NHL Finals - 2013

At this point in the series, I LOVE the Black Hawks.

Besides Game Three, the Black Hawks have been outplaying the Bruins, with the B's being held in the games by hot goaltending.  When the goaltending evens out -- I think we'll see a big win by the Black Hawks on Saturday, a Stanley Cup parade in the Windy City.

Black Hawks in 6.

Thursday Free Pick - NHL 10/6/11

In honor of the NHL season starting, our free play of the day is a hockey play.  We are taking Philly, visiting Boston, partly due to this nice bit of research over at SportsInsights.com.

SportsInsights updated its research on betting against the public in the NHL that uses it's betting percentages.

  

Wednesday Free Pick - NHL 6/15/11

Today is the last day of NHL action -- so we're using this opportunity to take Vancouver at home -- at decent line value after Boston man-handled the Canucks once again (in Game 6).  Sports fans remember recent action -- and the line has been pushed down dramatically because of some of the Bruins' blowout wins.  The series could really go either way -- but I think this one has solid value with Vancouver, at home, to "do it" when it counts.

Monday Free Pick - NHL 6/13/11

We are taking Vancouver to "break serve" and win on Boston's home ice and take the Stanley Cup.  Because of Boston's big wins at home, public sentiment is on Boston to win at home and go to a Game 7.  We like Vancouver and the + odds.

Wednesday Free Pick - NHL 6/8/11

We'll look to stay hot -- and will go with Vancouver at Boston in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  In the last game, Boston came out with urgency and crushed the Canucks.  Tonight, I think we will see the reverse -- and Vancouver will want to re-take a 2-game lead in the series.  Take Vancouver as a visiting underdog -- as a good value after their blowout loss in Game 3.

Monday Free Pick - NHL 6/6/11

We're going with Vancouver today, in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals (this is for 3 wins in a row).  We like the plus moneyline odds -- because Vancouver is visiting Boston.  We think they will move closer to the championship.  Sentiment is on Boston at home, giving us additional value.  

Saturday Free Pick - NHL 6/4/11

We're going with the over in the NHL today. The low-scoring Game One may have created some value -- unless it takes 59 minutes plus to score in this game! With the Over set at 5, we have a good safe "spot" at the 5. -jb & cb

Thursday Free Pick - NHL 5/19/11

Jake Peavy is a warrior -- and got us a win yesterday.

Let's continue our winning ways with a play in the NHL. I will take the visiting Bruins as they look to forge ahead in their playoff series vs. Tampa Bay. The Bruins are an overall better team -- and have the advantage on defense and goaltending.

Thursday Free Pick - NHL 4/21/11

I am taking the LA Kings tonight.  Public sentiment is on the other side, so I expect additional line value on the Kings...   Solid home dog.

NBA & NHL Playoff Betting Tips

Here are some bettng tips and some interesting information on the NBA and NHL playoffs.  First, in the NBA:

• I generally like big underdogs -- and the NBA playoffs are no exception.  
• SportsInsights recently commented on big dogs in the NBA playoffs (and their solid performance so far in the playoffs).
• With the dogs making such a strong showing, there's a chance that the pendulum has swung too far.  I will be looking to see if the favorites are showing some hints of (surprising) value.  

In the NHL:

• Early low-scoring and hard-checking playoff games have given way to more scoring over recent games.  The pendulum swings both ways and you have to keep an eye on value.  The Big Salami totals have shrunken, leading to potential value again on the Over.
• In the NHL, there is a bias to visitors -- and we will be watching this trend as the playoff series extend.  That is, heavy home favorites (for the higher-rated seeds) are switching to games that are more "even" as the lower-rated seeds get home ice.  
• I will be watching for value on visitors in these "closer" games.

Saturday Free Pick - NHL 4/16/11

I like the under in the NHL grand salami.  Playoff hockey is tighter-checking hockey.  Under 21 with good money line odds...  Solid value.

Tuesday Free Pick - NHL 3/29/11

Yesterday's rainout in spring training means we are still going for 4 wins in a row and 9 of our last 10 plays.

Today's free pick is in the NHL -- on the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Flyers.  Pittsburgh is at home.  Sentiment is on the first place Flyers -- and has moved the line a bit, so there is decent line value on the Penguins.

Saturday Free Pick - NHL 3/26/11

After the streak ended on Thursday, we started a new winning streak with yesterday's play on New Orleans in the NBA. New Orleans was a good line value play, with the line opening at NO +3 and moving all the way to +6.5 at some books. They turned out to be an outright winner.

Today, I am going with the Under in the NHL big salami. It's a big lineup for the NHL, with 12 games on Saturday. On a big day like this, the law of averages seems to weigh the unders down for the cumulative day.

Tuesday Free Pick - Score Four 3/22/11

With yesterday's rainout in MLB spring training, we are again trying to "score four" wins in a row on our blog.

We are going with the Under in the NHL big salami today.  55 goals in 10 games.

Sunday Free Pick - Going for 3-in-a-row 3/20/11

Our blog's free picks / "play of the day" -- are going for 3 wins in a row.  Today we are going with the NHL over in the big salami.  Over 32.5 in 6 games.

Saturday Free Pick 3/12/11

Today, I am taking the Under in the NHL Big Salami.  As we near the stretch run in the NHL season, scoring has been coming down.  In addition, the weight of the "law of averages" makes the Under play stronger -- with a big NHL lineup today.  Under 55.5 in 10 game.

Saturday Free Pick - 3/5/11

I am taking the UNDER in the NHL Big Salami today. Under 56.5 in 10 games.

Thursday Free Pick - NHL 3/3/11

Today's free pick is in the NHL. Public sentiment is hugely on the Boston Bruins at home, and this has moved the line tremendously, yielding some nice line value on visiting Tampa Bay.

Let's make it two winning picks in a row!

Monday Free Pick - NHL 2/28/11

Today's free play is the Over in the big salami. Just two games, but I still like the bias in this kind of play. Over 11 -- in two games.

Friday Free Pick 2/25/11

As usual, not much action on a Friday evening...  Just a few college basketball games.  I don't see anything I like in the NBA (or individual NHL games) - so I am going with the "over" in the NHL big salami.  50 goals in 9 games.