Announcement

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 07:35 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

Top six scorers in the NBA:
32.3— Bradley Beal, Wash
30.5— Damian Lillard, Port
29.9— Joel Embiid, Phil
29.3— Stephen Curry, GSt
29.0— Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milw
28.4— Zach LaVine, Chi

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 539,421
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

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Armadillo: Thursday's Den: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) NCAA updates:
— Oklahoma’s #2 scorer De’Vion Harmon is out for this week, after testing positive for COVID. Sooners play Missouri in their first round game. Harmon is averaging 12.9 ppg.
— Georgia Tech star Moses Wright, the ACC player of the year, will miss the Yellow Jackets’ first-round game against Loyola-Chicago.

12) Watching lot of exhibition baseball this month, was wondering who has hit the most home runs ever in exhibition games? I’m guessing this information isn’t available and I know it isn’t important, but it would be fun to see.

Searched the Interweb but couldn’t find anything; I did see that in 2000, five Boston pitchers combined to throw a perfect game against Toronto in an exhibition game, but that’s just more useless knowledge.

11) This spring, San Diego Padres’ pitchers are going to the plate with a bat in their hands, but they’re not hitting; they just take three strikes and go back to the dugout, to avoid injury. This is something Oakland’s pitchers did a few years ago, eliminates the risk of a costly injury.

Spring training games have become like basketball scrimmages, where coaches control some scenarios. Pitchers can re-enter, innings were stopped early for the first 10 days of games. It is all about getting pitchers some work, on the mound, not at the plate.

10) Francisco Lindor says he is opening to signing a contract extension with the Mets, but if it isn’t done before the season starts, then he will not discuss a contract extension during the season. This is probably a negotiating ploy, but Lindor does have leverage to get a deal done.

9) Miami Heat traded Meyers Leonard and a 2nd-round pick to Oklahoma City for Trevor Ariza. Miami will be the 35-year old Ariza’s 10th NBA team.

Weird trade; Ariza hasn’t played yet this season, but Miami announced on Twitter that it is hopeful he’ll be available to play this weekend.

As for Leonard, the Thunder said Leonard “will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.” When you’re marginal player and you yell out anti-Semitic stuff on the Interweb, your career spirals downward. Quickly.

In other words, he’ll have a lot more time to play video games, now that he is retired.

8) Chicago Bears tried really hard to trade for Russell Wilson; they offered Seattle three 1st-round picks, one 3rd-round pick and two starting players, one of whom was Khalil Mack. Seattle apparently turned them down.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the trade isn’t dead until the NFL Draft happens, but the Bears trading for Andy Dalton says otherwise.

7) With Drew Brees retiring, New Orleans paid its two QB’s this week; they gave Taysom Hill a four-year, $140M deal where the last three years are voidable, and they paid backup Jameis Winston $12M for 2021. Very unusual quarterback room.

Hill has played in 53 NFL games, is 3-1 as a starting quarterback; he’s thrown 134 career NFL passes, run ball 151 times, caught 30 passes. Am curious to see how this plays out.

6) NFL has a great skill of staying in the news 365 days a year, 366 in leap years. Today is March 18 and NFL is in the news as much as March Madness and more than spring training games. Part of it is because the people who run baseball are arrogant imbeciles who won’t market their sport the right way, but that’s another discussion for another day.

5) Thoughts/prayers to former NBA center Shawn Bradley, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed, after a car crashed into his bicycle. Bradley is 7-foot-6; he played 12 years in the NBA, scoring 8.1 ppg.

Since retiring from NBA in 2005, Bradley has been a counselor at a private school in Utah.

4) Couple weeks ago, Rams DT Michael Brockers declared that Matthew Stafford was an upgrade at quarterback for Los Angeles, over the departed Jared Goff. His actual quote:

“Is it a level up? In my heart, deeply, just understanding what he brings, it’s a level up. It’s a level up.”

Since then, the Rams wanted Brockers to re-do his contract, to help get the Rams under the salary cap. The two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, so Brockers is now a Detroit Lion, where one of his new teammates is…..Jared Goff.

Awkward.

3) Iowa State paid former basketball coach Steve Prohm $5.5M to take a hike, after a hideous 2-22 season. Prohm’s Cyclones had made three of previous four NCAA tournaments, but were also a combined 18-54 in conference games the last four years. 18-54 gets you fired.

Less than 24 hours later, word is out that TJ Otzelberger is bolting UNLV to take the Iowa State job; Otzelberger worked as an assistant at Iowa State from 2006-2013, and again three years later. Unnamed sources claim this deal has been done for a month or so.

Here’s the thing; Otzelberger was 28-29 in two years at UNLV and was showing zero signs of any progress. Rebels had very little depth this year; when you play in a league where lot of teams play in higher altitude, you need some depth and UNLV didn’t have much.

Rebel fans can’t be that sad to see Otzelberger go, but the program is now mired in mediocrity— next year they’ll have their fifth head coach in eight years. Richard Pitino just got hired by New Mexico, so UNLV can forget about hiring Rick Pitino as a bombshell replacement, since UNLV and New Mexico are in the same league.

Iowa State will also have to pay $4M or so to UNLV, as part of Otzelberger’s buyout.

2) Richmond 76, Toledo 66— Spiders win their NIT opener, despite being down couple of starters. Richmond had lost their last three games coming in, were down 8 with 15:43 left in this game, but they stormed back for the win and will play in the next round March 25.

1) Western Kentucky 69, Saint Mary’s 67— Big man Bassey had 19 points, 11 rebounds; Hilltoppers blew an 11-point lead, but pulled it out on free throws with 0:03.3 left and move on to the second round.

Saint Mary’s finishes 14-10 after starting out 8-1; first time in 14 years they didn’t win 20 games.

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 07:38 AM

47NASHVILLE -48 FLORIDA
NASHVILLE is 8-2 ATS (5.8 Units) in road games after failing to cover 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.

49CHICAGO -50 TAMPA BAY
CHICAGO is 7-1 ATS (5.9 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.

51COLUMBUS -52 CAROLINA
CAROLINA is 10-1 ATS (8.9 Units) after playing 2 consecutive road games in the current season.

53PHILADELPHIA -54 NY ISLANDERS
NY ISLANDERS are 7-0 ATS (7.2 Units) in home games against excellent power play teams- scoring on >17.5% of their chances in the current season.

55BOSTON -56 BUFFALO
BUFFALO is 1-13 ATS (-12.2 Units) against excellent power play teams- scoring on >17.5% of their chances in the current season.

57PITTSBURGH -58 NEW JERSEY
NEW JERSEY is 2-11 ATS (-9.3 Units) in home games against mistake free teams - opponents average <=4 power plays/game in the current season.

59DALLAS -60 DETROIT
DETROIT is 8-36 ATS (-31.6 Units) revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more in the last 3 seasons.

61MINNESOTA -62 COLORADO
MINNESOTA is 11-5 ATS (7.7 Units) against good defensive teams - allowing <=2.55 goals/game over the last 2 seasons.

63WINNIPEG -64 EDMONTON
WINNIPEG is 8-1 ATS (6.9 Units) in road games revenging a loss vs opponent as a road favorite over the last 2 seasons.

65ARIZONA -66 ANAHEIM
ANAHEIM is 1-10 ATS (-8.9 Units) in home games against poor passing teams - averaging 4 or less assists per game in the current season.

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 07:41 AM

NHL

Thursday, March 18

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Trend Report
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Boston @ Buffalo
Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Buffalo
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Buffalo's last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Buffalo's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston

Columbus @ Carolina
Columbus
Columbus is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Columbus's last 22 games on the road
Carolina
Carolina is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

Nashville @ Florida
Nashville
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Nashville's last 6 games when playing on the road against Florida
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Nashville's last 8 games
Florida
Florida is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida's last 6 games when playing at home against Nashville

Philadelphia @ NY Islanders
Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
NY Islanders
NY Islanders is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
NY Islanders is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

Chicago @ Tampa Bay
Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games on the road
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games

Pittsburgh @ New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
New Jersey
New Jersey is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
New Jersey is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Pittsburgh

Dallas @ Detroit
Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 6 games
Detroit
Detroit is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

Minnesota @ Colorado
Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games
Colorado is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Winnipeg @ Edmonton
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games on the road
Edmonton
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg

Arizona @ Anaheim
Arizona
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games
Anaheim
Anaheim is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Anaheim's last 6 games

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**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 08:35 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Thursday, March 18

**Udog** · 03-18-2021, 09:58 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Thursday, March 18

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NASHVILLE (12-16-0-1, 25 pts.) at FLORIDA (19-5-0-4, 42 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 48-54 ATS (-28.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 54-95 ATS (+157.1 Units) in road games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 10-19 ATS (-13.6 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games over the last 3 seasons.
NASHVILLE is 141-142 ATS (+308.6 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
NASHVILLE is 186-187 ATS (+401.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.
FLORIDA is 123-178 ATS (-99.2 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 6-2 (+5.3 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
FLORIDA is 6-2-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.7 Units)

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CHICAGO (14-11-0-5, 33 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (19-6-0-2, 40 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 142-66 ATS (+232.8 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 42-15 ATS (+8.8 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 12-4 ATS (+16.4 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 16-9 ATS (+28.1 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 444-442 ATS (-102.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 7-2 (+2.8 Units) against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 7-2-0 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.8 Units)

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COLUMBUS (11-12-0-7, 29 pts.) at CAROLINA (20-7-0-1, 41 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CAROLINA is 60-30 ATS (+18.0 Units) after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
CAROLINA is 123-134 ATS (-68.4 Units) in home games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
CAROLINA is 226-188 ATS (-33.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 6-4 (+2.8 Units) against the spread versus CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 6-4-0 straight up against CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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PHILADELPHIA (14-10-0-3, 31 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (19-7-0-4, 42 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY ISLANDERS are 119-91 ATS (+215.2 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 12-2 ATS (+9.3 Units) in home games vs. division opponents this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 12-2 ATS (+9.3 Units) in home games after a division game this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 65-47 ATS (+13.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 19-9 ATS (+9.5 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 95-96 ATS (+212.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY ISLANDERS is 9-7 (+0.4 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
NY ISLANDERS is 9-7-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
10 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+4.9 Units)

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BOSTON (15-8-0-4, 34 pts.) at BUFFALO (6-18-0-4, 16 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 234-182 ATS (+45.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 since 1996.
BUFFALO is 6-22 ATS (-34.1 Units) in all games this season.
BUFFALO is 6-22 ATS (+33.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
BUFFALO is 6-21 ATS (+34.2 Units) after a division game this season.
BUFFALO is 6-23 ATS (+39.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 6-1 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
BOSTON is 6-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+5.0 Units)

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PITTSBURGH (18-10-0-1, 37 pts.) at NEW JERSEY (9-13-0-4, 22 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 13-24 ATS (-17.0 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
NEW JERSEY is 3-12 ATS (+17.6 Units) in home games vs. division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW JERSEY is 4-3 (+2.6 Units) against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
NEW JERSEY is 4-3-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH 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)

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DALLAS (9-8-0-7, 25 pts.) at DETROIT (9-17-0-4, 22 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 9-15 ATS (-9.3 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 9-15 ATS (-9.3 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
DALLAS is 8-15 ATS (-10.4 Units) after a division game this season.
DETROIT is 26-75 ATS (-81.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 471-393 ATS (-112.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
DETROIT is 124-101 ATS (-109.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 4-2 (+0.8 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 4-2-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)

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MINNESOTA (18-8-0-1, 37 pts.) at COLORADO (17-8-0-2, 36 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 33-14 ATS (+15.6 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 207-181 ATS (+25.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 6-6 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 6-6-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.4 Units)

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WINNIPEG (18-9-0-2, 38 pts.) at EDMONTON (19-13-0-0, 38 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 11-2 ATS (+8.3 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 18-11 ATS (+29.1 Units) in all games this season.
WINNIPEG is 20-15 ATS (+36.7 Units) in a road game where where the total is 6 or more over the last 2 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 18-11 ATS (+29.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
WINNIPEG is 17-11 ATS (+28.1 Units) after a division game this season.
WINNIPEG is 8-1 ATS (+9.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
EDMONTON is 127-150 ATS (-84.0 Units) in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 6-4 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 6-4-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.7 Units)

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ARIZONA (12-13-0-4, 28 pts.) at ANAHEIM (8-16-0-6, 22 pts.) - 3/18/2021, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 17-34 ATS (+54.3 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 315-261 ATS (+10.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 8-22 ATS (-24.7 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 14-27 ATS (+47.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 8-22 ATS (+34.9 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ANAHEIM is 15-23 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 8-5 (+2.4 Units) against the spread versus ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
ARIZONA is 8-5-0 straight up against ANAHEIM over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.1 Units)

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Announcement

Thursday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 3/18

Thursday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 3/18

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