Scott Rickenbach

NHL Double Perfect Play - 10* Top Play Tampa Bay Lightning +103 @ St Louis Blues @ 8:08 ET - St Louis is a solid team but they had been struggling recently before a win in most recent game. Tampa Bay is the defending two-time Stanley Cup champs and proving they can win even without guys like Point and Kucherov. That is the backdrop here and I love having the Bolts as an underdog as that is a rather rare occurrence. So now as for the double perfect situation. The Lightning are off a loss and are a perfect 4-0 L4 times off a loss. The Blues are a off a win and are an ugly 0-6 the last 6 times they have entered a game off a win. Give me the Lightning in this combined 10-0 spot! 10* TAMPA BAY +103

NBA Total of the Month - 10* Top Play OVER 218 in Toronto Raptors vs Memphis Grizzlies @ 7:40 ET - The over is 7-0 in Grizzlies last 7 games. The over is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 games. I know long-term the games between these teams at Toronto have trended under but the over is 2-1 in 3 most recent meetings between these clubs and the way they are going right now I expect plenty of scoring. Memphis has allowed 117 points per game in road games this season. Toronto allowing 108 per game at home this season and overall has had held only one opponent under 109 points in last 9 games! In the other 8 games, the Raptors allowed average of 116 points per game! You can see why I am projecting this game to get well into the 220s if not 230s as neither one of these teams has been showing a ton of commitment on the defensive end and plus this is a non-conference match-up and those generally tend to have less intensity defensively. Both teams have games on deck that are in-conference games that will garner more intensity defensively. As a result, look for tonight to be a free-flowing game with plenty of points. Yes, Ja Morant is now out for the Grizzlies but they scored 128 in first game without him and it was not a fluke. They only hit 13 of 39 threes but it was simply a fast-paced game and I look for another one here. 10* OVER 218 in Toronto

CBB Game of the Month - 10* Top Play Pittsburgh Panthers +3 vs Minnesota Golden Gophers @ 7 ET - Part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. I know that Pittsburgh has disappointed early this season but there were some foul trouble factors in their most recent loss to UMBC and the Retrievers also were insanely hot from 3-point land in that game. The Panthers will bounce back here and as I mentioned in my November 14th write-up about Minnesota: "The Golden Gophers are in rebuild mode. Yes Minnesota is a Big Ten school and is commanding more respect from the betting markets than an Ivy League school does but this is merely serving to give us some extra line value here with a solid Princeton team." Ultimately I lost that pick with the underdog Tigers in double OT but my feelings are the same and this Minny team now facing its first true road game tough test. Pitt is normally a tough place to play and I know that has not been the case early this season but this Panthers team can turn the tables in a hurry and I know they will come out highly motivated in this one and I expecting a massive effort. Love the fact that the betting markets saw this line open up at 2.5 with an undefeated Minnesota team taking on a 2-4 Panthers team. You know the world is going to be lining up on the Gophers here. In typical contrarian fashion, give me the home dog no one will want in this one. 10* PITTSBURGH 

EPL Total of the Month - 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 goals in Leeds United vs Crystal Palace @ 3:15 ET - Crystal Palace used to be known for their low-scoring ways and getting involved in many defensive low-scoring matches but that just has not been as prevalent this season. In fact, Crystal Palace is averaging 1.5 goals per match on the road this season. Trouble is they are allowing 2 goals per match away on enemy pitch this season. Leeds United will be ready to take full advantage of that as they need a victory on their home pitch. I look for them to respond off a disappointing result as Leeds is just above the relegation zone at this 1/3 point in the season and coming off a goal-less stalemate against Brighton & Hove. Crystal Palace has conceded 5 times in last two matches but also has scored an average of 2 goals last 4 matches! There were 7 goals scored in the two matches between these clubs last season. More of the same expected here as Leeds responds after being held scoreless last week but the visitors continue their attacking high-scoring push. 10* OVER 2.5 in Leeds United

EPL Earliest Cash - 8* OVER 2.5 goals in Newcastle United vs Norwich City @ 2:30 ET - Norwich has been a much better club since Dean Smith took over. In their two matches since he took over they have battled hard for a scoreless draw versus Wolverhampton last week and they defeated Southampton 2-1 the prior week. That scoreless draw may not inspire much confidence about this over today but, the fact is, Newcastle has some injuries to defense and no club has conceded more goals this season than they have. By the way, the 2nd highest total of goals conceded is Norwich. Now, again want to say that Norwich is a different club under Smith but this is a match where both clubs see a rare opportunity to pick up a much-needed full 3 points in the table. They each see this as a winnable match and these are the bottom two teams in the table. They will both go hard on the attack in this one in my opinion as a result. I do not see either club delivering a clean sheet nor do I see this game ending 1-1 either as both clubs so badly need the full 3 points here. So look for nothing less than a 2-1 final in this one and that gets us the cash. 8* OVER 2.5 goals in Newcastle

EPL Free Pick - Norwich City +0.5 goals -110 @ Newcastle United @ 2:30 ET - The value of the 1/2 goal could prove invaluable here! Newcastle is still without win on the season and a win or draw would get us the cash with Norwich City in this one. I know the visitors have had a very rough season thus far but they have looked better since Dean Smith took over and I look for them to be in this one all the way and I will challenge the hosts to do something (win) that they have yet to do in 13 matches this season. Remember, win OR draw for the visitors here gets us the cash! Free Pick Norwich City +0.5 goals -110