
NBA TV Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #702 Monday 10* Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs New York Knicks @ 7:05 ET - The Knicks have lost 6 straight games. I know the line seems steep here but is justified as the loss of Kristaps Porzingis is a huge one for New York. The game he got hurt was at home against Milwaukee and the Knicks have played 2 games since. In those 3 games the Knicks lost by an average margin of 15.7 points per game. Another blowout loss is likely here as the Sixers are at home and rolling. The 76ers have won 3 straight games and all of them were blowout wins. In fact, 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 wins have come by more than a dozen points. The average margin of victory in those 6 easy wins has been 16.7 points. The Sixers have allowed just 41% from the field in their last 6 games combined. The Knicks are allowing 109.1 points per game on the road this season and, without Kristaps Porzingis, New York is likely to struggle to be competitive in this one. The Knicks are 5-21 SU (and 7-19 ATS) in February games. The Sixers are 16-9 SU (and 17-8 ATS) in home games this season! This is a classic case of hot versus not and facing a hated division rival insures that the 76ers won't take their foot off of the gas in this one! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-12-18 | Lightning v. Maple Leafs OVER 6 | Top | 3-4 | Win | 100 | 7 h 18 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #51 Tuesday 10* OVER the total in Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning @ 7:05 ET - The Lightning have gone over the total in 5 straight and 7 of their last 8. The Bolts have scored at least 4 goals in 6 of those 8 games! Also, Tampa Bay has allowed 3.8 goals per game in their last 4 road games! The Maple Leafs are not on an over streak like Tampa is but this is simply because the Leafs wrapped up January with some solid goal-tending. However, since then Toronto has given up 3.3 goals per game in their last 4 games. Also, the key to this over is that, like the Lightning, the Leafs have been red hot with their goal-scoring of late. The Maple Leafs have averaged 4.3 goals per game in their last 7 games. Big total, 6, is posted on this game but, based on the firepower of these two clubs, it is absolutely justified. Also, the Leafs got shutout at home in the only other meeting between these teams this season and that was early last month. That loss holds significance here because Toronto is 10-3 to the over this season when playing with home loss revenge. As for Tampa Bay, they are 18-9 to the over this season after a game in which they scored 4 goals or more. Both teams stay hot in the offensive zone here! 10* OVER the total in Toronto |
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02-12-18 | Notre Dame v. North Carolina OVER 151.5 | Top | 66-83 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 36 m | Show |
ESPN Smash Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #713 Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in North Carolina Tar Heels vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ 7 ET - When you are not playing great defense but still winning, there is a tendency to continue to overlook play on the defensive end. North Carolina has allowed 48% or higher from the field in 4 of its last 5 wins. Overall, the Tar Heels have allowed 78 points or more in 5 of their last 6 games. Not surprising given those numbers, the UNC over is 6-2 in their last 8 games. The Fighting Irish are also playing at a fast pace as they are 4-1 to the over in their last 5 games. Like North Carolina, Notre Dame has struggled some on the defensive end of the floor as, before a fairly strong game versus Florida State, they had allowed 49% or higher from the field in 5 of their 6 prior games! The Irish are full of confidence as they've averaged 90 points per game in their last 2 games. However, the Tar Heels are also putting up huge numbers as they've averaged 86.6 points per game in their last 5 games. Off of grueling games against rivals Duke and NC State, the Heels defense may not be at its best for this one. Couple that with Notre Dame's newfound confidence on the offensive end and you've got the makings of a shootout here! The over is 5-2 when the Fighting Irish are playing with home loss revenge. The over is 9-2 in Tar Heels home games this season. Also, the over is 4-1 when UNC is off of a game where they allowed 80 points or more. 10* OVER the total in North Carolina |
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02-11-18 | Cincinnati -7.5 v. SMU | Top | 76-51 | Win | 100 | 8 h 3 m | Show |
ESPN Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach CBB Game #831 Sunday 10* Top Play Cincinnati Bearcats (-) @ SMU Mustangs @ 4 ET - Even though the Mustangs have revenge from a 20 point loss at Cincinnati earlier this season, the Bearcats still have revenge on their minds too. Why? Because SMU knocked them out of the conference tourney last March AND also because the Mustangs have dominated Cincinnati in recent meetings at SMU. With that said, there will be no shortage of emotion from the road team in this one. Though their line may seem high, keep in mind the odds maker is factoring in the same key factors as what I noted above plus the fact that the Mustangs are down to just 7 scholarship players right now. SMU is currently without a couple of key players too as both Shake Milton and Jarrey Foster are expected to miss this game. The Mustangs are 1-3 ATS in games with a posted total in the 120s this season and the Bearcats stifling defense will frustrate them. SMU is also 5-9 ATS in games against teams with a winning record. Cincinnati is on a 6-0 ATS run against teams with a winning record. Also, the Bearcats are 11-0 SU and 8-3 ATS in conference action this season. This play has the makings of a road rout. 10* CINCINNATI |
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02-11-18 | Pistons v. Hawks OVER 210 | Top | 115-118 | Win | 100 | 7 h 33 m | Show |
Afternoon Annhilation - Rickenbach NBA Game #805 Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons @ 3:35 ET - The Pistons are off of a loss Friday versus the Clippers where their offense let them down, particularly in the 4th quarter. As a result, don't be surprised when you see that offensive production will be the emphasis for them in this match-up! Prior to that under Friday, the over was 6-1 in Detroit's 7 previous games as the Pistons had averaged 111.1 points per game in those 7 games. They should have no trouble putting up big points here as they take advantage of the sub-par defense of the Hawks in this one. That said, this one can be expected to be a shootout because Atlanta has averaged 106.8 points per game in their last 5 home games. The Hawks are off of a home loss to Cleveland but had gone 3-3 in their 6 prior games. The fact that Atlanta has been playing better on offense and getting some wins gives them some added confidence on the offensive end and the result is some big point totals. Other than allowing 82 points to Memphis (definitely an aberration), the Hawks have given up point totals averaging 116.6 points per game in their other 5 home games since January 23rd. The over is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings between these teams and, given the situation here, that trend should certainly continue here. Also, the over is 9-5 this season when the Hawks are off of a game where they allowed 115 points or more. The over is 8-4 in Detroit's games against Southeast Division opponents this season. 10* OVER the total in Atlanta |
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02-11-18 | Rangers v. Jets OVER 6 | Top | 3-1 | Loss | -100 | 5 h 54 m | Show |
Midday Mauling - Rickenbach NHL Game #5 Sunday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Winnipeg Jets vs New York Rangers @ 3:05 ET - The Jets are off of a 5-2 loss to St Louis Friday and have now seen each of their last two games total 7 goals and go over the total. The Rangers rallied for a 4-3 win versus Calgary Friday. Though they snuck out the victory by rallying in the 3rd period, New York continues to be troubled by allowing too many goals. They've allowed 4.2 goals per game in their last 13 games. Not surprisingly given numbers like that, the over is 10-3 in the Rangers last 13 games! Both these teams have injury issues in goal effecting their depth at the netminding position. The over is 12-4 in Winnipeg home games with a posted total of 6 or more goals. The Jets have allowed 3 goals or more in 5 of their last 7 games but they have averaged scoring 3.8 goals per game on the season in home games! Couple that home success with the fact that the Rangers offense got back on track and got some much needed confidence in the win over the Flames Friday and you have the perfect set-up for a non-conference game played with a rather wide-open style this afternoon. New York is 13-8 to the over in non-conference games this season and I expect another wild one here given the above. 10* OVER the total in Winnipeg |
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02-10-18 | Flyers v. Coyotes OVER 5.5 | Top | 4-3 | Win | 104 | 7 h 10 m | Show |
Total Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #61 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Arizona Coyotes vs Philadelphia Flyers @ 8:05 ET - The Flyers have gone over the total in 5 of their last 6. games as they've allowed 3.67 goals per game in those 6 games. Philadelphia is off of a big 5-3 home win versus Montreal and they know they can't afford to overlook league-worst Arizona as points are critical at this time of year. However, the Coyotes will give the Flyers a run for their money here as Arizona has added confidence from scoring 7 goals on the last two games of their 3-game road trip. All 3 games went over the total. The Coyotes have allowed 4.3 goals per game in their last 4 games and this match-up has the makings of a barn-burner. Each of the last 3 meetings between these teams have not only gone over the total, they've also each totaled at least 7 goals. 10* OVER the total in Arizona |
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02-10-18 | Purdue +3.5 v. Michigan State | Top | 65-68 | Win | 100 | 8 h 31 m | Show |
Game of the Week - Rickenbach CBB Game #621 Saturday 10* Top Play Purdue Boilermakers (+) @ Michigan State Spartans @ 4 ET - The Boilermakers are off of a loss by a single point. Not only was that just their 3rd loss of the season, the 3 defeats have come by an average margin of just 2.7 points per game! Purdue has not lost a game by more than 4 points this season. There is certainly value here as they are getting 3.5 points in this match-up and they've defeated the Spartans 3 of the last 4 games including a sweep last season (with both wins by double digits). These teams have identical records but Michigan State's 3 losses have come by an average margin of 11 points per game. Those were 3 of the Spartans most challenging games of the season too in terms of the match-up and this is certainly another one. That is why there is great line value here with the underdog Boilermakers. Purdue is 7-0 SU on the road this season and 7-0 SU on Saturdays. Michigan State is 1-8 ATS when off of a win in conference action. Also, the Spartans are the much younger team while the Boilermakers start 4 seniors who certainly know how to handle playing on the road. 10* PURDUE |
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02-09-18 | Clippers +3.5 v. Pistons | Top | 108-95 | Win | 100 | 11 h 32 m | Show |
ESPN Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #803 Friday 10* Top Play Los Angeles Clippers (+) @ Detroit Pistons @ 7:05 ET - Big revenge game for the Clippers here. Many will be looking at the revenge angle for Blake Griffin as the Pistons star gets a shot at the team that traded him away. However, the Clippers also appear to be fortified after the trade and they were the better team to begin with as well. That said, market perception has driven this line up from a 2.5 to as high as a 4 as of early gameday morning. This has led to fantastic line value for Los Angeles in this spot. The Clippers lost to the Pistons at home very early this season and the Clips also lost in their most recent visit to Detroit. That said, the Clippers have revenge on their minds here and are well rested and fully focused on making this a successful road trip. Coach Doc Rivers even said that it was a great time for the Clips to get away from home as they look to make a move up the standings and get away from any distractions at home. This is the first of seven straight road games for the Clippers. They've been off since Monday and they are not home again until the 28th. They know this road trip is critical. The Clippers come into this game having won 4 of their last 5 overall and they also have victories in 5 of their last 6 road games. They are 23-12 ATS when playing with home loss revenge and 8-3 ATS when playing with 3 or more days of rest between games. The Pistons have won 5 straight games but are 7-14 ATS when they enter a game on a winning streak of 3 or more games. Detroit is 11-17 ATS as a favorite this season. Take advantage of the line move and grab the points here with the revenge-minded road team. 10* LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS |
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02-09-18 | Flames -120 v. Rangers | Top | 3-4 | Loss | -120 | 7 h 48 m | Show |
Situational Slaughter - Rickenbach NHL Game #1 Friday 10* Top Play Calgary Flames Money Line (-) @ New York Rangers @ 7:05 ET - Two teams going in opposite directions right now and, that is why, even though this is a back to back spot for the Flames, it is the perfect spot to back them. Calgary has won 3 straight games and is looking at this east coast road trip as an opportunity to make a move in the standings. As for the Rangers, they've lost 7 of their last 8 games and have allowed an average of 4.4 goals during this rough stretch. Showing just how poorly New York has been playing, their last 9 losses have come by an average margin of defeat of 3.1 goals! Now there is talk of major changes for the Rangers and a youth movement as they're on the cusp of throwing in the towel on this season and starting to rebuild for the future. Calgary has won 14 of 23 games this season when facing a team with a losing record. The Flames also have won 5 of 8 this season when playing the 2nd game of a back to back. The Rangers have lost 7 of their last 8 games when facing a team with a winning record. Also, on the season, New York has lost 8 of 10 games when they are off of a contest where they were held to 1 goal or less. 10* CALGARY FLAMES |
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02-09-18 | Toledo v. Miami-OH +3 | Top | 73-67 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 33 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #836 Friday 10* Top Play Miami (OH) Redhawks (+) vs Toledo Rockets @ 6:00 ET - The Rockets will be a popular choice here as they are leading the MAC West Division and because they have had their way for many years now in match-ups with the Redhawks. Of course that makes this a big revenge game for Miami (OH) and I love the fact that the Redhawks are off of a tight road loss that was decided very late while Toledo is off of a very tight home win where they barely hung on for victory against upset-minded Northern Illinois. The Rockets are facing another upset-minded team today and this time it is on the road. That certainly holds significance here because Miami's home record is nearly identical to Toledo's road record this season. Additionally, the Redhawks are allowing only 64.2 points per game and just 40.6% FG shooting in home games this season. For comparison's sake, the Rockets are allowing 77.1 points per game and a lofty 45.5% FG shooting in their road games this season! Toledo is a long term 13-23 ATS in Friday games and I look for the Rockets to drop to 5-9 ATS on the season in games where they are a favorite. Miami is an incredible 11-4-1 ATS as an underdog this season. Also, the Redhawks are 6-2-1 ATS this season against teams that average 77 points or more per game. 10* MIAMI-OHIO |
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02-08-18 | Celtics +2 v. Wizards | Top | 110-104 | Win | 100 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
TNT Early Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #505 Thursday 10* Boston Celtics (+) @ Washington Wizards @ 8:05 ET - These teams have only met once this season and Washington got the win on Christmas Day at Boston. Of course the Wizards wanted that game badly as they were eliminated from the post-season by the Celtics in May. Now the revenge angle lies with Boston. With both teams entering this game off of losses that followed hot streaks, I am happy to be back the team with the extra motivation as well as with the much better defense. The Celtics are allowing just 43.2% from the field this season while the Wizards are allowing 45.7% from the field. Boston is also 10-2 ATS as an underdog this season and 12-2 ATS when playing with revenge (including 4-0 ATS with home loss revenge) this season. Washington is an ugly 3-6 ATS this season when they enter a game having played each of their 3 prior games on the road. The Wizards are also a poor 11-23 ATS this season when they are an underdog. Celtics roll on the road in this one. 10* BOSTON |
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02-08-18 | Duke v. North Carolina +2.5 | Top | 78-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 44 m | Show |
ESPN Dominator Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #550 Thursday 10* North Carolina Tar Heels (+) vs Duke Blue Devils @ 8 ET - Both teams have under-performed compared to expectations. Of course Duke is ultra-talented but they are a very young team certainly as they start 4 freshmen. North Carolina is the much more experienced team and, of course, they have the home court edge here. With Duke as the higher-ranked team and with the Tar Heels having lost 3 of their last 4 games, there has been a line move from a pick'em to as high as a 2.5 on this game. This is offering up exceptional line value on the home dog. UNC is 6-3 ATS in home games this season. Duke is on a 6-11 ATS run in February games. In regular season meetings the home team has won 3 of the last 5 and in the 2 home losses one came by just 4 points and the other by just a single point. I'll gladly take the more veteran team at home and getting points. Remember that the Tar Heels are also seeking revenge for last season's loss to Duke in the ACC tournament. 10* NORTH CAROLINA |
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02-08-18 | Flames -108 v. Devils | Top | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 7 h 54 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #51 Thursday 10* Calgary Flames Money Line (-) @ New Jersey Devils @ 7:05 ET - This is definitely a contrarian spot as most will see a "pick 'em" line on a home team playing with revenge and will jump all over it. The fact is that this game is priced this way with good reason. The Flames are starting to turn the corner and the Devils over-achieved early this season and are coming back to reality now. From a situational perspective, this is also a poor spot for New Jersey as they are off of a string of games against Eastern Conference foes including divisional rivals like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Additionally, the Devils have another divisional game on deck with plenty of tough Eastern Conference battles to follow. As for the Flames this is merely the 2nd game of a 6-game road trip where this is the 1st of 4 against Eastern Conference foes. In other words, Calgary is certainly fully focused here. The Devils have scored an average of just 2 goals per game in their last 8 games and, not surprisingly, 5 of the 8 games resulted in a loss. The Flames are off of back to back wins and they've averaged scoring 3.7 goals per game in their last 3 games. In home games with a posted total of 5.5 goals New Jersey has lost 17 of 28. The Flames have won 11 of 19 and, more impressively earned 5.4 net units, in their road games with a posted total of 5.5 goals this season. Look for them to get the job done again here. 10* CALGARY |
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02-07-18 | Bruins v. Rangers +121 | Top | 6-1 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 37 m | Show |
NBC Sports Network Rout - Rickenbach NHL Game #3 Wednesday 10* Top Play New York Rangers Money Line (+) vs Boston Bruins @ 8:05 ET - The fact that the Bruins have been so hot may make it seem tough to back them here. However, this is a tough back to back spot for them and the Rangers will have the edge between the pipes, the home ice edge, as well as the scheduling edge. The Rangers will have Henrik Lundqvist guarding the cage and he bounced back with a strong start in his most recent game even though New York still fell short 2-1. Also, he is 27-12-2 in his 41 games versus the Bruins. As for Boston, the netminder will be Anton Khubodin and his most recent start was also Boston's most recent loss (3-1 vs Anaheim). The Bruins have lost 5 of the last 8 starts he has made. Also, Khubodin has gone winless (0-2-2) in his 4 career starts versus the Rangers. Boston has lost 5 of 8 this season (and 21 of 33 long-term) when they are playing the 2nd game of a back to back. Even though the Bruins are playing this game with revenge, they've actually lost 13 of 21 this season and 63 of 109 the last 3 seasons combined when they are playing with revenge. The Rangers have lost 3 straight games but are happy to be back on home ice and the Blueshirts have won 10 of 12 the last 2+ seasons when they enter a game on a losing streak of 3 or more games! This match-up is featuring home dog value at it's greatest. 10* NEW YORK RANGERS |
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02-07-18 | Rockets v. Heat +5 | Top | 109-101 | Loss | -108 | 13 h 58 m | Show |
Situational Slaughter - Rickenbach NBA Game #704 Wednesday 10* Top Play Miami Heat (+) vs Houston Rockets @ 7:35 ET - The Rockets are off of a big win last night at Brooklyn but, don't be fooled by the final score, it was quite a battle and took a lot out of Houston. Now they are in the 2nd game of a back to back and this is a situation that has seen them go only 1-5 ATS this season. The Rockets are 1-5 ATS when playing the 2nd night of a back to back. Going from Brooklyn to Miami makes the travel situation even tougher. The Heat are in the midst of a 4-game losing streak but they truly have been "right there" in those games. In fact, Miami's last 5 losses have come by an average margin of just 3 points per game. With that said, there is substantial line value here with the generous points being offered on the home dog. Keep in mind, the Heat have played just 4 of their last 15 games at home so all the time away from home definitely caught up with them. Now, off of a home game and with another home game on deck, look for Miami to come up with a big performance here. The Heat lost the first match-up between these teams this season but they had swept them last season. Also, Miami is 25-10 ATS and SU when off of an upset loss as a favorite and they got upset at home by Orlando on Monday. Within that long-term run, note that this season's stats are 6-1 ATS and 7-0 SU in that situation! In other words, look for the Heat to bounce back huge in this spot. 10* MIAMI |
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02-07-18 | Maryland +4.5 v. Penn State | Top | 70-74 | Win | 100 | 9 h 6 m | Show |
Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB Game #713 Wednesday 10* Top Play Maryland Terrapins (+) @ Penn State Nittany Lions @ 6:30 ET - While it is true that the Terrapins defeated the Nittany Lions in Maryland early last month, it is also true that Penn State is still a game ahead of them in the Big Ten standings entering this contest. The Terps have been tough-luck losers in a number of their games and are a much better team than their Big Ten record indicates. Keep in mind, Maryland went 11-2 in non-conference action and they've faced some very tough teams in their Big Ten schedule thusfar. The Nittany Lions are entering this game off of a huge win where seemingly everything went right for them while everything went wrong for their opponents. This resulted in a PSU win by a score of 82-58 versus Iowa. The last 4 times that the Nittany Lions have held their opponent to 65 points or less, they are 0-4 SU in those games. The Terrapins are 5-1 SU against Penn State. The Terps are off of a win but had previously lost 6 of their 8 prior games. The key there was they faced Michigan State twice, Purdue, Michigan, and Ohio State. The other of the 6 losses was a 3-point loss at Indiana. In fact, Maryland's last 4 losses have come by an average of 4.5 points per game which also happens to be the line on this game. However, Penn State is not in the class of those teams that the Terrapins lost to. In other words, big value here. The Terps are on an 18-8 ATS run as an underdog and get the cash again here! The Nittany Lions are a long-term 5-15 ATS when off of a game where they scored 80 points or more. 10* MARYLAND |
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02-06-18 | Wizards v. 76ers -6.5 | Top | 102-115 | Win | 100 | 12 h 49 m | Show |
TNT Early Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #512 Tuesday 10* Philadelphia 76'ers (-) vs Washington Wizards @ 8:05 ET - The Wizards are off of a big win last night at Indiana as they took advantage of the Pacers being without their entire starting backcourt. Both Victor Oladipo (illness) and Darren Collison (knee) missed last night's game versus Washington while both guards did play in the Pacers win versus the 76ers Saturday. This is helping drive some value here as the markets may not fully pick up on this and the fact is that these teams just faced the same team but at entirely different strength levels. Additionally, in terms of the set up here, the Sixers are off of a loss plus playing with 2 days off between games while the Wizards are off of a win and playing in a back to back. The rest edge plus motivating factor plus home court factor all in favor of Philadelphia here. Washington is a long-term 39-69 SU (and 45-63 ATS) the last 108 times they've faced a team that is averaging 106 points or more per game. The 76ers are 4-1 SU and ATS when facing a team from the Southeast Division this season. Also, Philadelphia is 19-4 ATS when, in the 2nd half of a season, they are facing a team this is averaging 106 points or more per game on the season. Wizards are playing 5th game in 8 nights. Sixers playing just 3rd game in 6 nights. 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-06-18 | Wild +130 v. Blues | Top | 6-2 | Win | 130 | 13 h 28 m | Show |
NBC Sports Network Rout - Rickenbach NHL Game #65 Tuesday 10* Top Play Minnesota Wild Money Line (+) @ St Louis Blues @ 8:05 ET - The Wild are expected to have Devan Dubnyk between the pipes and Minnesota has won 17 of his last 23 starts. Minny is off of an embarrassing loss at Dallas but likely got caught looking ahead to this game. The Wild were eliminated from the post-season by the Blues last spring. Even though Minnesota got some measure of revenge in their most recent game versus St Louis, they still "owe" the Blues as they lost their first regular season match-up there this season plus have the added motivation of losing April's playoff series 4 games to 1. The Blues have been held to just 1 goal in each of their last two games. Though the Wild are off of a 6-1 loss, they have won 6 of 8 this season when off of a game where they scored 1 goal or less. Also, Minnesota had won 6 of 8 prior to that loss and the Wild have not lost back to back games in 4 weeks and that one occurrence is the only time Minny has lost two consecutive games since prior to Christmas. St Louis, due to some troubles finding the back of the net, is on a 5-game under streak. That holds significance here as the Blues have lost 7 of 11 this season when they enter a game on an under streak of 3 or more games. The Wild had been playing very well prior to getting blasted by the Stars and I fully expect a big bounce back here. 10* MINNESOTA |
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02-06-18 | Michigan v. Northwestern +2 | Top | 52-61 | Win | 100 | 8 h 14 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #532 Tuesday 10* Top Play Northwestern Wildcats (+) vs Michigan Wolverines @ 7 ET - The Wildcats seek revenge for a double digit loss at Michigan a week ago in a game in which turnovers were the difference. On the season there is only a small difference between these teams in terms of turnovers so that is unlikely to be an issue again. Look for Northwestern to come up big at home. They won their most recent home game versus the Wolverines. Also, they still remember being knocked out of the Big Ten tourney by Michigan two years ago as well. Payback time here and the Wildcats come into this game playing excellent defense. The Cats are catching the Wolverines off of a high-scoring OT win versus Minnesota. In road games in Big Ten action this season, Michigan is allowing opponents to hit 52% from the field! As for the Wildcats, they have allowed just 43.3% from the field in Big Ten action and also have allowed only 62.7 points per game on 40.7% shooting in home games this season. The Wolverines are 2-4 SU and ATS as a road favorite of 3 points or less. Also, Michigan is 3-4 SU (and 2-5 ATS) when off of a win versus a conference opponent. Northwestern thrives in games projected to be low-scoring as the Wildcats have gone 7-1 SU in games with a posted total in the 120s the past 2+ seasons. 10* NORTHWESTERN |
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02-05-18 | Rangers v. Stars OVER 6 | Top | 1-2 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 52 m | Show |
Total Blowout Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #5 Monday 10* OVER the total in Dallas Stars vs New York Rangers @ 8:35 ET - The Stars are expected to have Ben Bishop between the pipes for this one but, keep in mind, he is returning from injury and this will be his first start this month. His last two starts saw Dallas lose by a combined score of 7-1. However, the Stars offense has gotten back on track with back to back wins where Dallas scored an average of 5 goals per game. Even though they're facing Henrik Lunqvist of the Rangers here, he has been struggling with a poor .816 save percentage in his last 4 starts. Facing the red hot Stars in Dallas is unlikely to help matters for him. The over is 10-5 this season in his starts versus non-conference opponents. The Rangers have allowed 4.3 goals per game in their last 10 games and it is not just the goalies but also the way the defense has been playing in front of them. The Stars will take advantage but Bishop is also likely to face plenty of pressure early and often in this one as the Rangers are off of back to back losses where they were held to a total of just 2 goals. Prior to this, New York had averaged 3.5 goals per game in their last 6 games. The over is 12-6 this season when the Rangers are off of a game where they allowed 4 goals or more. The over is on a 19-9 run in Stars February games. 10* OVER the total in Dallas |
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02-05-18 | Wizards v. Pacers OVER 212.5 | Top | 111-102 | Win | 100 | 11 h 15 m | Show |
Earliest Cash Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #703 Monday 10* OVER the total in Indiana Pacers vs Washington Wizards @ 7:05 ET - Both of these teams are "feeling it" right now as the Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 and the Wizards have won 4 straight. Indiana has averaged 110.6 points per game in their last 7 games. Washington has averaged 116 points per game in their last 5 games. The Wizards are 63-37 to the over as an underdog. Also, in the 2nd half of a season, when facing a team that averages 106 points or more per game, Washington has gone 20-8 to the over. 5 of the last 7 meetings between these teams has resulted in an over. Look for the Indiana over to go to 7-3 this season when facing a team from the Southeast Division as both teams have been red hot and confident in the offensive end. Both teams stayed under the total in their games on Saturday but the Wizards had been 8-3 to the over and the Pacers had been 5-1 to the over. Those streaks resume here. 10* OVER the total in Indiana |
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02-04-18 | Eagles +5 v. Patriots | Top | 41-33 | Win | 100 | 219 h 48 m | Show |
The NFL Game of the Year - Rickenbach NFL Game #101 February 4th Sunday 10* Philadelphia Eagles (+) vs New England Patriots @ 6:30 ET @ U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN - Defense wins championships. The Patriots defense is ranked #29 in the NFL out of the 32 teams. New England is a sizable favorite here only because of their pedigree. The Pats will get plenty of attention from bettors because, let's face it, it is a "been there, done that" mentality when it comes to the Patriots. However, New England was very fortunate in last year's Super Bowl as anyone with a pulse surely remembers! I had Atlanta and the under in that game for the ultimate double whammy with the ridiculous finish to that game as the Falcons blew what looked like an insurmountable lead. Give credit to New England for that miracle comeback last season but at the same time, they're not going to be so fortunate this time around. The Eagles are the much better team defensively plus have a great ground game thanks to arguably having the best offensive lines and defensive lines in football. Anyone who has followed my analysis for all these years knows that I consider the battle in the trenches to be extremely important to the outcome of football games. In this case, the Eagles certainly hold the edge both when they have the ball and when they're on defense. Philly also has a great running back trio with Ajayi, Blount, and Clement. All 3 of those guys are capable of pounding away at a vulnerable Pats defense. With that said, the Eagles will use their ground game as well as a rejuvenated Nick Foles at QB to go only plenty of clock-eating drives that will help limit the number of possessions Tom Brady and Company get. While the Patriots certainly deserve all the respect in the world for their many years of success this is not their year. They are fortunate to be here as they barely got by Jacksonville and they got a fortunate draw by facing Tennessee in the prior round. The point is that the Pats avoided the Steelers and then, arguably, did have significant help in their comeback win over the Jags in the AFC Championship. That was in Foxboro and they won't be so fortunate here in Minnesota as the Eagles appear to be a team of destiny with all the right pieces in place. Make no mistake about it, the NFC was the tougher conference this season with teams like the Saints, Panthers, Falcons, Rams, and Vikings. In the AFC playoffs you had the Bills get in via a miracle, the Chiefs were on a huge second half fade and the Titans certainly were at nobody's top of the list in terms of powerhouse. The point is that the Patriots should have lost to the Jaguars team they faced and certainly would have been challenged by the Steelers had they faced them as Pittsburgh also should have won the regular season match-up with the Pats. New England's luck runs out here as the Eagles earned this spot out of a very tough NFC and they did it in impressive fashion with last week's manhandling of the Vikings. The Patriots certainly have the edge in Super Bowl experience but note that they are 5-4 in 9 appearances and 4 of the 5 wins have come by 4 points or less. The only one that didn't was last year's ridiculous 6-point win over the Falcons (in OT) and the point is that New England - in 9 super bowl appearances - has never blown anyone out. If they do somehow manage a win here I would expect it to be another tight victory for the Pats but the Eagles have a great shot at the upset and certainly are a value play with the generous points! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-04-18 | Hornets -6 v. Suns | Top | 115-110 | Loss | -106 | 7 h 1 m | Show |
Game of the Week - Rickenbach NBA Game #811 Sunday 10* Top Play Charlotte Hornets (-) @ Phoenix Suns @ 3:05 ET - The Hornets lost their last visit to Phoenix so they won't overlook the Suns here. That is bad news for the home dog because Phoenix has lost 11 of its last 14 games and only 1 of their last 14 losses has come by less than 7 points. In other words, a Charlotte victory here is likely to equate to a Charlotte cover as well! The Hornets have won 4 of their last 6 road games and they are 8-3 ATS this season when they are off of a game where they scored 115 points or more. The past 2+ seasons combined Charlotte is 27-13 ATS in this situation. The Suns have lost 19 of their last 23 February games. Also, Phoenix is 15-47 SU in games against teams that are averaging 106 points or more per game. Considering those SU stats as well as the fact that 9 of the Hornets last 10 wins have come by 7 points or more, I'll gladly lay the number with the road fave in this one. Look for a road rout. 10* CHARLOTTE |
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02-04-18 | Temple -2 v. Tulane | Top | 83-76 | Win | 100 | 5 h 26 m | Show |
Daytime Dominator - Rickenbach CBB Game #827 Sunday 10* Top Play Temple Owls (-) @ Tulane Green Wave @ 3 ET - Many may look to fade Temple here since they are off of the big upset win versus Wichita State in their most recent game as they delivered the "shock" to the Shockers! However, the Owls are still right behind the Green Wave in the American Athletic Conference standings. In other words, it is very unlikely that that Temple will overlook Tulane here! Also, the Owls were a 10 point home dog versus the Green Wave in late December and yet lost the game outright by 10 points. This was after having notched 5 straight victories in this series. Again, given the above factors, there is no way Temple isn't focused on the task at hand in this one. On the season, the Owls have played a tougher schedule than the Green Wave have. That also adds value here. Look for the Owls to improve to 4-1 SU and ATS this season when off of a game where they scored 80 points or more. Keep in mind, Tulane is just 12-37 SU in AAC games and 11-37 SU in games against teams with a winning record. Lay the short number in what should turn into a road rout. It's payback revenge time. 10* TEMPLE |
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02-04-18 | Sharks +111 v. Hurricanes | Top | 3-1 | Win | 111 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach NHL Game #53 Sunday 10* Top Play San Jose Sharks Money Line (+) @ Carolina Hurricanes @ 1:05 ET - The Hurricanes are off of a loss and now have lost 9 of their last 15. Also, the Canes have been held to 2 goals or less in 6 of their last 8 games. San Jose has also had some recent struggles but it had a lot to do with poor overall play in their own end. Now, having allowed a total of just 3 goals in their last 2 games, the Sharks appear to have turned that around. San Jose is coming off of a big win Friday and they've averaged 3.6 goals per game in their last 11 games. The Sharks won 6 of those 11 games and they're offensive production will prove to be too much for this punch-less Carolina team early Sunday. The Hurricanes have lost 19 of 29 versus teams with a winning record this season and 14 of 21 in non-conference action. The Canes also are playing with revenge here (for a loss at San Jose in December) but they've lost 15 of 24 when playing with revenge this season. Grab the road dog Sharks here as Carolina's struggles in the offensive zone continue. 10* SAN JOSE |
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02-03-18 | Wild v. Stars OVER 5.5 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 100 | 8 h 44 m | Show |
Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #19 Saturday 10* OVER the total in Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild @ 8:05 ET - The Stars are without #1 goalie Ben Bishop so Kari Lehtonen will get the start. His save percentage in home games this season is only .882 and Dallas is hosting a Minnesota team that has won 6 of its last 8 games. The Wild have averaged scoring 3.6 goals per game in their last 5 games. Also, Minnesota will be facing a Stars team that has scored 4 goals or more in 4 of its last 7 games. The Wild are also having to go with their back-up goalie here. Alex Stalock will get the call because this is a back to back spot (Minnesota hosted Vegas last night). That certainly holds significance here because Stalock has only an .896 save percentage in divisional games this season and certainly has not been performing at the level that Devan Dubnyk has. The Wild are 13-7 to the over in road games with a posted total of 5.5 goals this season. Also, Minnesota is a long-term 19-5 to the over in February games! The Stars are on an 18-9 run to the over in February games. 10* OVER the total in Dallas |
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02-03-18 | Heat +3.5 v. Pistons | Top | 107-111 | Loss | -102 | 8 h 4 m | Show |
Contrarian Crusher Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #507 Saturday 10* Miami Heat (+) @ Detroit Pistons @ 7:05 ET - The Pistons will be a popular choice here since they are at home and they were off yesterday while the Heat are in the 2nd game of a back to back. Also adding to the appeal of Detroit here is the fact that they now have Blake Griffin and they won their first game with him in the lineup. However, in that win over Memphis, the Grizzlies actually attempted 20 more field goals than the Pistons. In other words, Detroit was quite fortunate to escape with the two point win. The Pistons had lost 8 straight games before the back to back wins and they now face a Miami team that is very hungry off of back to back losses. Only one time this entire season have the Heat lost 3 straight games SU. Also, they have an ATS mark of 5-0 this season when they enter a game off of exactly 2 straight SU losses. The Pistons are on a 2-8 ATS run and they've allowed 111.3 points per game in their last 7 games. By comparison, the Heat have allowed just 92.4 points per game in their last 5 games. Miami is on a 15-8 ATS run in February games and the Heat are 24-16 ATS when playing the 2nd game of a back to back. Look for the Pistons to drop to 4-8 ATS this season when facing an opponent from the Southeast Division. 10* MIAMI |
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02-03-18 | Virginia v. Syracuse OVER 112.5 | Top | 59-44 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 17 m | Show |
Afternoon Annihilation Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #587 Saturday 10* OVER the total in Syracuse Orange vs Virginia Cavaliers @ 4 ET - Of course the very low total here makes sense on one hand. That's because both of these teams are very sound defensively. However, the reason it doesn't make sense is that these are two very well-coached teams and each coach knows each other well enough to figure out how to break down the defenses they will face and get some open looks. Then the only question that remains is whether or not enough open looks will fall and in this case there is plenty of reason to believe they will. Yes, the Orange are off of back to back horrible shooting performances but those games were on the road, At home, Syracuse is averaging 70 points per game on 45% shooting from the field this season. Also, the Orange have managed to average a respectable 65 points per game in their last 4 games versus the Cavaliers tough defense. The Cavs have averaged 66 points per game in their last 4 games versus Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone defense. Also, though Virginia is certainly known for being patient on offense they have done a great job of taking advantage of getting good looks at the basket. The Cavs are hitting 47% from the field on the season and that includes 39% from beyond the arc! The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these teams and I expect them to make it 5 in a row here. The Orange are 15-8 to the over when off of a loss to a conference foe and 21-9 to the over as an underdog. 10* OVER the total in Syracuse |
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02-03-18 | Kentucky v. Missouri -1.5 | Top | 60-69 | Win | 100 | 6 h 51 m | Show |
Daytime Dominator Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #552 Saturday 10* Missouri Tigers (-) vs Kentucky Wildcats @ 2 ET - The very earliest lines on this one had the Tigers favored by as much as 3.5 points. The line, as of early gameday morning, is now down to as low as a 1.5 as everyone is jumping on the Wildcats. Of course that doesn't surprise me as Kentucky is ranked and has won 3 straight while Missouri is unranked and, prior to winning their most recent game, had lost 3 straight. I will gladly fade the market perception here and fade the Wildcats. The fact is that Kentucky starts five freshmen and had to put together back to back 2nd half rallies to come back from 17 down against West Virginia and 14 down against Vanderbilt. The big 2nd half deficits finally catch up with Kentucky here on the road. Missouri is a very talented team and much stronger than their record would lead you to believe. Before an embarrassing home loss by double digits versus Auburn, the Tigers were 9-1 at home this season with the only loss by just 2 points versus Florida. Missouri has held 6 of its last 10 opponents to 39.1% or less from the field and they'll turn up the heat on defense here. The Wildcats have allowed 75 points per game in their last 7 games played away from home. The Tigers, prior to the loss to Auburn, allowed 62 points or less in 7 of their 10 home games this season! Kentucky is only 2-6 ATS in SEC action this season and the Wildcats are 2-5 SU the last 7 times they've been an underdog! Missouri is 20-5 SU the last 25 times they've been a favorite and I'll gladly lay the small number here. Also, the Tigers are 13-4 ATS in February games the past two years. 10* MISSOURI |
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02-02-18 | Heat v. 76ers -4 | Top | 97-103 | Win | 100 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
ESPN Smash Pass Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #810 Friday 10* Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs Miami Heat @ 8:05 ET - The 76ers are happy to be back home after a 4-game road trip that ended with 3 straight losses. The Sixers have won 5 straight home games and all five victories have come by a margin of 6 points or more. Philadelphia is also 19-10 ATS including 6-2 ATS this season when they enter game having played each of their 3 prior games on the road. JJ Redick did return for the 76ers Wednesday and he scored 20 points in the loss at Brooklyn. He had missed 7 straight games so the Sixers are certainly happy to have him back on the floor. Jerryd Bayless is also back for Philly and he had made missed 6 straight games. Bayless is averaging 25 minutes per game this season so he and Redick being back certainly strengthens the 76ers. The home team has won each of the last 4 meetings between these teams and all 4 of those wins came by at least 7 points. The Heat come into this one having lost 5 of their last 9 games. Miami will struggle to keep up here as they are 6-12 SU this season in games against teams that average scoring 106 points or more per game. The Heat come into this one having averaged only 91.4 points per game their last 5 games. The Sixers are averaging 109.9 points in home games this season. Also, though the 76ers full season numbers on defense do not impress, they Heat are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games against teams that allow 106 points or more per game. Again, the high-scoring games just don't suit Miami and Philly takes advantage! 10* PHILADELPHIA |
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02-02-18 | Golden Knights v. Wild OVER 5.5 | Top | 2-5 | Win | 100 | 9 h 42 m | Show |
NBC Sports Network Smash - Rickenbach NHL Game #57 Friday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights @ 8:05 ET - Vegas was in action last night and got a 3-2 OT win at Winnipeg. The Golden Knights played well and it only went to OT due to a late goal from the Jets. However, Marc-Andre Fleury was between the pipes last night and it is unlikely he'll play back to back games. If he does it would surprise and certainly he would be unlikely to be at his best. The key here is that when Fleury is between the pipes, the Golden Knights have stayed under the total in 14 of 20 games. However, when he does not start Vegas has gone 21-7 to the over! The Golden Knights can score with anyone in the league but when Fleury is not between the pipes they've had trouble keeping the puck out of their own net. That said, there is great value with the over in this match-up. The Wild have averaged 3.3 goals per game in their last 6 games and are on a 5-2 run entering this match-up. Minnesota already beat the Golden Knights 4-2 earlier this season. The over is 18-5 in Wild games in February the past two years. Also, in Friday night games this season Vegas has gone 8-1 to the over. The Golden Knights are also 6-3 to the over in the 2nd night of a back to back. 10* OVER the total in Minnesota |
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02-02-18 | Rhode Island v. VCU +3.5 | Top | 81-68 | Loss | -102 | 9 h 9 m | Show |
Ranked Rout Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #820 Friday 10* Virginia Commonwealth Rams (+) vs Rhode Island Rams @ 7 ET - Rhode Island has won 13 games in a row and is 10-0 in conference action. With Virginia Commonwealth in 2nd place in the Atlantic 10 conference with a 6-3 record this game clearly means much more to the home dog. Yes, Rhode Island would love to keep their streak going. However, VCU is relishing this opportunity to host a ranked team that is at the top of their conference in a primetime nationally televised game. It will be a great atmosphere for the home team in this one and Virginia Commonwealth is the better rebounding team and is 40-6 SU in home games the past 3 seasons combined. Also, VCU is 12-2 SU in home games with a posted total between 150 and 154.5 points while RI is 5-12 SU in road games with a posted total between 150 and 154.5 points. Overall, in all games with a posted total in the 150s in the last 2.5 seasons, Rhode Island is 2-5 SU and this is a very challenging spot for them. RI is off of a pair of grueling wins and VCU is 6-2 ATS when off of a game where they scored 80 points or more. From a situational standpoint, this spot favors the home dog in a big way! 10* VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH |
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02-01-18 | Golden Knights +110 v. Jets | Top | 3-2 | Win | 110 | 6 h 20 m | Show |
Situational Slaughter Top Play - Rickenbach NHL Game #13 Thursday 10* Vegas Golden Knights Money Line (+) @ Winnipeg Jets @ 8:05 ET - The Golden Knights are seeking revenge for an early December loss in their first-ever visit to Winnipeg. They are likely catching the Jets at the perfect time to get payback as Winnipeg is off of a big home win versus Tampa Bay Tuesday and they have a divisional game versus Colorado on deck. Additionally the Jets are a banged up team right now. Vegas is the healthier team and this is the first time they'll have #1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury available to face the Jets. The veteran netminder has simply been spectacular for the Golden Knights this season. Vegas is off of a divisional win at Calgary but the revenge factor insures no letdown here. Also, the Golden Knights have won 10 of 13 this season when off of a divisional game. I am well aware of the Jets fantastic home record this season. However, in February games the past two years, Winnipeg has lost 15 of 23. Also, other than a recent 5-goal outburst at San Jose, the Jets have been held to an average of only 1.8 goals per game in their other 6 games the past 3 weeks. The Golden Knights have averaged scoring 4 goals per game in their last 4 road games and they get their revenge at Winnipeg in this one! 10* VEGAS |
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02-01-18 | Wichita State v. Temple +7.5 | Top | 79-81 | Win | 100 | 7 h 10 m | Show |
ESPN Smash Pass Top Play - Rickenbach CBB Game #514 Thursday 10* Temple Owls (+) vs Wichita State Shockers @ 7 ET - Temple is a very talented, well-coached team. The Owls had high hopes coming into this season but have fallen short of expectations. Truly this is one of the toughest road tests a team can face. Wichita State is a ranked team going into an underachieving teams house. What that means is the Shockers are going to get the Owls "best shot" and that is why there is extreme value here because Temple has the talent to win a game like this! They simply have under-achieved but when they're up emotionally (as they surely will be tonight) they can be a very tough team to beat. The Owls enter this game off of their 4th win in 6 games and one of those two losses came by just 3 points. With the line on this one going from a very early line of just 5 all the way up to a 7.5 there is great home dog value. Wichita State, of course, is a quality basketball program. However, they have allowed 69 points or more in 4 of their last 5 games. That holds some significance here because the Owls have held the opposition to 64 points or less in 6 of their last 8 games. Temple has been playing solid D in most of their recent games and it will be tough for Wichita State to get much of a margin, if any, in this game. One of the Shockers best outside shooters has gone cold and the Owls are 8-1 ATS in recent seasons, when in Game 15 or later in a season they are facing a team that averages 77 points or more per game. 10* TEMPLE |
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01-31-18 | Knicks v. Celtics OVER 207.5 | Top | 73-103 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
ESPN Early Top Play - Rickenbach NBA Game #711 Wednesday 10* OVER the total in Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks @ 8:05 ET - The Knicks most recent road game stayed under the total but that broke a streak of 9 straight New York games going over the total. Certainly the pace was there for another over as the Knicks allowed Phoenix 94 field goal attempts. The problem for the Suns was they had one of their worst shooting nights of the season and the game easily stayed under the total. New York did score 107 points in that game and, with scoring 111 points in last night's home win versus Brooklyn, that was the 10th time in their last 11 games that they've scored at least 107 points. As for Boston, 3 of their last 4 games have gone over the total. The Celtics have allowed 102 points or more in 7 of their last 8 games. Boston has scored an average of 109 points per game their last 4 games. The Celtics are 3-1 to the over this season when they enter a game having played each of their 3 prior games on the road. With both teams happy to be back on the east coast after lengthy west coast road trips, look for a free-flowing high-scoring match-up here. The over is 7-1 the last 8 times the Knicks are in the 2nd night of a back to back situation. 10* OVER the total in Boston |