Doc’s Sports – Sports Handicapper

The Nuggets have had a great run. They came back from big deficits against the Jazz and Clippers to win those series. But we think they don’t have another rally in them. Both of their series before this went to Game 7. This team has played a lot of basketball, and we think that this might be a real ugly game for them. The Lakers want to end this while the Celtics/Heat series is still going to give themselves some extra time to rest, and we expect them to go all out tonight while they have the Nuggets on the ropes. They don’t want Denver winning this one and getting confidence for another 3-1 comeback. We think they play lockdown defense and shut down a Denver offense that should be running on fumes here. We think this is a great chance for a double-digit Lakers win, and we are getting the best line of the series for the favorites.

6-Unit Play. Competition: English Premier League. Take Manchester United ML (-140) over Brighton (Saturday at 7:30am). Includes 90 minutes + Injury time. For this selection to win, Manchester United must win this game.

As per your selection on United to win this game against Brighton, we believe they are in a great spot to do well as they are coming off a confidence-boosting 3-0 win vs Luton after losing their opening PL game by a score of 3-1 to Crystal Palace. United is fully healthy and when they are on, they can play with the best teams in the world. They come into this game riding a seven-match unbeaten road streak while winning the last four and scoring 2+ goals and keeping a clean sheet. Brighton, while off to a bright start has conceded 3+ goals in four of their last five home games and figure to be under pressure from the opening kick-off. United will win this game and get their first EPL win of the season.

10 Unit Play. Take #405 Tennessee Volunteers over South Carolina Gamecocks (7:30p.m., Saturday, September 26 SECN) Tennessee got off to a horrible start last year but beating South Carolina by 21 points was the turning point. That was the first game of a six-game winning streak to close out the 2019 season. Tennessee is more experienced and that is a good thing since practices have been hard to come by during this Covid summer. The visitor is 18-5 ATS in the last 23 games between Tennessee and USC. Carolina was terrible on offense last year and I just do not have confidence that Will Muschamp is the guy to turn this program around. South Carolina is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games. Tennessee is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 SEC games.

4 Unit Play. Take #402 Pittsburgh Panthers over Louisville Cardinals (12p.m., Saturday, September 26 ACCN) WKU losing straight-up despite being a big favorite to Liberty last Saturday was an indicator that this Louisville team is not all that good. The Cardinals lost at home to Miami later that evening and I do not see things getting better for them on the road at Pittsburgh. The Panthers were not very impressive either against Syracuse but remember that the Orange hung around against North Carolina for three quarters before collapsing in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh has won 5 of the last 6 games against Louisville and has covered the spread in 6 of the last 7 meetings. The Panthers dominated more than the score indicated last week but missed three field goals. They clean that up today and win this one by double digits.