Toronto At Washington
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, March 31, 2013
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), CSN Washington
PREDICTION: Wizards 99, Raptors 95

Oddsmakers currently have the Wizards listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Raptors, while the game’s total is sitting at 192.

The Wizards are coming off consecutive road losses to Oklahoma City and Orlando, but they’re riding their longest home winning streak since a 10-game run in 2006-07. Washington is likely to be short-handed, as rookie guard Bradley Beal (left ankle) and veteran forward Nene (right knee) are listed as questionable. It’s the third meeting this season with the road team having won the first two. The season series concludes Wednesday in Toronto.

Toronto doesn’t have much left to play for and the team is already looking toward the future. “We’ve got a lot of young players and we’re playing for next year,” star forward Rudy Gay told reporters. “These young guys need to know what it feels like to win.” They haven’t experienced much of that lately, as the Raptors haven’t won consecutive games since a five-game streak from Feb. 8-19. Rookie center Jonas Valanciunas has been among the bright spots, scoring in double figures in 10 of the past 11 games.

Last time out for Toronto, they were a 99-82 winner as they battled the Pistons on the road. The Raptors covered in the match as a 1.5-point underdog, while 181 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 27-45 SU, 34-37-1 ATS

The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing Washington

When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 2-8
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 4-6

Washington has enjoyed a solid second half of the season, but the Wizards didn’t endear themselves to their coach with their showing in Friday’s 97-92 loss at Orlando. “I don’t think anybody had a good performance,” coach Randy Wittman told reporters. “Over and over again this year we just go through the motions against teams like this and it costs you.” That hasn’t been the case at home, where the Wizards have averaged 105 points and held opponents to 92.2 points per contest during their six-game winning streak.

Washington lost its last outing, a 97-92 result against the Magic on March 29. The Wizards failed to cover in that game as a 4-point favorite, while the 189 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 26-46 SU, 42-29-1 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games at home
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto

When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Chicago are 6-4
After playing Orlando are 1-9
After a loss are 6-4

The post Toronto vs. Washington Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 27, 2013
Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
TV: 6 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), SunSports (Tampa).
Prediction: Lightning 5, Flyers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the Lightning listed as 116-moneyline favorites versus the Flyers, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

Philadelphia, which was second in the league in scoring a season ago, finally got its offense cranked up. Matt Read registered his first career hat trick and Ruslan Fedotenko had a goal and an assist for his first points in his second stint with the Flyers. Captain Claude Giroux is the go-to player for the Flyers and he delivered his first multiple-point game of the season with a pair of assists. Philadelphia can’t expect to produce seven goals every night. The Flyers will need their defense to come together. Blue-liner Luke Schenn had 11 hits against Florida and is plus-3 thus far. Ilya Bryzgalov has played every game this season.

Last time out for Philadelphia, they were a 7-1 winner as they battled the Panthers on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Flyers at -108 were rewarded, while the 8 combined goals moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 16-2 in the first and third periods combined, while getting swamped in the second, 10-3. The Lightning have made a bad habit of getting away from their relentless style in the middle frame. The Lightning have also surrendered an average of 36.5 shots, close to the most in the league. Their key performers are putting up numbers, especially in the third – led by Steven Stamkos (two goals, six assists) and Martin St. Louis (three, four). Rookie Cory Conacher has at least a point in every game and seven in all. Anders Lindback (.900 save percentage) is expected back in net.

The Lightning were a 6-4 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Senators. That made winners of bettors who got Tampa Bay at -125 on the moneyline, while the total score (10) was good news for OVER bettors.

Tampa Bay:
Team record: 3-1-0 SU, ATS
Current streak: won 2 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games at home

When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing St. Louis are 3-7
After playing Ottawa are 4-6
After a win are 5-5

Philadelphia:
Team record: 2-3-0 SU, ATS
Current streak: won 2 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games

When playing on Sunday are 1-9
Before playing Tampa Bay are 9-1
After playing Florida are 5-5
After a win are 4-6

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