Sports Handicapper Jimmy Boyd's Picks & Predictions

4* NCAAB - Situational VEGAS INSIDER on Louisiana Tech +8½ -109

I really like the value here with Louisiana Tech as a decently priced dog at Mississippi State. Mississippi State is off to a strong 6-1 start and have covered 5 straight, but I think that has them getting a little too much respect here. 

This Louisiana Tech team is the real deal. They have 4 starters back from a team that managed to win 20 games last year despite being hit hard with injuries. Louisiana Tech is off to a strong 5-2 start with their only two losses coming by 10 at Creighton and by 13 at Indiana. Two teams I think are better than Mississippi State. 

Louisiana Tech can really disrupt teams with their defensive pressure. That combined with the experience they have at the guard position has them winning the turnover battle just about every time out. They have only lost the turnover battle twice all season and both times were a mere -2.

Louisiana Tech is 9-2-1 ATS last 12 vs a team that's won more than 60% of their games and 8-2 ATS last 10 as a road dog. Take Louisiana Tech! 

4* NHL - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER on Jets/Stars under 5½ -125

The OVER is worth a look in Thursday's NHL showdown between the Stars and Jets. These two just played at Winnipeg on Tuesday and combined for 6 goals with the Jets doing all the heavy lifting in a 5-1 win. It marked the 5th time in the Jets last 6 they scored 3 or more goals. It also marked the 4th straight game that Dallas allowed 3 or more goals. 

In the last 3 years these two teams have met 8 times and the OVER has cashed in 6 of those. OVER is also 14-3 in Winnipeg's last 17 after going 4 straight games holding a team to 2 or fewer goals. 

OVER is laos 24-7 (77%) over the last 5 seasons when you have a total of 5.5 where the road teams is off a home win by 3 or more against an opponent off 2 straight road losses. Take the OVER! 

1* NBA - Free Pick on New York Knicks +9½

I like the value here with the Knicks as a near double-digit dog at home against the Nuggets. This line has clearly been inflated in favor of Denver, as the perception on New York couldn't be much worse right now. Knicks have lost 7 straight and are fresh off a 132-88 blowout loss at Milwaukee. 

Any time a team gets embarrassed the way NY just did, they tend to bounce back with a big effort and that's what I'm counting on here from the Knicks. I also think they are catching the Nuggets at the right time. Denver is off back-to-back losses and their best player, Nikola Jokic is in a funk, as he's averaging just 9.0 ppg in his last 4 contests. 

Nuggets are also just 3-8 ATS last 11 road games against a team that's won fewer than 40% of their home games, while the Knicks are a profitable 6-2 ATS last 8 times they are coming off a loss of more than 10-points. Take New York! 

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5* NBA - Non-Conference PLAY OF THE MONTH on Raptors -2 -109

The Raptors are worth a look here as I think we are getting some exceptional value with Toronto laying a short number at home against the Rockets. Toronto comes into this off a crushing OT loss at home to Miami and they are 7-1 ATS last 8 times off a loss by more than 10 points. 

As for the Rockets, they will have had just 1-day off since their double-overtime loss at San Antonio on Tuesday. Five different players for Houston logged at least 40 minutes with Westbrook, Harden and Tucker all playing 48+. I just don't see the Rockets have a whole lot left in the tank in this one. 

That game against the Spurs ended 235-233 and that's worth noting, as Houston is a mere 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games following a contest that had 245 or more combined points. 

Also, underdogs that have won 60% to 70% of their games and are off a game that went over the total by 30 or more are just 5-26 (16%) ATS if they are playing a team with a winning record. Take Toronto!