Follow @SBTSportBetting [Get Exclusive Tips on our Patreon, Ad-Free]
The NBA All-Star game is in the books and the NBA is taking a much needed break before gearing up for the playoff run. The Bucks are atop the Eastern Conference, but they hold just a one-game lead on the Raptors. Milwaukee has a tough schedule the rest of the way so they’ll be doing their best to hold on.
The Warriors are the top seed in the West and the Nuggets are two games back of them. It’s hard to imagine the Warriors not playing their best down the stretch and holding on as they are really clicking of late. The real question out there is LeBron James and the Lakers who are currently out of the playoffs. It’s really hard to imagine a playoff scenario without the best player on the planet in it, but they’ll need to do much better in the second half to grab that spot.
For now, we concentrate on the NHL. The trade deadline in that league is upon us with most teams having around 24 games left. That is not a lot of time and there are some great races for the final playoff spots going on. The Lightning are looking like the Cup favorites now and it’ll be interesting to see if they add anyone here.
NHL Betting Tips:
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets: Speaking of the Lightning, they draw a great match-up here against the Blue Jackets. They have played Columbus twice this season and won both games easily, 8-2 and 4-0. They are red hot right now having won their last five and the Jackets are in that deadline lull right now. There are so many rumors surrounding their players that it’s hard to imagine they are going to be on the same page for this one. When key players are expected to be traded it can create some issues with the team and considering just how much better than them Tampa Bay already is, I see no reason not to be all over the Lightning tonight.
Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks: The Senators are in a similar situation here as they have a lot of guys on the trading block. The Blackhawks are just about the best -24 differential team you could ask for and they’ve really played well of late. Chicago has an 8-2 record over their past ten games and is making a playoff push. Colin Delia has done some good things in goal for them and I expect this one to be a blowout in Chicago.
College Basketball Betting Tips:
Illinois at Wisconsin: The Badgers need and want this win very badly. They are coming off two straight losses to Michigan and Michigan State, and they know they need the conference win here. They have yet to lose three straight this season and it’s hard to see that changing here. Throw in that the Badgers have 14 straight wins against the Illini, and this game being played in Madison and I see them really coming out strong here and grabbing a win.
