Sports Handicapper Mike Lundin's Picks & Predictions

SATURDAY NIGHT PUCKLINE PUNISHER

The Vancouver Canucks have played some decent hockey lately, winning four of their last five games including massive upset wins at Dallas (+190) and Chicago (+200). 

Three of their last four games have gone past regulation, and I think this is a good spot to back the Nucks on the puckline. Sure, they will face a red hot Calgary Flames side that has won five of its last six, but keep in mind that the home team is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings.

We can also note that Vancouver (somehow) still is in the playoff picture entering Saturday just four points shy of a postseason berth. "It's just crazy," center Bo Horvat told reporters, referring to the team's renewed playoff contention. "It just shows you never know what can happen. Down the stretch here we have been playing some good hockey. We're just going to keep plugging away and try and make a run for it. We're playing good hockey. We just have to keep it up."

8* play on Vancouver Canucks. 

LATE NIGHT NCAA TOURNEY ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Villanova Wildcats are 5-0 ATS as underdogs this season, and I'm very happy to take the points on the the defending national champion against Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night. 

Purdue may have put a 61-48 beating on Old Dominion in the first round, but it had dropped two of three games prior to that. Villanova on the other hand is peaking at the right time. It has won six of its last seven games overall and is 14-3 ATS in its last 17 NCAA Tournament games.

Wildcats are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 vs. Big Ten. Boilermakers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. Big East.

8* play on Villanova Wildcats. 

MIKE LUNDIN'S CELTICS @ HORNETS FREE PICK

The Charlotte Hornets picked up a 113-106 home win over Minnesota Thursday night. They had however lost two straight and four of their previous five prior to that victory and I think they'll come up short here against the Boston Celtics Saturday night. 

The Celtics have a playoff spot locked in but are battling Indiana for the No. 4 seed and homecourt advantage in the first round. "We don't want to look past these 10 games," said guard Terry Rozier, "but we're obviously getting prepared for the playoffs. Some guys may rest, but we got to get in that mindset right now. Once the playoffs are here, it's like, there are no taking steps back. We got to be ready from out the gate; fresh out the gate." Very sensible stance from the Celtics, but I think they'll want to put up a good performance tonight following back-to-back losses to Denver and Philadelphia.

The Hornets enter Saturday 2 1/2 games behind Miami for the final playoff spot but would have to leapfrog not just Miami, but also Orlando to get into the playoff picture.

The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in Charlotte and the Hornets are just 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight home games.

Free pick on the Boston Celtics. 

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GAME OF THE WEEK (CBB): MIKE'S TOP RATED NCAA TOURNEY SIDE

A late run allowed the Baylor Bears to get past Syracuse in their first-round matchup. They are thrown a much bigger punch here in the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs who made light work of their first round opponent. 

The Zags took a 60-47 loss as a 15-point favorite against St. Mary’s in the WCC Tournament title game but bounced back with an 87-49 rout of Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night. 

Gonzaga has been asked to cover big spreads all season long and has rarely disappointed, going 22-12 ATS in games as a 14-point favorite or more. 

The Bears are just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games overall while the Bulldogs are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points and 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 vs. teams from the Big 12.

Baylor is a decent team defensively, but has nowhere near the offensive firepower to compete with Gonzaga. 

10* play on Gonzaga Bulldogs. 

WOFFORD VS. KENTUCKY BANKROLL BUILDER

The Kentucky Wildcats opened the NCAA Tournament with a 79-44 rout of 15th-seeded Abilene Christian, despite missing their leading scorer and rebounder PJ Washington. He's expected to miss Saturday's matchup as well with UK coach John Calipari quoted saying "I just can't (imagine him playing)". 

Here Kentucky will face a tougher test in a Wofford Terriers team that has won 21 games straight up and been money against the spread lately covering in 12 of their last 13 contests. The Terriers are a perfect 7-0 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 6-0 ATS in their last six Saturday games. 

We can also note that the Terriers will feel pretty confident coming off an 84-68 triumph over Seton Hall for their first NCAA Tournament win ever. Senior guard Fletcher Magee finished with 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting and is averaging 20.6 points per game while hitting 42.8% from deep on the season. 

All in all, Kentucky is no doubt a better team even without Washington, but I think Wofford will be able to keep this close. 

8* play on Wofford Terriers. 

TOP RATED 10* NBA BOOKIE BREAKER

Write up posted shortly. 

10* play on Miami Heat.