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The St. Louis Blues welcome the New Jersey Devils to the Enterprise Center on Tuesday night for what could be a tricky test for the Devils. It should be more difficult than what they faced at home in Newark on Sunday. The Devils were struggling early and in a 2-0 hole, but calmly erased the deficit and forced overtime. They got the game into a shootout against the Blue Jackets and ended up on the winning side with a 4-3 victory.

Jesper Bratt was able to get the winner in the seventh round of the shootout. Despite allowing 3 goals, Mackenzie Blackwood should be acknowledged in that one. Blackwood stopped 52 of 55 shots, as the defence left him there to fend for himself in the crease. The Devils were fortunate to get the win, but they’ll take any win they can get this season.

It hasn’t been a pretty 2019-20 campaign for the Devils, and that’s been the case from out of the gates in October. There were people hypothesizing that it was just a slow start and they’d eventually wake up, but nope, the Devils have been a mess this season. Firing John Hynes was a move to try and jump start the team, but it really didn’t do much. Hynes is still a good coach that was working with a team that apparently listened to too much offseason media talk.

The media and public hyped the Devils up pretty good in the summer. Adding P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds to a team that was already decent last season made it look like the Devils were cooking up something in Newark. When the games were actually played, though, the team on paper didn’t look like the same dangerous unit on the ice. They’ve fired a head coach and traded away Taylor Hall, who won the Hart Trophy with the Devils in 2018.

The front office sensed that the ship was sinking at that point and they wanted to unload Hall before it went underwater. The Devils recently sent another playmaker away, as they traded Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s tough news for the Devils to take. This season could have been special, but guys who figured to be a big part of that equation will be playing for other teams in the playoffs. Along with Coleman, the Devils also dealt captain Andy Greene to the Islanders. They are in full trade and tank mode now. Head below for our free Devils vs. Blues pick.

New Jersey Devils vs. St. Louis Blues Betting Odds:

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Devils vs. Blues Prediction:

The Devils are going to need to get a big lift down the stretch if they want to win games. Blake Coleman and Andy Greene are two critical cogs that will no longer be there for the Devils. At this point, the best-case scenario would be to lose and bolter their odds in the draft lottery. They lucked out by winning it last season and getting Jack Hughes.

Another No. 1 overall pick to add Alexis Lafreniere to the team would be a big score for the Devils. In any event, the Devils have a great chance to add a difference maker in the draft this season. And with Hughes potentially taking a big leap next season, the situation for the Devils in the coming years may not be the dreary.

The outlook for the Devils on the road this season has been dreary, though. They’ve been mediocre at home with a record of 10-10-10. Mediocre turns into dreadful on the road, as they sport a record of 12-16-0 in 2019-20. That’s actually not as bad as the numbers indicate. The Devils have scored 2.46 goals per game, while allowing 3.57 goals per game on the road.

With that in mind, I think the Devils are fortunate to be 12-16-0 on the road given those stats. Overall, the Devils are next to last in the league with 3.41 goals against per game. It shouldn’t get much better defensively with Greene getting traded. Mackenzie Blackwood had to pull a rabbit out of the hat to beat the Blue Jackets on Sunday. The defence allowed a whopping 55 shots in that contest.

St. Louis has been ice cold recently. The comfortable lead they had in the Central Division is gone, as they’re tied with the Stars at 74 points going into Tuesday. They’re on a five-game losing streak and have losses in seven of their last eight outings. That said, the Blues have been a tough team to beat at the Enterprise Center.

They own a superb record of 18-6-5 at home, which includes 3.31 goals scored and 2.45 goals against per game. Jordan Binnington has been much better at home in 2019-20. He has posted a 2.29 GAA and 0.919 save percentage in St. Louis versus a 3.35 GAA and 0.896 save percentage elsewhere. This looks like the perfect spot for the Blues to shake their recent struggles off and get back on track. A Blues’ 4-1 or 4-2 win looks about right.

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One losing streak will end in Detroit tonight, while another team will continue their slide to a five-game losing streak. The Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings are both on a four-game skid, with the Canadiens putting their slim playoff chances on ice recently. They’re not dead yet, but getting pretty close.

The Canadiens head to Detroit with a record of 27-26-8 and 62 points. Barring a miraculous comeback, the Canadiens will not be going to the playoffs once again. It’s likely going to be chalked up as another wasted season in Montreal. They’re 9 points behind the Flyers for the final wildcard and 8 points behind the Maple Leafs for No. 3 in the Atlantic Division.

Overcoming 8 points certainly isn’t impossible and there’s still ample time left in the season. However, the four-game losing streak has hurt them deeply, and they haven’t played like a team deserving of the playoffs. If they are going to go on a run, it’s likely going to have to happen now in Detroit.

A loss against the lowly Red Wings would surely be the dagger on their season. The NHL recently fined Claude Julien $10,000 because of comments regarding officiating in the league. He went on a tirade after the Canadiens lost in overtime against the Stars in their most recent outing.

The Canadiens ultimately lost, 4-3, and Julien wasn’t having any of it. And rightfully so, the officiating in that game was really bad. The Canadiens might have had a point stolen from them Saturday night. There has been a lot of frustrations in Montreal this season, and Julien unloaded to get some of that anger out which was levied towards the refs. We’ll see if Julien survives past this season, but things aren’t looking great for him if the Canadiens can’t turn on the magic and get into the playoffs.

Habs’ fans won’t waste time firing in Julien in the court of public opinion if they lose against the Red Wings tonight. That has been ongoing in Montreal throughout the season, though a loss in Detroit would likely set off an explosion. Firing him won’t fix all of the Canadiens’ problems, but it could breathe some new life into the organization. It’s possible that Julien, along with Red Wings’ head coach, Jeff Blashill, will be looking for new jobs soon. Head below for our free Canadiens vs. Red Wings pick.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Odds:

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Canadiens vs. Red Wings Prediction:

Is Steve Yzerman going to stay with Jeff Blashill after this disaster of a season? It’s highly unlikely, though the Red Wings’ struggles can’t be blamed squarely on Blashill. If Yzerman can attract Gerard Gallant to come to Detroit, then Yzerman is probably going to pack his bags. There will be a bidding war for Gallant, so we’ll see what the Red Wings are willing to do. The Red Wings as a team have been doing absolutely nothing recently. The absence of Filip Zadina is quite evident now. Zadina out of the lineup really hurts, and we’ve seen the Red Wings as their worst recently.

The Red Wings have been outscored 16-6 in their last four games, and scored just 1 goal in each of their last three games. Their latest effort resulted in a 5-1 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were severely outmatched in that game, as they suffered a 5-1 loss. It was the same story versus the Bruins as well, with a 4-1 loss in Boston at TD Garden. The Red Wings have been better at Little Caesars Arena in 2019-20, but that isn’t saying much. They’ve gone 9-18-2 at home, so that’s nothing to celebrate. Overall, the Red Wings carry a record of 14-43-4 into tonight, which is the worst record by a long distance.

Naturally, the Red Wings have been last defensively and offensively throughout the season. Not much has changed in that regard. The Red Wings have yielded 3.74 goals per game on defence, while suffering offensively as well, with 1.98 goals scored a game. Removing Zadina from the equation hurts the offence drastically. He’s a guy the Red Wings are going to be building around for the future, so his presence is important.

In their previous ten games, the Wings have scored a measly 1.3 goals per contest. I’m expecting the Canadiens to come out angry and take their frustrations out on the Red Wings tonight. Tensions were high in Montreal after they felt the officiating staff stole a win away from them. They’ve had success in Detroit of late, with five wins in their last six trips to Motown. By the looks of it, the Canadiens have to be the play here.

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The Los Angeles Kings will move indoors on Tuesday night, as they go from Falcon Stadium in Colorado to MTS Place in Winnipeg. In what was one of the best efforts of the year from the Kings, they dispatched a Western Conference contender with a 3-1 win in a Stadium Series contest.

The Kings got ahead in the 1st period with a Tyler Toffoli tally, and then Toffoli added two more for the natural hat trick over the Avalanche. It’s a meaningless win in the grand scheme of things for the Kings, but that’s a win they can look back on when the year is done. That’s going to be the only marquee game that the Kings are going to be featured in on national television this season and they were able to rise up.

Credit Jonathan Quick for keeping the Kings in that game. The game could have gotten out of hand early, but Quick stood tall. It could have easily been a 3-0 game for the Avalanche after just ten minutes of play. This is a season that Quick will not look back on fondly, though that game will stick out for him.

The Kings would like to deal Quick soon, but there will not be any suitors with his contract. Toffoli, though, did get moved after his sensational game against the Avalanche. He is heading to Vancouver in a deal to help bolster the Canucks’ playoff chase. Good move for the Canucks and a move that signals the tearing down process in LA for the Kings.

There will be opportunities for other Kings to step up with Toffoli gone now. However, it does remove one of the few guys on the roster who were producing consistently this season. Toffoli goes over to the Canucks with 18 goals and 16 assists. Expect him to find better success on a team that has other solid players to compliment him.

He does not have to be the go-to option for the Canucks, but should be a nice fit on an already talented roster. With that in mind, no, Toffoli will obviously not be playing for the Kings tonight. They were able to trade him at his peak value after the hat trick on Saturday night, so that was the biggest plus for the Kings in that game.

The Kings will be in action without Toffoli in Winnipeg against the Jets on Monday. Winnipeg is in a competitive playoff race in the Western Conference. The No. 3 spot in the Central Division is going to be tough to get, but they’re alive and well when it comes to one of the two wildcards The Jets head into Tuesday with a record of 30-25-5 and 65 points, which puts them 3 points behind the Coyotes and Flames for a wildcard. The Coyotes and Flames both won on Monday, while the Jets had the day off. Head below for our free Kings vs. Jets pick.

L.A. Kings vs. Winnipeg Jets Betting Odds:

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Kings vs. Jets Prediction:

The win for the Kings on Saturday night was only the second in their last seven games, and third win in their last 13 outings. They are on a two-game winning streak, though, after defeating the Flames and Avalanche. Not a bad little stretch for them at all, but it doesn’t put a dent in their abysmal standing in the Pacific Division. The Kings own a record of 21-33-5 and 47 points for last in the division.

That’s likely where they will stay, as they’re 8 points behind the Ducks to move out of last. The two straight wins for the Kings was only the fifth time this season that the Kings have won consecutive games. They’ve had a three-game winning streak only once this season, with a chance to make it a second in Winnipeg tonight.

The Kings were running on plenty of energy to get by the Kings on Saturday night. They were really excited to be there after getting no media time in 2019-20. That was the first and only game they’ll be in the spotlight, and made the most of it by beating a top Western Conference squad. Having said that, there could be the hangover that hits them hard on Tuesday night in Winnipeg.

They haven’t been a great road team this season despite the game on Saturday as well. The Kings are 9-21-4 on the road and have scored just 2.26 goals per game on the road. Overall, they’re 30th in the league with 2.46 goals a game. Jonathan Quick was a standout at Falcon Stadium for the Kings, but that’s largely been the exception for him away from the Staples Center. Quick has a 3.38 GAA and 0.888 save percentage on the road as opposed to a 2.58 GAA and 0.909 save percentage at home.

In the Kings’ previous ten games, they have scored just 2.1 goals a game while allowing 3.3 goals game. If you just started watching the NHL on Saturday night, you’d think this Kings team would be a lot better than that. Not the case, and the guy that you watched lead the Kings in that contest was traded to the Canucks. Look for the Kings to have a hangover in Winnipeg in this one following their biggest win of the season against the Avalanche.

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Football is back in St. Louis courtesy of the XFL. It made perfect sense to put an XFL team in St. Louis after the Rams picked up and left for Los Angeles. The St. Louis BattleHawks are the only team in the league without an NFL team in the city as well. Instead of going for markets that don’t have NFL like the AAF and the previous XFL, Vince McMahon wanted to target cities that are already known for their support of football.

The Rams had a dedicated fanbase in St. Louis, but the lure of Los Angeles and a new stadium was a bit much to pass up. In any event, McMahon noticed that St. Louis still deserves a football team. It might not be a championship level team, but the BattleHawks might be one of the dark horses of the XFL. Along with the Dallas Renegades, the BattleHawks are a team that might have some value to win the XFL Championship.

The BattleHawks are led at head coach by former Cincinnati Bengals’ tight ends coach, Jonathan Hayes. Hayes was with the Bengals for a long time, from 2003 to 2018 before getting hired to run the BattleHawks. He is also the GM of the team, so decisions are going through him for the first time in his career. It’s a big opportunity for Hayes who has never been able to showcase his ability as a head coach. Could it lead to a bigger position elsewhere? Perhaps, but Hayes will have to go above and beyond to get the attention of a potential suitor.

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St. Louis is depending on a former Ole Miss standout to carry the offense. Jordan Ta’amu has his eyes set on getting back to the NFL, but before he can do that, a solid showing in the XFL is going to be required. This is going to be a full season of auditions for Ta’amu who might be the most intriguing quarterback in the league to NFL teams. He’s going to need some help from the rest of the team as well. Get an overview and St. Louis BattleHawks’ roster breakdown below. We will investigate players to pay attention to for the Battlehawks in 2020.

The Throwin' Samoan is putting @xfl2020 on notice.

• Melvin Gordon, a former teammate, picked Philip Rivers to go to the Indianapolis Colts
• Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni is recruiting Rivers, worked in San Diego/LA
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are current +150 favorites in the betting odds to sign Rivers

Earlier this month, both the Los Angeles Chargers and their quarterback Philip Rivers would officially announce that the two camps were going their separate ways, however, even before the separation became official, Rivers was already being connected to the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s perfectly understandable as to why. The current quarterback of the Colts is Jacoby Brissett, and Indianapolis will be looking for an upgrade from his talent in order to get them into the postseason. And though he struggled in the 2019 campaign and he’s 38 years old, Rivers could certainly be the guy that the Colts are looking for.

Talking to CBS Sports, Rivers’ soon-to-be former teammate and running back Melvin Gordon would have some thoughts about who he thinks Rivers will sign with. Gordon is also about to become a free agent next month as well.

Melvin Gordon to @CBSSports on Philip Rivers: “I think he’ll go to the Colts. I don’t know, that’s just my thought. He has Nick (Sirianni) there, the (OC), he came from here. They run the same playbook, so it’d be easy, he could come right in….That’s probably the best fit.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2020

Gordon’s main reason of why he thinks Rivers will be with the Colts is because of who their offensive coordinator is in Nick Sirianni. From 2013-17, Sirianni would be employed by the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, and his five-year stint would feature two years as the quarterbacks coach for Rivers.

When everything became official with the split between the Los Angeles Chargers and Philip Rivers, the sportsbooks were quick to react, and the Indianapolis Colts would become the favorites to pick him up.

And now you have Melvin Gordon adding even more fuel to the fire.

Betting Odds: What Team Will Philip Rivers Sign With in NFL Free Agency?

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +150
• Chicago Bears | +500
• Carolina Panthers | +600
• Indianapolis Colts | +600
• Tennessee Titans | +800
• Pittsburgh Steelers | +1200
• New England Patriots | +1400
• Jacksonville Jaguars | +1500
• Las Vegas Raiders | +2000
• Miami Dolphins | +2000

The Latest Reports: Best Betting Options for Where Philip Rivers Will Go

Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +150

When it comes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their quarterback situation, they’re currently in a wait-and-see period as free agency approaches, so they won’t make a sure decision until some offers start being made and some dominoes start to fall. And as far as their current quarterback Jameis Winston is concerned, the Bucs aren’t completely sure on what to do with him as of yet, as they remain undecided altogether with Winston. And speaking of Winston, he just recently underwent LASIK surgery, and this because of his 30 interceptions last season — Tampa Bay might want to see how he does and if it helps him get any better as a result. With all of that being said, however, the Buccaneers reportedly do have “legitimate” interest in Philip Rivers, and as they should. It’ll be fascinating to see if their interest level turns into negotiations next month in free agency — good bet though considering Rivers and his family recently just moved to Florida.

Indianapolis Colts | +500

They might be high in the betting odds, but there really isn’t much cooking as far as Philip Rivers connections with both the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, which brings us to the Indianapolis Colts at +500. There’s a couple of pieces of heat involved with the Colts as far as them landing Rivers. You already got the Melvin Gordon news of him thinking that Rivers is headed to Indianapolis, and his reasoning was because of former Chargers coach Nick Sirianni being the offensive coordinator of the Colts. And when you look at the latest reports, it’s understandable why Gordon thinks that: Formerly his quarterbacks coach with the Chargers, Sirianni is openly trying to woo Rivers to Indianapolis. So while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still trying to figure out their QB situation, the Colts have already set their plans into motion. Take advantage of the +500 betting odds as well, I can see the value decreasing with the latest news cycle, plus, the Colts have both interest and talent — now does Rivers?

Tennessee Titans | +800

When it comes to the Tennessee Titans, it’s not them with the “legitimate interest” reports, but instead, it’s Philip Rivers who is interested in Nashville being a landing spot for him. Despite the interest from Rivers, however, it’s unlikely that the Titans will bring him in, and that’s because of Ryan Tannehill being in the picture — somebody who led Tennessee to the playoffs last season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter would also report that it’s hard to envision a scenario that doesn’t see Tannehill with the Titans next campaign. Other than that though, there aren’t really any juicy reports that link Rivers and Tennessee together. And to be honest, there’s a blunt reason for that: The Tennessee Titans just have no mutual interest in Philip Rivers, at least for now. 

Las Vegas Raiders | +2000

With the Las Vegas Raiders themselves, there aren’t any real reports out there about them chasing Philip Rivers, but we do know they’ll aggressively be looking for a quarterback — we’re already aware of Tom Brady reports. But what if Brady re-signs with the New England Patriots? Well, NFL.com, the official website of the National Football League, is suggesting that Las Vegas could possibly sign the potential Hall of Famer in Philip Rivers when it’s time for free agency next month — and you’ve got to love a report like that for this bet. The Las Vegas Raiders are at a hefty +2000 right now, which is obviously very profitable odds. I would go ahead and take advantage of that now, because there’s a good shot that they lose out on Brady, and they might turn their target to Philip Rivers — excellent bet right here. Vegas needs a quarterback bad and will be chasing one this offseason, will it be Rivers?

The Current Forecast: At the Moment, Where Will Philip Rivers Go?

Currently as it stands right now, you’ve got to side with the Indianapolis Colts to land Philip Rivers. With Melvin Gordon, this isn’t just someone’s opinion, this is a prediction from Rivers’ former teammate and also someone who knows Indianapolis offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. There’s credibility and logic here, and with Sirianni publicly trying to bring in Rivers, it certainly fits the narrative.

Rivers obviously knows Sirianni, so familiarity would be a big key here. Not just that either, but the Colts have talent to work with, and you’ll be working with that talent in Peyton Manning’s house, which is home to an organization that knows how to win. All of that, and Philip Rivers just seems to be a Indianapolis kind of guy — he was never meant for Los Angeles. So Rivers would get to be in a small market, get to work with Sirianni and would have a legitimate shot to win a Super Bowl, something that he’s been chasing for 16 years now and has never achieved.

It seems like a good fit to me. At the moment, give me Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts.

BETTING PREDICTION: Indianapolis Colts (+500)

The Champions League race is set to come back on Tuesday with the first two round of sixteen matches. Atletico Madrid goes up against Liverpool while Borussia Dortmund packs the upset potential against mighty PSG. As the title suggests, today we’ll be focusing on Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions.

Sports betting enthusiast rejoice – the following information ought to bring you right up to the knowledge pedestal ahead of this fiery contest. This time around, we have a different outline in store for you. It’s a more dynamic approach, one that won’t bore you to death. Best of all – Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions are bound to be juicier than anything you have seen before on TheSportsGeek!

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool News

Folks who are already used to betting on Premier League probably know what a powerhouse Klopp’s Liverpool is. They’re still the only undefeated team across all of Europe’s top leagues, and they practically have the Premier League trophy in their hands. Nothing can stop Klopp’s machinery, and Diego Simeone looks like just another mild nuisance along the way…

Atletico Madrid’s Lack of Attacking Spark

First things first – we need to understand Simeone’s Atletico Madrid has been plagued with injuries. On top of that, newly acquired players failed to properly sync up with the rest of his team… Not to mention the fact the Argentinian defensive-focused strategist is failing to deploy a well-balanced approach that’s not too keen on defending.

After all, we’re talking about a team that scored just twenty-five goals from twenty-four matches. Their defensive record is on point (seventeen conceded goals, only Real Madrid is better with sixteen), there’s no doubt about that, but with players like Morata, Correa, Joao Felix, and Lemar, everyone expected much more on the offensive end.

Morata and Correa are the only bright spots in an otherwise bleak Atletico Madrid’s season. At the moment, they’re in fourth place but are on a downward spiral, having won just one out of the last seven games. It’s a tough time to be an Atletico Madrid fan, especially with a clash against Klopp’s Liverpool just around the corner! Spoiler alert – you won’t like our Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions if you’re a hardcore Atletico Madrid fan, that’s for sure!

Liverpool’s Perfection

I really can’t say anything bad about the way Liverpool has been playing thus far. Like I’ve said above, we’re talking about an undefeated Premier League team here. Yep, undefeated! Or, better yet, a team that clinched 76 out of possible 78 points.

The way Liverpool got here is by forcing an attack-minded style of play with technical fluidity and tenacious back four led by the man, the myth, the legend, Virgil van Dijk. The squad is as deep as they come, packing an impressive amount of young blood that’s cherishing every moment they spend on the pitch. At the moment, Liverpool is more than just a club, stealing Barcelona’s motto without even breaking a sweat.

When they play well, they look like the best soccer team ever, scoring goals at will and preventing the opposition from doing virtually anything. Even when Klopp’s men aren’t playing at their best, they’re still winning matches, be it with a bit more urgency.

Liverpool’s only defeat thus far came from an unlikely opponent – Napoli. Ancelotti’s men played against Klopp’s Liverpool twice in the group stage, defeating them on San Paolo and drawing on Anfield. If Diego Simeone wants to make an impression on Tuesday, he’ll have to phone the Italian managerial legend and ask for advice, because this Liverpool’s squad is looking outright unbeatable. Best of all, the odds on Liverpool are absolutely ridiculous, which is why I firmly believe our Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions hold immense value.

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool Preview

I expect Diego Simeone to stick with his defensive-minded philosophy coming into the most important match of his 2019/2020 season, even though it probably won’t work as well as planned. Undoubtedly, the clash against Liverpool will set a tone for Simeone’s entire season, and could even result in him stepping away from the managerial position after spending almost an entire decade there.

Klopp’s Liverpool is heading into this match with full focus, with eyes already set on the second consecutive Champions League title. Their starting roster, squad depth, and tactical supremacy make them the best soccer team on the plan, at least for the moment. That does put a huge crosshair on their back… but knowing Simeone’s poor attacking record this season, I doubt his men will be able to hit it…

Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool Betting Predictions

Time has come for us to unveil our Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions. As mentioned above, the odds on Liverpool to win this one are absolutely ridiculous. Yes, I know – Klopp’s men won’t seek a win at all costs. They’ll temper their aggression and try to soak in as much pressure as they can before swinging in for the winner.

But, I do expect them to grab it and take the lead in the first leg, then settling things down on Anfield. That’s the ideal scenario for Liverpool, one I believe they’ll reach!

That said, here are my Atletico Madrid vs. Liverpool betting predictions:

• Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez recently captured the WBO light heavyweight title over Sergey Kovalev.
• Billy Joe Saunders is a 29-0 WBO super middleweight champion.  
• Rumors of Canelo vs. Saunders are now beginning to circulate. 

Canelo Alvarez is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. The Mexican superstar most recently defeated Sergey Kovalev via 11th round KO. Since that bout, fans have discussed who he would face next. Rumors of Canelo vs. Saunders taking place in May are now beginning to circulate.

This is the fight that many have called for. Billy Joe Saunders is an extremely talented boxer and many feel he has the skills to give Canelo trouble. Today, we’re going to talk about this matchup, and look at the odds for another blockbuster fight taking place this weekend.

Let’s get into it!

Canelo Alvarez Looks Unstoppable Right Now

Back in 2008, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was just beginning to break into the international boxing scene. His talent was immediately apparent, as he dominated every man he faced. In 2011, he captured his first major title against Matthew Hatton and six fights later, took on Floyd Mayweather in one of the biggest fights of the past decade.

By the time these men met, Canelo was already a star. He had the entire country of Mexico behind him and a 42-0 professional boxing record. Mayweather was the most high-profile boxer in the world.

Despite most online sportsbooks listing Mayweather as the favorite, many felt that Canelo was going to win. Mayweather’s experience eventually paid off, as he defeated Canelo via majority decision. This would prove to be the only loss of Canelo’s career.

Since that bout, he’s gone 11-0-1 with wins over Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, and Sergey Kovalev. Canelo is one of the hardest hitters in the sport, yet it’s his defensive game that’s brought him to a new level.

Canelo vs. Saunders is now being discussed. These two fighters have called for a fight with one another for years. Here’s what we know about this situation.

Canelo vs. Saunders Could Take Place This May

The move up to light heavyweight was risky for Canelo Alvarez. He passed that test with flying colors, yet he remains a true middleweight. It seems unlikely for him to continue defending his newly-captured WBO light heavyweight title.

Another one of the best middleweight boxers in the world is Billy Joe Saunders. The UK native has accumulated a 29-0 record over the years. He holds impressive wins over fighters like David Lemieux and Charles Adamu.

Saunders has faced criticism for not facing the toughest challenges during his career. Every man he’s faced, however, has been defeated. To his credit, Billy Joe has called out Canelo Alvarez on multiple occasions.

A new report from World Boxing News claims that Canelo vs. Saunders may take place this May.

“May 2, you know against Canelo. It’s a big fight if it happens, it happens. If it don’t, it don’t,” Saunders said. “It would be nice to land the Canelo fight to show people how good I am. Right now, I’ve left this in my management’s hands at MTK. When they get back to me and say the fight is a done deal, it’s a done deal. But I haven’t seen any offer from anybody, as of yet. So if they want to get in contact, go direct to my team. That would be the best bet to get this done. MTK, get direct with them.”

This is a fight fan’s dream. The stylistic clash between Canelo and Saunders would be something to behold. Odds for this matchup are not yet available. Fortunately, one of the biggest boxing matches in history takes place in just a few days that fans can now wager on.

Now’s Your Chance to Bet on Wilder vs. Fury II!

Canelo vs. Saunders may take place in just a few short months. This Saturday, one of Billy Joe Saunders’ teammates, Tyson Fury, takes on Deontay Wilder in one of the biggest boxing matches of the past decade. This is a rematch of their fight from December of 2018.

The first fight is widely considered one of the best heavyweight bouts of all time. Tyson Fury proved to be the more technical striker and won the majority of rounds. Wilder’s power earned him two knockdowns, the second of which appeared to knock Fury out for a moment.

Now, Mybookie.ag is offering odds on this incredible rematch. For now, Wilder enters as the -115 betting favorite. Fury comes in as the -105 underdog.

The odds here reflect how just close this fight should be. Fans around the world are torn on who will come out on top. The winner may find themselves in a fight with Anthony Joshua at the end of the year.

We’ll need to wait for an official announcement on Canelo vs. Saunders. Hopefully, betting odds for this bout become available soon.

Stay tuned for more boxing betting news over the next few months!

• Defenders (+200), Roughnecks (+225) betting favorites to win XFL title after 2-0 starts
• Vipers’ title odds have drifted to +1000 following disastrous 0-2 start to season
• Dragons (+1200) face longest title odds despite beating Tampa Bay in Week 2

Week 2 of the XFL’s reboot season is officially in the books. TV ratings remained solid for the second consecutive week, while attendance across the league actually improved over the first set of games. Attendance was up by 9.5 percent in Week 2 compared to Week 1, which is obviously a positive sign for the XFL’s viability moving forward.

It’s only been a couple of weeks, but just 2 of the league’s 8 teams are still undefeated. The DC Defenders, led by former Ohio State standout Cardale Jones, improved to 2-0 with a dominant showing at home against the New York Guardians on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday night, the Houston Roughnecks advanced to 2-0 after edging the St. Louis BattleHawks at home.

As you may expect, the XFL’s lone remaining unbeaten teams are also the new odds-on favorites to win the championship at season’s end. The Defenders are sitting at +200 in BetOnline’s latest XFL championship odds, while the Roughnecks have improved to +225.

The full odds are below:

Roughnecks’ Odds Improve Again

Houston quarterback PJ Walker has been the best player in the league through 2 weeks. The Temple product has formed an early connection with pass-catcher Cam Phillips, who hauled in 3 touchdowns in the Roughnecks’ 28-24 triumph over St. Louis on Sunday night.

Walker has now completed over 62 percent of his throws for 442 yards with a league-leading 7 touchdowns to just one interception through 2 weeks.

The back-to-back impressive showings by the Roughnecks have resulted in their odds soaring. Houston opened the season as +750 long shots to win the XFL’s inaugural championship. After beating the Wildcats in Week 1, those odds improved to +325. Another victory now has the Roughnecks trailing only the Defenders when it comes to which team will win it all this season.

The rest of the Western Conference has left plenty to be desired. The Dallas Renegades, who opened the season as the betting favorite to win the title, took 7 quarters to score their first touchdown. Dallas did get into the win column by beating the Wildcats on Sunday in Los Angeles, but Landry Jones’ team has fallen to +700 to win it all after starting the season at +350.

The Wildcats are now 0-2 despite opening the season as the odds-on favorites to win the Western Conference. The Seattle Dragons, meanwhile, still have the longest odds of any team to win the title. This is a bit curious, as Seattle gave DC a tough fight in Week 1, and they won their home debut over the Tampa Bay Vipers this past weekend. The Dragons look like a pretty appealing option considering they’re still way down at +1200.

DC Pacing the East

Both DC and Houston have clearly benefited from opening the season with back-to-back home games. Both teams will be tested in Week 3 when they hit the road for the first time. That said, it’s hard not to be impressed by what Jones and the Defenders have accomplished thus far.

The Guardians were hardly able to mount much of a challenge as DC cruised to a dominant 27-0 triumph at Audi Field on Saturday. The Defenders got a boost from wide receiver Eli Rogers, who actually decided to skip his own mother’s funeral in order to play in the game. Rogers caught 5 passes for 49 yards despite playing with a heavy heart.

The beginning of the season has been particularly disastrous for the Tampa Bay Vipers, who opened the season as co-favorites to win the championship. The Vipers fell to 0-2 with a loss in Seattle on Saturday. As a result, Tampa Bay’s title odds have drifted all the way to +1000 after starting the year at +350.

The Vipers were without starting quarterback Aaron Murray on Saturday, and his backup, Taylor Cornelius, was incredibly ineffective. Cornelius and Quinton Flowers combined to throw 3 interceptions with no touchdowns in the disheartening 17-9 loss at the hands of the Dragons.

The fact that the Vipers dropped their Week 1 tilt against a Guardians team that failed to even score a point in Week 2 means things are suddenly looking pretty bleak for Marc Trestman in Tampa.

Big Gap Between Top and Bottom

We are just 1/5 of the way through the XFL’s regular season schedule, so it’s still a little too early to be drawing too many definitive conclusions. As mentioned, we’ll see how the Defenders and Roughnecks fare when they’re faced with road games for the first time in Week 3. However, based on what we’ve seen so far, it’s pretty clear that DC and Houston are among the league’s very best.

The rest of the league is still relatively unknown. Matt McGloin and the Guardians looked incredibly inept on Saturday in Washington, while the Vipers have been arguably the league’s worst team thus far. The Wildcats haven’t shown much of anything, while Dallas didn’t look great even in a win on Sunday.

The BattleHawks, led by former Ole Miss standout Jordan Ta’amu, look like a potential contender. St. Louis beat the Renegades before dropping a close one in Houston on Sunday, yet they’re still at just +700 to win it all this season. If you’re looking for value, I think the BattleHawks make for an interesting mid-tier betting option.

• Astros at +200 to lead MLB in hit-by-pitches in 2020
• Bregman an even-money favorite to lead Astros in HBPs
• Astros’ win total prop has dipped from 98 to 94.5

Spring training is officially underway, which means it’s almost baseball season. The regular season gets going in just over a month, and it should be a fascinating one. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have both made splashy moves this winter with hopes of winning the World Series next fall.

While LA and New York may be the cream of the crop on the field, the story that continues to dominate baseball is the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were both suspended and subsequently fired just over a month ago, which sent a ripple effect through an Astros organization that has been among the most successful in the big leagues over the last half-decade.

While the Astros’ organization was punished as a result of the scandal, the team’s players were able to avoid any repercussions for their actions. In exchange for their testimony during MLB’s investigation, commissioner Rob Manfred granted all players immunity. That means the likes of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and George Springer will all be available when the Astros begin their quest for another pennant this spring.

The team lost Gerrit Cole to the Yankees during the offseason, but the roster set to take the field in about a month will look awfully similar to the one we saw get to the brink of another World Series title just a few months ago. The Astros are still a betting favorite to win yet another American League West title, and Houston has the third-best odds to win the World Series behind the Yankees and Dodgers.

Astros’ Declining Win Total Prop

However, bettors have already started to shy away from Houston. The Astros’ win total prop at BetOnline opened at 98, which was the second-best mark in the league behind the Yankees’ 101.5 total. Houston hasn’t attracted much betting attention in the weeks since, though, which has caused the total to drop all the way to 94.5 as of this writing. That is still one of the highest marks in all of baseball, but it’s interesting to see how quickly it has dropped already.

While Houston’s players essentially got away without even a slap on the wrist from Manfred and Major League Baseball as a result of the sign-stealing, some are wondering how other players around the league will react. We have already gotten quotes from a number of high-profile players, including Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout and Gleyber Torres. Needless to say, they’re not pleased with what the Astros did.

It’s safe to assume that some of the Astros’ players will face some on-field retribution from other teams once the games start. All eyes will be on Anaheim when Houston begins regular season play on March 26 against the Los Angeles Angels. Will the Halos’ Opening Day starter throw at Houston’s first hitter in retaliation?

BetOnline is taking bets on it. The site has posted 3 fresh props with regard to some of the physical punishment the Astros may have to endure this season.

Will the Astros Lead the League in Hit Batsmen?

The Mets led Major League Baseball with an average of 0.59 hit batsmen per game a season ago. Houston, meanwhile, ranked 18th with 0.38. I think it’s safe to assume that the Astros will finish higher in that metric this season if one or more teams decide to do something about Houston’s cheating, but I really doubt they get hit often enough to lead the league by any sort of decent margin.

It’s also worth wondering how long the Astros will face this kind of retribution. Manager Dusty Baker has already pleaded with the league to protect the Astros’ players in the event that teams do start head-hunting, and I doubt a bunch of pitchers are going to want to risk lengthy suspension just for a little justice.

It’s easy to get caught up in the what-ifs in this situation, but the safe bet is to bet against Houston leading the league in hit batters in 2020.

How Many Times Will Astros Charge the Mound?

Most of the Astros have been contrite when asked about whether they’re sorry about the cheating scandal. However, over the weekend we saw some fight for the first time when Carlos Correa spoke out to defend Jose Altuve and whether the Astros’ 2017 championship is legitimate.

If Houston’s leadoff hitter gets plunked by the Angels’ starter on Opening Day, I imagine the batter will simply accept it and trot to first. However, anything more than that could lead to some antics. I would think the Astros will get sick of getting thrown at if it persists over the course of several games or weeks.

Charging the mound is still basically an automatic suspension, though. Could an opposing pitcher keep throwing at some Houston hitters in an attempt to goad some Astros into getting suspended? Possibly. That said, I think the Astros are well aware that they’ll be under the microscope. I can’t really imagine their hitters charging the mound on multiple occasions in the same campaign.

Which Astro Will Get Hit the Most?

George Springer has been Houston’s everyday leadoff hitter for years. Unless Baker shuffles the lineup, I’d expect Springer to be the first Astro to dig into the batter’s box on Opening Day. That likely means Springer will be first in line to get pegged by a pitch if the Angels’ starter opts for retaliation.

Alex Bregman led the Astros in HBPs last season with 10. Michael Brantley got plunked 7 times, while Springer got hit 6 times. Considering Correa spoke out and called out players like Bellinger over the weekend, it wouldn’t be shocking to think he could have a target on his back. If I were betting on this, I would take a flier on Correa at the favorable +350 odds. Running his mouth the way he did could mean he’s in line for a little bit of payback.

When it comes to betting on the NBA regular season, there are a range of factors that can impact the final score aside from the talent on each team.

In contrast to the NFL where each game matters significantly, NBA teams can take nights off for the sake of rest or achieving better overall team health.

At first glance, it can seem like these factors make betting on the NBA regular season more difficult, but if you’re able to use the information to your advantage, it can actually make things a little easier for handicappers.

I’ll run through the top six factors you need to consider, that you may have previously overlooked, before placing your bets.

1 – Back-to-Back Games

This one isn’t nearly as common as it used to be, but it still happens during the course of an NBA season.

Much to the players’ chagrin, NBA teams still occasionally play on consecutive nights, often times in different cities. It’s no surprise that in the second game of a back-to-back, even good teams have a statistically significant lower winning percentage.

To get into the numbers, teams that are above .500 have suffered a -.053 winning percentage difference. The bad teams are even worse in the second game of a back-to-back, with a -.114 winning percentage difference.

One way to get a slight advantage is to highlight these games on the schedule.

Then, if you see a team in the second game of a back-to-back, bet on their opponent. Because the general public might not always be aware of the scheduling scenario, you could find yourself with some pretty favorable odds on sportsbooks around the internet.

Teams that are playing in consecutive road games don’t have nearly the same drop as teams that are playing at home on the first night, then on the road the second night.

If you’re looking to play a game a little heavier than normal, betting against a team who is going from a home game to a road game on the second night of a back-to-back is usually a smart play.

2 – Stars Sitting Out

In no professional sports league are star players more important to a team’s success than the NBA. With only five players on the court, a single player can be, and often is, the difference between winning and losing a game.

At 82 games and a lengthy postseason, staying healthy is of the utmost importance for the NBA’s best players. It’s so important, in fact, that it’s not uncommon for stars to take a couple of games off during the season in the hope of preserving their health.

A couple of times per year, you can expect almost all of the top NBA players to register a DNP.

Furthermore, teams might sit multiple stars at the same time and all but concede the game at hand.

Obviously, if you’re able to find a game where a good team is sitting their best players, you can find great value betting on an underdog moneyline. This does take some close following of the news on the bettor’s part, as teams don’t always announce the starting rosters until close to tip-off.

3 – Individual Matchups

Whether you talk about Jordan vs. the Pistons in the late 1980s, LeBron vs. the Raptors in the mid-2010s, or the battle between the stars that will dominate for years to come, player vs. player and player vs. team matchups are inherent to the NBA game.

One of the best predictors of a game or series outcome is how the stars match up against each other.

For some stars, there have been lesser players who slow them down throughout their careers. It’s important to take note of these matchups and consider what it means when it comes to betting implications.

Not only will understanding these matchups help you to better predict who might win or cover the spread, but it can also present an opportunity to win some prop bets along the way.

4 – Playing Styles

Most NBA teams have transformed their styles to incorporate faster gameplay and an emphasis on the three-point shot. This has led to increased scoring for nearly every team and a shift in which players have the most impact on the outcome.

This information is crucial to take into consideration because even some “top” NBA players don’t have the same influence as lesser players due to their positional value. A team that has multiple three-point shooters is likely to have success against a team that utilizes size in their matchups.

This factor, however, isn’t as significant when teams are more evenly matched in their strengths and weaknesses.

Determining where the matchup advantages lie is as simple as pointing out what the strengths are of a team’s top three or four players. If there seems to be an imbalance in which areas of the game each team thrives in, the team that has better guards will usually have an advantage.

Taking a look at matchups also has major implications for the over/under.

Obviously, if two teams with high-scoring guards play against each other, the over will be set high. However, this might inflate the total number line and create some value on the under. In most cases, when something seems too obvious, bet the other way. Sportsbooks play on the public’s perception of a game, so try not to get sucked into the trap.

5 – How Much a Team Wants to Win

This one might sounds like a joke, but it truly is an important factor in the NBA, much more so than in any other professional sport.

Not all NBA teams put an emphasis on the regular season, and it becomes apparent when they play against a potential mid-seed playoff team.

This is because they’re playing harder in the regular season in hopes of getting a higher playoff seed, which is valuable when you’re not a top-tier team.

Before betting on a game, ask yourself who needs to win the game more and factor that into your decision.

6 – Prime Time

Although I’ve discussed star players sitting out, teams not giving full effort, and other factors that weaken the “true” competition of the game, prime time can erase all of that.

Each week, there are one or two NBA games that will feature a matchup of two good teams to a national audience.

These are the games where players build their star power and teams send a message to the rest of the league. You can expect a much more realistic representation of two teams in these games.

What does this mean in practice?

• It usually means that games will be played very closely and when spreads are a high number (think six points or more), it’s a good idea to seriously consider taking the underdog.

Unless there’s a major discrepancy in talent between two teams, prime time games will usually be a good matchup that comes down to the end.

Conclusion

Betting on the NBA regular season based solely on a team’s talent is one of the most difficult tasks in sports gambling. Be sure to consider all of the factors in this article and you’ll give yourself a shot (pun intended) at growing your bankroll.

With March just two weeks away, the college basketball action is really starting to heat up! This year, more than another other in recent memory, the race for the Men’s Basketball National Championship is wide open. You can make a case for at least a dozen teams as legitimate threats to take home the title this year, with another thirty or more teams that have at least some chance, at winning it all.

We all love to fill out those brackets in March, but right now is the best time to bet your team to win it all, as the prices for the contenders are only going to drop as we get closer to the Final Four. In this article, we are going to breakdown the teams that you should bet, the teams you should stay away from, and give you a couple of longshots that are worth a high risk, high reward play. Let’s get started!

Teams You Should Bet

In this first section, I am going to give you several teams that you should consider backing at their current price. These teams are all going to be teams that are priced at 40-1 or less, making them the betting favorites.

Gonzaga Bulldogs +800

• (26-1)
• West Coast Conference (12-0)
• AP Poll: 2
• Kenpom: 3
• Top 100 Wins: 7
• Offense Rank: 1
• Defense Rank: 35

The Zags are the betting favorites right now, and it is easy to see why. This team has no real weakness, and they score the ball more efficiently than any other team in the country. Betting the favorite is rarely the right play, but the Zags are the most complete team in the country. They haven’t lost since November, and they have dominated all of the best teams on the West Coast, with victories over Oregon, Washington, Arizona, BYU, and St. Mary’s.

The only knock on Gonzaga is that their SOS is a bit low at 127th. But that has been the knock on Mark Few’s squad for years, as the WCC is still a mid-major conference. And this year, the WCC is as good as it has ever been, as they are currently projected to get three teams into the NCAA tournament.

That's 1⃣8⃣ points for @PetrusevFilip

1st, 7:30 | GU 28-20 pic.twitter.com/rIHNXmK1tL

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 16, 2020

The weak conference didn’t stop Gonzaga from going to the Final Four in 2017, and it’s not going to stop them this year either. At the current price, they are a bargain, and this number is only going to drop as there aren’t many losable games left on their schedule. Back the Zags now, before the price drops.

Maryland Terrapins +2000

• (21-4)
• Big 10 (11-3)
• AP Poll: 9
• Kenpom: 8
• Top 100 Wins: 12
• Offense Rank: 34
• Defense Rank: 5

There is always a lot of value in backing the best team from the best league, and right now, that team is Maryland, and that league is the Big 10. The Terrapins have pulled away from most of the Big 10, as they are in sole possession of first place, with only Penn State having any shot at catching them before the end of the regular season. Maryland has won eight straight games, including signature wins against the likes of Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, and Rutgers.

Juan
Greivis
Who? (Mike Jones)@AnthonyCowanJr is the fourth Terp to hit 200 career three pointers! pic.twitter.com/FQckYWJifZ

— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 16, 2020

All four of the Terrapins losses came in true road games to top-30 teams, so they aren’t a team that loses fluky games. When the Selection Committee did their February sneak preview, a couple of weeks ago, Maryland was a three seed. But if they can run the table in the Big 10 and win the regular-season title, they will move up at least one spot, possibly two, by Selection Sunday.

Kentucky Wildcats +2000

• (20-5)
• SEC (10-2)
• AP Poll: 12
• Kenpom: 30
• Top 100 Wins: 9
• Offense Rank: 32
• Defense Rank: 51

Don’t look now, but once again, John Calipari has a team full of young guys that are starting to play well as March approaches. Coach Cal is known for taking a bunch of young, inexperienced players, and getting them playing well just in time for March Madness. This Kentucky team has now won eight out of their last nine games. The fluky early-season losses to Evansville, Utah, and South Carolina are behind them, and they are focused on tournament success.

"We're ready." @KentuckyMBB stud Ashton Hagans says the Wildcats are well prepared for the stretch run in the SEC pic.twitter.com/Kz9eK7xU4B

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 13, 2020

After seeing both Auburn and LSU stumble down the stretch, the Wildcats are in first place in the SEC and seem to be poised to swap places with Auburn, who was projected as a four seed by the Selection Committee in the preview. Are you telling me you wouldn’t want to back Kentucky against say, San Diego State, in a one four matchup in the Sweet 16? I know I would.

Butler Bulldogs +4000

• (19-7)
• Big East (7-6)
• AP Poll: 19
• Kenpom: 27
• Top 100 Wins: 12
• Offense Rank: 29
• Defense Rank: 55

I always value battle tested teams very highly in the NCAA tournament. You don’t want to be a team that has played cupcakes all season long and gets your first taste of real competition in the tournament. And this Butler team has been through it all this season. While the Big East has hampered the hype on this team a little, after they started out 15-1, this team is the real deal.

Kamar Baldwin Named to Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List

–> https://t.co/gqUBhOb2N8 pic.twitter.com/rc6OhSPZgN

— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) February 13, 2020

None of their losses are bad ones, and they have a nice collection of quality wins, including wins over Villanova, Marquette, Creighton, and Florida. But what I like most about this team is their tenacity. They are never out of a game, and they fight until the last second. They don’t win every game, but they do give a full effort every time out. And at the current price of 40-1, it is hard not to like this team as a potential sleeper.

Teams You Should Stay Away From

In this second section, we will focus on highly ranked teams that you should stay away from. We all know that betting a team like Chaminade or South Dakota State, at any price, is a poor investment. So, here we will focus on teams priced at 40-1 and lower, that you should not back.

Michigan State Spartans +2000

• (17-9)
• Big 10 (9-6)
• AP Poll: N/A
• Kenpom: 10
• Top 100 Wins: 9
• Offense Rank: 22
• Defense Rank: 17

For much of this season, I have been screaming that Michigan State is overrated. And for much of the season, everyone laughed at me. But look who is laughing now, as the Spartans have lost six out of their last ten, including four out of their last five. After starting the season out as the nation’s top team in the preseason, the Spartans aren’t even in the top-25 anymore of either major poll.

Yet, despite their recent collapse, they are still priced as one of the betting favorites to win it all. There are only six teams with a lower price to win the title right now that Michigan State, and that folks, is absurd. And when you look forward to the rest of the schedule, I see several more losses still to come. Don’t be surprised if the Spartans sputter into the tournament and make an early-round exit.

San Diego State Aztecs +2200

• (26-0)
• MWC (15-0)
• AP Poll: 4
• Kenpom: 4
• Top 100 Wins: 9
• Offense Rank: 8
• Defense Rank: 7

Full disclosure here, I am a huge fan of small conference college basketball, and I feel like the mid-major teams don’t get nearly the credit they deserve. But I just don’t think this is the fourth-best team in the country right now. Close your eyes and imagine something for one second. It’s a completely neutral floor and I’ll give you the Aztecs and I’ll take Duke, Louisville, Maryland, or even Dayton or Seton Hall at even money. Would you take the bet? Neither would I.

And the fact that the Selection Committee loves to screw over the little guys means this team will have a brutal path to the Final Four. I could see a potential two three matchup with Dayton in the Sweet 16, and then having to play a Gonzaga or Kansas in the Elite Eight? Yeah, no thanks. This is a fun team, and they are certainly the class of the MWC this year, but they aren’t winning the national title, so save your money.

Auburn Tigers +2800

• (22-3)
• SEC (9-3)
• AP Poll: 11
• Kenpom:33
• Top 100 Wins: 13
• Offense Rank: 28
• Defense Rank: 68

I am not going to come right out and call this Auburn team frauds, but when you take a close look at that 22-3 record, they have some explaining to do. They don’t have a single win over a team currently ranked in the top-25 on Kenpom, and two of their three losses came to teams that are bubble teams at best, in Alabama and Missouri.

Wins are wins, right? But when you look at how close so many of these games have been for Auburn, their record could look very different. The Tigers have five, count ‘em, five overtime victories this season! Six more of their wins have come by double-digits. If you swing all eleven of those games the other way, all of the sudden this team is 11-14. Now, there is certainly something to be said about a team that can win close games, but this record is inflated, and the Tigers are a team you want to stay away from at this price.

High Risk, High Reward

In this final section, we are going to give you a couple of high risk, high reward, lottery ticket type of bets. It is very rare that a true Cinderella makes it all the way to the Final Four, and even rarer, do they actually win the national title. But we all love having a little bit of sweat, and these are the teams you want to back, to sweat it out profitably. All of these teams offer at least 50-1 odds.

Wrap Up

You wanted sharp betting advice, and you got it! Here we have given you some high-value favorites to bet, some teams to steer clear of, and a couple lottery tickets to make the March Madness sweat that much sweeter. Make sure to get your bets in now as these odds are sure to drop as Selection Sunday draws near. Thanks for reading and good luck betting college basketball the rest of the way out!

Three meetings are scheduled to survive the after effects of Storm Dennis on Tuesday.

Musselburgh, Punchestown and Lingfield (all-weather) have beaten the weather, though Bangor and Taunton have been called off. We've got three selections in Tuesday's Horse Racing Predictions.

2.00 Musselburgh

Pull Green win and each-way @ 4/1 BET NOW

Brian Hughes continues to make hay while champion jockey Richard Johnson is sidelined and he's seemingly on a journey that will end when he becomes the first man in a quarter of a century to topple Johnson and his predecessor AP McCoy from the mantle of champion jumps rider.

It will be a fine achievement for the north's standard-bearer and he's operating a 31 per-cent strike-rate (9-29) after bookending Monday's Carlisle card with a pair of wins.

He can get off to a flying start in Scotland this afternoon on board Pull Green for the Donald McCain yard.

He was a winner at Catterick in November on his second start over timber and made a bold attempt at the follow-up there on New Year's Day, giving best late on when attempting to concede a hefty weight to the winner (settled for third in the end).

The step up in trip here should be in his favour and Pull Green is fancied to account for the main danger, Keith Dalgleish's consistent mare Glorious Lady, twice a winner over timber already and fourth last time out in Listed novice company at Haydock in December.

5.30 Southwell

Dark Phoenix win and each-way @ 6/1 BET NOW

Dark Phoenix was nothing if not game in scoring last time out at Wolverhampton and might be able to deny his 4lb ratings-rise now.

He had to plenty of the donkey work that evening and was challenged strongly on the closing stages, repelling Golden Fountain and Bank Holiday in determined fashion for a slender success.

Ben Curtis is sticking with penalised C&D winner Luscifer for the Tony Carroll team and that hands an opportunity to another in-form rider in PJ McDonald here.

Dark Phoenix should hold follow-up claims if handling this track on his first visit and looks a very fair price at 6/1.

8.00 Southwell

Sociologist to win and each-way @ 10/1 BET NOW

The Scott Dixon-trained Sociologist tends to run solid races on this Fibresand surfaces (figures of 32242 prior to last month's disappointing sixth) and also gained the only win of his career back in late 2018 over 1m3f.

His consistent form here this winter is enough to suggest he'll quickly bounce back from that lesser run and he came closest to scoring in a handicap over this trip in January from this perch of 60.

Barry McHugh was on board that day and returns in the plate, hopefully they can go one better from a plum draw.

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NHL Odds – Courtesy of BetNow

The Sports Geek Computer Picks

NHL Odds – Courtesy of BetNow

The Sports Geek Computer Picks

Written by Scott on Monday, February 17th, 2020

We took the day off from having tips to try and regroup. Sorry for the delay with the tips today. It’s Family Day in Ontario and I have been hanging out with my kids.

The Oilers beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. Draisaitl had another big game scoring a goal and adding two assists. He leads the league in points with 95 which is 13 points ahead of Pastrnak who is in 2nd.

The Devils beat the Blue Jackets 4-3 in a shootout and Blackwood made 52 saves in the win. The Devils traded Andy Greene to the Islanders. He was the captain for the last 5 years and has played his entire 14 year career as a Devil. They also traded Blake Coleman to the Lightning. Who will be next to be traded by the Devils?

The Sabres beat the Leafs 5-2. The game was tied 2-2 in the 3rd but the Sabres scored 3 goals in 90 seconds and held on for the win. The Leafs dropped to 7-7-1 after going 9-0-1. Coach Sheldon Keefe said that this is the “Worst we have been in a really long time”

We have 5 games today and 3 of them start at 4pm.

Capitals vs Knights Betting Tips

The Caps have the best road record in the league going 21-7-1. The had their 4 game road win streak snapped in their last game against the Coyotes.

The Knights are in 3rd in the Pacific and have gone 5-3-2 over their last 10 games. They have been inconsistent for most of the season.

This is a tough game to call but its the Caps road record and the odds that make this a tip for me.

Capitals win incl OT/SO – 1u 

Canada: 2.15 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +116 Odds at BetOnline
Everyone Else: 2.15 Odds at ***

(Odds correct as of 2020/02/17 12:00:02 PM EST but are subject to change.)

Lightning vs Avalanche Betting Tips

The Lightning are looking for their franchise record 11th straight win here. They have won their last 10 including 5 on the road.

The Avalanche have gone 7-3 over their last 10 but have dropped their last 2. In their last game, the outdoor game against the Kings, they lost Goaltender Philipp Grubauer who was knocked over by teammate Ian Cole.

That loss could hurt the Avs if he is to miss a big chunk of games.

Lightning are firing on all cylinders here and the Avs have lost their last 2 games and now will be without their starting goalie.

Lightning win incl OT/SO – 1u  

Canada: 1.80 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: -113 Odds at BetOnline
Everyone Else: 1.80 Odds at ***

(Odds correct as of 2020/02/17 12:00:02 PM EST but are subject to change.)

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