Wednesday 11-14-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ben Burns
FREE

St. Louis vs. Chicago, 11/14/2018 20:00 EDT

Money Line: -115 Chicago

Sportsbook:
Bookmaker

Winless in eight games and still looking to get their new coach his first victory, the Hawks are going to be a highly motivated team this evening. The Blues, on the other hand, may already have their upcoming trip to Vegas on the back of their minds. Expect the Hawks to be the "hungrier" team and that to lead to a badly needed victory. Consider Chicago.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chip Chirimbes
Chip's FREE NBA Winner

Portland vs. LA Lakers, 11/14/2018 22:30 EDT

Point Spread: -2½/-109 LA Lakers

Sportsbook:
PinnacleSports

Portland at L.A. Lakers
Lakers over Trailblazers- Cab this be right...the Lakers are favored over Portland. The Trailblazers have won four straight since losing at home to the Lakers 10 days ago after defeated LA at home in mid October. The Lakers have won three straight and I am 22-8 73% with mu last 30 NBA releases get it NOW while the getting is good! Take the LAKERS!

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ray Chadwick

Even though the Huskies defense has been staunch - no more than 26 points allowed in any of their last 6 games - I do like tonight's home game to land Over the total.

NIU has seen 8 of their 10 games hold Under the total, but on the other side, Miami-Ohio has been Over in 6 of their 10 games, including 5 of their last 7. The key to this game making its way into the Over column, will be the fact the Redhawks defense has proved to be a liability for Chuck Martin, as they have given up over 36 points per game over their last 3 MAC games.

Miami-O's quarterback Gus Ragland has been around the block a time or two, and he has been able to generate points to compensate for the yielding defense, as the Redhawks have come up with just north of 30 points per game over their last 6 contests.

These teams last played in 2015, and that meeting did land Over the total. In fact, the Over is 3-1 the last 4 times these schools have faced one another.

The weather is going to be clear and cold for this one, and I am of the opinion that in the colder weather holding onto the football can potentially be an issue. I expect a turnover or two that will lead to some short-field scoring opportunities.

It is not going to land Over by 3 touchdowns, but I do feel this one is squeezing Over come the final gun.

Miami-Ohio and Northern Illinois to land Over.

3* MIAMI (OHIO)-NIU OVER

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tommy Brunson

They are only 2-6 straight up and against the spread on the road, but those 2 wins have come over their last 3 away from home.

Philadelphia is on the road again, but tonight they take to the court with their newest addition, Jimmy Butler! Expect the 76ers to get an immediate jolt from Jimmy, and expect them to pull away from this Orlando team.

The Sixers beat the Magic by just one back on October 20th in Philadelphia in a non-cover, but they extended their series winning streak to 4 straight, and 5 wins in the last 6 overall series tilts. That October non-cover is the ONLY non-cover for Philly in that 6 game stretch, so don't worry about laying the road wood tonight.

The Magic have done well for themselves with wins in 4 of their last 5 games, but in reality their lineup cannot match the firepower of Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons over the full four quarters.

76ers to stretch the margin.

Side with Philly.

5* PHILADELPHIA

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Scott Delaney

COMPLIMENTARY WINNER

My free play for Wednesday night is on the Washington Wizards laying the home chalk over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I lost going against the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, and they beat me. But they're still just 2-11 just five months after playing in their fourth straight NBA Finals. And after exhaling from last night's blowout win against Charlotte, the Cavs have to travel to Washington and face a team they won't be able to keep up with on its own floor.

Washington is just 4-9 and sits fourth in the Southeast, but it is much better than its record and needs a pivotal game that will ignite a winning run. This is a great opportunity.

The Wizards have won two straight and are still near the start of a five-game homestand. They've put up 116 and 117 in their last two games, and finally appear to be playing like a team and with the right chemistry.

Bradley Beal has 10 20+ points games and is averaging 19.2, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists against the Cavaliers in his career. The other four starters for the Wizards are averaging double figures this season, with Markieff Morris (14.4), Dwight Howard (17.0), Otto Porter, Jr (11.3) and John Wall leading the charge 20.8 points and 9.8 assists.

So if there is one game this time can come together and share mutual success, it's against the Cavaliers.

I'll bank on Beal to lead the way, as he is one of eight players this season to average more than 8.0 3-point field goal attempts per game (8.1). Beal's 8.1 attempts are the most he has averaged in his career and a +1.6 increase from the 2017-18 season.

Cleveland has the seventh-worst 3-point defense in the league, so it will get torched by Washington's perimeter game.

Take the Wizards here.

5* WIZARDS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jack Brayman

A pair of old rivals get together tonight at Staples Center, as the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Los Angeles Lakers, and I'm going to play this one low. I actually saw the overnight line of 227, and loved seeing the adjusted number placed at 223. Means I was right on track with my thoughts.

Portland is going to be sluggish after finishing up a six-game homestand since the start of the month. To have to gear up for an elongated road trip that will cover just about every time zone, the Blazers will look to slow things down.

They've done a good job in limiting teams to less than triple figures in their last five games, to the tune of 99.4 points per game. It's a defensive mentality they're going to need to bring into Los Angeles, where the Lakers average 117.1 points per game.

The slow pace will suit the Lakers just fine, as they come in riding a three-game win streak that has seen their defense hold teams to an average of 100.67 points per game. They've stayed under in six straight games, and know the way to beat Portland is by slowing the tempo.

Look for both teams to tighten up defensively and this one to stay Under the posted number.

3* UNDER Trail Blazers-Lakers

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chris Jordan

Now, to have to play on the second of back-to-back nights against the speedy Winnipeg Jets, I would venture to say the edge is with the home team.

Winnipeg, which is 7-2-1 at home this season, continues a four-game homestand after opening it 2-0 with a pair of 5-2 victories over the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils. The Jets conclude the homestand on Friday, against Buffalo, but this is the game they want. Against the defending champs.

After averaging 2.4 goals per game in their previous five games, the Jets have scored five goals in back-to-back games, and the thought of beating a struggling Caps team will have the Jets moving fast.

Winnipeg is tied for fourth in the NHL with 37 goals in 10 home games. And after Sunday’s win, the Jets have an NHL-best home record of 16-1-1 dating back to last season, since Mar. 2.

Blake Wheeler has been playing exceptional, and takes the ice after being named the NHL’s second star of the week on Monday after tallying seven points (1 goal, 6 assists) in two games. He is currently riding a 10-game point streak, with two goals and 17 assists.

And, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is heating up, as he's started all four games for the Jets this month, going 3-1-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. He’s stopped 62 of 66 shots through the first two games of the homestand for a .939 save percentage, and will be ready for what could be a weary Caps team that skated hard in St. Paul last night.

Take the home team and lay the puck line.

5* JETS PUCK LINE