Free Sports Picks: March 22nd 2011
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NBA Pick: Suns vs. Lakers Under 2011
The Lakers are playing exceptional defense, riding an 8-2 run under the total. They have so much flashy offense that the public sees them as an uptempo offensive team, but their defense has been turning it up a notch the last month. The public also sees the Suns as a run-and-gun team, but oddsmakers have overvalued them, riding a 6-0 run under the total. The Under is 40-19 in the Lakers last 59 overall and the Under is 37-14 in the Lakers last 51 games playing on 1 days rest. Play the Suns/Lakers Under the total. -Jim Feist

NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche +109
Columbus is 2-10 last 12 overall games. Colorado is 29-9 last 38 overall meetings in this series since 1996. Colorado is 16-3 at home vs Columbus since 1996. Blue Jackets are 52-112-6 in their last 170 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation. Blue Jackets are 4-9 in their last 13 games as a road favorite. Blue Jackets are 119-272-15 in their last 406 road games. Blue Jackets are 4-10 in their last 14 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blue Jackets are 2-7 in their last 9 Tuesday games. Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. Blue Jackets are 3-14 in their last 17 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blue Jackets are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Blue Jackets are 2-10 in their last 12 overall. Blue Jackets are 1-6 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest. Blue Jackets are 1-8 in their last 9 vs. Western Conference. Home team is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings. We’ll recommend a small play on Colorado tonight! Thanks and good luck, Rocky Atkinson

NCAAB Pick: Colorado Buffaloes -10
The Buffaloes have been dominant at home, where they are 17-2 this season with an average victory margin of 15.9 points. They have been nothing short of impressive in their first two home games in the NIT with wins of 14 and 17 points. Colorado has been at home in its comfort zone for a lengthy period of time while Kent State has had to travel to St. Mary’s and Fairfield. Winning a 3rd straight on the road figures to be too much to ask of the Golden Flashes, especially with only a day to prepare. Consider that Colorado is a perfect 6-0 ATS in home games after playing a home game under coach Boyle, winning these contests by an average of 20.0 points. The Golden Flashes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5 points while the Buffaloes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5 points. Colorado appears to have shaken off its NCAA tourney snub and has its sights set on an NIT title. We’ll lay the points. -Jimmy Boyd (Handicapperspicks.com)

Colorado Avalance vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Free NHL Pick: Phoenix Coyotes (March 4th 2010 – Ben Burns)
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The Avalanche have won both meetings in this series so far this season. This should be a good spot for the Coyotes to get some payback though. While Phoenix had last night off, Colorado is coming off a late win at Anaheim. The Avs are now playing their third game in the past four nights. Note that the Avs are 12-18 (-4.4) the last 30 times that they played the second of back to back games.

Yes, the Avs won both earlier meetings. However, they both came at Colorado. Considering that the Coyotes have the third most home wins (22) in the Western Conference, winning here at Phoenix figures to be considerably more difficult. Note that the Coyotes were 2-0 as a host of the Avs last season. Also, note that they’ve gone 11-5 the last 16 times that they were coming off a loss by two or more goals. Consider Phoenix