COMPS
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
Flames / Sharks Over 5.5
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the "over":
The Calgary Flames are 24-22-3-4 overall this year; they're 14-8-1-1 at home and just 10-14-2-3 on the road; they're coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at Anaheim on Sunday, which was on the heels of a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks at home three nights previous.
The O/U is 19-31-3.
"We had a couple of chances to win, but it's not easy with their goalie," Flames netminder Mikka Kiprusoff said.
Calgary remains just three points out of a playoff spot though with 29-games left in the season, and captain Jerome Iginla believe's his team has a legitimate shot at finally making it to the post-season after missing for two years straight:
"We've played Detroit," Iginla reasoned. "We've played Vancouver. We've played San Jose. And we've played them lately. And while we respect them, we definitely feel we can beat them ...
"I like it in Calgary. I believe we can be in the playoffs and have a shot."
On the other bench: The Sharks are 29-15-3-3 overall this year, including 17-8-2-0 at home and 12-7-1-3 on the road; after three straight victories, they're coming off a 5-3 loss at Phoenix on Saturday.
The O/U is 23-27-0.
"It wasn't lack of offense," said Sharks coach Todd McLellan. "We had a number of chances and ended up with three at the end. We were not competitive at the times we needed to be competitive."
Bottom line: Both teams push the pace of this game after lacklustre efforts; you may want to consider a second look at the "over" in this contest.
<hr>spartan
Evansville +5.5
I do understand, it's not easy to take the Ace's here against a clearly superior Jays club. Well, it wasn't to appealing to wager on Oklahoma last night against the vastly better Missouri Tigers either. However that turned out okay didn't it? The fact is I think this is a tough spot for Creighton with the upcoming battle against Wichita State looming. I fully anticipate the crowd to be electric with the ranked Jays in the house and frankly the Aces are a historically a solid proposition on their home floor against quality opponents. I feel Creighton is in for an alley fight here. I say take the generous points here with the home dog. To be candid I did consider this as a Rabid Dog Release tonight but found another game that seemed even stronger to me so I chose it in the end.
<hr>Sean Murphy
Creighton @ Evansville
PICK: Under 153.5
Creighton suffered a rare loss on Saturday, dropping a 65-62 decision on a last-second three-pointer from Northern Iowa's Anthony James.
That was only the Blue Jays third loss overall this season, and second in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Despite that setback, Creighton continues to play excellent defensive basketball. The Blue Jays have five of their last six opponents to fewer than 70 points. Illinois State was the only team to break through that barrier, in a game where the Jays emptied their bench in a 28-point victory (we won w/ Creighton in that game).
While Creighton is known as a high-powered offensive team that loves to push the pace, the fact is, the 'under' has cashed at a 4-1-1 clip in its last five contests. Save for that 102-point outburst against Illinois State, it's not as if the Blue Jays have been scoring at will lately. They've been held to 77 points or less in five of their last six games.
Evansville saw its string of six consecutive 'over' results come to an end in Saturday's narrow 53-52 loss at Southern Illinois.
While the Purple Aces own an ugly set of defensive numbers, they've actually performed much better at home in MVC play, limiting five of their six opponents to fewer than 70 points. Only Illinois State was able to eclipse that number, in a game that still reached only 150 points, staying 'under' tonight's posted total.
In fact, only one of Evansville's six conference home games has surpassed the number we're working with tonight in regulation time.
These two teams hooked up twice last season, with those games totaling 143 and 144 points. Personnel-wise, both squads remain similar. With that being said, the oddsmakers are expecting a different result, adjusting this total northward by 23 points from the closing number in their most recent meeting nearly a year ago to the day.
For the most part, the 'over' results we've seen from the Blue Jays this year have come in games that have resulted in blowout victories. Evansville should be able to stay somewhat competitive in this contest, as it has all season here at home. I'm banking on both defenses playing well enough to keep this one 'under' the inflated total.
<hr>Scott Rickenbach
Cleveland @ Miami
PICK: Miami -13
The Miami Heat were built on ego, they thrive on ego. With larger-than-life characters like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, there’s no team in the NBA that can win or lose based on how they feel that night more than the Heat. And after a lackluster showing versus the Toronto Raptors Sunday, Miami’s Big Three will be out for a pick-me-up against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday. And it’s not like the Heat don’t have any added motivation to knock around the Cavs. Of course, there are LeBron’s motives when playing his former club. But a new angle that has surfaced is the battle in the backcourt between Wade and No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving. Wade missed the first meeting with Irving this season due to injury and will be licking his chops at the opportunity to put the youngster in his place. Cleveland already has some gaping holes in its backcourt with Daniel Gibson and Anthony Parker out with injuries. The Heat will attack Irving and run the former Duke standout into the ground. Cleveland may be on thin ice before it even comes to South Beach Tuesday. The Cavaliers have gone toe-to-toe with some of the NBA’s top teams in recent games, including a shocker over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks Saturday. This sets up perfect for Miami backers, looking to not only capitalize on a motivated Heat squad but also a Cavs team primed for a letdown. The Heat are healthy, home and hungry to get their hands on Cleveland Tuesday night.
<hr>David Chan
Hurricanes @ Ducks
PICK: Under
I bet value where I see it and expect this to be a tightly checked, low-scoring affair.
The 20-25-9 Carolina Hurricanes storm into Anaheim to take on the 20-24-8 Ducks.
Carolina is coming off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Los Angeles on Saturday.
It was Jeff Skinner's goal 3:02 into the final frame that was the difference; Jiri Tlutsy also tallied a marker, while goaltender Cam Ward had 24-saves:
“They came out ready to play, and it seemed like they had a step on us in the first period,” Ward said. “We weren’t too pleased with it after the first intermission, but once again, we were able to turn it around. We knew that they had some travel, so we made it difficult on them in the second and third.”
Note that Carolina entered that game with a brutal 1-13-0 record when trailing in the first period.
Also note that Ward had posted a stellar 1.88 GAA over his previous 10-home contests.
The Ducks on the other hand are coming off a 3-2 win over the Flames on Monday night.
Niklas Hagman finally beat Mikka Kiprusoff in the eighth round of the shootout:
“He’s a goalie I have practiced a lot against,” said Hagman, who used to play for the Flames. “I don’t have that many moves, and he knows my go-to moves. I tried to switch a little bit. I wanted to come with good speed and shoot it. Luckily for me, he probably thought I was going to go with my backhand.”
Jonas Hiller had 24-saves:
“We really needed those two points,” said Hiller. “It wasn’t an easy game. Both teams played really hard. It was about time we won a shootout.”
Two low-scoring, hard-hitting teams going head to head, with above average goaltenders; all signs point to a low-scoring affair!
