Scott Rickenbach Handicapper Reviews & Picks

NHL Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 6 in Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets @ 7:07 ET - This is a revenge game for Boston but they just beat Toronto in OT by a 4-3 count last night. That was a big win of course and I think the Bruins will be giving up some goals here off of such a big divisional win like that. The thing is the Blue Jackets have been scoring better of late but you know Boston is hungry to get some payback after losing 5-2 on the road at Columbus just last week. Note that the Bruins last 9 games have seen 7 of them total at least 7 goals. These are not the low-scoring defensive-minded Bruins of recent seasons. That said, there is a lot of value here getting this total at 6 goals. The Blue Jackets are off B2B 4-2 games and this followed 9 of last 12 games totaling at least 7 goals. Great line value here. The Jackets have scored 11 goals last 3 games and confidence is growing with wins in 4 of 6 games. Catching the Bruins over the big win over the Leafs means great spot for the Jackets to catch Boston a little lax (or tired) on defense but the Bruins are a big favorite for a reason and will battle back and the result is plenty of scoring here. 10* OVER 6 in Boston

Rotation #847: CBB Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 140.5 in Ohio State Buckeyes vs Minnesota Golden Gophers @ 6:30 ET - This total has come down some from its opener and I am grabbing the value on the other side of the line move. The Buckeyes are 6-1 this season and the Golden Gophers are 5-2 this season and neither team has been involved in any OT games. Now look at their point totals and note that they each have averaged in the 145 point range. Now consider that Minny has won 2 of 3 and scored at least 86 points in each win and the Buckeyes last 3 wins in their 5 game winning streak have seen them total at least 86 points in each game. Granted this is a Big Ten opener for each team and defensive intensity might pick up some but both teams are playing well in the offensive end and playing with a lot of confidence. The point is that we have some healthy wiggle room with this total when you consider that each team is averaging 80 ppg this season. Don't be surprised if each team gets into the 70s here. 10* OVER 140.5 in Ohio State

Sunday NFL 10* Top Play OVER the total in Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs @ 8:20 ET - There is snow in the area today but it will be mostly gone by kickoff here. Winds will have also died down by kickoff. It will be cold but nothing brutal. The point is I do not expect either offense to be impacted here. We all know the Chiefs can move the ball well but the big key here too is that the Packers offense has been stronger of late too. Green Bay did tally 377 yards last week and they have scored an average of 24 points per game last 3 games. The Packers have allowed at least 20 points in 3 of last 4 games at home and now face the defending champs. Kansas City only scored 17 points in that recent loss with Philly but they should have had a lot more scoring in that one. They dropped too many passes. The Chiefs then scored 31 last week at Vegas and, other than a fluke 9 point performance at Denver, they have scored 24.7 ppg in their other 10 games. There has been a big under trend on primetime NFL this season and this has forced the numbers down further than they should be. Keep in mind, both teams off divisional wins plus the Chiefs have a big game with the Bills on deck. The defenses are unlikely to be at their best in this kind of scheduling situation and I love the fact this total is in the low 40s. 10* OVER the total in Green Bay

NFL Sunday 10* Los Angeles Rams (-) vs Cleveland Browns @ 4:25 ET - The dominant number on this one is a 4 as of about 6 hours before kickoff. The Browns have struggled to score points in their past two games and now they have to go with Joe Flacco at QB in this one. He is a veteran but is entering this game off the practice squad and has not seen live action in a long time. I expect Cleveland's offense to continue to struggle here and they are facing a Rams team that has been much better since their bye week. The confidence of B2B wins for this LA team was much needed and, though the Rams are not spectacular in any one facet, they have solid overall teams stats in terms of the run and the pass numbers on offense and defense. The Browns are very weak on the passing attack and that will be the difference in this one! Don't be surprised if Flacco struggles in his first action in a long time in this one and this is a new team for him as well. The Rams barely snuck by the Seahawks and also just beat a Cardinals team that is having a tough season but the confidence and the locker room atmosphere that is now present in LA is getting contagious. These guys believe they can make a run at the post-season yet and I am expecting another strong effort here to result in the home win and cover in this one! 10* LOS ANGELES RAMS (-)

NFL Sunday 10* Top Play Arizona Cardinals (+) @ Pittsburgh Steelers @ 1 ET - This line is a solid 6.5 as of 5 hours before kickoff and this is unchartered territory for the Steelers this season. Look for that to be the difference in this one. Every line in Steelers games this season has been in the 4 range or less (whether dog or fave) and this is a rare bigger favorite situation for Pittsburgh. Yes they put up some big yardage (finally!) last week but this team has been outgained in almost every single game this season and is one of the most fortunate 7-4 NFL teams the league has ever seen at this later stage in the season. This is the perfect spot for a letdown. The Cardinals have a bye on deck. The Steelers are facing a non-conference opponent that has one of the worst records in the league. This game and this line is Trap City for the Steel City! Don't let the line fool you. I was hoping for +7 but there is a reason this line is holding at 6.5 across the board. The ugly dog Cards are the play. The Bengals are really a mess because the entire team morale plummeted after the Joe Burrow injury. The reason I am talking about Cincinnati here is because that is the team the Steelers just piled up all those yards against last week. The Bengals have issues now with Burrow out for the season. The defense of the Cards, though not great, is going to at least bring an effort here. These guys not happy at all about their record and will be going all out for an upset road win before their bye week. 10* ARIZONA +6.5

Rotation #200077: English Premier League: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 3.5 in Manchester City vs Tottenham @ 11:30 ET - The last 4 meetings here in league matches have averaged 4.5 goals apiece. City is also angry off B2B draws in league action including one on their home pitch! Manchester City needs to respond and they will here. Tottenham also has lost 3 straight matches and allowed 2.7 goals per match last 3 matches. Manchester City is averaging 3 goals scored per match at home and Tottenham averaging 2 goals per match on the road this season. This sets up well to be a high-scoring match as City in need of a bounce back and Tottenham is as well. Both clubs aggressive on the attack here and will not be denied. The goals fly in this one just like the other 4 recent meetings here in league action. 10* OVER 3.5 in Manchester City

Rotation #200065: English Premier League: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 +105 in West Ham United vs Crystal Palace @ 9 AM ET - The last 5 meetings between these clubs have all totaled at least 3 goals and have averaged 5 goals. The last 5 Crystal Palace matches have seen 4 total at least 3 goals. CP not known for high-scoring matches generally but they have been trending that way plus the match-up history here is 5 in a row. Also, 10 of last 12 West Ham matches in EPL action have totaled at least 3 goals. Those 10 matches have averaged 4 goals apiece. This one should get there as well. Expecting 4 but 3 will suit us just fine as the run between these clubs reaches 6 in a row totaling at least 3 goals! 10* OVER 2.5 +105 in West Ham United

English Premier League Free Pick OVER 3 or 3.5 in Liverpool vs Fulham @ 9 AM ET - Fulham has some goal-scoring confidence with scoring 7 goals in last 4 matches across all competitions. Liverpool at home can put on a show, however, in the goal-scoring department and they have scored 2.5 goals per match last 4 matches overall across all competitions. Fulham is scoring 1 goal per match this season and Liverpool is averaging 3 goals per match as a host this season. We should see at least a 3-1 final here. Free Pick OVER 3 or 3.5 in Liverpool

Rotation #206917: Romania Liga 1: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 +100 in FCSB vs Otelul Galati @ 2 ET - The last meeting totaled only 2 goals as FCSB prevailed on the road at Galati by a count of 2-0. However, Otelul Galati has seen their last two matches each total at least 4 goals and these two matches have averaged 5 goals apiece. Otelul Galati has scored at least 1 goal in 4 straight matches but, of course, FCSB is a big favorite here with good reason. Look for at least a 2-1 final here. FCSB is off a 1-0 win but each of their 3 prior matches totaled at least 3 goals. In fact, before that win over Dinamo, 9 of last 12 matches had totaled at least 3 goals. 10* OVER 2.5 +100 in FCSB

Rotation #206897: Romania Liga 1: Sunday 10* Top Play OVER 2.5 +100 in Universitatea Cluj vs FCU 1948 Craiova @ 9 AM ET - The last 3 meetings have all totaled at least 4 goals and have averaged 5 goals apiece. 3 of last 4 Universitatea Cluj matches have totaled at least 3 goals. 3 of last 4 FCU 1948 Craiova matches have totaled at least 3 goals. All signs point to another high-scoring match here. 10* OVER 2.5 +100 in Universitatea Cluj