Johnny Banks

GAME OF THE WEEK (NHL)

The New York Islanders look like great value here at Vancouver as they seek to end a two-game slide, first losing 4-2 at Calgary followed with a tough 4-3 OT loss at Edmonton. 

"It's a couple of tough games for us, it's going to be important here that we bounce back and re-focus and get back to playing the way we need to play," defenseman Ryan Pulock said after the most recent defeat. 

Here the Islanders will face a reeling Vancouver team that is 2-5-2 in its last nine games and just lost at home to the Arizona Coyotes. The Islanders are 5-1 in the last six meetings and should get the job done once again.

10* play on New York Islanders. 

SATURDAY NIGHT BIG 12 BOOKIE BLASTER

Huge matchup for No. 12 Kansas Jayhawks and No. 14 Texas Tech Red Raiders who are tied for 2nd place in the Big 12 with 9-4 records, one game behind Kansas State.

Texas Tech will be seeking revenge for a loss at Kansas on Feb 2, and it has won and covered the spread in four straight games since, winning by an average of 24 points while holding opponents to an average of 54 ppg. 

Kansas has won and covered the spread in three straight games but is 1-4 ATS as an underdog this season and 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. We can also note that Lagerald Vick, second on the team in scoring, has missed the last three games and is out indefinitely as he deals with personal matters.

8* play on Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

BUCKEYES @ TERRAPINS ATS ANNIHILATOR

The Ohio State Buckeyes snapped a two-game skid with a 63-49 win over Northwestern on Wednesday. I think they'll find it very tough to make it two on the bounce here though when visiting Maryland Saturday afternoon. 

The Terps have won three of four to remain in contention in the Big Ten race. Recent results are particularly impressive considering they closed as underdogs in all those four games, and I don't think they'll have any trouble covering the spread as a favorite against a Buckeyes team that has struggled against strong opponents in recent seasons and is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Maryland won the first meeting of the season 75-61 at Ohio State. The visitors are not given nearly enough points here. 

8* play on Maryland Terrapins. 

TOP RATED 10* BIG EAST BOOKIE BREAKER

The Georgetown Hoyas are coming off an impressive 85-73 upset win over Villanova. They still have their work cut out for they want to make the NCAA Tournament, and a loss here would be devastating. "We have to build on this, it can't be just a one-game thing," coach Patrick Ewing told the media. "We have five more games to go and our dreams and our goals are to make the NCAA Tournament."

Creighton had lost four straight before finally breaking out of the slump with a 79-67 win at DePaul last time out. The Bluejays are 8-6 SU but just 5-8 ATS at home on the season and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games overall vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Creighton has won each of the last four meetings SU (3-1 ATS), but I would not be surprised to see Georgetown winning this one straight up and I'm well happy to take the points on the visitors in this matchup. 

10* play on Georgetown Hoyas. 

PISTONS @ HEAT BOOKIE BLASTER

The Miami Heat took a 106-102 loss at Philadelphia in their first game back from the All Star break on Thursday. This will be their first game home at American Airlines Arena since Feb 2, and I think they'll be eager to put on a show for the home town crowd.

They'll face a Detroit team in a less than ideal spot, playing on no rest after a hard-fought win at Atlanta Friday night. We can also note that the Pistons usually struggle to put points on the board away from home. 

The teams have split two matchups in Motor City this season. The home team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in the series and that's a trend likely to continue. 

8* play on Miami Heat.