Art Aronson

This is a 10* on VEGAS

The Golden Knights have kicked off this homestand with a couple of wins. Both were by one goal, yet also very different. They beat St. Louis 6-5 and the Islanders 1-0. No matter the manner the wins are coming, Vegas will take them as they continue to fight for playoff positioning. They currently are third in the Pacific Division, but just two points out of first. So a win tonight could land them atop the division. That will be easier said than done facing Washington, but at least the Knights are getting the Capitals at the end of a three-game road trip. The Caps just got beat Saturday in Arizona, 3-1, as their lead over in the Metropolitan Division gets even smaller. It’s now down to a single point over Pittsburgh. Note Vegas is 4-0 the last four times they’ve been off a game in which it scored two or less goals. The home team has taken five of six all-time meetings. Play on VEGAS

AAA

This is an 8* on NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina isn’t going to get sympathy from anyone in the ACC or nationally. But it sure is sad to see the Tar Heels having fallen this far (last place in the ACC). For the second time this year, they’re on a five-game losing streak. They’re just 2-10 the past 12 games. But this more recent five game losing streak has seen them fall by two points or less three different times. Saturday against Virginia they lost 64-62. But you should take them here against a Notre Dame team that was just humiliated by Duke over the weekend. The Fighting Irish took a 34-point loss in Durham, which ended a six-game ATS win streak. The Irish have had some close losses of their own, namely a one-point loss at Virginia last Tuesday that went into overtime. But that Duke loss is going to be “tough to shake” and we expect there to be somewhat of a “carry over” from Saturday to tonight. Before Saturday, Notre Dame had been held to 60 points or less three different times this season. They’ve yet to cover off one of those performances. Play on NORTH CAROLINA

AAA

This is a 10* on ST JOHNS

Xavier finds itself right on the NCAA (Tournament) bubble and something tells us that the committee cares very little about the fact that the Musketeers have covered four straight games. What the committee will focus on is the fact they lost to Butler last Wednesday, 66-61, stopping a three-game SU win streak. They are 16-9 SU, but only 9-15-1 ATS and 5-11 ATS laying points. Tonight they go to St. John’s, who is off an 80-69 win over Providence. The Red Storm averages 77.7 points/game at home, so that’s something Xavier has to contend with here. There was a meeting back on Jan 5th, won by Xavier 75-67. But in an eight-point game, St. John’s was 1 for 16 on 3PA, which definitely cost them a cover (line was +8) and possibly even an upset win. With the kind of offense the Red Storm typically produces at home, we expect better shooting tonight. They are 9-5 ATS at home and just came up big in one revenge spot (vs. Providence) and can do the same here against a Xavier team that has a losing record in Big East play. The Musketeers were down by as many as 17 against Butler and only got close when the Bulldogs lost G Aaron Thompson to injury. Play on ST. JOHNS

AAA