Doc’s Sports – Sports Handicapper

5 Unit Play. Take #620 Under 154 in Missouri State @ Arkansas State (8p.m., Tuesday, December 18) Expect this game to stay under the posted total tonight in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves have gone under the posted total in 4 of their last 5 games. This line is inflated since the Bears have been going over the posted total a bunch of late, but the value lies with the under in this game.

Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

3-Unit Play. #076. Take Edmonton vs St. Louis (Tuesday, December 18 at 9:05p.m.).

As per your selection on the Oilers, you have an Oilers team that has played 100X better since Hitchcock took over as their new coach. They are buying into this his style of play and that has complemented and upped the games of everyone on the top - top to bottom. The Oilers are 5-2 in their last seven Ames and will now return home to kick off a five-game road trip against a Blues team who is struggling extremely bad right now and who the Oilers have already beat once this month. St Louis is having a major down year, and despite a coaching shakeup, they still haven't figured it out. They are among the bottom third of the NHL in all offensive production and among the bottom, five teams in goals allow and penalty minutes which should show you how undisciplined they are. The Blues got taken to the woodshed in their last game - a 7-2 loss to Calgary - in front of their home fans. Normally I would back that team to bounce back, but when you have to go on the road after that kind of loss, it's tough on a team, especially one that's already struggling. Not to mention, the Blues are in a terrible spot, going 0-6 in their last 6 vs the Pacific, 4-9 in their last 13 road games, and 0-4 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. The Oilers are 6-0 in their last 6 home games, 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game 7-3 in their last 10 games while playing on 1 days rest.

4-Unit Play. #079. Take Under in Tampa Bay vs Vancouver (Tuesday, December 18 at 10:05p.m.).

As per your selection on the Under 6.5 goals, you have two teams that have been playing to the over in their most recent games. However, this high line and the fact that we will see two excellent goalies between the pipes tonight tells me that this line is extremely inflated and the under is the play. Look, Tampa is known for scoring goals. But they are also known for their excellent defensive work and their ability to minimize the opposing team's chances. Now that they have their No.1 goalie back between the pipes in Vasilevsky, the Lightning will have the goaltending advantage on most nights. The Canucks, however, will counter with Markstrom and he is no joke either. He has a GAA of just 3, with a save percentage of just over .900. Over his last 4 games, Markstrom has given up just 6 goals against, which tells me that the team s playing well infant of him and he is started to round into form. These two teams are in great spots to play to the under tonight as the Lightning are 7-2-2 to the Under in their last 11 after allowing 5 or more goals in their previous game, and they are 5-2 to the under in their last 7 vs the Pacific. The Canucks are 5-1 to the Under in their last 6 Tuesday games, and 4-1 to the under in their last 5 vs the East. Two good goalies, with a high line - give me the under.

The Wizards haven’t been very good on the road, where they have won only four games all season. But the Hawks have been just as bad at home, where they have won only four. One of those road wins was less than two weeks ago in Atlanta against these same Hawks. That was a 14-point win but only because the Wizards took their foot off the gas when up by as much as 25 at one point. The Wizards went on to lose four straight after that, but this team looks like it might be on the way back up after one of the best wins of the season last time out in an 18-point home win over the Lakers. This Wizards team has not had enough success this season to overlook a team like the Hawks, and the talent discrepancy between these two clubs is large. We see the Wizards getting another comfortable win here in a game that sure looks like a mismatch.