Announcement

**Udog** · 03-23-2018, 08:21 AM

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Six unusual seeding matchups in previous regional finals

— 2000: 8-seed North Carolina (+2.5) 59, 7-seed Tulsa 55

— 2002: 5-seed Indiana (-3.5) 81, Kent State 69

— 2000: 8-seed Wisconsin (+1) 64, 6-seed Purdue 60

— 1990: 4-seed Arkansas (-4) 88, 10-seed Texas 85

— 1997: 4-seed Arizona (-3) 96, 10-seed Providence 92 OT

— 2010: 5-seed Michigan St (+2), 70, 6-seed Tennessee 69

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) Kansas State 61, Kentucky 58— Kansas State is capitalizing on the first-ever #1-16 upset in the NCAA’s; they get to a regional final in large part because they got to play a 16-seed UMBC in their 2nd round game, instead of #1-seed Virginia.

In this 3-point game, Kentucky’s PJ Washington was 8-20 on the foul line. He also grabbed 15 rebounds and had three steals, but 8-20 on the line in a 61-58 game is no bueno.

12) Loyola 69, Nevada 68— Ramblers made their first 13 shots in the second half, mostly on reverse layups. Nevada led 20-8 early but didn’t score for the last 8:00 of the first half- their lack of depth, foul trouble and refusal to play zone defense doomed them here.

Loyola’s three NCAA tournament wins have come by a combined four points; it is funny that Wichita State, Creighton bolted the MVC for bigger leagues, but Loyola (which took Creighton’s place in the Valley) is in the Elite 8 after winning its first MVC title.

11) Florida State 75, Gonzaga 60— Seminoles tied Louisville for 8th place in the ACC; Cardinals didn’t get in the tournament. FSU played 12 guys in first half of this game— 10 guys played 10+ minutes, which in this day and age of thin rosters, is really unusual.

10) Michigan 99, Texas A&M 72— Complete no-show by the Aggies, who trailed 52-28 at the half. Wolverines made 14-24 on the arc.

A&M’s Robert Williams declared for the NBA about 90 seconds after this game ended; he scored in double figures twice in his last seven games. Good luck in the G-League.

9) Johnny Manziel was at the A&M-Michigan game, after he threw at U of San Diego’s pro day during the afternoon. Johnny Football might play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL this summer, unless some NFL team gets goofy and offers him a tryout.

8) Reminder to fans drooling over Sam Darnold; no USC QB has ever started in a Super Bowl. Not that he can’t be the first, but I’m just sayin’…….

7) Bidding for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers is up to $2.5B; thats billion, with a B.

6) Minnesota Twins’ #1-4 hitters Thursday were all switch-hitters, which is very unusual.

5) College basketball coaching carousel:
— UConn hired Danny Hurley away from Rhode Island
— Evansville hired Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty
— Missouri State hires Dana Ford away from Tennessee State

4) There was another coaching move which annoys me a little; Colorado State hired Niko Medved away from Drake. Medved went 62-71 in four years at Furman, going 42-28 his last two years there, then bolted to Drake at this time last year.

Senior-dominated Drake (#7 experience team in country) was only 17-17 this year, 10-8 in the MVC, but with four senior starters graduating, Medved bolt$ for greener pa$ture$ after only one season in Des Moines. Not the classiest thing to do.

3) Sounds like there is some drama in San Antonio, with Spurs players trying to convince star Kawhi Leonard to actually play ball, so the Spurs can make the playoffs. Leonard injured his quad last year, came back and played nine games this season, but has been out since December 12, despite his being cleared by the Spurs doctors.

Leonard will make $60M combined between this year and the next two years; would be nice if he actually tried to earn it.

2) Kansas City Royals’ over/under win total this year is 67.5; that sound you heard was the Royals’ “window of opportunity” to win another championship slamming shut.

1— You don’t have to be Columbo to deduce that the Giants trading Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers means there is a strong probability Big Blue will draft NC State linebacker Bradley Chubb with the #2 pick in the draft next month.

**Udog** · 03-23-2018, 10:22 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Friday, March 23

Montreal @ Buffalo

Game 1-2
March 23, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Montreal
9.267
Buffalo
10.667
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Buffalo
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Montreal
-115
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Buffalo
(-105); Over

New Jersey @ Pittsburgh

Game 3-4
March 23, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
New Jersey
9.889
Pittsburgh
11.267
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-200
6
Dunkel Pick:
Pittsburgh
(-200); Over

Anaheim @ Winnipeg

Game 5-6
March 23, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Anaheim
00.000
Winnipeg
00.000
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Anaheim

Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Anaheim

Dunkel Pick:
Anaheim
( );

Vancouver @ St. Louis

Game 7-8
March 23, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Vancouver
9.970
St. Louis
12.820
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 3
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-300
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(-300); Over

Boston @ Dallas

Game 9-10
March 23, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
00.000
Dallas
00.000
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston

Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston

Dunkel Pick:
Boston
( );

NHL
Long Sheet

Friday, March 23

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

MONTREAL (26-36-0-12, 64 pts.) at BUFFALO (23-38-0-12, 58 pts.) - 3/23/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MONTREAL is 26-49 ATS (+78.0 Units) in all games this season.
MONTREAL is 10-26 ATS (+44.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
MONTREAL is 3-17 ATS (+28.3 Units) in road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game this season.
MONTREAL is 1-13 ATS (+21.5 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
BUFFALO is 287-258 ATS (-48.1 Units) vs. division opponents since 1996.
BUFFALO is 28-20 ATS (+51.3 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 3 seasons.
BUFFALO is 233-233 ATS (+470.3 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
BUFFALO is 23-51 ATS (-33.1 Units) in all games this season.
BUFFALO is 10-23 ATS (+43.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
BUFFALO is 14-35 ATS (+63.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 8-4 (+2.4 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 8-4-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.5 Units)

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

NEW JERSEY (37-28-0-8, 82 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (42-27-0-5, 89 pts.) - 3/23/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW JERSEY is 8-25 ATS (+37.7 Units) on Friday nights over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 1-8 ATS (+10.0 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 15-2 ATS (+11.4 Units) in home games second half of the season this season.
PITTSBURGH is 43-22 ATS (+12.2 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 11-1 ATS (+9.4 Units) in home games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 15-3 ATS (+9.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 21-5 ATS (+13.4 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.
NEW JERSEY is 38-36 ATS (+78.8 Units) in all games this season.
NEW JERSEY is 17-13 ATS (+31.9 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
NEW JERSEY is 7-2 ATS (+10.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 7-4-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.0 Units)

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

ANAHEIM (38-24-0-12, 88 pts.) at WINNIPEG (44-19-0-10, 98 pts.) - 3/23/2018, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 5-3 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 5-3-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.7 Units)

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

VANCOUVER (26-39-0-9, 61 pts.) at ST LOUIS (40-28-0-5, 85 pts.) - 3/23/2018, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 23-56 ATS (+105.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 6-21 ATS (+33.4 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 9-27 ATS (+44.9 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 27-9 ATS (+16.2 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 24-8 ATS (+12.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
VANCOUVER is 55-45 ATS (+108.2 Units) in road games on Friday nights since 1996.
VANCOUVER is 199-225 ATS (+497.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 7-1 (+5.5 Units) against the spread versus VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 7-1-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.9 Units)

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

BOSTON (45-17-0-10, 100 pts.) at DALLAS (38-28-0-8, 84 pts.) - 3/23/2018, 8:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-2 (+0.1 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 3-2-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.7 Units)

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

NHL

Friday, March 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MONTREAL @ BUFFALO
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Buffalo
Montreal is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Buffalo is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games
Buffalo is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games at home

NEW JERSEY @ PITTSBURGH
New Jersey is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
New Jersey is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 15-1 SU in its last 16 games at home
Pittsburgh is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against New Jersey

VANCOUVER @ ST. LOUIS
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Vancouver's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Vancouver's last 7 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Vancouver
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of St. Louis's last 7 games at home

ANAHEIM @ WINNIPEG
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Anaheim's last 8 games on the road
Anaheim is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Winnipeg's last 9 games at home
Winnipeg is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

BOSTON @ DALLAS
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games at home

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

**Udog** · 03-23-2018, 12:45 PM

NHL
Dunkel

Friday, March 23

Anaheim @ Winnipeg

Game 5-6
March 23, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Anaheim
12.713
Winnipeg
11.231
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Anaheim
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Winnipeg
-145
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Anaheim
(+125); Over

Boston @ Dallas

Game 9-10
March 23, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
11.352
Dallas
12.447
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Dallas
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Dallas
-120
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(-120); Under

**Udog** · 03-23-2018, 12:58 PM

NHL Betting Cheat Sheet and Odds: Stanley Cup favorite Predators face tough weekend
Monty Andrews

The NHL's top team, and betting favorite to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in June, face a tall task this weekend with road games against a pair of the league's best home teams.

A Devil of a Challenge

The New Jersey Devils no longer control their destiny in the Eastern Conference wild-card competition; they've already spoiled a couple of chances to gain ground, and now have to contend with one of the best teams in the conference as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. The Devils have dropped two in a row and entered Thursday's action just one point clear of Florida for the second East wild-card berth - and the Panthers have two games in hand. The Penguins have their sights on bigger things - they trail the Washington Capitals by two points for top spot in the Metropolitan Division, though the Caps have a game in hand.

Predators' Pivotal Trek

The Nashville Predators have the inside track on top spot in the NHL standings heading into next month's playoffs - but they'll face one of their toughest tests of the season this weekend as they embark on a two-game road trip through Minnesota and Winnipeg. The Predators are soaring with wins in 14 of their previous 15 games entering Thursday night's home encounter with the Toronto Maple Leafs - a surge that has them installed at a league-best +360 on Bet365 to win their first Stanley Cup title in team history. But getting four points this weekend will be a tall task, with the Wild and Jets a combined 51-13-9 at home this season.

Wild Weekend

Speaking of the Wild, they'll look to create some breathing room between themselves and the Colorado Avalanche as they host the Predators and Boston Bruins over the weekend. Minnesota enters Thursday just two points clear of the Avs for that all-important third-place spot in the Central Division race, but will need to be at their best against the NHL-leading Predators and a Bruins team that holds the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Minnesota has dropped back-to-back home games following a four-game winning streak at Xcel Energy Center, but they're just 2-2-0 against Nashville and Boston so far this season.

Player News

* The St. Louis Blues won't have to make do without forward Brayden Schenn, who has avoided a suspension for a dangerous hit on Boston Bruins forward David Krejci. Schenn has 62 points in 73 games; the Blues are 28-10-3 SU when he hits the scoresheet.

* Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews returned to action Thursday in Nashville after missing nearly a month with a shoulder injury. The Maple Leafs performed adequately in Matthews' absence, going 5-3-2 SU and 8-2-0 O/U in that span.

* Pekka Rinne is getting all the attention, but Anaheim's John Gibson hasn't been so bad himself. the Ducks netminder enters Friday 7-2-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average and three shutouts this month; Anaheim is 10-2-0 SU and 6-6-0 O/U in his last 12 starts.

Injury Updates

* Winnipeg Jets sophomore sensation Patrik Laine has suffered a bruised foot and is expected to miss most of the remainder of the regular season. It's a major blow to the Jets - and ends Laine's Rocket Richard Trophy pursuit; he ranks second with 43 goals.

* More bad news for the Chicago Blackhawks, who were officially eliminated from the post-season picture earlier this week. Star center Jonathan Toews is expected to miss at least the next two games as he recovers from an undisclosed upper-body injury.

* The Blues might not have talented winger Vladimir Tarasenko this weekend after he missed the previous two games with an upper-body injury. Tarasenko leads St. Louis with 27 goals but has struggled of late with just six tallies over his last 21 contests.

Stanley Cup Futures

* The Tampa Bay Lightning were the toast of the odds world not long ago, but they've watched the Predators pass them by. That said, the Lightning remain the top Eastern Conference team in the eyes of oddsmakers, installed at +425 to win the title.

* Three other teams sit in triple digits in the Stanley Cup odds department, with the Boston Bruins (+700) next in line behind Nashville and Tampa Bay on Bet365. The Vegas Golden Knights (+850) and Jets (+950) round out the top five.

* A six-game losing skid has the Dallas Stars on the ropes - and oddsmakers are jumping ship on a team that had been a trendy underdog play for part of the season. Dallas comes into Thursday at a whopping +4,000 to capture the championship.

Betting Trends

* Road teams have held their own over the previous seven-day period ending Wednesday, winning 27 of the 53 games outright over that span. But that hot stretch has barely made a dent in the home team's 55.8-percent success rate for the season.

* Over bettors are making a killing over the previous seven-day stretch, with 30 games going above the total compared to 20 going below the number. That has pushed the over total to 106 over the past 30 days, with teams playing 103 unders in that span.

* You're far more likely to hit on an over with at least one Eastern Conference team involved in the matchup. Of the six teams to have recorded at least 40 overs as of Thursday, five reside in the East; Vancouver is the only West team on the list.

Announcement

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 3/23

Friday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 3/23

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment