Doc’s Sports

4-Unit Play. #026. Take Edmonton vs Detroit (Tuesday, January 22 at 9:05 p.m.)

As per your selection on Edmonton, we like the fact that their best player, Connor McDavid, called out the entire team by saying either work harder or get the hell out of Edmonton. The mild-mannered McDavid has never done this publicly before, and we just feel like the team is going to respond in a big way to their leader and best player in the NHL. Look, from the outside, it looks like Edmonton is in shambles. However, they are just three points out of a playoff spot and the teams above them are struggling themselves. This game is a great opportunity for them to build some momentum and carry it into the All-Star break by beating a Detroit team that has lost 2 straight and has just 3 wins in their last 10 games. The Wings have been on the road for a while now, playing 5 of their last 6 games in western Canada (one in Minnesota) including tonight. Tonight is also a great play against spot for the Red Wings as they are just 1-7 in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest, 1-4 in their last 5 Tuesday games and 4-10 in their last 14 vs the Pacific division. The Oilers have beaten the Wings in 4 of the last 5 games and we believe that trend is going to continue tonight with the Oilers getting a much-needed win.

5 Unit Play. Take #620 Kansas State over Texas Tech (7p.m., Tuesday, January 22 ESPN 2) Just do not feel the odds makers have a good feel for this Kansas State team. The line on Saturday against TCU was a joke and that is why we used it as our college game of the year. They are playing a better team tonight in Texas Tech, but the line is two points to low. Kansas State is just a different team with Dean Wade back in the line-up and playing at Bramlage Coliseum is always a tough task. The Wildcats are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games against Kansas State in Manhattan.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

Portland has a strong history in this series, they are in fine form right now, and they are one of the better betting teams in the NBA this season. This seems like too many points in a game where the Blazers can threaten for the straight up win. Portland has won six of the last seven meetings between these teams. The one where they didn’t was earlier this month in a two-point loss at home. Portland enters on a three-game winning streak and they have covered six of their last seven overall. They are playing very confident basketball right now and unless they just have an off night we just don’t see any way this won’t be a close game. These teams match up well. Both teams are coming in on a back-to-back but the Thunder had to travel from NY compared to Utah for Portland and that is a much easier travel schedule. We think there are a lot of factors that point to the road team tonight, and this also seems like an inflated spread.

Toronto is in good form right now and the Kings have been really bad in the second half of back-to-backs, and this one looks like a blowout on Tuesday. Sacramento has dropped seven straight against the spread on the second half of a back-to-back. The main problem is this team can’t score when fatigued. They average less than 105 PPG on the second end of a back-to-back, and that is down almost 10 points from their season scoring average. Toronto has won seven of their last eight games overall and they are playing well now. Their offense has been very good. If the Kings have trouble scoring again this one could get ugly early for them. Also, the Raps have covered in all of the last three meetings.