Cappers Sports Picks

My selection is on Vancouver +1.5 goals over Carolina at 10:05 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll take a flyer on the Canucks on Wednesday as they try to snap their six-game losing streak and avoid a third straight defeat by multiple goals. I do think we see a better effort from Vancouver here after it was drilled by a combined 11-2 score against Seattle and Dallas on Saturday and Monday, respectively. Of note, the Hurricanes have suffered a considerable drop-off in offensive production on the road this season, averaging 3.0 goals per game compared to their 3.5 gpg season scoring average. They're only outscoring the opposition by an average of 0.4 goals per contest away from home. Vancouver took Carolina to overtime on the road in their lone previous matchup this season back on November 14th. With a number of Canucks players essentially auditioning for roles on other teams ahead of Friday's trade deadline, we'll back them with the insurance goal here. Take Vancouver +1.5 goals (8*).

My selection is on Charlotte plus the points over Boston at 7:40 pm et on Wednesday.

The Hornets played last night while the Celtics have been idle since Monday's blowout win in Milwaukee. Of course, Charlotte is at a bit of a disadvantage here as a result but I think that's been more than factored into the pointspread. It's not as if the Hornets victory last night was all that taxing as they won by 27 points against Dallas. While known for their offensive prowess, the Hornets have proven to be a 'tough out' defensively, holding an incredible nine straight and 17 of their last 20 opponents to 42 or fewer made field goals. That certainly gives them a 'puncher's chance' against the red hot Celtics on Wednesday. While Boston has been rolling, it has actually been held to 41 or fewer made field goals in five of its last six and eight of its last 11 contests. I think there's a good chance we see the upstart Hornets at the very least take this one down to the wire. Take Charlotte (8*).

Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on Portland minus the points over Memphis at 8:10 pm et on Wednesday.

The Trail Blazers have had a couple of days to stew over consecutive losses on this road trip, including an embarrassing 135-101 defeat in Atlanta on Sunday. While Portland has lost back-to-back games it is still a positive 6-5 SU and ATS over its last 11 games. That stretch includes a pair of wins (1-1 ATS) over the same Grizzlies they'll face on Wednesday. Memphis 'emptied the tank' in last night's loss but ATS cover in Minnesota. The Grizzlies have now delivered the cash in three straight games but I think last night's defeat takes the wind out of their sails after they had strung together back-to-back victories. A lot had to go right for Memphis to keep things close last night as it actually got off only 79 field goal attempts. I'm not convinced it will be so fortunate against a rested Blazers team on Wednesday. Take Portland (10*).

Big Ten Game of the Month. My selection is on Purdue minus the points over Northwestern at 8:30 pm et on Wednesday.

Purdue figures to be in a foul mood after falling short in back-to-back difficult tests against Michigan State at home and Ohio State on the road. The Boilermakers take a step down in class on Wednesday as they take on Northwestern. Note that Purdue obviously owns the better overall record in this matchup this season and has also faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics - one of the toughest in the country, in fact. The Boilers enter this game having knocked down 27 or more field goals in four straight games and have held the opposition to 24 or fewer made field goals in six of their last nine contests. You would have to go back to January 17th to find the last time they allowed an opponent to hoist up more than 57 field goal attempts. The Wildcats don't figure to push the pace on them. Northwestern enters riding a three-game winning streak but has connected on 26 or fewer field goals in four straight and seven of its last eight contests. It has held up well defensively but that's had a lot to do with the opposition not really pushing the pace. I think we'll see a different story unfold with Purdue desperate to end its slide ahead of its regular season finale at home against Wisconsin on Saturday. The Boilers have gotten off 57 or more field goal attempts in two straight and 21 of 29 games this season. Take Purdue (10*).

My selection is on Houston minus the points over Baylor at 9 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll lay the points with Houston and it looks to continue to redeem itself following its recent three-game losing streak. The Cougars snapped that slide with a resounding 102-62 win over Colorado on Saturday. I think we'll see them build on that performance here. Baylor has been playing reasonably well and comes off an 'upset' win at Central Florida on Saturday. However, the Bears remain leaky defensively, having allowed 38, 28, 34, 25, 30 and 31 made field goals over their last six games. Offensively they've been on point but they run into one of the best defensive teams in the country on Wednesday - one that held them to 15-of-41 shooting in their first matchup this season, a 77-55 Houston road victory. Baylor thrives by pushing the pace, getting off 59 or more field goal attempts in five of its last six games. Houston is of course incredibly stingy, yielding 51, 56, 50 and 50 field goal attempts over its last four contests in particular. On the flip side, while not known for playing fast, the Cougars have pushed the pace more than we've been accustomed to seeing, most recently hoisting up 57 or more field goal attempts in two straight and all but two of their 29 games this season. The door is open for this one to get away from the Bears. Take Houston (8*).

My selection is on SMU minus the points over Miami at 7 pm et on Wednesday.

SMU is an unpopular favorite on Wednesday's board and we'll back the Mustangs as they return home following a winless two-game road trip. After falling just short in a four-point loss at Cal, the Mustangs had their doors blown off by a desperate Stanford team last time out. The Mustangs weren't able to play at their preferred pace in either of those contests but I do think they can push Miami in this one. Note that SMU continues to play reasonably well defensively, holding three straight opponents to 26 or fewer made field goals entering Wednesday's action. The Hurricanes check in off consecutive wins over Florida State and Boston College. They were fortunate that the lowly Eagles weren't able to take advantage of their scoring opportunities last time out, connecting on just 20-of-50 field goal attempts. Prior to that Miami had allowed 27 or more made field goals in four straight contests and 26 or more in eight of its last nine overall. This is the first and only regular season matchup between these teams this season and as such I think the betting markets are having a bit of a difficult time pricing it appropriately. Take SMU (8*).

My selection is on Stetson plus the points over Eastern Kentucky at 5 pm et on Wednesday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with Stetson in this Atlantic Sun Tournament matchup on Wednesday. The Hatters dropped a 100-88 decision on the road against Eastern Kentucky in the lone previous meeting between these two teams this season. Note that these two teams are virtual mirror images of one another having posted identical overall records this season and virtually identical strength-of-schedule ratings. Stetson enters on more of an offensive tear having knocked down 27 or more field goals in five straight games. On the flip side, we've seen the wheels turning in the right direction for the Hatters defensively as they've limited their last three opponents to 26, 27 and 23 made field goals. The Colonels on the other hand have been held to 25 or fewer made field goals in three of their last six games and of the other three contests, two of them went to overtime. They've proven vulnerable defensively, allowing four straight opponents to connect on 28 or more field goals and 15 of their last 19 foes to knock down 27 or more. Take Stetson (8*).