Scott Rickenbach – Sports Handicapper

Game of the Week - Rickenbach NHL Rotation #57 Tuesday 10* Top Play Vegas Golden Knights Money Line (+) @ Chicago Blackhawks @ 8:35 ET - I successfully went against Vegas last night as they used a #3 goalie and the desperate Flyers (had outshot each of their last two opponents by huge margins but lost both games) were in a great spot for a big home win. Philly got the big home win and sent the Golden Knights out of town with plenty of motivation for their next game. The Knights had defeated the Penguins Saturday in Pittsburgh and they want to finish with a successful road trip. To do so they'll have to get the W tonight at Chicago. Even though this is a back to back spot for Vegas they will have Marc-Andre Fleury back between the pipes for this one. Also, their only prior back to back situation this season saw the Golden Knights win the 2nd game of the back to back and that one was on enemy ice as well as it was at Los Angeles. The Knights have a big edge in special teams as, last night notwithstanding, they have been great this season. As for the Blackhawks, they have struggled with the man advantage and on the penalty kill this season. Look for the Golden Knights to improve to 3-0 this season when off a game which they lost by a margin of 2 or more goals. Chicago has lost 55 of its last 85 games against teams with a winning record and they are hosting the Knights at the absolutely wrong time (off ugly loss) and that leads to another defeat for the Blackhawks when facing a quality team. 10* VEGAS

TNT Annihilation - Rickenbach NBA Rotation #501 Tuesday 10* New Orleans Pelicans (+) @ Toronto Raptors @ 8:05 ET - The Pelicans are without Zion Williamson due to his injury but lets not forget that the Raptors no longer have Kawhi Leonard. That said, I feel we have great line value here with this line as it first opened up around a 5 and is now up to a 7 as of early game day morning. New Orleans has gone 51-36 ATS in road games the past two seasons. Also, within that stat for the Pelicans is a tightener as well. New Orleans is 13-7 / 65% ATS when they are a road dog in a range of +6.5 to +12 points. As you can see with the huge total posted on this game, a lot of points are expected in this one. That is another key that trends very much AGAINST Toronto here. The Raptors, in a home game where the total is posted at 220 or more, have gone 16-28-3 ATS long-term. Look for the Pelicans to take this one to the wire north of the border Tuesday. Having Jrue Holiday back at the point is a key for the Pelicans as he missed the final 5 weeks of last season and is a tremendous player and a floor leader. Also, I like the addition of JJ Redick for a strong outside shooting threat as well. 10* NEW ORLEANS

Game of the Month Run Line - Rickenbach MLB Rotation #802 Tuesday 10* Top Play Houston Astros Run Line -1.5 runs (+120) vs Washington Nationals @ 8:08 ET - Great line value here in my opinion because the Astros are nearly a 2 to 1 favorite on the money line but yet we can get Houston in the +120 range by laying the 1.5 runs and taking them on the run line. I know Max Scherzer is a solid pitcher but Gerrit Cole has been unbelievably dominant. In other words, this one belongs to Cole an the Astros! Cole went 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA in the regular season and, for an encore, he has gone 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in the post-season! Again, Scherzer is solid but he is not as dominant as Cole. In the regular season Scherzer went just 6-5 in 17 night game starts. Also, in the month of September, the Nationals right-hander had a 5.16 ERA in his 5 starts. By the way, 9 straight Washington games (and 14 of their past 15) have been decided by a margin of 2 or more runs. In other words, a 1-run game unlikely here. As for the Astros, 13 of their past 14 games have been decided by 2 or more runs. Looking only at Houston's wins, 13 of the Astros past 14 victories have come by a margin of 2 or more runs. The Astros are the most dominant home team in MLB in 2019 and that continues in Game 1 of the Worlds Series. 10* HOUSTON -1.5 runs