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Stephen Nover |
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I have had only two losing season in pro football in my handicapping career. I have the best sources in the business thanks to more than 25 years as a sportswriter, handicapper and analyst. |
| FREE PICKS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
| NHL | Mar 27, 2023 Devils vs. Islanders |
Islanders +110 at WMHILL |
in 7h |
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Talk about a must-win situation. The home underdog Islanders find themselves in just such a spot. The Islanders are battling the Penguins and Panthers for the top wild-card spot in the East. New York desperately needs this game after getting upset on the road by the Blue Jackets and then losing at home to the Sabres this past Saturday. Following this game, the Islanders have a daunting schedule playing road games against the Capitals, Lightning and Hurricanes. New York had won three straight, including defeating the Maple Leafs by five goals, before its two-game losing skid. The Devils, on the other hand, may not have such motivation. They clinched their first playoff spot since the 2017-18 season by beating the Senators, 5-3, this past Saturday while the Panthers fell to the Rangers. New Jersey was 1-5 in its previous six games before defeating Ottawa. The Devils have a bad road history against the Islanders losing 15 of the past 19 times. |
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| YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NBA | Mar 26, 2023 Rockets vs Cavs |
Rockets +14½ -110 at YouWager |
Lost $110.0 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
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After beating the Nets twice on the road in close games, the Cavaliers are back home for the first time in nine days fat, happy and laying a boatload of points here. On deck for the Cavaliers is a road game against the Hawks Tuesday. So, yes, I consider this a flat spot for Cleveland. It could be hard for the Cavaliers to not be overconfident after the Rockets just were destroyed, 151-114, by the Grizzlies this past Friday. The key question here is are the Rockets capable of hanging around with the Cavaliers? Given the circumstances and Houston being healthy except for rotation player, Jae'Sean Tate, I'd say yes. The Rockets are in rebuild mode, but they don't lack talent. They nearly upset the Grizzlies on Wednesday before the Grizzlies buried them in the rematch. Houston is 3-4 in its last seven games. The Rockets are 7-4-1 ATS in their last 12 games. Houston shouldn't lack motivation following its humiliating loss to the Grizzlies. A strong effort by the Rockets should produce a comfortable point spread cover. |
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| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
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NCAA-B | Mar 26, 2023 Miami-FL vs Texas |
Texas -3½ -110 at circa |
Lost $110.0 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
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Miami had a great win against Houston on Friday. But the Hurricanes don't match up well to Texas. The Longhorns are averaging eight more points in the paint than Miami during the NCAA Tournament and playing outstanding defense. Texas is giving up an average of only 60 points during its last seven games. The Longhorns beat top-seeded Kansas to capture the Big 12 Conference Tournament and are 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight games. They are a team that has peaked at the perfect time after a mediocre late February stretch. Interim Longhorns coach Rodney Terry has made all the right moves. Miami, on the other hand, finished its ACC regular season blowing a 25-point lead in a home loss to Florida State and then barely beat Pittsburgh failing to cover as a 7 1/2-point home favorite. Then in the ACC Tournament, the Hurricanes only beat Wake Forest by two points followed by a seven-point loss to Duke. The Hurricanes weren't that sharp either against Drake in the NCAA Tournament. It's a bonus if Big 12 Tournament MVP big man Dylan Disu is able to play for Texas after suffering a foot injury in the Longhorns' Friday win against Xavier. Miami isn't set up to take advantage if Disu can't play. The Hurricanes do their damage from the perimeter rather than inside. Texas has other capable scorers, including Marcus Carr, Timmy Allen and Sir Jabari Rice. Carr and Allen have scored more than 2,000 career points. I want Texas' defense, the outstanding coaching of Terry and the Longhorns' hot point spread mark going for me. |
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Sports gaming writer for Las Vegas Review-Journal 1984-1997. Professional handicapper since 1999. Author of three books - Las Vegas Sportsbeat, Sportsgaming Beat, Winning Fantasy Football. Taught sports betting at UNLV. Former co-host of the Sunday Night Stardust Line sports gaming radio show. Was part-time oddsmaker and analyst for Roxy Roxborough. Recognized NFL expert with 21 of 23 winning seasons. |
