Sports Handicapper William Burns's Picks & Predictions

(#209846) Colorado Rapids | ATS | . 

While neither team has been absolutely dominant this season, Colorado has definitely shown me more in terms of an offensive game. The Rapids have scored 13 goals in six games this year, and that includes six over their past couple of games. Not only that, but they are 2-0-0 at home while scoring six and allowing one in those games. 

On the other hand, Houston is allowing two goals per game this season and have lost consecutive matches. In bad form and playing this game away from home, I find it hard to see them winning this contest. Getting a push with a draw here is an absolute gift. Hammer the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. 

Burns' Prediction: 3-1 Colorado.

(#30) San Jose Sharks | PL | . 

Vancouver has now lost four consecutive games going into this game and has also lost in all three meetings against San Jose this year. Both of the past two were blowouts, while the first one was early enough in the year where the Canucks were still giving it their all. Now, many of the pieces are gone and the Canucks are in full rebuild mode. 

San Jose is still searching to get into the playoffs. The Sharks are currently four points back of the Kings with four games left. There's a real chance that LAK loses today vs. Edmonton so a win here would definitely be huge for the Sharks. Expect them to dominate this hockey game from the opening puck drop. 

Burns' Prediction: 6-2 Sharks.

(#24641) Kevin Holland | ML | . 

Despite having lost consecutive fights, Kevin Holland remains the better fighter in my eyes. He's never lost three straight in his career and this is a perfect matchup for him to get back on his feet and dominate. Holland is very athletic and uses a unique style of fighting to beat his opponents. 

On the other hand, Randy Brown is more of a standup guy with a bit of grappling as well. However, Brown got smashed in his last fight by a clinch knee and that knockout loss might have him bewildered for this encounter with another deadly striker. I think that Holland has a massive edge if this fight gets to the canvas, which it might. Even on the feet, I like Holland's striking ability to get Brown confused with his style & he should be able to hold him off. Give me Holland at "pickem." 

Burns' Prediction: Holland via. 2nd Round Sub.

(#915) Houston Astros @ (#916) Seattle Mariners | OVER | . 

Lance McCullers Jr (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. Luis Castillo (0-0. 2.79 ERA) . 

Even though on paper this is a good pitching matchup between two capable starters, I believe that we're going to see quite a few runs here this evening. The Astros have been one of the highest scoring teams in baseball. Averaging over six runs per game, they are ranked 2nd, only behind the Dodgers right now. 

Houston has been struggling on the pitching side of things though, allowing over six runs per game itself. That's good for 2nd worst in the big leagues as well. Seattle's had some issues with the scoring itself. But, this could be a game where it explodes given that Lance allowed four runs in 2.2 innings in his outing @Seattle last year. I've got the "over" in this one. 

Burns' Prediction: 6-4 Astros.

(#202457) FC Bayern Munich @ (#202458) FC St. Pauli | OVER | . 

Looking at this matchup, St. Pauli is probably going to be playing to limit Bayern to as little goals as possible. That's been the gameplan at lot of the time for it this season allowing much less than one would expect, being down in 3rd last in the Bundesliga. However, this match isn't going to be easy to do so. Bayern has been perhaps the most lethal team in all of soccer this year, attacking wise and have scored 3+ in eight of the past 10 games this season. I believe that we're going to be in store for another offensive masterclass from the German giants here on Sunday. Give me the "over" in the late Bundesliga game -- still early..

Burns' Prediction: 4-1 Bayern.

(#200238) Southampton FC | 3-WAY ML | . 

Derby County hasn't been poor by any means this season. However, it's not in the best of form. Playing inconsistently at the moment, Derby has lost four of its past five games played away from home. That's expected at times, but not so much for a team that's trying to reach the top positions in the table. 

Southampton, on the other hand, is absolutely filled with confidence at the moment. After knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup last weekend, Southampton went into Wrexham and won that road contest 5-1! Now, it's back at home where it plays its best. Give me Southampton to keep searching for a top spot in the Championship playoff to get back up to the EPL for next season.

Burns' Prediction: 2-0 Southampton.

(#930) Los Angeles Dodgers | ML | . 

Jack Leiter (1-0, 2.43 ERA) vs. Emmet Sheehan (1-0, 8.00 ERA) . 

Jack Leiter has been excellent so far this year to be fair. However, I don't think he's going to have the same success on Saturday as he did against Baltimore/Cincinnati. This will probably be a lower scoring contest, given the whiff rate we've seen from Leiter so far. But, I do think that this is a team that could get to him. Why? Well, Leiter had a 4-7 record on the road last year with a 4.24 ERA. Not terrible. But, not anything special. 

Emmet Sheehan, on the other hand, owned a 3-1 record & 1.85 ERA in eight games at home last year. The Dodgers didn't get a great start out of Tyler Glasnow yesterday and I expect much better here from Sheehan on Saturday. Give me LAD in a lower scoring contest. 

Burns' Prediction: 5-2 Dodgers.

(#927) Boston Red Sox | ML | . 

Rangers Suarez (0-1, 8.64 ERA) vs. Kyle Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA) . 

Off another loss yesterday, the Red Sox have now fallen to 4-9 this season. Not exactly what they had planned entering the season as people expected this to be a playoff team. Having said that, I'm expecting Ranger Suarez to be excellent on Saturday. In two outings against St. Louis over his career, Suarez is 1-0 w/ a 1.13 ERA. 

Kyle Leahy gets the nod for the Cardinals and he's been a relief guy for the bulk of his career. Now labelled as a starter for the meantime, I think that this season could be filled with some ups and downs. He was significantly worse at home last season with a 4.06 ERA compared to 2.06 on the road. I expect Boston to finally get going again today. 

Burns' Prediction: 7-3 Red Sox.

(#22) Montreal Canadiens | ML | . 

Columbus had its run in hopes of a postseason appearance. However, it's looking more and more likely that the Blue Jackets are going to be on the outside looking in when it's all said and done. They have lost seven of their most recent eight games this season and that's trending the exact opposite as the Canadiens. 

As a matter of fact, Montreal is on a 10-1 heater at the moment and is hunting down Buffalo at the moment for the top spot in the Atlantic. With a game in hand, they could be right in this race. I expect Montreal to keep it going and for it to dominate this hockey game on Saturday evening at home in front of the Canadian fans. 

Burns' Prediction: 4-2 Canadiens.

(#20) Winnipeg Jets | ML | . 

Philadelphia is currently battling New York for the 3rd seed in the Metro Division, with lots of teams competing for wild-card spots as well. Having said that, these final four games are extremely important. Surprisingly, the Flyers do have a stronger record on the road this season. However, they just got lit up against Detroit and now travel to Winnipeg for this out-of-country contest. Road trips can take a toll on a team, especially towards the end of the season like this. 

Winnipeg is fighting for its life at the moment. Unlike the Flyers, the Jets are out of a playoff spot at the moment. Even though it's been a down season for them, I do believe that they are beginning to play more and more like a playoff team. On a three game win streak, Connor Hellebuyck is building up that confidence again and I believe he's going to turn up once again for his hockey team. This is a must-win for the Jets are they desperately need it. Give me Winnipeg at home. 

Burns' Prediction: 4-1 Jets.

(#908) San Diego Padres | ML | . 

Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32 ERA) vs. German Marquez (1-1, 4.50 ERA) . 

While this might just look like an ordinary matchup, I do believe that Padres' starter German Marquez is going to have a bit more motivation here playing against his old team. Marquez has been a decent starting pitcher throughout his career to this point. However, his number are extremely inflated as a result in pitching in Colorado for half of his games. Petco Park was one of the most pitcher friendly ballparks a season ago so his numbers should drop drastically. Feltner, on the other hand, didn't have many starts last year. But, in six outings & three on the road, he actually had worse numbers away from home than at Coors. He last faced the Padres in 2024 when he allowed four runs on 12 baserunners. With the motivation factor and excitement from Marquez, I expect him to have a big game and the Padres to emerge victorious here today. 

Burns' Prediction: 7-2 Padres. 

(#24621) Tatiana Suarez | ML | . 

This fight has had my eye for a while now and I simply believe that this is straight disrespectful for the oddsmakers to have Suarez as such a small favorite here. Through 12 career pro fights, Tatiana Suarez has tasted defeat just once. That was against future Hall Of Fame fighter Zheng Weili. Even though Suarez didn't fight well in that fight, she responded really well with a win against Amanda Lemos. 

I did enjoy watching Lupita Godinez in her last fight against Jessica Andrade. However, this is a whole different level of a fighter here. Andrade is at the tail end of her career while Suarez still has massive goals. Godinez has suffered losses to some pretty sub-par fighters throughout her career and despite not having been finished yet, this could be a fight where she could be. This fight is in Miami, so the fans will be behind Suarez. I expect her to get it done, whether it's by finish or by decision at the end of the fight. 

Burns' Prediction: Suarez via. 3rd Round Sub.