Scott Rickenbach

Top Annihilation - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Rotation #41 Saturday 10* Top Play Carolina Hurricanes Money Line (-) @ Florida Panthers @ 7:05 ET - Why are the Hurricanes, 6-5 on the road and on a 3-game losing streak, favored AT Florida? There is only one team, Toronto, in the NHL that has more points in the standings than the Panthers. So, again, the point is why is Carolina favored in this game? As I have pointed out numerous times in the past, I am not a believer in the "odds maker mistake" theory. In other words, this is no mistake here either. The Canes are a road favorite because they are a very good team that has lost 3 straight games and is coming into this game hungry after 3 straight losses to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Lightning. I like the fact that the Panthers just rallied for 3 goals in the 3rd period of a 3-2 win over the Stars on Thursday. Look for the Hurricanes to prove to be the much hungrier team in this one and Florida falls flat after rallying for the big win versus Dallas. 10* CAROLINA

Situational Slaughter - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Rotation #35 Saturday 8* Columbus Blue Jackets (+) @ Nashville Predators @ 3:05 ET - This is a revenge game for the Blue Jackets. Surprisingly the Predators won the most recent meeting and have won 3 of 4 against Columbus this season. Why do I say this is a surprise? Well Nashville has won just 5 of their other 15 games this season! I know the Jackets have been struggling of late but they had been a perfect 4-0 this season when off back to back losses before they lost at Chicago Thursday. That marks the first 3-game losing streak for Columbus this season. It is also the first shutout loss for the Blue Jackets this season. Look for that to result in them playing one of their best games of the season today at Nashville and I will gladly grab the plus money in this one. 8* COLUMBUS

Earliest Dominator - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Rotation #85 Saturday 8* Philadelphia Flyers Money Line (-) @ Buffalo Sabres @ 1:05 ET - The Flyers are getting healthier now with a bunch of key guys returning for this game. They also catch Buffalo off a demoralizing home loss in overtime to the Devils. The Sabres now have just 2 wins in 9 home games this season. Not much of a home ice edge for sure and Philly has won 3 of the last 4 meetings between these teams and those 3 victories came by a combined score of 12 to 2. Look for another big win here as the Flyers recently welcomed back Giroux and now also are expected to today see the return of guys like Voracek, Lindblom, and Laughton. 8* PHILADELPHIA

Total Dominator - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Rotation #549 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:05 ET - This is simply one of those games that jumped off the page at me because I do not see the Sixers being interested in playing defense here. Where is the motivation for a strong effort against a bad Cavaliers team. That said, we are also getting line value because of public perception. What the markets are looking at here is that the Sixers have stayed under the total in 4 straight games and the Cavaliers have stayed under the total in 5 straight games. However, prior to holding Houston to just 96 points, Cleveland had allowed an average of 124 points per game their preceding 11 games. If you factor that in and loo at this line of a -10 then it means we should see a 124-114 type game which is well above the posted total on this one. The 76ers are off B2B wins but that was preceded by a 2-4 stretch that saw them allow 116.7 points per game in those 6 games. 10* OVER the total in Philadelphia

Big East Beast Top Side - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach CBB Rotation #684 Saturday 10* Top Play Xavier Musketeers (+) vs Creighton Bluejays @ 5 ET - Without a shadow of doubt, of course, Creighton is a very good team. Also, Xavier looks very unimpressive to the betting markets because of a recent 1-3 run. However, all that has done here is create exceptional value in my opinion. Keep in mind, the Musketeers had an unwanted two weeks off due to health protocol impacting their schedule so one could give them a mulligan for the home loss to Connecticut which followed. Since then Xavier has had two tough road games and just one home game. They won the only home game and the Musketeers are now 10-2 at home this season. Again, I know the Bluejays command (and deserve) respect but prior to a road win and cover at Georgetown in their most recent away game, Creighton was on a 1-3 ATS run in road games. This is Xavier's home finale and you know they would love nothing more than to get revenge for their road loss at Creighton earlier this season plus close the home portion of their schedule with a big win. As you would expect, the Bluejays don't shoot as well nor score as well on the road as they do at home. As you would also expect, the Musketeers do shoot better at home plus score better as a host. They have a great shot at the upset here which certainly has me liking the added value of having these points on our side too. 10* XAVIER

Big East Beast Top Total - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach CBB Rotation #645 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Connecticut Huskies vs Marquette Golden Eagles @ 2:30 ET - The first meeting between these teams stayed well under the total but look for the second one to play out much differently. Both teams enter off wins. Also, the Golden Eagles are now 3-1 to the over in their last 4 road games while the Huskies are 3-1 to the over in their last 4 home games. Additionally, Connecticut now has James Bouknight back and he is a big scorer for him. Marquette is averaging 70.8 points per game on the road and UConn is averaging 75.7 points per game at home. Don't be surprised when this game gets into the mid-140s. The Huskies are off back to back unders but those games were on the road and that stretch was preceded by a run of 6-1 to the over. That run resumes for them starting today at home. 10* OVER the total in Connecticut

Big East Beast Early - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach CBB Rotation #610 Saturday 8* DePaul Blue Demons (+) vs Georgetown Hoyas @ Noon ET - The Blue Demons might get Javon Freeman-Liberty back for this one. He has been in concussion protocol but this began exactly two weeks ago so today could be the day for him at home and in the most winnable game remaining on DePaul's schedule. Even if he does not play here, I like the fact this line has gone from a pick'em to a -3 on Georgetown. Yes the Blue Demons are at the bottom of the Big East but the Hoyas are not dominators, particularly on the road, by any stretch of the imagination. That said, taking a look at DePaul's last 6 home games, 1 was a high-scoring loss but in the other 5 games they allowed an average of only 61.2 points per game! This team does show some commitment on the defensive end. As for Georgetown, they allowed an average of 72.5 points per game in their last two games and those were at home and they got dominated on the glass by UConn in the most recent of those two games. Also, the Hoyas have allowed an average of 79 points per game in their last 3 road games. Don't be surprised when the Blue Demons prove to be the hungrier team in this one and get the job done on their home floor. 8* DEPAUL

Early TV Blowout - Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Saturday 10* Top Play Brighton & Hove -105 vs West Bromwich @ 10 AM ET - West Bromwich is the host here but has just 2 wins on the entire campaign and just 1 home win and their average goal differential on their home pitch is actually 2 goals per match. Just horrible numbers. Conversely, Brighton & Hove is a respectable 4-4-4 as a traveler this season and their goal differential is nearly dead even on the road. However, Brighton & Hove still need to get a big win here as they are not safely away from the relegation zone. Even though Brighton & Hove are off a draw and a loss in their last two matches they have dominated both incredibly! They actually out shot their competitors 31 to 8 in those matches including 13 to 3 in terms of shots on goal. Brighton & Hove simply has not gotten what they deserved in their last two matches and they will make the most of facing a weak West Bromwich club here. The road team has allowed just 1.3 goals per match as travelers this season while the host team here has allowed 2.7 goals per match on their home pitch. I don't see the road team being denied here. 10* BRIGHTON & HOVE -105

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Saturday Free Pick Manchester City -1.75 goals vs West Ham United @ 7:30 AM ET - Manchester United is a -400 favorite on the money line and, rightfully so, as they have won 19 straight across all competitions including 13 straight in EPL action. The fact is that West Ham United is certainly a solid club but when they have lost big this season it has been against other higher-tier clubs. West Ham has losses by multiple goal margins to clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Everton. The value in this one is clearly with the goal line as there are solid odds on the win coming by a multiple goal margin. 15 of their last 18 victories have come by a multiple goal margin. Look for this one too. Free Pick MANCHESTER CITY Goal Line -1.75 goals