Sports Handicapper Nick Parsons's Picks & Predictions

This is an 8* ROUT on the Hurricanes.

With a chance to take a strangle-hold on this series, I think Carolina will do just that here in New York.

Carolina's offense was firing on all cylinders in its come back in Game 2, scoring five unanswered goals and I believe that momentum gets carried over here: “Just the momentum of us tying the game, and the energy that it sends — I don't really know how to describe it, you get a whole juice that just hits you," said Carolina forward Jordan Martinook after.

New York is down 0-2 and it's also in a big mental hole after that collapse in Game 2.

Caorlina won both regular season games here and I expect that trend to continue.

Lay the price, the play is CAROLINA.

Good luck, NP

This is a 10* TOTAL BEST BET on the OVER Cavs/Magic.

The first two games of this series have gone well UNDER the number, but I think this Game 3 and the shift in venue will spark this Magic offense finally, and I look for this competitive contest to fly OVER the number sooner, rather than later because of that.

The Cavs have a commanding 2-0 lead, but Orlando was 29-12 at home this year, including 27-13 ATS. 

I think the Magic will put forth their best effort here. Also note that they've seen the total go OVER the number in eight of their last 11 in trying to avenge a road loss vs. an opponent in which it was held to 95 or fewer points in.

With each team pushing the pace like I anticipate from start to finish, everything points to this total finally flying OVER the posted number.

Good luck, NP

This is a 10* TOTAL BK on the OVER Jays/Royals.

We have two really decent starters going head-to-head here in this getaway game, but after the first three games have all gone UNDER the number, I'm finally expecting some offensive fireworks here on Thursday afternoon.

Toronto goes with Jose Berrios (4-0, 0.85 ERA) who has been unbelievable, but who clearly is poised for regression.

And the home side counters with Cole Ragans (0-2, 4.32), who hasn't been terrible or anything, but certainly nothing to write home about.

The overall situation though for this one definitely points to much more of a "slug-fest" than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe in my opinion, so the play is the OVER.

Good luck, NP