The set-up: My NHL GAME OF THE YEAR was on the Blues last night and they eventually pulled away for a 4-2 win over the over-rated Golden Knights. At -120, that was a gift in my opinion, as St. Louis came into that contest having lost three straight. I think this is another great "situational" play here, as I think the "gassed" Knights get overwhelmed by the offensive minded home side. Dallas is 12-4-1 at home, led by one of the top defenses in the entire league. I have a hard time seeing the "flat footed" Knights mustering any offensive attack tonight.

The pick: Note as well that Vegas is now a a poor 4-9 (-7.4 units) this season vs. teams with winning records, while Dallas is 7-1 (+5.9 units) when playing on two days rest. The Knights are getting too much respect here, as I believe this line could/should in fact be much larger. Lay it.

10* COACH'S CORNER on the Dallas Stars.

The set-up: The Hoosiers opened up the season 9-0. Then last week they lost their first Big Ten Game 84-64 to Wisconsin. This is the Hoosiers first home conference game of the year, but I think they'll come out flat here vs. this hungry 4-5 Cornhuskers side. Note that the Hoosiers have only played one ranked team so far, so their win/loss record needs to be taken with a grain of salt in my opinion. Nebraska comes in off a 95-76 loss to a red hot Creighton team, but I think it bounces back here and keeps this one more competitive than what this spread would suggest.

The pick: Note as well that Indiana is just 8-13 ATS in its last 21 home games following a road conference loss of 20 points or more, while Nebraska is 7-2 ATS in its last nine conference road games as an underdog of 15 points or more and off of a loss of 15 points or more. For all the reasons listed above, grab the points.

10* COACH'S CLINIC on Nebraska.

The set-up: I had a play on the Pacers in their home win over the Celtics two nights ago. I then played against the Celtics last night in their second straight contest, this time at home to the 76ers. Philly won that game and now I think the Pacers will stumble here in similar fashion vs. this desperate Hawks side. Outright upset? Possible, but in a game which I do definitely envision coming down to whichever of these hungry teams has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab up what I feel to be a generous amount of points.

The pick: The Hawks give up a whopping 118.8 PPG, but the Pacers aren't blowing anyone away with their offense (Oladipo still sidelined with injury and while Malcolm Brogdon has been decent, offense is still Indiana's weakness.) Where the Pacers excel is on the defensive side, but Trae Young and company's strength is clearly on the offensive side (27.9 PPG average.) Finally note that Indiana is already a terrible 1-5 ATS this year as a road favorite of six points or less, while ATL is already a solid 3-1 ATS this season off a road blowout loss of 20 points or more (Hawks were just humbled in Chicago.) A three game home stretch follows this game for the Pacers, including a high-profile contest vs. the Lakers. I think the visitors get caught looking ahead and I look for the desperate/hungry home side to take advantage. Grab the points.

10* UNDERDOG ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on the Atlanta Hawks.

The set-up: I think at this price and considering the overall situation that each team finds itself in coming into this one, that the defending champs offer unreal value here. In fact, I feel so strongly about it, that this pick has now become my NHL game of the year! Vegas is 15-17 and the Blues are 18-13. Vegas lost 5-0 to the Rangers and then bounced back with a 5-1 win over the Blackhawks. Inconsistency from game-to-game has plagued the Knights and I believe they'll have their hands full vs. a Blues team which has dropped three straight.

The pick: I'm primarily a situational handicapper and I think this one definitely sets up great for the hungry Blues. Also note that Las Vegas is already only 5-6 (-5.4 units) this season after scoring four or more goals in its previous contes and just 4-7 (-5.3 units) this year vs. clubs with winning records, while St. Louis is 10-6 in its last 16 after three or more straight losses, including 2-1 this year. I like Jordan Binnington to step up in this big game and for St. Louis to skate away with a comfortable victory once it's all said and done.

10* GAME OF THE YEAR on St. Louis Blues.

The set-up: I had a big play on the Pacers last night and after a back and forth battle with Boston, the home side eventually pulled away and held on for the victory in the final moments. Some could argue that Boston got caught "looking ahead" to this game at home vs. the now division leading 76ers, but I'll argue against that. Just look at the performance of Kemba Walker, who poured in 44 points, with three rebounds and seven assists.

The pick: Philadelphia has been poor on the road and the C's have been fantastic at home this season. But all good and bad things come to an end, and I think the highly motivated 76ers come in and take advantage of this tired Boston team that laid everything on the line last night in Indiana. Note that Philly is 7-3 ATS in its last ten vs. teams with winning records, while Boston is just 3-6 ATS in its last nine in the second game of a back to back following a loss in which it allowed 100 or more points in. The situation highly favors the 76ers here.

10* BEST OF THE BEST on the Philadelphia 76ers.

The set-up: I think this is a non-conference opponent in which K-State will get caught looking past. Alabama State is just 1-7, most recently comign off a 73-59 loss to South Dakota on Monday. Tobi Ewuosho continues to lead Alabama State in scoring at 13.8 points per game, while he is also grabbing a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game. K-State is 5-3, but I think it comes out flat here after it's disappointing 73-65 loss to Marquette on December 7th. In fact, the loss ended a 33-game home winning streak vs. non-conference opponents (in the loss the Wildcats shot a season-low in field goal percentage at 32.3 percent.)

The pick: Alabama State is 7-2 ATS in its last nine non-conference games following a loss by ten or more points, while K-State is just 4-7 ATS in its last 11 non-conference home games following an ATS home loss. The Wildcats have a ten day break after this game before a home contest vs. St. Louis. Alabama State is right back on the road at Boise State this weekend though. I think the hungry dog keeps this ine competitive late. Grab the points.

10* SITUATIONAL DESTRUCTION on Alabama State.

The set-up: The Celtics have a game tomorrow night at home vs. the 76ers, who took a .5 game lead with last night's win at home over the Nuggets. Indiana though will be the more motivated side in my opinion after losing two of three. Previous to that though the Pacers had won eight of 11. Indiana also lost three of four to Boston in the regular season last year, while also getting swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Revenge is certainly a motivating factor working in favor of the home side as well. Boston averages 110.6 PPG and it allows 104.7, while Indiana averages 108.8 and it concedes 102.8.

The pick: Note that Boston is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten off three or more straigth home wins, while Indiana is a perfect 4-0 ATS in its last four off an upset loss by ten points or more as a home favorite. I think the C's do get caught looking ahead to their game tomorrow night and I like the motivated and revenge minded home side to take advantage. Lay the point/s.

10* ELITE OF THE ELITE on the Indiana Pacers.

The set-up: The Tigers' big second half push came up short in their last game, as they fell to 4-5 in their 83-67 loss to Loyola Marymount. Eli Scott led Loyola Marymount (4-5) with a triple-double (21 points, 13 assists, 13 boards) while Ivan Alipiev chipped in with 12 points and three assists.

The pick: ULM is 18-3 in its last 21 home games, including a perfect 4-0 this season. That said I think the Warhawks have their hands full today in the I-20 Rivalry. Grambling State has four players that average in double figures and while I'll stop short in calling for the outright upset, all signs do indeed point to this one coming down to the wire. Therefore, let's grab the ample points provided.

8* play on Grambling State.

The set-up: 4-5 Monmouth is hungry for a win here, but 1-6 Princeton is desperate. I like the Tigers to pull away down the stretch in front of the home town crowd once it's all said and done. This is the only favorite I'm taking in this five-game report on Tuesday night. Monmouth averages 64.7 PPG and I think it'll have its hands full with an improving Tigers' team which just fell 82-76 to Drexel (Jaelin Llewellyn led the way with 28 points and three assists.)

The pick: I'll point out that Princeton has been money in the bank for bettors in this position as well, going 18-7-1 ATS in its last 26 vs. a team with a losing SU record, while Monmouth is a poor 0-4 ATS in its last four following a SU victory. Lay the points, expect a blowout.

8* play on Princeton.

The set-up: The theme of taking underdogs in this five-game report continues with the 3-6 Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix are at UCF to take on the 6-2 Golden Knights. The Phoenix don't play much defense, but they're able to put points on the board with the best of them, with four players averaging in double figures. Overall the Phoenix average 73 PPG and the Knights average 82.

The pick: But after three straight victories, I think the Knights get caught flat footed here vs. the up-tempo Phoenix, who are ranked as the 26th fastest pace out of 300 teams. Green Bay is also 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road dog, while UCF is only 7-8 ATS in its last 15 after allowing 65 points or less in three straight games. No outright, but decided late. Grab the points.

8* play on Wisconsin Green Bay.