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**Udog** · 02-11-2015, 11:11 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

-- Notre Dame 60, Clemson 58-- 4 of 5 Irish road wins are by 3 points or less.

-- Temple 75, Cincinnati 59-- Owls' first win AAC vs Cincinnati in four tries.

-- Georgetown 86, Seton Hall 67-- Pirates are trending....in wrong direction.

-- Michigan State 68, Northwestern 44- Wildcats should've hired Doug Collins.

-- Colorado State 70, New Mexico 59-- Rams avenge their first loss this season.

-- Arkansas 101, Auburn 87-- Bruce Pearl doesn't have enough players.....yet.

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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud........

13) Kentucky 71, LSU 69-- Outstanding game; LSU didn't have enough firepower, even after after a 21-2 run that erased a 13-point Kentucky lead. I get the feeling that Calipari wouldn't have minded taking a loss to relieve some pressure on his very young team. Winning the national title is all that matters.

12) Game was LSU's first sellout in six years, first in an SEC game since 2006; they have a program on the rise- their recrutiing class next year is outstanding. LSU guard Keith Hornsby, a 37% shooter from the arc, is the son of singer Bruce Hornsby.

11) Wisconsin 65, Nebraska 55-- Second game in a row, Cornhuskers had 13 points at halftime; they've taken a step back after LY's progress.

10) NBC suspended news anchor Brian Williams for six months, with no pay; what does a guy like that do to earn money now? He probably has some socked away since a guy in his position makes major bucks, but still, what does he do?

9) Meanwhile, Jon Stewart announced he will be leaving The Daily Show sometime in the next year, after 16 years there. He will be sorely missed; funny man.

8) John Daly's ex-wife is suing his current fiance for "alienation of affection", which is the Mississippi legal euphemism for "home wrecker".

7) Ralph Friedgen stepped down as Rutgers' offensive coordinator, meaning the Scarlet Knights will amazingly have their sixth offensive coordinator in six years next fall. Hard to have any continuity that way, but they manage to stay over .500.

6) Baseball America lists Notre Dame sharpshooter Pat Connaughton as the Orioles' #11 minor league prospect; he is supposedly a very good pitching prospect.

5) There will be four Atlanta Hawks in the NBA All-Star Game Sunday, which reminds me of last summer, when the A's had six guys in the All-Star Game, only to implode in the second half. Sometimes time off is useful keeping you mentally fresh; All-Star Game will provide a lot of attention those Hawks aren't used to getting and they're hoping their season goes deep into June, when the Finals are held.

4) There were rumors that Demarcus Cousins' agent was protesting the Kings hiring George Karl as head coach, so much so that Cousins made a statement saying he didn't mind if Karl was named coach. Sounds like a great organization.

3) Detroit Tigers got (fairly) good news; Victor Martinez had his knee scoped, will only miss 4-6 weeks, as opposed to months. Good news for the Armadillos too, my team in a 16-team keeper fantasy league that is going into its 11th year.

2) Guy on ESPN.com listed his top 200 fantasy league players, and I was happy to see that five of the top 32 are on my team, though none of them pitch. When you root for the A's, like I do, you can't get attached to players, because they come and go like there's a freakin' revolving door at the Oakland Coliseum.

Having a fantasy team allows you to root for a team where players leave only if I say so, which is more fun. I've said this before, the world would be a better place if I was allowed to make more decisions-- ha!!!!

1) Can you imagine what the media circus is going to be like next week when Alex Rodriguez reports to spring training in Florida???? It'll be a good day for anyone else to announce bad news, since it'll get buried in the paper by the ARod stuff.

**Udog** · 02-11-2015, 11:11 AM

See spot. See spot bet: This week's best spot bet opportunities

Lookahead spot

The All-Star break can’t come soon enough for the Los Angeles Clippers. In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, a four-game losing skid can instantly drop a team from a Top 4 spot to the fringe of the playoff cut – and that’s where L.A. found itself before snapping that slide with a win over Dallas Monday. The Clippers are a tired team, coming off the eight-game “Grammy Trip” which had L.A. away from home since Jan. 28.

On top of that relentless schedule, the Clippers just lost star forward Blake Griffin for three weeks due to surgery to cut out a staph infection. Los Angeles needs some time to breathe and collect itself before making a push in the second half of the season. The All-Star break offers that but not before tangling with the Houston Rockets Wednesday. The Clippers haven’t defended the Staples Center this season with an 11-16 ATS mark at home and are just 6-15 ATS in their last 21 home games against Houston. Looking ahead to some much-need time off could leave the Clips flat Wednesday.

Letdown spot

The La Salle Explorers know they’re a long shot for the NCAA tournament and that playing in the Atlantic 10 limits the chances they have to impress the selection committee. La Salle does, however, have a respectable RPI (0.5569) at 79th in the country and their strength of schedule is 51st in the land (0.5588) with teams like Virginia, Villanova and Wednesday’s opponent, No. 22 VCU, headline the calendar.

A win over the ranked Rams could be just what the Explorers need to bulk up their tournament resume and kick start a strong finish to the A-10 slate. Win or lose, though, La Salle will be ripe for a letdown against the Davidson Wildcats Saturday. Davidson is in a similar spot as the Explorers, needing to put some wins together, and is a solid 7-2 ATS away from home.

Schedule spot

The Iona Gaels are the top team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, boasting an 11-2 conference record and an 18-6 SU mark overall (9-13 ATS). The Gaels have won five in a row with just one of those games coming as a true road contests. But now, Iona stares down a nasty chunk of schedule that has it on the road for four straight MAAC contests, starting Tuesday at Fairfield and extending to Feb 20 at Marist.

That’s a string of four road games in 11 days, with things getting hairy in between. Following Tuesday, the Gaels hit the court Friday at Manhattan and then Sunday at Quinnipiac. Iona is tremendous at home but all six of its losses have come away from New Rochelle. The Gaels are the second-highest scoring team in the nation – 82.8 points on 48.1 percent shooting – but this road stretch will test Iona’s legs and ability to continuously play at that breakneck pace - 73.6 possessions per game.

**Udog** · 02-11-2015, 11:17 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Washington at San Jose
The Capitals head to San Jose tonight and come into the contest with a 1-5 record in their last 6 road games. San Jose is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Sharks favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-120). Here are all of today's NHL picks.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Game 1-2: Vancouver at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Vancouver 10.449; Chicago 12.214
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-200); 5
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-200); Over

Game 3-4: Detroit at Pittsburgh (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 12.733; Pittsburgh 11.275
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-140); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+120); Under

Game 5-6: Washington at San Jose (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 9.991; San Jose 11.403
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-120); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-120); Under

NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, February 11

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VANCOUVER (29-20-0-3, 61 pts.) at CHICAGO (33-18-0-3, 69 pts.) - 2/11/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 21-37 ATS (-21.9 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 21-37 ATS (+59.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 5-19 ATS (+26.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 24-6 ATS (+14.1 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 20-6 ATS (+9.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 26-7 ATS (+13.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 119-108 ATS (+235.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
CHICAGO is 37-39 ATS (-16.1 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 4-3 (+1.7 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
VANCOUVER is 4-3-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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DETROIT (31-12-0-9, 71 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (30-15-0-8, 68 pts.) - 2/11/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 93-100 ATS (-43.1 Units) in road games after a 3 game unbeaten streak since 1996.
DETROIT is 103-60 ATS (+24.8 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 17-19 ATS (-15.8 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 5-11 ATS (-12.0 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 7-13 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 2-2 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 2-2-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.2 Units)

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WASHINGTON (28-16-0-10, 66 pts.) at SAN JOSE (28-20-0-7, 63 pts.) - 2/11/2015, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 138-186 ATS (-70.7 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 49-37 ATS (+89.0 Units) in road games in February games since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 8-12 ATS (-9.1 Units) in non-conference games this season.
SAN JOSE is 7-11 ATS (-10.4 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 2-1 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 2-1-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, February 11

Hot teams
-- Red Wings won nine of their last ten games.
-- Washington won three of its last four games.

Cold teams
-- Penguins lost three of last four home games.
-- Canucks lost five of their last eight games. Chicago is 5-6 in its last eleven.
-- Sharks lost four of their last five games.

Series records
-- Penguins won six of last nine games with Detroit.
-- Chicago/Vancouver split their last ten games.
-- Sharks won five of last six games with Washington; last three series games went to SOs.

Totals
-- Six of last eight Detroit road games stayed under total.
-- Six of last nine Chicago home games went over total.
-- Seven of last nine San Jose home games went over.

Back-to-back
-- None

NHL

Wednesday, February 11

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
DETROIT vs. PITTSBURGH
Detroit is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Pittsburgh's last 12 games when playing Detroit

8:00 PM
VANCOUVER vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Vancouver
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing at home against Vancouver

10:30 PM
WASHINGTON vs. SAN JOSE
Washington is 2-18 SU in its last 20 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games
San Jose is 18-2 SU in its last 20 games when playing Washington
San Jose is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games at home

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**Udog** · 02-11-2015, 11:23 AM

NHL

Wednesday, February 11

Unders continue to cash on the ice Tuesday

As noted by Features Editor Jason Logan, February is an under month for NHL bettors and Tuesday night was no different.

The under went 6-3 in NHL action Tuesday night, a success rate of 66.67 percent.

Since the 2003-04 campaign, February hockey has produced a 737-940-125 over/under mark, with the under cashing 56 percent of the time.

Habs stay a hot under play in win over Flyers

The Montreal Canadiens edged the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in overtime Tuesday night as they continue to be a hot under play.

The Canadiens have gone 2-9-2 over/under in their last 13 games, putting them at 15-28-10 O/U for the season. The mark makes them the second best under bet in the NHL, behind only the Carolina Hurricanes at 15-29-8 O/U.

The Habs host the Edmonton Oilers Thursday.

NHL roundup: Predators edge Lighting as conference leaders clash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Left winger James Neal tallied his 18th goal at 4:27 of overtime, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Bridgestone Arena in a battle of conference leaders on Tuesday.

Neal won a race to a loose puck with defenseman Victor Hedman in the offensive zone and zipped a wrister through the legs of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

After Nashville went up 2-0 through two, Tampa Bay made an impressive rally to start the third period, with center Brett Connolly and right winger Nikita Kucherov equalizing.

The Predators jumped out in front on goals by defenseman Seth Jones and left winger Taylor Beck in the second period.

Islanders 3, Oilers 2

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Center Casey Cizikas scored the tie-breaking goal as the New York Islanders edged Edmonton at Nassau Coliseum.

Right winger Colin McDonald and center Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders, who won for the third time in their last four games to extend their Metropolitan Division lead over the idle Pittsburgh Penguins to three points.

Left winger Ryan Hamilton and center Anton Lander scored for the Oilers, who lost for the third time in four games hours after franchise left winger Taylor Hall was placed on injured reserve with a crackled ankle bone that will cost him at least six weeks.

Senators 2, Sabres 1

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Left winger Milan Michalek scored with 7:45 remaining to lead Ottawa to victory over Buffalo.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson also scored for the Senators, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Goalie Robin Lehner made 34 saves for Ottawa.

Defenseman Tyler Myers scored for the Sabres and goalie Jhonas Enroth made 24 saves.

Panthers 6, Ducks 2

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Center Jonathan Huberdeau had a career-high three assists as Florida routed Anaheim at the BB&T Center.

The Panthers got power-play goals from defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, center Nick Bjugstad and right winger Jimmy Hayes. They got even-strength goals from rookie defenseman Aaron Ekbland and centers Aleksander Barkov and Dave Bolland. Goalie Roberto Luongo earned the win, making 31 saves.

Right wingers Kyle Palmieri and Tim Jackman scored for the Ducks.

Stars 5, Bruins 3

BOSTON -- Dallas scored the first two short-handed goals allowed by Boston this season en route to a victory.

Center Vernon Fiddler and defenseman Trevor Daley scored those goals as the Bruins became the last team in the NHL to surrender a short-handed goal this season. Dallas center Jamie Benn then scored twice and winger Erik Cole once.

Centers David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron and defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored for Boston.

Canadiens 2, Flyers 1 (OT)

MONTREAL -- Center David Desharnais scored the overtime winner to lift Montreal over Philadelphia at the Bell Centre.

Center Tomas Plekanec scored the Habs other goal and goaltender Carey Price stopped 23 shots for.

Netminder Ray Emery made 39 saves for Philadelphia, which earned at least point for the seventh consecutive game. Winger Matt Read snapped a 25-game goal drought by scoring Philly's only goal.

Rangers 5, Maple Leafs 4

TORONTO -- Mats Zuccarello scored his second goal of the game at 14:04 of the third period to snap a tie as the New York Rangers defeated Toronto.

Defenseman Dan Boyle, right winger Kevin Hayes and center Dominic Moore scored for the Rangers. Center Derick Brassard and defenseman Marc Staal each had two assists for New York.

Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored twice and defenseman Stephane Robidas and center Daniel Winnik also scored for the Maple Leafs, who snapped an 11-game winless streak on Saturday.

Blues 2, Coyotes 1

ST. LOUIS -- Left winger Dmitrij Jaskin's goal midway through the second period broke a tie and gave St. Louis a victory over Arizona.

Center Sam Gagner 4:42 into the game to give Arizona the early lead when he scored on a 2-on-1 break, beating Blues goalie Jake Allen.

Left winger Alexander Steen scored the other goal for St. Louis, knocking in a rebound after Phoenix goalie Mike Smith made the initial save.

Jets 2, Wild 1 (OT)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Right winger Dustin Byfuglien scored a highlight-reel goal late in overtime, lifting Winnipeg over Minnesota.

Byfuglien raced down the boards, cut in and ripped a shot to the top left corner past goalie Devan Dubnyk with one minute left in the extra period.

Defenseman Toby Enstrom gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 7:53 of the third period with his third goal of the season, but Wild right winger Jason Pominville notched his 11th at 10:22 to tie the game.

**Udog** · 02-11-2015, 02:27 PM

NHL
Short Sheet

Wednesday, February 11

Vancouver at Chicago, 8:05 ET
Vancouver: 13-33 SU as an underdog
Chicago: 27-7 SU in home games after 1 or more consecutive losses

Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8:05 ET
Detroit: 12-5 SU when playing 5 or less games in 14 days
Pittsburgh: 5-11 SU when playing with 3 or more days rest

Washington at San Jose, 10:35 ET
Washington: 6-1 SU off a loss against a division rival
San Jose: 1-6 SU in home games after having lost 3 of their last 4 games

Announcement

Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 2/11

Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 2/11

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