Announcement

**Udog** · 04-01-2015, 10:42 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

-- Golden State is 52-7 when Andrew Bogut plays, 9-6 when he doesn't.

-- Average major league salary will be over $4M this year for first time.

-- On top of that, ballplayers get $100.50 a day in meal money on the road.

-- Serious question: why do college football teams practice in the spring?

-- Gregg Marshall has won nine league titles in 17 years as a head coach.

-- It is supposed to be 61 in Albany tomorrow; last time it was above 50 was December 27. This is not an April Fools' joke, at least I hope it isn't.

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Happy April Fools' Day!!!!

13) Cubs sent star prospect Kris Bryant to AAA, so they can keep him under team control for another year down the road; thats their choice, but don't tell me you're trying to win if you send one of your best guys to the minors, even if only for two or three weeks. How many pennant races come down to the last week or the last day of the season?

12) Mark McLemore played 19 years in the big leagues, hitting .259 with a .349 on-base percentage in 7,239 plate appearances, so he knows a lot and is now a TV analyst for the Rangers, but he claimed the Cubs sending Bryant down was "so he could work on some things", which is total BS. McLemore has kind of a condescending tone that a lot of former athletes have-- he should lose it if he wants to be good on television.

11) Does every NBA team visit the White House? The 76ers were there this week; think that practice will continue after the 2016 election?

10) Miami 60, Temple 57-- Teams combined to go 8-40 from arc in brickfest that Temple led by five at half. Miami played without PG Rodriguez for third game in a row, which will help their young players next season.

9) Stanford 67, Old Dominion 60-- Cardinal led 25-4, blew the lead, then pulled away late; ODU sub Ross was 7-7, rest of team was 14-54, with star Freeman a 6-24 disaster. Stanford-Miami is your NIT final Thursday night.

8) 7,183 fans at Madison Square Garden for that twinbill; it is funny that the media refers to MSG as the "mecca of basketball", when they had 5,583 fans in Flagstaff, Arizona for the NJIT-Northern Arizona game, and Dayton annually puts 10,000+ fans in their arena for the NCAA play-in games.

7) 35 of the 99 golfers at The Masters this week didn't go to college; of the 64 who did, six went to Georgia. No other school has more than three.

6) I'm not criticizing DePaul for re-hiring Dave Leitao, but it is ludicrous that the Blue Demons paid a search firm to find a new coach, then came back with the name of a guy who coached that same team ten years ago.
What exactly do athletic directors do? Go on the Interweb, look up names of some good teams and find out who the assistant coaches are-- its not hard!!!!

5) Turner Sports needs to promote play-by-play guy Kevin Calabro to a more prominent role; he is very, very good. Calabro was the Sonics' announcer when they played in Seattle- he does work on the Pac-12 Network and does stuff on ESPN Radio but he is so much better than most of the play-by-play guys that work hoops now.

4) Baltimore Ravens signed QB Matt Schaub to back up Joe Flacco, which is a sure sign of the QB shortage the NFL has right now.

3) San Diego hired alum Lamont Smith to replace the fired Bill Grier as its coach; Smith was a recruiter at New Mexico, won't be as good a tactician as Grier is, but he'll get better players. Toreros' brass must be tired of getting whacked by San Diego State every December, then being a middling team in a pretty good WCC. We'll see.

2) Seahawks are really going to let Russell Wilson play out his rookie contract, with chance he could eventually walk as a free agent? Why would you purposely tick off your starting QB? Wilson walked out on NC State once, he'll do it again. You don't want to go hunting for a new QB in this day and age.

1) Remember, its April Fools Day!!!! Don't believe everything you hear today, except in this space, of course.....

**Udog** · 04-01-2015, 10:43 AM

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

Letdown spot

Opening Day is a big deal for MLB clubs and brings with it plenty of jitters for Big League teams, some more than others. The Oakland Athletics seem to let those season debut butterflies get the best of them, losing 10 straight games on Opening Day. Oakland kicked off last year’s campaign with a 2-0 loss to Cleveland at home.
The A’s have been outscored 50-13 in that 10-season Opening Day drought. Oakland has had the misfortune of beginning the season against the Seattle Mariners and their staff ace Felix Hernandez in half of those games, including four straight years from 2010 to 2013. This time around, Oakland opens the 2015 season at home to the Texas Rangers Monday. Can they avoid another Opening Day letdown?

Lookahead spot

The Chicago Bulls are clinging to third place in the Eastern Conference, just a game up on Toronto in the standings. The Bulls have a monster matchup ahead on the schedule this weekend, visiting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Easter Sunday. But before then, the Bulls have a home date versus the Detroit Pistons Friday.
With the holiday weekend, the Bulls will be trying to cram in as much family time as they can around these games, which can often leave players unfocused – especially when you’re up against a non-contender like Detroit and staring down a showdown with the Cavs. The Pistons knocked off the Bulls 107-91 on March 21 and won 100-91 on February 20 with both games coming in Motown.

Schedule spot

The Washington Capitals are fighting to stay in the postseason picture, currently sitting in seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re just three points ahead of No. 8 Boston and six points past Ottawa. The Capitals have a home stand against Carolina Tuesday then hit the road for a short three-game trip that could make or break their season.
Washington travels to Montreal Thursday to play the first-place Canadiens, then heads to Canada’s capital for a showdown with the Senators Saturday. The Capitals complete their 3-in-4 nights trek Sunday with a final stop in Detroit to take on a Red Wings team currently in sixth but tied with Washington at 92 points.

**Udog** · 04-01-2015, 10:49 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Wednesday, April 1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres

Game 51-52
April 1, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto Maple Leafs
10.472
Buffalo Sabres
11.809
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Buffalo Sabres
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto Maple Leafs
-130
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Buffalo Sabres
(+110); Under

Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 53-54
April 1, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia Flyers
11.731
Pittsburgh Penguins
10.457
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia Flyers
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh Penguins
-220
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia Flyers
(+190); Over

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

Game 55-56
April 1, 2015 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Edmonton Oilers
11.531
Anaheim Ducks
12.373
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Anaheim Ducks
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Anaheim Ducks
-300
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Anaheim Ducks
(-300); Under

Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks

Game 57-58
April 1, 2015 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado Avalanche
10.264
San Jose Sharks
11.731
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose Sharks
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Jose Sharks
-180
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Colorado Avalanche
(-180); Over

NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TORONTO (29-42-0-6, 64 pts.) at BUFFALO (21-47-0-8, 50 pts.) - 4/1/2015, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 29-48 ATS (+85.2 Units) in all games this season.
TORONTO is 5-26 ATS (+42.5 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
TORONTO is 8-31 ATS (+50.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
TORONTO is 11-22 ATS (-14.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
TORONTO is 4-12 ATS (-8.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.
BUFFALO is 252-211 ATS (+18.9 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.
BUFFALO is 5-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game this season.
BUFFALO is 42-116 ATS (-82.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 17-63 ATS (+159.1 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 17-57 ATS (+122.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
BUFFALO is 8-32 ATS (+59.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 7-5 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 7-5-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.7 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHILADELPHIA (30-29-0-17, 77 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (42-23-0-11, 95 pts.) - 4/1/2015, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 30-46 ATS (+78.1 Units) in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 7-23 ATS (+36.6 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 3-15 ATS (+20.1 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 2-11 ATS (+16.1 Units) in road games vs. division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 181-132 ATS (+25.4 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-24 ATS (+56.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 23-24 ATS (-19.5 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 9-17 ATS (-18.5 Units) vs. division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-4 (+6.4 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 7-4-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (23-40-0-13, 59 pts.) at ANAHEIM (49-22-0-7, 105 pts.) - 4/1/2015, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 52-106 ATS (+208.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
EDMONTON is 3-20 ATS (+33.8 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
EDMONTON is 10-31 ATS (+53.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
EDMONTON is 20-59 ATS (+123.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 49-29 ATS (+112.8 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 446-376 ATS (+61.9 Units) second half of the season since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 191-155 ATS (+27.7 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 23-6 ATS (+13.3 Units) in home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 53-22 ATS (+20.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 9-2 (+5.4 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 9-2-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.7 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO (35-29-0-12, 82 pts.) at SAN JOSE (37-30-0-9, 83 pts.) - 4/1/2015, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 90-75 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 52-37 ATS (+12.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 39-32 ATS (+71.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 11-6 ATS (+17.9 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
COLORADO is 19-11 ATS (+7.7 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 48-22 ATS (+18.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 24-10 ATS (+11.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 37-39 ATS (-11.4 Units) in all games this season.
SAN JOSE is 7-13 ATS (+7.0 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
SAN JOSE is 80-76 ATS (-48.8 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
SAN JOSE is 4-8 ATS (-8.3 Units) in home games after a non-conference game this season.
SAN JOSE is 11-16 ATS (-12.3 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 13-16 ATS (-6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
SAN JOSE is 16-17 ATS (-14.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 5-3 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 5-3-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.2 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, April 1

Hot teams
-- Penguins won three of their last five games.
-- Edmonton won five of its last seven games. Anaheim won seven of its last nine.

Cold teams
-- Toronto won last two games, but lost last five on road. Sabres lost five of their last six.
-- Flyers lost nine of their last eleven games.
-- Colorado lost four of its last five games.

Series records
-- Home side won last ten Toronto-Buffalo games.
-- Flyers won five of last six games with Pittsburgh.
-- Ducks won four of last five games with Edmonton.
-- Avalanche lost last six games with San Jose.

Totals
-- Four of last five Toronto-Buffalo games went over.
-- Three of last four Flyer-Penguin games went over.
-- Under is 3-1 in Edmonton's last four visits to Anaheim.
-- Four of last five San Jose home games stayed under.

Back-to-back
-- Toronto is 3-2 on road if they were at home night before.

NHL

Wednesday, April 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:30 PM
TORONTO vs. BUFFALO
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Buffalo's last 12 games at home
Buffalo is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto

8:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. PITTSBURGH
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Philadelphia's last 13 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

10:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. ANAHEIM
Edmonton is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Anaheim's last 18 games when playing Edmonton

10:30 PM
COLORADO vs. SAN JOSE
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Colorado is 5-14 SU in its last 19 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of San Jose's last 18 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Jose's last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 04-01-2015, 10:53 AM

NHL

Wednesday, April 1

Berra expected to start for Avalanche Wednesday

The Colorado Avalanche are expecting to start backup goaltender Reto Berra when they visit San Jose Wednesday. Berra, who has been rarely used this season, has a 3-3-1 record with a 2.97 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.

The Avs are currently +131 when they visit the Sharks Wednesday.

Maple Leafs a hot bet when tabbed as faves

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't favored very often anymore, but they have won the last three times they have closed as a favorite.

The Leafs have been favorites three times since Feb. 7 and are shaping to be favored in Buffalo Wednesday night. At present, the Leafs are -125 and the Sabres +105.

Flyers at their best versus Penguins

The Philadelphia Flyers have won the previous six meetings with the Pittsburgh Penguins dating back to Nov. 13, 2013.

The Flyers have outscored the Penguins 22-12 over those six head-to-head meetings.

The two Pennsylvania hockey teams will renew acquaintances at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh Wednesday evening.

Flyers dominating battle of Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Flyers have won the past six contest against in-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers have outscored the Pens 22-12, but have only won by one goal on four occasions.

The Flyers are currently +185 when they visit the Penguins Wednesday.

Announcement

Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/1

Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/1

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment