Handicapper Ben Burns

I’m playing on (10*) on the Vancouver Canucks. I think that Arizona has a letdown here after its 3-2 shootout road win in Edmonton Tuesday. The Canucks will look to take advantage of familiar surroundings and to bounce back from a tough 3-2 road loss in San Jose on Saturday night. This is an in-season double revenge scenario for the Canucks as well, having dropped both previous meetings to the Coyotes so far, including a 4-3 OT home loss in the most recent on January 10th. Additionally note that Arizona is still only 7-12 (-4 units) this year following a division game. I think the Canucks bounce back from their latest loss and take advantage of a few extra days rest. All things considered, a great price. Lay it, Canucks roll.

I’m playing on (8*) the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto stumbled down the stretch of its Western swing, losing its final two, including an OT loss in St. Louis on Tuesday. Perhaps the Leafs were getting caught looking ahead to this one. The favorite is 20-7 the last 27 in this series and I expect that strong trend to continue here as I believe a little “home cooking” is just what the doctor ordered for the Leafs. Washington has been on a roll of late, but it’s still only 2-5 in its last seven on the road and just 1-5 in its last six following a victory. I’m banking on Toronto coming into this one focused. Lay the price, Leafs roll.

I’m playing on (8*) the New Jersey Devils. Neither side instills much confidence, but the Senators come to town off an exhausting/deflating 8-7 loss to the Blackhawks on Monday and I fully expect a predictable letdown here. Sens’ net minder Anders Nilsson gave up four goals on 12 shots, before getting replaced by Craig Anderson, who allowed four goals on 30 shots. The Devils’ two game win streak ended with a 4-3 loss to the Penguins last time out. New Jersey though is 7-2 in its last nine home games after allowing four goals or more, while Ottawa is just 3-7 (-2.5 units) this year when playing with two days of rest. This one has blowout written all over it. Lay the price, Devils roll.

I’m playing on UCLA (10* VIOLATOR). Oregon State enters off a highly satisfying 72-57 home win over rival Oregon on Saturday, while UCLA comes in off a humbling 104-80 setback to Stanford in its most recent action. The Bruins play with the added incentive of “revenge” here after falling 79-66 at Oregon State last month. UCLA is the “hungrier” team here. Note that the Bruins have been much better at home as well, as they’ve averaged 85 points on their own floor over the last three games. The Bruins also enjoy a significant rebounding edge as well, averaging 41.5 boards per game compared to only 36.2 for the Beavers (despite losing the first game, UCLA did win the rebounding battle in that one.) UCLA is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 following a loss of 20 points or more, while Oregon State is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 road games following three or more consecutive home games. I look for the “hungrier” team to get the job done. Lay the points, Bruins roll.

I’m playing on Cincinnati (8* PERSONAL FAVORITE). Both teams enter off victories. The UCF Knights beat Memphis 79-72 at home, while Cincinnati took care of Wichita State 72-62 on the weekend. This has been a difficult matchup for UCF over the years and I think that trend of futility gets carried over. Note that the Bearcats have are 9-1 all time in the series, including taking the last two. The Knights are extremely adept defensively, allowing only 64.9 PPG, but they lack offensive fire-power by averaging only 73.6 PPG. The Bearcats average 74 PPG, but they concede just 61.8. UCF is also just 12-16 ATS in its last 28 on the road and only 1-3 ATS this season off two straight victories against conference rivals. Cincinnati on the other hand is 5-1 ATS in its last six as a home favorite of 6.5 to nine points and 8-4 ATS in its last 12 after a win by ten points or more. I’m expecting a blowout once the final horn sounds. Lay the points, Bearcats roll.

I’m playing on the Golden State Warriors (10* PERSONAL FAVORITE). The Warriors dominated down the stretch, but they got blown out 129-107 on the road in Portland in their final game before the break, clearly getting caught looking ahead to the time off (starters were also rested.) Sacramento has been a “surprise” this year and it still has a chance at making the playoffs. The future is bright for the Kings, but the fact remains that they average 113.4 PPG, while allowing 114.6. Golden State on the other hand averages 118.8 PPG and it allows 111.7. The Kings are also only 8-13 ATS as a road underdog this season, while the Warriors are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 when playing with three or more days rest. Expect the defending champs to send a message to the rest of the league to open the second half. Lay the points, Warriors roll.

I’m playing on the Brooklyn Nets (8* VIOLATOR). The second half of the NBA returns. The Blazers blasted the Warriors 129-107 at home last Wednesday in their final game before the break, while the Nets held on for a 148-139 triple OT road win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland in their last action. These teams split two meetings last year, with Portland taking the most recent matchup 127-125 on the road back on November 24th, 2017. I’ll point out though that before beating Golden State, the Warriors had dropped three of four. Brooklyn has been one of the bigger surprises this year and after a stretch in which it dropped five of six, it would close the first half strong with back-to-back victories, including the triple OT thriller. The Nets have been better than advertised and they’ve consistently been at their best in this spot all season by going 3-0 ATS when playing with three or more days rest. The Blazers on the other hand are still a poor 10-15 ATS in their last 25 on the road. Play on the home side, Nets roll.