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**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 07:49 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Odds to win next February’s Super Bowl (from Westgate SuperBook)

6-1: Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots

8-1: New Orleans Saints

10-1: Los Angeles Rams

12-1: Indianapolis Colts

14-1: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns

20-1: Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers

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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

13) Never really thought about this much, but Ross Tucker wrote an article in The Athletic this week about how a lot of active pro football players despise watching the NFL Draft, because he might be watching his employer select a player who will then take his job this summer.

Welcome to Case Keenum’s world; when he suits up for the Redskins this fall he’ll be on his fifth team in six years, at the most visible position in all of sports. No pressure there. But there are rumors that Washington will trade for Josh Rosen or draft a QB, which means that in 2020, it would likely be six teams in seven years.

12) Thru Monday, there were 1.34 home runs hit per game in major league games, ahead of 2017’s pace of 1.26 HR’s/game, which is the all-time record.

11) One member of Georgia’s football recruiting office has been fired and another suspended for 30 days without pay. No one is saying why, but it can’t be good.

10) 49ers’ kicker Robbie Gould told the team that he will not negotiate or sign a long-term deal with them— he requested a trade. Gould is 36; he was the Bears’ kicker for 11 years.

9) Seattle Seahawks traded DE Frank Clark to the Chiefs for a 1st-round pick this year and a 2nd-round pick next year. Teams also exchanged 3rd round picks this year.

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers have no games in Tampa between Sept. 22 and Nov. 10; they’re not happy about it.

7) Angels’ Peter Bourjos had played in 1,454 professional games in 14 seasons before Monday’s game. In the 13th inning, he made his first-ever appearance in the infield, playing 2B, and made a great diving stop going to his left to rob a batter of a hit.

Halos used P Felix Pena as a pinch-runner in that game; last time the Angels used a pitcher as a pinch-runner had been Steve Sparks vs Arizona on June 13, 1999.

6) Arizona poached G Max Hazzard as a grad transfer from Cal-Irvine; Hazzard’s brother was a walk-on at Arizona from 2012-16. Funny thing, Cal-Irvine was better than Arizona last year, when Hazzard scored 12.5 ppg for the Anteaters- he is the grandson of former UCLA coach Walt Hazzard.

Idaho State has two kids transferring out of the program, which is never a good sign; one is a 6-11 center who scored 10 points a game, the other a sub who played 19 minutes/game.

5) North Carolina had a big recruiting day, signing two hoop prospects; Cole Anthony (Greg Anthony’s son) and Anthony Harris, a couple of talented guards.

4) Blue Jays SS prospect Bo Bichette broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in Monday night’s game; Bichette plays for the AAA Buffalo Bisons.

3) This will be the first time ever that the Texas Longhorns will go four years in a row without a first round pick in the NFL Draft.

2) NBA said Tuesday that 233 players — 175 players from colleges/other schools and 58 international players — filed as early entry candidates for the 2019 NBA Draft.

Seeing how only 60 players get taken in the draft, going to be some disappointed people.

1) College football rules change starting this fall: If game reaches a 5th OT, teams will begin to run alternating 2-point plays rather than offensive possessions starting at 25-yard line. There were concerns about players being injured/getting exhausted with a couple games going six or seven OT’s in recent years.

**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 07:50 AM

**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 07:51 AM

Wednesday's G7 Notes

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs will have another Game 7 on Wednesday as Carolina and Washington square off from D.C. at the Capital One Arena.

The home team has gone 6-0 in the first game of this best-of-seven series and the Capitals opened as -150 favorties for Game 7 while the return on the Hurricanes is +130.

Including the three wins in this series, Washington has won six straight at home and 11 of its 13 games. Seven of those wins came by two-plus goals.

The Hurricanes have gone 2-6 in their last eight road games, which includes the three losses at Washington in this matchup.

This is Carolina's first trip to the postseason since the 2008-09 season but the squad from that season managed to go 2-0 in Game 7's and both wins came on the road.

Recent Game 7 History

Carolina (4-3 All-Time Record)
2009 Conference Semifinals - Carolina 3 at Boston
2009 Conference Quarterfinals - Carolina 4 at New Jersey 3

The Capitals haven't been great overall in Game 7's but they did win their only decision during last year's Stanley Cup run.

The 'under' has gone 4-0 in the last four Game 7's for Washington.

Washington (5-11 All-Time Record)
2018 Conference Finals - Washington 4 at Tampa Bay 0
2017 Second Round - Washington 0 vs. Pittsburgh 2
2015 Second Round - Washington 1 at N.Y. Rangers 2 (OT)
2015 First Round - Washington 2 vs. N.Y. Islanders 1

There have been 170 all-time Game 7’s in the NHL Playoffs and the home squad owns a 98-72 (58.0%) record.

Last year, road teams went 2-1 in Game 7's and the visitors scored 14 goals in those games which led to a 2-1 'over' mark.

NHL Game 7 Playoff History (2012-2019)

2019
Toronto at Boston
Vegas at San Jose
Carolina at Washington

2018
Washington Capitals 4 at Tampa Bay Lightning 0
Winnipeg Jets 5 at Nashville Predators 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 7

2017
Pittsburgh Penguins 2 at Washington Capitals 0
Edmonton Oilers 1 at Anaheim Ducks 2

2016
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 at Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Nashville Predators 0 at San Jose Sharks 5
St. Louis Blues 6 at Dallas Stars 1
Nashville Predators 2 at Anaheim Ducks 1
Chicago Blackhawks 2 at St. Louis Blues 3

2015
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at New York Rangers 0
Chicago Blackhawks 5 at Anaheim Ducks 3
New York Rangers 2 at Washington Capitals 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 2 at Detroit Red Wings 0
Washington Capitals 2 at New York Islanders 1

2014
Los Angeles Kings 5 at Chicago Blackhawks 4 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 6 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Montreal Canadiens 3 at Boston Bruins 1
New York Rangers 2 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Philadelphia Flyers 3 at New York Rangers 4
Minnesota Wild 5 at Colorado Avalanche 4
Los Angeles Kings 5 at San Jose Sharks 1

2013
New York Rangers 5 at Washington Capitals 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Detroit Red Wings 3 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Detroit Red Wings 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 1 at Los Angeles Kings 2

2012
Ottawa Senators 1 at New York Rangers 2
Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 1 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 3 at Florida Panthers 2 (2OT)
Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2

**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 07:52 AM

Hurricanes at Capitals

The Washington Capitals have a simple goal -- they want to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. If they want to keep that dream alive, though, they'll have to find a way to beat the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of the first-round Eastern Conference series Wednesday night.

Washington won last year's Stanley Cup with stifling defense, timely goals and solid play all around. Plus, the Capitals trailed in all four series but rebounded to win. In this series, though, the Metropolitan Division champions often have been outplayed by Carolina, and that's why it's tied at three games apiece.

Carolina's ferocious physical play has made it tough for Washington to establish its offense and clear the puck on defense. The Capitals have done better in these areas in the past two games, but the Hurricanes came through again and scored a 5-2 victory in Game 6 on Monday at home to even up the series.

Washington turned in a strong performance in a 6-0 victory Saturday at home in Game 5 but struggled at times in Game 6. Carolina's aggressiveness certainly bothered the Capitals during various stretches of the last game once again.

Simply put, the Capitals have to play better if they want to advance.

"I think we needed a little more from all of our players," Washington coach Todd Reirden said after Game 5. "For us, with losing a player like (T.J.) Oshie a couple of games ago, we needed everyone's game to be at a higher level. I think we had that in Game 5 at home. We didn't have that tonight from enough people."

The top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson have played well, but the Capitals need something more from Evgeny Kuznetsov. He hasn't nearly been the factor he was in last year's playoffs, and the Capitals can use his help on offense. He hasn't scored a goal yet in this series.

Carolina has gotten a great series from Warren Foegele, who scored his fourth goal in the six games during Game 6. Dougie Hamilton and Jordan Staal also have pitched in, along with Teuvo Teravainen.

Staal gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead with a goal in the third period on a great individual effort. Teravainen also scored and Staal finished with a goal and an assist.

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said that a big reason for his team's success is that their big guns have come out firing, and that's something he considers crucial.

"Obviously it's not that easy," he told the media after Game 6. "But we've said all along, your best players have to be your best players all year, but in the playoffs especially. Those guys obviously contributed and had big games."

Goalie Petr Mrazek had another good game Monday night. He made some tough saves from in close when the Capitals got their scoring chances, kept the Hurricanes in it early, and that let them take over late.

Andrei Svechnikov (concussion) did not play again for Carolina, and his status for Game 7 was not known as of Tuesday. Micheal Ferland (upper-body injury) also was out again for Carolina in Game 6, however both forwards skated Tuesday, which was a day off for Carolina. Svechnikov and Ferland also skated Monday ahead of Game 6. Oshie is done for the season after being injured in Game 4 (broken collarbone).

Another factor in Game 7 might be home ice. Through the first six games, the home team has won each contest. The Capitals hope the loud red-clad fans in Washington will help them keep their dream alive in the series finale.

**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 07:54 AM

23Carolina -24 Washington
CAROLINA is 26-13 ATS (9.3 Units) against poor power play killing teams - opp score on >17.5% of chances in the 2nd half of the year in the current season.

NHL
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 24

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CAROLINA (49-31-0-8, 106 pts.) at WASHINGTON (51-29-0-8, 110 pts.) - 4/24/2019, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CAROLINA is 26-36 ATS (-14.5 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 16-47 ATS (+78.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 117-78 ATS (+199.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 47-27 ATS (+8.4 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 47-26 ATS (+9.6 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 46-29 ATS (+7.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 64-45 ATS (+5.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 40-29 ATS (+6.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CAROLINA is 33-17 ATS (+10.4 Units) second half of the season this season.
CAROLINA is 22-11 ATS (+7.4 Units) after a division game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 12-6 (+4.4 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 12-6-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 18 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.6 Units)

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NHL

Wednesday, April 24

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Trend Report
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Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina's last 7 games
Carolina is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Carolina is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina's last 5 games on the road
Carolina is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Washington
Carolina is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina's last 6 games when playing Washington
Carolina is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Carolina is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Capitals
Washington is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Carolina
Washington is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Carolina
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Carolina
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Carolina
Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Carolina

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**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 09:56 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Wednesday, April 24

Carolina @ Washington

Game 23-24
April 24, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Carolina
12.290
Washington
10.713
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Carolina
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-155
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Carolina
(+135); Under

**Udog** · 04-24-2019, 04:20 PM

NHL Stanley Cup playoffs best bets and prop predictions: Home-ice advantage in Game 7
Monty Andrews

It's hard to pick against the Capitals to win this game given how the series has gone; the home side has outscored the opposition by an absurd 26-8 margin.

And then there was one – as in, one unclaimed second-round spot remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals tangle Wednesday night to decide which team will face the New York Islanders in an Eastern Conference semifinal series. And with this being the only game in town, there should be plenty of betting action on it. Here are your top trends and tips as the defending Stanley Cup champs look to take care of business at home:

CAROLINA HURRICANES AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Moneyline Odds: Carolina +140/Washington -160
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET, Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

The home team has won all six games in this series, mostly thanks to hot starts. The hosts are outscoring the visitors by a 9-3 margin in the best-of-seven, with Game 6 marking the only time that the home side didn't carry a lead into the second period. And let's not ignore Washington's 87 first-period goals during the regular season (fourth-most in the league) and +21 goal differential (second-best). We like the Capitals -0.5 on the first-period line (+160).

In terms of player prop recommendations, we have a few – and you can probably guess which player tops the list. Alex Ovechkin is no stranger to the spotlight; he led the way with 15 goals during last year's Stanley Cup title run, and has four in six games against the Hurricanes this series – and more significantly, he has goals in four different games. Ovechkin is the best goal-scorer in the league, and even at just +115 to score anytime in Game 7, he's worth a shot.

It's hard to pick against the Capitals to win this game given how the series has gone; the home side has outscored the opposition by an absurd 26-8 margin, with four contests decided by multiple goals. And while we don't necessarily think this will be a one-sided affair, it is worth considering that the home team has won eight of the last nine head-to-head meetings overall, with six of those outcomes decided by more than one goal. Taking the Capitals -1.5 is a decent play here at +185.

As for the total, while the teams are each averaging 2.83 goals per game in the series, they've done so despite ranking near the bottom in shots per game; the Hurricanes are 10th among playoff teams at 32, while the Capitals rank dead last at 25.5. Goaltending has been the difference so far – Washington's has been okay, while Carolina's has been downright dreadful. We expect more scoring chances in Game 7, leading us to favor the O5.5 option (+100).

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Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/24

Wednesday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 4/24

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