Johnny Banks

TOP RATED 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY

The Dallas Stars have caught fire after a slow start to the season and travel to Edmonton riding a 9-1-1 run. This is a tough spot for them though, playing their third road game in four nights after winning at Calgary and Vancouver Wednesday/Thursday. 

The Oilers have won three of their last four, and I think they'll get the better of the Stars in this one. Note that Edmonton is a solid 7-2-1 home at Rogers Place while Dallas has a losing road record. Additionally, the home team is 6-1 in the past seven meetings.

10* play on Edmonton Oilers. 

MIKE LUNDIN'S HORNETS @ KNICKS FREE PICK

**HOT PREMIUM PICK RUNS: 10-5 L15 NHL, 6-2 L8 CBB, 35-21 L56 NBA TOTALS**

The New York Knicks are averaging just 100.0 ppg on the season and nine of their 12 games have gone under the total. 

Their scoring has been particularly poor home at Madison Square Garden where they score just 97.8 ppg and the under is a perfect 5-0. I think we'll see another low-scoring affair when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. 

The visiting Charlotte is averaging 102.8 ppg on the road and the Hornets will most likely try and slow down the tempo as they'll be playing on no rest after defeating Detroit Friday night. Only three teams have fewer possessions per game than the Knicks, so I doubt they're even capable of making the visitors run up and down the floor with them. 

Free pick on UNDER. 

10-5 NHL RUN, 6-2 CBB RUN, 35-21 NBA TOTALS RUN!

32-26 NFL record YTD, and Mike has also picked 10-5 L15 NHL PREMIUM PICKS! Additionally, Mike's basketball plays have been money with 35-21 NBA totals run, 9-6 NBA sides run and he has also picked 6-2 L8 COLLEGE BASKETBALL premium picks. 

Saturday's premium pick card is packed with college football(4), college basketball(1) & NBA(1) action, and more picks might be added. Invest in a premium pick subscription to get ALL plays.  

SYRACUSE @ DUKE BANKROLL BUILDER

The Syracuse Orange have just three straight up wins and two wins against the spread this season, but that's also why they're spotted double-digits in this matchup with the Duke Blue Devils. 

Duke has not played well lately either, entering this contest on a three-game losing streak during which it has scored a total of just 38 points. Syracuse has had two weeks to mull over a blowout loss to Boston College and I think coach Dino Babers with have his Orange side well prepared for this one.

8* play on Syracuse Orange. 

TOP RATED CBB PLAY OF THE DAY *SUPER EARLY*

The Columbia Lions are coming off their first win of the season, but they're not expected to stand much of a chance when visiting the undefeated defending national champions Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. 

Virginia has played lockdown defense in its first two games of the season, holding Syracuse and James Madison to 34 points each. With Columbia relying heavy on senior guard Mike Smith (21.3 ppg, 5.3 apg) I don't think the Cavs will have any trouble to cage the Lions. 

Note that Virginia is 2-0 against the spread despite shooting just 39.3% from the field and a woeful 16% from beyond the arc. I expect them to find their range resulting in better shooting here in their second home game of the season, and the visitors should find it extremely tough to keep up in this one. 

10* play on Virginia Cavaliers. 

SUPER EARLY FLORIDA @ MIZZOU BOOKIE BLASTER

The No. 11 Florida Gators are favored by a touchdown at Missouri this Saturday. I like the home team to cover the spread. 

Missouri is coming off a shut out loss at Georgia and it has failed to cover the spread in four straight games, but it is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS home at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. It'll face a Florida team who just come out flat following a 56-0 win over Vanderbilt. The Gators are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.

The Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games and Mizzou won last season's meeting 38-17 as a 6.5-point underdog.

8* play on Missouri Tigers. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NBA): MIKE'S TOP RATED TOTAL

San Antonio Spurs have one of the worst marks in the league for defensive efficiency, and this looks like a trouble spot defensively as they'll be playing on no rest.

The over is 15-5 in Spurs last 20 games playing on 0 days rest, and for all of Portland's struggles this season, putting the ball in the basket has rarely been an issue.

The Blazers will be playing on two days rest and I think they'll drive up the tempo to take advantage of the home team's tired legs, forcing a high-paced shootout.

10* play on OVER. 

LOUISVILLE @ NC STATE NCAAF BANKROLL BUILDER

The NC State Wolfpack are 4-5 on the season, but all their wins have come in front of the home town crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

They took a 55-10 loss to Clemson last week but are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a double-digit loss at home and the Wolfpack should be fired up for this one. "I wouldn’t say morale is bad. I think guys are mad, more than having bad morale. … These guys want to win. They are frustrated. They all understand at the same time that we are playing with a short deck right now. They get that and they are playing hard. But we are not playing smart enough to win." Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren told reporters after the loss to Clemson. 

The visiting Louisville Cardinals are coming off a 52-27 setback at Miami (Fla.) and are only 5-14 ATS in their last 19 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points. They rank dead last in the ACC in scoring defense giving up 34.1 ppg and I'm happy to take the points on the home team in this matchup. 

8* play on NC State. 

GAME OF THE WEEK (NCAAF): OKLAHOMA @ BAYLOR *BEST BET*

The No. 12 Baylor Bears will be forced to putting their perfect 9-0 record on the line against the one-loss No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday. 

The Sooners' lone setback was a stunning upset loss as a 23.5-point favorite at Kansas State, and while they just barely escaped with a win Iowa State last week, I think they'll be well up for this one.

A win here would put Oklahoma right back in the College Football Playoff hunt, and it'll face a Baylor team that might be low on energy following last week's draining triple-OT win at TCU. 

I don't see Baylor being able to keep up with the best offense in college football. 

10* play on Oklahoma Sooners.