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The Honda Center is playing host to an enticing matchup as the Anaheim Ducks welcome the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It's the final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The game gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, and fans at home can catch this cross-continent matchup live on Prime Ticket.
<h2>Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds</h2>
Toronto (-170) is favored over Anaheim (+150), and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 7 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.

Toronto is 35-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 38 of its matches have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just three have pushed. As the road team in 2019-20, the Leafs are 18-16 SU.

Toronto has converted on 23.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 26th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off only 76.6 percent of all penalties.

The Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.1 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over its last five total, and 2.6 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team's had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Boasting a .906 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (28-22-6) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Sheldon Keefe chooses to rest him, however, the team could go with Jack Campbell (11-14-3), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.

The visiting Maple Leafs have relied on Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner this season. Matthews has 79 points on 46 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 25 different games. Marner has 16 goals and 49 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 43 games).

On the other side of the rink, Anaheim is 27-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 67 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just one has pushed. It's 14-18 SU as the home team this season.

The Ducks have converted on just 14.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that's ranked 32nd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it's successfully killed off 76.5 percent of all opponent power plays.

Ducks skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team's been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

John Gibson has stopped 27.5 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 19 wins, 31 losses, and five OT losses and has registered a pedestrian 3.05 goals against average and a poor .902 save percentage this season.

The Ducks will be led on offense by Ryan Getzlaf (13 goals, 28 assists).
<h3>Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions</h3>
<a href="http://bangthebook.com/nhl-betting-trends-of-the-day/">Pick:</a> SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
<div class="notes">
<h2>Notes</h2>
Betting Trends

Toronto is 1-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Anaheim is 5-1 in shootouts.

For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their past five matches.

Toronto's attempted 32.8 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 27.4 in its last five road games.

Five of Anaheim's last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 1-4 overall in those games.

The Ducks this season have dished out the ninth-most hits per game in the NHL (22.6), but that average has risen to 28.0 over their last five home outings.

</div>

Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks Betting Pick 3/6/20

BetDSI

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Bovada

The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers split their first two encounters of the season, so they will decide the regular-season series winner Thursday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers beat the Rockets 124-115 as 3.5-point road dogs on January 18, while the Rockets bounced back with a terrific 121-111 victory as 6-point dogs at Staples Center on February 6. The Rockets will try to clinch their series with the Lakers for the seventh straight year.

<strong>Injuries/Suspensions</strong>

Houston is coming in full strength, while the Lakers will be without Dion Waiters who’s still waiting on his debut in a new jersey. However, the Lakers head coach Frank Vogel stated that Dion will need some time to acclimate on the team’s system.

<strong>The Line</strong>

The Lakers opened as 6.5-point favorites at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/">Betonline</a>, <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada/">Bovada</a>, and <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betdsi/">BetDSI</a>. The total has been set at 230.5 points at Betonline and Bovada, while BetDSI set a one-point higher line.

<strong>What's at Stake?</strong>

The Rockets are tied with the Thunder for No. 5 seed in the West, trailing one game behind the fourth-seeded Jazz. On the other side, the Lakers are topping the Western Conference, five and a half games ahead of the LA Clippers. The Lakers are three games behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the race for the best record in the league.

<strong>The Spot</strong>

Houston is coming off a 117-111 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 12.5-point home fave this past Tuesday. The Rockets put an end to a four-game losing streak. The Lakers snapped their four-game winning streak on Tuesday, suffering a narrow 104-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets as heavy 12-point home favorites.

<strong>The Matchup</strong>

Back in February, I’ve got burned on the clash between these two teams. The Rockets’ small-ball basketball had a debut with Robert Covington as their tallest guy, so I was thinking there’s no way the Lakers won’t beat the Rockets. Covington hit a couple of clutch threes, and the Rockets beat the Lakers by 10 points.

Russell Westbrook was unstoppable on that February 6, accounting for 41 points on 17-for-28 shooting from the field. James Harden had only 14 points to go with seven assists and a couple of steals. The Rockets made 19 triples out of 42 attempts from deep (45.2%), while the Lakers hit just nine out of 31 attempts (29.0%). As I expected, the Lakers outscored the Rockets in the paint (62-40).

The Rockets have been struggling recently with their small-ball lineup. Before they outlasted the T-Wolves on Tuesday, the Rockets have suffered four straight losses to the Knicks, Clippers, Hornets, and Magic. All these four teams had an identical game plan, so guys like Ivica Zubac dominated the Rockets in the paint.

Houston depends a lot on its 3-point shooting. In a 120-105 defeat to the Clippers, the Rockets shot only 16.7% from beyond the arc. Houston takes the most 3-point attempts per game (44.3). The Rockets are second in the league in points per game (118.1), 23<sup>rd</sup> in 3-point percentage, and 14<sup>th</sup> in total rebounds per contest (44.9). Also, they allow 114.4 points a night (22<sup>nd</sup> in the NBA).

The Lakers have won 11 of their previous 13 games including victories over the Bucks and Clippers. They are seventh in the league in points per game (114.3), first in field goal percentage (48.5%), and eighth in total rebounds per game (46.1). The Lakers surrender 106.9 points per contest (3<sup>rd</sup> in the league) on 44.4% shooting from the field (6<sup>th</sup>) and 34.2% from beyond the arc.

<strong>The Bets</strong>

The Lakers are playing in a better form than the Rockets, and I expect them to do a much better defensive job than they did in the previous meeting with the Rockets. You never know with Mike D’Antoni’s team, but the Lakers’ inside game should be a key factor. Therefore, I suggest you take the Lakers to cover. Also, you can buy a few points and take the hosts as 4-point favorites at slightly lower wages. The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games, while the Rockets are 0-5 in their previous five outings.

When it comes to the totals, I would go with the over, but the Lakers to cover are still my first choice. The Rockets love to push the ball in transition, playing at the fourth-fastest pace in the league. The over has hit in 11 of the last 15 meetings between the Rockets and Lakers including one of their previous two encounters this season.

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Expert Betting Picks 3/12/20

Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, and the Florida Panthers will do battle against Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center for an East-West showdown. The opening face-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, and fans at home can view the game live on Fox Sports Southwest.
<h2>Florida Panthers vs. Dallas Stars Odds</h2>
The Stars (-135) are currently favored over the Panthers (+115) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).

Dallas is 37-32 straight up (SU) and has recorded -1.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Central Division in this young season, hasn't moved much from the 43-39 record the team produced during last year's regular season campaign. Of the team's 69 games this season, 25 have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team's 19-15 SU at home this season.

The Stars have converted on 21.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that's right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and they've successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all penalties.

With a .920 save percentage and 26.9 saves per game, Ben Bishop (23 wins, 21 losses, and four OT losses) has been the best option in goal for Dallas this season. If head coach Rick Bowness decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Anton Khudobin (16-14-14 record, .930 save percentage, 2.22 goals against average).

Florida has lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 35-34 straight up (SU). 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. The Panthers are 18-16 SU as the road team this season.

The Panthers have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that's right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it's successfully defended 78.6 percent of all opponent power plays.

Sergei Bobrovsky (.900 save percentage and 3.23 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Florida. Bobrovsky is averaging 27.1 saves per game and has 24 wins, 26 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit.
<h3>Florida Panthers vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks</h3>
<a href="http://bangthebook.com/nhl-betting-trends-of-the-day/">Free Prediction:</a> SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Under
<div class="notes">
<h2>Notes</h2>
Betting Trends

The Panthers are 3-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Stars are 2-3 in shootouts.

Each of Florida's last five games has gone under the total.

Over Dallas' last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).

The Stars this season have tallied the 12th-most hits per game in the NHL (22.3), but that number has risen to 26.4 over their last five games as the home team.

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Florida Panthers vs. Dallas Stars Game Pick 3/12/20

<p>Planning on watching today's Pirates and Bulls game? Catch the action at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX, as the Bulls hosts this showdown at 1:00 ET on ESPN2. The odds for this American Athletic conference game currently have South Florida as the -6.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 136.5 points.</p><h3>EAST CAROLINA PIRATES VS SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: East Carolina Pirates +6.5</p><p>This game will be played at Dickies Arena at 1:00 ET on Friday, March 15th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-69 in favor of the Bulls.</li><li>Even though we have South Florida winning straight-up, we like East Carolina at +6.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 136.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 143 points.</li></ul><h3>Will East Carolina Shock Everyone at Dickies Arena?</h3><p>East Carolina heads into this game as a 6.5-point underdog. On the road this season, the Pirates have gone just 3-7, and they come into this game with a two-game losing streak away from home.</p>

<p>Overall, East Carolina is 14-17, including an 8-10 mark in the American Athletic Conference. In their last game, the Pirates beat Tulsa by a score of 84-79.</p><p>East Carolina has an overall ATS record of 13-16-1 this season, including a 5-5 mark vs. the spread on the road. As the underdog, the Pirates are 6-8 vs. the spread this year and 4-6 in their last 10 games as the underdog. In their last 3 road games, East Carolina is 1-2 vs. the spread and they have gone 2-3 in their last 5 games vs. the spread on the road.</p><p>East Carolina's over/under record for the season is 11-19 and today's line of 136.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games (140.6). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 157 points and their over/under record during this stretch is 3-0. So far, 14 of their games have finished with more points than today's line.</p><p>Coming off a good offensive performance, East Carolina's offense scored 84 points against Tulsa. Their field goal percentage for the game was 50%, and they went 24/35 from the free-throw line. Ezra Ausar was the leading scorer for the Pirates, putting up 28 points. In addition, Russell Felton Jr. contributed 19 points.</p><p>Coming into today's game, the East Carolina defense is giving up an average of 69.9 points per contest. Against Tulsa in their most recent game, the East Carolina defense gave up a total of 79 points while allowing Tulsa to hit 50% of their shots.</p><h3>Will the Bulls Live Up to Expectations at Home?</h3><p>South Florida will be looking to bounce back after a 76-70 loss to Tulsa. The Bulls have been dominant at home this season, going 16-2, and they have won their last 14 games at home.</p>

<p>Overall, South Florida has a record of 23-6, and they have been favored in 19 of their 29 games. Their record as the favorite is 16-3. For the year, the Bulls have an average scoring margin of +10.6 points per game.</p><p>South Florida has been solid against the spread this season, going 19-7-3. They have been even better when playing at home, going 14-3-1 vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Bulls are 6-2-2 vs. the spread.</p><p>South Florida's over/under record this season is 10-19 and today's line of 136.5 is lower than the average over/under line of 147 in their games. So far, 24 of their games have had higher over/under lines than today's number. Over their last three games, their over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 146 points compared to their season average of 144 points per game.</p><p>Against Tulsa, the South Florida had a tough time putting up points compared to their season average of 75.4 points per game. They scored 70 points and posted a field goal percentage of 36.8% in the game. The top scorer for the Bulls was Kasean Pryor with 29 points, while Chris Youngblood also added 12 to the scoreboard.</p><p>At this time, the Bulls' defense is positioned 79th in the country, permitting 68.6 points per game. South Florida's three-point defense is currently 102nd in the country at 6.8 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 41.8% of their shots vs. South Florida.</p>

East Carolina Pirates vs South Florida Bulls Betting Pick & Prediction 3/15/24

<p>Betting on today's Dukes and Golden Eagles game? Catch the action at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, MS, as the Golden Eagles hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The Dukes come into this Sun Belt conference matchup as the betting favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 156.5 points.</p><h3>JAMES MADISON DUKES VS SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Southern Miss Golden Eagles +7</p><p>This game will be played at Reed Green Coliseum at 3:00 ET on Saturday, January 6th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Golden Eagles.</li><li>Not only will Southern Miss pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +7.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 156.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 144 points.</li></ul><h3>Will James Madison Live Up to Expectations on the Road?</h3><p>James Madison comes into this game with a perfect 14-0 record and are favored by seven points on the road. So far this season, they have been favored in 11 of their 14 games and have gone 11-0 in those contests.</p>

<p>On the road, the Dukes are a perfect 8-0 and have an average scoring margin of +12.2 points per game. In their last game, they defeated Louisiana-Lafayette by a score of 68-61 and have won their last eight road games.</p><p>James Madison has been one of the best teams in the country vs. the spread this season, going 10-3. They have been particularly strong on the road, going 7-1 vs. the spread away from home. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Dukes are 7-3 vs. the spread.</p><p>So far this season, the over/under record for James Madison games is 7-5-1. Currently, the average over/under line in their games is 153.2 and their games have averaged 159.2 points. Today's line of 156.5 is similar to their season-long average OU line. Over their last three games, the OU record is 1-2 and their games have averaged 146 points during that stretch.</p><p>The James Madison offense is coming off a game in which they scored 68 points vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. Overall their field goal percentage was 41.4% while connecting on 5 threes. The team's scoring leader is Terrence Edwards, who holds an average of 17.3 as they head into today's matchup. Additionally, T.J Bickerstaff is averaging 16 points per game this season.</p><p>At present, the Dukes' defense is nationally ranked 141st, allowing 71.2 points per game. In today's game, the James Madison defense will be looking to once again do a good job defending the three-point line, as they gave up just 5 three-pointers while giving up 61 points.</p><h3>Can Southern Miss Grab a Win at Home?</h3><p>Heading into today's game, Southern Miss is a 7-point underdog at home against James Madison. So far this season, the Golden Eagles are 7-7 overall and 2-4 at home.</p>

<p>In their last game, Southern Miss faced Georgia State and came away with a 79-73 victory. Over their last ten games at home, the Golden Eagles are 5-5.</p><p>As the underdog this season, Southern Miss has gone just 2-4 vs. the spread. Their overall ATS mark for the year is 3-9. At home, they have gone just 1-5 vs. the spread and their last 10 home ATS mark is 2-6.</p><p>Today's over/under line of 156.5 is higher than the average over/under line in Southern Miss' games this season (140.5). So far, 12 of their games have had lower over/under lines than 156.5. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 3-0 with an average scoring total of 155 points.</p><p>The Southern Miss offense is coming off a game in which they scored 79 points vs. Georgia State. Overall their field goal percentage was 45.6% while connecting on 6 threes. Offensively, the Golden Eagles have a season long field goal percentage of 42%, which is 321st in the nation. In terms of three-pointers, they are 207th in percentage and 289th in three-pointers made.</p><p>So far, the Golden Eagles' defense is ranked 149th in the country at 71.5 points per contest. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Southern Miss' defense has allowed opponents to shoot 41.7% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 34.6% this season.</p>

James Madison Dukes vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 1/6/24

We’re going to try and find some stuff to write about at BangTheBook.com during the shutdown for all of the major sports leagues. This weekend, that includes horse racing. The Road to the Kentucky Derby is in full swing. Of course, who knows what will happen when 100,000 people are slated to be at Churchill Downs for the first leg of the Triple Crown, but the horses, trainers, and jockeys will prepare as though everything will go as planned.

This week’s signature race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby circuit is the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, AR. This is a $1 million Grade 2 race at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. There are eight three-year-olds in the race and was the springboard back in 2015 for American Pharoah, who would go on to win the Arkansas Derby in mid-April and then the Triple Crown. Of course, as we know, American Pharoah also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic to cap off arguably the most impressive year for a three-year-old in the history of racing.

My focus here will be on the main event of the card on Saturday March 14, but keep in mind that there will be a ton of opportunities on the undercard with world-class jockeys and trainers all descending on Oaklawn. You’ll likely be able to get some top jockeys at good odds, but may also be able to find strong prices on the local guys that know each and every inch of the track.

To this point, we’ve had a lot of prep season races, but we’ve had six in the official First Leg of the Championship Series. Mr. Monomoy and Modernist won the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in Division 1 and Division 2, respectively. Ete Indien won the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Last weekend, King Guillermo won the Tampa Bay Derby, Mischevious Alex won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, and Authentic won the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

There are only two races left in the First Leg of the series, with this Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, which has the biggest purse of the First Leg races, and next weekend’s Sunland Derby. That is the longest of the races at 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park in New Mexico, but that is a Grade 3 race.

Let’s break down the eight horses in the main event at Oaklawn Park on March 14 for the Rebel Stakes (morning line odds as of March 11):
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="43">Post</td>
<td width="166">Horse</td>
<td width="166">Trainer</td>
<td width="166">Jockey</td>
<td width="48">Odds</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">1</td>
<td width="166">Nadal</td>
<td width="166">B. Baffert</td>
<td width="166">J. Rosario</td>
<td width="48">9/5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">2</td>
<td width="166">Excession</td>
<td width="166">S. Asmussen</td>
<td width="166">T. Baze</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">3</td>
<td width="166">Basin</td>
<td width="166">S. Asmussen</td>
<td width="166">J. Castellano</td>
<td width="48">7/2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">4</td>
<td width="166">Silver Prospector</td>
<td width="166">S. Asmussen</td>
<td width="166">R. Santana Jr</td>
<td width="48">4/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">5</td>
<td width="166">No Parole</td>
<td width="166">T. Amoss</td>
<td width="166">J. Talamo</td>
<td width="48">6/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">6</td>
<td width="166">Three Technique</td>
<td width="166">J. Englehart</td>
<td width="166">L. Saez</td>
<td width="48">6/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">7</td>
<td width="166">Coach Bahe</td>
<td width="166">P. Bauer</td>
<td width="166">S. Sanjur</td>
<td width="48">20/1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43">8</td>
<td width="166">American Theorem</td>
<td width="166">G. Papaprodromou</td>
<td width="166">T. Pereira</td>
<td width="48">10/1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

<strong>1. Nadal (9/5) – </strong>Nadal is the race favorite at 9/5 with the superstar team of Bob Baffert and Joel Rosario. The three-year-old colt won the San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita back in February, which was a seven-furlong Grade 2 race. Being a pacesetter, Nadal draws a good spot on the rail to get out in front and lead the pack. This will be the first race outside of Santa Anita, so that is something to keep in mind, but this is a world-class team and the favorite for a reason.

<strong>2. Excession (20/1) – </strong>Excession has the pedigree as the son of Union Rags, but that’s really about it. Disappointing finishes in the Lecomte Stakes and Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds have really lowered the ceiling of this horse. A win at Churchill Downs in a 1 1/16 mile race in November may have elevated the perception of this colt just a little bit too high. In all likelihood, it doesn’t belong in a race like this. Credit to Steve Asmussen for continuing to run it out there, but the speed figures just aren’t there.

<strong>3. Basin (7/2) – </strong>The second of three Asmussen horses in the field that all just happened to draw post positions next to one another is Basin. This is a horse that has not run in a race since September after winning the Hopeful Stakes Grade 1 race at Saratoga. That race was with Jose Ortiz in the irons instead of Javier Castellano. While this horse is a contender and could very well be a winner, this feels like a good race to shake off the rust before trying to make a push back at one of the April races like the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct or the Arkansas Derby back here at Oaklawn. Basin was the second favorite in the Hopeful and just outlasted the rest of the field on something of a sloppy track.

On a longer track, this is a horse that can make the distance. Most of these horses have maxed out as seven furlongs. Basin has, too, but the endurance shown at the end of the Hopeful, including a drift to the outside on the frontstretch, leads me to believe Basin can hit the board with relative ease.

<strong>4. Silver Prospector (4/1) – </strong>The last of the Asmussen colts is Silver Prospector. This is a horse that has shown good speed figures and has run some longer races, with two one-milers and two 1 1/16s under his belt. A win right here last month in the Southwest Stakes was a good bounce back to a fourth in the Smarty Jones to begin 2020.

This is a horse that won the Kentucky Jockey Club Grade 2 race over third-place finisher Tiz the Law, which won The Holy Bull and the Champagne Stakes. The Smarty Jones was run in the mud and muck. This week at Oaklawn also looks to be muddy. That could lead to value down the line, but it seems like an unfortunate circumstance this week.

<strong>5. No Parole (6/1) – </strong>Three starts, three wins for No Parole, trained by Thomas Amoss. Joe Talamo is one of the younger jockeys out there, but he’s very experienced at Oaklawn Park, so this could be something of a sleeper to hit the board. No Parole has wins at Fair Grounds and Delta Downs and may have to rely on Talamo to find the right spot in Arkansas. This, however, is a big step up in class and also an increase in distance for this horse. Talamo was not the rider for the Premier Night Prince at Delta Downs.

There will be a lot of dismissals of this horse for three wins as a big favorite with a lack of competition. This is a test, but this is a horse that could be sneaky to hit the board. If Talamo doesn’t use up all of his burst early in the race and can manage to scale back a frontrunner to leave something in the tank, it could get interesting.

<strong>6. Three Technique (6/1) – </strong>Astute readers will pick up on the football reference with Three Technique, who is actually owned by Bill Parcells. The team of Jeremiah Englehart and Luis Saez will try to hit the board for the sixth time in six races. It was nice to see Three Technique run well in the Smarty Jones in the slop because it was the first time that the horse was really tested. Of course, Three Technique finished second to Basin in an undercard race at Saratoga back in July.

Three Technique got a run in at Oaklawn in that Smarty Jones and a run in the mud and muck at Oaklawn, which is likely to come again this week with rain in the forecast throughout. He’s got a good chance to hit the board. Can he best Basin, Silver Prospector, or Nadal? That remains to be seen.

<strong>7. Coach Bahe (20/1) – </strong>We can probably throw Coach Bahe out this week. This is a three-year-old that hasn’t really run in any race of consequence for trainer Philip Bauer. This is primarily a turf horse trying to make a transition to dirt as a late arrival into the field. This one should be a non-factor.

<strong>8. American Theorem (10/1) – </strong>This is the wild card of the field. This is the offspring of American Pharoah for Kretz Racing and trainer George Papaprodromou. Running in the American Pharoah Stakes, Theorem finished second to Eight Rings, who was sixth a few weeks later in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Third place in the American Pharoah Stakes went to Storm The Court, who won at Santa Anita for the Juvenile and could be a name we hear in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.

We haven’t seen American Theorem since that day at Santa Anita, so we don’t really know what to expect. Tiago Pereira was in the irons for that race and will be again here. Finishing second to Eight Rings and John Velazquez isn’t anything to scoff at. It was a steady, strong run for American Theorem who moved a little bit too quick on the third turn and didn’t have enough left for the stretch run. Eight Rings just put it away at the end.

In other words, Pereira hit the gas too early. That race was the same length as this one. Did he learn from that mistake? That was also a clean track. What happened on a soggy track this week? There are some major questions to answer, but this is a horse that looks like a wild card.

<strong>Picks</strong>

This is a strong field this week and there are some tough choices to make. I’m actually going to skirt the favorite this week in Nadal, who seems like a pacesetter, but there will be additional pressure with a good field and a wet track.

Basin will be my pick here. This colt is untested at this length, but the effortless speed at the end of the seven-furlong Hopeful makes me, ahem, hopeful for a good finish here. That was also a bit of a soggy track and he conquered it with ease at the end.

I also like Silver Prospector and Three Technique to hit the board. I may throw American Theorem into a box trifecta or two because that horse is a wild card that could hit the board and be a surprise finisher, despite the lack of star power with the jockey and trainer.

<strong>Win: 3</strong>

<strong>Box Tri: 3/4/6/8</strong>

2020 Rebel Stakes Betting Odds, Picks, & Preview

Two of the league's best at killing off power plays, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils clash at the Prudential Center. This divisional matchup will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, and it will be shown live on MSG Network.
<h2>Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils Odds</h2>
New Jersey (+155) is entering this one as the underdog to Carolina (-175) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.

Though the team is 38-30 straight up (SU) this season, Carolina has actually lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 68 regular season matches, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Canes are 19-16 SU.

Carolina has converted on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the fourth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team's successfully killed off 84.0 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Canes have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 5.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team's been forced to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 13.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Sporting a .905 save percentage and 24.7 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (22-18-2) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina decides to rest him, however, head coach Rod Brind Amour might go with James Reimer (15-10-2 record, .914 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).

Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Hurricanes. Aho (66 points) has tallied 38 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded multiple points 15 times. Teravainen has 15 goals and 48 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 43 games.

Over on the other bench, New Jersey is 28-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 13-21 SU at home.

The Devils have converted on just 18.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that's right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it's successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.

Devils players have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five contests. The team's been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.

MacKenzie Blackwood has stopped 28.3 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for the Devils. Blackwood has 22 wins, 25 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit and has registered a mediocre 2.77 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this season.

The Devils will be led on offense by Kyle Palmieri (25 goals, 20 assists).
<h3>Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils Betting Picks</h3>
<a href="http://bangthebook.com/nhl-betting-trends-of-the-day/">Free NHL Pick:</a> SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
<div class="notes">
<h2>Notes</h2>
Betting Trends

Carolina is 5-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 4-6 in shootouts.

For both of these teams, the total has gone over in three of their past five matches.

The Hurricanes have averaged the league's third-most shots on goal (33.3) and New Jersey has attempted the 23rd-most (only 30.7).

Over New Jersey's last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).

Carolina skaters created 26.7 hits per game last season, while the Devils accounted for 23.5 hits per contest.

</div>

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils Betting Pick 3/12/20

<p>Making on a bet on this NBA game featuring the Raptors versus the Pistons? Tip off is at at 6:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on BSDE. The game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. In this Eastern matchup, the Raptors are the betting favorite against the Pistons. The over/under for the game is 230.5 points.</p><h3>TORONTO RAPTORS VS DETROIT PISTONS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Detroit Pistons +4.5</p><p>This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena at 6:00 ET on Saturday, December 30th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE DETROIT PISTONS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 111-107 in favor of the Raptors.</li><li>Our projections have Pascal Siakam finishing with Pascal Siakam points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Raptors finishing with a field goal percentage of 50.0% and knocking down 12 threes.</li></ul><h3>Does Toronto Have a Shot at a Road Win?</h3><p>As the Raptors get ready to take on the Pistons, they are the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-19. If they are able to cover the spread (-4.5), they will also improve their road ATS record to 7-7 for the season.</p>

<p>So far, Toronto has been the favorite in 13 of their 31 games and have gone 7-6 straight up in those games. When playing on the road, the Raptors have an average scoring differential of -3.2 points per game and have just four road wins this season.</p>

<p>Against other teams in the East, the Raptors have really struggled, putting together an 0-9 record vs. division opponents. When looking at the standings, Toronto is currently 12th in the East.</p>

<p>When looking at the over/under stats for this season in their games, Toronto has gone 16-15 with the over/under lines averaging 224.8 points per game. So far, 25 of their games have had lower over/under lines than today's line of 230.5.</p><p>Looking at the Raptors' most recent game, they put up 118 points which is on par with their season average of 113.2. When it comes to scoring, Pascal Siakam is the team leader with 21.5 PPG while Scottie Barnes is right behind him at 21 PPG.</p><p>At this time, the Raptors' defense is positioned 16th in the NBA, permitting 114.5 points per game. Inside the arc, the Raptors defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 54.9% and 38.0% from three-point territory.</p><h3>Is a Home Win Possible for the Pistons?</h3><p>The Detroit Pistons will look to end their 28-game losing streak when they host the Raptors. Unfortunately, they come into the game as the 4.5-point underdogs.</p>

<p>So far this season, the Pistons have just two wins in 31 games, which has them 15th in the Eastern Conference. Against other teams in the East, Detroit has gone 2-20 compared to 0-9 in non-conference games.</p>

<p>When playing at home, the Pistons have an average scoring margin of -9.6 points per game and a record of 1-14. Detroit's over/under record for the season is 19-12, but each of their last three games have gone over the OU lines.</p>

<p>Against the spread, the Pistons have covered in two straight games, but are just 11-19 for the season. As the underdog, they have gone 11-16 against the spread this year.</p><p>In their most recent game, the Pistons scored a total of 122 points against the Celtics. They shot 47.5% from the field and knocked down 14 threes. Cade Cunningham is the team's leading scorer, averaging 23.3 PPG. Jaden Ivey is also averaging 12.8 PPG this season.</p><p>Coming into the game, the Pistons' defense is giving up an average of 121.0 points per game. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA league average in 74.2% of their games. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Pistons squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 55.0% inside the arc, and they're also giving up 37.6% from downtown.</p>

Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Betting Pick & Prediction 12/30/23

Amalie Arena will be the site for an enticing clash as the Tampa Bay Lightning square off against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. It's the fourth and last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. This Atlantic Division matchup will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 5, and it can be viewed live on Fox Sports Sun.
<h2>Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds</h2>
Montreal (+170) is currently the underdog to Tampa Bay (-195) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.

The Lightning are 41-25 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 0.7 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the NHL in this young season, is a regression from the 62-20 record that the team managed during last year's regular season campaign. Through 66 regular season matches, 34 of the team's games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team's 21-12 SU at home this year.

Tampa Bay has been able to convert on 23.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it's successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.

As a team, Tampa Bay has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 5.6 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for a whopping 13.8 minutes per game over its last five matchups, in total.

Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (33 wins, 16 losses, and three OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Lightning this year. If the Bolts choose to rest him, however, head coach Jon Cooper could go with Curtis McElhinney (8-9-9 record, .908 save percentage, 2.83 goals against average).

The Bolts will continue to rely on leadership out of Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (80 points) has tallied 31 goals and 49 assists and has recorded multiple points 25 times this year. Stamkos has 29 goals and 37 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 41 games.

In the other locker room, Montreal is 31-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 33 of its outings have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just three have pushed. Montreal's 17-15 SU as an away team this season.

Montreal has converted on 18.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that's right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it's successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all opponent power plays.

Montreal's skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.0 per game over their last five contests. The team's been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Carey Price (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Montreal. Price has 27 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.

For the visiting Canadiens, much of the offense will run through Tomas Tatar, who has 39 assists and 22 goals this year.
<h3>Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks</h3>
<a href="http://bangthebook.com/nhl-betting-trends-of-the-day/">Free NHL Tip:</a> SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
<div class="notes">
<h2>Notes</h2>
Betting Notes

For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five games.

Montreal's attempted 34.2 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 32.7 in its last 10 games.

Extra-man opportunities could play a key role in tonight's matchup. The Canadiens are 9-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 22-27 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Lightning are 14-7 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-13 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.

Montreal (4-1 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Tampa Bayemerged victorious in both of its shootouts this year.

Tampa Bay is ranked 19th this season with 7.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it has created 8.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 takeaways over its last five.

Montreal is ranked 21st with 6.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as the team has averaged 7.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.

Tampa Bay could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team's 18-13 in games decided by one goal, while Montreal is just 15-22 in such games.

</div>

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview 3/5/20

<p>At 4:10 PM ET, the Tampa Bay Rays will be visiting the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, CO. This interleague matchup features Zack Littell starting for the Rays and Austin Gomber starting for the Rockies.</p>

<p>Currently, the Rays are favored to win this game, with a money line payout of -173 compared to the Rockies' +145. The over/under line is set at 12.5 runs, with the over paying out at -105 and the under at -117.</p><h3>COLORADO ROCKIES VS TAMPA BAY RAYS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Colorado Rockies Moneyline +145</p><p>This game will be played at Coors Field at 4:10 ET on Friday, April 5th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE RAYS VS ROCKIES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Rockies winning by a score of 5 to 4</li><li>If you're looking for a run line pick, we also like the Rockies to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 9 runs and like the under</li></ul><h3>Rays Records & Stats</h3><p>The Rays lost their last game against the Rangers, 4-1. The Rangers scored three runs in the top of the ninth to break a 1-1 tie. The Rays were the favorites in this game, with a money line of -125.</p>

<p>Aaron Civale got the start for the Rays and went six innings, giving up one run. He struck out eight and walked two. The Rays' offense struggled to get anything going, scoring just one run. The Rays had a chance to win this game, but the Rangers' offense came through late.</p><p>Coming off a strong first start of the season, Zack Littell will be on the mound for the Rays as they take on the Rockies. In his first start, Littell went 6 innings and picked up the win, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks, but he did not allow a run. He struck out 6 Blue Jays hitters in that outing.</p><p>When looking at the Rays' player projections, we see that Yandy Díaz has the highest total hits projection on the team and his total hits projection is 13th best in the league today. For home runs, Isaac Paredes is our top projected Rays player in terms of hitting a home run, as his home run projection is 12th best in today's slate of games. Amed Rosario is our 2nd best projected Rays player in terms of total hits, as his total hits projection is 18th best in the league today.</p><h3>Rockies Records & Stats</h3><p>The Cubs won a wild one against the Rockies, 9-8. The Cubs were able to score four runs in the second inning, but the Rockies would fight back to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Cubs would score five runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Rockies would score one in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough.</p>

<p>Seiya Suzuki had a big game for the Cubs, going 3/5 with a home run and four RBIs. Michael Busch also had a big game, going 3/3 with an RBI. For the Rockies, Charlie Blackmon went 3/5 with two RBIs.</p><p>After starting the season on the road, Austin Gomber is set to make his first start of the year at home, as the Rockies host the Rays. Gomber's first start of the year came against the Diamondbacks, and he went 4 2/3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. He did strike out 3 batters but also gave up a pair of home runs.</p><p>Looking at the Rockies' player projections, Charlie Blackmon has the highest total hits projection on the team and his total hits projection is 17th best in the league today. Ryan McMahon has the top home run projection on the team and is 15th in the league. Brendan Rodgers has the 4th best home run projection on the team and is 18th in the league. Nolan Jones is 2nd on the team in home run projection and 16th in the league. Elehuris Montero is 2nd on the team in home run projection and 16th in the league. Ezequiel Tovar is 2nd on the team in total hits projection and 23rd in the league.</p>

Tampa Bay Rays vs Colorado Rockies Betting Pick & Prediction 4/5/24

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