Free Picks for Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 from some of the nations best and worst handicappers
DAVE COKIN
KINGS VS. OILERS
PLAY: OILERS -125
I really don’t get the Oilers being this price, to me it should be -140. LA is done. The Kings are now 11 points out of the wild card and their offense has been nonexistent. Outside of the third period explosion against the porous Winnipeg defense, the Kings have not scored more than two goals in a game since March 11.
This is a tired hockey team and I think the reality that a great era is coming to a close is sinking in.
Edmonton is still very much alive to win its division and they’re just flat out better than the Kings at this point. Line seems trappy actually, and I’m sure the wagering public will be firing on Edmonton. So will I as I’m rolling with the Oilers here.
Ray Monohan
Washington at Minnesota
Play: Washington -115
This play just missed out on our premium card. The Washington Capitals look for their fifth straight against the Minnesota Wild when they travel to St. Paul.
At -115 there is a lot of value. The Capitals come into this game having won four in a row, and have been scoring a lot as of late. The Wild come into this game struggling having lost eight of their last nine.
In four of their last five games they have given up at least three goals. The Wild just seem to not have any confidence.
Some trends to note. Capitals are 7-1 in their last 8 playing on two days of rest. Capitals are 5-1 in their last six against a team with a winning record. Wild are 1-9 in their last ten playing on one day of rest.
At this value the Capitals have to be bet on.
Jim Feist
Wizards vs. Lakers
Play: Over 226
Washington has a potent offense inside and out, fifth in the NBA in scoring. They are on an 11-3 run over the total, and the Over is 35-17 in Wizards last 52 games playing on 2 days rest. The young Lakers like to run but play no defense, #28 in points allowed, last in field goal shooting defense allowing .482. LA is on an 8-2 run over the total and the Over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.
Scott Spreitzer
Wolves vs. Pacers
Play: Wolves +5
The T-Wolves are looking to end a tough slide, having dropped six in a row both SU & ATS. Minnesota went into the losing streak actually playing well, having beaten the Washington Wizards 119-104 on March 13. But the Pacers aren't exactly lighting things up right now either. Indiana has won just six of 13 games in March and they allowed 112.5 ppg in their previous four games before beating the 76ers last time out. The Pacers are in a fight with Atlanta & Milwaukee for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference and they may be looking ahead to a three-game road trip coming up against Memphis, Toronto, and Cleveland after tonight's contest. Minnesota has shot well, making between 48% and 51% of their shots in four of their last five games. Defense has been a problem, but Indiana has made under 44% of their FGA in four of their last five games. How bad is that? Only one team has made less than 44% of their FGA attempts on the season. The T-Wolves have covered six of their last eight against teams with a winning record and we'll recommend a play on the underdog here.
Rob Vinciletti
Wizards vs. Lakers
Play: Wizards -9
The Wizards are off an upset 12 point win in Cleveland putting up 127 points. Now they head to Washington to take on a Lakers team that is struggling and has lost 15 of the last 17 and is 4-13 ats in those games. Rested road favorites that scored 120 or more as a road dog of 5 or more have covered over 85% long term vs a team off a home loss like the Lakers. Look for the Wizards to win and cover.
Bryan Leonard
Central Florida +2½
Taking the points with the Golden Knights here who are the much better defensive team. We also like the way Central attacts the basket resulting in a FTA/FGA average of 0.404. That means this team draws fouls which is a huge edge against a TCU squad which permits an effective field goal percentage of 51.0. Granted, the Big12 is the more offensive inclined conference, but we would prefer the better defense as an underdog. Keep in mind Central Florida has won 9 of 10 entering this game with the lone loss coming vs SMU. TCU on the other hand ended the regular season losing 8 of 9.
Dustin Hawkins
Bucks vs. Hornets
Play: Bucks +3
Charlotte is only 1-8 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 against the spread this season. The Bucks are 28-15 ATS in road games after having won 2 of their last 3 games over the last 3 seasons.
Marc Lawrence
Wolves vs. Pacers
Play: Wolves +5
Edges - Timberwolves: 8-4 ATS as dogs following consecutive losses this season, including 3-1 ATS away against non-conference foes… Pacers: 13-23 ATS following a win this season, including 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS the last eight games. With the Wolves looking to snap a 5-game losing skid and Indiana off a revenge win over Philadelphia - and 0-4 ATS following the Sixers - we recommend a 1* play on Minnesota.
Red Dog Sports
MIllwall vs. Sheffield United
Play: Over 2½
Sheffield is #1 of the 24 teams in England's League One. They are off a 1-1 road draw and return home on Tuesday. Before the draw their previous four matches had 3, 6, 5 and 6 goals in it and they had produced 2, 4, 3 and 3 themselves. Millwall lost 6-0 at Tottenham outside of League One action and they played recent 3-3 and 2-1 matches. They did have a 0-0 and 1-0 score but they were against teams #17 and #22 in the table.
Mark Franco
Heat at Pistons
Play: Heat -2.5
The Detroit Pistons are slumping at the wrong time as they enter a pivotal game against the visiting Miami Heat on Tuesday. Detroit has dropped four straight and seven of its last eight contests as it trails eighth-place Miami by 1 1/2 games for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Detroit suffered a devastating 109-95 loss to lowly New York on Monday to further extend its untimely slide. The Pistons play three of their next four at home as they attempt to end their funk before the regular season concludes with three of four on the road. Miami holds a one-half game lead over Chicago for the No. 8 spot but has dropped three of its last four contests. The brief slump comes after the Heat won 23 of 28 games to recover from an 11-30 record at the midway point. Miami fell 112-108 to Boston on Sunday despite center Hassan Whiteside delivering 19 points and 15 rebounds. Whiteside didn't display any signs of the ankle injury he suffered Thursday as he posted his 15th consecutive double-double and 51st of the season. Heat are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss and are 14-2-1 ATS in their last 17 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Pistons are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 0 days rest.
Wunderdog
Milwaukee @ Charlotte
Pick: Charlotte -4
This is the seventh road game over the last nine contests for Milwaukee. The Bucks got blown out at home the last game by Chicago (109-94) as chalk and now head out on the road. They are 5-16 ATS against the NBA Southeast Division. Charlotte is on a 4-1 SU/ATS run and plays its third straight home game, as well as its fifth home game over the last six contests. Charlotte is ninth in the NBA in points allowed, #11 in field goal shooting defense, so the home team holds all the cards.
Rocketman
Rangers vs. Sharks
Play: Rangers +120
The New York Rangers travel to San Jose to take on the Sharks on Tuesday night. NY Rangers are 46-30 SU overall this year while San Jose comes in with a 42-33 SU overall record on the season. NY Rangers are 21-6 SU this year in non-conference games. NY Rangers are scoring 3.2 goals per game overall this year. NY Rangers are 27-11 SU on the road this season where they are scoring 3.2 goals per game while allowing 2.3 goals per game away from home. San Jose is 0-5 SU last 5 games overall where they are scoring only 1.2 goals per game while allowing 3.8 goals per game. NY Rangers are 4-1 SU overall vs San Jose past 3 years. We'll recommend a small play on the NY Rangers tonight!
Brad Wilton
Tuesday night comp play is Miami as the small road favorite at Detroit.
The Pistons picked the wrong time to go into a losing skid, as Detroit is now 1 1/2 games behind Miami for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to a 4 game slide, and a 1-7 overall straight up mark their last 8 games.
Miami is not exactly burning things up either, as they have dropped 3 of their last 4, but their last pair of games have come against playoff-bound teams in Boston and Toronto.
The Heat did win the last season series meeting against the Pistons, back on January 28th, and they have won 3 of the past 5 series meetings both straight up and against the spread.
In this key Eastern Conference matchup, side with the Heat to keep the Pistons at bay.
3* MIAMI
Eric Schroeder
My free play is on the marquee game in the NBA tonight, as I like the Houston Rockets to win and cover against the Golden State Warriors.
I know the Warriors arrive riding a seven-game win streak, after a 106-94 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, but if there was ever a test to see what the Rockets are made of, it'll be in this game.
Houston's offensive explosion will be tested against Golden State's long-range threats.
The Rockets improved to 27-1 when scoring 120-plus points and 18-2 when shooting 50 percent or better, with a 137-125 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
The Rockets are also 20-1 when shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. They shot a blistering 51.3 percent from deep, on Sunday.
Look for their hot shooting to continue at home tonight, as they roll to the win and cover against the Warriors.
1* ROCKETS