Scott Rickenbach

NHL Tuesday 8* play Philadelphia Flyers +1.5 goals -155 vs New York Islanders @ 7:35 ET - These teams just met in New York and the Flyers outshot the Islanders. Philly went with back-up goalie Sandstrom in that one and a 2-2 game entering the 3rd period ended up a 5-2 loss. However, Tuesday it will be Carter Hart in goal and he is generally very strong at home and, after the game off, should be back on top of his game here. Look for Flyers to get payback here and, if they do fall short, look for it to be by just a single goal. Value in the puck line here at +1.5 goals but with the -155 price range, we will reduce our star rating on this one from 10* top to an 8* play. Prior to the 5-2 win over Philly, the Islanders last 11 games had featured only 2 wins by more than 1-goal margin. For the Flyers, they have been mired in a losing slump but this looks like the perfect situation and match-up to snap that and if they do fall short, it will likely be in OT or SO. They are going to put up a fierce fight here and match up well with the Islanders. 8* PHILADELPHIA +1.5 -155

CBB Tuesday 10* Top Play Penn State Nittany Lions +2 @ Clemson Tigers @ 7 ET - Clemson was in Florida for a tournament while Penn State was in their home state of Pennsylvania and facing Lafayette this past weekend. The situation here favors the Nittany Lions here even though they are on the road. I love taking small road dogs too as a lot of time people are so enticed to grab those home teams with a small line but oftentimes the line is just that...an enticement. When the situational factors are right, these road teams can be pure gold. Clemson is 5-2 this season but the 5 teams they have beaten have a combined record of 11-23. Penn State has only one loss this season and it was to a Hokies team that is now 7-1 on the season. Nittany Lions allowing only 62.5 points per game this season and I sense a road upset here but will grab the added insurance of having the points on our side in this one. 10* PENN STATE +2

NBA Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 227.5 in Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors @ 7:30 ET - Golden State had one ugly loss to New Orleans recently where they did not score well at all. Removing that one outlier from the sample, the Warriors have scored 124 points per game in their games since November 14th. They also have allowed 117.4 points per game in their last 5 games! The Mavericks have lost 3 straight games and allowed 118 per game in their last 3 games. So Mavericks give up a pile here but this line is right around a pick'em for a reason. In other words, plenty of points here. 10* OVER 227.5 in Dallas

Romania Liga 1 Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 2 in Chindia Targoviste vs Universitatea Craiova @ Noon ET - Universitatea Craiova is undefeated last 5 matches and has scored an average of 1.6 goals during this solid stretch! Chindia Targoviste is also playing much better and has gone undefeated in last 7 matches. They have scored an average of 1.6 goals per match during this stretch. Given these numbers, you can see why I am expecting at least 3 goals in this one. These teams have a history of low-scoring battles with each of the last 4 meetings finishing as 1-0 finals. However, that is merely serving to keep this total lower than it should be. We should be forced to play a 2.5 here but there are 2s out there and it is a great value. Also, the layoff for each team is 2 and 1/2 weeks so with rustiness on the pitch come some mistakes which tend to lead to quality scoring chances. 10* OVER 2 in Chindia Targoviste

World Cup Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 2 goals -120 in Iran vs United States @ 2 ET - If the USA does not score a goal they are going home. If USA does score a goal then Iran must answer or they are going home. That is the key in this knockout game. I just can't see USA not being very aggressive on the attack and making sure the net ripples. This is their chance. A win and they are in. No questions asked. I know the USA does not have a good history of scoring goals but they can have some success against this Iran team for sure. Iran surprised Wales 2-0 but before that got rocked 6-2 by England. 6 of the last 8 matches for Iran have totaled at least 2 goals. This is simply another case where one team, in this case USA, has to go for it and have to be aggressive on the attack to get that early goal. Then it forces Iran to have to answer or they are finished. A draw here does not help USA so they will be aggressive and, though England should beat Wales the fact is Iran is in trouble if they don't. If Wales gets the upset and Iran loses this match then they don't advance. So I just don't see this match ending with anything less than 1-1 but absolutely expecting an entertaining battle to end in a 2-1 final at least. 10* OVER 2 in Iran

World Cup Tuesday 10* Top Play OVER 2 goals -120 in Ecuador vs Senegal @ 10 AM ET - I look for goals here and like the value of over 2. Both Ecuador and Senegal know that a win is likely for Netherlands over Qatar. That means that Senegal can not settle for a draw here. If they win they are in. That means Senegal pushes hard to get on the board here. They will be on the attack. But you know Ecuador will battle back too. Because they need at least a draw here to advance. So I am looking for a 1-1 final at the very least and, of course, we do not want a push. But there is extra value in this total set at 2 goals. This is the point is the value but we should see 3 here the way I see it as Senegal must play an aggressive game on the attack here. Senegal is off a 3-1 win and each of their last 5 matches have totaled at least 2 goals. Ecuador trends toward lower-scoring matches long-term but the first two matches they have had in the World Cup did reach two goals and, again, Senegal can not afford to just sit back in this match. They must go strong for the win. 10* OVER 2 in Ecuador