Sports Handicapper Scott Rickenbach's Picks & Predictions

NBC Sports Network Rout - Rickenbach NHL Game #14 Monday 10* Top Play Los Angeles Kings Money Line (+) vs St Louis Blues @ 4:05 ET - While the Blues are off a win plus have another game on deck at Anaheim Wednesday, this is the final game for the Kings until after the All Star break. Not only that, Los Angeles is off an embarrassing loss at Colorado Saturday that saw them get pummeled in a 7-1 loss. That is certainly noteworthy here as the Kings are 8-2 this season the last 10 times they have entered a game off a loss by a margin of 3 or more goals. Look for a huge bounce back effort from an LA team that is very hungry to erase the bitter taste of that ugly loss to the Avalanche. The Kings know they won't have another chance to get another W until February 2nd! In other words, Los Angeles is sure to "leave it all on the ice" in this one particularly since this game is at home. The Blues have lost their last two road games by a combined score of 7 to 3. St Louis is 3-7 this season in road games with a posted total of 5.5 goals. The Kings are 11-3 the last 14 times they've been off a game in which they allowed 4 or more goals. Big bounce back here for the home dog. 10* LOS ANGELES KINGS

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NHL Game #11 Monday 8* OVER the total in Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators @ 3:05 ET - I know this series has a history of unders but the recent form of these two hockey clubs suggests we should see plenty of goals in this one. The Avalanche are on a 6-1-1 run to the over including a perfect 3-0 to the over in home games as Colorado has erupted for 17 goals in those 3 home contests. As for the Predators, they're not getting their typical strong goaltending of late. Also, on the season, Nashville is known for being much more stingy defensively in home games compared to on the road. The Preds enter this game on a 4-0-2 run to the over in their last 6 games and have allowed an average of 4 goals per game in those 6 games. On the road the Predators have been scoring very well as they've averaged 4 goals per game in their last 7 games away from home. The way these two teams are going it would not surprise me see each team get at least 4 goals and, certainly at a minimum each team should get to 3 markers. Of course that guarantees us of no less than a 4-3 final and a winning ticket. Nashville is on a 5-1 run to the over when they enter a game having played each of their 3 prior games on home ice. The Avalanche over improves to 14-8 this season in games against teams with a winning record. 8* OVER the total in Colorado

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach Free Pick CBB Game #852 Monday Free Pick Charlotte 49ers (+) vs Old Dominion Monarchs @ 4 ET - In typical contrarian fashion I am going with the 49ers in this one. Why? Because, as I have said many times before, the odds makers are not stupid! The Monarchs have dominated the 49ers in recent meetings and are 14-5 this season while Charlotte is an ugly 5-12 this season and yet Old Dominion opened up with a line in single digits even though they've won the last 3 meetings by an average margin of 26 points per victory. Of course the betting markets are likely to be jumping all over the Monarchs here and the line will likely rise. I am happy to grab the extra line value here with the 49ers as a home dog in this one but, of course, it is not without reason. Keep in mind the 49ers new head coach this season is Ron Sanchez and he was previously an assistant at Virginia under Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett. Of course the Cavs are one of the top teams in the nation and they do it with defense. It took some time but Sanchez already has his Charlotte players "buying in" and getting adjusted to the new system. The 49ers are on a 5-0 ATS run with 2 SU wins. The 3 losses ALL came by 3 or less points. Look for the Niners to be in this one all the way today at home against Old Dominion. The Monarchs are a poor 1-8 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 to 9 points. Charlotte is a perfect 5-0 ATS this season in games with a posted total in the 120s. Also, the 49ers are a long-term 11-3 ATS in home games with posted total in the 120s. In what is likely to be a grinder of a game grab the generous points being offered as the hungry home dog gets it done again with a 6th straight winning ticket at the betting window! Free Pick CHARLOTTE

Contrarian Crusher - Rickenbach CBB Game #857 Monday 10* Top Play OVER the total in Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Nebraska Cornhuskers @ 8 ET - I lost with Nebraska on Thursday when their much improved offense fell short against the stifling defense of Michigan State. After that result, I had a strong feeling I would be involved with the Cornhuskers again in their very next game and, sure enough, we've got great value here. The value in this one lies with the total. I know that this series with Rutgers has a recent history of staying under the total but Nebraska is going to have a breakout game on offense in this one but I am not about to lay a double digit spread on the road. This is one of those solid situations for an over as the road team is the superior team and highly motivated off a loss while the lesser team is at home where, as usual, most poor teams tend to score better. Rutgers will "get theirs" tonight but they're not going to be able to stop a Nebraska team that is averaging 77.7 points per game this season. Keep mind, the Scarlet Knights defense has not been as strong this season as it was last year and they're giving up a higher percentage on outside shots. The over is 3-0 this season when Nebraska is off a Big Ten loss. Prior to the Huskers ugly effort on offense versus the Spartans, they had shot 44% or better from the field in 12 straight games! The over was 5-1 this season in Rutgers Big Ten games before their low-scoring home loss to Northwestern. Including the loss to the Wildcats, the Scarlet Knights are allowing 75 points per game in Big Ten action this season. The Knights do shoot a little better when at home, the game versus Northwestern an exception, but they've also been getting lit up from beyond the arc and, overall, allowed 48% or higher from the field in 3 of their 4 games prior to the loss to the Wildcats. Look for the Huskers to get a big lead in this game and, because of being off a loss, they'll keep their foot on the gas but it is also natural to relax on defense with a big lead. The result should be a game that gets well into the 140s. 10* OVER the total in Rutgers

TNT Annihilation - Rickenbach NBA Game #524 Monday 10* Top Play Philadelphia 76ers (-) vs Houston Rockets @ 8:05 ET - The 76ers are off a tough last-second loss to the Thunder on Saturday. Conversely, the Rockets are off an OT win and that was preceded by an OT loss. Look for Philly to take advantage of a Houston team that may not have a lot left in the tank after their big OT win over the Lakers Saturday. Additionally, the Sixers have been playing much better defense of late in comparison with the Rockets. Philadelphia has allowed just 41.5% from the field in their last 4 games. Houston has certainly been at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to defensive play in their last 3 games. The Rockets have allowed each of their last 3 opponents to shoot over 50% from the field! Also, Houston is still without Chris Paul and Clint Capela. As of early this morning Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for the Sixers but it is with right wrist soreness and I expect he'll be upgraded to probable after this morning's shootaround. Also, 76ers big man Joel Embiid is probable with his continuing back issues. On that note, it has helped Philly that they haven't had any back to back situations recently and won't have one again until mid-February. The healthier team, the more rested team, the home team, and looking for revenge for losing last year's contest here versus the Rockets by a single point...all signs point to Philly getting a solid home win in this one. Houston is 1-6 ATS after a game in which they scored 130 points or more this season. The 76ers are 27-11 ATS versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season and also 30-9 ATS versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season. All Sixers in this one! 10* PHILADELPHIA

Earliest Cash - Rickenbach NBA Game #508 Monday 8* New York Knicks (+) vs Oklahoma City Thunder @ 12:35 ET - The Thunder are off a dramatic last second win at Philadelphia Saturday. Also, Oklahoma City has a huge home game on deck tomorrow with division rival Portland. It would be very easy for OKC to look right past a 10-34 Knicks team and that will prove to be a mistake. New York has been playing better and has had 3 full days off since losing by just a single point to the Wizards in London. In fact, this will be just the 2nd game for the Knicks since the 13th. To say the least, they'll have the fresher legs in this match-up. Also, New York is on a 5-2 ATS run as they have been more competitive of late. Keep in mind, Oklahoma City was on a 1-5 SU and ATS run prior to the late win over the 76ers Saturday. Also, the home team is a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS in the last 3 meetings between these teams. Grab the big points with the home dog in this one. 8* NEW YORK