Scott Rickenbach

Game of the Week total - Rickenbach NHL Game #27 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Calgary Flames vs Carolina Hurricanes @ 9:05 ET - Carolina has played 10 games since the calendar turned the page to 2019 and only 2 of the 10 have resulted in an under. Not only are the Hurricanes 7-2-1 to the over in their last 10 games, the Flames also come into this game on a hot "over" streak! Calgary is 10-1 to the over in their last 11 games. The Hurricanes have done a great job of generating shots on goal this season. The Flames have been red hot on the power play and certainly are going to be ultra aggressive all game long here in a match-up that is their final one before the All Star break. The Flames recent stretch of 11 games is not featuring match-ups just "sneaking" over the total either. Those 11 games dating back to December 31st have averaged 8.2 goals per game! Likewise, the Hurricanes 10 games this month are averaging 7.4 goals per game! Yes this total is a lofty one at 6.5 but it is absolutely justified as it is hard to foresee either team being held below 3 goals in this one. In fact, the Canes have scored at least 4 goals in 7 of their last 10 games. The Flames have scored at least 4 goals in 9 of their last 11 games and have not been held below 3 goals in ANY of those 11 games. Non-conference match-ups also have a tendency to be higher scoring and I look for a wild one at the Saddledome tonight in Alberta. 10* OVER the total in Calgary 

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Game #22 Tuesday Free Pick Ottawa Senators Money Line (-) vs Arizona Coyotes @ 7:35 ET - I know the Coyotes have been playing better and also have a surprisingly solid road record this season. However, Arizona has one more game tomorrow (at Montreal) before their time off for the All Star break begins. Conversely, this is the Senators final game before their break and they're definitely going to "leave it all on the ice" here. Ottawa has been quite solid at home this season but is coming off a road loss at St Louis Saturday which was decided on a controversial goal. The Senators are well-rested here with 2 full days off since the loss to the Blues. Also, prior to that defeat Ottawa had won 4 of their 5 prior games. Also, the Sens have allowed an average of just 2 goals per game in their last 6 games. The Coyotes have lost 8 of their last 11 visits to Ottawa. The Senators take advantage of their extra rest while Arizona is in a tough stretch of 5 games in 8 days leading into the All Star break. Free Pick OTTAWA

Game of the Week total - Rickenbach CBB Game #603 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Kentucky Wildcats vs Mississippi State Bulldogs @ 7 ET - Two very talented teams matched up here and they are loaded with balanced scoring. I don't see the Bulldogs as being able to slow down the Wildcats scorers at Kentucky. In fact the over is 5-0 in Mississippi State's last 5 road games at Kentucky. Though the Bulldogs won't be able to stop the Cats here, note that Mississippi State ranks 2nd in the SEC for number of 3-pointers made this season. Both of these teams have been lighting it up overall from the floor as well as from beyond the arc. Kentucky is averaging 80 points per game and the Bulldogs are averaging 79 points per game this season. Yes there will be some defensive intensity in this key SEC battle but note that this can also lead to turnovers and quick transition points and both of these teams have been lethal at making teams pay for mistakes. Overall, Mississippi State enters this game having gone 4-1 to the over in their last 5 games. Another key factor here is that the spread on this game has the Wildcats favored by about a half dozen points. This game is indeed likely to be quite close late and that means plenty of late fouls and trips the free throw line could result as the trailing team won't give up without a fight. Again, the ability of each team to knock down threes will also be key at that late stage in the game should we need "scramble points" like this in the final minutes. 10* OVER the total in Kentucky

PA Insider - Rickenbach CBB Game #607 Tuesday 8* Villanova Wildcats (+) @ Butler Bulldogs @ 7 ET - The Wildcats have been relying heavily on a couple key players but that is where the scheduling situation here favors them. While Butler did have two days off leading into this game and has two days off after it, Villanova's scheduling situation is even better. They have been off for 3 days heading into this game and also have 4 full off days after this game. That means Wildcats coach Jay Wright has no limits with how much he plays his top guys in this one. Villanova is 12-2 SU in their last 14 games and the only two defeats came by just 3 points each. Suffice to say the Wildcats are a tough team to beat and I like having the dog in this match-up. Yes this is a revenge game for the Bulldogs considering Nova knocked them out of the Big East tourney last year. However, Villanova has lost their last two visits to Butler (including last season) and they are looking for road payback here. The Wildcats are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games away from home. Butler has won just 3 of its last 12 games SU versus the Cats. Look for the dog to prove they're still the team to beat in the Big East! 8* VILLANOVA

NBA TV Smash Pass - Rickenbach NBA Game #531 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers @ 8:05 ET - The Blazers are off a win at Utah last night that stayed under the total. Of course Jazz games are known for trending toward being lower scoring match-ups. However Portland was on a 5-1 run to the over entering last night's contest and I fully expect the high-scoring ways to resume at Oklahoma City tonight. Why? Because the Thunder certainly have been in run and gun mode for an extended stretch. With their big win at New York yesterday afternoon, OKC is on a 6-1 run to the over. Also, the Thunder are on a 13-6 run to the over this season as a home favorite. With this game played at a good pace and with some weary legs on defense considering this is a back to back spot, look for little resistance from the D for long stretches in this one. The recent over trending of both teams resumes in this one Tuesday. 10* OVER the total in Oklahoma City