ASA CBB FREE PICK on Wisconsin vs Michigan State, Friday at 6:30 PM ET
*This play is contingent on Johnny Davis playing for Wisconsin.* As of now it looks like he will play but might not be 100% and could be on a minute count. We are going to make sure he’s in the line up before playing this one. The Badgers are not the slow paced team that many still make them out to be. They are ranked 5th in pace in the Big 10 this season. MSU likes to get up and down the court (129th nationally in pace) as well so we look for this game to have plenty of possessions. These 2 met twice this year with wildly different results. In the first meeting MSU won 86-74 (162 total points) and Sparty shot lights out hitting over 50% of their shots. In round 2 Wisconsin went to Michigan State and won the game 70-62 (132 total points) and the two teams combined to shoot 44% from the field but just 28% from beyond the arc and they still nearly reached tonight’s number of 136. Both teams excel from the FT line (both make 75%) which lends to a higher scoring game as well. Wisconsin games have reached at least 135 points in 6 of their last 7 games. MSU games have reached at least 140 total points in 6 of their last 7 games. These 2 teams are a combined 36-25-1 to the OVER this season. We like this one Over the total.
Scott “The Bulldog” Rickenbach NHL Friday Free Pick Vegas Golden Knights Money Line +150 @ Pittsburgh Penguins @ 7:05 ET – I know Vegas has been struggling and not scoring well. I know they are in a B2B after a loss at Buffalo last night. However, that marked Jack Eichel’s return to face his former team and it was an ugly environment. That said, there is sense of relief for Eichel and the Golden Knights to have that game out of the way. Look for Vegas to respond big tonight and get back on track. So much value here with a good team in the +150 price range and I feel the Golden Knights are absolutely worth a look in this one! Knights are 16-10-1 in road games this season and Penguins have lost 14 of 29 home games this season! The fact is that Vegas has been better on the road than at home this season and the same holds true for Pittsburgh but of course normal home ice pricing is baked into this line. The result is exceptional value and I will take it! Free Pick VEGAS +150
Scott “The Bulldog” Rickenbach EPL Thursday Free Pick Wolverhampton -115 vs Watford @ 2:30 ET – Both clubs off defeats last week but Wolverhampton fired up off an embarrassing performance in a 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace. As for Watford, they battled hard to come back against Arsenal and it was the kind of loss that can leave a club a bit frustrated in their next match. I look for the hosts to prove to be the much hungrier and determined club here. I know the visitors are desperate to avoid relegation but their 18 defeats this season tied for most in the league and I expect another one here! Free Pick WOLVERHAMPTON -115
ASA likes the Atlanta Hawks +4.5 over Milwaukee Bucks – 7:40pm ET
We will start with the obvious here and the Bucks have been horrendous at home as a favorite this season with a 11-20 ATS record and a +/- of +5.3PPG in those games. Milwaukee is just 4-3 SU their last 7 at home. Scheduling clearly favors the Bucks who also coming off a game Tuesday night in OKC and they are just 3-8 ATS this season when playing without rest. Milwaukee is also playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and have a much bigger game on deck at Golden State. We like the Hawks who are rested and coming off an embarrassing loss to Detroit on Monday night as an 8-point favorite. Atlanta is 8th in offensive efficiency since the All-Star break, 17th in DEFF 1.150PPP which is drastically better than their season average of 27th allowing 1.146-points per possession. Since the break the Hawks have a +3.3 PPG differential. Atlanta is a matchup problem for the Bucks as they’ve beaten them twice this season already. Hawks 13-5 ATS their last eighteen meetings in Milwaukee.
ASA play on: LA CLIPPERS -4.5 over NY Knicks, 10PM ET
Remember when the Knicks started the season off with one of the best offenses in the NBA? Yeah, that was through the first few weeks of the season and was short lived. New York is the 27th lowest scoring team in the league, 27th in FG% at 43.4% and 16th in 3-point%. The Knicks are 25th in overall offensive efficiency at 1.089-points per possession and have a net differential on the road of minus -2.8PPG. The Knicks have lost 7 straight games and have a 3-13 SU record their last sixteen games. The Clippers are gaining traction in the West with 5 straight wins and 7 of their last eight overall. At home the Clippers have been especially tough with a 7-1 SU record their last eight and the lone loss came against the defending Champions, Milwaukee Bucks. Since the All-Star break the Clippers have the 3rd best overall defensive efficiency rating and a +/- of +9.5PPG. We like the Clippers to get a double-digit win in this one.