Scott Rickenbach

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Game #5 Tuesday Free Pick OVER the total in New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes @ 7:05 ET - The Rangers have lost 6 of their past 7 games and New York has allowed a ridiculous 5.5 goals per game in those 6 defeats. Massive slump for the Blueshirts and now they host a red hot Hurricanes team so the lamp is likely to be lit early and often in this one. Carolina has won 7 of its past 8 games and they've averaged scoring 4.4 goals per game in those 7 victories. Only 1 of the past 7 Canes games resulted in an under. Only 3 of the Rangers past 10 games resulted in an under. Only 2 of the past 9 meetings between these teams resulted in an under and the only match-up between these teams this season resulted in 13 goals being scored. The over is 43-21 in Rangers divisional games including 9-4 this season. Free Pick OVER the total in New York Rangers

Early Annihilation - Rickenbach NHL Game #9 Tuesday 10* Top Play Anaheim Ducks Money Line (-) @ Detroit Red Wings @ 7:35 ET - The Ducks have lost 10 straight games (6 in regulation and 4 post-regulation). That said, most won't be backing Anaheim in a spot like this. But, ladies and gentlemen, why do you think the odds makers made this game a pick'em on the money line even though the Red Wings have a couple wins in their last five games and are on home ice? Of course it is because they will not be surprised, just like I won't, when the Ducks snap their skid and win this game. For one thing Detroit has been mired in nearly just as awful of a stretch as Anaheim has. However, with Red Wings off huge upset win at Minnesota and Anaheim off a tough OT loss at Winnipeg, you know will be hungrier here. That said, hunger certainly matters in a rather "even match-up" like this. The Ducks want it more and will be harder on the puck, stronger on the forecheck and backcheck, and overall be much more "dialed in" then the Red Wings in this one. Detroit does have revenge here but they've actually lost 20 of 30 this season when playing with revenge. The Ducks have won 36 of 58 when off a game in which they allowed 4 or more goals. 10* ANAHEIM

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NHL Game #3 Tuesday 8* OVER the total in New York Islanders vs St Louis Blues @ 7:05 ET - The Blues are off a huge win at Washington last night. Of course defeating the Stanley Cup champs is always a big win and, ironically, St Louis again is facing the Islanders in their very next game after beating the Capitals. The last time this happened it resulted in a 4-3 game that flew over the total and I expect a similar result here. The Blues will have hot goalie Jordan Binnington between the pipes but off the big win last night St Louis may not be as strong in front of the netminder in this back to back situation. The Islanders have won 8 of their past 10 games and have averaged scoring 4 goals per game in those 8 wins. The Blues enter this contest having won 5 of their past 7 games and have scored an average of 3.8 goals per game in those 5 wins. The last 48 times that St Louis has played a game with home loss revenge only 16 of the 48 (33%) resulted in an under. The Islanders last two meetings with the Blues have resulted in games totaling 7 goals each time and, given the situation here, I expect at least 6 in this one! That said, the line move this morning on this total drifting down to a 5.5 has opened up additional value here. I'll take it! 8* OVER the total in New York Islanders 

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach CBB #601 Tuesday 10* Top Play Seton Hall Pirates (+) @ Providence Friars @ 6:30 ET - This line opened up at a pick'em and it is also a revenge game for the Friars. That said, it comes as no surprise that bettors jumped on Providence at home and the line is now up to a -2 on the Friars. I am happy to grab the extra value with another contrarian play. The key here is that Providence has had trouble with their shooting and that is why they sorely miss freshman phenom (and 2nd leading scorer) AJ Reeves. The Friars have now lost 3 straight games and are coming off a heart-breaking double-OT loss at Georgetown. Of course those types of defeats are very tough to bounce back from. Also, Providence is starting to develop a "losers mentality" as that is what happens when you lose 3 straight tight games in conference action and you're missing one of your best players. Seton Hall will pounce on this and be very aggressive and take advantage tonight. Keep in mind, the Pirates have thrived in situations like this. Seton Hall is a perfect 6-0 ATS in games with a line ranging from pick'em to +3 and all 6 wins were outright upsets! As for the Friars, they've gone 4-8 ATS when off a game in which they allowed 80 points or more. That includes Providence going 1-3 ATS this season when in that situation. The teams are roughly equivalent on the defensive end but the Pirates hold the edge on the offensive end as the Friars continue to struggle with consistency on the offensive end as they continue to adjust to life without Reeves. He will be back but not yet! Seton Hall is off a loss and they haven't lost back to back games since mid-November. By the way, the Pirates last 4 losses have come by average margin of just 3 points. The points could come in handy here but I fully expect an outright win as the Pirates bounce back off a defeat. 10* SETON HALL

Game of the Month - Rickenbach NBA Game #514 Tuesday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ 7:05 ET - The 76ers Jimmy Butler is facing his former team and Philly will take advantage of a Timberwolves team that is hurting. Minnesota will be, at the very least, hobbled in this one but could also be short-handed. The problem is a cluster injury situation as both injuries are at the point guard position. Starting PG Jeff Teague and veteran PG Derrick Rose are both listed as questionable for this game with ankle injuries. Keep in mind that the Wolves are an ugly 6-15 SU on the road this season while Philadelphia is a stellar 18-4 SU in home game this season. That said, a Sixers home victory is quite likely but what about the all-important spread factor? It should get there for us! 16 of Minny's last 20 losses have come by a margin of at least a half dozen points! Also, note that Minnesota is 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in road games with a posted total of 230 points or more. The 76ers are off a tight win at New York but are 8-2 SU and ATS when off a divisional game this season. Also, the Sixers are a long-term 22-11 SU (and 21-12 ATS) in home games with a posted total of 220 points or more. Look for a home blowout here! 10* PHILADELPHIA