Tim Michael – Expert Sports Handicapper

T.M. Selection: Canucks (10* GAME OF THE WEEK).

Both teams have been terrible. This is the proverbial "Cellar Dwellers" facing off here in the North Conference. Both teams can pin their troubles on poor goaltending and defensive play. Vancouver's offense has been better than Ottawa's though. The Canucks just went 1-2 in their series vs. Montreal, but they have a big advantage here by staying at home and facing the lowly Senators, who enter off three straight losses against the Jets, the last coming in Winnipeg itself after dropping two in a row at home. This is the perfect opponent for Vancouver to get untracked against - I'm laying the price!

T.M. Prediction: 4-2 Vancouver.

T.M. Selection: Iowa State (10* TRADE-MARK).

Oklahoma State at 9-4 is about to lay a proverbial egg here in my opinion. The Cowboys have split their last eight games, they enter averaging 76.2 PPG, while allowing 71.6. The Cylones are the hungrier team for sure though as they look to snap a three-game slide. Iowa State averages 68.4 PPG, while conceding 74.8. The Cyclones though are a near-perfect 7-1 ATS in their last eight after a three-games or longer SU/ATS losing streak. The extra time off between games is going to be beneficial for the home side and while the outright is possible, let's grab the points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: OVER Hornets/Magic (10*).

These two tams played to a tight, lower-scoring game last night, but I'm expecting Orlando to be very motivated here after losing eight of its last nine. I have a pick on Orlando on the side here as well as part of my three-game report and to correlate along with that pick, I absolutely expect a better offensive performance from both teams as they get out and open things up in transition. This number is indeed a tad low!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Magic (8*).

I like betting on "hungry" teams. When Markel Fultz went down, the heart and soul was knocked out of Orlando in the early going, but after losing eight of their last nine, including last night's contest at home to the Hornets. Charlotte had lost four in a row previous to that and an immediate return to mediocrity is imminent in my opinion, as note that Charlotte is a poor 2-7 ATS in its last nine after holding its opponent to 105 points or under in a SU/ATS victory in its previous outing; I'm grabbing the points, but expecting the outright!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.

T.M. Selection: Pacers (8*).

The Raptors pulled off the 107-102 road win here on Sunday night, but I think that 7-9 Toronto will take a predictable step-back in the second game of the back-to-back. Indiana's early hot streak has come to an end, but after four straight ATS losses in a row, I love the Pacers to get back on track here and think they're vastly undervalued with this line. Toronto can not at all be trusted on the road or in the second game of a back-to-back; I'm laying the short points!

T.M. Prediction: COMING SHORTLY.