|
Stephen Nover |
|
|---|---|---|
| I have had only two losing season in pro football in my handicapping career. I have the best sources in the business thanks to more than 25 years as a sportswriter, handicapper and analyst. |
| FREE PICKS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
| MLB | May 12, 2021 Cubs vs. Indians |
Indians -108 at LINEPROS |
started |
|
Injuries. Small lay price. Home field. Fading Zach Davies. Pick a reason because all of them are valid in going against the Cubs here. Chicago has lost seven of its last nine road contests. The Indians are hot having won 11 of their last 14 games. The Cubs are extremely banged-up. They are minus Jake Marisnick, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner. Kris Bryant and Javier Baez are each questionable. I consider those two the best players on the Cubs. I'm not excited about Sam Hentges, who starts this game for Cleveland. The rookie has a 5.00 ERA in nine innings this season. I don't know what I'm going to get from him. But I'd rather take a chance with Hentges than back Zach Davies, who has a 6.30 ERA and has been terrible away from Wrigley Field with a 12.54 ERA in three road starts. (Editor's note: Stephen Nover has his NHL Underdog Game of the Year going today. Stephen is 34-15-1 on his Max Unit hockey games for 69 percent. This is one hockey play you should not miss!) |
||
| YESTERDAY'S PLAYS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
NHL | May 11, 2021 Bruins vs Capitals |
UNDER 5½ -110 |
Won $100 |
| Play Type: Premium | ||
|
The Capitals have clinched second place in the East Division. The Bruins just clinched third place in the East with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Islanders on Monday. So both teams are locked into their playoff seedings. I'm expecting a very vanilla type of game because of this especially given the Bruins having won a huge game last night and the Capitals nursing multiple injuries to key players. There's no reason for either team to go all out here, or show any new wrinkles right before the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Capitals couldn't even field the usual number of 18 players during their last game, a 2-1 victory against the Flyers this past Saturday. Now, because of either injury or COVID-19 protocol, the Capitals could be without superstar Alex Ovechkin, their two top centers - Nicklas Backstom and Evgeny Kuznetsov - star defenseman John Carlson, T.J. Oshie and enforcer Tom Wilson. Carlson's loss actually would be a plus for the Under since he's arguably the best offensive defenseman in the league. The Capitals are likely to play more conservative if he's out. |
||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
NBA | May 11, 2021 Magic vs Bucks |
Bucks -13 -110 at Mirage |
Lost $110.0 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
| The Bucks have something to prove physically and mentally after being embarrassed, 146-125, on the road by the Spurs Monday night. Milwaukee certainly is going to be motivated for tonight's home game and the Bucks have the perfect patsy to get themselves right again - the Magic. Orlando has lost 18 of 24 since dumping their top players at the trade deadline. The Magic are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games. The Bucks are giving up an unsightly 137.7 points during their last three games. It's been a combination of lackluster defense and hot offenses that have caused this. Milwaukee should clamp down defensively here. Orlando is second-to-last in scoring and last in field goal percentage. The Bucks trail the Nets by one game for second-place in the Eastern Conference. So they will have incentive. The Bucks have dominated the Magic winning the past six meetings while going 5-0-1 ATS. This includes the Bucks' two victories against the Magic this season by an average of 29.5 points. | ||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
MLB | May 11, 2021 Rangers vs Giants |
OVER 8 -109 |
Lost $109.0 |
| Play Type: Free | ||
|
Once upon a time, I thought Jordan Lyles was going to be a good pitcher. That never materialized. Lyles is having another bad season going 1-2 with a 7.09 ERA. That ERA balloons to 11.57 if you go by his last three starts. Opponents have slugged at least one home run in each of Lyles' last 12 starts going back to last season. The Giants rank No. 3 in the majors in home runs. Brandon Belt and Buster Posey have each hit eight homers. But I'm not about to lay this high of a price on the Giants since they're pitching Logan Webb. I thought he showed promise during spring training, but he's disappointed so far with a 1-3 record and 5.34 ERA. Webb isn't in good form, giving up nine earned runs during his last 9 2/3 innings. The Rangers have shown surprising offense ranking in the top-eight in batting average and homers. This despite playing in their new stadium, Globe Life Park. It's one of the best pitching parks in the majors. Texas has some underrated hitters with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Solak and Nate Lowe. Returning to the Rangers' lineup is Khris Davis. This is a huge plus for the Over because Davis is a supreme power-hitter, but a bad fielder. Normally he's a DH, but playing at a National League park he has to be hidden in the outfield like he was in left field on Monday night. The weather conditions will be nice with the forecast for temperatures in the high 60's and a slight wind blowing out to center. If Lyles and Webb pitch according to form there should be no problem for each of these teams to produce at least four runs apiece. (Editor's note: Stephen Nover has a Max Unit baseball underdog play going today in addition to this free selection. Stephen is on a 70 percent hot streak on his premium side/run line plays. Don't miss any of Stephen's plays, all of which come with his trademark deep analysis.) |
||
| Matchup | Selection | W/L |
|
MLB | May 11, 2021 Yankees vs Rays |
Rays +119 at pinnacle |
Lost $100.0 |
| Play Type: Top Premium | ||
|
I can see the Yankees being a road favorite against the Rays if Gerrit Cole is on the mound. But he isn't here. It's Jordan Montgomery so this number is off. The Yankees have a lot of trouble against the Rays, going 5-18 during the last 23 meetings. New York has lost eight of the past 10 times on Astroturf, too. Quirky Tropicana Field gives the Rays a solid home field edge, especially against the Yankees. Montgomery won his first start back on April 5. He hasn't won since. He has a 4.41 ERA on the season and a bad history versus the Rays - 1-3 with a 5.63 ERA. This includes two starts against the Rays this season where he's 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings. The Yankees are going to have to deal with Luis Patino for a few innings. He's an exciting young fireballer with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings and a 1.17 ERA. The Yankees have never faced him, which is to their disadvantage. Tampa Bay has continued its domination of the Yankees this year going 5-1. I don't see that domination ending in this matchup. |
||
|
SERVICE BIO |
|---|
|
Sports gaming writer for Las Vegas Review-Journal 1984-1997. Professional handicapper since 1999. Author of three books - Las Vegas Sportsbeat, Sportsgaming Beat, Winning Fantasy Football. Taught sports betting at UNLV. Former co-host of the Sunday Night Stardust Line sports gaming radio show. Was part-time oddsmaker and analyst for Roxy Roxborough. Recognized NFL expert with 21 of 23 winning seasons. |
Here are a few more of the NCAA basketball handicappers on our site: