Sports Handicapper Matt Fargo's Picks & Predictions

This is a play on the MINNESOTA WILD for our NHL Sunday Breakaway. Minnesota is coming off a rare home loss last night as it blew a late 2-1 lead by allowing two third period goals against the Sabres. The Wild are now three points behind Nashville, which defeated los Angeles last night, in the Central Division and are still sitting in second place in the Western Conference. Minnesota is 14-5 in its last 19 games after a loss by one goal in their previous game. The offensive struggles continue for Chicago as it lost to the Kings in a shootout on Friday. The Blackhawks have scored three goals or less in 10 straight games including two goals or fewer in seven of those games. They are averaging just 2.65 gpg on the season which is seventh fewest in the league. They lost the first meeting this season to Minnesota in overtime so while revenge is in play, Chicago is 4-21 in its last 25 games revenging a loss of one goal or less. Additionally, we play on road teams of -100 to -150 playing their 3rd game in four days, with a winning percentage between .501 and .600 playing a losing team. This situation is 54-21 (72 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (55) Minnesota Wild

This is a play on the HAMILTON TIGER-CATS for our CFL Game of the Week. Hamilton is coming off a blowout victory over B.C. last week in the first round of the playoffs and despite the 9-10 record, this is the most dangerous team remaining in the playoffs. The Tiger-Cats are the only team in the league that were ranked in the top three in both total offense and total defense and they finished with the best yardage differential at +72 ypg. Revenge does not really come into play this time of the year based on what is at stake but the history plays a role as Hamilton lost all three meetings to Ottawa this season and the significant part is that the Tiger-Cats were favored in all three meetings and are now catching points. Ottawa had the luxury of a bye last week but momentum is more important at this point of the season. Here, we play on underdogs or pickems after failing to cover the spread in two out of their last three games, with a winning percentage between .400 and .499 in the second half of the season. This situation is 42-15 ATS (73.7 percent) since 1996. 10* (663) Hamilton Tiger-Cats

This is a play on the NEW YORK KNICKS for our NBA Sunday Enforcer. Orlando is coming off one of its best games of the season as it scored a season-high 130 points in its 13-point win over the defenseless Lakers. The Magic have now won two straight, four of five and six of their last eight games but coming off a glamour game like last night, this presents a huge letdown situation. The Knicks are off to an expectedly poor start as a loss in New Orleans on Friday was their fourth straight and sixth in their last seven games. New York is one of two teams yet to record a win over a top 16 team as it is 0-7 but is a much more respectable 4-5 against the rest of the league and that is where Orlando falls. Orlando has been favored only twice all season and failed to cover either of those games. Here, we play on road underdogs after failing to cover five or six of their last seven games against the spread going up against an opponent after having covered two of their last three games against the spread. This situation is 151-92 ATS (62.1 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (707) New York Knicks

This is a play on the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS as part of our NFL Sunday Afternoon Trifecta. The Colts are starting to hit their stride with three straight wins, albeit against weak opponents, following a four-game losing streak. Despite a 4-5 record, Indianapolis has outgained all but three opponents and this is a much needed win to keep pace with the Texans in the AFC South. This is the second of three straight home games and this is where the Colts need to make their move and we are getting a short price in doing so. The Titans are coming off an upset win over New England but that was at home where they are 3-1 and they are just 2-3 on the highway although one of those losses came in London. While Tennessee leads the league in scoring defense, it is just No. 12 in defensive efficiency while the offense checks in at No. 24. Here, we play against road underdogs or pickems off an upset win by 14 points or more as an underdog, with a winning percentage of between .450 and .550 on the season. This situation is 32-10 ATS (76.2 percent) since 1983. 9* (462) Indianapolis Colts

This is a play on the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES as part of our NFL Sunday Afternoon Trifecta. The bad news is that Philadelphia is 4-5 but the good news is that it trails first place Washington by just two games with two games still remaining against the Redskins. The task at hand this week is a challenge but we are not concerned about the outright win, just the fact the Eagles are getting over a touchdown. The Saints have been cruising along with eight straight wins since losing their season opener against the Buccaneers. While they have been winning most of their games big, they have actually been outgained in four of their nine games and their average yardage differential is not much higher than that of the Eagles. The recent run and the up and down nature of Philadelphia is playing a major role in this number that is overinflated. Here, we play against home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points in the second half of the season in a game involving two teams that are +/- 0.4 yppl, after outgaining their last opponent by 150 or more total yards. This situation is 35-12 ATS (74.5 percent) since 1983. 9* (459) Philadelphia Eagles

This is a play on the DETROIT LIONS as part of our NFL Sunday Afternoon Trifecta. The Detroit playoff hopes are dwindling quickly and this is the start of a very important and daunting stretch of three games against the Panthers, Bears and Rams. The good news is that they are all at home and you have to go all the way back to November of 2016 for the last time Detroit has had back-to-back games at home so this could be the start of something good. The Panthers are coming off that blowout loss at Pittsburgh to fall to 1-3 on the road, the lone victory needing a 21-point, fourth quarter comeback against the Eagles. The offense has been solid but the defense has a lot of holes as it is ranked No. 24 in defensive efficiency, and Detroit, which is coming off three games against defenses ranked No. 2, No. 7 and No. 10, can take advantage. Here, we play against favorites of 3.5 to 10 points after a loss by 14 or more points going up against an opponent after trailing in their previous game by 14 or more points at the half. This situation is 54-23 ATS (70.1 percent) since 1983. 9* (452) Detroit Lions

This is a play on the OAKLAND RAIDERS for our NFL Game of the Week. Two of the worst teams in the NFL square off in Arizona and these teams should be a pickem on a neutral field which gives us a ton of value on the Raiders. Oakland has dropped five straight games and while the offense has been moving the ball, it has not been putting up points as the Raiders have scored a total of 22 points in four of those games. Arizona does possess an underrated defense but it is the other side of the ball where Oakland has a big edge. The Cardinals are second to last in the NFL in offensive efficiency and they are also second to last in scoring offense, averaging just 13.8 ppg. Arizona has outgained only one opponent all season and that was by just 54 yards in an 18-15 win over San Francisco. They are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games but all were as underdogs and they are now favored for just the second time all season and by the largest amount. Here, we play on teams after scoring nine points or less in two straight games. This situation is 39-13 ATS (75 percent) over the last 10 seasons. 10* (469) Oakland Raiders