Sports Handicapper Tim Michael's Picks & Predictions

T.M. Selection: Milwaukee Brewers money line

The White Sox are 7-22 this season so this is a reasonable price on the Brewers to get involved in a "fade Chicago" situation. The White Sox are 1-9 in night games this season. Milwaukee is 10-7 in night games on the year. Chicago has been held to 3 or less runs scored in 18 of the last 22 games. The Brewers have scored at least 5 runs in 9 of the last 13 games! Milwaukee has averaged 5.5 runs per game in those 13 games. Regardless of the pitching match-up here, this is a solid high-value situation on the stronger overall team with the better lineup. 

T.M. Prediction: 5-3 Milwaukee Brewers

T.M. Selection: Tampa Bay money line and the game OVER the total

The Lightning are in a now or never situation here and I like them on home ice to win a high-scoring game. From the final regular season meeting between these teams until now, 4 of the last 5 games between these teams have totaled at least 6 goals. As for Tampa Bay coming out on top in this one, the Lightning had scored 7 of the last 8 goals in the last two games of this series before blowing that last 2-1 lead at Florida in Game 4. Back home now for Game 5, I expect the Lightning to bounce back and stave off elimination. That final 4-minute sequence does not change the fact that the Bolts had started to turn the tide in this match-up. The loss is no-doubt a major concern as they are down 3 games to 1 in the series now instead of being tied up at 2 games apiece. But they will not back down here on home ice and will pull it together here for a big Game 5 win as their firepower (often lethal on home ice) takes over in this one. 

T.M. Prediction: 5-3 Tampa Bay

T.M. Selection: Tampa Bay money line and the game OVER the total

The Lightning are in a now or never situation here and I like them on home ice to win a high-scoring game. From the final regular season meeting between these teams until now, 4 of the last 5 games between these teams have totaled at least 6 goals. As for Tampa Bay coming out on top in this one, the Lightning had scored 7 of the last 8 goals in the last two games of this series before blowing that last 2-1 lead at Florida in Game 4. Back home now for Game 5, I expect the Lightning to bounce back and stave off elimination. That final 4-minute sequence does not change the fact that the Bolts had started to turn the tide in this match-up. The loss is no-doubt a major concern as they are down 3 games to 1 in the series now instead of being tied up at 2 games apiece. But they will not back down here on home ice and will pull it together here for a big Game 5 win as their firepower (often lethal on home ice) takes over in this one. 

T.M. Prediction: 5-3 Tampa Bay

T.M. Selection: Minnesota Timberwolves spread

The road team is not being given enough respect here. The Timberwolves were down by double digits in the 3rd quarter of Game 4 but came all the way back for the big home win. Minnesota continues to dominate with an advantage on points scored inside the paint and they also have a ton of confidence being up 3-1 in the series and coming off the huge comeback win. The Lakers are playing in a pressure cooker right now in LA with those original hopes of Doncic and LeBron leading them to glory now quickly fading away. Now it looks like this team will not even get out of the first round. The Timberwolves won Game 4 even though their big minutes guy off the bench (DiVincenzo) and 2 of the starters (Gobert and Conley) combined to go 5 of 22 from the field! When 3 of the 6 most important players have games like that and yet the team still wins the game, that says a lot! What is also says is that the Lakers are in trouble! That is what I am counting on here and I fully expect a road upset win here but will grab the half-dozen points on offer.

T.M. Prediction: 107-102 Minnesota