Scott Rickenbach – Sports Handicapper

NHL Contrarian Crusher Thursday 10* Top Play OVER 6.5 goals +104 in Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes @ 7:05 ET - The Senators are one of the weaker teams in the NHL so normally one does not think about overs with Ottawa as much due to the club being somewhat lacking in firepower on offense. However, in typical contrarian fashion, I am on the over here but it is not without plenty of good reason. The fact is the Senators do tend to get involved in some high-scoring games when they are on home ice. Also, this is a revenge game for the Hurricanes as they suffered a huge upset at the hands of the Sens earlier this season. Carolina has shown a propensity to not slow up in terms of piling up games in blowouts. Though Canes goalie Frederik Andersen has played well overall, he has allowed 3 or more goals in 5 of his last 7 starts. Keep that in mind and note Carolina is a huge favorite here for a reason. In other words, a 5-3 final sounds about right! The Hurricanes have averaged scoring 4.5 goals per game last dozen games! The Senators are off a 5-0 home shutout of the Sabres but, prior to that, allowed an average of 4 goals per game last 11 home games. Ottawa has scored an average of 3.6 goals per game in regulation time of last five contests as a host. The Hurricanes outshot the Senators 49-20 in the 3-2 loss at Carolina in early December. The Canes deserved better and want payback here and will not take their foot off the gas in this one! 10* OVER 6.5 in Ottawa

CBB Early Dominator Thursday 10* Top Play Nebraska Cornhuskers +7.5 vs Wisconsin Badgers @ 5 ET - Yes, the Badgers are off a loss here but the last time they were off a defeat they barely squeaked by Nicholls, a Southland Conference team! Also, Wisconsin has a big game on deck this weekend hosting rival Minnesota. Yes, the Badgers have a strong record this season but lets talk about what they have done since opening the season with a pair of blowout wins. Wisconsin has since gone 13-3 but the average margin of the 13 wins is only 6 points! Simply put, the Badgers are not known for blowing teams out. Only 2 of their last 12 victories have been by a double digit margin! The Cornhuskers have an ugly 6-13 SU record on the season but this is a scrappy underdog when on their home floor. Nebraska lost versus Ohio State in OT, was down by just 5 to Illinois with under 2 minutes to go in game, and lost by just 7 to Indiana. All those games were at home and all of those games so the Huskers fall just short. I would not be surprised, given the situation here, to see the Cornhuskers get the shocker upset but, at the very least, a home dog cover is likely here. 10* NEBRASKA 

NBA Earliest Cash Thursday 10* Top Play Los Angeles Lakers +3 @ Philadelphia 76ers @ 7:30 ET - Right away this morning this line jumped out at me. This line opened nearly at a pick'em even though Philly is at home and has won 12 of 15 games and they are hosting a Lakers team that had lost 11 of last 18 games before the win at Brooklyn. Also, LA is only 9-12 in road games this season. Sure, Anthony Davis is back now for the Lakers but essentially a "pick" on the road against a 76ers team that has been hot and has the better record this season. Looks funny, right? Sure enough the betting masses have hammered the Sixers here and the line has gone as high as a +3. As long time followers know, I love being a contrarian and I am all over the small road dog here. This game was priced this way for a reason and I feel the Lakers have a chip on their shoulder and are out to prove some things now that they are getting healthy. Keep in mind, Sixers still dealing with some injury issues too. 10* LOS ANGELES LAKERS +3