Streak for the Cash: March 30th

Who will win: Winnipeg Jets or Carolina Hurricanes

Both teams are still mathematically in the race for the playoffs, but both teams are far behind 8th-place Buffalo in the East.  These two teams have played five times this year and the Jets have won three of the contests.  However, the Canes have won the past two and are 1-1 against the Jets in Carolina.  The Hurricanes have been playing better of late, going 5-2 and are 3-1-1 in their last five home games and have beaten some good teams in that streak (St. Louis, Florida, Nashville).  For the Jets, they haven't been great recently, going 1-4 in the past five overall and have the same record in their past five road games.  Another reason I like the Canes here is the fact that the Carolina's last game was on Tuesday, Winnipeg last played on Wednesday.  Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (Confidence: 3.5/5)

What will be the result: Portland Trail Blazers (Win or Single Digit Loss) or Los Angeles Clippers (Win by Double Digits)

Most sports betting services have the spread at 8.5 for tonight's game, so it is pretty close 10 points.  These two teams have met three times this year, the Clippers won two of them by an average of 4 points.  So you should pick Portland right?  Wrong.  The Clippers have won five straight home games and the Blazers are 1-4 in their last five road games.  The Clippers will have had an extra day's worth of rest (take it for what it is worth).  Like I mentioned, the spread for this game is pretty close to 10.  The Blazers are 9-16 ATS on the road so far this year.  Not good.  Anyways, I have a good feeling that LA pounds Portland tonight.  Pick: Los Angeles Clippers (Confidence: 3.5/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 29th

Who will have more points in the 1st half: Rodney Williams (Minnesota) or Chasson Randle (Stanford)
A quick note, Chasson Randle has the tiebreaker.  If you first look at the stats, you will be misinformed.  Randle is averaging 13.8 while Williams is scoring 11.2 PPG.  In the NIT, it has been a different story.  In the four tournament games, Williams has been on fire, averaging 21 PPG.  Chasson Randle has stayed consistent at 13.8 PPG in the NIT.  That is a 7.2 PPG difference in NIT play.  Pick: Rodney Williams (Confidence: 4/5)


Who will win: San Jose Sharks or Phoenix Coyotes
This is another huge game to determine seeding in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Right now, San Jose is at 88 points while the Coyotes are at 87 points.  Ahead of both teams in the Pacific is the Dallas Stars at 89 points.  So after this game, we may have a three-way tie atop the Pacific.  In the five games against the Sharks this year, the Coyotes have gone 3-1-1 and 2-0 when they are playing in Glendale.  The Sharks in the past five are 3-2 while the Coyotes are 2-1-2.  However, in the past three road games, San Jose has lost all of them.  Also, Phoenix returns their captain, Shane Doan, from suspension tonight.  Another reason I'm going with the Yotes tonight is the fact that they have been off since Sunday, waiting for this game.  On the other hand, the Sharks just played last night in Anaheim (3-1 loss).  Pick: Phoenix Coyotes (Confidence: 4/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 28th

Who will win: Los Angeles Kings or Calgary Flames
This game will go a long way in determining who gets the final spots in the playoffs in the West.  Calgary's chances to make the playoffs are possible, but not realistic as they would have to win the remaining 5 games.  The Kings, right now, are out of the playoffs by a single point and are only two points behind for the lead in the Pacific.  The Kings are on a two-game losing streak and need to get some points from this game.  Even with the two losses to Vancouver and Boston, the Kings have still been hot lately, going 6-2 in the past 8 games.  The Flames are 1-2-3 in their past 6 games.  This is tough, but there is little chance that the Flames make the playoffs this year and for the other guys, this game is huge to determine playoff positioning.  That's what I think it will come down too.  Pick: Los Angeles Kings (Confidence: 3/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 27th

Who will have more points in the first half: Chaz Williams (UMASS) or Chasson Randle (Stanford)

So far, 93.2% of "Streakers" are going with Chaz Williams in this one and that is a good pick, here is why.  First, Chaz Williams averages more points (16.4) than Randle (13.8).  Also, Williams has been hot of late.  Williams in the three NIT games so far is averaging 22.7 PPG.  Chasson Randle, on the other hand, is only scoring 14.3 per game in the NIT.  In that streak of games, Williams is scoring 27.2% of the points for UMASS, while Randle has been scoring 17.8 of Stanford's points.  Basically that means that Chaz Williams is a much more important player (well scorer) to his team than Chasson Randle is for Stanford.  Also, earlier in the NIT, ESPN put out a similar play in which Williams beat a player from Drexel.  Pick: Chaz Williams (Confidence: 4/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 26th

What will be the result: Tennessee (Win or Loss by Single Digits) or Baylor (Double Digit Win)
I can't believe I'm about to do a write up for a women's college basketball game, but here we go.  I happen to live in Central Iowa and I scored some free tickets to the Des Moines Regional Semifinals.  There I got to watch Tennessee beat Kansas and Baylor destroy Georgia Tech (although I was more focused on the cheerleaders).  Baylor led by Brittney Griner haven't lost a single game this year.  These two teams met earlier this season where the Bears won 76-67.  I don't think it will be that close this time around.  Tennessee is a good team, but Baylor is one of the best of all time.  I watched the Lady Vols struggle early in their game with KU where Baylor, except for the first two minutes, were in complete control of the game.  Pick: Baylor (Confidence: 4/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 25th

How many points will be scored in the second half (no OT): (73 Points or Fewer) or (74 Points or More)

Both Kentucky and Baylor can score points in a hurry.  In the past five games, Baylor has averaged 39.6 points in the second half.  The Wildcats, in their past five, have averaged the same amount of points in the second half as Baylor (39.6).  Add those two numbers up and you get 79.2 points in the second half.  Pick: 74 Points or More (Confidence: 3.5/5)

Who will win: St. Louis Blues or Phoenix Coyotes

To be honest, I'm not even sure why this game is on Streak for the Cash, it seems way to easy.  Phoenix has played one more game than the Blues, but STL has 14 more points on the season.  In the two times these two teams have played, the Blues have won both games.  The Blues are 2-4 in their past six games (all of them on the road), but the Coyotes only have one more win than the Blues in the same amount of time.  At home, the Coyotes have been far from dominant (2-4 in the past six games).  One more thing that should make a difference: the Blues last played on Thursday while the Coyotes played last night in San Jose.  Pick: St. Louis Blues (Confidence: 4.5/5)

Streak for the Cash: March 22nd

Who will win: Vancouver Canucks or Dallas Stars
The Canucks enter the game losing six of the last eight games.  They played last night against their rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks, in a game that went to OT.  The game was very physical and the Canucks will lose star Daniel Sedin because of the physicality (got hit in the head by a Blackhawks player).  I would expect Vancouver's legs to give out around the third period.  In the last two times these teams have faced, the Stars won both games.  The Stars are fighting for their playoff lives as they only have a one-game lead.  For the Canucks, they are sitting at second place in the West and aren't going to catch the Blues at the top, which doesn't give the Nucks a lot to play for.  Dallas enters the game having gone 5-1-1 in their last six games at home.  Pick: Dallas Stars (Confidence 4/5)