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**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:43 AM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Six of the more intriguing college football games this weekend.......

-- UCLA @ Utah-- Jim Mora is primed to take over LA with his Bruins, in wake of USC's struggles. This game is an interesting test.

-- Missouri @ Vanderbilt-- James Franklin, QB vs James Franklin, coach

-- Washington @ Stanford-- Cardinal are crushing teams but this will be their toughest test yet. Washington is a veteran team.

-- Ole Miss @ Auburn-- Tigers' QB Marshall is OK,. but was overhyped this summer; how do Rebels bounce back from Alabama loss?

-- Notre Dame vs Arizona State (@ Dallas)-- In last three weeks, ASU has played Wisconsin-Stanford-USC, now this. Tough schedule.

-- Ohio State @ Northwestern-- Brent's alma mater vs Herbstreit's in prime time; just how good are these Wildcats?

*****

Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but...........

13) We’ve become such an impatient society; we get news instantly on Twitter or by text, no one waits for anything anymore, so we get college football coaches being fired before baseball season ends. One thing you need to remember about football, where you have so many players; it takes a while to implement your system, and then get the right players for it.

In 1979-80, the 49ers went 8-24 but didn’t fire their coach after two poor years; in 1997-98, the Rams went 9-23 in a coach’s first two years there, but stayed the course with their coach.

Both teams won the Super Bowl in their coach’s third season; you might have heard of the coaches: Bill Walsh and Dick Vermeil.

12) Going way back to 1956, ten years before the Super Bowl existed, and Vermeil was San Jose State’s quarterback; Bill Walsh was a graduate assistant on that coaching staff. What are odds that two Super Bowl winning coaches would be involved at same time in a mid-major program like San Jose State?

11) Can’t be much fun in Tampa these days, where former starting QB Josh Freeman was relegated to the press box for the Bucs’ home game with Arizona Sunday. Coach says it was a mutual decision; QB’s agent called the coach a liar. Now apparently the Bucs' leaked some of Freeman's medical information, a blatant violation of privacy laws. Awesome.

Meanwhile, you watch the Jets and Mark Sanchez is helping coach Geno Smith, talking to him in between series and trying to help. Say what you want about Sanchez the QB, but everything you read about him says he is a high quality human being.

10) I would love to know the percentage of when an NFL team throws an incomplete pass on first down, how often do they run the ball on second down? I’m guessing at least 70%. Teams are so paranoid about 3rd-and-long that they almost give up trying to get 10+ yards on second down and simply work to create a manageable third down. Offensive football was a lot more fun to watch when the QBs called their own plays.

9) Weird doings in Miami Sunday, where Henderson Alvarez pitched a no-hitter, but game was still 0-0 in 9th inning, when Marlins won game on a walk-off wild pitch. Anytime Miami sweeps a series its odd enough, but you don’t see walk-off wild pitches too much.

Detroit wound up winning the AL Central by only one game, but they were never really threatened- they just stopped hitting once they clinched.

8) In case you care about such things, with Jake Locker hurt, looks like the Titans’ new backup QB is Rusty Smith, who was on their practice squad. Smith played for Howard Schnellenberger at Florida Atlantic; he's thrown 45 passes in four NFL games, starting one in 2010.

Still think it should be a rule that all NFL teams dress three QBs every week, even if the 3rd QB is an emergency-only guy; it protects the quality of the product, in case of injury.

7) First USC cans Lane Kiffin, now UConn fires Paul Pasqualoni, both before the baseball playoffs start. This reeks of placating disgruntled big money boosters; from a tangible football standpoint, how does it help recruiting, or help the team play better?

Whomever coaches USC or UConn next year is already coaching somewhere else right now, so why not let Pasqualoni finish the season? He has to be a capable coach, why embarrass the guy?

USC is a little different because it is so high profile, the fans’ displeasure would have had a negative impact on recruits, and with only 56 kids travelling to Tempe last week, the Trojans most definitely have a lot of recruiting to do. If you think I’m wrong about this, let me know what you think.

6) If their season keeps going in this direction, at what point do the Eagles have to play Nick Foles at QB? Or do they? Michael Vick is over 30, the team seems headed downward- they went 4-12 LY, after all. Infusing some young blood in the lineup is an option, at every position.

5) Buffalo fans are getting their money’s worth; Bills’ first three home games were decided by a total of six points.

4) Why do people take pictures of their food and post them on Instagram? And why is it always healthy or fancy food?

I’m going to take a pic of a bag of Doritos and a carton of half-eaten fried rice and post it, just for a little nutritional balance.

3) Knicks wisely picked up the option on coach Mike Woodson thru 2015; he is a solid coach, as much as you can be watching Carmelo Anthony jack fall away jumpers night after night. At least Woodson yells at him to get back on defense.

2) OK, I’ve always wondered this: Rays-Rangers last night, an unscheduled play-in game, where do the profits from that game go? Is there some big vault inside Alan R Selig’s office with stacks of cash in it, and they just dump another wheel barrow full of money in there on Wednesday morning?

1) I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall in John Elway’s luxury suite two years ago, when Denver was going 8-8 with Tim Tebow at QB- must have driven him freakin’ nuts.

Two years later, the Broncos are a powerhouse, Tebow is unemployed and Elway is the Jerry West of the NFL.

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:44 AM

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

Spot bets are a classic handicapping practice that has proven profitable no matter what sport you’re betting. Whether it’s a team looking past this week’s opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots.

Lookahead spot

The Louisville Cardinals are the frontrunners in the mutant AAC, getting off to a perfect 4-0 start and taking on the worst team in the conference – 0-4 Temple – Saturday. Books have set UL as a 34-point road favorite in Philadelphia.

The Cardinals are coming off a 72-0 win over Florida International and have an important matchup with Rutgers on a short week in the following game. If Louisville gets up big in the second half, expect head coach Charlie Strong to start resting starters in preparation for Thursday’s home date with Rutgers, leaving the backdoor wide open for the Owls.

Letdown spot

Take a look at the teams behind the 2-2 Cleveland Browns in the NFL standings. Go ahead, we’ll wait. The Browns have won back-to-back outings, taking down the Vikings and Bengals as underdogs and QB Brian Hoyer is making Cleveland fans forget all about Brandon Weeden, who is nursing a thumb injury.

The Browns’ turnaround has convinced oddsmakers enough to set them as 4-point home chalk hosting Buffalo in Week 5. The Bills are also a surprising 2-2 and coming off an upset win of their own, taking down Baltimore in Week 4. While Buffalo could also be in “letdown” mode, we’re siding with the points in this matchup.

Schedule spot

The Toronto Maple Leafs have huge expectations heading into the NHL season after a Game 7 collapse versus Boston in the first round of the playoffs. The Leafs added goaltending support and some talent up front, but a tough back-to-back opening slate could put Toronto behind right out of the gate.

The Maple Leafs open the 2013-14 schedule in Montreal for an Original Six rivalry Tuesday, then hop on a plane for Philadelphia Wednesday night. Toronto is still working on chemistry and teams are continuing to get into game shape. The Leafs could be a little worse for wear two games into the season.

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:44 AM

College football line watch: Jump on NIU now

Each week during the college football season, renowned Las Vegas wiseguy and Covers Expert Bruce Marshall looks at the NCAAF odds and tells you which spread to bet now, which one to bet later, and which total to watch as the week plays out.

Spread to bet now

Northern Illinois Huskies at Kent State Golden Flashes (+9)

Through the first five weeks of the season, no price in games involving NIU has moved against the Huskies. If anything, numbers have tended to trend slightly in NIU’s direction, including last week at Purdue when the Huskies were modestly bet up from 3 to 4 at most Las Vegas wagering outlets.

Although there was not much reaction to the earliest posted -9 for the Huskies this Saturday at Kent State, NIU’s support base has acted more like a growing groundswell each week. Perhaps because it mostly flies under the national radar in the MAC, price adjustments in Huskies games have tended to move slowly and inexorably, rather than in the quick bursts we see associated with many other well-supported “public” sides.

After QB Jordan Lynch and the explosive offense triggered last week’s 55-24 demolition of Big Ten rep Purdue, however, expect appetite for NIU to appear a bit more quickly in the marketplace, likely pushing this price up to the next key number at 10 against the Golden Flashes.

Whether 10 acts as a resistance point or not remains to be seen.

At least by jumping on the Huskies ASAP, those NIU backers are not going to have to worry about laying a double-digit price.

This number is very unlikely to drop, so Huskies supporters might as well get their positions now while the price remains in single digits.

Spread to wait on

Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers (+3.5)

After home losses to Navy and Missouri in September, Indiana backers are laying low at the moment. So low, in fact, that they offered very little resistance when the price for this Saturday’s game versus Penn State was bet up from an opening 2.5 and right through a key number resistance point at 3 in early wagering action.

As of Monday afternoon, most Las Vegas wagering outlets were posting the Hoosiers at +3.5 or 4 for Saturday’s Big Ten clash at Bloomington.

We suspect that there is more run left in this price move toward the Nittany Lions, who have mostly offered good spread value for second-year coach Bill O’Brien; Penn State is now 11-5 its last 16 on the board.

Moreover, the marketplace will also begin to ****** some of the hard-to-believe series trends that are so lopsided in the direction of the Nittany Lions, who have not lost straight up to the Hoosiers since entering the Big Ten in 1993 and have a spotless 16-0 straight up record all-time versus IU.

Don’t be surprised for this number to eventually test the next key numbers up the scale, perhaps all of the way up to the “big” 7, as buy pressure for Penn State doesn’t figure to abate anytime soon.

Later in the week, IU likely attracts some investors, but we advise Hoosier backers to sit tight for a few days to see how high this number inflates. No surprise if the Nittany Lions will be forced to lay near a full TD at sometime before kickoff, at which time we expect some IU money to materialize at the Nevada sports books.

Total to watch

West Virginia Mountaineers at Baylor Bears

Like those who like to see how many hot dogs Joey Chestnut can devour at the annual Nathan’s Contest each 4th of July at Coney Island, there is a similar curiosity in the wagering marketplace regarding the most-extreme “totals” each week. And along with Oregon, no team generates that sort of interest like high-octane Baylor, which hosts West Virginia on Saturday.

“Totals” devotees certainly recall the Bears-Mountaineers shootout last season in Morgantown, when Geno Smith tossed a whopping 8 TD passes for WVU in its wild 70-63 win.

Geno has graduated to the NFL, and the Mounties aren’t quite spinning the scoreboards as they were the past couple of seasons, but Baylor has definitely picked up the slack as it scores better than point-per-minute in the early going this season for HC Art Briles.

Baylor’s early schedule has been mostly flown under the national radar against the likes of Wofford, Buffalo and UL-Monroe, so this is the first time we’ll get to see how the marketplace reacts to a “total” on a featured Bears game. And after scoring 69, 70, and 70 in the first three, we anticipate some “over” pressure no matter where oddsmakers post the “total” for Saturday’s game vs. WVU.

With thin markets in earlier games, “totals” on Bear games to date still moved upward 2-3 points in the first three contests. Oddsmakers are also not expected to fool around any longer with “totals” involving teams like Baylor or Oregon; the books had no hesitation posting the Ducks’ “total” vs. Cal in the low 80s last week, though the knowledge of upcoming monsoon-like conditions in Eugene prevented excessive buy pressure on the “over” for Ducks-Bears.

We’re very curious to see how the marketplace reacts to the next “total” involving Baylor...especially if weather forecasts are for a fast track in Waco.

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:47 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Cincinnati hits the road tonight for the NL Wild Card game and looks to take advantage of a Pittsburgh team that is 0-4 in Francisco Liriano's last 4 starts against the Reds. Cincinnati is the pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has the Reds favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+110). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

Game 901-902: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (8:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Cueto) 15.489; Pittsburgh (Liriano) 14.341
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-130); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+110); Under

MLB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 1

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CINCINNATI (90 - 72) at PITTSBURGH (94 - 68) - 8:05 PM
JOHNNY CUETO (R) vs. FRANCISCO LIRIANO (L)
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 10-25 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 94-68 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 50-31 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 17-7 (+10.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Tuesday this season.
PITTSBURGH is 101-79 (+27.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 45-31 (+13.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 94-68 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PITTSBURGH is 63-40 (+18.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 76-55 (+20.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
PITTSBURGH is 53-40 (+11.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
PITTSBURGH is 36-32 (+8.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CINCINNATI is 656-725 (+56.7 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 314-336 (+31.9 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 593-669 (+40.7 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 428-471 (+36.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 86-52 (+22.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 11-8 (+5.5 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
10 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.9 Units)
JOHNNY CUETO vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
CUETO is 13-4 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 2.37 and a WHIP of 1.015.
His team's record is 14-7 (+3.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 11-8. (+2.1 units)
FRANCISCO LIRIANO vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
LIRIANO is 0-3 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 3.70 and a WHIP of 1.110.
His team's record is 0-4 (-4.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.3 units)

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MLB
Short Sheet

Tuesday, October 1

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 8:05 ET
Cueto: Cincinnati 10-25 SU in October
Liriano: Pittsburgh 30-11 SU after 3 straight games without giving up a stolen base

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 1

NL Wild Card game

-- Cueto was on DL three times this year; he is 1-0, 1.50 in two starts coming off DL last time, 1-0, 1.46 in two starts vs Pittsburgh this season.
-- Liriano is 1-1, 3.24 in his last four starts, 0-3, 3.70 vs Cincinnati this year.

Reds lost their last five games, scoring a total of 8 runs. Pirates are 5-1 in their last six games; they're 11-8 vs Cincinnati this year, 5-4 at home.

Reds are 41-41 on road this season. 27-25 vs lefty starters; Pittsburgh is 76-55 vs righties; they went 51-30 at PNC Park, which is hosting first-ever playoff game-- Pirates were last in playoffs in 1992.

Under is 8-3 in Cueto starts this season, 6-3-1 in Liriano's last 10 home starts, 5-1 in last six Cincinnati games, 3-1 in last four Pirate games.

MLB

Tuesday, October 1

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Trend Report
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8:07 PM
CINCINNATI vs. PITTSBURGH
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Cincinnati's last 21 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cincinnati

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MLB

Tuesday, October 1

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Reds at Pirates: What bettors need to know
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Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates (-130, 6.5)

The Pittsburgh Pirates participate in their first postseason game in 21 years when they host the Cincinnati Reds in Tuesday’s National League wild-card game. Pittsburgh secured home-field advantage by sweeping a three-game series in Cincinnati and the winner of this one-game round meets the St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round. The Reds are in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons but staggered down the stretch with five consecutive losses to match a season-worst skid.

Cincinnati planned to start Mat Latos but scratched him due to elbow soreness and will instead go with Johnny Cueto, who has a stellar 8-2 mark with a 1.91 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 13 career starts at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. The Pirates opted for left-hander Francisco Liriano, who struggled against the Reds this season with a 0-3 record and 3.70 ERA in four starts. Pittsburgh standout Andrew McCutchen (.317 average, 21 homers, 84 RBIs and 27 steals) had an MVP-caliber campaign while Cincinnati star Joey Votto (.306 average, 24 homers, 73 RBIs) set a franchise record by reaching base 316 times.

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE: The Bucs opened as -120 home faves and have moved to -130. The total has remained at 6.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-60s. Wind will blow out to left field at 5 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.82 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (16-8, 3.02)

Cueto has excelled in two starts since returning from an injury and has allowed one earned run and eight hits in 12 innings. He blanked the Pirates on one hit over eight innings on May 31 and then went on the disabled list for the second of three times this season. Cueto is 13-4 with a 2.37 ERA in 21 career starts against Pittsburgh.

Liriano has been fantastic at home, sporting an 8-1 mark and 1.47 ERA in 11 outings. Though he set a career best for victories, he struggled in September with a 1-2 record and 5.14 ERA in five starts. Liriano had a sharp outing against Cincinnati on Sept. 20 when he gave up two runs and three hits in eight innings while receiving a no-decision.

TRENDS:

* Reds are 0-5 in their last five overall.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Cueto's last six road starts vs. Pirates.
* Pirates are 0-4 in Liriano's last four starts vs. Reds.
* Over is 4-1 in Reds last five playoff games.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips (shin) expects to play after being hurt while fouling a ball off his leg on Saturday.

2. McCutchen is batting .231 with three homers in 39 career at-bats against Cueto, while Votto is 2-for-10 against Liriano.

3. Pittsburgh won the season series, 11-8 – including a 5-4 mark at home.

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MLB

Tuesday, October 1

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MLB betting: Looking at NL Wild Card starters
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Major League Baseball's postseason officially starts Tuesday with the National League Wild Card game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates and Reds will renew acquaintances for the seventh time in the past 10 games for each club.

Mat Latos was manager Dusty Baker's first choice to make the start, but the big righty has a bone chip in his elbow which is causing him discomfort, so Johnny Cueto gets the call.

The Bucs will call on southpaw Francisco Liriano to take the hill.

Here is a look inside the numbers for Tuesday's starting pitchers.

Liriano versus the Reds - 0-3, 3.70 ERA in four starts.

- The Reds roster bats .260 (32-for-123) with four homers and 12 RBIs versus Liriano.
- Todd Frazier is 3-for-9 with a pair of solo homers off the Pirates lefty.

Cueto versus the Pirates - 1-0, 0.73 ERA in two starts.

- The Pirates roster bats .209 (45-for-215) with five homers and 17 RBIs versus Cueto.
- Andrew McCutchen is 9-for-39 (.231) with three homers and five RBIs versus Cueto.

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**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:50 AM

NHL Pacific Division preview: Wide-open race provides value

There’s no clear favorite to win the NHL’s Pacific Division with the Ducks, Kings, Canucks and Sharks all looking like potential frontrunners.

Here’s a quick look at how all seven teams stack up entering the new season.

Anaheim Ducks (2012: 30-12-6)

Odds to win division: 4-1
Season point total: 98.5

Why to bet the Ducks: Losing Bobby Ryan wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Ducks have some emerging young stars ready to pick up the slack and, of course, the nucleus remains in place with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf leading the way. You can be sure veterans Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu are hungrier than ever.

Why not to bet the Ducks: The same reason that most are excited about the Ducks, their young talent both up front and on the blueline, is also a cause for concern. Will the gradual youth movement work? Or perhaps the better question is, how quickly can the Ducks return to Stanley Cup status.

Season point total pick: Over 98.5

Calgary Flames (2012: 19-25-4)

Odds to win division: 300-1
Season point total: 63.5

Why to bet the Flames: I’ll be brief as to be honest, there’s little reason to lay your hard-earned money on the rebuilding Flames. Maybe the fact that everyone is counting them out will light a fire under them. The element of surprise is certainly there.

Why not to bet the Flames: There is little veteran leadership to turn to, nor is there much young talent that’s ready to step to the forefront right now. Karri Ramo is an unproven commodity in goal, where the Flames could be the weakest team in the league.

Season point total pick: Under 63.5

Edmonton Oilers (2012: 19-22-7)

Odds to win division: 8-1
Season point total: 90.5

Why to bet the Oilers: The young Oilers are brimming with talent and poised for a breakout year if they can stay healthy. New GM Craig MacTavish didn’t stand pat during the offseason, making a number of key moves to improve his team. Andrew Ference and David Perron could turn out to be underrated pick-ups.

Why not to bet the Oilers: We’ve heard this story before. Every year it seems that the Oilers are on the cusp of greatness, only to fall flat by the midway point of the season. Question marks abound in net, where Devan Dubnyk has yet to prove he can shoulder the load of being the No. 1 guy.

Season point total pick: Over 90.5

Los Angeles Kings (2012: 27-16-5)

Odds to win division: 2-1
Season point total: 104.5

Why to bet the Kings: Continuity is key for the Kings, as they continue to ice virtually the same team that won the Stanley Cup two seasons ago. They boast world class talent all over the ice, with goaltender Jonathan Quick the cornerstone. L.A. has the ability to win in so many different ways.

Why not to bet the Kings: Are things getting stale in SoCal? The Kings seemed to be stuck in neutral for parts of last season, but perhaps that can be chalked up as a Stanley Cup hangover. After the top five forwards, there isn’t a ton of scoring depth up front.

Season point total pick: Under 104.5

Phoenix Coyotes (2012: 21-18-9)

Odds to win division: 8-1
Season point total: 90.5

Why to bet the Coyotes: With the off-ice distractions in the rearview mirror, the Coyotes can get back to focusing on the product on the ice. Adding Mike Ribeiro should help a team that was offensively challenged last season. Goaltender Mike Smith is in line for a solid bounce-back season.

Why not to bet the Coyotes: The fact that a defenseman, Keith Yandle, led the team in scoring last year is more than a little concerning. After Ribeiro there are few proven goal scorers to turn to. Mike Smith is a proven commodity in goal, but he’ll need to stay healthy for the Yotes to contend.

Season point total pick: Under 90.5

San Jose Sharks (2012: 25-16-7)

Odds to win division: 3-1
Season point total: 102.5

Why to bet the Sharks: It’s getting close to “now-or-never” time for the Sharks. The core of this team continues to age, but that should only leave them hungrier than ever to reach the ultimate goal. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle are all heading into free agency at the end of the season, so the motivation to perform is there.

Why not to bet the Sharks: Has head coach Todd McLellan worn out his welcome in San Jose? Whatever he’s doing doesn’t seem to be working as the Sharks continue to fail in the postseason on a yearly basis. Only a couple of minor offseason moves were made to boost the team’s chances.

Season point total pick: Under 102.5

Vancouver Canucks (2012: 26-15-7)

Odds to win division: 3-1
Season point total: 102.5

Why to bet the Canucks: A coaching change could work wonders in Vancouver as John Tortorella attempts to light a fire under an aging but still talented team. Roberto Luongo is once again the unquestioned starter in goal and that should take a load off the time-tested netminder.

Why not to bet the Canucks: The Canucks didn’t make any sort of splash in the offseason, only bringing in role players, Brad Richardson, Mike Santorelli and Yannick Weber. Beyond the top two lines, where is the offensive production going to come from?

Season point total pick: Over 102.5

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:51 AM

NHL Atlantic Division preview: Will Red Wings run the show?

The Detroit Red Wings are the new kid on the block in the Eastern Conference. Division re-alignment has created a number of intriguing storylines and the ultra-crowded Atlantic Division could provide the most compelling one of all.

Here's a look at all eight teams and how you should approach them entering the new season.

Detroit Red Wings (2012: 24-16-8)

Odds to win division: 3-1
Season point total: 99.5

Why to bet the Red Wings: After coming just one win short of reaching the Western Conference final, the Red Wings have re-tooled their roster in an effort to take the next step. The additions of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss will boost an offense that sagged to under 2.6 goals per game. The defense remains intact while all-world goaltender Jimmy Howard is locked up with a long-term extension.

Why not to bet the Red Wings: Expectations are going to be sky-high in the Motor City following a strong playoff showing. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg remain the cornerstones of the offense, but they’re not getting any younger. Moving to the East could also result in some growing pains.

Season point total pick: Under 99.5 points

Boston Bruins (2012: 28-14-6)

Odds to win division: 7-4
Season point total: 105.5

Why to bet the Bruins: The Bruins always seem to be in the conversation when it comes to Stanley Cup contenders. Despite enduring a roller-coaster ride of a season, Boston still reached the Cup final. Adding Jarome Iginla and Loui Eriksson should help with leadership after letting Nathan Horton walk away and dealing Tyler Seguin.

Why not to bet the Bruins: There will be plenty of young players taking on much larger roles, particularly on the blueline. Guys like Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski, and Dougie Hamilton all got their feet wet thanks to an injury-riddled playoff run. But how will they handle the 82-game grind? No fewer than five rookies or second-year players could fill out the forward depth chart.

Season point total pick: Under 105.5

Florida Panthers (2012: 15-27-6)

Odds to win division: 60-1
Season point total: 69.5

Why to bet the Panthers: A top line featuring Jonathan Huberdeau and second-overall draft pick Aleksander Barkov could make a splash. The Panthers have stock-piled a number of top prospects over the years and in 2013-14, that group will be given its opportunity to shine. Veteran Sean Bergenheim returns after missing all of last season due to injury while Scott Gomez should provide some much-needed veteran leadership.

Why not to bet the Panthers: This is still very much a work-in-progress. While the Panthers are just two years removed from winning the Southeast Division and coming within a goal of reaching the second round, this is a different team. Question marks remain in goal, with Jacob Markstrom having yet to pan out and invite Tim Thomas really little more than a headline-grabber.

Season point total pick: Over 69.5

Buffalo Sabres (2012: 21-21-6)

Odds to win division: 50-1
Season point total: 76.5

Why to bet the Sabres: It’s now or never for the Sabres, who are staring down the barrel at a massive rebuild if they’re unable to contend this season. Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller remain on board for at least one more year, and certainly have the motivation to carry this team. In a crowded Atlantic Division, we could see value with the Sabres as a forgotten team.

Why not to bet the Sabres: Outside of Vanek, Miller and recently re-signed forward Cody Hodgson, there’s not a lot to get excited about in Buffalo. The Sabres didn’t make any sort of splash in the free-agent market, acquiring only two notable players in Jamie McBain and Henrik Tallinder. A difficult schedule could doom the Sabres if they’re unable to get off to a quick start.

Season point total pick: Under 76.5

Toronto Maple Leafs (2012: 26-17-5)

Odds to win division: 9-2
Season point total: 95.5

Why to bet the Leafs: Toronto believes it has solved its goaltending woes by acquiring Jonathan Bernier.The additions of Dave Bolland and David Clarkson up front could turn out to be a major coup. This is a team that grew up an awful lot during seven-game series against the Bruins and should continue to progress under the guidance of head coach Randy Carlyle.

Why not to bet the Leafs: The jury is still out on the Leafs defense and while Bernier has plenty of upside between the pipes, it’s difficult to predict how he’ll handle being a starter in the pressure cooker that is Toronto. There’s a chance the Leafs could be a little overvalued following their surprisingly strong showing in what many will call a fluky lockout-shortened season.

Season point total pick: Under 95.5

Tampa Bay Lightning (2012: 18-26-4)

Odds to win division: 15-1
Season point total: 83.5

Why to bet the Lightning: After back-to-back miserable seasons there’s nowhere to go but up for the Lightning. The departure of Vincent Lecavalier marks the end of an era and that’s not a bad thing. With their goaltending situation figured out following the acquisition of Ben Bishop late last season and the duo of Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis primed for another big year, the potential is there for a bounce-back performance.

Why not to bet the Lightning: Bishop was good, but certainly not great after joining the Lightning, posting a 2.99 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Once you get past the Lightning’s top defensive pairing, there isn’t a lot of depth and that could leave Bishop on an island.

Season point total pick: Over 83.5

Ottawa Senators (2012: 25-17-6)

Odds to win division: 9-2
Season point total: 95.5

Why to bet the Senators: After losing Alfredsson to free agency, the Senators believe a roster shakeup was needed. The infusion of new faces should serve them well. Bobby Ryan has the potential to make an immediate impact and evolve into the face of the franchise. Joe Corvo is back on the blueline after helping them reach the Cup final in 2007 and represents and upgrade over the incumbent Sergei Gonchar.

Why not to bet the Senators: Who will fill the leadership void now that Alfie has jumped ship to Detroit? There’s plenty of young talent on board, but that comes at the expense of proven veterans. After pouring everything they had into the lockout-shortened campaign, it remains to be seen whether the Sens have enough left in the tank to contend again.

Season point total pick: Under 95.5

Montreal Canadiens (2012: 29-14-5)

Odds to win division: 9-2
Season point total: 94.5

Why to bet the Canadiens: A sense of pride and responsibility was seemingly restored in Montreal, even if things ended on a sour note with an early playoff exit. The Habs didn’t lose much in the offseason and gained a veteran leader in Danny Briere, not to mention some much-needed toughness in the form of George Parros and Doug Murray. Having P.K. Subban from Day 1 should help their cause in the wake of last year’s holdout.

Why not to bet the Canadiens: Briere was a nice addition, but there’s no question he’s on the downside of his career in terms of offensive production. It’s going to take a true team effort to produce more than two goals per game. As good as Carey Price is, he can’t be asked to shoulder the entire load, as we saw a couple of years ago.

Season point total pick: Over 94.5

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:52 AM

NHL Central Division preview: Hawks poised for another run

The Central Division has the potential to be one of the most top-heavy in the league with the Blackhawks and Blues leading the way.

That is unless teams like the Wild, Jets and Avalanche are able to make some headway.

Here’s a look at how all seven teams shape up entering the 2013-14 season.

Nashville Predators (2012: 16-23-9)

Odds to win division: 25-1

Season point total: 82.5

Why to bet the Predators: The Preds are hoping that Seth Jones can make an immediate impact on the blue line, adding to an already solid group that is headed by veteran Shea Weber. If there’s one thing we know about the Preds, it’s that they’re well-coached and get a lot out of a little in terms of talent.

Why not to bet the Predators: There are no bonafide goal scorers up front, with the likes of Mike Fisher and Viktor Stalberg counted on to lead the charge. Goaltender Pekka Rinne has been asked to shoulder too much of the load in recent years and that won’t change this season.

Season point total pick: Over 82.5

Minnesota Wild (2012: 26-19-3)

Odds to win division: 13-2

Season point total: 96.5

Why to bet the Wild: This is the year the Wild are expected to take a big leap forward with the duo of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter now fully acclimated with the team. Fans in Minnesota are among the best in the league, not to mention starved for a winner and expectations are high for good reason.

Why not to bet the Wild: The Wild have had a tough time stepping up in class, as we saw in the opening round of last year’s playoffs against Chicago. Until proven otherwise, that’s still the knock on this team. Losing guys like Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Devin Setoguchi could leave an offensive void.

Season point total pick: Over 96.5

Colorado Avalanche (2012: 16-25-7)

Odds to win division: 25-1

Season point total: 81.5

Why to bet the Avalanche: An infusion of young talent, not to mention an NHL legend behind the bench, has optimism running high in Colorado – and for good reason. The Avs might be a year or two away from contending, but this should be an exciting, upset-minded team to watch this season.

Why not to bet the Avalanche: They’re unproven. While the pieces are in place for the Avs to be good for years to come, there will undoubtedly be some growing pains. How will Patrick Roy’s coaching style translate to the pros? He’s got the job done leading teenagers, but this is a different situation.

Season point total pick: Over 81.5

Dallas Stars (2012: 22-22-4)

Odds to win division: 15-1

Season point total: 87.5

Why to bet the Stars: Sweeping changes are expected to breathe some life into what has become a forgotten team in the West. Tyler Seguin is the new face of the franchise and should provide excitement up front. Lindy Ruff is a proven winner behind the bench.

Why not to bet the Stars: It remains to be seen where leadership will come from inside the dressing room with veterans few and far between. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen has shown flashes of brilliance but consistency between the pipes, or lack thereof, remains a big issue in Dallas.

Season point total pick: Under 87.5

Winnipeg Jets (2012: 24-21-3)

Odds to win division: 25-1

Season point total: 83.5

Why to bet the Jets: After falling just short of the postseason last spring, the Jets will be hungry to make the leap in 2013-14. Winnipeg didn’t do much to bolster its roster in the offseason, but keeps its core virtually intact and continuity isn’t a bad thing for a young squad.

Why not to bet the Jets: Is Ondrej Pavelec really the answer in goal? He’s held up reasonably well, but certainly isn’t a first-rate netminder. There’s plenty of grit up front, but not a lot of goal-scoring talent outside of Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd. The Jets defense is average at best.

Season point total pick: Over 83.5

Chicago Blackhawks (2012: 36-7-5)

Odds to win division: 1-2

Season point total: 112.5

Why to bet the Blackhawks: Unlike in 2010, when the Blackhawks lost a ton of talent following their Stanley Cup run, they remain relatively intact off of their latest Cup victory. You would be hard-pressed to find a more talented team from top to bottom. Re-signing last spring’s breakout start, Bryan Bickell, was key.

Why not to bet the Blackhawks: It goes without saying, no team will carry a bigger target on its back than Chicago. The Blackhawks essentially won wire-to-wire last season but will be hard-pressed to duplicate that effort in 2013-14. How hungry will the ‘Hawks be after raising the Cup in two of the last four years.

Season point total pick: Under 112.5

St. Louis Blues (2012: 29-17-2)

Odds to win division: 5-2

Season point total: 103.5

Why to bet the Blues: With a strong blue line and a balanced attack up front, the Blues are poised to take another run at the Blackhawks. Re-signing Alex Pieterangelo was critical, as was filling the void left by a retiring Andy McDonald. Derek Roy should fit in nicely as a second-line center.

Why not to bet the Blues: Who will be St. Louis’ go-to guy? Only three players reached double-digits in goals scored a year ago, and not much will change this season. The goaltending tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott looks good on paper, but both have been streaky.

Season point total pick: Under 103.5

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:52 AM

NHL Metropolitan Division preview: Pens, Rangers best of the bunch

The Metropolitan Division has the potential to be the most top-heavy in the league this year, provided the Penguins and Rangers live up to expectations.

The Blue Jackets move to the Eastern Conference, rounding out the eight-team division. Here’s a quick look at each.

New York Islanders (2012: 24-17-7)

Odds to win division: 12-1
Season point total: 91.5

Why to bet the Islanders: The Isles made major strides last season, culminating with a near-upset of the Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs. John Tavares is coming into his own as the leader of this team both on and off the ice.

Why not to bet the Islanders: Losing power play specialist and blue line anchor Mark Streit hurts the Isles on the back-end. Goaltending remains a weak spot, with an aging Evgeni Nabokov once again being called on to shoulder the load.

Season point total pick: Over 91.5 points

Carolina Hurricanes (2012: 19-25-4)

Odds to win division: 25-1
Season point total: 79.5

Why to bet the Hurricanes: The Canes won’t be burdened with the same high expectations they dealt with leading into last season. They’ll also have a healthy Cam Ward back between the pipes. This should be the breakout year for the reunited Staal brothers in Carolina.

Why not to bet the Hurricanes: There’s not a lot of scoring depth, nor are there many ‘sure things’ on the blue line. Carolina is going to need a total team effort to keep pace with the big boys in the division, and that might be asking a little too much.

Season point total pick: Over 79.5

New York Rangers (2012: 26-18-4)

Odds to win division: 5-2
Season point total: 103.5

Why to bet the Rangers: The Broadway Blueshirts didn’t make the same splash in the free agent market we’ve become accustomed to seeing, and that might not be a bad thing. The pieces are in place for the Rangers to take a run at the Cup, especially with a healthy Marc Staal returning to anchor the defense.

Why not to bet the Rangers: These are still the under-achieving Rangers. Will they be able to keep their star players healthy? Is Henrik Lundqvist still one of the world’s best goaltenders? And then there’s the pressure. How will the Rangers handle it this year?

Season point total pick: Under 103.5

New Jersey Devils (2012: 19-19-10)

Odds to win division: 20-1
Season point total: 81.5

Why to bet the Devils: There’s nowhere to go but up for the Devils following a disastrous 2012 campaign. Martin Brodeur is back for one more year, and New Jersey went out and got a nice insurance policy in the form of Cory Schneider.

Why not to bet the Devils: They’re going to be relying on two aging stars, Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias to provide scoring pop on the top line. Beyond newly-signed center Adam Henrique, there’s not a lot of young talent on the roster to get excited about.

Season point total pick: Under 81.5

Columbus Blue Jackets (2012: 24-17-7)

Odds to win division: 12-1
Season point total: 88.5

Why to bet the Blue Jackets: After a major turnaround last season, the Blue Jackets have plenty of momentum on their side entering the 2013-14 campaign. Nathan Horton joins an already impressive cast up front. Marian Gaborik should perform well in a contract year.

Why not to bet the Blue Jackets: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will be hard pressed to match the numbers he posted last season. Horton will be called upon to lead the offense after being more of a role player in Boston. How will the Jackets deal with sudden high expectations?

Season point total pick: Under 88.5

Washington Capitals (2012: 27-18-3)

Odds to win division: 12-1
Season point total: 91.5

Why to bet the Capitals: First-year head coach Adam Oates did a nice job of bringing together this team last season and with the core remaining intact, there’s reason to believe the Caps can take another step forward in 2013-14. Ovi finally looked like Ovi again and he’s poised to lead the team on another run at the East.

Why not to bet the Capitals: There were significant offseason losses, with Mike Ribeiro, Matt Hendricks and Jeff Schultz jumping ship, among others. The addition of Mikhail Grabovski certainly won’t instill much confidence in Caps fans.

Season point total pick: Over 91.5

Pittsburgh Penguins (2012: 36-12-0)

Odds to win division: 5-7
Season point total: 110.5

Why to bet the Penguins: Sidney Crosby is back at full strength after missing a quarter of last season due to a broken jaw. The first two lines are still absolutely loaded with talent. The Pens finally rid themselves of a big distraction in the form of Matt Cooke.

Why not to bet the Penguins: There are question marks between the pipes, with Tomas Vokoun already injured and Marc-Andre Fleury not exactly a pillar of confidence. Who will step up to provide third-line scoring and take some of the pressure off of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?

Season point total pick: Under 110.5

Philadelphia Flyers (2012: 23-22-3)

Odds to win division: 12-1
Season point total: 93.5

Why to bet the Flyers: It’s hard not to like the offseason moves the Flyers made, bringing in some veteran talent in the form of Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit. The addition of Ray Emery should help shore things up in goal as well.

Why not to bet the Flyers: Can Emery stay healthy, and if not, is Yann Danis a legitimate starting goaltender in this league? There is also concern that the Flyers defense will be unable to handle strong offensive teams like the Penguins and Rangers with a number of offensive-minded blue-liners.

Season point total pick: Under 93.5

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 09:54 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Toronto at Montreal
The Canadiens open the season at home tonight and look to take advantage of a Toronto team that is 3-13 in its last 16 Tuesday games. Montreal is the pick (-135) according to Dunkel, which has the Canadiens favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-135). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

Game 1-2: Toronto at Montreal (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto 10.730; Montreal 12.190
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-135); Under

Game 3-4: Washington at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 12.347; Chicago 11.262
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-170); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+150); Over

Game 5-6: Winnipeg at Edmonton (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Winnipeg 10.731; Edmonton 12.397
Dunkel Line & Total: Edmonton by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Edmonton (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Edmonton (-150); Under

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 1

Hot teams
Season is starting tonight, so not a lot of info yet; we'll have knowledge here every night from now until the Stanley Cup is hoisted next spring.......

Cold teams

Series records
-- Road team won eight of last ten Toronto-Montreal games; Maple Leafs won five of their last six visits here.
-- Eskimos are 4-2 in last six games vs Winnipeg, winning last two 5-3/5-3.
-- Blackhawks lost three of last four games with Washington.

Totals
-- 14 of last 19 Toronto-Montreal games stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Jet-Oiler games went over the total.
-- Last five Washington-Chicago games went over the total.

Back-to-backs

NHL

Tuesday, October 1

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
TORONTO vs. MONTREAL
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Toronto's last 21 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Montreal's last 13 games at home

8:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. CHICAGO
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing at home against Washington

10:00 PM
WINNIPEG vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 5 games when playing Edmonton
Winnipeg is 2-6-1 SU in its last 9 games ,when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Winnipeg

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NHL

Tuesday, October 1

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Maple Leafs at Canadiens: What bettors need to know
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens (-130, 5.5)

With new divisions, new rules and dozens of players with new teams, it's nice for fans to have something familiar from the get-go. They'll get just that Tuesday night as the Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the season opener for both teams - and the latest chapter of one of hockey's oldest rivalries. Both teams exceeded expectations a season ago, with Toronto halting a lengthy playoff drought and Montreal recording the second-best record in the East.

Following up on their respective strong seasons will be a tall task. The Maple Leafs face a goaltending controversy before they've even played a game, and will be without their top free-agent acquisition for the first 10 regular-season contests. The Canadiens will ice a lineup similar to the one that won them the Northeast Division crown but ultimately ran out of magic en route to a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Ottawa Senators.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (2013: 26-17-5, 5th East): The acquisition of Jonathan Bernier in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Kings gave Toronto a legitimate netminder to challenge incumbent James Reimer for the starting role. While head coach Randy Carlyle hasn't yet named a No. 1 goalie - or even a starter for the season opener - Reimer looks to have the edge. He posted a .925 save percentage and a perfect mark in the shootout during the preseason, while Bernier had an .891 save percentage and was remembered most for scrapping with Buffalo's Ryan Miller.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (2013: 29-14-5, 2nd East): After seeing his team hang with the class of the conference during last year's lockout-shortened season, few could have blamed general manager Marc Bergevin for making one or two bold moves for the short-term. But Bergevin is staying the course, favoring minor tinkering over a significant shake-up. The only change of consequence came up front, with Montreal adding veteran winger Danny Briere to a lineup already full of diminutive, slick-skating forwards.

TRENDS:

* Maple Leafs are 5-1 in the last six meetings in Montreal.
* Under is 15-6 in the last 21 meetings.
* Road team is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
* Canadiens are 2-5 in their last seven home games.

OVERTIME:

1. Toronto won three of five meetings with Montreal last season, with the home team prevailing just once.

2. The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are part of the NHL's revamped Atlantic Division, joining old division rivals Buffalo, Boston and Ottawa and joined by Detroit, Florida and Tampa Bay.

3. Toronto will be without F David Clarkson until the end of October after he was given an automatic 10-game suspension for leaving the bench during the Maple Leafs' brawl with the Sabres.

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**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 10:50 AM

NFL line watch: Don't play on Packers until Sunday

Spread to bet now

Jacksonville Jaguars (+13.5) at St. Louis Rams

If you think that Jacksonville can keep this one close enough to sneak in through the back door vs. the Rams, then you should consider jumping on this line as soon as possible. It opened at -14 but is already dropping fast. There are still some 13.5s out there, but there are also a couple of 13s and even some 11s on the board.

Things don't get any easier for either team as St. Louis is on the road for two straight in Houston and Carolina, while Jacksonville will be in Denver next weekend, likely as the biggest underdog of the last 10 years.

The Jags have put 20 points on the board in two straight losses, while the Rams have mustered just 18 in two straight setbacks.

Jacksonville fought tough versus Seahawks on road for a half and it appears that both the public and the sharps feel that the Jaguars still have some fight left in them. Note that Jacksonville is 0-4 for the third time in franchise history and that the team has never started 0-5.

Spread to wait on

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers(-7)

If you think the Packers can handle business versus their division rival at home then you should consider waiting until closer to game time before getting involved with this contest.

The line opened at 7.5, but quickly dropped. Green Bay is now a 7-point favorite, but there are even a few 6.5s creeping onto the board.

Divisional contests are always the most important games of the season and doubly so for the home side. The Packers are coming off their bye, having lost to the Bengals the week before.

The fact that Green Bay has surrendered 88 points over its first three games and that the Lions won 40-32 over the Bears last week is likely a big reason why both the sharps and the public continue to hammer the visitors in this one.

Total to watch

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (55)

If you’re a fan of the Over consider waiting a bit closer to kickoff before hammering this one. This line opened at 55 but a few 54.5s have hit the board. It's obvious that neither the public nor the sharps believe these teams can muster much of an offensive attack.

Hard to blame them though as the G-Men have posted a miserable seven total points in back-to-back losses (they put up 54 over their first two setbacks), while the Eagles have managed just 36 (after posting 63 in their first two games). Despite having one win between them after the first four weeks, amazingly, the NFC East is still up for grabs

**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 12:27 PM

NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 1

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TORONTO (29-19-0-7, 65 pts.) at MONTREAL (30-17-0-6, 66 pts.) - 10/1/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 5-15 ATS (-10.7 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.
MONTREAL is 31-55 ATS (+92.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MONTREAL is 5-13 ATS (-10.5 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 3-3-0 straight up against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.7 Units)

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WASHINGTON (30-22-0-3, 63 pts.) at CHICAGO (52-12-0-7, 111 pts.) - 10/1/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 116-161 ATS (-66.1 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 1-0-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.1 Units)

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WINNIPEG (24-21-0-3, 51 pts.) at EDMONTON (19-22-0-7, 45 pts.) - 10/1/2013, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 1-0 (+1.4 Units) against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 1-0-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.0 Units)

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**Udog** · 10-01-2013, 03:41 PM

NHL
Short Sheet

Tuesday, October 1

Toronto at Montreal, 7:05 ET
Toronto:
Montreal: 5-13 SU in home games first half of the season

Washington at Chicago, 8:05 ET
Washington: 116-161 SU in non-conference games
Chicago: 89-51 UNDER in home games in non-conference games

Winnipeg at Edmonton, 10:05 ET
Winnipeg: 10-20 SU in a road game where where the total is 5.5
Edmonton: 184-127 UNDER in a home game where where the total is 5.5

Announcement

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes - 10/1 (MLB, WNBA, CFL, NHL, Misc.)

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes - 10/1 (MLB, WNBA, CFL, NHL, Misc.)

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