Sports Betting
Sunday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Rangers-Islanders, Kings-Penguins, Rutgers-Minnesota
Another back-to-back 3-0 days for the Winning Picks. The Florida Panthers crushed Tampa to win our moneyline bet. The under was able to cover with ease in the St. Joseph’s/Duquesne. And thanks to a 41 point game by Blake Hinson, Pitt was able to cover against Louisville. We moved to 159-114-3 on the year.
Though it will not be a part of the official Winning Picks for today, I wanted to discuss the NBA All-Star game, taking place tonight in Indy. This will be the first time the NBA has returned to East/West format since 2017. Over the last several years, it has been a team captain format, now we are back to a more traditional All-Star game.
I won’t have an official pick for this game as anything can happen in these types of games, but I do have 2 All-Star game MVP bets, one for the East and one for the West. Though I was able to get this bet at 13/1 a few days ago, Pacers forward Tyrese Haliburton has dropped to +600 on ESPN Bet. He is tied now for the shortest odds with Giannis, but I believe it is still pretty good value given that Haliburton can be a volume scorer. For reference, he scored 18 points in 14 minutes off the bench in last year’s All-Star game. Now he’s a starter.
For the West, I am going with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 11/1. Another first time starter, he is also a volume scorer and was able to drop 9 points in only 10 minutes off the bench last year. The West squad will need Shai to have a great game, as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic usually play their C game in these games and LeBron James could restrict his minutes tonight. Gilgeous-Alexander could fill up the box score tonight for the West and take home MVP.
Now time for the Winning Picks!
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New York Rangers (-140) vs New York Islanders O/U 5.5 NHL Stadium Series 3:00 PM on ABC
After the New Jersey Devils took care of the Philadelphia Flyers at Metlife Stadium last night, the Rangers and Islanders will clash at the home of the Giants/Jets this afternoon. This will be the second time these teams have met in a Stadium Series game. The Rangers beat the Islanders 2-1 in 2014 at Yankee Stadium.
This will be the first outdoor game for Islanders since that day at Yankee Stadium and the first for the Rangers since a 2018 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field. When you look at the Rangers record in Stadium Series/Winter Classic games, you would think they would pressure the NHL to play more. The Rangers are 4-0 in outdoor games, granted that was with Henrik Lundqvist in net, but that is still very impressive. I believe the Rangers remain perfect and get the win today over the Islanders at Metlife.
Rangers Moneyline -140, New York Rangers 3 New York Islanders 1
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Los Angeles Kings at Pittsburgh Penguins (-135) O/U 5.5 6:00 PM on SportsNet Pittsburgh
I am very disappointed I can’t be in Pittsburgh this weekend for Jaromir Jagr’s jersey retirement ceremony. Jagr was my favorite player growing up, as he was for a lot of fellow Pittsburgh hockey fans. I still have his poster on my wall at home. I was in attendance for Game 6 of the 1999 playoffs against the Devils when Jagr put the team on his back on an injured leg and carried the Pens to a victory, keeping the season alive leading to a series win in Game 7 in Jersey. If the Penguins don’t win Game 6, they might’ve left Pittsburgh.
With Jagr being around this Pens team for the last few days, I can definitely see them playing with an added spark versus the Kings. It’s funny how the Penguins picked one of the only teams Jagr didn’t play for after he left Pittsburgh, maybe that was for the better. I believe the Pens will play like their hair is on fire tonight and get the win over the Kings, who are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Penguins Moneyline -135, Los Angeles Kings 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4
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Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Minnesota Golden Gophers (-4.5) O/U 130.5 6:30 PM on Big Ten Network
Death, Taxes, Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball covers. That has been the reality for anyone who has bet on the Golden Gophers men’s team in the 2023/2024 season. They currently boost at 21-3 against the spread record in their games this year. When they are a favorite in the game, they are 10-1 ATS. At home, they are 15-1 ATS!
So how does Minnesota keep covering? If you have watched any of their games this season, this team plays hard and fights for every loose ball. They grind out opponents with their toughness, even if they don’t come out with a win in the end like against Purdue on Thursday. Rutgers is a much better team at home versus being on the road. I think they will give Minnesota a good fight, but in the end, the Gophers will cover again.
Minnesota Covers -4.5, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 63 Minnesota Golden Gophers 70
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