Monday 12-3-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:25 PM

Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NFL Predictions 30th November 2018 by Gracenote
Redskins vs. Eagles Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/30/2018

The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off what may have been a season-saving victory while the Washington Redskins are trying to shake off back-to-back losses that cost them the lead in the NFC East. As the division rivals prepare to clash on Monday night in Philadelphia, the Redskins will hold a one-game edge on the Eagles for the conference's sixth and final playoff slot.

Reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia appeared on the verge of absorbing a knockout blow last weekend before erasing an early 16-point deficit and rallying for a 25-22 victory over the New York Giants (as the Eagles were -5 point favorite at intertops). "This was a big game for us," Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said. "Obviously in terms of the division standings and all that fun stuff, but really mentally to show the resilience that we did. To get down early like we did, then to battle back, just really builds a lot of confidence." Washington is trying to maintain its confidence and a victory over Philadelphia could provide a huge boost in that department, particularly with the teams squaring off in the regular-season finale. "I think there should be a sense of urgency without a doubt," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "Anytime you can go on the road and get a key victory is very, very critical. It is also important for our confidence and our psyche down the stretch."

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Eagles -6.5 O/U: 45

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (6-5): Washington is hoping the additional time off will pay dividends for Colt McCoy, who had only three days to get ready for his first career start in four years after Alex Smith suffered a season-ending leg injury. McCoy, who was picked off three times in a 31-23 loss to division-leading Dallas on Thanksgiving, and the offense could receive a boost with the return of running back Chris Thompson, who practiced fully for the first time Friday since suffering broken ribs on Oct. 28. Thompson also would alleviate the workload on Adrian Peterson, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury. The Redskins were burned for a pair of long touchdown passes against the Cowboys.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (5-6): Wentz bounced back from a three-interception performance in a debacle at New Orleans by throwing for 238 yards and a touchdown in the comeback win over New York. Once again his favorite target was tight end Zach Ertz, who had seven catches for 91 yards and a score to boost his season totals to a career-best 84 receptions and 895 yards. Running back Josh Adams provided much needed balance to the offense and lifted a running game in dire need of a spark with 84 yards rushing on 22 carries -- both season highs -- while scoring for the second week in a row. Philadelphia held New York to three second-half points last week but ranks 28th against the pass (276.5 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wentz has six TD passes and two interceptions in a sweep of the Redskins last season.

2. Peterson needs two rushing touchdowns to move past Jim Brown (106) for fifth place on the all-time list.

3. Ertz has 59 receptions for 620 yards in 10 games against Washington.

PREDICTION: Eagles 25, Redskins 20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:25 PM

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Detroit Pistons Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
Thunder vs. Pistons Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

Fresh off spoiling the return of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, the Detroit Pistons are looking like a team to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons will try to knock off a second straight Western Conference power and finish off a perfect six-game homestand when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

Detroit's second unit is getting plenty of credit for the team's play of late, and the reserves opened up the game in the second quarter of Saturday's 111-102 triumph over the Warriors behind point guard Ish Smith and small forward Stanley Johnson. "I just know we were playing really, really hard and we were playing together," Johnson told reporters. "It really didn't matter who scored or who got the stops or anything like that. I think we did a good job of getting Ish the ball on the run and he was making a lot of plays for us." The Thunder are winners of 14 of their last 17 games and are beginning a stretch with five of six on the road after easing past the Atlanta Hawks 124-109 on Friday to wrap up a four-game homestand. "It's just OKC basketball," forward Patrick Patterson told reporters after the latest triumph. "Playing great defense, getting stops, finishing plays with rebounds and coming down on the offensive side trying to get early baskets in transition and guys hitting shots and looking for one another."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Oklahoma, FS Detroit

ABOUT THE THUNDER (14-7): Oklahoma City is relying on its depth as well and had three reserves score at least 13 points on Friday while shooting guard Alex Abrines drew a start and buried 7-of-11 from 3-point range. The Thunder ended up with 30 assists on 46 made field goals in the easy win and shot 52.3 percent from the floor. "Guys just want to get each other involved and play the right way," reserve forward Nerlens Noel, who scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes, told reporters. "You really want to have everybody on the same wavelength and everybody active and making buckets when they're important."

ABOUT THE PISTONS (13-7): Detroit coach Dwane Casey built a powerful bench as the coach of the Toronto Raptors and is doing the same with the Pistons by encouraging each player to embrace his role. "That is so important that guys are understanding their roles, that guys are playing their roles, accepting the role, embracing it and being the MVP in their role, I think that's so important," Casey told reporters. "Understanding that it is a team game, it's not about one player, everybody's got to do their job whether if it's screening, spacing, passing the ball, defending, whatever it is just make sure you do your job on each possession." Johnson is becoming the key player off the bench by guarding the opposing team's best perimeter players while averaging 9.9 points in 23.6 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pistons C Andre Drummond recorded a double-double in 17 of the first 20 games and is averaging 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds.

2. Thunder SG Andre Roberson suffered a setback in his return from knee surgery and is expected to miss another six weeks.

3. The visiting team took each of the two meetings last season, with Oklahoma City claiming a 121-108 victory in Detroit.

PREDICTION: Pistons 109, Thunder 107

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:25 PM

Golden State Warriors vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
Warriors vs. Hawks Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The return of superstar Stephen Curry failed to magically fix all the problems for the Golden State Warriors, who are still looking for more flow on the offensive end. The Warriors will try to bounce back when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

Curry (groin) returned from an 11-game absence on Saturday at Detroit and scored 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting in 37 minutes, but Golden State still fell 111-102. "I've had great games after missing substantial time before," Curry told reporters after the loss. "Tonight was not like that. It was just more being really antsy in times when I got the ball in my hands, feeling like I had to make something happen. I didn't really force much, it was just the timing was off. ... Everybody was doing a little bit too much sacrificing and that happens at times when your lineups change and things like that, but we'll adjust back to how we normally play. Everybody will continue to be aggressive and confident and we'll get back to Warrior basketball." The Hawks are losers of two straight and 12 of their last 14 after getting trounced 124-109 at Oklahoma City on Saturday. Atlanta is last in the NBA in scoring defense while surrendering an average of 118.1 points and allowed the Thunder to go off at 52.3 percent on Saturday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (15-9): Curry's rusty beginning aside, Golden State coach Steve Kerr placed the blame for Saturday's loss squarely on his own shoulders. "I did not like our offense tonight," Kerr told reporters. "I've gotta do a better job, honestly. Tonight was probably a game I could mark down as one of my worst performances as a coach, honestly. All in all, I've got do a better job than I've done here the first couple of months of the season. This is ... just gotta get better. We've gotta get better shots. We gotta get more spacing, get better flow." The Warriors went 6-of-26 from 3-point range in Saturday's setback and dropped their last six on the road.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (5-18): Atlanta is just trying to develop its young talent this season and got another encouraging performance on Saturday from 2017 first-round pick John Collins. The 21-year-old power forward delivered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds and is averaging 14.9 points on 58.3 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds in eight games since making his season debut on Nov. 17. The Hawks could use more from 2018 first-round pick Trae Young, who struggled to 4-of-15 from the floor in Saturday's setback and is shooting 33.3 percent over the last 10 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors PF Draymond Green (toe) sat out the last eight games and is unlikely to play on Monday.

2. Hawks PG Jeremy Lin (ankle) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. Golden State extended its winning streak in the series to eight straight with a 110-103 home win on Nov. 13.

PREDICTION: Warriors 121, Hawks 103

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:25 PM

Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The Washington Wizards have been able to climb out of an early hole, but nearly all of the progress has been made on their home floor. The Wizards know they need to find success away from the nation's capitol and they will try to start a four-game road trip on the right foot when they visit the New York Knicks on Monday.

"In order to be a good team, a great team, we have to be able to win on the road," guard Bradley Beal told reporters after Saturday's 102-88 home win over the Brooklyn Nets. "If we want to have success down the road, that's something we're going to have to do." Washington won seven of its last nine at home but it begins the trip with a 2-9 road mark and will be facing a Knicks squad that has been knocking off some pretty good teams of late. Behind 28 points from Emmanuel Mudiay -- including a game-tying 3-pointer late in regulation -- New York picked up a hard-fought 136-134 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime Saturday. "One thing about our team is that we're always going to fight," Mudiay told the media after his team rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter. "We don't play the scoreboard. That's the one thing coach (David Fizdale) always preaches."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (9-14): John Wall scored 30 points and Beal added 22 on Saturday as Washington put forth its best defensive scoring effort of the season. "I think we did a better job, especially against this team, compared to what we did last time," coach Scott Brooks told the media, referring to a 115-104 loss to Brooklyn in mid-November. "Those straight line drives, we took those out. I thought the ball was contained. Our pick-and-roll coverage was good. We were inside and we close down some of those shooters. Got good effort from our guys." Guard Tomas Satoransky chipped in seven points in his first start of the season while big man Thomas Bryant had seven rebounds in his seventh start in place of Dwight Howard, who will be out at least two months following surgery to address a gluteal injury.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (8-16): Mudiay was won of four players to score at least 20 points for New York on Saturday, with rookie Kevin Knox breaking out for a season-high 26. "This was a big game for me, I grew up today," Knox told reporters after making five 3-pointers. "Just being able to be out there in the fourth quarter, overtime, a big-time game against a big-time playoff team, it was good for me to be out there and learn from that." Noah Vonleh chipped in 15 points while making all six of his shot attempts -- three from beyond the arc.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wall and Beal combined for 48 points and Mudiay had just four on 1-of-5 shooting as Washington topped New York 108-95 earlier this season at home.

2. Wizards PF Markieff Morris is averaging 15.6 points in seven games as a reserve and 9.7 in his 15 starts.

3. Knicks SG Courtney Lee (neck), who has yet to play this season, was active for Saturday's game but did not see any action.

PREDICTION: Knicks 114, Wizards 111

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:25 PM

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The Brooklyn Nets aim for their first home win in nearly one month when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. The Nets have lost six in a row at the Barclays Center since a 25-point rout of the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 4, and they've also dropped six in a row overall after falling 102-88 at Washington on Saturday.

Allen Crabbe was one of just three double-digit scorers with a team-high 14 points in Brooklyn's worst offensive showing of the season. "We weren't sharp," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "Obviously we didn't shoot the ball well. Funny, I thought our defense was decent." The Cavaliers showed signs of life with a recent two-game winning streak but they've since dropped four in a row while failing to reach the 100-point mark in each outing. Following the visit to Brooklyn, Cleveland plays six of its next seven at home.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (4-18): Tristan Thompson, the only holdover from the team's 2016 championship still playing significant minutes, had 18 points and 19 rebounds in the 106-95 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Veteran guard George Hill returned from an 11-game absence due to a shoulder issue and provided eight points in 19 minutes as he started alongside standout rookie guard Collin Sexton. "It gives us another ball handler on the floor, another guy who can make plays," coach Larry Drew told reporters of the combination. "It gives us speed. It gives us quickness. I like Collin's ability to play off the ball, too."

ABOUT THE NETS (8-16): Brooklyn has had a series of late-game struggles, notably in Friday's double-overtime loss to Memphis at home, and the frustration with those missed opportunities is beginning to come to the surface. "We've got to get the job done," forward Ed Davis told the New York Post. "We had [Friday] in our pockets, we gave it to them. We were up 12 against Philly [last Sunday], we were up eight going into the fourth quarter against Utah [on Wednesday]. You have to finish those things out because you have nights like [Saturday] where you're struggling. This is what the NBA is all about: When you've got a team down, you've got to stomp on them." D'Angelo Russell scored just eight points on 3-of-8 shooting versus Washington after attempting 80 shots over his previous three games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Russell had 18 points and eight assists in a 102-86 win at Cleveland earlier this season.

2. Cavaliers F Sam Dekker (ankle), G David Nwaba (knee) and C Ante Zizic (knee) all missed the the loss to Toronto.

3. Nets G Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 11.5 points on 34.8 percent shooting while starting the last two games after averaging 16 points on 47.2 percent in 22 contests off the bench.

PREDICTION: Nets 111, Cavaliers 101

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM

Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The Toronto Raptors own the best record in the NBA and are off to the best start in franchise history while enjoying an eight-game winning streak. The Raptors will try to make it nine in a row when they open a two-game homestand by hosting the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

Toronto could have been excused for suffering a letdown Saturday after holding off the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in overtime on Thursday, but instead it continued to do what it's been doing all season and rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95. Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard averaged 35.5 points on 25-of-45 shooting over the last two games to lead the way and is averaging 25.5 points in his first season with the team. The Nuggets aren't as consistently dominating as Toronto but once again look like a team that can challenge in the Western Conference while riding a five-game winning streak. Denver began its five-game road trip with a 113-112 victory at Portland on Friday while welcoming back shooting guard Gary Harris (ankle) from a two-game absence.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), Sportsnet One (Toronto)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (15-7): Harris scored 27 points in his return on Friday, but it was a message from power forward Paul Millsap during a late-game huddle that had people talking. "The one thing I loved tonight, (Millsap) grabbed our guys in the huddle and said, 'Fellas, we talk about being a playoff team. If we're really going to be a playoff team, this is a game we have to get,'" Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "I loved hearing that from him because he's not always the most vocal, but when he does talk people do listen." Millsap finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win for his second straight double-double.

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (20-4): Toronto is more than just Leonard and put some of its depth on display Saturday with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry (back) sidelined. The Raptors started Fred VanVleet at point guard and still managed to shoot 48.8 percent from the field and place all five starters in double figures, with VanVleet contributing 15 points and four assists in 33 minutes. Power forward Pascal Siakam added 15 points in the win and is averaging 18 points on 71.4 percent shooting over the last four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Raptors SG Danny Green is 10-of-19 from 3-point range over the last three games.

2. Nuggets reserve PG Monte Morris scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 30 minutes on Friday, snapping a string of four straight games in single digits.

3. Toronto took three of the last four meetings.

PREDICTION: Raptors 120, Nuggets 112

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The Houston Rockets are back to streaking in the right direction and are coming off back-to-back dominating wins over the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. The Rockets will try to make it three in a row when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Houston surrendered an average of 124 points during a four-game slide but was stronger on the defensive end Friday and Saturday while holding the Spurs and Bulls to 105 points apiece. The turnaround on defense coincides with the healthy return of point guard Chris Paul, who sat out three games with leg soreness before returning on Friday and notching a double-double in back-to-back games. The Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak come to an end in a 118-109 setback at home to the Boston Celtics on Saturday. "We had some miscues and made some mistakes. It was our fault," Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters. "They're a great team and made us pay for those mistakes."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (11-11): Houston star James Harden scored 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting in 30 minutes on Saturday and is averaging 35.4 points over the last seven games. Harden needed to play an average of 29 minutes in the last two games with the Rockets rounding into form from a health perspective and took some time after Saturday's win to extol the virtues of a short injury list. "Everyone is much more efficient when we're together and we have a full roster, as you can see these last few games," Harden told reporters.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (11-12): Minnesota is leaning on former MVP and current sixth man Derrick Rose for leadership, and the veteran is not afraid to get on his younger teammates. "At this stage in my life and my career, that's what I'm here for, to be able to express how I feel, express what guys want to say but don't say it," Rose told reporters. "It's easy for me to communicate with people. They listen to me. I guess they trust me and believe in me." Rose is leading the team on the court as well and scored 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting in Saturday's loss - the fourth time in the last six games that he scored at least 20 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves SF Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting Saturday, snapping a string of five straight games in which he finished with fewer points than attempted field goals.

2. Rockets C Clint Capela recorded a double-double in eight of the last nine games.

3. The teams are meeting for the first time since Houston knocked off Minnesota in five games in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 115, Rockets 111

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM

LA Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NBA Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally starting to get some consistent results on the defensive end of the court. They will try to limit the damage again when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

Behind 36 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals from Anthony Davis, New Orleans picked up a 119-109 win at Charlotte on Sunday, stifling Hornets guard Kemba Walker in the process. "Any time you can look at Kemba's line and he goes 5 for 16 (shooting), I thought Jrue (Holiday) did a great job on him, because he's been scoring like crazy lately," coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after his team held its third straight opponent under 110 points. The Clippers saw their four-game winning streak come to an end Sunday night at Dallas in the second of their four-game road trip. Montrezl Harrell stayed hot with 23 points in 24 minutes off the bench in the 114-110 setback.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (15-7): Harrell made 11-of-15 shots in Sunday's loss and is 28-for-39 over a three-game span to boost his field goal percentage to 65.6 percent, third in the league. Fellow reserve Lou Williams had 21 points and a team-high eight assists as the Los Angeles bench outscored the Dallas reserves by a 50-35 margin. Danilo Gallinari is averaging 20.4 points in five games since he went 0-for-8 from the floor in a loss at Washington on Nov. 20.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (12-12): In addition to keeping Walker at bay, Holiday finished with 19 points and eight assists, while fellow guard Tim Frazier handed out nine assists in his third straight start. The veteran out of Penn State has 30 assists against five turnovers in that span while Holiday is averaging 23 points on 51.9 percent shooting in the same stretch. Davis has gaudy numbers across the board but he's been particularly effective at home, averaging 30.2 points on 50.2 percent shooting to go along with 13 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Davis is 29-for-42 from the floor over the last two games and he had 34 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Clippers on Oct. 23.

2. Pelicans G E'Twaun Moore (calf) missed Sunday's game and is day-to-day.

3. Harrell was 1-for-6 from the foul line Sunday and is 13-for-33 over a four-game stretch.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 114, Clippers 110

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NHL Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning were dominant in two victories against New Jersey at home earlier this season and go after a series sweep when they visit the struggling Devils on Monday night. The Lightning, who took out New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs in April, registered 13 goals in two victories over the Devils this season and have won seven of nine overall after rallying from three goals down for a 5-4 overtime win at Florida on Saturday.

"We're a confident group. We believe in what we have in this room," Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman told reporters. "We know a hockey game is 60 minutes, not 20, not 40. Even though we were down three, we thought we were the better team and we knew we have the strengths on this team to come back from a deficit like that." Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov hopes to extend his point streak to 10 games Monday and has recorded two goals and three assists in the two outings this season against New Jersey, which is winless in five games (0-2-3). The Devils rallied for two goals in the third period to tie Saturday before giving up the winner with 17 seconds left in overtime for a 4-3 setback against Winnipeg at home. "I think when you look at the resiliency the guys have had - we're going through a little bit of a tough stretch - you've got a team in there that cares," New Jersey coach John Hynes told reporters. "They fight, they battle, they want to do the right things. As I've always said, when you have that, you can continue to build and get better."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (19-7-1): Tampa Bay recalled goalie Eddie Pasquale from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Sunday and he could make his NHL debut either Monday or Tuesday at Detroit with Louis Domingue working on 10 straight starts (7-3-0). "He's winning games for us," coach Jon Cooper told reporters of Domingue, who has a .900 save percentage since taking over for injured Andrei Vasilevskiy (foot). ". ... He finds a way to make a big save for us when we need him. You just need that in a goalie, and that's what he's doing." Center Brayden Point had the winner Saturday and boasts five of his team-best 19 goals in the last five games.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-11-5): Reigning Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall scored Saturday to pull within one of 200 goals in his career and leads the team with 27 points - four in the past three contests. Speedy forward Jesper Bratt has been a factor since returning from a broken jaw in early November, registering three goals and six assists over 12 games including his first two-point effort of the season Saturday. Center Nico Hischier (five goals, 11 assists), whose turnover led to the winning goal in overtime Saturday, has picked it up with three points in the last two contests after suffering a three-game drought.

OVERTIME

1. The Devils converted on the power play once on Saturday, but are just 2-of-31 with the man advantage over the last 13 games.

2. Tampa Bay bottom-six Fs Alex Killorn and Cedric Paquette each have three goals in the last four games.

3.New Jersey RW Kyle Palmieri had nine goals in nine games during October and three in 16 contests since.

PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Devils 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:26 PM

Buffalo Sabres vs. Nashville Predators Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NHL Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

The Buffalo Sabres have cooled off a bit following their franchise record-tying 10-game winning streak, losing two in a row heading into the final contest of a three-game road trip versus the Nashville Predators on Monday. Captain Jack Eichel hasn't slowed down, however, setting up two goals in Buffalo's 5-4 setback at Tampa Bay on Friday and again in a 3-2 overtime loss at Florida the following night.

"It says a lot about him and his maturity that the most important thing about him is winning right now," Sabres coach Phil Housley told the Buffalo News of Eichel, who is the team leader in assists (27) and points (32) to offset just five goals this season after registering 73 in his first three campaigns. The 22-year-old Eichel set up five tallies in two games versus Nashville last season to give him nine points (three goals, six assists) in six career encounters versus the club. The injury-ravaged Predators snapped a modest two-game skid with a fast start on Saturday, scoring three goals in the first five minutes of a contest for the first time in franchise history in a 5-2 triumph over Chicago. "For me, the leadership group and the players get the credit," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. "... I thought under the circumstances, it was one of our best team wins of the year."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Pacific, MSG Buffalo, FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE SABRES (17-7-3): Jeff Skinner ended November with a flourish, converting a 2-on-1 rush with Sam Reinhart midway into the first period on Friday for his 14th goal last month to give him 20 on the season - more than double the next highest Sabre. The former Calder Memorial trophy recipient has done most of his goal-scoring damage (12) away from KeyBank Center. Reinhart scored and set up a goal versus the Panthers to extend his point streak to three games (three goals, two assists).

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (18-8-1): Ryan Johansen dented the scoresheet for the first time in four outings and boosted his team-leading assist total to 18 on Saturday by setting up Kevin Fiala's goal 2:11 into the first period. The 26-year-old Johansen wasn't done as he scored for the fifth time just two minutes later to give him a club-best 23 points for Nashville, which will be looking for offense as goal-scoring leader Filip Forsberg is sidelined four-to-six weeks by an upper-body injury. "It was exactly what we needed and exactly how we had to come out of the gates," said Johansen, who has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 13 career encounters versus the Sabres.

OVERTIME

1. Nashville G Pekka Rinne has collected three shutouts en route to a 4-2-0 mark in six career meetings with Buffalo.

2. Sabres D Rasmus Dahlin recorded 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 15 games to earn NHL Rookie of the Month honors for November.

3. Housley, a Hall of Fame defenseman, spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Predators.

PREDICTION: Predators 3, Sabres 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:27 PM

Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NHL Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

Edmonton native Ken Hitchcock celebrated his first home win as coach of the Oilers with an overtime victory versus the Dallas Stars last Tuesday. The Oilers bid to extend their winning streak to four games on Monday when they visit Dallas, with which Hitchcock spent parts of eight seasons in his career.

Leon Draisaitl set up defenseman Oscar Klefbom's overtime goal in a 1-0 victory over the Stars last week before extending his assist streak to three games by paving the way for captain Connor McDavid's team-leading 14th tally in Saturday's 2-1 victory versus Vegas. "We're winning games. It's not pretty but we're getting it done and that's all that matters," the 21-year-old McDavid told reporters. Like Edmonton, Dallas has also fared well of late with a 3-1-1 mark in its last five contests heading into the opener of two-game stretch at American Airlines Center, where it owns an 8-3-1 record. "It's good to be home. It's going to be nice to have six days here," Stars coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after Sunday's practice.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE OILERS (13-11-2): Ryan Spooner picked a fine time to endear himself to his new team, scoring his first goal in eight games during the third period of Saturday's contest. "It feels great. It's been kind of a rough start here for me and I have been kind of getting into my own head a little bit. I just want to help out," said the 26-year-old, who was acquired by Edmonton in a trade with the New York Rangers. Mikko Koskinen has made the modest offense stand up, turning aside all 28 shots he faced for his second shutout on Tuesday and 89 of 92 in total during his three-start winning streak to improve to 8-2-1 on the season.

ABOUT THE STARS (14-10-3): Captain Jamie Benn recorded his second straight multi-point performance by scoring his team-leading 11th goal and adding an assist in Saturday's 2-1 win versus Vancouver. Benn has collected 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his last 11 contests overall and has a seven-game point streak (six goals, three assists) against Edmonton at American Airlines Center. Fellow forward Tyler Seguin has 12 (five goals, seven assists) of his team-leading 26 points in his last 12 outings heading into a tilt versus the Oilers, against whom he joined Alexander Radulov with a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win on Jan. 6.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas owns a 6-1-0 mark in its last seven home encounters against Edmonton.

2. The Oilers recalled Patrick Russell from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Sunday after learning that fellow F Valentin Zykov will not travel with the team due to immigration issues.

3. Stars G Anton Khudobin, who made 30 saves in the previous meeting with Edmonton, will be in the crease on Monday.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Oilers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:27 PM

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan St Spartans Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NCAAB Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

Michigan State looks to stay unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play when it hosts Iowa on Monday. The eighth-ranked Spartans won their league opener Friday night at Rutgers 78-67, while 15th-ranked Iowa comes into the contest looking for its first Big Ten victory after falling to No. 22 Wisconsin 72-66 Friday at home.

The Hawkeyes have a balanced scoring effort, led by the interior duo of junior forward Tyler Cook (15.4 points, 8.1 rebounds) and 6-11 sophomore center Luka Garza (13.9 points). Iowa is aggressive with the ball, ranking first in the country in both free throw makes per game (25.3) and in attempts (32.7) entering Sunday, with the Hawkeyes having made 19 or more free throws in six of seven contests. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo relies on his backcourt for offense and leadership, with junior guards Cassius Winston (17.9 points, 7.1 assists) and Joshua Langford (17.5 points) ranking 1-2 on the team in scoring. Junior forward Nick Ward is the third double-figure scorer at 14.6 points, but at 6-9, he struggles a bit against bigger defenders, so how well he handles Iowa's front line will be a key for the Spartans.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT IOWA (6-1, 0-1 Big Ten): Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon came into the 2018-19 season having hit over 41 percent from 3-point range in each of his first two campaigns with the Hawkeyes. But the junior has struggled this season, hitting just 30.6 percent and posting his lowest scoring average at Iowa - 10.1 points per game. Bohannon continues to play and try to find his stroke - he hit three 3-pointers in the second half against Wisconsin - but he has yet to shoot consistently this season, and coach Fran McCaffery can only wait so long before going with other options.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (6-2, 1-0): One big problem for Michigan State in its losses has been turnovers, especially the unforced variety, though Izzo told reporters he continues to harp on his team about taking care of the basketball. After totaling 53 turnovers in its previous three contests, the Spartans were able to hold onto the ball against Rutgers, committing just seven miscues, including none from point guards Winston and Foster Loyer. Michigan State will need more of that against Iowa, a team that loves to apply pressure and get out on the break off an opponent's turnovers.

TIP-INS

1. Garza is fourth in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage (60.7).

2. Michigan State G Matt McQuaid has missed the last two contests with a thigh injury and Izzo said he wasn't optimistic the senior would play against Iowa.

3. The Spartans hold a 73-55 advantage over the Hawkeyes in their all-time series, having won 11 of the last 13 meetings.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 84, Iowa 75

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:27 PM

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Wisconsin Badgers Preview and Predictions 12-03-2018

NCAAB Predictions 2nd December 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 12/02/2018

No. 22 Wisconsin looks to continue its winning ways when it hosts Rutgers on Monday. The Badgers, who were picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Big Ten Media poll, have recorded seven victories in their first eight games, including a 72-66 road win over 15th-ranked Iowa in their Big Ten opener, and hope to exact a measure of revenge against the Scarlet Knights by avenging a 64-60 setback last season.

"I love where this team is at, just our confidence level and the way we're playing," Wisconsin guard D'Mitrik Trice told reporters. "I think December will also be a good month for us." Rutgers' three-game winning streak came to an end following a 78-67 loss to No. 8 Michigan State on Friday. The Scarlet Knights hung with the Spartans for the first 20 minutes, but were overpowered in the second half and hope to bounce back by ending their 12-game conference road losing skid. "We have to turn the page and face one of the best teams in the league in Wisconsin, who is playing as good as anybody," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell told reporters. "We have a young group but we have a good game plan here and we have to continue to move forward."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT RUTGERS (5-2, 0-1 Big Ten): Eugene Omoruyi scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds against Michigan State to notch the fourth double-double of his career. Peter Kiss added 11 points in his first Big Ten game after spending his freshman campaign at Quinnipiac while Caleb McConnell tallied a career-high seven points in his first taste of conference action. Geo Baker scored 10 points despite playing a season-low 28 minutes as he was plagued by foul trouble, but finished in double figures for the sixth time this season and the 26th time in his career.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten): Trice continued his sizzling start to his sophomore season as he scored a team-high 20 points, including a vital 3-pointer in the final 20 seconds, to lift the Badgers over Iowa. Ethan Happ narrowly missed out on his eighth straight double-double as he produced 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists before fouling out in the last minute against the Hawkeyes. Brevin Pritzl gave Wisconsin a big lift by tallying 12 points while Brad Davison added nine points as the Badgers held the Hawkeyes to 39 percent shooting.

TIP-INS

1. Trice is 15-of-21 from 3-point range over his last three games.

2. Rutgers has dropped 11 of its last 12 Big Ten games dating back to last season.

3. Happ leads the nation in double-doubles (seven).

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 77, Rutgers 65

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 12-03-2018, 12:28 PM

Monday's Tip Sheet
David Schwab

The Big Ten’s unique scheduling allows for five days of conference play in early December ahead of the shift to a full season of conference play after the first of the year. Two of the matchups on the slate for Monday night start with No. 14 Iowa on the road against No. 9 Michigan State. Later Monday night, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will go on the road to square off against No. 22 Wisconsin.

In earlier Big Ten play this Saturday, the 6-2 Indiana Hoosiers squeezed out a two-point 68-66 victory against 6-2 Northwestern as seven-point home favorites to hand the Wildcats their first straight-up loss of the season. The No. 24 Maryland Terrapins covered as 6 ½-point home favorites in a 66-59 win against the 4-3 Penn State Nittany Lions to move to 7-1 on the year.

In the biggest matchup of the day in the Big Ten, the No. 7 Michigan Wolverines covered as six-point favorites at home with a solid 76-57 victory against the No. 19 Purdue Boilermakers. Michigan remains perfect on the year at 8-0 and Purdue dropped to 5-3.

No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 9 Michigan State Spartans (FOX Sports 1, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Michigan State -10, 158

Betting Matchup

The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play on Friday with a 72-66 loss at home to Wisconsin as two-point underdogs. This was their first SU loss of the season against six previous wins. Iowa is just 2-5 against the spread in its first seven games with the total staying UNDER in four of those contests. This includes Friday’s loss on a closing line of 141 ½ points. Three starters scored in double figures against the Badgers led by junior forward Tyler Cook’s 19 points.

Michigan State got a strong effort from junior guard Cassius Winston (22 points) and junior forward Nick Ward (20 points) in Friday night’s 78-67 road victory against Rutgers as an eight-point favorite. This followed a 82-78 loss to Louisville on Nov. 27 as a five-point road favorite. The Spartans are 6-2 SU with a 5-3 record ATS. The total went OVER in each of their last two contests after staying UNDER in their previous four games.

Betting Trends

-- The Hawkeyes have failed to cover in four of their last five games coming off a SU loss and the total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in four of their last five games on the road.

-- The Spartans are 5-11-2 ATS in their last 18 games following a SU win and the total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five home games.

-- Head-to-head, Michigan State is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games against Iowa, but the Hawkeyes have a 3-1 edge ATS in the last four meetings. The total has gone OVER in four of the last six games between the two.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers (BTN, 8 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Wisconsin -13, 125

Betting Matchup

Prior to Friday’s loss to Michigan State, the Scarlet Knights had won five of their first six games SU with a 4-2 record ATS. Their biggest win came against the ACC’s Miami Hurricanes on Nov. 28 in a 57-54 victory as 11-point road underdogs. The total went OVER 134 points in Friday’s game after staying UNDER or ending as a PUSH in Rutgers’ previous four contests. Junior forward Eugene Omoruyi is the team’s leading scorer with 15.1 points a game while also pulling down a team-high 9.1 rebounds a game. He has posted two double-doubles in his last three games.

Wisconsin improved to 7-1 SU with the win against Iowa. Earlier in November, the Badgers beat Xavier 77-68 as two-point underdogs in the only game this season they were not favored to win. They are 5-3 ATS overall with the total going OVER in five of the eight games. Sophomore guard D’Mitrik Trice had the hot hand for Wisconsin on Friday night with 20 points while going 6-for-14 from the field. He has now eclipsed his team-high 17.4-point scoring average in three of his last four games.

Betting Trends

-- The Scarlet Knights are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games played on Monday and the total has gone OVER in five of their last six Big Ten games.

-- The Badgers have a 9-2 record ATS in their last 11 games against a team with a SU winning record with the total staying UNDER in five of their last seven home games.

-- The home team in this matchup has covered in the last five meetings. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in the last three meetings.

Monday 12-3-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Monday 12-3-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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