Daily ArchivesMarch 24, 2016 - HRWager.ag

This time of year produces NHL Free Picks for the regular season that are not only profitable but pivotal to the overall picture.  Both the teams featured tonight are on the cusp of  gaining entry into the playoffs.  Colorado is riding high with a decent winning streak but faces two hurdles as they host the Flyers tonight.  3/24 also sees Philadelphia trying to recover from letting the lead slip in Columbus.  Linesmakers have this as a virtual coin toss so which way is the profit pointing toward this evening?

NHL Free Pick : Colorado Downturn?

• Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene are both out for the next few games.
• Strength of schedule rises for the Avalanche.

Colorado has won three straight to go 6-4 and become only a single point behind Minnesota for the last wild card slot.  They also have a game in hand on them.  Alas the good news stops there as the two leading scorers are out for some time for Colorado.  Couple that with the cupcakes being gone makes this last push rather tough.  All of the remaining games are against playoff caliber teams or ones equally interested in gaining access to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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Philadelphia has had a rough go of it trying to make this final push on the road.  New York was a success but Columbus saw them squander a valuable point.  Leading by two with nary over a minute left saw them surrender the lead, get into overtime, and choke away the second point.  This put Philadelphia in a tie with Detroit for the last spot even though the Flyers have a game in hand.  Thinness in the goaltending ranks is the problem.  Steve Mason did very well in back to back games but lost it at the very end.  Now more travel and altitude means attrition will have its effect.  The backup is a rookie as Neuvirth is out the rest of the season with a lower body injury.

Varlamov is confirmed in goal this evening.  The total is 5 with the under getting +115.  Steve Mason should start for the Flyers as they can not risk this game to the rookie backup.  Flyers skates will be tired with Colorado lacking a scoring touch.  Disregard the ML Flip and look for the total instead.  Total of five on the under should be plundered in this one.  Good fortune with the NHL Free Pick of the Day and we will see you tomorrow here at the HRW.

Double digit dreaming is occurring in March Madness on March 25th.  Friday will see a pair of double digits seeds square off with one of them going to the Elite 8.  Syracuse vs Gonzaga took harrowing paths to get here with the Bulldogs being one of the last teams to make it in.  The (10) Orangemen hold both the higher seed but not the status of favorite in this matchup.    Can Syracuse cover the +4 or even ML cover for our HRWager Free Pick for Friday?

March Madness : Thin Ranks

What has put Syracuse behind the eight ball this season?  It is the lack of a quality bench or willingness to develop that talent during the regular season.  16.2 percent of the time was allotted to the bench to see the light of day on the court.  This is 350th in the nation in this stat.  A concentrated schedule would tire them out.  Very good news for them here is that the Bulldogs are almost as thin as they are.  Gonzaga is only at 22.9 percent of the time that the bench is used.  Very big part of this was losing seven footer Prezmek Karnowski after only five games into the year.

Key Points

1. Syracuse suspects it will lose the rebounding war on Friday.  A sore spot the entire year that will be rubbed raw by Gonzaga’s Sabonis who is very sufficient in defensive rebounding.
2. Kyle Wiltjer will challenge Syracuse’s Zone defense.  The big man can hit it from both inside and the three point line.  Good point is that this matchup occurs after the days of rest and not the short span on the weekend game.

X Factor in this one is Tyler Roberson of Syracuse.  He has the ability to collect offensive rebounds and bang with the big men.  Alas, he has been very up and down in performance and frankly effort this season.  Syracuse had two bad losing streaks during the season but one of them was without their head coach.  Their main weakness is matched by Gonzaga’s lack of bench time.  Lights out shooting served them well against MTSU.  Finally, their conference is so much stronger.  HRWager’s Free Pick of the Day is Syracuse at +4.  Get in on this sports speculation and see your bankroll blossom.  Good fortune and we will see you later today here at the HRW.