|
Stephen Nover |
|
|---|---|---|
| I have had only two losing season in pro football in my handicapping career. I have the best sources in the business thanks to more than 25 years as a sportswriter, handicapper and analyst. |
| YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
NBA | Oct 20, 2021 Celtics vs Knicks |
UNDER 216½ -107 |
Lost $107.0 |
| Play Type: Free | ||
| This should be an intense opening game between two long-time division rivals. Tom Thibodeau transformed the Knicks into being the top defensive team in the NBA last season. New York gave up a league-low 104.7 points a game. There's a good chance center Mitchell Robinson will be healthy enough to play for the Knicks. That would be an added plus for the Under as Robinson is an excellent shot blocker, but limited offensively. Brad Stevens made a great head coaching hire in Ime Udoka. He's a no-nonsense coach. The Celtics should be improved defensively. They no longer have Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier and Tristan Thompson. That's a plus for defense and a minus for offense. Jaylen Brown, who was the Celtics' second-leading scorer at 24.7 points last season, is on the COVID list and questionable to play. If Brown does suit up, he likely won't be at 100 percent. | ||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
MLB | Oct 20, 2021 Astros vs Red Sox |
Astros +112 at pinnacle |
Won $112 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
|
By stunning the Red Sox with a seven-run ninth inning last night, the Astros have regained momentum in this AL championship series. I believe Houston should have opened the favorite. So I'm on the Astros at a plus price. The Red Sox have pounded the ball during the postseason. But the Astros have the best offense in baseball. Houston is averaging 6.9 runs in its last 11 games. The pitching matchup is Framber Valdez versus Chris Sale. Those two pitched against each other this past Friday and Houston won, 5-4. Valdez is 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in six career playoff games, including five starts. Valdez is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four lifetime appearances against the Red Sox, including two starts. Sale hasn't been effective down the stretch. He has a 14.73 ERA in the playoffs this season and a lifetime 6.91 ERA in six career postseason starts. Sale's big name and past accomplishments don't come close to matching how poorly he's pitching now. |
||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
NBA | Oct 20, 2021 Bulls vs Pistons |
Bulls -5 -103 at pinnacle |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
|
Both the Bulls and Pistons were bad last season. The Pistons still are going to be bad with the youngest lineup in the NBA. The Bulls, though, should be much improved. Chicago has surrounded emerging superstar Zach LaVine with veteran stars DeMar DeRozan and Nkila Vucevic while solving its point guard issue by acquiring Lonzo Ball. The Bulls looked good in preseason going 4-0. They should have no trouble covering this small number against the Pistons, who are unlikely to have rookie Cade Cunningham, the first overall pick in the draft. Cunningham hasn't been able to go through a full practice this week because of an ankle injury. |
||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
NBA | Oct 20, 2021 Kings vs Blazers |
Kings +5½ -110 at linepros |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
| Portland could start slow under new coach Chauncey Billups. The Trail Blazers struggled through preseason going 0-4. Billups was quoted as saying Portland is further away than he thought they might be at this stage. The Kings have talent and depth. I'm expecting improvement from them. Sacramento went 4-0 in preseason. One of the Kings' preseason victories was 107-93 against the Trail Blazers although Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum didn't play. A key for the Kings is better defense. Ball hawking rookie Davion Mitchell can make an impact on defense. Portland enters this season having failed to cover eight of the past 11 times as a home favorite. | ||
|
SERVICE BIO |
|---|
|
Sports gaming writer for Las Vegas Review-Journal 1984-1997. Professional handicapper since 1999. Author of three books - Las Vegas Sportsbeat, Sportsgaming Beat, Winning Fantasy Football. Taught sports betting at UNLV. Former co-host of the Sunday Night Stardust Line sports gaming radio show. Was part-time oddsmaker and analyst for Roxy Roxborough. Recognized NFL expert with 21 of 23 winning seasons. |
More college basketball handicappers who help clients beat the odds: