Bobby Conn – NBA Handicapper Picks

50* Powerhouse Play on Capitals -115

With a pair of losses in either record, the Maple Leafs (4-2-1, 9 points) and Capitals (3-2-2, 8 points) are set for a clash in the nation’s capital tonight.

After giving up seven goals to the Lightning a week ago to mark the team’s third-straight loss, Toronto recovered well enough to earn victories over Detroit and Minnesota. In their past two games, the Maple Leafs have outscored their opponents 9-4.

On average, the Maple Leafs are scoring 4.00 goals per game while allowing 3.29 goals per game.

Center Auston Matthews leads Toronto with seven goals through the team’s first seven games, and center Mitch Marner has already racked up three goals and six assists for a team-high nine points.

Washington’s four losses, two of which came in overtime, have been separated by just a single win over Dallas a few days ago. On average, the Capitals are scoring 3.14 goals per game while allowing 3.29 goals per game.

Defenseman John Carlson has been great for the Capitals so far, earning nine assists on top of two goals for a team-high 11 points. Not surprisingly, Alex Ovechkin leads Washington with five goals.

50* Powerhouse Play on Spurs +4 -110

Through three preseason games, the Spurs (0-3) are winless. For head coach Gregg Popovich, getting better performances out of his team with just two games remaining before regular season play will be the objective. Tonight, the Spurs will take on the Rockets (3-1) in Houston.

While the Spurs have allowed between 107 and 125 points in each preseason game thus far, the Rockets have scored at least 109 points in each of their exhibition games. The bigger issue for Houston is having allowed 129 and 111 points to the Raptors in back-to-back games.

San Antonio most recently took on New Orleans in a game highlighted by Demar DeRozan and Bryn Forbes. While DeRozan had 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, Forbes was 7-for-13 on his way to 18 points for the Spurs.

It was no surprise to see both James Harden and Russell Westbrook leading the Rockets in scoring in their latest contest. Both men put up 22 points, three rebounds, and three steals while Westbrook dished out four assists and Harden assisted nine times.

Both teams will have one preseason game remaining after this evening’s contest.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Troy -14½ -110

Despite entering a Wednesday evening game against the South Alabama Jaguars (1-5) as a two-touchdown favorite, the Troy Trojans (2-3) have just two wins on the season.

South Alabama hasn’t won since a 37-14 victory over Jackson State, but they’re coming off a 20-17 double-overtime loss against Georgia Southern. On average, the Jaguars are scoring 17 points per game on 319 yards of offense while allowing 29 points on 400 yards per game.

With 170 yards per game on the ground, the running game is the strength of this South Alabama team. Running back Tra Minter leads the Jaguars with 477 yards and two touchdowns.

Both South Alabama and Troy enjoyed a bye week last weekend, but the Jaguars have also had two extra days to prepare for this contest.

Troy has fallen in their last two games to Arkansas State and Missouri, allowing a total of 92 points. On average, the Trojans are scoring 35 points per game on 450 yards per game while allowing 32 points per game on 402 yards.

The defense looks very susceptible right now, so Troy will be counting on quarterback Kaleb Barker to perform. On the season, Barker has thrown for 1,476 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Melbourne United +23 -110

The Kings (2-2) will open up the regular season against the Suns on October 23rd. Tonight, Sacramento will complete its final in-game preparations in the team’s preseason finale against Melbourne United.

After starting the preseason with a pair of losses to the Pacers, including a 132-131 overtime loss in the first exhibition game, the Kings have rallied to defeat the Suns 105-88 and the Jazz 128-115.

The latter of Sacramento’s wins came against Utah, when the Kings received another effective night from guard Buddy Hield. On 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from three, Hield racked up 23 points in 28 minutes. Hield ended with a plus/minus of +22 and added five assists and three rebounds.

The team’s second leading scorer was Marvin Bagley III, who put up 22 points in 30 minutes on the floor. Bagley was a 50% shooter from the floor and from three on 16 and four attempts, respectively. The Kings power forward had a strong night on the boards, bringing down 11 rebounds and blocking two shots.

The Sacramento bench was led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who scored 16 points alongside eight assists and five rebounds in 29 minutes.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Yankees -116

Whether or not Game 4 of the ALCS gets delayed, the weather is likely to play a part in the outcome of the next contest between the Astros and Yankees in New York this evening. Houston leads the series 2-1.

No matter who’s on the mound for New York, the Yankees will be focusing on improving their offensive performance after earning just 11 hits compared to 19 strikeouts over the past two games. Both of those games went in favor of the Astros after the Yankees stole Game 1 in Houston.

If the game proceeds as scheduled, the Yankees are likely to start Chad Green (4-4, 4.17 ERA) in what will be a bullpen game. In the regular season, Green posted a 3.72 ERA in 15 opportunities as the opener. In two ALCS relief appearances, Green hasn’t allowed a hit over 2 2/3 innings.

It’s also going to be a bullpen day for the Astros, who have been coy about whether or not Jose Urquidy (2-1, 3.95 ERA) will start. Seven of Urquidy’s nine regular season appearances were starts.

If the weather pushes this game back to Thursday, we’ll likely have a rematch of the series opener with Masahiro Tanaka starting for New York and Zack Greinke starting for Houston.

1* Free Play on Stars +100

Neither the Stars (1-5-1, 3 points) or Blue Jackets (2-3-0, 4 points) will be happy with their respective starts to the season. As the two teams meet up tonight in Columbus, it’s likely going to get even worse for one of them.

Earning at least a point in just two of the team’s seven games, Dallas is above only Minnesota in the Central Division. The Blue Jackets are also just one spot away from the bottom spot in their own division, leading the Devils by two points in the Metropolitan.

The biggest problem for the Stars has been putting the puck in the net, and that issue extended to Monday night as Dallas lost 4-0 to Buffalo. On average, the Stars are scoring just 1.86 goals per game while allowing 3.14 goals per game.

The Blue Jackets haven’t been much more effective offensively, but they did enough to earn a 3-2 win over Carolina their last time out. On average, Columbus is scoring 2.20 goals per game while giving up 3.60 goals per game.

Left winger Roope Hintz is one of the few players producing for the Stars, and they’ll be counting on him for more goals this evening. Hintz leads the team with four goals and five total points.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Ducks -130

Hockey fans will get to treat themselves to a clash of two of the NHL’s better teams in this young season as the Sabres (5-0-1, 11 points) go into Anaheim to take on the Ducks (4-2-0, 8 points) this evening.

Buffalo has earned a result from every one of their six games thus far, and that’s handed them a place atop the Atlantic Division standings. Meanwhile, the Ducks trail only Edmonton in the Pacific Division.

Both teams last played on Monday, but the results were very different. The Sabres defeated Dallas 4-0 to rack up their third win in a row, and the Ducks lost for the second time this season in a 4-2 game in Boston.

On average, the Sabres are scoring 4.00 goals per game while allowing 2.17 goals per game. The Ducks are averaging 2.17 goals per game while letting in just 1.67 goals per game, which is currently tied with Boston for the best mark in the NHL.

This will be a test of great offense versus great defense, so the Sabres will be counting on center Jack Eichel, who leads the team with nine points, and right winger Victor Olofsson, who leads the team with five goals and just became the first player in NHL history to score his first seven career goals on the power play.