Announcement

**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 08:41 AM

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

— Green Bay (-4, 51) vs Tampa Bay in NFC title game
— Kansas City (-3, 54.5) vs Buffalo in AFC title game
— Purdue 80, Penn State 72— PSU is 3-5, hasn’t won since December 8
— Tulsa 58, Memphis 57— Tulsa won 7 of its last eight 8 games.
— Iowa 96, Northwestern 73— Wildcats lost their last five games.
— Virginia Tech 64, Wake Forest 60— Hokies are a surprising 11-2.

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 395,372
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

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Armadillo: Monday's Den: Wrapping up a sports weekend…….

13) New Orleans Saints lost a home playoff game Sunday, third year in a row they did that, but they’ve got nothing on the Kansas City Chiefs. From 1995-2017, the Chiefs went 0-7 in playoff games at Arrowhead Stadium, an amazing display of playoff futility.

Over a 23-year period, they went 0-7 in home playoff games. Oy.

Last year’s Super Bowl title quashed those bad memories, but now all Chief fans can stress out this week about Patrick Mahomes’ concussion.

12) They mentioned a cool stat Sunday that I had never heard of before; from 2012-15, Seattle Seahawks led at one point or another in 70 consecutive games, which is the all-time record. Right now, Kansas City has led in 60 consecutive games, so the record is within reach.

11) When I was a kid, I learned how to do math in my head by doing batting averages; if Sal Bando went 4-13 for a weekend, I knew that was .308. if Catfish Hunter gave up two runs in seven innings, I knew that was a 2.57 ERA. Stuff like that; decades later, when I was an adult, I actually got a job promotion because of my math skills. For real, a big promotion.

So when I see the Big EAST Conference has five teams in the midwest, it saddens me; how can kids learn geography if they think Nebraska is in the east?

— Xavier is in Cincinnati
— Creighton is in Omaha
— DePaul is in Chicago
— Marquette is in Milwaukee
— Butler is in Indianapolis

None of those cities are close to the east; they’re midwestern cities.

Big East needs to find a better name for the league, for education’s sake.

10) Houston Cougars are 11-1, with a win over Texas Tech; all 15 of their players have already tested positive for COVID at some point this season. They’ve got a shot at going a long way in March/Mask Madness.

9) Ivy League didn’t play basketball this winter, which means one less automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and one more at-large bid. Not sure what criteria will be used; some teams haven’t played in a while:

— 8-1 Villanova is a top 10 team; they haven’t played since December 23
— 7-1 Saint Louis hasn’t played a league game yet; they haven’t played since December 23.

When the bubble teams come more into focus, it’ll be fun to see how their resumes contrast.

8) College basketball upsets this weekend:
— Northern Arizona (+12) 62, Montana 58
— California (+11.5) 72, Utah 63
— Butler (+9) 70, Creighton 66
— Wm & Mary (+9) 69, Drexel 64 (Sunday)
— Georgia (+7.5) 78, Ole Miss 74
— IUPUI (+7) 65, Northern Kentucky 63

7) There are couple of very bad basketball teams in the Mountain West; so far this season, favorites of 15+ points are 8-1-1 ATS in conference games.

6) Odd Fact of the Day: Starting lineup for the Wisconsin Badgers is older than the starting lineup for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

5) James Harden made his debut for the Brooklyn Nets Saturday night; he put up 32 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists in the Nets’ 122-115 win over Orlando. Not a bad opening act.

4) Sunday will be Aaron Rodgers’ 5th NFC title game, but the first one played at Lambeau Field; Green Bay lost the conference championship in Santa Clara LY to the 49ers.

3) Los Angeles Chargers didn’t have to look far for their next coach; they hired Brandon Staley, who was the Rams’ defensive coordinator this past season. Staley is 38, was a coordinator for one season; he comes from the Vic Fangio coaching tree.

Curious who his offensive coordinator will be, seeing how Sean McVay runs Rams’ offense, so he’ll be poaching someone off another coaching staff.

2) Kansas City 22, Browns 17:
— Mahomes (concussion) was KO’d in 3rd quarter; Chad Henne finished up at QB.
— Browns lost a goal-line fumble with 1:34 in first half, which turned out to be damaging.
— Chiefs outgained Cleveland 438-308; they host the Bills Sunday night.

1) Tampa Bay 30, New Orleans 20:
— Saints are first team since ’86-’88 Bears to lose home playoff game 3 years in a row.
— Brees threw three INT’s; New Orleans was minus-4 in turnovers.
— Buccaneers go to Lambeau Field for the NFC title game Sunday.

**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 08:43 AM

39COLUMBUS -40 DETROIT
DETROIT is 242-182 ATS (-70.9 Units) in home games vs. losing teams since 1996.

41BOSTON -42 NY ISLANDERS
BOSTON is 8-1 ATS (6.9 Units) in road games after playing a game where 3 or fewer total goals were scored over the last 2 seasons.

43WINNIPEG -44 TORONTO
WINNIPEG is 10-4 ATS (9.5 Units) in road games against good possession teams-averaging 3+ more shots on goal than opp in the last 3 seasons.

45BUFFALO -46 PHILADELPHIA
BUFFALO is 7-33 ATS (-29.3 Units) in road games after playing a home game in the last 3 seasons.

47SAN JOSE -48 ST LOUIS
SAN JOSE is 41-51 ATS (-15.1 Units) after one or more consecutive overs in the last 3 seasons.

49CAROLINA -50 NASHVILLE
NASHVILLE is 17-28 ATS (-13.8 Units) after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games in the last 3 seasons.

51MONTREAL -52 EDMONTON
MONTREAL is 20-36 ATS (-19.6 Units) after scoring 3 goals or more in 2 straight games in the last 3 seasons.

53VANCOUVER -54 CALGARY
CALGARY is 5-10 ATS (-6 Units) in home games after 2 consecutive division games in the last 3 seasons.

55MINNESOTA -56 ANAHEIM
ANAHEIM is 6-1 ATS (4.9 Units) off 2 or more consecutive road losses over the last 2 seasons.

57ARIZONA -58 VEGAS
ARIZONA is 12-6 ATS (11.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season in the last 3 seasons.

**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 08:45 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Monday, January 18

**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 08:48 AM

NHL

Monday, January 18

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Trend Report
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Columbus @ Detroit
Columbus
Columbus is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Columbus is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Detroit
Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit's last 12 games when playing at home against Columbus

Boston @ NY Islanders
Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing NY Islanders
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders
NY Islanders
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Islanders's last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Islanders's last 5 games

Winnipeg @ Toronto
Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Winnipeg's last 16 games when playing Toronto
Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Toronto's last 16 games when playing Winnipeg

Buffalo @ Philadelphia
Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo
Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Buffalo

Carolina @ Nashville
Carolina
Carolina is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Carolina is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Nashville
Nashville
Nashville is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games when playing at home against Carolina

San Jose @ St. Louis
San Jose
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games
San Jose is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
St. Louis
St. Louis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Jose
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Jose

Minnesota @ Anaheim
Minnesota
Minnesota is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
Anaheim
Anaheim is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Anaheim is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home

Vancouver @ Calgary
Vancouver
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Vancouver's last 13 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games
Calgary
Calgary is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Vancouver
Calgary is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Vancouver

Montreal @ Edmonton
Montreal
Montreal is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Montreal is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games
Edmonton
Edmonton is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games at home

Arizona @ Vegas
Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games
Arizona is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Vegas
Vegas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Vegas's last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 5 games when playing Arizona

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**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 09:20 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Monday, January 18

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COLUMBUS (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.) at DETROIT (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 12:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 18-14 ATS (+42.5 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 468-385 ATS (-206.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 5-1 (+2.6 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 5-1-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.9 Units)

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BOSTON (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 5:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 227-177 ATS (+46.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 5-1 (+3.1 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 5-1-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.0 Units)

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WINNIPEG (1-0-0-0, 2 pts.) at TORONTO (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 7:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-1 (+1.2 Units) against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 3-1-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

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BUFFALO (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 53-34 ATS (+97.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-7 ATS (+13.5 Units) in a home game where the total is 6 or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 22-12 ATS (+8.0 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 26-13 ATS (+10.9 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 87-102 ATS (-83.6 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 280-291 ATS (-93.6 Units) after a win by 2 goals or more since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 458-400 ATS (-91.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 4-1 (+2.9 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 4-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.0 Units)

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SAN JOSE (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) at ST LOUIS (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 10-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 7-4 (+2.8 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
ST LOUIS is 7-4-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
5 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-1.3 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

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CAROLINA (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.) at NASHVILLE (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CAROLINA is 3-1 (+2.2 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
CAROLINA is 3-1-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

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MONTREAL (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.) at EDMONTON (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 18-9 ATS (+27.5 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
EDMONTON is 17-6 ATS (+11.0 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 3-2 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 3-2-0 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.9 Units)

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VANCOUVER (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at CALGARY (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANCOUVER is 47-42 ATS (+98.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 4-11 ATS (-17.2 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
VANCOUVER is 4-5 (+0.8 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 5-4-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.5 Units)

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MINNESOTA (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at ANAHEIM (0-1-0-1, 1 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 469-486 ATS (-20.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 3-3 (+1.2 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 3-3-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.3 Units)

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ARIZONA (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.) at VEGAS (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) - 1/18/2021, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 6-18 ATS (+24.5 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 12-6 ATS (+20.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 3-4 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus VEGAS over the last 3 seasons
VEGAS is 4-3-0 straight up against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.9 Units)

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**Udog** · 01-18-2021, 09:22 AM

Best Bets, Score Predictions for Monday Jan. 18
Matt Blunt

Winnipeg Jets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Money-Line Odds: Winnipeg +138; Toronto -162
Total (Over-Under): 6.5

Score Prediction: Winnipeg 4 Toronto 3

Best Bet: Jets ML

There are always different sides to stand on in regards to the rest/rust idea early on in the season, but Toronto's clawed their way to a 2-1 SU record, while Winnipeg's still only played once.

Guys would always prefer to play themselves into shape with stretches like Toronto's fourth game in six nights like this is, but this early in the year I'm more inclined to fade teams in that role, especially as a chalky favorite like the Leafs are.

Concern about Winnipeg not playing themselves into shape yet is mitigated by the price in assessing the risk here, and it's not like Toronto has shown much either in splitting with Ottawa and needing a late comeback to force OT and beat Montreal.

The Jets can score with Toronto if that's the type of game this turns out to be, and I'm just not convinced any team is physically going to be at their best in their first 4-in-6 spot of the year.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Nashville Predators

Money-Line Odds: Carolina -114; Nashville -103
Total (Over-Under): 5.5

Score Prediction: Carolina 4 Nashville 2

Best Bet: Hurricanes ML

Another road team for me on Monday night, as the Hurricanes find themselves in what I view as a nice bounce back spot after a bad loss to a bad Detroit team.

Good teams like Carolina are going to get caught against those basement feeders at times, in these two and three-game sets where complacency can easily set in.

But off one of those losses is where backing those teams makes some sense, and with Nashville sweeping their foe – a Columbus team that's definitely better than Detroit -- the Hurricanes may even be sold a bit short here.

Carolina's won seven of the past eight games between these two organizations as it is, and Carolina's odds to win this division are still +350, with Nashville's at +700.

Had Carolina did what was expected and took two from Detroit in a similar fashion to Nashville's 3-1, and 5-2 wins over Columbus, I think the Hurricanes price is much better than this.

No problem backing them at a number I believe to be a bargain.

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Monday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 1/18

Monday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 1/18

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