The 7-3 Bruins are off a rare loss, never a good sign for the next opposing team. Columbus has been giving up vast numbers of goals, 38 in their last 6 games alone.  The Columbus goal tending situation is unclear tonight, but it will likely be Swayman  in net for the Bruins.  He has "just" a pair of shutouts in his last four games.  With the best defense and PK in the business, the Bruins allow very few goals.  They don't usually win big, but today could be an exception. That loss in their last game should keep them focused against a very weak opponent.  Columbus also has Laine and four defensemen out today. Take the Bruins on the puck line today at -1 1/2.

I like UAB to win the NIT. The Blazers’ only loss in their last 13 games came to FAU in the C-USA Tourney Final and they (UAB) were actually favored over a team that’s now in the Final 4 of the “Big Dance.” 

With North Texas also involved here, it’s an all Conference USA Final. In addition to FAU’s run, Charlotte has already won the CBI, so what an impressive run by this league in March. This is the fourth meeting between North Texas & UAB this season. North Texas won both in the regular season, but UAB got revenge in the conference tournament with a 76-69 win as 1-point favorites. 

North Texas needed a bit of a miracle to get by Wisconsin in its last game. The Badgers didn’t score over the game’s final nine minutes. Tip your cap to the Mean Green defense, but this is a team that needed OT to get by Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals as well. 

I’m just not sure North Texas can generate enough offense here. They’ve barely won the last two games, despite giving up an average of 54.5 points/game in regulation. Wisconsin did score 41 against them in the first half Tuesday. UAB averages 81.3 points/game, which is top 10 in the country.

Plus the potential absence of big man Abou Ousmane (team leader in rebounds and blocks) looms large for North Texas. Lay the points. 10*

We’ve got two teams on Under runs with Denver 6-0 to the Under in its last six games and New Orleans 17-7 Under in its last 24. But I think this number is far too low for a couple of teams that have both been shooting very well of late. 

Led by Nikola Jokic, Denver is one of the best offensive teams in the league. They’ve shot 50% or better from the floor in each of the last eight games. This really isn’t all that surprising considering they lead the league in FG% at 50.9. They are on the only team in the NBA above 50%. 

At home, the Nuggets are averaging 120.7 points/game, basically an increase of eight points/game over what they average on the road. Four of the last six games have come on the road. Expect the Nuggets to have success here offensively against a Pelicans team whose recent defensive output is slightly misleading. 

While New Orleans has allowed an average of just 100.0 points over its last five games, that includes facing San Antonio, Charlotte and Portland. The Pelicans just allowed 120 at Golden State the other night. 

I think we’ll see New Orleans shoot the three better than they have in either of the two previous matchups with Denver. The Over has hit in 7 of the Nuggets’ last 10 at home. 10* 

The Braves' starter Max Fried carried last year's success in to spring training and hasn't given up a run in the preseason.  Corbin, off two lost years, has been better in the spring, but we will have to see how that translates in seasonal play.  The Braves are first in batting through spring training, while the Nationals are 28th.  Washington made very few significant changes in the off season, and are facing likely the top team in the NL.  Anything can happen in baseball, but it is almost certain that the Braves will  win big.  Take Atlanta on the run line at -1 1/2. 7 stars!

The Astros lost their home opener yesterday, so will be all in to right the ship today. It is Lynn vs Javier, two very good pitchers with decent springs.  I'm wagering on Javier coming out on top.  His last star tin spring training was a 4 hit 5+ inning shutout.  This will be his year, and I think he will get it right, starting now.  Not to discount Lynn, but the Astros, are a formidable opponent, looking to repeat.  With superior pen and offense, they will bounce back today. 7 stars!

Charlotte has been a pesky spoiler over the last week, winning three times as an underdog of nine or more points. After beating Dallas twice, the Hornets put a dent in Oklahoma City’s playoff aspirations with a 137-134 win on Tuesday. 

Now they face the 10th place team in their own conference, Chicago, who has lost two in a row. The Bulls are still likely going to make the play-in tournament, but they haven’t helped themselves lately by allowing the Clippers and Lakers to both shoot over 50% from the floor. The Clippers shot it at a 59% clip against them on Monday.

I expect this to be another high-scoring contest. The Bulls have shot 51% or better in four straight, so offense hasn’t been the issue. They are averaging 116 points/game in that stretch. The team’s offensive rating has been way up this month.

Charlotte has been short-handed but that hasn’t seemed to matter. P.J. Washington had a career 43 points against OKC and the team shot 55% overall including 14 made threes. 

All three prior meetings between the teams this season have stayed Under. But we’re getting a great number here, IMO. Consider that the closing O/U lines for the last two meetings were 235 and 237. 10*

This is a likely first round playoff series as the 4th place Cavs (48-29) take on the 5th place Knicks (44-33). New York has won two of the three prior meetings, but all of those were at least two months ago. 

Cleveland has been an excellent home team all season (30-8 SU) not to mention they own the league’s second best overall point differential this season (trailing only Boston). They are #1 in defensive efficiency as well. It would be hard to argue the Cavs aren’t the favorite to win a first round series, against the Knicks or anyone outside the current top three in the East. 

The Knicks are just 5-6 SU/ATS over their previous 11 games, though they have won the last two, beating Houston and Miami. But both of those victories came at home. They’ve lost two in a row on the road, falling at Miami and Orlando.

The Cavs have already clinched a playoff berth and would lock up a top four seed with a win tonight. The Knicks would clinch a playoff spot with a win here, but unfortunately for them, they’ll be without Julius Randle. That is a significant loss as Randle is averaging 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game

Cleveland may be without some key pieces as well (Allen, Okoro), but being at home and wanting to wash away the bad taste of Wednesday’s loss in Atlanta should have them properly motivated in this one. The Cavs are 10-4-1 ATS L15 off a SU loss. 10*