Scott Rickenbach

Situational Slaughter - Rickenbach NHL Saturday 10* Top Play New York Islanders Money Line +120 @ Florida Panthers @ 6:05 ET - Islanders will respond off an embarrassing season-opening loss to a good Carolina team. I know the Panthers did open their season with a win but it took OT to do it and they knocked off a Penguins team that is hurting early this season and missing some key personnel. I think Florida could regress some this season and I still really like the Isles. That said, from a situational standpoint and value standpoint, this is a great spot to back a road dog. High quality team that rarely ever allows so many goals in a game. The road team responds here and gets back on track by producing their typical stingy game on defense. 10* NEW YORK ISLANDERS +120

ACTION on pitchers. Afternoon Annihilation - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #903 Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 8.5 runs in Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox @ 4:20 ET - Same thing as yesterday and though it took a 9th inning run to push that one over the total it should not have come down to that as both teams reached double digits in hits. As shown in yesterday's write-up: "Would recommend playing this at a sports book that gives you action on totals wagers. I just do not care who the starting pitchers are in this one. This match-up features two very hot lineups. Boston has scored 6.3 runs per game last 7 games. Houston has scored 7.7 runs per game last 7 games. The posted total on this game is 8 runs (8.5 today) and we are talking about American League baseball here so there are designated hitters too instead of the pitchers having to bat. It is simply a high value spot here no matter who the starting pitchers are..." but I will mention that it is expected to be Nathan Eovaldi for Boston and Luis Garcia for Houston. Eovaldi has been great but did get hit hard and rocked by Astros when he faced them this season. Garcia got hammered in his only post-season start thus far. More of the same here. 10* OVER 8.5 runs in Houston

ESPN+ Smash Pass - Rickenbach CFL Saturday 10* Top Play Calgary Stampeders +3.5 @ BC Lions @ 7 ET - I am very tempted to take the Stamps on the money line here but the trade off of losing 3.5 points to have a +150 money line is just not worth it in my opinion. But I really do expect an outright win for the road dogs in this one. This line has gone from nearly a pick'em to now catching 3.5 points. Keep in mind, BC lost star WR Lucky Whitehead to injury. Yes the Lions are coming off a bye week and the Stampeders are off back to back wins over rival Saskatchewan, but I still feel we have excellent line value here. Calgary is a very strong team that is now finally starting to play back up  to their potential again. As for the Lions, they are only 1-4 in divisional games this season! I am still not sold on this BC team and also the road team has dominated their games this season. The Lions are 3-1 on the road and just 1-3 at home. So, playing the road team in BC games all season long would have netted you a 6-2 record. Again, I do expect an outright road upset here but getting 3.5 is a strong value to have and I will not pass that up. 10* CALGARY +3.5

Total of the Month - Rickenbach CFB Saturday 10* Top Play OVER 51.5 in Boise State Broncos vs Air Force Falcons @ 9 ET - The Broncos have averaged 39.5 points scored in their last two meetings with Air Force. Yes, the Falcons overall defensive numbers look good this season but this team allowed 49 points to Utah State and will struggle to stop Boise State here. The Broncos are known for being a tough team to play against at Albertsons Stadium and they are also fired up to respond after recent home losses this season. I look for Boise State to make a statement in this game but, at the same time, I expect them to struggle to stop the Falcons option attack on offense. The Broncos have struggled some against the run this season and are also off a hard-fought physical win at BYU. Look for the Falcons to score plenty of points here too but the AF defense will not be able to stop the potent attack for the Broncos! Each of these teams is averaging in the low 30s for points scored this season and the weather is going to be very nice in Boise this evening as well. Look for this game to find its way into the 60s and yet this total is posted just north of 50. I will take it! 10* OVER 51.5 in Boise State

Money Line Game of the Year - Rickenbach CFB Saturday 10* Top Play Ole Miss Rebels -135 @ Tennessee Volunteers @ 7:30 ET - This line is currently a -2.5 but, with the money line available as low as -135, I feel it is worth laying the price to turn a 1-point or 2-point win for the road team from a loss to a win! Ole Miss has faced a tougher schedule than Tennessee. Yes the Volunteers defense has looked better than that of the Rebels but scheduling has had something to do with that too. The Rebels are 4-1 SU this season and the only loss was to an Alabama team that, despite the upset loss to A & M, is still one of the best teams in the nation no doubt. The two SEC teams that Ole Miss has faced are a combined 9-3 SU on the season. Tennessee, on the other hand, has two SEC wins over teams that are just .500 on the season and are a combined 0-5 in SEC games this season! Their only game against a tough SEC team saw the Vols get rolled 38-14 at Florida! Keep in mind the Volunteers also lost at home to Pittsburgh and the Panthers are another team that is just .500 on the season and is winless in their conference games. Yes Tennessee will score plenty of points here but they won't outscore Ole Miss in my opinion. The Rebels have the better and more dynamic offense and this is even with facing the tougher schedule overall. Also note that the Rebels are 5-1 ATS in last 6 meetings in this series for those of you that like historical data. 10* OLE MISS -135

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CFB 8* Rice Owls +17.5 @ UTSA Roadrunners @ 6 ET - UTSA is starting to wear down some. I know they are still undefeated on the season but this will be their 7th game in 7 weeks and they have been on the road twice in past three weeks and had to battle hard for victories. This is a banged up Roadrunners team that is starting to tire out. The Runners should still get a win here but, keep in mind, each of their last 3 wins have been by 7 or less points. Now UTSA faces a rested Rice team that has played the tougher schedule. Granted the Owls are not a strong team but they are off back to back wins plus a week of rest so this sets up well for them to stay inside the big number posted on this one. 8* RICE +17.5

Total of the Week - 10* OVER 2.5 in Brentford - Chelsea is a machine right now and sitting at the top of table. Chelsea is scoring an average of 2 goals per match. I know Brentford was known for lower-scoring matches earlier in the season but look at what they have been doing of late. Brentford, across all competitions, has scored 2 or more goals in 4 straight! In fact, thanks to a 7-0 win outside the league during this 4 match stretch (other 3 were league games), Brentford has scored an average of 3.5 goals in last 4 matches! Chelsea is 3-1 last 4 matches in league action and scored 3 goals in each of the 3 victories! I do not see either team being held off the scoresheet here and, as a result, am expecting nothing less than 2-1 final here as you know Brentford will be gunning hard for the upset but the scoring talent of these visitors can not be underestimated. It is why the travelers are favored by 1 goal on the spread (goal line) for this match. 10* OVER 2.5 in Brentford 

Earliest Cash - 8* OVER 2.5 in Leeds - Southampton is giving up an average of 2 goals per match when on the road this season. Leeds United has allowed an average of 2 goals per match on the season. You can see why I would not be surprised to see each club get to to 2 goals in this match and yet we are working with a low total of just 2.5 goals here. I'll take it! Two clubs that have combined for just one victory on the season so both clubs will be going hard for the victory here and unlikely to want to settle for a draw. In other words, this does not end 1-1. It gets to at least 2-1 in my estimation and that is why I am pulling the trigger on this one. 8* OVER 2.5 in Leeds United

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach EPL Saturday Free Pick OVER 3 goals in Watford vs Liverpool @ 7:30 AM ET - Watford is averaging a goal per match this season and Liverpool allowing an average of a goal per match this season. On their home pitch, Watford should be able to find the back of the net at least once. That said, it is also worth noting that Liverpool is favored by 1.5 on the goal line for a reason. Liverpool is scoring an average of 2.5 goals per match on the season. I am looking for a 3-1 final in this one as the visitors stay hot but the hosts put up enough fight to at least avoid being handed a clean sheet by Liverpool in this one. Free Pick OVER 3 goals in Watford