Scott Rickenbach Free Sports Picks & Handicapper Review

NBA Wednesday Philadelphia 76ers -4 vs Dallas Mavericks @ 7:40 ET - The 76ers have lost 3 straight games for just the 3rd time this season. They have NEVER lost 4 straight games this season. Also, Harden has been out for a few games but I would not be surprised to see him back tonight. Additionally, Embiid missed the game against Denver Monday but now with extra rest and the fact he is in the MVP race, I feel certain he will be back for this game. Either way, I do like the Sixers here at home as Dallas has been struggling quite a bit of late. The Mavericks are off win but this followed a 5-13 stretch for Dallas as the losses keep piling up including 7 of 9 games being defeats prior to the win at Indiana. The Mavericks beat the 76ers the last time these teams met in Dallas and that was in early March so the Sixers surely have not forgotten this and will be out for revenge here. Irving and Doncic each had 40+ points in that game and the Mavs still barely won the game. Of course that says a lot and I like the odds that Philly again responds and avoids what would be a 4th straight loss for the first time this season. PHILADELPHIA -4

NHL Wednesday OVER 5.5 in Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders @ 7:35 ET - The Islanders 7 of last 9 games have totaled at least 6 goals. We have great value with this total, in my opinion, at just 5.5 goals. The Isles have been quite hot and have won 4 of 6 games and scored an average of 4.3 goals per game in those 6 games. The Capitals have had 13 of 15 games total at least 6 goals and each of last 7 games total at least 7 goals! Washington has allowed at least 4 goals in 6 of last 7 games. I realize this is a divisional game and both teams still battling hard because of playoff implications - Isles trying to secure, Caps hoping for a miracle - but the fact is that both teams are trending strongly to the over and we also have value with this low total posted here. OVER 5.5 in Washington

NHL Wednesday OVER 7 in Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers @ 7:37 ET - The Maple Leafs are off a 3-2 win at Nashville but this followed 8 of 9 Toronto games totaling at least 7 goals. Those 8 games averaged 8.3 goals apiece. More of the same on tap here as the last time the Leafs met Florida the game was a 6-2 Toronto win last week. The Panthers enter this game with 8 of last 9 totaling at least 7 goals. These 9 games have averaged 8.2 goals apiece. That is why, even though of course I wish we had a total of 6.5 here, even at a 7 is still good value and I am expecting 8 or more goals per the above. OVER 7 in Toronto

English League One Wednesday OVER 2.5 goals +120 in Cheltenham Town vs Sheffield Wednesday @ 2:45 ET - Cheltenham Town will put up a fight at home and should score at least 1 goal on their home pitch here but Sheffield Wednesday is favored by a solid margin for good reason. The visitors enter this match angry off B2B losses and they have outscored Cheltenham Town 9-3 in the last 3 meetings and all of those matches have been in the past 18 months so it is not like it is ancient history. The visitors will score well and each of the last 3 meetings between these clubs have totaled at least 3 goals and averaged 4 goals. Sheffield Wednesday is one of the highest scoring clubs in the league and currently #2 in the table. Cheltenham Town, however, is off B2B wins in which they scored 3 goals in each victory. The hosts are playing with confidence and are not safe yet from relegation so they keep pushing for points in the table. However, the visitors off B2B losses know they must win too after B2B losses and I see each team scoring and neither team settling for a 1-1 draw either. Neither team has a high draw and considering the situation here, there will also be an extra push for goals in this one. OVER 2.5 goals +120 in Cheltenham Town