Scott Rickenbach – Sports Handicapper

Situational Slaughter - NBA Rotation #525 Thursday 8* OVER the total in Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks @ 7:40 ET - I am aware of the Giannis injury situation but the Bucks played without him yesterday at Minnesota and still put up 130 points. I am also aware of the Trae Young injury situation and do expect him back today but, even if he does not play, the Hawks should score well here. They had 66 points at half-time Tuesday. Even through 3 quarters they were still on pace to score 120 in that game. But a poor 4th quarter nearly cost them game against the Raptors. Now back home for this one, I expect them to be much better in terms of strong scoring throughout. Getting Young back would simply be an added boost and I am expecting him back but like this one to fly over the total either way. The Bucks are 12-6 to the over last 18 games. Their most recent match-up with the Hawks totaled 244 points. Atlanta is off back to back unders but this is on the heels of a 7-2 run to the over including each of the Hawks last two home games going over the total. This one will too. 8* OVER the total in Atlanta

Total Annihilation - NHL Rotation #47 Thursday 8* OVER 5.5 goals in Carolina Hurricanes vs Nashville Predators @ 7:05 ET - The Predators have been getting strong goaltending but all the defensive injuries are going to catch up to them in this match-up. Carolina has given the Preds trouble all season long and the Hurricanes are 5-0 against Nashville, dating back to last season and including all 4 match-ups this season. Carolina has scored an average of 4 goals per game in those victories. But Nashville has been scoring well entering this match-up and that is why the play here is the over. The Predators have won 13 of last 16 games and have scored an average of 3.6 goals per game, not including OT or SO in those victories. 3 of the 4 match-ups between these teams this season have totaled at least 6 goals and I fully expect this one will as well. The Hurricanes are angry off back to back losses and will take advantage of a depleted defensive corps for the Predators. 8* OVER 5.5 goals in Carolina

Money Line Shocker - NHL Rotation #45 Thursday 8* Winnipeg Jets Money Line (+) @ Toronto Maple Leafs @ 7:05 ET - This is a big 1-2 battle in the North Division and the Jets can move to within 3 points of the Maple Leafs for a top spot with a win here. Too much value on Winnipeg to pass up this spot in my opinion. Yes it is a back to back for the Jets but they used their back-up goalie last night so they would have their #1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck for this one. He is one of the best netminders in the game without a doubt. As for Toronto, Jack Campbell has been fantastic this season and had an incredible 11-0 start to the year but the streak is over and he has cooled off in his last two starts. Campbell has allowed 8 goals in his last two starts. In match-ups between the Jets and Leafs, the road team actually has taken 6 of the last 8. Home ice can be over-rated at times and Toronto has not looked too great in recent games. Yes I know they want to bounce back after consecutive losses but they face a very tough netminder here and, overall, a Jets team hell bent on closing the gap at the top of the standings. Winnipeg has won 4 of its last 5 games and the Jets have scored an average of 4 goals per game in those victories. The Jets road record is every bit as good as the Maple Leafs home record this season and yet we get the road dog in a +150 price range here. I'll take it! 8* WINNIPEG

Big East Beast - MLB Rotation #957 Thursday 8* OVER the total in Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks @ 7:05 ET - The over is 4-1 in Arizona's last 5 games and they have scored at least 5 runs in all 5 games. Washington is off a 6-0 win at St Louis yesterday and is now back home where they have scored 6 runs in 2 of their 3 games thus far. For me, the key in this one is the pitching match-up. Patrick Corbin is making his 2nd start of the season and he struggled badly in the first one. Also, he is facing his former team for just the 2nd time. The other time Corbin faced the Diamondbacks after he became a member of the Nationals, he allowed 5 earned runs in 5 and 1/3 innings. Sometimes pitchers want so badly to do well when facing former team they actually try to do too much and start having trouble with location of pitches which gets them into trouble. With that factor and his rough start to this season and the fact Arizona is swinging the bats better of late  have a feeling we're going to see come crooked numbers put on the scoreboard in a few innings tonight! The Diamondbacks start Merrill Kelly and he had a rough spring and that has carried right into the regular season as well. He has struggled in both his regular season starts after being more hittable than usual in the spring. 8* OVER the total in Washington

Earliest Cash - MLB Rotation #953 Thursday 8* OVER the total in Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins @ 12:20 ET - With yesterday's 6-5 win in extra innings, the Marlins continue their surge and have won 4 straight games. Miami has scored at least 5 runs in 3 straight games and has averaged scoring 8 runs per game its last 3. Now a confident Marlins lineup takes on Ian Anderson. He gave up 2 homers to the Phillies in a 5 and 1/3 innings in most recent start. Anderson has a low ERA against the Marlins but faced them twice last season and was in a lot of trouble in each start. Confident Miami will cash in more of those opportunities today but the Braves are also likely to have a big day at the plate. Atlanta has scored at least 5 runs in 7 of its last 9 games. They gave Trevor Rogers a lot of trouble when they faced him here last season and will do the same today. Don't be surprised if each team gets to 5 runs in this one given the above. 8* OVER the total in Atlanta