TTL Edition #66: Locks, Parlays & Showdowns
NBA & NHL Locks, West Coast Showdown, Triple Play Thursday Parlay, The Masters Tees Off, & “Thursday’s Thought Provoking Quotes”
Wednesday Recap:
TTL Pod Picks (3-2):
NBA: Hornets -4.5 W, Suns +2 W
NHL: Coyotes ML L
MLB: Cubs ML L, Cardinals ML W
Welcome into Edition #66 of the TTL Newsletter! We hope you have your war paint on, and are locked & loaded for another full day of battle with the books! You already know the Crew is, and we have an absolutely jam packed edition that’s filled with locks for your Thursday bet slip. The Crew breaks down their favorite NBA & NHL plays, and then Colt & RMags duke it out on the hardwood with an NBA TTL Showdown! It’s also the return of the Triple Play Thursday Parlay, and we’re feeling a guaranteed hitter with this Special Play! RMag’s shares a compilation of the greatest Master’s Tournament moments in his Sidebar to get you ready for tee-off today, and Colt gives you some thought provoking quotes in his Corner. Thanks for scrolling through Edition #66! Make sure you tell your degenerate friends about us, so we can all bankrupt these sportsbooks together! It’s a beautiful day to place a few bets! Let’s cash some tickets!
TTL Picks
Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Islanders -1.5 (+150) (Puck Drop 6:00pm CST)
The Islanders host the Flyers this evening, in a matchup that should be a runaway from the 1st puck drop. The Islanders are coming off a victory on Tuesday over the Capitals, and are now tied with them for 1st place in the East Conference. The Flyer are in 6th place in the conference, and anything less than a drubbing this evening would be a shame for New York. The Isles fast-paced attack holds a 25-10-4 SU (23-16 ATPL) overall, and are 16-1-2 SU (14-5 ATPL) at home on the season. The Islanders are 3-2 SU over their last 5, and are 6-4 Su over their last 10. The Flyers are 2-3 SU in their last 5 games, and are 3-7 SU in their last 10. The series between these teams is tied on the season, and the Isles are poised to pull ahead by a game this evening. Back the hotter team in a spot where they need a big victory to keep pace for first place, and are looking to extend a 3 game winning streak. TTL Pick: New York Islanders -1.5 (+150)
Chicago Bulls -3.5 vs Toronto Raptors (Tip 6:30pm CST)
From the moment the season tipped off this season, the Chicago Bulls have been one of the league’s best teams against the spread on the road. Over 23 games, the Bulls are 17-6 ATS, including positive road ATS records as favorites and as underdogs. Since the Nikola Vucevic trade completed, we wanted to wait a little bit for Chicago to gain some chemistry with the new roster moves. After a rough stretch following that trade, the Bulls seem to have found what they were looking for when making the trade. They have won their two most recent games over Brooklyn and Indiana, and this one has massive playoff implications for both teams. One stat that has gone under the radar, Chicago is the NBA’s number one team ATS playing on one day’s rest with a record of 21-9. On the flip side, Toronto is 1-6 ATS over their last 7 and are 10-14 ATS at home. Give us the Bulls with the momentum to lock things down. TTL Pick: Chicago Bulls -3.5
Dallas Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks ML (+102) (Puck Drop 7:00pm CST)
Two Chicago team picks in one night? We hope this isn’t a bad omen, but we were both so high on these plays we had to lock them in. The Blackhawks are coming into this matchup after defeating these same Stars on Tuesday, 4-2. Everyone had expected the Hawks to start fading, but they are giving everyone the middle finger and making one final push toward a playoff spot. The Hawks are 4-1 against the Stars this season, but for some reason the books continue to put them in the underdog role in this matchup. Chicago is 18-17-5 SU on the season, but they are 11-7-2 at home. The Stars are 13-14-10 SU overall, and 6-8-3 SU on the road this season. The Hawks are 6-2 SU on the season when their ML is set between +125 to -125, and they fall smack in the middle of that this evening. Back the Hawks to pull off the upset yet again, and look for Lankinen to stand tall in the net for the Hawks once again. TTL Pick: Chicago Blackhawks ML (+102)
TTL Showdown
Phoenix Suns (+5) vs LA Clippers (-5) (Tip 9:00pm CST)
Colt’s Pick: Phoenix Suns +5
I’m rolling with the equally red hot Suns in this matchup. At the time of this writing the Suns are 5-0 SU (2-3 ATS) over their last 5, and 9-1 SU (6-4 ATS) over their last 10. They were not an underdog in a single one of those matchups. The Suns have not been an underdog since February 10th, and defeated Milwaukee 125-124 as 4 point dogs. Phoenix has only been in the underdog spot 8 times this season, and is 6-2 ATS over those matchups. The Suns are 32-17 ATS on the season, 15-8 ATS on the road, and 5-0 ATS as a road underdog. Phoenix ranks 5th in the League in PPGA, 9th in the League in FGA%, and 4th in 3PT FGA%. The Suns’ defense will be a change of pace to what the Clippers have seen lately, and I believe it will catch them off guard. I also find it rather curious that the line opened at the exact number that the Clippers covered in the last matchup this season on January 3rd, 112-107. I can’t pass up on taking 2 buckets with a team that is on fire, and you shouldn’t either.
RMag’s Pick: LA Clippers -5
The Clippers play host to the Suns in this huge matchup with playoff implications. LA is 16-11 ATS at home, including 14-10 ATS as a home favorite. One of the reasons I love the Clippers in this spot is because they show up when they want to, and this game is as big of a game as they’ve had all season. They currently sit right behind Phoenix for the #2 seed in the Western Conference, and following another win over a conference playoff team in the Blazers, the Clips could go on a run to at least take the #2 spot away from the Suns and it starts right here. LA is 6-1 ATS over their last 7 games versus a team with a winning SU record, and are also 5-1 ATS over their last 6 playing on one day’s rest. LA has dominated this matchup in recent memory, covering in 8 of the last 9 games in LA, and 10 of the last 13 meetings in general. I love the Clippers to lay the hammer down, and open some eyes for their championship contention case.
Special Play Of The Day: Triple Play Thursday
Seattle Mariners vs Minnesota Twins -1.5 (+112) (First Pitch 3:10pm CST)
The Twins roll into this matchup with Jose Berrios on the mound coming off a stellar performance against Milwaukee this past weekend, where he threw six perfect innings with 12 K’s. The Mariners will throw lefty Marco Gonzalez, out for his second start after getting touched up by the White Sox, a team that mashes lefty pitching. Well, these Twins can mash left-handed pitching themselves. Through four games, Minnesota is hitting .323 with a .382 OBP versus left-handed pitching. Expect a light show from the Twinkies today.
Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Over 7.5 (First Pitch 3:15pm CST)
We like the low total in this NL Central matchup, that features Adam Wainwright, seemingly on the down swing of his career. At 39 years old, the tank may be running dry for the right-hander, who allowed 6 runs on 7 hits over 2.2 innings in his first start. Corbin Burnes takes the mound for the Brewers, and he was stellar in his first performance, but we like the Cards to put a couple runs on the board on him in this one.
Oakland A’s vs Houston Astros ML (-158) (First Pitch 7:10pm CST)
This matchup was a house of horrors to start the season for Oakland, losing four straight games by a total score of 35-9. Cole Irvin takes the mound for the A’s tonight, and Irvin had zero success against the Astros in his first start last week. Now you send him and the A’s into Houston? We’re looking for another beatdown at the hands of the Astros this evening.
Triple Play Thursday Parlay: Twins -1.5, MIL/STL o7.5, Astros ML = +540
RMag’s Sidebar
Hello friends, we have officially reached Masters weekend. Whether you are a golf die-hard, or simply a golf major watcher, this tournament brings as much anticipation and joy as just about any sporting event on the calendar. Augusta is where legends are made, and superstars are humbled. Enjoy this clip of some of the greatest moments in Masters history.
Colt’s Inspiration Corner
“Thursday’s Thought Provoking Quotes”
Grab your pen & piece of paper folks, this Corner is loaded with quotes that are guaranteed to get some thoughts rolling on your Thursday. If you haven’t scrolled through before, these “Quote Corners” are an opportunity for me to break from the usual Inspiration Corner, and share some quotes on a specific topic. Today’s topic is on adversity. Some of these quotes I have found, and others I have created myself. I hope they find a place in your mind today, and help you to take the first step in overcoming the challenges & difficulties you are currently facing in your life. Make today the day that you choose to start conquering. Have a spectacular Thursday my friend.
Adversity introduces a man to himself.
Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.
Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.
Adversity is preparation for greatness.
There is no education like adversity.
We must remember: there is no easy way.
Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right.
Adversity can become your best friend, when you realize it’s only there to help you learn & grow.
Adversity is inevitable. Staying positive is optional.
What defines us is how well we rise after falling.
If you can’t outplay them, outwork them.
Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.
Champions keep playing until they get it right.
You’re never a loser until you quit trying.
If you’re irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?
Nobody who ever gave their best regretted it.
Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.
When you’ve got something to prove, there’s nothing greater than a challenge.
Success isn’t owned, it’s leased, and rent is due every day.
If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?
Question of the Day: Are you willing to give your all to conquer, or do find the nearest excuse as to why you can’t when the going gets rough?